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6 - Them Canadian Champion, Tuesday. September 26, 2000 TH U IPE COMMENT cD 11NE PaLIltA4 Something lias to be done -and quickly. Uneven loads are a weigbty issue for gravel truck drivers, who took to abandoning their trucks at the Hwy. 401 weigh station near James Snow Parkway starting Thursday and over the weekend. They were protesting the big fines spent on loads that weigh in just fine overai, but put more pressure than permitted over an individual axie. '1 To correct the problem, some drivers; caim to have spent up to fourEM TH U E hours tossing the gravel around to even up a load that will probably shift60 when the big trucks rumble into gear again. x That story has been largely buried amid the international uproar over " skyrocketing gas and diesel prices. ,Z3." The United States bas reacted by promising to free national oil- reserves, which have already driven down prices there. - 7 4I Ç r That would be a good idea if oil shortages were the problem. But some ~N 1h say the liquid gold is plentiful enough. It's a lack of the refined product that's causing the price surge. Still others dlaim that a eut in gas taxes won't be reflected at the pumps. But if truekers continue to abandon their rigs en masse, it spelîs trouble for an economy that has been blissfülly trucking along. o Something bas to be done to keep the economy moving. And soion. SO UR READERS WRITE An arts centre would offer so many thîngs chlldren and pets can play safoly? Dear EdItor: 'Mis is fte tilul of year when home- owntors thinlt abouet puttibg lawns andi garéit tomf o r tewiBitef 11m Pesticide Alterntive$ for Mlto (PAM) Qreup urges everyoeS ts give carefut consideratiofl to liseir plans for doing that l>erlaps it's time to retiikithe vqIue of having a chel*411y-dsendeit lawn as oppososi to a heltoy natural lawi where Mludtotb and pesÇ a play saféIy and birds and bsstterflies feed withooit On SatBCday be sl of our grosop wilb tteFarmers' Market o Main Sret. We will bave information and renources avaihableto answer quesNttins andi help you with your transition 10 a healty dntg-free lawn. W. look forward to seeing you theoe. Jane Cop.Iand THE CANADIAN CHAMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E. Thie hu»ia. Champion, publislred enfin Tuesday and Frlday ai 191 Main St. t., Milton. Ont., 19T 4N9i (Box 248), ls one of lire Meiroand Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Printng, Publlshin IL Olstribulint Lld. group nt suborbn cnmpanies airicir includes: Ajax/Pickbering News Adnertisnr, Allision Healdltnourier, Barrie lidnance, Barrys Bay This Week, Bnlien Enierprise, Bramptnn Guardian, (905) 878 234 1 Burlinon Pnst, Builinnlnn Shoapping News, City Parent, Ciy oi Yoîrk Guardian. CollingoodIWatalii Connecln, East Yorks Mmif trio Editorial Fax: 878-4943 AdnncateConofiry Roules, tbicnlie Guardiar, Flanboroutll Pnst, Forover Young, Georgetown IndepentAsn Free Press, llurnnia Business Advertising Fax: 876-2364 Times, Kingston This Week. Lindsay Tbis Weeli, Mariulam Econonisi & Sun, Mldland/Peoetargiulslsini Minrr Milton Shopping News, Misslssuaa Classified: 875-3300 Busness T'mes' rnOlsataNew, Napaee Gide, Nssagaeya Nias, NewmrkeAurra Ea-Bnne. NrthuberandNews Noth orkMiror, Oulinille Beaner, Oaaholle Sbnopping Nias, SiAômois Hockey Nias, Orillia Ian Oliver PublUsher loday. OsbawaAWbitbn/Claringonn/Poii Ferry Tbis Week, Owmes Sound Tribune, Peterboroughb Tbis Weelu, Picn Counlo Guide, Richrmond Neil Oliver A.rnociale Puia.,her eiIlîiorniilWlaughan Liberal, Scuîbniougb Mirior, SloullnîllelUxbfidge Kare Smli Edmoosr Tribune6. Adneriising is accepled on tbe condition ibai, in lire eveni of a typo- Steve CroaBer Csrculatitn Manager niapirboal ennor, liai porbiosni nfte adusliislng space occupred by lire Bro- mous ien, togeer alb a reasunable allnaasoe fnr sinaure, ail sol la Teri Cuns Office Manager cbargiel loi, bol lire balance ni tbe aderisemenl .111 te paii loi ai lire applicable raie. Thre publiroba resernes lbe rlgbl bo caiegonie adosrise- 'Fla Celles Producflin Manager oss or ilecire. Dear Editor: Re: Letter to the editor conceen- ing an arts centre from Ricbard Bramwell. I'm pleaaed to add my voice to the debate conceming an arta cen- tre. I'm sure Mr. Bramwell wrote to Tbe Champion witb energy wben Milton built ito firrot hockey arena. Wbile hockey attracts many gifted athletes wbo bave become wealtby pmofessionalo, they sbould have known better than to expect ail taxpayers to t und their early development. Government-funded hockey os 'welfare hockey'. 1 expect that Mr. Bramwell wrote witb considerable energy as again and again thse Town of Milton built basebaîl diamondo and soccer pitches. After aIl, government funded basebaîl is 'welfare base- bal', and govemment funded soc- cer is 'welfare ooccer'. AIl of this lis welfsre history, be might protest. As bie wrote, today and in the future fewer of us are going to spend on good art wben food, shelter and kids corne first. Mr. Bramwell, could you consid- er tbe posoibilîty tbat an art centre could belp kids? That a place to teacb and leam music and cboral oinging and drama and dance and watercolor painting and sculpture might serve the needo of many of oui kids wbo aren't atbletic, and will neyer benefit from ail] the soc- cer pitcbes, basebsîl diamondo, bockey armnas tbat the Town of Milton could build? It's taxisayer money that bas been spent for the benefit of tbe athletic few who thereby get tbeir free ride. Could you consider the possibili- ty that an art centre migbt offer shelter to volunteer organizations who in tbeir quiet ways work for the good of Milton? An sets centre offers a sale place for children to dance - on a otrong wooden flosnr instead of concrete. An arts centre offers and accepting place for stu- dento of music and draina to test their abilities - drumming and blowing trumpets in a hall witb good acoustico, s0 they can hear what they really sound like. Could you consider the possibili- ty that for some people in our com- munity, the creative work of paint- ing, olnging, dancing is lufe itself? We ail are unconociously changed by the food we conoume. Like food, feaating our eyes and ears on .art', even 'art' fromn Zellers bas the ability to change hemets, minds, and heal wounded spirits. I'm a property taxpayer in Milton. I'm an acrylic painter and a chorister. I connider myself a oeri- oua, tax-paying antiot and supporter of Arts Milton and an arts centre. Yet, because 1 yeamn for a place to gather witb other artiots to practice Our music and paint our paintings, I'm called a welfare artiot. If what I'm about is seeking tbe "welfare," the well-being of our growing community by asking for a place for the expression of shared artistic interests, oo be it. Margaret Spencer Rockwood Pud by Steve Nease