Good Deeds: Woman who fell down thanks those who stepped up

EDITOR'S NOTE: We reserve this space for readers to publicly say thanks to Good Samaritans. If you'd like to acknowledge a good deed, write to us in fewer than 300 words at The Capital, P.O. Box 911, Annapolis, MD 21404, or e-mail capletts@capitalgazette.com.

With all of the negative things being covered by the press these days, I wanted to write a letter to let people know that there definitely are Good Samaritans in Annapolis.

On May 9, my husband and I were running errands and decided to stop at the new Whole Foods store. We parked in the parking garage and started walking toward the entrance. I began chatting with another gentleman who was walking toward the store as well.

When nearing the entrance, one must step up a curb onto a concrete slab. There is a large air-conditioning unit on this slab and the entrance is to the right. I turned my head to say something to this other gentleman and tripped up the curb. As I was trying to get my feet back under my body, I gained momentum and fell into the air-conditioning unit face first.

Needless to say, I was rather dazed. A woman happened to be loading her groceries at the curb, and she came immediately to my aid.

My first recollection was of her asking me if I was all right, checking my pulse and rubbing my back. She said she was a nurse-practitioner. I don't know her name, but I would like to thank her for her assistance. I also sustained a cut on my forehead from hitting the a/c unit and it was bleeding.

Several people stopped and offered band aids. Eventually I got up and my husband drove me to the emergency room.

As it turned out, my wrist was broken, and the area around my eye looked as though I had gone 10 rounds with a prize fighter. I had to have surgery on my wrist including the insertion of a plate and screws, but now with the help of physical therapy, I am on my way to recovery.

If any of those Good Samaritans read this letter, please know that I truly appreciate the help you gave me.

MONNA HEUER

Davidsonville

Station finally reality

The dedication of Fire Station #8 on June 4 was most impressive. The new fire station is fabulous and is needed so much on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula by its residents. It will cut response time in half to five minutes and add needed water supply for properties in case of fire.

I want to thank members of many communities on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula who worked together to make this happen. The land was purchased in 1977 and has been in and out of budgets 15 times. With the help and support of Barbara Samorajczk, Anastasia Hopkinson, Marie Lauks, Scott Mobley of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula Federation and participation by community leaders, this station is a reality.

Due to the insight and support of Janet Owens, the county executive, the funding was approved in 2006. It has been my pleasure to work with all of them. It shows what groups working together can achieve.

As a resident of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula, I want to thank the fire station staff for their outstanding service. It is appreciated by all the residents on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula.

BETTE APPLEGATE

Annapolis

Neighbors pitch in

I'd like to thank our wonderful neighbors in Fair Oaks on the Magothy in Severna Park for helping me and my family during the past six weeks.

In mid-May I fell and fractured my hip. I could not drive, and I could not put any weight on my leg. My neighbors immediately put together a six-week meal schedule, and helped out with driving to and from doctor appointments and physical therapy.

Without any relatives close by, my family and I could not have made it through without putting tremendous strain on my husband's job.

Thank you to all those in Fair Oaks who came to our rescue.

MARIANNE HARMON

Severna Park

Joy Reigns Church

For the past three years, Joy Reigns Church (www.JRC1.org) has been meeting at Central Elementary School in Edgewater on Sunday mornings as we have continued the planning process for our church building. We are so thankful to the Anne Arundel County Public School system for allowing us to utilize the school's space, as well as for their excellent custodial staff who have worked hard to make us welcome and to keep the school clean and orderly.

As our time at Central Elementary has come to an end, we also would like to extend our thanks to The Summit School in Edgewater, where we will now be meeting on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Their willingness to provide us worship space has truly been a godsend to the many individuals and families who attend our church. We are excited to use their wonderful facilities for meeting indoors as well as outside.

In addition, for the second year, Mayo United Methodist Church has provided us their church building for holding Vacation Bible School July 13-17. We are grateful that they have so graciously opened up their church doors to our new Lutheran congregation as we seek to serve the Mayo and Edgewater community together.

Even though we are a church community that does not have our own facility, we are thankful that these existing spaces have been opened up to us as we've needed them. We have been served by the very communities in which we are also serving.

We love the people of Edgewater and Mayo and are excited to have a place for folks in the community to learn about God's love and celebrate our worship and praise of God. Everyone is invited and welcome to come and grow with us.

NICKI PARRISH

Pastor, Joy Reigns Church

Edgewater