Valley residents give one another support

Valley residents give one another support

EDITOR,

I am defiantly Pro-Valley. This December, I bought 4,000 shares of GM. Not because it was necessarily the best investment but because I serve on one of their healthcare committees and many of my patients are worried about their futures. Likewise, I now call upon the Valley to be Pro-Forum.

The facts are simple:

We are not closing. We are open and will be open when you need us. We will have everything that you and your loved ones need for excellent care.

Our reorganization efforts are meant to stop our out-of-town lenders from ruining — or closing — our hospitals. It has nothing to do with our patients who will see no difference when they come to us for medical care. Bankruptcy protection is not the same as bankruptcy. Our CEO, Walter “Buzz” Pishkur said it best, “This is like a timeout in a basketball game.”

Northside Medical Center, Trumbull Memorial Hospital and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital are world class hospitals that make the Valley a great place to be sick. All three have achieved prestigious awards for medical care from several independent evaluators.

Finally, Forum Health is one of the Valley’s largest employers. No one will benefit if we fail. The nearly 4,000 families that are Forum Health buy cars, groceries, clothes, insurance and many other items from our local businesses. What we need, what the Valley needs, is strong commitment and gritty determination to prop up Forum Health. Be confident, Forum is not closing; the Valley will be served with excellence and with the pride that is emblematic of the Valley as only Forum Health can do.

JON W. ARNOTT, M.D., C.M.Q.

SR VP Quality & Utilization Management

Northside Medical Center

Youngstown

Bad timing in Liberty

EDITOR:

As a resident of Liberty Township, I must ask how deep into my pocket’s must I dig to support the Liberty Local School District again.

In today’s economy where everyone is paying the price, gas is going up again, Groceries have gone up and stayed up, and our property taxes have already gone up, this year compared to last year.

People in the township are losing jobs or taking cuts in pay or are being asked to pay for their health care. Many are on a fixed income. And once again we are being asked to come up with more out of our budgets to put into the Liberty schools’ budget.

In 2005, a levy was placed on the ballot, and we were told that if the levy passed, open enrollment would end. The levy passed and we still have open enrollment. The Liberty school board did not hold true to their promises. We have heard nothing on what the administrators or the teachers are willing to give to help the levy to pass. Has any plan been implemented on pay-to-play sports?

I cannot go to my employer and ask for more money every time a levy is put on. I have already taken a cut in pay, and have been asked to pay toward my health care. So do I now cut back on groceries or prescription drugs so I can pay more in property taxes? I think not. The estimate of $300 on a $100,000 home may not sound like a lot, but when you have nothing else to give it is.

More property taxes are not the answer. Be sure to vote in May.

ROBERT J. PACE Sr.

Liberty Township