Letters to the editor: Saint Maria Goretti fate shows lack of leadership

Planned Saint Maria Goretti closure shows lack of leadership

To the editor:

It was recently announced that Saint Maria Goretti in Washington County would close at the end of the 2023-24 school year. In 2019, a short four years ago, the school moved to its current location and was talking about expanding. What happened?

In 2019, Goretti had an enrollment of 199 students. In the current school year that number is down to 147, a decline of 25%. How could that happen so quickly? Even more troubling, how could it be ignored?

The answer is easy. It’s called a lack of leadership. How could the leaders neglect a significant decline in enrollment? They did, and closing is the result.

My professional career spans almost 50 years, including 30 years in higher education. I will relate a few stories that demonstrate leadership, both good and bad.

My first job as an engineer was with Bell Helicopter in the 60s. Bell was a very small company at that time, manufacturing only 20 UH-1 units per month in a single facility in Hurst, Texas, a small town outside Fort Worth.

So, how did Bell become the leading small and medium-sized helicopter company in the world today with facilities all over the world? The answer is easy — great engineering and executive leadership. I witnessed it personally on a regular basis.

In the mid 70s I worked for Control Data Corporation. CDC no longer exists. What happened?

In the 70s, Control Data was the leading scientific digital computer company in the world with the CDC 6600. For engineering calculations, no other company could touch it. I know because we used that computer to simulate operations, and IBM computers were not even a close second.

When it takes hours for a design run that represents less than 10 seconds of simulated flight you need the best. The CDC 6600 was the best. What is even more incredible, Control Data was a leader in three fields that were related to scientific computing. It occupied a 24-story corporate office tower in Minneapolis, not too far from the airport.

So how could the leading scientific computing company in the world disappear? You guessed it — failed corporate leadership. CDC went bankrupt, a 24-story corporate headquarters went dark and 55,000 employees lost their jobs. I was one of them.

Maria Goretti has an 80-year history that is rich with success. The Herald-Mail recently documented a number of well-known, successful coaches in several sports. Their careers spanned decades at Goretti.

Many of their players went on to successful careers at Division 1 schools. One coach was recently inducted in the Hall of Fame.

A short time ago the Herald-Mail announced the selection of the Offensive Player of the Year in Girls Soccer. Her statistics are almost unbelievable. Mollie is a Goretti girl.

Sadly, when there is organizational failure, those responsible are never hurt. At CDC the leaders just moved on. It was the employees and their families that suffered.

At Goretti, it will be the same. The leaders responsible will retire or move on. The victims will be the students and their parents.

Washington County will lose a wonderful high school — forever. But it does not have to happen unless we let it happen. As Ben Hogan once said, “Success is all between the ears.”

Len Lindenmeyer

Hagerstown

Make your voice heard on South Mountain Golf Course

To the editor:

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is going to close South Mountain Golf Course (SMGC) in December 2025. DCNR wants to build a new building on the site to house their staff even though there are many alternative sites within Caledonia State Park, Michaux or South Mountain. We are attempting to fight that decision, and more than 2,000 residents signed a petition objecting to the closing.

SMGC is often the site of choice for golf leagues, corporate outings, resident outings, fundraising events and even night golf. There simply is no other venue in the area capable of hosting outings that include barbeques, picnics and get-togethers after playing golf.

Couple this with a very inexpensive price, and you can see why residents are so against this closing. This site choice is even more confusing considering that there is no cost to the state for the SMGC. The state enjoys revenue from an annual lease from the George family, who operate and maintain the golf course.

SMGC had about 20,000 rounds of golf played in 2023. SMGC is popular because it is basically flat and ideal for exercise and walking. It is very user friendly for families, youth and senior players.

It is a bargain to play here, as prices have remained stable and affordable. Unlike other similar courses in the area, it is well maintained throughout the golf season.

It is amazing that the decision to close a public recreational site (in use for over 50 years) was made without any input from the area residents and users. There has been no public hearing or discussion about closing SMGC. This is even more alarming considering there are several alternative sites that do not affect the residents or users of SMGC.

The residents of South Mountain, Quincy Township, Franklin and Adams counties and the surrounding communities are strongly against closing SMGC.

At a recent hastily called meeting in October, DCNR was there to present what they were doing with SMGC. They wanted no input or feedback. About 300 people all wanted to participate and provide input; they were not allowed to talk.

It is only fair to convene a public meeting seeking input from the affected residents before making a decision to close SMGC. This issue really resonates with the people in the area, and our voices need to be heard.

We are working with Quincy Township to schedule a public meeting to discuss this issue. DCNR needs to participate and be involved and listen to the residents.

If you want to help preserve SMGC, please send an email or letter to Gov. Shapiro (josh@joshshapiro.org) or Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the DCNR (cindydunn@pa.gov). You could also contact Rob Kaufman, State Representative (rkauffma@pahousegop.com) or Doug Mastriano, State Senator (dmastriano@pasen.gov).

Bernie Goldberg

Fayetteville, Pa.

Joe Vogel's candidacy in Sixth District is refreshing

To the editor:

Imagine being 27 in today’s world. Chances are, you‘d be pretty disheartened and discouraged about the state of affairs, regardless of your political affiliation.

That's why Joe Vogel's candidacy for the Sixth District, our representative in Washington, is refreshing in Maryland politics and something for folks in our community to be excited about for the primary this May.

Joe is 27, 53 years younger than me. He’s truly concerned with what’s going on in this country and the world.

Joe also has represented his district in Maryland for the last two years. I think his record is solid and now Joe wants to take his talents and enthusiasm to Congress.

In Annapolis he's working to:

• Provide seniors with a state tax credit based on income

• Cap the price on some opioid reversal drugs

• Provide security for reproductive health care clinics

• Make it easier for striking workers to get unemployment insurance

• Provide state employees with paid leave to get cancer screenings

• Help school districts tackle high levels of absenteeism and offer free driver education programs

• Help start-up businesses that aim to address the climate crisis

• Prohibit employers from discriminating against workers who decline to attend meetings where employers promote opinions on religious, anti-union or political matters

The race is a crowded field. But it’s a very important race. The winner could determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the House of Representatives next year.

Joe belongs to the generation that's going to face the consequences of what’s going on today, and he wants to have a say in how to deal with it.

If for no other reason, I expect to vote for him, because I think he and other members of his generation deserve to be heard ... Now!

Dennis Shaw

Williamsport

A chance to elect a fighter for Maryland’s 6th District

To the editor:

I thought I was going to die during my last firefight in Afghanistan. Then I was saved. Now, it’s America that needs saving.

The realities of war are harsh. You hear about it in boot camp, but nothing can fully prepare you for when the bullets start flying and you’re trapped in a field of enemy IEDs on the battlefield in Afghanistan.

At 17 and a half, fueled by a sense of duty and patriotism, I enlisted as an 11 Bravo, U.S. Army Infantryman. After completing basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, I was ready to defend our country with an M-16 rifle.

I deployed to Afghanistan in 2014. My unit's primary responsibility was guarding supply routes, riding in convoys daily, engaging with the local population and traversing the harsh landscapes across Afghanistan from base to base. Our unit was confronted by the enemy daily, and we were engaged in over 60 firefights.

Then came the day of the ambush.

What began as a routine supply run quickly spiraled into chaos. Our Humvee was struck by an IED, unleashing an ambush from our right. As I found cover behind another Humvee, my leg was hit with a piece of metal, altering the course of my life forever.

Amidst the chaos, our team leader yelled "danger close," signaling the arrival of the F-18 close air support. The swift response of the combat aviators is the reason I’m still here today.

They saved my life.

When our unit came under attack, the Armed Forces sent the F-18 aviators.

Now, the country I risked everything for is under a different kind of attack, and it’s time we send former F-18 combat aviator Tom Royals to Congress to fight back.

Like me, Tom knew he had to answer the call to serve after the attacks on Sept. 11. In the Navy, Tom flew combat missions in his F-18 over Afghanistan and Iraq — missions like the one that saved my life.

When I first met Tom, we immediately connected, bonded by a brotherhood that only those who have worn the uniform will understand. Tom is a fighter and patriot whose commitment to God, family and country is sorely missing in Congress.

Tom Royals will fight to keep America safe from foreign adversaries. He’ll fight to secure our border and keep drugs out of our communities. He’ll fight to stop the lawlessness in our streets.

He’ll fight for our veterans. He’ll fight to fix this broken economy. And he’ll fight for the rights of parents.

I believe in this country so much that I was willing to lay down my life to defend her. It pains me to see the country I fought for going down such a dangerous path, so I ask you to join me in supporting former combat aviator Tom Royals for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District — because when America is under attack, you send a fighter.

Dustin Burns

Sharpsburg

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Herald-Mail letters to the editor for Sunday, Feb. 18