Bag

The proposed new tax on plastic shopping bags in Prince George's Countyproves once again that Maryland politicians are not only out of touch with reality but arrogantly push their personal agendas at the expense of the citizenry ("Lehman, Frush pushing for disposable bag fee," Leader , Feb. 2). Do they not see the thousands of empty, abandoned homes in this state? Do they care at all about the number of people who are in foreclosure because they cannot find jobs to pay for them?

In the Laurel Leader letters of Feb. 2, there were comments made by Virginia W. Staniak concerning bag charges, and Thomas M. Crawford concerning the right to marry. Using re-usable bags for the past five years has led me to the belief that charging for bags at the market is a good way in which to help to treat our ecology, and possibly save damage to our planet. In addition, I have earned a 5 cent credit for every bag that was used to package my groceries. It is my belief that my bags have helped to rescue our earth in some small way, and in addition, I will do the bulk of my grocery shopping at one store if for nothing else than to save on the use of fossil fluids.

In a Jan. 19 letter, Matthew Pasalic saysPrince George's County should follow Montgomery's lead on the bag tax, and I don't agree. Every time I go into a grocery store the prices have gone up and this has been going on for quite awhile. My husband and I shop at four food stores in order to hold down costs. The last thing we need is to be charged for plastic bags. Mr. Pasalic says a case of plastic bags cost the store about $30. Not to worry, the cost is passed on to the customer.

While the good intentions of a "plastic bag tax" for store shopping bags to prevent pollution is admirable, I do take one issue to Mr. Pasalic's letter (Leader, Jan. 19). Specifically the line "five cents never put anyone into poverty. " One thing is for certain, once you give the government an inch with taxes, they eventually take the mile. Take a look at your phone bill. Many years back the government said, "We're gonna add just a teeny weeny tax on your phone bill. It's just a few cents and it's for the children's education!"

As an employee at a grocery store in Montgomery County, I am pleased with the implementation of the new bag tax, a law that initially began in Washington. I think that it would be beneficial for Baltimore County, as well as other Maryland counties, to study the idea and consider passing an anti-litter tax. This law would have a positive impact because stores will have to order less bags. Typically, a case of plastic bags costs about $30; paper bags are even more costly. Furthermore, customers will be more mindful about not wasting bags if they have to pay for each one. They will likewise be encouraged to take their reusable bags back to the store to do their shopping.

North Calvert Street 2900 block, between 6:40 p.m. Dec. 15 and 88 a.m. Dec. 16. Blue, 2007 Jeep Liberty with Maryland tags 1AL1846 stolen. North Charles Street 3400 block, between 2 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Eight purple and nine yellow money bags belonging to Columbia Refreshment stolen from van. Chestnut Avenue 3500 block, between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11. Cash, Xanax stolen from residence. Rear door unlocked. Hickory Avenue 3600 block at 9:44 a.m. Dec. 16. American Legion Mahool-Potts Post No. 2 broken into.

Seeking to end a long history of abuse and neglect of Baltimore's waters, an ambitious new plan calls for a concerted public and private campaign to curb sewage leaks and littering and make the harbor swimmable by decade's end. The "Healthy Harbor" plan to be unveiled Wednesday by the Waterfront Partnership - a coalition of businesses, nonprofit groups and city agencies - urges the city and Baltimore County to step up their efforts to clean...

A 20-year-old Upper Marlboro man was arrested on drug charges Saturday after police said they recovered bags of marijuana that he tossed while trying to flee from a police officer, according to Anne Arundel County police. An officer responding to a report of a fight near Yellow Flower Road in Laurel said that he saw several males walking behind a business and that one of them began to run upon seeing him, police said. The suspect was seen throwing something to the ground, which police said turned out to be 12 small bags of marijuana inside a larger bag. Jeremiah James Brown, of the 5100 block of Woodford Lane, was charged with marijuana possession, possession with intent to distribute and resisting arrest, police said.

A literal case of cold feet and an article about students who eat one bag lunch and give away another helped inspire two Baltimore County classmates to organize efforts to benefit those in need. Joe Hash and Danny Sauter, both eighth-graders at St. Mark School in Catonsville, have launched individual collection drives that are making a difference in the lives of people served by two local institutions. Joe's project, which he calls the Double Lunch Ministry, involves encouraging students to bring two bag lunches to school once each month for donation to Our Daily Bread, a meal program in Baltimore.

Ashley Bates nearly missed the first day of this year's Junior Deer Hunt. The 12-year-old from Catonsville, who took a safety class last spring in order to hunt, was supposed to be practicing with her club field hockey team Nov. 12. But when Ken Bates got word the night before that his daughter's practice had been canceled, he packed up the truck, picked up his father, Ken Sr., and took his daughter to a Worchester County property the family has...