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781 MAIN ST. #1 & 2, MILTON 875-4785 A Metroland Community Newspaper Vol. 142 No. 14- Friday, May 4, 2001 36 Pages $ 1.00 (GST included) Fighting vandalism must be community effort, residents told. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE .Down to earth St. Peter's School ceiebrated Earth Week Monday by plantlng seeds and plants around the school and adjacent park. Hors, Chantelle Kennedy (lsft) and Ashley Richardson, both 8, water a lly plant. By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Vandalism can't be effectively battled without a collective com- munity effort. 'hat was the message at a meeting at St. Peter's School Monday night. About a dozen concemed citizens attend- ed the St. Peter's School Council-hosted meeting to address what cati be done to curb the growing problem of vandalism. While no sure-tire solution was present- ed, Halton Regional Police Const. Brenda Fraser - guest speaker for the night - stressed that more community input is needed. A number of residents admitted they've been reluctant to report incidents of van- dalism in the past. Fear of reprisai by local youngsters as well as general pessimism about actually stoppîng those involved wcre given as reasons for not coing for- 'Open house to honour Hadfields Local residents are invited to meet Roger and Eleanor Hadtield, parents of astronaut Chris Hadfield, at an open house tomorrow evening. The event, sponsored by Times Own Travel, will take place in the Community Room on the second loor of Loblaws on Nipissing Road from 5 to 8 p.m. 'We're thinking of expanding the Chris Hadfield Bursary to include aIl three of the high schools and then chose one winner," Ms Hadield said. "To do that we have to increase the money in the trust fund. We'll be talking about that and the launch." Currently, Milton District High Sehool is the only school offering the bursary. Refreshments will be served and Mayor Gord Krantz will be in attendance. For more information, caîl Times Own Travel at (905) 875-9988. ward. But Const. Fraser said a lack of commu- nity involvement wilI only ensure the prob- lem continues. She admittcd that many vandals aren't going to be caught the first time around, but that with enough detailed information police cati target areas for patrol and posai- bly nab repeat offenders. "We need to establish what the high pri- ority areas are," said the high school resource officer. "If we get caîls of an ongoing problem, then it's one more place for us to check." Const. Fraser also told those in atten- dance that "willful damage is willful dam- age' - no matter the amount. One argument raised during the meeting related to school lighting. Some parents said they' ve seen youngsters standing under lights at public schools smoking marijuana while others believed increased lighting would scare off vandals. Const. Fraser said parents need to know where their children are at night and who they'll be with. "You need to maintain communication with your kids. Kids want boundaries," she added. Comment........ 6 NS Report .......8 Lit estyles ......12 Datolns ....... 13 Sports ......20-22 Classified .... .23-25 SATRDAY, MAY 45. Bell WaimaeEgddp IDAp S ea S '8.b.cled am.as anly CuM41g, The Sunscreen That $no Neyer Wears Off 'Tm SOLAR PROTECTIVE GEAR avaiabie at: JO'fLEN'fS 24 MAIN SIE. MILTON 878-0506