President Bush, President Calderon of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada met in Ottawa for a meeting of the SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America). They discussed, among other things, the formation of a Super North American Power Base.

This would scrap our constitution and Bill of Rights thus officially ending our democracy. A Global Empire looms with Bush leading the way and following the Bilderberg agenda.

Please remember that it was through Bush’s efforts that the two American border guards were sent to serve 12 years in prison for guarding our borders against Mexican drug smugglers and shooting at them. When more than 50 Congressmen pleaded with President Bush to pardon them, he refused. Once again our President Bush reaffirms by his actions not to believe what he does!

Once upon a time we had a democracy. Not anymore! Wake up, Americans! Bush really believes that what he is doing is the right thing to do.

Personally, I have given up on our spineless Democratic Party to protect us from Bush. Our best hope is Kucinich. However, the pundits believe he is unelectable.

Thanks to many

As I read about children across the country gaining weight and spending more and more time indoors, I am once again reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Hood River. Hood River exemplifies the concept of “taking a village” to raise a child. Heartfelt thanks go out to the many people who helped create a wonderful summer.

Thanks to Mike Schend and all the Community Education folks who do a wonderful job providing numerous camps and activities.

The Lions made for a spectacular Fourth of July. Movies in the park, Music in the Park, and the outdoor markets all create a family feel. Thanks to all the people who work on our biking and hiking trails who allow us to spend time in the woods.

And thanks to all the parents and coaches who volunteered their time for soccer, sailing lacrosse, softball, Little League, basketball, etc. etc. The list goes on and on.

So, thanks, Hood River, for pulling together to give our children so many healthy, exciting opportunities.

Help fireworks

Labor Day is now behind us and the kids are back in school, but the Eye Openers Lions Club is still focused on the Fourth of July.

As many of your readers know, the funding for Hood River’s annual fireworks display comes strictly from donations from the community. What they are less likely to know is that the show is put on by some very dedicated Lions members who give up three full days of their summer every year to put it together. That is not counting the hours of training, schooling and testing they have to go through to become part of our pyro crew.

This summer’s display may have been the best one yet. In honor of the show’s 30th anniversary, we increased the amount spent on fireworks by 25 percent, to $15,000. If we didn’t have our own volunteer pyro crew, the same display would cost two to three times as much. We are extremely grateful for their contribution to the show.

We also want to say a big thank you to our generous community. Nearly 250 families and businesses (not counting the many who contributed at the parade) donated about $12,000 this year.

Unfortunately, that did not fully cover the cost of the expanded show. We have heard a lot of positive feedback about the show, and we think the community as a whole would like to maintain that level of explosive fun in future shows. We feel it will be especially important next year when we will be celebrating Hood River County’s 100th birthday.

It is not too late to make this happen. If anyone else would like to donate either to this year’s shortfall or next year’s show, we would be delighted to accept. Checks payable to Lions Fireworks can be mailed to 1767 12th St., #136, Hood River, OR 97031.

You can also bring your donations to the Eye Openers Lions Pancake Breakfast, this Saturday and Sunday, at the Hood River Airport.

Guardian at Port

Congratulations and thank you to the Port of Hood River for providing the Event Site with a camp host. I am a frequent user of that site, and I have seen Mr. Dan Bauer in action. He gently reminds people of the rules, from parking to proper dog guardianship, and, in a friendly way, prods people to comply with the rules.

In (a recent) Port News article about Mr. Bauer he estimated that he has recovered and returned to owners about $8,000 worth of gear. This is a huge underestimation. Dan Bauer has on three different occasions returned my sailboard equipment to me with a total replacement value of at least $4,200. (Don’t ask; the details are too embarrassing.) He accomplishes this by walking the beach nightly at the sunset hour when it is easy to match remaining gear with the few sailors still there. In the past this was the prime time for “professional salvagers” to grab gear for resale.

Dan provides the needed face of authority at the Event Site that has long been missing. Thanks, Dan, for all your good work.

Vote no on 49

Many recent letters supporting Measure 49 have used catch phrases such as “subdivisions and strip malls,” “big business,” “real estate developers” and “infrastructure costs” but Kathleen Fitzpatrick’s letter (Sept. 5) was the first to try and use ’em all!

Ask these folks to name any of these big businesses, developers, or where these strip malls are going and they can’t. It’s all just unsupported propaganda to try and convince folks the sky is falling because of Measure 37. Fitzpatrick’s letter falsely states, “Over three-fourths of the claims in the state are for subdivisions, rock pits and strip malls.” Fact: 80 percent of the claims in the state are for 10 or fewer parcels. Measure 37 claims account for only 4.1 percent of the total farmland. She goes on to state the infrastructure costs will fall on existing property owners. Fact: Counties are limiting development under Measure 37 by the type and quality of area roads, and water availability. No roads, power or water systems are added at taxpayer costs. Additional services from police, fire and schools may be an argument, but have these folks seen the development in the area around west May Street/Frankton Road the past several years? To make this a valid argument, shouldn’t this argument apply to all development, not just the ones they are opposed to? Finally, she talks about the huge costs in Wasco County because of people developing in rural areas. Fact: The number of Measure 37 permits approved in Wasco County after nearly three years of Measure 37? Four. That’s right, only four. Doesn’t sound like the sky is really falling, does it?

People state when they voted for Measure 37 they didn’t know what they were voting for, and they support measure 49 because they think people can build one to three homes. If they believe that, they still don’t know what they are voting for. Wander through the 24 pages of Measure 49, and you will find all of the “Gotcha’s” that pretty much make it impossible to build even a single home. Multiple appraisals. Appeals that can be filed by anyone. The $80,000 income test. And the list goes on.

The governor, legislators and special interests who wrote Measure 49 know it. Why else would the governor suspend the Big Look Task Force? Vote no on 49, and send a message to the legislature you don’t like their tactics.

Good role models

I was thrilled to see the photo and story of the five college-bound women in your June 16 edition (Child Care Center graduates).

As parents they are role modeling the importance of hard work and perseverance for their children, which are traits we all hope to see in our community’s youth.