Letters to the editor

Election: Losing can be winning

For wide is the gate and long is the way that leads to destruction; narrow is the gate and hard is the way that leads to life.

Just because we are led to follow the narrow gate and the hard way that leads to life, that does not annul the choice we made.

Have we not been told that to gain the whole world and lose our soul will take its toll?

Has winning at any cost compromised and destroyed the soul of the nation? Nay, when destruction comes, people will learn righteousness, record the prophets raised up to warn the people before bringing destruction.

Myrtle L. Ramsey

Front Royal

Excellent surgeon, superb care

On Oct. 19, I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve at Valley Health in Winchester.

When I learned this surgery was imminent, I thought the recommendation would be to travel to the Baltimore/Washington area. My cardiologist in Hagerstown recommended I consider having this surgery done in Winchester by Dr. Kofsky and his surgery team at Valley Health. I did not know much about Valley Health or Dr. Kofsky at that time.

There are two ways to describe my experience: excellent surgeon and superb care. There is no longer any need for a heart surgery patient to travel to a major metropolis when there is this level of vascular surgery and post-operative care available in Winchester.

To the cardiac team at Valley Health I want to say “thank you” for the professional and caring manner in which you took care of me. My recovery has gone well. To Dr. Kofsky I want to express my gratitude for all he has done for me.

W. Douglas Grimm

Williamsport, Md.

MHS sincerity impresses vet

On Nov. 9, I attended a breakfast in honor of military veterans at Millbrook High School. It was a wonderful experience.

The staff and the students created a program that was the exact opposite of any program that prevailed upon my two returns from Vietnam during the ’60s and ’70s. I was extremely impressed by the sincerity of the young men and women who greeted us with smiling faces that reflected gratitude for our service to their country.

I was never a hero that I can recall, but the students certainly made me feel like one. I was overwhelmed and humbled by their feelings and emotion.

I pray that the youths at Millbrook High and all youths will not be sacrificed by old men in Washington who create wars for their own gain against dreamed-up enemies. I pray that the government stops borrowing money and doling it out to nations around the world while dismissing the needs of the American people. I pray that the nations we antagonize throughout the world never again seek revenge — as they did on 9-11.

And I’m thankful that beautiful young people like the ones I met at Millbrook High still exist in a world so bent on greed, avarice, and destruction. I pray that their lives are not stinted by a government that has forgotten its role — of the people, by the people, for the people.

William P. Kerkhoff

Winchester

Thanks, from Orchard View

On behalf of Orchard View Elementary School, we want to thank the many businesses who helped make our Family Fall Costume Dance & Raffle a success on Friday evening, Oct. 26.

We recognize them for their donations for our prizes for our raffle and prize wheel. They are: Alamo, Anthony’s, Applebee's, Bank of Clarke County, BB&T, Best Buy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Castiglias, Chick Fil-A, Costco, Dairy Queen, Edible Arrangements, First Bank, Food Lion, Gold's Gym, Home Depot, Marker Miller Orchards, Martins, McDonald’s/Nerangis Enterprises, Monkey Joes, Old Navy, Outback, Patsy’s Pastry Pizza, The Pumpkin Patch, Rebecca Kershaw @ Mane Attraction, Royal Crown Bottling, Simon Properties, Sweet Frogs, Target, United Bank, VIP Nails, Walmart, Wendys, and West Oaks Farm.

We appreciate their commitment to our school. The money raised goes directly to our students’ classroom teacher funds and for their field trips, including gas and bus driver expense.

Pam Brannon

Fundraising Chair

Orchard View Elementary PTO

A thankful pirate

After returning from the high seas with my trusty parrot, I was greeted with the most exciting news. The Storybook Ball-Chapter 4, benefitting Literacy Volunteers-Winchester Area, was a huge success.

Many thanks to our signature sponsor, Wells Fargo Bank, as well as our other sponsors: Jim Stutzman Chevrolet-Cadillac, Southernlight/Cross FM, Trex, and Valley Proteins.

In addition, we would like to thank Dermatology Associates, Dr. and Mrs. Mark Galbraith, and Valley Health System. We were able to raise $25,000 this year with help from these sponsors, along with a creative event committee, generous community partners, and dedicated board and staff members.

Literacy Volunteers-Winchester Area continues to achieve its mission in empowering adults and families to become more literate while striving to equip students with the skills to navigate through a complex world of instruction, information, and technology.

It is always wonderful to come home to such a generous and caring community.

Bonnie Flax

LV-WA Board Member

Winchester