I would like to chime in that I really appreciate that our elected officials so often take the time to answer questions on this list. I know I can look up a phone number or personal email to make a direct comment but it is great to get one's questions answered and everyone (at least those of us on the list) gets the benefit of the answer.<br /><br /><p>On Aug 20, 2009, <strong>novella sargusingh</strong> <msnovella50@hotmail.com> wrote: </p><div class="replyBody"><blockquote style="padding-left: 1ex; margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 1.8ex; border-left: #267fdb 2px solid"><br />Hello Everyone,<br /><br />I have spent some time catching up on emails since my return from vacation and this is the first time that I have felt a need to speak up concerning some of the comments being made on TownTalk. I enjoy reading everyone's emails and being kept informed on issues concerning the town through TownTalk. I seldom have enough time to sit down and read the Town Crier when it arrives but I will open a email from TownTalk right away. For example the emails over the last two weeks concerning a rise in our taxes was very helpful in trying to figure out my own very large property tax increase. Dwight I concur with you, this is not the forum to bring anyone down or belittled our elected officials, I find that very offensive!! This should be the forum to keep everyone up to date with everyday issues concerning Riverdale Park and not used as a place to trash one another, our elected officials have enough on their hands running this town without being disrespected as well!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.4stepscreativelearning.com/" target="_blank"></a><font face="Lucida Handwriting, Cursive" size="4" color="#ff0000"><strong>Thanks A Million!</strong></font></div><div></div><div><font face="Lucida Handwriting, Cursive" size="4" color="#ff0000"><strong> Novella , Ward 3 <br /></strong></font></div><br /><br /><br /> <br />> Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:39:53 -0400<br />> From: <a href="mailto:dwightrholmes@gmail.com" target="_blank" class="parsedEmail">dwightrholmes@gmail.com</a><br />> To: <a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank" class="parsedEmail">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br />> Subject: [RP TownTalk] on tone & substance<br />> <br />> I feel compelled to step in here and make an appeal to everyone to<br />> please follow TownTalk guidelines (which I believe are consistent with<br />> general 'netiquette' guidelines).<br />> <br />> Specifically, please make sure to avoid personal, ad hominem attacks<br />> (including insinuations and innuendos). Discussion, including heated<br />> discussion, of the substance of the issues is of course o.k. To<br />> comment overtly or implicitly that the ability of others to adequately<br />> comprehend the issues is not.<br />> <br />> I have asked the the list be put on moderation status for the time<br />> being. This means I will get to review all posts before approving<br />> them. The sooner we can return to normal operations, the happier I'll<br />> be!<br />> <br />> The guidelines are available to read here:<br />> <a href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk" target="_blank" class="parsedLink">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a><br />> <br />> A relevant excerpt from the guidelines:<br />> <br />> 1. Posters may not attack other list members for their choices or<br />> opinions, although they may suggest that certain opinions are worth<br />> evaluating or that there may be other points of view. We don't flame<br />> here - we respect the opinions of our fellow citizens. Because respect<br />> doesn't always mean saying "I agree", it's important to phrase<br />> challenges in such a way that it is clear that it is not the worth of<br />> the writer you are questioning, but rather the validity of the idea.<br />> What is a flame? It is important to recognize that to disagree<br />> respectfully, or to politely request a change of behavior, is not to<br />> "flame".<br />> <br />> Dwight Holmes<br />> Volunteer Moderator, TownTalk<br />> _______________________________________________<br />> TownTalk mailing list<br />> To post to the list, send mail to <a href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank" class="parsedEmail">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br />> <a href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank" class="parsedEmail">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a> is for automated subscription processing only<br />> <a href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk" target="_blank" class="parsedLink">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a><br />> <br />> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info" target="_blank" class="parsedLink">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a><br /><br /><hr />Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. <a href="http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009" target="_blank">Find out more.</a><br /><hr />Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to on Facebook. <a href="http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009" target="_blank">Find out more.</a> <br /><hr /><br />_______________________________________________<br />TownTalk mailing list<br />To post to the list, send mail to <a href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank" class="parsedEmail">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</a><br /><a href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank" class="parsedEmail">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</a> is for automated subscription processing only<br /><a href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk" target="_blank" class="parsedLink">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</a><br /><br />For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info" target="_blank" class="parsedLink">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</a><br /></blockquote></div>