Letters to the editor Note: We encourage members of the community to contribute their opinions to ReadersViews. To send letter using our online form click here. Letters are the opinions of the individual writers. The opinions voiced in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Columbia County News-Times, its management or its publisher. Column about seniors' tax exemption 'ignores several realities' The timing of Barry Paschal's Nov. 11 column, inadvertently pitting the young against the elderly, couldn't have been worse considering that a large segment of the retired Social Security recipients are veterans. Paschal ignores several realities. Man who swiped wallet at checkout stand should return pictures On Oct. 27, I was paying for my groceries (in a local store) and a man behind me reached up and got my billfold off the check-writing stand. The cashier gave me my change, rang up his groceries, then she said he had taken my billfold. I don't see why she didn't say anything about it when it happened. Experience in schools gave support for Veterans Day attendance I read Marlene Willard's Nov. 11 letter encouraging parents to keep children from attending Columbia County schools on Veterans Day. I shared the same sentiment when I first moved here in 2001. Since then, I have had a change of heart and I would like to explain why.