Catonsville Times

I think the photo for the "Christmas season events in Catonsville" ( Catonsville Times, Nov. 30) is beautiful. I also enjoyed the article "Santa's arrival another grand occasion," ( Catonsville Times, Nov. 30), describing the community's welcoming Santa Claus at the 18th annual tree lighting. One major item is missing from both articles, which both mention ornaments made by students at Westowne Elementary School. Please give credit where credit is due. The students worked really hard on all of these ornaments.

Thank you for the wonderful coverage of the Woman's Club of Catonsville ("Celebration, sadness for Catonsville Woman's Club," Catonsville Times, March 27) and for reminding residents of their wonderful accomplishments over the past 80 years. On Saturday, April 20,  most of the contents of the building will be sold at a special sale from 8-11 a.m. at the clubhouse, located at 10 St. Timothy's Lane. We will also sell the plants and ground covers surrounding the building. Come and get a little bit of Catonsville history!

I thought the headline on the front page of the March 14 issue ("Catonsville woman won't slow down," Catonsville Times ) was going to be a story about the lady, who almost runs me down when I walk on Magruder Avenue. The subheading could have been, "She just won't put down her cell phone, either. " Damian O'Connor Catonsville

The editorial in the Catonsville Times, published March 6, "Sequestration — a political game with real pain") contains these misleading statements: • "Federal government workers and contractors wait nervously to see what these automatic spending cuts will mean in job furloughs and program trims. " • "Spending cuts of $85 billion are the stakes in this cynical game. " • "The cuts are expected to lead to long lines at airports, furloughs of federal workers, reduced access to Head Start programs for young students and reductions in food inspection and border security.

I really don't expect the Catonsville Times to publish anything that might lend credence to the charge that President Barack Obama's words and deeds arguably warrant his being impeached (see Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States). So I understand why the editorial in recent edition ("World now sees championship city we know so well," Catonsville Times, Feb. 6) is an irrelevant, cotton-candy tribute to Baltimore's professional sports teams. It's timely and fills all of the letters space available.

I must write in response to Mr. Halsey's letter about speed concerns near Westchester Elementary School ("Need for caution, but not alarm, at Catonsville elementary school," Catonsville Times, Oct. 17). I walk down Old Frederick Road between Edmondson Avenue and past Westchester Elementary School, every day of the year, usually more than once, and have been doing so for close to 10 years. I can tell you that, at all times of the day, there are many speeding motorists in that area.

Regarding the proposed redistricting plan ("Redistricting won't unify Catonsville," "Proposal would create new Catonsville district," Catonsville Times, Jan.10), I have urged Gov. Martin O'Malley and our delegates to reject it. I trust I am not alone in this effort. Dels. James Malone and Steven DeBoy have more to gain than lose. They have both lived in this area a long time and well know this plan is not the best scenario. Bringing in a low-income district of Baltimore City, while those in the heart of 21228 and 21227 gain Howard County, will start a financial downfall in those separated areas.

While I have no doubt that Ed Crowl is fond of his maroon 1964 1⁄2 Mustang sitting in front of 101 South Rolling Road ("Mustangs and Colts among favorites of retired teacher," Catonsville Times, Nov. 9), I implore him to recognize that this rusting hulk is nothing but an eyesore on an otherwise historical avenue with beautiful homes and trees. It is time for the Mustang to go or, at least, go under a decent car cover. Perhaps some of the wanna-be politicians, community organizations and property developers battling it out on the Catonsville Times editorial page over what would make Catonsville better can band together, give Mr. Crowl his $2,500 asking price and remove this blight from our midst.

I've been thinking about some of the comments made in the Catonsville Times article concerning vandalism on the No. 8 Streetcar Path ("Vandals a problem on steetcar path," Catonsville Times, June 22). Instead of attributing it to not having a "social outlet that teens can go to, no teen centers, very little for teens to do in Catonsville if they're not involved in sports or church," why can't we just admit that some teenagers are incorrigible? We could have teen centers on every corner, but they'd still be "bad apples" and should be dealt with accordingly.

I agree with Al Nalley about the emissions test being a money grab ("Paying out-of-state company for emissions testing is too costly," Catonsville Times, Nov. 30). I just traded in my 1999 Ford 150 and it never had a problem passing this useless test. I have never had a vehicle fail and I keep them for 10 years or more. This is my fourth Ford truck since 1978 and none of them ever had a problem. At least we shouldn't need to get them tested for 5-6 years, because the first tune-up isn't due until 100,000 miles.

I just finished reading Mary Tilghman's article "Church members vote to become Catholic" in the Feb. 27 issue of the Catonsville Times. The subject of this article is intriguing, to say the least. I've lived in the Catonsville community for over 50 years and teach history at a nearby high school so the news that the congregants of St. Timothy Episcopal Church have voted to join the Roman Catholic Church was indeed surprising. However, for all the information related to the nature of the congregational vote, pastoral support, and future plans, nowhere in the article was a very crucial piece of information mentioned: Why was this decision made?

I really don't expect the Catonsville Times to publish anything that might lend credence to the charge that President Barack Obama's words and deeds arguably warrant his being impeached (see Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States). So I understand why the editorial in recent edition ("World now sees championship city we know so well," Catonsville Times, Feb. 6) is an irrelevant, cotton-candy tribute to Baltimore's professional sports teams. It's timely and fills all of the letters space available.

Not entering into a political debate with the writer ("Many reasons why the voters decided to re-elect the president," Catonsville Times, Nov. 28), but even if he was 100% correct in his gratuitous assertions, his attempt at an explanation and reconciliation is all for naught because his arrogant, elitist, and condescending last sentence ( "It's time for the losers to stop whining and acting like the world is coming to an end. Man up, for God's sake.), I believe, rightly sums up his caustic character and political acumen.

About this time in 2008, in a letter to the editor of the Catonsville Times, I listed 27 taxpayer-unfriendly plans Barack Obama had in store for us, if he were elected president. Well, four years have passed since then, and at least 21 of those 27 items have been implemented or are now works-in-progress. I expect the other six will become realities, if President Obama is reelected. He'll appoint even more anti-American Socialists, Islamists and Hispanics to positions of power and influence than he already has. He'll increase taxes for everybody, including middle class Americans.

I must write in response to Mr. Halsey's letter about speed concerns near Westchester Elementary School ("Need for caution, but not alarm, at Catonsville elementary school," Catonsville Times, Oct. 17). I walk down Old Frederick Road between Edmondson Avenue and past Westchester Elementary School, every day of the year, usually more than once, and have been doing so for close to 10 years. I can tell you that, at all times of the day, there are many speeding motorists in that area.

I thought the headline on the front page of the March 14 issue ("Catonsville woman won't slow down," Catonsville Times ) was going to be a story about the lady, who almost runs me down when I walk on Magruder Avenue. The subheading could have been, "She just won't put down her cell phone, either. " Damian O'Connor Catonsville

I have no problem with a senior residence on the Y property ("Senior residence facility proposed for Y's property," Catonsville Times, Nov. 2). However, before this happens there needs to be a traffic signal at the entrance as well as a turn lane. I have watched my parents grow older and more frail in their driving. I can imagine older drivers attempting to make a left turn into or out of the driveway without a traffic light. I don't want to read about accidents (and deaths)

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Leave Westchester as part of District 12. Leave Westchester as part of Catonsville. ("Proposal would create new Catonsville district," Catonsville Times, Jan. 11) Gov. Martin O'Malley wants to take residents living west of Rolling Road out of Catonsville, politically. We live in the part of Catonsville that is to be redistricted so that we will be part of the Security Boulevard neighborhood. There may be nothing wrong with the Security Boulevard neighborhood. I don't know.

I continue to witness the same dangerous pattern of driver behavior, ignoring pedestrians and the crosswalk, as cited by Barbara Schuessler ("Safety measures failing students using busy South Rolling Road," Catonsville Times, Jan. 11). Despite the efforts of the State Highway Administration to improve the crosswalk, there is still not enough visibility and attention to make motorists take notice. I suspect that many are aware that the crosswalk is there, but choose to ignore it or they are ignorant of the law altogether.