Letter To the Editor

I couldn’t do it. I usually walk from the handicapped parking space in front of the library, west down the middle of Center Street, north on Baker Alley, then turn onto the sidewalk and walk East to the handicapped ramp into the library. It was too hot!

At 83, using a rollator walker and one of my few pleasures in life is getting out and going to our Ridgway Public Library. I like to spread out, where I can collect my thoughts and do my correspondence.

At the handicapped parking space, going up the curb with the rollator and over the uneven, hardpacked ground is not far but feels treacherous like a wheel is going to break off or I’m going to fall. It’s worse when it rains or when the snow is piled high and it’s cold out.

I agree with retired librarian, Debbie Imhof, we have a great Library Director, Rachel Keller. She’s made many improvements already and planning more.

I like seeing the moms coming in the library with their children and I like the programs available that instill and nuture a love of reading in the children and teens. They gather with their friends. The library is no longer like a sacrosanct tomb as it was when I was a kid.

After church on Wednesday, I go to the library and before going to Elk County Foods, I go to the Post Office where, thank God, they have an indented curb. I asked and was told by the people who installed indented curbs all over town, it can’t be done in front of the library.

Please can anything be done to smooth the path from the handicapped parking space to the ramp?

I, for one, would be eternally grateful.

Jeanne Gesiakowski Robbins