The Chapel Hill News recently published an excellent story about the significant negative effects of construction runoff on Eastwood Lake (CHN, Feb. 12). Silt and debris flowing into the lake from upstream development over the years has cost our neighborhood literally millions of dollars to clean up.

Now the Town Council is getting read to do it to us again, this time with the likely approval of Charterwood. But no matter how much happy talk we hear from the developer and planning department, two things are certain. First, there will be enormous amounts of silt running off the Charterwood construction site. And second, my neighbors and I will bear the burden of paying for that silt to be removed from our lake.

Charterwood should not be approved unless the town and developer put into place a million dollar bond to cover the inevitable cost of cleaning up the mess they will create for downstream neighborhoods around Eastwood Lake and Lake Ellen.

James Protzman

Chapel Hill

Revisionist history?

In reference to “Ceremony Preserves Heritage: Group Honors Those Killed In The Civil War” (CHN, May 9)

As Southerners we have many things to be proud of but the confederacy is not one. Romanticizing the confederacy sullies all the things that are truly beautiful about the South and Southern Heritage. When The Sons of Confederate Veterans transformed itself from a historical society to a neo-confederate historical revisionist organization with opinions far out of the mainstream of historical analysis, they moved from preserving heritage to distorting heritage. To say this group "honors those killed in the Civil War" dishonors the 15,000 patriotic North Carolinians who died supporting the Union.

I’m a Southern boy and, to the best of my knowledge, none of my ancestors fought for the Union. They were people of their place and times and I’m reluctant to judge them as individuals. But the cause of slavery was unjust and made the Civil War unjust regardless of other issues involved. Let’s celebrate our heritage of great Southern writers, food and culture. As for the Civil War: We lost. Get over it.

David B Freeman

Chapel Hill

Frightening prospect

The prospect of war with Iran is frightening. So is the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran.

That’s why I was so encouraged that the United States was among the world powers taking part in diplomatic talks with Iran on April 13 and 14.

Diplomacy is single most effective way to avert those two bad outcomes.

Patricia Ray

Chapel Hill

Missing middle

I write this as a former registered Democrat, former registered Republican and present day unaffiliated senior voter. To reverse paraphrase Ronald Reagan, I did not leave the Republican Party; it left me. I am a self-described center-left independent voter, never to be a registered Republican again.

I can understand the anger and concern of the Right about debt, taxes, the role of government, perceived lack of freedom, over-regulations and the real fear of over dependency on government to meet our daily needs.

I cannot understand the MEANNESS coming from the Right. Anger is not the same as meanness. Why the mean-spirited comments, jeering, and applause at seemingly inappropriate times without little or no challenge or denouncement by the press and our so-called elected and hopeful to be elected leaders?

The above tendencies help to partially explain why it is hard for both sides to come together and listen to the other. The extremes of both tribes show these tendencies to a more pronounced degree.

This is where I need comment and HELP. Is there an organized, formal forum we, the center, center-right and center-left can have a real discussion about the real State of the Union, the role of government, how much government do we need, want and are willing to pay for? Can we bypass our elected readers and have a real conversation that they cannot or will not have with the American People? Can we have a national televised, highly publicized debate with a few representatives of the moderate voice who are rational, intelligent, articulate and civil?

Can we do the above before the general election gets underway to give the politicians and crafty word-smiths something be held accountable to? A real contract with America; with the more silent American majority. All voices should be heard but the extreme should not have disproportional sway so often and for so long.

I am sure an Elon University poll could accomplish much of this, but would it have the same impact or be as much fun?

D. Ray McArthur

Hillsborough

Fitness fair thanks

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation would like to thank our community partners for their generous support of the April 28 5K For Fitness and Fitness Fair

Formerly known as the Race For Education, the 5K For Fitness was moved to spring to become a separate event from the annual Walk For Education, which will continue to be held in fall. The focus of this 5K event has now evolved to include an even stronger emphasis on healthful living by offering a 7-week training program for CHCCS teachers and staff with our community partner, Fleet Feet Sports.

More than 300 teachers district-wide took part, some of whom were running their first 5K, as well as some of whom were starting their first fitness program ever. Participating teams of teachers rallied around each other wearing their school T-shirts. School mascots were present and kicked off the event with the first-ever mascot dash, with the Ephesus Elementary Road Runner taking first prize. Race participants also included 280 additional community members, students, and parents for a record-breaking number of 580 runners. More than 30 course volunteers sent up encouraging cheers along the race route.

Through the generous donations of our community partners, the runners, walkers, family members and supporters were treated to tips on healthful living, healthy snacks, even chair massages by Aimee Gaunt and Zumba lessons from Angela Morales-Levy, at the Fitness Fair held on the lawn of McCorkle Place on the UNC Campus. It is with much heartfelt gratitude that we thank our community partners for supporting this event that motivated our district’s teachers and staff to focus on fitness. Thank you to Brian and Tricia White of Fleet Feet Sports, Donna Parker, UNC Department of Family Medicine; Victoria Widman, SNAP Fitness; Mark Sperry, TCBY; Gerry Cohn, Organic Valley; Sage Roundtree, Carrboro Yoga Company and Whole Foods.

Christine Cotton

5K For Fitness

Suki Newton

Kim Hoke

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation