Fallon has become just as cynical about children as the rest of the nation. I remember my childhood here in this small town (1/2 the size it is today) in the 70's.

Children's laughter in the neighborhood was a blessing, not an annoyance. Children playing soccer on a non-busy street was a sport viewed by many a lonely housewife or elderly couple.

If a young child appeared lost (or a runaway), many a woman would appear out of their doors to help the child home; Mom welcoming their child back with tears and a threat of a spanking if it ever happened again.

In the grocery store if a mother of several children was having a difficult time, another person would kindly offer to give her a hand.

Back then, little children walked all the way to school-by themselves... and local officers would watch and check on them, working with the parents, not calling social services.

Toddlers swimming naked in a backyard kiddy pool was 'precious' not suspicious and never warranted a call to the police for 'suspected' child molestation.

Boys in the area were asked to do yard work by many of the older residents hoping to instill the value of hard work and be a good influence on children’s lives, often creating long term friendships.

'Grama and Grampa Beegly (as every kid called them) always invited the local kids in for Lemon-Aid and a treat. I miss them!

The saying, "It takes a village to raise a child" was what Fallon used to be like. Everyone looked out for everyone else and the younger generation was not frowned upon.

 Parents were respected and all worked together with their neighbors to provide a positive atmosphere for Fallon children to grow up in.

Now a days, even if you think you move into a family neighborhood, you could be surrounded by young single couples, or elderly gossips. Most are now annoyed by young children and spend their time complaining about them. Other parents on the street are scared to allow their children in anyone else’s house, even if the people are notably decent.

I understand some concerns in our modern world of the dangers of strangers; however this is not Los Angeles and if people take some time to get to know each other, this suspicious nature would be relieved.

What we are teaching our children now is that they are unwanted, to keep to themselves, and not trust the people next door or in the community as a whole.

Perhaps the lack of community about younger children (0-10) is contributing to the negative actions of our teens today. After all, if children are treated as outcasts on their own street as children, how can they learn to behave, trust, and respect elders when they are older?

Let's bring a sense of community and kinship back into this family town. Let's love the children of this town and help them grow into respectable adults by admiring their presence, buying their lemon-aid, hiring them to do yard work, and perhaps go outside to kick a soccer ball; instead of considering them a nuisance.