Events remind us why we love Missoula
This past weekend reminded me of why we recently moved back home to Missoula from Seattle.
The Festival of the Book was filled with remarkable opportunities to listen to conversations among and readings from some of Montana's favorite authors. The list of well-known and beloved authors who were there would fill this letter. Suffice to say that those generous writers shared their literary and humane gifts with all that were fortunate to attend.
Thanks to the organizers and volunteers of the Festival of the Book and Stones and Stories. Both made this weekend in Missoula most memorable ... and the Griz won, too! It's good to be home!
Mike and Jo Jakupcak, Missoula
Amish baseball article was a treat
In the midst of the political hub-bub and bad economic news, the well-written article by John Smithers and the beautiful photographs by Kurt Wilson of the Amish children playing baseball (Missoulian, Oct. 26) were a real treat. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
LaVonne Diemer, Missoula
Talk shed light on Mexico issues
This is a letter of thanks to the groups responsible for putting together a great presentation Oct. 24 on the effects of U.S. policy on our Mexican neighbors to the south.
When so much of what we usually hear in the press is about the negative effects of immigrants, it is refreshing to hear someone actually speak to the causes of migration. The speaker, Carlos Euceda, from the Mexico Solidarity Network, put a personal face on the issues. A Mayan himself, Carlos spoke with authority about the political and social movements of indigenous people in the region and their struggle to resist the catastrophic trade policies and military support which our U.S. tax dollars maintain.
If people spent as much time informing themselves about the plight of the people of Mexico as they do blaming them for the ills of our society, real solutions could be found that could improve all our lives. I encourage the people of this community to learn about Plan Mexico and the harm it will do on both sides of the border and then contact local social justice groups such as Community Action for Justice in the Americas to find out what you can do to help.
Jodi Ockunzzi, Missoula
Seeley Lake team showed real spirit
I would like to respond to an article in the Missoulian sports section dated Oct. 23, "Seniors tough it out on Seeley-Swan's JV team." I thought the article was well-written by sports writer Michael Heinbach. However, I'd like to add a few regards to the team as well.
Seeley-Swan High School football players had a big decision to make at the beginning of the season; to play or not to play eight-man football. Due to low enrollment, they were unable to bolster a full 11-man squad to play in District 6B. Therefore, most of the players decided to play.
I can only imagine what was going through these kids' minds on making that choice. For the seniors, the odds against getting any type of football scholarships were one big zero. Suffer an injury and jeopardize their chances of playing basketball. Two boys who had serious injuries during games returned to finish out the season, showing incredible allegiance to their team. It was mentioned that they learned to love the camaraderie that comes from a smaller squad (14 players). I agree, but more so I believe these kids showed us a lot more.
Most educators agree that assisting students in building moral character is a worthwhile goal. Some of the virtues stressed in schools today include: compassion, courtesy, cooperation, responsibility, fairness, tolerance, self-control, courage, knowledge, citizenship, perseverance, helpfulness, honesty and respectfulness toward self, others, authority, property and the environment. For those who came out and played the game, I'd like to add: school spirit, honor, integrity sportsmanship and above all, character.
Guys, you made the Seeley Lake community proud; congratulations to your dedication to the sport of football, and a fine season and a great future.
Douglas Waldron, Seeley Lake
Lower appraisals now that bubble burst
Oh, the housing bubble has burst. But wait. That was no mere bubble. That blast across the country was a super-inflated hot air balloon that shattered to tatters.
But when it was pumping up with make-believe fairy diamond dust, our City Council wizards raised their appraisals on our homes in order to increase our property taxes. Well, I never did figure my $30,000 house was worth $300,000. But not the Missoula city wizards who dumped the sand bags and soared aloft on magic tinker-bells.
Now that the balloon is burst and home values are falling back to planet earth, I expect our city appraisal wizards to lower their value assessments of our homes and property taxes. Don't you?
Gene Bernofsky, Missoula
In hard times, remember to donate food
Large investment companies and well-known banks are in local and national news
of late. They have lost billions of dollars. My eyes glaze over when I see more than four or five zeros regarding money. I do, however, understand that the loss of many billions for banks, etc., translates into hunger for more people at the bottom of the economic ladder.
Recently I worked at the Poverello Food Pantry with a young Vista volunteer. More and more folks are visiting the Pov Food Pantry. There were young mothers who needed food for their children and a grandfather who was getting food for his large family of children and grandchildren who live with him. There were also elders who have various disabilities. They are members of our community. I am in touch with some of the folks who work at our local food bank. They, too, are experiencing a large increase in the number of people who need food to feed themselves and their families.
As the need increases, donations often decrease. If you can, please pick up one, two or more extra cans of chili, baked beans or tuna, or some oatmeal, and drop them off at the Poverello Center, 535 Ryman St., or Missoula Food Bank, 219 S. Third St. W.
We Missoula folks are known for our willingness to share. Many of "us" will benefit from our thoughtfulness.
Shirley V. Tiernan, Missoula
No more growth until streets are fixed
As far as any more annexations of area outside the city limits or additional subdivisions go, the city of Missoula should suspend all annexations and subdivisions until such time as the city gets road infrastructure built to be able to handle the additional traffic, along with upgrading at a much faster pace the roads we currently have to handle the additional traffic.
This is crazy that nothing gets done as far as our roads being able to handle much more traffic. God help us if the Russell Street bridge collapses because the city is too afraid to build another one. I doubt that bridge was built to have traffic sitting on it in one direction while traffic rumbles by in another.
John Weber, Missoula
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