I'm writing to express my displeasure at the choice of a word in the headline about the Open Doors Academy trip to Harlan, KY. First, let me say that Kentucky is my home state, having grown up in Lexington. I am very proud of my state and my heritage. This is one of those times that a word may be used by the people themselves, but it should be avoided by "outsiders." I am speaking of the word "poor." I read the headline and reacted negatively toward the article. Would the headline have read " the poor in the Heights Area"? I think not. There are those living in the Heights area who fall under urban poverty and have a different culture. Why didn't it just say "the people" of Harlan, KY?

The first time I had a TV in my classroom was when JFK was inaugurated president. His handsome image and stirring words are forever seared into the consciousness of the people who bore witness.

We have the chance to do it again. The world is watching and cheering for a young charismatic leader. He is intelligent, calm, passionate. We, the people, will have to keep him going in the right direction, keep his feet to the fire, and keep him working for justice and equality for all. But the people had to do that in the 60’s, and we ended a war, enacted legislation to help those in poverty, and passed civil rights laws.

Vote for Barack Obama who instills hope in so many. Then we, the people, rejuvenated, will direct our government on its proper path in this world.

Claudia Vondriska

DeSota Avenue, Cleveland Heights

Moving to Cleveland in early 1965, after release from the Navy, a real estate agent put my wife and me up in a motel out near Chagrin and Richmond and showed us houses from Solon to Mayfield Heights to Westlake. Unhappy with the houses and with the distance from University Hospitals where I was starting a psychiatric residency, I looked more closely at a map around University Circle. I found Cleveland Heights to be a good jog or bicycle ride away. My wife scanned the newspapers and found a house which we pressed the realtor to show.

The City of Cleveland Heights has lost a treasured friend with the death of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Our community could always count on her to listen and to respond on topics that affected everything from housing programs to senior citizen concerns to transportation issues. She truly believed in doing everything that she could to help her constituents. There was no one like her. Our City Council and our entire community are mourning her loss.

As a westside to eastside convert, I have never regretted making that taboo change and enjoy raising my family in this wonderful community.

Hello, Heights Observer!

To the Editor:

I take note of the recent criticism of the Cleveland Heights University Heights Library Board over the cancellation of a film about the conflict in the Middle East.

I take issue with several statements made by Fran Mentch in the April 10 issue of the Heights Observer.

To the Editor:

The good news of the Reaching Heights Spelling Bee is in: Students from Heights High placed second in the competition [a team of CWRU faculty won after three tiebreaker rounds].

I was pretty angry when this whole thing started with the Library cancelling the program on the Middle East primarily due to the pressure of one individual. Like most public libraries, the CH-UH Public Library is an important and respected part of our community. Many of us have fond memories of taking our children to story hours and other children’s activities, and attending the adult programming ourselves. We love being able to have free use of new books, films, music, and access to computers and the Internet. The CH-UH Library branches help form the fabric of our neighborhoods, and we have a great deal of affection and respect for the library staff, who work to keep the library a valuable part of our community.

To the Editor,

Welcome Heights Observer! May you in the years ahead: