I would like to encourage my fellow citizens to think carefully about the supposed benefits of big-box stores, such as the soon-to-open Home Depot. It's true that these stores can sometimes offer slightly lower prices on some items. However, there are many hidden costs associated with these big-box stores.

Perhaps the most obvious hidden cost is the lack of expert assistance at big-box stores. At locally owned stores such as Robnett's Hardware, Spaeth Lumber and Home Center, Searing Electrical and Plumbing, Stover Evey and Jackson, just to name a few, one can get great information on various products from experienced employees, some of whom are the actual owners of the business!

Another hidden cost of big-box stores is loss of full-time jobs. Have you ever noticed that most employees (not all) of big-box stores only work part time, with few or no benefits? Ask around at the locally owned stores and you will find that most employees work full time and enjoy benefits such as health insurance. Good-paying jobs with benefits are important to our community, and locally owned stores provide better jobs than big-box stores.

Finally, consider where your money goes when you make a purchase at a big-box store. The profits go to out-of-state corporate executives and share holders! When you shop at a locally owned store, your money stays local, which benefits everybody.

Brad Upton

Corvallis

Whiteside perfect as old-movie theater

In the Feb. 6 discussion of possible uses for Whiteside Theater, it was stated that Regal Cinemas won't allow "first- run" movies to be shown there. Later, the editor quoted people as saying "Everything old is new again."

Well, then, why cannot old movies be shown at the Whiteside? It seems a shame to destroy the screens, seats, balcony, stage, etc, when - if someone were to begin such a project of showing old movies, weekly or even daily, concentrating on different themes or stars every week - I am fairly certain it would pay for itself.

We have plenty of first-run movie theaters here in Corvallis, and also theaters for the showing of foreign and art films but nothing for the truly antique, from silent films up to the 1970s or '80s.

I truly wish someone would take on such a project, as that seems to me to be the most appropriate use for the Whiteside. And yes, I would be one of the movie-goers.

Marie Parcell

Corvallis

Volunteers to fight local fires wanted

A tour of the Philomath Fire Department illustrates a growing problem in Benton County and elsewhere across our great country.

Empty nails poke from a bare wall where once pictures of volunteer fire fighters proudly hung. The volunteer force has dwindled from a high of more than 50 to around 29 at present. In the last 20 years, the Philomath Fire District population has doubled to just over 10,000, yet the volunteer population has steadily fallen.

Our volunteers are highly trained, motivated and loyal individuals who give freely of their time for training and emergency services. Volunteers have busy lives, working at other jobs to provide for their families.

When emergencies occur, it is hard to know how many will be able to respond, because many work far from the station. This problem is not unique to Philomath; it is evident in volunteer forces all across America.

If a large, highly trained and dedicated volunteer force can not be maintained, local residents will need to consider funding full-time paid staff to ensure continued excellent levels of emergency services. Please consider volunteering!

J. Reed Glasmann

Board Member

Philomath Fire and Rescue

Letter went too far, but point was valid

I apologize for my self-righteous, exaggerative, insulting and destructive Jan. 17 letter, "Checkbook enviros 'despicable,' useless." I behaved irresponsibly, but I hope to clarify my opinions for those who share my ecological concerns - including the people who are advocating emissions offsets, the Blue Sky energy program, biofuels, etc.

My Jan. 17 letter's point (ineffectively presented) was about ethics. I only intended to criticize connecting money with morality. Someone with money shouldn't have greater ethical capability than someone without it.

Second, I tried to state that advertising, displaying or promoting one's good actions negates the integrity of those actions. Jesus said " … when you give alms, do not announce it with a flourish of trumpets, as the hypocrites do … to win the praise of others" (Matthew 6:2).

Finally, consumption urgently needs to be addressed, we all agree. Offsets, biofuels, Blue Sky, etc. are dangerous because they are 1.) diverting attention from the most effective, responsible, solution - reducing our own consumption and 2.) are used to rationalize increased consumption, air travel, driving - as long as it's "green" or offset.

Our consumption involves incomprehensibly complex social, political, economic and ecological impacts: pollution and energy in mining, manufacturing, disposal; destruction from roads, powerlines, other infrastructure; noise and aesthetic pollution; psychological disruption; traffic fatalities and community disruption, especially for neighborhoods near airports and busy roads.

Give our limited understanding of the impacts of our consumption and supposed solutions, wisdom suggests we live humbly, locally and frugally.

Wil D. Hormann

Corvallis

Sen. Smith's words, vote are at odds

It is interesting that after the Republican defeat in November, Sen. Gordon Smith came out in opposition to an escalation of troops to Iraq. Yet he just voted "no" when it came time to debate a resolution doing just that. It looks like Sen. Smith worries more about partisanship than principles.

Tanya Shively

Philomath

Bush should govern like a good father

George Bush is breaking the first rule of responsible parenting: Do not bite back! OK; Iraq and Iran are not George's children, but it is the same principle.

My youngest was a biter. By the time I was in the emergency room for an infected human bite, I was desperate and everyone had an opinion: Bite him back!

Adult biting seems to work in the short term, but is there a cost? Should we kick the child who kicks, call the child names who calls others names, throw rocks at the child who throws rocks? This model would not make sense to any child. Parents tell me they hit their child for hitting and cannot understand why the child continues to hit.

Is it that much different in foreign policy? They bomb us; we bomb them. They abuse our prisoners; we abuse theirs. They enrich uranium; we nuke 'em. How does that make us different from them? And, ultimately, is our strategy of in-kind retaliation working to stop the terrorism?

Fortunately, I was able to maintain my nonviolence and end my son's biting. I used loving inattention. I said, "No biting!" I put him down and walked away, out of the room. No talk-talk-talk; no punishment; no biting back. I simply stated the rule and walked away. He wanted me, he needed me, he could have me if he did not hurt me. He got the point, and the biting stopped.

Dianne Roth

Corvallis