Letter

WASHINGTON - The FBI said yesterday that the recent anthrax attacks were likely the work of a single person, a loner inside the United States who was not connected to the terrorist violence on Sept. 11 but who used that event to mask his own identity and agenda. The culprit is probably a man who has some scientific training, access to laboratory equipment and long-standing grudges that he decided to act on in the aftermath of the devastating Sept. 11 hijackings, investigators said. Facing criticism that the nearly 2-month-old investigation was moving too slowly, the FBI made public its emerging profile of the person behind the attacks, which have left four people dead and 13 others infected.

Editor: We are not sure who wrote the enclosed editorial, but wanted to point out an error.  While Cecil College did indeed change its name from Cecil Community College in 2007, we are still a two-year college and members of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges.   We are proud to have partnerships with four-year institutions, such as Wilmington University and Salisbury University, which offer four-year degrees at our college.  Please feel free to contact me if you would like any further information about Cecil College.

It's natural to want more for our children I found the column in which Diane Cameron advises us to expect less and want less to be rather naive and even somewhat offensive ("Our wealth is relative to our desire," Commentary, Nov. 25). Like Ms. Cameron and many other adults, I made much less money in my 20s than I do three decades later, but I never felt "poor" living in my small apartment and driving an inexpensive car decades ago. However, my desire to have more wealth as I grew older stemmed not from a desire for a fancier car or a better wardrobe but from an increased sense of responsibility after I got married and had children, and my desire to make sure that my children had the tools necessary to succeed in a highly competitive world.

Editor: As summer approaches, many high school students are getting ready to graduate and head off to colleges across the nation. As a soon to graduate college student, who attended our own Fallston High School, I would like to suggest a major that is little known but highly rewarding: occupational therapy.  Occupational therapy was established as a profession in 1917 and has continued to grow to this day. Occupational therapists work with...

Editor: Kudos to Anne M. Brown of Bel Air (Open Forum, 27 Jan 12). Her letter said it all. For 16 years, Robert C. Richardson III's life has been swept under the rug and now our judicial system wants to do the same with his future! Are there so few of us who cannot feel compassion for this child? Yes, child, albeit a troubled one. He did not get that way overnight nor did he get there by himself. He needs help and support - not more abuse and disappointment. He needs love and understanding - every human's birthright!

Thank you for the article on education opportunities for immigrants. (Page 1 & 11, June 8th). Unfortunately, I must take issue with the writer's use of the term "Illegals. " God did not create anyone "Illegal. " Please use the term "undocumented immigrants. " The tone referenced in the article is one of withholding. The article seemed to center about withholding opportunities without discussing the alternate options. The issue of undocumented immigrants is complicated. Many persons came to the US to flee unemployment, violence, crime or lack of natural resources.

Free speech is what all of us cherish, but it's a newspaper's responsibility to ensure that even letters to the editor should be vetted for factual accuracy and should not allow opinions to be represented as facts. Julian Bauer's letter ("Restricting religious opinions to churches limits free speech," May 31) was long on religious dogma but short on facts. Mr. Bauer used his letter to denounce same-sex marriage and referred to homosexuality as a "living style" and that it is somehow responsible for the collapse of empires and potentially society as a whole.

Editor: When I walked out to get my paper on a cloudy, wet Wednesday morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see Ms. Spear smiling and giving me a thumbs up, celebrating John Archer School's first ever prom. I've been smiling ever since, and the sun has been shining ever since. Thank you Aegis , for recognizing the event. I can hardly wait for my son Ryan to attend! Bill Dee Bel Air

Learn from past for answers to overcrowding We have all heard, "If you don't learn from history, you are destined to repeat it. " We must learn from events 18 years ago when citizens wanted the (County Executive Dutch) Ruppersberger Administration to commit to the voters' approval to reopen Bloomsbury as a middle school. Instead, the county executive transferred the approved monies to other school projects. Citizens of Catonsville united and appeared before the Baltimore County Board of Education, the County Council, county executive and even held hands around Bloomsbury to no avail.

As a parent of a ninth-grader at Glenelg High School, I am saddened and flabbergasted that the PTA is taking such a hard-line stance against student health and, indirectly, academic performance. I was equally shocked by the soda and candy machines moved into my child's school this year - especially as they directly conflict with the message taught in health classes. I truly think it comes down to money that the school and boosters want to make. I read one reader's concern as to the negative impact of proposed wellness changes.

Memorandum TO:Mr. Charles Hagan, Principal, Harford Technical High School Ms. Emma Little, Varsity Girl's Lacrosse Coach, Harford Technical High School Mr. David Deutsch, Athletic Director, Harford technical High School FROM:Mr. Ken Zorbach, Supervisor of Athletics, Harford County Public Schools DATE:May 7, 2013 RE:UCBAC Girl's Lacrosse Championship This letter is written in reference to the Harford Technical High School girl's lacrosse team's decision to not participate in the UCBAC Conference championship game of May 6, 2013.

A truly ironic position by our County Executive Kevin Kamenetz who proclaims the environmental positives of trees (Towson Times, May 1, "Kamenetz plans to increase county forest county canopy") yet makes the decision to destroy 10 acres of hardwood trees in Mays Chapel Park in order to build an elementary school there. This man is a true snake oil salesman, who is willing to destroy the infrastructure of one community to benefit his political agenda in another. Obviously common decency is lacking.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz deserves thanks for his leadership on the new school in Mays Chapel. It's disheartening to see baby boomers, most of whom benefited from public education (and a boom in school construction), refuse to support the needs of today's children. As the county grows, officials must choose between "infill" - building densely in existing neighborhoods and filling in greenspace within developed neighborhoods - or expanding into the outer suburbs. Infill is almost always the right choice, leading to stronger communities, reduced traffic congestion and preservation of greenspace farther out in the county.

I found Patrick Sheridan's letter about heritage to be quite disconcerting and felt compelled to respond. In making the statement that African Americans by their very existence have a richer heritage than others is a racist statement. Are African Americans comprised of richer heritages than those born in the Middle East or Greece with thousands of years of civilization? Does the author feel that those of Gaelic or Celtic heritages did not suffer at the hands of Romans or Britain under their cruel and oppressive rule?

Over the past few weeks, I have quietly waited for someone to write in a sensible argument regarding the issue of the White Student Union at Towson University. I can no longer remain quiet. Let us remind ourselves of a few facts. White people are still in the majority in this country and on the campus of TU. Black people are still in the minority in this country as well as on the campus of TU. Lest we forget the atrocities that have been committed against our black brothers and sisters in this country.

I want to express my gratitude to the members of the CA Board of Directors, to CA President Phil Nelson, and to all of the CA team members who have worked so hard this year on behalf of our community. It has been an eventful and transformative year, and it has truly been an honor to serve the Kings Contrivance community and Columbia residents for the past four years, this year as chair of the CA Board of Directors. At a personal level, I am so grateful for the many messages of support and concern I received from community members following surgery for a fractured elbow and other injuries sustained while traveling recently with Del. Liz Bobo in India.