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| 5-7 Letters to the editor |
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Ad placement under 'Rachel's Challenge' in poor taste
To the editor:
Rachel's Challenge - a standing ovation to the student leaders of Gervais High School for hosting Rachel's Challenge, and bringing this inspirational program to the Gervais School District and community.
These students want to make a difference in their lives, their school, and their community, not just now but for the future.
There is praise to the Woodburn Independent for featuring Rachel's Challenge and Gervais High School on the front page of last week's paper (April 19), and putting something positive and worthwhile front and center.
The praise turned to disbelief and disgust to see the placement of the follow-up photo and article in Saturday's paper (April 26). We see a photo of Darrell Scott speaking to the students of Gervais High School, and directly below the photo is an advertisement for "Gun and Knife Shows."
These are the types of items used to kill a teacher and 12 students at Columbine High School, students at Springfield High School, Virginia Tech and the Amish grade school (in Pennsylvania). This is an insult to Rachel's Challenge, Darrell Scott and the students of Gervais High School. I am not against the advertisement, but its placement in the paper next to an article promoting non-violence and the universal message of kindness and compassion. The Woodburn Independent owes an apology to GHS, its student leaders, Rachel's Challenge and Darrell Scott and if not the Woodburn Independent, then the ones responsible for placing the advertisement next to this article.
Jean Reinhart
Brooks
Editor's note: The placement of the story and ad were purely coincidental. It was not done intentionally and the Independent sincerely regrets having the two next to each other.
Lincoln parents group excited about school happenings
To the editor:
Lincoln Elementary's parent group, Lincoln Parents United (LPU), recently held its first annual LPU Spaghetti Feed fundraiser. Our group's hopes and aspirations were greatly exceeded as our event was successful at bringing families and educators together for a night of good food, fun and community.
LPU hopes to use funds generated to foster school pride and ensure an ideal learning environment for all of our students.
LPU was fortunate enough to receive numerous donations, along with large ticket sales. Many businesses in the Woodburn area donated prizes for our evening.
We would like to thank Al's Garden Center, Leisure Time Day Spa and Happy Garden Buffet for their generosity in supporting our event. LPU exists to serve the Lincoln Elementary community of students, parents and teachers by fostering and promoting collaboration, communication and culture. Given this, Lincoln is an exciting place to be right now!
We will soon be accepting an award from state Superintendent Susan Castillo for significant improvement in student achievement.
Our school educators and parents will attend the Celebrating Student Success Banquet on May 9 at the Oregon Convention Center. Also, we recently enjoyed Young Authors Night at Lincoln Elementary, where students' published works were enjoyed and recognized by parents and classmates. Many books were published in both English and Spanish languages.
We are so thankful for Lincoln Elementary and the many opportunities our children have while attending this strong and unique school!
Sylvia Peterson
Woodburn
Punishment for vandalism and graffiti must get stiffer
To the editor:
Graffiti - we can't allow this to continue, it's degrading our neighborhoods, our downtown buildings and it's hurting our community. It's costly to everyone involved, from the downtown merchants and homeowners throughout our neighborhoods.
More important, the cost and hurt to the parents of the kids involved in doing this act of vandalism.
These parents, if their kids are old enough to be out at night, should know that they are responsible for their kid's action.
Hard-working parents that struggle daily to provide for these kids doing wrong will have to pay monies for fines that could have gone for a more noble purpose.
Graffiti is an eyesore and should not be tolerated in any part of our community. Some of these kids might think they're claiming turf, but they're not old enough to know they don't have any turf to claim.
Some people might say these kids are out having fun. Well, the fun stops when they're caught and breaking the law isn't cool.
My resolution is a possible solution to vandalism in general, and I promise not to get into specific types of vandalism.
We need a petition, if it's not already in the works. Have it passed by vote and presented to the city council to create an ordinance to prevent gangs or individuals responsible for doing various types of vandalism.
Within this, have kids go through counseling on issues like respect, self esteem, personal goals, motivation, leadership traits, expectations, positive thinking and so on, counseling these kids in a 60- to 90-day program, twice weekly.
Also, getting these kids involved, having written goals or statements, possibly group discussions with facilitators to keep programs in a positive mode.
The end result for these kids is to become better individuals to make a positive difference by helping others with solutions.
Having a person taking this program could help them have a constant, positive attitude at the end of the 90 days. The goal on this counseling is to create leaders for the future.
Tomas Cantu
Woodburn
Pipeline is a bad idea
To the editor:
I had to wait a week to write this letter so I could cool down. I resent being called an "egocentric nimby!"
People are against the natural gas pipeline because it will devaluate our land and put restrictions on what can be grown on our land. I bet Steve Sciwald would sing a different tune if that pipeline was going through his property ... so there.
As for Henry Morse Jr., of course he is all for the pipeline - they sign his paycheck.
Carol Ilg
Woodburn
Clinton stands up for the invisible and ordinary people
To the editor:
In the upcoming presidential primary election, Oregon voters have a historic opportunity to help decide which candidate is best to take on the serious political challenges facing this nation. These challenges include balancing the budget, getting the economy back on track and dealing with international conflict. I'm convinced that the best person to take on these challenges is Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Senator Clinton stands up for ordinary and frequently invisible people such as children, working-class families and veterans.
One example is Senator Clinton's long-standing commitment to better access to health care for all Americans. Another example is her strong record of support in Congress for improved equipment and better veteran's benefits for our National Guard troops serving in the Middle East.
It is clear that Senator Clinton listens to the real concerns of real people. Equally important, she is prepared to take strong, positive action on those concerns.
A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for a candidate who will listen to you. As president, she will make sure that ordinary Americans aren't invisible in the next administration.
Jerry Watson
Keizer
Reader sides with mother whose child was denied coupons at Day of the Child
To the editor:
Dia del Niņo should indeed include all races regardless. I too would have felt exactly the same way the mother felt when her children were denied whatever was being passed out.
I cannot believe that my own raza did that to those children mentioned.
I live in Texas where the Anglo race is but a few, but yet everyone is treated equally.
To that individual who did this, you owe someone a big apology because it was clearly done with bad intentions and when that is done to a child regardless of the race. I being a Hispanic, have a problem with it.
Shame on you for acting the way you did. I am hoping that in the future you have a better attitude toward all of our children.
Al Martin
Edinburg, Texas
Utility hikes forcing Woodburn resident to vote against school bond
To the editor:
I just received my utility bill from the City of Woodburn. My sewer assessment increased by $50, a 200 percent increase over recent months. The explanation is that the "new winter averages" is in effect. This increase has blown my fixed income budget. The schools want to increase my property taxes to remedy much-needed repairs and expansion for the students. I cannot vote for additional taxes when the local utility can increase my assessment without my vote. Sorry, folks. I have to vote my pocketbook, even though I agree that the schools need to be repaired, updated and enlarged. The local agencies are taxing me without representation with increased utility bills. I have to vote no on ALL proposed tax increases.
Kenneth L. Gardner
Woodburn
WSD superintendent responds to recent letter about bond
To the editor:
Barbara Lucas, in her letter to the editor two weeks ago (April 23, "If Salem can do it, why can't we?"), wanted to know why the Woodburn School District couldn't present a bond measure for facilities that would keep the tax rate "flat" like Salem.
When I met with Barbara a month ago, she asked me that same question. She said if Salem can do it, why can't Woodburn?
At that time, I promised to look into it. What I discovered is that Salem has some bonds that will be paid off in the near future.
Since the tax rate on the new bonds is similar to the ones being retired, the tax rate would stay relatively flat.
Unfortunately, our only outstanding bonds won't be paid off until 2015. That doesn't mean the district can't defer the payments on a new bond.
We could ... but there would be a steep price to pay. If the district deferred all tax payments on the new bond until 2015, the following would happen:
1. The district's bonding authority would decrease by $20 million dollars.
2. The district would have to extend the bond payback from 20 years to 30.
3. It would cost the taxpayer $114 million dollars in interest alone.
While Salem's plan may work for them, the additional cost to taxpayers in Woodburn makes that same plan here difficult to implement.
Therefore, I cannot promise you a flat tax rate, but I can commit that the Woodburn School District will:
-Use the most cost-efficient school construction methods
-Structure the bonds to ensure a low tax rate until the 1996 bonds are retired in 2015
-Present a bond measure that will address the district's facilities needs for ten years or longer
-Create a citizen oversight committee to oversee all bond expenditures
Believe me when I say that I wish Barbara's request for a flat rate did not come with such a big price tag.
The district needs more space for our growing student population and I am willing to explore any idea to make a bond measure more appealing to our taxpayers.
Thanks to Barbara and anyone else with a good idea to think about. I can be reached at 503-981-2701 or at wblomberg@woodburn.k12.or.us.
Walt Blomberg, superintendent
Woodburn School District
Schrader should be considered for 5th District
To the editor:
I encourage democrats in the 5th Congressional District to consider Kurt Schrader.
He has been a leading policy-maker in Oregon and helped Oregonians weather the 2003 legislative session as one of the chairs of ways and means committee.
He demonstrated in this position both an ability to work with both sides of the aisle and an ability to make difficult financial decisions to keep the budget in balance.
As co-chair, he fought for and achieved record levels of funding for our schools and colleges.
Perhaps most importantly, he was one of the leaders in the successful effort to establish the first "rainy day fund" in Oregon state government history.
Schrader is a veterinarian by training and lives on a 60-acre farm outside of Canby.
He was one of the key proponents of rewriting Measure 37.
Kurt is endorsed by the Oregon Farm Bureau as well as by the League of Conservation Voters, which once again, demonstrates he has an ability to analyze the facts and come up with a compromise that is acceptable to both sides of any issue.
Because of what he has done and what he still plans to do, Schrader is the only candidate in this race endorsed by Oregon's teachers, Oregon's leading health-care advocates, and Oregon's leading advocates for working families.
Oregon's 5th Congressional District is not a safe democratic seat, therefore it is important that Democrats support a candidate that can represent all of the voters in this district.
Registered Republicans outnumber democrats; Schrader can appeal to many constituencies as a social progressive, and a fiscal conservative.
That's why I am joining with the overwhelming majority of progressive leaders and advocates in supporting Schrader. I hope you will join us as we dedicate ourselves to ensuring the 5th Congressional District continues to be represented by an experienced leader with progressive values.
It's going to be a tough fight, but one we have no intention of losing.
I encourage you to work for, and vote for Kurt Schrader for the Democratic nomination for the 5th Congressional District.
David Vancil
Woodburn
Thank you volunteers
Our lives are made better by those who donate their time, energy and resources to make our lives better in many ways. May 4 to 10 is the AARP National Week of Service wherein our volunteers are honored for their efforts to bettering our communities.
I personally want to thank all my volunteers in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties for all they do, this week and all year-round, to help make our communities safer for all.
Please join me in saying, "We value and appreciate you and what you do - thanks!"
Sheryl Forrest
District coordinator, Oregon AARP Driver Safety Program
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