DEAR EDITOR,
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  A Gold Ribbon in September stands for kids with cancer.  An opportunity is available to you to raise awareness and support for these special kids.
On Sept. 16, an event called CureSearch Walk is being held in Columbus to raise funds for an organization called CureSearch.  This is a nonprofit organization that funds life saving research through more than 200 children’s cancer centers such as Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, Toledo Children’s Hospital and St. Jude’s Hospital.  CureSearch is a research organization that is strictly dedicated to research of children’s cancers. Ninety-six percent of all money raised goes directly to research.
I will be attending the CureSearch Walk in Columbus on 9/16 in memory of my granddaughter, Alivia. She passed May 23, 2011, at the age of 3 from cancer. I have formed a team called Beanie’s Bunch.  Please visit www.curesearchwalk.org to register to walk or to donate. The Walk is at Bicentennial Park, 233 Civic Center Drive, Columbus.  Registration is noon to 1 p.m.  The Event is from 1-4 p.m. 
Also on this website are the dates of other walks in the area.
One of Alivia’s frequent statements to me was “I will help you.” In her memory, “I will help you” by raising money and raising awareness for the need to find cures for children’s cancers.
Sincerely,
Betty Shobe
Delphos

The nights are cooler and the sounds of a high school football game fill the air.
It must be the fall. Well, not really but for all intents and purposes, summer is over.

The power of social media never ceases to amaze me. It’s like the old shampoo commercial: and they told 2 friends, and they told 2 friends … Well, with Facebook, it’s more like this: and they told 500 friends, and they told 500 friends ….

Many of you have heard of the Baptist church in Kansas that sends its members out to protest at the funerals of those who have died for their freedom to do so. It’s kind of ironic if you think about it.

You know we’re in the last throes of summer when the Marbletown Festival rolls around. The weather is supposed to be perfect today. We have been very fortunate with the weather for this festival. It hasn’t been too hot and it hasn’t rained. (My fingers and the toes on one foot are crossed as I say that.)

DEAR EDITOR:
I was quite distressed to see an article in Sunday’s Lima News in which the head of the Up to the Challenge accused the city of theft. The city of Delphos has graciously supported our challenged community for nine-plus years now. They have provided the ball diamonds for the July 3rd tournament, the pool for the swim events, and lifesaving and support personnel when needed without concern about these costs.
Why would the city “steal” $1,000 worth of life saving equipment and pool toys?
According to the head of Up to the Challenge, the city has stored this equipment without incident for years prior. Why then would she try to take possession of the swim equipment a few days before an event where it was going to be used by many of the same challenged individuals who have used it before?
How can the swim equipment be considered “stolen?” It was used by the Up to the Challenge volunteers for the same individuals it has always been used for. What were the challenged individuals supposed to do when the Up to the Challenge swim event was cancelled? I’m grateful some families stepped up to host the event this year. And  thanks to the city for making accessible the safety equipment need for many  participate. The end result was my daughter was able to swim, her peers were able to use the equipment purchased for them and everyone had a good time.
It is my understanding the swim equipment will be available at future events for individuals with challenges. Isn’t that the original reason it was purchased?
I encourage someone from the news media to find out the answers to these questions.
Laura Wright