That team took it upon themselves to make it possible for my son to score his first goal. Well, when the ball went into the net, I thought the roof was going to come off of the YMCA. Everyone was as excited for him as he was for himself.
That is a demonstration of character in a group of young people that we do not often see today. I am not sure I would have thought it possible unless I had seen it for myself.
I am so proud of that team and their coach for helping a child achieve what he may not otherwise have been able to achieve on his own.
Thank you, Bob and Tracy, for instilling "character" and sportsmanship into your players. And thank you to the "Y" for finding such quality people to help run your programs.
Jeanne Conlon
Hagerstown
Time to stop bashing Bush
To the editor:
I can not believe people are still bashing President Bush. If you check the record, the stock market was at an all-time high, unemployment was at an all time low and the economy was booming as commercial construction was going strong.
Presidents Carter and Clinton were the ones who pushed the banks to loan mortgage money to the so- called underprivileged. Bush on two occasions said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both needed stronger regulations and were going to be in trouble. John McCain tried to get a bill passed to do this but the Democrats voted it down.
During a hearing on public TV, a couple of Democrats said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were doing a great job. Sen. Barney Frank told the regulator that he should not question the job the two agencies were doing and said more underprivileged owned homes than ever before.
The problem he did not see was that most of them could not afford to make their mortgage payments. This was the start of our economic problems.
I agree with some of our leading economists that the stimulus package as it now stands won't work. Democratic pork-barrel spending may create some short-term jobs but will not solve the long-term problem. Until it is changed from its present form, the economy will only get worse.
F. William Stryker
Hagerstown
John Barr: Vote for Bob Bruchey on March 10
To the editor:
It has been my pleasure for the past two years to work side-by-side with Mayor Bob Bruchey. Bruchey has the ability to consider ideas and make decisions based on thorough fact-finding as to which direction is most beneficial for his citizens.
Mayor Bob and I frequently meet for breakfast to find ways to collaborate on projects that will help move Hagerstown and Washington County forward.
Mayer Bruchey had a key role in persuading the state to change the way prisoners are released from our local institutions. Mayor Bruchey and I, along with our respective administrators and police department heads, traveled to Annapolis to meet with the state attorney general and Gary Maynard, the state's secretary of Public Safety.
The meeting resulted in convincing them that the system that had been utilized was detrimental to the citizens of Hagerstown and Washington County. Due to the mayor's knowledge of Department of Correction procedures, he could relate to Secretary Maynard and offered several alternatives. A solution was agreed on and the policy was changed.
I spoke at the Washington County State of the County event about the cooperation that the county and the city enjoy. I also know that whenever I need the mayor's input on a subject or to discuss an issue, all I have to do is call his cell phone.
Mayor Bruchey is one individual who keeps the well-being of his citizens first and foremost, as he continually searches for innovate methods to attract and retain businesses in Hagerstown.
The mayor has been instrumental in working on a formula to provide water to areas outside the Medium Range Growth Area (MRGA), but inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA), that not only benefit the county, but also Hagerstown workers and residents. Mayor Burchey believes that working together to find solutions for controlled growth, increased employment and enhanced public safety remains the top priority of government.
