Many may remember Shirley Jackson’s chilling story, “The Lottery,” in which an early American woman is worried that she’ll be late for the town lottery. As she draws the winning tile, the reader discovers that the lottery is for a stoning.

We have for years inadvertently had a lottery at the intersection of Bennett and Mt. Carmel Church roads. Any one of us who drive through it daily could have been in the midst of the crash Monday that involved three cars and sent one person to the hospital.

How many more crashes will it take before DOT is willing to speed the process to make this intersection safe? Each time I successfully make the turn from Bennett onto Mt. Carmel Church I breathe in relief, thinking to myself, “I made it through this time.”

Karyn Traut

Chapel Hill

Tar Heel haven?

So, East West Partners or their tenant at East54 has seen fit to put up a 10 times life size image of Dean Smith to exhort us to Go, Fight, Win! each time we Glen Lennoxians head out on Raleigh Road.

Where o’ where are the protectors of our haven? Don’t we have a sign ordinance to be enforced? Considering the god-like status of Mr. Smith around here, does East West Partners have no shame?

Tom Carson

Chapel Hill

A better solution

In reviewing the CHCCS redistricting proposals and recent letters in the Chapel Hill News, there has been a disproportionate share of discussion about segment 74A. I disagree that they are being treated unfairly.

A comparison of options 3 and 4 is illustrative of this. In alternative 4 where 74A stays at Seawell, 21 other segments are moved. Those 21 segments stay put if 74A moves. I am not saying that moving them to Northside makes the most sense. The redistricting committee should run some optimization scenarios with different assumptions so that a better solution may be crafted.

Also, there has been almost no discussion on the potential negative impacts on our Karen/Burmese immigrant population. Almost all of them are moved under any alternative, and they deserve district resources to help them with the transition.

Will Allen

Chapel Hill

The establishment

A vacancy will soon be opening on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. My mind turns to matters of political “establishment,” the righteousness of challenge in a community, and what makes me itchy.

Now, let’s get clear. There is a political “establishment” in Carrboro. This is not necessarily a bad thing. So, why the itch?

Well, I get itchy at any sense that one has to be a part of an homogenous “establishment” to make progress.

I get itchy when members of an “establishment” have attributed to them phrases like so-and-so “is a good fit.” Like only one size fits all in our community.

I get itchy when an “establishment” feels that its role in government should be more that of pressure group than consensus-building mediator for the whole community.

I don’t mind so much the idea that an “establishment” within government challenges. We should, all of us, always be challenged to do better. But I get itchy when an “establishment” within government itself is not regularly challenged. And I’m not sure government in Carrboro is challenged.

I wonder if Carrboro has not become more of a playground for imports to engage in social engineering, rather than an engaging, all-inclusive community.

I wonder if more of Carrboro does not speak out simply because it feels overwhelmed.

I wonder if it is not time for a conversation in our community about whether it is, as a whole, at ease with the direction of the community.

And whether, perhaps, that conversation might not more easily be instigated by an alderman less wedded to the establishment.

Geoff Gilson

Carrboro

A ‘Dynamic’ book

David Godschalk and Jonathan Howes have published a superb book about the incredible changes on the UNC campus in the last 10 years, It is titled “The Dynamic Decade.”

It is an account of the creation of a sustainable campus for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2001 until 2011. The book contains a vast amount of information about how the building boom has shaped the university without destroying its ambiance.

It is very readable and contains considerable visual content. Anyone devoted to UNC would greatly enjoy a copy. Indeed, it would make an excellent holiday gift!

Robert Seymour

Chapel Hill

The first dance

My name is Bruce Thomas.

When I first came to Chapel Hill and Carrboro in August 1998, I got a job working at the Weaver Street bakery. After three years I left to go work for Orange United Methodist preschool in Chapel Hill. However, I would always come back for the music at Weaver Street, the Sunday brunch, and after hours on Thursdays.

When I first came here I didn’t dance. I did yoga and meditation. One evening I was watching kids dance around a tree on the lawn. In my mind I said, “God, I want to dance with the kids.” God then replied, “Then get out there and dance with the kids.”

I looked around, and let me tell you, there were a lot of people there. I said. “I am not getting out there in front of all those people.” God then said “Practice what you preach and face your fears.” I took a deep breath walked out to the lawn, stood next to the tree, and the speaker and listened to the music. Then my body just started moving. That’s how my dancing began. Because I was inspired by the beautiful children of Carrboro, Chapel Hill.

Thank you Carrboro. Thank you Chapel Hill and all of the wonderful families that make this community what it is. Thank you Weaver Street Market. Grace comes in many forms. If we have our eyes open we will see it everywhere. With much love, Thank you everyone for helping me to be a better human being. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone. May the spirit of Christmas and the spirit of life be in our hearts forever.

Bruce Thomas (Dancing Man)

Carrboro