As a resident of Braxton Village subdivision in Holly Springs for over eight years, I have optimistically embraced the meteoric explosion of residential and commercial development near Avent Ferry Road with the same philosophy that I view the weather: Having accepted positive and negative changes are imminent, I want to take measures to protect my interests.

Our town government was the focus of heavy involvement for me last fall when I shared my campaign experience with my neighbor in a determined, yet unsuccessful, Town Council bid.

I was able to conclude that the solid thrashing my candidate received at the precinct used by Sunset Ridge voters was countered exponentially in his favor at his own precinct.

I have high regard for the textbook display of campaigning on the part of the Sunset Ridge triumvirate.

But it also reasons that with a community this polarized both physically and socioeconomically, the South-of-the-N.C. 55-Border folks are very unlikely to have an elected official in Holly Springs that shares a stake in the same vested interest unless unbiased consideration is given to structuring the Town Council into representative districts.

Joe Justin Hodges, Holly Springs

This, despite school support

School hasn't even opened yet and parents such as myself are already very upset.

I have been supportive of neighborhood schools. I have been an advocate in my small development of Weycroft for attending Alston Ridge and encouraging others to do so.

We have been a "filler" at another school this year and it was about time that we got our own neighborhood school. I stayed on the same track expecting a smooth transition. I have accepted the changes and have been excited about the new school, until now.

On July 3, I received a letter from the school stating that my son will be in a first/second grade combination.

This is not acceptable in my eyes. Another teacher should be hired, or I should be allowed to change my tracks.

I did not sign up for this, and I will not jeopardize my son's education just because Alston Ridge doesn't have enough enrollment. The school should have been traditional from the beginning, but that is not the issue at hand.

I left one school to not be a "filler" for someone else's neighborhood school, now my son has been stuffed in a class to "fill" up that space.

I feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick after being so supportive of Wake schools.

Leslie Garofolo, Cary