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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 18, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 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: The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager Think smart, think safe The first long weekend of 2007 is upon us. For many, it's time to kick back and relax with family and friends and hopefully soak up some rays in the process. And yes, celebrating with a few beers or spirits is probably on the agenda for a good number of people as well. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as common sense planning goes along with it. Recent statistics suggest we're beginning to do just that, with a 17.3 per cent decline in impaired driving charges and 22.4 per cent drop in 12hour suspensions administered in Halton between 2005 and last year. Although that's obviously encouraging news, the fact is there are still people out there getting behind the wheel after tying one on -- a sobering notion to say the least. And while it may be a naive concept, we suggest the only acceptable number when it comes to impaired driving is a zero. After all, is it really so much to ask that all Halton residents -- and everyone across the country for that matter -- wake-up to the reality of just how much this negligence costs and simply avoid it? Certainly no one plans to kill or injure a fellow motorist or pedestrian while driving under the influence, but without a plan to get home safe from a bar or party, those same people are making a conscious choice to put themselves and others in harm's way. And allowing a friend to drive home drunk isn't any more acceptable. If you suspect you or a buddy isn't fit to drive, they aren't. It's really that simple. So whether it be walking home, electing a designated driver or choosing to spend the night at a friend's house, let's practice some good oldfashioned respect for human life this weekend. As the saying goes, "The life you save could be your own." Halton's impaired driving statistics are indeed headed in the right direction, but with just a little more consideration for others -- and ourselves -- we can kick those declining numbers into overdrive. Have a happy, and safe, long weekend. 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. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Thanks for helping me get on the road to recovery I'm writing today from the Homewood Health Centre in Guelph to say thank you to everyone who was involved in getting me here to seek the help I need. First and foremost, I'd like to thank my family. Without their continuing support and nurturing, I would never have become the person that you all say is worthwhile of your time, effort, and money. To Chris Tymstra, whose fundraiser that took place at Kelsey's on May 2, made this possible. Not only was your kindness and generosity overwhelming, but I shouldn't have been surprised, knowing for over 35 years the type of man you are. You truly are special, and I wanted to make sure you know how important you are to me. To my friends and acquaintances from school and work: thank you so much for taking time to come by. I was truly thrown back by the number of people that showed up, wrote letters of encouragement, or sent BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com anonymous donations. My gratitude will be never ending. To all the media: The Oakville Beaver, CFRB 1010 radio, CBC French Radio, and CBC News. I'd like to thank you for not only taking an interest in my story, but for helping raise awareness to the plight of people with eating disorders, and the lack of OHIP-funded beds. There are people here who have waited over two years to get into the program. That is after all of the questionnaires and forms, and decisions by the Homewood board to see if they were "suitable candidates." I ask all of you to write your local MPP (Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn), and bring to their attention the unnecessary wait time to get help for this disease. And a thank you to MPP Flynn and his staff for not only coming to Kelsey's, but for all their work, past and continuing, on my behalf. From the bottom of my heart, to everyone, I say thanks. I feel it's not nearly enough, but what do you say to someone who has saved your life? Thank you again and I'll try to keep you updated. BILL FALLON P.S. To correspond with me, send a letter to Corbett's, 120 Speers Rd, Oakville L6K 2E7, c/o Bill Fallon. Bill Fallon Pud 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.