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Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks We'll miss OakVille :oply when you have to leave a place do you fully appreciate what you had. Dear Sir: Goodbye Oakville! After 12 years of living in Oakville, we are moving. The company tried to transfer us last year and we said, "No!" Oakville was just too nice to leave. This year though, we really didn't have a choice - so westward we go - to Colorado. (Thank goodngss we took up skiing a few years ago!) um pedestrians nave me ngnt or Obscenities. up the roadway. and I am sure that many, not so George Orwell, gave us a way. Obviously, this child expected quick with the pen as Leslie glimpse of this kind of society These children (and some- me to get out of HIS way! Scott and the Editor of the and " does disturb me, and I times the accompanying adults) Now, don't get me wrong, the Beaver. would agree with me. hope others, that we have, it expect me, a pedestrian, to move roadway is, can be, a dangerous Of course, the punchline on appears, some of us working out of the way of a family pro- place for a youngster on a bicy- this whole matter must be the towards 1984 in about the year cession. cle: I periodically ride the side- photograph on the front page ot 2010. [have exchanged some sharp walk myself but rigidly observe the Beaver recently showing a I. L. Davies I t 's hard to say goodbye to an old friend These children (and some- times the accompanying adults) expect me, a pedestrian, to move out of the way of a family pro- cession. Dear Sir: An interesting letter from Leslie Scott (a mother I wonder. or a father?) about bicycle hel- mets/ accidents: I can't really take it seriously as it tells me, like the bicycle helmet legisla- tion would, just how I must behave. I still say the choice/responsibility should remain with the parent. That little bit, "You are setting an example for our society's chil- dren" shows the mind set. Possibly, Leslie Scott is one of those parents who teach/allow their children to ride on the side- walk without regard to the fact that pedestrians have the right of way. On Monday the last Mack Truck rolled off the Oakville plant's assembly line. On Aug. 6th the plant is scheduled to be officially closed and it's 200 employees will be pounding the pavement looking for work. Still, in Ontario's shaky job market, most workers would have pre- ferred to remain at the plant. In the end, all the company's efforts help- ing their employees find work hardly makes up for the fact that it betrayed the workers in the first place by using them as pawns against their American counterparts. A job search committee was formed and a Canada Employment Centre trailer was set up outside the plant to help workers brush up their resumes and job search abilities and provide information on retraining programs. The company granted workers a severance pack- age that exceeded Ontario's minimal requirements and a generous weekly bonus package was distributed among workers if quality and production levels were met over the past 10 weeks. While Mack Truck refused to listen to pleas and offers from the Canadian workers to keep the Oakville plant open it at least didn't abandon them completely. Regardless of who is to blame/the closing of Canadian plants by an American parent company in favor of keeping jobs in the United States is becoming a familiar occurrence these days. Many blame political leaders like former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney who was ineffective in protecting Canadian jobs (Some would say he encouraged job losses through Free Trade). Others blames Ontario Premier Bob Rae for scaring away many company's by implementing higher taxes and pro-labor government legislation. Others may blame a growing protectionist attitude south of the border which is driven to save American jobs at all costs. The Oakville Mack Truck closing points out how insecure many Canadians feel about maintaining steady employment. The average Mack Truck employee had 20 years of service with the company and was 49 years old. Most were not planning on switching careers or look- ing for anotherjob. The bitter irony of it was their fellow workers south of the border put the final nail in coffin of the Oakville plant by agreeing to c0nces- sions in order to save their own jobs. The company's strategy was sim- ple and effective - unless the UAW agreed to the concessions and Mack's assembly line in Macungie, Pennsylvania would be kept open. If the concessions were not met, 700 jobs would be lost. In today's job market, the US. workers had little choice. " used to be that if you worked hard, did your job, and kept up pro- Iduction you could pretty well be assured of employment. Not any _ more ---just as the workers at the Mack Truck plant in Oakville, Despite a top finish each month in quality and production levels, workers at the North Service Road East assembly plant learned this spring that the plant would be closing in favor of keeping an American plant open. ALONE We wish them luck. They're going to need it CALL845-5585 l‘HEO Workers as pawns OPINION IFO 5W EDITORIAL '; SPEAK YOUR MIND All callers are allowed 45 sec- onds to express their opinion and must provide their name, address and phone number for verification. Got a gripe? Give us a call. Readers are invited to express their opinion on a topic of their choice by calling 845-5585, box 5250. A cross section of the responses will be published in next Wednesday's Oakville Beaver. We'll miss Saturday morning bike rids to sip coffee and read the newspaper. We'll miss the Oakville Beaver! We'll miss driv- ing over Sixteen Mile Creek bridge in all seasons - Spring, waiting for the first boats to appear; Summer, marvelling at how many boats there are, the canoe races, the sailboats, all the action at Sharkey's; Fall, watching the boats slowly disappear until the last one is out of the water; and Winter, trying to decide when Now, don't get me wrong, the roadway is, can be, a dangerous place for a youngster on a bicy- cle: I periodically ride the side- walk myself but rigidly observe This child was quick on the up-take. while still entangled with my legs, he accused me of stopping too quickly and when I explained that this was a side- WALK and he should have gone around me " I have the right of way " a pedestrian. he shot off after uttering a few choice Obscenities. up the roadway. Obviously, this child expected me to get out of HIS way! words with both children and parents on these occasions: recently. a youngster actually hit me hom the tea with the wheel of his bike. I knew he was approaching and not sure what he was going to do. I slowed down and stopped, and he ran right into Downtown Oakville - every resident should make a point of using all it has to offer - it's such a vital part of living here! Just a few of the places I'll remember: the wonderful Jubilee flowers and fruits, Jobson's Choice, with their charming sidewalk displays; the new Town Square - especially with the Christmas tree; Tim Horton's (it's always busy!); Gifted Hands, for such interesting Canadian-made gifts, and of course, The Added Touch Portraits by Mina - love to see if Our kids have spent most of their growing up years here and we took full advantage of all the great things for kids in Oakville - library programs, Parks and Rec. camps, Tuesdays at Lakeside Park, OTMH Emergency, trips to Dairy Freeze, T.C.B.Y., monthly visits with Dr. Fasken, Pick of the Crop. St. Vincent's, Appleby and St. Mildred's never looked so good until we had to start school hunting in Colorado. the ice is finally frozen enough to skate on. Of course. the punchline on this whole matter must be the photograph on the front page of the Beaver recently showing a Your RIGHT is my WRONG or vie versa: I still say the bicy- cle helmet legislation is wrong and I am sure that many. not so quick with the pen as Leslie Scott and the Editor of the Beaver, would agree with me. As for setting an example four our societies children. I am too old to swallow this one however politically correct it may sound " it pits one point of view (cor- rectness) against another. A point of interest here is that the young child that hit me did not have a helmet on whereas. I do have an old professional bicy- cle helmet - some 40 years old - that I haven't ever. worn for recreational cycling. the rule that the pedestrian has the right of way. The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and mclude the writer's address and phone number, Letters should be typed, double-spaced and addressed lo: um to the Editor, The 0.0M". Saw. 46? Spoon Rd., ammo. om. Lox 384 3 OLD yflgUtigiNi.tit,,gg1iraar, Classified Advertising: 845-2809 Circulation: 845-9742 or 845-9743 845-3824 Fax: 845-3085 III JAh To the many great friends we've all made - don't write us off - just often! We'll be back. I just hope Oakville remains as vibrant and wonderful as it is today. Just a note to my piano stu- dents - I've enjoyed all your memorable and exciting musical talents and also in sharing in a small part of your lives. I'll never forget the pleasure I've had in working with all of you. Don't forget those chords! recognize anyone in her window; the so-many-years-vacant play- house - now The Ozone (to be 20 years younger!); the wonderful wood things at Murron's; the smell of The Butcher's barbeque, Iced Cappuccino at GrabbaJabba, the Bear Paws at Candy Cupboard... I could go on and on, but only one more - Oakville’s beautiful flowers and parks and park benches in so many nice places - the town Maintenance Department really deserves a pat on the back! One does wonder just how far some people would go to legis- late our societies behavior and, in so doing, remove any moral sense of right and wrong (or choice) apart from what is legis- lated by those who perceive themselves to be politically cor- rect. young cyclist at a Canada Geese Crossing -without a helmet. May I suggest. Leslie Scott, that you give the Editor of the Beaver a black mark for his as it certainly does not set a political- ly correct example for our soci- eties children. the way YOU see ll. BEAN _ "Sli-cs, )nt BK Christine Apted 1\' Robert Glnbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Goo“ Hill Circulation Director Teri CIIII Qlllce Manager Tim Colel Production Manager Ian Oliver Publisher When people turn to professionals for help, the areas in which they are most likely to look include legal work or repair of cars and appliances. Less than 6 percent of adults seek out professionals for home decorating. 5. Segregation of offenders: we need to always separate the child offenders from the adult prison population. 6. I feel that rape is a horrendous crime and should be treated as such. 7. Also, heavier penalties for drunk drivers, especially when death occurs. 4. The Young Offenders Act should be abolished. If a child commits and adult crime, they should be punished as an adult. However, in the cases concerning children rehabili- tation should be a priority. 3. Molestation of children should have a minimum sen- tence of 10 years and second offenders natural life without parole. l. Death penalty for premeditated murder of children and police officers. (Without a doubt) 2. Natural life for a premeditated murder in any other sit- uation. Without a chance of parole. Penal system needs overhaul I want you to know as a Canadian, I am enraged as to the functioning of our justice system. I feel that a special refer- endum concerning the advocation of the death penalty should seriously be considered. The penal system needs an overhauling, with particular attention paid towards the parole system. The following points could be considered in changing the system of justice in Canada. 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