Climate Change

Laura Bell, 15, will be a sophomore at North Hagerstown High School. She's found that families aren't so bad, once everybody relaxes on a beach vacation. Shoval Resnick (not pictured) is 17 and will be a senior at South Hagerstown High School. She likes science and fantasy stories, but she also likes to know which is which. Danielle Higgins, 16, will be a senior at South Hagerstown High School. She believes that reading Harry Potter books is better than watching Harry Potter movies.

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has led to enormous growth in understanding the consequences we face if we do not take care of our natural resources. It has led to more action to protect our planet's land, water, air, wildlife and human beings, and it has strengthened farmers' and ranchers' already strong commitment to being good environmental stewards. Farmers observe Earth Day every day. Where asphalt and pavement turn to gravel and dirt, you will find men and women rising early, greeting the day and working the earth.  Their office space is outdoors in the sun, wind, rain and sometimes snow.

Maryland faces great challenges with climate change. The recent report from the Maryland Commission on Climate Change echoes longstanding concerns of other reports from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other credible groups about addressing climate challenges in a meaningful way. As a member of the commission's Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Mitigation Working Group, I want to thank Gov. Martin O'Malley and our political leaders for bold policy recommendations...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats sidestepped a Republican boycott Thursday, pushing a climate bill out of committee in an early step on a long and contentious road to passage. Other committees still must weigh-in on the measure, but the partisan antics early on threatened to cast a pall over the bill -- one of President Barack Obama's top priorities -- as it makes its way to the Senate floor and as nations prepare to meet in Copenhagen, Denmark next month to hammer out a new international treaty to slow climate change.

By Votes in Congress Service WASHINGTON - Here's how area members of Congress voted on major roll call votes in the week ending Oct. 9. HOUSE 2010 military budget Voting 281 for and 146 against, the House on Oct. 8 authorized a $680 billion defense budget (HR 2647) for fiscal 2010 that includes $130 billion for war in Iraq and Afghanistan and $27.9 billion for military health care. The bill recommends a 3.4 percent military pay raise, increases active duty personnel by 40,200 troops to 1.41 million troops, caps procurement of F-22 Raptor fighter jets and ends the over-budget VH-71 White House helicopter program.

Plan needed to fight Hagerstown's obesity To the editor: It's official. Hagerstown is the fattest town in Maryland ( "Feeling heavy in Hagerstown," Monday, April 12, page C1). Didn't we know that, but were too ashamed to admit it? No doubt that (Herald-Mail columnist) Tim Rowland will explain. The simple answer is that we eat too much and exercise too little. We do consume far too much of the wrong foods - soda, bacon, bologna, sweets and carbohydrates loaded with cheese.

Fidelity Bank James P. Hamill recently was elected to the board of directors of Fidelity Bank. Hamill is president and CEO of the Washington County Health System. He also is chairman of the board of Covenant Health Systems Inc. in Massachusetts. Hamill is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and received his master's degree from Georgia State University. 84 Lumber Co. John Schnebly recently was hired as a manager trainee at 84 Lumber in Timonium, Md. Schnebly, a native of Hagerstown, graduated from South Hagerstown High School in 1999 and from Gettysburg (Pa.)

Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown has announced its monthly BookShare Notable Hardcover Fiction and Nonfiction Lists for December. The titles featured on these lists are scheduled for publication during the month of December and can be borrowed from the library. Readers who are interested in reserving their copy of any title from the lists can call the Adult Information Desk at 301- 739-3250, ext. 123, or access the library's SIRSI iBistro online catalog at www.washcolibrary.

Earth Day is the one day where you have a chance to help the environment, right? Actually, you can help the environment any day of the year, by recycling paper, glass, metal and plastic bottles, by planting new trees and shrubs and by conserving your electricity and water. Planting trees helps prevent global climate change, but it also conserves energy by providing a windbreak in the winter and shade in the summer. The Arbor Day Foundation Web site (www.arborday.org) is a good source of information on the benefits of planting trees.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A U.S. congressional advisory panel said Thursday that Chinese spies are aggressively stealing American secrets to use in building Beijing's military and economic strength. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission also said in its annual report to lawmakers that Beijing is building a navy that could block the U.S. military from getting to the region if fighting should break out between China and Taiwan, the self-governing island off China's southeastern coast that China claims as its own. The report follows President Barack Obama's visit this week to China, where he had extensive talks with President Hu Jintao.