Letters to the editor — May 16

Your views

• Published May 16, 2008

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George Steele, Shelton

Use stimulus check to preserve lands

In just a few days, nearly every South Puget Sound resident will receive a check from the federal government that is designed to serve as an economic stimulant.

For those folks who can afford to do so, I would urge you to contribute all or part of your check to the Capitol Land Trust.

Our county is growing extremely fast and open space is being swallowed up every day with new houses, warehouses, business locations and public facilities.

The Capitol Land Trust (209 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia) will immediately pool your check with those of others to purchase uplands and beaches for future generations. Your money will circulate through the real estate market and the goals of the federal program will be met.

I am very concerned that we are not setting aside enough open space and park lands for our grandchildren. This could be your opportunity to help guarantee a more livable county for our future generations.

Ralph Munro, Olympia

Levy dollars help gifted students, too

My son currently attends Lacey Elementary School. When we were searching for schools for him to attend, we knew that we needed to find an advanced/gifted/highly capable program. I searched Olympia and Tumwater, but North Thurston was the only school district with the foresight to have a full-time program (TAG).

The district understood that kids, at an early age, are sponges and that the gifted kids have specialized needs that can’t be met in a normal classroom setting. It’s wonderful that most high schools have AP and honors classes, but, more importantly, these kids need to have advanced learning at the very beginning of their education.

If you walked in any of the TAG classes, I know that you would be amazed that these kids are normal kids with normal kid behavior, however, the conversations you hear and the knowledge they have is beyond belief. To not receive their current level of learning in the future would be a complete disservice to these kids.