To the editor: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people from Wood, Fulton and Ottawa counties that filled Genoa High School’s gym on June 15 for the Game of Giving.

This display of caring for our neighbors was simply awesome. The amount of money generated that will be used to go to the victims of this terrible tornado was unbelievable. It makes me very proud to live in an area where caring for one another is so important. As time moves on and all the talk about those we lost and the destruction the storm left fades, we need to continue to take care of each other and keep the fellowship that was witnessed on that Tuesday night alive.

On that Tuesday night, there were no Lake Flyers, Genoa Comets or Delta Panthers, but rather a gym filled with caring individuals that were helping our total strangers or their own neighbor. 

Our hearts go out to the families that lost loved ones and to those that lost everything and to anyone that was affected by this tornado. As I walked out of the doors of Genoa High School on that Tuesday evening after everyone left, I noticed the spirit rock that sits by the Genoa gym. Earlier in the day, it had a message from the Genoa seniors saying goodbye in maroon and gray.

As I left, in the colors of blue and white it read, “Thank you 4 caring. A friendly rivalry.”

To all that helped that evening, thank you for caring.

God bless our communities.
Mike Thomas
Genoa Athletic Director

Fundraiser a success
To the editor: The weather could not have been better.

The Brush Wellman Habitat for Humanity Golf Scramble was held June 19 at the Oak Harbor Golf Club. Thank you to all of the people who volunteered their time and donated door prizes. There is a lot of work that goes into planning an event like this, and there are many that need to be recognized for their help and participation.

We would like to thank the following sponsors: Brush Wellman, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Ottawa County Chapter #30011 for supplemental funding; Varga Custom Concrete, LLC; First Federal Savings of Lorain, Port Clinton branch; Catawba Subway and Walmart.

Also a thank you to the following for their donations for door prizes and their time: Oak Harbor Golf Club; Toledo Mud Hens; The Andersons; Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic; Maumee Bay State Park; Samsen Home Furnishings; Coffee Express; Jolly Roger Seafood House; Packer Creek Pottery; Advance Auto Parts; Pizza House; Schedel Arboretum & Gardens; Jet Express; Innovations Portrait Studio; North Coast Family Chiropractic; Shore Side Pizza; Newport Dry Goods Co; State Street Auto Sales and BodinBalance.

Thank you to all of the teams that came out that day and supported Habitat for Humanity. Hope to see all of you again next year.

All money raised from the event was to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa.
Shelley A. Asmus
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of Ottawa County

A `cool cat’
To the editor: As a student of Genoa High School, I would just like to take a moment to thank one particular person who has had a very positive impact on my life. That person is Tom Kontak.

Mr. Kontak is a great teacher, coach, and person who really helped me and taught me to try to be a positive person and take life easy instead of worrying about everything. I have dealt with many teachers and people in my life and not very many of them have had the influence on me as this great man.

He taught me as a sixth-grader some valuable lessons about math and life that I will use to the very end of my days. Nope, you don’t find very many “cool cats” like this one. I’m sure he has influenced many other students and athletes as well and I think it’s time we give him a round of applause for his help and inspiration.

Thank you Mr. Kontak. Thank you for being you.
Clay Parlette
Genoa High School student

Silent too long?
To the editor: Q. When does a town hall meeting become a mob? A. When leaders who by their silence allow unruly behavior.

Shouts at the recent town hall meeting sponsored by Congressman Robert Latta, to “treat Democrats as enemies”, “kill them”, and “shoot him in the face” (referring to the President) are unruly mob behavior, not responsible constituent suggestions. Most Republican leaders I respect and worked with, including his father, would have rejected such suggestions as extremist, out-of-place, and inappropriate at any public forum.

By his earlier silence Congressman Latta encouraged the more outrageous remarks and behavior.  The “win-at-all costs” attitude expressed at the meeting is patently anti-American and threatens the stability of our country and economic recovery. Unfortunately the same attitude prevails among most minority congresspersons who have vowed to use every means possible to “bring down” a lawfully elected President .

Under this strategy what happens to constituents with real problems, like the unemployed tool and die maker? They are overlooked because of political expedience and appeals for the votes of the ill-informed.

What is needed are positive suggestions on how to reverse policies that have nearly destroyed the middle class in this country over the last 30 years. We need to recognize that “free trade” has benefitted only transnational corporations like BP and has devastated our manufacturing base, jobs and economy.  Deregulation has transferred wealth into the hands of large political contributors creating socialism for the super-rich and capitalism for the rest.

The role of leader is to educate, as well as to listen. It’s time to stop diverting attention from real issues and start governing instead of playing political games with our future.
Darrell Opfer
Oak Harbor

Editor’s note. Congressman Latta issued a statement the day after the town hall meeting condemning the remark.

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