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THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS 50 cents (+GST) Friday, October 26, 2007 64 Pages www.independentfreepress.com Recipe of the week: Tomato/zucchini soup Pages 14-15 Wheels & Car Care special section 8-Pages Alma mater honours GDHS grad Page S/L 1 Acton firm receives safety award Page 8 Editorial 6 Ted Brown 9 Calendar 21 Classifieds 24-27 Sports S/L 1-6 INSIDE Having extra money and wondering where to spend it is the unusual position the Halton District School Board finds itself in. See details Wednesday. WEDNESDAY... An Acton man is putting his 17 years of experience in law enforcement to good use by starting an initiative to eliminate graffiti in his own hometown. Michael Jander, who has his own business, CAMA International, has developed a graffiti eradication program to remove and control graffiti. I live here, so I take this personally, he said. Graffiti is an act of vandalism that places a significant burden on a municipalitys budget, and may also cause property values to decrease and result in a heightened fear of crime in the community, said Jander. If graffiti is not removed quickly it sends out a message that people do not care about their neighbourhood. Tony Ciufo, owner of Halton Hills Sewing Machine, said his business was among several locally hit by graffiti artists. It cost him just over $200 to have the graffiti removed by a graffiti removal company. Its just a waste all-around, said Ciufo. He said in his 17 years in business in town this is the first time he has been the victim of graffiti artists. Its not something we would expect in Georgetown. Im really surprised, said Ciufo. Were feeling good about our community then something like this happens and it makes you wonder whats going on. We know its not par- ticularly directed against us. As a six-year resident, Jander has been see- ing increasing incidences of graffiti here, including the possible beginnings of a Bloods and Crips gang (or their copycats) turf war moving into area. (905) 873-1655 354 Guelph Street, Georgetown APPLE Auto Glass Truck Accessories Upholstery Heavy Equipment Glass Window Tinting GEORGETOWN CHRYSLER We handle all insurance work. GEORGETOWN VOTED #1 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE 2007 KIA SPECTRA FINANCE0% CALL THE GEORGETOWN HEADQUARTERS 1-866-364-0697 or 905-877-7818 Georgetown Volkswagen The No Nonsense Lease 203 Guelph Street 9 0 5 . 8 7 7 . 5 2 8 5 georgetownvw.com Visit Georgetown Volkswagen for full details. Offer ends October 31, 2007. $349/mo. lease $0 First Payment $0 Security Deposit $0 Down Payment 48 mo. 2007 Jetta 1K25R1Model Includes All Taxes Includes Freight Includes PDI For breaking news go to: www.independentfreepress.com Halton Hills award-winning newspaper Michael Jander of Acton stands beside some graffiti which was recently painted on the side of St. Georges Anglican Church in Georgetown. Jander, the owner of CAMA International, has developed a graffiti eradication program and is hoping local businesses will con- tribute to the plan which has the backing of the Town of Halton Hills. Photo by Ted Brown Eradication program needs corporate support Town to wage war against graffiti CYNTHIA GAMBLE and LISA TALLYN Staff Writers Vandals targeted this natural wood shed on a homeowners property near the George- town Fairgrounds recently. Photo by Ted Brown See GANG, pg. 7