Whole Foods could learn from Wal-Mart

In the article about the new Fresh Market, which I liked, believe it said that sales for the Whole Foods in Chapel Hill were down 12 percent.

If they were to take into consideration that the economy has taken a downturn and their prices are too high, they could make in volume what they are trying make by high prices.

When are retailers going to look at the Wal-Mart model? American loves to shop. A bargain will pull them in every time. -- Patricia A Harris, Chapel Hill

Many local people depend on Rose's

This is in response to the person who wrote "Sorry, but the Rose's gives the entire mall a low-end feel." (News July 20)

Is the University Mall exclusively for the wealthy residents of this community? Do you not realize that Rose's and the PTA Thrift Shops are the only stores in this area where people of modest means may shop for clothing and household items for themselves and their families?

How upscale must we climb?

What snobbery! -- Violet Simon, Chapel Hill

It's not too late to seek stimulus check

It is not too late to file a return to claim an economic stimulus payment. The IRS urges people to file by October 15 to ensure they receive a payment prior to year's end. Keep in mind that it can take up to eight weeks for the IRS to process the return and issue the payment.

People must file a 2007 tax return in order to qualify and be eligible for a stimulus payment. The Internal Revenue Service will continue processing tax returns and issuing economic stimulus payments for much of the year.

For people who have no tax liability or no tax filing requirement, there is a minimum payment of $300 ($600 for married couples), plus the $300 for each qualifying child. To be eligible for the minimum payment, individuals must have at least $3,000 in qualifying income.

Qualifying income includes any combination of earned income, nontaxable combat pay and certain benefit payments from Social Security, Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement. People who have no tax liability or no tax filing requirement only need to file a simple Form 1040A.

Remember, all people need to do is file a 2007 tax return. That's it. We'll do the rest. Please, visit www.irs.gov for details. -- Mark Hanson, Internal Revenue Service (North Carolina and South Carolina)

Mayor, aldermen made citizen proud

As I was leaving the Carrboro Farmer's Market July 19, I saw a group of people peacefully protesting the towing of cars from Abbey Court Condominiums.

A young man in the group told me that residents were upset that cars that had scratches or dents on them were not allowed to have a sticker, that cars without stickers had been towed, that the manager didn't let children from the apartment play outside, and that residents were threatened that they would be reported to immigration.

Minutes later, Mayor Chilton and Board of Aldermen members Jacqueline Gist and Dan Coleman arrived. The mayor addressed the demonstrators in Spanish, acknowledging their concerns and promising to investigate further.

What a refreshing and respectful exchange. I am proud to be part of this community. -- Carol Klein, Chapel Hill

Editor's note: Read a police report on the latest incident at Abbey Court Condominiums in this week's Blogbits column starting on A1.

Meat industry part of climate equation

Last week, in a major address in the nation's capital, former Vice President Al Gore called for a ten-year plan to move the nation's entire energy supply to solar, wind, and other renewable sources. What he failed to address is the massive role of meat production in the global climate crisis.

An authoritative 2006 report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization found that animal agriculture accounts for fully 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. That's more than automobiles! (www.CoolYourDiet.org) It is also a major cause of land and water degradation.

Carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas, is emitted by burning forests to create animal pastures and by combustion of fossil fuels to operate feed growing tractors, factory farm and slaughterhouse machinery, trucks, and refrigeration equipment. The much more damaging methane and nitrous oxide are discharged from digestive tracts of cattle and from animal waste cesspools, respectively.

The good news is that each of us can do our part to reduce global warming without waiting ten years. Our local supermarket stocks a rich variety of soy-based lunch un-meats, hotdogs, veggie burgers, dairy products, and ready-to-eat frozen dinners. Did I mention the cornucopia of fruits and vegetables that have always been readily available to us? More details are at www.tryveg.com. -- Caesar Bianchi, Chapel Hill

What purpose do bigger families serve?

We in the town of Chapel Hill are implicated in a daunting global threat, a colossal problem that appears to involve every citizen on the planet. No one is to blame for this human-driven predicament; yet all of us could be enjoined by the requirements of practical reality to humanely and voluntarily take responsible, self-limiting action to meet the challenge, I suppose.

Please note that annual birthrates of newborns in the human community are rising precipitously in the United States as well as in many other countries worldwide. For example, more than 4.3 million newborns joined the American family in 2007. That is more births than occurred in 1957 at the height of the post-WWII baby boom. Would someone please point out what advantages the American family derives from such rapid growth in its population numbers?

The total number of human births last year exceeded the highest annual number of births ever achieved in the United States. How much longer can the United States sustain the momentum bound up in the skyrocketing growth of the human population? How long can the frangible ecosystems and finite resources of Earth be reasonably expected to sustain the human species, given the determination of people in most countries, not to regulate the growth of human numbers?

Many capable scientists are validating the projection that the human population on Earth could increase from 6.7 billion to 9.2 billion in the next 42 years. That is a 40 percent increase in our global population. Given its current and anticipated growth, it appears to me that the human species may well ravage the Earth between now and 2050 unless meaningful individual and collective efforts are made to slow the growth of human numbers.

Perhaps someone will kindly explain how much longer a planet with the relatively small size and make-up of Earth can be sensibly expected to support the well-established and easily discernable over-consumption, overproduction and overpopulation behaviors of the family of humanity. -- Steven Earl Salmony, Chapel Hill

Automobile manufacturers have regressed on mileage

Does anyone really care about gas mileage?

I hear commercials and see ads that claim "great gas mileage" ... Really? I know there are new hybrids out there, but what about the basic premise of improving efficiency on the current type of vehicles we commonly use?

I have an 18-year-old car (with over 330,000 miles), that averages mpg of 36/39. I was investigating current automobiles of similar make/model and found to my dismay that new cars are advertised to get 10-12 mpg less than mine! And they are happy about this "great gas mileage"!

Does the industry not want to improve technology on gas-powered automobiles? How come in over 18 years, the automakers have not improved on gas mileage, but rather, regressed? Why would I want a new car? Just wondering aloud . . . -- Clay Hudson, Carrboro

Buckhorn Village would offer a needed alternative

I am excited about the Buckhorn Village project and hope it is approved as soon as possible.

Residents in the western part of the county need an alternative to shopping in Chapel Hill or Durham, especially with gas prices as high as they are for the foreseeable future; also, our neighbors in Mebane (Alamance County) would shop there instead of going to Burlington if they had the option. The resulting tax revenue from this project would benefit everyone in the county instead of leaking across the border. As far as jobs are concerned, not everyone in Orange County aspires to be a CEO, CFO, or COO. Aren't some jobs better than none?

Thank goodness we seem to have a voice of reason in the new economic development director of Orange County, Bradly Broadwell (News July XX). Hopefully he can convince the Board of Commissioners that rather than trying to raise property taxes in the guise of a land transfer tax or increasing the sales tax, they should approve this opportunity to benefit the entire county with this improvement to an area that is not benefiting anyone as it is now.-- Rachel Castle, Hillsborough

Swim League teaches meaning of team spirit

The Chapel Hill Summer Swim League is one of the most fun and worthwhile summertime activities for children. My children have been active team members for all of the five years that our neighborhood, Sunset Creek, has been partnered with the wonderful Exchange pool.

Throughout those five summers of much lap swimming and instruction, there was also water games played, cookouts in Umstead Park, and trips to the water park with an array of very involved parents and young coaches.

The level of excitement and enthusiasm generated from the Exchange-Sunset Creek's tight-knit group of families and coaches for their young swimmers is unsurpassed. Our coaches have provided these kids with the true meaning of team spirit and have done such a tremendous job in role-modeling pride in one's accomplishments and respect for others that EXSC won the Sportsmanship award this season.

Our swimmers collected and donated $6,000 to Swim for Smiles, the UNC Children's Hospital swim-a-thon fundraiser, taking great pride in contributing to helping ill children. This season, and every one in the past, has been an overwhelming success, whether a winning or losing record had been achieved. The fact that EXSC won the championship meet is icing on the cake. My children take away from EXSC and CHSSL life lessons and friendships that will be with them for a very long time.

What is truly wonderful about EXSC is that success is measured by one's desire to become a strong swimmer, learn to be part of a team and show concern and respect for your teammates as well as your competitors. The Exchange/Sunset Creek team of families and coaches does just that in abundance!-- Sue Duronio, Carrboro