Letters to the editor — Thursday (9-18-14)
Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 18, 2014
Remembering Mitzi Chapman on her birthday
Today at 10:45 a.m., the staff and children of Noah’s Playloft Preschool will release balloons in memory of Mitzi Chapman, as it would have been her 47th birthday. The balloons will be purple for Mitzi’s favorite color and teal for ovarian cancer awareness.
Mitzi was only 46 when she passed away on Aug. 30, just 18 days after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This silent killer gave no warning… Mitzi’s last day worked was Aug. 4. She went home sick with a stomach ache. On Aug. 12 she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.
Mitzi was employed with us for 11 years and was never out for any reason and never sick; she was buried on Sept. 2, which would have been her 11th anniversary with Noah’s Playloft Preschool. A 1985 graduate of South Rowan High School, she earned an associate degree from RCCC, and worked in the early childhood field for over 30 years.
Notes and pictures will be sent in the balloon to Ms. Mitzi. Some of the children have asked if they could draw a picture and others wanted to write Ms. Mitzi a note, and we will be mailing them to heaven today.
The balloon release will take place from the playground where Mitzi taught her Pre-K children, at Noah’s Playloft, 305 S. Link Ave. In addition to staff, children, parents and guardians, Mitzi’s mom Elaine Chapman will be joining us during the release. We invite anyone to join that may have been touch by Mitzi Chapman.
Balloons are not the best eco-friendly item, but we feel it is appropriate to remember a teacher on her birthday. We will be picking up trash on Link Avenue and following up next week’s lesson plans on how to be eco-friendly and our environment.
— Robin M. Kluttz-Ellison
Salisbury
Gildan is a good neighbor
As a resident of The Gables, I was truly shocked upon reading the front page article in Friday’s Salisbury Post. I was aware a few of my neighbors had expressed displeasure with noise they hear emanating from Gildan Yarns over on Heilig Road. These folks were never designated as spokespersons for The Gables neighborhood. The opinions expressed in Josh Bergeron’s article (“Nearby residents: Noise from Gildan plant affects quality of life,” Sept. 12) were those of perhaps fewer than 10 households out of over 100 homes in our development. Many of us were embarrassed by the actions of those named in the article. We should be grateful that Gildan chose to open the former PGT plant and employ several hundred Rowan residents.
Perhaps if I strain my ears I might detect a slight hum from time to time, but certainly nothing notable or disrupting my quality of life. We strive at The Gables to promote our 55+ community as a great place to live. The main reason for this letter is to emphasize that not all of us at The Gables share the feelings of, nor are bothered by, the noise levels that the four persons named in the article are complaining about. We even agree that Gildan has been given a “bad rap” — when they should be applauded for locating their business here instead of overseas.
— Sandra Cody
Salisbury
It’s time for revival
The Bible in Romans 13 states that “The policeman is sent by God to help you.” Civil authorities are to punish all who do wrong and honor those who do right. When civil law is disobeyed, God is also disobeyed.
We should be thanking God for the police and thanking the police for risking their lives to protect us, to provide security and to help us to live peacefully. Imagine the hell that we would be living in if there were no police.
Pastors should be insisting that their congregations obey civil law. Usually, law-abiding citizens don’t have negative contact with the police. Also, the pastors and their congregations would have a more positive impact in the community and the name of Christ would be exalted.
When honorable, respectable pastors break the law and then falsely accuse the police, they bring shame and ridicule to the name of Christ. They, who are expected to meet the highest standards, have failed their congregation.
Unfortunately, many Christians and some pastors take a casual attitude toward the law. This should not be so. Christians should live lives noticeably different from unbelievers. Now we are blending into society.
We need a revival in America, and it needs to start in our churches.
A group from various churches has been praying for revival every Thursday at noon in Room 117 at First Baptist Church, 212 S. Fulton St. All who believe that God answers prayer and believe that we need a revival are welcome. If this time is not suitable for you, I encourage you to start your own prayer group for revival.
In 1857, an obscure missionary began a prayer meeting in New York City on Fulton Street and revival broke out across America.
Pray for those in authority including the police, and pray for revival.
— David J. Steagall
Salisbury
Accept responsibility
Have you noticed that the only ones who have trouble with the Police Department are those who have broken the law, both locally and other places?
Have you noticed that Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and many other reverends never ever address the systemic root cause of the problem affecting the neighborhoods and the residents?
If one wants a police-friendly neighborhood, the residents of that neighborhood must create a police-friendly neighborhood. This must begin with the parents and neighborhood leaders accepting the responsibility for the condition of their own neighborhood. No one else can do it for them.
— John Burns
Salisbury