You have likely heard about the protest against the Greenbridge building site on Rosemary Street.

I have a family member working there. He just called and told me there was a bomb threat called in this morning. Of course, I am understandably upset, but thank our lucky stars, he was not there yet (being scheduled for afternoon duty).

These people, these protesters, do not understand that the men and women working on this site are not responsible for the Greenbridge development themselves. They are working people. They rely on their paychecks to help feed and clothe their families, to be able to live day to day. They work to survive.

This protest business is utterly out of control. When the lives of men and women are threatened, it stops being a protest of opinion and becomes one of safety, ethics, morals.

They protest because of the financial burden on the surrounding neighborhood(s).

I protest against them because they are threatening lives.

Thank you for your patience. I can only hope that my small and humble contribution to this issue can be heard in some way and taken strongly to heart by the people involved.

Sue Ruiz

Zebulon

Letter writer wrong on wildlife center

I am writing in support of Piedmont Wildlife Center and Dr. Bobby Schopler.

Ms. Cutson's pen and passion are misdirected (Letters, July 29). I teach at Carolina Friends School. Piedmont Wildlife Center educators visit our campus at least once a year. Their educators and curriculum are outstanding.

Children learn how to interact, or not interact, with wildlife. They learn how habitat infringement directly influences the lives of these animals. They learn how interaction with household pets can have negative outcomes, and that we need to be compassionate yet vigilant pet owners.

Case and point: about a month ago our dog discovered a rabbit nest in out back yard. Before he could do any damage, we put him inside. Because of what my daughters and I learned through PWC, our dog was not allowed in the backyard for two weeks. This action had a three-fold benefit: the bunnies were allowed to mature, my girls and their friends were allowed to watch nature unfold and our dog went on many leashed walks, which he loved. My children will never forget this experience. In many ways it will influence all of their future interaction with wildlife.

I do need to thank Ms. Custon for one thing -- the inspiration to write a check to PWC. I encourage all readers to do the same.

Rachel A. Anderson

Chapel Hill

Death penalty no better than killing

After a lengthy contemplation of James Hardy's thoughts on the death penalty (Letters July 29), I have narrowed down a multitude of possible replies to three:

Most obvious, I think, is to look a bit more closely at what is probably the best example of extreme irony ever to be conceived by the mind of man: the death penalty. When someone has taken another person's life, our so-called "appropriate and just" response to that taking of life is, guess what, the taking of another life. Amazing. Nothing says killing is wrong better than more killing.

Secondly, and forgive my indulgence in the use of a little politically-incorrect rhetorical flourish, I believe we could easily satisfy Mr. Hardy's desire to circumvent the necessity of passing the North Carolina Racial Justice Act by simply executing more white people. Problem solved.

Lastly, with a genuinely serious and conciliatory tone, I would like to suggest to Mr. Hardy that he give a little more consideration to the last half of that book which he holds in such high esteem and perhaps come to understand that God reveals his will to us not so much through our brains, but through our hearts.

Marshall Wade

Carrboro

Let Chapel Hill voters choose

As of Aug 1, Bill Strom has said he will no longer be a resident of Chapel Hill and is resigning his post as a member of the Chapel Hill Town Council. The timing of this announcement comes across as sneaky and perhaps circumspect.

In order for a vacancy to be filled by the Town Council only until this fall's election it would have had to occur three days before the end of the filing period which was July 14. However, because Mr. Strom is resigning as of August 1 the Town Council gets to appoint someone to fill the remainder of his term, which is two years. We have eight citizens running for Town Council (three incumbents and five challengers), a more than adequate pool for the voters of Chapel Hill to choose from.

I urge the Town Council to make an amendment to this rule and allow the voters of Chapel Hill and the upcoming open election to fill all five open seats.

Teressa Jimenez

Chapel Hill