Letters to the editor
Super One
concerns
I would like to remind the owners and management of the new Super One Foods going in at the Mountain Mall how important local farmers are to the people of this town. When you have been eating nothing but grocery-store carrots for a long time, and you go the farmers' market, and you take a bite out of a fresh pulled carrot seasoned only with toil and soil, you exclaim, "This is how carrots are supposed to taste!?"
There are a lot of people in this town who value their health and the quality of their food. Two major factors in the food-buying decision making for these people are this: How fresh is the food? And, is the food organic? Food grown and raised in this valley answers a resounding yes to both questions.
I can tell you that if you want my business and the business of anyone who thinks like me, you will:
1. Carry the products of local agriculture on your shelves.
2. You will permit the Thursday farmers' market to occur on your parking lot where it was last year.
Only by supporting local, small-scale farmers can we hope to bring ethics back into food production and heal the food supply. Farming is not about big business, it is about providing life sustenance.
Cody Olszyk
Republicans not all naysayers
A good Republican friend in Helena told me that there is nothing new about broken political promises amongst lawmakers. He said that you don't have to like it, engage in it, or take it personal. I should 'let it go and remember who you work for.'
I apologize for allowing my heart to overload my mind and words when I discovered that committee naysayers objected to the purchase of development rights from public lands.
In my last opinion piece, my intention was not to lump all Republicans as naysayers or whiners. Surely all people, regardless of political affiliation or years in leadership, have the ability to whine, say no, or create roadblocks. The challenge for our time is to have a can do attitude and find solutions which work for our families and communities.
The 13,000 acres of Whitefish Trust Lands are for public schools. Over the biennium, we can provide $2-4 million in additional school revenue statewide without property taxes. The statewide pilot project proposed transferring the purchase of development rights from 25,000 acres of public lands and use the dollars for education.
I trust that in the near future, we will fund our schools and keep the public lands around Whitefish in the hands of the public.
Mike Jopek
Whitefish HD4
Amtrak thanks
I am pleased to announce that there are new faces and new groups arising to help in the never-ending fight to save the Empire Builder. I have been working with some of them and it seems to me that they are capable and excited about securing a future for our train. In light of this; it would seem an appropriate time for Jerry Smith and "Save Amtrak" to retire. In the ten years that I have been doing this, I have been blessed with good friendships and great community spirit everywhere I have been. The people of the Hi-Line can be very proud of what they have done. The train is no longer quad-weekly, we have had ABC, NBC and CBS news crews here and a lot of press nation wide.
The Empire Builder is the most widely known long distance train in America. It is my hope that the people of the Hi-Line will support these folks as they have us in the past. I will continue to follow events and continue to put my two cents worth in from time to time. Thank you all and God Bless.
Gerald M. "Jerry" Smith
Tennis praise and problems
I would like to take a few minutes to talk about the tennis program in the city of Whitefish. First and foremost I would like to thank Dave Sipe and the Whitefish Fire Department for all the great service they have provided through the years. Every time we have asked for Dave's help to clean the courts, within a day or two the Fire Department has showed up and done a fantastic job of cleaning the dirt off the courts. This saves the city and school a lot of money in resurfacing fees. A special shout out to Travis, Justine, and all the other firemen who have made the game so much more enjoyable for all of us that happen to love this crazy game. I cannot express enough the great job the department does for the city and when Dave decides to move on, hopefully we can find someone that cares half as much as Dave and the great firemen we have.
Unfortunately there is a flip side to the coin. The Park and Recreation Department have been very tough to deal with. You cannot get a hold of their leader. When we asked them to put up the nets they only got the three up at Baker Street. They put up the same torn net that should have been replaced two years ago. I can see maybe with all the money they are spending we do not have enough for a new net. The center tie down strap that is pieced together could be readily purchased for a nominal fee. The total lack of regard for all the facilities is bad. The wind screens out at Grouse, that my summer tennis program purchased, are not attached to the fence, therefore they are being ripped. We would like the water to be turned on at Baker Street so when the tennis team starts practice and matches the athletes can hydrate themselves. If the park board would like to talk to me about any of these issues please get a hold of me. It would be great to have the great tennis programs that have existed in the past.
Frank Vestey