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Dear CSM Letter Writers,

Your letters are very important to us and folks from all over the county are always telling us how much they enjoy reading them. The CSM Mailbox is your forum to write about your memories of our beautiful Cecil County, and of course topics presented in Cecil Soil Magazine.

We get tons of letters after every issue is distributed, but the funny thing is, the more we get, the more we want! To thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, we'll have a free “Proud to be from Cecil Soil" T-shirt waiting for you at our Rising Sun office should your letter be selected for publication. Be sure to include your T-shirt size and contact information. We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you kindly.

Sincerely yours,
Ed Belote Sr, Publisher

P.S.— We've provided a simple and convenient form that you may use, if you wish.

March / April 2007...

Dear Cecil Soil Magazine,
I would like to thank you for the wonderful "Proud to be from Cecil Soil" Sweatshirt that I won for last edition's puzzle. I have been wearing it everywhere. My husband and I anxiously await the Cecil Soil Magazine with the change of every season. We usually finish the puzzle before reading the rest of the magazine. As a young couple, familiar with the farming community, it is a lot of fun for us to see the many pictures of yesteryear. Many of the articles are written about people that we know. Your magazine is a great history lesson for us. Keep up the good work!

Also, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for the wonderful article that you wrote about my husband's grandparents, Walton and Mildred Mason. Grand pop's death was a shock to all of us, but the community has been extremely supportive of our family. Articles written about Grand pop, like the one published in your magazine helped our son to realize just how influential his great-grandfather has been in the community. Thank you for all of the work that you put into this magazine, making it a great asset to Cecil County.

Thank you,
Monica Mason
Calvert, Maryland

Mr. Belote,
I want to thank you for your kind and sincere comments in the Autumn 2006 edition of the Cecil Soil Magazine regarding the passing of my father, Walt Mason. As you mentioned, Dad lived a full and honorable life and left this world as perhaps we all would like to someday--here one minute and then gone the next. No long-term suffering and nursing care as many people have to endure in the late stages of life. He left us doing something he loved, attending the Cecil County Fair which he helped start back in 1953. Dad was a good father and farmer and he loved the community activities he was involved in during his lifetime.

Thank you again for your comments and the article about him and Woodbine Farm in your Winter 2005 edition.

Dave Mason and Family
Taylorsville, Maryland

Dear Mrs. Belote,

I have enclosed a check for my subscription to Cecil Soil Magazine to be sent to me. I do not want to miss an issue, I enjoy it so much...especially the old photographs.

In the summer 2006 issue when I saw the three West children, the girl with the big bow jumped out at me. I knew I had seen her before and heard her name. I got my mother's old school picture from the Jacob Tome Institute (early 1920's) and there she was. I am sending you a copy. Sorry the original is not in very good condition. My mother had some names on the back; one was Grace W. in row three. My mother is in the plaid dress in front (Ellen Nesbitt). I am sending this for your enjoyment, it's up to you if you publish it or not. Hope you enjoy!

Barbara L. Powers
Conowingo, Maryland

[Publisher's note: The girl with the big bow was Carol's Aunt Grace (deceased) and no one in Carol's family was aware of the photo (above right). Thank you, Barbara.]

Hi there,
I just wanted to confirm what my contract was with you. I want to continue advertising with you in the next issue but I wasn't sure if I needed to do anything or not. Thanks again for all of your help and personal service, I've gotten a great response so far!

Zach Phipps
Zach Phipps Electrical, Inc.

Dear Cecil Soil Magazine,
Mike, Chris and I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be a "feature" in Cecil Soil Magazine. Also, thank you to Mike Collins for the written article. I have to admit, to me, Mike Collins seemed to be a "flake." I was not sure how the article would turn out but, Boy, was I most pleasantly surprised. It was great!!!

My Mistletoe Christmas Shop even had new customers because they read about us in Cecil Soil Magazine. Please keep up the great work.

Cecil Soil Magazine is truly a Cecil County treasure.

Mary and Mike Scheeler
Cecilton, Maryland

Dear Mr. Belote,
I was recently on the East Coast visiting relatives, and came across your magazine for Summer 2006. Would it be possible for you to send me that issue? I have no idea what the cost would be but I am enclosing a check. Please advise me if there is any additional charge.

There is an article about Princess Bernadette Stevens in it. She was a schoolmate of mine and I would like to show it to my family. It may have been Winona, I'm not sure. They were both schoolmates.

Thank you very much,
Rita Hess
Bartonville, Illinois

Dear Ed,
I'm writing concerning my few meetings with John "Jack" DeWitt (story in the Winter 2006 issue). In the early seventies, we had a summer cottage for about ten years in Charlestown, on Blacks Avenue near the firehouse. I think it was 1976; they had their Centennial Celebration, and every year after that for quite a few years. They had a country fair there and Jack DeWitt would always have an elaborate display of his really old historical gun and sword collections. In the firehouse, Jack would always be there just as friendly and accommodating as he could be, even though he knew we were just summer people and couldn't vote. My older brother was always interested in guns, and a small time collector, and Jack was always willing to chat with him as long as he wanted. I was always glad my brother got to meet Jack; it was a high point in his life. Jack had a way of making you feel special. My brother always remembered meeting Jack; I do too. We met a few times on Irishtown Road where they sold eggs. He was always the same - a true gentleman. It would really be great for the country today if the politicians we have now were more like Jack was. We have many enjoyable memories of our years in Cecil County.

Sincerely,
G. Martin Ernest
Swarthmore, PA

Dear Ed,
I think this check is the right amount for 2007. Also, I'd like four or five more copies of the Spring 2005 issue, which has the pictures and story of Mildred, Paul and me in it. I'll gladly pay; just let me know how I can get them.

My son, Eugene and I haven't come up with a "youth pill" yet. I'll be 83 in March, so I'd like to start using it very soon, cause I need something soon.

My daughter and son are a great help to me and I'm glad we're close together.

Best Regards,
Charlie Tull
Elkton, Maryland

P.S. I'm still hearing good things about Cecil Soil Magazine. Have a wonderful year.

Dear Cecil Soil Magazine,
Here in Cecil County there has been an increase of 73% in children needing foster homes.We have nine times the number of children under the age of two than we had just four years ago. We currently have 42 children placed outside our county because we had no families available locally.

Protecting children and strengthening families is the responsibility of every member of our community. Children in foster care are children from your neighborhood who want to remain attached to their families despite their experiences. Foster children need homes that are in their own community, keeping them connected to their home school, churches, friends and resources within their neighborhoods.

We need more people to think about becoming a Foster /Adoptive Parent, or becoming a part time foster parent to provide occasional respite care for other foster families. We need to support our current foster parents by offering to provide free services or scholarships/lessons to foster children, or making contributions, donating goods, providing tickets to sporting or cultural events. Groups could sponsor a holiday party for foster families, or assist with recruitment by displaying our posters or having someone from our Foster Care Program come and speak to your group or organization. Interested persons can call Susan Parrotta @ 410-996-0241.

We do not have enough foster care resources to assist our own Cecil County families in crisis. We all need to do what we can to help.

Thank you,
Nicholas J. Riccuiti
Director
Cecil County Department of Social Services

Dear Ed, (Okonowicz)
I am sorry I have not gotten back with you earlier, but I have been at a training conference in New Orleans. I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful article you wrote about the Perry Point Veterans Museum. I love the article and so does my family and my fellow employees here at Perry Point.

You are a great writer and I appreciate so much the fact that you took the time to do this article. Mary would have loved the article - I miss her so much.

Best wishes to you and your family for a lovely holiday.

Margaret A. Hornberger
Community Resources Development Specialist
Office of Public and Community Relations

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