Letters to the editor: Return of bull & oyster roast; thoughts on public school graduation
Rotary clubs bring back bull and oyster roast
To the editor:
After a two-year absence due to COVID-19, the area’s most successful fundraiser is back.
This year the event is being named after the founder, Dave Henneberger, who unexpectedly died in November of cardiac arrest.
The Dave Henneberger Memorial Bull and Oyster Roast will be Sunday, Feb 26, noon to 5 p.m. at the Hagerstown Community College ARCC.
This year the Hagerstown area's three local Rotary clubs have joined forces to host this fabulous fun filled gathering.
The good will be plentiful, including all-you-can-eat fresh-shucked oysters, fried oysters, sliced-to-your-liking top of round of beef, Hoffman’s famous sizzlers, golden brown fried chicken, Maryland crab soup, salads, numerous dishes and tasty desserts, plus wine, beer and soft drinks.
In addition, there will be a silent auction of very desirable merchandise, gift cards, vacation destinations and more.
The Rotary clubs have presented local charities with nearly $2 million as a result of fundraisers like this.
Your support would be greatly appreciated and you will have a tremendous time.
Admission costs $60 per person, and you can purchase your tickets online at http://hagerstownrotary.org/.
Herb Smith, Rotary District Governor ElectJerry Spessard, President Hagerstown Rotary ClubTiffany Markuski-Gardner, President Hagerstown Sunrise Rotary ClubClint Rawlings, President Williamsport Rotary Club
Humane Society of Washington County thanks community for celebrating 100th anniversary
To the editor:
As we reflect on the Humane Society of Washington County’s year-long Centennial Celebration, I want to thank those who joined us in honoring our first 100 years in this community and those who stepped up to help us prepare for more life-saving work over the next 100.
More:Humane society kicks off centennial celebration with time capsule
Whether joining us to bury a historical shelter time-capsule, sharing an animal photo for our Centennial Calendar, entering our Hall of Fame Alumni Photo Contest, making a stop at a local business to see one of the commemorative animal statues, or toasting to a century at our 100th Anniversary Gala, this community came together for animals and made our celebration a success.
Our friends throughout the local business community also rose to the occasion with generous support to honor a milestone year. We want to thank our presenting sponsor, Antietam Broadband, for being an incredible advocate for HSWC and the animals in our care. We are grateful to HBP for helping us brand our 100 Year Celebration and sponsoring the printed items used during the celebratory year. We also want to thank our supporting sponsors: First United Bank & Trust, Purina, The Holzapfel Group at Morgan Stanley, SEK CPAs & Advisors, Design Method Group, Spherion Staffing, Valley Pet, Charles Schwab - Hagerstown, Two Men and a Truck, Somerset Fire Alarm and Security, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Klauber and family, and Howard’s Art and Frames.
We thank Veronica Furukawa for designing HSWC’s beautiful Centennial logo and Semper Anticus Photography for capturing special memories throughout the year.
HSWC’s 100th year brought great things, including adopting out 2,206 animals, reuniting 355 lost animals with their families, trap-neuter-returning 950 community cats, distributing 21.9 tons of food through our Pet Food Bank, and providing low-cost preventative veterinary services to more than 500 owned animals.
From all of us at HSWC, thank you, Washington County, for making this the best year yet.
Colin BerryExecutive DirectorHumane Society of Washington County
Achievement of new Hagerstown mayor is 'thrown shade' on social media
To the editor:
The term “throwing shade” refers to the behavior of an individual who is passively disrespecting another, and this conduct can be manifested in different forms. The perpetrator might elect to be more direct when implementing said practice, while others might pretend that their slight was unintentional.
A recent social media post from a former delegate would seemingly constitute this childish practice, as they would appear to reference the accomplishments of our recently appointed mayor.
Related:'It's surreal': Hagerstown celebrates Tekesha Martinez as its first black mayor
Shortly after 4 p.m. on Feb. 7, Tekesha Martinez became the first woman of color to be sworn in as mayor of our city. At 4:54 p.m., a former delegate posted the following comments on social media: “Lord have mercy on us. God help us!!” While other women elected to celebrate this milestone, the former delegate is alleged to have also quipped “happy black history month.”
Our mayor and the former delegate share the luxury of making history by breaking racial barriers — achievements that should constitute shared celebration. But the former delegate, who should have known better, could not muster the humility to extend congratulatory comments.
This conduct reveals a lack of connection with the citizens that the delegate was once tasked to serve, for we recognize and celebrate the achievements of our community members and definitely don’t attempt to throw shade in public. It is inconsistent to present yourself as an advocate while treating your fellow citizens like this.
The former delegate is not the only individual guilty of this behavior as there are several self-appointed/propped up personalities who present themselves one way while acting completely differently to curry favor. These actions, along with the people who perpetrate them, are divisive, destructive, counter-productive and unwelcome in any community. Enough is enough.
Joseph JeffersonHagerstown
Valedictorians, salutatorians should remain part of WCPS graduations
To the editors:
Washington County Public Schools Board of Education members: I have read the Sunday, Jan. 29, edition of The Herald-Mail and this is my response to the question posed by Board Member Darrell Evans: “What does the public have to say about this?” Having formerly been a teacher (MEd, 1970 CWRU) and having been a six-decade proponent of educational excellence, I would like to provide my answer.
I have been watching the slow, but increasingly rapid changes to public education via, to some extent, progressive ideologies. Have those changes worked? I say no. During those past six decades of change, expenditures per student have increased while many measures of academic achievement (math, science and language arts subject scores, as well as international rankings) have declined. Our academic meritocracy has been eroding because objectivity has been ceding to subjectivity.
I believe I am a member of the silent majority. Unfortunately, the minority’s positions have a megaphone in the mainstream and social media. Thus, I want to add my voice in support of maintaining the present merit-based system of valedictorian and salutatorian.
As to the concerns of Assistant Superintendent Gary Willow, I suggest that, instead of eliminating the present merit-based system, why not just add new graduation categories for those students who have pursued other educational paths, thus elevating more students for recognition. That way, we do not have to erode the educational meritocracy that is needed for our WCPS students to regain its growth in academic achievement.
Let’s not dilute academic achievement. Rather, strengthen it for our WCPS students.
Frank MalejkoHagerstown
When it comes to secret documents, like books, actions speak louder than words
To the editor:
Well Pete Waters, I don’t know much about secret documents (Feb. 5), but I do know something about people.
I have a lot of books, and occasionally I loan them out. Sometimes when I can’t find a book I am looking for, I have to call some of my friends and ask if they have one or more of my books. Usually they say “yes, that they are in a safe place, even locked safely in a garage,” and they bring them over right away.
But then there was that one guy that when I called about some books, the guy said he didn’t have any of them. A mutual acquaintance saw my books on his shelves, so I asked the guy again.
His reply was, “They are not yours, they are mine.” Now, I knew that wasn’t true, so I finally had to get the authorities to take my books away from him.
He then got on social media and said a lot of nasty things about me and the authorities that took back my books.
That’s the one guy that, in my mind, is despicable.
Dr. Thomas G. ClemensKeedysville
Front-page photo illustrates the balance between Palestinians, Israelis
To the editor:
Even though the violence against Palestinians by Israel is escalating, with far more Palestinians killed by Israelis than vice-versa (in 2022, more than 170 Palestinians, compared to 20-plus Israelis), and more than 900 Palestinian homes demolished by Israel that year, American media still tend to want to portray Israelis as the victims.
Thank you for printing the picture on the front page of (the Jan. 30) edition of Palestinian girls in the debris of their Jerusalem house that was demolished by Israeli bulldozers. Israel isn't victimized; its greatest threat is its own role as victimizer.
Paulette LeeHagerstown
There were three balloons during the last administration, and we were never told?
To the editor:
Wait, are you telling me that the guy who hid his taxes and hid his medical records and hid his Putin meeting transcripts and hid his stolen classified documents, also hid the existence of three Chinese spy balloons during his presidency? Oh come on, get out of here.
Patricia TaylorWilliamsport
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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Humane Society offers thanks for Centennial Celebration
