Stay safe on the water
Life jackets save lives, but only if they are worn.
A recent incident on the Chatfield Reservoir highlights the importance of wearing a life jacket. A boater fell into the reservoir after their sailboat flipped over. Fortunately, they were wearing a life jacket and were rescued, but that isn’t always the case.
In the most recent United States Coast Guard boating statistics, three out of every four boaters who died in a boating accident drowned, and of those deaths, 87% were not wearing a life jacket. Many of these people considered themselves long-term boaters who knew how to swim, but if knocked unconscious when entering the water, it is impossible to swim.
You wouldn’t try to put a seatbelt on in the middle of a car crash. Likewise, it is not possible to try to put on a life jacket when you are in the middle of a boating emergency.
When going out on the water, ensure everyone on board has a life jacket that fits properly. If you need one to borrow, check out one of the Sea Tow Foundation’s Life Jacket Loaner Stations. You never know just how life-saving it could be.
Gail R. Kulp, Southold, N.Y.
Editor’s note: Kulp is executive director of the Sea Tow Foundation.
State should provide real tax relief
Recently, I received a check from Douglas County for nearly $200 for property tax relief. This was an action taken by DougCo in response to the unprecedented spike in property taxes. A similar action could have been taken at the state level to prove relief across the entire state. Instead, the legislature chose to pass a convoluted bill touted as tax relief, but that only freezes in place much of the astronomical increases, and sets them as a baseline for future increases, hoping that taxpayers would not be able to interpret the arcane language in the bill. The legislature forgets that Colorado is one of the most highly educated states in the United States. They will see the results of that forgetfulness in November.
John Fechenbach, Highlands Ranch
Step up and unite to make country stronger
Wars are raging, people are dying, disease is spreading. Religions clash, bringing millions of innocents down with them. Leaders talk, yet nothing happens. What makes it even worse? There is nothing anyone can do about it — or so they say. This “doomsday” perspective exists within those who are consumed by constant news, social media and pessimism. They call it “the reality we live in.” I disagree.
We live in an era where individual choices and collective actions shape our future. It’s not enough to be outraged or think “spreading awareness” is a quick fix. The real work lies in looking inward, acknowledging our own contributions to the status quo and stepping up to make a difference. This means more than just voting or voicing opinions. It means engaging in our communities, questioning leaders and standing up for what’s right. It means realizing that, regardless of political affiliation, we are all more alike than we admit.
Now is the moment to begin “doing” and end the divide. Compromise with the opposite party, determine shared values, transform your outlook on life. Our collective efforts, no matter how small, can create ripples of change. This call to action stems from the fact that our institutions in this community and this country no longer serve their intended purpose. Political parties should not matter. We can build a stronger society.
Each of us has the power to be a force for good. Let’s rise to this challenge with hope in each other. Together, we will change the world.
Ridge Stimson, Breckenridge
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