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6 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,December 13, 2011 OPINION Talk is cheap Mayor Rick Bonnette's annual "state of the town" address last Thursday contained many of his traditional end-of-year messages but one, in particular, caught the attention of Eagle Ridge Golf Course audience. While there were the usual promises of more efficient and economical Town services, a continued focus on the 401 Corridor, improved economic development strategies and community improvement plans-- all topics touched on in the past by not only Bonnette but his predecessors, it was the announcement of potential progress on the Highway 4-3 option that proved to be the highlight of the mayor's speech. Bonnette painted a rosy picture of his meeting last week with new Ontario Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli-- a meeting which his mayorship requested to make sure the minister was fully aware of the Town's opposition to the proposed highway option. Bonnette pointed out that Town consultants contend Hwy. 401 can be widened to 12 lanes-- the most sensible and obvious option raised to date-- as a better alternative than cutting an east-west swath through local agricultural lands from 10th Line to Tremaine Rd. in Milton. "The minister now said he would reconsider the 4-3 highway, and ladies and gentlemen, that is huge," said Bonnette to applause. Well, it will be huge if, in fact, Chiarelli does ditch the 4-3 option. However, part of a politician's job is saying the right thing at the right time and undoubtedly the Province will take its sweet time determining its next course of action. As first meetings go it was a positive sign, but until Chiarelli drops the idea of 4-3 entirely, there is no reason for celebration-- or for local residents and politicians to let up on their opposition to it. 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 Anonymous letters will not be published.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 UW House Tour a roaring success Dear editor, On behalf of the staff and board of United Way of Halton Hills, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the 2011 House Tour. This year, five homes in the Village of Glen Williams and one home in the park area of downtown Georgetown were showcased. More than 550 people had the enjoyment of touring these spectacular homes, all decorated beautifully for the festive season. This year's event saw profits that exceeded $12,000. I would like to give a shout out to the house tour committee members, the homeowners, decorators, florists and all the volunteers who helped to make the event the success that it was. Thanks also to Knox Presbyterian Church for a wonderful luncheon, and to Dini Lamers of Dini & Co. who inspired everyone with her decorating demonstrations. Finally, I would like to acknowledge our local army cadets who did a super job assisting with parking at the Glen Williams School. Truly this event was a community effort. The holiday house tour is one of the major fundraisers that the United Way hosts each year. All proceeds from the event go back to the community in the way of funding to local agencies offering social services programs. It's not too late to donate to our 2011 Campaign. If you would like to help us to reach our goal of $340,000, then please contact the United Way of Halton Hills office at 905-8773066 to make your 2011 donation. Janet Foster, Executive Director, United Way of Halton Hills homeless youth. I went to India with my parents in 2011 and bought more than 500 pairs of jeans using money I earned from chores, from my monthly allowance, and prizes from winning spelling bees. I distributed the jeans to the local homeless younger kids. All the children I distributed the jeans to were extremely pleased and told me to continue doing this great deed of giving jeans to kids in need. Would you like to "Green" your festive spirit this year? You can extend your helping hand to youth in need of basic necessities. We can all make a change in the lives of young people by giving them something that will not only be used to provide warmth and protection, but make them feel that they are just regular kids. Jean Green Drive is looking for your help. Save your clean gentlyused (or new) jeans and encourage your friends to do the same. Please don't hesitate to contact me gill.harnoor@hotmail.com at any time with any questions you may have or to arrange pick-up or drop-off. Harnoor Gill, Grade 8, Stewarttown Public School WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) An Ipsos Reid poll showed that 67 per cent of Ontarians believe all apartments, condos and co-ops in the province should be 100 per cent smoke-free. Do you agree these building should be smoke-free? · Yes. Smokers impact non-smokers (55%) · No. Smokers should be allowed to light up in their own home (45%) Jean drive needs help Dear editor, In 2010, at the age of 12, I decided to establish 2010 "Jean Green Drive" to help the poor and homeless, local and international youth by providing them with gently used jeans. I felt that this had the added benefit of helping the environment by conveying the message to `reuse' in a positive manner. Since then I have collected and given about 200 pairs of jeans to the worldwide youth in need, and especially to the 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.