» Letters to the Editor

Friday, July 03, 2009 | No comments posted. Port restricting fireworks use

In an effort to contain the fireworks that folks bring to the waterfront to fire off on the night of July 4, the Port of Bandon is roping off an area on the asphalt in the northwest corner of its First Street boat launch parking lot for citizens to safely set off their legal fireworks.

Absolutely no fireworks are permitted on the boardwalk, the boardwalk amphitheater or any other boardwalk amenity.

Though we would prefer zero fireworks on port property because of safety issues, we understand the desire to celebrate the holiday with this tradition. In the past, fireworks have been set off between parked vehicles in port parking lots, in close proximity of our marine fuel facility and to families seated enjoying the evening’s festivities. This has always been a very dangerous situation.

While we won’t be officially policing port properties that evening, we hope that fireworks users will limit their enjoyment of fireworks on port property to the area in the northwest corner of the launch ramp parking lot or at least in that vicinity.

With the strong northwest winds we’ve been experiencing in the last week, vegetation on local bluffs and surrounding areas is extremely dry, providing extensive amounts of fuel to a potentially dangerous situation. We are requesting that people use the designated fireworks area we have cordoned off in the boat launch lot, then safely dispose of their spent fireworks in the receptacles provided.  The Port of Bandon wishes everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Gina Dearth

General Manager, Port of Bandon

To those who helped

Thank you, Bandon.

July 1, 1997, at 1 p.m. my girls and I drove into Bandon, not knowing a soul. Twelve years later, my girls are grown and I’m a grandma. Life is good.

I just want to thank all of the people along my journey of being a widow and raising my girls alone, who took us in, became our friends and helped us along the way. Thank you for letting us become a part of your town.

Lynn L. Richards

Bandon

Wreath project a success

SAGE Gallery wishes to extend a huge thank you to all who came out and supported our Memorial Wreath Project on Memorial Day weekend. Your purchases of living wreaths and kits, as well as your kind donations, made it possible for us to again raise $575!

The money donated will be presented to the Family Support Services of the National Guard, Coos Bay. With members of our local National Guard currently deployed, the rememberances and gratitude expressed by those who joined us were particularly heartwarming. Each year, in addition to Shayla Osborne of Ebb Tide Landscape Services and the SAGE employees, who donate their time to the cause, we are supported by some very special people in the community. We offer special thanks to: Devon Matsuda and Stan Denys of Devon’s Boutique, Judy and Bill Freck, Gail Moser and Gina and Bob Dearth of Bandon.

We also thank Commanding Officer Melissa Gruver, for helping us make the wreaths and spending a fun (and very cold) day on the Boardwalk. This year the Wreath Project had the added support of Julia Willis, administrator for the Coquille Tribal Community Fund. Julia joined us in making our event a success by arranging a generous donation from the Coquille Tribe. We were awarded a night’s stay and dinner for two at The Mill Casino-Hotel to offer in a drawing for those who donated at least $5. Thank you all so much!

Anne Sobotta

SAGE Gallery, Bandon

Faith, religion is a con job

God is a make-believe concept designed to explain the unexplained.

Many humans are unable to acknowledge that they really don’t know and are unwilling to accept life as the mystery it is; such as the great spirit.

So rather than to admit ignorance, another concept was designed called “faith,” which serves as a go-between of what they don’t know vs. what they imagine to be true. God is fantasy.

Helping one another is a reality.

Either way, religion and the god issue are how ignorant humans are led by fear. It’s like any other con job where someone uses others for their gain.

It’s not different than how we are swindled by the financial and insurance industries. Using others is what it’s about.

Some of us, who are wise to the Tom Foolery, wish the rest of us would wake up.

Maybe that’s my fantasy. Oh well, ho hum, can’t we just live simply so we can live simply?

Robert S. Freeman

Bandon

Aviation could be imperiled

Each month, volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West fly patients needing specialized medical care, including chemotherapy and dialysis, to hospitals throughout Oregon. Many of these patients are from rural areas and would otherwise be hard-pressed to receive the care they need.

These flights are part of General Aviation, which includes all flying except the scheduled airlines and the military. Right now GA is being imperiled by misguided plans in Washington, D.C. If these proposals are enacted, the outlook could be grim for patients who use Angel Flight West, as well as for millions of other people throughout the country who depend on General Aviation for services and jobs.

Among the proposals are new costs and regulations. Since Angel Flight West pilots already donate their time and planes and pay for their own fuel, these increased costs could ground them. The impact on patients who live in rural Oregon could be devastating, because they would have to drive long distances to receive care.

The new charges and regulations would involve not only medical volunteer organizations. With an estimated 65 percent of General Aviation flights conducted for public service and business, many industries and services would be affected, including agriculture, emergency medical evacuation, law enforcement, aerial firefighting, package delivery and the Civil Air Patrol.

In addition, millions of jobs depend on GA, which pumps more than $150 billion into the U.S. economy. Two members of Congress deem GA so essential that they formed a caucus to educate their peers on its value to the American economy and transportation system.

Recently, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world’s largest pilot organization with more than 415,000 members, launched General Aviation Serves America. The goal of this national grassroots campaign is to educate policymakers, opinion leaders and the public about the vital role GA plays in our local communities and the nation’s economy. Actors Harrison Ford and Morgan Freeman, both avid pilots, are volunteering their services in support of the campaign. (To learn more about the General Aviation Serves America program, please take a few minutes to visit www.gaservesamerica.com.)

The importance of GA and its impact on the citizens of Oregon cannot be overstated. For more than 80 years, General Aviation has played a significant role in the lives of millions of Americans across the country. I hope you will join me in our efforts to ensure that it’s around for another 80 years, and well beyond.

Craig Fuller

president, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Protect self defense rights

We like to think of our government as our protector, and usually it is, but a look back at history makes us realize that ultimately we need to be very careful about what laws we allow to get passed.

In 1929, Russia established gun control, and then rounded up 20 million people who were unable to defend themselves and murdered them.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control and then exterminated one and a half million of their people.

In 1938, Germany established gun control and 13 million Jews died at the hands of their government.

In 1935, China established gun control and then exterminated 20 million of their people.

Guatamala, Uganda, Cambodia all have passed gun control laws and then used them against their own people. When we know that in the 20th century 56 million have died at the hands of their own government, our founders knew how important our right to defend ourselves is and it’s up to us to guard that right.

It’s been a year since Australia passed gun control. Homicides and assaults are up, and armed robberies up 44 percent, and homicides with firearms up 300 percent. You can’t depend on someone else to look out for you, so protect your right to defend yourself.

Lois R. Bowen

Coquille