Letters to the Editor — July 15, 2010

July 15, 2010 · Filed Under Letters · Comment 

Cannon Township Trustee endorses MacGregor

Editor,

As most of you know there are nine Republican candidates campaigning for the State House in the 73rd District. This is a result of Tom Pearce being term limited.

I am supporting Peter MacGregor for this position because of his nine years with the township government, three years as a trustee and six years as supervisor. I have been privileged to serve with Peter these nine years on the Cannon Township board. Because he has shown great ability and responsibility in local government, I am supporting Peter in the August 3 primary. As supervisor, Peter has always had a genuine concern for the township citizens welfare, keeping a balanced budget and making sound decisions on local issues.

In addition, Peter has other numerous endorsements including Representateve Tom Pearce, Senator Mark Jansen, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Grand Rapids Chamber of Cammerce, PAC and Peter Kruer. I encourage everyone in the 73rd District to vote the candidate with the most practical experience to lead us. Please elect Peter MacGregor on August 3.

Dick Davies
Cannon Township Truste

LaPeer endorses MacGregor for State Representative 

Editor,

The 73rd House District Republican Primary has many fine candidates. There is one person in the race, however, that I believe to be a very exceptional candidate and that I would like to highly recommend to voters: Cannon Township Supervisor Peter MacGregor.

I have worked with Pete for over 15 years in local government service, watching as he progressed from Planning Commissioner, to Township Trustee, to Township Supervisor. In all these positions Pete exhibited strong leadership in the form of listening to our residents, taking care of their needs, and formulating sound government policies based on his ingrained “customer service” orientation. Worthy of mention in this difficult year, Pete took the lead in re-examining our local budget priorities, driving a budget process that achieved balance, and yet reflected vital priorities such as police, fire and roads.

In addition to a strong local government background, Pete has extensive experience as a small business owner, and well understands that essential component of Michigan’s’ economic future. This combination of experience, customer service, hard work and discipline make Peter MacGregor the very best candidate for voters of the 73rd House District to send to Lansing; Please vote for Pete.

James A. LaPeer
Treasurer, Cannon Township

Reader appreciates life ‘the Rockford way’

Dear Editor,

We got our copy of the Rockford Living magazine and, as I was looking through it, I thought to myself how cool it is to live in Rockford. It’s a short walk to downtown from where we live, and there are so many things to see and do in Rockford.

We’ve taken our family pictures by the dam and by the river at Sowerby Park, had picnics and played with our two boxers at Townsend Park and made several trips to Rocky’s for yummy ice cream.

The ice sculptures around town this past winter were so cool to see and, even though you wouldn’t catch me jumping in icy water in the middle of February, the Sweetheart Splash is a great way to bring the community together for a day of fun. The Santa Parade and the carriage rides at Christmastime are one of my favorite things to do.

The Rockford Expo in March is so much fun and Relay for Life is another great way for our community to come together to remember those that have lost their battle with cancer and to celebrate those who have won their battle. Decorating luminaries in honor and memory of my family members is especially meaningful to me.

Summertime is so much fun in Rockford. We go for bike rides and walks on the White Pine Trail, there’s the carnival and fireworks at the Start of Summer Celebration, watching the wildlife in the trails, and of course Rocky’s ice cream. The Harvest Festival is a fun way to say goodbye to summer, there’s always plenty of things to see and do. The lighting ceremony and holiday open houses are such a great way to ring in the holiday season.

It really is true… “Something is always happening in Rockford.” What a great place to live!

Brad Bussing
Rockford resident

Reader hopes schools will explain teacher cuts / playground expansions

Dear Editor,

Rockford Public Schools recently announced that they spent over $1.7 million renovating elementary school playgrounds. All buildings received rubberized turf so that kids would not have to play in wood chips. School leaders said that some equipment is 15 years old.

I recently drove past my elementary school that is located in a neighboring county. Although it has been almost 30 years since I attended, the playground is virtually unchanged: same swing sets, same monkey bars, same slides—all on old-fashioned dirt.

In 2008, voters approved a bond that gave the district the okay to upgrade the playground equipment, add 20 new athletic fields, relocate tennis courts, upgrade the football field to synthetic turf, purchase new lockers, etc. I know we have a very large district, but 20 new athletic fields, in addition to the existing fields, seems a little excessive—especially when we closed the middle school pool that area seniors used for aqua-therapy.

When Rockford recently asked for a millage renewal, residents were told it would be “catastrophic” if the millage failed. Superintendent Shibler said it would be “nearly impossible to assimilate such a cut in the district.”

I understand that school funding is complex. Districts cannot just take money set aside for athletic fields and use it to cover salaries for teachers. However, voters are consistently hearing messages about the peril of our schools. We hear worst case scenarios about diminished quality of education, and then we see 20 new athletic fields.

Let me be clear: I am very proud of the Rockford school district. Our students continuously score high on tests and exceed national averages. Rockford teachers are amazing.

I don’t want school leadership to lose credibility among voters. You may need to educate voters as to why some teachers may be out while rubberized turf is going in. When the economy is down and money is tight, everyone counts pennies. Show Rockford residents that you are counting pennies too.

Julie C. Spahn
Rockford resident

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Letters to the Editor — June 17, 2010

June 17, 2010 · Filed Under Letters · Comment 

Dog issue raised by reader

Dear Editor,

While shopping at the Rockford farm market Saturday, I had to get out of the way of a man with a large Doberman on a leash. The dog was huge and must have weighed over 120 pounds. I reported it to a police officer on site only to learn that the Rockford City Commission had rescinded the no dog rule at the farm market.

In my opinion, this was a justified rule and dogs are out of place at this crowded market. The commission made a poor decision when rescinding the no dog rule. 

Bill Kury
Rockford resident

  

Rockford Hardware a source of old-fashioned values

Dear Editor,

When I was a little girl, I used to love to go to the feed store with my dad to pick up baby chicks. I loved the smell of hardwood floors, seed and fertilizer. The men behind the counter would tease me about my freckles until I squirmed (and I hated it). Then they would hand me a sucker or a penny for the gumball machine and I forgave them.

When I walk in to the Rockford Hardware, there is still that smell in the air that bridges the 230 miles between me and my dad. It’s like he’s right here. I needed polyurethane the other day and literally had to drag my moaning kids out with me. I promised to stay in Rockford and be quick. We walked in and the greeter pointed us to the exact spot we needed. The gentleman helping me then took the kids to a big gumball machine and offered them each one. Their eyes were as big as the gumballs. As if that weren’t enough, since it was Saturday, we each got a free bag of popcorn.

Rockford Hardware has managed to keep the feeling (and smell) of a real hardware while offering everything I need. They have also managed to bring together three generations with one sniff. It is the kind of feeling that keeps Rockford quaint and makes me want to spend my money right here in town. Thank you! 

Julie A. K. Lovelace
Rockford resident

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Letters to the Editor — June 10, 2010

June 10, 2010 · Filed Under Letters · Comment 

Structural deficit is for real

Dear Editor,

Last fall, public schools experienced a reduction of $165 per student, resulting in millions of dollars in reduced state funding, causing staff and program reductions.

While I was encouraged to learn that this May’s Revenue Estimating Conference projected a $300 million surplus in the School Aid Fund, I am discouraged and appalled to learn that many of our legislators are considering allocating part of the K-12 surplus to fund community colleges and universities. This position is unequivocally unacceptable!

The surplus money in the School Aid Fund must remain where it belongs and be used to restore most, if not all, of the $165 per student taken away from K-12 schools. If it is not, our 2010-11 funding will be less than it was two years ago in 2008-09, and the structural deficit is perpetuated instead of being resolved.

Please contact your legislators now!

Mike Shibler, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Rockford Public Schools

Reader opposes Presidential policy

Dear President Obama,

I regret you grew up not having the experience of working for several, small business owners. If you had, I believe you would be doing the opposite of what you have done to this country’s economy.

Someday, you will learn that you cannot advance the well-being of our “average citizen” and his future security by unfairly increasing the tax rates on successful business owners, at the same time continue to have 44 percent (+/-) of taxpayers pay no federal income taxes! To perpetuate the vibrancy of this great nation of freedom-lovers, no one gets a “free ride.” Every citizen, say age 21 and over, should annually pay some amount toward the cost of the federal government, including national defense, etc., otherwise, we ultimately, like Rome, disintegrate.

In my experiences over 80+ years, the well-being of the “average citizen” is only advanced by successful business owners and entrepreneurs taking part of their savings to start new businesses, or increase the size of existing ones, thus providing jobs at going-rate wages.

Encroaching, bloated federal government, crushing national debt, forced high union wages, i.e.; Socialism, Marxism, or Statism, whatever, all weighing down the taxpayers, has never worked out successfully, long-term, anywhere, anytime, in the history of the world, and you’ll find it true, too!

Your leadership has to change, Mr. President, in my view. Government control, where needed, is best served at the local, county or state level.

Bruce Dutcher
Rockford resident

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Letters to the Editor

May 27, 2010 · Filed Under Letters · Comment 

Friends of the White Pine Trail thanks Squire

Dear Editor (Beth),

Thanks so much for all your coverage of the Friends of the White Pine Trail organization’s activities. Your mentions of our New Years Resolution Walks always bring out large crowds. When you provide coverage at our dedication events and philanthropic check donation ceremonies, as well as the recent Comcast Cares Day, it gives our group unbelievable credibility and makes working with our legislators a lot easier.

The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail benefits so many people and the communities they live in. Thank you for recognizing that and for helping to promote the Trail and our efforts!

Dave Heyboer

Chairman of the Friends of the White Pine Trail

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Letters to the Editor — May 13, 2010

May 13, 2010 · Filed Under Letters · Comment 

Honesty the Rockford Way

Dear Editor,

Too often the letter section of papers is used to criticize, accuse, complain and air grievances. I too have been guilty of this and today I had an experience that, sadly, is all too uncommon.

I have been out of work for several months, and have had zero success in securing ANY type of employment. To help make ends meet, I started raising chickens for meat and to sell fresh eggs. Last week a gentleman came to my home to purchase a dozen eggs, but did not have the exact amount with him and I could not make change for him. He only had exact bills for half of the price of the eggs. Against my better judgment, I took what he had and gave him the eggs, asking him to just drop off the remainder of what he owed sometime when he was going by. I was pretty sure that I had just sold a dozen eggs at half price and would not see the rest.

On Friday, May 7, I received a call from the gentleman, asking if I had any more eggs available. I told him I did and he came by. Not only did he have the rest of the money, but instead of only one dozen, he purchased two.

It is a sad commentary on society that the first instinct is to mistrust. But for many reasons, misgivings in situations like this are neither unnatural nor unwarranted. By a large margin, the community of Rockford is one of the few places that can be done this way. Rockford should be proud of the fact that, while other towns and cities become increasingly dangerous and suffer from increased crime rates, we have a community in which we can trust each other and someone’s word is as good as a promise.

Kevin Nelson

Rockford resident

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