www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 1, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 905-845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 905-631-6095 -- 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington 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: 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 KIM MOSSMAN Circ. Manager Saving lives Take a long hard look at today's front page photograph and remember: Smoke alarms save lives. Those words were uttered -- again -- by Oakville Fire Chief Lee Grant this week. They rang true for the residents of the Miller Road home from which flames were shooting early Monday morning. And they rang true for most of the other homeowners across Halton who also found themselves homeless after suffering a devastating house fire. In July alone, there were four such fires in Milton. Smoke detectors were credited with saving the lives of those inside the Miller Road home where flames erupted around 2:15 a.m. Approximately 22 firefighters initially responded to the blaze, which was brought under control by about 3:30 a.m. According to Grant, when the fire department arrived on the scene, the fire was primarily in the attic area and the upper floor of the house. The fire chief also said no one was hurt as the residents of the home were able to get out after being awakened by smoke detectors. "The Oakville Fire Department continually encourages individuals to check and maintain their smoke alarms and this is another example of people who probably would have perished had their smoke alarms not worked," said Grant. "At 2 a.m., there's very little traffic on streets and it's unlikely neighbours are up, so if it had not been for the smoke alarms awakening them, this could have been a much more tragic situation." It is the law in Ontario to have working smoke alarms in your home. Smoke alarms can be battery-operated or directly connected to a building's electrical system. You'll know your smoke alarm is working if the power light is on. Failure to comply with the Ontario Fire Code may result in a fine of $235. Installation and maintenance includes the following: · Install alarms next to any sleeping area and on every level of the home · Homeowners must provide and install working smoke alarms for tenants · Remember to keep smoke alarms well maintained Maintain your smoke alarm through: · Periodic testing · Gentle vacuuming every six months with a soft bristle brush attachment · Replacing the battery once a year Battery operated alarms: · Replace your battery once a year and/or if your alarm is sounding its low battery warning and ensure you use the proper battery for your alarm (marked inside alarm). Remember, your life may one day depend on a smoke detector. 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. Parking rethink is needed for the downtown Letter to the editor Reader says it's a cecropia moth Re: Help identify, The Oakville Beaver, Friday, July 27, 2012. Regarding the photo of a moth in the Beaver, it's a hyalophora cecropia moth. From Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America by David Beadle and Seabrooke Leckie, page 256. The wingspan is 110 to 150 mm. Grayish brown wings have tear-shaped reniform spots and broad white and red bands. The red thorax has a white collar. Its hosts are deciduous trees and shrubs, including apple, ash, beech, birch, elm, maple, oak and willow. From the photo in the Beaver, it would appear to be a female. 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. Submitted by Noreen Higgins moth. what is iT?: Readers say it's a cecropia It would be great to know where and when the photo was taken. Sam McGownan, Oakville This reader concurs about moth's identity The moth in question is definitely a cecropia moth. It is native to our area, but is a real treat to see. Donna Sheppard, Oakville I am writing with the hope that you will do an article on parking at our Midnight Madness. This is a very good and fun evening for us Oakvillians. It's a community event we should all be very proud of. We all know that it's attended by thousands. We all are also aware that we do not have sufficient parking spots for the thousands of attendees. We do provide the free shuttle. However, there are attendees who have to drive there for health reasons, etc. We should consider the number of attendees and make allowance with regards to parking i.e. assign streets where people can park just for that night without getting ticketed. We could train student volunteers to direct the public to available parking areas not usually designated parking. Here is my story: I invited my brother and his family to come from Brampton. We also invited friends of ours from Mississauga. They all came to our home and we left in two cars at 6:30 p.m. Our friends with my husband were fortunate to find a parking spot on Church Street. I circled three times, which took approximately 40 minutes and could not find any parking. I was on Randall Street deciding whether to go home or back to the GO station for the shuttle. I had my brother and his wife as well as two of my sisters with me. One of my sisters is recovering from a stroke so cannot walk very far. Thinking I had them in the car for 40 minutes, I decided to park on Randall at a non-designated parking spot. I was not blocking traffic. I was not endangering any lives. I thought just for that night I should hopefully not get a ticket. I do not go around parking in non designated parking spots. Unfortunately, we got back to my car to find a $35 parking ticket. It put a damper on the entire evening. I honestly do not feel I should have been given a ticket. Savita Yassin, Oakville