From: Quentin Silone Proctor
Rose Haven on the Bay
North Beach
May I take this means of thanking you and your staff for the excellent article in the Wednesday, April 10, 1991, issue of The Anne Arundel County Sun on our little community of Rose Haven on the Bay, down here in "South County."
It was a pleasure discussing the problems and pleasures of living in the community of Rose Haven on the Bay with your news reporter, Elise Armacost.
The professionalism of your photographer, Kim Hairston, in capturing the environs of our community -- including the Marina, the Bayside, and the people -- was excellent.
And we appreciate Elise Armacost and Kim Hairston, as well as yourself, for your interest in Rose Haven on the Bay. Visit us again!
VOLUNTEERS ARE LAUDED
From: Robin Oldfather
Community Crusade Coordinator
American Cancer Society
Maryland Division Inc.
On behalf of those whose lives are touched by cancer,the American Cancer Society would like to thank all of the volunteers participating in our annual Community Crusade.
By calling on your neighbors and collecting donations, you make it possible for us to continue providing wheelchairs and hospital beds to cancer patients.
School children will learn from Huffless Puffless Dragon that smoking is bad for their healthy bodies.
Countless cancer scientists will have the funding to continue vital research projects that will one day be responsible for putting an end to cancer.
All thanks to you. You care about those suffering because of cancer and you are doing something about it. Thank you.
THANKS FOR BUDGET INTEREST
From: Edward Middlebrooks
District 2 Councilman
I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the parents, educators, guidance counselors, PTAs and community groups who have contacted me in the last few weeks concerning the proposed Board of Education budget, FY92.
The input of these citizens has proved enlightening and invaluable to me, and will serve me well as the County Council embarks on the Maybudget session.
The elimination of elementary instrumental music programs, the curtailment of guidance counseling services during the summer, and the basic needs of individual schools in District 2 and elsewhere in Anne Arundel County -- all have been addressed by citizens with a mixture of concern, anger, and frustration.
I want to seethese programs continue, and I intend to support funding of these programs for the upcoming fiscal year.
Certainly, the County Councilwill be faced with difficult decisions in approving an equitable budget in these austere economic times.
I believe we should make every effort to save our educational programs and consider cost-saving measures in other areas of local government beside education. Cultural enrichment and special services our children derive from these programs should not be forsaken.
Again, I thank you all for your lettersand calls, and encourage continued communication during and after the budget session.
HELP SAVE OUR STREAMS
From: Peg Burroughs
Board of Directors
Save Our Streams
On May 11, 1991, I will be attending a search for potential pollution sources on the Severn River organized by Maryland Save Our Streams.
This will be a fine exampleof cooperation on environmental issues between local government, Anne Arundel County, state government, the Department of Natural Resources, industry, Westinghouse and concerned private citizens.
Searchers will be trained prior to their investigation on foot or by boat atseveral locations in the Severn River Watershed.
If anyone wishesto participate, call Save Our Streams at (800) 448-5826 to get more information and make a reservation.
Thank you for keeping your readers informed about this event.
PRESERVE THE WETLANDS
From: Students and teachers
Severn School
Severna Park
Editor's Note: The following letter is signed by 200 students and teachers at the Severn School.
We, the undersigned students and teachers in Severn School, Severna Park, ask:
1. That the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning retract their approval of building permit number B02-033-0-601, File DWF, No. 411-90;
2. That the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, deny wetlands filling application number CE-NABOP-RW (Rushton, Joseph) 91-60054-1.
3. That other county, state and federal officials prevent this act of environmental barbarism along the Severn River.
Does the term "critical areas" mean anything in the real world? Should we or our Environmental Club bother to lobby for such laws when authorities routinely (exempt) developers from them?
Thirteen years ago, four of our schoolmates testified in a hearing and persuaded the County Council to add Sullivan's Cove Marsh to the county's official "List of Critical Areas."
Now Planning and Zoning says the list's protection applies only to new subdivisions. If so, forget the list. Most of the county's critical areas are marshes and the applications will most likely be for single unit jobs like this one.
The Sullivan's Cove Marsh developer proposes to move the beach house's solid waste up the hill to Old County Road by means of a "grinder pump." A neighbor at the top of the hill wants to hook into this system so that he also can build a beach house on some other single lot in the marsh. A terrible precedent is being set.
The developer claims his wetlands are not tidal. Tell that to thewinter tides! From his own site plan one can see that his wetlands are what are called "fringe marshes." The dark stains on the lower part of the reedgrass are a direct result of tides.
The periodic flooding from the Severn River makes the ponds on the site perfect for many animals. The endangered American black duck, killifish, marsh wren, muskrats, leopard frogs, Virginia and sara rails, swamp and seasidesparrows -- all have been documented there by a professional naturalist.
This gentleman, a Smithsonian ornithologist, is conducting a federally funded study of purple martins next door to the site. A 34-foot-high beach house rising within a few feet of his martin "apartments" will destroy their "foraging pathways" and thus very likely induce them to leave.
The following, by Gerard Manley Hopkins, should be made the official poem of the Planning and Zoning Office. It should be inscribed on small wooden prisms, one for the desk of each Planning and Zoning worker and should be read by him/her at the beginning and end of each day:
"What would the world be once bereft
Of Wet and Wildness? Let them be left,
O let them be left, Wildness andWet.
Long live the Weeds and the Wildness yet!"
BTA COVERAGE APPRECIATED
From: Bettze Libson
President
Board of Trustees
Ballet Theatre of Annapolis
The Ballet Theatre of Annapolis has just completed its 10th anniversary season with delightful performances of "Alice in Wonderland." On behalf of the board of trustees, the BTAcompany dancers and our audiences, I would like to thank The Anne Arundel County Sun for your continuing coverage of our presentations.
During this 10th anniversary year, BTA has celebrated a decade of dance by presenting many new and exciting projects, including the stars of the Bolshoi Ballet, a new version of "The Nutcracker" and the sold-out performance of "Alice in Wonderland."
Our success has been in large measure due to the wonderful cooperation we have received from The Anne Arundel County Sun. Our thanks go to Mike Driscoll for his help publicizing our events.
Ballet Theatre of Annapolis is committed to continuing to present professional ballet in Annapolis. We look forward to working with you next season.