Autumn 2005...

Dear Ed,
Do you realize that it had taken me several years after coming to PA before I finally dined at Woody’s? We love the place! We dined there twice last week—Monday night with dear friends from PA and then again on Thursday night with Mom and Dad. Hubby’s favorite is the broccoli and my favorite is a toss up between the crab cake and that twice baked potato. I did not know about Woody’s until my parents recently relocated to the town of North East. I found my first copy of Cecil Soil Magazine there and it has opened up a whole new world for us. And although we are looking forward to the next issue, the inclusion of my picture made this issue extra special. We are very excited about exploring North East and visiting many of the places that have advertised in your magazine.

Thanks,
Joyce Petty
Kennett Square, PA

(Editor’s Note: To see Joyce’s picture go to the summer edition of CSM, turn to page 11 and look at the Woody’s ad.)

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I picked up a copy of your magazine while out and really enjoyed reading through it. I was hoping I would be able to request a delivery of a bundle for the waiting room in the emergency department at Harford Memorial. The patients and family really enjoy finding great publications to read. If this is possible please contact me for specific delivery information.

Thanks,  
Barb Baughman
Director, Emergency Dept.
Harford Memorial Hospital

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Dear Ed and Carol,

I hope the summer is going well for the both of you, and that your garden is doing great. I know your business is! I’m so proud of you both for taking on such a huge adventure. I have no doubt it has its hard times and sleepless nights but Cecil County has needed a magazine like this for a long time. I think it probably makes the people living there feel closer-knit, more like a community that matters about its own. Feeling like a close community, or even like a close family, seems to be so scarce nowadays. You guys have done a wonderful job!

Linda Ricks
Locust Grove, VA

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When I first read Cecil Soil, I thought, “If I did a magazine, I couldn’t top this one.”  It is fantastic!  It is interesting enough that if you didn’t even know where to find Cecil County, it would be great to read.  Since seeing the words to “Dear Hearts and Gentle People”, I’ve been searching for the sheet music ever since. Remember the “Old Lamplighter”? I want it too. Rising Sun has many stories and uncompiled information to tell. We would love to have Mr. and Mrs. Belote join our group, or anyone else that would like to join us.

Marian McCardell Baughman
Rising Sun Historical and
Preservation Commission
Rising Sun, MD

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Dear Mr. Belote,
Referring to the Summer 2005 Issue of Cecil Soil Magazine – page 59 – “Where In Cecil County is this?”

Well, the rocks lie in a meadow about a mile west of Rising Sun – between the now US Route 1 and old US Route 1 (now Route 273) on what used to be the Hall Robertson Farm. Having grown up in Rising Sun as a teenager and having at least 3 girlfriends in Conowingo (not simultaneously), I have passed this Rock-Of-Ages – Cleft for me a total of 7,142 times and I always have and continue to hum at least a verse and a half of “Rock Of Ages” each time I pass.

In my RSHS graduating class of 1949, Nancy Robertson was in my class. I believe she married a Pyle and lives in the farm house (just east of the rock) to this very day. Back in the days when Route 273 was US 1, it may interest you to know that in the field on the south side of the road – opposite of the rock – was a series of Burma-Shave signs. I have long since forgotten their message.

As a boy, I had a paper route – The Philadelphia Bulletin – thus I knew everyone in town. I do not believe there was a single home in Rising Sun that I have not entered. So, if you ever need insight into anything between 1934 and 1949 I might be able to help.

Best wishes for the future of your magazine. I love it.

Sincerely,
Bill Johnson
North East, Maryland

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Dear Ed,
It was a pleasure to meet you the other day when you delivered our Cecil Soil Magazines to the Buckworth Senior Center. The seniors really enjoyed them and took some extras to give to neighbors. I also sent some to our Perryville Center. It’s a great publication. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely, Leslie Gorak
Transportation Supervisor CCDA
Elkton, Maryland

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Dear CSM,
I just got off the phone with a very nice gentleman who told me locations where my mom could find your magazine in Rising Sun. I grew up in North East, well Bay View area, and absolutely love this magazine. My husband and I were on vacation last week seeing my family in Maryland and my sister had one. I picked it up and scanned through it. I knew that this was going home with me. We were on our way to Gettysburg and stopped for gas and saw them and got my sister her replacement copy. I absolutely love it; it is an interesting read and I have entered every contest that was in your magazine. I can’t wait to see the next one. Thank you for coming out with a magazine that shows so many great sides of an area of the country that I will always hold dear to my heart.

Mae Luffman
East Bend, NC
formerly of North East, MD

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CSM Mailbox,

Your magazine is wonderful and I could not put it down. My favorite story was Steve Broken Claw’s, “Where are the Susquehannocks?” I love your historical stories best. Kudos to Mike Dixon and Robert Hazel. What great writers you have!

Janet Lewis
Oxford, PA

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Mr. Belote,
I was pleasantly surprised with your Cecil Soil Magazine – Summer 2005 Issue. Many of your stories brought back memories of places and people I had known and forgot about long ago. It was like going back in time and reliving my growing up years again.

I usually glance over advertising and go on to something else, but your advertisements were so striking and each one seemed to tell a story in and of itself. GREAT JOB – keep it up.

I try to do one word puzzle a week to keep my mind sharp. Your Veggie Word Puzzle was probably the most challenging one I have found. The hours I spent in the produce department, grocery shelves, garden marts, seed packets, friends and the dictionary was highlighted each time by finding one more word.

Looking forward to your next issue,
Sue Gregory
Elkton, Maryland