Must help police protect property If more people helped themselves to help the police vandalism and crime would be easier to curtail That was the message Friday afternoon when Halton Regional Police Constables Scott and David Wallace and Cam HUImer of the Community Vandalism Committee attended Council lor a Dropin to discuss problems In the community Programs such as Neighborhood Watch and Operation Identification and Target hardening are ways In which the public can aid the police in protecting property Halton Hills Councillors learned explained that his organization was formed by a group of citizens in Oak ville who would help the police and help prevent crime Through a budget of about from the region the Committee show films distributes brochures speaks at meetings and educates the public on crime prevention an Oakvllla lawyer told the meeting participants that ho felt the regions money Is well spent He explained that their entire cost only half that of with the same results Children must be educated early Pringle In order to curtail future vandals He mentioned how a lot of van starts off as pranks but after the person gels away with It turns into something more serious If that person was reported to the police at the early stage it might avoid more severe van dallsm However he said many people are reluctant to call the police when they witness something for fear of reprisal noted though that as the public Is becoming more educated in vandalism and the dollars it coats to repair or replace targets more people are starting to report acts This reflects In rising numbers of vandal acts Even though the numbers are higher It does not mean there is more going on The best way for the public to help protect against both van dalism and burglaries Is target har dening Wallace painted out He ex plained making It harder for a criminal to work is one of the best deterrents Councillor Dave Whiting explained thai the town has already turned to target hardening In their battle against van dallsm of lighted street j He pointed out the town has now given up on the illuminated veislons and have gone back to the metal signs Preventing crime Is just common sense said Dead bolt locks and lights in dark areas are the more practical methods We readily admit if someone wants to get Into your house he Is going to get in said But by making It harder he has more of a chance of discovery He continued say that a burglar Just wants to get Into A house not necessarily your house If entry Is made difficult he will move on to the next place To protect your home Wallace said the homeowner should look at the house through the eyes of a burglar Doing this he said wilt show the homeowner an easy door to get Into or an unlocked window Hillmer stated Watch Is a successful way to protect the home Each resident an a street gets to know the houses all around him Mho lives there who should be there and who be there the address in case he has to call the police to send a cruiser there etc He also pointed out all this information is on file at the police noted there are various levels of punishment always incarceration Public service work sweeping the streets or cleaning up the park Is cm harassing to the convicted and could be more of a deterrent for repeats than jail or a fine You cannot Just put and expect Sergeant Richard KiveU and Detective Bill Riddle ore teaching Cor to bo a deterrent said you Andrews and Suit about the Police Force Bureau as pari have to do something about it A Community Newspaper One Hundred and Seventh Year No 14 ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY OCTOBER Pages Twenty five Cents Grimace and bear It Ten yearold Parrish Jago tries out the bench press This Week Thru the Lens on lug weight lifting classes at the Acton tor more weight Offing pictures see Photo by DAVE Canada Batter Take stiff measures to keep lead down ActarioRestoration group make bid to town for hall A proposal that the Actarlo and the Town Hall Restoration Committees take over refurbishing and operating the Acton town hall was received favorably last night at Hills General Com mitlee A feasibility study to determined cost involved and available provincial grants will ho done and municipal staff is to report back to council on legalities of an agreement proposed by the two organizations George Elliott of the Committee explained to Councillors both the Restoration and com with suggestions from Leathertown Assoc had come with alternative routes the town could take concerning the town hall See Leather town story page Elliott explained that council could lease the building and its site to a board of trustees at a nominal lee for years The board would then be empowered to proceed with the restoration as available funds would permit and raise and allocate funds for future restoration The board would also manage the building to generate funds for maintenance and upkeep If council were to accept the proposal immed lately Elliott said the current fens I bill study would no longer be necessary It noted during the meeting grant monies could only be obtained tho study was done However under the committee suggestion granting agon would no longer have to be satisfied However it was stressed the Joint committees would support the councillors decision to go ahead with the study they were just offering an alter native to spending the Elliott told the councillors if they opted for no study and accepted his committees proposal immediately restoration could begin almost immediately He said that with the the com lias now from and 000 by the town which is the cost of the structure enough work could be done to keep the building standing another 30 or years However he noted continuous restoration would bo done as the funds became available Councillor Roy Booth expressed concern over council a lack of control oyer uses of the building and the lack of parking In the area If need cd Elliott said the trustees would have to be trusted However the town still had say when a building permit was applied for Councillor Miller commended the commit tecs for the suggestion and mentioned it was pro bably the best presentation concerning the town hall ever made Councillor Harry Levy pointed out that no matter what course of action token the building is still the responsibility of the town He wondered what would happen if after money is spent and they ran out of funds who then Is responsible Elliott said if the building Is ever returned to hands of the town it will be intact Councillor Terry said she is about the overall proposal and feels it Is the only way to go Mayor Pete Pomeroy stated he wanted lo see a concerted effort made to keep the Wintario grant option open and by doing away with the feasibility study also closed the books on any future provincial grants He said he wanted to sec a report from the lawyer Booth wondered whether a municipality can enter into a year lease with anyone Clerk tor Ken Richardson explained that If the applicants can determine In the town s own mind that It is in the best interest of the town they can okay lease Councillor Ross Kncchtel claimed ho felt the study was a waste of time He wondered how soon construction could start Chip Petri lo of the Association said that restoration could start in a matter of weeks He explained the lime is right now with the present availability of workers and the fall to tho winter The feasibility study is expected lo be completed by the end of December Canada Battery has no intention of allowing its plant in Acton to be closed because of health safety problems and efforts are being mode to decrease workers lead blood levels There have been rumors the firm Is going to be closed by the Ontario Ministry of Labor but a ministry spokesman Andy Paul said there have orders by the Industrial Health and Safety Branch and the company has compiled with all previous orders Canada spokesman George Tichbourne admitted in an interview there have been lead blood levels problems previously but efforts ore being made to solve the problem Ho explained In September 1980 workers lead blood levels were extremely high and continued to be high right through to December when the Ministry of Labor gave the firm five minutes to clear the building and then closed it far a few weeks Lead blood levels dropped In January and Feb ruary and then surprisingly shot back up In March of this year However that Increase wa3 later ex plained by Ontario Ministry of Health Lab testing errors Levels continued to drop for April May June Ju ly end August and then shot back up again last th said he believes this is again a testing error he hasn even heard from the pro vince about the most recent test increases but he taking no chances and Is making moves to make sure the October tests are back down to or lower than the August levels September results until its known if Ihere were errors are being treated as a legitimate and serious problem Tichbourne said the company has been able to work with the ministry In the past and he is sure they can again If there is in fact a real problem If the levels stay up the ministry will lock the doors something Tlchbome described as standard phrase and something he said is well within their rights and their duty Every plant worker of them was Interviewed last week by They discussed health and safely measures whigh might have changed between August and September and the of everyone working to keep blood lead levels down Noting even provincial regulations take ef feet next month Tichbourne said everyone at Canada Battery knows firm s goal Is to meet the letter of the goo fewstcps beyond There is an on going updating of equipment pro gram at Canada Battery a major addition has helped because there less crowding in the plant and It easier to keep areas clean Dust collectors arc being improved and air flow capacity is being Increased with of fans All employees are being thoroughly educated on the dangers of lead I refuse to take chances with the health of employees There are workers who are habitually sloppy and don follow the proper hygiene rules and endanger their health However such attitudes won tbc tolerated We have no Intention of being closed for even a day being closed temporarily or otherwise The September results arcn sufficient to close A If they persisted they would be As long as the com Is making an effort to solve the problem and progress is being made it won be closed In the last four months of levels were described by Tichbourne as very high off the chart In except in March and September including himself who haven shown high levels before a hint there may have been a lab error The health and safety committee at the plant has met and can come up with answers to explain the sudden in crease Also September results were very high for some workers but on average they were within accep table limits The firm intends lo not only further Improve safe ty standards Tichbourne said but also expand Its Continued on Page Four escape fiery crash Four youths escaped with Ihclr lives Monday afternoon after their car was engulfed in Dames following a crash on 17 Sidcroad just west of Highway Halton Regional Police say a car driven by Demetrios of Toronto was com destroyed in the collision A car driven by George Galway 35 of 4 Campbell Court Acton was not damaged police explained as it was Indirectly involved Two 13 year old passengers In the Maragos vehicle I lsoJeorganicsandDenlscCrooks both of Mill Street Aclon received major Injuries and were taken to Milton Hospital Another passenger George Jeorganlcs 10 received minor Injuries as did There were no injuries to passengers in he car police say They were Barbara Gal way Jamie Shawn and Scott Acton Volunteer Firefighters were summoned to the scene I extinguish the flames Police estimate damage to the chicle The accident Is still under investigation Leathertown Association has big plans for Acton Former Miss Acton Fall Fairs as well as con from this year competition will be invited to be the models In upcoming Leathertown fashion show This was just one of the ideas which the directors and interested citizens came up with Thursday night at the founding meeting of the new Leather town Association About people attended the meeting Plans were formulated for the fashion show Win toriodraw Leathertown Days In May and other up coming Leathertown projects Chip Petrlllo was voted chairman of Leathertown with Cord Murray filling post of secretary Trevor treasurer and Don and Fred and Ed Wood directors More directors will be add later Ted Tyler going on and offer moral support for tho Leather town concept proposed a number of ideas for the fashion show and Days and found he will be called on to at least offer advice on a number of ventures Tyler explained he doesn have the time to get very involved In Leathertown now because of his commitment to Much of the discussion centred on fundrolsing projects to finance information folders downtown refurbishing plans and develop ment of walking history tour It was decided fashion show likely to be stag in early November will beheld in the area where the restaurant will be built In the Hide House Don Is heading up this project with Don McDonald assisting and Tyler offering Input when asked It was agreed tickets will cost and admission will Include two coupons for a glass of wine each and cheese will be served The Hide Is supplying the clothes and music as well as the facilities Extra tickets for wine can be purchased at fashion show and there will bo a cash bar Continued on Page inside Some Acton High School students are getting a band view of social work Read shout it on Pages town plan On the Unveil and Outdoors can be found en Page and don forget to read Profiles on Pages Nellis and Cook spent most of Saturday preparing Trinity United Church for the Thanksgiving Day service Beautiful floral arrangements and an abundance of vegetable adorned the church