My husband and I have been living on Kay street (behind Johnny’s) for over 50 years. We helped create this neighborhood that so many people deem so desirable.

For anyone to think that we are not part of the community, and are not interested in preserving it as a residential neighborhood is wrong – and that is exactly why we do not want to see 901 W. Main St., Carrboro (Johnny’s) rezoned.

There may be many people who want to see the once neighborhood store (Beal & Tillman Grocery) turned into a place where they can hang out, drink beer and wine, thus creating noise and parking problems. However, it’s not a crime that we don’t want this, and we should not be considered villans for opposing it. We have been called several unbecoming names and yet they say they want to be a neighborhood friendly business.

Johnny’s was grandfathered in as a small retail sales establishment, because it had been there for a very long time, and had little impact on the neighborhood. We feel that to spot zone this less than one-half acre lot with a large house containing an upstairs rental apartment would be defeating the purpose of grandfathering it. Carrboro is well known for its vibrant community of restaurants, bars and music venues in the business district only a few blocks away. There is no reason to destroy an older, established neighborhood by spot zoning to allow commercial uses. We deserve some consideration, also.

Pat Clark

Carrboro

Our community

I live on Kay Street, behind Johnny’s which I still support and have supported ever since it opened not long after I moved into my current home. Brian Plaster started it as a friendly gathering place. By the time he left, Johnny’s had become a roadside bar with almost daily music that disturbed the peace of homes beyond the immediate neighborhood with heavy drinking that was an eyesore and parking problems that were a nuisance to many.

This is one reason why many homeowners in the vicinity of 901 W. Main St. in Carrboro are not too eager to welcome another edition of Johnny’s that still remains the property of Ms. Halle. Public gatherings create noise, even without music; people coming together for food, drink, or events become a nuisance when this goes on day after day. Add to that the lights that shine into our backyard at night and you have an ongoing party. Would you want your own neighbor to do this to you?

It may be that Johnny’s is not seeking the same rezoning any longer, given that there is a general petition of over 100 mostly surrounding neighbors who strongly oppose a business in their residential district. But even if Johnny’s requests a different rezoning or conditional use permit, this might shift the responsibility to be vigilant that Carrboro’s progressive town management so wisely accepted – by installing zoning ordinances in the 1980s – onto those citizens who wish to protect themselves from events disturbing their peace.

Dorothea Heitsch

Carrboro

‘Record of cowardice’

Taking issue with my statement that Obama did not dodge the draft, Perry Collette notes that Obama was too young for it (CHN, Sept. 9), which ignores the more salient point that Romney did dodge the draft during the Vietnam War, with four deferments. Then, as a presidential candidate in 2007, he had the temerity, the effrontery, the unmitigated gall to say: “I longed in many respects to actually be in Vietnam…” Oh, right.

Mr. Collette asserts shaky propositions as facts. Thus, claims that the Sudanese offered to turn over bin Laden are unsubstantiated and have been rejected by the 9/ll Commission. Clinton tried to kill bin Laden before 9/ll, which is more than Bush did. No evidence exists to show that the Obama Administration has “leaked classified information on a regular basis.” While Obama used marijuana as a young man, along with millions of other young people, if this usage precludes admission to an Ivy League school then the ranks of Ivy League students would be markedly thinned.

Even more stupid: Romney’s statement that on Day 1 of his presidency, he would declare China a currency manipulator, so he could put tariffs on Chinese goods. Thomas L. Friedman savaged this in a recent column for the New York Times. “That is really cool,” he wrote. “Smack China on Day 1. I just wonder what happens on Day 2, when China, the biggest foreign buyer of U.S. debt securities, announces that it will not participate in the next Treasury auction, sending our interest rates soaring. That will make Day 3 really, really cool.”

What a wonderful candidate!

Patty Barker

Chapel Hill

Father’s gratitude

I have so much appreciation for the Chapel Hill Police Department, which has twice now found and brought home my young daughter when she has taken a walk that got a little too long. Most recently, Officer Jared Greenlee retrieved her late on a Saturday night and returned her to us. They’re fast, they’re efficient, they’re reassuring on the phone, and they’ve got our backs. Many, many thanks to them.

Barrie Trinkle

Chapel Hill

Piedmont Action Camp

Are you tired of listening to depressing reports of climate change, melting ice caps, extinction rates rising, and the expansion of dirty energy like coal and fracking?

Do you want to preserve wilderness or defend your local landbase, but don’t know where to start?

Then, the Piedmont Direct Action Camp is for you!

We’ll be hosting speakers and trainers from our local area, the western mountains, and from groups like Rainforest Action Network and Greenpeace. We’ll be offering to teach skills like climate change and effective action for the planet, nonviolent civil disobedience and direct action, tree climbing, creative blockades, local flora /plant walks/wild edibles/plant and mushroom identification, fracking infrastructure/fracking 101, working with the media/messaging for actions, biocentrism, primitive skills (fire making, shelter making), legal support for actions/know Your Rights and Security Culture.

Campers can arrive Friday night Oct. 19. Workshops start sharp on Saturday morning through Sunday evening, and plan to stay through Monday morning to take part in an action to defend our bioregion. All are welcome. Suggested donation of $20 to $50 to cover meals. Email dontfracknc@riseup.net to register. Help out by spreading the word on Facebook. Posters are available for distribution if you contact us. This will be held near Pittsboro.

Justin Jacobs

Croatan Earth First