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Blossoms & Barbs: March 22, 2008
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A barb and a blossom to the Monroe school district. >First, a barb for having so many days off. My job does not afford me a summer break, spring break, or at least one day per month off. I also do not get time off for basketball games. If you look at the district's calendar, you will see the number of days off are at least 1-2 days per month for inservice training. I understand that these trainings are not mandatory, so teachers do not always attend. Now we all realize we as taxpayers have the wonderful teachers union to thank for all this time off. But the real question is when do these children learn? Consistency is necessary for learning. How can you have that when one day you are in school and the next day not, or you get out early at noon? Maybe when the next referendum comes around, we as parents should demand more school time for our money. These negative things being said, I would also would like to give a blossom to Larry Brown >for organizing focus groups to fix internal problems. However, unless Mr. Brown takes on the teachers union, some issues will never be solved. - An anonymous parent>

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A blossom to the Monroe girls basketball team. >You've always been classy gals. Thanks for the wonderful season. Enjoy this memory forever. I had all of these girls in PE classes at the middle school and, believe me, they are all great role models. - Sue Patterson, Monroe>

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A blossom to Carmen Maurer,> religious education classes instructor for sixth to 12th grades at St. Victor's, for the production of the "Living Stations of the Cross" portrayed by 16 students in her classes on Wednesday, March 12. - Anonymous>

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A barb to the four-wheelers >tearing up the streets of Albany on Friday evening (March 14). Driving with no lights, running stop signs, driving through intersections with no regard to pedestrians or traffic and total disregard to the law enforcement that tried to stop them. And, this wasn't the first time this has happened. A huge thank you to the many citizens who were able to ID where they went. - MaryEllen Parker>

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A big barb to the Monroe Times >or not including any other fire or EMS departments in the Fire/EMS call report section of the newspaper. If all fire and EMS reports can't be given, then none should. There are several small departments that place just as much time in the services as does Monroe's emergency departments. - Justin M.>