Voices From The Readers – November 4, 2016

Voices From The Readers – November 4, 2016
tdmailbox

South Point Issue Needs Attention

Editor:

Please read pages 27-28 of The Dispatch last week and understand this is only a portion of my arguments for adding a bike lane or shoulder to South Point Road. This subject is not closed and is a continuation of several requests presented over the years.

Two citizens that signed my petition, who did not know each other, were very concerned over a similar fact. They both brought to my attention that the County Commissioners were Republicans and that they don’t want to spend any money on projects like this. I was shocked to hear them bring politics into this issue and had to gently inform them that I was a conservative Republican with a Trump sign in my yard.

I hope to God politics is not the cause for ignoring the safety of all my brothers and sisters who want to pursue this community project. I’m again dolling out money willy-nilly but this falls under the pursuit of happiness.

If someone is injured to dies on this Worcester County roadway, it will be on your hands. You could so easily make this a “Greenway.” This could be an eco-friendly event, a feather in your camp, rather than a blemish of the stingy county for ignoring an ongoing problem. I never thought of my commissioners as Democrats or Republicans but rather men and women who worked together for the good of all Worcester County citizens.

Mary Johnson-Willis

Berlin

Change Is Needed

Editor:

This coming Tuesday, Ocean City’s local-level election will inevitably produce no real change and no real choice. The same mayor, along with at least three of the four incumbents, and/or a new liberal, will fill the council “team’s” seats. All of their “achievements” being advertised are of their own agenda, despite the taxpayers’ concerns. Their steam-rolling strategy succeeded through their mightily fighting transparency of specific facts and figures at any and all cost(s), as well as extinguishing the voting majority’s tax petition.

Unlike the national election, where you have a choice between the parties’ liberal/”progressive” and conservative platforms, the local election offers only liberal/”progressive”. For those who can’t stomach endorsing such an agenda, there is still the option of voting without endorsing those candidates, which conveys that one cares about their community and cherishes their right to vote, but conscientiously remains true to their values.

By all means, vote your values in both the local and national elections, but most importantly, please pray for God’s will (which is always for our good and His glory) for us all, for all candidates and for all issues. Pray like your life depends on it, because, ‘believe you me’, it does. As always, all replies, whether in agreement, disagreement or indifferent, are absolutely welcome and encouraged at: [email protected] or 410-430-0535.

Ellie Diegelmann

Ocean City

Golf Tourney Thanks

Editor:

The Downtown Association would like to thank all those who came out on Thursday, Oct. 27 and made our 1st Annual Trick or Tee Golf Tournament so much fun and such a huge success. All profits are going to our Light Up Downtown Program to bring holiday lights back to downtown Ocean City. Your support is greatly appreciated.

A special thank you to our generous donors — The Dough Roller, Fisher’s Popcorn, Sportland, Ray Shockley, Park Place Jewelers, Shenanigan’s, Dumser’s Dairyland, American Legion Post #166, Pepsi, Harvey Berger, Ken Tyler & Co., Intrinsic Yacht & Ship, Ocean City Development Corporation, Nancy Howard — and to our hole sponsors — Taylor Bank and Janet and Terry Hough.

Thank you to our teams — Bank of Delmarva, Bank of Ocean City, Trimper’s, Dough Roller, Ocean City Aquatics, Tyler & Company, Kate Bunting Family Partnership, Shore Inspections, Intrinsic Yacht & Ship, Pepsi, Marriott, Park Place Jewelers and Comcast Spotlight.

Thank you also to our awesome volunteers and to Lighthouse Sound and Ruark Golf for providing a perfect setting for our Halloween high jinks.

We are looking forward to the 2nd Annual Trick or Tee Tournament in October 2017 and with your continued support, many more holiday light displays downtown.

Mary Ann Manganello

(The writer is the administrator for the Ocean City Downtown Association.)

National Hospice Month

Editor:

Each November we celebrate National Hospice Month. This is a time to step up our efforts to help our community understand how hospice care can benefit both the patient who has a life-limiting condition and his or her loved ones.

Coastal Hospice educates at speaking engagements for any group, in one-on-one meetings, and in publications, from brochures to newsletters. In the past year or so, we have found resources to invest in advertising that describes the improved quality of life our patients realize, especially when they come to us while they are still able to participate in their care. Having time in hospice care allows them to enjoy the company of a volunteer, experience the security of a team available on call 24/7 or perhaps walk a spiritual journey. As a result of our outreach efforts, the number of patients and families we serve is growing. As I write this, there are 187 patients in our care; last year on this date, there were 147; five years ago, 126.

That increase doesn’t mean that more people in our community are dying. What it does mean is that more people are taking advantage of the support of a hospice physician, nurse, aide, social worker, spiritual counselor and volunteer who all put the patient’s goals and needs first. That’s our promise, and it is central to the hospice philosophy.

Serving a growing number of patients can mean something else: While many of the patients and families have a clear understanding of the patient’s prognosis and of hospice care, a growing number do not. When Congress created the Medicare Hospice Benefit 33 years ago, it was limited to those expected to live six months or less if the disease or condition followed it’s normal course (patients who live longer can be recertified for coverage if still eligible). That six-month provision holds today. Yet when many patients are referred for hospice care, this has not been explained to them in a clear way. Many are referred much later than that, when there are only days or weeks left. Nationally and locally, one third of all hospice patients are referred in their last few days of life. For some, the painful and frightening news that the patient has limited time comes first from a Coastal Hospice admissions nurse. Rocked by this news, the patient and family often struggle to absorb the information the nurse or other team members then offer.

For these patients and families, the hospice journey is even harder than it is for others. This year, as we recognize National Hospice Month, please keep in mind those who find themselves or their loved ones closer to the end than they were prepared to accept. Just as they need our care and support, they need the love and understanding of their friends and neighbors.

Alane Capen

Salisbury

(The writer is the president of Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care.)