Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008 10:00 pm
Leave time alone, sleep better
I read Hasso Hering's short editorial on Daylight Savings time with much interest. Is there something that can be done with this problem - really!
Linn-Benton Community College is going to have a sleep-deprivation course this next semester. Certainly if it has become such a problem, perhaps someone ought to look into getting rid of the problem by putting our clocks forward this fall and leaving it alone.
There are millions, literally, in our country who have sleep problems. Hardly a week goes by that someone isn't bringing it to our attention. How poorly, if at all, people are sleeping. This problem impinges on everything we do - driving cars or other vehicles, making decisions, etc.
Margaret N. Macfarlane, Lebanon
Our dream's wiped out
Would anyone want to listen to our sob story?
We moved to Albany almost three years ago, bought a brand new home off Clover Ridge Road, looking from our back porch directly over two lovely acres with ancient old oaks and walnut trees on them, a little barn, an old bath tub, goats, chickens ... a little farther down a whole bunch of horses racing back and force in their open field ... a perfect place to retire - or so we thought at the time!
Well! Now, almost three years later (the property behind us was sold), they are building 12 two-plus-story houses on those not quite two acres - all the huge trees were felled to make room for these houses.
Our retirement dream is shattered! There are three homes on our side of the street directly involved in this misery: One family has already moved out this week. We, the other two families, have our homes up for sale. Too late really, no chance of ever getting out what we put in! Our loss, obviously!
We are just wondering now: How could the city of Albany indiscriminately allow such albatross housing developments to infringe on the little neighbors already there?
We are defeated!!
Peter Vanbaar, Albany
No say in school change
Our school board has decided on ripping students away from friends and teachers that they know, to bus them to North Albany. So that they can face more upset in their life. Without parents having the right to vote on it. Or students even having a say in it.
They say Calapooia Middle School is overpopulated. Well why not build on to that school and hire more teachers, so that the students do not have to be torn away from the school they are comfortable with?
We as parents are allowed three minutes at school board meetings to have our say. But we are still not allowed a vote.
Why don't we get a vote on where our tax dollars are spent within our schools?
They say busing will be easier sending them nine miles from home, rather than two miles. How does that work when they have to get up earlier to take a longer bus ride?
And what about special-need students? North Albany has little to offer them, compared to Calapooia. I have already checked it out.
I think the school district is acting like dictators, instead of inspirational leaders. And I do not think I am the only parent upset by this change of school boundaries.
But unfortunately we don't get a vote in the matter, nor do our kids. This is not right.
Arline Collins, Albany
Looking up the ratings
Letters from the Goldmans and Pam Clark in your Saturday, March 8, edition suggest that I am mistaken as to Andy Olson's record on environmental and energy issues. Ratings by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV) and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) tell a different story.
OLCV's ratings for the 2005 session show Andy Olson got a 6 percent. Only two out of the 60 representatives had a poorer record in the 2005 session. In 2007, Andy Olson improved somewhat, getting a rating of 45 percent. In this case 16 out of the 60 representatives had poorer records.
In CUB's ratings that pertain to rates for electricity, gas, phones, etc., Andy Olson got a 29 percent rating. In this case, only three of the 60 Representatives had lower ratings.
I hope the voter will find these facts instructive. When elected to the House of Representatives, I will do better by the environment and be more cognizant of the wants and needs of the ratepayer.
Dick Olsen, City Councilman, Ward I, Albany
Sure, let's fine the victim
I really tried to hold my tongue in check when several months ago I read that the "Albany officials" were contemplating a "shopping cart ordinance." I guess that I was hoping that it would just go away, but no - it seems that no idea, no matter how silly, escapes the grip of the "officials."
On first glance, I have to admit, it does make sense to fine the victim of a crime - I mean, after all, it is so much safer and easier to pump money out of the pockets of honest, hardworking and upright citizens, than to actually confront the thieves, hooligans and ne'er-do-wells of society. And then, too, one should keep in mind if those stores did not want their shopping carts stolen, why in the world did they make it so easy by installing wheels on them?
Another thought: Think of the mayhem that could occur, and all of the high-speed chases that might happen, if the Albany police were to actually pursue the shopping cart bandits!
No, I agree, let's penalize the victims, as we most certainly cannot inconvenience those that steal.
The next step, no doubt, is to charge homeowners for the return of their stolen property, or to imprison bank managers when banks are held up.
Oh, wait a minute - 500 shopping carts per year times $50 each, equals $25,000 income for the city. Oh, now I get it.
Jack Cahill, Jefferson
No more cows to milk
Living close to a Lebanon school, I have watched progress. When I was a kid, we got up in the morning and did the chores. Each of us milked four cows and filled the wood box, had breakfast as a family and then walked one mile to school through the fields.
Today, children get up, ride the bus to school, have breakfast at school and then walk around the track for exercise.
Do you wonder why our school budget is so high? Twenty-first century progress.
Percy Gerig, Lebanon