Events Calendar
Most Read Stories
Blogs:
Akrocentric:
Will Akron Lose its Marbles? America's Oldest Still-Standing Toy Factory is in Akron
Akron Aeros:
Newsom saves ninth in as many tries as Aeros top Thunder
Akron Zips:
Zips offer scholarship to Georgia linebacker
All Da King's Men:
Obama's Shocking Ignorance
Balanced Ledger:
Spring football
Blog of Mass Destruction:
For Mothers Before They Were Against Mothers
BokBluster:
Willie Horton of Gitmo
Browns Bulletin:
Taped signals saga involved the Browns
Cleveland Browns:
McGinest's farewell tour
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Big Ben gets well, so do Cavs
Kent State Sports:
Sonnanstine wins four in April
Ohio Politics:
McCain Veepstakes
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Our family will visit Columbus this summer - need suggestions on things to do.
Olympic Dreams - Running:
Oregon Twilight
Patrick McManamon:
The key to game 4 isn't real complex …
Sound Check:
Black Keys play "secret" Myspace Show at Beachland
Tia's Trends:
Whitehall Jewelers CEO to Retire
The Heldenfiles:
"Survivor" Season Finale
The Sports Blitz:
Cleveland Browns - They Love Them! They Really, Really Love Them!
Varsity Letters:
North, Firestone win Auten track and field titles
Voice of the People
The great tobacco fund raid
Recently, I ended a smoking cessation class at a local hospital with a group of people who particularly touched my spirit. Many of them were hard-core smokers; many of them had smoking-related health issues. Many had doubts about their ability to succeed. It was the last class for this group, but also a turning point in tobacco cessation resources for the state of Ohio, and for me.
Jolt of Taser reality
This letter is for the people who are crying about the victory for Taser International in the recent case in Summit County Common Pleas Court: You have no idea what you are talking about.
Character counts
In a May 1 column, Steve Hoffman, a Beacon Journal editorial writer, complained about the ''trivialization of presidential politics.'' He complained that the recent clamor concerning the relationship between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright is a trivial matter and of little importance to the American voters.
An outdated farm bill
This letter is in response to the numerous articles concerning the farm bill. The farm bill currently being considered by Congress is a multibillion dollar, farm-subsidy bill renewed every five years. It is a continuation of the 2002 farm bill.
Unscientific method
Robert Lattimer's recent letter regarding the movie Expelled was amusing (''Evolution and its critics,'' May 1). In past letters, he has been unequivocal in his distaste for evolutionary theory. He has also been active in trying to get evolutionary theory removed from the classroom or, at a minimum, forcing all sorts of disclaimers to be attached to it.
Support new GI benefits
At least 57 U.S. senators from both parties support the proposed Webb-Hagel bill, known as the new GI Bill of Rights. It would provide funding for Ohio veterans to obtain a college education at in-state rates. No other proposed legislation goes that far, or makes as great a promise to our veterans.
High-definition headaches
Which special interest convinced (or connived with) Congress to pass this unfair law? Why are we forced to have only high-definition TV? My analog picture is quite satisfactory, nothing wrong with the picture quality. Some find the high-definition pictures sometimes way too sharp and harsh, maybe even damaging to the eye after watching it for long periods of time. It is unnatural. Details are way beyond what the human eye sees in nature. In addition, many of the new wide-screen TVs are just mechanically stretched pictures. Everyone and everything is too wide.
Democrats, unite
Like millions of other Democrats, my angst over the suicidal presidential campaign has now reached a critical level. It seems clear that we are hell-bent on losing an election that couldn't possibly be lost. My personal solution would be to take Clinton and Obama into a small room, give them a coin, and force them to flip: The winner will be the presidential nominee, and the loser will be the ''veep.'' No more bloodletting. No more putting your personal interests above those of the Democratic Party and the people of the United States.
Raw deal in Twinsburg
The Summit County Port Authority and former Twinsburg Township trustees concede begrudgingly that the current trustees legally were able to terminate the series of one-year lease agreements for the township hall building. I believe the county spin machine helped create the drama over township payment of rent (we did pay $104,000, by the way, on April 9, two days before getting the notice to vacate by April 30) for the sole purpose of erasing forever from the public's mind a far more inconvenient truth: inept and ultra-quick decisions made behind the public's back during 2005 that created the super-sized, big-box boondoggle in the first place.
Evolution and its critics
Movie critics are well-known for having a diversity of opinions. For the documentary Expelled, the Beacon Journal chose to publish a review by Roger Moore ('' 'Expelled' documentary a debacle on evolution,'' April 18). Moore pans the movie as a ''mockery of evolution, a film that dresses creationist crackpottery in an 'intelligent design' leisure suit.'' Predictably the Beacon Journal gives Expelled one star, its lowest rating. On the other hand, MovieGuide.com describes the film as a ''wry, funny, well-crafted documentary that is also heart-rending, convincing and transformational.'' Movie Guide calls the film ''exemplary'' and gives it four stars, its highest rating.
Reasoning about guns
There have been quite a lot of letters lately relating to guns. Opponents say that their number (about 270 million in the United States in 2007) and easy acquisition are ultimately responsible for our abnormally high homicide rates, especially mass killings on college campuses, malls, etc.
Tuition tide for Akron
In 1913, the trustees of Buchtel College transferred the institution and its assets to the city of Akron. The immediate impact of this decision to create the Municipal University of Akron was to make a college education, funded in part by city tax dollars, a reality for thousands of Akron families, including my own.
'Volunteer' duty
Regarding the April 9 story ''Parents' help sought at schools,'' I am perplexed. As a parent who has volunteered at my children's schools for several years, I'd like to say that I volunteer because I can. When I worked full time, it was not an option. Would House Bill 519 require both parents of a two-parent home to volunteer?
Tuition trauma
It should not be a surprise that tuition costs at the University of Akron have risen so much in the past 20 years. In that time, support from the Ohio government has steadily declined (in many years, from cuts in state subsidies or, if the university was ''lucky,'' flat funding) in spite of rising costs.
A vast, left-wing conspiracy?
In Ed Davidian's April 9 letter, ''Stop the power grab for the Summit GOP,'' he asserts, like many Alex Arshinkoff supporters have, that the movement of the New Summit Republicans is all part of some vast conspiracy between state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, Summit County Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Jones and the law firm Roetzel & Andress.
Drugs, ads and your bills
I was amazed to find two full-page ads for Vytorin in the Beacon Journal recently. I can only imagine the cost, all of which is passed on to the consumer in the form of astronomical prices for medication.
Volunteer incentive
In response to the April 15 column by Laura Ofobike, the Beacon Journal chief editorial writer (''A club to scare up the volunteer spirit''):
Allies in economic war
Wow, I knew things were bad, but David Knox's article on higher education (''Degree can't always open door to middle class,'' April 13) was a real eye-opener for me.
What's fair price for shelter?
Regarding John Christoff's April 2 letter, ''Fair asking price for animal shelter,'' in which he objected to a county councilman questioning the cost of new housing for our beloved animals in need:
Give all the credit that is due
Sen. Barack Obama said that Republicans have embraced a bankrupt philosophy for the past three decades and put our economy out of whack (''Obama says Republicans 'out of touch' over policies,'' April 15). If one looks back three decades ago, one might be surprised at a pretty robust economy under a Republican named Reagan.
Tough path to a degree
I applaud David Giffels' timely article (''Banking on a degree,'' April 13) describing the financial challenges facing those who seek a university education. As I look back on my own education in the 1970s and the very modest resources of my two hard-working parents, I have to wonder if today's challenges are insurmountable for many.
Volunteers by coercion
I have to voice my outrage at the April 9 article, headlined ''Parents' help sought at schools,'' about a bill that would require parents to donate at least 13 hours of time to their school district each year or be forced to pay a $100 fine. If parents fail to pay, the fine could be deducted from their state income-tax refunds.
Law firm's focus: Clients
Proudly, I am a Republican who has practiced law in Akron with Roetzel & Andress for my entire 29-year career. Much has been said of late about our firm and Summit County politics. Here are the facts.
Ready for new GOP leader
Regarding Carol Gasper's letter of March 11, ''Republicans need to bury the hatchet'': She really doesn't get it. The only way we will get better leadership in Summit County is if we elect a new chairman.
Trouble with teacher tenure
In my many years with my many children in the public school system, we have experienced some wonderful teachers. It has amazed me as I have watched professional, knowledgeable and caring individuals inspire and educate my children. These wonderful people have integrity and commitment. They serve as positive role models for our youth.
Still cudgeling the Clintons
I am always surprised and disturbed when I read vindictive columns similar to Joan Vennochi's on April 6, '' 'That woman' still an issue for the Clintons.''
Speed makes waste of gas
The Page One article on March 23, ''Truckers slow down to save gas,'' was welcome and long-awaited news.
Obama's true colors
I take issue with Maureen Dowd's March 20 commentary ''Obama stops the bleeding. He doesn't heal all racial wounds.''
Refunds waiting for claimers
With the tax deadline fast approaching, here's some important news. Families paying for child or dependent care may be entitled to extra money in tax refunds or pay less on taxes they owe.
Ohio's war on taverns
I own a large neighborhood tavern in the Akron area. I make continuous improvements to my building. I have won a beautification award from the North Akron Board of Trade. I employ approximately 13 people. I faithfully pay state, city and federal taxes, as well as license fees that all go up frequently.
Educating Sen. Voinovich
Dennis Willard's column March 23, ''It's time to educate Voinovich,'' was less than half as long as it might have been, based on the senator's record, as the following examples illustrate:
Living up to King's dream
I am a 75-year-old African-American born in Montgomery, Ala. I know how hard America has fought for racial equality. I know how far America has come in reaching that goal.
Full presence for full pay
I was taken aback by the March 22 article (''Professor says he lost chair job for lacking chair time'') about the controversy over the work schedule of the chairman of the University of Akron philosophy department.
No gray zone in election law
As law director for the city of Akron, I think it is important that I clarify for our citizens a city ordinance concerning campaign contribution limits that, on occasion, receives attention in news stories in the Beacon Journal.
Broken middle-class dreams
Don't blame handguns
Jane Grover wrote (''Handguns are the problem,'' Voice of the People, March 5) that many tragedies on college campuses are due to handguns. Did she think this up on her own, or was she taught that an inanimate object has a mind of its own to cause violence?
Loyal opposition
It seems that Barack Obama's proudest achievement is his ''opposition from the start'' to the Iraq war.
Time is running out
Even though global warming is upon us, the Bush administration has obstinately refused to acknowledge the truth of its existence — this despite the continued cry of the Union of Concerned Scientists and the warning presented in Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Now we are told that if the rate of melting of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is not quickly slowed, we face a sea-level rise of one meter (39 inches) by the year 2050 and a rise of 12 meters, or 39 feet, by the time those ice sheets are all melted.
