The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

OPINION It's time for voters to get to work Municipal election candidates have a little more than two weeks to convince voters on why they are best-suited for the jobs they are seeking. To be sure, voters have, and will, continue to hear plenty of promises, boasts of accomplishments (both real and exaggerated) vows to "listen" to taxpayers and pledges "to work" with all "interested parties". While the rhetoric, which seldom changes from campaign to campaign, can be a bit overwhelming to the average resident, it is imperative for voters to remember that they have a responsibility to themselves, and their community, to cast a ballot. The Regional Municipality of Halton and the Town of Halton Hills are large corporations controlling millions of dollars-- largely YOUR dollars. Why then, as a resident who is eligible to vote, would anyone choose not to cast a ballot? In the last municipal election there were 38,665 residents eligible to cast a vote yet only 12,637 did exercise their democratic right. While that 34 per cent turnout rate is nothing to shout about, it dwarfs other municipalities where the turnout was as low as 16 per cent. Still, having one out of every three people vote is not a good ratio. We commend the candidates who have put their name forward in this election, but the onus lies on the electorate to ensure this community goes into the next four years with a solid group of leaders who will steer our town, region and school boards in the best possible direction. The people who are elected will be given a huge responsibility to spend your money wisely, therefore it is incumbent upon every eligible voter-- especially young voters-- to learn about the candidates and make an informed choice Nov. 13. It is your right, and perhaps more importantly, your duty. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Proposed recycling plan is best approach Dear editor, Re: "LCBO should get on board," September 15 editorial. Premier Dalton McGuinty's provincial plan to expand recycling by enacting a deposit system for LCBO glass is the best approach to expanding glass recycling rates across Ontario. This program promotes "closed loop" recycling (glass to glass) vs. using scrap glass as aggregate. Closed loop glass recycling saves natural resources, reduces air emissions, conserves energy, helps combat global warming and is universally accepted as the preferred method over aggregate replacement. Using scrap glass as an aggregate replacement is not recycling. It is another form of disposal. Large quantities of LCBO sold glass remains unrecovered while much that is collected through curbside collection is rendered into un-recyclable waste. Additional quantities end up as aggregate. With Premier McGuinty's plan, Ontario will create a glass recycling system that could be a standard for recycling effectiveness and efficiency in North America. Curt Bucey, Executive VP & COO Strategic Materials, Inc. UCHS dog race was amazing Dear editor, On behalf of the animals at the Upper Credit Humane Society (UCHS), we would like to thank everyone who participated in this year's Amazing Dog Race. This year's walkathon, held at Cedarvale Park, was the scene for dogs wanting to impress the crowds. Musical mats, bobbing for hot dogs and best howl were some of the categories local dogs and their owners took part in to raise money for the animals in our community. The UCHS would like to thank our organizers and longtime volunteers Zelda Spreadbury and Darlene Hill. The entire event was organized and run by these two extraordinary volunteers who, in addition, dedicate two days a week to the care of the animals in our shelter. A special thank you goes to all the volunteers who helped out the day of the event. We couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to the community members and businesses who donated prizes, raffle tables and loot bags: Global Pet Foods-Georgetown, Creature Comfort, Bold Canine, Pet Valu-Milton, Coffee news, Sherwood Copy, Halton Hills dog park, Country Canine, Joan BrownTupperware, ANML RESCUE, Judy Hoey, Taylor Farkas and Medi-Cal. Cheryl Allard, Volunteer co-ordinator, UCHS Race was `fantastic' Dear editor, I just wanted to publicly congratulate the organizers of the Race for the Hills for an extremely well orchestrated and FUN event (which, I believe, deserved a higher profile in The Independent, but I digress...). Opening the clues, I really felt like I was on the Amazing Race (albeit minus the exotic locales and the TV cameras)! Still, it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning, learn more about the town and contribute to its community spirit. I hope it becomes an annual event-- it was fantastic! Sylvie Nadeau, Acton Jacob and family offer thanks to volunteers Dear editor, Re: "Jacob gets his bike" Sept. 27. The article did not name some of the many individuals who generously volunteered their time and skill towards the building of Jacob's bike. We are enormously grateful to Nathan Madarasz, Danielle, Bonnie, and Carol from The Sign Shoppe, Paul from Up Your Bike, as well as Dave and Darrell from Pace Auto. Also, a special thank you to Dr. Madarasz for his undertaking and coordinating of this project from start to finish. We consider ourselves very fortunate to live in the special community of Georgetown. Sarah, Adam, and Jacob Calvert Georgetown