Medicare

Twin poles of GOP opposition could harm health care reform To the editor: Here are two quotes that tell you most of what you need to know about the twin poles of Republican opposition to health care reform. "If you don't (stop Medicare) and I don't do it, one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it once was like in America when men were free. " - Ronald Reagan, 1961 "If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo.

Washington County Health Department's Flu and Immunization Clinics for adults will be offered at: Elks Club Lodge No. 378, 11603 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 3 to 7 p.m. Elks Club Lodge No. 378, 11603 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Brownsville Church of the Brethren, 1911 Rohrersville Road (Md. 67), Brownsville, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3 to 7 p.m. Williamsport American Legion, 400 S. Conococheague St., Williamsport, Thursday, Oct. 15, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Morris Frock American Legion, 405 Northern Ave., Hagerstown, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Potomac Street Community Health Center, 239 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sumans Community Center, Sumans Avenue, Hagerstown, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Smithsburg Fire Hall, 22 N. Main St., Smithsburg, Monday, Oct. 26, 3 to 7 p.m. Eagle's Club, 18 N. Locust St., Hagerstown, Thursday, Oct. 29, 3 to 7 p.m. Boonsboro American Legion, 710 N. Main St., Boonsboro, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Hancock Community Center, 26 W. High St., Hancock, Friday, Nov. 13, 3 to 6 p.m. St. John's United Church of Christ, Cumberland Street, Clear Spring, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Shots are for those ages 18 and older.

"I'm calling in reply to the Smithsburg area caller who complained about the trail at Veterans Park. One, the trail is one mile long, and two, the equipment installed along the five points in the trail is not playground equipment, but exercise stations, designed to help achieve the fitness and well-being of the many users who walk, jog or bike the trail. " - Smithsburg "This is concerning the Mail Call from Sharpsburg. My parents recently had to start paying for their Medicare and now they are taking three months of their Medicare out and there is no way that they can live off of $500 for the next two months.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - The Berkeley County Commission tried to act as a conciliatory go-between Tuesday for at-odds volunteer EMS providers and the county's administrative Emergency Ambulance Authority. Scattered applause came at the end of the nearly hour-long meeting, when Commissioner Howard Strauss pledged to try to strengthen the relationship. "Whatever it will take for us to work better together, I'd like to see (it)," Strauss said.

By JULIE E. GREENE julieg@herald-mail.com Bill Bulla was eligible to retire and receive his full Social Security benefit 14 years ago, but the Hagerstown resident kept working out of need and desire. "I would like to retire. That's a quandary that is facing me at this particular time," Bulla said. Bulla, 79, is one of a growing number of people who are eligible to receive full Social Security retirement benefits, but have kept working because they need or want to, experts said.

 “I wish the parents in Franklin County would stop whining about the dress code for their children. Had they been doing their job all along, it wouldn't be necessary for the schools to tell their children how to dress.” - Chambersburg, Pa. “To repeal Obamacare, to save Medicare and Social Security, vote Republican. Our country is running out of money. The few workers we have left cannot seed the programs. A financial disaster is awaiting all of us if we continue in this same old way.” - Boonsboro “To the Hagerstown caller wanting to know if we wanted to blame President Obama for the Kennedy assassination: We couldn't do that.