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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 23, 2009 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Give to United Way The United Way of Oakville is aiming to raise $3.6 million this year to help fund 30 social service agencies. It's a lofty goal, but it can be achieved. Last year the agency set its sights at raising $3.4 million and during tough economic times managed to exceed that target by $123,000. In doing so, Oakville was the only United Way in the GTA to meet its campaign goal. Despite signs that the economy is recovering, the impact of the recession is still being felt by many families. United Way officials are taking nothing for granted and need your help to reach their goal. They have come up with an appropriate motto that is both memorable and descriptive: "One town, one heart, one way." The United Way is a vital lifeline for many programs and services in the community. It steps in with funding -- at times when the government doesn't -- to sustain initiatives that help residents who often can't help themselves. Over the years, thousands have accessed services supported by the United Way of Oakville -- people who could be your neighbours, co-workers or friends. And in light of the tough economic times and the town's growth, the demand for these services is bound to increase. Making a donation to the United Way of Oakville is a smart decision. Not only is the agency reputable and accountable, all donations earmarked for Oakville, stay right here in the community. Donations support programs that address the needs of kids, youths, families, seniors and individuals with special needs. Donations help offer hope, opportunity and the chance at a better life. Contributing to the United Way is an investment in the community. It's also a smart move if you want to make a charitable donation, but can't decide where to direct your contribution. With so many worthy causes to support, donors can rest easy that they've helped support 30 right in their own community with a single donation. To find out more about donating, contact www.uwoakville.org. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Stand up to behemoth Imagine a toxic-spewing behemoth crouched in your carefully nurtured backyard. Imagine it to be twice as big as any other pollution-belching monster of its type. Imagine breathing its poisonous fumes. Imagine your kids playing in its lethal shadow. Now imagine being told that it's your fate to live with it because it has nowhere else to go. And if it burps its slimy bile all over your dahlias, you'll have to clean up after it because, hey, it's only a behemoth so it has no responsibilities. Poor noxious behemoth. You've managed to fend off other demons in the area, to live with them despite the fact that they could be detrimental to your health. But say, maybe if these other demons were rendered less offensive you could also learn to live with the monster. Gee, you think so? If you live anywhere within the Clarkson Airshed, you know that pollution stemming from industry, the QEW, and U.S. contaminants being blown across the lake, is a major problem in the area. However, the Ontario government has given the go-ahead for a new gas-fired generating plant within the Clarkson-Oakville area. According to Premier Dalton McGuinty, this will go through. And on Sept. 30, we'll find out exactly where. It is completely reckless on the part of the Ontario government to insert this plant into the already stressed Clarkson Airshed. In order to make it more palatable to area residents, the OPA says that existing businesses will just have to suck it up and change their ways of doing business. This is our fight. It's a worthy fight and we have to rise to the occasion. Lawn signs and petitions are nice, but they are not going to cut it. We have to be pro-active. Contact Kevin Flynn and Dalton McGuinty. Tell them, unequivocally, that they will lose your vote if this power plant goes through. VAL AND MIKE MARSHALL Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Clinic won't ruin neighbourhood Re: Opposed to methadone clinic, Oakville Beaver, Sept. 16. I know I'm probably wasting my time responding to C.Rowes letter, but I guess I need to qualify where I live in order to back up my letter. I've lived and worked in the Kerr Street area for 30 years now. Presently, my home of 15 years is 0.54 m from the proposed clinic. It saddened me to have read "most people share the same notions so therefore the value of our homes will suffer." Where exactly are you getting your information? Obviously you haven't done any research on the subject -- unless you've done a feasibility study to determine "the numerous better locations" you propose. If you did your homework you would discover the facts: · A methadone program significantly reduces heroin use paralleled with a reduction in crime. · A clinic on Kerr means less desperate and sick addicts on Kerr Street. · Addicts are radically diverse. They're homemakers, bankers, lawyers, teachers, managers -- and on and on. · Methadone is given orally and doesn't produce a euphoria as heroin does. It blocks the high and gives motivation to the patient to not use. Successful patients are invisible -- and go forward with their lives. What are you really afraid of? I guess in this case, ignorance is bliss. J YURCHUK