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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, December 23, 2010 OPINION A late list Dear Santa, We know we've left this to the last minute, but we're hoping you can manage to work these late gift ideas into your busy schedule. We believe we've been very good this year but admittedly others might not think so (there was a municipal election this year and that tends to get people very polarized and very cranky). Anyway, if you can find time we'd like: · Roughly $22 million to fund the new twin arena complex at Mold-Masters SportsPlex the Town has its on eye on · Some NoDoz for our "vintage" councillors so they can stay awake during those long meetings · A provincial election (scratch that, it's taken care of) · No federal election (having just had a municipal election in October and faced with a provincial one this fall, one election per year is more than enough) · A smooth move for the Georgetown library as it heads to Holy Cross Church this spring while its Church Street home is renovated and a grand opening for the new Acton location · A quick solution to the Ninth Line/Steeles Avenue rush hour traffic tie-ups · A smack on the head to all those nabbed for impaired driving in Halton this year-- 295 as of Nov. 24. · A repeat performance for the Halton Hills Bulldogs-- our Canadian Jr. B lacrosse champions · Good wishes to special people we've dealt with this year-- Dr. Jeff Sutherland, Moriah Kolenda, Jay Fleming, Meghen Verheul, Emily Boycott, Eric Doubt and Karen McKenzieStepner (and their Healing Hands for Haiti team), Citizens of the Year Ivan Kilby (Acton) and Ernie Bodnar (Georgetown), local soldiers Robin Schavo, Sean Summerfield and any others who are serving or have served. And finally a safe and happy holiday to all our readers and advertisers. Merry Christmas. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@independentfreepress.com) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@independentfreepress.com) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@independentfreepress.com) WEB POLL RESULTS Have you found the Christmas bargains better this year than in years past? · Yes (33%) · No (39%) · About the same (28%) Steve Nease Go to www.independentfreepress.com Letters to the editor Reader offended by use of `holiday' Dear editor, By trying not to offend those who don't celebrate Christmas, retailers are foolishly offending those who do with inappropriate or excessive use of "holiday". To avoid growing boycotts, don't offend us either. Inappropriate: "Holiday" gifts because the origin of gift giving is Christmas. "Holiday" trees (Home Depot) because there's no such thing. Naming all other holidays what they are (New Year's, Easter, etc.) except for Christmas (Heart & Stroke Lottery & LCBO flyers). To further my point, Hannukah, Ramadan, Caribana, Martin Luther King Day, etc. are called just that. Excessive use: "Holiday" on every page (Bowring). "Holiday" several times (Sears commercial). "Holiday" wreaths and everything else (Superstore). "Holiday" isn't said for Easter bunnies or Thanksgiving food ads. Saying Christmas doesn't mean that you have to believe in God, even though Jesus is the reason for the season. Barbara Wallace, Georgetown the community and enjoy all the work that goes into it then just stay in your house. Tracie Adema, Georgetown Grinch strikes... Dear editor, I have been a resident of Georgetown for almost 20 years and I have two young children. I want to say I have never been more disappointed in whoever decided to rip out our Christmas decorations. My seven-year-old asked me this year if I could get the light-up candy canes for our driveway and bows for our fence. We have had them up for almost three weeks now. Sunday I came home to find them torn out and strewn down the sidewalk; they cannot be repaired. Why someone would break the heart of a child this close to Christmas is beyond my understanding. In the summer we had plants ripped out but we just replanted. I am truly disheartened by the lack of respect this individual(s) has for others' property and the money it costs to help decorate our community. If you don't want to be part of ...but others are kind Dear editor, Some time ago a person wrote to your newspaper saying they wished they had not moved to Georgetown because it was a terrible place to live (or words to that effect). Please allow me to relate to your recent events that have happened to me. On a recent bitter cold morning I was standing on the street corner I control (I'm a crossing guard) when a red car stopped and a woman I do not know got out of the car and asked if I would like a hot tea or hot chocolate-- I took the hot chocolate. The same thing happened to me last winter. Also, I once slipped on the ice on the sidewalk and five cars stopped and the people had me back on my feet before I realized what happened. This is the Georgetown I know and the reason I moved here from Toronto in 1958. A most sincere thank you to the very kind people of Georgetown and a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Tom Massena, Georgetown Letters to the editor policy Letters must include an address and daytime telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.