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Fluoridation flap might spark another referendum Local gyms offer advice for keeping New Year‘s resolutions/Page 14 Getting fit in 2008 t‘s a battle that‘s raged for Imore than 40 years in Waterloo, and survived at least three referendums. And there‘s every indicaâ€" tion that a fourth referenâ€" dum will be one of the things discussed at Monday night‘s city council meeting. The issue is as divisive as the idea of amalgamation, but it‘s another amalgam that has some local citizens concerned â€" hydrofluoâ€" rosilicic acid. It‘s the compound that is added to Waterloo‘s water supply to provide fluoridaâ€" tion of tap water. Since the idea first surfaced in the 1930s, supporters of fluoriâ€" dation of tap water have said it has a whole raft of health benefits. The benefits far outweigh any risks, say supporters. _ It started when Colorado dentist Frederick McKay‘s investigated why some towns in his vicinity, with high concentrations of natuâ€" rally occurring calcium 1375 Weber Street (A Block From Charconl Steak House) By Bos VRrBANAC 519â€"748â€"4554 450 Erb Street (Beechwood Plaza) 519â€"725â€"7007 Chronicle Staff ngn . 519â€"579â€"7555 Glenridge Plaza é & 0’ I¢ Woerks. 519.888â€"9963 w‘ Ig Zaots ol e . _ WEIGHT LOSS & NUTRITION CENTRES chloride, experienced less cavities than similar populaâ€" tions not exposed to that compound. His groundâ€" breaking research led to the topical application of fluoâ€" ride and the move to add it to public drinking water. And the battle to prevent periodontal disease has never been the same, with the incidence of cavities going down in most populaâ€" tions exposed to fluoride. But there has also been a persistent concern about adding manâ€"made fluoride to the water, a byproduct of industrial scrubbers that also contains traces of some metals like arsenic and lead. Opponents acknowledge there was a lot of fear monâ€" gering around the issue in the past, with some of the fringe opponents even callâ€" ing it a communist plot to poison North American youth. But the myth making has goné on since, with both sides of the debate far from blameless. Opponents of fluoridation argue that most 700 Strasburg Rd. (At Blodkdine Road) | 519.578.2828 519â€"743â€"3783 ‘The Shape of Things to Came No pain, no down time. 1st 100 patients 1/2 OFF 1st treatment Lose Inches Continued on page 7 Join Now . . . Start Now or Later . .. (on«mun.wmnudmum.mmmmmmm.wmm We will beat the price of any other full service weight loss program. O Your first 20 lbs. will be on us! Exhibit at Waterloo Community Arts Centre displays history of flight/Page 16 History of aviation t‘s not the shattered botâ€" Itles, stabbings, broken bones or blood that haunt Brent Campbell about the New Year‘s Eve brawl that occurred in his uptown By Grec MacDonaip Chronicle Staff Waterloo‘s first baby of 2008 was born only two hours into the new year. Karli Lachapelle was born at home with the help of two midwives, and was greeted by big sisters Ria, 4, and Ali, 2. For the full story turn to page 10. New Year‘s ‘riot‘ might cost local bar owner his business Waterloo bar. It‘s the fact that he might lose the bar while the real culprits run free that has him worried. "There‘s a possibility I‘m going to lose my bar," Campbell said. â€" "I‘m pretty shaken up First born Local lacrosse player makes his professional debut/Page 18 Getting swarmed about that." The police haven‘t laid any charges in what they describe as a "riot" at the Vault Restaurant and Lounge at King and Erb streets, but they are investiâ€" gating if the bar manageâ€" ment was partially to blame for the brawl, said Warren Haasnoot, a detective serâ€" geant in Waterloo Regional Police Service‘s third diviâ€" sion. Campbell thinks he is being unfairly targeted and that the police should be JENWIFER ORMSTON PHOTO Continued on page 6