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Warning signs needed for salt-water pools

The Health Department's new rules for salt-water public swimming pools require posted signs that say, "Untreated Water, Swim At Your Risk." When we allow this untreated water to flow into the ocean, will the same signs be posted next to the pool outfalls warning swimmers of the risk?

If there is a risk swimming inside the pool, there must be a similar risk for people swimming outside the pool, right?

While the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and the hotel industry may not take kindly to these signs at our beaches, I'm sure the Health Department won't let this impede its job of protecting the public health.

Of course, it might make more sense to adopt rules with some teeth that could ensure that the water quality at our beaches doesn't change. Then we won't have to posts signs inside or outside of salt-water pools.

Linda Engelberg

Wearing seat belt would have protected Jones

Wise up, Hawaii, and buckle up! University of Hawaii football Coach June Jones made himself a victim by breaking the law and not wearing a safety belt. Because of this, he was turned into a projectile and catapulted into his vehicle's windshield. Luckily, he did not go through it and no one else was injured. (Editor's note: The car's airbag inflated.)

Not wearing a seat belt is equivalent to a player entering Aloha Stadium for a football game unprotected while everyone else wears complete uniforms, pads, helmets, mouth guards, etc.

Being a former emergency medical technician (EMT), I know that had Jones buckled up, he would not have sustained the life-threatening injuries incurred by his 70- mph-to-0-mph crash.

I am no longer an EMT because I got tired of tending to individuals who didn't wear life-saving devices like seat belts, helmets, protective clothing, lifejackets, etc.

The real icons are the police, fire, paramedics and ambulance personnel who responded promptly and efficiently to rush Jones to the hospital, so doctors and other competent hospital personnel could proceed with what they do best -- save lives.

Steve Lipski

Too much soda is causing cavities in kids

Adding fluoride to our drinking water to reduce children's cavities demonstrates the irrational thought process for which Hawaii's politicians are rightly ridiculed.

If Hawaii's children were drinking water, they wouldn't have rotten teeth. The fact is those with bad teeth are drinking soda.

So why punish the water drinkers who appreciate Hawaii's pure water because so many kids would rather fill up on sugary drinks? It doesn't address the problem.

Put the fluoride where the people who need it will get it: directly in the Big Gulps and leave the rest of us alone.

Dennis DeBasco

Quotables "Advertisers want some say. They don't want terms and costs dictated to them." David Black NEW OWNER OF THE STAR-BULLETIN AND MIDWEEK Saying that advertisers as well as readers will benefit from having two independent daily newspapers in Honolulu. Black's company takes over operation of the Star-Bulletin on March 15. "I feel like a ball player again. Just being around the guys, coming to spring training and sweating...It sounds crazy, but you miss it." Sid Fernandez FORMER NEW YORK METS PITCHER AND KAISER HIGH STANDOUT Trying for a big league comeback with the New York Yankees. Fernandez hasn't pitched in the majors since 1997.

Pay raises are more important than state art

As a retired Honolulu City and County employee, I'm never surprised at what politicians do. I've recently read that there is the probability of civil service layoffs if the state has to fund employee raises.

Yet the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts has granted $50,000 for the controversial sculpture at Campbell High School.

I think "culture and the arts" are fine, but if you can fund a statue that is not critically needed, you certainly should be able to pay employees a previously agreed to raise.

Ed Richter
Port Richey, Fla.

Many came through for poor Venezuelans

"Dragonfly," a new feature film starring Kevin Costner that takes place in Venezuela, was filmed on Kauai in February. The film company flew 110 indigenous Venezuelans to Kauai to work as extras on the film. All came from rural jungle communities and were extremely poor.

I worked as the Kauai casting director and translator, and was with the group constantly during its entire stay. These people are warm, affectionate and honest. They're just simple people.

Coming to Hawaii was like a dream coming true for all of them. Many people on Kauai sent them home with very happy memories.

I want to express my appreciation to all the people who responded so generously by buying them clothes, shoes, cameras, stuffed animals, toiletries and books during the two weeks they were on Kauai. Individual crew members and whole departments bought things and gave them to the extras as gifts.

Local businesses on Kauai were equally generous.

The staff of the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, where all of the Venezuelans stayed, responded with nothing but care, love, patience and hundreds of items of clothing. They were treated like family. I've never been in a hotel where the staff went so far beyond the call of duty. The hotel put on a special luau just for this group of guests. General Manager Ron Romano along with Michelle Towler, Lizann Vidinha, Mona Rogers and Joni Youn were there for everything we needed.

Local Kauai extras who worked on the movie also were incredibly giving. Jason Amas brought in 20 huge garbage bags filled with new and used clothing donated by the Wilcox Hospital Thrift Store. When I expressed my amazement, he replied, "Well, you said you wanted clothes."

Liberty House declined my offer to buy shopping bags and donated them instead.

Universal Studios paid to ship 12 huge boxes of clothes to Venezuela. The clothing will be shared among the villages where the people live.

Mahalo doesn't seem adequate. The kindness shown these special visitors made me very proud and lucky to live on Kauai.

Angela Tillson
Casting*Kauai

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