Editor, The Smithfield Times:

Linda Steffey (“Discouraged about world,” Dec. 27), please don’t be “discouraged.” There is very much to be encouraged about! The evidence is right there in the pages of The Smithfield Times in which your letter appeared.

The wonderful story of the success of Dante Wright on page 3, the array of beautiful local “photos of the year” on page 9, the Isle of Wight planners recognizing the effects of “over-building” on page 2, John Edwards’ moving perspective on the Christmas season on pages 2 and 3, the Savedge family’s light display on page 5, donations to repair the Windsor Castle footbridge on page 8, and certainly not least, the page-and-a-half (13-14) listing of the many Honor Roll students in our local elementary and middle schools.

So, to paraphrase the famous 1910 Baltimore Sun editorial, republished recently by our very own Smithfield Times, “Yes, Linda, there is a Santa Claus,” and he lives among us in the hearts and caring lives of all of our local friends and neighbors in historic Isle of Wight County as dutifully reported in our very own local newspaper!

Please have a Happy New Year!

 

Albert P. Burckard Jr.

Carrollton