Letters

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

The recent rains are a precious resource for our farms and communities, as long as water soaks into the ground. The way we've built roads and buildings doesn't always allow for this to happen, leading to flooding and pollution of our streams. In developed areas, stormwater runoff picks up pollution (from parking lots, streets and lawns) and delivers it to our waterways. But there is an alternative to this flooding and pollution.

A recent workshop in Staunton ("From the Rooftop to the Bay," March 9-11, by the Center for Watershed Protection) highlighted new technologies that mimic natural systems. Like natural landscapes, these developments absorb runoff and filter pollutants.
These "low-impact development" techniques are new to the Valley, but there are several notable examples:

• "Rain gardens' to catch runoff from roofs and parking lots at Shenandoah University, the New Market library and Herd's Inn at Hedgebrook Farm.
• Garden roofs at the Natural Art Garden Center in Toms Brook and the FEMA building in Stephenson.
• Permeable pavement at the New Market library parking lot.
• A porous concrete plaza at Shenandoah University.

These are great examples of how low-impact designs work, and they are needed throughout the region to protect our streams.

We've all seen our local streams swell after a heavy rain. Soil and pollution found in excess runoff damage our streams and harm our fish. Many Shenandoah Valley waterways are consequently on the state polluted waters list including Cedar Creek, Opequon Creek, Stony Creek, Narrow Passage Creek and the Shenandoah River.

Potomac Conservancy and Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River urge builders and developers to incorporate low-impact development practices as standard operating procedures.

Local county governments, including Frederick and Shenandoah, are studying low-impact technologies for future development. Our organizations look forward to working with local governments as they consider how to include these features into their permit processes.

Rain is too valuable to waste and we need not damage our streams when we build houses and businesses. Widespread use of low-impact development practices can provide for future growth without harming our environment.

Patrick Felling
Potomac Conservancy
19 W. Cork St.
Suite 201
Winchester
Leslie Watson
Executive Director
Friends of North Fork
of the Shenandoah River
P.O. Box 746
Woodstock
April 15, 2010

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Some 300,000 of us have been killed by guns during the last decade. The number of our troops lost in Iraq, while tragic, is but a tiny fraction of this toll. What's being done about it?

By a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court held, for the first time since the Bill of Rights was adopted more than 200 years ago, that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to bear arms. The Virginia House of Delegates worked to water down "gun control" laws. These developments give us great opportunities.

College students, in addition to activities materials, should each be issued a gun and ammo. If a Virginia Tech-type assailant shows up, he can be cut down by a hail of gunfire. The collateral damage undoubtedly would include the lives of students and faculty. But these constitutional rights don't come cheap.

A return to the fun and excitement of the Wild West is at hand. In bars, patrons should not only be carded but required to display sidearms. However, groups out for a night on the town would have to name designated medics.

Some gun enthusiasts tell us folks need arms to fight an evil "guvmint." But the "guvmint" has nuclear weapons. Our ingenuity surely can design a portable device, like the one we fear from terrorists. Think what Timothy McVeigh could have done if, instead of a truckload of explosives, he'd had a pocket nuke.

Residents of mental institutions raise a question. But they're probably less dangerous than some other groups. And even they understand the mortal danger to all of us from the indiscriminate availability of weapons.

To guarantee no individual's gun rights are infringed, the president and each governor should be required to establish Departments of Non-Denial. There are highly qualified candidates to head up such agencies: Todd Gilbert, Mark Obenshain, maybe even Dick Cheney, for example.

No costly bureaucracies need be set up to run the program. The job would simply be farmed out to the National Rifle Association.

Bob Lowerre
403 Spring Hollow Road
Woodstock
April 15, 2010

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. A day we pledge to conserve Earth's natural re-sources for future generations.

We already know about recycling, changing light bulbs, adjusting the thermostat, and reducing our driving habits. This year, we can best observe Earth Day by switching to a plant-based diet.

A recent study in WorldWatch magazine found that production of meat and dairy products may account for fully half of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, such production contributes more pollutants to our water supplies than all other human activities combined. It is causing global shortages of drinking water. It is the driving force in global deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

This Thursday, let's celebrate Earth Day and every day by replacing meat and dairy products in our diet with healthful, eco-friendly foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. Those opting for a more gradual transition will find ample soy and grain-based meat and dairy analogs in your local supermarket. Additional information is available at www.greenyourdiet.org.

Nelson Vrooman
1022 Lower Valley Road
Strasburg
April 16, 2010

Editor
Northern Virginia Daily

Sir:

Recently I was engaged in a conversation with a group of young adults. They were trying to understand how Vice President Biden could drop the "F bomb" during a live televised event. They do not understand how a member of Congress could shout "You lie" directed at the president of the United States while he was delivering the State of the Union address a year ago.

I was asked by one member of the group when and if I thought people would begin showing more respect for each other.

My response was that when discipline, respect and etiquette are taught and practiced at home, that maybe -- just maybe -- we will become more civil and have more respect for each other.

ROBERT RINEHIMER
Box 1167
New Market
April 18, 2010