Published: October 04, 2008 03:13 pm            

Readers’ forum: Oct. 5, 2008

TERRE HAUTE — Judge Bolk stood up to ‘deadbeat’

After reading the article “Deadbeat parent can’t run from police” dated Sept. 20 I was extremely thrilled that Judge Bolk had enforced the law and sentenced the deadbeat father to four years in prison and fined him to pay $45,045 plus court costs for not paying support for 14 years.

If our judges were to enforce the law, sentence and fine deadbeat parents with the same strength of action that Judge Bolk has shown perhaps this would send deadbeats a message of what they may face if they don’t take care of their responsibilities.

The children of these men and women were not asked to be brought into this world and are the responsibility of BOTH parents; the financial responsibility should not be borne by only one parent. We all owe a thank you to Judge Bolk for standing up to a “deadbeat parent.”

— Myles Taylor

Terre Haute

Outsourcing the

American dream

I am a mother of four children two who are still in grade school. I was working in a automotive factory for the past 13 years and recently had to quit that job. The reason that I quit is because I was driving 90 miles round trip and with gasoline prices and child care existing on about $100 per week.

I am currently employed at a job making half what I was making that is closer to my home. My frustration is that the working class is not gaining any ground. I have cashed in my retirement to pay off all my bills. I had to ask for government assistance for my younger children because I now haven’t any insurance for myself.

It is a shame that we have outsourced and sold out the American dream for money. I would say that we need to take care of our own people before we can take care of the rest of the world.

— Sherry L. Moore

Terre Haute

CANDLES sets date for fall fundraiser

I opened the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center on April 30, 1995. My hope and dream has been to educate students and visitors about the ultimate price of prejudice, the reasons for its happening, and how to prevent it. I wanted to give Terre Haute, the city I love and have called my home for the past 48 years, a gift that makes Terre Haute unique out of all the other cities in Indiana.

Consider these qualities that make CANDLES unique among Holocaust museums: it is the only one in Indiana; it is the only one dedicated to the memory of the Mengele Twins; it is the only one focusing on a child’s perspective of the Holocaust; it is the only one that focuses on medical experimentation; and it is the only one that emphasizes forgiveness as a method of self-healing.

In the last 10 months, we have had over 4,000 students and 500 individual visitors from as far as Boulder, Colo., Los Angeles, Calif., New York, N.Y., and Berlin, Germany. They came to see the museum, talk to our docents, and benefit from our educational programs. While they were here, they stayed at our hotels, ate at our restaurants, bought our gas, and left with a positive image of our city.

We are very grateful for the support you have shown us in our early years and when we rebuilt after the museum was destroyed in 2003. I and CANDLES are proud to not only serve our community as educators, but also as hosts representing Terre Haute to tourists. These are difficult economic times, but a financial contribution to CANDLES is an investment in our children’s well-being and an investment in Terre Haute’s economic well-being.

To continue our work, we need your help. If you like what we do, then please purchase a ticket to our Fall Reception for $50. The reception is our only fundraising event of the year. It will happen on Oct. 16, from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., and will feature a WWII memorabilia exhibit, food, fun, music, a $1,500 raffle, and a great silent auction. We will also unveil our self-guided tour. It is a great opportunity to support our work and come see the museum.

We would like to thank the sponsors of the Fall Reception: Hamilton Center, Dr. Andy Farber, First Financial Bank, Terre Haute Savings Bank, VFW, and Baesler’s Market. To get tickets, simply stop by the museum at 1532 S. Third St. (1.5 blocks north of Hulman), or go on our Web site, www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org.

Thank you for your support and admiration, and we hope to see you on Oct. 16!

— Eva Kor

Founding Director

CANDLES

Holocaust Museum

Wild animal shows

promote suffering

I am deeply concerned by the Zorah Shrine Temple’s decision to bring a circus with performing wild animals to our area.

The elephants, big cats, bears, primates, and other wild animals used in circuses endure inhumane and abusive training and living conditions. When they are not performing, they spend the great majority of their time in extremely close confinement and have little legal protection at state or federal levels.

In addition, performing wild animals pose a real threat to public safety, precisely because they are wild and therefore unpredictable. No amount of training or affection can eliminate this danger.

I urge the Zorah Shrine Temple to sponsor events that do not involve animals, such as arts and crafts fairs, tractor pulls, auto shows, and concerts. The use of performing wild animals not only creates a dangerous atmosphere, but also desensitizes individuals — especially impressionable children — to animal suffering.

— Angela Bridgewater

Terre Haute

Davis-Canal needs county’s attention

As I observe every morning the flow of continuous traffic at Davis Avenue and Canal Road, there has just been a sound of metal on metal. I am left with a sick feeling because I know there are students going to South, and many people with families going to work, mothers taking their children to day care or school, and possibly elderly going to volunteer or part time jobs.

Through the years, neighbors have all stated that the county won’t do anything about this intersection until someone is killed. The time is drawing close. My neighbors are all gone and it is left up to me to hear and see the tragedy of these senseless accidents due the absence of a traffic signal.

I know the county is planning on one when the widening of the road is complete, but people will be seriously hurt or killed until that time. Vigo County, please consider this intersection a death zone and act accordingly.

The ambulance and Honey Creek Fire Department are responding now, which indicates possibly a serious injury.

— Jean Vibbert

Terre Haute

Remember businesses that

take risks

I am writing in response to the news that Erirowcin Aviation Inc. is withdrawing their proposal to open a facility at Hulman Regional Airport. As discouraging as it is to see that Ericowcin Aviation was not able to come up with an agreement with the airport board of directors, I take offense with Terre Haute’s public affairs director Darrel Zeck’s view of the present conditions of the airport. He states that “As a city, we’re disappointed because we saw this as an opportunity for yet another private company to come in and add growth, value and some economic development to an otherwise stale airport environment, and possibly create new jobs and add a fresh face to the airport.”

This is true, but what about the companies out at the airport now, especially the newest restaurant at the airport, Louise’s Fine Italian Food and Bar?

I was out there on Friday and noticed the many changes they have made to the facility and I believe that the owners should be commended for investing in the facility when I am sure they could have chosen a number of locations that would have better suited their needs. It might not provide the same number of economic development opportunities as other types of business at the airport, but if Mr. Zeck cannot appreciate the small businesses that are making and taking risks at the airport, how can he expect any other type of business to do the same?

Thank you, Louise’s, and I look forward to your grand opening!

— Jennifer Polifroni

Terre Haute

Thanks to Hoosiers

for all their help

We moved to Texas 10 years ago to be closer to our daughter and her family after over 40 years in Indiana. We just want the people of Terre Haute and Indiana to know that we saw a welcome sight today.

A caravan of trucks helping with the recent storm damage in Texas were from Indiana. We are proud of their participation and just want the public to know Hoosiers are great.

We waved, said thank you, and that we were from Indiana. We didn’t have much damage and we have all of our services back. For those still without, these trucks are a welcome sight. These workers have left their families to help Texas families.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, from us and from Texas.

— Martha Howard

Tomball, Texas

        

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