This holiday season, families on the Monterey Peninsula and across America will gather with neighbors and friends to rekindle old friendships, revive honored traditions and renew the hope and love that is part of the season. During this season, I offer my sincere thanks to the Monterey Peninsula Community. Your continued support of the more than 3,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines at the Defense Language Institute is truly appreciated. As the stars of the winter sky shine brightly upon the Monterey Bay this season, know that the entire DLI family is proud to be a part of the Monterey Peninsula Community. On behalf of the entire DLI family, I extend our warmest and most heartfelt wishes for a happy holiday season.

Col. Kevin M. Rice, Commander of the Presidio of Monterey and Commandant of the Defense Language Institute

Peaceniks, Greens and Lawyers Are A Buncha Commies, Burp

It should come as no surprise that most of today''s "peace" groups always seem to protest in support groups and individuals who are in opposition to the U.S., whether such groups are "peaceful" or not.

The Resource Center for Non-Violence (RCNV) of Santa Cruz has hosted a speaker who supported the use of violence by Palestinian terrorists. The RCNV supports the PLO terrorist Yasser Arafat and rarely has any condemnation for violence committed by left-wing groups.

The local "Peace" group, the Monterey County Peace Coalition, which is a coalition of like-minded, Left Wing organizations (WILPF, Green Party, NAACP, LULAC etc.) claims its goals are to find "peaceful" means to solve problems has among its members a person who has said he still considers himself a Black Panther. The Black Panther Party, as many will remember was not known for using "Peaceful" means to achieve their goals.

Former Marxist David Horowitz said that the same Marxists and radicals who led his generation astray are organizing today''s demonstrations and that such groups hate America. One of the recent additions to the Peace Coalition is the National Lawyers Guild, a group that has been identified in the past as "the bulwark of the Communist Party"

The real agenda of the "peace" groups in the U.S. and Europe are in bashing the U.S. and promoting Socialism.

Brian L. Burleson, Seaside

Postal Workers Deliver

On Saturday December 8, 2001, letter carriers in Monterey delivered more than mail. Wanting to do something to help those less fortunate, they voted unanimously to do a special food drive. Postcards were distributed to customers in Monterey and Del Rey Oaks, and food was left out by mailboxes for pick up by carriers. With the help of our customers, we delivered 14,404 pounds of food to food banks. Because of all of you, people will eat. On behalf of the letter carriers and the Monterey Post Office, thank you to all of you for opening your hearts to those in need. We also thank and appreciate the letter carriers in Monterey. Happy Holidays and God Bless all of you.

Patty Cramer, President, Branch 1310, National Association of Letter Carriers

Robert Spadoni, Postmaster, Monterey

Leaf Blowers Blow

Across the state, the issue of second-hand noise, like that of second-hand smoke has been steadily gaining momentum. Pacific Grove is the latest city to enact an ordinance designed to protect its residents from unwanted and unnecessary noise.

From Jan. 1, only quiet leaf blowers will be allowed in that city. Loud leaf blowers, which produce up to eight times the amount of noise recommended by the World Health Organization and which numerous scientific studies have shown can lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, raised blood pressure levels, gastrointestinal disorders, stress, sleep disturbance and learning difficulties in children, are now banned.

When such legislation is clearly in the interest of residents (and yard workers too, who will suffer less hearing damage from quieter machines), it is hard to understand why other Peninsula cities are not following suit. Unfortunately, unlike in Europe and Japan where national governments actively legislate to protect their citizens from the health problems associated with noise, since the ''70s we have to rely on our city councils because of industry lobbying at the Federal level. Local government please take note.

Mrs. J. Seddon, Monterey