Letters 11/05: Streetscape has 
a positive impact

I am writing on behalf of Historic Downtown Lebanon Inc. to publicly acknowledge and thank Lebanon leaders for the outstanding job on Lebanon’s streetscape improvement program.

Our new brick paver sidewalks, curbs, decorative street furniture, and street trees look fantastic. Clearly, the project was well conceived and executed. As we all know, projects of this magnitude often go over schedule. But, thanks to the excellent planning, communication, and project management on the part of our city leaders, as well as their contractors and craftsmen, streetscape improvements stayed ahead of schedule on all phases of the project.

Also greatly appreciated is the fact that the carefully planned phasing of the project really helped keep business disruption to a minimum for our retailers. In the long-run, the street improvements will help our central business district draw more shoppers and visitors downtown, as well as provide a jump-start for development opportunities.

Again, we are grateful for the improvements to the streetscape that serve as yet another catalyst to continue current momentum supporting Lebanon’s business district. Especially in today’s economic climate, the work of our City leaders and employees can too often be taken for granted or under-appreciated.

Steve Mullinger

HDLI president 
and operations CEO 
of the Golden Lamb

It’s time for the secrecy to end

President Obama promised us transparency. With the healthcare bill looming before us, the few representatives are meeting behind closed doors. Behind closed doors, they are planning to shove this bill down our throats in spite of the thousands of Americans that protested at the town hall meetings. We are protesting because the representatives have turned a deaf ear to our cries. They are not listening because they voted themselves a wonderful health care plan.

Every senator and congressman pays $500 a year for their plan. They have a clinic on the premises they can go to for anything that ails them 24/7. If they need a specialist, they get one immediately. If they need an MRI or CAT scan, they get it, no waiting. Why don’t they give us this same government plan?

Also, they do not pay into social security. All representatives have voted in a plan that will give them a 100 percent salary when they retire from the Senate or Congress. The comedian, now Sen. Franken, will enjoy that benefit. Americans are stuck with that tremendous expense.

They do not care about the healthcare bill they are fudging behind closed doors or our social security. We should repeal their plan so they go on social security and then they will care what happens to social security. America, wake up and protest what they are doing behind closed doors. This debt is on our children and grandchildren. They are putting us in bankruptcy behind closed doors. Please unite and fight.

Marie J. Pisano

Lebanon

This is what community means

What is a community?  Although over 100 definitions of this word can be found, I define community as “a group of people interacting in a common place that help one another and take care of one another.” 

When relocating to Ohio years ago, we chose this area because it seemed to have that “small town community” feel but also because the school system had an “excellent” rating. After the school levy debate surfaced, I felt moving here was probably a huge mistake. This wasn’t the community we were hoping to invest in and be a part of — people who don’t care about our children’s education or our property values, people who have no interest in educating themselves or fixing the problems, people that just don’t care.

But a couple of weeks ago, on a cold rainy day, I was driving on Stubbs Mill Road with my little girl, our dog and cat, on the way to the vet. Unfortunately, my car stopped on the curve of a hill (not the safest place to break down). To make matters worse, I knew my husband was unreachable for several hours. A car appeared, and the couple inside asked if I needed help. Having a child with me, and not being a very trusting person anyway, I was obviously hesitant. The man immediately started directing traffic and the woman drove to Smith’s Bros. Auto Repair and Towing and returned with a tow truck close behind.

I would have eventually called the number on my insurance card and someone would have eventually towed me. Instead, Roger and Judy Neal came to the rescue. They also insisted on driving us (including dog and cat) home. I would like to thank them for being a part of my community — the kind that helps each other and takes care of one another. I also want to thank Smith Bros. for their honesty and quick work. Maybe this is a community I want to be a part of after all.

Andrea Klercke

Morrow

Beck a good fit for Ohio House seat

I read, with interest, the article concerning Pete Beck’s appointment to the Ohio House seat. While some in the county may not support Pete Beck and feel the wrong person was appointed to the seat, you would have to count me among Beck’s supporters.

I know both candidates and think both are, in general, good men of moral character, but that is where the similarities end. Beck was by far the superior choice. He is a business owner, a CPA, a veteran, a local leader and an advocate for small businesses in our area.

In difficult financial times like these, I find it totally amazing that anyone in a leadership position in the Republican Party would even consider supporting a candidate without a strong business and financial background. I agree that folks in Warren County are concerned with “politics as usual.” But politics as usual in this county has sometimes been more about supporting candidates regardless of their skill set — not this time. This time the right person with the right background got the job. Good for Pete Beck and good for Warren County.

David P. Craig

Maineville