I applaud Ms. Palmer's thoughts on staying healthy and staying balanced (CHN June 10). My own schedule can be incredibly tight and intense. I have abundant night meetings, an adult daughter living at home again, a parent with a chronic health condition, and much more going on. The following help me to get through the rush of days:

Praying each morning with my husband -- We hold hands and gives thanks for the new day dawning

Dancing to the music -- Right now I have Mary J Blige, Shirley Caesar, and "The Color Purple" soundtrack in heavy rotation

Laughing out loud -- I try to squeeze in a comics break even if I don't read the front page; Red Rover cracks me up

Eating smartly -- I keep yogurt and apples in heavy supply at home and in the office for a fast, tummy-friendly fix

If it's Saturday, find me at a Farmer's Market -- Nothing's better for the soul than gawking, talking, and nibbling amid fresh produce and local plenty

Calling my Mum every Sunday night -- The one who birthed me never fails to center me

Reading myself to sleep -- With a book, you're never bored and you can escape to anywhere, anytime.

Gwen Harvey

Hillsborough

Art exhibit opens our eyes to others

An exhibit of art by middle school students from Burma is an important event deserving of the "Roses" award by the Chapel Hill News. (CHN June 3)

Having tutored refugees from Burma and from Cambodia, I have some sense of the ordeals they have survived. One of my students who survived the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime was an expert in practical geometry. Having made his way to safety on foot he certainly knew that a straight line was the shortest distance between two points. Demonstrating this knowledge in a classroom with pencil and paper presented other challenges.

Thus, it appears to me there is an error in one quote in the article. Mimi Collins is quoted as saying, "The unique problem with refugee kids is that they don't have any life experiences." There seems to be a qualifier missing. Perhaps it should read, "they don't have any American life experiences."

Ruth Ann Groh

Chapel Hill

Editor's note: Yes, Collins was referring to life experiences that would help the refugee students understand the examples in their American textbooks.

Squirrels tearing open trash bags

Recently, we have had a problem with squirrels getting into our town-issued trash can and tearing bags open. They have chewed through the top of the can to get to the trash. Once the bags are torn, the Town of Chapel Hill waste collectors will not empty the can.

When I called, I was told that there are no new trash cans to replace my damaged can. Furthermore, I was told to re-bag the trash because they won't pick it up. When I explained if I re-bag the trash, the squirrels will just tear the bags open again because the can is damaged, I was told "you'll just have to figure it out."

I thought the whole purpose of the roll-out carts was to enable automated pick-up. Instead, we all have to add to the waste situation with plastic garbage bags that last for hundreds of years in the landfill. It's ironic that as we are encouraged to reduce plastic bag use at the grocery stores to protect the environment, we are required to increase plastic bag use by the town.

Melinda Beck

Chapel Hill

Why no mention of hate speech?

Over a week ago, community members rallied to support seven protesters arrested in their opposition to the UNC student group Youth for Western Civilization. That article contained a small though important error. It said Marcus Epstein, national co-founder of that group, was recently found guilty of "simple assault," with no further details. In fact, according to the court documents, Epstein was sentenced for "simple assault bias-related hate crime" with a hate crime "enhancement."

Epstein's crime was grievous: It appears that in July 2007, Epstein was walking down a street in Washington, D.C., and approached an African-American man and woman. He then proceeded to slap and/punch the woman in the face, while shouting the "n-word," until he was detained first by her friend and then by two nearby plainclothes policemen.

This is big news. A leading figure in a student group whose very presence has been criticized by protesters as white supremacist, but has been defended by both the Daily Tar Heel and the UNC administration under grounds of "free speech," has pleaded guilty to a hate crime. This goes directly contrast to the rhetoric of Chancellor Thorp, who has repeatedly argued that YWC is not a hate group and therefore has a right to exist on UNC campus.

James Robertson

Chapel Hill

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Chapel Hill News welcomes letters and columns from readers. Letters are limited to 300 words, columns to 550. Writers are limited to one letter a month and one column every three months. All submissions become property of The Chapel Hill News and McClatchy Newspapers.

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