Letters to the editor: Second early voting site needed within city limits
Hagerstown needs early voting location within city limits
To the editor:
Pay attention people. Despite having the highest density of minority, senior, student, housing compromised, etc. voters, not to mention the fact that city residents will be voting for their mayor, the Board of Elections will not have an early voting site in city limits.
Despite several open sessions where board members heard and received written testimony about the need to keep the Fletcher Library as the second early voting location, a lawsuit filed by County Commissioner Derek Harvey threw the elections board into a tizzy.
A few questions: Why is a county commissioner interfering in the business of the Board of Elections? And, if Ms. Baker's H-M article is to be understood correctly, why is Mr. Harvey — an elected government official — receiving taxpayer money to cover the $15,000 expense?
This reeks of inappropriate actions from our county commissioners at the expense of you, our city and county residents.
Catherine Poropatic
Hagerstown
US needs a serious change in direction to get back on track
To the editor:
What has happened to this country?
At one time the U.S. was a world leader in so many areas. Other countries were faithful and supportive allies. Now, some of these same countries do not trust the U.S. or our president and top officials.
The U.S. military has been reduced; recruitment numbers are low. Many ships are sitting in dry docks waiting on repairs (but no money to do so).
Other countries planes and ships are teasing ours. Spy balloons are flying from our west coast to the east coast for several days before anything is done about it!
Our education system is broken. States are years behind on repairing and building new schools. Students are learning below grade levels.
There are not enough teachers or support staff. Pupils are out of control, showing no respect for teachers, staff, bus drivers, etc.
In the medical field we have not enough doctors and nurses. We have high priced prescriptions. Old childhood diseases are coming back — measles and a form of small pox in Alaska (Feb. 2024, The Herald-Mail).
In agriculture, vast farmland acreage out west is being sold to foreign countries. The U.S. farmer is a top producer of food, but we have 119 billion pounds of food a year being wasted (according to Feeding America). But, we have children, the elderly and food insecure individuals with not enough food to eat!
Manufacturing companies have left the U.S. to go to foreign countries. Foreign countires are buying companies still here in the U.S. ( Smithfield Meats, Mack Trucks, U.S. Steel, etc.).
When and how did we become so dependent on China? We depend too much on imports for food, medicine, clothing and everything else.
In sports we are paying athletes huge sums of money for playing sports. Even the highest skilled surgeon who saves people's lives is not paid that kind of money.
What happeded to American pride? We have top government officials from the presidents and former presidents on down who cannot be trusted, are not paying their share of taxes and getting away with it!
A lot of people do not want to work anymore. They want the government to take care of them.
Before, people wanted to work. They worked hard and took pride in the work they did.
We have homeless people living in caves (California — per The Herald-Mail, February).
People are walking around with their noses stuck in their cellphones and their thumbs going 500 words per minute.
I do not know when or how this country started in this direction, but it is headed in the wrong direction. The nation is in debt trillions of dollars. People are stealing, car jacking, stabbing and shooting — it looks like the old wild west!
The country needs to change its ways and attitude, and get back on track.
Charles Miller
Boonsboro
MD-6 race is vital to protect reproductive rights
To the editor:
I worked full time at Hagerstown Reproductive Health Services for more than 40 years. During that time, I experienced vandalism, threats and near daily harassment. Attacks on patients, providers and administrators, often masked as “sidewalk counseling,” undermine women's right to make choices about their own bodies.
So far, Maryland has been a safe haven state, but this status is at risk. The journey for many women to our clinic has become increasingly difficult, especially as many clinics around the country close.
In today’s charged climate, reproductive rights feel even more uncertain. More courts might rule an embryo is a child, putting additional women in danger.
That’s a big reason why the MD-6 race and Delegate Joe Vogel’s candidacy are important. Vogel has shown his commitment to protecting reproductive rights through his work in the Maryland State House.
He understands the importance of keeping reproductive choices safe and accessible for everyone. Vogel also recently introduced and co-sponsored a bill that would provide resources to protect patients, staff and volunteers at reproductive clinics.
Most women never think they'll need an abortion — until they do. Now, with laws tightening and protestors emboldened, getting to our doors is harder than ever. I never thought that I’d be living in a time in which women across the country have fewer rights than I did.
I now work part-time at the clinic and feel like I'm still fighting. We need laws that protect access to abortion. It matters deeply to me — and to all women who hope to make their own decisions about whether and when to start a family.
Diane Silas
Semi-retired Clinic Administrator
Frederick, Md.
Sheer disrespect for teachers is serious problem
To the editor:
As a retired teacher, a grandmother of three children in elementary school and an occasional volunteer, I have some questions about the public school system. I would like to know why the trend is to relax our expectations or lower standards. In other words, why are teachers being asked to put up with more while less is expected of students?
I’m not referring to our curriculum. I’m referring to things that are even more important — character, respect and work ethic.
Most people around public education know that students are now promoted from grade to grade regardless of attendance or achievement. Miss 50 days of school? Congrats, you’re moving on!
Score well below grade level in nearly every subject? No worries, you’re promoted! You don’t have to work in education to understand the trickle down effect these low standards have on students.
And that leads me to perhaps the No. 1 issue facing public education — the sheer disrespect that teachers must tolerate each and every day. At what point did we decide that consequences and accountability were bad for students?
These young people are eventually heading off into a difficult world where the consequences of bad decisions and poor choices can be life-changing. Students need to be taught how to be a respectful and productive part of society — the future of our country depends on it. Taking the power from teachers and coaching them that “no consequences are the best consequences” is the road to disaster.
If and when the public education system collapses, it will be a result of the complete absence of discipline and respect. It could be coming sooner than we all think. In the meantime, I sure hope some common sense returns to public education.
Dolly Mades
Hagerstown
Why Washington County is missing out on major state grant
To the editor:
Imagine how $18.1 million could have benefited Washington County.
The Maryland Department of Legislative Services (DLS) recently published its Fiscal 2025 Local Fiscal Briefing for State Aid to Washington County. The document gives an overview of the various forms of state aid received by the county. One aid program our county is eligible for is the Disparity Grant.
According to the DLS document: “Over the last three years, Washington County has reduced its local income tax rate, which has resulted in a corresponding reduction in state funding under the disparity grant program. Over the three-year period (fiscal 2023-25), Washington County has lost approximately $18.1 million in state funding under the program by lowering the county’s income tax rate below 3.2%.”
This $18.1 million loss of state funding is in addition to the local tax revenue lost from reducing the income tax rate. With the many needs of our county, can we afford to continue turning down the maximum level of Disparity Grant funds?
County commissioners, please set the income tax rate so we can take full advantage of this grant. Surely, we can find ways to cushion the impact an income tax hike may have on low income and fixed income taxpayers.
Imagine what could have been done with $18.1 million.
Dave Williams
Smithsburg
Why should maniacs rule the road?
To the editor:
The roads and highways of America are getting crazier and crazier. The road is becoming a lawless place, where people who do not know the difference between driving a car and playing a video game or watching a movie, disregard speed limits and do whatever they please, not knowing that a collision is real, violent and often deadly.
The other day, I was driving down the Sharpsburg Pike and this guy in a GMC truck passed me on the right along the turning lane to the Westfields housing development at about 70 miles an hour — outraged, perhaps, that I was driving the speed limit. A couple of months ago, I was coming down from Chambersburg on Route 81 and a guy in a jeep roared up to my back bumper at around 80 miles an hour and then did a sudden sharp left into the passing lane — outraged, perhaps, that I was driving 65 miles an hour and not 75 or 80 as the trucks and the rest of the cars were. The other day on Northern Avenue a car whipped past me at 50 or 55 on a city street. Everybody has stories.
I was at the Red Bird in Keedysville a couple of weeks ago, discussing the road with a friend — and a guy from Martinsburg in the next booth chimed in and said that Route 81 in Martinsburg has become "mayhem, like Daytona except you don't wear a helmet and have a roll-bar." If you've ever had a car accident as I once did, you know that on the highway there is a thin line between safety and disaster — and accidents happen way too fast and you suddenly lose control of the car. In my case, everybody walked away alive — though two cars were totaled.
Like all Americans, I like to hop into the car and see the sights — and why should maniacs rule the road? The police have a tough job, and we the drivers should help them by obeying the speed limit.
Sam Cuthbert
Hagerstown
Children in Need committed to providing essential items to children
To the editor:
As the executive director of Children In Need Inc., I want to take a moment to spotlight the incredible work of our team! Children in Need was named the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year. This prestigious award was presented by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce during the 2024 Business Awards and underscores our organization's unwavering commitment to providing vital essential items to children.
Founded in 1998, Children In Need has been a beacon of hope for thousands of children and families in Washington County. Through our Client Services Program, families and children enrolled in the program access free clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, coats, shoes and more.
On behalf of their children, clients can visit our center once a month to receive these items. Currently, Children In Need serves 2,291 children through our Client Services program and an additional 1,000-plus children through our Extended Services Program, which provides essential items to Washington County Public Schools and other agencies.
Since January 2023, our agency has seen a 49% increase in client caseloads, with 96% of our clients living at or below the federally recognized poverty level. The remaining 4% of our clients are Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained and Employed (ALICE), and are often one emergency away from poverty.
We are deeply honored to be named the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and passion of our volunteers, staff, board of directors and community stakeholders, who work tirelessly to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Through our services, we are changing the lives of thousands of children and I could not be more proud of our team that made this a reality.
Brittany Wedd
Hagerstown
We must sift through the chaff to discover the facts
To the editor:
Re: Tim Rowland's "lies"
It is truly unfortunate that Ms. Sullivan's jaundiced views seem to to stem from irresponsible sources of news that distort and dissemble to the extent that the truth is utterly lacking in her comments.
It is incumbent upon all of us to seek out reliable information and sift through the chaff to discover the facts that lead to informed opinions.
Tom Clemens
Keedysville
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Herald-Mail letters to the editor for Sunday, March 10.
