Letters to the Editor
Which Way Is Up
Dear Bay Weekly:
I am an 87-year-old retired Air Force master navigator. I realize that the ravages of the years can cause the loss of some memories. However, it is too much to believe the change suggested by the subject. When I look out my back porch window down here at Cove Point at night I can see Polaris, the North Star. The southern horizon is at my back, and the Eastern Shore and horizon are on my right. When did this change?
I enjoy the Bay Weekly very much and never fail to pick up a copy at the post office.
— George E. Mineur Jr., Cove Point
Editor’s note: You are probably used to looking at terrestrial navigation charts, which impose the cardinal coordinates north, east, south and west in a clockwise fashion, just as you’ve stated.
However, celestial maps, like the one that runs with Bay Weekly’s Sky Facts, is geared toward looking up at the heavens. Specifically, tilt your head back and skyward and turn until north is at the top of your upturned head. Now you should see that, yes, east and west do correspond to the inversed placement you’ve mentioned with the Sky Facts map.
Hope this passes as an explanation.
Making Beautiful Music Together
Dear Bay Weekly:
I was captivated by Sara Ebenreck’s article on Wayne Karlin’s novel The Wished-for Country (Vol. XI, No. 12, March 20). It challenged me to listen more carefully to the “song that my life creates.” It seems to me that in one way or another we are all “Wesorts” — we are all trying to find ways to fit into the larger community.
We all have “songs” to sing and it is important that we listen to our own life’s story, as well as listen to the life stories of everyone and everything around us. When we can get to the place where we respect another’s song, instead of being mistrustful and fearful of it, we will make beautiful music together.
— Vicki Rhoades, Sunderland
Still Searching for Joan Howe
Dear Bay Weekly:
In your paper of March 20 (Vol. XI, No. 12), there was a letter from Ken Kaufman of New York, stating that he owned a painting by Joan Howe and that he had traced her to Annapolis.
My name is Joan Howe and I do paint and was quoted in the Bay Weekly article during Mr. Burton’s posing session. I do not know how to contact Mr. Kaufman, but perhaps you will forward his address to me (or his e-mail address). I could be the artist that he is looking for or it may be another Joan Howe. Years ago, I came across another Joan Howe — also an artist — in Key West, Florida. Her work was very admirable.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
— Joan Howe, Annapolis: [email protected]
Editor’s note: The forwarding has been done. Now we’re looking forward to learning if art collector Kaufman and Annapolis artist Howe are indeed the right match.
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].
