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Good news, bad news This week local residents managed to see the best of their fellow citizens and, unfortunately, the worst. In today's paper we highlight the achievements of both the Georgetown and Acton Citizens of the Year. Louise Brown, Georgetown's recipient, is a shining example of selflessness. The longtime volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society and now Cancer Assistance Services-Halton Hills (CAS-HH), spends more than 2,000 hours a year co-ordinating patient services for CAS-HH, providing much-needed equipment to cancer patients and driving patients to various hospitals for treatment. Said her nominator, "This dynamite package of neighbourly love comes with a quiet zeal and a sincere desire to help others." Bill and Diane Spielvogel, Acton's Citizens of the Year, are just as eager to make life better for their community. For the past 25 years Bill Spielvogel, with the help of Diane, has organized the annual Acton Santa Claus Parade, ensuring kids and grown-up kids have a wonderful time in November greeting the jolly old elf on his first trip of the year to Acton. It's a thankless job with much of the work done out of the public eye. However, the Spielvogels have stepped forward repeatedly, giving of their time and energy. Sadly, in Wednesday's edition we reported on a break-in at the Georgetown Salvation Army Thrift Store in which the vandal(s) stole change from a Red Shield box and wantonly sprayed the office with ketchup, mustard and various other condiments. The damage done was in the thousands of dollars and struck an institution whose main purpose is to make life easier for those less fortunate. The hoodlums who ransacked the shop are simply the lowest of the low. It is our sincere hope those responsible are caught and dealt with harshly by the courts. We would even suggest a few thousand hours of community service-- like those provided by our fantastic citizens of the year-- be part of the penalty. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Province ignoring long-term care residents Dear editor, Re: Call for better living conditions for long-term care residents echoed. The letter writer of February 28 raises an issue which has occupied the Bennett Centre Board of Directors. Provincial funding for long-term care homes in this province is well below the Canadian average. Can anyone live on $5.46 per day for food? Our board and staff constantly look for creative ways to make the most of the funding we receive. We note with interest that hospitals receive funding that, per patient, is many times what we receive, yet our requirements for staffing and services are not that different from hospitals. Further, we pay for all capital upgrades ourselves, a very different scenario than for hospitals, with whom we compete for donor dollars. Our 66 residents at the Bennett Centre helped to build this community and this country. They deserve better from a government which has expressed its commitment to giving them top quality care. We are proud that residents, families and donors recognize the Bennett Centre as a fine and caring place that "feels like home." Monique Porlier, Chair of the Board Bennett Health Care Centre Cinema owner's kindness appreciated Dear editor: There is another facet to all the testimonials sent in by Georgetown residents re: the closing of Cinemas 3, owned by Danny Edwards. I am a senior citizen on a fixed income and mother of a 39-year-old daughter with special needs. She looks about 15 and functions around a two-year-old's level. She loves going to the movies. Many of you probably don't know that Mr. Edwards makes special concessions for those with a disability and the Community Living North Halton staff or parents who accompany them. He does it quietly and with no fuss. Many a time he has tried to "wave" me and my daughter through. It has been greatly appreciated. Disability pensions are very low and I am sure that the closing of our local theatre has impacted greatly on the young people who frequently went to the movies as part of their recreation programs. Transportation out of town must add to the challenge of co-ordinating association vehicles and the cost, especially with the ever-increasing gas prices. I have taken my daughter to theatres in Brampton and most recently, the new one in Milton. I was told that there would be no reduced price for Christine; that she had to pay full adult price and I qualified for the senior's rate. Even when I asked management if she could be afforded the children's or senior's price, I was told no. So much for a little fancier theatre and big business! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Danny publicly for his generosity and understanding and to let the community know there is still some "small town spirit" happening here in Georgetown. June Beeney, Georgetown Tories' ads anger reader Dear editor, How many hot meals could be served to poor and homeless Canadians for the price of those stupid Conservative attack ads and childish commercials by our supposed leader? Maybe it's time to look at the victim rather than the attacker. Recently I met our MP Michael Chong-- such a handsome, intelligent young man. On TV he looked so lost at the House of Commons (oops, house of pre-Kindergarten assembly)-- it must be the company he was keeping. When I vote Progressive Conservative am I voting Alliance or Conservative? It's been said, "Humans are the most evil species this world has ever spawned." Good news! Spring is on the way. Vincent R. Sicard, Acton