I just wanted to express my condolences and shared grief about the terrible death of Kholen Germany ("Shooting Victim Was 'Such a Good Kid,' " April 20).

The story you ran about this child expressed so well the kind of child I got to know at Helen S. Faison Arts Academy in Homewood: the children you don't hear about on the news coming from struggling neighborhoods who are loving, creative, artistic and smart, whose parents iron uniforms in the morning before school, volunteer with breakfast in the school kitchen, go to work, stop in the school library with their children to get extra books at the end of the day, who helped with homework and sometimes then went to a second job while their children slept.

I met kids like Kholen when my children attended East Hills Elementary School, kids who grew up alongside my own, who shared ideas and poetry, who wrote stories and with whom my children liked to play; kids I smiled at in the halls, whose parents and grandparents we got to know.

Nothing can ever replace children like Kholen Germany. Their loss impacts the entire world, not just their neighborhoods. There are no sufficient words to say to help their parents endure. Pittsburgh's children are our treasure, and while people squabble over gambling casinos and hockey rinks, they die in the street.

SHEILA MAY-STEIN
Squirrel Hill

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I agree wholeheartedly with Roye Werner regarding noisy leaf blowers ("Blown Away," April 19). I believe that this and other noisy equipment is becoming a major nuisance.

People used to move to residential areas to escape noise and pollution of cities and industrial zones. Many were willing to pay top dollar to find tranquility. Over the years, zoning laws were passed to ensure this objective. But the proliferation of cheap lawn and garden machinery has changed everything.

Homeowners and commercial landscapers can now bring noise and pollution right to your door, and there is nothing you can do about it. No laws, no zoning, no fence and no consideration by the others. Many do not respect early morning hours, Sundays or even major religious holidays.

The equipment is poorly designed, with a minimum of engineering of any kind, so that everyone can afford it. In many cases, the main reason for the use of this machinery is its easy availability. As a result, noise from some equipment can be heard almost around the clock, and residential areas are now becoming as noisy as some industrial zones, which are at least quiet on Sundays.

Even a million-dollar house does not ensure tranquility, since the commercial interests of landscapers and the conveniences of many residents have preference over the rights of homeowners and taxpayers who would prefer peace and quiet.

JAN MURANSKY
Mt. Lebanon

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Last December while my husband and I were jogging the Bridle Path in Schenley Park on a frosty Saturday, we spotted the perfect Christmas tree -- green, perfectly formed and by all appearances just waiting for holiday ornaments. We had fun decorating the tree together a few days later. For a while, we enjoyed seeing it on our regular runs in the park.

Imagine our disappointment when several days before Christmas we couldn't find our special tree in the spot where we thought it would be. Sadly, someone had chopped it down.

We tried to comfort ourselves with the thought that whoever had chopped it down surely needed to have the Christmas spirit in their house more than we needed to see the tree in the park. We tried to understand this. Nonetheless, we were sad.

Recently, our good friend told us that "trail magic" -- the practice of hikers doing good deeds for other hikers -- had returned to Schenley Park. It's true. In the spot where our Christmas tree once stood, someone has planted another green, perfectly formed pine tree. It's outlined by a carefully placed stone ring. Thank you.

JILL DISKIN
Squirrel Hill

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I'm one of those ordinary white folks clinging to what I know and also to something Barack Obama didn't count on, my common sense. What better opportunity for an unknown to raid the henhouse of the nation's votes than when its people's minds are a blank slate, having only been spoon-fed information carefully crafted by a slick orator to get their votes. However, when Mr. Obama speaks extemporaneously, another side is shown, making me question his integrity and motives.

Hillary Clinton has been time-tested and has the natural instincts of a mother fighting for her children.

S. DerVANIK
Bridgeville

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I am absolutely amazed at the coverage of Sen. Barack Obama's remarks about voters in Pennsylvania and their bitterness about the current state of affairs in this state and the nation. Instead of really looking into the substance of the remarks (which may have required some real reporting), the media (and as a result the opposing campaigns) chose to focus on whether the comments were "offensive" to Pennsylvania voters. No. They weren't.

But let me tell you what really offends me: the media manufacturing these supposed controversies while ignoring the real issues that affect our ability to feed our families, pay our mortgages, provide health care to our children and put gas in our cars.

Sen. Hillary Clinton tried to capitalize on the media's narrative at a campaign rally recently and was rightfully shouted down. Until we demand that our elected officials really represent our interests, we'll get what we deserve. Can we really afford to let the media dictate who our next leader will be ... again?

KEN CLARK
Avalon

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I was disappointed to read that the Allegheny County Health Department is considering lowering air quality standards ("County Will Keep, Modify Air Quality Program," April 12). Southwestern Pennsylvania already suffers poor air quality due to wind patterns beyond its control bringing bad air from power plants in neighboring states.

Pittsburgh is taking a lead role in the potentially lucrative, forward-looking green building effort. Making existing air quality worse by lowering standards is a step backward. We have a major coke production facility and numerous other manufacturing plants that are in the region now that will stay and must meet the air-quality standards that will affect us all.

Lowering the county Health Department standards to the state levels is not the answer. Taking the lead will attract business and growth, not chase it away.

AMY BRAZILL
Swisshelm Park

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