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The Acton Free Press Wednesday Mor 4 Founded In 1875 shod every by Inland Publ no Co L tod at I Si eat Acton L7J Tolnphona 15131 Subic nolo cop as Canada i than Canada Presa a of the Inland Publ ng Co L lad ban nowa ch Include Tho ibyP Navs Ad von la Brampton Guo lan I I nglon Post coke Tho Independent Ma and Sun Tho Ion Co no dun Champ on Thn News Tho a a Tha Wook This and Tho I a Tr Don McDonald Publisher In tl event lypootnph lorn of I ho advert I a e flood not laid Advert J ly EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Go d Murray la let Editor E Diana imflnn Hock wood Contributor ray Darkroom Lynda H II ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT II Cook r National Advancing SmIbi Hap Dan 363 BUSINESSACCOUNTING OFFICE Manaoar Thomh l Mary TELEPHONE 619 Business end Ed Bovis others too quiet about assessment reform Where are all the people from and other parts of Acton who were screaming for property assessment reform just last Halton Hills councillors who have been handling the issue of equalized assessment through Section of the Assessment Act like the hot potato they perceive the issue to be for over a month now are a little surprised they haven heard from the many peo ple who raised the issue loudly at a public meeting Acton last June We suspect everyone is so quiet these days about assessment re form because ratepayers haven t received their tax bills yet just interim levys It should surprise nobody if there are noisy howls of protest about high assessment from the new areas of Halton Hills this when they see their final bills A crystal ball isnt needed to fore cast a steep tax hike in the wake of the and regional its m several accounts More than one person has taxpayers don t really understand the relationship be the mill rate and their assessment and we think they re right Taxpayers do however clearly understand the bottom line on their tax bills and residents in newer areas of town do easily understand they are paying in most cases substantially higher taxes for the same services as residents living in longer established neighborhoods Last year councillors rejected bringing in equalized assessment or as most people call it market Value assessment However luckily for them they left a loop hole a study to crawl into the night of the council meet at Acton High School when about ratepayers turned out to hear what the town fathers had to say about a variety of issues Eas the most popular topic at least as far as residents were con cerned was assessment reform Councillors on the other hand didnt seem eager to discuss Sec tion86 Councillors noted repeatedly they had set up a special com mittee comprised of both coun cillors and citizens to study Sec That committee spent eight months studying the issue reviewing reports and hearing from experts including officials of towns which have opted for Sec tion They produced an pressive report but no recom The facts were tossed into the political arena and since then councillors have spent most of their time finding ways to avoid making a decision not discussing the facts both pro and con Actons three councillors have voiced positive views several others seem to be sitting on the fence and the rest at council are deathlv opposed to Section It appears when and if there is ever a vote on the subject it will be close They ve made it clear theyd like to hear the voice of the peo ple It would be far preferable for taxpayers to voice their concerns now and not wait for their tax hikes or worse yet wait until Sec is implemented here and then holler when they receive their 1982 bills If residents such as those from were were so vocal last spr ing both at the public meeting and the dropin continue to remain silent likely the councillors are just going to keep deferring the subject hoping someone a majority government after March and eventually takes the pro blems out of their hands and implements some form of assess ment reform Then the councillors will be able to point the finger of blame at Queens Park when residents scream about their tax bills Councillors dropin dying The ward one councillors and now trustees dropin is dying a slow painful death What was a year ago being hail ed by politicians and citizens alike as a major step towards returning government to the people of Acton was recently revamped in a bid to breath some new life into the dropin The dropin t dying because of lack of interest on the part of our councillors but because of public apathy Maybe taxpayers are taking it for granted The councillors frequently the mayor and even representatives of ward two too have spent far more Friday afternoons chatting staring at the walls and waiting for citizens to drop by than they have listening to taxpayers com plaints and concerns One of the major complaints of regional government has been it took government away from Ac ton While the drop in hasn t eliminated all the communication problems it has demonstrated that it is going a long way towards bringing government back to the people In a relaxed informal setting taxpayers and councillors have exchanged views The drop in when it has been In use has af forded residents a chance to meet their three representatives and discuss problems like parking speeding mosquitoes etc It has also been a great benefit to the councillors They heard tax payers views were able to get situations clarified and most im portant mobilize groups to make excellent presentations to the en tire council giving them a big hand the other 10 people on Halton Hills council to their thinking Communication between elected representatives and tax payers is crucial even if it doesnt always produce the results some are looking for But if residents don t start at tending the dropin again a crucial line of communication will likely be severed In an effort to broaden the drop in s appeal our two school board trustees have been added there may not be enough issues to keep the dropin busy every Friday the councillors and trustees have decided to trim it back to twice a month the second and fourth Fridays The hours re main the same to m and the location is still the Acton Com munity Services Centre m the YMCA building If interest perks up again then undoubtedly the dropin will go back to every Friday But if councillors continue to have to stare at the walls for pret ty much two hours every other Friday then it will be understandable why another good idea has died Taxpayers will have only themselves to blame if the drop- in centre drops dead a sap arc common THE V IT to A BALLOT Got a call from Laura Ihe other day She wanted me to be Ihe bearer of good news for all the budding artists hiding in loses ts around town Laura reels there are many artists in town who dan t have a place to work and t expressing themselves enough at home A few of these people for some lime now have been meeting in various homes to work Now they are meeting in the Art Room at Middle School every Tuesday night from 7 to All bQddmg artists are invited to Join Ihe group There no charge It a perfect opportunity to get out or the house meet other artists and express some of your potential Laura has more information Call BS3 Happy wedding anniversary to Stan and Linda Eckstein of Young St They cele brate their eighth year of wedding bliss to day i March Stan better known as Stan the Postman says who says eight years haven been wonderful let you know in three years Slan And here a message for all young mot hers or would be mothers from Marilyn Coxe If your family Is awaiting the of a new member the Acton La Lee he League meeting Baby Arrives The Family and the Breastfed Baby may you Informal discussion will tre on how to manage those first hectic weeks with emphasis on entire family as well as timely tips for mother and baby file meeting will be held on Monday at at Churchill S For further information call Marilyn Coxe or Karen Gregory 3884 Then been a new addition to the Bar on family Gary and are just bubbling over with joy at the arrival of their adopted son Jesse from New Bruns wiek Six yearold Jesse Is deaf and Is in the process of learning sign language from the Bartons who have another deaf son Andrew Jesse travels back and forth to the E C School for the Deaf in Mil ton with his brother and his mother who teaches there To open your home and hearts to an adoptive child is one of the most generous acts a family can do But to knowingly and willingly take In a child with a handicap takes very people and the Bartons arc just that Jesse arrived about a month ago and has settled right in to life in Acton and his new family Former Aetonian Rosalyn Hall of Alberta was home for a visit with her new son whose just six weeks old Roe band Rod Edwards was unable to make the trip headed west about five years ago The Globe and Mall sure did blow it on the weekend They wrote up a very nice story about Doodle that quaint little restaurant In owned by John and Maureen The story is sure to bring in the Unfortunately the story leads pot patrons directly to the railroad tracks across from Toths garage In two places in the story it mentions the restaurant Is located at Ihe north west cor of Highways 7 and Now I only been In Acton for seven years but I pretty sure there nothing at that corner but railroad tracks The story also mentioned Schneiders Sweet Factory A few yards south of Doodles on Highway It clocked Doodles as being minutes drive west of downtown Toronto Besides those glaring errors the story was an excellent one written by Hobbs I don follow sports very much I ways pick Ihe losing team nor do I ever mention any achievements in this column but Ihe moral victory of Ihe Acton Sabres cannot go unnoticed even by me For Ihe real hockey being put out of the playoffs is no victory But to on op timist like myself think It was terrific they even made It to the playoffs Let s face it any team who can come from the basement spot of last year to challenge the league leading team should be con and honored If that achieve ment t enough the Sabres went right down to the wire forcing the series to seven games Today fifth place tomorrow the champ ionships Having an anniversary special party or a birthday Give me a call at home after m 853 or call the office and leave a message with the news room I look forward to hearing from you These youngsters competed In the recent Robert Lit tie School public speaking competition front left to right Chris 1 indioy Heather and Jane Tracy Fllndall and Jill Speaking at St Joieph public speaking contest rc- Toras grade six Itcnato grade lliree Dons ton JlllWhelan grade five Linda five Monquc Agnes grade four Brad grade sevtn Pom grade five Missing is Vic lor In Ilodlques grade eight Shawn grade right and Stephanie Lamp kin Back issues 10 years ago Wednesday March IB71 Acton police detachment now has seven men Cons Steve has been Iran here from Simcoe Cons Nick Is now back with the Acton detach ment The others are Corp Ray Mason Cons Bruce MArthur Bruce Kressler Roy Wood and Paul Brown Terry Holmes earned first prize for a crest for Acton Snowmobile Club Strong objections from freshman councillor Dick Strong persuaded council to delay signing the controversial million sewer and water project Acton Tanner veteran Harold wins the Cyril Swim trophy for leading scorer and Jack Marshall trophy for most valuable player Ten schools were involved in a variety program at Acton High School This kind of program was suggested among changes for the Music Festival years ago Thursday March IDGi Following complaints of vater discoloration Health Unit water samples were sent to Toronto with word returning was possible surface seepage was entering the Churchill well Mayor authorized the firefighters public address to notify residents to boll drinking water A large amount of chlorine has now been added to the water and Ihe system will then be with clean water Public notices were distributed door to door House taps should be left on tonight for a short period Citizens will be notified by sound truck when to stop bailing drinking water An organization chart was established far all town employees They are clerk administrator Jack McGcachle assessor J assistant H Perkins office manager Joe Hurst clerk Mrs Pauline Preston Typists Mrs Clark work superintendent Alf foreman Al Kirkness workmen Jack Lambert Sam I Frank Shepherd S Oakley 50 years ago Thursday March 1031 Acton council the school board and Board or Health all oppose a county health unit The cost of or over to the county and the share of the municipalities would be prohibitive The system was proposed to replace the present of municipal health officers V Alger won the nine pound chocolate bar in Wiles Confectionary window for guessing its weight A couple of believers in Chatauqua were canvassing for guarantors in this week These Acton people hoped to interest town people in these splendid entertainments This week paper features brief sketches of all the Acton players who went such a long way to Intermediate OHA honors Bill John Greer Frank Gibbons Russell Salmon Joe Kent Lome Walters Clarence Kcntncr Henry Arbic Fred Joe Woods Gordon Huff man Neil Gibbons Fred Gordon manager N H Garden and executive members Carney Byrne K Graham J McDonald and L B Shorey 75 years ago Thursday March IBOB Messrs J M Warren and Fred Pli who are exploiting the proposed cheese factory for Aeton attended a meeting of the committee for Ihe cheese fac They found the factory is eminently satisfactory and In many cases an average of over per cow for the season was realized John Ramsay of Eden Mills sent the surplus milk from his one village cow and showed cash receipts for he season of A little lad Master Winston Grace was playing on Cororalion Pond when he fell Into one of the open spaces where the Icemen had been harvesting Two of his companions ran away but Master Williams succeeded In pulling him out Mr and Mrs Grace that evening presented him with a beautiful silver watch andchaln as a mark of gralitutdc Those narrow tires ore playing havoc with the new Church St macadam 100 years ago Thursday March IfHil Roads all over the county are passable Sleighing Is tip top The annual meeting of County Sabbath School Association was held in one Methodist Church Tuesday and Wed What about a new town hair Lets keep the ball rolling Parties who do not send their children to school in the winter when their services at home are not valuable deserve censure Baked bean parties are the latest get up Oakville town council finances are in a very bad slate A large portion of taxes have been allowed to remain uncollected We are proud to be able to say that since the incorporation of Acton every cent of taxes levledhavebccn collected and paid over to the Treasurer