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OPINION Our editorial team has spent the past six weeks cov- ering political leaders in our community, so it only seems appropriate that we are now turning our atten- tion to the young leaders of our town. We want to show you examples of how so many of our youth are already giving of their time and energy to make this a great place to live and work. These young people intuitively understand what the word community is really about and unselfishly give of themselves by volunteering with different local groups and clubs, at school, at churches, with sports, and more. Thats why this newspaper strongly supports the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards so we can provide recognition for outstanding young people who are, and will continue to be, leaders in our town. The awards program is co-ordinated by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA), of which we are a member, and is sponsored by TD Canada Trust. Any Ontario resident aged 6-17 is eligible to receive an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award. Please help us by nominating an individual in one of four areas: A person involved in worthwhile community ser- vice. A special young person contributing to their com- munity while living with a physical or psychological limitation. An individual who has performed an act of heroism in the past year. Good kids who show a commitment to make life better for others and do more than is normally expected of someone their age. Each nominee will receive a certificate of recognition. Up to 12 of the nominees and one group will be chosen as the final recipients of the provincial award and invit- ed to a special ceremony in Toronto next spring. Your vote counts with this newspaper. Nominate an outstanding young person today, and we will present them with a certificate of recognition and showcase their contributions. Nomination deadline for the 2008 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards is Sunday, Nov. 30. Nomination forms are available at www.ocna.org or by calling the OCNA at 905-639-8720, ext. 228. Nominate a good kid Steve Nease LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, Why the poor turnout for the recent federal election? Here are a couple of reasons I can think of. 1. Politicians who cross the floor after the election. Many voters vote for the party rather than the individual. To have that vote thrown back in their faces by turncoat politicians who betray the electorate and change sides as did Garth Turner, Belinda Stronach and Wajid Kahn is completely unnac- ceptable to voters. 2. The election is called before the folks in Western Canada have even left the polling both. Westerners must feel Whats the point! The die is cast before we even vote. In the medias haste to predict the outcome anything west of Ontario seems to be of no con- sequence. 3. And then there are the good politicians like Michael Chong. Michael is a fine upstanding gentleman who probably brought in more votes per capita for the Conservatives than any other. Because he had the courage of his convictions and the guts to state his position on Quebec becoming a nation within a nation, he was relegat- ed to the backbenches. No one has worked harder for the people than Michael and he stood his ground in spite of great personal loss. He is the kind of man you need on your side in all respects, Mr. Harper. You are missing a stalwart supporter and a fine, hard working, politician. John Tatham, Georgetown Some reasons why the election turnout was low 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 General manager Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@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) Brendon Stevenson (bstevenson@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 Should there be a Town bylaw requiring cats be kept inside? Yes (59%) No (41%) 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 6 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Dear editor, I happened to be at my fathers house recently (Octber 16) in Georgetown (Chelvin Drive) to pick up a bed for my son. We were loading it on the back of my van when I noticed a dark green half-ton pickup truck creeping by. My dad told me he was probably one of those independent rummage collec- tors. He drove by once again so I was sure he was waiting to see if we were discarding anything. I put my daughters car seat beside my fathers carbig mistake! I went into the house to grab my son (I was gone no longer than two minutes) and came out to find this guy had taken my daughters car seat. I was livid. I now have a six-year- old without a car seat. I drove around looking for this person with no luck. To whoever took my daughters car seat, please return it. It was black booster seat and you took it around 1:15 p.m. My father lives at 43 Chelvin Drive if you would be so kind to return what you have taken without asking. Jennifer Little, Acton Irate mother wants daughters car seat returned Dear editor, Flat tires are not fun, and neither is being stranded on the side of a country road like a damsel in distress with no idea how to change it myself. I would like to thank the wonder- ful Georgetown family with two teenagers in tow who stopped to change my tire for me on Winston Churchill Blvd. last Sunday. They insisted on helping me and I want to let them know that I am truly grate- ful. I didnt get their names but the man was wearing a black winter hat. They mentioned that I should go to Halton Tire Centre to change my tire and I am so glad that I did because Mike and Ray were amazing as always. I live in this town because people are kind and the service is efficient and fair. Thank you for all your help. Amy Kelleher, Glen Williams Family thanked for helping driver with a flat tire Dear editor, It is hard for me to understand how people can be so cheap. The last few weeks nurseries all around Halton Hills had specials to buy trees and shrubs. Last week driving around I noticed some streets with nice houses without a single tree or shrub in their front yards. That was very sad. Listen people, your house is where you live and is the place that gives you a nice, warm welcome after a long, hard day. The front of your house shows who you are and adds value to your house. So next spring do something for you and your neighbours make your street look nicer. H. Morley, Georgetown Buy trees, residents urged