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

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2012 THE NEW TANNER 5 GRAPEVINE Blackglama beckons A black Blackglama mink coat ­ size nine ­ is surely the most expensive item in any Acton consignment shop this holiday season. The rarely worn, shinlength coat with a shawl collar is listed at $7,000 at Dittos Boutique on Mill Street. It was appraised at $8,500 in 1990 when Acton's John George bought it in the fur loft at the olde Hide House as an anniversary gift to his wife Helen. George, who wore the coat only when she travelled or to special events, is glad the furor by anti-fur activists has passed, but now the coat doesn't fit. After several years of waffling about selling it, she walked into Dittos ­ lured by a pair of leather pants ­ and liked what she saw. "It's such a beautiful shop, and I didn't want to list the coat online," George said on Sunday as she delivered the coat to Ditto owner Lolita Rula Babalis, who intends to launch her store website with George's coat, which comes with a Great Lakes Mink Association serial number. schools to buy Ontario local food and food products for their Student Nutrition programs, cafeterias, hospitality/culinary programs and events. Once schools have registered at www.ontariofresh. ca/farmtoschool they are eligible to win prizes ­ including small kitchen appliances values at $300 ­ by filing weekly progress reports on their buying practices. The Challenge ends February 1, 2013, and the top overall Farmto-School Challenge winner will attend an awards gala ceremony in Toronto. For information call Gayle at 905-316-6842 or gayle@ haltonfoodforthough.ca Christmas cheer Once again, Leathertown Lumber is helping make Christmas a whole lot happier for local children. It is accepting new toys to donate to the Salvation Army to distribute to needy kids. Initially the toy drive, now in its tenth year, involved only Leathertown employees, but when customers asked to participate, they were gladly encouraged. Last year, the Leathertown toy depot brought in 70 toys and $500 cash. Donations will be accepted until December 17. Tea time Looking for that perfect stocking stuffer and want to sample a traditional English Tea? Check out Churchill Community Church on December 1 for its annual English Christmas Tea that mixes old time charm with great deals. Along with cranberry scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam, there will be a raffle, bake table, penny sale, children's corner and new giftware. The event runs from 12 to 3 p.m. Grey Cup glory? Acton's attempt for gridiron glory was replayed recently in a Toronto newspaper celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup, which will be played on Sunday. In 1972, with tongues-verymuch-in-cheek, five Acton residents did their best to persuade the Canadian Football League to allow Acton to host the 1974 Grey Cup. The intrepid group made it all the way to a CFL meeting in Montreal where Commissioner Jake Gaudaur played along with the audacious publicity stunt, but eventually rejected the bid over a condition to blackout TV coverage in Crewson's Corners and Speyside. Forty years later, the ring leader, Acton's Jack Carpenter was adamant that the plan to play the Grey Cup on "virgin soil" in Prospect Park could have worked. SANTA SWEETIE: Acton's Ally Hastie-Clark, 9, told Santa just what she wanted for Christmas when she had her photo taken with Old St. Nick on Saturday at the Roxy prior to the Acton Santa Claus parade. ­ Ted Tyler photo Our MPP Reports by Ted Arnott MPP Wellington - Halton Hills Winston Churchill is remembered as the superb wartime leader of Great Britain. He mobilized not only an empire, but also the English language, and took them both into battle against tyranny. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," he said famously, referring to the Royal Air Force pilots in the Battle of Britain, who had maintained air supremacy over the English Channel. Today, with their numbers reduced by the progression of the years, but their memories of the war still vivid, we can say the same of all of our war veterans. We honour those who came home, some broken in body or in spirit. We remember those who did not come home, some known only to God. Mere words are always inadequate to express our gratitude. But we remember still, in our minds and in our hearts. At Remembrance Day observances I attended earlier this month, I spoke of my hometown of Arthur, which was called "Canada's Most Patriotic Village" by the Toronto Star in 1942. With a population of just 890, we had 126 residents in uniform. As a percentage of our population, we had the most men and women in uniform of any community like ours in the country. I spoke of my late father-inlaw, Edward McCabe, who left the family farm near Arthur and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy just after DDay, even though he was just 17. In those days, that kind of courage was commonplace. I spoke of our veterans of Canada's more recent wars. During the Cold War, my friend Ray Pearse served for 25 years in the Canadian Navy. His courage and dedication were shared by thousands of others who have volunteered in the Canadian Forces. In peacekeeping, we remember the 114 Canadians who died on missions in Korea, the Middle East, in Africa, in Asia, in the former Yugoslavia, in Central America and the Caribbean. Wherever we were called by the world community to reduce tensions and keep the peace, we responded. And in the recent war in Afghanistan, the 158 Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten by anyone who views the Portraits of Honour. Recently taken across the country, as a program of Kin Canada, this incredibly moving mural depicts the Canadian soldiers who gave their lives to bring security and civilization to that war-torn country. We were reminded this month that our democratic freedoms were purchased at a high cost by those Canadians who served, fought, were injured or killed. And we must remind others that our democratic freedoms continue to be secured by those who serve in a Canadian military uniform today. We pray for them, for their families, and for peace in our world. Lest We Forget. ****** Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott welcomes your comments. He can be reached at 1-800-265-2366. His website address is www. tedarnottmpp.com BLACKGLAMA BEAUTY: While Acton's Helen George loves her Blackglama mink coat, she doesn't like the fit anymore and is attempting to sell it consignment ­ for $7,000 ­ at Acton's Ditto Boutique. ­ Frances Learment photo Young farmer nominations Nominations are now open for the 2013 Ontario's Outstanding Young Farmer's program that exemplifies the excellence of young farmers in their profession and to promote the tremendous contributions young farmers make to agriculture and rural Canada. Nominees must derive two-thirds of their gross revenue from farming and be under 40. Nominees are judged on progress made in their agricultural career, environmental and safety practices, crop and livestock production history financial and management practices and contributions to the well being of their community, province and country. For details call Karen at 519-836-2583. Student challenge: eat locally Halton Food for Thought wants all Halton students to join the first annual province-wide Farm-toSchool Challenge that will reward schools for eating locally. The Challenge encourages