The Members of the Sunshine League's Board and the Special Events/Fund Raising Committee wish to thank their co-operate sponsors, those who donated door prizes, Mrs. Ann Francis Distinguished Patron of Honour, and to all of our special guest for their very kind contributions to a very successful event.

The event was a complete sell-out, attracting a little over 400 well dressed (hats and gloves) ladies and gents.

Mark this date on your calendar "HATS OFF TO SPRING 2002'' -- will be held on Sunday, May 5. Again, thank you for attending our event in support of the Sunshine League.

BRENDA RICHARDSON Chairperson/Special Events & Fund Raising Hard to keep afloat May 10, 2001 Dear Sir, I cannot believe this Government is spending millions of the tax payers money on fast ferries and a mega school right now when the Island is desperate for affordable housing -- which was the reason they got elected.

If anyone read the Bermuda Sun on May 4, they would be shocked the way the seniors have to live and pay out. Disgraceful; what a sad ending to the rest of their life.

Do you really believe people are going to give up their cars and catch this ferry no way! They are certainly not going to park their cars and leave them all day either.

We all love the ferries, its `restful' and we can relax and of course the tourist can enjoy our lovely coast line. As a Bermudian I love to take this trip, so relaxing and pretty.

We just seem to be spending too much money on things that are not helping the people to live a comfortable life. Every time we turn everything is up and our people are asked to pay, pay and pay.

BERMUDIAN Devonshire Commuting solutions May 16, 2001 Dear Sir, I am writing, as I have received no response to the last letter I wrote to the Corporation of Hamilton, about Hamilton transportation problems.

The first time I wrote to the City (and copied you), I received a prompt reply. Enclosed is a copy of that last letter that I sent to the Corporation.

Since my first letter to the City on March 8, about seven more parking spaces have been eliminated from use by the general public in the Par-La-Ville parking lot.

The parking spaces have been designated for commercial vehicles to free up the loading zones on Reid Street. I have yet to see a commercial vehicle park in any of these parking bays but I'm sure the Corporation is making good money from the tickets they are issuing to car owners who end up parking there in desperation because of the fewer number of parking spaces available.

In an effort to be part of the City's transportation solution, I decided to try public transportation. I took the ferry into Hamilton on the days that I don't have to pick up children after school.

On the first day, I parked on Chapel Road and took Hodson's ferry to town. It was a delight. The next day it was raining and I had meetings scheduled to run into the evening so I parked at Salt Kettle because that run has more stops in the evening hours, or so I thought.

Actually, it's a bit of a stretch to say that I parked at Salt Kettle. I parked a quarter of a mile from Salt Kettle because there is no parking in the immediate area.

This was okay as I had my rain jacket and an umbrella. I'm reasonably fit. It was another pleasant trip into the city.

That evening I returned to the Front Street ferry terminal at about 6.50 p.m.

and was informed that the ferry service was now on the summer schedule. The next ferry would not be departing until 9 p.m.

This was May 16. According to the winter schedule ferries depart Front Street at 6.55 p.m.

A taxi ride to Salt Kettle took care of my transportation dilemma, but I'm still irritated by what I consider to be a lack of sound planning on the part of the Ministry of Transportation, particularly in conjunction with the Corporation.

It only reminds me of my frustrations with the Corporation's approach to managing city transportation by decreasing inner-city car parking spaces without first implementing alternatives that meet the needs of car commuters.

Getting back to the ferry "summer'' schedule. I am aware I don't have a degree in traffic management, but common sense and my calendar tells me that it is not yet summer and that the traffic will remain heavy until school lets out.

Maybe the summer schedule should begin when school lets out; that's when traffic diminishes. And the summer schedules should end when school starts up again.

I was told by the gentleman at the ferry terminal that the summer scheduling was put into place about two years ago and that it runs from April 21 to November 3.

Maybe this will all be solved with the new fast ferries, but they aren't here yet and until then the ferry schedule should be adjusted to ease the periods of most intense road use, i.e., during the school terms.

Once again I urge the Corporation and the Ministry of Transportation to please sharpen your thinking. Hamilton commuters need new solutions up and running before you start to remove the transportation resources that are currently available (or were available a few years ago).

RONDA A. JAMES, D.D.S.

Paget Palm trees need TLC May 17, 2001 Dear Sir, I have been reading and obviously noticing the amount of damage that the crew of gardeners from the Works & Engineering Department have been doing around Bermuda.

It seems to me that they don't have much to do these days, that is why they are attacking the poor trees along our roadsides.

May I suggest that they should maybe concentrate on our beautiful parks? Walsingham Park path hasn't been cleared up for months and it is very difficult to explore this wonderful area.

Also, from my experience in other countries and cities (i.e. Las Vegas, Spain, Barbados etc.) where the palm trees are all cleaned up and well manicured. Why don't Works & Engineering crew clean up all the disgusting palm trees around the Hamilton? You can't help but notice these palms trees along Dundonald Street and basically all over town. It looks like they are just waiting for the leaves to fall down.

If the Corporation of Hamilton workers are too busy, then why not hire Works & Engineering men to do the job. Or why not give this contract to private gardening companies.

By cleaning up these palm trees, rats won't find a place to breed. I saw a good idea when I was in Barbados, a metal plate fitted around the bark of the palm trees to prevent any rodent from climbing up and settling in the palm. We should do that here too.

Bermuda is seen and sold as a very rich Island, well let's look like a rich Island by spending a little bit on manicuring and improving the appearance of our palm trees.

PALM TREE ACTIVIST Pembroke Storms clear the air May 15, 2001 Dear Sir, Would you allow an expression of appreciation in your columns for those who contributed to the observance of the 20th anniversary of the 1981 General Strike.

Given the fact that there had been no public reflection of that event in the past 20 years, one can only imagine that pulling this observance together, was not without its difficulties.

In light of this, may we offer thanks to the members of the clergy that participated in the lunchtime prayer service and especially to the Saltus singing group who took time out in their busy exam schedule to participate.

Thanks should also go to the media that provided good coverage of this reflection on our history. Special mention should go to the Bermuda Broadcasting Company which donated radio time for a Roundtable Discussion on the lessons of the strike, which included Ottiwell Simmons M.P., Dr. David Saul., Sen. Alf Oughton and Gladwin Simmons.

As the clouds move against each other, friction builds up a tremendous charge, which from time to time manifests as thunderstorms.

We would have thunderstorms all the time, if it were not for the fact that much of this charge gets grounded by tall trees, etc.

Reflection on our history provides an opportunity to ground the effect of the friction created by crises and other experiences, thus helping us move forward.

AD HOC COMMITTEE Hospital is first class May 16, 2001 Dear Sir, We would like to take this opportunity to praise and thank the Doctors, Nurses and staff on the maternity ward at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for their services rendered to Johnathan, the late Christian Smith and family.

We are constantly hearing negative comments about the standards at the hospital but we want to convey that we did not experience this at all.

Their actions were quick appropriate compassionate and most professional. We appreciated their concern and friendliness at that critical time.

Their caring and kindness cannot be learned from a textbook. This cannot be emphasised enough.

Though Bermuda is a small Island we are blessed with the most competent staff and first class equipment.

FAMILY OF JOHNATHAN AND THE LATE CHRISTIAN SMITH