Naming of Hunsicker Field is a well-deserved honor

I was elated to read and hear about an individual who was finally recognized and acknowledged for keeping Pates Park in existence over the years through his dedication and persistence by personally providing the ongoing maintenance and management of this facility.

His name is Don Hunsicker. Don has been the heart and soul for many years, keeping the legacy of the Allentown Patriots organization alive, which in the past has provided many opportunities for the youth of the South Side of Allentown along with community organizations serving the area as well. For me, Pates Park had become a home away from home as I had the opportunity to participate in youth and men’s athletic programs there. Throughout my time at Pates Park, there has always been one constant and that, of course, was Don Hunsicker. To longtime Patriots followers, Don is better known as Hodge or Hodgie. Last week, the Patriots organization announced that Don would be honored by having the softball field named Hunsicker Field.

Hodge, congratulations! You most definitely deserve and earned this honor and recognition. Thank you for your many years of service and dedication to the Allentown Patriots organization and to the local community.

— Rick Reinhart, Upper Saucon Township

The writer coaches girls softball at Easton Area High School, and is a former men’s softball player who played for Don Hunsicker

Don’t fall for promise of $5,000 payouts

Where is the fiscal conservativism Republicans used to stand for? Now President Trump is promising to pay every adult $5,000 if the Republicans win the midterms. Besides the possible legalities with this, how can anyone support this with our deficit hitting an all-time high? Where have the Republicans gone?

And anyone who believes this, I will sell ice in Alaska. Don’t forget we were supposed to get a check from DOGE and we were to get one from the first wave of tariffs. None of these have hit my bank account.

Trump also promised to end the war in Ukraine on Day 1, never start any more wars, bring down prices on Day 1, and release the Epstein files. I could go on and on. Just beware and don’t spend this money that is never coming.

And how could any American be OK with this? We have never allowed votes to be bought, let alone with taxpayers’ money. Shameful!

— John Antrim, Emmaus 

Consider celebrating Thanksgiving without killing a turkey

The turkeys many plan to eat on Thanksgiving were born in March, April and May.

Long before families write shopping lists or debate who is bringing the mashed potatoes, millions of turkeys are being raised by an industry designed to turn living animals into holiday products as quickly and efficiently as possible. They are only a few months old and some will be slaughtered before they’ve lived even six months.

By Thanksgiving, their story is already over. But ours does not have to follow the same script. Traditions evolve. We can keep everything we love about Thanksgiving — the crowded tables, family recipes, gratitude, football, pie and second helpings — without requiring any animals to die for it.

So let’s start thinking about Thanksgiving earlier this year. There is plenty of time to plan a feast centered on abundance, connection and compassion. What better way is there to give thanks than by sparing a life?

— Alan Meekes, Allentown

Is Morning Call censoring criticism of Trump admin?

Did The Morning Call hire Bari Weiss? Four years of the Biden administration gave us a daily barrage of negative opinions from the same crowd that is ostensibly quiet! At first, I thought The Morning Call was actually changing the comment section, then it became obvious, they are sanitizing it, so this president doesn’t look so bad! How can a president with the lowest approval rating in history, who gaslights Americans every day with ignorant things like him naming everything under the sun to offering $5,000 for people to vote Republican, his family gorging themselves with insider information, not have any negative comments being posted? The answer is someone is covering! Just look at this headline from the AP on Sept. 12, “Trump calls on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian diesel, saying attacks are causing a shortage”; or his totally incoherent speech in Ireland on the same day? Where are these articles in The Morning Call? Let’s get back to allowing honest opinions!

— Michael Fetter, Bethlehem Township

Boomers, don’t leave our mess for our children, grandchildren

In response to one of the most selfish, self-serving and self-justifying opinion columns, I am responding to a now-retired teacher’s opinion piece about boomers staying uninvolved, calm and simply ignoring the culture that surrounds them. This “culture” is one that we boomers created (or allowed) for ourselves and our own benefit. John Schmoyer, the retired teacher, suggests that the current mess we face be left to our children to fix or redevelop. This, after he spoke of instilling personal responsibility in his children, as did all of his golf buddies. Great, our kids now get to negotiate a geriatric government that doesn’t understand nor even care about them.

— Eric Sell, Lowe Macungie Township

A perfect slogan for 2028: Make America Great Again

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I take no credit, nor pleasure, in proposing a political rallying slogan embraced by so many Americans in this decade. Our current president, in both of his terms, has stretched the limits of decency, of moral and ethical standards, and will leave our nation irrevocably harmed when his second attempt to gain immortality expires. But I have hope. Those that oppose his philosophy can rally around a ready-made battle cry for the 2028 elections: Make America Great Again.

— Bill Harris, Bethlehem

Election letters

Letters to the editor about candidates and issues in the Nov. 3 general election must be received by 10 a.m. Oct. 22.  Election-related letters will not be published after Oct. 29.

The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.