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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, July 14, 2011 OPINION Teen talk "There's nothing to do in this town". If we've heard that complaint once, we've heard it a thousand times from area youngsters and/or parents of local teens. To its credit, the Town of Halton Hills is conducting a Youth Needs Study (YNS) to determine what services and facilities are most desired by 13-19year-olds. However, for the survey to be successful it is imperative that local teens share their views. To take part, youths are encouraged to visit the YNS Facebook page where each week the Town will be polling-- asking questions like what's the primary reason you choose not to participate in recreational activities and where do you spend most of your free time? The poll results will help the Town determine what is most important to Halton Hills youths. By liking the YNS Facebook page youths aged 13-19 are automatically entered for a chance to win an iPod. Anyone with additional questions, ideas and concerns they think will help the YNS are asked to email the Town at youth@haltonhills.ca and the input will be passed on to the consulting team doing the study. To connect with the YNS go to www.haltonhills.ca/youth. Focus groups have been conducted with area youths and open houses are planned for the fall where the proposed recommendations will be outlined. The Town wants local kids to be seen and heard. Local teens would be wise to share their views. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Hand-held devices are not dangerous Dear editor, Hand-held device bans in vehicles are a political red-herring. Consider: · Study conclusions are viewed as fact without questioning their design. Most studies use unrealistic simulator/courses, don't allow subjects to suspend phone activity and use very small sample sizes. · Drunk driving risk comparisons are illogical as one can immediately suspend phone use but cannot become immediately sober. · Collisions have steadily declined in the past 20 years as phone use went from nil to ubiquitous. · Banned jurisdictions show no change in collisions. · Many police-endorsed exemptions to the ban imply some calls (like 911) are important and safe. Phones are a manageable risk similar to stereo, passenger, etc. distractions, for which careless driving is charged if not managed well. This ban should be repealed once realized that it is not particularly dangerous and may increase risk as drivers hide their activity and look down. Jason Fournier, Acton Council is thanked for delaying growth Dear editor, Re: Move forward, council (June 21 letter from Paul Madonia). In response to Mr Madonia's letter urging council to move forward with growth, I would like to thank them for delaying it. Having lived in Brampton and Mississauga for 30 years, it was disgusting to watch mayor after mayor pander to developers and business. If that is what the writer is looking for move to Brampton, Mississauga or Milton and you can watch the small town spirit ripped to shreds. Dig your heels in mayor and council and fight for what we as a community want-- limited growth and a beautiful place to live. I, for one, love a good run on one of the town's many trails and don't mind driving a half hour to work in order to keep this town the way it is. I think most residents agree. Jeff Landry, Georgetown Resident grateful Dear editor, Recently I was shopping at Giant Tiger in Acton and used my debit card. Some time later I noticed my debit card was missing, and the clear plastic sleeve that I keep all my credit cards in plus my driver's licence. I went back to the Giant Tiger check out counter to the woman who took my order, but she hadn't seen the cards. Overhearing the conversation, the lady who works at the information desk said she had been approached by a man with credit cards that he had found in the parking lot. I can't tell you how thankful I was to see those cards again. I just wanted to tell the people of the area how wonderful it is to live among such kind and caring souls. I hope the lovely person who did me this kindness, will read it and know I am so very grateful. Barbara Schoenfield, Ballinafad WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) Canadian kids get an `F' for their exercise levels? What's yours? `F' (30%) `D' (27%) `C' (19%) `B' (14%) `A' (10%) The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.