Dear editor,

Dear Editor,

The American Cancer Society&8217;s &8220;Relay for Life&8221; is an annual fundraiser to help raise money for the fight against cancer. The money donated to this fund is used to help researchers in finding ways to prevent, diagnose and treat all types of cancer. This annual event also brings with it an opportunity to promote fellowship and teamwork in our communities. To this end, I would encourage everyone in our area to come out and participate in this event. By contributing their time, talents, energy, resources and/or money, everyone should be able in some way to make a contribution to this most worthwhile event.

On a more personal note, I have been blessed to have joined the Columbiana Clinic over five years ago, when Dr. Harry Phillips was still serving this community. It was in fact Harry&8217;s ability to make me feel like family that played a major role in me joining this staff. It was an honor for me to work with Harry providing passionate care to the thousands of patients he had accumulated over the 40 plus years he worked.

As often is the case, I found myself filled with sorrow when we lost Harry to his battle with cancer in January 2005. Harry&8217;s passing was really an entire loss to this entire part of the state. He touched the lives of many more people than I could ever expect to. In Harry&8217;s memory, I, along with many other members of our staff here at the Columbiana Clinic will be participating in this year&8217;s &8220;Relay for Life&8221; and would like to extend a community wide invitation for everyone to come out and join us in the fight against cancer.

Anthony P. Ciulla, M.D.

Columbiana

Dear Editor,

I am writing to voice my concern about military recruiting in our public schools. While I support the troops and the rights of a volunteer military, I do not support institutionalizing involuntary recruitment practices.

The No Child Left Behind Legislation automatically gives the military the right to take any students private information without any form of parental permission or notification. This snooping into students&8217; private school information needs to stop. There is an opt-out provision in the legislation, but rarely are students or parents informed of it.

I encourage students and parents all over our state to send a letter to their school&8217;s administrators asking them to keep their information private. A sample form can be found at www.military-freezone.org/opt_out.

Keith Grabany

Pleasant Grove

Dear Editor,

Childcare organizations nationwide have joined together to declare Friday, May 12, 2006 to be Provider Appreciation Day.

Locally the Shelby County Family Child Care Association will be leading this effort. On Friday, May 19, the SCFCCA will host a banquet to honor their Child Care Providers.

National efforts are underway to ask child care organizations, public officials and parents to honor their child care providers for their hard work and dedication to our children. Events such as luncheons, parades, dedications and other celebrations are planned.

By calling attention to the importance of high quality childcare services for all children and families, these groups hope to improve the quality and availability of such services.

We are encouraging parents with children in childcare to take this day to show their child care provider how much they appreciate them. It takes a special person to work in this field and these individuals are often unrecognized and under-appreciated.

Jeannie Brock

Columbiana

Dear Editor,

I lived in Columbiana for more than 20 years; I now live in Toledo Ohio. I was shocked to hear that they were thinking about putting a skateboarding park behind City Hall.

I would think that that would be dangerous, as the fire truck leave from the back of the building, and there are cars going in and out of that area all of the time. Of course, like I said, I moved away but only seven years ago, and can&8217;t imagine things have changed that much in Columbiana from then.

And one more thing, my thoughts and prayers go out to Phillip Howell&8217;s family, I didn&8217;t know him well, but have talked to him in the past, and could see that he was a dedicated officer and a good one at that.

Beth Livingston

Toledo, Ohio

Dear Editor,

The new proposed &8220;Fair Tax&8221; is not getting enough attention from the media. It is imperative that everyone knows about the Fair Tax. The media is such a powerful way to advertise what is going on in the communities, country, and world. I know the media likes to print or show the hottest and most controversial issues happening. The &8220;Fair Tax&8221; is just as important as the illegal immigrant issue! Instead of illegals stealing our money, our government is doing the same with the current 15,000 pages of tax code. Report on the &8220;Fair Tax.&8221; It will get good ratings no matter the affiliation of your media.

Martin R. Taylor

Graysvill