The Fashion Fair shopping center sponsored a trick or treat session for children from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Halloween. I arrived at the mall at 3:30 p.m. To my disappointment, 90% of the stores had posted a sign at their entrance: Sorry, we have no more treats. Happy Halloween!

Regarding Jim Boren’s Oct. 25 column, “Dim future lies ahead for state’s colleges: Times are tough for college students. No educator wants to see qualified students turned away from the institution of their choice.

Fresno Veterans Hospital has been treating my brother for liver failure for approximately two years. He received tremendous care each time he had to be admitted.

In the good old days, when I was in first and second grades, our books had stories about the nice, helpful policeman, and even had pictures of a small child holding the hand of the policeman. Do any of you remember those pictures and stories? “Our friend, the policeman.”

Your paper just contributed to the “snarky” comments about the Obama children receiving the H1N1 vaccine [story Oct. 30]. A headline and all the nastiness up front, then the discussion about how public health officials view this in the closing paragraph. Shame on you!

I took on a position as a traveling therapist to broaden my horizons. When told my first assignment would be Fresno, the destination fell to the floor with a “thud.” Would I grow in Fresno?

In “Health reform right thing” [letter Oct. 29], Edward Brennan chastises religious leaders for remaining silent when we “have a rare opportunity to save tens of thousands of lives, and improve the health and quality of life for millions” by supporting “comprehensive health care reform.”

Over the course of this year, several writers have attempted to explain differences in socialism, National Socialism and fascists, usually to defend President Obama from accusations of socialism or comparisons to Hitler. Unfortunately these are differences without a distinction.

Vaccination has been one of the most important ways to fight seasonal flu, and now, the H1N1 pandemic. I panicked when I read The Bee Oct. 30 and I saw on the front page in bold letters, “Vaccine shortage.”

When is California going to wake up and realize that Proposition 13 has been the worst social experiment of the 20th century? One-third of the three-legged stool that supports government services was effectively severed.

It saddens me to watch the Fresno Art Museum valiantly struggle to survive during these restive times. It is my suspicion that it will — through sheer pluck and determination, and a lot of help from the citizens of this Valley.

Rep. Devin Nunes’ aggressive statements are tearing apart our community.

I am shocked to hear the airlines want one of the crew to take a “nap” during the flight.

I’ve been paying close attention to the debate concerning health care in the U.S., and it appears to me that insurance companies are unfairly taking the brunt of the assault.

Concerning the recent uproar about the officer involved shootings: When people attempt to put themselves in the officer’s shoes, they imagine themselves as “super cops” who can handle situations with absurd solutions, i.e. “shooting limbs” or “neutralizing a suspect armed with a gun by applying a Taser.”

The manner in which California dispenses medical marijuana does not make sense. My problem is all about how our state wants to dispense the marijuana. Why should it be allowed for individuals to grow their own marijuana plants to meet the medical need?

Dr. Henry Madden must have turned over in his grave with news of Starbucks’ intrusion into the Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno [story Nov. 1]. It brings up a question: Will Fresno State do anything for money?

I would caution letter writer T.C. Morgan [Oct. 31] that just because the name of the Nazi party was the National Socialist Party, there is not a straight line equivalency from that form of fascism to the many forms of socialism that are practiced in politics around the world.

Another Halloween has come and gone. We’re lucky enough to live in the Tower District, where we get 100 to 200 trick-or-treaters each year.

Regarding “No shushing here, please”[story Nov. 1]: It’s sad to see such a reduced respect for learning in our libraries. I’ve seen Fresno Unified School District libraries where the students are allowed food, loud conversation and nonschool activities, and the learning atmosphere drops to almost zero. Those who have no other quiet place to study are constantly disturbed by others. I am sure that college students have the same problem.

As our nation continues its inexorable slide toward financial collapse, the citizenry should ponder what punishment should be meted out to current and past politicians who have allowed the collapse to occur.

For anyone who missed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s quote earlier this week, she redefined a tax increase as a “repeal of a tax decrease.” This is par for the course, as the statists in charge have been redefining America at an astounding pace. Our president told us he wouldn’t have lobbyists on his staff. His advising team is replete with tax cheats and lobbyists. We were told Afghanistan was the “real” war. Now we watch as politics prevail over the lives of our family members serving overseas.

The 350.org climate-change actions recently showed that millions of people care about what we are doing to the atmosphere of our planet. Let us now find spokespeople who link the economic downturn to changing to a sustainable-energy-use economy. Let us not insist on hanging on longer and longer to an economy imploding from corrupt financial leadership. Let us demand that we stop paying a huge chunk of our gross domestic product to the Middle East nations for their oil, and another huge chunk for defense to protect it.

In the Oct. 22 Bee, the article headlined “Bill would ease bank seizures” describes the effect of a proposed bill to take over failing banks. The stockholders surely would take a double beating. If they had invested with a failing bank, they would already have lost most of it and the rest of it would go when the government took over.

Since 2001, Fresno taxpayers have paid $993.4 million to maintain the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Why? For which war corporations and petroleum corporations who donated to which legislators’ re-election campaign chests?

Have you ever noticed how the land barons of the west side and their allies behave like petulant children demanding candy when it comes to water?

Wow! Look at your new Fresno County tax bill quick! Seems the Fresno Unified School District has decided to go to the taxpayer trough a little heavier than previous years.

Assistance League volunteers want to thank all the wonderful individuals who purchased a Granville Home of Hope ticket this year that benefitted seven local charities. The event raised $350,700, and fabulous prizes were awarded on Oct. 24.

Bravo to the cast and crew of the Bullard High School Theater Department for their stunning production of “Romeo and Juliet.” This was not your average high school production. The acting was superb and the sets and costumes were beautiful. Shame on the masses of the city of Fresno who miss this stellar production. Today, Friday and Saturday is all that is left.

Democrats want us to believe they want to reform health care. If they are sincere, they would institute real reform and lower costs through medical product and liability (tort) reform, interstate insurance competition, catastrophic health insurance options, health savings accounts and individual tax credits.

Three Valley Presbyterian churches have finalized their divorce from the nation's largest Presbyterian denomination. It shows me that individuals are confused about the teachings of the Bible and church.

I recently noticed my SmartMeter becoming more intelligent. My bill has dropped $135 since the last billing period. Yes, you might say the weather has been a bit cooler and I really cut back, or is it something else?

Gary Walker tries to give us a history lesson in defending the president [Valley Voices Oct. 24]. Perhaps what he misses most is the importance of the values that Americans hold.

Regarding the new hate-crime law signed by President Obama that now includes gays and the disabled [story Oct. 29]:

As we debate universal health care, I have discovered a far more insidious threat to our beloved republic: public libraries. These dens of socialist iniquity threaten the very fabric of capitalism.

In 2002, the Taliban in Afghanistan seemed likely to negotiate the surrender of Osama bin Laden to U.S. custody. But President Bush decided that it was more important to make a "democracy" of Iraq.

In the past few days, I heard President Obama refer to a mop he was using as communist, and laughed and said he was mopping up after President Bush. Then I heard George Stephanopolis refer to communism.

It is very ironic that Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, waited until Barack Obama was president to seek a pardon for Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight boxing champion.

In response to the Oct. 18 article regarding the revitalization of El Dorado Park, one has to wonder when the onus for monetary support would not sit squarely on the shoulders of the city.

Don’t be fooled by President Obama’s rhetoric promising to lower the cost of health insurance and coverage for everyone. The reason is very simple: Obama wants socialized medicine. Everything else is empty rhetoric.

In this time of financial crisis for many Americans, brought on by 30 years of reckless and phony “free market” policies that have created a two-tier economic system and emptied the middle class, there is no time for a “trigger.” How about a trigger that wipes out pre-existing conditions, or denying coverage?

As a teacher, there is little which makes me smile when it comes to public education in the United States, but I have found cause recently to chuckle. Most critics would classify former President George W. Bush as an unabashed free-market proponent, yet his education policy fell under the rather communist phrase, “No Child Left Behind.”

What a shameful headline “Obama vows he won’t rush” [Oct. 27]. Indecisive milquetoast leadership is not an admirable quality.

Jerry Dyer and his team are to be commended on their quick response to the serious incident that occurred on McKinley Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

Please think of us! We know you have health insurance. I sit here at my computer with no money to purchase health insurance, or to seek health care. I am diabetic and unable to seek treatment. I have not seen a doctor for two years!

In response to October 23 "Abuse victims still victimized": As a former abused wife, mother and friend of abused women, I would like to point out two ways abuse victims are being victimized.

As an animal lover, I am thrilled to know that Colby, the big white dog, profiled in The Bee after missing for a number of weeks, has been reunited with his family. I am, however, disturbed to know that it was very evident by the gentleman who notified Colby's family, that Colby was not neutered.

The Visalia Firefighters Association is proud to endorse Mike Lane, Warren Gubler and Steve Nelsen for Visalia City Council.

Yes, we can provide decent health care coverage for all Americans with a true public option based on the Medicare Model. No triggers, even less compromise!