Commencement at South

We attended the South Albany graduation (June 5). I would like to commend the class of 2008 and Principal Equinoa on an outstanding ceremony. The student speakers were both insightful and entertaining.

The contrast with the ceremony I attended at South in 2002 was striking. In 2002 it was mostly administrators giving talks about how great they had done and how outstanding the teachers were, the graduates being merely a distraction. It was nice to have the graduates be the main attraction and much more meaningful to hear the students give credit to their teachers.

There were quite a few administrative speeches but they were good and most of them short.

We also had wind but no rain, just as promised by Mr. Equinoa, but not much sign of global warming.

Thank you, class of 2008.

Gary Siewell, Albany

Suddenly, trees were gone

As I was driving home this evening I could not help but feel something was out of place. It suddenly hit me: The trees that lined Waverly Drive had disappeared. The ground looked as if a giant hand had snatched them out of the soil in one clean swoop, root and all.

Had I known that at precisely 6 a.m. today I would be seeing the wind rustle through their leaves for the last time, I would have rolled my window down to hear their sweet sigh. I feel as if I have been robbed. These trees were a part of Albany, a part of me. I honestly do not remember a time in my life when they were not there; as they grew so did I, and I was not ready for them to go. All I was left with was a short nondescript article from Saturday's paper stating there was to be "work on utilities and sidewalks," and today's discovery - the hard empty earth, which bears the impressions of warm memory.

William Blake, one of the greatest English poets of the 18th century, captured my feelings exactly when he wrote: "The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in their way."

What plans does the city have for this median now? Did we rip out these beautiful life-giving trees just to replace them with more asphalt? What happened to Albany's urban forest?

Stephanie McClure, Albany

New trees will be planted, according to a report in the paper June 5.

They came to our aid

We would like to thank everyone who came to our aid when we were involved in an automobile accident just north of Lebanon on Mother's Day.

We are especially grateful to Lance Hawkin, who helped to keep everyone calm and doing things in a manner that prevented further injuries until the rescue squad and ambulance arrived, and to his wife, Cathy, who helped keep me calm while they worked to get Jack out of the car.

We also appreciate everyone who came forward to tell the police what they witnessed, and the officers and others who did their jobs in such a caring and professional manner.

Patricia and Jack Tungett, Sweet Home