On behalf of the Chapel Hill/Orange County tourism industry and the more than 100 supporters on hand for our June 19 campaign launch, we are most appreciative of helping to spread the word about our new “Edge of the Triangle” initiative (CHN, June 24, bit.ly/L7FG7b).

It is our intention to market this campaign in geographic markets with proven and potential sources of tourism for Orange County. This includes Atlantic Coast media that reaches our target demographic: Travelers who are 35-plus, and that travel for business, meetings, leisure and who are drawn to the collegiate atmosphere here. One that is steeped in history, art and walkability. A place that offers dining, nightlife, arts, music and meeting facilities.

Research shows that we are destination sought after by adult travelers and couples (as opposed to a typical family destination). These adults take several trips annually; spend two or three nights at their destination and are interested in a place with great climate, loafability, commitment to preservation, and a respect for individualism. When visiting Orange County, they spend, on average $2,100 per trip. Everyone is welcome in Chapel Hill/Orange County. We think it’s an edgy place to visit. We hope you do too.

Laurie Paolicelli

Executive director

Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau

‘Working until I die’

Romney’s not talking. Obama’s not talking. No one is talking about people over 65 who can’t find regular full-time jobs.

“Oh, they must have Social Security,” you say.

I have news for you, they may have it, but it may be under $600 a month. I am 71 and will be working, when I can find work, until I die. I am fortunate to be in good health.

If you don’t put much in, through your life, you don’t get much out of Social Security. I worked hard all my life, in the arts, where pay is low, unless you are a super star, which I was not.

No one could live on what I get monthly from Social Security. I have no safety net. The only thing I own is my 1997 Nissan. I’m always one root canal away from missing my rent.

Bottom line is, I need a job, just to pay my regular bills.

Recently my boss cut back three-fifths of my work week, down from five days to two, due to a seasonal slump. Not his fault. But I won’t even make rent ($588) this month.

But the candidates (I’m an Obama fan), who talk jobs, jobs, jobs all the time, are apparently not talking about me.

If there is the expressed concern that women earn only 70 cents on the dollar, compared to what men earn, there doesn’t seem to be the corresponding concern for older workers who are not only discriminated against, but also paid relatively less than their younger counterparts.

What about jobs for people in their 70s? What about discrimination against older job seekers. You just walk in an office with white hair and you’re several steps behind all younger applicants.

Two assumptions are in play here:

1) You’re older and maybe not as skilled or fast as others (untrue) and

2) You’re on Social Security and don’t need the job (untrue)

And I haven’t mentioned the lack of coverage for eyes, teeth and ears, not covered at all by Medicare or the Affordable Healthcare Act. But that’s another letter.

Meanwhile, about job seeking over 65, not even on the radar, I ask:

What about us? Gov. Romney? President Obama? Are you out there?

Gail Carson

Carrboro

Unfair advantages

Senate Bill 382 being debated at the legislature would allow unfair advantages to specific developers in the watershed of Jordan Lake, and only worsen the already existing pollution there.

It would force the City of Durham to provide municipal water to the controversial 751 development in Durham County near Jordan Lake This would preempt local control for planning and decision making in order to allow the Southern Durham Development Corp. to bypass normal procedures – and democracy. Durham city officials voted unanimously last February to not supply city water to this proposed development . Why should one developer be allowed to use legislative mandates to subvert local decisions?

The second part of this bill delays the implementation of the new development nutrient standards for the Jordan Lake Rules for Greensboro – at Greensboro’s request. This lets new development being built in Greensboro off the hook for meeting lower nutrient standards in stormwater, thus increasing the TOTAL nutrient pollution load to Jordan Lake. This is unfair to municipalities and counties downstream in the Haw River watershed who will still be implementing the new development rules beginning this August.

Jordan Lake is a very valuable drinking water and recreational resource. Unfortunately it is impaired by too much nutrient pollution – a problem addressed by new pollution reductions mandated by the General Assembly in 2009. This bill would be a step backward in protection of Jordan Lake.

Elaine Chiosso

Haw Riverkeeper

Haw River Assembly

Make a difference

An open letter to Sen. Kay Hagan:

I am writing to you at this critical time for our economy and for our state. The federal debt is rising and people are suffering. You are in a pivotal position to make a difference.

I am asking you to oppose any effort to reduce the level of cuts to the Pentagon budget as now required by the Budget Control Act.

I have spent decades in the health and education fields. I have seen suffering when care is delayed or denied because of inadequate or no insurance. I hear the stories of bright young people who know that tuition is beyond their reach. This is an ongoing tragedy.

If the military cuts are reduced, who will you ask to fill the budget gap?

The already tattered safety net programs now face $100 billion in cuts over 10 years. We cannot allow middle- and lower-income people to pay for the federal debt, as they have been made to pay here by our General Assembly. More cuts would directly affect educational opportunities in our community college and university systems; families’ access to primary care, elders’ ability to have a humane existence, an infrastructure preserved for our grandchildren and support for economic growth in clean energy, tourism, technology, and medical research, including rehabilitation of veterans. This is what we need most.

Please think about what your choice will mean to our families and the prospects for our children, the burden women especially bear in caring both for their children and parents, and those who worry about paying the bills and the food, let alone health care. Please represent their interests when you negotiate and vote; our people have been at the end of the line too long.

Nancy Milio

Chapel Hill