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877 5213 I FoUrt Raal Estate Ltd I Rvattor I EXCELLENCE AWARD I CUSTOMER RELATIONS a DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN Home Newspaper of Halton Hills WEDNESDAY APRIL I I9HI TWENTYFOUR PAGES FREE PARKINI Overall tax bill rises by Towns budget stays trim in 81 Ily CHRIS AAGAARD Herald Staff Writer Amid concerns from the towns finance committee chairman that annual budgets in Halton Hills should do more than maintain the level of service to which residents are accustomed the general committee approved a budget Monday night Blaming outside forces for hefty increases in the vidua tax bill this year Coun Harry Levy told the committee that the 1981 operating budget is per cent more than its predecessor The budget awaits official endorsement from council next Monday The average homeowner he said can expect to pay more in municipal taxes Including a possible SO Increase in the Board of Educations share of the bill and an anticipated hike In the regional levy The remain ing 50 will be collected directly by the town for lis expenditures Proud of the job his commit tee has done In paring the the Hills Arts centre bowls ahead The Georgetown Rotary Club wants to make sure that town councillors are among the to bowlers at Its bowl a April to raise money for the library- theatre centre under construction on Georgetowns Market Street Rotary rep Fred Long told members of the towns general Monday night that the event Is assured of success If it has the support of the municipal politicians Five man teams will ploy alleys for a fourhour period starting at p m and will hopefully raise about The event is planned for the Georgetown Bowl lanes on Mountainview Road South Parks plan supported The towns Master Parks Plan an extensive analysis of open space recreational facilities and other leisure opportunities available to Hills residents has received staunch support from the general committee a tool for the towns future parks planning Conducled by planning consultants Balmer and Associates over a two- year period starting in the plan lists priorities in improving recreational opportunities within the town according to a proposed time frame and reaffirms the recreation and parks departments strong role In helping residents make better use of their leisure time A recommendation drafted by department director Tom basically confirms the Plans role in future municipal planning and In setting policy within the department itself Happy birthday Hans The Hills Public libraries are celebrating Hans Christian Andersens birthday tomorrow Thursday at Drop by the Acton or Georgetown library for free stories films and treats Open to children five years and older Please prercglstcr budget Increase down and commending the efforts of the treasury department to bolster Investment revenue Coun Levy said he would like to improve what the operating budget can do for residents but rate Increases from other agencies have left the town hamstrung Initially the committee had hoped to keep the budget hike at 7 per cent Ihls year However earlier approved plan to purchase over worth of additional public works department equipment wound up when tenders were finally received by the town To cover the extra costs the general committee agreed to add to the proposed purchases a move which boosted the towns operating budget by per cent Although the budget actually indicates an Increase In gross purchases of about 11 per cent Increased revenue some of It from earned in investments made by the treasury depart ment and a slight assess level increase have kept the figure to the low 4 per In preparing the budget the committee noted that it has managed to account or a number of proposed capital expenses without forcing the town to issue debentures a form of borrowing money to cover costs Among the capital expenses the town plans to make this year are several road recon struct on and Improvement projects equipment for the Tire department Including a new dispatch panel to accom modate more business In town and the conversion of the old ambulance building on James Street In Georgetown to the new recreation and parks administration office While gross costs for a number of recreation depart ment projects were trimmed from to Hills residents can expect to see improvements In the picnic area at Georgetowns Cedar- vale park as well as con starts on ball diamonds at the Gordon Arena Actons Prospect Park and the Nor vol Community Park Soccer fields ore plann for the Acton Curling Club property and other locations around town Using revenue collected from the resale of old equip ment as welt as its share of the budget the public works department plans to buy lional snow removal and sand equipment a half Ion pick up truck smaller tools such as lawnmowersand chain The budget has also added for social and family services expenses this year up from last years and development in town sees its share of the I960 budget rise to denoting a S3 per cent increase Despite the finance com attempts to keep the budget increase tow this year theres no guarantee that dents can expect similar stringency in Town treasurer Ray King indicated that the provincial resource equalization grants which help out inequities in property assessment may be cut back next year year the grants pro Id cd the town with about Mr King said BUCKETS OF FUN David left and Beth Hughes of were fascinated by the lap lapping techniques In the Maple bush at the Wildlife Centre near during recent visit Both the Region aad Credit Valley Conservation Authorities are currently offering maple syrup festivals the latter at Orangcvllle Reservoir Conservation Area Herald photo If the strange activities of Its madcap are any indication the Boat Race this Saturday sponsored by the Georgetown Jaycee should be an uproarious success With most the actual completed race Dennis Borotstk seated in tub Bob advertising and rear row left to right logistics chairman Graham Watts race chairman Jack Lee and Tom Oliver dance committee chairman took time to pose for a photo The race is scheduled to begin at noon from Terra Cotta for the canoea while crazy boats will launch a half hour Inter from the Tenth Line bridge in Glen Herald photo Crazy boaters brace for Saturday splash By CHRIS Herald Staff Writer The countdown Is on for wouldbe Captain putting the finish ing touches on their entries for this Saturdays Craiy Boat Race down the Credit River For the sponsoring George town Joycees besides registe ring the anticipated hundreds of skippers crew members and boats the organization and promotion of the event is pretty well completed But theres still lime for a little nail biting before the starters gun launches the first flotilla from the Terra Cot La at noon This year the Jay ceo have Invited a special guest to Join Mayor Pete and race committee chairman Jack Lee on the podium for usual opening words nautical wisdom Although the time of his exact arrival In George town la unknown Ontarios Lieutenant Governor John Aird wilt be down by the Credit River in time to wish boaters a safe voyage on their short trip Irom the Tenth Line bridge in Glen Williams to the paper mill dam on River Road In the 15ycar history of the event the crazy boats have continually attracted more and In tors and parti cipants from around the province And while there arc some dedicated canoeists In the race its largely noted for the unusual breed of sailor It attracts sailors who let their nautical imaginations run wild to meet the challenge of the Credits icy and seasonally Divided into five categories including special classes for commcrclal crazy boats crafts constructed by various service clubs and other float oddities the race Is probably less sport than It Is entertainment for the sailors and the people watching from the shoreline Ladies and gentleman pilot ing conoes or kayaks may their entries at a m at the Terra launching site Their more rough hewn colleagues commanding considerably less conventional enlist for the Credit Navy half an hour later at the Glen Williams start Keeping with tradition the noon start for canoes should be just about right to meet the first launch of crazy boats downriver at 12 Some where in the ensuing confu the sport ends and the entertainment begins As an added bonus this year boaters may face a few unavoidable portages thanks to the Credits relatively low level Fear not race publicity chairman Dennis assures the race will go on high water or low While the idea is to have fun Mr stressed that boaters will be responsible for their conduct on and offshore and there are some basic rules to follow For instance no boater will be allowed to compete without a lifejacket one thats appro ved by the ministry of trans portation and communica tions And despite a recent warm spell the Credits waters ore a till dangerously numbing without help from any medicinal booze for courage Members of the police force and the will be cracking down on open drinking and Mr strongly advises saving the celebrating for the victory dance later in evening Meanwhile CBcrs and club members will be keeping a close eye on the race from the shore watching for sailors whocndupintherlvcr TheSt Johns ambulance plan to have a couple of crews ready to handle emergencies Alter the first boats are launched the race Is expected to take about two hours to complete and will be followed by a final sweep of the river by the Jaycees to make sure no one Is left behind One thing boaters should consider Mr pointed out Is that the river Is owned by the Credit Valley Conserva tion Authority and the home owners living along its shore Its Important that partici pants spectators respect the private propel theyre using by removing any debris left behind The have set a entry fee per craft plus a deposit on the racing bib for each participant There may be some concession stand food available and the Glen Hall Committee is expected to return this year with their popular hot refreshment stand In the old town hall The traditional victory dance will get underway at m in the Acton Legion hall Tickets available from any Jaycee are selling fast although there may be some left over Ihe race The cost Is per person and music will be provided by MacMIUon and Wife disc Jockey service The race Is wide open Enter anything you think can sorely float downriver and across the finish line Besides looking for the obvious speedy winners judges will be awarding trophies for Ihe entries as well Happy sailing CAS agreement averts strike threat in Halton Independence of disabled focus of meeting Tuesday An Important meeting examining ways of helping disabled citizens during the International Year of the Disabled is scheduled for next Tuesday April at Centennial Public School in Georgetown The free meeting organ by he University Womens Club of George town gets underway at and features special guest speakers from BOOST Blind Organization of Ontario with Selfhelp Tactics BOOST president Jo- Anne Yale and director David will describe shared by the dls and outline how concerned residents can help In the January issue of Chatelaine repor ter Dorothy Saogstcr bed BOOST as an aggress young group operating out of Toronto with more than 100 members in Ontario Last year BOOST made headlines when it lashed out at agencies which encourage dependency she reported It would like to see Ihe Canadian National Institute for the Blind phased out by the end of the 80s and replaced by community groups and provincial commissions Mrs Yale article explained was overexposed to oxygen as a premature baby in a hospital incubator and developed rctrolcntal fibroplasia and permanent blindness as a result Yale now Is new breed blind person the article said She Is cducat Independent establishment an Paternalism of any kind Is anathema to her Pity she despises She refuses towcar dark glasses and If theres anything she hates its the welt meaning stranger who Childrens Aid Soci ety CAS workers voted per cent In favor of their first agreement last week averting a crippling strike scheduled to begin last Friday First agreements are al ways the longest and the toughest to negotiate Cana dian Union of Public Employ ees representative Allen told The Herald last week Most of the CASs work ers certified under agreed to a 1981 contract giving them a nine per cent salary increase effective Immediately and further two per cent in July The union Mr Allen said had modified Its demands originally seeking cost of liv ing Increases In addition CAS workers will no longer have to pay for part of their provincial health insurance coverage and will evenly share in a new society dental plan Prior to the new bills Vacation lime for all work ers has also been adjusted Child care workers who norm ally waited five years before Kiting four weeks off now only wall one year Social and child care employees re ceive an additional week after the fifth year while clerical staff ore given five weeks vacation after 16 years of service The high bumout rote among child care and social workers attributed to on-the- job stress necessitates the new holiday structure Mr Allen said CAS employees began negot iating Tor a first agreement Aug 12 and eventually went Into mediation Feb 19 Al though the- new contract is expected to run for remain der of the year employees and management will again sit down to the bargaining table in October But Mr Allen said there wont likely be as many items on the tabid the next time on agreement Is negotiated Meanwhile the societys new president John Graham said the CAS board of directors approved the new contract without dissenting vote During the strike there may have developed a period of unhapplness and bitter ness Mr Graham said but we are happy lo have reached on amicable agreement with out a strike An area superintendent with the Board of Education Mr Graham said there was concern that a strike would disrupt lives of children under CAS core lives which have already faced a consider able amount of strife Among the CAS boards members arc six regional councillors including Acton rep Dave Whiting and Mayor Pele Pomeroy Acton lifesaver wins Safety Council award Herald Special A 10yearod Aclon boy will be one of Ihe recipients of the Halton Safely Council awards April 3 at a dinner in Kevin Fabian son of John and Wendy Fabian of Cameron Street pulled classmate Robert Jennings out of Fairy Lake Feb 12 1980 when he fell through ice on his way home from Robert Little public school Kevlr- said he was walking along the Ice on the lake with Robert and some other children when Robert decid ed ho wanted to test the water temperature and pet the swans The boys accompanied by Kevins brother Adorn 7 and sister Melissa were on the ice behind the Acton arena where the water is approxi mately to is feet deep when Ihe ice suddenly gave way and Robert plunged in Kevin rushed to the edge of the hole and bodily dragged him back out of the water although Robert Is heavier than he Is I still dont know why the ice didnt give way a second said Mrs Fabian All the life saving courses you see tell you to lie flat on the Ice and reach as far as possible or use something to reach with but he didnt she said He Just ran to the edge and dragged him out He must have been lighter or the weak ice had broken off or something Kevin said three or four of the youngsters of the same age on the other side of the open water stood and laugh ed at Roberts predicament Kevin has had no life saving courses although he has taken swimming classes through the school Area organizations benefit from region social grants Social service organiza tions in received about In grants this year about half the originally sought by GO agen cies before ihe regional council began its budget trimming Among the groups which eventually received funding from the region were the North Association for the Mentally Retarded the fledgeling North Social Planning Council and the Acton Community Services office While Halton Womens Place a refuge for abused women which opened last October was not given a grant to help pull It out of a deficit Help ing Hands received the largest social agency grant or The organization provides housekeeping services for senior citizens and other less mobile home- Meanwhile efforts by region to limit Ihe 1981 operating budget to lis posed million have hindered by increases In the Halton police depart ments budget About million more has been proposed for the police budget above the original forecast released earlier in the year Although members of the regions finance and administration committee have pared away about 1 million from the regions operating budget the police department Increase combi ned wilh smaller jumps from other departments have almost nullified councillors efforts Budget discussions expected to continue until mid April possibly readying a final proposal for councils approval in May PLANT WELCOMES NEW OWNERS The takeover of Georgetowns Canada Lid plant by an American company been approved by the federal governments Foreign In vet men Review Agency Rockwell International Corporation based in Pittsburgh but with a plant la Milton will take over the Sinclair Avenue manufacturing firm a subsidiary of the Americanowned Wescom Incorporated approved the takeover this week with IS other similar proposals while rejecting three Georgetown plant manufacture voice frequency pulse code modulation transition equipment grabs her arm and propels her across street In 1976 following her marriage to California born Michael Yale blinded by a backyard explosion at age of live Mrs Yale toured western Europe for six months She and her husband were accompanied only by their secingcyc dogs telling puzzled friends they desired challenge of exploring a new land even if Ihey couldnt sec It The travels Included a hostile run In with unsympathetic Parisian police who refused to let Ihcm climb the Eiffel Tower Continued from page At CANCER CAMPAIGN BLOSSOMS Org in Urn of this year Daffodil Days former Citizen of the Year Mr and Mr Irwin Noble are pictured with Diane chairman for the Cancer Society unit The Cancer Society is holding a breakfast this morning for commercial and industrial Herald photo