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| Sound Off — Oct. 29 |
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Dear Editor: Before you decide how to vote on Issue 17 please think about the implications your vote will have on our community. Will 21st century educational facilities enhance the learning opportunities for our students? Do we want to accept the millions of dollars in savings the one-time federal assistance will provide? Do we want to compete with our neighboring communities and attract families to live in Port Clinton? Will the local economic stimulus of this project over the next three years help bridge the gap until a better economy arrives? Will hundreds of thousands of dollars for our city help fix some streets? Will we be better off with a more efficient, consolidated school system that saves future operating expenses? What can we do with the Fourth Street block to develop or beautify Port Clinton? Do we want progress? We have an opportunity to Change Our Future. The choice is ours to make. Please study the facts carefully. I believe they will show support of Issue 17 is vital to the future of Port Clinton. David Belden, P.C. Board of Education Dear Editor, It is “Opportunity Time” for the citizens of the Port Clinton City School system. In sports, it is essential to take advantage of opportunities in order to win. The challenge is to recognize the opportunity and then capitalize on it. Winners do this; especially in a tough situation. They look beyond problems and make something positive happen. We voters have a chance to seize this opportunity to do something positive. By taking advantage of a one-time offer of at least $3 million from the federal government stimulus plan, we can help our local economy. Jobs will be created and our community will be better able to attract new industry in the future. We need to quit looking at problems and start looking for solutions. We need to build better schools. A healthy community is judged by its schools. A diverse group of community leaders has developed a comprehensive plan to improve our school facilities. It’s a good plan. It won’t please everyone or solve every problem, but it will help us all in the long run. We must recognize that our children need up-to-date schools for a first rate education. Make no mistake; we are in competition now. Our students need advanced technology skills to compete for jobs. (New school are equipped for this) Our community is in stiff competition to attract business. (Good schools are a priority.) We are competing for grant money to help our economy. (Stimulus money is guaranteed IF we pass the levy). It is “Opportunity Time”! A YES vote for the Port Clinton School levy will be a vote for our kids and our community. Make something positive happen. Think like a winner. Karen Coffin, Retired PCHS Girls’ Tennis Team Coach Dear Editor: As community members and parents, we are passionate about our children’s educational future. Our preceding generations were supportive of new facilities when Port Clinton graduated the Class of 1964 out of a new high school building. We are asking no more now as parents for our next generations. The safety of our children in aging dilapidated facilities should be of the utmost importance to all the residents of this district. To prepare our children to be more competitive in today’s ever-changing world, we need to make sure that they have modern facilities and technological advances, which will allow them to compete in a global market. Therefore, we urge you to support Issue 17 on Nov. 3 for the Port Clinton City Schools. Port Clinton Elementary Parents Club Board: Nicole Cuevas, president; Jill Martinez, vice president; Peggy Sneider, secretary; and Diane Ball, treasurer Dear Editor: May I share my concerns about Issue 3 in the Nov. 3 election? Issue 3 will create 34,000 new jobs. Are these manufacturing jobs? Or will these minimum hourly wage jobs just shuffle money from the pockets of dreamers to Ohio schools and counties after first lining the pockets of Casino owners, here and in faraway states? Read the fine print. 3. “2 percent to a state problem gambling and addictions fund.” Like many addictions, this one to gambling can lead to divorce, loss of job, bankruptcy, homelessness, jail, even suicide. Ask Art Schlichter and Pete Rose if 2 percent is enough to heal those with problem gambling and addiction. 5. “Permit approved types of casino gaming authorized by Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania as of Jan. 1, 2009, or games subsequently authorized by those states.” Could such future authorization insert changes into Ohio’s constitution? 6. “…Casino facilities shall be subject to all state and local laws and provisions related to health and building codes, but that no local zoning, land use laws, subdivision regulations or similar provisions shall prohibit the development or operation the casinos at the designated sites.” So which is it? Local control or free rein? 7. “Create the Ohio casino control commission which will license and regulate…” A lot of plum jobs for political appointees generated here. Can passage of Issue 3 really benefit Ohioans? Anne McGinnis Parker, Put-in-Bay The Riverview Nursing Home Auxiliary has been a support to the residents of the Ottawa County Riverview Nursing Home for many years. We have participated in many resident centered activities such as birthday parties, Christmas presents for the residents, and flowers for Mother’s and Father’s Day, to name a few. Also, we annually offer a $1,000 scholarship to a Riverview employee. On or before Nov. 3, you will have an opportunity to vote on Issue 4, a .5 mil levy for maintenance and operation of the Riverview Nursing Home. There had been a .5 mil levy in effect for many years, up until its defeat in November of 2008. We, the members of the Riverview Auxiliary respectfully ask you to vote yes on this issue. Your support of Issue 4 will allow for the Riverview Nursing Home to continue to serve its residents and be a facility that the residents of Ottawa County can continue to be very proud. Please join us in voting yes on Issue 4. Jan Willoughby, Vice President of Riverview Nursing Home Auxiliary Issue 17 will make a difference for our community. Supporting Issue 17 for the Port Clinton City Schools is important to our community for many reasons. Lets look at just a few of these reasons. Each generation has a moral obligation to contribute to the cause of leaving this world a better place. An important way that we can do this is to provide our children and those of future generations the best opportunity for an effective education. This education gives children the opportunity to grow and learn what it takes to positively contribute to society. Our forefathers provided this opportunity for each of us. Port Clinton City Schools has made positive strides toward making the best use of resources. Having two of our three children attend Catawba Elementary School and seeing it close was challenging, but it was the right thing to do to make the best use of resources available. The building plan included in Issue 17 takes that operational fiscal responsibility another step in the right direction. With construction costs as favorable as we have seen in a long time and the one-chance-only opportunity to have some federal government help, our school district will not get a better deal than Issue 17 offers. A positive outcome on Issue 17 will give the citizens of Port Clinton City School District a source of pride as this area revitalizes. Strong communities have quality schools. Please join us in voting yes on Issue 17. Paul E. and Karen Shaw Dear Editor As members of the local Fraternal Order of Police, we support Issue 3 because of the jobs and needed tax revenues that it will bring to Ohio, including needed funds here in Ottawa County. If Ohio voters pass the issue that would build four first-class casinos in Ohio, Ottawa County will benefit from an additional $1,189,740 in tax revenues, while local schools will get $702,263 in needed income. Our county has been hit in recent years by layoffs and plant closings, like most others in Ohio. We need this additional revenue in order to maintain current staffing levels and to continue offering vital services to residents. Our schools also need the revenue to avoid cutbacks in curriculum and teaching positions. As a member of the law enforcement community, I want to continue to improve the quality of life for all residents of Ottawa County. Issue 3 can help restore financial stability through jobs, economic development and increased tourism in Ohio. Join us in voting YES on Issue 3 on Nov. 3rd. Bruce Szilagyi, President, Port Clinton FOP When I was growing up in the ’50s and ’60s, my parents always told me how important a good education would be to me. Many of you probably heard the same sentiments from your parents. What are the contributing factors to a good education? I believe there are four main ingredients to the education pie. Obviously, good teachers are an important part. Teachers are the conduits through which our kids learn. Just as critical are good teaching materials, such as current textbooks and computers. It is how the students stay current in this fast-paced world. Thirdly, the involvement of the parent in their child’s education helps facilitate the efforts of the teachers and textbooks, making sure homework assignments are completed and the students study. And good school buildings are the final ingredients of the pie. Good school buildings allow for technology and innovative teaching techniques. The Port Clinton City Schools have three of the necessary ingredients for the education pie. However, several of our school buildings place constraints on the educational experience. I know many of you graduated from the present middle school when it was our high school. Just think of the changes that have occurred in technology and education since your graduation. With the present economic situation, is this the right time to ask voters to pass a levy? There probably is never a right time to ask for more tax dollars. But right now, there is a one-time opportunity for the Port Clinton City Schools to obtain “stimulus dollars” to the tune of at least $3,000,000 of 0-interest loan funds. And depending upon how many other eligible school district pass their levies on Nov. 3, the number of “stimulus dollars” available to the Port Clinton City Schools could be significantly higher, perhaps up to $10,000,000. This will save each one of us money in the long run. The building proposal is a good one. The bidding climate for construction is great. And a good education is as important today as ever before. Please consider the impact of your vote on Nov. 3 on the future student population. I urge your support of Issue 17. Walter Wehenkel
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