Hike and bike path would be true to Volney Rogers' vision for Mill Creek Park

Hike and bike path wouldbe true to Volney Rogers'vision for Mill Creek Park
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to an article by Peter H. Milliken on Sunday, April 27, about the new "hike and bike path" in Mill Creek Park. The article lists three YSU professors who think the project is a mistake. I did not notice any studies mentioned to support these thoughts.
Lucky Kaiser of Sheban Drive stated, "It is a very unique wetland and wildflower area and a migratory bird flyway." Before Mill Creek Park proposed the hike and bike path, they did an extensive study to determine the impact on the environment, flora and fauna of the area. The results of this study were available to us when Mill Creek Park had a public meeting on the matter in January. Yes, Lucky Kaiser was present at that meeting, as was Peter H. Milliken.
My greatest concern is for the safety of individuals. I know that Lucky is very concern about the squirrels but I have not seen one run over by a bicycle or a baby buggy.
Professor Chuey stated, "The purpose of the park is to preserve open space, not be a recreation center. Volney Rogers intended Mill Creek to be an open preserved area with limited use." The original bill submitted by Volney Rogers provide for levying of taxes, acquisition of real estate for park purposes, "and to suitably improve and maintain such parks for the free use of the people." The source of my information is The Green Cathedral by John C. Melnick, M.D.
I am president of the Youngstown Road Runners Club. During the summer months many of the area high school and middle school cross country teams run with us. Many times during the summer we will have 175 runners, that is more runners than many of the local charity races. It is extremely dangerous to send that many runners into an area that has such a high volume of traffic (average daily vehicle counts of 20,000 on Shields Road and 8,500 on Sheban Drive). The Road Runners membership age range is from 6 years old to 83 years old, some of our runners are pushing jogging strollers holding their very young children. In my opinion it is a wonderful thing when these people can use Mill Creek Park for the reason that Volney Rogers intended, "to suitably improve and maintain such parks for the free use of the people" in comfort of mind and safety.
DAN SHIELDS
Canfield
People at street-level get a different view of Nepal than those on the mountain top
EDITOR:
I have read several of Dr. Fought's essays from Nepal with interest as I myself returned in March from a two-month stay in Kathmandu. I applaud his adventurous spirit as well as his willingness to share his experiences with our local audience, but I feel the need to elaborate on his observations as someone who lived a more everyday existence there, participating in a community as a neighbor and family member as opposed to as a tourist.
Just taking some of Fought's most recent points as an example, I have no doubt that the fledgling democratic government has its share of corrupt officials and policies, that there are Nepalis who scam (or gamble) for every American dollar they can get, and that there are those who would ask quite bluntly for your shoes. But in a country where half the population lives below the poverty line and the average household income is $350, I have seen first-hand how U.S. currency can radically alter the basics of a family's lifestyle -- the food they eat, the medicine they can afford, and whether their kids will go to school or not. Remember as well that Nepal is one of the poorest nations in the world. If very rich western guests want to climb the biggest asset you've got, can you really be faulted for charging wildly for the privilege?
As for medicine refusal, this happened to me as well. It turned out that a friend was wary of pills (not so strange in a place where pharmaceutical companies dump medicine they can no longer legally sell in other countries). She made her own medicines, as her mother had before her, which I tried out when I came down with a cold. Worked like a charm without the usual side effects of western drugs.
But more than all of this, and more than all of the amazing art, architecture, and natural beauty I saw, I will forever be impressed by the warmth and hospitality of the Nepali people and the grace with which they shoulder the hardships of their everyday lives. They are people who without exception, no matter how little they had, always insisted on inviting me into their homes, treating me as a family member, and feeding me some of the best food I have ever tasted till I could eat no more. I hope Fought has the opportunity to experience this part of Nepali culture.
Again, I do not mean to challenge Fought's impressions of Nepal, a very complex and struggling country indeed. I only hope to balance the picture.
By the way, I was in Nepal to study music with a local expert (not to find God, get high, or climb a mountain, as Fought has previously suggested).
MOLLY SHERIDAN
Boardman
Trust in the Constitution, Cal
EDITOR:
Cal Thomas asks in his Sunday column "If the Texas sodomy law is struck down, what's next?" Hey, I think I know the answer to that. It's called the American Constitution. All men (and I do believe that must include women too) are created equal and are equal under the law.
Rick Santorum doesn't understand that and neither does Cal Thomas, but that's OK because the Constitution does, and it will always be there to set us right again. So I say, "Cal, trust in the Constitution and don't be afraid of what's next." The Constitution will guide us through.
MARGUERITE FELICE
Youngstown