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Thanks to many
As I was putting the last touches on the Waucoma Park sign I was
restoring, I was deep in thought penning a letter to the newspaper in
my mind.
First I thought I’d write it anonymously not wanting it to appear
self-serving. (My company, Signage, was contracted to restore City
Park signs.) But the way my thoughts progressed, there were too many
factors that took away from the focus of my part in it. The story is
as follows:
Kudos to the City of Hood River and all of her unsung heroes. I’m
talking about the men and women behind the scene, public servants who
are quick to blame when something goes wrong and slow to reward when
things go right.
I thought of just how nicely our parks are maintained. When the heat
of the day in August more often displays dried and yellowing grass and
the smell of a forest fire, the shaded grass of our parks is clipped,
green and inviting. I may not be able to take advantage of the
invitation as I idle at the light in my stifling car, but just knowing
it’s there is a comforting thought.
How nice it is to think of and appreciate all of the beauty and
festivity our city has to offer her citizens and visitors. My husband
took the kids to the last movie at Jackson Park and couldn’t speak
more highly of how professionally organized the movie night was. He
regretted not having gone till now. And it was done free for the
public.
As my thoughts progressed, my list of gratitude got longer. First
Friday, Families in the Park, Walk in Movies, Saturday Market, Farmers
Market … Our city is a treasure, has a lot to offer, and looks better
every day. The library is beautiful. Businesses new and old are all
well kept … I take pride in the glorious haven I live in. As a
taxpayer I see money well-spent. As a citizen I give thanks.
Too many people to thank: the city, the school district, the chamber
of commerce, our aquatics center; even our skateboard park looks good.
The next time I pay a toll or see a guy emptying trash, I can pay a
smile or wave. I know you’re there and I appreciate all you do.
Kindest regards,
Elise Cain
Parkdale
Push for wilderness
Your thoughtful “Wilderness” editorial last week (Aug. 26) was
right on the money. Well, all except for one paragraph, in which
you claim that Senators Smith and Wyden’s 125,000-acre proposal is
somehow inferior or less “preferable” than the provisions of the
Walden-Blumenauer Mount Hood Legacy Act.
The Senate proposal is based on what Oregonians want for the Mount
Hood National Forest. Our two senators and their staffs worked for
months to craft a reasonable compromise between Wyden’s visionary
2004 plan (180,000 acres) and the more modest 77,000-acre bill
that passed the House in July.
Senator Smith, by the way, deserves a lot of praise for brokering
this bipartisan compromise.
While keeping the House bill designations intact, the senators’
proposal adds Wilderness, Wild and Scenic River, and National
Recreation Area protections to areas that are important to Hood
River County residents and visitors alike. These areas include
waterfalls and glacial outwash of the East Fork Hood River, Lost
Lake, Larch Mountain, Twin Lakes, Mirror Lake, the wildlife
migration corridors of Bonney Butte and the scenic canyons along
the White River.
According to the senators’ press release, the additions do not
impact mountain bike or snowmobile trails, nor do they affect
areas allocated for timber harvest under the Northwest Forest
Plan.
Let’s not send mixed messages to Washington on this important
issue. We should support the senators’ compromise plan 100
percent. The Oregon delegation must pull together and move this
plan through the Senate as quickly as possible. And with one last
push, get it on the president’s desk in 2006!
Darryl Lloyd
Hood River
How far freedom?
I’m so pleased to see Mr. James Konopasek’s letter of Aug. 30.
There are a couple of ways to interpret the T-shirt and he covered
them both. Well done.
A few months ago I saw a T-shirt being worn by a teenage boy that
bore a graphic insult against Jesus Christ, spelled out in all its
awful, obscene slang, and a word that I find most disgusting! I
still don’t know why he used a female slang term, and I haven’t
really tried to figure that one out.
It was inside a local market and I was so shocked that I had to
look again to be sure I had seen correctly. Sadly, I had; so did
others; and sadly, none of us said a word. Perhaps he wanted the
shock effect, perhaps he feels that way — who knows? — all I know
is that I didn’t want a confrontation with him. Imagine what he
would have called me, and that would have led to a real
confrontation, probably involving the police!
Freedom to offend? I don’t think that’s why so many of our fellow
Americans have died, so that someone can write the most obscene
saying on a T and call it freedom of speech or expression. I don’t
know about the rest of you, but I for one am so tired of all the
Political Correctness — and that’s my freedom of speech.
Leilani Caldwell
Hood River
VanOrman leads
I am writing in support of Suzanne VanOrman for District 52 State
Representative. I have known Suzanne for nearly 20 years, having
worked with her as a board member of the Mid-Columbia Children’s
Council.
I’ve watched the program grow from 100 children to nearly 500
children in five counties in Oregon and Washington. Our budget is
now over $4 million. Suzanne spearheaded the growth and expansion
of the Head Start program and oversaw the management and budgeting
of the federal and state grant money the program received. She is
one of the most fiscally strong and budget-savvy people I have
ever had the pleasure to work with. Suzanne was especially good at
assessing needs, assigning money to those needs, and living within
the budget she created: skills that are sorely needed in the
Oregon State Legislature today.
As a leader in providing education for all children, and a
believer in providing and managing adequate and fair funding for
our schools, Suzanne would be a strong voice in our state
legislature. Please join me in voting for Suzanne VanOrman as
District 52 State Representative.
Kristi Thomsen
Hood River
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