Hosts with the most

April 21, 2003

Dear Sir,

My husband and I have just spent a month on this beautiful island and would like to say what a marvellous time we have had.

This is by no means our first but each time we come we become more enchanted with it. People in general are so friendly and courteous to each other - such a change from many other parts of the world.

In particular, we would like to thank Mary and Colin Adderley, our daughter's in-laws, Beth Robert's, her husband Paul and daughter Olivia, Jimmy Arnold and the irresprescible Colin, teachers' Rugby Team (who introduced me to the drink "Dark and Stormy!) Madeline Smith, and the many people who over the years, have allowed us to "house-sit" their lovely homes.

Most of all we want to thank our gorgeous daughter Stephanie and her husband Henry who have arranged all these visits and have done everything possible to make our holidays memorable. We love them dearly and want to say so publicly.

I hope you will publish this letter so everyone will know how much they, and everyone else, are appreciated.

Rude exhibition

April 27, 2003

Dear Sir,

The Exhibition each year would be nicer if two things were to happen:

1. People were neater as to not leave their trash all over the place.

2. People didn't cop an attitude when it came to parking and leaving.

Yesterday was messed up as to be picking up someone else's junk but, the job got done nevertheless, and in terms of parking, some drivers were cursing the parking attendants including myself like they thought they could've done a better job at it (trust me you wouldn't last an hour doing that job since all you'll need is for someone to cop that same type of attitude to you to make you angry).

I often wonder if you think that we'll want to help you out if you get stuck after you've already ticked us off? Some of you drivers get vexed just because you have to go the long way to get out. What's wrong with going out the way - you ought to go out?

Some drivers are actually pleasant and go ahead out the right way, so why can't you? With the exhibition always like this, next year will be even more frustrating.

Parking problems

April 22, 2003

This was sent to The Secretary, The Corporation of Hamilton and copied to from (Mrs.) Julie Symonds

Dear Sir

Please clarify through the media the following issues which are confusing handicapped people, especially the elderly.

My mother is lame and has a handicap sticker. She tried to use it Monday noon - she might as well as left it home! The handicap space in the parking lot on the dock just east of the flag pole is the first one as you enter. The second space was occupied by a large green car whose right-side wheels were at least a foot into the handicap space.

My mother pointed this out to a traffic warden who was a few feet away, who came over and had a look, then said "You gotta 'nuff room."

When my mother protested that if she parked there, the driver of the large green car would probably bang her car door trying to get into his/her car, the traffic warden said: "Well, there's another space down there, and pointed westward. My mother told her she was lame, and was going to use a parking voucher. The traffic warden said she could only use a parking voucher on the street, NOT in a parking lot.

Fortunately, she had enough change to hobble to the marching and get a sticker. MAY A HANDICAPPED PERSON USE A PARKING VOUCHER IN A PARKING LOT! If so PLEASE notify the traffic wardens. If a handicapped person has to pay and display, PLEASE, put the handicapped parking space NEAR the machine. (Thank you).

Now about the handicap parking locations. That spot just mentioned is the first one as you enter. That means a lame person has the longest way to walk to get to the pedestrian crossing. When he/she wants to go back to his/her car, the lame person has the longest way to walk again.

The outdoor handcapped parking space at No. One Shed is usually occupied by a taxi being washed or just sitting there idle. Or it is occupied by a pick-up truck and occasionally by the CORPORATION OF HAMILTON TRUCK!!!

The handicap parking space outside Marks & Spencer is usually occupied by a van delivering goods to a nearby store. The space outside the Library - if it's not occupied by the CORPORATION OF HAMILTON truck or the POST OFFICE VAN - is very handy BUT trying to get out into the line of traffic again is like committing suicide! The oncoming traffic never stops!

The handicap spaces at City Hall parking lot are the farthest away from the sticker machine (if indeed the blue PARKING VOUCHERS are not allowed) and of course, farthest away from Church Street where most people want to go and shop. The space near the corner of Wesley and Church Streets is a wasted space, because people come and park their bikes in such a way that you can't get in or out of that space.

It's obvious these locations were chosen without consulting a HANDICAPPED PERSON. Thank You.

JULIE SYMONDS

City of Hamilton

Rust never sleeps

April 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am aware of a problem, which once again makes the heading - "there's strength in numbers" - ring true!

I, as with many other Mitsubishi Lancer car owners, have suffered the travesty of owning a Lancer station wagon (1996) with a defective roof that rusts out along the roof supports. I sought assistance from the dealer, Holmes, Williams & Purvey (HWP), and was told, like most other owners, I've come to find out, that they couldn't help me because I didn't get the rust proofing on the car from HWP.

Soon after, I learnt from a friend of mine who had a Lancer station wagon that they had the same problem but had their roof replaced under warranty!

I then pursued the warranty repair for my roof and was told: "Unfortunately, the HWP Group has only encountered a couple of vehicles with this problem". They have not had "sufficient reports of this problem to indicate that it is a serious problem that the manufacturer should take some responsibility for".

HWP is not aware of the magnitude of the problem as most people have sought repairs elsewhere as they have been told that if they didn't get the "rust-proofing" they couldn't be helped. But this is not so. This is a rusting problem from the inside of the car, which rust-proofing does not address.

Since then I have come across owners not only of 1996- but 1997 and 1998 Lancer station wagons and even sedans - who have had the same problem! And what is common? Everyone is told the same thing about the rust proofing or servicing at HWP, and that there are so few cars with the problem. So everyone leaves thinking it is only their car, and they either get the roof replaced or go to one of the local body shops and have it repaired. I have spoken with three local shops that all have repaired a minimum of six cars per year for the past two or three years!

So the only way we can get some help is to band together and provide HWP with data on the magnitude of the problem. If you have a Lancer which has had or has this problem, please call Brenda Dale at 297-7546 or e-mail me at jbdaletherock.bm with your name, phone number, and the year, make and model number of your car.

A question of numbers

April 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

With reference to the discussion on panhandlers in the City, I wish to make it clear to the public that in my view, and that of several other ex-policemen, there is a very simple solution to minimising the prevalence of such behaviour in the City: A greater Police presence of men or women on the beat.

As a former Police officer who had to pound the beat in the City for years, there is no excuse for not having more men on the beat. I do not buy the idea that the Police service is under staffed. I can remember when there were fewer than 300 Policemen on the Force, and there were foot patrols 24 hours a day in the City. It is plain and simply a lack of proper deployment of personnel when we have over 400 fine men and women serving this community as part of our Police Service.

While on the topic of crime, it is ludicrous to blame any Government for increase, real or otherwise, in crime. It has been said the Government is soft on crime. When ever have you heard of a Government official having to make an arrest, or patrol the streets? It's about time for the Police to swiftly deal with this deployment problem. I can help. My number is 236-3062.