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Letters to the editor must contain the writer‘s full name. signature, address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers are used only for verification purâ€" poses and will not be published. Names will not be witpheld. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any contribution for brevity or legal purposes. Letters may be submitted by fax to 886â€"9383 or by email to editorial@waterloochronicle.ca or by mail or delivered to Waterloo Chromiâ€" cle, 279 Weber St. N., Suite 20. Waterloo, Ontario N2J 3H8 cle, 279 Weber St. N., Suite 20, Waterloo Ontario NJ 3H8. LETTERS POLICY The contents of this newspaper are proâ€" tected by copyright and may be used only for personal nonâ€"commercial purposes All other rights are reserved and commerâ€" cial use is prohibited. To make any use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyâ€" right. For further information contact Andrea Bailey, Editor, Waterloo Chroniâ€" COPYRIGHT The Waterloo Chronicle is a member of The Ontario Press Council. which considâ€" ers complaints against member newspaâ€" pers. Any complaint about news. opinâ€" tons advertising or conduct should first be taken to the newspaper. Linresolved comâ€" plaints can be brought to: Ontario Press Council, 2 Carlton Street. Suite 1706, Toronto, ON.. MSB 1J3 ONTARIO PRESS COUNCHI The Waterloo Chromicle is published each Wednesday by Metroland West, a subâ€" sidiary of Torstar Corporation Canadian Publications Mail Sales Publication Agreement Number 40050478 International Standard Serial Number ASSN 0832â€"3410 CLASSIFIED CRCULATION dudited Circulation: 31.292 COMPOSING Millie MARTIN Enc HABICH 15191 886â€"2830 ext. 213 ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Norma CYCA ext 223 nevcara waterloochronicle ca Bill PIHURA eaxr 228 bpihura(a waterloochronicle ca Carly GIBBS ext 222 cgibbsia waterloochronicle ca (519) 895â€"5230 Gern MATTICE â€" Eu 230 RETAIL SALES MANAGER sales‘a waterloochromicle ca Andrea BAILE Y EDITOR ar 275 editorialia; waterloochronicle ca Jennifer ORMSTON REPORTER es 203 Bob VRBANAC SPORTS EDITOR ar 220 ADVERTISING sports(a waterloochromicle ca EDITORIAL Ne OLIVER GROUP PUBLISHER Dwayne WEIDENDORE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER WATERLOO CHRONICLE 279 Weber St. N., Suite 20 Waterioo, Ontario N2J 3H8 886â€"2830 Fax: 886â€"9383 www. waterloochronicle.ca EMAIL editorial a waterloochronicle ca MAIL OR IN PERSON 279 Weber St N., Suite 20 Waterioo, Ontario N2J 3H8 FAX 886â€"9383 this city should support a ohéâ€"ii;rvéi';t;r;; sc io o O onge‘ "This needs to come from the grassroots. We need to do it as a community," she said. She is right. More research into the impacts amalgamation would have on Waterloo needs to be done before the head of In fact, Turnbull said he‘d like to see some of the servâ€" ices now handled at the regional level downloaded to the city. "I have concerns about water, the environment and transit, which are currently handled at the region. I want to take care of them." Halloran said she believes the city could find more efficiencies. But she also said the decision to amalgamate should be a collaborative approach between politicians and the people who who be most affected by the change. i. Aouner ol & 1 **Nobody but nobody has been able to tell me how amalgamation would benefit the people of Waterloo," he said in a townâ€"hall debate that featured all three candiâ€" dates, last week. He also believes Waterloo residents would see their property taxes go up and their services cut if the region became a megaâ€"city. Turnbull and Halloran were more reserved with their longâ€"term judgements. Though, Epp is the only candidé;év\;vil-&;;aa;;;f;nlly' opposed. When faced with the question of whether or not they support amalgamating the region‘s three cities and four townships under a oneâ€"tier system, Mayor Herb Epp, Brian Turnbull and Brenda Halloran all seem gun shy. ing. Mayoral candidates show local allegiance on amaigamation issue t‘s good to see that none of Waterloo‘s three mayoral candidates are jumping on the proâ€"amalgamation bandwagon that other politicians in the region are ridâ€" VIEWPOINT But now is my time; time to come up with a small drawing, and have it permaâ€" nently marked onto my It‘s a good thing too ... when all of those girls figure out size five jeans don‘t last forever, some of those tatâ€" toos are going to look mighty stretched. I came a tad closer to being branded that time, but a hefty car repair depleted my tattoo trust fund. Then there was the craze when every girl had to have a tattoo of some kind across their lower backs. After going through a breakup six years ago, I was going to get a little, red heart with a lock and key tattooed on my hip, to signify that no other man would hurt me again. Now â€" four boyfriends later â€" my hip is still bare. I‘ve kicked around the idea of getting a tattoo for years. Thinking about this last weekend, one act kept comâ€" ing to mind: going under the needle. And it means I have just one year left to fit in every deed I associated with being young and impulsive â€" characteristics that are more forgiving when people know you‘re not a member of the threeâ€"decade club. Yes, with age 29 just around the corner, it‘s a short hop, skip and a jump before my twenties are a mere memory. Farewell high metabolism; you served me well. In just three weeks, there will be a mere year between the unthinkable and me: turning age 30. Learning to unleash my wild side TNOnOTHT® They see the tattoo as a constant reminder of that person, place or thing. Many people get them to represent an important milestone, a death of a loved one or an eternal bond that‘s never to be broken. That‘s not to say getting a tattoo is irresponsible. I admit the idea of colouring my body with symbols, illustrations and messages does feel a little wild. It‘s like kicking that goodâ€"girl image to the curb, and replacing it with one of spontaneity and haste. Whether it‘s my parents, my employers or the boy in my life, everyone has an opinion â€" good and bad. In a way, getting a tattoo does feel a bit rebellious. It almost makes me wonâ€" der if I‘m defying the life cycle and, in fact, getting dumber with age. No pearls of wisdom here, folks; just pure reckless abandon. Hmm ... when I put it like that, it‘s not nearly as appealing. flesh What would be irrespon Yes, nothing says wild like a bunny with angel wings or Tinkerbell with stardust. In short, do your home work. Now, it‘s back to my book of badâ€"girl ideas. Can you imagine my state if I were to watch a needle penetrate my skin for at least an hour? I can feel the queasiness setting in already. I recently fainted after have four vials of blood drawn â€" a process that took all of five minutes. And finally, if you‘re anyâ€" thing like me, don‘t watch the artist at work. A friend‘s little sister thought a tattoo of Justin Timberlake on her shoulder was a great idea a few years ago. Now instead of singing Justin‘s hit Sexy Back, she‘s putting Sexy Back ... on her list of bad ideas. If a shop owner doesn‘t want to accommodate your dropâ€"in, take your business elsewhere. Also, be sure to take your time picking out your tattoo. Make sure the environâ€" ment is clean, and that all of the equipment is sterile and pristine. That may sound like a given in this day and age, but it‘s always better to be safe than sorry. The first step is talking to others who‘ve had tattoos done. Find out who the repâ€" utable artists in town are, and drop into their shops before booking an appointâ€" ment. sible, however, is not doing your research before allowâ€" ing an artist to put his or her permanent pen on your bodvy.