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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | 6 Editorial Welcoming spring Winter may have blown a few last angry blasts our way after our clocks rolled forward and before spring was ushered in today, but most of it is done -- time to move forward. Like this season's weather, some major challenges were thrown our way this winter... the school year has been, and continues to be, eventful (or not). The economy continues its slow crawl forward. Here at the newspaper, we lost a longtime co-worker and friend to us and the community. Many of us have similarly weathered the wrath of the season -- whether it be with challenges to our health, the well-being of our families, work or nances. Spring of cially arrived this morning and while it may not seem like it, sunny skies are not far off as signalled by the celebration of an early Easter. Here in Oakville, while the challenges may be many, so, too, is good fortune. We shouldn't forget it. Fareshare food bank, while in its annual Easter drive and desperately hopeful of a better showing than last year, has no complaint with the community support it receives. It also has had the good fortune of having dedicated volunteers -- not the least of whom is Dudley Clark who will retire next month and whose replacement is being sought, but who, we know, will never be far from the volunteer work he has devoted himself to for several decades. The Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) has weathered some rough seas of late, but has come out with some shining stars to its credit, the respect of many and a deeper appreciation of its own fortitude. You will read about the society's challenges and triumphs in an Oakville Beaver series, the rst of which appears in today's edition (see page 5). Our local hospital, while supremely challenged as we wait for our new hospital to be ready, is doing its best to assist those in need of healthcare. Despite upheaval, local public schools seem to be back on course -- addressing the needs of educating our youths. The Town meanwhile is weathering wrath and roses from all corners of the community... those appreciative the arts now have a home in the Queen Elizabeth Park Community Culture Centre, others interested in improved transit service and those still jockeying for position as decisions are imminent on major areas of the Uptown Core and the former Oakville Trafalgar high school and hospital lands, as well as numerous surplus public school sites in the southeast. We must remember it is all too easy to throw arrows and darts, to be the armchair quarterback offering criticism, but if we look around at our community -- to our neighbours and friends, there is much to be thankful for. Even as we face adversity, it is actually through it, that we nd our own strength shining through and the warm friendship of our friends and neighbours supporting us. As we say farewell to another winter, let's remember the good times, drawn on the lessons of the bad moments, and welcome the warmth and brightness of a new season. Happy spring. "Connected to your Community" 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Fax: (905) 337-5566 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 33 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Letters to the Editor Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Cataract surgery has many benefits Many cataract surgery programs across the province have been closed until April 1, 2013, including the program at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH). Province-wide reductions in funding for cataract surgery are a concerning trend. Cataract surgery provides a great return on investment to the health-care system, as it reduces the likelihood of hip fractures by 80 per cent and the incidence of depression by 75 per cent, in addition to the visual bene ts and restored independence it offers patients. A U.S. study estimated for every dollar spent on cataract surgery, about $30 are saved in avoided expenses in other areas of healthcare. The excellent outcomes and improvements in function offered by modern cataract surgery mean that today's patients are less willing to tolerate worsening visual disability when such a cost-effective and safe sight restoring procedure is available. Most studies examining the issue of "inappropriate" surgery estimate the rate of surgery that should not have been performed to be about two per cent. Cataract surgery is being done earlier because it is safer than ever and it helps patients. Patients know this from talking to their friends and family who have had the surgery and are now enjoying the many bene ts of improved vision. Closing cataract surgery programs will increase wait lists, and as we have seen from research, these wait lists of vision impaired patients produce increased spending required for the management of other expensive problems experienced in higher numbers by patients with poor vision, like hip fractures and depression. The Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario sincerely hope our patients in Oakville will continue to have timely access to the benets offered by cataract surgery and other eye surgeries. It's good for patients, and it makes good sense economically as well. Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: ATHENA Award Tim Hillson MD MA FRCSC Eye Physician and Surgeon Orillia, Ontario Tariff Chair, Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 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: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver. com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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.