Letters to the Editor 04-21-2000
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Volunteer Week - Adoption - Lions Say Thanks - Solid Waste - Pierceton Meijer? - Conflict Resolution
Volunteer Week
Editor, Times-Union:April 9-15 was National Volunteer Week. It's a week set aside every year since 1974 to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the thousands of men and women in this country who volunteer their time and energies to help others. Nationwide more than 150,000 volunteers provide over 16 million hours of service annually to Americans with terminal illness and to their families. I am proud to be the coordinator for the caring people in our community who volunteer for our local hospice program.
These individuals came to us looking for a way to help someone in our county - doing something that was really worthwhile. They may have never imagined how fulfilling their service could be. They went through 20 hours of training to become an integral part of a caregiving team of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains.
They have helped our program live up to the hospice reputation of quality, compassionate care at the end of life. This care involves a team-oriented approach of expert medical care, pain management and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's wishes. Emotional and spiritual support also is extended to the family and loved ones. Generally, this care is provided in the patient's home or in a home-like setting operated by a hospice program. The hospice team addresses all of the symptoms of illness, with the aim of promoting comfort and dignity.
Hospice volunteers make this special way of caring possible. Simply put, the volunteers are there to take care of whatever needs to be done. They are there to hold a hand and listen, or to take the patient to their favorite place in the park, or to read to them. They are there to run an errand, walk a dog or pick up a prescription. They are there to step in when a family member needs a break from caring for their loved one. And they are there for the family and friends after their loved one has died.
I have the privilege of coordinating these volunteers, members of this county's communities, who devote their time and their hearts to the work of the hospice team. I have been witness to the work of angels and they deserve our heartfelt appreciation.
People often ask "Isn't that depressing?" when I tell them about being a hospice worker. These days, as we hear more and more about the end of life and what it means to have a good death, I smile and quote our volunteers who say, "It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done."
I highly prize the 20 people who give themselves, their time and sometimes their resources to serve the terminally ill and their families in Kosciusko County. The time they spend with our hospice families is highly valued. Thank you hospice volunteers for everything you do!
Peter E. Albertson
Warsaw
Adoption
Editor, Times-Union:April 14 my daughter celebrated her seventh birthday. It will be a day filled with presents, ice cream and cake that I'm sure will have tiny fingermarks in the icing. There will surely be a party with tons of friends and family and all the love in the world. Today my daughter will be seven years old and she will celebrate the day with her mom and dad in Texas, while I celebrate her birthday in Indiana.
You see, seven years ago at the age of 15, I gave birth to the world's most beautiful girl; an eight-pound miracle that was destined to have it all. The second I held her, I knew she deserved only the best life had to offer. That's what I gave her. I placed my daughter for adoption with a lot of heartache but no regrets. I wanted my child to have it all. Sadly at 15, I could not give her all she needed. She needed a mom and a dad ... she got the best. I chose a couple that I had always dreamed of being like someday when I married.
I know my daughter through letters and pictures. An artistic, outspoken, vivacious, green-eyed ball of fire, she is proof that there is a link between genetics and personality. I am so proud of my daughter, not only for being able to read at the second grade level at the age of 5, but for being such a happy well-adjusted kid.
I chose adoption strictly out of love for my daughter and nothing less. I put aside my wants for my daughter's needs. That's a pretty big sacrifice to make as a 15-year-old parent.
Since the birth of my child, I have finished high school, gone on to college and started a family. I currently head an outreach program through an adoption agency in Elkhart. For the past seven years now, I have been going to schools to educate teen-agers about how wonderful adoption is. Shedding a positive light on adoption is my mission in life. I will not stop until everyone understands that adoption is, above all else, about love.
So today while my daughter celebrates her seventh birthday, my parents, sister, husband, son and I will be celebrating as well.
Thank God for adoption. Thank God my daughter has all she deserves and thank God she has a birth-mother she can be proud of.
Anne Richey
Syracuse
Lions Say Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Lions Club motto is "We Serve." That is what the Warsaw Lions Club has been doing for 52 years in this community. We couldn't do it without the help of the merchants and patrons.
This past year, we had a garage sale at Owen's (Kroger) parking lot and many of our friends donated items. A White Cane Day for the Blind was held at Wal-Mart entrance. The Lions helped the Salvation Army by ringing bells at Wal-Mart, Kmart and Owen's. A sausage sale this spring was successful with Dig's and Breadings making up a good portion of our sales. Just last month, at the entrance of Owen's east, the Warsaw Lions and the Mid-Lakes Lions of Oswego distributed literature about diabetes and collected $252 for that association.
We would like to express our thanks to the merchants and people of this community for making our motto, "We Serve," come true.
Joe L. Harris
Warsaw Lions Club
Solid Waste
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to clarify some things that were written about the CAC and Solid Waste District Board meetings that took place on April 12, because I am rather disappointed in the article in the Thursday, April 13 Times-Union newspaper about the Solid Waste District.
I appreciate the interest that the Times-Union and David Slone have taken in the District's activities over the past few years. The articles and coverage are informative and of interest to the public. But, because the current issue is so important, the Solid Waste District would like to make sure that all the facts are clear and accurate.
1. The new Web site address for the Solid Waste Management District is KCRecycling.com
2. The title of the CAC is Citizens Advisory Committee. The purpose of the committee is to study ways in which the district can further its mission and meet the goals in its 20-year plan and make those recommendations to the Solid Waste District Board.
3. The article could have put more emphasis on the fact that the building would provide complete recycling and reuse services for the residents of Kosciusko County. The main emphasis is not on meeting rooms and offices and storage and kitchen and a garage.
A. The area that the article referred to as a garage is unique and suited for our needs because it has 14-foot doors at both ends and is a perfect area for the drive-through drop-off center. The drive-through drop-off center would greatly enhance the ability of the District to provide services to the public. The drive-through would be a manned center that could assist the elderly, the disabled and everyone needing assistance with drop-off of recyclables, reuse items, household hazardous waste, appliances and tires.
B. The fact that it does have more storage room will enable us to provide a reuse center for the public. Reuse centers are very popular in other areas of the state and the country. Reuse centers provide an outlet for many non-recyclable items to be used by all types of people. Many items are popular with artists, crafters and non-profit agencies that work with children.
C. The building also has plenty of outdoor space which is necessary for the collection of tires, appliances and to place the household hazardous waste storage building that is being donated by R. R. Donnelley and Sons. The storage building is also necessary in order to collect household hazardous waste from citizens on a regular basis.
D. The building has a loading dock, which will enable the District, and the contractor to ship baled recyclables.
E. The building is in the exact location where the current recycling contractor is now operating. The close proximity of the buildings will make it easier for the contractor and District to communicate, work together and solve problems for the public quickly.
4. There are many materials that we cannot collect in Kosciusko County at this time that could be collected if we had the facilities to do so. An example of some of those items are: plastic softener salt bags, plastic grocery bags, #3-#7 plastics including styrofoam.
5. I don't think that it was proper to state as fact that which may still be negotiation points for the lease and/or sale of the building and have not been thoroughly discussed by the Board. In particular, although if someone asked we would tell him or her, I don't think it was necessary to publish the amount we pay in rent now and to whom the rent is paid.
If anyone has further questions about this subject, please feel free to contact the Solid Waste Management District.
Marsha J. Eikenberry
District Director
Pierceton Meijer?
Editor, Times-Union:If the residents of Warsaw are not interested in getting a Meijer store PLEASE send the Meijer representatives eight miles east on US 30 to the town of Pierceton. I am sure most of the people in the Pierceton area would more than welcome them since in the last 10 years we have lost our department stores, hardware store and grocery store. We have an established industrial park on the west side of our town and a commercial/residential area established on the northeast side of the town, not to mention that we also have a very busy intersection of U.S. 30 and Ind. 13, which is one of the main gateways to the lakes area.
The town of Pierceton has slowly been growing but commercially it needs more than restaurants, taverns and antique stores to survive. This would be a prime opportunity for our community. Many Wasaw area residents who now have to drive 25 miles north to shop at the Meijer store in Goshen would only need to drive eight miles east to Pierceton.
Barbara Faris
Past member of the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce
via e-mail
Conflict Resolution
Editor, Times-Union:On Wednesday, March 28, I, with my three children, arrived home in England for a family vacation after immigrating to the USA 10 years ago. It wasn't until I rode the shuttle to the car park that my sister began to explain that my brother had been brutally attacked in a local nightclub. His injuries were extremely serious. In an unprovoked vicious rage, he was held in a headlock and strangled until he collapsed. He was then dragged unconscious and thrown outside, left for dead. An ambulance was called and rushed him to the emergency room. After vomiting blood and going into convulsive fits, a CT scan revealed bleeding on the brain in two areas. At one point he stopped breathing. My brother's eyes are black, his body is bruised and he has lost all recent memory. The police arrested the club bouncer and charged him with aggravated assault. It is not the first incidence and charge against him. After the brain swelling has subsided, the bruises faded and the healing has begun, my family will breathe a sigh of relief for Terry and his four young children. We will be forever aware of how a random act of violence stole the sense of security we had taken for granted.
We should be concerned by the tragedy in Columbine, the recent plot by first-graders to murder another first grade girl, the drive-by shootings and the increase in drug use among our youth, but I also believe that our communities can unite to make a difference. Instead of a fist full of anger, a handful of people willing to give of themselves. Instead of eyes that look the other way, eyes that see what needs to be done. Instead of words that are full of hate, words that educate our children and communities in peaceful resolution to conflict. Instead of violence, a voice that speaks out against argument and for agreement. Choose to make a difference. Get involved.
Amanda Scroggs
Education for Conflict Resolution
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- Volunteer Week - Adoption - Lions Say Thanks - Solid Waste - Pierceton Meijer? - Conflict Resolution
Volunteer Week
Editor, Times-Union:April 9-15 was National Volunteer Week. It's a week set aside every year since 1974 to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the thousands of men and women in this country who volunteer their time and energies to help others. Nationwide more than 150,000 volunteers provide over 16 million hours of service annually to Americans with terminal illness and to their families. I am proud to be the coordinator for the caring people in our community who volunteer for our local hospice program.
These individuals came to us looking for a way to help someone in our county - doing something that was really worthwhile. They may have never imagined how fulfilling their service could be. They went through 20 hours of training to become an integral part of a caregiving team of doctors, nurses, social workers and chaplains.
They have helped our program live up to the hospice reputation of quality, compassionate care at the end of life. This care involves a team-oriented approach of expert medical care, pain management and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's wishes. Emotional and spiritual support also is extended to the family and loved ones. Generally, this care is provided in the patient's home or in a home-like setting operated by a hospice program. The hospice team addresses all of the symptoms of illness, with the aim of promoting comfort and dignity.
Hospice volunteers make this special way of caring possible. Simply put, the volunteers are there to take care of whatever needs to be done. They are there to hold a hand and listen, or to take the patient to their favorite place in the park, or to read to them. They are there to run an errand, walk a dog or pick up a prescription. They are there to step in when a family member needs a break from caring for their loved one. And they are there for the family and friends after their loved one has died.
I have the privilege of coordinating these volunteers, members of this county's communities, who devote their time and their hearts to the work of the hospice team. I have been witness to the work of angels and they deserve our heartfelt appreciation.
People often ask "Isn't that depressing?" when I tell them about being a hospice worker. These days, as we hear more and more about the end of life and what it means to have a good death, I smile and quote our volunteers who say, "It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done."
I highly prize the 20 people who give themselves, their time and sometimes their resources to serve the terminally ill and their families in Kosciusko County. The time they spend with our hospice families is highly valued. Thank you hospice volunteers for everything you do!
Peter E. Albertson
Warsaw
Adoption
Editor, Times-Union:April 14 my daughter celebrated her seventh birthday. It will be a day filled with presents, ice cream and cake that I'm sure will have tiny fingermarks in the icing. There will surely be a party with tons of friends and family and all the love in the world. Today my daughter will be seven years old and she will celebrate the day with her mom and dad in Texas, while I celebrate her birthday in Indiana.
You see, seven years ago at the age of 15, I gave birth to the world's most beautiful girl; an eight-pound miracle that was destined to have it all. The second I held her, I knew she deserved only the best life had to offer. That's what I gave her. I placed my daughter for adoption with a lot of heartache but no regrets. I wanted my child to have it all. Sadly at 15, I could not give her all she needed. She needed a mom and a dad ... she got the best. I chose a couple that I had always dreamed of being like someday when I married.
I know my daughter through letters and pictures. An artistic, outspoken, vivacious, green-eyed ball of fire, she is proof that there is a link between genetics and personality. I am so proud of my daughter, not only for being able to read at the second grade level at the age of 5, but for being such a happy well-adjusted kid.
I chose adoption strictly out of love for my daughter and nothing less. I put aside my wants for my daughter's needs. That's a pretty big sacrifice to make as a 15-year-old parent.
Since the birth of my child, I have finished high school, gone on to college and started a family. I currently head an outreach program through an adoption agency in Elkhart. For the past seven years now, I have been going to schools to educate teen-agers about how wonderful adoption is. Shedding a positive light on adoption is my mission in life. I will not stop until everyone understands that adoption is, above all else, about love.
So today while my daughter celebrates her seventh birthday, my parents, sister, husband, son and I will be celebrating as well.
Thank God for adoption. Thank God my daughter has all she deserves and thank God she has a birth-mother she can be proud of.
Anne Richey
Syracuse
Lions Say Thanks
Editor, Times-Union:The Lions Club motto is "We Serve." That is what the Warsaw Lions Club has been doing for 52 years in this community. We couldn't do it without the help of the merchants and patrons.
This past year, we had a garage sale at Owen's (Kroger) parking lot and many of our friends donated items. A White Cane Day for the Blind was held at Wal-Mart entrance. The Lions helped the Salvation Army by ringing bells at Wal-Mart, Kmart and Owen's. A sausage sale this spring was successful with Dig's and Breadings making up a good portion of our sales. Just last month, at the entrance of Owen's east, the Warsaw Lions and the Mid-Lakes Lions of Oswego distributed literature about diabetes and collected $252 for that association.
We would like to express our thanks to the merchants and people of this community for making our motto, "We Serve," come true.
Joe L. Harris
Warsaw Lions Club
Solid Waste
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to clarify some things that were written about the CAC and Solid Waste District Board meetings that took place on April 12, because I am rather disappointed in the article in the Thursday, April 13 Times-Union newspaper about the Solid Waste District.
I appreciate the interest that the Times-Union and David Slone have taken in the District's activities over the past few years. The articles and coverage are informative and of interest to the public. But, because the current issue is so important, the Solid Waste District would like to make sure that all the facts are clear and accurate.
1. The new Web site address for the Solid Waste Management District is KCRecycling.com
2. The title of the CAC is Citizens Advisory Committee. The purpose of the committee is to study ways in which the district can further its mission and meet the goals in its 20-year plan and make those recommendations to the Solid Waste District Board.
3. The article could have put more emphasis on the fact that the building would provide complete recycling and reuse services for the residents of Kosciusko County. The main emphasis is not on meeting rooms and offices and storage and kitchen and a garage.
A. The area that the article referred to as a garage is unique and suited for our needs because it has 14-foot doors at both ends and is a perfect area for the drive-through drop-off center. The drive-through drop-off center would greatly enhance the ability of the District to provide services to the public. The drive-through would be a manned center that could assist the elderly, the disabled and everyone needing assistance with drop-off of recyclables, reuse items, household hazardous waste, appliances and tires.
B. The fact that it does have more storage room will enable us to provide a reuse center for the public. Reuse centers are very popular in other areas of the state and the country. Reuse centers provide an outlet for many non-recyclable items to be used by all types of people. Many items are popular with artists, crafters and non-profit agencies that work with children.
C. The building also has plenty of outdoor space which is necessary for the collection of tires, appliances and to place the household hazardous waste storage building that is being donated by R. R. Donnelley and Sons. The storage building is also necessary in order to collect household hazardous waste from citizens on a regular basis.
D. The building has a loading dock, which will enable the District, and the contractor to ship baled recyclables.
E. The building is in the exact location where the current recycling contractor is now operating. The close proximity of the buildings will make it easier for the contractor and District to communicate, work together and solve problems for the public quickly.
4. There are many materials that we cannot collect in Kosciusko County at this time that could be collected if we had the facilities to do so. An example of some of those items are: plastic softener salt bags, plastic grocery bags, #3-#7 plastics including styrofoam.
5. I don't think that it was proper to state as fact that which may still be negotiation points for the lease and/or sale of the building and have not been thoroughly discussed by the Board. In particular, although if someone asked we would tell him or her, I don't think it was necessary to publish the amount we pay in rent now and to whom the rent is paid.
If anyone has further questions about this subject, please feel free to contact the Solid Waste Management District.
Marsha J. Eikenberry
District Director
Pierceton Meijer?
Editor, Times-Union:If the residents of Warsaw are not interested in getting a Meijer store PLEASE send the Meijer representatives eight miles east on US 30 to the town of Pierceton. I am sure most of the people in the Pierceton area would more than welcome them since in the last 10 years we have lost our department stores, hardware store and grocery store. We have an established industrial park on the west side of our town and a commercial/residential area established on the northeast side of the town, not to mention that we also have a very busy intersection of U.S. 30 and Ind. 13, which is one of the main gateways to the lakes area.
The town of Pierceton has slowly been growing but commercially it needs more than restaurants, taverns and antique stores to survive. This would be a prime opportunity for our community. Many Wasaw area residents who now have to drive 25 miles north to shop at the Meijer store in Goshen would only need to drive eight miles east to Pierceton.
Barbara Faris
Past member of the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce
via e-mail
Conflict Resolution
Editor, Times-Union:On Wednesday, March 28, I, with my three children, arrived home in England for a family vacation after immigrating to the USA 10 years ago. It wasn't until I rode the shuttle to the car park that my sister began to explain that my brother had been brutally attacked in a local nightclub. His injuries were extremely serious. In an unprovoked vicious rage, he was held in a headlock and strangled until he collapsed. He was then dragged unconscious and thrown outside, left for dead. An ambulance was called and rushed him to the emergency room. After vomiting blood and going into convulsive fits, a CT scan revealed bleeding on the brain in two areas. At one point he stopped breathing. My brother's eyes are black, his body is bruised and he has lost all recent memory. The police arrested the club bouncer and charged him with aggravated assault. It is not the first incidence and charge against him. After the brain swelling has subsided, the bruises faded and the healing has begun, my family will breathe a sigh of relief for Terry and his four young children. We will be forever aware of how a random act of violence stole the sense of security we had taken for granted.
We should be concerned by the tragedy in Columbine, the recent plot by first-graders to murder another first grade girl, the drive-by shootings and the increase in drug use among our youth, but I also believe that our communities can unite to make a difference. Instead of a fist full of anger, a handful of people willing to give of themselves. Instead of eyes that look the other way, eyes that see what needs to be done. Instead of words that are full of hate, words that educate our children and communities in peaceful resolution to conflict. Instead of violence, a voice that speaks out against argument and for agreement. Choose to make a difference. Get involved.
Amanda Scroggs
Education for Conflict Resolution
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