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Profound statement
Trey Roeseler’s Sept. 20 letter to the editor is one of the best, most
profound, multifaceted letters I’ve read on this page.
Dale Hewitt
Hood River
Grow Gorge Grown
Gorge Grown Food Network launched this year because consumers and
farmers were looking to find ways to connect with each other with
the desire to increase local food self-sufficiency.
Consumers were able to meet local farmers through CSA farms and
the Farmers’ Market, enabling them to know who grew their food,
the farming method etc. There are many benefits to this, but the
current E. coli breakout that stems from spinach shipped across
the country and now impacts at least 20 states brings forward the
issue of “eating local” from a unique perspective.
Massive industrial farms feed large populations and yet, when
something like this E. coli breakout occurs, food distribution
breaks down and food security is threatened. At the same time,
identifying exactly within this huge distribution network where a
specific problem comes from proves to be difficult.
Eating local, knowing your farmer, knowing how your food is grown
(certified organic, organic method, traditional method, etc.),
having the opportunity to have a wide variety of foods like
heirloom tomatoes that can be grown on small farms but not on
industrial farms with mass distribution — all of these are
possible when local food self-sufficiency flourishes in a
community.
Gorge Grown Food Network will be meeting again next Tuesday, Sept.
26, 6:30 p.m. at the Hood River Library’s community room. We hope
you’ll join us as we further the planning of making the entire
Gorge increasingly food self-sufficient! For more information,
call 399-3066.
Ann G. Kramer
Hood River
Fine neighborhood
We are writing in response to past letters about the Katie’s Way
Developments. As residents of the neighborhood next to the middle
school, we find this community to be an extraordinary gift.
For the record, each home does have two parking spots. And though
we are not perfect, we do work hard to be sure that, we or any of
our guest, do not misuse parking of any of the adjacent
businesses.
This community was developed thanks to the vision of the Crafts
and Kitts Families. Because of their willingness to put their
money and time to ensure a place where the next generation of Hood
River’s leaders can live, now more than twenty-three of us have a
house to feel proud to call home.
While it’s true there are two or four year terms before we can
sell our homes, after the time expires, we are free to do as we
wish. In fact, these terms were only placed on our homes because
so many people tried to take advantage of the Crafts’ and Kitts’
generosity of selling these homes nearly at-cost to first time
home buyers.
As to comments about having no place for children, come by any
evening and you will see and hear a neighborhood of children
playing. Not only can the children play in the large common area,
in the creek and around the neighborhood, but within 5 minutes
there are to the two fields, a playground, a track, a swimming
pool, and four tennis courts. In addition, we are a quick ten
minute walk to downtown, Rosauers, and even a weekly farmers
market. How many neighborhoods can make claim to all this? The
kids (younger and older), we know in this neighborhood, all find
this to be a great place to live.
While we know that some people do not like our development, we
know if they were to spend more time than just a drive-by to learn
about our wonderful neighborhood, they would have a very different
perspective. We invite you to come visit our homes. Bring some
gloves and an appetite. You can help with the many landscaping
projects, stay for dinner and see what our community is all about.
Julie Davies O’Shea, Sean O’Shea,
Amy Hassett-Bruno, Doug Ellenberger, Christine McAleer, Jamie Guth,
Gloria Collie, Rana Beaman,
Christy Diemer, Tonya Aitkin
Hood River
A voting ‘miracle’
Exit polls? To heck with those!
I’d like to thank Kathleen Fitzpatrick (Our Readers Write, Sept.
16) for bringing up the topic of our crazy aunt in the basement —
vote-counting anomalies.
Every time I hear a plea for getting out the vote I can’t help
thinking about the old Soviet line: “It’s not how they vote, it’s
how we count them.” The naive assumption that it could never
happen here is perhaps the reason for the deafening silence in the
media about this topic.
By all practical measures, the 2004 presidential election outcome
was as much a miracle as walking on water. People have been
waiting for a miracle like this for 2,000 years and what happens
when it happened? Nothing, nada, zip. You didn’t hear a word about
it in the “liberal” media.
Based on exit polling, which for the last 100 years or so has been
very accurate, “W” pulled off the biggest upset victory in
history. Here’s a trivia question for you. What were the odds of
Bush winning the election in ‘04? A. 1:25; B. 1:250; C. 1:2500; or
D. none of the above?
Need a hint? Miracle! That’s right; if you guessed D you are
correct. The odds of Bush winning the ‘04 elections were actually
greater than 1:2500 that he could win.
It should be no surprise to the reality-based folks that when you
have a conservative private corporation making the vote counting
machines, running on private software which they won’t allow us to
see, counting the public’s vote with no chance of a clean recount
and stiff resistance to random sampling, that we get a modern day
miracle like this.
If the Dems want to win another major election, they have to start
making their own vote counting machines. It’s that simple. But
don’t take my word for it. Check out the book “Fooled Again” by
Mark Miller. Or, if you have Internet access, check out
crisispapers.org or blackboxvoting.com.
I would love to be proven wrong about this. Please help!
In the meantime, expect more of the same this November.
Nathan Salter
Hood River
Smith is a leader
From the first time we met Patti Smith we were impressed how she
listens to people’s concerns, then finds a way to try to solve
them.
Patti Smith is a leader; she is not afraid to work across party
lines.
She has introduced and helped pass legislation for Jessica’s law.
This law enhances penalties for sexual predators.
Patti has introduced and passed a meth bill that gets tough with
met cooks and makes it more difficult for the meth cooks to buy
the drugs to make the meth.
She represents Oregon agriculture, businesses, seniors and health
care, and also children — to name a few. With her leadership,
knowledge and compassion for her state she needs to be re-elected
as our State Representative for District 52.
We are voting Patti Smith. How about you?
Sharon and Carl Wilson
Hood River
Remove our walls
Two structures of metal and masonry. Two striking symbols of our
nation. One: The towering walls now rising along our border with
Mexico. The other: A statue gracing New York harbor.
With raised torch, one symbol says “Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free …” With raised fist,
the other says, “Keep Out!”
That these two radically different symbols can coexist within one
nation should raise a warning flag. Perhaps immigration
restriction is a necessary evil, especially at a time when
terrorists threaten our country. But I have become increasingly
convinced that the greatest danger facing our country today is not
terrorism but the very walls we construct on every side to keep
from sharing ourselves and our resources with those who have less
and need more.
Whether of concrete, law or custom, whether financial, racial or
social, these walls speak more loudly to those beyond our borders
than do even our national ideals. Written on the outside of these
walls for all (but us) to see are the words: “You are inferior to
us, your lives aren’t worth as much as ours; and we mean to keep
you in your place!” What more insulting and provocative message
could we send to the world?
All this we have managed without really noticing. We have accepted
social privilege and status as a birthright, not realizing its
devastating implications. But the world is fast becoming
disenchanted with our walled citadel on the hill. And it is the
world’s disenchantment that will bring down these walls unless we
find the wisdom and grace to do it ourselves.
David C. Duncombe
White Salmon, Wash.
Why not ask?
Re: Foul — Metsger vs. York, Hood River News, Sept. 16:
Telephone opinion poll I received from the York committee was very
clear on problems such as the Hispanic influx.
A questionnaire that I received from the Metsger staff didn’t even
mention the Hispanic immigration problem.
This aforementioned article contains a lot of “smoke blowing.” Why
didn’t the candidate use this door of opportunity to spell out his
views of the impact to Hood River County, such as (1) Our schools
are running at 50 percent; (2) Port of Hood River is running out
of property to develop for family wage jobs; (3) HOPE is
challenged to provide affordable housing, and, (4) our schools are
struggling to keep pace with space.
Alan Winans
Hood River
A big ‘splash’
On behalf of the Waterfront Community Park Association, I would
like to thank all who came to the “Summer Splash” fund-raising
event at 3 Rivers Grill Sept. 2. It was a beautiful summer evening
and an overwhelming number of generous community members turned
out to support the park.
We want to thank Brian Robb, Mark Hudon, Joan Chase and Karen
Watson for their fabulous donations of art for the event. The WCPA
raised $25,000 and it will go toward initial park expense.
Anyone interested in learning more about the nonprofit Waterfront
Community Park Association and how you can get involved, please
visit our Web site
www.hoodriverwaterfront.com or
contact Marianne Brevard at 386-4741.
Marianne Brevard
Hood River
Voisin for Dist. 2
I am an Independent Oregon voter who will be voting for Democrat
Carol Voisin on Nov. 7. Here’s why:
We believe that the Geneva Convention works. We do not believe in
torture.
We believe in accountability and the rule of law. We do not
believe in secret prisons or warrantless wiretaps, outside the
scrutiny of the courts.
We believe that our morality is not dependent upon the morality of
others. We do not believe in giving up our moral stature in times
of war.
We believe that no one is above the law — not the president, not
the CIA, not the Justice Department, not the Congress, not the
courts, not corporations, not unions, not lobbyists.
We believe that no one is beneath the law — not the poor, not the
non-English speakers, not the immigrants (legal or not), not the
ill, not the outcasts of our society.
We believe that the military and the officers of the intelligence
community are safer with the Geneva Conventions in place. We do
not believe in cutting and running from the protections of Geneva.
Most of all, we believe in three branches of government that hold
each other accountable as they do the people’s business.
Greg Walden has not provided oversight for an Executive branch
intent on destroying the Constitution. He votes with the
Republicans 90 percent of the time, votes against veterans, votes
against rural aid so important to District 2, and two of his
biggest contributors are Big Oil and Pharmaceuticals. Vote for the
Constitution, vote for Oversight, vote for District 2, vote for
Carol Voisin.
Richard Browne
Medford
Smith helps district
I became acquainted with Rep. Patti Smith several years ago while
involved with Oregon Department of Transportation over safety
concerns for our community while they were widening Highway 26
through our area.
ODOT was reluctant to address our concerns at which time I asked
Rep. Patti Smith to get involved on our behalf.
Patti Smith walked the highway with a neighbor and I on
snow-covered ground while we pointed out all the safety concerns
of our community.
Over a two-year period of time, she attended all our community
meetings and assisted us in negotiating a compromise with ODOT
that secured the future safety of our community.
She did the same for her constituents in the Kelso Road / Orient
Drive area west of Sandy improving the highway safety at those two
deadly intersections.
Currently she is working with ODOT to improve safety east of
Government Camp.
Subsequently, she has been appointed by Democratic Gov. Ted
Kulongoski to his Meth Task Force and has been instrumental in
providing residents of the 52nd with tools to identify and
eliminate meth houses throughout the district.
Pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient for illegal meth, was placed
behind the counter with strict controls over its sales and now a
prescription is required making it more difficult to obtain for
illegal usage.
She is also serving on the Governor’s Alternative Energy working
group to find a solution to our energy problems.
This clearly demonstrates Rep. Smith’s ability to work across
party lines for the benefit of all areas of the 52nd District.
Patti Smith is a hard-working, dedicated, honest and involved
individual who doesn’t make promises she can’t keep while working
diligently for all of us.
She has a proven track record throughout the district and has
earned my support for re-election in November.
Reed Lucas
Rhododendron
A spinach alert
Just thought I would let you know, I bought bagged spinach the
other day ... I fed it to my canary before hearing about the
warnings. She became very ill and the vet said she had e.coli. She
is doing fine now ... but the warnings are very real!
Amy Cardoza
Hood River
Vote for Democrats
The Democrats have the best candidates for public office in Ted
Kulongoski for Governor, Rick Metsger for State Senator, and
Suzanne VanOrman for State Representative. Your vote can keep or
put them in office.
Oregon is a special state that votes by mail; no going to the
polls, just fill out the ballot and mail it in. We owe it to
ourselves and the community to do just that. For only a few
moments of your time and a 39 cent stamp, you can help to decide.
This is a serious election. Things have happened and are happening
that need correcting. Democrats promote improvements in education,
health, environmental and social issues, and know how to wisely
finance government. Democrats place the well-being of society
first before party and special interests.
Democrats in Hood River County campaigned well and succeeded in
2004. A repeat performance is needed. You, by your vote, can make
this happen.
Carroll Davis
Hood River
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