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The Free Press Wednesday April 1980 Founded in 1875 I News Advertiser The Post Elob Giiotto Tl i t Sun Tim Cinod on CI amnion Tho Mi Oakv llo Oslmwj Th This ho McDonald Publisher hat by Horn wit i charged for but of Iim Iho a si Community in EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Erie SporUfWomon Dial JonnlMBiir Conlilbutoi Helen Ken Quitin ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Gill Cook Solos Ban CtalflsdAdvartllnQ BUSINESSACCOUNTING OFFICE Offlco Jocquo CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE 853 Business and Editorial Office Revamp Citizen of Year Acton Chamber of Commerce should take a long look at revamp ing its Citizen of the Year pro gram so more of the community will become involved About the only way the selection comittee could get public input was to again opt for nomination ballots in this newspaper The committee rightly felt letters giv ing detailed explanations of nominees would be preferable to names and one line reasons on ballots The Chamber had few names to consider for the award this year before they reverted to ballots After naming Arhe White an excellent choice for Actons 23rd Citizen of the Year the Chamber promoted the dinner for about a month While the tickets for the dinner dance were a little on the dear side a head attendance was still very disappointing There were less than 100 people in attendance Fortunately family was strongly represented However the Chamber itself was poorly represented in terms of numbers in attendance and one might have expected more of Mr Whites colleagues from the Can cer fund raising drive and the local Roman Catholic community to be in attendance to say nothing of more of general populus Undoubtedly those who didnt come to the dinner were absent not because they didnt feel Arhe deserved the honor Certainly this comment isnt in tended to take anything away from Mr Whites richly deserved honor The Citizen of the Year Pro gram including the balloting period lasts about three months and interest in the award and recipient can wane during that time There is ample evidence that one of the easiest ways to build interest in an award is to keep the of the recipient a secret until it is actually presented However keeping the name of the Citizen of the Year secret until the award is given is too phstic a solution to waning in terest It is one thing to keep the ident ity of say the winner of a hockey award secret and expect a good attendance It will be harder to keep the Citizen of the Year secret because the Chamber must ensure the win ner and his or her family are in attendance as well as representa tives of organizations theyre involved with are in attendance The period of time between the start of balloting and the dinner should also be shortened to help maintain interest Another idea might be to make a short list of finalists public and have or honorable mentions for the award More people would turn out the night of the dinner to see if their nominee was the winner Of course this would pose problems to since honorable mentions and their families and supporters could feel slighted The Citizen of the Year pro gram is excellent and very worthwhile The Chamber is to be commended for its sponsorship Now the Chamber has a year to consider these and other ideas which might make the program more meaningful and better Cancer fund needs support Judging from the record of the past four years Acton and area residents dont really need to be remmded of the importance of giving generously to this months cancer fund raising drive This community has been set ting fund faismg marks the past few years for the rest of Ontario to take aim at But in these tough economic times everyone needs a little prod that cancer research is extremely expensive and research is the only way to cure the suffering of millions some right here in Ac ton who are struck by this dreaded disease annually Cancer research is very costly An electron microscope runs from to An ultracentri fuge costs about A whole body scanner may be as dear as And thats just for equipment Then theres buildings to house research facilities wages for scientists lab technicians and assistants But there are several other crucial uses to which cancer funds are put Education of the public on the importance of early detection and prompt treatment is just as im portant Cancer prevention works hand in glove with the search for a cure Attention to early symptoms by members of both sexes can trim the human suffering and medical costs associated with cancer Then theres service to patients This service includes distribution of dressings and other supplies transportation hospital and home visit All of these worthwhile en deavors take money No doubt Actomans will shine again when it comes to supporting the cancer drive Skaters werent tested April i960 Dear Editor We are writing in regards to the Acton Figure Skating dub class In October 1979 regular season lessons began and all parents and children involved were looking forward to a good season A registration fee was charged to us at the beginning of the 19701960 skat ing season This money was used to pay the Instructors the ice time for their lessons At registration time we were led to believe that the preschoolers would be tested for their Beginners Badge at the end of regular season les sons However one week prior to finishing regular lessons wo were informed that our children would not be tested as the committee felt that there was not sufficient time to hold tests At least minutes of our ice time for a period of 3- weeks was used to practice for the year end carnival We feel that if this time was used so sparingly then at least minutes per week could have been taken for testing We agree that carnival time Is a fund raiser but we also feel that this time should be used for perfecting our childrens abilities A beginners Badge earned when a child can skate the length of the rink without falling bend over and touch toes glide and stop While some child ren were not ready for their badge others were definitely qualified as this is the second year in the same class for some of the children Had we not in quired when testing was being held we would not have been notified by the Committee Our children worked hard and tried their best and should have been given the same opportunities for testing as the other age groups In the skating club This lack of enthusiasm for pre school children does not leave much in centlve in our minds to register our children in the same club next year Will there be any time next year for testing Its no wonder that registration has been down this past year Signed Mothers of ProSchoolers who paid good money for nothing Pub lic Skating is Cheaper Answering letters is not strong point In many ways am one of the worst peo ple have ever met And one of them is in not answering letters I wish it were not so I wish I were met culous and tidy and had my income tax return filed least two days before the deadline and liked cats and my shoes at least once a week But Im not and I Thats just a sample of the things I don t like about myself An entire list would fill his column But not answering letters Is right up there near the head of the list It was brought home to me today end of March when I received in the mail my annual card and gift from an old friend and onetime room mate at college Norm Every Christmas arriving end of March this year great mail service eh he sends one of those beautifully illustrated calendars and a warm cord And I have never seen him or written to him or tele phoned him for about 35years Of course the turkey never sends his address but I could find that with a little effort Poor Norm I shouldnt say that He a now a dental surgeon in Ottawa with a large practice a happy marriage after a lousy one and a family But I did him a dirty one time Away back in the fall of 41 1 decided to Join the Air Force Not because I thought I could bring to his knees In short order Not at oil Mainly because I was falling badly behind in my studies because I had fallen badly in love with a girl from Rio de Janeiro who had to go home leaving me bereft Enlisting was a good way out Only one problem I was sports editor of the Varsity yearbook I had some but not many I didnt want to leave them without a sports editor scruple So I my room mate Here we go again with high school re unions This time all graduates of row Collegiate Institute are asked to return to town for their schools Homecoming Weekend May yes Seems next year Is the schools 100th anniversary Contact J C I Centen nial Committee Street South Renfrew Ontario for further In formation Anyone In need of a pen pal No Im not turning Into a pen pal service but know of one young man who Is lonely and In desperate need of some writing buddies Seems this person is in prison in Ohio and would like to hear from someone on the outside As he puts it Man doing time In prison with no family or friends who care Need help to keep from losing myself In loneliness Anyonewlthtlmepleasewrlte Donald Hicks No 142473 P Box Ohio 45699 Norm into taking over Result He failed second year dentistry and to repeat while I was off In the wild blue yonder No scruples And just hereon my desk under the beer battle or the gooseneck lamp Is another example of my letter answering perfidy that bothers me but docsn t seem to go away like a headache or a cold Its a letter from Tony of Oakland It is dated October 4th It begins Dearest Bill Well Bill old buddy I sure wish I was hand- carrying this up to you it sure would bo nice to have a few for old times sake Tony had tracked me down after Last I seen him was on a troopship home from England He was a Typhoon pilot a war and we had escaped together after our camp was taken over by the Russians He was also one of the great con artists and Id written a column about this aspect Somehow through the old buddy net work hed learned about it and spent four months trying to find out where I was He phoned me one night from California And I ve never answered his letter Heres another example Every Valentines day get a card from a beaut iful woman Canadian who spends the winter in Florida She reasserts annually that she loves me And Ive never an Want to help It will only cost cents The Hal ton Lung Association was pleased to announce recently they had raised a total of with their Christmas Seal campaign which ended March This was an increase of per cent over last year The Senior Cltircns In Centennial Manor In Milton helped a great deal in this campaign by stuffing sealing and coun ting the bulk of the householder moil Donations go to support Family Asthma Programs withdrawal Clinics Day Camps for Asthmatic Children Better Breathing Clubs Pulmonary Function Testing in industry and Social Service Assistance Speyslde area resident and one time National Hockey League superstar Pierre Pilotte was on the NHL Oldtlmcrs show down Saturday night during the Min nesotaMontreal playoff game Pierre was beaten out by Harry Howell another hockey great The commentator Gary Domhhoefer I think told viewers Pierre won from Georgetown Ontario which was close enough I guess though Acton would have been preferable Having Just discovered hockey In the last few years since meeting Torontos Leaf Martha Jackson I was not too familiar with current players My slaters write long letters occas ionally and I never answer My kid brother sends off an affectionate missive every Christmas I do not deign to reply Readers write warm intelligent letters praising my column or telling me what a jackass I am I maintain a haughty silence Certainly after a while people stop writing and you ve lost another friend Or enemy What they don realize is that I just testing them Anyone who con go on writing letters Into a void for 30odd years is a real friend worth cherishing even though you never answer the letters Today I had a long distance coll from a woman asking if she could reproduce one of my columns for a meeting of school trustees The column was critical of schools I said Sure She said Thanks very much I said OK Commun Instant If she d written me asking shed never have heard yea or nay What really has rubbed into my skin this major flaw in my character Is the number of letters that pile into our place from exotic lands bearing incredibly beautiful stomps for our son Hugh After nearly five years in the wilderness he gels letters from Iraq Argentina Ireland and so on There arc two from the United Nations building in New York another from Florida many from Quebec He has friends all over the world Maybe he writes back to them I dont even write letters to the editor no matter what inanities appear in print But it all going to change Alter all a man controls his own destiny I am de finitely going to answer all your letters Norm Tony Winnie Floss Norma Blake Uncle Ivan nephew Paul cousin Laura and all you readers The minute I retire mch less retired ones Last year at a meeting in Esquesing councillor Pat Patterson asked if I recog he man beside him I admitted I didnt and much to my fathers chagrin later I was embarrassed to find out it was Mr who any hockey fan would give their eye teeth to be meeting Sorry Pierre If I ever do meet you again I promise 1 11 know you Unfortunately I not too good at spotting sports greats Last Christmas Eve I was introduced to Toronto Argonaut Peter outside my church in Colling wood I practically tripped over him in the before hubby told mc who he was They had met only days earlier in Georgetown at a sports dinner Friends in Deed group for the capped will be heading to Creek for the annual handicapped bowling tour no ment May Members enjoy the day when they can enjoy sport played by Normal people The owner of Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes sets his alleys aside for the group who use special props to aid them Anyone who is handicapped in any way and would like to go for a Sunday afternoon of bowling or anyone who Is able to offer transportation Is asked to call mo and I will get them in touch with proper people Back issues 10 years ago Taken from the Issue of The Acton Free Press Wednesday April 1910 William Coon was named Attendance Counsellor for the North Education area Lacrosse returned to the community centre Friday when the renowned Green Gaels thumped the Acton Rams The Department of Labour has been asked to inspect Acton arena and local con tractors will be asked for bids for repairs Dr Robert McCIure spoke to the TrlAngl Club in Luxton hall He is moderator of the United church Actons youngest of the Year Steven Papillon was feted Scoutmaster Gordon read the citation telling of his rescue of Suxle Hill from Fairy Lake Whiting read a surprise letter from Prime Minister Mrs Thomas Brotherton of left Monday in the angel derby a race for light planes piloted by ladles Luncheon la Served was a fundraising project at Churchill church A good crowd attended the opening stock car races at Ospringe 20 years ago Taken from the Issue or The Acton Free Press Thursday April Sparked by a stellar performance by the Eastern All Star ladies five pin bowling team overcame a marginal lead to win the championship of the Can Five Pin Bowling finals at Calgary She Is the youngest ever to compete in national competition and was on two teams She began her bowling career at the age of four She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Ken proprietors or Acton Bowling Lanes She will receive royal welcome from Acton council and Chamber of Commerce when she steps from the plane Mai ton to night Alfred and Walter Vlsser were named lifeguards to patrol the beach area by parks board Two youths held up store and escaped with Mrs Robert Wright is now the pondent from Eden Mills for the Free Press Rev Gordon Holmes was honored with a farewell presentation at the Baptist church He Is retiring owing to 111 health 50 years ago Taken from he laiue The Acton Free Press At a very representative meeting of those interested in baseball in Acton the officers of the local club were elected president J M McDonald secretary treasurer H ChewcxecutlvecommltteeF Mcintosh C and H Garden manager Dr Dublin Old Boys Association is planning for a reunion July 1 A missionary play was presented at the United Church Young Peoples meeting Parts were ably taken by Misses Kitty Savage Vida Velma Blair Mar Gibson Sabra Nelson Marjorie Switzer and Mrs Bert Mowat Eden Mills Women Institute met at the home of Mrs J Marshall and decided on the material for new curtains for the town hall The subject of dress was put forward with suggestions that the women of our In refuse to adhere to the unsightly and unsanitary mode of dress the designers of Paris would impose on us Dr W G C Kennedy of the Toronto General Hospital staff was home for Easter The Wednesday half holiday is now ob served for the summer months by Acton business places The new cars are making their ap pearance with proud owners behind the wheels 100 years ago Taken from the Issue of The Acton Free Press Thursday April 1 council granted the sum of ten dollars to Mrs May for the purpose of assisting her to remove to some place where her older children can obtain em ploymcnt The sum of five dollara each was granted to Mrs Johnston and Mrs Russell who arc in destitute circumstances Our brass band played a number of tunes on the streets Thursday night Our cltiiens hall their reappearance with delight The carpenters are now busily engaged In completing the exterior of Messrs H Storey R Littles residences Advertisement For the Spring Trade Importations of hats and bonnets feathers flowers ornaments in the most ex quisite designs Parasols and sun shades from cents to Black dress silks wedding silks black mantle silks brocaded silks summer silks Dress goods In lustres mornle cloths from cents Gray steel lustres from cents Handsomely embroidered ladies white skirts