Letters to the Editor

Editor: Let me start off by saying that I love Hanford and in particular the downtown. I enjoy the farmers market on Thursday evenings when the weather is not too hot. I shop downtown, I bank downtown, and I attend the events at the Fox Theatre and have dinner downtown.

I have attended the craft fairs, the home and garden shows, the chili cook off as well as the Renaissance Faire. I love the carousel and the Civic Center park.

I have lived in Hanford for over 30 years. I also work at Wal-Mart as do approximately 350 to 400 people who, for the majority, live in Hanford. Most of these people were born and raised in Hanford, attended school in Hanford and raised their children in this wonderful community. These same people also volunteer as Little League coaches, Sunday School teachers, members of their church councils, Citizens on Patrol, or volunteer with their schools and community.

Wal-Mart workers volunteer to raise money on their own for causes such as Special Olympics, Children's Miracle Network, Relay for Life as well as raising money for their schools and churches.

I will come to my point. Hanford's Relay for Life Committee rented a booth all season at the Thursday Night Market Place and each team was assigned a night that was just for them to be able to help raise money to reach their personal money pledge.

Team Wal-Mart's night was about three weeks ago. Some of the Wal-Mart people rushed home and picked up their children and headed over to the farmers market to set up and get ready for the event. After only a short time they were approached by Pam from the downtown committee stating that they would have to remove their Team Wal-Mart banners and turn their shirts inside out if they were to remain selling Relay for Life items. Needless to say they closed up and left. It was embarrassing for Team Wal-Mart as they had their children and to try and explain to them why Wal-Mart workers were singled out was hard. Prior to this night, all teams wore their team shirts and had their team banners. Since that night, the downtown committee informed Relay for Life that they could no longer show their team banners or wear their team shirts. I have no intention of trying to praise or bash Wal-Mart as a company, but I do intend to praise the hard-working people who work there and for their love of their community and their passion for helping.

I am sad to know that the downtown committee is so narrow-minded that they cannot separate the two. I always felt we lived in one Hanford but apparently no. Am I to believe there is a downtown Hanford and a Hanford for the rest of us? Is it the intent that everyone is welcome to downtown Hanford with the exception of a few hundred who make their living in a store the downtown committee frowns upon? That seems a bit snobby to me and downright discriminatory.

Sherry Stover

Hanford