Bay Oaks Recreation Center (BORC) is a community park frequented by our youngest to our most senior residents/visitors of our island with it's mission being to promote a safe and healthy lifestyle for all. Whether you are at the pool, the athletic fields, or walking to/from the recreation indoor facility you should not have to tolerate the smell or sight of rotting garbage being collected from the island and dumped next to our leisure and athletic facilities. It is much worse for those that suffer from asthma, or other respiratory illnesses, to the point that they cannot remain at the facility. Your support through your voice/signature is needed! Please help today!

While the rest of the world mourns Nelson Mandela and celebrates his courageous leadership, one Roman Catholic bishop just issued a statement accusing Mandela of "shameful promotion of abortion." Pope Francis has warned that the Catholic Church should not focus exclusively on abortion and gay marriage, and his own statement on Mandela's death made no mention of abortion, nor did that of the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Rhode Island bishop Thomas Tobin, who earlier this year said he was "disappointed" with the pope for not speaking about abortion more often, is so single-minded that he can't even mark the passing of one of the world's most beloved leaders without using it as an opportunity to wage culture war.

If we don't act now Congress could shatter the deal with Iran now and we would lose this once in a generation opportunity. The interim deal with Iran is a win for everyone - Iran has agreed to opening itself up to the potential of daily inspections and in turn the US has offered some relief from sanctions**. That’s why 64% of the American public, 100 rabbis and leading military and national security experts support the President’s diplomatic path with Iran

As Americans we are all affected by the state of constant warfare imposed upon us by Republicans, the zionists and the defense industry. Constant war makes us less safe at home and spends billions of our tax funds that could be used in the US to develop infrastructure, train our workers, feed the poor, etc. So I say, NO. Enough is enough. No more lying, no more politicians leading us to yet another unwanted war.

I am pissed off with the republican fools.

Vendors of local stores are paying way too much to the Village due to summonses received by Meter Attendants, for expired meters. We, the vendors, are requesting permission to park at local, assigned spots, to avoid the metered parking. The spots should be distributed along all parking lots to assure the vendors' s safety at dimly lit walking paths.

To address the horror stories of families broken up due to deportations and imprisonment. We must stop the exploitation of workers here illegally and make certain their children are allowed full access to our public schools. Our future is at stake.

The United States has opened the first serious talks with Iran in 34 years. Some members of Congress are attempting to sabotage this diplomatic effort by calling for increased sanctions against Iran. This is an unwise action during this negotiating period. Americans should support peaceful diplomacy whenever feasible.

California Republicans have stooped to a new low­ in their ongoing misinformation campaign to turn voters against Obamacare. They have created a fake health care website to discourage people from getting health insurance, and they are using official mailers to send constituents to the site. Instead of sending constituents to CoveredCA.com, the official California health insurance exchange site, Republicans created CoveringHealthCareCA.com. The Republican website poses as a hub for health care information but just contains negative information about Obamacare that could discourage people from obtaining health insurance. Deceiving the public to carry out a political agenda has to stop. Please sign the petition denouncing California Republicans for their misinformation campaign, and demand they take the site down.

Parents are hardwired to do everything we can to support and protect our kids. For me, that means helping to turn the tide on climate change. Unless we change course, climate change will create an increasingly chaotic world for my daughter and all of our children. Up until now, students in Wyoming haven’t been taught much about climate change, despite the major impact it will have on their lives. That could change with the adoption of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a new set of science standards that include climate science, developed by the National Academy of Sciences along with 26 states. The Wyoming State Board of Education is considering adoption of NGSS right now. But, the Board recently postponed a vote to adopt the standards after an outcry from a small group of people opposed to teaching kids facts about climate change. Now, those same opponents have written a letter to Governor Mead, asking him to weigh in against the NGSS on grounds that the new standards don't represent "Wyoming values." They are working to rally people to attend the State Board of Education meeting this Friday, Jan. 24, in Cheyenne to stop the new science standards. Keeping our kids in the dark about the reality of climate change and denying them access to high quality science education would be an unacceptable disservice to their future. Ignorance is not a "Wyoming value." At a time when climate impacts like less snowpack, water shortages, severe heat, a longer and more intense fire season, and massive beetle bark infestation have already affected Wyoming, it’s more important than ever for Wyoming students to gain a strong understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change. This will give them the foundation to identify the solutions we need. Let’s send the State Board of Education a strong message that we want our kids to have access to the best possible science education to help them address the challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their lives — including climate change. If we act today, our children and grandchildren will thank us tomorrow! Thank you for taking action. Sincerely, Doug Hilborn, Wyoming Father

Cancer has affected my family, and most families of my friends and relatives. It cannot be escaped, unless the basic bio-molecular causes are understood, and the proper and effective treatments created.

My son, Aaron Lawrence was just 20 years young when his "friends" left him to die alone behind a bedroom door...they did not call for help until 4 hours later. He was 3 blocks from our home, a phone call to 911, to us, to someone who cared enough could have saved him. With the Good Samaritan Law many lives could be saved.....my son may still be here. We cannot sit back "talk" or "decide" if this law will work or drag our feet any longer! Our children and loved ones are dying senselessly and WE THE PEOPLE have got to come together to change this TODAY!!!!! TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE!!!!!