Kudos to guidance counselor Linda Klemmer for sticking to her principles over the transcript errors at Chapel Hill High School (CHN, Aug. 29, bit.ly/OJJI9Z). I suspect this incident was simply the last straw.

The response from administration reveals the root cause for the “toxic atmosphere” at the school. Thankfully our youngest child graduated in June. I will be watching to see what drastic improvements result from Superintendent Tom Forcella’s management style. I will hold school board members accountable at the ballot box.

Cindy Parks

Chapel Hill

Responsible speech

Chapel Hill has a long tradition of engaging in soul-gripping issues and leading others to not fear to engage deeply in controversial topics. We have to learn more about this issue of military aid to Israel. Who decides? Who are the lobbies? Who makes the profits? And how is it eventually used?

A church community in Chapel Hill, a dedicated “shalom” (peace) group, not a vitriolic talk show, encourages us to think, explore, dialogue on a crucial issue of our day. Thanks to the Church of Reconciliation and to Chapel Hill Transit for welcoming responsible free speech on this crucial issue.

Jim and Margaret Rafferty

Cedar Grove

Loud and lopsided

Well, if you ask me, Chapel Hill’s Church of Reconciliation has got it right. There never would have been a 9-11 or all of the aftermath were it not for the U.S.’s loud and lopsided favoritism to Israel.

We should have been and should be neutral to both sides and let them peacefully work out their differences together. This is what reconciliation is all about. Peace. War has cost them and us (the U.S.) a lot of death, grief and money.

Ross Pipes

Durham

Needs to be heard

As a Jewish North Carolinian, I feel very strongly that Israeli Jews deserve peace and security. But so do the many Christian and Muslim families of Palestine.

Security for Jews cannot come at the expense of non-Jewish people. It was wrong to expel peaceful Christian and Muslim people from their homes and villages, and it is wrong to continue violence toward these refugee families.

The Church of Reconciliation’s advertisements to end U.S. military aid to Israel represents an important voice and message that needs to be heard.

Steven Feldman

Winston-Salem

Pointing fingers

Patty Barker’s letter, “How very patriotic” says Obama “did not dodge the draft or run off from it” (CHN, Aug. 26, bit.ly/OgeB3M) What she neglects to mention is that Obama was 12 years old and not subject to the draft when it ended. So of course he didn’t “run off.”

She would have us believe that a self-confessed former pothead and user of cocaine is a better role model in his youth than Mitt Romney. I hardly think so, particularly since he refuses to explain how a poor student and heavy drug user managed to get into Ivy league schools. What is he hiding there?

And as a veteran, I think most American service members are appalled at his administration thumping their chest and taking credit for killing Bin Laden while simultaneously leaking classified intelligence on a regular basis to help him in the polls. Even members of his own party are critical of this reckless endangerment to our military and intelligence sources (like the Pakistani doctor now jailed for 33 years for helping us find Bin Laden after being revealed by Obama).

If Patty Barker wants to point a finger of blame at the real failure to prevent 9-11, she should look further back to the Clinton administration which twice passed up Sudan’s offer to hand over Bin Laden as a co-conspirator in the failed ’93 World Trade Center bombing. Clinton also failed to capture or kill Bin Laden despite his ties to the bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa and the attack on the USS Cole.

Perry Collette

Chapel Hill

Downtown detriment

I was glad to finally read a letter making some sort of sense regarding towing (“Towing is a business,” CHN, Aug. 26, http://bit.ly/OgeB3M).

It seems to me that the businesses of Chapel Hill/Carrboro to a large degree succeed or fail as a unit. In general it is less convenient to drive into town than to one of the many malls around Chapel Hill. So, in order to entice me downtown, there needs to be some additional draw. The draw is that downtown has many interesting shops, galleries, restaurants in one area. It is the sum of the downtown experience that draws visitors and citizens alike.

I can understand that businesses who pay for the upkeep of their parking lots want to ensure that they are available for their customers. However, the use of towing companies by some is clearly hurting the entire downtown ecosystem.

My own experience was that I visited Carr Mill mall one quiet afternoon and was told that I could not park in the lot if I visited any business outside of Carr Mill mall. There were plenty of parking spaces in the lot, but I moved my car as demanded by the uniformed attendant. It makes me think twice before visiting Carrboro now. So, of course the Carr Mill mall businesses get less of my dollars than they did before.

One of the reasons that we moved to Chapel Hill was because of the downtown environment. The profusion of We Will Tow You signs in recent years has really been to the detriment of the town. As for George and his towing vehicles, he seems to be running a legal and legitimate business. We should have no beef with him.

Please tell me who is looking after the town ecosystem?

Gary Little

Chapel Hill

Come to Tiger CHill

Where will you be on Saturday, Sept. 15, between 4 and 8 p.m.? I’m hoping you’ll be at Chapel Hill High School for Tiger CHill, a carnival for all ages put on by Chapel Hill High students, teachers, coaches and parents.

Chapel Hill High and community leaders have come together to organize this terrific event to raise funds for school clubs, teams, bands and organizations. But, it’s more than a fundraiser; it’s also a fun-raiser. It’s a great chance for families with younger children (our future Tigers) to come out and feel the Tiger spirit.

Tiger CHill will have something for everyone. Dozens of student and school groups are running booths with games, activities, inflatables, food and baked goods. There also will be live entertainment showcasing the talents of students from Chapel Hill High, Smith Middle and McDougle Middle. Here’s your chance to see our kids perform. You also can be part of the entertainment and participate in the “Tiger Idol” contest. Or, if your child needs to bounce and climb, we’ll have inflatables.

And, come hungry. There will be almost a dozen food kiosks with pizza, sausage and hot dogs, barbeque, and corn on the cob. And, when you’re ready for dessert, we have snow cones, candy and a bake sale.

None of this would be possible without the committed support of local businesses. First and foremost, we want to thank Charlotte White of White Space Designs who has designed all the graphics and signs and is helping to underwrite the purchase of all the signs. There are also more than a dozen business sponsors who are underwriting the cost of the inflatables and food kiosks. Finally, local artisans will have booths to sell their crafts

It has been inspiring to work on Tiger CHill. I am constantly impressed with the hard work of our students, dedication of teachers, involvement of parents, and support of local businesses. It all promises to come together as a fantastic affair where we can raise money for our school and have lots of fun doing it. Tickets will be sold at the Tiger CHill entrance (and credit cards will be accepted). I look forward to seeing you there.

Tammy LeMoine

President

CHHS PTSA