From: Stephen Berry
Davidsonville
Athletic Association
I am writing in reference to the Anne Arundel County Sun coverage of the Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation women's lacrosse game between Davidsonville and the Annapolis Lacrosse Club reported on Tuesday, April 30, 1991. I applaud The Sun forproviding this program the exposure which the girls and the league surely deserve.
However, I would like to clarify the league philosophy and some of the inaccuracies in your report. Official team scoresand team standings are not kept in this league. Yet your article reported that "Annapolis prevailed." In reading your article and adding up individual scores, the indication is that Davidsonville scored more goals. The fact is that both teams played a very competitive game, making them both winners and proving a case in point against keeping team scores. At this level, scores have little to do with team accomplishments.
When this league was formed, it was decided that winning was not to be the top priority. The teaching of skills, safety, field concepts and sportsmanship were to be the priorities. This would provide all girls an opportunity to experience success and to have fun.This philosophy was confirmed at this winter's pre-season meeting ofthe recreation council coordinators. A case for the benefits of higher levels of competition can always be argued. The fact still remainsthat the council coordinators endorsed the league philosophy and agreed to abide by these parameters.
I contend that the Anne Arundel County Parks and Recreation Department has provided proper direction for this activity. The league continues to grow each year, with many girls benefiting from their involvement. Many of the girls from thisleague have gone on to higher levels of interscholastic and intercollegiate play.
Often, coaches and parents are criticized for placing too much pressure on youth athletes. This blame should be directed to our society in general, which consistently demonstrates an obsession with winning. I hope that The Sun will continue to cover programs such as the women's lacrosse league and that it will attempt to promote the benefits of these of these activities which go far beyond teamscores and statistics.
Editor's note: The account of the game, inkeeping with the association's philosophy, contains no score. Unfortunately, a "winner" was established by a caption writer unfamiliar with our coverage and the association.
CHEERS FOR T-BALL LEAGUE
From: Mary Ellen Staley
Edgewater
I want to express my appreciationfor the article on the Mago Vista's T-ball for Handicappers League. It was an insightful and positive message for everyone. Your writer, indeed caught the 'special capabilities' and abilities of these children.
I work with many of these children on a daily basis. They truly give their all in everything they do. In the six years that I havetaught these young people, they have taught me much about courage, perseverance and determination and love. But what stands out most in my mind is attitude.
Things that we able-bodied do so easily and take for granted are often difficult challenges for these youngsters. Yet time and time again, I have seen them struggle, often fail, but continue to try.
These children have much to share and much to teachus. It is wonderful to see them have the opportunity to participate in an "American past-time." It is a chance for them to share in one of the growing-up experiences that they so often miss.
Hats off to those at Mago Vista who have worked so hard to organize this league. And hats off to the parents who support and encourage these very special children.
If you could have been in our classroom on Tuesday morning to see the joy expressed, the tales retold, the glories relived, you who have worked so hard would see that it was effort well spent.
NO SUPPORT FOR WEAPONS
From: Patty Andrews
Glen Burnie
One of the more amusing results of our brief war with Iraq is watching Congressman Tom McMillen (D-4) wrap himself up in the American flag. To his credit, he was one of the few Democrats in Congress who spurned his party's leadership on the vote authorizing President Bush to goto war. Yet while McMillen was eager to commit our troops to combat,he was not so eager to properly equip them for combat.
Since he entered Congress in 1986, the only weapon systems McMillen has supported have been those manufactured in this district. He has voted against the B-2 bomber, which we may need in the high-tech wars of tomorrow. He has voted against the Strategic Defense Initiative, and we should be thankful that Saddam Hussein had no intercontinental ballistic missiles. He has voted for defense spending cuts beyond what PresidentBush has requested.
The weapons that won this war were ordered long before McMillen entered Congress. Who knowswhat controversial programs he would have voted against had he been elected in, say, 1980? The M-1 Abrams battle tank? The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter? The Nimitz class carriers and the refurbished battleships? The Patriot Missile? Thankfully, we will never know the answers to these questions.
If in the next years, McMillen votes against the weapons that will save the lives of our soldiers in the wars of the 21st century, then we will know he has no deep commitment to our country's security and that his vote for war was pure political opportunism.
We should watch his actions in Congress very, very carefully.
THANKS FROM HEALTH CENTER
From: Larry McCormick
Brooklyn Park
Health Association
As was stated in a previous letter of this kind, cooperation is contagious. This statement was so evident on Wednesday, April 24, 1991, at a dinner jointly sponsored by the Hammonds Lane Meridian Nursing Center and the Brooklyn Park Health Association. This dinner was arranged just to say thanks to the community, and especially the benefactors of the Brooklyn Park Health Center.
The Hammonds Lane MeridianNursing Center, under its manager, Jon Marc Creighton, and his excellent staff, had already been a financial supporter of the Health Center. They then went on to arrange this dinner.
Present to share this dinner with us were Senator Phillip C. Jimeno, Delegate Joan Cadden, Delegate W. Ray Huff, Delegate Charles Kolodziejski, County councilman George F. Bachman, and Sheriff Robert G. Pepersack Sr.
The Rev. Robert Clipp, pastor of Townsend Avenue United Methodist Church, another of our outstanding benefactors, gave the invocation.
Sen. Jimeno was gracious enough to introduce all of our outstanding guests.They included John Hammond, Tinker Trow, and Steve Mites from the Center of Applied Technology North -- men and students of the school built our building in their school; Alan Jones of the Belle Grove Corp., who has been most generous in many of our ventures; Sam Kemp and his wife, Gladys, of the Cedar Hill Florist, who not only furnished the decorations but had already made a substantial donation to the Center; J. S. Lee and his wife, Mary, of the J. S. Lee Body Shop; WilliamDeBaugh of the Anne Arundel Recycling Co.; Walter Rzepkowski of the Anne Arundel County Licensed Beverage Association; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Elliot of the Brooklyn Heights Improvement Association, who made agenerous donation; and Beverly Scarborough of Scarborough and Associates, C.P.A. Also, a benefactor who is the wife of our super-conscious Darryl Scarborough, the nurse in charge of the Brooklyn Park HealthCenter, and Christine Ward of Mom Ward's Sub Shops, as well as Dick and mom herself, Kay Ward; and Alexander Stewart of Ritchie Lumber & Building Supply Co.
Jim Murry and Oscar Eberly of the Brooklyn-Curtis Bay VFW Post 2916 presented the Health Center with a check for over $500 toward the erection of a flag pole to put the finishing touchto the building. This amount represents about one-fourth of the costof the planned flag pole. Dottie Geisler was quick to be the first to offer a cash donation to help finish the flag pole project. If you or anyone you know would like to follow suit, we would be very appreciative. The Center does look incomplete without the flag pole and OldGlory.
Also present were George Gonce and his wife, Marguerite, of the Gonce Funeral Home. Mr.Gonce, who I do not think has ever turned down any legitimate cause, also presented us with a check to help the cause. Uncle Sam (Kenneth England) was represented by his wife, Dorothy, and his daughter, Shirley. Ken was at another function receiving the Veteran of the Year award.
Also present were Zeta Samuel and Reverdy Johnson, two of the 1948 original members of the Health Association. Doris McGuigen, Casmir Samuel and Port Largent were also present. They are association members whom we can always count on when work needs to be done.
Not present in person, though we know they were in spirit, were representatives from our other sponsors -- former First District Councilman Ted Sophocleus, O'Neil's Remodeling Co., Greenberg Jewelers, Terry's Place Restaurant and M. E. Charney Electrical Contractors.
Sharing the evening with us from the Health Department were Thomas Andrews, health officer; Alice Murry, director of Clinical Services; Elsie Queen, assistant director of Clinical Services; and Mary Rose Hoffman, administrative assistant.
President Leonard Zeitschel, officers and members of the Health Association would like to say to our gracious host and all of the over 70 people in attendance, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May God continueto bless you all.
THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS
From: Thomas C. Andrews
Health Officer, Anne Arundel
Department of Health
Editor's Note: The following letter is addressed to Leonard F. Zeitschel, president of the Brooklyn Park Health Association.
The week of April 21 through 27 was designated as National Volunteer Week. I wanted to takethis opportunity to tell you just how much the Department of Health appreciates your effortsand the efforts of all those who volunteer tosupport the Brooklyn Park Lay Health Association.
Your dedicationand the commitment of all the members of the Lay Health Association has enabled the Department of Health to bring many needed services tothe communities.
Thanks to all of the members of the Brooklyn Park Health Association for the time and energy that you have so freely given.
WRITING IS SLANTED
From: David McDowell
Glen Burnie
JoAnna Daemmrich's article "Drunk-driving simulator steers some to question office" (May 5, 1991) was slanted writing at its most obvious. Clearly, she wrote the article to support a preconceived opinion.
Had she actually been present during the use of the Dodge simulator, she would have interviewed drivers and concluded that the anti-drunk driving campaign seen or driven by "thousands" was extremely effective. More important, had she interviewed Mr. (Huntley) Cross, coordinator of Anne Arundel County's Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, she would have learned that the Dodge program was part of an overall program to bring about change in the attitude toward alcohol and drug usein the community as a whole. And this is as it should be.
Your reporter should interview Mr. Cross and learn about the programs that he and his 10-member staff are coordinating. Then, perhaps, her reporting would be exactly that: reporting.
SIMULATOR EVENT HAILED
From:Judy Thorpe
Arnold
Hats off to Huntley Cross, director of the county's Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and to Annie Powell, administrator of the Central Maryland Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), for bringing to county residents, and most particularly our teen-agers, the Dodge Drunk Driving simulator last week.
Mytwo children attended and came away saying, "I'll never drink and drive."
It made a powerful impact on any teen driver emerging from the Dodge simulator, many shaking their heads that they, too, will never drive drunk.
On Saturday evening one daughter attended the "Casino Night" at the Severna Park YMCA, a fun-filled evening headed by Beth Green and Darius Stanton of Mr. Cross's Office, and sponsored by the Student Alcohol and Drug Advisory Council (SADAC).
Our teens need more of these fine events!