Grandma delights in youth
On Sept. 20 I experienced one of the most unique days of my life. My family and I were asked to help with a benefit concert for the City Mission. The concert was conceived by my grandson, Andy Howell, and his friend, Matt Mihalko, as their senior project. Nine local bands volunteered to play from noon until 9 p.m., and the event drew more than 200 area youths. The uniqueness for me, a grandmother and great-grandmother, was that the event was attended by a group of kids who were very different from my generation. Some wore all black clothes, some had wild hairdos and the piercings, well, that’s another matter.
To be honest, when I saw the crowd, I thought I can’t wait until 9 p.m. As it turned out, I am very glad I stayed, as I have never worked with such a mannerly, respectful and generous group of young people.
The music was loud and I didn’t understand either lyrics or the moshing. I did see, however, that when someone went down, there were always several hands extended to pick them up.
I’m writing this letter because, as a parent, I realize that we all wonder what our kids do when they’re out with their friends. Let me assure you, if your child was at the Funny Farm on Sept. 20, you have done a good job of teaching them to care, to be respectful, to clean up after themselves, and to have a good time. I know I did, and I was deeply touched by your children’s warmth.
I was also reminded that appearances don’t matter if you let yourself get to know these fine young people.
Rhea Howell
Collier
Double standards apply
I’m only writing this out of frustration with the system of federal taxes and regulations.
I own a small nursing agency, which is confronted every month with matching Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, state and federal workman compensation taxes, unemployment taxes and private insurance premiums. I cannot complain about any of the necessary staples to keep my state and county afloat.
The thing that bothers me is I’ve been fined more than once for late payments and tacked on interest several times for not making my tax payments exactly on time. This is all well and good, if I was truly at fault. The excuse from different nursing facilities as to why they cannot make payments to me is that the government has only given them half payment on their Medicare and Medicaid requests.
These facilities are on a 30- to 60-day turn around on payments.
I, in turn, still must make payroll and pay my taxes without question. If we can give billions of dollars to countries who have threatened our security, can’t the U.S. government show a little leniency to the little guy who is trying to live the American dream of free enterprise? I’m caught in the middle of everyone wanting a piece of the pie.
If someone out there has an explanation or solution please contact me.
John M. Hotarie
Brownsville
Suggestions for Arnold
Arnold is the governor of California. Can you believe it? It’s ever more proof of the theory that every few years the entire country tilts to the Pacific so that all of the nuts, kooks and flakes can just roll out there where they can be respected. Having lived in California for eight years, I can well attest to the truth of that postulation.
Because Arnold has never endured greater mental exercise than having to learn monosyllabic dialogue such as “No Way” and “You Die” perhaps he would entertain some thoughts from an older citizen as to immediate actions he should consider.
First, immediately terminate the entire California legislature since it obviously worked hand in glove with the tarred-and-feathered governor, the “Gray Ghost,” to place the state in the abysmal financial situation it now faces.
Second, immediately propose a constitutional amendment to make San Francisco and Los Angeles the 51st and 52nd states so that all of those nuts, kooks and flakes can no longer bedevil the other citizens of California who are mostly hard-working farmers, ranchers and winemakers.
Unfortunately, the downside of that action is that all of the nuts, kooks and flakes will then have greater opportunity to bedevil all the rest of us, but Arnold has to look out for California. All the rest of us will have to protect the country as best we can.
Third, all of the land south of Los Angeles should be given back to Mexico, since that will certainly solve our illegal immigrant problem, provided that its government is willing to move its capitol from Mexico City to Disneyland. The decisive factor for president Fox of Mexico should be that, with the addition of Brian Giles, Mexico would now have at least a pseudo “major league” baseball franchise. And that will allow all the rest of us to go back to rooting for the Chicago Pirates, nee, Cubs to win the National League pennant.
Lots of Luck Arnold. You are definitely going to need it.
Robert E. Balestier
Uniontown
To the dog killer
This is to the person responsible for hitting and killing my daughter’s puppy on West Berkeley Street Saturday morning. You know who you are.
You didn’t even stop to see what you hit. Thank God it wasn’t a child. I hope you sleep at night, because my daughter doesn’t. In memory of her puppy Rocco.
Waneda Wilson
Uniontown