Letters to the editor

Sign language
Recently the Department of Transportation put up some new signs on Wadmalaw Island. It turns out I have been mistaken about the names of some important island landmarks.

I thought the bridge over Church Creek was named for Esau Jenkins. The new sign declares it to be the “Easu Jenkins Memorial Bridge.” I have always called the Boy Scout camp “Camp Ho Non Wah” but evidently it is really “Camp Ho Now Wah.”

Hmmm, wonder what else I am mistaken about?

Celeste Albers
Leadenwah Drive

Wadmalaw Island
Gaillard option

For those of us who have been uncomfortable with the Gaillard renovation project, Evan Thompson’s April 8 op-ed piece, “Match Gaillard plan to community,” is a welcome contribution.

As currently planned, such massive construction has never seemed quite right for our fragile historic neighborhood. Thompson’s alternative ideas deal directly with many of our concerns and hopefully will be taken to heart by planners.

Jocelyn Notz
Gene Notz
Menotti Street

Charleston
Fix Colonial Lake
While there are many programs of architectural value to be considered, as pointed out by Evan Thompson in his April 8 column, the renovation and improvement of Colonial Lake ought to be a top community priority. It doesn’t have the commercial architectural beauty of the Bennett Rice Mill facade, but it is an illustrious emblem of the life and character of this city.

It has an extraordinary lineage as a part of a land grant enacted in 1768 from the king of England to the inhabitants of “Charlestown.” The work to create the current form of the lake and its park was completed in the 1880s under the supervision of the Commissioners of the Colonial Common and Ashley River Embankment.

Appointed annually by each mayor since then, this committee of 10 citizen volunteers actively manages and stewards all the lands of the grant. Currently they constitute an advisory panel to the Parks Department and are very much an active force in the design planning now under consideration by the capital projects group of the city Parks Department.

City Council has seen fit to allocate municipal accommodations tax funds this year toward this effort, but the cost of lake improvements would far exceed that commitment. It will require a strong partnership effort by the city, Charleston Parks Conservancy and community at large.

This process has been under way since the first design charrette was facilitated by the city and the Conservancy in 2007. If the Gaillard Auditorium project is scaled back, I propose a financial re-alignment to benefit the much-needed renovation of Colonial Lake. Its value to the entire community would be unquestionable.

Walt Dunlap
Wentworth Street

Charleston
Nip cat roaming
I’m not sure why people think it is OK for their cats to roam the neighborhood, invading other people’s property. We have spent thousands of dollars repairing air conditioning duct work that “outdoor” cats have destroyed. We have tried trapping these cats only to have the Charleston Animal Society tell us that they will release them back into the neighborhood after they have given them shots.

This doesn’t solve the nuisance issue and terrible odor of cat urine. If I wanted a cat for a pet, I would buy one and take care of it. Unfortunately, I’m subjected to cats in my yard making loud noise every morning at 6 a.m.

Amy Kissell
Eliza Court
Charleston

News in print
Well, I knew this day would come when the cost of the print version of The Post and Courier would outweigh the joy it brings. For over 50 years members of my family have subscribed to the paper. I remember enjoying The Evening Post because I preferred reading my paper at night.

For the younger demographic, we had a morning paper called The News and Courier. Now with many reading the paper free on the Internet, it seems the print version delivered to our homes could head down the same road as our post offices.

The minority who do not own computers or cell phones would lose the joy of the local news, bridal pictures, crossword puzzles and, don’t forget, the all-important obits, which is how some of us find out we have lost friends. We have been informed that the monthly rate has risen to $20. For rural subscribers, like some of my family, with no access to the purported benefits that come with the increase, this is the end of the line.

Maybe this will be a good thing. We can hit the reset button and go back to sitting on our porches and talking to our neighbors. What a great way to hear the latest news.

Mary Hutto
Spoonbill Lane
Mount Pleasant

Winning strategy
This was my first year running in the Cooper River Bridge Run. I caught the shuttle so I could line up by 7 a.m. The race was supposed to start at 8 a.m., but it was delayed a little over an hour. I expected organizing 40,000-plus people to be a lengthy process. While waiting an extra hour was annoying, it was manageable. Once I got started, I completed the 10k and really enjoyed it.

What I didn’t expect was a prompt apology email from the CRBR team a few days later. I was even more surprised to receive a video apology Sunday from the CRBR board chairman. He seemed very sincere and explained the causes for the delay and other problems.

Many companies could learn from how attentive the CRBR team was to their patrons. Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away with dollars and cents and lose sight of what’s important. I’m glad that they went above and beyond to make amends for the delay.

I will be a proud supporter and runner of the Cooper River Bridge Run for years to come.

Rebecca Ham
Bogard Street
Charleston