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6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, September 29, 2006 OPINION They're off! As of 5 p.m. the 2006 municipal election officially got under way. During the course of the next 45 days, leading up to the November 13 election, local residents will have to determine which 11 people they want to see form the town council for the next four years. (Yes, four years instead of three.) Historically, municipal elections have had all the appeal of an Adam Sandler film festival. Voter turnouts are usually below 40 per cent, meaning that only four of 10 eligible voters actually takes the time to cast a ballot. That's a shameful number. Perhaps it's apathy, laziness or a mindset that "it doesn't matter who you vote for, all politicians are crooks", that pervades municipal elections. Whatever, there is no excuse not to cast a vote. Politics at the municipal level is where the voter can have the biggest impact. Councillors are generally more accessible than their federal or provincial brethren and because they spend every day in the same neighbourhoods as those who elected them, they are more accountable-- or should be. To be sure, being a local politician is not an easy-- or well-paying­ job. For most, it's a parttime occupation that entails plenty of meetings, late phone calls at home from residents complaining about everything from a pothole to when the road will be cleared of snow. But these candidates know this, or should, when they put their name forth for election. The people we elect in November will determine how our tax dollars will be spent and what direction the Town of Halton Hills will take for the next four years. These 11 people carry an enormous responsibility but it is you-- the voter-- who determines who gets to carry that responsibility. For your sake, and the sake of your town, take the time and learn about your ward, your current councillor's record, the candidates seeking election and make an informed choice on Nov. 13. www.independentfreepress.com Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Steve Nease STAFF DIRECTORY Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Business manager Carol Young (cyoung@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Adam Spinney (aspinney@independentfreepress.com) Brendan Louth (blouth@independentfreepress.com) Andrew Key (akey@independentfreepress.com) Michelle Wan (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Jennifer Christie, Michelle Wimmer 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 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Red Cross needs help to provide its services Dear editor, Have you thought about when you get older? Have you considered the problems that come with aging? White hair, failing hearing, a cane, possibly even a walker or wheelchair? One that you might not have considered is losing your driver's licence due to failing eyesight. What happens if you need to see your doctor, but cannot drive yourself or have enough money to pay for a taxi? Who would you phone for help? Your children? Spouse? Friends? If you have those people around you who can jump in their car and come over to help, that's wonderful, but what if you do not have anyone who can help you? Who do you call then? If you are one of the many elderly people living in Georgetown and Acton areas, you call the Red Cross office in Milton and request a ride. We provide around 1,000 rides per month in the North Halton area at reasonable rates-- but we need to provide more. The need for transport is more than we can provide due to low numbers of volunteer drivers in Georgetown and Acton, and a growing number of elderly and frail members of the public. The Red Cross Society has been providing transportation within our community for many years, but we need more volunteer drivers to continue. Just consider for a moment if we can no longer provide this valuable service? What happens when YOU are older and can no longer drive? What do YOU do then? Help those around you, call the Red Cross Society at 905-875-1459 to offer your services. If WE continue to volunteer, we will encourage the younger generations to volunteer-- and that's who will take YOU when YOU need help. Judith Dobbs Co-ordinator, Training Institute Volunteer Recruitment Region of Peel Branch Something bugging you? Send us a letter! 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. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Almost 1,000 children in reading club Dear editor, The staff at Halton Hills Public Library would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who helped make our summer reading programs such a huge success! With the enthusiastic assistance of our summer students Christine Elliott and Katherine Vandermey we kept almost 1,000 children reading over the summer in our Quest for Heroes Summer Reading Club! We acknowledge those parents who encouraged their children to participate, thereby fostering a love of literacy. Thank you also to our student volunteers who played games and made crafts with our kids! We would also like to recognize the efforts of The Independent and Free Press, the Acton Tanner, and CooperStandard Automotive for promoting our programs. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the generosity of the three bank branches of TD Canada Trust in both Georgetown and Acton for providing prizes. We look forward to next summer! Children's and Youth Services staff Halton Hills Public Library THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Printing, Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Price: Store copies 50¢ each; Subscriptions $26.00 per year by carrier; $92.50 per year by mail in Canada; $130.00 per year in all other countries. Plus G.S.T. Second Class Mail Registration Number 6869. The Independent & Free Press is a member of The Canadian Community Newspaper Association and The Ontario Community Newspaper Association. Enforcement needed on student pedestrians Dear editor, Re: School's back in. It's not hard to see that school is back in, as it seems that lunch time or spare classes bring students back outside so they are able to go to their favourite eating place. It appears that even though enforcement is out to remind drivers that school is back in, maybe some enforcement should be done to remind students that crossing four lanes of traffic (Guelph Street and Mountainview Road), standing and waiting in the turn lanes for vehicles to stop or slow down enough for them to clear the roadway safely, as they walked by proper pedestrian walkways (traffic lights) could be hazardous to their heath and well-being. As I have witnessed this since school started , I was under the impression that jay walking was illegal. Dave Crewe-Read, Georgetown