The winter months are upon us, and as our thoughts turn to the joy of the holidays, I hope we also remember to think of those in the greatest need this time of year – those struggling to feed their families.

The need in Cambria County has continued to rise with the effects of the recession, and now, more than ever, people in our communities are looking to food pantries for help.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Food For Families is a local food bank that supplies more than 30 pantries and agencies in our area, in addition to the society’s Family Kitchen, which serves a hot lunch daily.

“As the holidays approach this year, our community will be in need of assistance to provide a holiday meal for everyone,” said Food For Families director Jim Sestrich.

If you are looking to give a gift that will benefit your neighbors in need, please consider donating your time or funds to the food bank. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Food For Families is located at 945 Franklin St., Johnstown, and can be reached at 535-3315.

With your support, we can ensure that all families in our community have the opportunity to enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season.

Abby Weber

AmeriCorps VISTA, Food For Families



Albino doe was a joy to watch

To the person who shot the albino doe during archery season: We do not question your legal right to take the deer, providing you were licensed and in a legal hunting area. However, we do question your sportsmanship and sense of fair play.

The many hunters who live here would never have shot her. She was a symbol of hope and friendship for us and brought this community together in concern for her well-being. Did she fall victim to an illegal shot taken in a posted area or safety zone? No one would hear an arrow.

She was not known to ever leave this area, where she had everything she needed. As so many people were watching her all the time, she was practically tame. It couldn’t have been any great feat of hunting prowess to find her; she was quite noticeable. Was she looking at you? Was she sleeping? Did you need the meat that a brown deer would have provided just as well? Or did you just have to have her for yourself, depriving others of the joy of watching her?

She was so beautiful, one in a million, snow white, one of God’s precious and rare creations, revered since the time of the native Indians.

When will the Pennsylvania Game Commission enact laws to protect albino animals? Other states have.

We hope you are proud of your trophy and that in her death she brings you as much pleasure as her life brought to the members of the community of Carpenter’s Park.

Robert and Marcia McMonagle

Davidsville



Editor’s note: Jerry Feaser, Pennsylvania Game Commission press secretary, said that, although hunting lore says it is bad luck to kill an albino animal, it is legal to do so in Pennsylvania. Feaser also said that he knows of no other state that protects albino, or melanistic (all black), animals. Albinism is just the recessive albino trait becoming dominant, Feaser said.



Justice system inviting disaster

We must “Shout from the rooftops.”

As Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said years ago, if an innocent man was actually executed in America, the entire world would find out about it and be justifiably outraged.

Well, that is exactly what happened in Texas in 2004. In 2000, Gov. George W. Bush assured the nation that no innocent person would ever be executed in his state.

We now know that he was wrong, because Cameron Todd Willingham was falsely convicted of murder by arson and then executed. Recent accounts on ABC News and in The New Yorker magazine outlined the overwhelming case establishing the innocence of Willingham.

The testimony of several experts now establishes that an arson never occurred and not one bit of evidence has been offered to rebut this reality.

Sadly, errors in analyzing forensic evidence have led many experts to label a death as arson-related, which sometimes results in the conviction of someone who might have a motive to kill the victim/victims.

Even more sadly, 138 individuals have served time on death row for crimes for which they were later exonerated and released from prison, including three in the past year. Six of the exonerated were from our state.

It is time for our criminal justice system to stop inviting disaster by risking the ultimate injustice – executing an innocent.

We now know it is not if it will happen, but when and how often.

Richard J. Holsinger

Johnstown



Take off blinders before it’s too late

Once again our country has been attacked by a Muslim terrorist (Dr. Nidal Malik Hasan), but our politicians bury their heads in the sand and don’t dare say anything for fear of offending Muslims, which would be politically incorrect.

Terrorists have infiltrated our country’s military and government, and many Americans cannot see this, and our politicians do nothing about it.

Recently, Muslims marched on Washington; they carried no signs condemning their Muslim terrorist brothers.

If America does not soon wake up, we will be growing beards and beating our heads on the ground five times a day.

America is a country of religious freedoms, founded on Judeo-Christian principles and ethics. Anyone wishing to reside in the United States must abide by our constitutional laws and customs; otherwise, they should leave.

When casting your votes, make certain you are voting for a true American and not the party.

Mike Mazar

Lilly



Touching tributes to war veterans

As the wife of a Korean War veteran, I would like to thank everyone for a beautiful Veterans Day.

The city parade was the best one ever. The preparation, participation and attendance was absolutely heartwarming.

Also, a thank you to the schools, restaurants and other businesses that remembered the veterans.

God bless America.

Dolores Horner

Johnstown