Mr. LaForge,

Fear of nuclear radiation is a superstition - a belief maintained in the absence of valid evidence out of deference to perceived authority. Originating, it seems, with Herman Muller.

Radiation fear hinders our struggle to preserve the ecosystem because it helps enable extraction of hydrocarbons.

Such extraction cannot be stopped by political or social action. It can be stopped only by a superior energy source, one that beats carbon energy on capitalism's own terms - reliability and price. Only nuclear fission can do that.

"Fear does not prevent death. It prevents life." Naquib Mahfouz, Nobel Prize winner.

Bravo on this well-written article. I have been going to the zoo since I was a little girl growing up in Duluth. Don't we have enough parks and trails in the area? This is the ONLY place in our region where children and adults alike can be inspired by wildlife from around the WORLD in an UP-CLOSE experience. My kids have ;learned things they never would have known about exotic animals. Where else can they do that? There are enough forests and native wildlife in our area. You're right- the mayor knew what he wanted all along and will use his puppets to get it. It's all a big act, and I'm so glad someone else sees through it. KEEP OUR ZOO A ZOO! Re-route the trail around the zoo.

Don't forget that this Cross City Trail (CCT) section along the northern DWP route from 63rd to the Zoo and then on to Spirit Mountain was shoved through the Park and Rec commission last minute with NO PUBLIC INPUT to speak of! Then onto the council who knew nothing about much about the process. Its the mayor's section of the CCT, I call it the Ness CCT trail.
There is plenty of options to connect to the Munger trail head proper but he needs to bolster Spirit Mountain making it the new trail head for all trails which can make some sense to some but its the method that he uses to get what he wants. He can not work with others if they have difference of thought. Lets see how Emily or the next mayor differs, ask the candidates what they will do differently. Vote for someone that WILL WORK with the community and not the status quo way.

John you didn't mention that Glensheen asked for $50,000 from the turist tax and received it. They also went back and asked for I believe two more installments for a total of $150,000. I'm not saying they aren't worth it. After all they are part of the tax system in total being a part of the UM system.
The more I have gotten to know how the city works the more I have realized the same conclusion you have reached. If they would just start the process with their cards on the table we would all save a bunch of time and money. This type of process promotes the feeling of big government where the later would promote the small government feeling not to mention getting the public more interested in participating.
The city staff is awesome, the administration can use some efficiency improvements in their process. Maybe the next administration will learn from this one. You can be cool and drink craft beer attend the great music venues rude the wonderful trails and work with the public and those that may se things a bit different but yet have the same goals. It's how we get there that really counts as well as getting there!

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And of course they fire innocent employees for no decent reason and must have a crooked attorney to allow them to do that.

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Thanks for this article!
Too often I hear politicians trying to drive a wedge between public employees (who may have pensions and union representation) and private/corporate/business employees who don't have those benfits. But private/corporate/business employees USED to have pensions and union protections TOO! The FIX is to restore pensions, union protections and other benefits that have been stripped away since the 1980s. EVERY employee deserves "defined benefit" retirement plans instead of 401k plans that are gambled away on Wall Street. Unions need to GROW and be strengthened so corporate wealth is once again shared with employees.

Included on this island should be those people who hand out toothbrushes on Halloween instead of candy, now that's cruel man....

Teachers Deserve Thanks, Not Blame



by Dr. Tom Staszewski tomstasz@neo.rr.com



As our public schools begin another school year, it's time to stop blaming and

criticizing teachers and start thanking and acknowledging them.



Our schools reflect society, and society has undergone a dramatic shift from

previous generations. A typical classroom today consists of many students with

severe behavioral problems, limited knowledge of English usage, emotional and

psychological difficulties, learning disabilities and attention-deficit

disorders. And many suffer from abuse and other adverse home and socioeconomic

conditions.



Unlike previous generations, many parents today send their kids to school unfed,

unprepared and with little or no basic skills nor social skills. In many

neighborhoods, it's the school building, not the child's home, that provides a

safe, secure and predictable haven. Despite these societal problems, we need to

focus on the success stories of what's right with our schools rather than what's

wrong with our schools.



In my previous work as a motivational speaker and professional development

trainer, I have personally worked with thousands of teachers nationwide. I have

found them to be caring, hardworking, dedicated, industrious and sincerely

committed to the success of their students.



Teachers' duties have now grown to the added dimensions of counselor, mentor,

coach, resource person, mediator, motivator, enforcer and adviser.

Instead of acknowledging that teaching is a demanding profession, critics will

often focus on the supposedly shortened workday of teachers. Still others claim,

"Yes, teachers are busy, but at least they get a planning period each day to

help get things done." In reality, the so-called planning period is really a

misnomer. A typical teacher is so involved with the day's activities that

usually there is no time to stop and plan. Those minutes that are supposed to be

devoted to planning are often filled with endless amounts of paperwork,

meetings, interruptions, schedule changes, extra assigned duties, phone calls,

conferences, gathering missed work for absent students, completing forms,

submitting required data and on and on. Maybe they call it a planning period,

because there's NO time left for planning...period!



Most teachers leave the building long after the students' dismissal time and

usually with plenty of paperwork and tests to correct. Evenings are spent

reviewing homework assignments and planning for the next day of teaching.



In addition to earning a bachelor's degree and teaching certificate/license,

once teachers begin to work in the classroom, they need to immediately continue

their own education. During summertime, they are constantly updating their

education, earning a graduate degree or two and making sure their teaching

certificates are active and valid.



Too many people have the mistaken notion that anyone can teach. They think that

they could teach because they have seen other people teach. Yet, when looking at

other professions and occupations, these same people understand that they can't

perform those jobs. They may have briefly seen the

cockpit of an airplane, but they don't assume they can fly it. They may have

spent an hour in a courtroom but don't believe that they can practice law. They

certainly don't think they are able to perform surgery.



Every day, teachers are making a significant difference. At any given moment,

teachers are influencing children in positive and meaningful ways. Many societal

problems exist, such as violence, drugs, broken homes, poverty, economic crises

and a variety of other woes. Teachers struggle with the turmoil of society while

trying to offset the negative influences outside of school. As they roll up

their sleeves and take strides to improve the lives of their students, teachers

are the real heroes.



Today's teacher is more than a transmitter of knowledge; the demands of the

profession are ever-increasing. Many parents and taxpayers have an expectation

that a school system should be the do all and be all in their children's lives.

Some parents have a notion that they can drop off their child at the schoolhouse

door, and behold, 12 years later, they will be able to pick up a perfect

specimen of a human being -- well-rounded, academically proficient, emotionally

sound, physically fit and ready to meet the next phase of life.



But we know that teachers cannot do it alone. A sound, safe and secure home life

is essential. An effort on the parent's part to prepare the child for school is

vital. And parental involvement that results in a partnership in the child's

development is necessary. When that doesn't occur, then it's easy to scapegoat

the classroom teacher.



As the school year begins, our public schools welcome everyone. The

individual classroom teacher is faced with dozens and dozens of human beings

who come to school in varying degrees of ability, potential, maturity,

motivation levels, and readiness to learn. Students arrive with a tremendous

amount of baggage, with various health and nutrition factors, family

issues, neighborhood influences and differing socioeconomic levels.



In today’s climate of high stakes testing, business leaders and

politicians continue to demand better results with data driven assessments

and test scores. It is important to realize that the classroom is not a

factory floor where uniformity and precise precision can be molded into just

one final finished product. Unlike the manufacturing arena, teachers don’t

select the raw materials (students). All are welcome as teachers strive to meet and

serve all levels and all kinds of students. Test results will always vary

from low to high ranges because schools are dealing with human beings with

varying degrees of potential. The school is not an assembly line that can

mass-produce exact templates of finished products meeting the same exact

predetermined standard.



Instead of bashing our teachers, we should be conveying recognition, accolades,

tributes and positive acknowledgments. Teachers deserve a sincere thank-you for

the tremendous benefits they provide society. And that's why my all-time

favorite bumper sticker offers a profound and important declaration: "If you can

read this ... thank a teacher!"



In our schools today, there are thousands of success stories waiting to be told

and there's a need to proclaim those successes proudly and boldly. Teachers

should stand tall and be proud of their chosen profession. Critics should not

judge them unfairly. Together, let's become teacher advocates and show

admiration for the inspiring and important life-changing work they do.



DR. TOM STASZEWSKI, a former middle school teacher, lives in Erie with his wife,

Linda. He recently retired after a 35-year career in higher education

administration. Doctorate from University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of

"Total Teaching: Your Passion Makes it Happen" (tomstasz@neo.rr.com).



Erie Times News, Erie PA OP ED Column August 30, 2015 And Harrisburg, PA

Patriot News, Pennlive.com



Tom Staszewski

150 East 36th Street

Erie, PA 16504

tomstasz@neo.rr.com

814-452-0020

The people in this article who propose expanding natural gas-fired electric generation are enemies of the human civilizational enterprise.

In the USA we have 2000 - 2500 trillion cubic feet - TCF - of natural gas recoverable reserves. That’s if the fracking industry’s assessment is correct - a mighty big IF.   http://naturalgas.org/overview/resources/

Our current annual consumption is about 19 TCF for these six uses: 1) space heating, 2) industrial process heat, 3) synthetic fertilizer manufacture, 4) plastics, 5) fabrics, and 6) medicines.  In addition to those rather essential uses we’re burning up about 8 TCF for electric generation, including backing up intermittent wind and solar.  Total 27 TCF /year.

http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_cons_sum_dcu_nus_a.htm

At our current rate, ignoring expansion for any application, we’ll run out of gas in 70 - 90 years.  If we would stop burning the stuff for electricity it would last about 100 - 130 years.

In order to develop viable alternatives to natural gas for those six essential uses above, we need all the time we can get.  Continuing to burn gas for electricity, let alone INCREASING it, robs us of time.  It puts at risk our whole civilization. Those who propose doing so are irresponsible misanthropes. 

Are you sick? Have you been battling with strange and funny illnesses? Are you in a situation whereby the doctors have done necessary tests and said there isn’t anything wrong with you? ... These were all my stories until I met with a total cure for them all... His name is Dr. Payo Shalo says my mom... I was almost at the point of death. It was that serious that I was just placed on life support even as the doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me. My mom just came to my hospital bed one morning and said she had found a solution to all of my sufferings (because that was what I referred to the situation I was in then)... She said she was going through the internet and she came across some testimonies of how some people who had similar cases as mine were all cured off their illnesses through the power of this voodoo man. Without hesitation, I told her to contact the man, Which she did and she went on with the procedures as instructed her by this voodoo man (these procedures, I wasn’t aware of because I was in a really bad shape then, And whenever I asked my mom she would say I shouldn’t bother myself about that...that it was something she could handle). Not to bore you readers with too much of my story, in seven days from that day my mom told me about the voodoo man, I was cured off this killer disease that was at the verge of taking my life. Want to share your testimony like me? Contact the voodoo man on his direct email address... payospiritsshalospells’’AT’’yahoo’’DOT’’com (rewrite the email in its right form)... I AM NOW A HAPPY AND HEALTHY YOUNG MAN ONCE AGAIN...THANKS TO DR. PAYO SHALO

FINALLY,a doctor who speaks the truth!!

Is it possible to get his email address so I could write to him?

I have made 2 trips to Physicians Care in a months time, and have taken
3 different prescriptions (crazy new drugs with horrible side effects)
and I still have an infection....and no desire to go back for more crazy drugs.

This is the first time in 20 years I have needed a doctor.
I am angry about what has happened to the medical profession.
I can't REALLY get any help....
I am a cash cow to them.

I moved from NY to Fla and no longer have regular doctors.
All my doctors are retired now, or passed. I am 62 years young.

I would like to write to Dr. Gary Kohls.
How can I get his email address? Anyone got a clue?

Thanks,

Gina

Don't be so negative. She tried hard but kids were extremely disrespectful and if she can get her own food critiquing service, than that's great. But don't be so mean and critical.

Don't be so negative. She tried hard but kids were extremely disrespectful and if she can get her own food critiquing service, than that's great. But don't be so mean and critical.

Exactly Sandra! So that must be why the new managers fire people then hire all new ones so they don't have to pay the employees when they are laid off and when they make too much over minimum wage.

Yes I totally agree with both of you I used to work there for 3 years and it wasn't until Jody and brandy took over that they started to treat employees like garbage and me included I've seen first hand what they are capable of and it is not good that people like that are allowed to own a company that runs on loyalty. Something they know nothing about . Jody just recently got a DWI. And also drinks at work . I've seen how he treats the guests at spirit mountain and Needless to say it's not good . And there attorney is just as bad as those two are if it was up to me both brandy and Jody need to be in jail for the way they treat people .... I'm glad spirit mountain is going under they don't deserve that place although I would miss spirit mountain.....

I will say this you don't know the whole story either do i to blame Don or Mel is grossly unfair.You are just going by ones persons opinion Farners that's it.Too many so called fans of GFR are mean spirited bitter people and they need to get over it.I like what Don and Mel are doing with the current GFR,not that current though going on 15 years.I like farner as well and lets leave it at that and move on!

Here's a tidbit for you: A friend of mine who is a cook worked for a while with the former Steward for the Fitzgerald. He said he quit just before its fatal voyage because the Captain and many on the crew were alcoholics and the captain did not run a tight ship. It apparently sank because some of the hatch covers were not secured properly.