Letters and comments for May 17, 2011

Events overlapped

To the Editor:

The summer festival to showcase La Grande was a fantastic idea and very well received. It is apparent that much time and effort went into the planning and its execution. I wholeheartedly support our community and this event. 

However, Crossing the Blues was destined to fail from the beginning. It was in direct conflict with two other previously established area events. The Baker City car show has been held for, I believe, nearly 20 years. The Joseph bike rally has also been held on this very weekend for the past four years. I feel Baker City “owns’’ this weekend. Their annual car show has a long history. La Grande should establish a new date.

My family would enjoy supporting all three events. In past years, we have attended the car show, and more recently, the bike rally. We spent several hundred dollars in Joseph two years ago and saw many people visiting from La Grande. We would have preferred those expenditures stay “home.’’

We did attend Crossing the Blues in its first year and were torn at having to choose one over the other. I can only assume my feelings are mirrored by others.

Please accept this as an observation, not a criticism. We hope to see Crossing the Blues in the future. Thank you to all who were involved.

Robert Eytchison

La Grande

Salute

To the Editor:

With Memorial Day approaching, I want to extend my gratitude to all the ones in our community and our military for putting their life on the line to help and protect us.

John 15:13 — “Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friend.”

My prayers are with each of you.

Janice Roberts

La Grande