• Economic education important for students at all levels
As a parent and an employee in the Olmsted Falls City School District, I applaud Dr. Hoadley's efforts to acquire federal funding for our schools.

• Tribute concert, friends help keep memories alive
A blanket thank you does not replace personal thank you notes, but until I can write to everyone, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people in the city of Berea and those at Baldwin-Wallace College who supported and attended the tribute concert for my late husband, James Feldman, on Oct. 4.

• Falls Schools' request for federal funds is bold move
I would like to commend Dr. (Todd) Hoadley for his bold move in applying for assistance from the government.

• Girl Scouts, parents come to rescue of Cookie Kickoff Dance
Every year, Girl Scouts of Berea holds a Cookie Sale Kickoff Dance at the United Methodist Church of Berea. This year was no exception. Friday, Dec. 19 was the night of this great event.

• School grateful for new coats
I would like to express my thanks to Patti Astorino and Raymond Barr, who, on behalf of many Brook Park residents, made a donation of new winter coats for students at Ford Middle School.

• Volunteers, donors, cities help hunger pantry
As we gather our loved ones around us during this special time of year and, as we give thanks for our blessings, the staff of the SCAN Hunger Center Pantry and its board of directors offer our thanks to the many generous donors who aided us in fulfilling our mission of providing food to those who need it during this past year.

• Drama Club helps out hunger pantry
Berea High Drama Club -- Thespian Troupe 612 would like to thank the Berea community for their generosity during our food drive collection at the "Senior One Act" performances Dec. 4 and 5. Four large boxes of food were delivered to the SCAN Hunger Center Pantry, at 85 S. Rocky River Drive on Dec. 6 and was received most graciously.

• Sponsors' donations made teams' fundraiser a success'
The Brook Park U-13 Girl's Comets and the Brook Park U-10 Boy Bandits soccer team along with Coach Dana Raponi and Coach Don Rahe would like to send out our thanks and appreciation to all of those who helped make their fundraiser a success.

• Federal funds can be used to fix local problems
Northeast Ohio is losing industries and losing jobs. Its infrastructure is crumbling before our eyes. These troubles, and the troubles of our U.S. economy, are a complex problem that will not, and cannot be fixed overnight with a simple solution. We cannot simply spend our way out of this economic hole.

• Keep your dollars in the U.S., buy American
Watching TV, I see people in South Korea protesting a Free Trade Agreement because they would lose jobs. Are they smarter than us Americans? Why did we not see this when we let Honda, Nissan and Toyota into our country to build auto plants?

• School funding woefully inadequate'
Kudos to Olmsted Falls School Superintendent Dr. Todd Hoadley for his comments on the CNN Lou Dobbs show.

• Fall residents pay taxes elsewhere, then do without at home
I noticed that Olmsted Falls requested federal bailout money. Considering where some of the federal money is already going, superintendent Todd Hoadley's proposal looks good by comparison. If Congress thought $691 million was appropriate for the Capitol Visitors Center, the school system proposal is (1) a bargain, and (2) more useful.

• Revised church plans incorporate suggestions from neighbors
We realize that everyone has opinions when change affects them especially if it goes against the "way we have always known it." However, some of the statements made in print have been inaccurate and misleading.