OLD GLORY: A few more comments today on Mike Smith and his
conflict with the city over flying his American flag which
reportedly was “wafting” over traffic on East Main Street:

Donna Fowler writes from Port Allegany: “I have been to Bradford
and love the flags flying in front of the store. Thanks to Mr.
Smith for serving our country and proud to be an American! Let him
keep them.”

Jim Remick of Kane: “In regard to your article ‘Smith cited for
display of patriotism,’ I am only a distant observer of the
situation from Kane. However, I commend Mr. Smith on his support of
our troops. I quote from your July 26 article: ‘The ordinance reads
as follows, “No temporary sign shall extend over or into any
street, alley, sidewalk or other public thoroughfare a distance
greater than four inches from the wall upon which it is
erected.”‘

“If Mr. Smith has honored our troops in such a manner in that
location for the last eight years, wouldn’t those flags be
considered permanent?”

JUST JUMP: We suggested that pedestrians walk facing traffic if
they are on a street or highway and Judith dePonceau of
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, has put forth another reason:

“I walk facing traffic so that I can jump out of the way if I
see a car moving into my space. With all the passing on the right
that goes on, people often drive on the roadside, which puts
walkers and bicyclists at risk.

“I don’t know if I am more visible to oncoming drivers, but
certainly they are more visible to me.”

A QUESTION: Nancy Houser Kania of North Fort Myers, Fla., has a
couple questions and a comment about Bradford: “Just wondering …
Is the Girl Scout House on Corydon Street at the top of Bushnell
Street still there? Active? I think it was called the John Ley
House. Do church bells still ring on Sunday morning in
Bradford?”

“Hope that the new cupola atop BHS (as I remember it) will be
white and similar to the original.”

We agree about the cupola. It’s as much a part of Bradford’s
landscape as is Old City Hall. But, then again, we have not yet
been consulted.