Letters - Letters to the editor: Rabbi owes life path to community college

Since coming to Erie 12 years ago, three values have inspired everything that I have done in this community. The first is the vision that I have built of what Erie and the greater Erie community can be if we all pull together. I can't believe that the Erie Times-News would publish such an article. Must be competition has gotten too great for one of them and they have gone to the Erie Zoning Hearing Board to rid themselves of their rivals. I know I would like the choice to go to the best shop, just as I have the choice to go to the best beauty shop, tanning salon, piercing salon, nail salon or fitness center, all of which also allow me to change the appearance of my body. I'm a respected 67-year-old woman business owner, nonprofit volunteer, homeowner and taxpayer who happens to be adorned with wonderful body art provided by some of Erie's upscale tattoo parlors, including Karma, now on Peach Street, and Eclectink on East Lake Road. Wake up, Erie, and don't let the zoning board "hide" these businesses, but rather, recognize them as being part of Erie's culture as are many other eclectic shops that we have. Korynoski|Erie I am writing in response to the letter "Painting would help smokestack" (Erie Times-News, July 29), about the smokestack in front of Blasco Memorial Library. Jack Newell|Erie Delighted as I was to see the letter "Unitarians welcoming" (Aug. 7, Erie Times-News) about the Erie Unitarian Universalist Church, one should also mention Girard's second-oldest church, which was originally a Universalist Church but now is part of the Unitarian Universalist national fellowship. Charles Brock|Acting minister, First Universalist Church of Girard Erie Coke owner doing his best This is in regard to the letter to the editor about Moon Meadows campground that mentioned Erie Coke. ("Moon Meadows defended," Aug. 5, Erie Times-News). Contrary to what the writer said, Erie Coke does not put garbage in Lake Erie or on the beach. People mistake the steam that comes from the Erie Coke tower for pollution. Crane is trying the best he can to fix up Erie Coke and keep the jobs in Erie; 150 people need those jobs at Erie Coke. It does not take a degree from Harvard to understand what is happening here -- Republicans want to extend these cuts for the blue bloods and to offer procedural objections to any increase in programs that the administration produces to assist the working stiffs in this era of the Great Recession, which was catapulted into existence by these various program cuts and spending binges by the Bush administration.