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nil guttings hi of this most ison NINETY NINTH YEAR NO ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1973 FortySix PagesFifteen Cents SPECIAL CHRISTMAS decorations made for the tables at the Baptist church dinner delight Nelson Hammond a year old Tammy Hammond two and Jennifer Henderson who alt of three They Joined the congregation for the supper and program Sunday Santas sure to make it Christmas Is not humbug as far as Acton school children ore concerned If you want the straight facts on whether Santa going to make It or not thin December see what some of them have to Board frowns on plaza say Oh go on and Diane Savant knows that Santa won pass her house and shell be listening for the sleigh bells because after all that how you know when Santa s around Diane wants and Easy Bake for Christmas and that about Jacqueline Jackie Roach Now let me think I like a Barbie doll and a big fat turkey for Christmas dinner and I like Santa Claus for presents Jackie is certain he 11 not have problems arriving this December and would like to see him herself A request for a zoning change on Main St North for a 12 acre shopping plaza of to square feet of store space was frowned on by members of Acton Planning Board at the final meeting last Thursday The request came from represented by a Streetsville real estate firm who said he had purchased the property from Disston Canada which lies north of the CN tracks on Main St and Includes farmhouse and the ruins of a bam The plaza would have two large stores many smaller ones and parking spaces for TOO to cars The house and barn would be removed to make room for the plaza There is an 800 foot frontage Mr firm is building a simitar plaza in now and It was his contention through his agent that it would Improve he area without hurting the downtown merchants He said It was the firm s ex peri Mice that the downtown core improved when a plaza was built after only a few months when business lagged It was explained existing business places Power off Bower shivers Monday Jaiao William Peter Is the name and frankly he likes Santa If you ask me what Christmas is all about says Jason William Peter Stan bridge I like Christmas trees standing up all decorated Jason hopes Santa will Weeble Wabble Don I Fall Down and a Big Jim Sport Camper Karen I like Rudolph about Santa best and Is quite sure there will be lots of snow for Christmas If It Christmas dinner you want to know about she likes Slum pudding and Santa will coming forsure with all his reindeers Santa Clause making It on time this year That what I like about Christmas says Gary Santa Claus and Rudolph If there t any snow and Santa can t make it Gary won t worry because he simply put in his time by playing page three A burntout transformer left Acton residents on Bower Avenue without hydro for approximately two and one- quarter hours during Monday nights frigid temperatures It took from to B IS in the evening to complete repairs Lake ice is not safe yet Ice on Fairy Lake is dangerous Police remind young children and their parents this week They have received a couple of com plaints from concerned people Youngsters playing In the creek also ended up wet and cold this week Also In a cold weather cut off were occupants of the Diplomat Apartment building on Church Street Supervisor of the building Mrs R said that a frozen sprinkler had burst and sprayed water In the furnace room ex the gas furnace Summoning the Acton Fire brigade the water was shut off immediately and after the water had been pumped out of the basement the United Gas Company from Georgetown relit the furnace and everything was back in operation by Mail volume change to a more exclusive area such as the downtown now has No need Frank Simlonl of the board said It was his feeling there was no need for a plaza In the west end of town and the recent study by the board bore this contention out He pointed out all residential development would likely take place at the east end of Acton and they had recom mended a large shopping plaza be built In the east end noted the area north of the CN tracks had been discussed and planners and engineers had strongly recommended It be kept for manufacturing He felt a plaza that close to the downtown area would In terfere with downtown stores We have been forced to think along these lines by engineers and planners he said Secretary Hugh Patterson anticipating the request read replies from Project Plan and R V Anderson town engineers regarding the reaction to a plaza on Main St Planners said it would be too close to the downtown area and noted the conceptual plan env six residential neighborhoods and two business areas downtown and cast planners also suggested Highway 7 and the CN tracks were too close and could cause concern for vehicle access Thtlr final objection was based on the Tact the area docs not con form to the official plan and zoning by law Creek course The engineers noted there was a small creek running through the property which could cause a drainage problem unless it was channelized to the School creek Sewers In the area were near capacity and would require relief They also felt the location presented a trade problem because the Intersection would he Inadequate Tor the traffic generated by a shopping plaza Chairman Vic told the three man delegation the board could take no action other than a recommendation to the new council of Halton Hills and It would not likely be favorable It t look to change the zoning In area The secretary also asked whether the company would consider a grade separation since It might be necessary so the urea could be Cost for the separation it was suggested could run close to a mill on dollars The board discussed It further after the developer left and passed a resolution stating they were not in favor of a shopping plaza on Main St N and made the recommendation to the council of II lis Select Holmes Hills chief Acton fire chief Mick Hoi mes has been stated as fire chief for the new town of Hal ton Hills over three other applicants The selection was made at a closed meeting of Hills council last Wednesday evening and no official on has yet been mode but the appointments were leaked to press and The position is a full tic one Mick Holmes has been with the Acton Fire Department as chief for the last 12 years He served as deputy thief prior to his appointment as chief whin Chief Jatk Newton left the community He has been the manager of the Acton yard of J I Mackenzie Reeve objects In a blunt statement to this the decision by Hills council made behind closed doors last Wednesday to hire Mickey Holmes or Acton as Ire Chief of Hills The reeve stressed he had nothing personal against Mr Holmes and described him as a fine man but he vigorously attacked council for over looking Georgetown ire Chief Ken qualifications has proven his ability and gained the respect of the men In the fire depart menl He Is the only one of the four applicants fully qualified for the position said the reeve He pointed out that when hired a full time paid chief they Insisted on the applicants writing an exam set by the Ontario Fire Mar office come i tit Acton principals back teachers heavy Acton schools were open as usual on Tuesday with the difference being most of the classrooms were empty with only a minimal staff on hand to officiate over the few children attending At the Robert Little pubtlc school there were students attending with the principal vice principal office staff and caretaker on duty Afternoon classes showed only nine Allan principal of Robert Little was firm In his statement that he very much supports the stand taken by teachers I think the teachers who went out demonstrating not only showed a real concern for children but for the society In general In opposing a bill which would make teachers subject to punishment for on action they took which at the time It was taken was legal and proper Mr Allan said he was referring to the point that teachers resigned from their position as they were legally entitled to do on November 30 and the Minister has in traduced legislation this No tears regrets council dissolves With the bang of a broken handle Stanley on a Parks Department bench Mayor Duby adjourned the last full scale council meeting on Tuesday night With few tears and apparenUy no regrets a hundred years of municipal government in Acton wound up without any further ceremonv or spontaneous emotional outburst For the final meeting Mayor chair of office and desk had been removed from the council chamber and in its place a slivered park bench had been installed It was from this precarious perch the final business of the community was dispatched Former councillor Ted Tyler the only spectator at the final meeting complimented Mayor Duby on his choice of furniture asking if it was colonial or what else Mayor Dubys reply was that somebody got the message I an outdoor boy park bench bore a sign saving thanks for the furniture Tom In reference to the an that Halton Hills would the council furniture for installation at Township The council a routine house keeping meeting saw council pass by laws and a vast quantity of resolutions to finalize the business before the end of year No new legislation or proposals were brought forth at the meeting bill which would not only make void those resignations but make teachers liable to a fine of up to a day should they honor their own resignation The principal said further that be prefers negotiation but if a settlement cannot be settlement In my view he con the settlement must be reached prior to May and November 30 as the case maybe so that teachers will know where they stand and still be able to exercise their civil right to resign if they are dissatisfied Gary of the M Bennett Public School said that only 20 children were in bis school in the morning diminishing In numbers to A In the afternoon The children wen reading library books in the resource centre during morning sessions and in the afternoon the four children all same grade members Continued on page two The yearly Christmas rush to the roster for the rush are Mrs Ellen Holmes Wilbur St Mrs Susan Fan- Maria St Mrs Jean Jackson Tyler Ave Mrs Heather Morton Main St and Mrs Iris Wlson Tyler Ave Damage to cars There were two accidents Investigated In town during the past week On Dec 13 a parked car owned by MaMon Acton parked on St Albans was struck by an unknown vehicle Damage was estimated at to the car On Dec IS two cars went in collision on Peel St Driven were Stanley Robinson R Acton with estimated damage and Hilda Iroroerman R R 3 Acton with estimated damage Paper next Thursday Nest Free Press will be published on Thursday Dec Instead of the usual Wednesday owing to the Christmas and Boxing Day holiday The first issue in the also lx published on The Pre Press office wilt remain closed Christmas Day and Bating Day Dec and 28 and will also be closed on Monday and Tuesday Dec and Jan l Advertising and news deadlines t or next weeks issue a re follows display advertising and New years greeting ads pm Friday Dec advertising 12 noon Monday Dec Monday DecM The news department will be S3 next week- news and advertising for to tad to the office by Friday Bishop home first in Acton Hydro contest The home of the Cyril Bishop Elmore Drive Acton was judged the roost attractively decorated and won the 75 first prize Acton Hydro Commissions Christmas outdoor residential decorating con test Second prize of went to Joe Brown Acton Judge was Jack Arm strong of the Georgetown Hydro Commission He also picked the home of Mrs Bertha Faulkner Mill St East as a runner up He commented on the excellent display of previous winner theRayArbtes Mrs Norman Braid and Colin Previous winners are not Me in the contest All users of the Acton Hydro residential system were eligible Judge Arm strong loured the town Monday before making bis selections noting the job got progressively harder as the contest goes on There was some speculation that the contest may have to be called off because of an energy tage but the Commission decided to continue until such time time as Ontario Hydro decided there was a power shortage in the province