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Recipients’ email addresses (Up to ten, separated by commas.)

To the editor,

Your article about the rezoning of Summit Street (“Dogs and costumes and shrubbery — oh, my!” Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Edition and online, July 14) did not cover specific issues that affect my neighborhood. The article did not address, for example, how all three small businesses (Woofs ’n’ Whiskers, Gowanus Nursery, and Composition) serve the immediate community and hire locally.

Woofs ’n’ Whiskers pays its employees more than minimum wage, offers benefits, supports Good Shepherd Services’ Learning to Work program and has tripled its employees over the last three years.

It seems ironic to me that housing is going to displace services that our new neighbors may require.

Gowanus Nursery helps beautify the neighborhood and it is going to be replaced by (I would surmise) an ugly apartment building.

Woofs ’n’ Whiskers is the only boarding facility with a 6,000-square-foot backyard. We are not able to simply pick up and move, yet still serve our community.

I think it is a shame that your audience didn’t get more details on what it stands to lose by pushing out three community-based service businesses.

I do appreciate that adorable picture of my kids that Greg Mango took.

Danielle Vidals, Red Hook

The writer is owner of Woofs ’n’ Whiskers

Support troops

To the editor,

Thanks for your story about the upcoming charity benefit for Captain John McKenna (“Golf tournament honors soldier,” Aug. 18). It is rare that I see the memories of our fallen taken to this extent.

It makes me proud to be a Brooklynite, and a soldier.

There are times when service members question our motives for being where we are (in Iraq).

I must admit that there have been times when I have done the same.

But my duties in the past six years in have not allowed me to think as much. I know my place! I belong where I am! I question my place no more.

So please, Brooklyn Paper, please remember why we fight.

I grew up rough, in Flatbush and Crown Heights and I was headed nowhere. My mom tried her best to raise my brother and me the best she could.

But, my morals and priorities were screwed up. I was always with a bad crowd. I went to jail and had a so-what attitude. I never thought I would live past 16.

But I joined the Army when I was 27, and now, at age 34, I have two certified skills.

I am not a saint. I have been a bad boy, and I still have the traits of one. But this is to only state to our younger Brooklynites to stop killing ourselves senselessly.

We already have another type of war going on that is doing a damn good job at keeping the American population to a level. Get your education!

If you must fight someone, let’s do it on their land, not ours!

We should honor our service members like Captain McKenna.

Brian Best, Crown Heights

LoDuca lover

To the editor,

I want to commend and thank Paul LoDuca for the time he spent with the fans at Keyspan Park during his rehabilitation assignment this week [see article, page XX]. Prior to the game, LoDuca signed countless autographs and posed for photos with many fans, as he did afterwards.

It is players like LoDuca who make baseball America’s pastime and beloved sport. It is the interaction between fans and the players that keep the seats of the stadiums full each night.

Paul LoDuca made Brooklyn proud. The fans thank you. Baseball thanks you. Three cheers for you, Paul LoDuca.

Oh, and one more thing: Let’s go Mets!

John Quaglione, Bay Ridge

Hank’s a lot

To the editor,

My sister just e-mailed me your story on Hank’s bar (“Flaming bar on market: Site for sale, but Hank’s will stay,” June 16). My uncles, Joe Diabo and John Diabo were ironworkers who headed Downtown to the Wigwam, the Spar Bar and the Doray Tavern.

My mom would take me there so often (of course, she was a heavy drinker along with the rest of the family).

I also remember the bathrooms had the toilet with the flusher above the hang chain.

Even though there was so much drinking, I still remember it and still see the events in front of me. I miss the old days of the 1960s in Downtown Brooklyn.

Thank you for taking me back in time and reminding me how much society owes to the Iroquois of the Mohawks.

Victoria Mulhall, Quebec, Canada

The writer lives on the Kahnawake reservation of the Mohawks, which is six miles south of Montreal.

Don’t destroy DT

To the editor,

The problem with most warehouse-to-condo conversions is that these developers do not understand (or do not care) that if they build nothing but “luxury condos” they destroy the diversity of the neighborhood (“Downtown going Williamsburg,” Brooklyn Heights Edition and online, Aug. 18).

I am an artist and I do not want to live in a ghetto consisting of rich Yuppies, Wall Streeters and real-estate eggheads. The soul is missing.

I came to New York for the diversity — not to live in some tasteless overpriced condo where every kitchen and bathroom looks the same.

It is time that city developers start listening to the real people. For me it is a nightmare to watch how they destroy all these great spaces and chop them up into small boxes. It’s creating a boring new world order and chasing away everybody who makes New York and the borough vibrant and interesting.

We need to wake up.

Jeanette Sena Muhlmann, Downtown

©2007 Community Newspaper Group