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page 4 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ October 20 2004 durhamregion.com EDITORIAL c-nuiil Idlers to ncwsroom@durhamrcgion.com Don't delay, get your flu shot today llPgf ira wwmmgiMnwiwinniMT ;- 7. - , AdX'ili ...OkRAlPti WUT&NN uvt SOU EW \T. OUWrn \MW I FOUND eBENTle CUBIONS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR e-mail letters to iiewsrooni@(lurhamrcgion.com Even though the U.S. President won't get one doesn't mean you should pass up your flu shot It's that time of year again: when the birds head south, the trees change colour, the clocks go back an hour, goblins and ghouls invade our streets, and last but not least, we go en masse to get our yearly flu shots. While the first four rites of fall are old traditions that go back many generations, the flu shot is a fairly recent innovation. But it's among the most important important things you can do for yourself. yourself. And, it's free of charge (though we do pay the cost of it through our tax dollars). The flu shot program became necessary when, half-a-dozen years ago, the government noticed the massive hit our economy economy and health care system took by those struck down by the flu. Our urgent care clinics and emergency wards were swamped by those suffering from the flu and absenteeism from the workplace workplace cost the Ontario economy billions of dollars. The response was to spend a little to save a lot: an ounce of prevention for a pound of cure as it were. The flu-shot program is widely publicized and available for all those with a health card across Ontario. It can be accessed in a wide variety of ways: through an appointment with your physician, physician, by going to one of many flu vaccination clinics near where you live or work or even by taking taking in a drive-through clinic at Bill Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac at 1530 Dundas St. E., in Whitby. Yes, that's right, you don't even have to get out of your car to get protected from the flu if you show up at the Nurse dealership on Saturday, Oct. 30. But if you want to take advantage advantage of this offer, you must register register at 905-723-8521 or 1-800- 841-2729 ext. 2900 by Oct. 27. The flu shot is most critical for the extremely young and the elderly. If you are under 12 (but over 6 months) and over 65, the flu shot is highly recommended. But all are encouraged to get it. Flu vaccine recently made headlines during the last presidential presidential debate when the candidates candidates talked about a shortage in the United States due to a bad batch of vaccine ordered from Britain. They said they were looking at bringing in flu vaccine vaccine from Canada, which has us worried. President George Bush said he would forego a flu shot in order to save- vaccine for others who might need it more. Unlike the President, we don't have to go without and, since the shot is offered to all free of charge there is no sensible reason to pass it up. Make sure you get your flu shot today and don't take unnecessary risks with your health. In Clarington, you can get a free flu shot on Nov. 16 at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, 2440 King. St. W. from 4-8 p.m. On Nov. 23, from 4-8 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi School, 1774 Rudell Rd., Newcastle. Money not wasted To the editor: Re: 'Taxpayers' money wasted/ letter to the edi tor by Ernie Roberts Roberts of Oct. 13'. In a time of taxpayers' monies disappearing into invisible government government sinkholes, why would a local citizen complain about money spent for the beautification beautification of downtown Bowmanvijle? Are we to be doomed to shop only at homogenized malls and box stores? Let us not wish for the dis-, appearance/of brave'and hardy entrepreneurs who risk themselves themselves financially by opening and operating small, unique and lovely shops. What's wrong with an interest-free loan to help retailers spruce up their businesses? businesses? Local shoppers and tourists tourists will be the ones who enjoy the view. Those of us who prefer walking, walking, browsing and visiting shops that have interesting and original wares for sale appreciate safe, well-lit, attractive retail spaces. We are not put off by fresh and. bright. We are chased away by dark and dingy streets that say "welcome" to vandals and hoodlums. hoodlums. As Ray Croc, the man who created created McDonald's stated, "If you don't keep it green and growing, it ripens and rots." I suggest a letter of appreciation to the mayor and Municipal council of Bowmanville for their farsightedness, farsightedness, Thelma Davidson Newcastle Web may be answer for students, teachers To theeditor: I am appalled as to the weight of student backpacks. 1'also don't understand why students cannot go to their lockers throughout the day to unload books they do not. need to carry. Here is a possible solution: Why can't the Catholic and public school boards have the contents of books put on their websites so students do not have to carry text books home every day? This way the books could be left in the classroom. How about another possible solution: Why can't teachers have their , own link from the boards' web sites listing homework homework assignments and such? .1 also feel students should have an avenue to coihmunicate with teachers via e-mail (particularly for the shy students who do not speak up in class). This might resolve some of the communication gaps that students students have with their teachers. If teachers have their own links this would alleviate the excuse, 'I left my homework at school.' I believe these ideas are very feasible and in this day and age the technology should be utilized to the fullest extent. Sandra Nielsen, We need to push harder to get people to recycle To the editor: Re: 'Durham's garbage proves A-OK', Oct. 10. I read with interest the article about Durham's trash being safe to ship to a landfill site in Michigan, Michigan, with tough new regulations regulations concerning what they deem acceptable trash coming into effect Oct. 30. It mentions that any violation of the new regulations, regulations, things like glass, pop cans, tires etc... could cause our trash to be sent back here to Durham at the Region's expense. I want to know, how do we as a community enforce those regulations? regulations? I can't help but notice neighbours who arc oblivious to the fact that they don't recycle. Not that their blue box isn't as full as mine, but they don't even bother to. put one out. Is it mandatory mandatory to recycle? I suggest that in order to ensure our municipal waste meets the requirements set by those who receive it, we need to better inform our communities and emphasize and enforce the recycling recycling rules. Bonnie McDonald 1 Overnight parking policies need review To the editor: I'm glad to hear tourism is doing better in Durham Region. It is a great source of revenue that communities overlook. I would like to suggest municipalities municipalities review their overnight parking policies with tourism in mind. While it is unreasonable to check each plate to see if it is local or out of town, it is easy to recognize out-of-province plates. Surely many of these people must be tourists and are spending spending some their holiday dollars in the community. I know there are bylaws about street parking, but ticketing some of our tourists just looks like a tacky cash grab. Mary Cook, LETTERS We welcome letters that include name, city of residence and phone numbers for verification. Writers are generally limited to 200 words and one submission submission in 30 days. We decline announcements, poetry, open letters, consumer complaints, congratulations and thank you notes. The editor reserves the. right to edit copy for length, style and clarity. The newspaper newspaper contacts only those people people whose submissions have been chosen for publication. FAX: 905-579-1809; E-MAIL: Newsroom ©durhamregion. com. BACKWARD GLANCE Hampton Park opens, 1921 Photo supplied by Clarington Museums and Archives Sliown is the opening of Elliott Memorial Park, Hampton, 1921. The land was donated by the grandchildren of Henry Elliott, the man who established settlement in 1840. We are Rock Paper Scissors champs Canada may not have taken ho)nc many medals from the Alliens Olympics, hut last Saturday Saturday night, we proved that we reign supreme in another arena -- Rock Paper Scissors. Lee Rummage, a 34-ycar-old Ontario man, was declared the world champion, having bested more than 600 competitors who came from as far afield as Australia, Australia, and he walked away with a tidy $7,000 in prize money. While less charitable sorts than I might secretly snicker at adults who pursue such a pastime, and some might go so far as to quip that players could use their prize money to finally move out of Jennifer Paige their parents' basements, I think Mr. Rummage should to he proud of his accomplishment. After all, Rock Paper Scissors is the greatest of all conflict- resolution techniques, outperforming outperforming even Ecny Mceny Miny Mo and the Magic Eight Ball. In fact, RPS masters may well have much to teach business leaders and politicians. At the municipal or regional level, for instance, taxpayers could stand to save big if RPS matches were to lake the place of lengthy debates and in-camera meetings, For elected officials who arc not acquainted with the finer points of the game, 'The .Official Rock Paper Scissors' Strategy Guide' by Graham Walker and Douglas Walker is a terrific resource, and one customer review on Amazon.com Amazon.com raved that the hook lends itself even to "those with shorter attention spans." This makes it perfect for, say, Dalton McGuinty, who might find the RPS method useful for making decisions and then sticking to them. And then there's the little matter matter of the $9.1-billion federal surplus. It can't be easy to determine how to spend such a sum, and Prime Minister Paul Marlin may need help narrowing down the many possibilities. But just because Canada holds the world championship title is no reason not to share the wisdom wisdom and perspective it's helped us to gain. Imagine a peaceful Middle East, Imagine Jerry Falwell and Rich ard Simmons joyfully sweatin' to the oldies together. Anti then there's the U.S. presidency presidency to'"tlccide. RPS-drivcn elections could" spell an end to the menace of hanging chads. Clearly, our victory last weekend weekend is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg and, after suffering for years from a chronic collective collective inferiority complex, Canadians Canadians should be proud that we finally stand to make a name for ourselves on the world stage. News editor Jennifer Paine '.v column appears every other Wednesday. Email jpaino@dttrhamrenion.com 41 infodurhamregion.com t - E CLICK AND SAY . y Today's question: \ ; fci Are you planning to get a flu **j shot this year? Yes No Undecided Cast your vote online at infodurhamregion.com Ï Last week's question: Do you have faith that our federal minority government will be able to get work done ; for Canadians? 1 No 56.9% Yes 43.1% Î Votes cast: 202 , -- i HAVE YOUR SAY Do you think there is a major vandalism problem in 1 Clarington? !l John Thompson qu "Definitely, vandalism is on the rise. I think it's because o we have more people moving :!' in from the bigger cities." vi . j Tyler Patfield >c "No, I don't think vandalism is : m a major problem, especially if ■ you compare it to what goes on in the big cities." Simon Bull ■ > "There is a vandalism prob- >b lem though I'm not sure it's a tc major one. They should do all 3i they can about it." iM Doug Smith "Yes, I think the vandalism problem is serious. I've seen it first-hand and called the police^ The Canadian Statesman is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing group of newspapers. The Statesman is a.member of j the Bowmanville Clarington Board of Trade, the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, Commerce, Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc., Canadian Circulations Circulations Audit Board and the Ontario Press Council. The publisher reserves the right to classify or refuse any advertisement. Credit for advertisement advertisement limited to space price error occupies. Editorial and Advertising content of the Canadian Statesman Is copyrighted. Unauthorized re production is prohibited.