To the editor:

Last week’s announcement at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce that Carolinas HealthCare System plans to build a 66-bed behavioral health hospital in Davidson was welcome. While it could be argued the former site in Huntersville was appropriate given the dramatic increase in the population of that area, the new site, with its easy access to both I-77 and I-85, may prove to be more accessible for our region. Read the full story

To the North Mecklenburg Community:

On May 8, we will have an opportunity to vote on an amendment to the North Carolina state constitution. As proposed, Amendment 1 says: “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized by this state.”

There are many objections to Amendment 1. Legal scholars believe that, if passed, the amendment would create significant harm to hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians, including stripping them of healthcare benefits and legal protections against domestic violence. Read the full story

Former mayoral candidate Vince Winegardner recently emailed Town Board members and other town officials to propose a new way of paying for the annual subsidy to MI-Connection Communications System – the local communications network the town owns with Mooresville. There are many questions about how it might work and whether it’s even legal. Here’s his proposal.

To the editor:

MI Connection is no longer a funny joke about questionable decision making by a few. The debt is a serious threat to Davidson’s ability to fund its legitimate needs. In FY 2011 it was a $1.9 million subsidy, in FY 2012 it is a $2.4 million subsidy, and in FY 2013 it is expected to be approximately $2.4 million. These numbers represent about 24% of the budget and overshadow every town decision. The citizens continue to patiently wait for the situation to resolve itself but this non-governmental expense is unlikely to be addressed by the current leadership. Read the full story

To the Editor:

I’ve been pretty outspoken about pedestrian safety in Davidson over the past few months. (See Dec. 26, 2011, “Pedestrian safety, through the eyes of an obssessive walker”) But I want to report that I’m finding pedestrian safety along Griffith St., between Watson St. and the new convenience store/gas station, is surprisingly safe. I have been walking from Armour St. (along Watson) and crossing Griffith, heading toward Snap Fitness, for three months now and have never had a close call. Read the full story

To the Editor:

The recent rejection of the mental health hospital in Huntersville was troubling to me. (See March 6, 2012, “Huntersville board rejects mental health hospital, 4-2.”) It seems that many people just do not understand the actual safety procedures that would be in place and/or the myths about those diagnosed with a mental disorder and in need of hospitalization are still alive and well. It appears the “not in my backyard” argument has won out over the actual reality and ramifications of such a facility.

The stigma attached to mental illness has defeated our responsibility to raise awareness of mental illness and help make sure that there is a place where the thousands of people in the lake Norman region who struggle with mental illness can find help if needed. Read the full story

To the Editor:

In the recent tradition of the Occupy Wall Street movement, Ben & Jerry’s in Davidson is sponsoring Occupy the Green this Friday, March 9, after school.  Whether you agree with Occupy Wall Street or not, it was founded on the idea of taking a stand against perceived injustice.  And that is what we want to do.  It saddens us the way that 5th Grade Fridays on the Green was ended. It’s part of what makes Davidson, well, Davidson. Read the full story

To the Editor:

The Red Line is one of the most important issues facing Davidson since the purchase of the bankrupt Adelphia cable company. As I write this article, the skeptics of this project continue to identify its shortfalls. If we are lucky, the efforts to derail this project – as conceived – will be successful. Read the full story

Ty Burns

A letter from Davidson resident and bike shop owner Ty Burns

To the Editor:

I have given serious thought to the article that was recently published with regards to cycling in Davidson. (Feb. 17, 2012, Photo commentary: Is Davidson really bike friendly?”)

I am not sure any one person is truly an expert on whether Davidson is a bike friendly town.” But given that I live in Davidson, I own bike shops in Davidson, Huntersville and Mooresville, and I ride four to six days a week, I just might be in a position to offer a few thoughts. Read the full story