Light pollution
As I drive through the countryside at night these days, I am astonished and saddened by the light pollution emanating from new development.
Most of Idaho has always been known for its dark night sky. With the invasion of many new people moving here and building houses out in the county, it is disheartening to see our night sky shrinking from massive night lights that are on 24-7.
Why live in the country if you require such lighting? Go back to the cities if darkness alarms you. There are ways of lighting one’s property without creating light pollution for all who pass nearby. Motion lights are very effective, as are light switches that one flips when going outside in the dark. And flashlights. Remember those?
Susan Westervelt
Deary
Congrats to BookPeople
It was good to see the Tribune’s big coverage of BookPeople of Moscow’s 50th anniversary celebration. Yet I could wish that Elaine Williams had expanded her coverage to at least mention BookPeople’s founder, Ivar Nelson.
Ivar has contributed much to Moscow’s cultural life, such as creating the Palouse Journal and being a driving force on the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre board, but his establishment and nurturing of an independent bookstore in a small town in northern Idaho is a singular achievement and worth remembering/celebrating.
I’m glad to read of the new co-owner’s enthusiasm for the enterprise. It bodes well for the store’s future. A number of others, also unmentioned, were crucial to its sustenance over the years: people like Betsy Dickow (who assisted Bob Greene when he bought the store) and Walt Spurling, another previous co-owner, who built a lot of the store’s current infrastructure.
The continual enthusiastic support of the store for the work of local authors has been a much-valued component in its longevity. BookPeople arrived in Moscow the same autumn that my wife and I did, and it’s one of the reasons Moscow has held us here. Congratulations to everybody, named and unnamed, who had a hand in its success.
Gary Williams
Moscow
Heroes and villains
Regarding the commentary by Cindy Agidius (Tribune, Nov. 5), I disagree with her statement about, “... the ignorance of those in this country who are marching to support Hamas under the guise of supporting the Palestinian people.”
What led Ms. Agidius to believe that people were actually supporting Hamas? It is entirely possible that many people in this country are supporting not only the victims, but the hostages of this crisis. Many Palestinians detest the PLO, who they regard as weak, as much as they detest the corrupt, terrorist organization of Hamas.
To regard these supporters as terrorist sympathizers is irresponsible and overly simplistic. There are heroes and villains on both sides of this conflict. Sadly, the first victim of any war is always the truth.
Patrice Yeatter
Kooskia
Enjoyed the tour
I have a big shoutout for the teams who work for the Tribune.
I emailed Jeanne DePaul with a special request for my stepfather, Tom Ellis. My request was for Tom to tour the Tribune’s printing press.
Here’s a little background information about Tom: He started working at the Tribune when he was 15 years old. He worked with many great men over the years, like Buck Lane, Kenny Bacon, Junior Stockwell, Red Lane, Guy and Virgil Steeley, and Jay Brown. Tom retired in the early 1990s, is now is in his late 80s and is one of the two remaining “good ol’ boys” left. (Jay Brown is still around).
Jeanne reached out to Nathan and A.L. “Butch” Alford Jr., who then contacted Kevin Cameron, the lead press operator. Kevin called me and we set up a time for a tour.
The tour was amazing. Tom and Eleanor Ellis, and my husband, David, and I were truly impressed with the time Kevin shared with us. Thank you all for making that day special for him.
JoElla Bromund
Lewiston
