Letters to the editor

An ideal location for events center?

A few years ago, I was on a “think-tank” committee to make suggestions for the improvement of Winchester. Your recent article regarding a conference center reminded me of what I had suggested in that earlier meeting. The following comments are some of my thoughts from then and today.

Because of the limited space across town for concerts and large meetings, and with limited parking as well, it occurred to me that a large multi-type conference center would be the answer to this dilemma. For example, the space across from the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley would be an ideal place for such a center. The center could be designed to have a large auditorium in the middle for a greater number of people, and perhaps two smaller rooms on either side for lectures, chamber-type concerts, and seminars.

Of course, I have no idea who owns that land, or if they’d be willing to sell it. But it still remains to me an ideal area as an attractive showplace for Winchester, providing a central location for businesses, education, and the performing arts. It would be a wonderful way to attract a variety of venues for this “metropolitan” area. It could be named THE CENTRE for Business, Education, and the Arts.

One day we might be able to have a nice meal at the museum’s Tea Room, visit the upstairs gallery, and then walk across to the CENTRE for a lecture, business meeting, or a musical. It’s a long-held vision of mine each time I attend a concert in town or visit the museum. I think it might work.

What do you think?

Irma Collins

Winchester

LFCC: lots to love

Every time I pick up the paper or watch TV, I find out that Lord Fairfax Community College has excelled in yet another key area. I would like to point out just some of its 2012 accomplishments.

 Ranked No. 1 in enrollment growth among state community colleges.

  Ranked No.1 in the nation in Community College Digital Technology.

 Ranked No. 1 in Virginia for number of employers served.

 Broke ground on a new student union at no cost to the state.

 Designated a “Great college to work for” by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

 Named a G. I. Jobs Magazine “Military Friendly School”.

 Beat U.Va. in rugby.

All of these accomplishments happened while, in the last three years, overall enrollment increased by 35 percent, the number of students ages 18-24 increased 23 percent, and full-time equivalent enrollment grew 25 percent. New programs have been established in Industrial Maintenance, Administration of Justice, Surgical Tech, working with foster youth, as well as assisting high school dropouts. The number of articulation agreements for transfer to four-year institutions now stands at 49.

I would like to congratulate the entire staff, the college board, and the Foundation Board for these incredible accomplishments.

John H. Morrison III

Winchester

Ode to Joe

“It isn’t just about guns. It’s about the coarsening of our culture!”

— Vice President Joe Biden said during a speech given at the 81st Mayors conference.

Hey Joe,

What do you think has caused

This coarsening of our culture?

Could it be?

Do you reckon?

Maybe?

Some care more about their careers

Than they do the unborn baby!

Peggy Corron

Gore

Talking morals? What a laugh!

I’m an 80-year-old man, and have never written to your column before. However, I have strong opinions about Washington and its talk of gun control.

They talk about morals — what a laugh! There are no morals in this country anymore.

What is the difference between using guns to kill these innocent little children and doctors using their instruments to kill hundreds of unborn babies?

They are all precious to God.

Lenwood Nichols

Stephens City

Get on up!

Get on up, Democrats and Independents, before voting is a waste of time.

After consecutive presidential losses, Republicans want to change the rules to make it easier for them to win. The GOP wants to change the way we elect a president because they don’t believe they can win a fair election.

Instead of “winner take all,” Republicans want Electoral College votes to be divided proportionally. Adopting the new system makes it uncertain if President Obama would have been reelected, even after winning the popular vote.

Each state has the authority to shape its own election laws. And in seven states — Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia — Republicans have gerrymandered voting districts until they control both chambers of the state legislature and the governor’s office. They are determined that “red”-controlled never again vote “blue” for president.

GOP lawmakers in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are already lining up behind electoral proposals. Maine and Nebraska previously adopted the new system. There’s no hard data yet from Virginia, but this is exactly the kind of “high-value dirty tricks” that state Sen. Jill Vogel’s law firm might eagerly embrace.

Still, in their latest scheme to control your vote, Republicans unexpectedly rammed a controversial redistricting bill through the state Senate on Monday, capitalizing on the absence of a Democratic lawmaker and civil-rights leader who was in Washington for President Obama’s second inauguration.

Stephen Kish

Frederick County