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OPINION Dog days Halton Hills has long fancied itself a "sports town" and, to be sure, the community does have a long and storied history when it comes to games people play. Another chapter in the town's sports history-- a big chapter-- was written in a steamy hockey rink in Etobicoke Sunday afternoon when the Halton Hills Bulldogs captured the Founders Cup Canadian Jr. B lacrosse championship. The Bulldogs, who usually play for a few hundred fans once a week during the summer months at Alcott Arena, managed to post a 4-3 double overtime win over the host Mimico Mountaineers before a crowd of about 2,000 at the MasterCard Centre. The win capped an impressive playoff run for the Bulldogs, who posted a 17-3 won-lost record in the Ontario Lacrosse Association regular season then battled their way through four playoff series-- including a thrilling five-game East Conference final series against the ever-dominant Clarington Green Gaels, who were undefeated in regular season play. At the Founders Cup the Bulldogs cruised to a 6-0 record leading up to the final, outscoring their foes 84-17. An 11-2 win over Kamloops Saturday put the locals in the final Sunday against Mimico. While several of the players on the squad had won national titles at the lower age levels, Sunday's triumph undoubtedly was the biggest of their lacrosse careers and arguably the most significant sporting win by a Halton Hills-based team since the Georgetown Raiders Intermediate A hockey squad won the 1982 Hardy Cup. Congratulations Bulldogs for adding to this town's sporting history. 905-873-0301 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) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier 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) WEB POLL RESULTS In the future, how should the Canadian government deal with boats carrying migrants, like the Tamils who arrived in B.C. recently? · Bar all boats carrying immigrants who have not followed proper procedures for entering Canada (78%) · Accept boats carrying refugees as a humanitarian act (18%) · Not sure (4%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor History shows inn could work here Dear editor, Re: `Only one chance to get Barber right' (Aug. 10 letter). I agree that we have only one chance to design and develop the Barber Mill ruins into a viable balance between eco system and urbanization. It gives Georgetown the opportunity to delve into its past and develop a cultural centre/ museum. There also needs to be more of a reason for travelers to come 45 minutes outside Toronto. Just around the corner in Glen Williams is the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre with world-renowned artists. In Norval, there is the Lucy Maud Montgomery house, which, from a public meeting I attended June 28, I learned attracts travelers from around the world. There are the Limehouse ruins just west of Georgetown. So what else would attract travelers to the area, but an inn with spa amenities. There are many such successful inns in operation in and around Ontario. Two such inns are: The Millcroft Inn & Spa in Alton and the Glenerin Inn with its newlybuilt seniors' residence `Palisade on the Glen' in Mississauga. Why do I mention these two inns in particular? The reason is they are developed on Credit Valley River properties. How is this relevant to the Barber Mill property? I have experienced first-hand that nature and urbanization can co-exist together. I lived on The Collegeway for three years, two of which the `Palisades on the Glen' was being built. On any given day, I could walk along the Saw Mill Valley trail just in behind the Glenerin Inn and construction site only to witness wildlife beyond your imagination within city limits. There is a herd of more than a dozen deer, several foxes, coyotes have been sighted, although not by me, and many species of birds. During the two years of construction there was little evidence of disturbance to any of this wildlife. In conclusion, I agree we need to highlight the historic value of the property and create balance between ecosystem and urbanization but to leave it (the Barber Mill site) in a less developed, more natural setting will not deal with the current issues of property damage. Bobbi Green, Georgetown Shameful situation Dear editor, Re: Men head to India for MS treatment (Aug. 12). How brave these two men are to venture out of country for medical help they should be receiving here. No one should have to go to a strange land for medical help, and have the expense of it all. My husband has had MS for 25 years and now is living in long-term care because he is no longer able to be at home. Our government needs to wake up and see what is going on. These two men, like my husband, are Canadian citizens, have worked hard at their jobs for as long as their health allowed, have paid their taxes and into the health care system but now that they need some help the government has chosen to turn its back on them and all the thousands who have MS. What do we tell our children and grandchildren? Sorry if you get sick, don't expect the government to help? All I can say to our politicians-- shame on you. I hope you can sleep at night, it must make you feel good to know you have destroyed people's lives and their families. Good luck to these two young men, I wish you well on your journey. Barbara Wilson, Georgetown Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone 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. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. 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.