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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, January 4, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor 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 What's needed in 2012, more or less With 2012 -- the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac calendar -- now upon us, we cast our glance forward with the hope we will see less, or more, of the following: More: Civic involvement. Residents helping to fund the new Oakville hospital; weighing in on the future of the Oakville Arena; determining what the future will hold for downtown Oakville and heritage districts in town. Less: Rob and Doug Ford. Toronto's less-than-dynamic brotherly duo seem less appealing, and effective, when the spotlight is on them. More: Compelling television. Is it just us or is there an abysmal amount of wasted air time (i.e. Sun TV, reality shows)? Less: Carnage on Halton roadways. Far too many accidents. Far too many drivers stopped for impaired driving. Just too much bad driving overall. More: Development/industrial revenue... particularly from the designated employment lands in town. Less: Obfuscation that is economy-related and other social blights, such as children going hungry, residents coping with homelessness, abuse in families and of seniors are problems that shouldn't exist in Halton. More: Community acceptance and action taken to eliminate the above-noted issues that should be an unacceptable quality of life in a community such as Oakville. More: Acceptance of mental health challenges faced by a large number of residents; understanding of the same; and, action to improve quality of life for those with such challenges and those who support them. Less: Bullying -- just about everywhere, but especially so in our schools. Less: Youth suicide. Nothing is worth losing a life or losing the priceless gift of life. More: Greening of the environment that is truly supportive of people, animals and the nature we live in rather than lipservice or a calling card to make a fast buck. Less: Taxes of any kind. More: Resourcefulness when it comes to revenue raising to support public projects. Less: Flip-flopping by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. More: Personality from PC Leader Tim Hudak More: Andrea Horwath (but less NDP). Less: Stephen Harper soundbites, Bob Rae blathering, graffiti, Peter MacKay fibbing, break-ins, concussions, downsizing, stock market plunges, debt. More: Good health and happiness to all our readers. 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. Resident grateful for noise bylaw Letter to the editor 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. Christmas light displays make drive along Lakeshore Road enjoyable Re: Letter to the editor, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 Christmas lights are `cheesy,' The Oakville Beaver. Just a response to Steve "the Grinch" Wilson's letter in regards to what he describes as a display of "ostentation, arrogance, garishness and poor taste" along Lakeshore Road over the holidays. I have been a resident of Oakville all of my life, as have my parents. We reside in the north Oakville area, and every year, since I was young and now with my own children, we have enjoyed our drive along Lakeshore Road to see the beautiful displays of the Christmas spirit. We do not know the owners of these homes, whether they do or do not donate their money, nor is it our business. What is our business is that they participate in gor- geous light displays for the rest of us to enjoy, regardless of their house being new or old -- what's the difference? I am so disappointed to read such a judgmental letter -- it didn't even deserve to make print. Stop focusing on what you don't have Mr. Wilson, and stay focused on what you do have, and not what others do. Happy Holidays, Oakville. Keep up the good work. Kim Waller, Oakville My family and I were happy to read the article, Oakville muffling motorcycles, Dec. 26, The Oakville Beaver. I have been a resident of the area since 2007 when my family moved to the Lakeshore and Wilson neighbourhood. At first, we were happy to be living across from a Tim Hortons, but that quickly changed. From 2007 to the present, there has been a growing presence of bikers that come to hang out at the Tim Hortons at 49 Lakeshore Rd. W., which, in turn, has become the epicentre for noise. It is a well-known fact these bikers have been relocated from other Tim Hortons in Oakville, only to reassemble at this downtown location. Each year we watch the numbers grow because everyone knows nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd, especially when it comes to motorcycles. I spent countless sleepless nights awake as a result of the disorder that stems from this parking lot. For five years, myself and residents in the community have tried to raise attention about this problem. It wasn't until last year, a month before the municipal election, that our issues were finally heard. Like Robert Treasure suggests in the article, perhaps the owner should address the situation. Or, as I have suggested, does this location need to be open and operate a drive-thru 24 hours a day in a predominantly residential neighbourhood? The community is grateful something is being attempted and an acknowledgement should go out to Phillip Boullion for his work at the Town Clerk's office. The unfortunate downside is that not all the problems are being addressed. Blayne Rockliffe, Oakville