Youth athletic program getting too big, greedy
Before night lights, youth baseball games in the Howard County Youth Program wound down on spring school nights a little past 8 o'clock. There was still time for a late dinner, time to get ready for the next school day, time to be in bed at a reasonable hour.
The fields then were adequate but not perfect, the umpires were the unpaid coaches of the other teams, and parts of the uniforms were recycled year to year. Siblings vied to hang the score numbers on the scoreboard, and only the championship teams were awarded trophies at the end of the season.
Somewhere between then and now, some dad or two or three looked upon all of this and said, "Hey, you know what would be great?" And the lights, electronic scoreboards and two-story announcing booths appear.
Now 12-year-olds have the opportunity to play ball on school nights until 10 (later during playoffs). Occasionally a cluster of younger siblings takes a crack at announcing the players as they come up at bat and, just as occasionally (since the electronic scoreboards are controlled from the booths), everyone also gets to know the score.
While some improvements at the park, such as restrooms, concession stand and the new circular drive and parking were needed, the splurge has landed HCYP into the kind of program it never intended.
I am referring to the $100 registration fee parents pay a year in advance to reserve their child's slot in the next year's season and the policy that if that child changes his or her mind months before the season even begins, the $100 is forfeited.
Every penny. Before Day 1.
The money parents pay a year in advance is spent in January to fund the necessities. One would therefore assume that should one child's vacated spot be filled by another child, that at least a good portion, if not all, of the registration fee would be refunded.
Not so, the commissioner says. Not even if there is a waiting list. Not even if the program is full.
So aside from the regular fund-raisers that HCYP holds every year, the organization has found another, easier way to scrape up the bucks for what, maybe, it could not really afford. It's a shame to take advantage of well-intentioned parents who a year earlier thought their kid would still want to play.
Steffany Palulis Ellicott City;
DiMaggio was symbol for 'New Generation'
Now I understand the deep loss my father felt as he told me that Babe Ruth had died. I was about 8 and couldn't quite understand how any player, even the fabled Babe, who was not Joe DiMaggio, could evoke such emotion.
Years later, I realized that my father, an immigrant, was absorbed by all things "American." Ruth was his link with all other Americans, regardless of background.
For us "New Generation" kids, DiMaggio was nothing less than America itself. Whatever it took to win, the resolve and skill would be there. Whenever we argued the relative merits of players, Joe was excluded, being in a class of his own. He still is.
Paul Bridge Ellicott City
To the driver who killed Allview dog
This letter is to the driver of the car that struck and killed a black lab on northbound Route 29 near the Shaker Drive exit last Sunday afternoon.
Her name was Jessie. She was 10 years old and was loved by the entire neighborhood. We can't even begin to figure out nor will we ever know how she got on Route 29.
She was obviously confused and frightened and desperately needed help. If you had any conscience, you would have stopped to assist her. You could have slowed to have avoided striking her. But you chose to slam into her and not even stop. In Howard County, to hit an animal and not stop to offer assistance is against the law.
Your callous disregard and total lack of compassion can be summed up in one word: pitiful.
Lori Caruso Columbia
This letter was signed by eight other residents of Allview Estates.
County charter serves the people
Nancy Davis was on target in her Feb. 28 letter to The Sun in Howard. "The purpose of government is to serve the people." That is why charter government was adopted in Howard County. The purpose is also to "follow citizens' orders contained in the charter language."
The team elected to write the charter and explain it to the voters for a year, and then have a citizen reference vote it up or down, adopted the state constitution charge: the formation of charter government represents a "transfer of powers from the state legislature to the people of Howard County."
From 1980 to 1998, the elected members of the County Council have destroyed the citizens' powers and operated under their own "rules and procedures." The previous County Council had four more changes ready to place on the ballot that the 1996 Charter Review Commission had adopted at their request. These were:
1) Eliminate the citizens' right to terminate the charter (C. Vernon Gray).
2) Increase the number of citizen signatures to propose a change to the charter by 300 percent (Dr. Gray).
3) Eliminate the citizen right to take council actions on zoning to referendum (Charles Feaga).
4) Eliminate all language relative to financial matters (Darrel Drown).
5) Eliminate language relative to employee rights and to appeal management actions contrary to these rights (Dennis Schrader).
It is very important that citizens receive a very clear definition of the intent of any changes to their Howard County charter. Always vote "no" unless the intent is absolutely clear. A number of officials and local citizens have lied during the past 18 years.
There are changes in wording in the state constitution required to assist you with such problems. However, to date our legislators have refused to act on any of these necessary changes. The next step is to restore the provisions removed from the charter.
James M. Holway Ellicott City
Pub Date: 3/14/99
Waverly, gas station not a neighborly pair
I am writing in regard to a special zoning exception for a service station on Marriottsville Road near the entrance to Waverly Mansion.
The Exxon Co. has requested a zoning exception for construction of a gasoline station (14 pumps, car wash, convenience store, large signs, 24-hour service, lights and canopy) on Marriottsville Road in Howard County at the entrance road leading to Waverly Mansion.
This is totally out of keeping with this 1765 Historic Trust building. The mansion was built by George Howard, a governor of Maryland and the man for whom Howard County was named. In the late 1970s, with the leadership of many dedicated citizens, the mansion was acquired by the Maryland Historic Trust and lovingly restored.
Howard County citizens have given or loaned many of the furnishings. The mansion means a great deal to the community and is used frequently for social and general events. The proposed Exxon station will be highly visible from the mansion, less than 600 feet away.
About eight years ago, a 680-acre golf and mixed-use development was proposed which completely surrounds Waverly Mansion. From the very beginning of this project, the developer met with the board of Historic Waverly, Inc. and "promised" he would do nothing to destroy, distract or take away the beauty and significance of Waverly, an historic edifice.
In fact, he promised to enhance the setting of the mansion and grounds. Several sketches of the development in the vicinity of the mansion show extensive landscaping on ground that would now be used for the proposed gasoline station.
It would be deplorable if Exxon destroys the setting of the Waverly buildings and grounds. Many Howard countians have proudly worked long, arduous hours to restore and enhance this historic property. A station could be located elsewhere on Marriottsville Road. In fact, the gasoline station and all its accompaniments could be located in the planned village center where such a facility belongs.
I protest Exxon's proposed action and urge county residents to do likewise. Please help preserve our heritage. Attend the planning and zoning hearing at 7 p.m March 24 or write to Howard County planning and zoning at 3030 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
C. Edward Walter Woodstock
The writer is president of Historic Waverly Inc.
What sports should be about
I have been announcing high school wrestling, track and football in Howard County off and on for 25 years. For the past 10 years, I have been the Class IV-A/III-A announcer at the state wrestling tournament at Western Maryland College. I have seen the best and worst of coaches, athletes and spectators.
Every once in a while, something happens that renews one's faith. At the recent Howard County wrestling tournament, J. C. Porter of Long Reach High School, who won the 130-pound class, was voted outstanding wrestler of the tournament by the 10 participating team coaches.
He approached me after the award was announced and expressed his desire to give the award to another wrestler who, he believed, was more deserving.
And that is what he did: He gave his award to Brian Frank from Howard High School who had won the 125-pound class. Watching those two wrestlers hug each other in friendship was a joy to behold.
At the state wrestling tournament on March 6, we narrowed the field to two wrestlers in each weight class who would vie for the championship. It is our custom to have the coaches/wrestlers prepare an information sheet so we announcers can relate their accomplishments to the spectators.
My partner, Frank Treuchet, who announces the Class II-A/I-A part of the tournament, showed me the information sheet for a wrestler competing for the 125-pound championship, Brandon Stein of Northern High School (Garrett County).
At the bottom of his information sheet, Brandon had added, "If I win this tournament, I would like to dedicate the win to my father." Well, he did win and his message was announced. After the tournament had ended, Brandon's father came to us and asked if he could have his son's information sheet, which we gave him.
My partner and I were both quite moved by the request, especially when the father said the piece of paper with his son's words was worth more to him that any award the young man would ever win.
Both of these young men should be congratulated -- one for his unselfish sportsmanship and the other for his love of his father, which he was not ashamed to state openly.
Both of them exemplify what sports should be about.
L. G. (Jerry) Cary Ellicott City
Pub Date: 3/14/99