In response to Ms. Ghandi, (Letters, “Park not a tree farm,” June 16), before you sling mud at the Island County commissioners and Mr. Lee McFarland, I can tell you that they are people of character. I have worked for Mr. McFarland in the Parks Department and I know that he would not allow 30 percent of the park to be raped of live trees.

His concern is for the safety of the campers and visitors. Timber management gets hired to fall trees safely and thin out the dead wood. It is funny how some enviromentalists can stop a project like the proposed soccer fields a few years back. They do great speeches, but when it comes to fighting a fire or replanting the trees they are nowhere to be found. The rhodies in the park are drying up. I would ask the county commissioners to purchase some more and replace the dead ones. Work could be done with volunteers or jail inmate and juvenile detainee trustees. Also, could the reporters of this paper please remain neutral and not so much to the left. Mr. Erickson, (“Soundoff,” June 16) what is your background and education? I do agree with you on urban sprawl in Oak Harbor. I have 45 new homes going up behind me.

David McCloskey

Oak Harbor