Letters to the Editor

Circus abuse

The Carson & Barnes Circus is coming to town, and if caring area residents know more about the cruel treatment of animals used by the circus, they'll think twice before buying a ticket.

A Carson & Barnes trainer was caught on video attacking terrified elephants with a bullhook (a rod with a sharp metal hook on the end) and shocking them with an electric prod during an elephant training presentation. To see the shocking footage for yourself, visit www.Circuses.com. In addition to the fine that the circus paid for mishandling elephants as a result of the video, and the additional fine it paid after a trailer overturned, injuring two elephants, the circus has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for failure to provide veterinary care, adequate space and ventilation, shelter from the elements, and clean drinking water.

Find out more at www.Circuses.com.

Jennifer O'Connor

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Kniting into the sunset

We'd like to recognize Annie Leberman, owner of the Witty Knitters in Bigfork. Annie is retiring on Aug. 8. Thank you, Annie, for all the fun, help and laughs you've provided to knitters in Bigfork and beyond. You've inspired us to create beautiful and useful knitted items. Your little shop has been a haven for beginners and advanced knitters alike and offered an opportunity to meet wonderful women who shared a love for "needling each other"! Have a great time in your retirement.

-The Wednesday Night Knitters-

Planning thanks

Thanks to all who attended the North Lake County Planning and Zoning Committee's second round of community meetings on July 22 and 23. We presented an update on our work to date, answered questions, and sought input on land use and planning issues in Woods Bay and Ferndale.

The next stage is to begin drafting regulations addressing land use and density. We hope to send all landowners a letter this fall inviting input and asking how landowners would like to see their land used in the future. Our goal is to present draft regulations to the community in the summer of 2009, for review by the Planning Board and County Commissioners in fall 2009.

The Lake County GIS department provided extensive maps, available on the North Lake County page of the Bigfork Steering Committee website, www.bigforksteering.org.

The committee meets the 1st and 3rd Fridays, at 9 a.m., at the Saddlehorn Discovery Center, and will resume meeting Sept. 5. All residents and landowners are welcome.

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at 837-6094 or leslie@drbeans.com, or committee member Paul Rana, at 837-1102, montanar@aol.com

Leslie Budewitz, chair

North Lake County Planning & Zoning Committee