Letters to the Editor

Volume VII Number 27
Juuly 8-14, 1999

Sen. Pres. Heaps Praise on Heagy

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

I was quite touched to be selected as one of the subjects for the Sons and Daughters Father's Day piece in New Bay Times [June 24-30]. Thank you for seeking Melanie out and offering her the opportunity to share her perspective on our father-daughter relationship. After reading the article, her brother and sisters claim she must have grown up in a different household than they did. They claim not to recognize the sensitive and caring day that Melanie depicted. Thanks to writer Christopher Heagy for putting such a positive spin on the article.

-Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.,
President of the Maryland Senate

Save Yourself and Your Pet from Lyme Disease

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

Since its discovery in 1975, Lyme disease has become a serious health threat to both people and pets. From 1982 to 1996, more than 99,000 cases of Lyme disease have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control from virtually every state.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to people and animals by certain ticks, most commonly deer ticks. These ticks latch onto animals or people who brush against grass or shrubs.

Symptoms of this tick-borne illness in people may include a bull's-eye rash around the site of the tick bite, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of appetite and depression. If undiagnosed and left untreated, the diseases can progress to more disabling symptoms, including arthritis and heart abnormalities. Sometimes, in the earliest stages of the disease, there are no symptoms at all.

Fear of Lyme disease, however, should not keep you or your pet from enjoying the great outdoors. New vaccinations are available for both people and pets. Check with your doctor or veterinarian for more information.

In people, the disease in its early stages can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics. However, it can be difficult to diagnose, so it's best to prevent exposure by taking a few simple precautions when walking in the woods or other tick-infested areas.

• Tuck pants into shoes or socks and shirts into pants to keep ticks out
• Wear light-colored clothing to spot ticks easily
• Wear a hat to protect your head
• Use tick repellent to coat exposed skin
• Walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging grass and brush
• Check family members, including your pets, for ticks when you get home (It usually takes about 48 hours of feeding before the tick transmits the disease to its host.)

-American Humane Association, Englewood, Colorado.

Mystery Writer Heaps Praise on Burns

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

Thanks for publishing the article "Calvert Mystery" by Mark Burns [Dock of the Bay, June 24-30]. Mark did a great job capturing the spirit of the British Broadcasting Corporation filming in Calvert County. I especially liked the way he slipped a bit of humor (my flippant remarks) into the story. I was not even aware that he had taken note of them. But now I can see they contribute to a balanced perspective on a topic - our psi nature - that is often misunderstood or avoided.

The insightful perspectives that Mark gives to the filming adds to my own enjoyment of this gratifying experience. Articles like this also illustrate how people can work together to help others achieve a worthwhile goal. I am glad to see that he acknowledged the role that Patuxent Camp Sites and Vera Freeman of White Sands restaurant and marina had in making this a highly successful venture.

-Dale Graff, Prince Frederick

| Issue 27 |

We welcome your letter and opinions.
We will edit when necessary.
Mail them to NBT at
P.O. Box 358, Deale Md 20751
Click here to email.
Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.

| Homepage |
| Back to Archives |