ANNUAL FUN FEST OFFERS A NICE DAY FOR SENIORS

Recent passage of a tax levy to support senior citizen services in Cape Girardeau County was certainly a sign of growing local advocacy for older adults here. While the tax approaches these needed services from one angle, volunteers are supplying some niceties in another way. Tickets are available now for the Senior Fun Fest, scheduled May 4 at the Show Me Center. More than 5,000 people, ages 55 and older, are expected to attend this year's event, which is being held to recognize older adults and provide a day of activities for the region's senior citizens. There will be food, games, music and a warm, friendly atmosphere on tap for those who attend. It's an outstanding event and those who are planning and sponsoring it deserve our thanks.

There seems no end to the accomplishments of Southeast Missouri State University athletes. The Otahkian gymnastics team has brought home to Cape Girardeau the U.S. Gymnastics Federation Division II championship from the national event held in Davis, Calif. It is the second national title for Bill Hopkins-coached teams at Southeast, the first coming in 1987. All six Otahkian gymnasts competing in Davis earned All-America honors with their performances, including Cherie Peterson, who closed her Southeast career with 13 All-America awards, the most of any athlete in school history. The national recognition for these athletes, and the sports program at the university, is well-deserved.

Found in the bloated federal budget will be this worthy project with a vulgar price tag: the U.S. government has set aside $15 million (plus an increasing amount in coming years) to plant 50,000 trees on land owned by local governments. Its sponsor, Congressman Neal Smith of Iowa, posed this question to critics of the program: "Are you for tree planting or not?" Well, yes we are for tree planting. However, the bare numbers here clue us in that the program, as administered by the federal government, will cost taxpayers $300 a tree, a price no doubt elevated by Washington bureaucracy. We think local governments could make a better deal. When you look at what volunteer efforts can do to improve local communities, such as the Help Cape Shine effort and Friends of the Park Day to be held Saturday, you wonder why Congress can't wise up to these reckless expenditures.

One of the things that makes Cape Girardeau a nice place to live is the diversity of activities available for our attention. One contribution to that diversity is the Community Concert Association. The local not-for-profit group is wrapping up its annual membership campaign (Saturday is the final day to join) and has planned a typically superb 1991-92 season of cultural events. The association brings to Cape Girardeau performers of world-renown rank. In addition, membership entitles admission to university cultural programs as well as exchange opportunities with concert associations in other communities of the region. Membership is a bargain and can be attained by calling 335-4743. We applaud the association for making these opportunities possible.