Westfield City Council President Jim Ake and the Westfield Preservation Alliance were to have dedicated a blue spruce in memory of Lewis and Hulda Estee at Union Bible College. Please don’t think, “Big deal; it’s just a tree.” No, it’s much more than that, and the act is commendable. The tree appeared doomed to a road-expansion project until a save-the-tree concert netted $1,500, which enabled the tree’s relocation and last weekend’s dedication. The city tells us that the Estees were early education leaders in Indiana. They served the students of Union Bible. Their former campus home is now the President’s House. In front of that home now stands a blue spruce of particular meaning. The spruce is a fitting nod to the community’s past.
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Perhaps a health-insurance carrier has spurned you or someone you know recently. It simply cannot be a pleasant experience. We know a few folks who’ve endured the “rejected” treatment. We’re just wondering here, but don’t you believe it is possible that because of all the confusion and uncertainty of ObamaCare that insurance companies almost “have to” reject some folks’ attempts at renewal? After all, our illustrious leader, President Barack Obama, has done a fairly solid job of running down insurance companies (and they’re not completely innocent of all his charges) since before he campaigned for the last presidential election. He has maligned them – again, deservedly so in some instances – to the point where there’s no luster left. They’re viewed as villainous, and so their reputations are left tarnished. We further wonder whether any court would entertain a lawsuit brought by one or more carriers against the president on the grounds of damaging their brands. Yes, a lawsuit. If someone maligned your business to the point where it was affecting perception of it, and, as a byproduct, its ability to successfully engage in commerce, wouldn’t you sue for slander? Just asking.