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Finding happiness in teaching
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What happens when you have everything, and it doesn’t make you happy?
Tom Bloch had a wonderful family, wealth, and health. He was CEO of his
family’s tax preparation business, the nationally known H&R Block
Company. But as he explains in a new book, “Stand for the Best,” he
“decided to follow a higher calling: teaching math to inner city kids.”
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Read more...
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Please help with food shelf now
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To the Editor:
Many Food Shelves, including, the Houston County Food Shelf in
Caledonia are in need of food items. The reason for this large need is
mostly economical as the cost of food, gas, electric, taxes, floods,
etc. have all greatly increased the cost of living. In the meantime,
unemployment has increased and wages have not increased to meet the
higher cost of living. Hunger is on the increase, especially for
children and senior citizens.
During this summer of 2008, in Houston and Fillmore counties, the
number of visits to the various food shelves has increased by almost 50
percent while the amounts of donations have greatly decreased as the
very poor economy has greatly affected us all.
We all know that poor nourishment and hunger, at any age, creates many
medical problems, creates absenteeism at work and school and makes
learning and working very difficult. In plain words, hunger in a
community affects everyone in the community. For many, the Food Shelf
is the only help available. It is always well to remember that except
for the grace of God, you could be hungry!
Hunger is the physical and mental condition that comes from not eating
enough food due to insufficient economic, family or community
resources. Community is a group of residents sharing common interest
for the communal benefit.
Please donate food or cash to the Houston County Food Shelf now. The
food shelf in Caledonia is located at 138 East Main Street, (side
door-telephone 725-3677). If you wish, there are food collection carts
in many churches in the area. Please, don’t worry if you cannot give a
whole bag of food or a large donation of cash. If we all merely give an
item(s) every week, it will be a blessing to many.
Yes, we all are experiencing more economic difficulties during this
recession. Take a close look at your blessings and see if you can share
a blessing or two with someone in need. Hunger is on the increase and
will probably continue to increase in Houston County. This may be the
largest Christian opportunity of your life. PLEASE HELP NOW! God bless
us all.
Larry Salm
Caledonia, MN
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Current zoning laws in county and common sense
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To the Editor:
Bob Scanlan’s article (History of Land Use in Houston County, Aug. 6)
is an interesting work of history. It seems apparent that the article
would not have been written, had the Landowners Concerned About
Property Rights not highlighted zoning abuses. The clear implication of
Mr. Scanlan’s article is that, since local zoning has been around for
43 years, it must be perfectly routine, wholesale and normal. The
subtext is that the present controversy is about zoning—it is not.
The Landowners clearly understand that an ordered society needs rules
and provisions for the protection of the public good and to avoid harm
to neighbors. What they do not understand is why the very public
officials who have sworn to uphold the Constitutional rights of the
citizens of Houston County do not apply this simple standard in Houston
County.
The controversy is about zoning that needlessly exceeds common-sense
provisions and which abridges the rights to property that are at the
core of our culture, our history and are guaranteed by both the
Minnesota and the U.S. Constitutions. These excessive zoning provisions
take away the right of the property owners to decide the best use of
their land and their buildings.
Berdell Meiners
Caledonia, Minn.
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Fire chief was correct in nixing fireworks at fair
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To the Editor:
Thumbs up to Chuck Gavin! If he would have let the fireworks go off, we
could have had a terrible tragedy. Thumbs down to the fair board; I
would think this would have been thought out better than it was as
where to shoot these off. We have an open field where there are no gas
tanks, no homes, and the animals would not have been in any danger. But
for some reason we could not shoot them off in that field. I’m curious
as to know what made the fair board think that in front of the
grandstands was a safe idea? This is not just about the fireworks, the
fair in whole was one of the worst fairs I have ever seen. The midway
(if that’s what you want to call it) was a disgrace, anyone over the
age of ten was limited to two rides. This is supposed to be a family
event, that showcases our county and community, and I’m not sure that
was showcased to the best of its ability. We need a carnival that
everyone can enjoy, and a fair that makes us proud!
Mary Dolle
Caledonia, Minn.
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ISD Foundation support benefits Caledonia Middle School
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To the Editor:
The grant committee of the ISD 299 Foundation decided to award $400 for
the use of purchasing assignment notebooks for the 2008-09 school year.
This donation supports this community in its effort to maintain the
concept of a separate middle school. CMS students have been benefitted
by this middle school structure. Many future actions by many people
will be needed to maintain this autonomy.
Individual students are also benefitted by this support in their
personal developoment. To quote Thomas Jefferson, “It is while we are
young that the habit of industry is formed. If not then, it never
is afterwards. The fortune of our lives, therefore, depends on
employing well the short period of youth.” The organizational needs of
this age group are well known. The ISD 299 Foundation has helped
many young minds through its financial support.
Brian Doty
Middle School Principal
Caledonia, Minn.
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Analyze why your schools did not make AYP
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Labeling how Minnesota schools are not making adequate yearly progress
(AYP) is leading residents to believe that Minnesota does not have
quality public schools.
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Read more...
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