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6 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, June 22, 2007 OPINION No need for speed No one should ever have to endure the senseless loss faced by the loved ones of Innisfil's David Virgoe. By all accounts the 48-year-old, truck-driving father of three and grandfather of five sacrificed himself in order to save others travelling along Highway 400 near Bradford on Monday. The Ontario Provincial Police have credited the trucker's evasive manoeuvres for having minimized the highway carnage the day he encountered three road racers on the highway's northbound lanes. Virgoe's death is a stark reminder the rules governing our streets and highways aren't enough of a deterrent to those who engage in reckless driving. Motorists who speed for the thrill of it must be made to understand that public roadways aren't their race tracks or venues for demonstrations of bravado. Monday's tragedy is an indication that street and highway racers aren't getting that message. Anyone who believes Virgoe's death was an isolated incident, should consider statistics from a recent crack down on street racers by York Regional Police. With the help of a helicopter to spot dangerous drivers from above, police officers charged more than 550 drivers with street racing offences over a six-week period. Can you say epidemic? We agree with the sentiments of OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino, who worries that without harsher sentences handed out by our courts, more tragedies are inevitable. "This was a senseless act that cost a man his life and has left his family without a father, brother and grandfather," Fantino said, adding, "there is no excuse for street racing and aggressive driving, such as the high speeds and unsafe lane changes we have seen recently." We applaud the OPP and other police forces for stepping up their efforts to target aggressive drivers, those who don't wear seatbelts and those who drive while impaired. However, until much stiffer punishments are meted out by our justice system, more innocent families will continue to be victimized by those who feel a need to speed. When the irresponsible behaviour of strangers costs someone their life, the least society can do is toughen its laws to ensure punishments fit the crime. www.independentfreepress.com Phone: 905-873-0301 Fax: 905-873-0398 Steve Nease STAFF DIRECTORY Publisher Ken Nugent Advertising director Steve Foreman (sforeman@independentfreepress.com) Retail advertising manager Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@independentfreepress.com) Managing editor John McGhie (jmcghie@independentfreepress.com) Distribution manager Nancy Geissler (distribution@independentfreepress.com) ADVERTISING Advertising co-ordinator Jennifer Christie (jchristie@independentfreepress.com) Retail Sales: Jennifer Spencer (jspencer@independentfreepress.com) Adam Spinney (aspinney@independentfreepress.com) Andrew Key (akey@independentfreepress.com) Amy Sykes (features@independentfreepress.com) Real estate: Sue Spizziri (realestate@independentfreepress.com) Classifieds: Kristie Pells (classified@independentfreepress.com) ACCOUNTING Rose Marie Gauthier, Michelle Wimmer 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) PRODUCTION: Mary Lou Foreman, Kevin Powell, Shelli Harrison, Dolores Black, Debbie MacDougall LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Scouts say thanks for a great year Dear editor, As the summer starts another scouting year rolls to an end, I would like to thank all Beavers who came to our colony-- you made us the biggest group in Georgetown. We have lots of fun playing games-- and with live snakes. We learned how to be found in a forest if we get lost-- Hug-A-Tree. We made crafts and linked several times with the cubs, scouts and ventures, some crafts even made the local newspapers when we supported our troops and thanked our veterans and we will always continue to do so. With the support of the other scouting groups in town we again had the largest entry in the annual Georgetown Santa Claus Parade, put on by our great Georgetown Lions Club. We even played Hockey Night at Beavers (thanks for the idea Patty from 1st Georgetown Beavers) which introduced hockey to some of Beavers who never played before. All this would not be possible without the new leaders who came aboard this year into 4th Georgetown Beaver colony. Without them there would be no program. Last year at this time I was the only returning leader; five parents stepped up to volunteer their time and became leaders and a couple parents helped on our group committee. They came with great ideas and added immensely to the group. We also had several parents help at many of the meetings. Thank you for your time. I would also say thank you to Tim Hortons for supplying hot chocolate for our outdoor events to keep us warm, especially the Georgetown South store as it has several employees who have been involved with 4th Georgetown over the years . Please visit our website, www.4thgeorgetown.ca, if you are interested in scouting. Support our troops! Scouter Peter Struwing (Raccoon), Georgetown Something bugging you? Send us a letter! Letters to the editor must include an address and daytime telephone number. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 200 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1 E-mail: jmcghie@independentfreepress.com Freecycle corrects web address Dear editor, Re: June 13 letter `Big pick up a big pain' by Jennifer Gerrard. As the moderator of the Acton Freecycle Community Group, I would like to correct the web address. The theory behind Freecycle across Canada is to try and save our landfills by passing on perfectly good items we no longer need or want to someone else who could use it and would appreciate it. We've all been in the position of having a box of small items we'd rather not have in our attic, basement or garage but not enough to have a yard sale, so we just end up keeping the items or eventually throwing then away. With Freecycle, you would post the item on our local site and pass it on to whoever requested it. The items on our site have ranged from clothing, books, appliances and even garden vegetables. To join our Freecycle Acton group, you would go to www.freecycle.org and choose groups in your area. A list of all groups in Ontario will be displayed and you are free to join whichever you would like. Locally, we have groups in Acton, Erin, Brampton, Milton, Rockwood and Guelph. Hopefully we'll have many new members this year. Joanne Adler, Acton Reader offers alternative for collection of metal Dear editor, I am just commenting on the (June 13) letter from Jennifer Gerrard about her frustration with the big pick ups. I discovered a great place to phone to pick up any non-hazardous metal, even cars, when I am ready to put it out, not having to wait several months of storing it. Anyway if anyone is interested the fellow's name is Tim and can be reached at 905-702-8210. He normally comes out to haul it away within a couple of days. Now, if only there were other people to call for the other materials. Mandy Kerfoot , Acton THE INDEPENDENT & FREE PRESS The Independent & Free Press is published every Wednesday and Friday at 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown Ont., L7G 4B1. It is one of several newspapers published by Metroland Media Group Ltd. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with reasonable allowance for signature will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the acceptable rate. In the event of typographical error advertising goods or services at wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell which may be withdrawn at any time. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. 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