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Suffering from Depression, Grief, Anxiety? Georgetown family counsellor wants to help. 3 weeks to a more joyous you - or dont pay! HOPE CONNECTION COUNSELLING SERVICES Stress & Burnout a Specialty 416-577-HOPE (4673) hopeconnection@gmail.com Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, May 14, 2008 7 Letters to the editor...Letters to the editor...Letters to the editor... Dear editor, National Hunger Awareness Day is coming up again on June 5, 2008. Statistics show that 720,231 people in Canada need help to feed their families. These are the vulnerable in our community and we must advocate for them. In the Georgetown community, The Bread Basket gives out about 13,000 pounds of food per month. The people of Georgetown are very generous, and the food bank shelves are quite well stocked, however our aim is to get clients back on their feet so they can regain their dignity. You can help. Please go to website www.hunger- awarenessday.ca and sign a petition asking our govern- ment to become more involved in steps that will lead these individuals to self sufficiency. Help us to wave the flag on this Hunger Awareness Day. Marian Viant Director media co-ordinator The Georgetown Bread Basket Dear editor, We would like to commend the provincial govern- ment on their upcoming pesticide legislation. As many health and environmental organizations clearly state, lawn and garden pesticide use poses an unacceptable health and environmental risk and can eas- ily be replaced by safe alternatives. Anyone who has seen the increased rates of cancer since the extensive use of pesticides began, especially amongst children who tend to be closer to ground level and therefore more at risk, should realize the urgent need for us all to support this legislation and to take appropriate actions ourselves. We would expect that the legislation would include: ban their use and sale, including pesticide/fertilizer mixtures, only allow exemptions to protect public health where the use of pesticides is less harmful than not using them; apply equally to rural and urban properties and be applicable to both licensed applicators and homeowners strengthen municipal bylaws rather than supplant them. Ann and Ik Soon Geh, Georgetown Help food bank fight hunger Pesticide ban applauded (This letter was originally send to Deborah Hansen, patient care manager at Georgetown Hospital. A copy was made available for publication.) Dear Ms. Hansen, I wonder if you are aware of the amazing nurses who staff the Complex Chronic Care Unit in Georgetown Hospital. My late husband had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at the beginning of January this year. With the help of the Acclaim nurses and Red Cross personal care workers, he was able to be at home until the end of February, at which time he was admitted to the hospital under the auspices of Dr. Paul Zeni, for palliative care. Care at hospital was amazing I cannot find the words to describe the caring, com- passionate nurses who cared for him in the four days before he passed away. Suffice it to say that they could not have done more for him had he been a relative. In his lucid moments he called them his angels. You are so fortunate to have such wonderful people my family and I can never thank them enough, but I hope you will convey to them how much their kindness meant to him and to us. Margaret Buck and family, Georgetown Dear editor, Last June my nephew Matthew Barker, at the age of 15, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from ARVD. ARVD is a heart disease that is extremely difficult to detect, and often fatal when the hearts rhythm is inter- rupted. Matthew attended Christ the King Secondary School in Georgetown and had just completed Grade 10. As the first year anniversary is fast approaching I wanted to do someone special in memory of Matt. My husband and I decided that we would ride in the Becel Heart & Stroke Ride for Heart on June 1 in Toronto. I asked my sister, brother-in-law and niece if they would like to participate and the answer was, Yes! We decided on our team name ``Motoring for Matt`` and our fundraising goal of $1,000. We figured this was an attainable goal. We each did our webpage on the Ride For Heart site and also set up personal fundraising goals. What happened next was amazing. In just three weeks our team had grown to 17 riders and our fundraising goal increased to $10,000. Our donations have already reached $7,000. A family friend who is a graphic designer has designed T-shirts, which will be available for purchase. People are so happy to donate and be a part of this great cause, as they either knew Matthew or have some- one who has had heart disease or a stroke. I have had people thank me for the opportunity to honour Matthew or donate in the name of a family member or friend. My niece Melissa (Matts sister) said it best if some- thing as simple as an irregular heart beat can take some- one away, why cant something as simple as a bike ride save someone else? Please support the Becel Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart. The money raised will continue to help support the Heart and Stroke Foundation to improve the health and quality of life for all Canadians. If you wish to donate or participate in this great cause the website is www.rideforheart.ca. If you wish to ride as part of our team, please go to the above site and click on Motoring for Matt for step by step instructions. The registration fee is $35/person. We know Matthew that you are with us cheering us on and checking the website to see how we are doing. I know you would be proud of all of us. Janet Olson, Everett Family rides in Matts memory Dear editor, When on my way to the gym on April 10, I realized I had forgotten to leave my engagement ring at home. I took the ring off in the car and headed to the gym. When I got home I realized that my ring was gone. I could have sworn I put it in a cup holder but it was not there. I didnt sleep well that night, and as I was laying in bed, decided to take my car over to Achilles Mazda and have professionals look for it. The following day I went to the car shop and explained the situation. Shortly after, the good news arrived the ring was found! It had dropped deep in a console, just behind the hand brake. When Ive reached for my wallet they refused to accept any money, whatsoever. I would like to express my deepest thanks to the staff of Achilles Mazda, especially to the young man named Sunny, for returning something very precious to me. We are new in town, even moreso I appreciate the kindness and friendly service Ive experienced at the Mazda dealership in Acton. Ariadna Ejsmont, Acton Mazdas extra service appreciated Dear editor, Gratified as we are to see you characterize Norval as a wonderful community with rich heritage (Palace retreat in order, April 30 editorial) it is disappointing you trot out the old saw that things change despite how much we may not want them to. We are not naive enough to believe that change wont come to Norval it has, many times but much of its rich heritage has only been preserved because of the willingness of its residents to stand and be counted when change for the worse threatened. After many years of effort it took until 2003 for the Norval Secondary Plan to be approved. A small but key part of the Plan (which may be found at town.halton-hills.on.ca) states: Much of Norvals character is defined by the heritage architecture dis- played by its buildings and their relationship to each other. It is an important objective of this plan that the existing architecture be preserved wherever possible and new development, and architecturally compatible with the heritage character of the area. According to your April 25 story, Mr. Kanichis of the Carpet Palace indicated that they were open to discus- sion about what it (the building) might look like, as long as it looks like a store and not a house. This would seem an excellent starting point for a pos- sible solution which would satisfy the owners and the residents, however, if the demolition of the existing Carpet Palace structure occurs quickly and the approved Norval Secondary Plan Policies are not adhered to, then Mayor Bonnettes comments in the same Apr. 25 story, Theres a process to be followed, would only satisfy one side the owners of the Carpet Palace. Kathy Gastle, president Norval Community Association On April 25, I purchased gas at the Canadian Tire Gas Bar. I did something I never do, and that is place my wallet, after taking out my credit card, on the top of the car. After filling with gas I drove away, forgetting the wallet was on the roof. On arrival home, there was a message from Halton Police that someone had turned in my wallet. I was informed he did not wish to leave his name. I hope he reads this so I can extend my sincere thanks through this letter to the editor. Doug Millinder, Georgetown Solution possible for Norval store? Person who returned wallet thanked