1000 Words Rogerian Essay

WENATCHEE QUOTE

OPINIONS DECEMBER 2 0 0 6

"Citizens want more side- walks, street illumination and parks."

Mark D. Kulaas page A19

SECTION A l 8

EDITORIAL

From crisis comes change

The first phone call arrived at 9:23 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, questioning whether we needed our eyes checked. The calls continued throughout that day and into the next week as readers got a chance to really sit down and look at the pages ofthe November is- sue ofthe Wenatchee Business Journal.

Most readers who called realized that something had gone wrong and wanted to know exactly what the problem was. Some callers suggested we were trying out a new language. Others accused us of trying to ruin the English language and suggested we hire some additional proofreaders.

For those who didn't get a close look at last month's WBJ, quotations marks, apostrophes and dashes on stories in half of the pages in Section A and B printed as symbols, making if extremely difficult to decipher. C Section had some additional graphics problems. The font styles defaulted in some ofthe ads and a variety of other problems created strange look- ing graphics throughout the three sections.

Why? Like most business owners, investing in new

equipment or upgrading old equipment can be a difficult move. You don't want to spend the money unless you've completely researched your options. When it comes to computers, you don't want to buy a new version too early.

We apparently researched at least a month too long.

Despite our best efforts to keep it healthy through one more month, the computer that processed the pages for the printing press suf- fered what we liken to a stroke while the C Sec- tion was being prepared.

It still worked, but not quite right. Things continued to deteriorate and by the

time the B and A sections were processed, the old machine was shutting down its vital organs. First the graphics, then the fonts. We were able to retrieve the pages and hoped for the best.

We didn't realize the extent of the damage until the papers arrived and we had a chance to sit down and look at them. Some ofthe damage was difficult to see at first because the same problems didn't appear on each page.

So, as often happens, crisis prompts change. Our new computers have arrived and we are now learning the new programs that go with them. Because of that, our readers most likely will see some additional changes this month and more in the months to come.

We hope you like what you see. If you don't, please let us know. We're still learn- ing and adapting to the new systems, so your input is valuable and welcome.

One ofthe best pieces of information we received last month was that you care enough to call — even if it is to set us straight.

Thank you. — NM

Aww, c'mon, Dad... You're always tellin' me not to cry over stuff like this!

Smoking ban inside just moved second-hand smoke outside Repeal the law, let people decide for themselves, collect the taxes

I've decided that part of my problem, is that when I see them, it takes me right back to high school.

Now, for those of you scoring at home, anything that takes a 5-foot dyslexic rounded blonde person back to high school isn't such a good thing! But there they are on the sidewalk, in the al- leys, huddled under trees, hiding in door ways just like at school, puff- ing away ... it's the "bad kids" who smoke!

I will admit to one and all in these pages, that as a life-long non- smoker, I voted against the smoking ban, and I'll tell you why. I honestly didn't see how we could say in a free country, that people could not use a

legal substance (one which garners us some handsome tax money) on private property.

There, I've said it, and I'm sure I'll get letters, because this ban was supposed to make us safer. It doesn't.

Before, there were establishments that I didn't go to, because I knew the smoke would bother me. I knew it was there, and voted with my feet. Now, while I really

Mary V Thresher

UNCOMMON SENSE

am enjoying some ofthe "old fashioned" cooking (steak with eggs and real cinnamon rolls) at formerly smoke- filled establishments, I hate having to run the smoke- filled gauntlet to get there. Not to mention the smell still clinging to your favorite waitress after her break.

In this country when you own any kind of busi- ness, you, and the market should make your decisions. If "Rub-a-dub dolly" doesn't sell, you get a different brand ... the new "skinny" jeans not right for your cus- tomer? Go for "relaxed fit'' (I LOVE THOSE!)

I firmly believe that as fewer people start to smoke, this problem would have cured itself Several local res- taurants had already gone nonsmoking because of cus- tomer demand, and they had fewer cleaning problems (fans, ceilings). Personally, I am hoping for a no-per- fuming theater ... some of that stuff smells worse than anything Phillip Morris ever thought of!

I say, let's repeal the ban, let the folks who wish smoke inside, away from us, and we still get all the tax money we want. Win, win!!

Mary V. Thresher has 33 years of retail experience. She has worked in the selling of merchandise as varied as eyeglasses, fine jewelry and funeral services. While she is currently employed by the Wenatchee Downtown Association, her views are not neces- sarily the views of the WDA. If you have a question or comment, please e-mail it to wbjedit@business|ournal.org or give us a call at 663-6730.

Do you have a correcHon, clarification, complaint, observation, kind word or different perspective to share about something in The Wenatchee Business Journal? Write us at: The Wenatchee Business Journal, 304 S. mission St., Wenatchee, WA 9 8 8 0 1 ; e-mail to v/[email protected]; call us at 663-6730.