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

_____i Kids urged to turn off the TV and 2et active' By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion H] ey kids, sec that ittie button on the remnote lmarked OFF? Here's a novel concept- next week, try hitting it. And don't worry, there are plensy of activities to help fuI the voidi. Thats the aim of the Halton Region Health Department's sec- ond annual TV-Tumnoff Week, which locally muns this Monday to Friday. l-alson-area municipalities have a hoat of programa set up to help children six to 12 years of age detach themselves from the computer or boob tube - and Milton is no exception. The Milton Leisure Centre will offer a différent set of activities each day next week between 4 and 6 p.m., said Town of Milton fit- ness supervisor Tracy Hasaelfeldt. "It's a free drop-in prograin with a hatle bit of everything," she said. "Basically the Region 's providing a guide to help parents fund ways to get their kids off the sofa and become active." Next week's line-up includes a wide range of TV altemnatives- everyshing from crafts in the kitchen to a week-end.ing fun day that's set to feature juss about every indoor sport possible, includ- ing always-popuîar dodge hall. The programn alto includea an information package - available as participasing locations like the leisure centre or by visiting www.healitdep@haltononca - which lisîs ways for boUi chil- dren and familles to become more active. Whiîe the Milton Leisure Centre is once again the focal poins for Uic program IocaIIy, the TV-Tumnoff Guide suggests a number of other sites around Uic area in which 50 get one's daily fitness fix- including Milton's many conservation parks. Last year, Uic local program attracted roughiy three dozen youngssers to Uic leisure centre, a number Ms Hasseifeldt would shere ch mmretoI*t,7,&Y! from I 1499v LA-Z-BOY. Nutrition Notes How can local business help? *Volunteer in a sChool nutrition program *Make a financial donation -Sponsor a program with a food donation *Join the Halton Food for Thought partnership committee Halton Food for Thought Coordinator 905-845-5597 ext. 201 oéodforthought@cogeco.ca L ai1s u r e Centres Bilan Nomîore (ieft) and Tracy Ha s if id t show some Of the sports equlpment #U9,11l b. used toa ttract chui- dren toward a more active Iffestyle durlng TV-Tu rnoff Week April 7 to Photo 1b' GRAHAM - AINE a0 like to sec double this time around. While she admits; Uiat many participants were childrcn who were simply looking for anoUier fitness opportunity, as lestat quarter of last year's group were among Uic targes audience - those who spcnd an unhealUiy amount of time glucd to the com- puter or television screcn. "We'rc fmnding nowadays Uiat kida arc spcndmng more and mone time in front of Uic TV and computer and Uiat Icads to obesity and a general lack of heali," said Ms Hasselfeldt. "Wc're hopmng to try to ges kida to stars changing Uiat lifestyle and sec what can hap- pen when Uicy do." That doesn's necessarily require a huge lcap into Uic sporting world, she stressed. Thinga as simple as taking a walk, helping make dmnner or raking up leaves in the backyard can gradually stimulate an active routine. "I'd say stars out amaîl and build on it. Try it out and have some fun," said Ms H-asselfeldt. For more information on local TV-Tumoff Week activisies, call the leisure centre as (905) 878-7946. Steve LeBlianc can be reached at sleblanc@haltonsear-h.com. barry/lanilow'5 ~ COPD-rAC %.A eMA inspired by the Lynics and Music of Barry Manilow APril7 - 8Pm Hamilton Place Theatre Tlickets availabie at Copps Colseum box office, ail flcketmaster locations, on-line at www.ticketjnaste..oe or charge by phone 905-527-7666 For uýp--t-date show listings, vfsit www.hecfl.on.ca Just cali me 'Slow Train Townsend' Here's my dilem- ma. Or a couple of my dilemmas. Icovered the Milton Marauders for The Champion O h 1laat year, a season in which they bast o s every game. Some people thought 1 was rough on them, although 1 think 1 waa more than fair. Later, in another of these columna 1 mentioned that 1 would like to play a down (or two) for the Maraudera at running back in an actual game - flot, of course, becauae i think 1 can do better, but becauae it's anme- thing I 'd like to do. Like a fantasy experience. So, now the Maraudera have called my bluff. They've invited me to train with them, and 1 thmnk shey're going to give me a chance to carry the baIl, for at least one play. Some people have suggested it's a devious plot to get back at me and that I wiIl be lucky to make it out of there alive. lnstead of bcbng an imbedded reporter, I 'd be a beheaded reporter. Even though byve lost 30 pounds - thanks to Beverly Hi-las Weight Management Centre and The Champion's Weight Loss Challenge - I haven't been very active physically for a number of yeara. I had to quit playing hockey because I couldn't bend over to tie up my akates, and my last at bat in slow pitch softball was a home mun over the fence, which I couldn't mun out because I pulled a muscle at the same time. I feel as if I could stars playmng both again. Slow pitch is difficult because the Milton league has a waiting list that t've neyer mani- aged to put my name on. If somebody knows of a league nearby for old timers, where I could play this year, even a mixed league, let me know. Anyway, back to the football. TMe other day I tried running to sec how it would féee again. I worked on my shucks and jives and it felt great... for the first 10 seconds. Next time l'm going to go for 20 seconds. Oh, yeah, the dilemmas. bn my fantasy dreama I see myself carsying the football in for a touchdown. When I wake up, I'm throwing the hall on thc ground, waving my banda in the air and running the other way. If 1 do go work out with the team, I'm mostly afraid of embar- raasing myself. They do 50 jumping jacks, I do five, that sort of thing. Embarrassing myself isn't something I should be worried about, since I do it ail the time, but still it's a worry. see l'O on page 12 1 - - CY - - fflwmw now- qw im V %W