The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The Fiee Press Wednesday Jan 20 Jfrte Don McDonald Publisher TELEPHONE Founded in every V MatroUnd Lid at Willow Street Acton Telephone SuUcnpton Single 30 Men 3000inelcounlrieQnerthnCanda Trie Acton fro one the Printing Ltd group of a accosted on condition that in the event of tvpoorspriicaj error Whitby New Aurora portion the occupied by the together Banner Newmarket Era Aurora BannerNetymerkel Era Weekend Edition The Bolton tor rtil or but the balance of the adverueement be Brimpion The The Burtngton Weekend The paid for at the rate In the event a typographical error adveniuno of AdvenaeeiGoardien The The Independent at a price good or may not be old a merely en offer Etonorrwt and Sun The Champion The New M0 time The New Weekend Edition The North York Conaumer The North York rTr Friday Bef OriiM Week Oahrvv Th Member The Newspaper and The Weekend Peel Consumer The Richmond HHThornhiB The The Mirror The Tribune The Veuflhen Second claw mail flrrain Number EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT or Murray New Editor Helen Murray Sport Dan Peter Mitt ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Manager Bit Cook Salem Susan Stone Carolyn National Dan 416 BUSINESSACCOUNTING OFFICE Office Manager Thrxnha CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT Manager Great strides made in policecommunity relations Great strides were made last year in improving police- community relations in Acton because efforts were made by both sides Theres no reason attitudes and relations wont improve further this year too In late tensions between the police and citizens long simmering away finally came to a boil when local business man Lome went public with a long list of com plaints and criticism com plaints and criticisms which had cropped up in previous let ters to this newspaper from citizens as well as verbalized frequently by residents After a period of understand able defensiveness the force took steps to solve its image problem here Chief James Harding invited politicians and businessmen to headquarters in for a tour and explanation of regional police operations Then he announced that for all of the same 12 officers would patrol in Acton and try and get to know the town The police topped off their campaign with an open house at the Legion and Acton re sponded admirably over 250 citizens dropped by to meet the dirty dozen and force brass The foundations of improved relations were laid but it was up to the officers and citizens to keep things going All indications are both sides succeeded in building strongly on the new feelings fostered by the open house Harding calls 1981 a community success story He believes relations between the police and community have greatly improved based on the fact complaints have plummet- ted The north Halton police boss Matt MacPherson and agree Our reading of the situation is the same Letters have dropped off drastically and calls to the newsroom about police service have been rare Its common to see officers walking the streets now and chatting with residents cant say they dont know the forces face in town any more except for a few excep tions the same have been in the cruisers and on the streets all year An officer was assaulted downtown last summer by three youths and citizens came to has rescue Police thank citizen tips for helping them solve more crimes this past year This isnt to say everyone is happy Weve heard a few sug gestions that the police havent improved Some still expect the officers can do something significant about speeding on residential streets when there are only two men per shift in town There have been some complaints even justifiable on occasion of police in vestigative procedures Re cently an officer was close by when a burglary was commit ted downtown and missed catching the culprits But overall the situation has improved greatly complaints have been few And things can get better especially if the force receives the funds from the region the Chief is looking for over the next few years for things luce extra men so there can be more than two men here per shift and the local station can be kept open longer each day However even if funds arent forthcoming as quickly as the police and community would like the situation can be fur ther improved The planned open house this year and visits to town by the Chief and other brass will con tinue to give Acton the opportunity to be heard by the force Communication shouldnt be something which takes place just when there is a problem Communication wont halt the rise in crime but it can put a dent in the problem Our readers write What do councillors consider clean streets Dear Sir I don t know what the councillor consider clean I wu in downtown Acton every day last week and our streets were still not cleared So on Friday called Mr Knechtel and Mrs Grubbe and as far as Mr Knechtel was concerned the roads were not bad at all he said he had been downtown and talked to the merchants and said Ihey had nothing to say about the streets You must have been in another town Mr Knechtel because all the mer chant were really upset about the st reets You said my previous letter was uncalled for because your colleague had talked to me several times- 1 hate to Inform you we spoke twice I called Mrs Grubbe and she called me so the many tunes were twice Then called Mrs Grubbe the same day Friday that I called you I stlD get the story we have to wait until etc etc etc have been calling about my driveway for and what do I we are finishing a job in Georgetown when we get it finished we will come and see the problem but it never happens Our taxes are up our hydros up water and sewage up and we are not getting what we should get for them We are told they have to wait for a heavy snowfall before they can act I wonder what would happen If our did the same thing when they are operating on someone stand back and wait for something to happen don t think that I really am going to get anywhere with this but maybe will get some people thinking I must thank Mr Richardsons office for the fast reply to my letter about my coat being torn when I fell on Ice but nothing has been done about my coat yet We the people In Acton are not against the people in Georgetown But we Acton folks would like a little attenUon for our money AnlUOckenden Churchill Real people of Acton must save town hall buildings of kind has served Your January a issue mentions 100 us for full century years ago today accepted extinction means too forever plans for the town hall and of Actoos people Wtotaows bow many months or even get together right now we will be that council over such a property could never re commitment No doubt some of those place councillors bad the drive and vision to give Acton one of tbe finest Church SL1L Many of tub things IK LIFE BE WITH MERE I FOR On the Ed was recently guest of honor at a birthday and retirement party Ed turned on January 10 and will be through work at next week alter more than years of ser vice Some 45 people attended the party A belated happy birthday Ed and congratulations on your retirement Five new families were welcomed Into town recently by the Welcome Wagon Mr and Mrs Earl have moved here from Huntsville and Mr and Mrs Marcus Hunt and young son have made their home here from Victoria Mr and Mrs John Dowdell come from Kitchener and Mr and Mrs Brian Lewis and daughter and Mr and Mrs Bruce Foster and two children all have moved here from Brampton Even though It is the middle of January Santa Is still keeping in touch with the Free Press He called me Inst week to say how pleased he was to receive in the mail after Christmas It was a card from Amy Jowett of Acton thanking him for all the gifts he her Santa says he received lots of letters from youngsters telling him what to bring but very rarely thanking him It is little children like Amy who make his hard Job worthwhile Roland Height brought In an old school text book recently He received an entire box full of them from Vera McQuade who found the books under the floor In the attic Some of the books belonged to Bracken now Robinson who along with her husband Stan sold the farm McQuade lives on some 20 years ago Some of the books belonged to her husband while others belonged to friends Some of books are The New Century Book of Facts History of England The Ontario Readers and a Latin Book There are many loose pieces of paper slipped into the books some of them obviously notes that had been passed from student to student without the teachers knowledge One of the books belonged to Mable Jennllla MacGregor 1 Acton She attended Acton Continuation School One of the papers In her text book had the school song written out Does anyone remember if Heres to good old Acton ACS ACS Heres to good old Acton ACS ACS Heres to good old Acton With English Math French and Latin ACS ACS come on Chorus Breathes of victory victory Breathes of victory victory Brave boys and maidens And grand old tales and legends A C S is quite unique The crowning glory of Truth Education through each week Encircling the sparkling youth V1ctory V 1ctor y the motto of ACS Heres to good old third form ACS ACS Heres to a good old third form Friendships mirth and memories warm ACS third form Heres to second form ACS ACS Heres to second form ACS Heres to second form With wisdom laughter and hailstorms ACS ACS ACS great form Heres to the ACS Heres to the Freshies ACS ACS Heres to the With high hopes and all their follies ACS ACS ACS Freshies The books arent In the greatest of sh ape but are readable The second printing of some of the books was In 1922 A local jogger Is very concerned about the lack of snow shovelling of Ac ton sidewalks especially in the area of Knox Ave He was out jogging recently after a heavy snowstorm and saw an elderly lady walking along the roadway be cause there was too much snow on tbe sidewalk She sUpped and fell putting herself In danger of being hit by a car The kind jogger carried the lady home and to safety Club winners for the past several weeks are December 26 Ed Guldo DeKIinc Jan 474 Danny McGilloway490JohnWeldon January SS Shirley Bill Fields January Ed McMillan Terry was the lucky winner of a shopping spree at Fashions the prize In the Christmas draw of the Chi Sororlety The Georgetown Fireflies an organized campers had a busy Christmas season Acton residents Joan and Murray Harrison are the presidents of the club with many other Actonlans Involved Anyone Interested in joining can call Murray at MEANDERINGS by Mabel Magnets One of the handiest things bought In Denmark a few years ago was a gadget you attach to the wall near the sink which has a magnet in It You press a of metal that resembles a pop top In fact you could use one of these into the soap and It hangs in the air ard never Buds up the sink It is extremely handy in the kitchen One of my sons is forever taking magnets out of things and I put them to use One holds pot holders on my and another Is In the side of my fridge where place the scissors I am never at a loss to find my scissors I found a delightful toy for my grand son that Is also a magnet It is an air plane and you can put It on the side of a fridge or anything that is metal and It rolls down and then slides across the floor It can park in some of the queer est places Years ago when my youngest child was having speech therapy she was fascinated by the magnets the therapist had for the children to play with The alphabet can be bought in magnet form and children can learn to make words on the fridge close to Mothers super vision And I suppose most people have little magnets on the fridge In various shapes for decoration or under which to Insert a note for a member of the family I would say that tbe use of magnets In a household Is endless Outdoors FLETCHER The coming weekend should be a prime time for Ice fishing Ice hut operators have their huts out in force on Lake Simcoe Reports are that Lake Trout White fish and Blue Back Herring are hitting well Every person or group should not forget to take along a good compass On the larger lakes many huts are mile from shore are frequent on windy days and believe me one can be- corae disoriented very quickly Ice but operators have no better judgement of conditions than you or me and usually operate by tbe seat of their pants and good luck Usually one may rent the basics in tackle to be used however most of the tackle Is heavy and rather crudely made to withstand rough usage If you are a novice to the sport you sh ould contact a sportsman who is an avid ice angler and has an hour to spare talk ing to you An hour talking to an Ice fisherman will more than pay off in enjoyment of your trip I recommend that each person take at least one tip up rig plus one jigging rig these need not be expensive They are hardly more than a stick with tight line attached Also take along spoon that one would use In the summer An Ice auger or Ice pick is a nice add ition If one likes to walk away from the hut and try new areas This equipment Is a necessity if one is fishing on open lakes such as Georgian Bay where there are few huts available Reports are there is good open water fishing for ana Rainbow Trout at the mouth of the Thames River near the hydro station Warm water from the hydro station makes for good fishing in this area Check your fishing regulations for ice fishing tut dosed this year due to over fishing We have wonderful new visitors to our bird feeders In this cold weather Card inals and GrossbcJta plus the usual sparrows etc are at feeder A small amount of reed Dont forget l Back issues 10 years ago January If 1971 Discovery by federal planners that the district would not be a suitable site for the proposed new Toronto naUonal Airport has again at tenUon on Acton and district the preferred site for the new facility Mayor Duby suggestion that Acton antique council chambers In the town hall were long overdue for renov received almost Instant response Acton 1974 centennial may be a long way off but for huckster Jack Carpenter and his centennial commission an unorthodox group assembled to promote the towns birthday it helps to receive municipal approval even if II is only in principle Mr and Mrs William Vorcoe marked years of married life at a celebration last Saturday at Brookvllte Hall They have lived it for years hove to go along with the Fergus NewsRecord which editorially called the rise of first class letter rates to eight cents on January as being pay ill timed 20 years ago January 19tl Randy Daly 10yearold grade high school student brought honors to his school Monday evening when he placed first In the Regional Public speaking contest in During Acton Hydro Commissions lnaugrual meeting Thursday evening January 11 Gordon was returned for another term as chairman Appointed vicechairman was E Tyler Sr a veteran of the former public utilities commission and hydro commission New executive of Acton Curling club Jack Ridley Is president Jim vice president Jim Ingles secretary J Cutting treasurer Alex Zbeetnoff by laws and constitution committee chair man Vic Patrick draws committee chairman with Ivan Cliff Bradley and Mrs Holmes Ted Tyler Sr social and refreshment committee convener with Charlie Mrs Lois McKenxle Mrs Frank Van Mel Jordan and Jim Graham Frank Van Wyck Is mem bershlp convener with Bruce Shoemaker and Mel Blow Bill Coon is property chairman with George Cooper Andy Nolan and Johnny Krapek 50 years ago January 1831 The council elect for the Township of for the year 1B32 met at oclock a on Monday and having sub scribed to the oath of office took their seats as follows George Currle Reeve Appelbe deputy reeve L Mullln Wesley Murray and N A Robinson councillors Two sales of farm properties are re ported this week by Kerr real estate agency The farm and its complete stock and equipment of Johnstone and Co known as Farm has been sold to Mr W and son of Toronto The farm at lot 23 concession In Esqueslng township has been sold to Mr AE Haugh of Weston It would appear that the move ment from the city back to the land had actually commenced Mrs Bennett and Miss Minnie Bennett spent New Year Day at the home of Mr and Mrs Isaac Bennett George town 75 years ago January There will be held In the Town Hall next Tuesday evening under the auspices of the ladies of St Albans church a spinsters tea and the young ladies will enforce rules which will require all the wits of the young men to observe For Instance any gentle man found taking tea with his right hand will be fined five cents The annual meeting of Acton Cornet Band was held In Matthews Hall Heavy expenditures for the past year included US for putting up a new bandstand from which to give free concerts during the summer The annual grant from the town Is A vote of thanks was tendered to bandmaster CW No fear of failure of the Ice crop this sea son years ago January 1S82 Two of the councillors who were elected The two cand idates who stood next also declined A new election will be required Our municipal matters are in rather a badly muddled condition At the last meeting of Guelph city council each was granted the reporter of the Herald and Mercury for reporting council meetings during the year A tramp under the Influence of liquor fell off the T bridge at and was killed We would like to see more honest men more handsome women more Acton damsels who do not bang their hair more people with sufficient intelligence to read and appreciate the papers and be more prompt In paying the printer