Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Trouble’s A Brewing Due To New Starbucks Installment

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By DRAKE TERRILL
Los Alamos

Being an active Starbucks gold cardholder and shopping at Smiths on a regular basis, I was more than happy to see the new Smiths included my favorite coffee shop. Later did I come to find that the new Starbucks installment was not only brewing more coffee, but also brewing more trouble in our small, fragile community.

Due to the amount of new untrained baristas employed at the location, the drinks will be worse than expected. This will deter customers from buying anything, ultimately earning Starbucks less money. The sudden decrease of sales at Starbucks could force

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Letter to the Editor: Too Many Churches & Too Much Road Construction in Los Alamos

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By AKIRA KAWANO
Los Alamos

In this past week, I have been wondering about the abundant amounts of money Los Alamos has. As a resident living here for a few years, I have been through numerous construction sites. In the Topper Review a few years ago, they did a parody song about how every day there was at least one construction sight.

I think that these so-called constructions on the road, are unnecessary. The County has been working on these roads for at least four or more years, yet still having to work on the same road plenty of times until the construction workers are satisfied. Some residents have Read More

Smith’s Marketplace is the “Rising Tide That Lifts All Boats”

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By ANDREA CUNNINGHAM
Los Alamos County Council Candidate

I have been reading the letters to the editor and comments regarding the Smith’s Marketplace with great interest and appreciate both the concerns that have been raised and the excitement generated by the new store.

Like so many, I have spent a good part of the last decade working with the County, the Schools, the community and more than one developer to help bring this project here. During that same period (and a decade before that) I made the trip to Zafarano Drive and points south, at least once a week—young, unhappy children in tow—to find Read More

Letter to the Editor: Taken Aback By Pricey Fruit Salad

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By REAGAN HALL
Los Alamos

Me and my friends were at the grand opening of the new Smith’s recently. We waited in line for only about 30 minutes, and we were pleasantly surprised by the grandeur of the new shopping center.

Every improvement that could’ve been made over the old Smith’s had been made. We spent the better of three hours there just looking at all the new items they had in stock when my eyes fell upon the most beautiful fruit salad I had ever seen. All sorts of goodies (apples. grapes, peaches, etc.) tucked inside of a nutritious but delicious melon bowl.

I was ready to buy Read More

Letter to the Editor: Smith’s and Locals

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By RICHARD HANNEMANN
Los Alamos
 
Back in 07 we had need to fill a prescription. Of course, we went to Mr. Anderson. There was a problem with the prescription though — the medication asked for was written by brand name available only at Smith’s. This was the doing of the doctor. When asked, the doctor replied, “well, that’s where everyone gets their medications.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mr. Anderson so steamed.
 
Smith’s seems to have tried to be very careful with the new Marketplace in providing mostly those products which are
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Letter to the Editor: Stop The Cones, Stop The Madness

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NICOLAS PILAT
Los Alamos

Anyone who has been through the center of town lately knows there’s a lot of road work. As a result of said road work, motorists need to re-route themselves often and many oft-traveled trails are missing in action.

Alas, road work is often a necessary evil. Be it for repairing, adding to, or updating the roads and other infrastructure, construction usually has a place in Los Alamos. However, these projects introduce a new feature to the vehicular landscape that creates a threat equaled by no other: Cones. These orange, cone-shaped objects serve to do nothing other

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Letter to the Editor: Volunteers & Donations Made YMCA’s July Fourth Family Fun Run Successful

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By JEREMY SMITH
Sports and Adventure Program Director
Los Alamos Family YMCA

I would like to thank all those who helped with the YMCA’s July Fourth Family Fun Run. This community event would not happen each year without the sponsors, donors, volunteers and of course the participants.

The event was sponsored by Los Alamos National Bank, Los Alamos Medical Center and Southwest Safety Services Inc. Donations and prizes were provided by Ruby K’s, Viola’s Place, Pet Pangaea, Connie’s Over Your Head, The Co-op Market, 10,000 Waves, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Resort, CB FOX, Pajarito Brewpub Read More

Letter to the Editor: Response to Bears and Smith’s

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By WENDY HOFFMAN
Los Alamos

Please allow me to respond to two previous letters: I respectfully, but vehemently, disagree with the “writer” who labeled the bear pictures as stupid. I always fear the lack of objectivity of people who choose emotional descriptiveness instead of looking for an intelligent way to deliver a point.

I find the photos enjoyable as well as educational. As a resident of the county, I WANT to know when these creatures are around and what they’re doing. I believe the photos contribute to public safety. I see no reason why we can’t all work together Read More

Letter to the Editor: Local Retailers And Smith’s Making Big Gamble

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By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos

Lisa Shin’s letter suggesting that the Smith’s Marketplace would have a “WalMart effect” on local businesses revisits an important issue. 

The Trinity Site Revitalization Project Advisory Committee, of which I was a member, and which advised the County Administrator and Council on this project, considered this question at some length.

My take on it following this discussion is that although there would be some loss of business by local retailers to the Smith’s it would be more than compensated by the increase in local Read More