Problem traffic spot
I want to bring attention to something I find troubling and possibly dangerous: It’s at the stop light, where 13th Street turns into Tucker Road. There are two lanes there. The left lane takes you straight into Tucker, while the right lane is there for you to merge into Tucker or turn right.
The problem is that people on the right lane just plow through, forcing the people on the left lane to slam on their brakes! Maybe I am misinformed, but it seems to me that if you are in the right lane and choose to go straight you need to put on your signal as well as yield to the regular flow of traffic.
One time I was already in the Tucker side which at that point was one lane, and some lady sped into my right, forcing me to slam on my brakes! Otherwise I would have crashed!
The right lane just needs to be right turn only. I don’t understand why it’s not already, as when you go from Tucker to 12th (the direct opposite side). That right lane is for right turn only.
How many tax dollars does it take to paint an arrow and put up a sign saying “right turn only”?
Natalie Morris
Hood River
Orchard recreation
After reading and hearing about the controversy regarding the Barrett Park plans that Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation have in mind for this community, well, I have an idea.
HRVPR should plant the park into an orchard, then have classes and teach those interested. And, then work in the park/orchard for the recreation. After all, that’s what a lot of this area does for recreation. And, for jobs!
Bev Annala
Hood River
Two in one
Only one candidate appears on my ballot for County Commission Chair, but a quick study of local history reveals that there are two: 1) the March 2007 (incumbent Commission Chair) Ron Rivers who signed a letter of support to purchase and develop Barrett Park and 2) the December 2013 Ron Rivers who voted against it.
I’d like to write-in the Ron Rivers who supports the park.
Cory Roeseler
Hood River
Sinfonietta shines
How fortunate we are to have the Sinfonietta here in the Hood River Valley. I greatly enjoyed the concert on Sunday and didn’t have to travel to Portland to listen to fine music conducted by Mark Steighner. He always adds some interesting information about the selections.
I hope our high school students realize how lucky they are to have him as a teacher in the music department as well. I’m looking forward to the next performance by the Sinfonietta in October.
Alice Facteau
Hood River
Please don’t cut Spanish
I just came from school and told my mom that I heard my school (Hood River Middle School) is cutting the Spanish program. I feel pretty bad about it.
Not only because I really liked my teacher and I wonder what’s going to happen to him, he is a great teacher, and has a family to support, but because Hispanics, my mom told me, are 30 percent of the population in the county. Many families that live and work here are bilingual, and some speak only Spanish. This county is very diverse.
However, my feelings run deeper, I guess. I have the blessing of coming from a bilingual home; my parents are immigrants from Chile and they are bilingual. They speak English and Castellano (they call Spanish Castellano). My first language is English, but I love learning Spanish, because how do I communicate with my family in Chile? How do I read those wonderful books in Spanish? How can I watch the news in Spanish that my mom and dad make me watch?
Worst yet, I feel like with this, the school district doesn’t appreciate my heritage and my language.
I understand, and my mom explained this to me for a long time, that there is an issue with the budget, and money had to be found somewhere. And, although that may make sense to adults, to me, it does not.
The world we live today is different, countries and people are more connected than ever before. Going to college and speaking at least two languages today is the standard. Hood River County kids will not have some of the tools to compete in a global economy.
It is going to be a bummer for my friends that do not have the opportunity to learn Spanish in their homes, and they are many, and they loved the class, and they loved the idea of traveling around the world, and making friends from different cultures.
Anyway, I wanted to share what I felt; my mom said that is what this country is all about, freedom to express opinions. Here is mine.
Montserrat Garrido
Seventh-grade student,
Hood River Middle School
Editor’s note: What is currently proposed for the 2014-15 district budget is a reduction in middle school language offerings.
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