Posted: Tuesday, August 1, 2006 10:00 pm
Memories: Fun and danger, too
Your front-page photo headlined "Luckiamute Leap" (July 29) brought back memories of summer afternoons many years ago when my friends and I, too, ascended that very same rocky cliffside to indulge in the sweet pleasure of that icy water. We were "rock climbers" even then, before it became popular as a sport.
However, what the girls in that picture were doing is extremely dangerous. Several deaths have occurred, caused by swimmers' heads hitting unseen rocks below that dark water. Beware!
Frances West, Lebanon
Timely warning appreciated
Monday night my husband and I took two of our children, 14 and 11, along with two of their friends to see a movie at the Pix. The movie showing was "My Super Ex-Girlfriend." I had some doubts about the appropriateness of the movie before we went but decided to go ahead, possibly leaving with my 11-year-old if it was too much for her.
As we were about to purchase tickets, Jeff, (the owner, I am assuming) came out, greeted us, and then told us that the movie might not be appropriate for our 11-year-old. By telling us this he must have known he would miss out on selling six tickets to see the movie along with the revenue the six of us would have generated at the snack bar, a truly selfless business decision. We appreciated his honesty more than he could have known.
As for our family, we will be heading down there as soon as the movie changes. The Pix deserves our business. It's a great family-friendly, well-run business. Thank you so much!
Lori Jantzi, Albany
Numbers and Tangent growth
Mayor Clayton Wood of Millersburg couldn't have said it better when he said: "We had a vocal minority opposing it (growth) to start with, and that was related to living next to an open field they didn't own" (6/18/06, "Rural But Growing.)
A small group of Tangent's voters seem to think they own the whole city in their interpretation of Oregon's now famous land use law.
The Tangent City Council has approved a growth application twice now that is perfectly legal, but a small group has appealed it twice. It was OK for two ex-mayors (appellants) to parcel and/or sell their land for growth, but not you! Tangent can manage modest growth in accord with a Coordinated Population Forecast, Order No. 99-324 agreement with Linn County, the state (DLCD) and other cities within Linn County. The city of Tangent will violate its own previous word, by some of these same people (serving as mayor, city councilors and planning commissioners). What hypocrisy!
A private citizen circulated a form for signatures using a population growth figure of 1,501 for year 2026. That figure was not the right figure; it should have been 1,798. This entire effort has been designed to prevent the development of land next door to him.
Even a consultant's report (Winterbrook Planning) brought in by the opposition stated (page 3): "It would be reasonable for Tangent to extend it's Coordinated Average Annual Growth Rate of 2.17 percent out for six additional years (from 2020 to 2026), which would result in a 2026 population projection of 1,798".
The importance of these figures will determine Tangent's growth for the next 20 years. Citizens of Tangent: Get involved and get informed: It's your city and your rights that are being decided!
Curt Smith, city councilor, Tangent
The biggest waste of oil: War
Well, we may not be as smart as we should be, but we are smarter than you give us credit for. Looking at Tuesday's Opinion Page (July 25), the cartoon (making the connection between Mideast events and pump prices) makes more sense than your editorial. You go on at great length on the ways we could cut down on consumption. You are correct in suggesting that the price of oil would come down if only we could reduce consumption. However, you fail to mention the most egregious waste of oil, which would be the easiest to cut off.
I am, of course, referring to war. The preparation for war. The cost of making the machines, training and supporting the operators of them, and finally the fueling of those machines and the utter criminal destruction of putting them to use. All of this is energy, mostly oil.
A phone call would do it. Tell Israel it is time to give back some of the land they still are stealing from the Palestinians. And please stop the genocide.
Remember the Old West slogan "The only good Indian is a dead Indian"? The Palestinian situation now is the same. Only the names and places are different. (It worked for us, why not for them?) The Palestinians have for several years now been willing to give up some of their land for peace. All we have to do is tell the Israelis that we are about to stop payment on their welfare check. The rest of the world would be grateful and, with the Palestinian problem resolved, a bonus to us would be the substantial reduction in the price of oil, a dramatic lessening of terrorist threats, and a slowing of global warming.
Ed Hemmingson, Albany
No hazard, no water
The headline "Albany won't sell water access to Mennonite church" is a little misleading.
I attended the work session on July 24. Yes the church did in the past come to the council to see if they could get water to their church from city water sources. The DEQ and Linn County health department, after testing the water, found there is no health hazard at the Mennonite church. Until there is a health hazard the City Council cannot give permission to allow hookups to Albany's water system. This is based upon the regulations set by prior councils. If the Mennonite church feels there is a health hazard, they can supply complete documentation, which hasn't been done yet. If they do, I feel the council would make an exception to the regulations.
Ray Hilts, Albany
Crossing? Try the overpass
This letter is in regard to the rail crossing at Queen and Pacific. All you have to do to avoid it is to go over the Pacific viaduct. It's only a few minutes farther.
We live in the Hill Street-Sunrise neighborhood, and when we go to West Albany, that's the way we go.
If they put an overpass over that crossing, it will cost millions of dollars and send more traffic through our neighborhood.
Same for that Santiam-Geary-Pacific nightmare the editor likes so much. Ninth Avenue used to be a nice local street. You could go down it for business and get back without getting involved with Pacific and Santiam.
All these traffic realignments are great for the people who like to spend taxpayers' money and for the well-to-do, just passing through, but for the people who live in town they are a pain in the neck.
John Collet, Albany
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