Tainted

We have a lot of rules here in St. Paul. But did you know that if you have lived rather peaceably in this city for 20-plus years and get a new neighbor, there is not much you can do about their cigarette smoke wafting into your house?

If you sit on your porch at 4 p.m., or are lying in your bed at 4 a.m., you have the privilege of sucking in second-hand smoke produced by tobacco.

Many of the older homes in St. Paul may not have central air, and with springtime comes opening of the windows.

Renters can complain about smells of cigarettes in apartments and condos. They get action.

Home owners? Nada.

About all you can hope for is to live downwind.

I’d rather not die from lung cancer.

B. Richards, St. Paul

Sainted

I would like to Saint the St. Paul music students and their directors. We are privileged to hear our grandsons play in concerts at Central High School and Ramsey Middle School. Their music performances are amazing and sound very professional.

We recently attended the Ordway Honors Concert, which featured music students from all St. Paul senior highs, and that was a wonderful experience. We know the students and their teachers give lots of time and energy to their programs, often rehearsing early mornings before classes start. They deserve to be Sainted for their efforts. These programs should be well funded for many years to come.

Christine Dreisbach, St. Paul

Sainted

I’m writing about Mikayla Raines, the young, compassionate girl who takes care of foxes (“City may revoke woman’s permit for rescued foxes,” May 4).

The city of Lakeville is going after this girl because she has more than the permit allowed. Things change all the time — there’s no reason it can’t change, too. This girl is very devoted to animals, which I think is a good thing! I was the same way, only my thing was birds — robins, blue jays, etc.

The problem today is that not enough people care about animals; take a look at Facebook once and you would see the horrendous things that young people and older, too, do to these poor, defenseless animals. Not just foxes but dogs, cats, bulls, rhinos, elephants and you name it in the animal world, somewhere it is being tortured and killed.

We need a lot more people like Mikayla Raines and the people who operate rescues, sanctuaries and rehab facilities for all animals. So, why don’t the Lakeville officials take a good look at something more pressing than a girl caring for foxes on 10 acres of her own property. As Mikayla said, they don’t stink and don’t howl and are not disturbing anyone. I’m sure there is something more important to do on a city official’s time!

Mark Lee, South St. Paul

Sainted

Sainted: Wally Wakefield, whose death was reported in your obituary column and Charley Walters’ column of May 7. In addition to his many accomplishments listed in the obit and Walters’ column, Wally helped me get the facts right when I was writing about ski-jumping for the then-Edina-based McGraw-Hill publication “The Physician & Sportsmedicine.” He explained to me the meaning of the ski-jumping term “P-point.” As a journalist, he championed freedom of the press when he refused to divulge his sources of a controversial story. I was happy to have contributed to his legal defense fund. Finally, we share the same birthday, June 30 (him 1930, me 1936). RIP, buddy, and thanks.

Willard B. Shapira, Roseville

Sainted

Several prescriptions I have to take long term are very expensive, so I asked and received from the insurance company a tier reduction. When the nurse (Shana?) for my physician, Dr. Tammy Chiesa, called to inform me of the approval, she said I would be eligible for an adjustment, as the approvals were retroactive. The insurance company did not initially disclose this to me.

I want to thank Dr. Chiesa and Shana of HealthEast Midway Clinic, as well as the wonderful pharmacists and staff at Cub Pharmacy on University Avenue in St. Paul — Kristen, Emily, Jessica and Dor — who went above and beyond to rerun the claims resulting in a credit.

These days, every little bit I can save helps. Thank you for your assistance; it’s greatly appreciated.

Jacqueline Heintz, St. Paul

Tainted & Sainted

Tainted: To the business in North St. Paul whose building alarm went off around 10 p.m. Saturday and sounded for more than 12 hours! Their alarm kept me and many of my neighbors up all night. I was told by police that they could not get a hold of the owner/employee who had the key to turn it off, so it just blasted all night long.

Sainted: North St. Paul Police for calling me back to let me know what was going on and apologizing for something they had no control over.

Jerry Klaas, North St. Paul