"If the commissioners accept an $8,000 raise, no matter who recommends it, they should all be voted out of office. If there's money for raises like that, it would be better utilized to reduce our taxes." - Hagerstown

"I'm reading the Oct. 30 newspaper, Herald-Mail, and I read that the Alsatia Club is short on donations. My question is why would they pay the University of Maryland marching band $5,300 to come march in this parade? I don't think it's justified." - Chewsville

"Maybe if the government would do another stimulus program ... it would help get the people out to spend some money, especially here, around Christmastime." - Hagerstown

"I'm calling to say thank you to the teachers and BOE staff that go the extra mile every day by staying late to take care of kids with transportation and after-school issues. The paper never prints anything to acknowledge teachers and staff for their daily extra effort. We only hear the negative, when a kid gets on the wrong bus or arrives at home while the parents are at work. A few needy, vocal parents are trying to shift traditional parental responsibilities of raising kids and being there for them onto the BOE ... 20 to 30 kids for six or more hours a day, five days a week. A little support and cooperation would go a long way. Some days, teachers like to go home on time, too." - Smithsburg

"I think that all county wages and benefits should be frozen right now, because of the economy. A lot of us people have terribly high health insurance rates, and we don't get a great big pension." - Williamsport

"I'm calling in to tell the parents that's giving the bus stop people at the board a rough time, you ought to be glad that they are picked up and brought home. When I went to school or my children went to school, there was no bus, so it was up to the parents to get them and bring them back. Some walked six miles. So please give the BOE credit for picking up your children." - South End

"This is calling regarding Mail Call on Friday, Oct. 31, the person from Sharpsburg saying well, if we're gonna give the County Commissioners a pay raise, make it a full-time job. Oh, God help us ... do not make it a full-time job. We can't afford these County Commissioners if it's a full-time job. Please just say 'no' to the pay raise and 'no' to full-time commissioners." - Maugansville

"God does not send us despair in order to kill us; he sends it in order to awaken us to new life."

"I think it's a shame our big banks urge credit card debts forgiveness. If they want to do anything, put a $1,000 limit on credit cards, or at the very most, $2,000. For our tax dollars to forgive credit card debt is unreasonable, and that's what it boils down to, our tax dollar doing it." - Smithsburg

"Two weeks ago, I was in the intensive care unit of Washington County Hospital, and I think people should be able to hear some good things about our hospital. On the weekend, I was in intensive care, hanging on, and the day-shift nurse, Heather, she never let me go without telling me what was going on, what my body was supposed to be like. The night-shift nurse was just as good. I think we ought to be thankful that we do have people like that working in the intensive care unit." - Hagerstown

"In response to the person from Falling Waters, W.Va., that Mail Called in about the traffic arrows in Williamsport, I do somewhat agree with them. It is kind of confusing; however, for them, there is an alternative route. It is called Interstate 81, and it wouldn't be so congested." - Williamsport

"I think there should be a reminder that people at this time of the year should not blow their leaves out of their yard out into the streets in the city of Hagerstown, because there is a fine for that. There are elderly people that are not able to rake all their leaves, and it's not fair when you just blow them straight out there, and it's not very nice."

"What is it that the South End of Hagerstown can never keep a post office? It was very convenient. Now you either have to go to Funkstown, you have to go to Williamsport or you have to go uptown and fight traffic. Consider us a little more. I live in the South End, and I really appreciated the post office."

"I agree with the call about not needing a new mall that would surely have the other malls and stores lose business. This Stone House should not have been allowed, when there was Long Meadow with empty stores right across the street. Driving is a mess in there." - Hagerstown