LETTERS

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MORE ON OUR OCEANS Thank you for the article about the top ten most underreported stories that appeared in the last issue of Illinois Times (Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez,“Project censored,” Oct. 23).

For readers interested in learning more about the acidification of our oceans (and what happens if the current trends of abuse continue), an excellent book on the subject is Oceana by Ted Danson, published by Rodale Press.

Definitely an eye opener.

Beth Szillagyi Petersburg

NATURE SETS A CITY’S TONE When you enter a city, you get an initial impression of a dominant quality, a sense of place and tone set by the overall design. If the leadership is there, the tone will be a positive one where visitors see a wellmaintained and inspiring sense of place. Rich in history and creativity, Springfield has the foundation to weave a tone throughout the city. What that tone will be depends on the leadership we draw on.

Jackson Street is said to be a showplace for Springfield. What will we be showing? Practical business sense is important but without spirit and integrity a city falls flat, coming across shallow and shortsighted. When given the attention and care it needs, one aspect that always gives back ten times more what we put into it is nature. Artists, scientists and architects have always drawn from it. Innovation indicates a foresight. A partnership drawing on history, innovation and commitment to nature has been the perfect palette for success in other cities. It just might work here. Anne Logue Springfield

IHSA RULES APPLY I always enjoy the Illinois Times and especially the “Best of Springfield” issue.

In the Oct. 30 issue there is a “Best local sports team category” with a very deserving winner, the Rochester High School football team. They are fantastic and loads of fun to watch.

I don’t know who wrote the accompanying few paragraphs, but that person chose to slander all private schools by implying that they offer scholarships to star football players. I’m not sure if you know this, but that would be a violation of IHSA rules and would result in forfeiting games and suspension of coaches or athletic directors at any of those private schools that were behind such an action. Private schools supporters (and I am one) spend a fair amount of time in sports discussions trying to dispel any thought that private schools would violate the rules in such a manner.

Private schools who would offer scholarships based on football ability should be investigated and punished for breaking the rules. If your writer is aware of such an action by a private school he should expose that violation with a story. If he just invented that, he owes an apology and you owe a retraction.

I trust you to decide if what was written about private schools was fair. Todd J. Anderson Springfield

BIKE LANE BEMUSEMENT I imagine both the bicyclist and motorist are confused about the bicycle route/bicycle lane markings and signage on Second Street between South Grand and North Grand by now (“Lane Changes,” by James Krohe Jr., Oct. 16). Parking is now allowed southbound between North Grand and just north of Dodge Street, between Monroe Street and Edwards Street; and northbound between Vine Street and Lawrence Street, and between Edwards Street and Monroe Street. That means the bicyclists have to travel in the same lane as the unhappy motorists when there are vehicles parked in these areas. There were some new share-the-road symbols in these dual use lanes once, but they must have been confusing and have since been removed. Some of the few bicycles I have seen using the lanes were riding against traffic. I have also noticed there are no signs denoting the end of the lanes or providing guidance both directions at Carpenter Street or southbound at South Grand where the traffic lanes take up the entire pavement. This project to add bicycle lanes to Second Street was definitely not thought through before it was implemented. Tyre W. Rees Springfield