Letters 2/22/07

Feb. 21, 2007

American Idle
Are you looking for a way to help stem global warming? Then STOP IDLING!
Contrary to popular belief, idling isn’t an effective way to warm up your vehicle, even in cold weather. The best way to warm it up is to drive it. In fact, with today’s engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before you start to drive.
The notion that idling is good for your vehicle is passé – in fact, it hasn’t been the right thing to do since the advent of electronic engines. The truth is that excessive idling can damage the engine. Why? An idling engine isn’t operating at its peak temperature, meaning that fuel doesn’t undergo complete combustion. This leaves fuel residues that can condense on cylinder walls, where they can contaminate oil and damage engine parts.
Fuel residues are often deposited on sparkplugs. As you spend more time idling, the average temperature of the sparkplug drops. This makes the plug get dirty more quickly, which can increase fuel consumption by four to five percent.
Excessive idling also lets water condense in the exhaust. This can lead to corrosion and reduce the life of the exhaust system. Idling warms only the engine – not the wheel bearings, steering, suspension, transmission and tires. These parts also need to be warmed up, and the only way to do that is to drive the vehicle.
But isn’t restarting hard on the engine? Studies show that frequent restarting has little impact on engine parts such as the battery and starter motor. Turn off the engine? Yes. More than 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
Save gas and money and the environment. Imagine if Americans across the land stopped idling. Let’s go Traverse City. Help stop global warming.

Gary Klinga • TC

Telling it like it is
I want the troops home, not in two years or six months, but now. I want a President that will order the troops home the minute he or she becomes President, and order the whole Bush administration tried for war crimes.
The whole war was one huge lie after lie after lie. Thousands are dead and thousands are missing arms, legs and eyes. And many will spend their lives in wheelchairs or on beds waiting for death because of monsters who knew a President in a war gets a second term.

Marshall Raftery • Brutus

Save Leland‘s big tree
Many of you have already heard about the Champion Cottonwood in Leland. The Leelanau County Road Commission decided to take this amazing tree down this winter, but a few of us got together and convinced them to at least have a few experts weigh in on the subject. We raised $2,500 really quickly and paid for three arborists to examine the tree.
The news was good – the tree was healthy. It does need quite a bit of pruning and cabling. And this work must be completed by March 31.
The road commission and our group have an agreement now regarding the maintenance of the tree. The road commission will be hiring the famed Bartlett’s Tree Company (they take care of the Queen of England’s trees) to do the necessary work and the yearly inspections. We must provide the money for all this - $6,000-7,000 to start, plus the yearly inspections and maintenance. Not a small sum!
We have formed a 501 (c) 3, and are starting to really raise money. We already have donations and pledges amounting to $3,700 – which is fantastic. We are hoping to raise $10,000 so that we have a fund ready for the next few years of inspections and maintenance. We do have a deadline – since the work needs to be completed before spring arrives – so we have to move quickly.
Beth Richter at Huntington Bank is running our donations. If you live in the area, you can just drop off a check at the bank or you can send it to PO Box 596, Leland, MI 49654 (checks can be made out to Leland Champion Tree Fund). A donation can is also available at Leland Mercantile in downtown Leland.
Thank you so much for your help – just think – you are saving a little bit of history, and this spring, the Leland skyline will be intact because of your donation. There is more information and links to recent articles at www.lelandchampiontree.com

Kate Vilter
Leland Champion Tree Group

Pathfinder‘s plight
“Pathfinder (path’fin’dar, path’-) n. one who discovers a way through or into unexplored regions.“
All this and more is what this school has always been. I have watched the children climb the “dreaded steps” that are so familiar to any passerby, and thought, what a perfect metaphor for the life ahead of them. I have seen unspoken kindness between teachers and students, and observed an unconscious courteous behavior towards adults and children alike.
I understand this school has been a much loved and valuable resource of this community for the past 35 years. These children, K-8 grades, will leave Pathfinder and funnel into high schools in Traverse City or on the peninsula, bringing with them a course of action and conduct and high academic standards that will bring credit to us all.
I applaud the parents of Pathfinder students who are now intent on exploring ways for the school to continue as another educational alternative. After all, isn’t that what Pathfinder is all about?

Mary Ann Henry • Northport

Finding a path
It seems to me a logical way to solve the Pathfinder School situation is to allow time for the school to find new quarters before closing its doors completely. This assumes, of course, that they are not allowed to remain at the current location.
I’m told that the property was “given” at the time of the merger, so when the sale is completed, I’m sure that Interlochen will use a portion of the profits to help the school relocate. Such a fine school with well mannered and intelligent children should continue to operate with the fine staff it now has.
The governor in her “State Of The State” address, was looking for ways to keep our children well trained and our schools vibrant. The continuation of schools like Pathfinder and Interlochen working together to make that happen can be a reality. Let‘s all work together to keep schools like Pathfinder and Interlochen open for our children and our future.
Donald Abele • Northport