Letter to the editor from Sarah Abel-DeLuca

Letter to the editor from Sarah Abel-DeLuca

To the Editor:

In these hard economic times, it may seem counterintuitive to be generous; yet generosity, like honesty, is more than a virtue. It's also the best policy.

This year I've had ample opportunity to experience the immediate and tangible results of others' generosity, and it has inspired me to start living generously myself. To give just a few examples: community advocates Lyndi McNulty and Pam Zappardino contribute to virtually every good cause in Carroll County, so I said yes without hesitation to their recent requests to donate paintings for local charity auctions.

Local business owner Karen Pelton's charitable spirit has encouraged me to seek new outlets for my particular volunteering gift: supporting and mentoring fellow artists. The dedication and enthusiasm of Tim Rogers, Laurie Walters, a large group of excellent docents, and all the others who worked tirelessly on the recent Historic Westminster Holiday Home Tour paid my husband and me back a hundredfold for being hosts, as did the generosity of the tour participants.

Hundreds of people filed through all but one room of our 1870s Victorian house on a snowy, messy day -- yet our hardwood floors and carpets sustained absolutely no damage; none of our possessions was lost, stolen, hurt or disturbed in any way; and our house was left warmer and cozier by their visits, despite the chilly wind blowing in the front door. I should also mention local merchants such as Hickory Stick and The Flowerbox, who contributed decorations to houses on the tour.

The temptation, when times are tough, money is scarce, and fear is everywhere, is to pull in one's resources, stop giving to charities, and buy from the cheapest of big box stores rather than from local merchants or chains that have a commitment to their communities, the environment, or other good causes. I've given into this temptation many times myself. But thanks to the good example of citizens and businesses in our own community, I'm going to resist it this year. Pennypinching breeds scarcity. Generosity breeds abundance.

Pass it on.

Sarah Abel-DeLuca
Westminster

20090203 Letter to the editor from Sarah Abel-DeLuca
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/

20080521 Westminster Eagle: Letters to the editor in response to my May 14th 2008 Westminster Eagle column – “Pictures are worth a thousand words, but

Westminster Eagle: Letters to the editor in response to my May 14^th 2008 Westminster Eagle column – “Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture”

Find my May 14^th, 2008 Westminster Eagle column here: Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture

Or here: 20080515 Westminster Eagle: Pictures are worth a thousand words but not the whole picture by Kevin Dayhoff

Westminster Eagle Letters 05/21/08

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=978&NewsID=903777&CategoryID=17346&on=1

Humane Society right to stand for cow that couldn't

I take offense at the tone of Kevin Dayhoff's column on the Westminster Livestock auction in the May 14 edition of The Eagle ("Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture").

It was both snide and sarcastic as he described the reported inhumane treatment of a sick cow left outside the auction house overnight without food or water.

While I was not there -- nor was he -- I've been to enough livestock auctions in Maryland and Pennsylvania to know that poor or substandard treatment does indeed occur.

I'm glad the Humane Society takes an interest in monitoring these establishments, which, after all, are in the business of making money off these animals.

Mr. Dayhoff's column conveys the attitude that these "events" were misrepresented by the Humane Society and perhaps, were something of a witch hunt. I can't speak to that, but I feel these animals deserve humane, compassionate treatment while they are in our care -- even if they are eventually destined for our dinner table.

Michele Gramens

Westminster

Humane society found wrongdoing in Westminster

In response to The Humane Society of the United States' investigation into the treatment of dairy cows at livestock auctions in four states, including the Westminster Livestock Auction, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer stated:

"The dairy cattle shown in the video were non-ambulatory and were abandoned in parking lots of these auctions and yards. These animals were not in slaughter facilities. However, even though this is not a food safety issue, these actions of animal cruelty are not acceptable."

Secretary Schafer was spot on -- these animals, including the cow at Westminster, were abandoned in helpless and painful conditions by farmers, haulers and auction employees who should have known better.

Maryland law requires market operators to euthanize downed farm animals who are too sick or injured to stand or walk, or place them in the care of a licensed veterinarian at the close of a sale. Westminster appears to have failed to abide by the law, and left the cow to suffer through the night.

The HSUS contacted the Humane Society of Carroll County, whose officer found the cow in such dire straits that he euthanized her and issued a citation to the cow's owner. These are the sad facts of a case now being investigated by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

It is time for auction owners to treat animals humanely, and to act accordingly, both in terms of ethics and the law.

Miyun Park, vice president Farm Animal Welfare

Humane Society of the United States

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20080521 Westminster Eagle: Letters to the editor in response to my May 14^th 2008 Westminster Eagle column – “Pictures are worth a thousand words, but not the whole picture”