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To the editor: I am writing in support of the City of Oregon, the community that sustains it and therefore the Oregon City Schools.
I believe the passage of the upcoming school emergency levy is paramount to the future success of not only our children, but equally to our community and city.
The importance of quality schools in a community cannot be overestimated. A good school system is considered an essential component of any society. It is the very reason many people are part of our neighborhoods now and the main reason our community will grow in the future.
In the current tough economic times, all of us have evaluated and taken a closer look at our “wants” and “needs.” We have cut things from our lifestyle we deem unnecessary luxuries and noted certain items in our budget as basic needs. The Oregon City Schools have done this as well, cutting from programs and salaries to streamlining energy costs and reorganizing staff. Unfortunately, these measures already taken are not enough to offset what will be needed over the coming years. What we as a city and a community need to do is match the effort already put forth by the schools and help alleviate the burden of declining revenues due largely to House Bill 66.
I am a parent and I believe that it is my responsibility and duty to provide my children every opportunity to succeed; to grow, learn and develop into productive members of society – this society. I was not always a parent; however, I still understood the power a quality school system held in a city and community. More importantly, I’ve lived in areas where schools were not deemed a need by the community, but a luxury that became unnecessary and I’ve watched those areas erode into havens of depression, poverty and crime, with no support of local business or economy. Whether a parent or not, this school is important to you, your future and our collective futures as a whole.
We all need to realize the quality school system we currently enjoy is not an “unnecessary luxury,” but a “basic need” – one that if not met will negatively impact our children, property values and viability of local business.
Nick Marsico
Buckthorn not beneficial
To the editor: In reference to Mr. Hagedorn’s letter concerning Pearson Park and the invasive buckthorn, it is true that buckthorn used to be considered a beneficial plant for wildlife, so did Autumn and Russian Olives, Bush Honeysuckles, and Multifloral Rose. That was during the early days of wildlife management and habitat improvement, much has been learned since then.
Today it is known that these plants spread from their original planting easily. They quickly invade healthy habitats, where they form dense monocultures that reduce plant diversity. The result is a reduction in the diversity of wildlife.
Next time you’re walking the exercise trail take a closer look at the thick hedge of buckthorn. You’ll notice that the leaves are remarkably untouched. Native wildlife ranging from insects to whitetail deer turn their nose up at eating the foliage. Nature is lacking the tools to take care of this plant; they didn’t make the trip from Europe when buckthorn came over. Very little wildlife derive a benefit from a plant that only provides one requirement of their habitat (shelter), especially when native plants like spicebush provides shelter, food (leaves and berries for many species), and are willing to share their space with other native’s like spring wild flowers.
The Metroparks have always strived to be stewards of the land. The reason the project may look more devastating than the elm and ash die-offs is because those trees were a component of a high-quality habitat. Losing one species in those cases doesn’t cause the whole habitat to disappear; other natives can spread to fill the void.
A monoculture of buckthorn doesn’t have the ability to recover if a similar die-off occurs to it. Both the Ohio DNR Division of Natural Areas and the Nature Conservancy consider buckthorns to be a very real threat to the health of our natural areas. Metroparks is following their recommendation for control. To help ensure a reinvasion is not successful, the treated areas will be restored through the planting of a variety of native shrubs, small trees and other non-invasive plants.
Bill Hoefflin
Oregon
An improvement?
To the editor: Senor citizens…clip this letter and keep it handy, because if the Republicans gain control of the Senate or House of Representatives this fall, their attack will be to privatize the Postal Service and Social Security. The Postal Service is having trouble staying in the black because so many use e-mail. Social Security is having trouble staying in the black because the Bush administration sent so many jobs overseas and fewer workers are paying into Social Security. If you add to that the 30 percent operation fee some company would charge for giving us less service, how can that be an improvement?
If a private company gets hold of Social Security, this company will tell you what you can have in benefits and you can do nothing. At least now, if we disagree with how the government is running Social Security, we can vote them out. You cannot vote out a company once Social Security is privatized.
Check out all the McDonald’s and Wal-Marts in your area, because that is where you will be cleaning the restrooms if the Republicans win Congress or the Senate, or both.
Ethan and Joanna Remley
Oregon
Looking to reconnect
To the editor: We are residents of Scituate, Mass. who attended the Aug. 28 rally, Restoring Honor, in Washington D.C. and we are looking for five people who sat with us in the Smithsonian cafeteria on the day of the rally in late afternoon.
We had great conversation with them and wish to find them. It is so regrettable that we did not exchange address or e-mail information.
Please contact Joan Paley in Scituate, Massachusetts if any of the people we met read this letter. They said that they were from the greater Toledo area.
Joan Paley
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
781-545-9035
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