Letters to the Editor
Hike with the Appalachian Mountain Club
Dear Bay Weekly:
I enjoyed Sarah Williams’ article “Hiking in Our Winter Wonderland” [Vol. XI, No. 1, Jan. 20], with its sound advice for keeping comfortable in cold or wet weather. The article is more appropriate than ever after the recent blizzard.
Your writer did not mention that there are many other hiking organizations in the area, including the Appalachian Mountain Club, which conducts hikes and canoe trips throughout the Washington, Maryland and Virginia area. We can be reached both on the web at www.amc-dc.org and by hotline at 202/298-1488. Hope to see you on the trail!
— Sylvia Reis: Chair, D.C. Chapter Appalachian Mountain Club
Whoops: We Were Wrong on Island Rebuilding
Dear Bay Weekly:
The Way Downstream column of February 27 [Vol. XI, No. 9] noted that officials are looking for an island for disposal of dredge spoils from Baltimore Harbor. Unless I am mistaken, all of the Baltimore Harbor dredge spoil goes to Hart-Miller Island due to the contamination from years of industrial dumping. Only materials from the approach channels in the Bay are used in the reconstruction of islands.
Personally, I think this use of clean dredge materials to create island habitat is much better than the open-Bay dumping.
— Dave Manning, Cape St. Claire
Editor’s note: Mr. Manning is right; we should have said Bay shipping channels.
For Emergency Lighting, Take a Lesson from Airplanes
Dear Bay Weekly:
At the recent nightclub fire in Rhode Island, several survivors said that the emergency lights and exit signs went out shortly after the fire started. How could that be, when these battery-powered lights were just tested two months earlier?
The answer lies in where they were located, above the exit doors. They were lost in the smoke that filled the ceiling before it reached to the floor.
There should be exit signs and lights above doors where patrons can see them before any fire starts or if the problem is just a power failure. However, more exit signs and lights should be at floor level near the exits, so that those crawling along the floor to escape the smoke can head for them.
The airlines have learned this lesson. Along the aisle on the floor are lights that show which are the exit rows by light and by feel.
All places of public patronage should have emergency exit lights at floor level that will not be hidden by smoke.
— Tom Trottier, Ottawa, Ontario
We welcome your letters and opinions. We will edit when necessary. Include your name, address and phone number for verification. Mail them to Bay Weekly, P.O. Box 358, Deale, MD 20751 • E-mail them to us at [email protected].
