Opinion

Editor: Re: the letter to the editor from the president of the Teachers' Union of our Sunshine Coast (Coast Reporter, Jan. 22). It is admitted that such tests should not be the sole tool for the assessment of education in our school district.

The following letter was sent to Coastal Link Ferries and Captain Ihab Shaker and copied to Coast Reporter. In the Jan. 22 edition of Coast Reporter, you are quoted as stating that Coastal Link Ferries plans to use B.C.

Are you getting excited yet? I know I am. In just 14 days, Vancouver will play host to the world, opening our hearts with the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Editor: Thank you, Jenny Wagler, for covering Chris Shaw's Five Ring Circus talk (Coast Reporter, Jan. 22). I was sorry to have missed the event, but it was refreshing to read that not everyone on the Sunshine Coast is on the Olympic bandwagon.

Editor: On the morning of Jan. 23, I took the ferry into Vancouver. I was somewhat startled to see a large sign on the walkway informing that this is a "secure area," and passengers must submit to security checks on demand.

Editor: In regards to Jenny Wag-ler's article about paramedics/ambulance service; (Coast Reporter, Jan.

Editor: I drive along Francis Pen-insula Road weekly, and I am concerned about the lack of any safe sidewalks along this road. Allow me to explain some of the most serious areas of concern.

Editor: I wish to respond to the news item regarding the COSCO sponsored meeting, where speaker Chris Shaw delivered his take on the myths and realities of the Olympic Games. ("Author debunks Olympic myths," Coast Reporter, Jan. 22).

Editor: Have you been following the Olympic Torch as it travels through 1,000 communities? How can you not be impressed as each village, town or city embraces the opportunity to participate, children and seniors alike, often in frigid, snowy weather?

Editor: Canada Post have increased their postal rates, but can't afford to clean off graffiti from Coast mailboxes? They have to get approval to do a clean up from Vancouver and it is not forthcoming due to cutbacks.