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Stouffville Sun-Tribune n www.yorkregion.com n Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, 6 Fax: 905-640-8778 905-640-2612 EDITORIAL ADVERTISING Classified: 1-800-743-3353 Fax: 905-640-8778 905-640-2612 DISTRIBUTION 905-294-8244 Editorial Editor Jim Mason jmason@yrmg.com O General Manager John Willems Editor in Chief Debora Kelly OPINION Editorial Waiting to hear from you Director, Distribution Tanya Pacheco Director of Business Administration Robert Lazurko Director, Classified/Real Estate Advertising Debra Weller 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com Director, Production Jackie Smart Director, Operations Barry Black Publisher Ian Proudfoot Advertising Manager Stephen Mathieu smathieu@yrmg.com Advertising Administration Regional Office Manager Melanie Attridge mattridge@yrmg.com York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune, published every Thursday and Saturday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Media Group includes The Liberal, serving Richmond Hill and Thornhill, Newmarket Era, Aurora Banner, Vaughan Citizen, Markham Economist & Sun, Stouffville Sun-Tribune, Georgina Advocate, Bradford West Gwillimbury Topic, beingwell and yorkregion.com. LETTERS POLICY The Sun-Tribune welcomes your letters. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Sun-Tribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space. Letters to the Editor, The Sun-Tribune 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON L4A IG7 jmason@yrmg.com Ontario Press Council ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Tell us how you really feel, Whitchurch-Stouffville. We asked the question last month: what's your take on the new Stouffville? We mean the new larger, more diverse and urban Stouffville. It can be more anonymous. It is definitely more multicultural than it was. There are more opportunities for employment and education. We have many new facilities on board for recreation and culture. But is it better? Is it a true home? We've heard from a few residents, but, to be honest, not the groundswell we thought was out there. "During the last (2010) municipal election, I didn't feel a part of the process," said one caller, a newcomer to our community. "All of the candidates -- and eventual winners -- seemed to be longtime residents. That didn't sit well with me and my neighbours. Maybe we'll see that change next time (in 2014)." Fair enough, but one of those neighbours has to run next time, if that is the change in government you seek. Another caller wanted more diverse sporting opportunities than hockey, baseball and soccer. Cricket was mentioned. A senior wanted to know what was happening in regard to a permanent seniors activities centre and the curling club that was proposed a few years back. The growing population of retired residents needs more to do in the new Stouffville, she said. The lack of apartments and condos in the new Stouffville has been mentioned. A reader liked the addition of smaller homes, especially townhouses in northwest Stouffville. But he'd like to see an even more diverse housing mix, including more 55-plus developments like Northern Gate and Eastern Gate in east-end Stouffville. And residents of those two seniors' communities want more retail shops and services in their neighbourhood. How about you? Do you feel a part of the new Stouffville? Let us know. You can e-mail your thoughts in a letter to the editor to jmason@yrmg.com You're invited to a forum on the topic Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment ­ Nineteen on the Park. It's part of the arts centre's new Stouffville Conversations series, a collaboration with The Sun-Tribune. Have your say, Stouffville. Off The Top with Jim Mason Remember the NHL? Who needs it? Letters to the Editor Teachers' after-school impact on students immeasurable Re: No extracurricular activities could help students, teachers, letter to the editor by Lynn Crymble, and School system failing our kids, column by Jim Mason, Sept. 20. Ms Crymble's response to the current contract discussions in Ontario was certainly a different perspective and somewhat surprising. It is unfortunate that during the many years she volunteered outside school she did not recognize the important education and additional value she was providing to the lives of a large number of her students through her work with them outside the classroom. The impact participation in extracurricular activities can have on students while in school and long after they have graduated is immeasurable. In my case, extracurricular sports led to a university scholarship and a professional sports career after high school, thanks in part to the efforts of many teachers who devoted numerous hours and made the outstanding commitment to provide opportunities for so many students in addition to myself. The work of my many teachers and the example set by them led me to coach with a number of teams after my sports career ended. It is one of the reasons I continue to volunteer today. But even if these things did not come to pass for me, the skills of communication, team work, collaboration etc. that I learned through these activities would do nothing but benefit me and, I am sure, thousands of students in our future paths after our school years had ended. Whether it is the school band or a computer science group or a sports team, all students will be enriched through these activities. I have to say I feel great compassion for the teachers who devote their time and efforts to these activities. Unfortunately, they are often closest to their students and suffer the most when their unions determine the first step in any job action is the withdrawal of the services these teachers selflessly provide. Mr. Mason's suggestion that teachers receive compensation for these efforts is a good one, but the economics of this proposal would be challenging. So, to Lynn Crymble, I say thank you on behalf of all those students who got a chance to play the sports you coached and I hope you can now realize the valuable impact your time and efforts had on all those students. On behalf of all students past, present and future, thank you to all the teachers who have and continue to make an outstanding contribution to the lives of their students through these activities everyday. Doug McGee Stouffville Putting wages in perspective This is once again the season for teacher bashing. The proposed freeze of top teachers' salaries by the Ontario government and stories of job action by teachers get people talking. Yes, top teachers' salaries have increased by about nine times since 1971. So let's do the arithmetic. Using the same multiplier, gasoline should be 59 cents a litre, a modest two-storey house should cost $270,000 and the minimum wage in Ontario should be set at $14.40 Hmmm. Ron Brownsberger Retired teacher Stouffville So, the millionaires and billionaires can only agree to disagree. And hockey towns like ours across the continent are left to somehow cope without our nightly fix of all things NHL. We're like junkies, once fed a seemingly endless, multi-platformed supply of live games, highlights and player interviews. Now, we're going cold turkey en masse. Listen to some analysts and callin show experts and you'd think we were experiencing a famine or deadly epidemic. It's just hockey, folks. We've been through four NHL stoppages during the last 20 years. We'll live. But instead of sitting in front of your high-def waiting for the big leagues to re-start, how about getting a life. How about letting the highpriced talent know we can live without it? How about using those hours you would be spent sprawled on the couch: · Volunteering. Nursing homes, hospitals, youth groups and service clubs are always looking for help. · Checking out the home teams. There is plenty of youth hockey, from the little tykes to Jr. A, going seven days a week on the four ice pads of Stouffville. You may even know some of the players. And it won't cost you $100-plus per ticket, plus parking. · Playing your own games. Be it church league co-ed volleyball, indoor soccer or morning shinny, get active. Get social. No two-way contracts or endorsements needed. · Reading. Check out a book, electronic or old-school print version from the local library. It shouldn't be about that game played with a black disc. No hockey? No problem. Jim Mason is editor of The SunTribune.