Something's weird on Gilead Road - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

LAKESIDE COSMETIC SURGERY& DERMATOLOGY CENTER, P.A.20%OFFeNtiRe oRdeRPremium Buildings25%OFF11500 Statesville Road • Huntersville • 704-948-6084Harrisburg • 12007 University Blvd. • 704-454-5257Denver • 2653 N. Hwy 16 • 704-489-8064Monroe • 3301 Hwy 74 • 704-225-8000Kannapolis • 2905 S. Cannon Blvd. • 704-784-25211-888-992-BARN (2276) • www.custombuildings.usBeth Jones for all your Skin SCareFacials ~ $50.00 to $90.00Waxing ~ $12.00Microdermabrasion ~ $90.00Eyelash + Eyebrow Tinting ~ $15.00Ear Candling ~ $35.00Makeup ~ $35.00Exfoliating Body Treatment ~ $75.00Self Tanner Application ~ $30.00(704) 895-9844Page 18 • The Herald Weekly • Jan. 15-21, 2010& Dr. Nancy Astle are proudto introduce and welcomeRONEA HARRIS-STITH, MDSeeing patients of all ages for generaldermatology and dermatologic surgeryBotox , Restylane and laser treatments19900 WEST CATAWBA AVENUE SUITE B • CORNELIUS704-892-4878www.lakesidederm.comeNtiReoRdeRSuperiorBuildingsIntroducing Our EstheticianHOURS: SUnday-MOnday CLOSEd • TUESday 10aM - 9pMWEdnESday 10aM - 8pM • THURSday 10aM - 9pMFRiday 10aM - 5pM • SaTURday 9aM - 4pM$5 OffONE HOUR FACIALReg $75Must present couponOffer expires1/31/2010$5 OffHAIRCUTNew Customers Only20035 Jetton Rd. • Cornelius(Near McAlister's Deli)OpinionWhy has R-word become acceptablefor youth?Editor,Why are kids using the “R” word?As an area youth sports coach, Iam around a lot of testosterone-filledyoung men who must constantly expressto each other the impendingdoom their opponents will face on thesports field, in a video game, a pick-uphoops game, gym class dodge ball andany number of other contests. Moreand more, a verb now being used todescribe an opponent’s approachingdefeat has struck a nerve with me. Itreally makes me uncomfortable, and Ihave to speak out about it.Where was I when we desensitizedour children to the word “rape,” tothe point where it is now an everydayverb?“Dude, I am going to rape you in thisgame.”“We are going to rape the otherteam.”“Did you see that move? I raped him/her.”Am I missing something here? I amall for free speech, but I, for one, likenthis term to any “F-bomb” used in publicthat makes us uncomfortable andusually gets the user a scowl from anyonewithin earshot.While the Internet is not the singlesource for validating all things, for thelife of me I cannot find in any thesaurusor dictionary site where the word“rape” means anything other than avery traumatic event involving the sexualabuse of someone.In most cases, a “rape” results inlife-changing, emotional or physicaldistress that can lead to years of medicaland emotional therapy. Male or female,young or old, it can happen toanybody. It is not a good thing, and itis not a way I would like to describea victory my team had over an opponent.Parents, teachers, coaches or anyadult put in a leadership position overany child that decides to use the term“rape” in the carefree way describedabove should not hesitate to admonishthe user and make sure they understandwhat it is that they are sayingand how it makes people feel.It is not “just a word.” It is an eventthat shapes (most often misshapes)people’s lives. It is bad enough that wehave to hear it on the news every dayin the way in which it is defined. Wedon’t need to hear it in our children’ssocial circles followed by laughter aswell.– Terry Gobble, HuntersvilleSave the Catawba; support CleanWater Restoration ActEditor,The Catawba River is an irreplaceabletreasure, creating lasting memoriesfor our families, adding enjoymentto our lives and providing us withdrinking water.Each summer, North CaroliniansThe herald WeeklylettersTO ThE EdiTORand people across the region come topaddle, fish and swim in the CatawbaRiver. Polluters continue to use ourwaterways as dumping grounds fortheir toxic chemicals. In fact, in 2007alone, industrial facilities dischargedapproximately 79,236 pounds of chemicalslinked to cancer into the CatawbaRiver. When the Catawba provides uswith so much, why on earth are we lettingpolluters dump into the streamsthat feed the Catawba River?To defend the Catawba River, EnvironmentNorth Carolina is asking ourmembers of Congress to support theClean Water Restoration Act.– Kassidee Fisher,Environment North Carolina,a citizen based environmental advocacyorganization based in RaleighGoodwill CEO: Thanksfor your donations, kindnessEditor,On behalf of the more than 16,000people who used Goodwill Industriesof the Southern Piedmont’s job trainingand employment programs in2009, I would like to send a heartfeltthank you to the residents of Huntersvilleand the Lake Norman area. Despitea difficult year for many in ourcommunity, you were generous withyour donations of material and householditems at a time when it matteredmost.With a record number of peopleturning to Goodwill for assistance in2009, we were able to meet that demand– providing the resources andtraining needed to find and keep ajob. The sale of your donated itemsprovides the resources that fund ouremployment programs. Without yourdonations of clothing, householditems, furniture and computers, ourprograms would not be possible. Morethan 16,000 people will have a brighteremployment outlook in 2010 thanksto your amazing generosity. On behalfof those individuals and their families,I thank you.– Michael Elder, President & CEO,Goodwill Industries of the SouthernPiedmontMore readers talk abouttheir water billsEditor,We have attached a spreadsheet ofour water bills since we’ve lived in ourhouse, and as you can see, the water(more on page 19)www.huntersvilleherald.com