Rabies response

A recent article in the Blade-News reported on the unfortunate incident of the three Buckingham section residents who were compelled to seek treatment for rabies after coming in contact with a feral, rabid cat.

As one of those residents who was forced to undergo long, painful and expensive rabies treatment, I implore the residents of Bowie to wake up and stop feeding homeless and feral animals. As I have learned from the Princes George's County Health Department, rabies has become increasingly common in this area spread by feral animals. Sadly, there are far too many homeless pets wandering our neighborhoods, but feeding them can lead to dire results as my neighbors and I can attest. I strongly urge you to discontinue this practice and to call Animal Control to report or retrieve the animal. Let's all try to eradicate a most serious problem which can conceivably lead to sad endings.

I would like to commend Bowie Animal Control and the health department for their help, concern and followup after this frightening incident. Should you see a stray or strange animal in your yard, do call them for guidance.

THELMA BLASS

Bowie

Brady support

As a lifelong resident of Bowie, I strongly support Dennis Brady for re-election.

In politics, there are work horses and there are show horses. In an era of cynicism, Brady represents what is right with government today. He is the ultimate work horse.

One of the noblest traditions in American politics is the notion of the citizen politician. Brady has no political agenda nor does he view the City Council as a springboard to higher office. Brady's desire has been only to serve the citizens of Bowie.

An engineer by day, Brady has put his expertise to work for our city for the past 15 years on the council. There is no one with a firmer grasp of the complex and often arcane issues that come before the city. As a past president of the Maryland Municipal League, Brady's extensive knowledge of municipal government has been recognized beyond Bowie's borders.

Bowie residents should be proud to have a dedicated public servant like Brady working to maintain our city's record of sound fiscal management while still moving Bowie forward.

Please vote to re-elect Dennis Brady on Nov. 3.

MIMI RAUCK

Bowie

More Brady support

Dennis Brady has been an outstanding city councilman for Bowie for sometime now, with a record that has always benefitted the citizens of this city. He spends the time it takes, studying the important issues and programs that face the council each and every year and makes wise decisions that the citizens of Bowie can be proud of.

Never one to go along with the wrong side of an issue just to hurry it along, he takes whatever time is needed to satisfy himself that he is doing what the citizens elected him to do for the good of the city.

A successful engineering career that takes him miles away each day to do his job, Dennis is so devoted to this city that he never considers moving closer to his work. A commendable dedication to us here in Bowie. It is because he loves this city and wants it to be successful.

His wife Kathy, a noted, honored therapist in the health world, is always behind Dennis' continuing readiness to run each election year - sacrifice and hard work, only known by the council member's spouses.

The Bowie City Council would not be the same without Dennis Brady. He is what all city governments everywhere could want; making important decisions for their good.

Everyone in Bowie, who can, should vote this man to the council once again. We all should appreciate his willingness to keep going to bat for the good of the city of Bowie.

Re-elect Dennis Brady. For his honesty, integrity and unselfishness.

FRANCIS EDWARD SWEET

Bowie

Vote for Valentino-Smith

I am writing in support of at-large incumbent Geraldine Valentino-Smith in the Nov. 3 election. She was aggressive and tireless in her efforts to advance the city's best interests during BGE's electric reliability program. She sought to limit the destruction of the tree trimming program and spearheaded the effort to reduce the placement of electric poles in neighborhood front yards, engaging the Public Service Commission when negotiations with the company were stalled.

On a personal level, she made the time to assist me in my own personal battle when blind enforcement of BGE "policy" would have resulted in the clearly unnecessary destruction of 15 trees in my back yard - thank you Geraldine. During negotiations with the State Highway Administration during the Route 197 design project, Geraldine was equally aggressive on the city's behalf. She went out of her way to engage the citizens' attention to this major project, door-knocking and handing out literature in neighborhoods that would be particularly affected.

We are lucky to have a councilwoman such as Geraldine working on our behalf on these and other issues affecting our quality of life in this city. Do yourself a favor and return her to office this coming Tuesday.

LAURIE THOMPSON

Bowie

Mellits support

This letter is in support of Pete Mellits, who is running for the City Council position representing District 2. Pete and I met about 10 years ago, when our sons entered kindergarten at Kenilworth Elementary School. Pete was consistently active with his wife, Lisa, for all of the years we shared at Kenilworth. Our families worked together or enjoyed catching up at most of the school programs; such as fun fair, field day, fall cleanup, ice cream socials, career day, skate night, pizza nights and chorus shows. Pete was very supportive when Lisa served as Kenilworth PTA president. Of course, the fire truck showed up often, given Pete's involvement with the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department.

I often asked how he was able to find the time to work with the schools, go to the kids' games, volunteer with the fire department, work and make it to BBT for a swim once in a while. Individually and as a Bowie family, they have contributed in many ways; most of all, by participating in their fair share of what was needed to be done. Pete's ability to listen to his neighbors and to work with others to reach the common goal of what is best for Bowie, is exactly what we need on our City Council. He has an investment in the success of this city since he grew up in Bowie, came back, and raised his own family here. His parents still live here, as many of ours do.

He has initiative and leadership abilities to motivate people to get the job done. He is a strong independent thinker, he is credible, he is committed and he stands by his word. Pete has so much more to offer to the city than the incumbent. You should check out his Web site: www.petemellits.com. Pete Mellits is my choice for the District 2 City Council position and I hope you will join me in casting a vote for Pete.

SUSAN REILLY

Bowie

Marcos, Polangin thanked

I would like to inform you of my experience in dealing with local representatives Diane Polangin, Jimmy Marcos and Chief John Nesky during the last year.

I asked Diane Polangin if she could attend our annual HOA meeting and speak about what we could do as a neighborhood to prevent crime. She brought Chief Nesky who gave us valuable advice on actions we could take. We have implemented some of them, including having a security camera installed at the front entrance. Our neighborhood is safer now than a year ago and we appreciate Diane Polangin and Chief Nesky's involvement in helping to get this done.

I would also like to commend Jimmy Marcos on his efforts in moving a utility pole, located at High Bridge Road. This pole had been hit several times in the past by cars and people have been injured. I mentioned to Jimmy in passing earlier this year (while picking up some delicious pizza) about how the utility pole at High Bridge Road had been hit again by a car and I couldn't believe BGE was putting the pole back in the same place. I took my pizza home and forgot about it. The very next week crews were in the process of moving the pole.

This is what having effective local representatives is all about. Marcos did more than listen, he acted, and the next time a car loses control coming down that hill, the people in that car will be better off because of it. Thanks Jimmy for a job well done.

I'm sure being on the City Council is often a tough job and when things go wrong it makes the local papers. Sometimes things go right and I wanted to be sure that Jimmy Marcos and Diane Polangin got some ink for that too.

RICH CARLSON

Bowie

Speeding issues

I have read with particular interest the city's response to Bowie residents' attempts to seek solutions to our years' old problem of speeding on city streets, and am disappointed to read that problems persist all over the city, especially near our schools. I am left to question the commitment of City Council and staff to deal with the issue in a forthright, universal and customer-focused manner. The city has been slow to work with residents to adopt tested approaches to traffic calming, where needed most. The city consistently shoots down without substantiation or study any of the tried-and-true methods adopted in other areas of the county over the years such as, speed bumps, speed humps, four-way traffic stops, traffic lights, traffic enforcement and stiff penalties. What will it take for the council to direct staff to seriously address the issues around speeding and traffic more fully and with greater deference to residents, who in some instances have substantive technical expertise on the subject.

I applaud the City Council's recent vote to use speed cameras in school zones, but this is really only a half measure, particularly, because many of the streets and portions of streets with speeding problems lie just outside of the proposed school zones, where the cameras will likely be posted - streets like Millstream, Buckingham, Stonybrook, Pointer Ridge Drive and Mitchellville Road, to name a few, have wide open stretches prone to increased speeds, yet they are blocks away from school facilities. The city must also improve lighting on major streets like Route 197 between Mitchellville Road and the entrance to the Bowie Town Center. A pedestrian was killed there about a year ago and still the 200-yard stretch remains eerily and dangerously dark in relation to the amount and speed of traffic traveling there. As Bowie citizens, we are the prime perpetrators of speeding on our streets and we need to do more also to correct our driving habits, along with that of our guests and children driving throughout the city, especially in school zones. While we all have a part to play in controlling speeding, the city can do more by taking a serious stance on speeding, meaningfully listening to residents and adopting more and better traffic calming solutions now. As taxpayers, we deserve no less.

D. MICHAEL LYLES

Bowie

Good hair, bad policy

I am writing in response to the letter about the gym policy on scarves. I was shocked by the fact that this woman thinks just because she is a black woman that the policy is discriminating against her. That the policy was actually put into place because she might resemble a gang-banger and someone might be afraid of her. Unbelievable! I work out in the mornings and always have messed up hair and wear a bandanna or scarf to work out in. When I saw the sign that said I cannot wear my scarf, I too was not happy. I ride a motorcycle and have tattoos, I never thought it was discriminating against me personally. I am a hairdresser and can appreciate trying to maintain a hairstyle while working out but to say that only black women are being discriminated against is ridiculous. There are plenty of gyms in the area and I cancelled my membership too, because nothing is as important as a good hair day.

DINA BENNETT

Bowie

Pet peeve?

I would like to address some issues brought up by Richard Stein last week regarding a program for Bowie's lost and stray animals. What is frustrating is that these issues have been addressed and answered directly to Mr. Stein on multiple occasions, and yet he feels the need to draw the spotlight to himself again, as he has for multiple topics in this forum perhaps in the belief that having others read his opinions in black and white makes them more valid. I do not fault him his passion and desire to assist, but I do wish he would direct that passion in a more constructive manner.

1. Cages are not traumatic. It's not jail and they are not being punished. The word "shelter" means just that; not incarceration. Rarely if ever has a dog or cat gone into a shelter and become so traumatized that it becomes "unadoptable." If Mr. Stein would actually take the time to visit a shelter and see how they operate, he would know that. They are not "concentration camps" for wayward pets, to use his own metaphor. They provide food, water, safety and protection from the elements, and an opportunity for a better life. Some of the larger ones can be chaotic and noisy, true, but that is one reason why CLAW seeks a small holding facility.

2. Mr. Stein says it will cost "$250,000 a year or more" to operate. Where did he get the $250,000 figure from? It appears to be based on hyperbolic assumptions and not researched facts. I've never heard any such number mentioned by anyone in this debate.

3. Foster animal programs require volunteers, insurance and, here's the kicker, some kind of processing system where the animal could be taken, recorded, given those shots, and be held until a volunteer foster family can be located. That place, my friend, is called a shelter, or at least a small holding facility, which is exactly what Bowie CLAW and the task force are working on.

I hope this clears up any misconceptions brought about by Mr. Stein's letter. Again, I do appreciate his passion about an issue that touches us all, the lives of our four-legged friends.

MATTHEW K. BAKER

Bowie

Firearm education

With few exceptions, Maryland residents must complete a firearm education and safety course prior to buying a license to hunt.

The course curriculum includes principles of wildlife management, hunter ethics, firearm handling and safety, marksmanship and shooting fundamentals, muzzleloader and bow hunting, first aid, water safety, as well as game law requirements.

Gun clubs around the state conduct these courses under the auspices of the Department of Natural Resources Police-Education Division.

Instructors for the program come from the civilian community. Upon completion of their training and having gone through a criminal background check, they either join or are assigned to clubs as needed.

This year Berwyn Rod & Gun Club issued 66 competency certificates. Since joining the program in 1996, the club has certified 594 people. The issued card is recognized in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico.

Our general meeting is held the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the DAV hall, 8205 Laurel-Bowie Road. Visitors are welcome.

DON POLLOCK

Chief instructor

Berwyn Rod & Gun Club

H1N1 notes

The seasonal and novel (H1N1) flu is caused by a type of influenza A virus. Unlike the seasonal flu, we have no natural immunity (antibodies) against the H1N1. While there have been some adolescent deaths due to (H1N1), 67 percent were children who had some underlying medical condition, such as congenital heart defects. That is consistent with what would be expected in a typical flu season.

The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets. It can shed in oral secretion 24 hours before a person realizes he/she is sick. The symptoms include fever, cough, headache, sore throat, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue and chills. If your child has these symptoms, you should contact your pediatrician. The treatment is generally rest, fluid and fever reducers. (Never administer aspirin for flu-like symptoms). It is especially important to seek medical attention if symptoms include shortness of breath or persistent fever.

Children can protect themselves from infection by washing their hands for at least 20 seconds with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, or antibacterial soap. Secondly vaccinations should especially be considered for the very young (6 to 35 months), and those with chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes. Keep up with all the latest information about H1N1 by visiting www.flu.gov.

DR. TONI L. THOMPSON-CHITTAMS

TLC Pediatrics, Bowie