Two issues come to mind this winter: the excessive use of salt for even very minor snows this winter and residents continuing to use the very lmited street parkng instead of their garages, On the first item, salt, in large quantities, is a toxin and corrosive agent. Sure we want clear roads, but at this price to environmental damage and strains on limited budgtes? In particular, after the light snows, the alleys (our Kentlands contractor) appears to have gone on a free-for-all of salt dumping. Is there any monitoring of the amount of salt being used? On the second issue, having cars in the garage makes it easier for the snowplow operators and visiting guests. If you can't get in your garage, the Mont. County Waste Transfer Station (aka the dump) is very conveniently located. Also, consider buying a smaller car!

-- Pete Darmody (suprheater@aol.com), February 02, 2003

Answers

On the subject of buying a smaller car, I wonder how we as a community are doing on bucking the trend of purchasing SUV's and "light" pickup trucks (more than half of new-vehicle sales in 2002). Gregg Easterbrook authored a scathing attack on large cars in his article "Axle of Evil: America's twisted love affair with sociopathic cars," published in the January 20, 2003 issue of The New Republic.

-- Michael Gottlieb Berney (mgberney@yahoo.com), February 11, 2003.

After storms like the one this past weekend, I don't care about the toxicity or corrosiveness of salt, or how small my car is. I just wish they'd clear the darn alleyways. I don't know about the rest of the neighborhood, but off Little Quarry Road, the alleys have had about a foot of snow standing in them since Sunday mid-day (as of late this morning [Tuesday], it's still there). I regularly park in the garage, and I was hoping to be in a better position to get around once this snow stopped. But those who parked in the street have come out ahead after this storm.

-- David Fishback (david.fishback@smiths-aerospace.com), February 18, 2003.

Maybe, the issue of snow removal for the "great storm of 2003" should be a new thread. But, in response to David Fishback's comment that he does not know what it is like in the rest of the neighborhood, it is 3:20 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, and our back alley is a disaster. If the snow plow made even one pass through, I missed it. And you certainly cannot tell by the 2- to 3-feet of snow piled behind our garage.

We are not alone. We went out walking this morning, and it was the same with all of the Ridgepoint Place alleyways. But, not so, for everyone. Some people's alleyways had been plowed at least once. Others had been plowed more than once, and some of these had been cleared out down to the pavement.

So, while I will acknowledge that this was a monster of a storm—my aching back and muscles (from shoveling snow) will attest to that— excuse me, if I am less than sympathetic to the notion that patience and understanding are needed. I want to know why it is that some of our alleyways received preferential treatment, while others were, and remain, so horribly neglected at this late date and time.

A little fairness, please. We all pay the same dues for critical services in this community, so the same level of service should be provided to all.

-- Mary N. Macdonald (mnmacd@his.com), February 18, 2003.

Yay! I am pleased to report that, around 10:00 o'clock last night, snow was finally removed from our back alley. Digging out the rest of the way is now an option.

-- Mary N. Macdonald (mnmacd@his.com), February 19, 2003.