SANCTUARY WEDDING

Don’t overlook Mosaic Ministry contribution

I am writing in response to your front page article in your July 11 edition. The article was in relation to the marriage of Verdel and Robert Anderson. Although this was well written, several parts of this article need amplifying. The author made this statement:

“The (Interfaith) Sanctuary community, residents and volunteers, pitched in to pay for a reception ‘complete with wedding cake’ across the street at Ann Morrison.”

This statement was correct about residents and volunteers; however, the volunteers and the majority of the food were provided Mosaic Street Ministry.

I am not saying anything negative or trying to place blame. I would just like to see credit go where it is due.

This small ministry is run by Denie Tackett, a wonderful woman who has changed many lives. Denie celebrates life, love and friendship every Sunday down at Ann Morrison park.

I merely wish for people to recognize all the wonderful people, like Denie Tackett, who participate in the serving the community not just on special occasions but every day they can.

NICHOLE HUBBELL, Boise

ACHD SPENDING

Agency throws away money on unnecessary work

I know where the schools can get extra money: ACHD. Our subdivision, which is only six years old, got the chip-sealing done in June. I realize that this is a preventative measure, but one of our streets was just put in at the end of April, and they chip-sealed that, too.

After much prodding from our subdivision, ACHD finally installed crosswalks to make it safer for all the children to walk to the nearby school. The crosswalks were put in at the end of April, only to have them chip-sealed over, so they had to be done again.

Then, if chip-sealing weren’t enough, they had to put down a “fog seal” which was really black oily tar.

Seems to me that ACHD has way too much money if they can throw it around foolishly.

In times of economic hardship, we need to look long and hard at government agencies wasting our tax dollars.

KAREN SWANSON, Meridian

REPORTS FROM ISRAEL

Dispatches reflected good-vs.-evil reality

Reading Nancy Gidden’s letter of July 3 asking for “balance” from the paper when printing reports on Israel, the implication being that the Arab side was not covered. I am reminded of a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter from the 1930s (Walter Durante) who provided reliably “balanced” reporting from Stalin’s Russia.

Perhaps the high point in his “balance” was his denial of the Ukrainian starvation and Stalin’s deliberate orchestration of the deaths of millions.

What the good writer seems to forget is that there are some issues that simply cannot be balanced. One side represents good in the world and the other evil. There was no good side to Hitler or Stalin, just as there is no good side to terrorists, Hamas, Hezbollah or the host of other evils that is the Arab world today dealing with Israel.

No amount of political correctness can change this essential truth. Only one side is calling for the utter destruction of the other. It is as simple as good vs. evil and Scott Yenor’s dispatches report the good.

JIM VERDOLINI, Boise