Letters To The Editor Week Of 10/18/2021

War’s body count
To the editor: I would like to provide a perspective on a column by Paul Brandus recently published in USA Today with the headline: “3 reasons why I’m not cheerful on Social Security.”
I respect the thoughtful ways the author addressed the peacetime realities. Yet, in the midst of the Coronavirus War, one must reluctantly be cognizant of the reality of war as a body count.
The reality of the Coronavirus War is it has profoundly been affecting the number of recipients of Social Security benefits. Based on the average recipient receiving $1,543 monthly:
1. If 200,000 deceased recipients x $1,543 = $308,600,000 x 12 months = $3.7 billion.
2. If 250,000 deceased recipients x $1,543 = $385,750,000 x 12 = $4.6 billion.
3. Calculating for 300,000 deceased recipients x $1,543 = $5.5 billion.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has projected the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted in 13 years. Multiplying 13 times $3.7 billion = $48.1 billion.
I have increasingly found those of us who don’t comprehend the ramifications of the last war like Mr. Brandus are suffering from what I call Post-Traumatic Coronavirus Stress Disorder.
I am aware the war that lasted 20 years didn’t affect the American people or their psyches like my war – the Vietnam War. Regardless, in each war the body count is as real as the aforementioned Social Security recipient body count.
Clarence Gafeney
Toledo

Support for
senior levy
To the editor: The active support that the Wood County Committee on Aging has provided to areas of Wood County is overwhelmingly positive. Pre-COVID, the senior citizens could engage in their communities at the senior facilities by seeking tax services, health checkups, exercise programs, lunch, and much more.
The point of keeping seniors healthy, engaged and involved in daily activities is valuable to them, our community and to the families of these senior citizens. During COVID, the system was tested in so many ways to continue and WCCOA staff and volunteers exceeded expectations for the increased needs for our seniors. Today, thankfully, we look forward to greater services and providing the best that can be provided. Please support Wood County Committee on Aging Levy.
The Wood County Republican Women's Club
Beverley Hirzel, President

Masks and freedoms
To the editor: I had a laugh from the column by Thomas Knapp and the letter from William Lewis who wrote that wearing masks is an affront to their personal freedom and freedom of being a parent.
To them I say, you have no freedom of rights to murder other people. Your rights end there. About 700,000 people have died of Covid-19 and most of those deaths could have been prevented if “whack jobs,” Knapp’s own words, had worn masks as the scientists have recommended.
Scientists have said the new deadlier strain of COVID is the result of people not using masks and allowing the disease to mutate.
As far as personnel freedom, you don’t have freedom to murder others.
Albert Kapustar
Oregon

Misleading
advertisement
To the editor: The Oregon school board candidate forum advertisement in the Oct. 11 edition of The Press misleads the public into thinking it is non-partisan event when it is a presentation of the Oregon Republican Club.
Three candidates, Michael Csehi, Paul Magdich, and Carol-Ann Molnar all have prior commitments and can’t attend. The Oregon Republican Club was informed of our non-participation prior to the ad being submitted to The Press. And yet, the club chose to run the ad with our names and pictures (taken from the school district website), thus misleading the public into thinking that all candidates would be in attendance.
Michael Csehi, Paul Magdich
Carol-Ann Molnar

Editor’s note: Csehi, Magdich and Molnar are incumbent candidates for the school board.

Lunch program
help appreciated

To the editor: With schools reopen for the year, the Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center wrapped up its summer lunch program.
This year the program distributed the equivalent of 88,100 meals throughout Ottawa County. These meals consisted of cereal, hot dogs, string cheese, juice boxes, fresh vegetables and milk to name a few things.
A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the volunteers that showed up each week to pack and distribute meals. Magruder Hospital, Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas, the Republican Women’s Club, the United Way Advisory Council, and volunteers from the CASA program consistently worked to get food to the kids of our county.
Other volunteers that were regularly a part of our work were Becky Cuthbertson, Donna Witt, Linda Rofkar, Karen Mathews, Nyla Denman, Dave and Jodi Regal, Pam and Rich Ryan, Lori Choquette, The Sandvick Family, The Marshall Family, and Kenzie Henry. Jet Express and Jim O’Donnell graciously delivered meals each week to the families at Put in Bay.
This project is a shining beacon in our community of people caring for people and it is truly an honor to watch the incredible efforts of companies and volunteers to make certain that food is in the hands of kids that need it. We continue to support food insecurity through our weekend food bags and school break meal kits provided in all the schools in Ottawa County. We are always in need of funds and volunteers to support our food distribution efforts, please contact the center at 419-301-0225, if you can help.
Connie S. Roe
Executive Director
Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center