I am curious as to whether any of the members of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Lexington who are opposed to the nearby German concept of a beer garden have ever traveled to Germany?

Beer gardens are seemingly on every corner there and many near churches.

Our beautiful little town of German and Lutheran heritage (once named Saxe Gotha), is going through an amazing transformation since I moved here 36 years ago.

Local architect Craig Otto, also of German heritage, has done an amazing job of transforming this gorgeous building and property into a notably attractive place.

In the words of one of our great founding fathers Ben Franklin: “Beer is the proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

What a shame it would be to not allow this wonderful effort and opportunity for our area to go unrealized.

Suzanne Morgan Wilkins, Lexington

Dark times at DDSN

If the Chronicle ever needs a recommendation for a journalism award please contact me. I closely watched this entire abuse situation at the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs as my daughter had suffered abuse under their system.

I worked with others to have a law passed to correct this problem. Your paper was the only one that I could get information about what was happening and I saved all the papers. They were given to a friend in Columbia after we moved out of state.

I still watch the abuse stories and what is happening in SC but am retired from advocacy, now 88 and taking care of my husband who has Parkinsons. I thank you for your dedication to true journalism.

Nancy Banov, Atlanta, GA

More reckless spending

For years Republicans have raised warnings about China’s rising threat to American power and democracy around the globe.

I am encouraged that there is growing bipartisan agreement about the need to combat the Chinese Communist Party.

While the Endless Frontiers Act has positive elements, we cannot ask taxpayers to pick up the tab for massive and duplicative spending on already competitive industries.

Instead, we must get serious about building our strategic advantage over China by unleashing private sector innovation and confronting the Communist Party’s illegal tactics and outright theft.

Sen. Tim Scott, Washington