6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, October 27, 2011 OPINION Get the shot It's the time of year for cooler temperatures, fall jackets, raking leaves and... bugs. Flu bugs. Halton Region's seasonal influenza (flu) immunizations clinics began this week at both senior centres and will continue at community clinics throughout the region beginning November 1. Flu immunization is free and recommended for all those six months of age and older. A yearly influenza vaccination is needed to help provide protection against the different flu strains that circulate each season. "Getting the flu vaccine every year is important," said Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton Region Medical Officer of Health. "Although most healthy people recover from the flu within a few days, it can lead to pneumonia, hospitalization and even death, especially in the elderly and those with chronic health conditions." Halton Hills clnics are set for: Wednesday, Nov. 2-- St. Catherine of Alexandria Elementary School, 407 Barber Drive, Georgetown 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9-- Acton District High School, 21 Cedar Road, Acton 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22-- Christ the King Secondary, 161 Guelph Street, Georgetown 3:30-8 p.m. The following actions can also help protect against getting the flu: · Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15 seconds · Use alcohol-based hand rub · Cough and sneeze into your sleeve · Stay home when you are sick For more information on the flu including clinic dates and locations, visit www. halton.ca/flu, dial 311 or call Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4425866, or TTY 905-827-9833. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent 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) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@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) Letters policy 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 Anonymous letters will not be published.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 Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Yoga in the Park very successful Dear editor, We had another great season with Yoga In The Park! Through the generosity of all the participants we raised $500 for the Links2Care Backpack Program, 440 lbs. of food for the Acton Food Share along with a $125 gift certificate for food shopping. The volunteers who give of their time with setting up the sound system, signing people in, the loading and unloading of all equipment, taking photos-- I couldn't do it without you. Through the generous donations from Willow Lane, The Tanners Pub, Dragonfly Healing, Bird's Nest Spa, Roxy Coffee, Smooth Solutions, Purity Life, Accessories by Katie, Diva Berry and Staying Alive Fitness we were able to have a fantastic raffle. The event was made possible with sponsorship from Four Seasons Dental, Cornerstone Health, Aerodrome International, Acton Optical, Click Computer Services, Papillion's Purification System, Head to Toe Health Care, Acton Jiu Jitsu, Active Choice Rehab and Staying Alive Fitness. The awareness of the event continues to grow thanks to the wonderful publicity we receive. A heartfelt thank you to all the participants, sponsors, donators and newspapers who come together to help make this event so successful. It makes me proud to live in such a wonderful community. See you next year at the park! Leanne Monaghan, Acton nity and have some fun playing Canada's national game. I would be remiss if I didn't publicly acknowledge a few organizations and businesses that participated. Thank you to McDonald's, Dairy Queen, Chudleigh's and Dominos for donating prizes and food. Thank you also to our Georgetown Raiders team for coming to the party, being such good sports and for donating many prizes and items for the kids. Please visit our "Callaghan Cup" in the Raiders' trophy case (yes, they won). We'll win it back next year! Sue Robling, Georgetown Street hockey bash bonds neighbours Dear editor, Recently, we hosted our ninth annual Callaghan Crescent Street Hockey Party. So many of our neighbours look forward to this event every year and talk about it for many weeks afterwards. One of our older neighbours commented to me that she "wouldn't miss it for anything". More and more, people don't get to know their neighbours, but we are so lucky to not be like that in our neighborhood. It is a nice way for us to bond as a commu- WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) What is your view of graffiti found on local buildings, fences, mailboxes etc.? · It's vandalism (88%) · It's an artistic expression (12%) Honesty is still the best policy Dear editor, I received a phone call recently from CIBC telling me that my wallet, containing all my credit cards, had been returned. To you, who so generously returned my wallet, I say thank you and give you a big hug. I will also donate money to the Georgetown Hospital. Estelle Gray, Glen Williams 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.