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6 - The Canadian Champion Friday September 20 2002 <~COMMENT *THE CANADL4N CHAMPION Box 248. 191 Main Si. E. Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Advertising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Aaaociate Publisher JIl Davis Edior-in-Chief Karen Smith Ediîor Wendy McNab Adî'ertisîng Manager Steve Crozier Circulation Manager Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager Thei Canadien Champion. puirisired eveey Tuesdasi and Frîday at 191 Main Si. E. Miltn, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248), s une ut Tire Metroland Priiring, Pubilshfng 5&iistriting Ltd goup ot suiruiban companues which inclades. Ajax/Pickering News Advetisen. Alitan Serain/Courier Barrie Adance Brry's Bay Ths Week, Blten Enterprse, Brampton Guardian. Sarhuigtorn Postt Srlîngan Shopping News. CtyParent, City oftYork Guardian Collngwood/Wasaga Counection, East Yrk Mirrur, Sein Advocate/Cuaantry Rautes, Etobîculue Guardian. FamtirougtiPost, Forever Yourg, Georgetown IndepenrientlActan Free Press, Sltan Business Tires, -atna Business Tmes, Kngston This Week. Lindsay Thiis Week, Mtkham Ecanumrst & Sun. MdladiPentanguislrenn Miren, Mtun Shopping News, Misursauga Business Times, Mssssauga Newstrapanen Guide, Nusagaweya News, SewmurketiAunura eu Banner Nrthumbenrland News, sNsrth Yrk Mrrar. Sakuin eBrunir, Sakuitie SoirntaNews, Oldimrîs Hckey News, Orillia Tau, Oshawa/Witby/Carngon/Purt Prry Ths Week. PterbrugheTiîs Weel, Pctan Cuanty Guide, Richmond HilThurnirillNaugaGun Lirtut Scaruoraugir Mineur, SiauSttle/Uxirtitge Traune. Aduertismnru us ccepteti un the condition ia, n irite eueit a typo- grupicat enter, tapioîn outhtie aduîliîsîng spuci ccupinit iy thei rei- tenus item, tugîtirer wtir a reasunusie uttumunce tue signature, wîtt eut Se ciarged fot ut riti batance ut tie dairtisement nl e paid tuerutltire appli- cable rate, The pabisrlîSietserais tire rigiri tu categuie detisiments un declini. Tire Mlon canadiai Campioi s a Reeyciabie Peoduei t ' There has to be way to stop the violence News that the newly-built Halton Women's Place shelter for battered women and their children is soon to open is biltersweet. It's good news that women have a place to go when fleeing their abusive partniers. It's wonderful to see the organization get a nice new facility that will house more women and children in need and be more comfortable, especially considering the current shelter was found to have mould. But it's unfortunate that domestic abuse continues to exist as one of the main formns of violence in our society, and it's geuting worse. In 2001, there were 40 reported cases of domestic assault in Milton. That represented an increase of 25 per cent from the year before. And this year, police say the number of cases are on the rise again. It's sad to think that people are more likely to be physically assault- ed by their partniers than by strangers. The million dollar question is, how can we stop it? I's not a simple question and there are no simple answers. But we know we must keep striving for a violent-free socîcty. Halton events like the annual Take Back the Night Walk last night and anti-violence conference 'Victim- Less' November 1 to 2 do just that, and they deserve ail of our support. OUR READERS WRITE Sidewalk barrier is needed at Quality Greens: reader Dear Editor: After reading in Tuesday's Champion about yet another car accident at Main and Martin streets -ai the dreaded Quality Greens corner - 1 tound myself in dishe- lief. 1 read that over a period of 10 years there have been at least three vehicles that have becorne ernbed- ded in the front of the Quality Greens store- leaving the public and store employecir 10 fiee for their liveir. What must it take for the powers that be 10 corne tb heir senses and have a barrier insîalled on the Quality Greens sidewalk? Not only would this proteet the public, but the store ernployees as well. These employecir shouldn't have t0 take their lives mbt their own handir each day just 10 corne to work. Corne on. lets wake up and irmel the roses. Next time. sornebody could be killed. Mike Green Milton Thanks to ail who made Terry Fox Run success: local couple Dear Editor: We're writing to extend a well-deserved thank you t0 Milton Terry Fox Run organizers Kimn and Craig Thomas, as well as everyone cisc who helped rnake Sunday's event such a big succesir. We're amazed at the enormous increase in partici- pants and funds that have been raised over the years. This s due greaîly I0 Kimn and Craig's dedication and bard work. We're sure that with the town's contined growth. participation will continue 10 increase as well. Michael and Jeanne Buller Meadowbrook Orive One rotten apple can end up spoiling whole bunch When it cornes down 10 i, the good ouîweighs the bad. But as thse saying goes, one roten apple spoils the whole bunch. Recent events related 10 crimes alegedly initi- ated by the town's young people might prompt sorne residents to believe anyone under 20 is a hoodlum. But in fact, only a srnall percentage of this group are the ones to be on the lookout for. Crime in any way, shape or formn is always going 10 be a concern for individuals and the Halton Regional Police, as it should be. T'Me police are looking for trends and they know the hot spots around town where youth congregate - Rotary Park and Milton MaIl, to name a few. Det. Kim Duncan recently told me the hot spots tend to move but officers will be stepping up patrol in known areas. She also said the police service will be cracking down on drug and alco- hol-related offenses. A youth gathering like thse one at Laurier Plaza September 6 - where pepper spray had to be cishursed and one officer was hurt- isnt typical in Milton. According 10 police, close 10 200 youths gath- ered in the parking lot that night for a fight between two local students. The scene started to gel out of hand when people frorn other commu- nities showed up. High school liaison officer Const. Denise Jodhan said youth violence s typically related to status, bullying and pressure 10, remain with the "in" crowd. She said most of the students shes spoken with have said they cant pmnpoint the exact reason for committiusg crimes. Some will sell what they stole for money to buy drugs. And thse majority of witnesses will stand by and watch and not report thse incident for fear of retribution. T'he town's high schools have supported thse Random thoughts Diversion Program, which allows young offend- ers to abide by conditions set forth frorn a social worker and their parents for three months instead of facing charges. If the offender doesn't break thse conditions, then the charges are dropped. Unfortunately, crime is going to be committed, whether ifs having your car stolen or gettmng jumped walking down the street. I's flot only teenagers who are responsible for these offences -adults are just air easily 10 blaîne. But the difference s. if you hear about a teenager robbing a store or leading police on a chaire, suddenly the entire population of 13 t0 19- year-olds are branded air crirninals. degenerates who muet corne frorn homes with minimal parental supervision. 1 highly doubt their parents even know what their kids have been up t0. IIl neyer forget when 1 was 12 and was looking ai rings from one of those stands located in the middle of the mail. 1 was with two other girls, and for sorne reason the stand worker must have got- ten nervous after a few moments because she threatened to calI thse police if we didnt buy something. Even though we didnt do anything wrong, we each made a purchase oui of fear. The bottom line is, you cantjudge a book by uts cover - even if itr5 hanging oui in front of a con- venience store afler dark.