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6 - The Canadian Champion, Fnday, February 28, 2003 *COMMENT THE CANADL4N CHAMPION lTe Caaien Champion, pubtînhed eoeny Tuesday and Piday at 191 Main St E, Milton, Ont, 191 4N9 (Box 248), is one efThme Metroland Prnting, Publishing & Dstributng Lttt. îroup ot Suburbain cemPanies which inctudes. Aa/Pickerng News Adertisen, Aliston Herat/Courier Barrie Attuance, Bartys Bay Ths Weeli, Blten Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlington Post, Bnrttngton Shopping News, City Panent, City nt Yorks Guandian, ClingweediWasaga Cennnctien, Eastt Vent Mitron, Ein Advocate/Cnentry Reues. Etntecelne Guandian, Flambornugh Penn, Pereven Young, Georgetown Independent/Acten Fee Press, Hattuen Business limet, -unenia Business Times, Kingston Ths Weeli, Lndsay ITis Weet, Maelham Ecenomint & Sun, MiitanîtPenetangoîshene Mirron, Mttn Shoepping Newn, Mssîssauga Business Time. Missssauga Ntews, Napanee Guide, Nasagaweya Ntews, itewmattsetAunona Ea-Banner, Northumberand Ntews. NorthtVertk Mimeor, Onitille Beaner, Satsville Shopping Ntews, Stittimens Hoctsey News, Orithia Teitay, OsttawaWhitby/Claungnton/Pont Perry This Weets, Petenborough This Week, Pcten County Guide, Richimond HtIiTtltnnhilNaughan Liserai, Scanberough Mimeor, Steuffville/Lletridge Tribune. Adveeising is accepted on the condition that, in the enent et a type- graphicat errer, that portion et the aduetising space uccupîed by the erre- neoun item, tugethen with a easenabte attewance tor signature. iii nt be changed ton, but the baance et the adveegisement wiii 5e paid ton t the appli- cabe rate. Thn pubishen reemves the nght te categenize adeertisements on deliîne. Then Miton, Canadien Chamepione a ReepedaunePonuc Forty hours' work flot a lot to ask, you guys Excuse us for havmng littie sympathy for the 2,000 Halton high school students who may flot graduate this June because they couldn't sacri- fice 40 hours of their timne. It's flot as if the Class of 2003 hasn't been acutely aware of this new provincial requirement for eaming a high school diplomna. In a region as large as Halton, there's no excuse for flot being able to flnd a place to volunteer. On any given week in Milton there are fundraising events held by non-profit organizations that would welcome the efforts of an enthusi- astic student. There's probably a volunteer opportunity out there to suit just about any youth's interest, and down the road, the experience might help the mndividual get bis first job. And parents could help out their sons and daughters by providing tbem with support and guidance in their community service initiatives. No matter how people feel about the provmnce's current govemment, it's hard to find fault with making 40 hours of volunteer work a condi- tion of receiving a graduation diploma. Volunteers are the unsung heroes of our conumunities. Without the programs and services they provide every day, our towns and cities would wither and many people's lives would be thrown into chaos. OUR READERS WRITE Chlldren real losers in Drury development: reader Dear Editor: Many people have wrrtten about the 'Drnaiy Park' development issue with regard to the seniors and the Ions of property values, but no one bas talked about the future of Milton. l'm. of course, speaking about our children. Our children losî a wonderful place away front the traffic and power lines. It was an area for famn- illes and friends to corne together. My problern cornes because tbis developrnent didn't only take away tbis space, it bas also iefringed on our backyards. Most people probably assume tbat because tbis new community is geared to adulta that it's made up of seniors. If tbey are seniors, then a lot of tbem are working because tbere's a steady flow of traffic in the morning and the evening during rush bour. The ones that don't work are driving in and out during the day. My backyard was a sale place for rny lads to play, but now 1 have to wonder. Wbat wiII the exhaunt fumes coming from thse traffnc that is a stone's tbrow away do bo them? The developer bas planted nmail shrubs as its way of blocking the traffic, but they're srnall and useles and the trees in the winter don't bide tbeir road nor stop the air pol- lution. I think the developer should put up a solid bamrer for us. It would also be nice for those people who use the wonderf-ul pathways to take tbeir dogs and kids for walks. I'm suie they used these pathways because tbey were away frorn roads and traffic - used to be anyway. We've bad to clone the drapes in our kitchen every evening now as well so tbat we can eat our dinner in privacy since cars that go by take a look and then there are those fami- lles wbose bornes are invaded by headllghts as well. I now bave more trafic in my backyard tban in my frontyard. Maybe next time a builder wants to move into a greenspace in the middle of Milton, people will thienk twice before going ahead. Michelle Lane Heck, Ipractically grew up at Country Markets I bave to admnit I wasn't particularly upset when Quatity Greens shut its doors for good in November. Now don't get me wmong - I recognized tbe closure as a significant los 10 Milton and felt sony for those affected. But not knowing any of tbern and being only an occasional customer of the downtown grocery store, I just wasn't invent- ed enough to be truly disappointçd. Maybe that's buman nature, 1 guess. However, it's a rnuch différent stony for your local sports scribe when it cornes 10 the impend- ing closure of Superehoice Country Markets - whicb bas served the commnunity for just over two decades. For nearly a third of that time, the family-mun grocery store was ike my home away from borne - tise only part-rime job I had as a teenager. Having gone to high achool in Oakville smnce Bishop Reding wasn'î around in the mid-to-late '80s, juct about every memory I bave growing up in Milton is somebow connected to Country Markets. Heck, I practically grew up there. But that almost wasn't the case. Just a few weeks after getting thse job I messed up royaily - putting the manager's groceries and party supplies into the wrong car one night. Please don't ask me bow it bappened. 1 juet was- n't very bright at 15. Anyway, the manager was understandably upset - having arrived home 10 llnd nothinin bic back seat for bis guesîs to eat, and realizieng that somebody with a sirnilar car bad gotten corne free groceries. Hfic anger had only marginally cubsided the next day, when he told is assistant 10 kick me to the curb. After a few anxious moments, 1 sucked up my pride and wenî 10 apologize to tise manager - Up front ascuring bim il was a one-time blunder and tIsat I was truly sonry. He took pity on me that day and for the next six-and-a-baMf years I kept rny ccrew- ups on a rnucb cmailer seale - or successfuily concealed them from tIse boss. I can't remember wbicb, exactly, as it'î been quite a wbile. But iniail seriousness, not only did that job mean many good limes and a lot of money saved for college, but it alco taught me a couple of key life lescons - namely, the importance of owning up 10 one'c mistakes and the value of second chances. I'rn sure I didn't fully appreciate tbese lessons at the tiane, but tIsat were important ail thes ame. I have no doubt tIsaI there'c many people out tbere wbo bave similar fond memories of Country Markets - as well as Quality Greens. Wbile 1 don'î keep in touch with any of my for- mer co-workers and baven't set foot inithse place in years, Country Markets' clocure stili makes me kind of sad. It also makes me feel bail tIsatI did- n't feel bad enough about Quality Greens" do- cure. I guecc iî's tbe end of an era. Well, it was nice wbile it lasted. To ail those affected by the two closures - good luck. Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Editorial Fax: 905-878-4943 Adverising Fax: 905-876-2364 Classified: 905-875-3300 Circulation: 905-878-5947 Ian Oliver Publisher Neil Oliver Assouzate Publisher1 Jili Davis Editor-in-Chief Karen Smith Editori Wendy McNab Advertising Manager Steve Crozier Circulation Manager Teni Casas Office Manager Tlm Coles Production Manager .01 J 1