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OPINION The announcement that Georgetown Cinemas the only movie theatre operation in Halton Hills will be closing its doors for good next Tuesday has resulted in a mini-revolt from local movie-goers. A misguided revolt. Residents have been so outraged by the property managers Ahern Real Estate Corp decision to ter- minate the cinemas lease and offer a new home for a Dollarama store that a petition garnered more than 500 signatures in only a matter of days. One protest has been held (with another in the works for next week) and several calls and complaints have been made to the mayor s office and this newspaper. Folks, this boils down to a simple business decision. The Georgetown cinema has had a rocky past year and a half. It closed in January of 2007 for three months until Premier Theatres took over the opera- tion. Current owner Sorab Irani has been running the show (pardon the pun) for the past seven months. Ahern allowed Irani to operate the theatre at basi- cally half-price rent (on a month-to-month basis) until a new tenant was found that was willing to pay full rent. That tenantDollarama has now surfaced. We understand the emotional attachment some resi- dents have to the cinemas and the entertainment void (especially for our youths) it will create with its clos- ing. However, the landlord is perfectly within its right to choose a tenant that can pay the full rental fee. A cinema operation is a business it is not a com- munity service and not a Town operation. Granted, it is unique in the service it offers, but it is a private, for- profit business. Since other cinema operators have not been banging down the doors to open multi-plexes here, its safe to assume, rightly or wrongly, they dont consider Halton Hills a market worth investing in. Were sorry to see the cinemas close, but if more bodies had been in the seats in recent years or if major upgrades had been made to the cinemas to make them as appealing as ones in nearby communities, perhaps the screen wouldnt be going to black. The show must go on (or does it?) Steve Nease LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, Sometimes, regardless of our own views or emotional connections, we have to just let things go for the sake of municipal law and public safety and concern. Such an example has come up in the debate concerning the demolition of the Norval Carpet Palace and now yet again in regards to the Halton Place BMX track. The track, which was built in 2006 by BMX racer Tim DaSilva is slated for flattening and rehabilita- tion because of its construction with- out a developers permit. Personally, while its unfortunate to see the dedi- cated work of Mr. DaSilva being lost, I dont think fighting the Niagara Escarpment Commission is the way to go. And apparently, neither do nearby residents who have already voiced their concerns against its development. The DaSilva family has countered this by saying that they go to the track to be near to Tim and that its demolition will have meant he died in vain. My condolences to the family, but to use Mr. DaSilvas tragic passing to try and fight municipal law and keep the BMX track open is going too far. As many know, Tim was a caring, selfless man and it does him no jus- tice to tie his legacy and our memo- ries of him to this BMX track. Letting the site be rehabilitated does- nt mean we have lost respect for Tim, it only means we care about the rightful owners of Halton Place, its nearby residents and municipal regu- lations. Lucas Kittmer, Georgetown Demolition of BMX track the right decision Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Andrea Lefebvre (alefebvre@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle McEachern EDITORIAL Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall STAFF DIRECTORY Send us a letter! Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398www.independentfreepress.com Something bugging you? What do you think? Below are the results of our most recent online poll. For the current poll go to www.independentfreepress.com Do you think Vehicle Activated Traffic Calming Signs will reduce speeding on Mountainview Rd. S.? Yes (27%) No (73%) The Independent & Free Press is published Wednesday and Friday 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. THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS Dear editor, It was brought to my attention that Georgetown Cinemas is closing its doors for good. I am a mother of four children, three of whom are teens and I can tell you that I was disappointed to say the least to hear this news. My children attend the Georgetown the- atre on a regular basis. This town has very few places where teens can go for entertainment, at a low cost I might add, and locally. Where else can you go for under $10 and within walking distance for most? I am told that the reason for this closure it simply because the owner wants to build a dollar store. We have a dollar store, why do we need to make it bigger? Other dollar stores in Georgetown have not been suc- cessful, why do we need a bigger one? This town needs more things for kids to do as it is and losing the theatre is like putting them on the streets. Georgetown Cinemas has been a safe and affordable place for teens to go for entertainment, please dont take this away from them. Shelley Campbell, Georgetown Dont take cinemas away from local teens Dear editor, Re: May 2 article, Family upset with decision to level track. As a father of a young son, I want this track in my community. Sixty- three per cent of the Halton males are obese. For my sons future (he still needs his training wheels) and all of Haltons youth, dont flatten a few piles of dirt and allow the kids a safe place to play. If anything, the Province should support this initiative. They claim they want the kids to get off the couch, then give them a place to go. Its non-motorized recreational fun and is perfectly suited for the Niagara Escarpment. Particularly since its off the trails within the NEC area. Its good for the kids, its good for the Escarpment and good for the community. Keep the piles of dirt, please sign the petition: http://www.timdasilvabmx.com Im not sure whats all behind this between Halton Place and the NEC, but dont fight your differences over the backs of our youths! Chris Klomp, Halton Hills BMX track would offer good fun for local kids More letters page 7 6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, May 9, 2008