A blossom to the Argyle American Legion Post 251. A beautiful Memorial Day Service. Thank you. - Scott and Briget
* * *
I would love to send a blossom to the young, polite and very helpful sheriff who helped us after we hit a deer in Lafayette County. It is so heartbreaking to kill a beautiful animal, and I was so very grateful for the kindness of the young sheriff. Thank you - Phoebe Brandenburg
* * *
A barb to the School District of Monroe - Summer School Office. I have three children enrolled in the district and all three are going to attend summer school classes. On Saturday, I received three oversized envelopes costing $1.05 each to mail. Surely, there is a less expensive option for mailing the summer school schedules or changing the delivery system of the summer school schedules to keep costs down. What is the School District planning on doing when the referendum dollars dry up - does the School District feel that voters are going to go back to the polls and renew the funds when wasteful spending is constantly taking place? Spend the money as if it is coming out of your own pocket and be more practical. - Frustrated parent
* * *
A huge thank you to all the people who attended the breakfast on our farm on May 29. The respect and enthusiasm shown to us was remarkable. We are so lucky to have so many friends and family members that were so willing to help us on this big day. Also a big thank you to the Green County Ag Chest for the great job of feeding 5,000 people in such a short time and making it such a nice day for all involved. Thank you all very much! - Alan and Yvonne DeVoe and family
* * *
A huge bouquet of blossoms to all the wonderful volunteers and donors who helped make the 2010 Brat Bash a huge success! A special thank you to Maggie Parmer and Wes and Gwen Krupke for their time, patience and efforts with this event. We are truly blessed to live in such a supportive and giving community. - Twining Valley Retirement Community, Monroe Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Harbor House and Serenity Haven
* * *
I would like to give a well deserved blossom to the Minhas Brewery, specifically to Kathy Jones and Gary Olson for donating a barrel of Blumer's Root Beer to the Monroe Middle School sixth graders. We made refreshing root beer floats on our last day of school, which were enjoyed by 200 students and staff members. Many thanks again. - Tony Stagliano and the Monroe sixth graders
* * *
A big blossom to The Swiss Colony for all their assistance in the Green County Relay For Life since its inception. They have given us help in more ways than we can count, never saying "no" if there is any possible way they can say "yes." What a wonderful way to give back to Green County and its citizens - by helping fund research to find a cure for the dreaded disease that has robbed so many of more birthdays.
And an equally large blossom for Monroe's Pizza Hut. They, too, have been a huge help in the fight to find a cure. From cooking the spaghetti for our suppers to hosting us at fundraisers under their roof and everything in between, the local staff has been a phenomenal teammate.
And a third huge blossom should go to the people of Green County who have supported the Relay for 15 years, raising almost $1.4 million to make sure research is continually being done - because everyone deserves more birthdays. Please join us at the Monroe High School Track June 25 to celebrate this great accomplishment. We'll celebrate more birthdays for those who've survived because of research funded by these dollars - and remember those for whom the advances were too late. - Norma Slaback, Relay For Life Committee
* * *
A barb to the disgruntled ballplayers who barbed the Monticello Police Department last week. First everyone complains that they're not doing their job, then they complain when they do. The lines may have been faded, but they were there - plenty of people had no problem seeing them. I'm giving a blossom to the Monticello Police Department, for doing their job for once. - Anonymous
* * *
A blossom to everyone who helped with the Memorial Day program. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. No one has a clue about how much dedication is involved in planning the Memorial Day program. We wish to thank the parents and leaders, for getting the youth involved in learning about Americanism and doing this community service for putting together the wreaths and for decorating the graves. It was a beautiful day and everything went very well. Thank you to all of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, leaders, parents of the scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312 members, American Legion Unit 84 members and any other residents of Green County who helped with the early-morning shift, decorating the graves, Avenue of Flags and participants in the parade and service. Thanks go to the committee that put together the program, to all of our speakers, the Monroe High School Band and the firing squad from American Legion Unit 84 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312. Thanks goes to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary for serving coffee, juice and rolls before the service, the American Legion for hosting the potluck. Do not forget the volunteers who helped take the Avenue of Flags down Monday afternoon. If we missed anyone, please forgive us. Thank you to all. - Bev Stuckey, VFW Post 2312 Ladies Auxiliary past president; Sheryl Tschudy, VFW Post 2312 Ladies Auxiliary president and Donna Douglas, American Legion Unit 84 Auxiliary president
* * *
A big sharp barb to those who continuously use the newspaper to publicly criticize high school coaches. Coaching at the high school level, for any sport, is not an easy job. It takes a lot of hard work and is a huge commitment. These men and women are spending time away from their own families to try and not only help these student athletes become better at their particular activity, but also to instill values in them they will use their entire lives. They put on the field, court, track, etc. whom they feel is going to give them the best opportunity to compete at the level they need to be successful. Just because you attend some or all of the games doesn't mean you know what certain athletes have shown them at practice or in other game situations. In sports like football, basketball, and baseball, hours of scouting are done to know what the competition is going to bring to the table, and that also becomes a factor when a coach is making their decisions. The same processes happen at the college and professional level. It's the nature of the beast, but it's always been a very hard concept for many athletes and parents to grasp. There is nothing wrong with voicing your discontent with these things, coaches know it comes with the territory - but voicing it on a public forum is not the responsible way to handle it. Talk to the coaches, let them know your concerns, and maybe after you talk, you'll get their side of the story, or maybe they'll realize you are seeing something they missed, and they will make some changes. We have been blessed to have many great high school teams in this area, boys and girls for several years, and they receive awesome community support. We have also been blessed to have great people be willing to make the commitment to coach these teams, and lead them down these successful roads. So I say to the "baseball barber," if you're such an avid fan of Monroe baseball, one would think you would be sending a blossom to the baseball players and coaches for not only their winning season, but the improvements several of the athletes made from last year to this. To most coaches, athletes, and fans, that's a victory in itself. - Anonymous
* * *
I would love to send a blossom to the young, polite and very helpful sheriff who helped us after we hit a deer in Lafayette County. It is so heartbreaking to kill a beautiful animal, and I was so very grateful for the kindness of the young sheriff. Thank you - Phoebe Brandenburg
* * *
A barb to the School District of Monroe - Summer School Office. I have three children enrolled in the district and all three are going to attend summer school classes. On Saturday, I received three oversized envelopes costing $1.05 each to mail. Surely, there is a less expensive option for mailing the summer school schedules or changing the delivery system of the summer school schedules to keep costs down. What is the School District planning on doing when the referendum dollars dry up - does the School District feel that voters are going to go back to the polls and renew the funds when wasteful spending is constantly taking place? Spend the money as if it is coming out of your own pocket and be more practical. - Frustrated parent
* * *
A huge thank you to all the people who attended the breakfast on our farm on May 29. The respect and enthusiasm shown to us was remarkable. We are so lucky to have so many friends and family members that were so willing to help us on this big day. Also a big thank you to the Green County Ag Chest for the great job of feeding 5,000 people in such a short time and making it such a nice day for all involved. Thank you all very much! - Alan and Yvonne DeVoe and family
* * *
A huge bouquet of blossoms to all the wonderful volunteers and donors who helped make the 2010 Brat Bash a huge success! A special thank you to Maggie Parmer and Wes and Gwen Krupke for their time, patience and efforts with this event. We are truly blessed to live in such a supportive and giving community. - Twining Valley Retirement Community, Monroe Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Harbor House and Serenity Haven
* * *
I would like to give a well deserved blossom to the Minhas Brewery, specifically to Kathy Jones and Gary Olson for donating a barrel of Blumer's Root Beer to the Monroe Middle School sixth graders. We made refreshing root beer floats on our last day of school, which were enjoyed by 200 students and staff members. Many thanks again. - Tony Stagliano and the Monroe sixth graders
* * *
A big blossom to The Swiss Colony for all their assistance in the Green County Relay For Life since its inception. They have given us help in more ways than we can count, never saying "no" if there is any possible way they can say "yes." What a wonderful way to give back to Green County and its citizens - by helping fund research to find a cure for the dreaded disease that has robbed so many of more birthdays.
And an equally large blossom for Monroe's Pizza Hut. They, too, have been a huge help in the fight to find a cure. From cooking the spaghetti for our suppers to hosting us at fundraisers under their roof and everything in between, the local staff has been a phenomenal teammate.
And a third huge blossom should go to the people of Green County who have supported the Relay for 15 years, raising almost $1.4 million to make sure research is continually being done - because everyone deserves more birthdays. Please join us at the Monroe High School Track June 25 to celebrate this great accomplishment. We'll celebrate more birthdays for those who've survived because of research funded by these dollars - and remember those for whom the advances were too late. - Norma Slaback, Relay For Life Committee
* * *
A barb to the disgruntled ballplayers who barbed the Monticello Police Department last week. First everyone complains that they're not doing their job, then they complain when they do. The lines may have been faded, but they were there - plenty of people had no problem seeing them. I'm giving a blossom to the Monticello Police Department, for doing their job for once. - Anonymous
* * *
A blossom to everyone who helped with the Memorial Day program. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. No one has a clue about how much dedication is involved in planning the Memorial Day program. We wish to thank the parents and leaders, for getting the youth involved in learning about Americanism and doing this community service for putting together the wreaths and for decorating the graves. It was a beautiful day and everything went very well. Thank you to all of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, leaders, parents of the scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312 members, American Legion Unit 84 members and any other residents of Green County who helped with the early-morning shift, decorating the graves, Avenue of Flags and participants in the parade and service. Thanks go to the committee that put together the program, to all of our speakers, the Monroe High School Band and the firing squad from American Legion Unit 84 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2312. Thanks goes to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary for serving coffee, juice and rolls before the service, the American Legion for hosting the potluck. Do not forget the volunteers who helped take the Avenue of Flags down Monday afternoon. If we missed anyone, please forgive us. Thank you to all. - Bev Stuckey, VFW Post 2312 Ladies Auxiliary past president; Sheryl Tschudy, VFW Post 2312 Ladies Auxiliary president and Donna Douglas, American Legion Unit 84 Auxiliary president
* * *
A big sharp barb to those who continuously use the newspaper to publicly criticize high school coaches. Coaching at the high school level, for any sport, is not an easy job. It takes a lot of hard work and is a huge commitment. These men and women are spending time away from their own families to try and not only help these student athletes become better at their particular activity, but also to instill values in them they will use their entire lives. They put on the field, court, track, etc. whom they feel is going to give them the best opportunity to compete at the level they need to be successful. Just because you attend some or all of the games doesn't mean you know what certain athletes have shown them at practice or in other game situations. In sports like football, basketball, and baseball, hours of scouting are done to know what the competition is going to bring to the table, and that also becomes a factor when a coach is making their decisions. The same processes happen at the college and professional level. It's the nature of the beast, but it's always been a very hard concept for many athletes and parents to grasp. There is nothing wrong with voicing your discontent with these things, coaches know it comes with the territory - but voicing it on a public forum is not the responsible way to handle it. Talk to the coaches, let them know your concerns, and maybe after you talk, you'll get their side of the story, or maybe they'll realize you are seeing something they missed, and they will make some changes. We have been blessed to have many great high school teams in this area, boys and girls for several years, and they receive awesome community support. We have also been blessed to have great people be willing to make the commitment to coach these teams, and lead them down these successful roads. So I say to the "baseball barber," if you're such an avid fan of Monroe baseball, one would think you would be sending a blossom to the baseball players and coaches for not only their winning season, but the improvements several of the athletes made from last year to this. To most coaches, athletes, and fans, that's a victory in itself. - Anonymous
