If you will look back some 40 years or more you will find that Ross commissioners then, as now, were unable and unwilling to stand up for this library. Only after one referendum did the township participate, and another referendum did they pony up the money for this building, which serves thousands. The building is in McCandless, which is the geographic center of the various supporting communities. Then as now the funds from Ross were and probably are still essential to the survival of this institution. I was co-chairman of the [Ross] referendum drive that built the present building, but I am no longer a resident of any of the supporting communities. I am still a regular user of Northland. I hope the citizens of Ross again, after 40 years, show their commissioners their support for the library and that they are more literate than the commissioners assume.

HOBART RICHEY

Hampton

The Fox Chapel Parks Commission applauds the efforts of the parents who want to keep their school playgrounds pesticide free ("Parents Halt Use of Pesticide at Fox Chapel Area School," Oct. 10). Studies over many years have shown the dangers of chemicals such as 2-4D on children and pets.

The McCahill Field in Fox Chapel, which uses organic lawn care methods, has been pesticide-free for almost a year. Yes, there have been some complaints about the dandelions, but we have also received several recipes for dandelion wine.

DOTTY BECKWITH

Fox Chapel

The writer is a member of the Fox Chapel Parks Commission .

In response to the Oct. 8 article "Firefighter Volunteerism Burning Out," I have been involved with emergency services at various times since 1996. I am a state Department of Health emergency medical technician. I have taken Essentials of Firefighting, Basic Vehicle Rescue and roughly 30 other training courses and had an internship with Pittsburgh's Bureau of Fire in fire investigations.

I live in Washington County part of the week and in Robinson the remainder of the time. I am a student at Point Park University in its post-baccalaureate secondary education program, getting ready to student-teach in the spring. So my world is a bit spread and hectic right now.

Do I have the volunteer spirit? Yes.

However, the problem with someone in my situation is not a lack of willingness to volunteer, but rather: Will a department accept me? I cannot offer 24/7 availability.

What I can offer to a department in the western suburbs or South Hills area is someone who can volunteer 15 to 20 hours a month, has training and, more importantly, someone who has the "volunteer spirit" and can handle the rigors of emergency service.

I am willing to come to a station to help when I can and answer calls. All I ask for is not the hundred dollars discussed in the article, but rather a department that is understanding of my current situation and maybe lets me have a desk where I could study. I know that I can do just as much studying at a fire station as I can at home or in the school library.

Is there a department that is willing to accept someone like me who still starts for the door when he hears the local siren go off?

NATHAN McDOWELL

Washington, Pa.

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