Comments for Columbia Today http://columbia.htnp.com Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:21:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on Trial in death of baby will begin on Tuesday by Greegor47@gmail.com http://columbia.htnp.com/2010/01/08/trial-in-death-of-baby-will-begin-on-tuesday/comment-page-1/#comment-192 Greegor47@gmail.com Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:07:47 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=1704#comment-192 After all of this delay, this was rescheduled for Feb 2 and then scheduled for Feb 8th? Is there more news on this important case? After all of this delay, this was rescheduled for Feb 2 and then
scheduled for Feb 8th? Is there more news on this important case?

]]> Comment on Attention ‘texters’ behind the wheel… prepare to be busted by Brenda Sullivan | HTNP Editor http://columbia.htnp.com/2009/10/03/attention-%e2%80%98texters%e2%80%99-behind-the-wheel%e2%80%a6-prepare-to-be-busted/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Brenda Sullivan | HTNP Editor Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:55:56 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=1104#comment-111 This is a comment from a reader posted on the copy of the story that appeared in Mansfield Today: Thanks for the article, I think this issue of texting, talking and driving needs more exposure. Hopefully this type of attention to the problem will make people realize that the distracted driving problem can get you or another driver killed! If you have any doubt that this is true here’s a page that has the photos and stories of people that have been killed. http://www.drivinglaws.org/top10/10-reasons.php Steve Thomas. This is a comment from a reader posted on the copy of the story that appeared in Mansfield Today:
Thanks for the article, I think this issue of texting, talking and driving needs more exposure.
Hopefully this type of attention to the problem will make people realize that the distracted driving problem can get you or another driver killed!
If you have any doubt that this is true here’s a page that has the photos and stories of people that have been killed.
http://www.drivinglaws.org/top10/10-reasons.php
Steve Thomas.

]]> Comment on Obituary for Harriet R. Lyman by Kay Westcott http://columbia.htnp.com/2009/07/27/obituary-for-harriet-r-lyman/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Kay Westcott Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:43:59 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=377#comment-94 Dear Kevin and Ellie, May you receive comfort in the knowledge that your mother is at rest in the arms of God, in which she placed her faith. Remember the wonderful summers in PEI and the joys that you shared together. May peace descend on you both as you continue to carry on your parents\' training and guidance to live a happy and fulfilling life. God bless the family, Kay Westcott Dear Kevin and Ellie,

May you receive comfort in the knowledge that your mother is at rest in the arms of God, in which she placed her faith. Remember the wonderful summers in PEI and the joys that you shared together. May peace descend on you both as you continue to carry on your parents\’ training and guidance to live a happy and fulfilling life.

God bless the family,
Kay Westcott

]]> Comment on Porter school may receive boost in tech funding by Citizen Kane http://columbia.htnp.com/2009/06/02/porter-school-may-receive-boost-in-tech-funding/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Citizen Kane Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:53:17 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=68#comment-16 It would be interesting to see if Columbia could obtain a grant similar to the HP one that Willington received a few years ago to provide interactive PC tablets for the children, Kindle's, and electronic white boards that allow the kids to view white board information on their tablets. It would be interesting to see if Columbia could obtain a grant similar to the HP one that Willington received a few years ago to provide interactive PC tablets for the children, Kindle’s, and electronic white boards that allow the kids to view white board information on their tablets.

]]> Comment on Area mourns loss of Adella Urban by Bart Russell http://columbia.htnp.com/2009/06/18/area-mourns-loss-of-adella-urban/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Bart Russell Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:59:54 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=172#comment-14 I am so saddened by the news of Adel's passing. She sereved for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST). I was priveleged to know her as a colleague and a friend. The twinkle in her eyes, her warm smile and her hearty laugh made he a joy to be with. She lit up the room wherever she was. Adel was also a consumate professional with a passion for the Town of Columbia, a commitment to public service and a highly effective statewide leader who advocated the cause of small towns and grassroost local government. We stayed in touch after she retired from public service largely because I was not ready to say goodbye to her. Adel, my old friend, "goodbye" for now. You may be gone but will never be forgotten. Affectionately, Bart ------------------- Barton Russell, Executive Director Connecticut Council of Small Towns I am so saddened by the news of Adel’s passing. She sereved for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST). I was priveleged to know her as a colleague and a friend. The twinkle in her eyes, her warm smile and her hearty laugh made he a joy to be with. She lit up the room wherever she was. Adel was also a consumate professional with a passion for the Town of Columbia, a commitment to public service and a highly effective statewide leader who advocated the cause of small towns and grassroost local government. We stayed in touch after she retired from public service largely because I was not ready to say goodbye to her. Adel, my old friend, “goodbye” for now. You may be gone but will never be forgotten.

Affectionately, Bart
——————-
Barton Russell, Executive Director
Connecticut Council of Small Towns

]]> Comment on Capitol Garage to be part of “new” Chrysler by Sam http://columbia.htnp.com/2009/06/02/capitol-garage-to-be-part-of-new-chrysler-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Sam Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:39:31 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=72#comment-3 GOOD NEWS.. I am glad to see a good dealership that is community minded stay with us.. They are just good people selling Dodge or the next space age cars that run on beer. GOOD NEWS.. I am glad to see a good dealership that is community minded stay with us.. They are just good people selling Dodge or the next space age cars that run on beer.

]]> Comment on Where did the half million $$$ go? by Brenda Sullivan | HTNP Editor http://columbia.htnp.com/2009/05/21/where-did-the-half-million-go/comment-page-1/#comment-1 Brenda Sullivan | HTNP Editor Fri, 22 May 2009 03:10:41 +0000 http://columbia.htnp.com/?p=61#comment-1 Submitted on 2009/05/21 at 10:59pm Dear Ms. Sullivan: I was made aware of your paper’s article this day and wanted to make myself available for comment and to try and set the record straight on our organization. The donation period you reference in your article was 7/1/07-6/30/08 – which was our first full year of operation. For fiscal year 08-09 (and all subsequent years) - we have taken action to ensure that we will greatly improve the performance of our charity. We are on target to meet that objective. Our 2nd full fiscal year ends in about 5 weeks (6/30/2009) and I think you will find a significantly better organization. We have a new Executive Director (me) and our audit (due by 9/15/09) will show that we are doing excellent work in the community. In the interest of transparency – I will give you some details of what will be disclosed in the audit. I invite you and your readers to hold us accountable and review our annual audit when it comes out in September. 67% of our discretionary income (income after our fundraiser is paid) will go directly to programs (Firefighter equipment – locator devices – assistance to burn victims). Our fundraising costs are still significant (roughly 85% of donations). Those costs are under review and we will continue to seek methods to lower them. It is the goal of the board to improve on last fiscal year’s performance by a multiple of at least 10. In other words – we fully expect that our audit will show that 10% of funds raised went directly to programs. We intend to increase than number incrementally every year going forward. Tomorrow we will be shipping locator device equipment to 4 fire departments in Connecticut. That equipment was requested by the departments in early April and ordered then. The donations total about $10,500 or approximately $2,625 per department. During this current fiscal year, we have made similar donations to departments in the following states: Washington: Bald Hill FD Sedro-Wooley FD Rosalia FD Woodland FD Massachusetts: Worcester FD Leicester FD Marlborough FD California: Felton FD Grover Beach FD Kenwood FD Pacific Grove FD Maryland: Germantown FD Glen Burnie FD Landover FD Hagerstown FD Florida: Seminole County FD Polk County FD Virginia: Radford FD Saltville FD Spotsylvania FD Warrenton FD By the end of this fiscal year, we should also have completed donations of similar scope in Texas, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. We are also assisting burn victims in California – with plans to do the same thing in Ohio and Texas. For the record, I am (by far) the highest paid person in our organization and I will be paid less than $25,000 for the fiscal year (with zero benefits). No other current employee makes more than $6,000 per year. The few paid employees also donate a great deal of time to the organization. If you would like to discuss this further, please email me at rnmedik@aol.com to arrange a telephone call. I will be out of the office Friday picking up and shipping equipment. As I said – our organization will only continue to improve. We appreciate the support of the community and look forward to a great future. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Sincerely, Matthew Cahillane, EMT-P Executive Director, Firefighters Support Services 2011 Oak Street Wyandotte, MI 48192 Submitted on 2009/05/21 at 10:59pm

Dear Ms. Sullivan:

I was made aware of your paper’s article this day and wanted to make myself available for comment and to try and set the record straight on our organization.

The donation period you reference in your article was 7/1/07-6/30/08 – which was our first full year of operation. For fiscal year 08-09 (and all subsequent years) - we have taken action to ensure that we will greatly improve the performance of our charity. We are on target to meet that objective.

Our 2nd full fiscal year ends in about 5 weeks (6/30/2009) and I think you will find a significantly better organization. We have a new Executive Director (me) and our audit (due by 9/15/09) will show that we are doing excellent work in the community. In the interest of transparency – I will give you some details of what will be disclosed in the audit. I invite you and your readers to hold us accountable and review our annual audit when it comes out in September.

67% of our discretionary income (income after our fundraiser is paid) will go directly to programs (Firefighter equipment – locator devices – assistance to burn victims). Our fundraising costs are still significant (roughly 85% of donations). Those costs are under review and we will continue to seek methods to lower them. It is the goal of the board to improve on last fiscal year’s performance by a multiple of at least 10. In other words – we fully expect that our audit will show that 10% of funds raised went directly to programs. We intend to increase than number incrementally every year going forward.

Tomorrow we will be shipping locator device equipment to 4 fire departments in Connecticut. That equipment was requested by the departments in early April and ordered then. The donations total about $10,500 or approximately $2,625 per department. During this current fiscal year, we have made similar donations to departments in the following states:

Washington:
Bald Hill FD
Sedro-Wooley FD
Rosalia FD
Woodland FD

Massachusetts:
Worcester FD
Leicester FD
Marlborough FD

California:
Felton FD
Grover Beach FD
Kenwood FD
Pacific Grove FD

Maryland:
Germantown FD
Glen Burnie FD
Landover FD
Hagerstown FD

Florida:
Seminole County FD
Polk County FD

Virginia:
Radford FD
Saltville FD
Spotsylvania FD
Warrenton FD

By the end of this fiscal year, we should also have completed donations of similar scope in Texas, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. We are also assisting burn victims in California – with plans to do the same thing in Ohio and Texas.

For the record, I am (by far) the highest paid person in our organization and I will be paid less than $25,000 for the fiscal year (with zero benefits). No other current employee makes more than $6,000 per year. The few paid employees also donate a great deal of time to the organization.

If you would like to discuss this further, please email me at rnmedik@aol.com to arrange a telephone call. I will be out of the office Friday picking up and shipping equipment.

As I said – our organization will only continue to improve. We appreciate the support of the community and look forward to a great future. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

Sincerely,

Matthew Cahillane, EMT-P
Executive Director, Firefighters Support Services
2011 Oak Street
Wyandotte, MI 48192

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