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\Sufi'fi'ibune The Sun-THbune welcomes your let< ters All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number. name and address The Sun-Tfibune reserves the rlght to publish or not publish and to edit for clar- ity and space. Letters to the Hilton The Sun-mm 6290 mm 8L We, 0N LIA l6? - The Sun-Tribune, published every Thursday and Saturday, r is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary ofTorstar Corporation. Metroland is comprised of 100 community publications across Ontario. The York Region Newspaper Group also Includes The liberal. sewing Richmond Hill and Thomhill, Vaughan Citizen.1he Era-Banner (Newmarket/Aurora). Markham Economist Sun. Georgina Advocateflork Region Business Times, North of the City, yofluegloncom and Yom Region Punting. ADVERTISING 905-640-261 2 Classified: 1-800â€"743â€"3353 Pu: 905-640-8778 jmoson.yrmg.com Classified Manager Bonnie Rondeau brondeau€>yrmg.com Supervisor Carrie MacFarlane cmacfarlaneOynng.oom York Region Media Group community lETTERS POLICY Mike Banuille mbanuilleGyrmg.wm Carolyn Norman cnorman?ynng.com Dlsmnnmon Ennonm. lim Mason jmason@yrmg.com Paonucnon Anvmmsmc DISTRIBUTION 905-640-2612 905-640-2612 at: 905-640-8778 EDITORIAL MEDIA Regional politicians should take a hard look at the idea of investing in But- tonville and take a pass. Many ordinary residents of York had a hard time swallowing the fact they will be digging deeper to pay for local hospital services and facilities. How can they be persuaded their hard-earned tax dollars should be used as a handout to a private airport? The same cannot be said, even on a smaller scale, to support a private airport that caters mainly to high-flyers from outside of York Region who can afl‘ord private aircraft. Using taxpayer dollars to prop up a money-losing company simply isn’t a wise use of our money. It was one thing when provincial and federal gov- ernments bailed out private carrnakers that are integral to Ontario’s economy. Thousands of jobs were at stake. Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson asked a loaded question when airport presi- dent Derek Sifton came to plead the case for financial investment â€"â€" if the airport is doing so well as the tenth bus- iest in Canada, why it is losing money? cargo, corporate aviation, charters and private aircraft. ,. Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti says Buttonville’s closure would be a blow to his town’s economy. He said Buttonville supplies 300 jobs to the area and makes an $80-rm'llion impact on the local economy. That being said, there’s simply not a strong enough business case here. Buttonville handles air traffic that includes air ambulance, police sur- veillance, media services, commercial The federal funds, and with it, York’s annual subsidy, are being withdrawn this year. The Sifton family is threaten- ing to close the airport and sell the land for development. ‘ Over 10 years, the Region onork has invested $3 millionâ€"$330,000anâ€" in the money-losing airport. It was part of a deal with the federal government through the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which required Buttonville in case of over-capacitil or emergencies at Pearson International. Now that federal funding of $1.5 mil- lion is being withdrawn due to declin- ing air traffic, it seems politicians at the Region of York are buying in, seriously considering a financial investment of our tax dollars to keep the operationin the air. " ’ Every year, the fate of Buttonville air- port is debated. Every year, York Region’s Sifton family, which owns and operates the small airport on the Markham Rich- mond Hill border, extends an urgent plea for funding to keep it in operation. Take a pass an airport bailout Editorial NIN Councillor Richard Bartley’s motion naming the new arena after the Stoufl'ville Clippers finished it off. I read all the letters to the editor and was a little taken back by some of the comâ€" ments. But I know the past, present and future Clippers will hold their heads high and should be very proud our town stepped up to the plate. However, with all the success of the Stoufl'ville minor hockey program over my tenure, I still feel very grateful I was there at the right time with the right people to help with that success. As we parked the Mustangs at the Ford dealer, Diane again said how much she has enjoyed her award and wished it was not over. I must admit I feel that same way. ed out candies. Thousarids of faces, some old and some new, were sharing a friendly, merry Christmas. Let’s not forget the kids with their bags out like they were trick-or-treating as‘the floats and local companies hand- What a way to finish our honours, with a nice brisk day in Stouffville being driven in a Bill Houston Ford five-speed Mustang. That was not hard to take. I tried to convince driver Gary Coutts to take the car to my place. With every- one wowing about the car as we went down Main Street, I wish I was selling Mustangs. port in the newspaper and the acco- lades during your presentation at the Strawberry Festival to the citizen and sports person of the year. Congratulations again to DianeWard, our citizen of the year. Our last official task was riding in Saturday’s Stouffville Kinsmen Santa Claus parade. Stouffville’s spirit lives on at hockey rinks, parade I would like to thank The Sun-Tri- bune‘for_all of your outstanding sup- 3v “immaév :ummubuna ., Mr. Hartley; Mayor Wayne Letters to the Editor (How MUCH 1n DRIVE ME ovum MY CAR? It is comforting to know there are still people in the world who will take the time and risk to assist someone they don’t know. I would like to thank the two women we stopped their cars to help her. Our cat, Midnight, will liile in our hearts forever, as will the kindness and cornpassion pf these strangers. My daughter found our treasured family pet the next morning on her way to Stoufiville and was understandably very upset. On the evening of Nov. 30, our cat was struck and killed on Aurora Road. steps from our home. Siwj‘ivi'T-Tribune Let’s continue that thought and not forget it’s about the kids. Remember they are our future coaches, editors, business owners and councillors who will keep our town as successful as ever. All the best, Stouffville. Strangers softened pet’s death I see that all the teams in our town are trying to work together to make it a beget hockey community. I wish ’to thank everyohe for their well wishes and congratulations since lane apd again as l waved myself down Main Street Saturday. It was 51 nice feelâ€" ing to have helped out. Emerson and the other councillors for _put_ti_ng tho chorry on top. D What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@ynng.com PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot HAVE YOUR SAY 6290 Main St. Stoufiville, 0N. L4A 167 www.mgonmm MIKE HUMPHREYS SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR WHITCHURCHâ€"STOUFFVILLE INGRID LESLIE BALLANTRAE 0 United Way of York Region provides funding to 39 agencies that deliver programs year round. Not a Human Fund on the list. lim Mason is editor of The Sun- Th'bune. 0 CBM and Emmanuel Inter- national are missions across from each other on Stouffville Road working in distant parts of the planet. 0 Same with Whitchurch- Stoufvillle’s service clubs. They quietly tend to many needs. 0 The community's emergency care fund helps people whose needs fall between the cracks. 0 Your neighbourhood church likely has a fund to help locally and globally, whether you attend there or not. 0 The Whitchurch-Stouffville food bank's record year for demand isn't likely to quell quick- ly. A box of non-perishables or a cheque to buy perishables will put food on tables. Emma IN (lump Debora Kelly But there are men); inore opportunities to help your neigh- bours, including: We’re partial to our own Santa Fund. We know it provides gifts and food to needy families and youths in Stouffville and Markham. Thanks to our readers who responded big time to our call for help in Saturday’s paper. The good news is there are plenty of legit charities out there right in our back yard. In case you, too, are keen to give, the fund doesn’t exist. Mr. Costanza was “busted cold”. You don’t want that. Trouble was, the resident wea- sel on Seinfeld never thought any- one would one-up his generos- ity and actually try to give to The Human Fund. Busmnss MANAGER Robert Lazurko George Costanza was at least thinking charitably when he gave out Christmas cards with a dona- tion built in. The Human Fund won’t cut it this Christmas with Jim Mason Off The Top DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING, Dwmaunon Nicole Fletcher Dlnucmu, OPERATIONS Barry Black