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Council okays tax reduction On January 26, Halton Regional Council unanimously approved the Region's 2011 Budget and Business Plan, delivering a 0.2% tax reduction for Regional programs and services. This is the second consecutive year the Region has not increased property taxes for its services, while continuing to invest in important programs. The 2011 budget is focused on maintaining and enhancing core services and programs to the community, without increasing the current cost of their delivery. Council remains committed to providing effective Regional programs and services including infrastructure (e.g. Regional roads and water and wastewater facilities), social services, and public health. The 2011 budget supports Halton's social infrastructure with additional investments, including: · $1.5 million increase in funding to support the goal of creating 60 to 100 new social housing units each year · $713,500 to leverage existing social housing units to reduce wait lists · Two additional paramedics to improve ambulance services using a new Emergency Response Unit The budget also includes over $130 million for transportation projects including the widening of: James Snow Ask The Professionals PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES Win a coupon for 50% off a Happy Ad with every question submitted For the Professionals by March 8th, 2011. features@independentfreepress.com or call 905-877-0301 ext. 237 11 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, February 8, 2011 Gary Carr Parkway in Milton ($29.4M); Trafalgar Road in Halton Hills ($5.1M); and Winston Churchill Boulevard in Halton Hills ($5.0M). When combined with the 4.4% increase in the Halton Regional Police Service budget, Halton taxpayers will see an increase of 1.4% on the total Regional property tax bill. Regional Council also approved the rate-supported water and wastewater 2011 budget with a combined increase of 4.1%. I am proud to say that over the last five years, the average annual tax increase for Regional programs and services has been approximately half a per cent-- one of the lowest among municipalities in Canada. To learn more about the 2011 Budget and Business Plan visit www.halton.ca/budget. --Gary Carr is the chair of Halton Region 905-873-9393 211 Guelph St., Ste #5, Georgetown L7G 5B5 Manon Dulude WWW.FORGECOACHINGANDCONSULTING.COM INFO@FORGECOACHINGANDCONSULTING.COM 905-873-8400 www.haltonspeech.com Karen MacKenzie-Stepner Q: A: How can Coaching help me better manage my career planning process? Georgetown Slopitch Invites you to play ball. An information meeting for new teams, players and umpires will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24th at 7:00 pm at the McGibbon Hotel. League committment fees of $400 are due by March 10, 2011. GSL is open to men and women 19 or over. Please visit our website at www.georgetownslopitch.com for more information. Sponsors welcomed. Space is limited so act now! We encourage new teams and new players to joins us. Finding a new career or a new position can be an intimidating prospect. One of the important goals of the career decision-making process is finding career options most compatible with an individual's interests, skills and abilities. Job searchers fall into 3 categories; the Hunter, the Explorer, and the Conqueror. The Hunter has a targeted career goal and needs a personal marketing plan. The Explorer tends to be vague about his career direction and needs assistance in discovering his interests. This personal discovery work is achieved through conversation and the use of assessment tools which provide clarity and unbiased information about the person's skills, interests, personal style, and career values. This information maximizes the client's confidence in designing and implementing a new career plan. The Conqueror likes the work he is involved in and is motivated to move his career forward. In this case, coaching assists in identifying and developing key behavioral strengths necessary to secure a promotion. Coaching will assist him in mapping out a career plan to achieve his desired career destination. Wherever you find yourself on your career path, working with a Coach will guide you through the discovery, career decisionmaking and marketing phases of your career management process. Coaches focus on helping clients to create career plans which are aligned with their strengths, values, interests and skills. Coaching will also assist you with implementing your plan and overcome obstacles as they are encountered. The outcome is expected to bring you personal success and overall life satisfaction. Manon Dulude Ph.D. (candidate) is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation. She offers Executive, Leadership and Team Development Coaching as well as Career Coaching. To contact Manon, call 905 873- 9393. I have heard the Halton Hills Speech Centre now has services provided by a Communicative Disorders Assistant. What does this person do and how is it different from a Speech-Language Pathologist? Q: A: A Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) is a professional who is trained to work as a team with a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to provide services to the community. A CDA may have a variety of background education, but has received postgraduate training from either Georgian College or Durham College in Ontario. At the Halton Hills Speech Centre, the CDA and SLP work together as a team providing services to some of our clients. The SLP completes the initial assessment and develops a therapy plan which is then carried out by the CDA. A "joint visit" is provided by the SLP and CDA every sixth session in order to monitor the therapy program and to review goals. A CDA can carry out intervention programs with a variety of populations from pediatrics to geriatrics. A CDA may see children with articulation or language difficulties, provide group treatment for adults with language problems after a stroke or provide a literacy program for preschool children. The SLP makes recommendations during the course of therapy and supervises the overall treatment. & WellnesCenter Inc. 324 Guelph St., Georgetown Halton Gate Plaza PROFESSIONALS JENNI VENERUZ 905-702-7891 Q: A: When I lie down or roll over in bed, I feel a spinning sensation. Why? WANTED The Geogetown Slo-Pitch League is looking for UMPIRES for the 2011 Season. No experience necessary. League will provide training. Those interested are welcome to attend our information meeting on Thursday, February 24th at 7 pm at the McGibbon or contact: umpires@georgetownslopitch.com You may be experiencing the effects of a condition called BPPV. This is a very common problem that occurs in the inner ear. Crystals that are normally contained in a sac in the inner ear fall loose and float into one of the canals. When you move your head in certain directions, the crystals will move through the fluid and stimulate receptors inappropriately, giving you a sensation of "spinning" or VERTIGO. A Registered Physiotherapist with advanced training in Vestibular Rehabilitation can help guide these crystals back into the sac with a very simple and painless maneuver. The treatment is highly effective and the vertigo should be gone after the first visit. to inform our readers & answer their questions Contact Special Features to find out about our booking specials 905-873-0301, ext. 237 features@ independentfreepress.com