City worked hard on Old Town overlay ordinance
We would like to thank Mayor Dean Maxwell, the City Council and former Planning Director Ian Munce for the time and effort devoted to passing Ordinance 17.27, the Old Town Overlay District, which was the culmination of the Hinshaw process.

The support and guidance provided by city officials have been noted and are very much appreciated. It is indeed reassuring to know that we live in a community where citizens have an opportunity to communicate their concerns and that those concerns are recognized and acted upon.

It was a cold, rainy day last Jan. 17 — nine months almost to the day that Ordinance 17.27 was passed — when a small band of neighbors began passing out fliers to every home in Old Town and along Commercial Avenue urging support for the Hinshaw process. We are proud to have been part of that effort and proud of the response from the leadership of Anacortes. This is what makes our community a very special place.
Hal and Susan Rooks
Anacortes

Shell’s long-term commitment has been good for city
The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Shell Puget Sound Refinery on the 50th anniversary of their operations in Anacortes. We have partnered with this great company for most of those 50 years and look forward to many productive years to come. They remain a valued and contributing member to our Board of Directors and a generous sponsor of our events.

Anacortes was fortunate to have Shell locate here 50 years ago. If you look back through the archives of the Anacortes American, you will be struck by the level of involvement Shell and their employees have had in Anacortes.

There is rarely an activity of note in which Shell management and/or employees have not taken a role. Moreover, Shell’s ability to consistently provide living wage jobs for Anacortes families has been a key measure of our success and viability as a community. Thanks to Shell for their civic commitment and best wishes in the future.
Robin H. Pestarino
President
Anacortes Chamber of Commerce

Palin’s record, views tell us she’s a poor choice
Sara Palin describes herself as a small town soccer mom who hunts wolves from planes and takes pleasure in being a maverick. Is this really the person we want to be next in line to a 72-year-old man?

As mayor of Wasilla, a town of 7,000-plus, she was at odds with the librarian and asking about how to remove books she found offensive. As governor she is involved in an investigation of improper use of executive power in relation to the firing of an executive who would not fire her sister’s ex-husband from the state police force. Mrs. Palin seems to be of the Dick Cheney mold.

Mrs. Palin’s beliefs fit very well with the far right wing of the Republican party. She doesn’t believe global warming is man induced and she doesn’t want polar bears protected so more oil can be drilled. She is heavily invested with big oil. BP even paid for her inauguration. It is nice to have all that revenue so you don’t have to worry about balancing a state budget.

Her religious views allow her to say “the war in Iraq is God’s task.” She doesn’t think abortion should be legal even for rape or incest. She believes schools should teach creationism and should not teach birth control.

She says she is opposed to earmarks but happily took the thousand of dollars “Uncle Ted” funneled to Wasilla and the state.

I’m all for a woman president or vice president, however, I want one who is very qualified and doesn’t come from a state with a part-time (60 day) legislature and has about the same population as Seattle.
Leslie Krous
Anacortes

Turner’s record as a builder is impressive
I have been colleague and friend of Bill Turner for over 28 years.

We both began working in the early 1980s on alternative and energy efficient construction for homes and businesses. Bill constructed some of the first homes in this state that set the standards for what later became the Washington State Energy Code.

As a builder and a private citizen, Bill has worked to improve construction practices and support responsible development. In the early 1990s, Bill was one of the few builders in Skagit County to support the goals and objectives to the Growth Management Act and has actively worked to responsibly implement GMA by participating in local planning efforts.

Being actively involved with the issues that shape our communities has given Bill the experience and understanding that Skagit County needs to move ahead. Vote for Bill Turner for Skagit County Commissioner, District 1.
John Doyle
La Conner

We can do without Obama’s brand of change
Americans have a long and irrefutable history of giving to the poor of the world, of rendering aid to those experiencing disasters and rebuilding countries devastated by war. In fact, the historical record clearly shows that Americans are perhaps the most generous people on earth.

Yet, since 1969, the United Nations has attempted to establish a forced transfer of wealth through a global tax on “wealthy” countries, more specifically, a tax on the U.S. to hand over $80 billion a year to the U.N., which is approximately 0.7 percent of our current gross national product … and from all accounts, that would only be the beginning.

The U.N. action may be read in General Assembly adopted Resolution 2626, which is part of their “Millennium Development Goals” and “Global New Deal.”

What is interesting about this attempt to penetrate the American tax structure and our personal pocketbooks is that presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama, on Dec. 7, 2007, introduced his “historic” piece of legislation in the United States Senate called “The Global Poverty Act.” The bill now has 23 co-sponsors and would, if passed, require the president and his administration to “develop and implement a comprehensive strategy” to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

If the Obama legislation receives the seal of Congressional approval, and the senator makes it to the Oval Office to place it into effect, the IRS will be compelled to collect a tax from every American family that in reality is forced donations, violating the freedom of personal choice. I cannot see where such an act, where such an executive philosophy, is consistent with the oath of the Office of the President or is in any way responsive to the security and welfare of our nation.

This kind of “change” we can do without.
Norman J. Landerman-Moore
Anacortes