Following is a letter to the editor from Leane Turner, a Davidson resident for 14 years, a parent of three children headed to attend the new high school,  a member of the PTO and School Leadership Team and volunteer at Davidson Elementary and Bailey Middle School.

To the Editor,

With all due respect, I just want to clarify for the record and to Ms. Cresenzo (the granddaughter of Mr. William Hough quoted in “School Board rep to seek new name for Hough High“) and others that many of us who have expressed objections to the naming of the new high school in North Mecklenburg are the very folks who do “do something real” with their time. Letters to Read the full story

Updated with additional comments, Tuesday, Nov. 24. EDITOR’S NOTE: Following are additional letters and comments received on the school board decision to name the new Bailey Road high school after educator William A. Hough.

Committee member speaks

First and foremost I am a positive supporter of my child and her education and I will not be a part of this negativity. With a community this large there was no way everyone was going to be happy with whatever name was chosen, however I find it appalling that there would be this much time and effort put into trying to change it to something else. We, as parents, should be embracing this new school, regardless of the name, with a positive attitude. What kind of message is really being sent to our children? Read the full story

Following is a letter to the editor from Davidson Mayor John Woods, who was on the committee that recommended naming the new high school on Bailey Road in Cornelius after educator W.A. Hough.

To the Editor,
All of us have had teachers and mentors in our development who have made substantial impacts on our lives. W.A. Hough was the principal at North Mecklenburg from the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s. As a 1967 North graduate, I appreciated the opportunity to learn so much about life and self-improvement from Mr. Hough. Read the full story

The following letter submitted to DavidsonNews.net is a version of an email message sent to local school parents by the head of the Bailey Middle School PTA:

To the Editor:

Hopefully by now you know our new high school on Bailey Road in Cornelius has a name – Hough High. It was approved by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education on Tuesday, Nov. 10. (DavidsonNews.net, Nov. 11, 2009, “It’s official: School on Bailey Road is Hough High”) You may have also heard there has been lots of discussion – positive and negative – in the community since the board’s approval.

Some people are upset because of the possibility of the mispronunciation from Hough High to “Ho” High, or to “huff” (a possible substance abuse reference), and the possibility that the naming process was flawed. Read the full story

The naming of the newest high school in north Mecklenburg for W.A. Hough is a very appropriate action. (See Nov. 11, 2009, “It’s official: School on Bailey Rd. is ‘Hough High.’”) My family and I have only lived in Huntersville for about 15 years, but it was our privilege to have been a part of Mr. Hough’s life for his final 3 years. Read the full story

The following letter is signed by leaders of 54 Charlotte-area United Way agencies. Thomas Grogan, chair of the Ada Jenkins Center board in Davidson, organized the letter-writing effort.

To The Editor:
Since its founding in the 1930s, United Way has been an integral part of the Charlotte/Central Carolinas community. It has helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for its partner agencies, which has been used to fund hundreds of services and means of assistance to our fellow citizens in need. Beyond its value in organizing and encouraging benevolence, its good work in allocating, measuring and distributing resources has been exceptional.

And yes, it has made mistakes recently that have tarnished the great reputation it has worked so hard to develop. Read the full story

To the editor:
For 20 years I enjoyed going to Davidson’s post office. I don’t like it so much anymore. It’s not the people who work there. They’ve always been cheerful and helpful. But some months ago, an edict came down from above that every customer had to be subjected to the exact same sales pitch with every single visit. Read the full story

To the editor:

The planning concept for the mixed-use parking deck as presented in Tuesday’s Town Board meeting looks at first glance to cover the town’s parking need for commuters and shoppers in a functional and attractive way. (July 15, “Parking deck/office building proposed downtown.”)  I am concerned, though, that the concept as presented does not seem to give adequate consideration to the character and future of the Davidson Farmers Market which the parking deck would displace. Read the full story