5/14/2008

Erie missed out on golden opportunity

In the April 16th Erie Review article, “Developing balance,” trustee Colin is quoted as saying, “The board is committed to keeping an eye on Briggs Street area and to do the small things we can to help it.”

That resolve needs to be conveyed to the town personnel. Because something big came along and they dropped the ball.

I felt such excitement when Neil and Penny Kjack of Kenosha Farms came to let me know they were wanting to start a farmer’s market on Saturdays here in Erie. They had been to the city and were told they would have to find private land to use. They were thinking of using my lawn and driveway area. What a boon for the businesses in the historic district!

Obviously that excitement didn’t resonate from the town personnel. They didn’t jump at the opportunity to “make it happen.” Doesn’t the city own the huge open spaces on High St.? The space between Wells and Moffat, across from Coal Miner’s Park is a perfect location for a Farmer’s Market. There is a place for the children to play while their parents shop, existing restrooms and plenty of parking. But the farmers were sent away to fend for themselves.

They went to Lafayette and got a totally different response. Not only did the city have a location in mind (the old Wal-Mart parking lot) but gave them a $5,000.00 grant to provide port-a-potties and advertisement. Their gain, our loss.

So, on Saturdays when the Farmers Market is in full swing, the people of Erie, Lafayette, Broomfield, Thornton, Louisville, and other towns will be taking their dollars to the “enlightened” town of Lafayette. Their retail district will enjoy the increase in business, and the town will get their grant money back many times over in sales tax revenue.

Cheryl Sommers
Erie

4/30/2008
Imposed values violate promises
As a practicing Catholic and member of the Exempla Healthcare Board, I am particularly proud of the work of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. I would like to join the entire community in thanking them for their 150 years of service to Colorado, especially for founding Saint Joseph Hospital—one of three hospitals in the Exempla system.
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4/30/2008
How will Lafayette ‘rebuild’ after fire?
Is it easy for me to write a letter about named arsons who, with a burning anger in their hearts, took a flame to a central community gathering place?
Yes and no.
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4/30/2008
Finance road repairs accordingly
Our roads, streets, and bridges are in dire need of attention, and repairs will cost money. I don't object to raising user fees to help do this, but I think the increase ought to be imposed according to who is causing most of the damage and who derives most of the financial benefits from the use of the roads.
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4/23/2008
Rezoning at expense of the majority
The proposed rezoning of the land on the southeast corner of Leon Wurl and 119th to a much higher density is a travesty.
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4/23/2008
Cache la Poudre worth the risk?
The more people we add to Colorado, the more we destroy the beauty and majesty of our mountain state. Who benefits from destruction of our wild rivers? What final purpose to such growth?
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4/23/2008
Bring equal financing to public schools
The Colorado Constitution must be amended if we want to provide “equal” financing and therefore, “equal” educational opportunities to all students regardless of where they live.
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4/16/2008
Volunteer Week a chance to recognize achievement
We all need a little help finding what direction to take in our lives sometimes, someone to help us find not only this sense of direction, but of purpose too.
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4/16/2008
BVSD didn’t listen to Louisville residents
I am very disappointed in how the citizen input concerning Louisville Middle School has been handled by BVSD. I did a survey of several different neighborhoods in Louisville and got 168 signatures to preserved the LMS facade and auditorium.
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4/16/2008
BVSD hid agenda during LMS decision
When the Nov. 11, 2006 school bond was presented to Boulder County voters, this is what was stated: “... modernizing, expanding, constructing, renovating and repairing” our schools.
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4/9/2008
After Prom success a community achievement
Last Saturday, I stayed up all night. I was not alone. I was joined by many volunteers as well as a significant majority of our local teen population. The event was the Centaurus/Monarch After Prom and it was yet another opportunity to experience the greatness of our community.
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4/2/2008
CSAP testing needs new absentee format
I teach fourth grade in BVSD. We just finished our March Madness ... CSAP testing. There is a point not considered in your editorial about the effects of the flu on testing and negative scores passed down to buildings due to student absenteeism “on the CSAP testing day.”
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4/2/2008
Everitt doesn’t give Superior enough credit
Apparently, Paul Everitt doesn’t understand why Superior constitutes a town. He complains there is no basketball court. He complains there is no library, no downtown, no post office. Mr. Everitt seems to believe “the only reason there are residents in Superior is because they couldn’t find a home in Louisville”…
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