Letters to the editor
We have lost a friend
The passing of Elna Darrow will leave a big hole in the hearts of her family, friends and the community of Bigfork. Pat and I will sorely miss her historical knowledge and help with the Bigfork Steering Committee.
Elna had two favorite community affairs that she loved and which made the Bigfork Community unique. Those were the Riverbend Concert Series and Tamarack Time. We hope there are some friends in our community who can pick up her reins and continue our community events in her memory. "The Elna Darrow Riverbend Concert Series and/or the Elna Darrow Tamarack Time."
We will miss you Elna!
Craig and Pat Wagner
BSC Chairman/BSC Secretary
President Obama and Hope
Candidate Obama's campaign projected HOPE. Now as President, he continues to surround us with HOPE. On February 20, 2009 after President Obama met with mayors of America's major cities, I watched the mayors look to the future with that HOPE. The optimistic bipartisan outlook displayed by the mayors signified they are ready to get to work with help from the federal government and make projects happen.
It's unfortunate Republican spokespersons, United States Representatives Cantor, Bachmann and Boehner and Senator McConnell, are still trying to convince the American public the American Recovery and Investment Act is not going to be good for America. So far they have not been able to acknowledge that the last eight years their conservative philosophy did not work…and it is not wanted. The consequences of their policies and promoted, unregulated profits put us in the worst economic recession in recent history. President Obama's plan has given us HOPE to get out of this hole. He says, "We will recover."
Homeowners who have expressed anger because they may not qualify for mortgage help while their neighbors may be getting help need to see the broader picture. Maintaining the health of a community and stopping neighborhood decay is what it is all about. We give thanks to the homeowners who have made wise decisions with their finances and pray their employment is not threatened and they have no major ill health problems. These homeowners, also, give HOPE and stability during this trying time.
On February 24, 2009, I watched President Obama give his first prime time address to both bodies of congress and to the American people. Again HOPE resounded throughout his speech. His broad vision for America's future in the areas of heath care, education and energy is enlightening. HOPE for a brighter future is there for all.
A Republican mayor, commenting on the American Recovery and Investment Act, is looking at this time in our history as a period of adventure. Lives are going to be enriched.
President Obama's message is unifying. Divisiveness is gone. Obama's comment, "Our moment is now!" Our focus is going be to on leading, rebuilding and creating. "We love America. We will succeed."
President Obama is the voters' gift to America, and Obama's gift to us is HOPE!
JoLynn Yenne
Bigfork
Thanks, a triple word score
Literacy Volunteer's 4th annual Spellebrate Literacy/Scrabble Competition has crowned new top scorers for the 2009 season - Ron and Barbara Hurd, Lucy Smith and Marjorie DeZort took home the top scoring title. There was a tie for the top individual money raiser - Barb Meyers and Jerry Banzet shared the honors. Barb Myers, Jean Hagel, Linda Harris and Karen Haarr distinguished themselves as the top money raising team.
This year's event was a wonderful success thanks to clever wordsmiths who tiled together unusual words - xylem, quixotic and farthing - were but a few.
Literacy Volunteer's Board of Directors did a crackerjack job of feeding and scoring the 80 Scrabble players that came from all over Flathead County for a chance to play Scrabble to support our organization.
Special thanks to the following businesses who donated items for door prizes and for the event. Chris' Tea Cottage, Colter Coffee Roasting, First Interstate Bank, Glacier Bank, Hasbro, Inc., Ideal Heating and Cooling, LLC, Kalispell Duplicate Bridge Club, Live Well Massage Therapy (Tabitha McCulley), Montana Coffee Traders, National SCRABBLE(r) Association, Nickel Charlie's Casino, Silvertip Engraving, Ted's Beds, Voyageur Booksellers, West Venture Properties, LLC and Whitefish Pottery. And special thanks to Kasey Kephardt and Les DeZort for their help before, during and after the event.
Thank you for a wonderful event. We hope to see everyone at next year's event!
Christine Hensleigh
Executive Director
Literacy Volunteers of Flathead County
Montana Tea Party
Citizens of Montana, it's time for a Tea Party of our own in our great state.
• Let the economy run itself
• Reward success, not failure
• No one is bailing me out
• Don't mortgage our future
• Restore the republic
• Stop socialism
• It's my money, my home, my responsibility - not the government
• Spending more money does not deliver more freedom
• No more spending
These are all protest signs from the Tea Parties across the nation this past weekend.
We are a state of individualists, proud of our ability to take care of ourselves, helping out our neighbors and above all cherishing our freedom to do as we like, when we want and how we want, within the confines of the Constitution. Both the Democrats and the Republicians have lost their way. We the people need to make our voices heard and remind the powers that be that they work for us, not we for them. Go to the website americianteaparty.com and see what has happened in Americia over the weekend. Call your neighbors, your families and your friends and invite them to a Tea Party. Call me, 837-6721. It's time for a Tea Party, anyone interested?
Susan Taylor
Bigfork