Mulch handling
Mulch handling
You try it, Peters
Before making all the big changes to our green waste program, like eliminating the loader for free mulch at Kealakehe, I would like to see county Recycling Coordinator Linda Peters get out there and “simply pitchfork a load of mulch” into my truck.
It ain’t as simple as it sounds. Believe me, I have done it and it is a hot, dirty, back-breaking job, with nowhere near the load resulting as when the motorized loader fills you up in about a minute flat.
Let’s at least keep the loader available for loading on the weekends for all the backyard gardeners who want to enhance Hawaii’s soil naturally.
With no loading, I predict a lot less mulching.
Are some changes to the Green Waste Program necessary? Sure, but let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.
C. Edwards
Kailua-Kona
Thanksgiving
A Kona mahalo
A time of remembering, gratitude, resolve — that first multi-cultural feast of Thanksgiving celebrated so long ago and still remembered today in its smallest detail as we reward ourselves with a day off an overabundance of food. And the guilt of knowing when too much is too much, so we look for absolution in the form of selfless acts performed by those around us, using these memories until the memory of these memories becomes the standard we look forward to each year at the time of celebration.
Occasionally we hear of an action so selfless and of such magnitude we want it, too, included in the memory list as part of the celebration. The day following Thanksgiving, we began searching WHT for it, photos of a job well-done. The story done, a feature front-page item from Waimea.
But this year Kona just wasn’t there. How could it be that a small restaurant together with the Salvation Army and various other individuals and small businesses could possibly prepare over 900 Thanksgiving dinners to distribute? The whole population of Kona doesn’t top 35,000 people. That’s almost 3 percent of the population. Wasn’t this story of selflessness worthy of front-page coverage?
After several days of daily searching, we phoned to the editorial division of WHT seeking a reason for its omission. They were kind, understanding, explaining how only one reporter was available on Thanksgiving Day, that the Salvation Army and Jackie Rey’s were front page featured last year and the year before and the decision was made to honor another area and the exemplary work done there this year. Nothing negative hinted at nor intended. Just a lack of personnel available on a holiday and an honest desire to spread the good-will around.
Kona is blessed to have such selfless, living examples as the Salvation Army and Jackie Rey’s. For the many who participated in the work of the day beginning in the predawn hours, know that Kona salutes you and carries you close in our hearts. Thank you for another job well-done even though those thank yous were late in arriving.
Jean Metz
Kailua-Kona
Parades
End the candy routine
I love the parades in Kona and around the island but I do not love it after the parade is over and the next day. I’ve asked this before: Why do they feel the need to give away candy at every parade?
The children certainly do not need the candy and the mess that is left behind is like a blight on the town(s).
Where are all the environmental folks when you want them to do something? It’s time to rethink the candy routine.
Frank Dickinson
Kailua-Kona