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New art museum shortchanges the future

Roanoke will always be home to me, even though I no longer live in the area. What a shock I had when I was in town visiting my family and saw the new art museum. Now I understand the divided views that I read about in your paper on the museum.

I don't understand the logic of the site selection, but maybe there was none. The architecture does not fit in with the historical area, and it overpowers its surroundings. It would have looked much better if it had been built in an area with similar architectural style.

Just think about what could have been if the site had been a large tract of land that had the potential to add buildings/areas for other cultural and/or noncultural attractions. Would that approach have created less revenue? I doubt it. In fact, the revenue potential could have been even greater.

I don't feel like there was a strategic plan in place that included addressing the needs of the future. What's done is done, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Roanoke: Next time, innovate for the future and not just for the present.

Compassionate billing is EMS policy

I thank Tony Smith, who recently wrote a letter expressing high praise for the care he received from Roanoke County's EMS personnel ("Rescue call cost too much," April 28). Smith also wrote of the bill he received for his transport to the hospital.

In 2001, Roanoke County implemented a fee for ambulance transport, as have many localities. This fee helps pay for the cost of providing the high-quality emergency medical services our citizens deserve.

Since the inception of fee for transport, Roanoke County has remained committed to compassionate billing. This means that if a patient is unable to pay his portion of the ambulance transport fee, he will not be required to do so.

No one should be afraid to dial 911 because of the fee for transport. All citizens are treated and transported to a local emergency room, no matter what their financial status.

A phone number is provided on the billing statement for the citizen to call with any questions.

Chief of Roanoke County Fire and Rescue

Mill Mountain should stay green

I find it sad that Roanokers might attach themselves to the proposal for a chain restaurant atop Mill Mountain. Some city advisers and officials might even choose to go against the last will of J.B. Fishburn for his family to continue good decision-making for Mill Mountain with the Roanoke Valley's best interests in mind and heart.

Our region is fortunate to be popular for its natural beauty. Preservation of our mountains is so important and truly a greater asset than developed mountaintops. Mill Mountain is enjoyed year round by many picnicking families and strolling couples, as well as numerous cyclists, walkers, hikers, dogs and runners.

As a cyclist, I do not care to experience the added commercial vehicles with their exhaust, necessary for such a business, on the J.B. Fishburn Parkway and in my neighborhood at the base of the mountain.

The development might also fuel a future desire to continue developing Mill Mountain. Who knows; there might even be a future request by the restaurant's owner(s) to treetop or thin the forest for a view of the valley. I love seeing that green mountain off my front porch. Let's keep the green space.

It's best to be able to spot ticks

I've just read the news story about ticks ("Be very wary of the bloodsuckers," May 3 Virginia section) and have a request. I would like to ask that you correct one piece of false information.

At this time of year, I walk through tick-infested areas on my way to work and get ticks on me almost every day. I've been doing this for more than nine years and have accumulated a lot of experience with ticks. It is wrong to tell people that they should wear long pants and sleeves.

Tucking pant legs into socks will not keep ticks off. It provides them with a convenient, easy place to hide. That is what they try to do as soon as they hop on. Pant legs and socks are the perfect tick hideaway. Usually, they wait till later when you are still or asleep to imbed themselves.

As the story said, wear light-colored clothing, but shorts are best. That way, you can spot or feel them as soon as they get on. I carry pliers to pick and squash them when they do.

Economic disaster floats some boats

It's just like when a ship sinks. The ship's massive profile is suddenly gone and the horizon is empty. Just some insignificant flotsam is bobbing about -- except for that oil slick, that black greasy mass floating where the ship went down.

What ship? What oil slick? Why, the good ship U.S. Economy of course. The oil slick would be the record-breaking profits for corporate oil. Just floating to the top.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence, but I've noticed that a lot of people in the Bush White House are former oil company executives. Consider, for instance, that Chevron supertanker Condoleezza Rice, named for Rice when she was on the Chevron board, before she became secretary of State. Or Dick Cheney as CEO of Halliburton back in the old days before he became vice president.

Now, I don't think there has been some kind of high-level conspiracy to sink the U.S. economy. Perish the thought. I am thinking this is a huge opportunity to make huge profits from a huge economic disaster that no one could prevent from happening. Still, out here treading water, coated in oil, I wish they had tried harder.

Help the post office help the hungry

Please remember on Saturday to leave some food for the postman to pick up for the hungry. Even one can will help.

Hunting for food got more expensive

Again, the middle class is being slammed by our Virginia government. In the past, our residents have subsidized their grocery costs by hunting local deer and fishing Virginia streams. Thanks to our representatives that we elected, we cannot afford the license to do this anymore.

The cost of licensing has escalated to the point that a person on a fixed income or a minimum-wage earner cannot afford to purchase it. The irony of this is that these are the taxpayers who need this more and probably buy a license more than someone with a higher income.

Thank Gov. Tim Kaine and all the other useless, mindless representatives who voted for this stupid increase. They are taking food out of Virginia taxpayers' mouths.

Day of Prayer story was a hoot

Your comics often give me guffaws, but on May 2, they were eclipsed by the story about the National Day of Prayer ("With one voice across the nation, people unite in prayer," May 2 Virginia section).

First, George Bush looked forward to an International Day of Prayer when "people of faith around the world would stop at the same time to praise an almighty," suggesting that there are several almightys.

Then a minister urged us to keep politics out of prayers because "elections turn out as God wants them." If his almighty won't listen to our politics, why pray on any subject?

Finally, a member of the prayer group suggested that prayer has kept the terrorists at bay since 2001, but she never asked the big question: Why did they attack that year? The answer must be that someone else's almighty was in charge. What happened to common sense?