Readers' views
Grumpiest old man?
News flash: John Rouse awarded "grumpiest old man of the year" by President George W. Bush; Rouse ecstatic.
BOB BUNGE
Bowie
Auntie whimsical
Ms. McDevitte's diatribe in the June 12 Blade-News against Agatha bothers me. First of all it is inacccurate: Women are generals and admirals as well. I think the anecdote regarding Erie was simply a bit of whimsy. If Ms. McDevitte doesn't like whimsy, don't read Auntie.
CAROL J. CARAMAGNO
Bowie
Commission kudos
Kudos to Steven B. Larsen, chief, Public Service Commission, for his stellar work on behalf of the public.
He fought the corporate giant, Constellation Energy Group, and achieved noteworthy concessions, resulting in $170 credits to BGE utility users and winning withdrawal of the estimated $1.5 billion charge for dismantling of the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power facility which taxpayers would otherwise have been responsible for paying.
The Washington Post reports that Larsen will be resigning this summer and will be succeeded by Douglas Nazarian, who served as the PSC's general counsel. Larsen also left a highly commendable record while serving as the Maryland state insurance commissioner. In that position, he blocked a move by CareFirst, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, to sell out to Wellpoint Health Networks Inc., a California-based for-profit health organization.
We, the taxpayers who have health and energy requirements, owe Mr. Larsen a great deal. Congratulations on two jobs well done.
HOWARD G. LEATHERWOOD
Bowie
Benacs praised
A few weeks ago, there was an article on the retirement of Peter and Sheila Benac after many years in Prince George's County public schools. We want to personally and publicly thank both of the Benacs for all their years of service and especially for being wonderful teachers to our four children. Our youngest child just graduated from elementary school and was in Sheila Benac's final class. At the graduation ceremony, Peter Benac thanked all of the parents for entrusting their children to them with the understanding of the magnitude of this responsibility. However, there are not two better people we'd rather have teaching our children.
Our oldest daughter just graduated a year early from high school with straight A's and we believe Peter Benac's math class many years ago had a part in this. We have spent years with the Benacs, in PTA meetings, at Camp Schmidt, on trips to Annapolis, and, of course, at parent teacher conferences.
We know how difficult it is to teach in public schools and how the complexity has increased over the years. They continued to excel and teach with passion and love for 30-plus years. We are very grateful to them and they can rest assured that they have positively impacted thousands of lives in their 71 years of combined experience. Bowie is losing two great public servants but we hope and pray for all the best in their retirement.
FRANK & MARY BETH FITZMAURICE
Bowie
Appalled at article
I was appalled at the lead story in the June 12 Blade-News. Are you so hard up for news that you need to use someone's misfortune for a headline? I had a sister who was paranoid schizophrenic and was terrified to let anyone in to repair her home. Eventually her house was condemned. Her neighbors were very compassionate, realizing that she was mentally ill and unable to cope with life's vicissitudes. After she died I understood what demons she faced every day of her life. At least the local media did not splash her personal pain across the front page. How unfortunate that the Blade-News lacked the same integrity.
ALBERTA FRICKER
Bowie
Water report
One of the most informative pieces of literature to emanate from the Bowie city government is its annual drinking water quality report, recently received by community residents. The city's water is tested for over 100 contaminants. The report notes that the presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.
I would suggest that the water quality specialists in the Bowie city government, also undertake some research on a related issue. On water quality, health newsletters and health advocacy groups have recently focused on pharmaceutical residues in tap water. There is currently no federal regulation that tap water be tested for such residues. The Environmental Protection Agency only regulates discharge of these residues from manufacturing plants.
Pharmaceutical residues are from antidepressants, antibiotics and anticonvulsants to hormones, as well as painkillers. Experts have noted that these ingredients are blending into tap water in homes.
Researchers caution that, at present, there is no proof that people are harmed by the small amounts of pharmaceutical residues found in the water supply. However, there is no assurance that the tiny amounts consumed over several years would not adversely affect health. There has been rising concern over changes in fish and wildlife, such as kidney failure and impaired reproduction. Some experts have attributed these defects to chemicals in the water.
Pharmaceutical residues make their way to tap water in homes when outdated or unusable drugs are discarded into the toilet or sink. Such discharges leach into groundwater from septic systems. Residues also can reach sewage treatment plants via sewer systems.
It has been noted that a home water filter will not guarantee removal of pharmaceutical residues, as filtering equipment was not designed with pharmaceutical residues in mind.
To allay concern over pharmaceuticals in tap water, would it be a feasible idea for the Bowie city government to install conveniently located collection boxes for pharmaceutical leftovers?
PASTOR B. SISON
Bowie
Fox news
I read with interest the story of the foxes residing in the Meadowbrook section and would like to recommend that the parents, city animal control and state wildlife officials involved, look at this as a learning opportunity. Foxes are naturally shy creatures who steer away from direct human contact. As advice for the family whose shed provides shelter, it would be best not to approach or feed the foxes (it is not a good idea ever to do either with a wild creature, as they can become too accustomed to people, and dependent upon us for food, which is never a good thing). A couple of inexpensive sets of binoculars and monoculars would be a great boon towards watching them and teaching the children of the wonderful social structure of foxes.
Foxes have families and communities that come together for the protection and feeding of the kits (baby foxes). The dominant male and female are at the top of the hierarchy, and other females will frequently baby-sit the alpha female's kits if she is off searching for food. Thanks to the Internet, there is plenty of information out there, and instead of disrupting an entire colony of foxes and possibly leaving an unattended baby behind to die, uncared for by the colony, why not embrace these wonderful creatures and learn about them, instead of living in ignorance. Foxes hunt small rodents, like moles, voles, mice, squirrels and rabbits. Without these beautiful predators, the prodigious rodents would overrun us. Learn from these foxes, watch them and chronicle their lives, but leave them unmolested.
NORMAN HENDRICKSON
Bowie
Mean teenagers?
I was interested in Paula Delgado's recent encounter with the teenager at the Bowie Library, in which a teenager approached her in her car, asked for help, and then yelled profanities at her when she did not roll down her window.
I don't know for sure what I would have done in the same situation as Mrs. Delgado, but here's what I think I would have done: I would have looked to see if I could see both of the teenager's hands, and if his hands were empty. I would have looked around to see if there were any other teenagers who seemed to be with him. Assuming he was alone and that I could see his hands, I would have rolled down the window enough to see what he wanted. Maybe he wanted spare change. Maybe he wanted a lift to the Giant down the street. Who knows? Panhandling is illegal and approaching a stranger in a car is almost never a good idea - but come on. We're talking about teenagers here.
I can understand how it's threatening to be approached by someone when you're driving. It's happened to me, and I don't like it; I imagine I'd like it even less if I had one of my children in the car. But to automatically conclude that a lone teenager is a criminal-in-waiting is an assumption virtually guaranteed to bring out the worst in a situation, and it sounds like that's what happened. It should go without saying that yelling profanities at someone is inexcusable behavior. Even so, I think it might help if adults could temper a little bit of our knee-jerk defensiveness. Teenagers do not always act like adults, but that doesn't mean they're not people.
TRACY CONTENT
Bowie
House signs
We Buy Houses. I'm sure you've seen the signs on Bowie roads. You can't miss them. They spring up like mushrooms and are yellow, ugly and illegal. They are also a nuisance and distracting. A couple of weeks ago I pulled up almost 40 signs at two Bowie intersections. I'm getting quite a collection. I also have signs for pet grooming, piano lessons and child care. These signs make our neighborhood look cheap and trashy. They go into the trash tomorrow.
PETER HOLDEN
Bowie
