To the editor:

I would like to offer a challenge to the whining kids and adults who insist there is nothing to do in Lebanon.

Walk up to 10 houses in your neighborhood and ask the owners if they would like some help weeding a garden, mowing the lawn, building a stone walkway, painting a fence, or whatever, no charge.

Or how about developing a hobby. How about photography; scrap booking; bird watching (you could build a couple of bird feeders for each neighbor and attract lots of birds to the neighborhood); hiking; cooking; sewing; knitting; crocheting; or refurbishing used bicycles, tricycles and wagons. The list is endless.

Walk a mile each day and pick up the garbage along the way.

Plant a garden for yourself or a neighbor.

Here's a novel idea. How about cleaning the house, doing the laundry and having dinner ready when your parents come home?

Will you earn any money? No, probably not. Will you be tired at the end of the day? You bet. Will you get paid? Over and over again. You will know at the end of the day you made someone's day better. You will be proud of what you accomplished. You will gain a work ethic that will serve you over and over as an adult out in the real world where someone is not expected to find something for you to do every day.

People who have nothing to do are lazy people.

When people ask me what is in Lebanon, Oregon, I would be proud to say, "Lebanon is where our kids make a difference."

So get out there and find something to do. Maybe you could even start a fundraiser and raise enough money to build that skate park you wish you had. Wouldn't that be a great summer project?

I would be more than happy to help the kids of Lebanon find something to do.

Nancy Chlarson

Lebanon