Letters to the Editor 05-26-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Rozella Superintendent - Winona Council - Memorial Day
Rozella Superintendent
Editor, Times-Union:I was happy to see Rozella mentioned in the sports section yesterday. The article "Rozella Ford One of County's Golf Gems" was nicely written and it is good that they are recognizing what a fine course it is. However, it upset me that Randy Denney's name was not mentioned in the article. Randy has been Rozella's golf course superintendent for more than 30 years. He has spent many hours making the golf course what it is today. Randy put a lot of hard work, love and care into Rozella through the years and it is a shame that he was excluded from the article. Kudos to you Randy for doing such a fine job! Keep up the good work!
One Proud Daughter,
Tonya Arter,
Warsaw, via e-mai
Winona Council
Editor, Times-Union:Last Wednesday's article about the Winona Lake Town Council meeting did not report some important developments in the boat trailer parking ordinance dispute. This ordinance states a boat or boat trailer can't be parked on the street side for more than one hour at a time. This has virtually no effect on the lives of many residents (and town council members), as they either live in a newer subdivision with driveways and garages, or don't own a boat. However, for citizens like myself who live in older neighborhoods near the lake, where driveways and garages are not the norm and boat ownership and parking at the curb are, this is a very restrictive ordinance. Last month, a citizen proposed some changes that would allow some leniency. This week, he stated he had received a phone message saying the council had elected not to make any changes, but if he needed more time to clean his boat at the curb, he could just call and let them know. At the meeting, he received clarification that he was to call the town office, and if he was going to do it on a weekend, he could call ahead. Another citizen asked if this exception was allowed for everyone, or just for certain people. The answer was that it was for everyone. It is important the public know the Winona Lake Town Council President stated anyone who needs to park their boat or boat trailer on the side of the road for more than one hour can call the town office and let them know, and it will be alright. They didn't put this information in their minutes, but I'm sure it's on the tape (if they haven't lost it yet).
The town's letter quoted in your May 10 article portrayed the property owners who are suing the town for rights to the canal shore as greedy and land-hungry. I do not own land along the canal front, but I think I understand how my neighbors feel. The Town of Winona Lake has been taking land from some people and giving land to others as they see fit for years with little or no regard to how residents feel about it. These people aren't greedy, they simply don't trust the town to control their land, and with good reason. I heard the town attorney and the secretary in that famous meeting (that they have mysteriously lost the tape of). They stated property owners like myself own to the middle of the street, and canal property owners own to the middle of the canal, but the town maintains a right of way for transportation purposes. How would you feel if you had to lease your own land from the town for a boat slip? Then the town decides they need more money, so they raise the lease. Yet on the other side of the canal, pier spots are no longer leased per request of the property owners, a certain well-financed corporation. The town has not vacated canal front to this corporation (then they would have to pay more taxes), they just agreed not to rent out those pier spaces and gave them the entire street instead.
I believe this ridiculous boat trailer ordinance and the dispute over the canal are both results of the Winona Lake Town Council representing certain interests and not representing the interests of the residents primarily affected. If the town ever had the right to keep a transportation right of way on that grassy area along the canal, it has be squandered away by the actions of our town council. If any other town has a blanket one hour parking restriction on any certain type of ill-defined vehicle, I'd like to hear about it; let alone boat trailers in a lake town. If the Winona Lake Town Council had a track record of listening to and looking out for their citizens, they simply wouldn't have all these disputes and expensive lawsuits. Although anyone that comes to Town Council meetings can be heard, only a select few seem to be listened to.
Chris Volkers
Winona Lake, via e-mail
Memorial Day
Editor, Times-Union:The month of May reminds me of sunshine, of beautiful spring flowers of all shapes and sizes, each with its own special sweet scented fragrance; of a beautifully cultivated neighborhood of home gardens sprouting with an assortment of vegetables, ornamental shrubs, and trees; and of that special time of year for flag waving and a time for families and friends to gather together to pay tribute to those who willingly paid the ultimate sacrifice for their families, friends and country. It is a day that all American celebrate and honor the heroes whose final resting place lies in distant lands known only to themselves and God.
We refer to the celebration as Memorial Day. It is a day set aside to remember America's fallen heroes. It is a day for all Americans to memorialize the fathers, brothers, aunts and uncles who gave their last breath in the struggle for freedom. They were America's warriors who willingly chose to face death head on, who endured the hardships of combat, and the never-ending possibility of not returning to their homeland to see friends or the wife and child they left behind.
Many of these heroes sleep in the fields, the forests, deserts, jungles and mountains of various foreign lands. Great numbers of these heroes are unaccounted for while others rest in the serenity of each other's company memorialized by monuments and statues of white shiny marble. Monuments engraved with the names of America's fallen heroes standing at attention dress-right-dress on carpets of green glimmering under blue skies by day while sleeping under sweet slumber's blanket of quiet by night.
Many families will travel overseas on this day in search of their loved one's lost in world conflict hoping to end years of suffering and loss. These families will serve as ambassadors for those families unable to complete the long journey and serve as a reminder to those who lie in wait that they have not been forgotten.
Memorial Day serves as a reminder to all Americans of the self-sacrifice of those who gave all. There is a price that must be paid for freedom. There are many loved ones who have paid that price for you and for me. Many of our brave men and women stand in harm's way this very day. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Reach out and encourage our brave men and women serving this great nation today.
As parents, we must teach and instill in future generations the true meaning of freedom. We do this to ensure that should the day come that our own children and theirs receive the call to arms there will be no question or hesitation to march into harms way know that the noble cause for which they fight will ensure that freedom continues to live in the hearts and minds of all free people throughout this great nation and the world for generations to come. God Bless America!
Rick Bradley
SFC, U.S. Army (Retired)
Warsaw
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- Rozella Superintendent - Winona Council - Memorial Day
Rozella Superintendent
Editor, Times-Union:I was happy to see Rozella mentioned in the sports section yesterday. The article "Rozella Ford One of County's Golf Gems" was nicely written and it is good that they are recognizing what a fine course it is. However, it upset me that Randy Denney's name was not mentioned in the article. Randy has been Rozella's golf course superintendent for more than 30 years. He has spent many hours making the golf course what it is today. Randy put a lot of hard work, love and care into Rozella through the years and it is a shame that he was excluded from the article. Kudos to you Randy for doing such a fine job! Keep up the good work!
One Proud Daughter,
Tonya Arter,
Warsaw, via e-mai
Winona Council
Editor, Times-Union:Last Wednesday's article about the Winona Lake Town Council meeting did not report some important developments in the boat trailer parking ordinance dispute. This ordinance states a boat or boat trailer can't be parked on the street side for more than one hour at a time. This has virtually no effect on the lives of many residents (and town council members), as they either live in a newer subdivision with driveways and garages, or don't own a boat. However, for citizens like myself who live in older neighborhoods near the lake, where driveways and garages are not the norm and boat ownership and parking at the curb are, this is a very restrictive ordinance. Last month, a citizen proposed some changes that would allow some leniency. This week, he stated he had received a phone message saying the council had elected not to make any changes, but if he needed more time to clean his boat at the curb, he could just call and let them know. At the meeting, he received clarification that he was to call the town office, and if he was going to do it on a weekend, he could call ahead. Another citizen asked if this exception was allowed for everyone, or just for certain people. The answer was that it was for everyone. It is important the public know the Winona Lake Town Council President stated anyone who needs to park their boat or boat trailer on the side of the road for more than one hour can call the town office and let them know, and it will be alright. They didn't put this information in their minutes, but I'm sure it's on the tape (if they haven't lost it yet).
The town's letter quoted in your May 10 article portrayed the property owners who are suing the town for rights to the canal shore as greedy and land-hungry. I do not own land along the canal front, but I think I understand how my neighbors feel. The Town of Winona Lake has been taking land from some people and giving land to others as they see fit for years with little or no regard to how residents feel about it. These people aren't greedy, they simply don't trust the town to control their land, and with good reason. I heard the town attorney and the secretary in that famous meeting (that they have mysteriously lost the tape of). They stated property owners like myself own to the middle of the street, and canal property owners own to the middle of the canal, but the town maintains a right of way for transportation purposes. How would you feel if you had to lease your own land from the town for a boat slip? Then the town decides they need more money, so they raise the lease. Yet on the other side of the canal, pier spots are no longer leased per request of the property owners, a certain well-financed corporation. The town has not vacated canal front to this corporation (then they would have to pay more taxes), they just agreed not to rent out those pier spaces and gave them the entire street instead.
I believe this ridiculous boat trailer ordinance and the dispute over the canal are both results of the Winona Lake Town Council representing certain interests and not representing the interests of the residents primarily affected. If the town ever had the right to keep a transportation right of way on that grassy area along the canal, it has be squandered away by the actions of our town council. If any other town has a blanket one hour parking restriction on any certain type of ill-defined vehicle, I'd like to hear about it; let alone boat trailers in a lake town. If the Winona Lake Town Council had a track record of listening to and looking out for their citizens, they simply wouldn't have all these disputes and expensive lawsuits. Although anyone that comes to Town Council meetings can be heard, only a select few seem to be listened to.
Chris Volkers
Winona Lake, via e-mail
Memorial Day
Editor, Times-Union:The month of May reminds me of sunshine, of beautiful spring flowers of all shapes and sizes, each with its own special sweet scented fragrance; of a beautifully cultivated neighborhood of home gardens sprouting with an assortment of vegetables, ornamental shrubs, and trees; and of that special time of year for flag waving and a time for families and friends to gather together to pay tribute to those who willingly paid the ultimate sacrifice for their families, friends and country. It is a day that all American celebrate and honor the heroes whose final resting place lies in distant lands known only to themselves and God.
We refer to the celebration as Memorial Day. It is a day set aside to remember America's fallen heroes. It is a day for all Americans to memorialize the fathers, brothers, aunts and uncles who gave their last breath in the struggle for freedom. They were America's warriors who willingly chose to face death head on, who endured the hardships of combat, and the never-ending possibility of not returning to their homeland to see friends or the wife and child they left behind.
Many of these heroes sleep in the fields, the forests, deserts, jungles and mountains of various foreign lands. Great numbers of these heroes are unaccounted for while others rest in the serenity of each other's company memorialized by monuments and statues of white shiny marble. Monuments engraved with the names of America's fallen heroes standing at attention dress-right-dress on carpets of green glimmering under blue skies by day while sleeping under sweet slumber's blanket of quiet by night.
Many families will travel overseas on this day in search of their loved one's lost in world conflict hoping to end years of suffering and loss. These families will serve as ambassadors for those families unable to complete the long journey and serve as a reminder to those who lie in wait that they have not been forgotten.
Memorial Day serves as a reminder to all Americans of the self-sacrifice of those who gave all. There is a price that must be paid for freedom. There are many loved ones who have paid that price for you and for me. Many of our brave men and women stand in harm's way this very day. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Reach out and encourage our brave men and women serving this great nation today.
As parents, we must teach and instill in future generations the true meaning of freedom. We do this to ensure that should the day come that our own children and theirs receive the call to arms there will be no question or hesitation to march into harms way know that the noble cause for which they fight will ensure that freedom continues to live in the hearts and minds of all free people throughout this great nation and the world for generations to come. God Bless America!
Rick Bradley
SFC, U.S. Army (Retired)
Warsaw
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