Teen inspiring to Mirror reader

Re: Teen helps others in ‘amazing’ ways (Sports, Dec. 16)

There are some amazing people out there in all age categories and genders. When we focus on stereotypes and what is not work, we miss the best part of the picture. This girl has places to go and things to do! Congratulations to her and her family!

Marlene Barry

Sooke

 

Good for the goose, good for the gander

In Moricetown, B.C., which is 30 minutes from Smithers, local First Nation members said it was too far to the hospital.

So a 15-bed hospital for  500 people with all the amenities was built by the Moricetown Band, with funding from the First Nations Health Authority.

Yet, in Sooke, we live the same distance from the a hospital and can’t get anything for 18,000 area residents.

What is wrong here? I say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Gordon Stewart

Sooke

 

Every business is an economic generator

Re: Arts funding cuts reversed (News, Dec. 16)

It was stated at council that the Sooke Fine Arts Festival is an economic generator therefore deserves public tax dollar funding to host the event. It charges admission and people pay for the art they purchase.

This makes it an event that should cover all operational costs on its own, but the event chooses to pick the pocket of taxpayers.

All business in Sooke is an economic generator and they pay high commercial taxes so how should we attempt to address that?

If this town wants to help people then help the less fortunate, not people with hobbies.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Herb Haldane

Sooke

 

Flooded highway a danger for drivers

Recent completed work on Highway 14, from the western end of the four lanes section to Kangaroo Road, suggests to the average motorist that more attention should have been given to the area where the four lanes narrows to two.

Drainage from the hillside after prolonged rains travels along the edge of the road and builds up to a point where a wide stream develops across the road, with the water collecting in large amounts on the lower side and traffic lane.

This makes for tricky driving at any time with oncoming traffic, but especially during periods of heavy traffic volume.

The situation is compounded by low overnight temperatures.

Hopefully effective attention will be given to this area on Highway 14 in the very near future.

David Bennett

Sooke

 

Be a patron of the arts

My wife Susan and I have been huge supporters of Sooke’s arts community for many years with personal philanthropy as well as corporate sponsorship through our business Little Vienna Bakery & Cafe.

Whether it be Sooke Fine Arts Show, Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, craft fairs, youth choir, theatre, dance or school programs, we love all forms of visual, performing, culinary and decorative arts.

Simply put: art feeds our basic human instinct for harmony, balance, beauty and rhythm, therefore my wife and I have always been ongoing patrons whether it be with our time, energy, intellect or money.

Besides the social benefits that are provided by the arts, as business-people we also understand the tremendous economic benefit that local merchants receive from the efforts of all the various organizations and individuals who continuously give of themselves to enhance this vital component of our community.

We are very pleased to see last week’s decision by mayor and council to go against the recommended funding cuts prescribed by the community grant review committee and reinstate full funding to a number of Sooke’s key arts organizations. A very smart decision indeed!

However the various arts groups will need continuing support besides these community grant monies, and so Susan and I would like to offer a challenge to other individuals and business-people in our community to match our recent donation of $1,000.00 to the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra (or any other arts group) in an effort to ensure the arts can continue to thrive and enhance all of our lives in Sooke.

Michael and Susan Nyikes

Sooke

 

Taxation shuffles the money around

Re: Liberals’ promises more about votes than economy (Opinion, Dec. 16)

The most effective way to help the economy is to get out of the way of honest people building and earning.

Keep in mind that government does not create anything, taxation just shuffles money around unfairly.

Keith Sketchley

Saanich