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OPINION Nominate a Junior Citizen of the Year Most people appreciate a little recognition for their contributions, but unfortunately we can all be somewhat negligent in giving it. Others, especially the young people in our community, don't consider what they do to be deserving of recognition. Yet, a little recognition goes a long way to reinforce the importance of contributing to our community. As Halton Hills's community newspaper, we are proud to be able to offer the 2006 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards so we can recognize the outstanding efforts and achievements of young people in our community-- right here on these pages. Please help us by nominating a young person, aged 6-17, who is involved in community service; has performed acts of heroism; is contributing to the community while living with limitations; or is a good kid who shows a commitment to make life better for others, possibly doing things not expected of someone their age. Co-ordinated by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association and supported financially by Tembec Inc. and TD Canada Trust, this program recognizes all young people nominated. Each nominee receives a certificate of recognition from their community newspaper. Up to 12 nominees and one group from across the province are then chosen as the final recipients to receive 2006 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards, during a special ceremony in March 2007. Nominations will be accepted until Nov. 30. Further information about the awards program is available online by visiting www.ocna.org and then clicking on the Awards link, or by calling the OCNA at 905-639-8720, ext. 235. Nomination forms are available at the reception desk of The Independent & Free Press. Nominate a young person today; they deserve to get a little recognition from our community. It's up to us. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR New council doesn't represent young families Dear editor, I would like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to come out to vote this year. While visiting the polls on Monday, both during the day and in the evening, I noticed that the majority of those voting were probably 50-plus, and of those I would say most were retirees. This is confirmed in the new makeup of our council, of which young families are not well represented. Busy lifestyles, apathy, or lack of election or candidate information may have contributed to this. I hope that in the next election our town will continue to increase its efforts to impress upon our younger or newer residents, as well as longtime residents, the importance of their right and privilege to vote. Increasing our early voting days seemed to help with those who were planning to vote, but we may have to work on those who seem unconcerned. I wonder what they will be thinking as they sip on their Timmy's at 5:30 a.m. at Canada's second oldest and coldest hockey rink, waiting for young Johnny's hockey practice to start. At least they drove by a nice garden on the way. Have a great four years. Drew Riedstra, Georgetown Ward 4 candidate Where were the Ward 4 candidates? Dear editor, RE: Ward 4 candidates. There was a municipal election going on, yet residents in Ward 4 (specifically in the new subdivision between Eighth and Ninth Line and 10 Sideroad) failed to see the majority of their candidates. In fact, only one came to my door to present his platform. Although I was not in agreement of the platform I feel I was left with no choice. Where were the other candidates? What kind of message were you trying to send to your constituents? Were you too busy for us? To me, this behaviour is indicative of the way you will behave during your time on council. In my opinion none of you (barring the candidate who came to my door) deserve a seat because you failed to show up and present your viewpoint to me. I would like to know why all of you failed to show up in this area. This is an open question to all candidates. Please don't degrade us and give us shoddy excuses. Additionally, the residents of south Georgetown are well aware of how many in the established part of Georgetown feel about us. We know that "we are part of the problem", which is increased urban development. What many of you are forgetting is the increased tax base, which means lower taxes and more services for the community. Every decision has its good and bad points, let's all remember that. Even though we are "part of the problem" most of us are in agreement with you. We fully realize that this is a contradictory statement but the residents of the south would also like to maintain the environment Georgetown provides all of us. What I would like to see is a representative who can address two main issues: bridge the divide, between the "new" and "old" residents of Georgetown and realize that growth (urban, industrial and commercial) is inevitable. There must be pragmatic decisions from council to make the growth sustainable to maintain the environment that makes this area unique. Let all candidates remember this quote from Machiavelli: "The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not." Andrew Murison, Georgetown Harper will pay for his lie Dear editor, Mr. Harper promised to preserve income trusts by not imposing any new taxes on them. He accused the Liberals of attacking seniors' retirement income. In less than an hour he destroyed millions of dollars of the savings and income of seniors and Canadians. Mr. Harper broke a core electoral promise. He lied to get elected and he will pay for cheating me and other seniors out of our savings. Edward M. Cachia, Georgetown