LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
A very worthwhile undertaking It was a massive undertaking, meeting after meeting, dotting the I's and crossing the T's. Those involved were Arnold Palmer's Arnie's Army, an organization dedicated to the fight against prostate cancer and Jerry Leonard's gang of wonderful loving folks from The Highlands Church in Bella Vista.
Sponsors had to be found, signs had to be made, television sets, cruises, airline tickets, watches, and golf rounds donated. Food had to be prepared, a location reserved, loud speakers provided.
Two golf courses had to be reserved, PGA professionals were asked to volunteer. Goody bags had to be stuffed, mulligans sold and golf carts reserved … it was a massive undertaking.
And then there was the marketing … get the word out, get a bunch of guys to pay $ 55 for a round of golf, a few laughs and a good feeling because they're doing something good, donating to a good cause … a cure for Prostate Cancer.
The Weekly Vista and its editor, Douglas Grant, stepped up big time and gave them the coverage they needed and deserved. The Morning News all but ignored them.
A couple of television stations gave a glancing mention. But still the word got out, through The Weekly Vista, our wonderful Bella Vista churches and of course, by word of mouth.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of men's cancer deaths in the state of Arkansas. Almost as many men die of the disease as women die of breast cancer. Prostate cancer can often be cured when treated early and a simple test can detect it. Men must know their PSA and have it checked annually.
Then the question was asked," What if we do more than hold a golf tournament to raise money for prostate cancer research; what if we carry it a step farther and actually get men tested for the disease ?"This is where the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation and Dr. Robert Zimmerman of Benton County Urology came into the picture.
The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation sent up their mobile testing unit with two volunteers from Little Rock. Dr. Zimmerman and his phlebotomist volunteered to do the screenings. Allen Foods donated their parking lot and Vacation Rentals Inc., donated the accommodations. A massive undertaking.
On Sept. 29, 119 men showed up in Allen's parking lot for their free prostate cancer screening. It was the single largest prostate cancer screening in the state of Arkansas history. These guys will have their test results mailed to them or their physician within two weeks. They will know their PSA ! They will also be confident that they are being responsible to themselves and to their families. Who knows, lives may have been saved. It truly was a worthwhile undertaking. Chandler Hatcher Bella Vista Storms continue to impact blood supply As a Red Cross volunteer and chairman of the Greater Ozarks-Arkansas Blood Region, I would like your readers to be aware of the effect that the recent hurricanes and severe weather here have had on our blood supply. With incredible devastation and power outages widespread in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Hanna, blood supplies that were already low in many parts of the country continued to drop. Many blood drives have been cancelled, causing a shortfall in the blood inventory that could have a prolonged effect on patients in need. The limited supply of gas in hard-hit communities has created challenges for both bloodmobile vehicles and those community members who would otherwise travel to a donation location. In addition, many otherwise-willing blood donors have been unable to keep appointments due to weather-related damage and power outages. And, it is not just weather that creates large scale need. The train accident in Los Angeles also had an impact on blood supplies in that area of the country. The local blood region shipped nearly 400 units of blood and blood products to area hospitals to support the victims of the crash. Eligible blood donors who wish to help are encouraged to make an appointment in the days and weeks ahead. The only way to ensure the availability of blood is for donors to respond every day. Our local region distributes an average of 500 units daily to more than 50 area hospitals. Your blood donation will help ensure the Red Cross is ready to serve the needs of patients whenever and wherever it is needed. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE, or visit givelife. org to schedule an appointment. Please give today. Walt Coleman ARC Blood Service Chairman Some people are missing two'R's' The other day my dog Teddy and I took an extralong walk and had an extralong conversation. Because there is currently a 500-word limit on Letters To The Editor, it is going to take a series of letters to detail all of the things Teddy had on his mind.
We just barely got out of the driveway when Teddy said'"I would just like to say that the residents of the city of Bella Vista are for the most part a very special group of people."
"What do you mean ?"I asked ?
"Well", he said," many were raised in the Midwest and had the five "R's "instilled in them early."
"Wait a minute", I said," Five'R's ? I thought there were only three R's ?"
"There are only three today, but there used to be five. You know, reading, writing, and arithmetic that the schools teach today; but there used to be a big dose of respect and responsibility added to it."
"Because of this", he continued," they learned to respect their city enough not to litter on the streets and highways, that respecting your neighbor means you try to actually become his friend, and, that you have enough pride in your own property that you accept the responsibility to keep it looking the best you possibly can.
They also have instilled in them a sense of humor that is critical for coping with the many idiosyncrasies of Bella Vista. For example, you have to have a huge sense of humor when you encounter the stoplight at the intersection of U. S. 71 and Trafalgar Road. Again and again when approaching that intersection on the highway, the light turns red and nothing happens - no body comes down Trafalgar, and if they do, they turn north. Often the light will turn red for a short period, just enough to stop traffic, and then turn green again. It wastes time and gasoline, and tears up the surface of the road. You can only shake your head and smile at what must be the most ineptly timed stoplight in existence.
Then there's the time when you get home after driving through Bella Vista noticing how many of us have been sold vehicles without turn signals. You think maybe you should report this scam to the police, but you have noticed they have been sold some of these cars too. You park your car in the garage and quickly check to see if your car has turn signals. You smile when you see that at least your car has them installed. " "I'm impressed Teddy. I didn't think you noticed things like that. "Well," he said," there are a lot more curious things going on in Bella Vista right now - mostly concerning the Property Owners Association - and they are really no longer funny. I think it's about time the citizens of Bella Vista stand up and say'' Hey, this isn't funny anymore and it's time for a change. ' " "Teddy, I've heard that somewhere but maybe it's a good idea. "Larry Blech Bella Vista Where are the city's spending priorities ? I read that Chief Wozniak is having to reduce police coverage on the weekends due to lack of personnel. Bella Vista has been short of police for a long time and it is way past the time when this needs to be corrected. Also, I understand that their pay rate is lower than other cities in the area. He states that last spring he requested five more officers spread over several years and has yet to get a response from the City. That is too bad, and makes me wonder where the priorities are in city spending. Bella Vista is now receiving millions in turnback money, is getting franchise fees on our utility bills (electric, water, cable, etc. ), receiving property taxes on our homes, receiving personal property taxes on our cars, boats, trailers, etc, and is considering a sales tax. Yet the City is strapped for money. If you add together all the millions of dollars coming in to the POA (assessments ) and City (taxes ), it comes to quite a large sum - a lot more than we had coming in when we just had the POA. And yet, we are not getting anything more than what we were getting when we were just a Property Owners Association. The City of Bella Vista needs to rethink its budget and its priorities and get Chief Wozniak some help for the safety of the residents of Bella Vista.
Jay Soule Bella Vista Signs unsightly I agree completely with Don Kernwein's letter regarding the ugly signs promoting realtor Annette Gore, an agent of ReMax. There are four of them within a mile on Forest Hills and we cannot enter our neighborhood from either direction without passing at least one of them. I seriously question the expertise of a realtor who seems to have no understanding of the importance of the general appearance of a community and am surprised that Re-Max would allow its name displayed in such a manner. Personally I will not recommend either of them to anyone. Beverly Cannady Bella Vista Where we are, where we need to go I believe each of us owe it to each other, and to our Country, to open our eyes and see where we are. then close our eyes and think of where we need to go. We cannot allow the age of a person, the color of their skin, or their political party to be a factor in what is best for all of us. We each need to sort the facts from the spin, consider the candidate's qualifications, and cast our votes accordingly. If we can do this: look ahead and not back, the future might just be better for everyone. Isn't it great how much better we feel when listening to music with our eyes closed. Maybe the reason is we block out the things we think are bad and let the music fill our hearts. Forty-plus years ago, my blind grandmother was living in a care home. She told me her roommate was such a nice person and how much she enjoyed their visits and was so thankful for the company. It was several days before my grandmother learned her roommate was African-American. Yesterday was the past, today is the present, and tomorrow is the future. I don't know a single person who doesn't want a better future. Do you ? Gerald W. Plush Bella Vista Domestic Violence Awareness Month Each year since 1987, October is proclaimed National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Some wonder why, after all these years, we still need to raise awareness about a crime so common and well known. Domestic violence continues to invade the public and private lives of women, men and children, impacting families, friends, co-workers, and communities. The abusive behaviors, whether physical, emotional, economic, sexual, or psychological continue to occur in homes regardless of income or educational levels. Many of us know that violence is occurring behind closed doors of homes within our community. Where we stumble, and often fail, is in knowing what can be done to help those families in crisis. Let us take the opportunity this month to speak out and help victims who have been impacted by domestic violence. You can actively participate and show your support for Domestic Violence Awareness Month by getting involved with your state and local domestic violence programs. Call to see what you can do. Domestic violence is a complicated problem with no simple solutions but there are many steps that we can take to stop a batterer and support a victim. We must join together to address the causes of this crime so every home can be a place of peace and safety. For more information or to get help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides services in English and Spanish. If you, or someone you know, is being abused, contact the Hotline at (800 ) 799-SAFE (7233 ). The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network also operates a 24 hour, 7 day a week hotline for victims of sexual assault. The Network automatically connects callers to a rape crisis center in their community where victims can find counseling and support. You can reach the network at (800 ) 656-4673. Barbara Denson Bella Vista
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