Contacting
Thurmont Elected Officials
Thurmont Board of Commissioners:
To email individual Board members, click on their name below. To
contact all the Commissioners at once, click here.
Martin Allen Burns, Mayor,
301-271-7313
Glenn
D. Muth, Commissioner, 301-271-7313
Wayne
A. Hooper, Commissioner, 301-271-7313
William
H. Blakeslee, Commissioner, 301-271-7313
Ronald
A. Terpko, Commissioner, 301-271-7313
Thurmont Planning and Zoning Commission:
To email individual Commission members, click on their name below.
To contact all Commission members at once, click here.
John
Kinnaird, Chairperson
Commissioner Ron Terpko
Randy Cubbedge
Sandra Hunter
Sabrina Massett
Ray Williams
Helpful advice about composing and submitting an effective letter. Contact and submission information for area newspapers is below.
The "Letters to the Editor" section is one of the most read sections in any newspaper. Having a letter to the editor published is a way to share your concerns with hundreds or thousands of people. Many elected officials pay attention to the letters in local papers. Even when a letter is not published, submitting it can have an impact, as editors gauge how their readers feel about an issue by the number of letters they receive about a certain issue.
1.
What to write? Respond to something.
Newspapers are much more likely to publish letters that respond to recent
articles, columns, or editorials. When you read the paper, take note of articles
and other content related to the general concerns or specific issues you would
like to write about.
2.
Write your letter!
• Write your letter quickly. Sooner is better, while the subject is
current. Letters received first are read first and more likely to be selected.
• Write as if you're speaking with the editor of the newspaper –
not to readers or elected officials.
• Refer to the article or column to which you are responding, including
the date.
• Consider how to include personal experiences when appropriate.
• Stay focused. Don't try to tackle more than one topic, and don't try
to cover all aspects of the subject (not that it's possible). Concentrate
on one or a few basic points (the most powerful or persuasive points).
• Avoid personal attacks. Challenging ideas expressed by others can
make for a lively letter; jumping on the individuals themselves only detracts
from your goal to convey an idea (and the reader might connect the incivility
to your "cause").
• Keep it short. Take note of the average length of the letters published
in the specific newpaper. Size limits will vary. Longer letters are less likely
to be published and, if selected, are more likely to be edited.
3. Submit your letter.
• Proofread and spell check. It's a good idea to have someone else read
the letter before you send it.
• Use your real name. Most newspapers won't print anonymous letters.
• Include a phone number and mailing address for confirmation, even
if you're submitting by email. Newspapers need this information for internal
use to confirm that you're the person who submitted the letter. They'll usually
print the name of your town, but not your address or phone number.
• Submit your letter by fax, e-mail, or regular mail.
• If you submit by email, paste your letter into the text of the email.
Don't send attachments. Many papers won't open unsolicited email wit attachments
because of potential viruses.
• Information on submitting to specific area papers is here. If your
local paper is not listed here, find their web site and look for the letters
section for instructions.
Good luck!
Newspaper
links, submission policies and contact information:
Frederick News Post
http://www.fredericknewspost.com
Include your name, home address, and a phone number.
• Newsroom Fax: 301-662-8299
• Email to letters@fredericknewspost.com
• Mail to: Frederick News Post, Letters to the Editor, 200 East Patrick
Street, P.O. Box 578, Frederick, MD 21705-0578
Gazette: Frederick County
http://www.gazette.net/frederickcty/
Include your name, home address, and a phone number.
• Fax: 301-846-2114
• Email to jallanach@gazette.net
• Mail to: The Gazette, Letters to the Editor, 2A N. Market Street,
4th floor, Frederick, MD 21701
Emmitsburg
Dispatch
http://www.emmitsburgdispatch.com/
"The Emmitsburg Dispatch encourages its readers to express their thoughts
and opinions about issues that appear in this publication or affect the community.
Letters must be exclusive to the Dispatch and should be no longer than 300
words in length. They must be signed and include the writer's address and
phone number to be used for verification. The Dispatch reserves the right
to edit for content and space. Deadline for letters is the 15th of each month."
• Fax: 717-334-0423
• Email to editor@emmitsburgdispatch.com
• Mail to: The Emmitsburg Dispatch, Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box
358, Emmitsburg, MD 21727
Washington
Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
"Letters must be exclusive to The Washington Post, and must include the
writer's home address and home and business telephone numbers. (Letters via
regular mail should also be signed.) Because of space limitations, those published
are subject to abridgment. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters
we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those
who take the time to send us their comments."
• Email to letters@washpost.com
(Do not send attachments; they will not be read.)
• Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Washington Post, 1150 15th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20071
Baltimore
Sun
http://www.baltimoresun.com/
"All letters become property of The Sun, which reserves the right to
edit them. Letters should include your name and address, along with day and
evening telephone numbers."
• Fax: 410-332-6977
• Email to letters@baltsun.com
• Mail to: The Baltimore Sun Company, Letters to the Editor, 501 N.
Calvert Street, P.0. Box 1377, Baltimore, Maryland 21278