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The Oakville BeaverGuest Column467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566Classified Advertising: 905-632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on thecondition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be chargedThis year's budgetfor, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of theOakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Gary Carr, Halton Regional ChairNEIL OLIVERVice-President and Group Publisher,MARK DILLSDirector of ProductionMetroland WestMANUEL GARCIAProduction Managern Jan. 26, Halton Regional Council unanimouslyDAVID HARVEY Regional General ManagerCHARLENE HALLDirector of Distributionapproved the Regions 2011 Budget and BusinessJILL DAVISEditor in ChiefSARAH MCSWEENEYCirc. ManagerOPlan, delivering a 0.2 per cent tax reduction forROD JERREDManaging EditorWEBSITE oakvillebeaver.comRegional programs and services. Gary CarrDANIEL BAIRDAdvertising DirectorThe Oakville Beaver is a division ofThis is the second consecutive year the Region has notRIZIERO VERTOLLIPhotography Directorincreased property taxes for its services, while continuingSANDY PAREBusiness Managerto invest in important programs for its residents. RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY:The 2011 budget is focused on maintaining and enhancing core services andOntario CommunityCanadian Community Suburban Newspapersprograms to the community, without increasing property taxes.Newspapers AssociationNewspapers Associationof AmericaCouncil remains committed to providing effective Regional programs and ser-THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:vices including infrastructure (e.g. Regional roads and water and wastewaterfacilities), social services, and public health.United WayAmong the enhancements to programs and services, the 2011 budget supportsof OakvilleHaltons social infrastructure with additional investments, including:ATHENA? $1.5 million increase in funding to support the goal of creating 60 to 100 newAwardsocial housing units each year? $713,500 to leverage existing social housing units to reduce wait lists? Two additional paramedics to improve ambulance services using a newEmergency Response UnitThe budget also includes over $130 million for transportation projects includ-ing improvements to: James Snow Parkway in Milton ($29.4M); Trafalgar Road inHalton Hills ($5.1M); and Winston Churchill Boulevard in Halton Hills ($5.0M).When combined with the 4.4 per cent increase in the Halton Regional PoliceService budget, Halton taxpayers will see an increase of 1.4 per cent on the totalRegional property tax bill. For a typical household with current value assessmentof $350,000 this equates to an increase of $18.76 for 2011.Regional Council also approved the rate-supported water and wastewater 2011budget with a combined increase of 4.1 per cent for Halton residents and busi-nesses. For a typical household using 300 cubic metres of water per year, this equatesto an increase of $31.10 over 2010 levels. This budget includes over $50 million to maintain existing water and sewerplants and pipes, while managing operating cost pressures including the cost of hydro. I am proud to say that over the last five years, the average annual tax increasefor Regional programs and services has been approximately half a per cent oneof the lowest among municipalities in Canada.RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVERTo learn more about the 2011 Budget and Business Plan, visit www.halton.ca/ALL FOR THE PLAYGROUND: The JK-Grade 8 James W. Hill Public School's first Valentine's Day dance-budget.a-thon on Feb. 14 attracted all of the school's 420 students and raised $7,000 as students showed off their bestIf you have any Regional concerns or comments you would like to share, feeldance moves in the gym. Besides promoting physical fitness and school spirit in the new school, the funds will gofree to e-mail me at gary.carr@halton.ca.toward installing a playground climber for the students and community to enjoy in the school yard.Of course parents embarrass their kids that's their jobccording to a British survey, only one third of teenag-front lawn in your Speedo, consider dawgs or your homies. Inquire as to the well-being of theirers polled described their parents as embarrassing. the following: Partake in public affec-posse. Ask them where they be chillin, and whats sick AOnly one-third? Well, thats just embarrassing. Come tion (hugs, kisses, whatever). Give perhaps even tell them that you are totally down (or up, ason, parents, youre obviously not trying hard enough.them a life lesson lecture say, the the case may be) with whats sick. If this gets them yelling atFace it, embarrassing our kids is part of our job as par-importance of good hygiene, or the you to get out of the room because youre, like, ruining theirents. If youre not ceaselessly making your offsprings skin dangers of the Inter-web-thingy in lives, just shrug and say: My bad. Then, LOL.redden and their eyes roll, youre just not being a good par-front of their friends. Call them by a Sing. Warble old songs that you used to love (back whenent. Now, this may not be something that comes naturally pet name borrowed from their infancy: civilization was dawning and music was just being invented). particularly when youre as cool as, say me but its Poopy Pants, Nose Miner, Marble in Sing new songs they love. Be cutting edge. Rap. EspeciallyAndy Junipersomething we need to continually work at, practice, hone.Ear, that sort of thing.when their friends are around. It always gets them going.Oh, who am I kidding? For most parents, embarrassing When theyre outside with friends You see, no matter how cool you think you are heck,our kids isnt hard at all. Were their parents. By definition, (yeah, like kids actually go outside these days), call out to no matter how cool you actually might be in the eyes of everything we do is mortifying to these muppets. But, if you them that its almost bedtime, and that you have a nice, hot your offspring, youre mom, or youre dad. And you are, bywant to be an especially good parent, you have to be prepared bath prepared. If they have brought home a new boyfriend/definition, incredibly old and infinitely uncool.to multiply mortification and take this embarrassment to all girlfriend, call the new beau by an old beaus name. I (acci-Truth be told, despite what the British survey says, mostnew levels. If you need an example of how high you should dentally) discovered that this goes over really well.kids live in mortal fear of being embarrassed to death by theirbe setting the bar, consider that when I was a teenager my Talk down to them. Talk up to them. Talk about how parents. The actual scientific name for this phobia, I believe,mother took up rug hooking and introducing herself to my youre considering getting your back waxed. Talk technology is OMGwhatadorkaphobia. My kids have it. Have it bad.friends as The Happy Hooker. and be sure to toss in appropriate, contemporary terms like Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@gmail.com, found If youre new to parenthood and wondering how to incite floppy disc. Talk their language, employ their slang. Say on Facebook http://www.facebook.com, or followed at www.twit-embarrassment, and youre not into hooking, or cutting the like every third, like, word. Say words like yo. Call them ter.com/thesportjesters.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, February 17, 2011 6