I want to commend the streets department for a great job with snow removal. Particular thanks go to the two gentlemen who did my street on Sunday night. I watched them, and it was a pleasure to see their skill.

In addition, my street was plowed before I went to work during the second snowfall and they still managed to pick up my trash that day.

Those who complain about the side streets not being done until later should be grateful the main streets are in excellent condition. If we want all streets cleared like the main streets, then be prepared for a tax increase. The last time I looked there were people doing the work, not robots, and there are still only 24 hours in a day.

-- Delores Robillard, Madison

City street department leadership questioned

Every time it snows, the city of Madison turns into a disaster area for drivers. The first step towards a solution to this problem would be to fire Al Schumacher, Madison 's streets division superintendent, for incompetence.

How many years must we wait before the evidence becomes overwhelming that he is never going to get it? The miles of snow-covered main streets and the ice-covered primary intersections are undisputable proof of Schumacher 's failure to perform the most basic duties of his office. Please take action now.

-- David Kramka, Madison

City snow removal fails expectations

Madison has failed the expectations of its residents during the clean-up of the recent ice and snow storms. The roads and side streets were left rutted with ice and hard to navigate. If you 're not careful, your vehicle tailpipes, mufflers or shocks could be damaged.

The mayor knows they need to do a better job. I think the streets, as bad as they are, should be covered under public safety, especially for the elderly who need help getting around.

He also mentioned salting and sanding, and how salt could be bad for the lakes. How about the safety of our residents?

The snow piled at the intersections and on medians is so high you can hardly see over or around them for oncoming traffic. Pedestrians have a hard time walking when they pile the snow in the medians and cross walks.

We residents can 't help it if there are equipment breakdowns that affect our areas. That is their problem. They should be prepared to correct it when it happens.

There are students who get parking permits and then park their cars in the two-hour zone and leave them, causing problems for snow emergencies. Most of those cars are abandoned and should be towed away.

The elderly and disabled should not be ticketed for not shoveling. Spend taxpayer money on appropriate resources and services instead of studies that nobody wants.

-- Ray Moen, Madison

Skillful plow driver earns rave reviews

We were more than satisfied with the city streets department 's efforts at plowing after last week 's storms.

We live in Midvale Heights. Our street was plowed, and the plow operator made certain that our driveway was not blocked. We own a corner lot and we were especially grateful that the plow operator took care to clear the corner so that pedestrians could cross safely.

Thank you for a job well done!

-- Tom Hanrahan, Madison

Shoveling volunteers trying to fill the gap

Thanks for the wonderful column by Susan Lampert Smith, "The elderly versus winter, " published on Sunday.

We at the North/Eastside Senior Coalition have been swamped with requests for help from our senior adults. The early snowfall has caused great trepidation. We are working hard to fill all the requests with our existing snow shovel volunteers and new recruits who have recently contacted us.

Thank you for bringing attention to our challenge and encouraging seniors (and volunteers) to call the senior coalitions. We sometimes forget when living in Wisconsin that we all must adapt to the winter conditions. Happy Holidays!

-- Cheryl Batterman, executive director, North/Eastside Senior Coalition, Madison

Kudos to all the neighborhood heroes

I read Susan Lampert Smith 's Sunday column on the elderly and winter with great interest. The comment quoted in her column, "When I was growing up, people helped their neighbors, " is true for me also.

I live on a West Side cul-de-sac and could not ask for better neighbors. One brings the newspapers to our door so we can reach out to get them rather than going down the driveway. He and his son recently appeared in my driveway minutes after I called and said I did not have gas or a spark plug for my snow blower and I could not shovel the heavy snow.

Another neighbor has mowed, raked and plowed for me just to be neighborly, and lent a hand if he saw me struggling in the driveway or garage with some kind of project. On Sunday when I got up for church, my sidewalk and driveway were already plowed. I think it was that neighbor who did it.

I 've often been helped or have seen others being helped, and it doesn 't matter which neighbor does the good deed, because they do not want thanks. They help out of the kindness of their hearts.

I am fortunate because the people in my little neighborhood are honest, caring folks who know what life is really all about. Christmas seems like a good time to thank all of the neighborhood heroes who are still out there, even in 2007.

-- Mary Zoroufy, Madison

Don 't leaders know basic services are?

Ok, so take an imaginary town -- Chicago maybe -- and a mayor who did not or could not get the streets cleared of snow in a way that made the streets safe and navigable. The mayor was not re-elected in this fable, and this fundamental issue proved the deal breaker.

Here we are in a big city with some of the scariest streets in the state, because we just don 't seem to have a better snow-removal plan. We have other priorities, like traffic islands and voting on a war that most of us can agree was based on a family grudge and our needs for resources.

I don 't think Madison leader even know what basic services mean the average taxpayer. I just want a clear side street and a clear and safe street to take to work.

Every day on the road is like a carnival ride, and I am too old for the thrill and the damage to my automobile. A little salt and kitty litter goes a long way. Right now, I am longing for Miami.

-- Sandra Saul, Madison