Saturday Thumbs
Saturday, September 13, 2008 12:53 AM PDT
Printable version
E-mail this articleSept. 13 Daily News Editorial
Fostering compassion
We applaud Monticello Middle School for reprising “Rachel’s Challenge,” a national program that fosters compassion among teens. It honors Rachel Scott, the first student murdered at Columbine High School in 1999. Rachel’s family created the program to share the girl’s diary entries and school essays, which focus on the power of kindness.
The presentation includes a DVD and ways for kids to pledge to be more respectful of others. After students see the program next week, the community is invited to a free presentation at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the school cafeteria. It’s well worth attending. “I have this theory,” Rachel wrote, “that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, it will start a chain reaction. ... Look hard enough, and you will always find a light.”
Well-deserved recognition
Kudos to those visionary civic and business leaders who set out more than a decade ago to develop Longview’s Mint Farm Industrial Park. Gov. Chris Gregoire last week named Mint Farm as one of two winners statewide of the 2008 Economic Development Awards, according to Daily News reporter Amy M.E. Fischer.
Mint Farm remains a work in progress, but the work is going very well. The park is proving to be a strong draw for new industry. Speaking of the award Thursday, Longview City Manager Bob Gregory said, “I think it bodes well for the fact that we took the risk of putting together the Mint Farm.” So do we.
Business, church can co-exist
Thumbs down to the Kelso Church of Truth and Pastor Leonid Pisarchuk, who filed an objection to the liquor license application of El Tucan, a restaurant-nightclub across the street. Religious groups have every right to minister to the faithful and speak out. But they don’t have a right to block a legitimate business.
There are already similar enterprises near the congregation’s storefront spot, several churches co-exist in the vicinity, and the city gave the nod to the liquor license request. Antonio Aguilar, the Longview businessman who wants to reopen El Tucan, reportedly plans to talk to Pisarchuk. That’s a wise move. We hope the two can agree to respect each other’s rights to provide what he believes will meet people’s needs — whether to pray, dance, or knock back a cool one.
Hands-on learning
Thumbs up to the Bonneville Power Administration for its generous grant program aimed at perking students’ interest in renewable energy sources. The Longview School District recently applied $15,000 to $20,000 of the grant money to the purchase of solar panels for the district’s Wake Robin Learning Center west of Longview.
A hands-on demonstration with these solar panels can be expected to get kids’ thinking about solar power like no lecture could. And John Gross, forestry teacher at R.A. Long High School thinks it could be just the start for renewable energy education at Wake Robin Learning Center. Gross told Daily News reporter Carrie Pederson “we have side creeks (at the center) and it would be fun to put in a small generator” to acquaint students with hydropower.
Past Month's Most Commented Stories