Editor, Times-Union: It is difficult to begin a letter that literally thanks the Warsaw community for being a special place, but I will give in my best effort. As I near my final days as a public servant to this community, many thoughts and memories run through my mind. The most prominent and cherished thoughts are, of course, about the people. As in any city or town, it is the people that really make the difference. This city is positively blessed with an abundance of fine folks. I have been fortunate enough to be able to conduct business, form associations and generally try to accomplish community goals with some of the most significant and substantial business and government leaders in the area - and for this I am grateful. However, what I value even more is my experience with the "unsung heroes" of this community. The people who leave their mark in life by spreading their positive attitude, by being optimistic, by helping others in need or by simply delivering a sincere smile when they hand me my dry cleaning. Not all these people make headlines, nor do they desire recognition. They impact others by their actions and their attitudes. Some of them have served or still serve government and community, some have retired from the banking business and still contribute immensely, some of them teach children by day and clean buildings by night, and some are the hard working folks at Combined Community Services or the Bowen Center that are trying to make a difference in other peoples' lives. They are the people that give unselfishly because it is what comes naturally to them, and they would not have it any other way. If I were to name these people, I would run out of print space. Suffice it to say that the unsung heroes of Warsaw will always stand out in my mind - more than any sign ordinance, developmental standard, annexation or traffic remedy that I may have contributed to. Unsung heroes make or break a community. They are the ones that create human solutions and meaningful relationships. You know who you are. Please don't stop doing what comes naturally and making a difference in this community. Thank you all very much for touching my life and making my stay here more meaningful. To the people of Warsaw, and especially the unsung heroes, I bid you farewell.
Pat Hudson Warsaw
Animal Welfare
Editor, Times-Union: Have you seen all of the signs, both town and county, stating, "Free Puppies - Free Kittens"? I personally wish I could take in every one of them, but obviously this is not to be. If only the humans had realized that one of the goals of the Animal Welfare League is "Spay - Neuter," and that the veterinarians of the county are "ready, willing and able" to assist, puppies and kittens would not be desperate for good loving and caring homes. The plea for spay-neuter is in no way aimed at the AKC and CFA kennels and breeders since the blood lines must be straight and accurate for such.
Your response to the Animal Welfare League Flea Market on May 16 was wonderful and we thank each and every one of you. At the risk of sounding like a two-legged "oink-oink," we need more funds from the Kosciusko County residents to further our goals - spay/neuter, inoculations, education, no-kill shelter, adoption and the like.
Membership is as follows - $10 for each regular member, $1 for each junior member and $250 for lifetime memberships. As of this date, June 3, AWL has 134 regular, 10 junior (of which two are four-legged) and 10 lifetime members.
May we please add you to our growing list today? AWL, P.O. Box 1906, Warsaw, IN 46581-1906.
The meetings are held in the council chambers on the fourth Thursday of each month and begin at 7 p.m. WE NEED YOU!
Please be aware of the "goofy" weather regarding the health and welfare of your pet and treat them as you would want to be treated. Also, take a look at the inoculation list - are they current? Just make sure your pet is given the very best of care and it will respond in like manner.
Were it not for adoption of animals, my husband and I would not have Spooky. The thought of him being a statistic in the minus column is definitely sad. So many puppies and kittens need homes - please give this serious consideration.
Can the AWL count on you and your membership? We certainly hope so. Donations are very welcome too as well as providing for the AWL in your will.
Please let us hear from you today and our sincere thanks to you.
Margaret F. Scott Membership Chairman of the
Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County
Nieter Photos
Editor, Times-Union: The superb photography by Gary Nieter is becoming more professional each year. The June 1 issue on front page of the long-necked ostrich is a nature study of excellence!
His photographs appeal to everyone with their farm and lake scenes, and his composition is unique.
We are so fortunate to have this talent in our community.
Thank you, Times-Union, and thank you, Gary Nieter, for affording us the pleasure!
Nedra Beebe Pierceton
Founding Fathers
Editor, Times-Union: James Madison believed 95 percent of government should be directed by the individual states.
Our Founding Fathers believed the state government would understand the needs of its people better than a federal giant.
Today we have 100 senators, 435 members of the House, a president and vice president and nine Supreme Court justices.
Too often the federal government tries to legislate every aspect of our lives and render the states as impotent subdivisions of the federal government.
We are fortunate to live in a country with many freedoms and opportunities.
We may want to consider how as a nation we are changing.
Will we pass on these freedoms to our children and grandchildren?
Sometimes it's the simple things, right in front of us, that we take for granted and lose.
Mike Woods Warsaw
Manufacturers' Liability
Editor, Times-Union: You just can't leave it alone, can you Mr. Gerard? It's not bad enough you come up with these nasty little nuggets but you gotta put them on the front page?
So some "genius" has come up with a way to extort large amounts of money from the firearms industry. Should it surprise anyone that he is a Democrat running for governor of Pennsylvania? He knows very well that, given our present legal system, manufacturers will do just about anything to stay out of court. Even if they know they will win, the very process is so expensive they're better off trying to find some way of settling out of court. In other words, legalized extortion.
In the first place, firearms are used more often in this country in self-defense than they are ever used for crime, and that is not simply my opinion. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, citizens use firearms 2.4 million times a year to defend themselves. That is 60 times more often than they are used in crime. So why is it that nobody seems to care about those figures?
But more than that, I would like someone to tell me how a manufacturer, any manufacturer, is supposed to control what is done with their product once it leaves their factory. Is an auto manufacturer libeled if his car is used as a getaway car? If a person is killed with a knife, is the manufacturer in jeopardy of being sued into bankruptcy?
Manufacturers expect their products to be sold through legitimate channels. They cannot and never will control the black market, hatred, crime and violence.
Harold Kitson Warsaw
Likes American Table
Editor, Times-Union: This letter is in response to the Potpourri article that appeared in your paper dated May 30, titled "Death Wish." I really don't know where you collect your information and I definitely cannot speak for the Boston Grill, but I do know that the American Table is still going strong - just as it has since the first day it opened several years ago!
I really rather doubt that anyone is parking at the American Table and "shuttling" down to the Hacienda. While I am pleased that Warsaw has new restaurants opening (and I wish them well), it's very unfair to assume that this in turn will close down other establishments in the area. I feel that the American Table has more than proven its success judging by the large groups that are seen waiting for a table on any given day and their weekend business is phenomenal!
It's too bad that other restaurants couldn't take some tips from the management team at the Table. Their ability to take care of their customers is unsurpassed and they genuinely care about everyone who walks in their door. The Katris family not only operate a successful business in Warsaw, they live here, pay taxes here and truly care about Warsaw. You're treated like family each and every time you go in, and I, on more than one occasion, have seen them go above and beyond the call of duty to satisfy a customer. Each and every Thanksgiving they are open and serve hundreds of free meals to senior citizens - I don't recall ever reading any commendations about that.
I suppose if a clean, well-run restaurant, serving wonderful home cooked meals, is not what you're looking for, then the American Table is not the place for you. But for my dollar, as well as many other loyal and satisfied Warsaw patrons, it's my choice! The American Table is the epitome of what a SUCCESSFUL business is all about!
