Readers' views
Ovarian cancer
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. While ovarian cancer is the deadliest of the gynecologic cancers, it is not a death sentence. Knowing the symptoms can save lives. But ovarian cancer symptoms are subtle, difficult to diagnose and often misdiagnosed. Research now shows that 80 percent of early stage ovarian cancer patients have symptoms for several months prior to diagnosis. Every woman is susceptible to ovarian cancer, but certain factors increase a woman's risk. They include family history of ovarian cancer, breast cancer or colon cancer. The following symptoms are most likely to occur: bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, urinary frequency and unusual fatigue.
Early detection can improve survival rates. CA125 blood tests alone are not conclusive for everyone, but should be used in conjunction with additional testing. If the above symptoms persist and are unusual for a woman, she should consult her gynecologist and ask for these three tests: pelvic/rectal exam, CA125 blood test and a transvaginal sonogram. If ovarian cancer is suspected, a CT scan then may be in order. Women should be aware that a PAP smear does not detect ovarian cancer - only cervical cancer. It is not widely known that a gynecologic/oncologist is the specialist for women's cancers.
It is my hope that by writing this letter at least one woman, hopefully more, is diagnosed early.
I am a five-year-11-month Ovarian cancer survivor.
NANCY LIVELY
Bowie
New school
Last week's vote by the School Board to approve Chief Executive Officer John Deasy's recommendation that the new Bowie high school be included in this year's Capital Improvement Plan was a critical step toward getting us back on track to getting that much-needed school built. As the Blade-News article points out, the vocal support of so many community activists, and the coordinated work of virtually all the local elected officials, was crucial in securing the positive vote. I am proud of the role the mayor and City Council played. It was a truly Herculean effort that was successful due to the coordination with, and leadership by, the legislative delegation.
The pivotal role played by the members of our state legislative delegation - Sen. Doug Peters and delegates Jim Hubbard, Gerron Levi and Marvin Holmes - was essential to the city's success. Having witnessed the extreme dedication and measures taken by our legislative delegation to secure success, I feel compelled to emphasize their role that otherwise can too easily go unseen by the general public. As we move forward, there will be many places in the process where the school can get derailed; only by working together, as we did this week, will we be able to bring Bowie the new school it needs.
GERALDINE VALENTINO-SMITH
Bowie at-large councilwoman
Chief Barney Fife?
I got a chuckle from the photo of Bowie Police Chief Perez on the front page of last week's Blade-News. At first, I thought I was looking at a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A closer inspection, however, revealed it was the chief of our fledgling police force. Wearing three stars on each shoulder, and four gold braids on each sleeve, she looked more like a South American general. This might be appropriate for the head of the state police, or perhaps a large metropolitan police department, but seems out of place for such a small police force. It appears Barney Fife is alive, and serves as our police chief.
STEVE SHANAHAN
Bowie
Government disgust
I am writing to express my deepest disgust and anger at our federal government. As financial companies like Lehman Brothers, Sallie Mae and Fannie Mae crumble, the U.S. government wastes no time in putting them on welfare and saving them from bankruptcy. Yet the poor and homeless citizens of this country are basically told to "pick themselves up by their boot straps," and left to struggle to find the most basic necessities - food, medication and shelter. And as the recent mortgage crisis showed, our government's contempt extends to the middle class as little assistance has been given to those struggling to keep their homes.
Please tell me why it is more important to use $50 billion of taxpayers' money to put Wall Street firms and other corporations on welfare, yet the ordinary people in this country that really need help are left to fend for themselves? I guess it's not surprising when our government spends billions of dollars a week buying weapons to kill people in Iraq instead of bettering lives here at home through better education and health care. It is obvious where the priorities of the elected "leaders" of this country are.
Unfortunately, it will probably have to take another Great Depression for people to rise up and demand accountability from our corrupt government.
DAVID PIPER
Glenn Dale
Missing Sissy
I read in the Blade-News last week about a very sad family, who wrote about their 19-year-old family member going to sleep. This wonderful dog's name was Sissy. The family wrote that Sissy brought them unconditional love, joy and laughter for 19 years. And how she has a special place in their hearts and will sorely be missed.
Nineteen years for a dog's lifetime is really amazing! Any vet will tell us this. The family of this wonderful pet must have taken very good care of Sissy.
As we lost our own pet a year ago we understand the need for pet owners to be sure to have their animals checked at the vets yearly if they want them to have a happy, healthy and a very long life as Sissy did. It seems a dog's life is much too short.
I know this family will be missing Sissy for a very long time and my thoughts and prayers will be for them to always think of the happy times with such a wonderful family pet.
A true friend leaves footprints in your heart.
GERMAINE A. MOORE
Bowie
Likes bikes
It is sad to see a school discourage biking to school as Myles Beam reported last week. A bicycle is a great way to get around. I bike as much as I can. Most of my local errands are done by bike. When I can, I bike to work. Bowie has many great multiuse paths. At one point the city was recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists. Every May the city of Bowie issues a proclamation promoting bicycling and its benefits as part of national bicycle month.
Businesses are recognizing that bicycle parking is important to the community. I would like to thank the Free State Giant for installing a bike rack this past summer. Bike parking influences what local business gets my business.
There are ways to deal with safety for young riders to school. There is a national program called Safe Routes To School (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes) that promotes both walking and biking to schools. It promotes these nonmotorized means of getting to school for exactly the reasons Myles Beam listed. Additional resources can be found at www.saferoutesinfo.org. The later site has contacts for the Maryland program, which was funded to $2.5 million this year. The governor also supports this program.
The elementary school level is also the perfect time to begin teaching kids the right way to ride and learn how to be safe. The League of American Bicyclist (www.bikeleague.org/) has resources and materials for teachers to educate young riders. This could be an opportunity for Whitehall to teach a wonderful skill and keep the youngsters safe.
I had to laugh at the notion that the Whitehall Elementary principal would say that bikes are clutter. Bikes don't clutter the school grounds any more than the cars and SUVs clutter the parking lot.
Let's all be safe, follow the rules, and share the road.
KEN MCCAUGHEY
Bowie
Thanks, council
I wanted to give kudos to the Bowie City Council and honorable mention to our District 2 councilwoman, Diane Pologin. At the recent District 2 town meeting, traffic speed on Belair Drive was a concern. I was very pleased to see the new solar-powered, speed limit sign go up on Belair Drive, near Kembridge Drive, reminding motorists of their speed and what the posted speed limit is.
It's great encouragement to see the responsiveness of our City Council, and taking action to resolve a citizen concern. I encourage all Bowie residents to participate when your district town hall meeting occurs. It's great to see our government doing what it's elected to do.
PAT GROVES
Bowie
Flashing light
Sometime over the weekend someone hit and destroyed the flashing school zone sign on the corner of Northview Drive and Nashua Lane. We noticed the remains of the sign Monday morning when we walked our daughter to school. We called the Bowie police to ask that a cruiser be stationed at that intersection in the morning and afternoon when school lets in and out just until the sign could be repaired. We understand that there cannot permanently be a car there, but there is currently no sign warning drivers that they are entering a school zone and cars are speeding past the school.
In the past two years there have been several accidents at the corner of Nashua Lane and Northview Drive when drivers have lost control going around the corner, taking out private fences, trees, and now the school zone warning sign. We've reported the issue to the police and spoke to Chief Perez about it at the District 3 town hall meeting, but have been told there aren't enough resources to send a patrol car until the sign is repaired. Does it take a child getting hit before the police will help?
PETER & MARIE FARNEY
Bowie
Blanket statements
It is a truly amazing day when you can get 180 people in the Bowie community and beyond to take a few hours out of their busy Saturday to help an ill or wounded U.S. soldier that they don't even know. Saturday, 242 fleece blankets were made by area volunteers at Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie. Father Calis of Ascension Church blessed all of the blankets. These blankets will be shipped to a Soldiers Angels volunteer at the Landstuhl Regional Medical facility in Germany where they will be distributed as needed. The volunteers all did a fantastic job by breaking last year's record of 168 blankets made. The success of this event was a huge combined effort.
Thanks are due to many individuals, businesses and civic organizations. The fund raising for the event kicked off with a well-attended night at Old Bowie Town Grille. If you have never eaten there you should try it because the food and staff are wonderful there. The American Legion did an outstanding job with contributions coming from Sons of American Legion, Disney-Bell Post 66 in Bowie, as well as the ladies auxiliary. We would also like to thank Val-Pak of South Eastern Maryland, Nicholson Masonry, the Bowie Lions Club, Share and Care of Ascension Church, ARC water treatment, Shapiro and Duncan, Giant and UPS both at Free State Shopping Center, Jim Hossick for use of his sound system and Jimmy Marcos of TJ Elliott's.
We ask that in turn you will support these businesses and organizations; they are good people helping their community. We would also like to thank Father Calis for allowing use of the hall at Ascension Catholic Church, and Bowie City Hall for distributing our fliers. A special thanks to the Blade-News for supporting our efforts for the last few weeks.
We wish that we could name each and every person who helped, but there are just too many. We would just like to thank them all publicly for their hard work, kindness and generosity. If you would like to get involved with helping the soldiers, visit Soldiersangels.org. You will find many opportunities to volunteer in ways both large and small.
Thank you again for everything, you've made a difference in someone's life! We've also proven that great things do happen right here in Bowie. What a phenomenal community effort.
MAUREEN BARBER
MATTHEW DICK
LISA DODSON
VALERIE POTTER
