OTHER VOICES

Honoring with humor

Obituaries are not normally entertaining reading. Interesting, perhaps, but not entertaining.

However, while thumbing through the newspaper I had turned to the page containing the death notices and was about to turn to the next page when I noticed an obituary that extended the full length of the page Jan. 6).

Now, I usually avoid reading the death notices because, at age 91, I am leery of finding my name. But my curiosity prompted me to start reading that lengthy obituary, and I soon found myself chuckling as I read a delightfully humorous account of the well-lived life of a man obviously well-loved.

In this time of constant conflict and polarized politics, it was so refreshing to find that account of homespun humor and warm family love.

To the family of John J. Hartnett, thank you for sharing your gift of humor, a truly grand way of honoring the memory of your beloved John. JAMES A. SAGERHOLM Severna Park

Association reform

Congratulations to the 2019 Maryland General Assembly members and 2019 County Council members. A lot of things need fixing in Maryland, including laws pertaining to homeowner associations, condominium associations and their management companies that operate in Maryland.

It is hard to believe that there appears to be no Maryland state licensing requirements for these associations. Better laws and regulations by some sort of government agency may be needed for oversight purposes when homeowner associations want to create, amend and/or change bylaws, policies and handle HOA. funds.

In past years, there has been support by many people for Maryland to license HOA and condo associations, but no bills or laws were passed yet to enact it. Currently, thousands of Maryland homeowners and more to come are effected by a homeowner and or condo association.

Many of these said associations collect and manage money and they are involved with their community covenants, restrictions, bylaws, amendments and policies which sometimes leads to disputes with their homeowners.

Perhaps more government agencies may be needed to assure that homeowner and condominium associations are being fair and reasonable with their homeowners.

Currently , I am suing a homeowner association, which is now pending a court outcome.

I cannot alone, get the Maryland state and local county government agencies to pass laws. So I am asking the public to help with this matter by contacting your elected government officials to support, introduce and pass bills and laws to better regulate homeowner and condominium associations and their management companies. BILL LAMBROS

Annapolis

Stop the hate

Monday night I attended the County Council meeting, to welcome the new line up and to have the new experience of attending. There were many who came with deep emotion regarding how we welcome immigrants/refugees.

One speaker asked who in the audience was not descended from an immigrant. Another speaker giving welcome to the numbers of Hispanic Americans in the audience spoke in Spanish — giving rise to the first rumble from the audience, a yell to “speak English.” Rumbles have usefulness but fear is not useful.

Another speaker addressed the question of “sanctuary” city or county and said a part of the county is indeed a sanctuary for white supremacy.

The level of fear in our county achieved a new abrasive quality in the past two years. The discrimination that produced the 287(g) program is new, within this time period.

This issue will be officially addressed at the Jan. 22 County Council meeting. Before then I hope that many people will respond to the invitation by County Executive Steuart Pittman to have two town halls to talk about the ending of 287(g).

Fear, we are all tired of fear, don’t you think? Each of the county council members, you need to pay attention to this. Hate and fear hold people back.

My councilwoman is Amanda Fiedler; I believe she acknowledged my smile and nod. If Nathan Volke were my councilman, I would have smiled and nodded to him also.

Hate and fear hold people back. Human kindness is the responsibility of all of us; healthy policing is one outcome of such kindness. The fear inspired by 287(g) needs to stop. The initiative of building relationships where we really listen to people and give each other respect needs to begin. ALICE CHASE Cape St. Claire

The president’s coat

Has anyone noticed that President Donald Trump always wears a topcoat when all the men around him are in suits?

Is this his way of insuring that he is seen as the boss or his substitute for regal regalia or is he just ... dealing with real weather conditions he can’t control? ALLEN SIMPSON Edgewater

Pain centers

I am reading articles on the drug crisis. I don’t see any of the pain management centers being monitored.

I can tell you from personal experience that about 10 years ago when my doctor no longer knew how to control my pain I was referred to a pain management center.

They give you prescriptions visit after visit and at some point your not sure which one you’re supposed to take and when. There were times I had to have someone take me to the visits because I couldn’t function.

I laid around for so long I developed pneumonia and had to be put on a respirator to breathe. I completely lost three months of my life.

Until someone finally decides to stop doctors from writing prescriptions for these drugs our crisis will continue.