Hospice care an asset to families
As November quickly closes, I would like to comment on two noteworthy happenings.
The first is that November is National Hospice Month, and this year’s theme is “Hope, Dignity, Love … It must be Hospice.”
The second is that Florence Wald died Nov. 8 at the age of 91. Florence is largely credited as “the mother of the American hospice movement” for opening this country’s first hospice in Branford, Conn., in 1974. Her dream of providing for the needs of dying patients has spread to include 1.4 million Americans who now receive care annually from some 4,700 hospices.
Still, her work remains. Nationwide, only 39 percent of all deaths are under the care of hospice. Florida hospices care for 65 percent. In Skagit County the figure is closer to 25 percent.
It saddens me to see patients die without the care of the interdisciplinary team at hospice, not having done proper life-closure work. Or when they or their doctors delay calling hospice and time is too short for this important work. With hospice, patients report a better quality of life; their families have less complicated grief; and they actually live on average 29 days longer than those who do not choose hospice.
Many people think they must give up medical treatments in order to be a hospice patient, but that is no longer true. Hospice can usually be easily added to conventional treatments. Patients can “hope for the best while preparing for the worst.”
In honor of National Hospice Month and of Florence Wald, let’s help our dying loved ones to think of hospice, think of it earlier with enough time to become prepared, and to know that every moment of life is valuable — right up to the end.
Paul D. Johnson, M.D.
Medical director
Skagit Hospice
Mount Vernon
Upriver assessments unreasonable
I am writing in response to the letter written about the recent property assessments. I also own 5 acres in Marblemount. I have a six-year-old mobile home that went up $5,000. I called the assessor’s office and was told they are playing “catch up” with upriver properties, and that they had not assessed anything up here in four to six years; however, I received a card last year from the assessor’s office raising my property value just last year! I also have a hard time believing that a mobile home increases in value.
The assessor I spoke with assured me that these days mobile homes most certainly do appreciate but that I was welcomed to appeal — though I should remember that it is a two-way street, and they will most likely raise the value even more if I should chose to appeal.
I agree that we all need to raise our voices and let them know that they do not have free rein.
Rod Conrad
Marblemount
County should cut late ferry runs
With all due respect to Ms. Powers regarding the late ferry runs to Guemes Island (“Islanders’ use justifies ferry hours”), her letter couldn’t be more wrong.
The Skagit County Public Works Department’s report clearly shows that the four least-used (and, therefore, most costly) runs per day are those that begin at 7 p.m., averaging less than half of the ridership of the other 21 scheduled runs between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The county states that “the purpose of the schedule change was to address several ferry-related issues, including the desire by many ferry customers for weekday evening service, operational and manning issues attributed to the U.S. Coast Guard fatigue study, vehicle congestion issues on Sixth Street in Anacortes, and (the) general level of service issues associated with providing a transportation service.”
The issue of demand has been debunked by the county’s own statistics. Given the low ridership on these late runs, it seems hard to justify as a means to alleviate congestion on Sixth Street. Most of that congestion would occur during periods of peak demand, not least demand.
We can only conclude that extended evening runs are promoted in order to make it easier to manage crew schedules. This is not the most compelling rationale for extending a service for which there is high cost and little demand. The ferry manager should look for other solutions to address staffing issues.
The county commissioners must do the right thing and oppose the permanent extension of the late runs. That proposal has been crafted around the needs and desires of few riders — at great expense and against the wishes of a majority of islanders.
As Skagit County looks for ways to respond to its deficit, why not start by cutting costly and unpopular late-evening ferry runs?
Paul Beaudet
Guemes Island
Yes, there really is a Boxtop Man
I know, Veronica, that some grown-ups say there is no Boxtop Man. Sadly, they are mistaken. Why, I saw him just last week at Central Elementary School in Sedro-Woolley. He was helping raise funds so that some boys and girls could go to camp. He had on his mask and bright cape and he was full of spirit and encouragement. Kids were hugging him and he smiled a lot.
But that’s not the only place I’ve seen him. A few years ago, Boxtop Man was at Big Lake Elementary. He was alive with high-fives, “you-can-do-its” and belly laughs. And the kids there loved him, and he smiled. And for a real treat he sang the “Chestnuts” song at the Christmas program with funny voices and gestures that made every student squeal and giggle.
Sometimes, Boxtop Man comes in disguises. He can be tall or short, old or young, or even without mask or cape. It is a huge job bringing joy to all the kids in the world; it is a job so enormous even Boxtop Man cannot do it by himself. So, luckily, he invites helpers: kids, parents, grandparents, kind friends, and together, they do all sorts of terrific things!
So, you see, Veronica, there really is a Boxtop Man. Keep your eye sharp and when you see him, don’t be shy, say hello. And if he needs help, chip in. It will be fun, and you’ll make smiles that reach from here to the moon!
Tim Garrison
Mount Vernon
