TMCnet News
Hospital display no longer lights the nightQUESTION, Dec 16, 2012 (Greeley Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The tree lights in front of NCMC have always been a much anticipated cheerful part of the holiday season in Greeley. We are wondering why they chose to only light a few of the trees this year. Surely, it can't be a financial issue with Banner if my $7 aspirin and $35 Band-Aid are any indicators. ANSWER -- We think the more important question is, why is Banner charging so much for Band-Aids and aspirin. But to answer your question regarding the lights. It is financial. According to Banner spokesman Gene Haffner, the huge lighting display along its entire frontage on 16th Street from 15th Avenue to 21st Street, cost the hospital $30,000 a season to put up, take down and maintain. "While $30,000 in our entire operation may not seem to people to be much, we really even had some employees who were asking us, 'How can we continue to spend money on those kinds of things when we're looking to control expenses for the future '" Haffner said. So, they decided to hopscotch the tree lighting to a few here and there, rather than lighting up every one on the medical campus. In retrospect, Haffner said, they'll probably do it differently next year, lumping the display near the entrance rather than disperse it so much. Haffner said hospital officials decided to support community-wide holiday efforts by taking $1,500 to support the Chamber of Commerce 'Greeley Lights the Night' Holiday Parade and the holiday light display in downtown Lincoln Park. QUESTION -- Comcast no longer furnishes phone numbers for publication in local phone books. How are we supposed to contact people ANSWER -- We contacted Comcast and this is the answer they provided to us: "As a result of the environmentally friendly move away from paper directories, Comcast decided to extend the environmentally friendly leadership it displayed through Eco-Billing by providing a new service to our customers called Ecolisting. "Comcast created a new online directory tool called Ecolisting, which you can access at www.Ecolisting.com. Unless you ask for a non-published number, your listing information will be made available at www.ecolisting.com and through the Comcast directory assistance operator. "Customer information may also appear in other on-line directories and directory assistance (411) databases, as well as printed directories. People can also dial 411 for Directory Assistance. "Comcast's policies are consistent with the environmentally friendly trend that has motivated phone companies to modify their policies regarding the distribution of paper directories. In many cities, phone companies will only distribute residential white page directories upon specific customer request. Together, with more online listings, we'll save more trees, and in turn, the environment." QUESTION -- Last summer, 15 dogs were taken from Linda Robbins, who couldn't care for them properly. Now, she is running an ad to get them back. What gives ANSWER -- After Robbins was cited for inhumane treatment of animals, her dogs were taken to the Humane Society for holding. The shelter charged her a bond of $750 per dog, or $11,250 to hold the animals, but she couldn't come up with the money, she told the Tribune. She was eventually acquitted of the charges. In recent days, she placed an ad in the Tribune, seeking the return of eight of those dogs, and offering a large reward. Elaine Hicks, executive director of the Weld County Humane Society, said the dogs were in poor condition when they were found in a U-Haul van. She said one died within a day or two of arrival at the animal shelter. Another was euthanized recently and nine have so far been adopted. She said the humane society spent $25,000 on their care, and found new homes for the dogs. Greeley Police Sgt. Susan West said under the law the shelter becomes the legal owner of the dogs if the bond (the cost of the animals' care) is not paid. Have a question Contact Sharon Dunn at [email protected] or call (970) 392-4439. Tribune reporter Sherrie Peif contributed to this week's report. ___ (c)2012 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.) Visit the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.) at www.greeleytribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |