Dear Editor,

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. A gold Ribbon in September stands for kids with cancer. An opportunity is available to you to raise awareness and support these special kids.
On September 18, an event called CureSearch Walk is being held in Columbus to raise funds for an organization called CureSearch. This is a nonprofit organization that funds life saving research through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). There are more than 200 children’s cancer centers across the U.S. Some of these centers include Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, Toledo Children’s Hospital and St. Jude’s Hospital. CureSearch is a research organization that is strictly dedicated to research of children’s cancers. Ninety-six percent of all money raised goes directly to research. Several individuals who partner with CureSearch are the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and major league baseball player Craig Breslow’s Strike 3 Foundation. The CureSearch spring 2011 newsletter contained the following information: “We just learned, however, that this year’s federal budget cuts to the COG will total nearly 10%. We must recognize that the resources needed to advance children’s cancer research will come largely from private fund raising.”
I will be attending the CureSearch Walk in Columbus on 9/18 in memory of my granddaughter, Alivia. She passed this year in May at the age of 3 from cancer. I have formed a team called Beanie’s Bunch. Please visit www.curesearch.org to register to walk or to donate. All walkers aged 16 and up sign up with a $10 registration fee. You can walk in person or be a “Virtual Walker.” I invite you to join my team or you can form your own.
The walk is at Franklin Park, 1755 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43203. Registration is from 10-11 a.m. with the opening ceremony and walk to follow from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
One of Alivia’s frequent statements to me was “I will help you.” In her memory, “I will help you” by raising money and by raising awareness for the need to find cures for children’s cancers.
Sincerely, Betty Shobe

Don’t sweat the small stuff; it’s all small stuff.
We’ve all heard it before.
Life is stressful. There is so much more going on now.
I have found the secret to keeping my sanity. If I truly cannot change the outcome of something, I don’t invest in it.

There was a time when I knew everyone in my neighborhood for at least a two-block radius. I knew the parents, the kids and even the family pets.

The locusts are buzzing and sounds of a high school football game fill the air.
It must be the fall. Well, not really but for all intents and purposes, summer is over.

DEAR EDITOR:
People sometimes say that my generation (I speak of the present youth) expects everything to be given to them. I would not disagree with that entirely. Lately I have seen a generation as well; a generation that is beginning to only care about themselves rather than the good of others. I am talking about the Jefferson schools ongoing levy crisis.
I am a recent graduate of St. John’s and a proud Blue Jay but I also have many friends that have graduated from Jefferson; ones that I still see on a day-to-day basis. I have sat around multiple times and talked about Jefferson’s levy problems with them. 
Lately, I have read some interesting opinions in the paper regarding this topic. Opinions such as how Jefferson will spend their money, why they need the money and even asking why they need so many school buildings? 
What is with the abundance of questioning? Why do people feel the need to make a simple issue suddenly complex?
I respect both sides’ views on this issue but my point is this: Education is the most powerful thing on earth and so is the youth of a nation. Truly, what is more important than gaining knowledge? Also, the youth are the future. Do you really want them to grow up in a town that is divided on an issue simply because of money (increase in taxes)? 
This entire levy debate has been taken way too far and should have been taken care of early on, in an adult fashion. So much has happened over this debate that it has put some people in very difficult situations as to which side to support. Jefferson and St. John’s should have no reason what so ever to be divided. 
To those that have provoked the outburst from this levy, I say this to you; “Get over yourselves.” People need to start and look at the big picture. What is good for the town? What is good for the public school that supports over half the town? What is good for others?!
To put it simply, as the famous Beatles hit goes; “Come together, right now, over me!”  
Support your neighbors — and support your schools!
Jay Clark