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

Weedless Wednesday to focus on 350 deaths per year in Halton National Non-Smoking Week is being celebrated across Canada this week, January 15 to 21 with today (Wednesday) designated as Weedless Wednesday. Today, health departments emphasize the benefits of quitting smoking and promote community resources to help smokers quit. "Tobacco use causes approximately 350 deaths per year in Halton, with second-hand smoke responsible for roughly 20 of these deaths," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton's medical officer of health. "Regular exposure to second-hand smoke increases the chances of developing lung disease by 25 per cent and heart disease by 10 per cent in adults. Parents who smoke also increase the chances that their children will develop asthma by 200 to 400 per cent." In Halton, there are a variety of services and resources available for quitting, some of which include The Stop Smoking Clinic (905-825-6000), Quit Care (905-338-4691) and Smoker's Helpline (1-877513-5333). This year National Non-Smoking Week is also a chance to highlight the new provincial legislation, The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which takes effect on May 31. The Act limits the sale, distribution and use of tobacco products, and makes it easier to prosecute tobacco retailers who sell to those under 19 years of age. The Act also bans smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces, therefore helping to protect Ontarians from the dangers of second-hand smoke. The Halton Region Health Department has received funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to support the implementation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. The Health Department's role includes assisting high schools with student-led tobacco initiatives, completing compliance checks of local tobacco retailers, providing education campaigns to high school students and workplaces, and offering smoking cessation services and resources. For more information on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act or local activities, including cessation activities, please contact the Halton Region Health Department at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-4425866), TTY 905-827-9833, or visit the website www.halton.ca. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which takes effect on May 31, limits the sale, distribution and use of tobacco products, and makes it easier to prosecute tobacco retailers who sell to those under 19 years of age. `Champions For Youth' Gala Dance the night away to the `50s, `60s and `70s music of Rolly Rocker and The Hemi Heads! HHCSI's 6th Annual `Champions For Youth' Gala will be held on Saturday, March 4 at North Halton Golf and Country Club. Tickets are $75 per person, which includes dinner, silent auction and entertainment by Riverbend (playing classical guitar); and Rolly Rocker and The Hemi Heads. All proceeds from the event will support the youth centres of Halton Hills. For more information, or to order tickets, please call 905 873-6502. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Volunteer Coordinator (Part Time) Posting No. 200603 Reporting to the Recreation Supervisor, the Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for the management of volunteers in the Recreation and Parks Department. Duties include recruitment, screening, orientation/ training, ongoing supervision, evaluation and recognition of volunteers. The individual is responsible for maintaining volunteer and staff relations and ensuring a high level of program quality and customer service. Additional administrative responsibilities include report writing, publicity and promotion, development and implementation of department wide volunteer management system including the maintenance of volunteer data and statistics. Other duties may include the planning and delivery of community special events. Children's DEIPP Clinic DEIPP Clinic at the Ontario Early Years Centre, Acton Satellite on Wednesday, February 1, 9:3011:30 a.m. The Developmental Early Identification and Prevention Program (DIEPP) is a free service for parents with children from 0-5 years. If you have concerns regarding your child's speech, hearing, behaviour or general development, you can come for a 15-minute consultation. No appointment necessary-- first come, first served. The satellite is located at 85 Wallace St., Acton. For information call 519-853-2574.