Lowell served well as state librarian

State Librarian Virginia Lowell accomplished much during the five years she was here. Cynthia Oi wrote well in the June 15, Star-Bulletin documenting the accomplishments.

Lowell also started a popular bestseller ordering program for the public. She saw to the promotion of several in-house librarians to head the programs she implemented.

The political cartoonists deserve a round of applause for calling the politicians on their miscall. She is a good representative of our profession.

Sandra Kolloge
Librarian

United's prices are cause of its problems

I just confirmed from personal experience why United Airlines is in deep trouble.

I've been a customer of UAL for many years and, on balance, it has provided convenient schedules and good, although expensive, service. Lately, however, the whole operation has gone downhill as United continues to get eaten alive by its competition.

Consider my most recent encounter. Weeks ago, I purchased a round-trip ticket to the mainland on United for $434. More recently, I determined that I needed to purchase a one-way ticket from Salt Lake City to New York in August. United's price: $615. Jet Blue's price: $141. Need I point out that United's one-way ticket price from Salt Lake to New York is more than I paid for my round-trip UAL ticket to the mainland?

When is United going to recognize that its ticketing policies are outdated? Is it any wonder that UAL continues to bleed red ink?

J.M. Comcowich
Kailua

Brunch-Sunset program is the best

I have been coming to Honolulu on vacation for 25 years now. The city's Brunch and Sunset on the Beach program is one of the nicest things going on in Waikiki.

Keep this going. Don't stop it.

Dank u wel (mahalo)

Hennie Breugelmans
Amsterdam, Holland

Pox is nature's way of getting back at us

Have any of our pet shops tried to import rats? If so, would they need permission from the Department of Agriculture? This is the department that can't say "no." It approved chimpanzees for this year's State Fair, and will say OK to next month's Farm Fair for an entire "petting zoo" locked in cages in the dark, smelly hold of a ship for nearly a week.

The outbreak of monkeypox last month started at "Phils' Pocket Pets" in Villa Park, Ill. "Phil" imported giant Gambian rats from Africa to sell as pets. Authorities say one rat was sick and infected the prairie dogs, which were then sold to customers and to other pet shops. "Phil" was one of the first victims. Divine retribution.

Barbara Ikeda

Time for Chief Freitas to tell his side of story

A huge mahalo to Star-Bulletin staff writer Tony Sommer for his front page article on June 9 ("Convoluted legal drama grips police department"). I hope the people of Kauai will have had a chance to read this article about a lot of malfeasance that is going on in our Kauai Police Department.

For me, the single biggest revelation in the article was that our police chief, George Freitas, has been completely exonerated of any wrongdoing in this mess. So many headlines have taken direct hits at our chief -- "Freitas sued," "FBI probes chief" -- but the facts and the rebuttal seemed to get lost. From this four-month dismissal by a vengeful administration and police commission to the present, the facts continually point to his innocence.

Let us all hope that Freitas gets his day in the sun and that this sordid tale will be put to rest. Regretfully this investigation has been ongoing and our chief has had to keep mum. It is long past time that he should be able to tell his side of the story.

As well as our chief, there are a lot of brave police officers out there who put their lives on the line day after day to protect the citizens of Kauai, and a few bad eggs in the basket shouldn't be allowed to contaminate a fine organization.

Glenn Mickens
Kapaa, Kauai

Kindness of strangers brought wallet home

On June 11, I lost my wallet in Chinatown. Fortunately, a wonderful couple, Mr. and Mrs. Shima, found the wallet and despite their busy schedule they delivered it to my home. They did not accept any reward. At this time I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Shima for their wonderful deed.

Mr. Shima, you said this was my lucky day. Yes, it was, because you and your wife made it happen.

Thank you.

Mark Uehara