Feb. 28, 2012: Our readers write

Citation disappoints
I was greatly disappointed when I read Tony York was cited for allowing Ronnie Crain to drink wine at the Tony York’s on Main restaurant in Glendale.
Hardin Countians have voted again and again against the prudish and outdated laws that until recently have relegated our county as a backwater of fine dining. And no one can seriously believe York has ever tolerated public drunkenness at his excellent restaurant. Instead, York has been forced to spend time and money on this ridiculous violation of an otherwise-unenforced law. I have seen many others bring wine into local restaurants and they have never bothered anyone. I have done it myself several times.
KRS 242.260 prohibits any transportation of any alcoholic beverage into a dry territory. So when you are driving home after buying beer in Elizabethtown, watch out for Ronnie Crain. He might arrest you, too.
I’m sending my check today for $25 for membership in Tony York’s private dinner club. He’s a credit to good eating in Hardin County.
Paul Monday
Cecilia

Brightening smiles
The Feb. 20 article “Smile Kentucky gives kids plenty to grin about” gives a bare outline of a fantastic program in our area. I would like to share with your readers even more reason to smile.
Smile Kentucky has been successfully implemented in several regions of the state in various forms; in our area, this program is correctly known as Rotary Smiles. A little more than three years ago, Rotarians Rik Hawkins and Dr. Debbie Borden noted a need in our community for better education and access to dental services for our children. They set about to find a way to do this and modeled the program after an existing program in Jefferson County, in fact in that first year the Elizabethtown Rotary Club partnered with the Louisville Water District to service our children.
Through cooperation with local school superintendents Rotarians Nanette Johnston and Gary French, the Elizabethtown Rotary Club was able to schedule screening days for every third grader in the county. Later that same year, through cooperation with the Hardin County Dental Association, many children without access to dental care through private insurance or state assistance were given needed care. From children who were sharing a toothbrush with four siblings to children who were not brushing at all, hundreds of lives were touched in that first year.
After the overwhelming success of that inaugural effort, a local partner was sought and manager of Hardin County Water District No. 2 Rotarian James Jeffries eagerly offered their services. Dr. Nick Ising also came on board to help coordinate the screenings and the treatment days.
There truly is nothing like the smile of a child. Healthy teeth lead to a more ready smile and a greater sense of overall confidence. This confidence leads to better performance in school and interaction with their peer groups. The Rotary Smiles program has been an overwhelming success in the three years that we have been fortunate enough to support it. This success never would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the employees of Hardin County Water District No. 2, the Elizabethtown Independent and Hardin County schools, Hardin County Dental Association and the Elizabethtown Rotary Club.
Truly, Rotary Smiles gives kids (and the community) plenty to grin about.
Dr. Michael Owsley
President, Elizabethtown Rotary Club