Letters to the editor - Friday (2-101012)

The end of an era for Literary Bookpost

What sad and shocking news to learn of the changes at The Literary Bookpost.

For years Deal, Shelia, Daphne and Gary have been a tremendous help in so many ways. To say they have a depth of knowledge on all things literary that exceeds everyone I know combined, barely hits the mark.

If I needed a selection for book club, they would help me decide and then order several copies. If I needed a gift for the person who has everything, they helped me select it. If I loved a book and wanted to get more copies to share with friends, The Literary Bookpost is where I got it.

Not online, not on a Kindle and not at a store that only sells best sellers. (Who only reads best sellers?) My trusted friends at the book store would be there to help.

The customer service was terrific, the signings and events so informative. How lucky are we to have so much available to us just down the street. Will they be missed? I say heartbroken.

The big picture, three sides to every story and rumors aside, I offer this: The Literary Bookpost is a jewel in the crown of downtown Salisbury. To have an independent bookstore with such a wonderful and diverse selection of books is so important to all of us. A stack of books on one’s side table is a stack of promises. I have 20 books (I counted) that I have yet to read that were purchased in the last couple of years. Along with all the stacks and shelves of books that I have read. Supporting our local bookstore is key.

I will miss you Deal, Shelia, Daphne and Gary. It won’t be the same, that is for sure. You are our town. “We” as a community need to continue to be customers and buy, read and give books. Books are the gift that can last a lifetime.

— Carrie Poole

Salisbury

Thanks, United Way

On behalf of The Arc of Rowan, I would like to express appreciation to the Rowan County United Way volunteers, supporters and staff for the many years of dedication to meet the needs of agencies that serve the community.

The mission of The Arc of Rowan, a United Way agency, is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The support by United Way enables our agency to offer services such as apartments that provide affordable housing and independent living, a summer day program that allows learners age 5 to 21 years old to participate in academic and leisure experiences throughout the summer, and a fetal alcohol syndrome program presented to middle school students to increase their awareness of the effects of alcohol on the unborn child.

Due to your tireless work and generosity of time and resources, The Arc of Rowan has been able to maintain and improve these and many other services to all individuals with I/DD. A special thank you for all you do for Rowan County.

— Dr. Lyn Boulter

Salisbury

Boulter is president of The Arc of Rowan County Board of Directors

Laying it on the line

I offer congratulations to Jim Sides for telling it like it is at a recent, televised county commission meeting. After enduring Chad Mitchell’s bloviating and a couple of Barberisms, Jim did what someone should have done long ago: He laid it on the line about the ridiculous indecision and whining of the school board for the new administration building under Jim Emerson, Bryce Beard and Judy Grissom.

Mike Caskey was right in suggesting that the other options available be explored further for 30 days before taking a final vote. Was this the best choice? But Kay Wright Norman seemed to think that because 23 years had passed in discussion, by voting by-golly right-now, the thing might be built retroactively. Considering that Ms. Norman and her husband pretty much run the local NAACP, perhaps they could persuade their national organization to provide a grant to cover building costs. After all, it’s for the children.

In countering the pseudo visionaries mentioned by Commissioner Sides: Not only will this new building not enhance downtown growth (worth watching), the taxpayers will be lucky if it doesn’t prove to be a major boondoggle. Think traffic, for one issue. And this new building will help pull the RSSS up from 113th place out of 115 in the state, how? Yet to be mentioned are things like “students” and “education.”

Why do people who are out of the office most all day need an office or anything more than a small cubicle? Hope Jim Emerson ran the National Guard better than he shepherds school-system royalty.

Now I understand what Mark Twain meant when he wrote: “In the first place God made idiots. This was for practice. Then he made school boards.”

— Bill Ward

Salisbury