Thanks to The Times and Fountain Hills Theater for confirming my bragging rights.

Congratulations to L. Alan Cruikshank for publishing a quality local newspaper with great coverage and quality print. Placing the ads strategically from the bottom doesn’t interfere with the photos and continuity of the news. Big awards from your peers. Congratulations to the staff.

Our pride and joy, Fountain Hills Theater, gives us top quality Mainstage, Stage Too and Youth Theater. We put our money where our praise flies. Hooray again for being an award-winning, hard-working, talented bunch of thespians, producers, staff and volunteers. Peter Hill should be cloned. Ross, too. Val Stasik, you “done good.” Thank you all.

We always read the Opinion Page for what our residents are thinking. It’s important to print what people have to say rather than what the editor feels is appropriate. We read with interest how Muslims express their point of view. We also read with interest about how people judge the ongoing expensive legal battles with law enforcement and the courts.

My passion is directed toward high quality education on all levels and in all fields of endeavor. How did we let the bar slip so low for the children who need it the most?! Our teachers should be compensated according to their own continuing education and personal mentoring of students who are falling behind.

Talented students need support with music, art, dance, arts administration and other related fields. Every school has some type of sports program. Not many have cultural arts programs.

Let’s put pressure on educators and politicians to direct the funds specifically for improving the quality of teachers and how they reach every student for success.

For the people on the staff of The Times, we offer our sympathy for the loss of loved ones this year. Keep good courage and keep doing the good work we enjoy.