… Editorial: Declining student enrollment deserves attention

Our community must have a frank discussion about this, without making any viable option too sacrosanct for inclusion as a possible solution. But can that really happen in an election year?

— Jeff Morris

There are approximately 2,000 home-schooled students in Rowan County and private school enrollment is over 1,000 in the county. The growth in the number of people choosing other options is a major cause of the drop in public school numbers for the past 10 years.

— Doug Sokolowski

The question then becomes, why are parents choosing alternatives? I believe the answers are multiple, but that is where a frank and open discussion should start.

— Whitney Peckman

… Who won debate? Depends on who you ask

She was well prepared — did a good job of setting him up, and he took the bait.

— C. Michael Williams

I can’t remember any question that Mr. Trump answered directly. He skirted around the issues, was extremely rude, started out and finished with erroneous facts. I admit that our choices aren’t that great as we prepare to vote on Nov. 8; however, at least we get two for one if we cast our vote for Hillary. We will also get a president who is a skilled diplomat, not a hothead. …

Whoever is elected on Nov. 8th will have a tough job, so we need to be ready to respect, support, and pray for our new commander-in-chief because no matter what anyone says we are proud and united in this great country of ours. When all is said and done, God (by any proper name we call Him, according to our religion) is still in control.

— Erma Jefferies

… Letter: Nearing time to act

Cobb admits that both Clinton and Trump are horrible choices, but at the same time furthers this myth that we Americans must choose between the lesser of two evils. There are alternatives.

I, for one, will choose neither. I will be choosing a person with gubernatorial experience. I will choose someone who will bring common sense and sanity back to Washington. Someone who truly believes in the concepts of fiscal conservatism and small government. My vote this year will be going to Gary Johnson and Bill Weld.

I encourage others to buck the trend and use their real voting voice instead of what two ivory towers tell you to do.

— Eric Shock

I must admit my ignorance of the policies of the Libertarian Gary Johnson. Voting for him gives me the impression that I am casting a vote for Trump. …

I would rather have Hillary than a New York con artist. He will be worse than what we will face.

Believe me, because I lived in the shadow of the Don for 38 years through the experiences of my students, whose parents had businesses that were destroyed by Trump. He had the bad habit of not honoring his contractors and daring them to sue him for which they could not afford. He used … funds intended for his foundation to pay for lawsuits. … Trump does not deserve a chance to be president; he should be placed in prison.

— Reginald Brown

… Editorial: A symphony with purpose

I loved going to the symphony when I was in the lower grades. They would have us dress in our Sunday clothes and take us to the symphony at the high school. Those were the days!

— Karen Wilson

… Old service station can still serve a purpose

Not 100 percent sure, but I don’t think Historic Preservation Commission rules allow a developer to propose a “future development plan” as part of a demolition request. This would be tantamount to a quid pro quo (this for that), which does not jibe particularly well with an intentional, and incremental, quasi-judicial process.

That being said, I wonder if the pink granite facade could be re-purposed as an interior, perhaps non-load-bearing wall and integrated in to a larger building? Without question, the facade is a remarkable example of highly skilled stone-masonry and the locally unique, geological material is aesthetically stunning. The well-executed facade survives as a testament to our history and culture as a world-renowned mining community. I am sure creative and well-intentioned minds will figure out a solution.

Personally, I am proud that these conversations take place in Salisbury. In far too many places, these remnant, architectural treasurers are lost as unnecessary casualties of “progress.”

Finally, as a far-fetched, possibility of last resort, and if all else fails, I wonder if the granite could somehow be re-used in the proposed re-development of the Maxwell Chambers Trust property?

— Joe Morris

… Al Heggins: Salisbury can’t afford to bury its head in the sand

I truly hope your words are received with the sincerity and care in which you have explored the idea of being “proactive” in healing and the hard work of ending systemic racism. May many more join you through honest/respectful dialogue followed by the work of creating a better human experience for us all.

— Ama Akyia

So now is the time to move past the talking and start doing. When will everyone come to a realization that we are all of the human race? Shoot first and explain later is not going to get my trust. Start caring about our lives by doing everything possible to prevent these horrific murders.

— Wanda Hunter Brown

The most difficult step is for power to remove the earplugs and for people of color to express the truth of whole lives spent stuffing their anger. It’s a two-way street that needs careful, honest and healing facilitation. Your articles are most clear and helpful in pointing the way. I hope people are taking your words in!

— Whitney Peckman

Proactive. That’s the watchword and you are absolutely right. Communities that recognize the potential for disaster are in a position to prevent it.

And thank you for addressing race baiting. I just had my yearly flu shot. I wasn’t flu baiting. I was open and honest about the fact that the flu bug is in the air and I don’t want to catch it.

I’m so hoping that the Salisbury community will work to inoculate itself against the turmoil of unrest by addressing that which is already in the air.

— Tony Lowe

As a pastor in a very diverse community, I would love to open the doors to the sanctuary of the church I serve for our community here in Mooresville to have these conversations. We have got to come together and have these conversations before there is a situation in our towns. I would love any and all suggestions on how and who to contact to make this happen. We are all brothers and sisters, and we have to listen to one another with God ears so as to truly hear one another.

— Vickie McFalls Wilson

Well said and an important point. We need to listen more and hear when people say they’re hurting, and not casually dismiss it because it makes people uncomfortable. Discomfort and admitting that there’s a problem is the only way we’re going to work towards any solution.

— KItty Horton

Stay with these words for a while. Ponder. Then ask how can we, as a community, give legs to what Al Heggins has written. Thank you, Ms Heggins!

— Anthony Smith

… Christopher White: The power of ideology

Both sides want judges appointed to the court that will interpret the Constitution in their preferred manner. Will the progressive compromise on that? Should the conservative? Why would either give up on that?

One side wants unlimited immigration and have an open border; the other side wants to curtail immigration and built a wall. Which side should compromise, and what would that compromise be?

Speaking of compromises from our great past political class … the 3/5 Person Compromise comes to mind as well as the Missouri Compromise.

We live in exciting times.

— Rexx Shelton

I agree with Rush Limbaugh about the RINOs. The Republicans represent the conservative movement in this country, or should. RINO appropriately defines those who may have chosen the wrong party.

And the word “compromise” is just politi-speak for “OK, you can have it your way.” People who are “centrist” or “moderate” are simply those who can’t make up their mind about anything.

As to the way judges appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court interpret the Constitution, I have long thought that a single reading of that document should be enough “interpretation.”

— Bill Ward

… Making shopping easy: Food Lion store remodels almost complete

I suggest Food Lion rethink providing those little shopping carts for kids to use. Last week … there were several little kids running around the store pushing those carts — running into other carts, people and store shelves.

If they run into an elderly person and they fall and break one of their brittle bones, I see the potential for a lawsuit. Please remove little carts out of the stores. It’s a grocery store, not Disneyland!

— Vera Cope

I simply love all the changes Food Lion has made for both the customers and their associates.

— Teresa Faulk

As far as those little shopping carts, perhaps if parents kept tighter reins on their children, they wouldn’t run all over the stores. It’s good for the kids. They feel included and they genuinely like them. … Managers can and do ask parents and children to not run or play in the stores due to safety concerns.

I’m a 13-year associate of Food Lion and a customer service manager. I and many others enjoy the changes and are happy with the direction the company is taking. Change is a must. Our company is changing for the better. For the future.

Food Lion is a great place to work and a great place to shop. You can’t go to any other grocer and get the one-on-one attention you do from us.

— Sherrie Norris

If “[w]e’re trying to make it as easy as possible for the customer,” the stores should have been left as is.

— Eddie Pepper

… Patrick Gannon: Understanding the ACC vote

We don’t all hold the same values. My morals are different from those of the ACC school presidents. They support homosexuals and reject Christians,  while I hold the opposing view. I would say they have also rejected morality. They are immoral people. And in charge of “educating” many of the state’s youth.

— Gary Bryson

… Magic Mart to close

Close it and put a skating rink in. The kids have no place to roller skate. I would be your No. 1 customer. …

We used to have a skating rink in Salisbury but the owners didn’t keep put foot put down, and it got overrun by fighting and stuff. I used to work at the skating rinks, and if I had the money I would build my own rink. I’ve been roller skating since I was 3 and I’m 26 now and still can run circles around a lot of people

— Amber Jones

Is something wrong with that area? That’s the third business to close in the same area

— William Moss

I am saddened by this news, especially for the ones that had been working there for such a long time. They were a great team, working hard to make the store better. Hopefully, they will all find a job asap.

— Malis Vang

It is my belief that there are numerous factors in certain areas failing in Salisbury. Violence is certainly no help, and we have all seen through the years how it has become worse.

Also, City Council has to be open to letting new business in. A city is like everything else; if it’s not growing, it’s dying. I believe the downtown area should try and keep a part of its smalltown feel, but you have to allow new business in to attract more business.

— Timothy Paul Sides

Be glad that you don’t live in Lexington, North Carolina. BBQ rules, and that has kept a lot of different restaurants out of the city and county

— Lisa Hayes

Closing here but thriving in surrounding cities. What’s wrong?

— Price Brown

I’d love to see an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet go there.

— Eric Albright