A room somewhere
In the movie, “My Fair Lady,” Audrey Hepburn portrays a homeless flower girl on the streets of London. An opening song rings true today: “All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air, with one enormous chair; wouldn’t it be loverly?”
When you retire for the night, do you ever think how it would be if you were sleeping in your car, perhaps with your kids? Can you imagine worrying about where you will sleep or use the bathroom at night? Basic needs that most of us take for granted are lacking right here on the Palouse for many families.
Even here, we have families who have been evicted, families who cannot afford the first/last months’ rent plus damage deposit, families who have lost the wage-earner, single parents who cannot afford child care. Whatever the reason, the need is great and you can help get families back on their feet and into housing by donating to Family Promise now.
Avenues for Hope is an annual campaign that matches your dollars, therefore greatly increases your giving. I urge you to give a donation to Family Promise so that they can continue to help families right here on the Palouse. Donate online at avenuesforhope.org or go to familypromisepalouse.org. This campaign ends Dec 31. All donations of $25 or more count toward matching and prize money.
Please help these families find a “room somewhere far away from the cold night air.”
Linda Pike
Moscow
Toy Run appreciation
The Hiwaymen Motorcycle Club would like to thank all who participated in the annual Toy Run on Dec. 12.
Those who collected and donated toys, bicycles and money made it possible for many of the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley’s children to enjoy a happier Christmas this year. The Salvation Army and its volunteers delivered the items.
We offer a special thank you to the Alibi, the Clearwater River Casino and P1FCU for the extra help.
Denny Adair
Lewiston
Junk science travesty
Climate change is the front-page issue of the 21st century, notwithstanding naysayers whose brains have been softened and hearts hardened by decades of conservative talk AM radio and now also torrents of internet disinformation and propaganda. Show me one young person, or person of color for that matter, who accepts that tired, old drumbeat of industry-funded climate denial, much less flat-out science denial favored by isolationist and anti-government conspiracy types.
Climate change is affecting our region via agricultural shortfalls, fish and wildlife declines, and human health. Persistent drought, rising temperatures, more frequent and more severe wildfires, and longer fire seasons are our new normal. Alongside reduction of industrial emissions, our most effective strategic response is to preserve and expand our national forests. Leave standing trees standing is the single most effective way to reduce atmospheric carbon while the world begins to phase out fossil fuels.
Judged by these realities and imperatives, the U.S. Forest Service’s long-awaited revision of the forest plan for the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest is a junk science travesty, greenlighting a massive increase in deforestation at just the wrong time. Our livelihoods, families and futures are at stake.
You can read and comment on the plan here: bit.ly/3tvMUCn and whitehouse.gov/contact.
Chris Norden
Moscow
