Editor’s note: Superintendent Tom Forcella released this statement Friday in response to the Newton tragedy.

It is indeed a sad commentary that I feel the need to send this communication in response to the tragic school shooting that occurred in Newtown, Conn., earlier today.

This event is a painful reminder that we must be ever diligent in our efforts to protect our children.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will continue to secure and monitor the entrances to all of our schools, check-in procedures will be reviewed, and we will continue to practice our lockdown and intruder procedures. Once the details of the Newtown case are known, our district leadership team will debrief and re-examine our current safety procedures.

It is important for parents and staff to know that, as a school district, we need to be constantly aware of our surroundings and always communicate concerns to building administrators.

Finally, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and school personnel in Newtown, Conn.

Tom Forcella

Superintendent

Rancor rankles

I am profoundly exhausted by the rancor in Washington ... Raise taxes on the upper 2 percent ... no, cut entitlements. Really, are these our only two choices?

Why don’t we, along with the two aforementioned choices, beef up our fraud investigative organizations to find those who daily perpetrate fraud on the IRS, Medicare and Medicaid?

Why don’t we put the boots on the ground that were formerly in Iraq and Afghanistan and put them in the U.S. to fight the enemy within? Our veterans have already proven their dedication to country, their discipline and their skills as negotiators fighting the enemy abroad. Why don’t we retrain them and put them to work ferreting out those who rob our treasury of billions of dollars yearly?

In an environment where there seems to be very few win-win situations, this could be one. We honor our veterans who have protected us so well for so long and we get the bad guys right here in our own country. There are a multitude of solutions to our economic woes, but if we rely only on politician to solve our problems, we are doomed.

Sally Bethune

Chapel Hill

Home Trust thrilled

Community Home Trust was thrilled to be selected as the beneficiary of a 5 percent Day at Whole Foods Market Chapel Hill last week. We were able to raise $5,887, which was 5 percent of the market’s proceeds for Tuesday, Dec. 11.

The Home Trust staff had a blast bagging groceries and thanking shoppers for supporting affordable housing through their purchases. We would like to thank Whole Foods Market Chapel Hill for recognizing the need to spread the news that affordable homeownership is attainable through Community Home Trust. In fact, ownership through the Home Trust can be less expensive than renting!

Many thanks to everyone who shopped at Whole Foods on Dec. 11.

Jenna Graber

Community Home Trust

Computers rule

Here’s one that flies in the face of all humanity. And since Chapel Hill has been my “humanity” for the last 25 years, I offer our dear readers an observation. Aldous Huxley, Einstein, and even Nostradamus predicted it. to wit: We are giving birth to a world of automatons.

Several days ago, I ventured into Bruegger’s Bakery for a bagel and cream cheese (low fat). And what do I see but over 20 young people, sitting and sipping coffee or spring water (no vodka added, I dare say). They are sprawled out, plugging away at their computers. There were more wires in the place than one can find under the sidewalks of New York. Their blank faces and slack jaws were plastered to their computer screens; for the most part, they were transfixed on the latest rock video. Some of them bring their own food! and squat there for hours.

Questions entered my mind: How can one run a business with this clientele? How can one feed automatons.? Do people still actually talk to one another? Do people still read actual books with pages attached? Is there some kind of human interaction that doesn’t come to life on a computer screen?

Someday, real soon, when a baby is born, a mini computer will be inserted into the center of its stomach. Then, all this creature has to do is finger various parts of its navel, and never have to talk to another human being ever, ever again. Anybody, who is not on a computer, have any answers?

Vincent Daddiego

Chapel Hill

Awesome auction

The Orange County Rape Crisis Center held its 25th Annual Holiday Auction presented by Sports Endeavors on Dec. 1 at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel. The event included a silent and live auction, dinner, and a dessert auction. Items included unique experiences, art, jewelry, vacations, and many other gifts and services. Entertainment was provided by local jazz and blues band Equinox.

This year included some extra special items for auction, such as an afternoon of golf and lunch with local celebrities Woody Durham and Freddie Kiger, which sold for over $500. Executive director Shamecca Bryant said, “We’re very grateful to our community members for coming together in support of the work we do in Orange County. The funds we raise from the auction support our education programs and client services.”

As the 25th Auction is a major anniversary for the event, many guests reminisced over auctions past. For Margaret Henderson, former executive director, this year was her 20th auction. Henderson said: “My first auction was in 1992. It has been a delight to watch it grow and evolve over the years to become the sparkly and sophisticated event it is now. I don’t have to move my gaze too far anywhere in my house to see something I brought home from some past auction.”

The Annual Holiday Auction serves as the center’s primary special event fundraiser for the year. This year’s event has raised nearly $80,000. The dessert auction, in which tables of guests bid together to win their pick of 30 delicious desserts, raised over $5,900 alone. These donations support our mission to stop sexual violence and its impact through support, education, and advocacy. The money raised in this year’s Auction will allow for program sustainability throughout the community.

Founded in 1974, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that provides services to survivors of sexual violence and offers prevention education to the community. Programs include the 24-Hour Help Line (1-866-WE LISTEN), support groups, therapy referrals, Latino outreach, and educational programs. The Center is a United Way of the Greater Triangle Member Agency of Excellence.

Alyson Culin

Orange County Rape Crisis Center