Letter

Editor: Didn't anybody notice? Didn't anybody care? Did the neighbors not want to get involved? Why wasn't Child Protective Services called? Why wasn't there someone at C. Milton Wright High School that Richard's friends felt comfortable talking with? Didn't anyone at school become suspicious about his appearance? There have been conflicting reports that the Harford County Sheriff's Office was called/was not called. Which was it? Who was there to support this young man? Verbal abuse is insidious and will destroy a person.

Editor: My heart just broke when I read the letter from Barbara Meadows about the total lack of respect that was shown to her family during the funeral procession for her father. As I was reading the letter, I was reminded of my fathers' funeral procession in 2003. As the procession made its way the 12 miles from the funeral home to his burial in my hometown, Fancy Farm, Kentucky, vehicles pulled off onto the shoulder of the road going in both directions on the two lane highway and some men even got out of their vehicles, took off their hats and put their hands over their hearts.

Editor: Regarding your article of March 6, "Rescuers break wrong door down. " I'm sure policies and procedures were followed. The medic unit was responding to a possible stroke victim. Often times, a person having a stroke is paralyzed and unable to speak. Several attempts were made to make contact with the occupant. The address was verified with emergency operations. Right address, possible stroke victim and no occupant response lead to forced entry. In my opinion, the decision of the on-site Fire and Ambulance Offices was spot on. Your article portrays the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company as uncaring: "These things happen.

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?

Editor: I'm glad to hear that the Harford County Library tries to not stock pornography, soft or hard, male or female, with my tax money. It is becoming more and more important to make good financial and moral decisions, not only by the library, but also by all citizens. Ms. Haupt certainly has the right to read whatever she wants to read in our free (so far) country. She also has the right to buy the book. I'm sure many book stores would be delighted to accommodate her. David Wenner Bel Air

Editor:  In response to the person who wrote a letter condemning the county for building a new Emergency Operations Center, let me ask:  What was the most important building in the county in February of 2010? Not a school. There was a blizzard - schools were all closed.  What was the most important building in the county in August of 2011? Not a school. There was a hurricane - schools were all closed.  What is the more important building in the county between the middle of June and August?

Editor: I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers and attendees of the CCA Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, held on Thanksgiving weekend at Applebee's in Bel Air. There was so much excitement for the children, knowing they were going to see Santa and to tell him their Christmas wishes. A very special thanks goes to Kevin and Kristien Foss and to Miss Maryland Collegiate, Brittanay Nicollette, who came as an elf, to the delight of the children. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the expertise of the staff at Applebee's, who worked so hard to ensure that everything ran smoothly for our charity event.

The first funny piece of news my husband shared in a letter from boot camp this summer was that he had been chosen to be his platoon's scribe. He'd have to write schedules, record scores and fill out paperwork, among other duties. My first thought was: Have they seen his handwriting? I have. During 13 weeks of communicating exclusively by letter -- BlackBerrys and cell phones and laptops are as forbidden as long hair and first names at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot at Parris Island, S.C. -- what I'd long thought of as chicken scratch soon became the most comforting sight in my universe.

Thank you everyone who participated yesterday in Clear Your Clutter Day. We had an overwhelming response with 623 cars coming through. That number does not include the many cars who got in line, waited an hour and decided to move on before actually coming through. At times the traffic snaked around and through the college and there were three aisles of cars working their way through the parking lot. HCC Security did a fantastic job of managing the traffic. I am profoundly appreciative of the people who stepped in at the last minute to help and who without planning gave up their Saturday just to keep the event moving including: BumbleJunk of Bel Air - Ryan and Stan; Rebecca and Annabel Jessop; Amanda McGhee and family; Greg Deal, Steve Pulliam and Lou at HCC. Thank you to the partners who came on time: SARC,Lions Club, Habitat for Humanity, Always Recycling, The Shred Mill, College Hunks Hauling Junk, HCC Vowlunteers.

I would like to comment on the letter from Michael Ernest Sr. concerning "Too much speed and too little courtesy at Old Frederick circle" ( Catonsville Times, Dec. 28). I agree that people should show courtesy when driving. The statement that "a circle is just a special version of a four-way stop" is erroneous. Maryland State laws are available online at: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Resources/DL-002A.pdf . Section I Roundabouts states: "Approach roads to roundabouts are controlled by yield signs.