St. Raphael could be shelter site

With recent publicity about the rebuilding of St. Raphael Cathedral, some thoughts come to mind. While it is probably too late to change the tide, how about staying within the limits of the insurance settlement rather than spending millions of dollars (a good portion of which will need to be raised or borrowed) to build a bigger and grander edifice?

Designate an existing parish as the cathedral, then use the St. Raphael site -- including the spire -- to erect a building to be used as a homeless shelter and parish center.

Why outspend your means and put the burden on donors when a Downtown need could be met instead? That would be true Christian charity.

-- Ed Smith, Stoughton

There is violence portrayed everywhere in our society. Do we need to portray it in our sports as well?

Monday's sports page depicting a "Wanted" poster showing angry men with headlines including "saddle up," "pistol-whipped" and "top gun" does not help. And we wonder why there is so much violence in our society?

A Wisconsin State Journal "Wanted" poster is not about being a good sport.

-- Ann Engelman, Fort Atkinson

Subeck's concerns reflected in district

I hope my neighbors in District 15 will elect Lisa Subeck for Dane County Board. Subeck's long-term involvement in our neighborhood provides her an understanding of the challenges faced by Madison 's Southwest Side. Her opponent does not share her expertise.

In Sunday's State Journal, each candidate was asked to name the single most important issue facing District 15. To most residents of the Southwest Side, this is a no-brainer -- addressing the increase in crime and poverty is most important. Subeck shares this concern, while her opponent Ronn Ferrell named transportation.

This contrast is significant. Subeck has a history of working for our neighborhoods, as is reflected in her understanding of the challenges we face. Her opponent is simply out of touch with the neighborhoods he wishes to represent.

-- Danielle Lockwood, Madison

Newcomers find Falk to their liking

My family found the last available seats in Falk Elementary gym for a recent event. The woman next to me spoke Spanish to her daughter and cooed to the baby on her lap, who reached out smiling and cooing. We passed the baby between our two families, laughing, communicating through smiles, gestures and our child interpreters.

Our daughter entered Falk last April as a second grader whose parents moved from Fargo, N.D., from a district with new buildings, technological wonders and a mostly Scandinavian population. The poverty rate at her school was 20 percent; diversity was 5 percent.

Parents at a recent Madison School Board meeting shared their concerns about sending their children to Falk. When I read an article describing these distraught parents, I was disheartened. Walking through Falk school one morning, I wondered if the parents speaking at the meeting had spent any time there.

When I'm at Falk, I see a team of dedicated teachers and engaged students. My child, who is rather anxious about change, has adapted beautifully. She has learned so much from her classmates and thrives in the small class of 14 second- and third-graders. The staff strives to create a sense of community in each classroom.

In the Falk gym that night, kids sang and danced, uninhibited and joyful. The ease with which parents celebrated their children and communicated with each other was something I had not experienced until our move to Madison. Anxious parents -- know that Falk is a hidden gem.

-- Anne Von Bank, Madison

Need good roads more than new park

Here we go again with plans for Door Creek Park on the Far East Side. All we need is another park. The city has budgeted more than $300,000 this year for first-phase grading, seeding of fields and development of some facilities on the northern part of the site.

The mayor should use that money right now to fix our streets. He has made a concerted effort since he came into office to get parks developed in the newer parts of the city.

How about concentrating on getting our streets in shape. Right now there are large potholes all over the city, especially on University Avenue.

I think he should give up the parks and get other things going that are more important. We don't need any more parks.

-- Ray Moen, Madison