• You are cordially invited • Turn former Big Save into cultural gem • Overuse of herbicides create super weeds You are cordially invited The Forum section of this newspaper is the most thought provoking , intellectual, silly, crazy and
• You are cordially invited • Turn former Big Save into cultural gem • Overuse of herbicides create super weeds
You are cordially invited
The Forum section of this newspaper is the most thought provoking , intellectual, silly, crazy and fun to read page of the cosmic The Garden Island newspaper.
Wouldn’t it be great to put a face behind the writings of many of these personalities? We do not need to agree politically, just have a passion for making Kaua‘i a better place and to set an example to our politicians on how people with differences of opinions can act in a civil manner.
There will be the second annual no host Bring Your Own Whine luncheon at my favorite fine dining restaurant, Costco outdoor cafe, on Monday at 1:15 p.m.
This luncheon is intended for letter writers, guest columnists, commenters and readers (basically anyone) who would like to talk story and meet the greatest minds on Kaua‘i to possibly solve the world’s dilemmas.
We can even talk about the recent purchase of The Garden Island by O‘ahu Publications Inc.
See you there — just look for the guy with white hair, a white headband, eating a chicken Caesar salad with a smile on his face and a stain on his shirt.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
Turn former Big Save into cultural gem
The Kaua‘i Historical Society has sought a lease to a portion of the former Lihu‘e Big Save Market since the day of the announced closing. It proposed a lease with benefits to the people of Kaua‘i for a history center, a library, a record and photo archive and a history and cultural museum.
The March 11 issue of The Garden Island announced that George Costa, the director of the county Office of Economic Development unveiled to the Kaua‘i County Council his “grand plan” for the former market in Lihu‘e to become a meat-processing facility.
The Kaua‘i Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance regulates and sets standards for land use. Zoning districts are established and located on the findings and analysis of the County General Plan. It establishes land districts and delineates permitted where development may take place. The ordinance is intended to promote development compatible with island environment and precludes inadequate, harmful and disruptive conditions that effect the well being of the residents of Kaua‘i.
The Lihu’e Civic center is divided into zoning districts. The Lihu‘e Shopping Center, now the Kaua‘i Civic Center, is zoned General Commercial. Its near neighbor the Kaua‘i Museum is in a Special Treatment District. The permitted uses of the general commercial district are: “public buildings, museums, libraries and public services.”
Meat-processing facilities are permitted use in Industrial Districts. Director Costa’s plan to convert the market to meat-processing facility is ill-conceived, untimely and chopped meat.
The people of Kaua‘i were dis-served in the proposal to lease the market as a meat-processing facility. The heart of Lihu‘e surrounds Lihu‘e Civic Center. The General Plan creates a gathering place for general public use.
Council members, consider the lease of the market to the Kaua‘i Historical Society. Such a lease will ensure that Lihu‘e remains the cultural center of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau and that adequate facilities are available to house and preserve its history.
Politics aside, we must support our cattle industry as well as our history.
Reg Gage, President, Kaua‘i Historical Society, Lihu‘e
Overuse of herbicides create super weeds
Fawn Smith suggested that we Google about GMOs and educate ourselves in a March 12 letter. Try “glyphosphate resistant weeds”.
Here’s one: .
The area of U.S. cropland infested with glyphosate-resistant weeds has expanded to 61.2 million acres in 2012, according to a survey conducted by Stratus Agri-Marketing.
Nearly half of all U.S. farmers interviewed reported that glyphosate-resistant weeds were present on their farm in 2012, up from 34 percent of farmers in 2011. The survey also indicates that the rate at which glyphosate-resistant weeds are spreading is gaining momentum; increasing 25 percent in 2011 and 51 percent in 2012.
Overuse of GMO tolerance for RoundUp works the same as overprescription of antibiotics: evolved resistance.
When these weeds infest, much harsher weed killers must be used.
Dave Thompson, Kalaheo
