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OPINION More and more children are living online these days, spending their time plunked in front of screens aplenty. It isn't just television anymore. It is electronic tablets, smartphones and computers vying for youth's attention. Youth are using technology for a variety of reasons. It can range anywhere from using tech- nology to communicate with friends, seek enter- tainment, or learn and broaden their knowledge about the world around them. Just like the offl ine world, however, parents and teachers need to be fully aware of the risks children and youth may encounter while surfi ng the Internet. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) helped raise awareness about the issue by supporting International Safer Internet Day last week. "In this ever-changing technological world, children and youth are able to connect to the In- ternet with relative ease, exposing them to risks and harms that can be diffi cult to keep up with," Insp. Scott Naylor, manager of the OPP's Child Sexual Exploitation Unit, said in a news release. To that end, the OPP wants Ontarians to know about the comprehensive Internet safety resources and tools available through the Cana- dian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP). Tools are there to help parents and teachers make sense of the challenges of raising children and youth in an ever-changing technological world. The CCCP, a national charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children, will be launching new e-parenting safety sheets addressing issues and concerns parents may be facing relating to adolescents' online safety. That includes valuable information on pro- tecting youth from online luring, the growing issue of sexting, as well as how to talk to your child about healthy relationships and appropri- ate boundaries. "The Canadian Centre for Child Protection re- sources provide parents, educators and commu- nities with current information about children's online activities," Naylor added. "And what we can do to make the Internet a safer place for our children and youth." For more information, visit protectchildren.ca. The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Edi- torial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Independent & Free Press Safety 'Net' Steve Nease Letters to the editor Dear editor, While I fully realize that the snow removal services were stretched to the limit on Friday, it seems that the residents of Glen Williams were once again the for- gotten taxpayers when it came to the plowing of the streets. Side streets in the Glen had not been plowed as of 6 a.m on Sat- urday, so I decided to determine for myself the level of service that everyone else in the north part of Georgetown had received. No side streets in the Glen, be it on the west or east side of the Credit River, nor the streets in the Oak Ridge part of the Glen had been plowed. With the one exception of Anderson Court, everything else i.e. every side street in the north part of the community, had been plowed. Every area that I checked-- Moore Park, Trafalgar Country Estates, the side streets off Ontario Street had all seen the plow at least once. What was particulary galling was that it was evident that some had had a second visit as well. I can accept the necessity for roads near the hospital to be given high prior- ity, but when streets such as Mowat Crescent (no offence to the resi- dents of said street, I should add) were plowed twice, it is annoying. The west side of Glen Williams fi nally saw the plough around 7:30 a.m., but the east side had to wait a further 90 minutes. This is not good enough. One fi nal comment, the `Bat- tered Stop Sign Syndrome' has returned. Once again, the stop sign at the top of Forster Street was assaulted by the plow (it happens at least once every year, or so it seems), but at least a temporary one was in place in short order. Colin Hoare, Glen Williams Letters policy 905-873-0301 Publisher: Dana Robbins 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) Classifi eds Kristie Pells (classifi ed@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) The Halton Region Waste Guide and Calendar was sent out to homeowners this week. How often do you use the Guide? • 6 or more times a year (72%) • 1-5 times a year (17%) • Never (11%) WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.theifp.ca) Did snow crews forget Glen? Snow clearing in core was 'appalling' 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 Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press wel- comes your letters. Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published and letters should not ex- ceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Please email your letter to: jmcghie@theifp.ca Share your thoughtsDear editor, I just came back from walking my two small dogs in the down- town core of Georgetown (Mon- day). I was appalled at how bad the sidewalks are. The snowstorm was three days ago and I cannot believe the ho- meowners, small business owners and apartment owners that have not yet cleared their sidewalks. On more than one occasion, I had to walk the dogs on the street to the next clear walkway and I had cars beeping at me. I had no other op- tions as the other side of the street was not cleared either or there was only sidewalk on one side of street. I think the Town should be out there ticketing people and busi- nesses that have not yet cleared their sidewalks. I am able-bodied and can walk and make my way in and out of driveways, etc. My concern is for older or disabled people that might walk with a cane or use a scooter and I wonder how are they sup- posed to manage? 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