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8 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Peter WINKLER PUBLISHER EDITORIAL Bob VRBANAC EDITOR ext. 229 editonal @ waterloochromicle.ca sports @waterloochronicle.ca Jennifer ORMSTON REPORTER ext. 203 jormston@ waterloochronicle.ca Greg MacDonald REPORTER ext. 215 gdmacdonald@ waterloochronicle.ca ADVERTISING Gerry MATTICE ext. 230 RETAIL SALES MANAGER sales@waterloochromcle.ca SALES REPRESENTATIVES Norma CYCA ext. 223 neyca@waterloochronicle.ca Bill PIHURA ext. 228 bpihura@ waterloochronicle.ca Casly GIBBS ext. 222 egibbs @ waterloochronicle.ca CLASSIFIEED 519â€"895â€"5230 CIRCULATION 519â€"886â€"2830 ext. 213 Canadian Publications Mail Sales Publication Agreement Number 40050478 International Standard Serial Num ber ASSN 0832â€"3410 Audited Circulation: 31,292 The Waterloo Chronicle is published each Wednesday by Metroland Media Group Ltd ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL The Waterloo Chronicle is a member of The Ontario Press Council, which considers complaints against memâ€" ber newspapers. Any complaint about news, opinions advertising or conduct should first be taken to the newspaper. Unresolved complaints can be brought to: Ontario Press Council. 2 Carlton Street, Suite 1706. Toronto, ON.. MSB 113 COPYRIGHT The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal nonâ€"commerâ€" cial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is proâ€" hibited. To make any use of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the capyâ€" right. For further information conâ€" tact Bob Vrbanac, Editor, Watertoo Chronicle, 279 Weber St. N., Suite 20, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 3H8 WATERLOO CHRONICLE Letiers to the editor must contain the writer‘s full name, signature. address and telephone number. Addresses and telephone numbers are used only for verification purposes and will not be published. Names will not be withâ€" held. We reserve the right to edit, conâ€" dense or reject any contribution for brevity or legal purposes. Letters may LETTERS POLICY be submitted by fax to 519â€"886â€"9383 or by email to editorial@waterâ€" loochronicle.ca or by mail or delivâ€" ered to Waterlao Chrantcle, 279 Weber St. N., Suite 20. Waterloo, Ontario N2J 3H8 279 Weber St. N., Suite 20 Waterloo, Ontania N2J 3H8 5$19â€"886â€"2830 Fax: 519â€"886â€"9383 www waterloochromcle.ca stltve t really makes you stop and wonder how government Iworks sometimes when the province is considering a licence by a private bottler to take more water on the north side of Waterloo, while at the same time asking local water bodies to do a water quantity risk assessâ€" ment. If the province is so concerned that there might not be enough water to service the area that it is asking the Region of Waterloo and the Grand River Conservation Authority to engage in this study, how could it even conâ€" sider allowing Glenbriar Bottled Water Co. Ltd. to take more water from a second well at its Frobisher Drive location. Especially in light of the fact that it was the province that is projecting that this region will grow to 725,000 people over the next 40 years, giving tacit approval of this growth under its Places to Grow plan. All those people are going to need water, and the tegion has been assessing how to meet that need by exploring new sources of groundwater. The north side of Waterloo is one of those sites. But now the region, which supplies this area‘s groundwater, is facing competition from a private busiâ€" ness. While it‘s the right df the business to use the resources it owns and provide drinking water in another form to area residents, shouldn‘t the province consider the public need and put a moratorium on all new water taking. We need a moratorium Water is a commodity that we all need just to survive, so it‘s paramount that the public has an adequate supâ€" ply versus a business‘ right to make a buck. We are partially to blame for this situation. A recent Statistics Canada survey showed this region is one of the highest consumers of bottled water in the country, so you can‘t blame Glenbriar for trying to keep up with local demand. â€" But Vii;sfiiinrteresting to note that they might just be sellâ€" ing you the same water that is coming out of your taps. And they‘re charging more than just pennies a glass. VIEWPOLINT Working in a newsroom, I‘ve come across some interesting press releases. One time someone sent us cups filled with piping hot coffee. On another occaâ€" sion we received a chunk of ecoâ€"friendly insulation. The latest was a brown box with a red Christmas bow on the top, and a card that read: "What do eight out of 10 Canadians need for Christmas in 20072" As a person who takes great delight in receiving gifts, my mind was spinning. 1t looked like a jewelry box, and I know I‘m always happy to get a new pair of earrings or a bracelet â€" especially if they come adorned with a sparkly stone. I opened the box, and it was empty. o A sticker inside said the vast majority of Canadians aren‘t wanting for anything, whereas people in other parts of the world need the most basic of necessities, such as food, shelter, educaâ€" tion and health care. From World Vision, this release also came with a catâ€" alogue of "meaningful gifts that can change the world." For instance, a dairy cow, costing $600, can change a family‘s life by giving them milk, which they can drink, sell or use to make cheese and butter, calves and manure for fertilizer. _ Two hens and a rooster cost only $55 â€" the price of a couple of DVDs â€"â€" and can produce up to 150 eggs a year, providing a needy famâ€" ily with protein, income and an ever expanding flock. There‘s lots of ways to give meaningful gifts on the local front as well. At my office, everyone draws the name of a coâ€" worker out of a hat, and then buys a children‘s gift that reflects that individual. All the presents are donated to the Tree of Angels to be distributed to needy chilâ€" dren in our community. Last year I picked someâ€" one who likes to go on cruisâ€" es, so I bought baby bottles, soothers and bibs with planes and boats on them. As a dog lover, I received a stuffed pooch. Although I can‘t deny my love of gifts â€" or the childâ€" ish grin that fills my face when I open them â€" Christâ€" mas is about more than presents. Although I can‘t deny my "You just sort of feel that love of gifts â€"â€" or the childâ€" every young kid sitting ish grin that fills my face around a Christmas dinner when I open them â€" Christâ€" _ deserves a fresh turkey, and mas is about more than when they go back to school presents. after the holidays and everyâ€" Looking back on holiâ€" body talks about their turkey days‘ past, it‘s the family dinners, they can say they meals that stand out. had a turkey dinner as well," That‘s why l am so he said. impressed by a turkey drive 1 couldn‘t agree more. JENNIFER ORMSTON the Kitchenerâ€"Conestoga Rotary Club is putting on to benefit the House of Friendâ€" ship, a notâ€"forâ€"profit agency that serves lowâ€"income peoâ€" ple in Waterloo Region. We can‘t just assume that everyone has a turkey on their table at Christmas time, said Jim Erb, the drive‘s chairperson. But you can make that happen for only $20 a turkey. The club is trying to raise enough money to buy turkeys for all the food hamâ€" pers that will be distributed this year, as well as to cover the costs of roasting pans and other food supplies. Last year, this campaign raised $35,000, and they‘re hoping to double that numâ€" ber this time around. Cash donations or cheques made out to the House of Friendship can be dropped off at Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at 171 King St. S., in Waterloo, N2J 1P7, until Nov. 30. Erb supports this project, as opposed to collecting toys, because it allows everyone to enjoy fresh meat over the holiday seaâ€"