Returning the favor

Dear Editor:

My family is a huge supporter of the event Smiles For Miles. Each year friends and family come to a fundraising event filled with great food, laughter and a great cause. This year I was amazed at how many fine establishments gave products, gift cards or donated services to help raise money to help find a cure for diabetes despite how hard Hurricane Ike made it on those who gave.

I will start this by saying I know I don’t have all the people or companies down who helped, but here are a few I noticed and would like to personally thank: The Conservatory, Mud Pie, Stacey’s Dance Studio, Jason’s Deli, The Adelman Family, Carrabas, Amedeos, Andrews Music, The Veranda, Pat and Rays Studio, Gayle’s Hallmark, Centre Stage, Lifeway, Pet Ranch, Thrivent Financial For Lutherans Jonathan Hoyme, RCs Pizza, Best Wishes Gifts, Alspaugh’s Ace Hardware Rent-A-Husband, Katy Blades Fencing Academy, Evans Creek Farm, Houston Supply and Mfg.Co. with Jack and Karen Sirman, Rachael’s Hallmark, Old MacDonald’s Farm, Avon, Houston Health Museum, Kingwood Family Chiropractic, Glitz and Glam, Debra McGee, Sign Designs Now, Jean Fowler, Y.M.C.A., Kingwood Yoga, Gina Carlson, Domestic Auto Experts in Atascocita.

Chuck Montgomery, comedian, had the whole group bursting into laughter that causes hiccups! The kids loved all the balloon art he made for them! Pizza was served, as was Zachary’s Cajun Café and wow, it was good! The silent and live auctions were filled with amazing gifts and ideas. Creekwood Middle School sent some of the kindest students to help and I am impressed with their good manners. Several bands played and all were great! Christ The King let Smiles For Miles borrow the space for the night and were very generous. This night, the whole community came together.

So, I would just like to say a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you. I know Rick and Alicia Lindholtz with Elena Claire and Miles feel the same way.

Jennifer and Carlos Morris

Kingwood

Adding up the benefit

Dear Editor:

Your Sept. 22, article by Kim Melchor didn’t give the whole story about the HISD tax increase. From what I can tell, the 13-cent rate hike would be over and above what HISD can do legally without a vote. From what I understand per the HISD Web site, they can increase by four cents per year without a vote. They want both the four cents and 13 cents, so it’s 17 cents, not the 13, from what I can tell. The $1.30 per $100,000 doesn’t add up either.

I can only find the 2007 Humble ISD tax rate which is $1.31. In order to get to $1.52, they would need to do the following: four-cent increase for 2008; and four-cent increase, plus 13-cent increase for 2009 to be able to get to the $1.52.

Per the Web site, a district can only generate the amount of funds per WADA it received in 2005-06 by taxing at its compressed rate ($1.33); a district can only raise its rate four cents without a rollback election; and if a district ever needs more money than it received in 2005-06 and from the four cents, it must call a rollback election.

Donald Pehl

Atascocita

Reply from Kim Melchor, Tribune Correspondent:

The method for calculating school finances is anything but simple. Several factors are involved both in what is contained within the tax rate, and in how the district is able to achieve that rate. Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Guy Sconzo was able to further clarify the situation.

“The writer’s assertion that ‘they (the district)’ can increase by four cents per year is not true. Under HB 1, a school board can by a vote of the Board only, increase the school operating tax rate (M&O tax rate) by four cents to $1.04 once, period. We did that last year. Hence, our current operating tax rate (M&O tax rate) of $1.04. Beyond that, the school operating tax rate can be increased up to an additional 13 cents by a vote of the community, to the state cap (which cannot be exceeded under current state law - HB1) of $1.17.

The writer seems to also assume that $1.52 tax rate is all operating tax rate (M&O tax rate). It is not. The $1.52 assumes a state capped M&O tax rate of $1.17 and our current I&S tax rate (for bonded indebtedness - bond issues) of 35 cents.

Finally, the writer correctly asserts our 2007 total school tax rate of $1.31. That is comprised of the $1.04 M&O tax rate and the then 27-cent tax rate. In May 2008, voters approved our bond issue for an additional eight cents.

Hence the total tax rate of $1.04 M&O plus 35 cents I&S, and if rollback election passes, an additional 13 cents M&O = $1.52.”

Goodbye Champlain, Hello Kingwood

Dear Editor,

The View From the Lake… is breathtaking! The fall’s vivid colors are another glorious memory. Goodbye Champlain, see you in the spring. The ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains was stunning. Now back to home and H-Ike insurance claims. YUK!

1. “Dr Strangelove” - 1964þ or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Peter Sellers in three funny roles. Do you remember who you were with when you saw this movie? (I was with my college sweetheart.) In one hilarious scene:

“As they start their bomb run on a Russian base, the damaged B-52’s bomb bay doors jam, and Major ‘King’ Kong [Slim Pickens, (not the energy guy)], aircraft commander, is working the problem himself. In forcing the doors open, Kong, while sitting on the bomb, falls out. He rides the bomb to the ground like a rodeo cowboy, hat in hand, whooping and hollering as he plummets to the ground while straddling the bomb.” Yaaaah Hoooooo! Yaaaah Hooooooo! Yeeeee Hawwwww! Whoop, whoop, whoop. Yaaaah Hoooooooooooooo! BOOM! The bomb explodes, triggering the Russian Doomsday Machine (multiple nuclear explosions) The END…literally. Memories of growing up during the Cold War.

2. Pick, Pick Pickens But there is another Pickens, not Slim. T. Boone has built his “army” of supporters to over 1.3 million energy lovers. Support his plan for reducing our dependence on foreign oil. How? By developing more solar, wind and natural gas power. You can enlist in Boone’s army at: push.pickensplan.com.

3. Forget Ethanol For Fuel … just have a drink instead. From Chrysler manual: “Because E85 contains less energy per gallon than gasoline, you will experience an increase in fuel consumption. You can expect your MPG and your driving range to decrease by about 30% compared to gasoline operation” So in other words, they add 15% EtOH to gasoline but you use 30% more so you are at a net 15% loss of fuel. Great isn’t it? So drink ethanol, don’t drive it.

4. It takes a Village: The Village Learning & Achievement Center’s 4th Annual Charity Gala, is worth attending. The event will be held at the newly renovated Crowne Plaza Houston North Greenspoint on November 8, 2008. The evening includes dinner, dance, live band, auctions, fun and appreciation: as individuals with disabilities have been readily accepted and blended into the community.

Rick Alspaugh of Alspaugh’s Ace Hardware will be honored as an outstanding business partner who has furthered the VLAC cause through donations, fundraising, volunteering, and employing one of the Villagers. Community support is good for the soul. Come on out!

L.M.D.B. (Big Lou) Georgiades,

Kingwood

Stan the man?

Dear Editor,

On Northpark, in Kingwood, there is a sign that reads, “Stan is back.” Apparently that was a warning that I should stay as far away from there as possible.

On Oct. 24 at 3 p.m., I had an appointment with “Stan.” I arrived with my 3- and 6-year-old children to have two tires replaced and an alignment done on my car. I was told it would take approximately an hour and a half to finish. My children and I went to the waiting room to watch TV while they worked on the car. I saw them pull it up on the lift and begin work right away.

At 4 p.m., I went to check on the progress (remembering I still had to wait a half an hour, but I was hopeful). I did not see my car anywhere! So I asked an employee, “Is my car down on the other end now?” The reply shocked me. He said, “No, our screen on the machine was acting funny. We couldn’t see anything on it, so we took it up the road to our 1960 store to do the alignment.” I was shocked. I said, “You did not tell me even though I was sitting here the entire time! I then, being uncomfortable with this, insisted they bring my car back- now. Then “Stan” (assuming he is the want-to-be Store Manager but I am not sure of his title) shows up a few minutes later and is ranting to me about how I asked for an alignment so he was getting it done. I explained that no one asked me to take my car off property; nor did they explain that driving my car to the 1960 location would be the only way that I would be getting the alignment done. I also explained that if taking it to another location were necessary, I could and would have done so. With a very nasty attitude and acting as if I were to blame for this matter, he then says, “Fine, you can take it there yourself and I will have them take it off the machine over there and bring it back.” He insisted there was nothing wrong with their machine, “just a glare from the sun.” He then began ranting to the other guys in the office how he couldn’t believe I was mad even though I asked them to do the work.

My car finally arrived back around 4:35 p.m. (the time I was suppose to have it back done and ready) of course “per my wishes” it did not have the alignment done. I continued to explain, by this time I was very agitated, that I was very upset they would take my car without telling me! “Stan” then replied I had signed to have the work done, so they were getting it done. I was not offered even a single calming word, nor was I even offered an apology. I even had to pay full price for the work that was done. I said to “Stan” the part of this that disgusts me the most is that I didn’t even get an apology. He said, “If you were nicer to me, then maybe I would have.” What did I do to him? At this point (still standing there with my two children), I was getting much louder. “Stan” threw a business card to me with a number on it and said “take it up with my boss, I followed policy.” I explained that I would be and I would let everyone else know what happened too. He replied with, “Good. I have been ‘nice’ long enough. Now, get out of here. Leave!”

On another note... My low (but not too low) when I arrived there gas tank had a fuel light on when I got the car back. I also had to use baby wipes to clean the black grime off the steering wheel and shifter knob before I could even drive it!

I also checked with the BBB. They have an Unsatisfactory Rating with 14 unanswered complaints! There are also 36 closed complaints, many of those were unresolved.

Kingwood beware. “Stan is back!”

C. Reuter

Kingwood

Halloween scary signs

Letter to Editor:

My house was littered with numerous McCain/Palin signs on Halloween. At first I was upset but then realized how incredibly funny this is. They are now MY signs to do what I want with them. So, I left them on my lawn and added a message of my own.

Many Obama signs have been stolen in our community and we have not been able to replace them because of the incredible demand for them.

Apparently, the McCain campaign has plenty to give out, no backorders on his signs!

Someone felt that they could deposit 15 of them on my lawn. Don’t worry Kingwood, I recycle !

I have always been an Obama supporter and feel that everyone should have the right to vote for whoever they choose. Even in the south, people!

Given the number of signs that were put on my lawn and the hate note left , this was an ADULT that has some issues.

I really don’t care one way or another if someone agrees with me or not. I am an independent person unlike some of the ignorant people I run across in my daily life in this community. I let them roll right off me like Senator Obama does. See Kingwood it is a calmness that we really need in a President , not one that is erratic.

McCain has been throwing every name at Senator Obama and just praying that one of them will stick. The most recent of course was Socialist. Wow!

I find that amusing since the Republican administration run by our current and soon to be gone (thank god) President Bush instituted the most socialist bailout in history of our banks and corporations like AIG, etc.

McCain wants you to believe that Obama will tax you to death. If you make under $250,000 you will not be taxed more, period. 95% of people fall into this category. McCain will tax you more period. Do the math.

McCain before he decided to run for President was against the BUSH tax cuts for the wealthiest 4-5%. Now, he wants to reinstate the BUSH tax cuts for the rich. That leaves the middle class out of his equation once again.

If you can follow the many speech’s that Senator McCain has been giving, he talks about Obama’s redistributing the wealth, (at least that was last week)!

I was reading about this in Newsweek and it says “John McCain is claiming that Barack Obama”believes in redistributing wealth.” The problem with this charge is not that it’s untrue. It’s that McCain—along with most of his supporters—favors redistribution, too. Government redistributes wealth to some extent by its very existence, since it’s impractical for citizens to pay for or benefit from it in equal proportion, even if that were desirable. So long as you have a system of taxation and spending on public goods like education and roads, some people will do better out of the bargain than others. The real questions are whether public policy consciously tries to affect the distribution of wealth, and how much it tries to change it and in what direction.” The article goes on to explain the absurd notion that McCain is trying to make but you can read that on your own time if you choose.

Does McCain want to do away with programs like: social security, medicare, medicaid, unemployment, etc. ?

Can you imagine what would have happened to social security during this economic meltdown if Bush and McCain had privatized social security like they wanted to??

I hope that on November 5th when we all wake up and know who the President of the United States is , we can all unite. This has been a rough 2 years. McCain and his divisive negative ad’s against Obama have not worked for the most part. People are more concerned about feeding their families and keeping their jobs. He is not the same John McCain we all knew, somewhere he took a RIGHT hand turn that made even loyal Republicans stand up and say they are voting for Obama.

I hope that America can once again be united after this long election.

Jillian Subik

Kingwood, TX

Naughty Aughties

Dear Editor,

Any reporting of the political arena clearly makes this decade, 2000-2009, the Naughty Aughties. A brief recap of just Election 2008, strongly supports the nomenclature for the Naughty Aughties.

Palin being chosen as running mate

Palin’s Pitbull Lip-stick, Joe Six Pack & foreign policy

Obama’s Lip-stick on a pig

Palin’s Troopergate

Joe the Plumber

Obama’s “terrorist” & ACORN affiliations

McCain’s Letterman cancellation

Wallstreet Bailout

Cost of Palin’s wardrobe & hairdresser

Joe McCain’s 911 traffic call

Obama’s association w/ Rev Wright

With negative campaigning coming to a peak, it can only get “naughtier” in these Aughties.

Regards,

Scott Pedersen