Cooperative Living November/December 2016 - 6

Mailbag
COST-BENEFIT FACTS CAN
INTERFERE WITH THE
'GREEN FANTASY'
I really liked the October Mailbag letter,
" What About Cost vs. Benefit? " discussing
green energy. The writer points out that
there should be a cost-versus-benefit
consideration when it comes to green
energy. I agree with him.
The problem, I think, is that most
people who strongly support
implementing green energy sources such
as windmills, solar farms and electric cars
are not really concerned about the cost or
the efficiency of the technologies. In my
experience, the proponents of green
technology are driven more by their desire
to see us move away from fossil fuels than
anything else.
I say this because even when the green
alternative is less practical and more
expensive than fossil fuels, as in the case of
wind farms and electric cars, some people
are still willing to go with the green
alternative. From my discussions with
some people it seems almost blasphemous
to even mention the cost or effectiveness
of green energy.
There are negative environmental
effects associated with green energy as
well, but like the cost-versus-benefits
consideration, those are ignored by many
people because those facts interfere with
the green fantasy.
I am in favor of what works for our
nation and our future so I'm not opposed
to green energy. I just think all the facts
should be considered as we go forward.
- Marquell Snowden, Ruther Glen
OLD FAUQUIER COUNTY
JAIL ALSO HOME
TO SPIRITS
I enjoy receiving and reading
your magazine each issue and
especially enjoyed your
October 2016 article on
" History and Hauntings. "
I would like to comment on
NOTE
EMAIL
WRITE US!
ADDRESS
the Brentsville Jail caption
stating that the 1850 Brentsville
Jail was the only 19th-century
jail open to the public in
Virginia. There is at least one other
haunted 19th-century Virginia jail open to
the public. The 1808/1823 Old Fauquier
County Jail in Warrenton is open to the
public six days a week, has several spirits
in residence and Paranormal Tours are
held throughout the year.
The Old Fauquier County Jail was built
in Warrenton in 1808. That four-cell jail
was in operation for 15 years and saw
disease and death caused by poor
treatment of inmates and over-crowding.
Those neglectful conditions led to a
lawsuit with the Commonwealth,
which ordered the county to erect a
new jail in 1823.
The older structure was then converted
into living quarters for the jailer and his
family, allowing on-site care for prisoners.
The jailer's house and jail remained in
operation until 1966 when the Fauquier
Historical Society saved it from demolition
and created a museum.
The Old Jail Museum was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978 and renamed the Fauquier
History Museum at the Old Jail in
2014. For more information, see
www.fauquierhistory.com.
- Anthony Padden, Montclair
We want to hear from you - comments,
opinions, suggestions. Your letter must be
signed and legible. We reserve the right to edit for
grammar, style and length, with a 250-word maximum
for acceptance. Write: MAILBAG, P.O. Box 2340, Glen
Allen, VA 23058-2340; or email mailbag@co-opliving.com.
Please include your name and city/town of residence, with
Mailbag as the subject.
COLUMN REMINDS READER
OF ENCOUNTER WITH
POTPOURRI PEST
Reading October's Rural Living column
by Margo Oxendine reminded me of an
instance when a mouse made a nest under
my dresser.
I had some potpourri in a dish on
top of the dresser and when it started
disappearing daily I couldn't figure out
why. That's when I discovered the mouse's
nest, packed with the sweet-smelling
potpourri! Of course, I got rid of the nest
and set a trap and got the little robber. An
exterminator told me later that this
experience was surprising, since he didn't
think mice went after sweet smells.
Needless to say, I don't keep potpourri
in the house anymore!
- Sandy Reynolds, Stanardsville
READER ENCOURAGES
DEALING WITH MICE IN A
HUMANE FASHION
I am responding to the Rural Living
column, " Life in the Countryside: or,
Learning to Live with Mice, " in the
October 2016 magazine.
I too have lived in the Blue Ridge area of
Virginia for several years. The safest and
WhatzIt?
Make your best guess at this photo of a
familiar but unidentified object. Send it in
writing with your name, address and phone
number to WhatzIt?, c/o Cooperat ive Living,
P.O. Box 2340, Glen Allen, VA 23058-2340;
or guess online at www.co-opliving.com
under " Contests. " Dead line for entries is
Nov. 18. All correct entries will be put into
a drawing and a winner announced in the
February 2017 issue. The winner will re ceive
a check for $25. 
4 | Cooperative Living | November-December 2016
The Sept. 2016
WhatzIt? was
the tip of an ink
pen and reader
Kevin Cole of
Alton was our
$25 winner.
Congratulations,
Kevin!
 DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
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Cooperative Living November/December 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living November/December 2016
