Wasting food
This is in response to “CPS won’t let kids eat their vegetables; More than 40 Chicago schools have gardens, but the produce can’t be served in lunchrooms” (Page 1, Oct. 20), by Tribune reporter Monica Eng.
That idea that Chicago Public Schools cannot distribute the food that they grow is ludicrous. It is well-documented the bad shape these schools are in.
Children from many inner-city neighborhoods come to school without breakfast. Thankfully the city has stepped in and provided subsidized breakfasts for those in need.
It would be wonderful to provide some of the food grown by CPS farms to the children who grow it.
In addition to the cost benefits of providing CPS farm food to its students, the children will be more likely to eat vegetables that they have participated in growing. When the city is in such a budget crisis, why is it required to provide vegetables organically grown? What lobby group insisted on that?
— Dorota Kopczyk, Chicago
Student-grown food
Your article “CPS won’t let kids eat their vegetables” communicated the enthusiasm of students who grow food in school and community gardens, and the desire to have the student-grown fruits and vegetables included in the student meal programs provided by Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality. The article neglected to mention that we share the opinion that enjoying the results of the students’ labor is a meaningful and positive addition to the student gardening learning process.
But it must be a safe process. Our No. 1 priority is to ensure that the locally grown student produce does not pose any health or food safety risks to our Chicago Public Schools students and community.
Several months ago, we initiated discussions with the city of Chicago Planning Department and community organizations in Austin, Englewood and Washington Park to explore how produce grown in school and community gardens can be incorporated into the CPS meal program. A student-grown food program would build on our existing commitment to purchase $2.3 million of locally grown produce from mid-size family-owned farms this school year.
However, introducing student-grown food into the meal program isn’t as easy as it may appear. Our meals program for CPS follows district and government-mandated guidelines that are designed to safeguard students from contracting diseases or from getting sick as a result of food that has not been grown according to proper and safe growing guidelines.
A number of steps must be taken before we can add student-grown food to our menu choices. These include obtaining approval from the Chicago Department of Public Health to serve food from the school garden; CDPH providing documentation that we comply with all local requirements; ensuring that the process of growing, storing and transporting the food meets quality assurance guidelines; and receiving approval from CPS to initiate the program. Guidelines for the program would address good agricultural practices and would include verification by qualified experts that the practices have been maintained.
We are committed to continue working with CPS, Chicago Department of Public Health officials and the community to develop a school-garden-to-school-lunch program that will be safe as well as educational.
— Robert Bloomer, regional vice president, Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality, Chicago
Hurtful words and deeds
Bullying is an unacceptable behavior that can lead to the destruction of a life. It is a message that bears repeating. If a person likes to bully others, chances are that person does not like himself or herself. Self-respect and the ability to love prevents a person from hurtful words and deeds.
It is apparent that bullying is a means of control and tends to bolster a misguided ego. Possibly it is a learned behavior. We are a visual society and truly we do learn some things through osmosis. I believe that to be a valid argument for filling our minds with positive information.
We are a diverse society. We can’t like everyone, but we can at least try to be patient and tolerant of the differences among us. We are not here to judge one another but to do our best to live in harmony. Our time on Earth is short.
We are all unique individuals created by God and loved unconditionally by him. Believe it! Live it!
— Marlene Jeziorski, Oak Lawn
Dangerous behavior
It seems as though many people are either talking or texting on their cellular phones and electronic devices in public. Many of these people are unaware of events going on around them, primarily because they are preoccupied with using the devices.
Certain people will be talking or texting while driving their cars or while riding on their bicycles. This is extremely dangerous behavior, and these people need to be made aware that they are risking not only their own lives but the lives of others.
This behavior cannot be tolerated. Our government needs to be involved in eliminating the behavior.
— Timothy Abercrombie, Chicago
Of northern climes
It’s that time of year again when poets wax eloquently about the summer just past and rue the coldness that is sure to come soon.
We reflect on the days of fun in the sun — sailing, splashing in the neighborhood pool, golfing, running marathons and other activities we Northerners can only enjoy for a few months each year.
Perhaps that is why we treasure them so much. Sort of like a love affair that lasts but a short time but because of its brevity, always remains in our hearts.
Many songs are written about lost loves and what might have been rather than what is.
Games we lose by a single run are always memorable and we reflect on where we went wrong. Never mind that we won most of the games we played.
It’s the lost ones that remain ever vivid and clear in our minds.
The leaves are disappearing from the trees beneath my windows now and I can see a little farther; once they are all gone, I think I can see about a quarter or half a mile from my post up here on the third floor.
I remember living in Minnesota where it was customary to take a drive along the Mississippi River and the Wisconsin state line to admire the fall foliage.
Like so many things we hold dear, the actual moments were fleeting in time but are forever in our hearts.
And yet winter has its beauty, too, like the first snowfall when the temp is just right for the snow to cling to the evergreens and barren tree branches, coating them with a frosting only God knows how to blend.
We slip and slide over icy streets and roads in fear for our lives at times while still enjoying the beauty before us.
There were times when I confess to wishing I lived elsewhere, but once spring emerged, what joy!
I wouldn’t trade this climate with anyone.
How can you appreciate the sun if you never experience the rain?
Fall?
Winter on its way?
Who cares?
Bring on the snow.
I am ready.
— Mil Misic, DeKalb
