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“This is a warning to parents who take small children to the sports complex or Little League fields. Last week on Thursday a small child, about 3 years old, was struck by a red pickup truck as she darted between the parked cars at the Sunset Little League fields. Her mother had told her to wait while she went to their car to get something. Luckily the lady driving the truck was going slow and was able to stop and just bumped the little girl. Parents, please do not assume your child will stay. Take them with you. A tragic accident was avoided that day because the truck driver was going slow. Sometimes people are in a hurry and they do not obey the speed limits, so be careful.” “I would not like to see a ‘blog’ of Rants & Raves. My morning coffee on Sundays and Thursdays is spent with The Observer and the Rants & Raves column. It’s a quick way to see what’s going on in Rio Rancho. I have used the column myself on occasion, but since my e-mail has my full name, you know that I have sent it. I also have written letters to the editor when the subject was serious enough. I agree that some of the material is too long, some are too wordy, some are demeaning as you say, and some are just plain ignorant. However, since you obviously read each one, don’t you have a line that shouldn’t be crossed? And a timeline for controversial issues? And a word limit? A blog entertains only those who have computers. The printed word reaches everyone.”

“I saw you. I saw you on Saturday morning driving around in your brand new tan Mercury Mystique with the Bengals license plate in your rear window. You were on the corner of 33rd Circle and Sara Road and you threw your cigarette out your window. Yeah, I know what you’re going to say, ‘So what, everyone does it.’ But I saw you litter our streets.”

“As the saying goes, ‘appearances count,’ and that makes me wonder why in the wake of increasing criticism of too close a link between the city and developers, our mayor and several members of the council would even think of participating in the Stonegate Estates groundbreaking. It seems to reflect a council oblivious to the need to not to appear to be too closely linked to outside entities of any sort, but developers in particular.”

“I have a question for the editor who commented that a rather long rant should have been a signed letter. Then why did you publish it as a rant? You make the policy. Obviously, you ignore your own rules.”

“One major reason I read The Observer is for the Rants & Raves section and it should stay. Maybe longer ones should be put in letter form, but short ones are fine n it shows what the people are thinking at the time they’re thinking it and many times true. Also, signing letters doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the true person’s identity. If The Observer’s concerned about liability, why not put a disclaimer at the column’s top or ask people to leave their name and contact number if The Observer needs to check it out. Please keep Rants & Raves n it adds a personal touch we definitely need.”

“After reading the paper on Sunday, I certainly hope that you do not discontinue Rants & Raves. I learn a lot of stuff from that, as I do from Bob Harpley’s informative letters that he writes quite often. Both of those are highlights to my paper, in my opinion. I’ll be writing to your editor to let (her) know this, but just I couldn’t help call in first. Thanks.”

“I was reading the editor’s article here this morning in The Observer and I would recommend that you leave Rants & Raves in but require that they put their name to them. I will send you a letter as you requested also.”

“My rant has to do with the environment. In this so-called era we say we need to ‘go green’ and how we need to change to this and change that. Really, if you care about going green, if you look at it, the U.S. is one of the toughest, as far as environmental manufacturing. We make sure the plants here, the manufacturers, all conform to EPA standards. When we look at other countries, like India and China, and all those other countries, you see they have very loose regulations on their products and what they make. So if you’re concerned about going green, think about buying items made in the U.S. n if you really want to save this world.”

“Regarding Doc Joe’s (sic) editorial about Rants & Raves, perhaps people don’t give their names because their views differ from their friends, family and co-workers and maybe they have fear of retribution but they feel the need to say something and that gives them the perfect venue to do that. You don’t even know these people, Doc Joe (sic again), and you’re already calling them names: You’re calling them cowards. If someone who doesn’t even know them is calling them ugly names, then the people that do know them certainly will, as well. It’s just a good forum for people who have differing views n and I don’t think you should be publisher (sic) any longer. I think you’ve been here long enough now and for you to start calling the good citizens of Rio Rancho names, it’s just unconscionable.”

“Why are Americans asking General Petraeus when he’ll stop the war? He’s a general n he lives for war. War means everything to him. It is his chosen profession and this country is depending on this general to stop the war? Our Congress needs to stop sitting on its hands and vote to end this war. Stop the money. I bet bin Laden is laughing, watching us destroy our country’s currency and stability over Iraq. We are such idiots. I am so disgusted with this worthless war and the worthless people who do nothing to stop it.”

“My wife and family have lived in the River’s Edge community for more than 15 years. Our present councilwoman, Mrs. Marilyn Salzman, has helped us in many ways. Especially in dealing with the public services and our noisy neighbors. We would like to attend a debate between Mrs. Salzman and her opponent Mrs. Colley. Not like the previous ones we’ve attended at St. Francis or at the elementary school in Enchanted Hills. The SAD issue is not our concern, though we can sympathize with those residents. At the forums we’ve attended, several of the contenders made it seem that was the only issue. Well, we would like to see a question and answer session with her and her opponent in the race. We have interests in our own area. My votes as of now would be for the incumbent Mrs. Salzman as she promptly returns calls. The forum in the elementary school really told us nothing. … Surely, there must be a way to arrange a public meeting or a Q and A in one of our papers.”

(Editor’s note: Observer reporter Jimmy Currier wrote an article with the help of each candidate in the run-off election n Marilyn Salzman and Kathy Colley n so citizens can consider each carefully)

“The Republicans would to like to punish the hard-working Americans that want to live the “American Dream,” that is constantly advertised. These Americans are a cross section of all of us. When a lender offers deals too good to be true, hope springs eternal. Who can say no to what seems to be a good deal. It’s no crime to be an optimist, but it’s not wrong to want to live better. With a hard-working spouse, and your kids watching TV where people live the good life, why not go for it? Blame these unregulated businesses that come up with these schemes. Most of us are pretty naïve when it comes to these loans. Many Americans are not well versed in financial matters, especially mortgages with all the paper signing and the fellow in the other side of the desk saying where the X is. But, the investment banks such as Bear Sterns are bailed out with JP Morgan Stanley also getting backing from the Feds. The reason given is that we don’t want a domino effect. Excuse me, wasn’t that the reason it cost us 60,000 American lives and more than 2,000,000 Vietnamese lives over 30 years ago? Take this bail-out reason with a good grain of salt.”

“A rave! Thank you Observer for the editor’s note that in a letter to ‘your views,’ Mrs. Sorci was actually campaign manager for District 6 Councilor Salzman, not an ordinary resident writing praise for her that was really a free campaign ad. This shows that signing it does not prevent this kind of deception. Please don’t get rid of Rants & Raves. If you print both sides, people can see and decide. Possibly, limit political stuff up to three or four weeks before elections and only responses after. Thanks a bunch.”

(Editor’s note: In spite of the ‘perfect system’ of verifying Letters to the Editor, the letter written by Denise Sorci fell through the cracks. If this had been a rant, or if Sorci did not follow up and write another letter to the editor, the editor’s note could have had unfavorable results in the community. The Letter to the Editor system isn’t perfect, but it has more ‘fail-safes’ built in than a rave does. In either case, this editor tries to do the right and fair thing always)