Male
I brought my vehicle to a shop to have some work done. After leaving the shop, I noticed an odd sound coming from the area where the work had been done. I brought the vehicle back the next day and explained nicely to them the problem. Only to be told it was nothing they did and basically it wasn't their problem. Not only were they very rude about it, but refused to fix the problem. Now, if I would have been a male in that situation, would my problem have been solved?

Kindness
I would just like to say thank you to the person who helped me through an otherwise unbearable day. I was having the worst day you could possibly imagine when I pulled into the Wendy's drive thru. I was on my lunch hour and was sitting in a rather large line. I ordered my meal and pulled around to the drive-thru window to pay, and the cashier handed me my meal and said, "The lady in front of you paid for your meal and said, 'You're welcome.'" I couldn't believe anyone would perform such an act of kindness.

Warming
I've been holding this in for several winters now. Al Gore and his liberal scientists screaming at the top of their lungs about "global warming." Well, guess what? Come to the North Country and experience a real frigid (it's not getting warmer here!) experience. Global warming ... yeah, right! Try having to defrost your windows in October!

Signals
I'm not quite sure if I understand the walk signals. I push the button, wait for the signal to change, and then walk inside the cross walk across the street. What gives people the right to still jet across the street when I'm doing everything safely? Aren't cars supposed to yield for pedestrians? Especially pedestrians that waited for the signal to change and not just dart across because they didn't think anything was coming.

Column
I am writing this letter in support of Rabbi Marc Gellman's columns. I look forward to reading the "God Squad" every Friday. I was raised Catholic and was confirmed as such. I currently do not practice my religion. I have great respect for Rabbi Gellman's insights and unbiased thoughts on various religious practices. I encourage everyone to read his section. No matter what you believe in, you'll find yourself left with a new outlook on life, love and God.

Theater
What is wrong with this picture: teenagers running amok in the lobby of a local movie theater. That was my evening out on the town this past weekend. Friends and I went to see a movie we had been wanting to see for a long time, and this is the scene we are forced to watch and listen to. Two teenagers, obviously having a bad night, decide to raise their voices in the theater and run in and out of the place screaming at each other. I reported it, but nobody came to stop it. Where was the manager?

Hype
The H1N1 is out of control. The hype, that is. Like any other flu, precautions are necessary. Wash your hands, turn away from people when you sneeze, sneeze into your arm and eat a balanced diet. Exercise as well. In other words, take care of yourself. Nourish your body with healthy foods and drink. Maybe you wouldn't need to get injected with drugs if you learned common sense.

Halloween
I would like to make a comment about how some local schools are treating the Halloween activities that children have always had at school. My grandson was looking forward to Halloween as all children do, when he was told — no Halloween parade to show off your costume, no party, we will have square dancing instead. I didn't know that square dancing was considered a Halloween activity. Why can't adults just let these children enjoy their childhood? It is gone so soon.

Gum
To the people that stick their gum on other's property, leave garbage and like to destroy. Cleaning last night at Target, I found a piece of gum stuck on a soda cooler. Honestly you couldn't ask us where a garbage is? They're all over the store. It took weeks for employees to put that store together, and most of us are proud of our work. Maybe you should work a week in retail. Scraping gum off a cooler is the last thing I want to do before closing, or pick up garbage all over.

Calls
It's bad enough we have to deal with candidates' signs all over, their advertisements all over the TV, radio and other media. But I find it downright rude when they call my personal home phone number and play their stupid vote-for-me recordings. We are not stupid, we can decide who we want to vote for without being badgered to death about it. One candidate, I've received four phone calls this week. The same recording. Enough!

Insurance
In my opinion, when an industry rapes the people of the United States, it is time for the federal government to step in and say, "Enough! You had your chance. You've proven you can't act responsibly in American society. And now the government, elected by the people, has to take over to ensure the well-being of its citizens." That's what the health-insurance industry has brought us to.

Bridge
Does anyone really think the federal government is going to do anything about the Crown Point bridge? There are people still waiting for help from Katrina, and this is just a bridge. Only having one bridge across the lake is absurd, there needs to be a bridge where the Ticonderoga ferry is, the Crown Point bridge and at Cumberland Head. So many people are negatively affected by the bridge closure.

Increase
The taxpayers in the Town of Champlain need to know that a budget is going to be passed that is really sad. Please become involved and follow up on what elected officials are doing. Do you want a tax increase? I sure don't.

PAL
I just want to say bravo to the Beekmantown PAL football players. You all did an exceptional job this season, and you worked together as a team as it should be. You didn't win them all, but you learned the value of getting out there having fun and doing the best you can.

McCarver
Why is Tim McCarver, from the Fox Network, so obviously anti-Yankee? I have been keeping track of positive comments he has made about the Angels and the Yankees throughout the series (up through the first five games and half of Game 6: Angels have been given 678 positive comments, the Yankees 68. ... Go figure.

Coach
Thanks so much to Coach Greg Mills of the undefeated Peru Purple Panthers soccer team. His enthusiasm and positive coaching made it a fun experience for the kids and parents. Our coach bought trophies for the whole team and threw an end-of-the-season party, thoroughly enjoyed by the kids. Thanks for a great season and also to the Flynns for their work with the entire soccer program.