Mailbag

Robot competitors need your support

I just got back from a fantastic For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics regional competition ("Robot games stir students," March 10). Forty-six schools competed and Clark Magnet, along with two other schools in their alliance, came in first place and won the right to compete in Atlanta in three weeks in a national competition.

My son is on this team, and has been for the last three years, and they have worked incredibly hard.

They had only six weeks to build a functional robot and each robot has to be built to very specific specifications. Near the end of the six weeks, it was not uncommon for the children to be working well past midnight every single night. On school days, they would study and do their homework for a couple of hours after school and then spend the rest of the night working on their robot. In fact, the last week, because of time constraints, they would sometimes work until 3 or 4 in the morning, or in some cases not come home at all.

What I am trying to say is that the trip to Atlanta is a fitting reward for the children. However, it costs about $20,000 for the team to go to Atlanta, and they have only three weeks to raise the money. They are going to have as many fundraisers as possible, but they are going to need help if they are to reach their goal. If any of the people reading this can help out in any way (donations, airline tickets — unused free mileage, etc.) please contact Clark Magnet High School.

STEPHEN F. ROBINS

Glendale

City just doesn't make it easy

First, I have called the city numerous times regarding the pine tree in the parkway in front of my house.

The tree root is raising the sidewalk and breaking the sidewalk. On the first call, the person sent someone out and they placed asphalt to remove the lip in the concrete caused by the raising of the sidewalk. That was OK for a while, but now the sidewalk has lifted further, some 8 inches, and the asphalt is of no value.

In addition, the raising of the sidewalk has caused the cement to break, and there is actually a hole in the sidewalk. I have called the city regarding this. The person was pleasant, however nothing has been done. There are a lot of people who walk in this area and it is just a matter of time before someone steps in the hole and breaks a leg or a hip. It seems to me that someone should correct the problem before someone gets hurt.