I am very disappointed to see that the editor of your paper chose to print Ms. McDonnell's response to my letter on leaf collection. It should be the policy of the paper to withhold articles containing vitriolic personal attacks. Despite the inaccuracies and false assumptions of her letter, I am more concerned with your decision to publish it.

As you are aware, the purpose of the Letters column is to elicit ideas and discussion. Personal attacks are uncalled for and may discourage others with valid observations from expressing them for fear of similar disparagement.

Arnold J. Finamore