When Hildegard Ryals passed away last week, Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) lost a dear and valued friend. Involved with TLC from its inception nearly thirty years ago, Hildegard kept TLC focused on conserving land in her beloved Durham, including fifty-nine of her own acres in northern Durham County. However, she was never satisfied with mere contributions. Though her contributions of land, money, and time were generous and appreciated, her leadership was her greatest gift to TLC. Anyone who came in contact with her was inspired and sometimes cajoled to act.

We will miss her presence and participation. We will miss her kind words and reassuring belief that in the end the right thing will be done. With Hildegard as our guide, TLC has protected nearly 16,000 acres in Durham, Orange, Wake, Chatham, Johnston and Lee counties and will continue to make a positive, permanent impact in the Triangle for our water, forests and farms.

Jeff Masten

Triangle Land Conservancy

Director of Conservation Strategies

Thanks, and a pledge

Many heartfelt thanks to all of you who supported me in my bid for a seat on the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Shortly after the polls closed on November 6th, 2012, the news media reported the numbers and the results revealed that we had won. I am ecstatic about our wonderful victory, and look forward to serving as your County Commissioner.

This past year on the campaign trail has been a most rewarding experience. I have enjoyed meeting and talking with you and other members of the Orange County community, and each one of you has enlightened me in some unique way. My hope is that we will be able to continue the dialogue.

Please know that I am grateful to you—whether you put up signs, knocked on doors, made phone calls, posted on Facebook, worked at the polls or voted for me on your ballot.

Now, the real work begins and I pledge to do my best over the next four years to serve our rural and urban communities, and to open the forum so that your voice and your vision guide the future of Orange County.

Renee Price

Commissioner-Elect

More Mary

The first thing I read with my morning coffee today was Mary Sonis’ My View Column, an upbeat story, great way to start the day (CHN, Nov. 11). I look forward to reading more of Mary’s columns.

Rita Berman

Chapel Hill

A treat to read

You asked for feedback on Mary Sonis’s column, “The lop-eared doe is the queen of Bolin Creek Forest” (CHN, Nov. 11).

Even if you had not requested it, I was going to write you to let you know that it is the very best thing that I have read in the newspaper all year.

It is such a delightful treat to read something about nature, rather than economic development, or the town council, or the national election, or the latest murders, or who has died, or who won what ball game.

Perhaps we would all benefit from spending some time each day in observance of the fascinating natural world that surrounds us, with all its delights and surprises.

I am planning to enclose a copy of Mary’s column with my Christmas cards, as we enter a time of reflection on the past year and anticipation of the new year that awaits us.

Carla Shuford

Chapel Hill

Educate yourself about GMOs

I am hoping many Chapel Hill/ Carrborro citizens read the article entitled “Modified plants rhetoric anti-science” (CHN, Nov 7). I do not agree with all that they said. Do you?

No, I am not a geneticist, but I believe people have the right to know what is in their food. I challenge each reader to dig for more information about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and/or genetically engineered food and form your own opinion.

Avid readers like myself know what is up with GMOs but many people do not. Buying non-GMO products is expensive. Granted. But, who wants to be a human guinea pig?

One person’s health is more important than big corporation profits. Why do so many other countries require genetically engineered food be listed on food labels? Are all those countries just nervous ninnies? If genetically engineered food is so good, then why not advertise it on labels?

Melissa Kohout

Carrboro

Genealogical Society draws interest

More than 35 people attended the first meeting of the Triangle Jewish Genealogical Society (TJGS) on Oct. 21.

North Carolinians from as far away as Wilmington joined local residents from Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh to organize a group that will educate its members and the public on Jewish genealogy with programs and workshops.

Membership is open to all. At the first meeting, I provided a presentation titled “Three Guides, Four Countries: A Daughter of Holocaust Survivors Visits Her Ancestral Villages.”

The next meeting will be Sunday, Dec. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 6905 Fayetteville Road, Suite 204, Durham.

The program will be appropriate for all levels of expertise, beginner and advanced. Jarrett Ross of Sephardicgenealogy.blogspot.com will present the program, “Fast, Cheap, and Local: A Guide to Genealogical Resources: Jewishgen, Avotanyu, GENI, Family Tree Maker, Facebook, Google and More!”

First-time attendees may participate for free. Subsequent meetings are $15 or attendees can join the TGJS for $25 for an individual membership through December, 2013.

To register, contact Deborah Long at 919-968-3742 or DebbieTheTeacher@gmail.com. The next meeting will be Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013.

The program will feature a panel discussion on “What’s Comes Next: Sharing Your Genealogical Discoveries” and focus on different methods to engage children, grandchildren and others in family history.

Deborah Long

Chapel Hill