JFK 50 Mile once again a world-class event
To the editor:
Thank You Herald-Mail, Washington County, volunteers and Mr. (Mike) Spinnler.
The newspaper and media coverage was outstanding and very well-received by the community and the many visitors to our area. The support of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Maryland State Police, Washington County Sheriffs Department, the various community emergency services and ambulance companies provided much-needed medical assistance and care. The aid station volunteers and the volunteers at the finish were amazing. They provided runners with much needed encouragement, water, Gatorade and food. The spectators were, as always, absolutely amazing and incredibly enthusiastic. But it is truly the citizens of Washington County and their attitude that makes this event great and world class.
The comments I heard from the runners in appreciation of the historical significance of the event, the course and the community involvement was especially gratifying. Many of them have run in races all over the United States and the world, and their observations about Washington County made me very proud to live here.
They left the area with wonderful memories and plans to return to see historical sites and relive the special day that Nov. 17, 2012, was for each and every one of them.
Every year, I continue to be awestruck by the JFK 50 Mile. It has evolved into a truly international event that reflects so positively on our community and our citizens. I know that Nov. 23, 2013, will be another day to remember. Here is to 50 more years.
John Louderback and family
Hagerstown
Electoral College should be abolished
To the editor:
The Electoral College is so antiquated that it should be abolished. The demographics and modern advances in technology have made the Electoral College meaningless.
It is of great importance for all who vote to read how the Electoral College operates, and you will soon see it is not a process that meets modern-day conditions.
The Electoral College has been in existence since 1789. The Electoral College is a group of people chosen every four years by the candidates’ parties in each state of the union and the District of Columbia. Each state chooses its electors, and each state has been given a set number of electors. When you vote, you are voting for the candidates’ electors, and even if your party’s electors get the popular vote, they are not bound to choose their party’s candidate.
Each state is entitled to as many electoral votes as it has members in Congress plus three electoral votes for the District of Columbia. The House will have 435 electors, the Senate 100 electors and three electors for the District of Columbia for a total of 538 electors. Electors have cast their vote for the minority party eight times.
If a candidate does not receive 270 electoral votes due to more than two parties having candidates, then the House of Representatives selects the president and the Senate selects the vice president. The Electoral College was set up in 1787 because small states feared a stream of presidents from Virginia and Massachusetts. Southern states wanted to offset the power of the North.
I suggest we change our Constitution to have the office of the president and vice president be chosen by majority vote.
Tom Wilhelm
Hagerstown
More people always ready to take up the witch hunt
To the editor:
Last week, John McCain was whooping and hollering about Ambassador Susan Rice and her remarks about the Benghazi incident. He even skipped a classified briefing on Benghazi to hold a press conference on the subject and then blew his top when a CNN reporter asked him about it. He eventually got the message, went to a different briefing by David Petraeus on Benghazi and finally shut up.
But there are always more people ready to take up the witch hunt. Ninety-seven Republican members of Congress wrote a letter to President Obama, blasting Rice and telling him not to nominate her to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I guess they were irritated because they didn’t get invited to Petraeus’ briefing.
Why did they do that? Because she’s a woman? No. Because she’s black? No. If you ask me, they are trying to smear her to the point that she cannot be successfully nominated, in hopes that President Obama will be forced to pick Sen. John Kerry as Secretary of State, thereby opening a Massachusetts special election for tea party darling Scott Brown. I’ll bet Karl Rove thought that one up.
Burr Loomis
Chambersburg, Pa.
‘City College’ experience was a valuable one
To the editor:
Well done to Erin Wolfe and Hagerstown city staff.
As a user of Hagerstown city services, a Realtor and a member of the Downtown Alliance, I felt it important that I learn more about the city and its services.
“City College” was just the opportunity I needed. I participated in educational sessions in which I learned about planning (land usage) and zoning, parks and recreation, economic development, city leadership, fire prevention, wastewater management, financing and parking, to name only a few of the topics. City College is an opportunity for all city residents to learn more about their community. It is very evident that those providing services to the citizens of Hagerstown are dedicated and proud of what they do.
Congratulations to all for a job well done.
Frank Getz
Coldwell Banker Innovations
To the editor:
Thank You Herald-Mail, Washington County, volunteers and Mr. (Mike) Spinnler.
The newspaper and media coverage was outstanding and very well-received by the community and the many visitors to our area. The support of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Maryland State Police, Washington County Sheriffs Department, the various community emergency services and ambulance companies provided much-needed medical assistance and care. The aid station volunteers and the volunteers at the finish were amazing. They provided runners with much needed encouragement, water, Gatorade and food. The spectators were, as always, absolutely amazing and incredibly enthusiastic. But it is truly the citizens of Washington County and their attitude that makes this event great and world class.
The comments I heard from the runners in appreciation of the historical significance of the event, the course and the community involvement was especially gratifying. Many of them have run in races all over the United States and the world, and their observations about Washington County made me very proud to live here.
They left the area with wonderful memories and plans to return to see historical sites and relive the special day that Nov. 17, 2012, was for each and every one of them.
Every year, I continue to be awestruck by the JFK 50 Mile. It has evolved into a truly international event that reflects so positively on our community and our citizens. I know that Nov. 23, 2013, will be another day to remember. Here is to 50 more years.
John Louderback and family
Hagerstown
Electoral College should be abolished
To the editor:
The Electoral College is so antiquated that it should be abolished. The demographics and modern advances in technology have made the Electoral College meaningless.
It is of great importance for all who vote to read how the Electoral College operates, and you will soon see it is not a process that meets modern-day conditions.
The Electoral College has been in existence since 1789. The Electoral College is a group of people chosen every four years by the candidates’ parties in each state of the union and the District of Columbia. Each state chooses its electors, and each state has been given a set number of electors. When you vote, you are voting for the candidates’ electors, and even if your party’s electors get the popular vote, they are not bound to choose their party’s candidate.
Each state is entitled to as many electoral votes as it has members in Congress plus three electoral votes for the District of Columbia. The House will have 435 electors, the Senate 100 electors and three electors for the District of Columbia for a total of 538 electors. Electors have cast their vote for the minority party eight times.
If a candidate does not receive 270 electoral votes due to more than two parties having candidates, then the House of Representatives selects the president and the Senate selects the vice president. The Electoral College was set up in 1787 because small states feared a stream of presidents from Virginia and Massachusetts. Southern states wanted to offset the power of the North.
I suggest we change our Constitution to have the office of the president and vice president be chosen by majority vote.
Tom Wilhelm
Hagerstown
More people always ready to take up the witch hunt
To the editor:
Last week, John McCain was whooping and hollering about Ambassador Susan Rice and her remarks about the Benghazi incident. He even skipped a classified briefing on Benghazi to hold a press conference on the subject and then blew his top when a CNN reporter asked him about it. He eventually got the message, went to a different briefing by David Petraeus on Benghazi and finally shut up.
But there are always more people ready to take up the witch hunt. Ninety-seven Republican members of Congress wrote a letter to President Obama, blasting Rice and telling him not to nominate her to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. I guess they were irritated because they didn’t get invited to Petraeus’ briefing.
Why did they do that? Because she’s a woman? No. Because she’s black? No. If you ask me, they are trying to smear her to the point that she cannot be successfully nominated, in hopes that President Obama will be forced to pick Sen. John Kerry as Secretary of State, thereby opening a Massachusetts special election for tea party darling Scott Brown. I’ll bet Karl Rove thought that one up.
Burr Loomis
Chambersburg, Pa.
‘City College’ experience was a valuable one
To the editor:
Well done to Erin Wolfe and Hagerstown city staff.
As a user of Hagerstown city services, a Realtor and a member of the Downtown Alliance, I felt it important that I learn more about the city and its services.
“City College” was just the opportunity I needed. I participated in educational sessions in which I learned about planning (land usage) and zoning, parks and recreation, economic development, city leadership, fire prevention, wastewater management, financing and parking, to name only a few of the topics. City College is an opportunity for all city residents to learn more about their community. It is very evident that those providing services to the citizens of Hagerstown are dedicated and proud of what they do.
Congratulations to all for a job well done.
Frank Getz
Coldwell Banker Innovations
