Re: Green burials available; Hillsborough Street renovations
Green burials available
I am delighted you published "Dust to dust," about natural burial (Living Green, May 20). I would like to add that only one local cemetery is right now offering green burials: Pine Forest Memorial Gardens, in Wake Forest. They are champions of elegance and environmentalism.
I would also have liked to see your piece discuss the air pollution from cremations, both the CO2 emissions from needless burning of natural gas, and the toxic heavy metals released directly into the air; as well as the habitat preservation created by the use of woodland for most natural cemetery gardens, green land protection from land development, and the elimination of the need for virtually any lawn care products. Green cemeteries are good for land, air and water.
Our final disposition is a decision every American must face, and it is a golden opportunity to do something good for our environment, good for our country and good for our planet ... forever. Hopefully, with increased demand, more and more memorial gardens will offer this spiritual option, right here in the Triangle.
Clark J. Wang, M.D.
Durham
Ask the business end
While I think it's good that the city wants to revive Hillsborough Street, I question whether its methods of renovating the street are actually helping or hurting the local businesses on the street ("Keep Hillsborough Street funky," cover story, May 27). I have spoken with at least a few business owners and managers along Hillsborough Street who are severely worried about going out of business due to the sudden construction and resulting lack of parking on the street. To my knowledge, and theirs, the city has made no effort to provide some type of stipend for the losses the businesses have suffered since, in the words of one manager, "the traffic barrels went up." The city has also, to my knowledge, made no effort to see how the construction is impacting these businesses.
It would truly be a shame to see some of the businesses on Hillsborough Street that have been there for years, businesses that are the heart and soul of the street, close due to neglect on behalf of the city's part. If Roger Henderson is really interested in preserving "the funky places ... that give Hillsborough Street personality," I recommend he stop in some of these places to talk to the managers and owners about how the construction has impacted them financially, and I recommend the city make some sort of effort to make up for the economic losses these businesses have seen as a direct result of the renovations.
Charlie Burnett
Raleigh
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