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The- Acton Frea Press Wednesday Oct 25 7 Acton dollars spent mainly out of town Some per cent of the Acton dollar is spent town according to a shopping survey conducted by high school students compared to only per cent always staying in town The students pupils of Boris Sheans grade 12 marketing class and Harold geography class recently surveyed Acton residents to find out their shopping habits The questionnaire was on behalf of the Chamber of Com They presented their findings Wednesday evening at a Chamber meeting Fifty students conduct survey for Chamber Grade 12 marketing students of Boris Shean and grade Geography students of Harold Ma ha too recently conducted a survey of shopping habits in downtown Acton The teenagers covered all areas of town spoke to people Grade students involved were Anderson Dome Fitzgerald Brenda Chris Geggie Frank Henry Scott Ingles Judy Krul Cathy Kennedy Mary Lou Lindsaj and Harvey MacLeod Karen McDowell Jennifer Joyce Parker Charlie Payne Jim Pink Bonnie Sch Sand Splinter Venama Wade Vickery and David Wong Grade 13 students involved Dave Alchin Charles Chris Arblc Sam Armstrong Baker Paul run ell e Karen Chapman Sheila Cook Marilyn Sandra Paula Tony Karen Glenn Patti Gordon Val Graham Tom David Johnson Alice Klaver Jocelyn Bill Manes David Marie Murray Sylvia Paton Dave Pendergast Linda Rcmscy Mike Tom Cathy Upton John Watson and Watson The survey revealed that only per cent of those inter viewed always shopped in town for goods compared with per cent who never do Only per cent usually shopped locally and per cent sometimes Women s clothing ranked lowest on the list for being bought locally Only 9 4 per cent always bought in while per cent said they never did Children clothing vied for second to the bottom with only per cent always pur chasing it here and per cent never Men clothing ranked third from the bottom followed by jewellery In contrast however pre scription drugs took per cent of regular business with only per cent saying they never buy prescription drugs in town Convenience stores also do well with per cent of the always buying dollar followed by hardware sup plies at per cent Groceries are not far behind with 37 per cent of the regular shoppers These arc followed closely by meats flowers and health and beauty aids Other Items under goods are men s and children s clothing shoes home de corating building supplies sporting goods gifts flowers office supplies furniture and appliances The survey showed the services in town were very well patronized to a tune of per cent of the local busl Only per cent went out of town Banking and credit unions headed the list with per cent of the business followed by the doctors with per cent of the local dollar Dry Cleaners and barber and beauty salons wen tied at per cent Veterinarian services trailed closely be hind with cent Lowest on the list opt with 48 per cent Other services listed were insurance chiropractor lawyer realtor accountant home Improvements furnace fuels and services appliance service automobile auto mobile service and travel service Some per cent of these interviewed cat out of town when they go to restaurants Only per cent eat locally Of those interviewed per cent eat out once a week 36 per cent once a month and 34 per cent seldom Sixty per cent of respondents eat in the restaurants and per cent takeout Also in the questionnaire was a place for those inter viewed to say why they do or do not shop locally and if they have noticed any improve ments in the shopping lions in town or if they would likeoseeany improvements Selection and lack of var iety was the number one rea sons listed why people do not shop in town Over per cent of the respondents gave this reason Another per cent said the prices were too high and per cent complained of the lack of parking Poor quality merchandise was noted by 3 per cent not catering adequately for needs and like to go out both tied at 2 per cent Eight people came up with eight different complaints which were pushy sales people poor facilities don like Acton stores nothing worthwhile no bakery no well known brands familiar with Georgetown and streets too busy Those who did support local business seemed to contra diet the others The main rea son they listed came in per cent over the next reason Convenience easy access accounted for 68 per cent while supporting a local bus mess town was second with 6 per cent Transportation adequate parking was third at per cent Friendly employees was 7 per cent and prices competitive was 3 5 per cent Two and half per cent said they liked the stores delivery service and per cent like to save gas Some other reasons for shopping in town were know merchants necessity avail ability of goods get what they want clean stores selection honesty of em near banks as good as elsewhere Twenty four per cent of the people noted the general ap pearance as improvements An additional 13 per cent noted the sidewalks followed by facelifts for store fronts with 11 per cent Other Improvements noticed were new stores widened main street better variety new parking space flower stalls bigger stores lower prices new signs busier better service and quality of goods Twentyeight per cent of those Interviewed would like to see a mall or shopping plaza to help improve the business facilities of down town Acton Twelve per cent asked for more parking and 11 per cent asked for more variety of goods Other suggestions were lower prices clothing and department stores renovations entertainment better quality more rest bakery cleaner appearance convenience stores near subdivisions public transportation within town Highway by pass longer hours wash rooms in stores pizza delivery and day care center Attending the meeting from the high school were teachers Keith Black and Harold and students Paul Brunelle Christina Arbic Paula Gardln and David Johnson The students told the members those interviewed were very pleased to help them out Miss Arbic said some people had read of the questionnaire in the Free Press a few days before and were expecting them The people were really willing to have their input she said Chamber secretary credited the students hard work for the success of the project We owe them a deep debt of gratitude and their in volvement is greatly appre ciated she said Students had conducted door and street inter views all over town St Josephs by Susan Lid bury Cross country went well last Saturday with a fifth for Julie Lcnezky in tyke and a seventh for also a Tyke Wed like to say Thank you to all those who tried St Joseph will having a Meet Teacher night this Thursday our parents are invited to come and meet the teacher and tour the school This Friday is a P A day for the teachers and a holiday for the students Monday night was a meeting for the grade seven and eight parents concerning our trip to Quebec A decision will be made at the end of the week about whether we will go or not Mrs class is carving out their jack lantern for their Halloween party next week The grade one s are practising concepts up to as the grade twos are being drilkd on factors up to ten The grade twos and threes arc studying maps of Acton to sec where we live and what streets arc important They found that some were named after the first settlers Miss Crins class is starting a new subject in Environment Studies This subject is Flmg and consists of all man made flying objects the grade sixes of Mr class are to have a student council withl Mr go ahead Their ma scot is a puppet named owned by Kim Let s hope he does his job Our school is entering the Multiple Sclerosis Read a then Representatives from Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada will be at our school next Tuesday October 31 We will be asked to read books at or above our own reading level We will obtain for the number of books we read and money collected will go to the Society for their important work LEANNE HENSTRIDGE lifts high her prize from the fish pondat the Legion Ladies bazaar Successful in Red Cross course A special first aid course Lausten Gary for Red Cross volunteers Lou Mary taking the Services Response derkln John Bailey Course was successfully The course held at St completed by 19 applicants John United Church Saturday Georgetown was conducted Those passing the course by Ross and Bud are Gall Williamson Lyda Smcitink Margaret Mackenzie Kathryn Latimer Bridget Syme Cutler Marilyn Oldham Boone Bruce There were nine people Tina Carmcl benefitting from the loom Euwen Lorna Thorns Ann weaving workshop In the Wilson Ken Chappel Jens library Saturday afternoon