Paper Chase

I'd like to point out an inaccuracy and do a little self-promotion in regard to ["A Print News Distributor Gets Leaner — and More Creative — to Survive," July 12], in which Mark Davis states that Seven Days employs drivers who distribute its various free publications at self-serve, drop-off spots.

For at least 10 years, Seven Days has also contracted much work to my company, PP&D Brochure Distribution. We handle the majority of distribution for the company's publications 7 Nights and BTV. We also distribute some Seven Days and Kids VT. 

PP&D was established in 1981 and distributes posters, tourist brochures and regional publications for hundreds of clients to more than 800 retail locations, community centers, hotels, tourist attractions and restaurants.

We have exclusive rights for the distribution of free material to the Burlington International Airport, Burlington Boathouse, waterfront and Church Street Marketplace Info Center.

Bill Orleans

South Burlington

Orleans is the owner of PP&D Brochure Distribution.

History Lesson

[Re Movie Review: "Dunkirk," July 26]: Rick Kisonak's assessment of Dunkirk may be perceptive. His knowledge of history is unimpressive. The movie, he says, is based on "a little-known chapter in the Second World War."

Little known? Hardly. Some of us have known about Dunkirk since we've known about anything. The evacuation from Dunkirk may be a bit less famous than D-day, the Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima or the two atomic bombs. But not much, and it has been amply celebrated in song, story and hundreds (yes, hundreds) of books, one by best-selling writer Walter Lord (The Miracle of Dunkirk, 1983). 

Not knowing history is not a character flaw, but he who writes for the public ought to check his assumptions. In this case, a quick online search should have informed Kisonak that the Dunkirk evacuation was little known mostly to him.

Jon Margolis

Winooski

Worth a Fry

I was astonished at the number of food trucks in business here in Vermont ["Vermont Food Truck Finder 2017," July 19]. But I was disappointed there was no mention of Bri's Fries, operating in Malletts Bay on Route 127 at the corner of East Lakeshore Drive. I daresay the original Beansie's Bus at Battery Park once had the best truck food. But now I think Brian Billings of Bri's Fries is the top contender.

Bill Scott

Burlington

A Bunny Thing Happened...

"Help! Rabbits are eating my garden!" This common complaint was addressed in Ken Picard's [WTF: "Why Are There Suddenly So Many Rabbits?" July 5], which explained the sudden jump in the Vermont rabbit population. You may be left wondering: How will this affect me personally?

Two main issues to be prepared for are: how to discourage bunnies from damaging your vegetable and flower gardens; and what to do if you encounter an injured or abandoned rabbit or other wildlife.

Fortunately, there are many simple, effective and humane solutions for preventing damage to your gardens. An easy one is to install a basic chicken-wire fence around your plants. This is a great long-term solution because it will also protect your garden from other types of animals.

Occasionally rabbits or other wildlife may need help if they are injured or abandoned. While it may be tempting to care for the animal yourself, it is not in the best interest of the animal, and it is also illegal in Vermont. Instead, please call a licensed Vermont wildlife rehabilitator for help immediately.

Coexisting humanely with wildlife is a mutually beneficial and rewarding strategy. Lethal control efforts generally fail, as they do not address the root causes of conflicts or provide long-lasting solutions.

For information on any animal-related issue, visit greenmountainanimaldefenders.org or contact us at 861-3030 or [email protected].

Victoria Lariviere

Shelburne

Lariviere is a volunteer with Green Mountain Animal Defenders.

Love My Landline

[Re "End of the Line?" July 19]: I've always had a landline phone and used a cellphone only when traveling. Last time I traveled, in May of this year, I bought a 300-minute phone card for a new cellphone. Since I returned from my trip sooner than expected, I lost 180 unused minutes. After that experience, I packed the cellphone in my storage and decided I won't use it anymore.

A lot of people carry their cellphones around everywhere, making phone calls wherever they please — in buses, shops, restaurants, etc. — without thinking about how it's annoying for the people surrounding them. Once I heard a woman in a store shouting into her cellphone about her operation and the bloody consequences of it. No one, including the sales girls, told her to shut up, although she was obviously disturbing the customers.

Imagine how much worse it would get if our landlines were cut off and everyone starts carrying around and shouting into their cellphones! I like to keep my landline phone at home and check my messages when convenient, instead of carrying around a cellphone and being at the mercy of someone calling me anyplace and anytime. Besides, not all homes, including mine, have good cellphone reception.

The phone companies should keep our landlines, even if it means increasing the costs. I'd much prefer to pay a bit more than to be forced to use a cellphone and walk a mile just to be able to get reception!

Vesna Dye

South Burlington

Dead Right

[Re "Three and a Half Feet Under: Cemeteries Are Wary of Green Burials," July 19]: Kudos to Michelle Acciavatti and the fledgling Green Burial Vermont group for taking steps to rebuild our state's out-of-date policies and practices for burying our dead. They are thoughtfully taking on a web of statewide laws and business and popular practices. Through their work, they are helping us to face our future: death and the consequences of our environmental decisions. Both are scary and easy to ignore.

Since I live in suburban Williston, I doubt the town would approve a burial on my half-acre lot. I hope that, whenever my time arrives, green burial options are available for my family — and me! Why would caving-in matter in a forest? Don't mow my plot, please.

Annie Crawford

Williston

Crawford is board chair of the Wake Up to Dying Project.