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6 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, June 9, 2011 OPINION An `A' for efforts In the newspaper office it is sometimes colloquially referred to as the `silly season'. The months of May and June are usually jam-packed with local fundraising events-- barbecues, walks, runs, trunk-bake-plant sales-- all held by community organizations staffed mostly by volunteers, trying to raise money for their particular group/charity/cause. Just publicizing and covering the events often proves challenging. However, we have seen over the years just how giving a community Halton Hills is. While we are relatively small in population, it never ceases to amaze that so many local organizations can hold literally hundreds of events each year....and residents and businesses continue to open their wallets. Just this past weekend two major fundraising events were held-- The Canadian Cancer Society's Georgetown Relay for Life and the third annual Georgetown/Acton Walk for ALS. The Relay for Life, which ran Friday night through to Saturday morning at the Croatian Centre, raised a record $114,330-- easily surpassing the goal of $75,000. A total of 380 people took part in the event held under ideal conditions. Unfortunately, Mother Nature wasn't as kind to the ALS Walk Saturday as a wicked storm forced cancellation of the event in which more than 800 people were prepared to take part in at the Gellert Centre. However, despite the disappointment, the walk raised $155,000--$5,000 more than was targeted. Combined, these events raised nearly $270,000... that's an impressive total no matter how you look at it. So, we offer a tip of the hat to all the organizers and volunteers for their efforts and to the local businesses who donated to these-- and all other-- local fundraising ventures. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Pet owners should follow Town bylaw Dear editor, In response to your front page article `Who shot Panda?' and `Tigger's tragic end' letter to the editor from May 26. Seriously, people if you decide to ignore Halton Hills By-Law 6-a of the Responsible Pet Owners Act that states: "No person being the owner of an animal shall allow such animal to ... trespass upon the land of any other person within the Town of Halton Hills" by letting your cat outside-- accidentally or purposefully-- then you bring upon yourself the likelihood that your cat will be subjected to: a) misfit behaviour of future sociopaths who statistically express their first urges by acting out on animals (usually cats), b) getting struck by traffic, or c) becoming prey to the many wild animals in the area, such as coyotes and foxes. As a responsible owner of two large dogs, I have no sympathy for cat owners who befall to any of these circumstances due to their own ignorance. Yes, the person who shot Panda and the person who ran over Tigger should step up and take responsibility for what they've done, but if the cats weren't outside to begin with, there would be no issue here. I have to walk my dogs on leashes, cats should also be walked on leashes. To Mayor Rick Bonnette and his council: there should be more bylaws outlining cat ownership, specifically to prohibit all outdoor cats. The cats would be safer and so would the local resident birds, reptiles, and small mammals they prey on. Also, my lawn wouldn't smell like cat urine/spray and my children could safely roll around on my front lawn without worrying about rolling into cat poop. R. Harrower, Acton It is my opinion as a former volunteer, employee, head of the cat program, and author of the procedural manual for the cat program, their decision to decouple from the OSPCA is going to be disastrous for both the cat program and for the shelter as a whole. I would have liked to offer input at the annual general meeting that was recently held, but my membership renewal was denied for no given reason although my two applications and two cheques have not been returned. For this reason I was also banned from attending the meeting. It seems to be that all attempts were made to stifle any opposition by volunteers and concerned supporters and that only members who concurred with the board's proposal were allowed to attend. In my opinion, this is the only reason for freezing the membership a month and a half prior to the AGM. Also, in my opinion, the Shelter will be unable to continue as they seem to have alienated a majority of their volunteers and donors. Sandra Ross, Georgetown WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) Halton Police have launched a Share the Road awareness campaign aimed at area drivers and cyclists. Which group, do you think, is more to blame for problems on the road? · Cyclists (54%) · Both are equally at fault (38%) · Drivers (8%) UCHS decision will prove `disastrous' Dear editor, I am very distressed about direction that the Upper Credit Humane Society is taking (UCHS decision angers volunteers, exworker May 24). The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.