To the Editor:

Cornelius Commissioner Dave Gilroy writes: “The obviously failing Red Line Rail effort championed by our liberal-leaning, big-spending North Meck mayors (Woods, Tarte, and Swain) in concert with Anthony Foxx and Beverly Perdue’s Department of Transportation (NC DOT) is welcome news for taxpayers. The real tragedy however is that this aggressive, extremely well-organized, and high energy initiative could have been profoundly constructive for regional transportation if focused on our true priorities.” Read his full letter on CorneliusNews.net.

To the Editor:

When we moved to Davidson a year ago after a four year exhaustive search of ideal small towns nationwide, we thought the place couldn’t get any better. Well we were wrong. Even during the past year, so many wonderful refinements have taken place. This special little haven just keeps evolving, year after year.

Now, we have another opportunity to make a great place even greater. In my mind, the downtown Davidson rail yard project offers a win-win for all involved: citizens, visitors, seniors, children, teens, merchants and more. In addition to train travelers, cyclists and walkers will benefit, too. (See Real Estate & Home, Dec. 14, 2011, “Meetings seek input on updated rail station area plan.”)

The first place that immediately came to mind when reading about various plans for the property is the fairly new Railyard project in Santa Fe, NM. For those who haven’t been there, I have enclosed a plan and two links describing its make up and the acclaim it has received. And it has done all this while weathering a recession, with much growth still to come.

The best part of the Railyard is its integration of diverse uses: children’s park, picnic areas, amphitheater, restaurants and shops, farmers market, art and wellness facilities, teen centers and more. Given the available, largely undeveloped land available for this same type of project in Davidson, I believe we have an ideal chance to carve out our own community gathering space (supplementing the Green, of course) before other inevitable and perhaps less focused redevelopment takes place someday.

Andrea Nordstrom Caughey, River Run

RELATED LINKS

Dec. 14, 2011, DavidsonNews.net, “Meetings seek public input on updated rail station area plan.”

July 11, 2011, SustainableCitiesCollective.com, “Santa Fe Railyard Redevelopment Creates Rich Urban Experience”

Sept. 19, 2011, “How Art, Culture, and Community Drove Transit Oriented Development in Santa Fe”

Map and tenant list of The Railyard, in Santa Fe, (PDF) via RailyardSantaFe.com

To DavidsonNews.net:

On this election day, I’d like to thank you for your clear, fair, and comprehensive Voters’ Guide. Ever since I became eligible to vote, I have longed for a single, reliable source that would allow me to compare the candidates’ stances on various issues. You have created such a forum, and in the process, given candidates the opportunity and imperative to take a stand—to get beyond vague campaign slogans designed to appeal to everyone and instead to admit where they stand on the issues.

Thank you for setting such a high standard of journalism and providing voters such a helpful resource.

Suzanne Churchill

RELATED LINK: Nov. 6, 2011, DavidsonNews.net Election 2011 page, 2011 Election Guide: Meet the candidates

To the editor:
Before it passes out of recent memory, I must reflect on what a refreshing experience we had in and around Davidson during a recent visit to attend a wedding. From the genuine friendliness of the young staff people in the shops bordering the college campus and those catering the wedding reception at a local country club,  to an anonymous organist practicing in a chapel where we changed clothes, to the sensitive wedding homily of the campus chaplain, I have to say I like the “feel” of Davidson (in what limited way we could interpret it on one hot summer Saturday afternoon). Read the full story

To the Editor:

A couple of weeks ago, I spoke at a certificate of need hearing for a new 66-bed behavioral hospital planned for Huntersville by Carolinas HealthCare System. I shared with officials from the Division of Health Service Regulation the need for such a facility and the Lake Norman Chamber’s strong support as our community and region continues to see a dramatic increase in our population. Read the full story

To the editor:

I attended the wonderful Concert on the Green event Sunday night.  I have enjoyed these for years, although this was my first event in 2011. This is a well attended family event and we are blessed to live in a community where parents are comfortable enough to allow their 4-5-6-7 year olds some freedom to play.

There were groups of children who spent much of the concert time climbing the magnolia tree next to the sidewalk leading from the library parking lot.  Great fun to climb – but I was shocked to see the number of tree limbs, branches, and leaves that children ripped off the tree.

Read the full story

To the Editor:

Public service is not for the faint of heart and I thank our Davidson Town Commissioners and Mayor for the hard work and time they put into leading our town. Special thanks to them for doing their best to meet the town’s needs with the budget they recently approved.  Unfortunately their best is not good enough for some of us. Read the full story

To the Editor:
Calling the revaluation of property and our consequent much-needed revenue boon a “tax increase” or “tax hike” is really an unconscionable abuse of language. The willful misuse of these terms leads our citizens astray, stimulating our fears and turning our hearts and minds inward, away from the shared concern for the vitality of our community at large. Read the full story