End Polio NOW
Dear editor,
It is with a heavy heart that Rotarians in our community learned about the return of this monstrous disease to the United States when a child in New York was infected and crippled by it earlier this week.
It wasn’t that many years ago that Polio ravaged children in Taylor, the US and across the world. Since Rotary began its Polio Plus fund in 1985, an estimated 16 million people are walking today who would otherwise have been paralyzed by the disease, and more than 1.5 million people are alive, whose lives would otherwise have been lost. Now the task remains to tackle polio in its last few strongholds and get rid of the final 0.1% of polio cases.
As long as it exists anywhere in the world, Polio is just a plane ride from us. Vaccinations at home and around the globe are essential to eradicate this disease.
Later this year, the Taylor Rotary Club will have a fundraiser to aid in this effort. We hope everyone will join us in the fight.
Tia Rae Stone President, Rotary Club of Taylor
Dear Editor,
Here are my thoughts on three different topics:
1. High fuel prices — One simple and very effective way to combat the high price of gas would be for the President or Congress to reinstate the 55 mph speed limit nationwide, effective immediately. This would lower demand for fuel as well as save lives. The President should address the nation to announce this and appeal to everyone to conserve as we would in wartime. We are, in a sense, at war with Russia as we continue to aid Ukraine in their struggle.
2. Egrets — The birds are pretty and protected, but let’s face it - once they spread out beyond their island in the lake they started causing problems : occupying and harming / killing other trees in the park as well as trees belonging to nearby businesses, making a mess with their feathers and creating a health hazard with their droppings. Next spring, when the egrets begin to arrive, the city needs to prevent them from settling on the island and the surrounding area of the park. Loud noise would do the trick and not harm the birds. I’m sure the city could get advice the Texas Park’s and Wildlife on the best way to do this.
3. The big hump — There are any number of street problems I could bring up, but there is just one problem area I feel worthy of mention here: the big old hump in the street on Lake Drive. As you travel west on Lake Drive and near the traffic light at Main Street, there is a huge hump that makes you slow way down to get over it safely ( and without tearing up your suspension). It’s not a really big deal, but it is very, very annoying. Please, street department, can you fix this?!
Thanks for listening, Douglas Stauffer Taylor, TX
