Residents, civil rights center challenge site near landfill on Millhouse Road By Taylor Sisk, Staff Writer As the Orange County Board of Commissioners prepares to vote on the county’s future solid-waste disposal options, one site under consideration is a county-owned plot of land on Millhouse Road. But Millhouse Road homeowners, with support from the UNC…
Author: Staff
New board sworn in
By Beth Mechum, Staff Writer CARRBORO — The 2010 Carrboro Board of Aldermen was sworn in Tuesday night at its weekly meeting at Town Hall. Mayor Mark Chilton, who heartily thanked his family for their work on the campaign trail, starts his third term as mayor. He received 1,667 votes, 1,216 votes more than his…
Lessons in improv or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the jokes that bomb
By Charlie Tyson, Staff Writer I am not Jerry Seinfeld. I am not even Larry the Cable Guy, who recently topped Newsweek’s list of the world’s least-funny comedians. While I will often venture onstage against the dull brick wall of a comedy theater, I am far from a professional comic. I’m simply an enthusiastic conversationalist.
Texting ban takes effect: put it down and drive
By Beth Mechum, Staff Writer North Carolina’s ban on sending text messages while driving went into effect Dec. 1. Getting caught in the act will mean a $100 fine. And don’t expect police officers to go easy on first-time offenders. Carrboro Police public information officer Captain Joel Booker said that though it’s up to each…
El Centro Latino closes its doors
By Kirk Ross, Staff Writer CARRBORO — El Centro Latino, a 10-year-old organization aimed at assisting Latino immigrants, has closed its doors and will cease operations, its board of directors announced last week, citing lack of funding. “For the past few years, El Centro Latino has been dealing with many challenges including reduced grant funds…
Aldermen discuss 2035 transit plan
By Beth Mechum, Staff Writer Most of last week’s Carrboro Board of Aldermen meeting was spent discussing the Chapel Hill and Carrboro 2035 Long Range Transit Plan. The objectives behind the plan are an introduction of transit services that better serve the most populated bus routes and the enhancement of local bus service by eventually…
Public anxiety and frustration
By Chris Fitzsimon At first glance, headlines about voters believing politicians are corrupt are not surprising considering the recent coverage of the state and federal investigations of former Gov. Mike Easley and the daily venom about government from Rush Limbaugh and his fellow political shock jocks on the right. New surveys from Public Policy Polling…
Troubling moves by Blue Cross Blue Shield
[Editor’s note: Following is a letter sent last week signed by 20 state legislators to Attorney General Roy Cooper and Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin calling into question recent mailings and robo-calls by Chapel Hill-based Blue Cross Blue Shield against including a public option in federal health care reform legislation.] Dear Attorney General Cooper and Commissioner…
On the closing of El Centro Latino
[Editor’s note: The following is an open letter from the board of El Centro Latino on the recent decision to shut down its facility in Carrboro.] We regret to inform you that El Centro Latino has closed. For the past few years, El Centro Latino has been dealing with many challenges including reduced grant funds…
An open letter to the Orange County Commissioners
We the members of a shared ministry of two churches in Chapel Hill write to express our mutual deep concern about the reported plan to place a new waste transfer station at a ten-acre county owned site on Millhouse Road, very close to the current landfill. We are concerned that the proposed site will continue…
No funds for Carrboro library plan
The Assembly of Governments meeting Monday night addressed the issue of library financing between Orange County, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, including whether Orange County should contribute more to the Chapel Hill Library. About 40 percent of those who use the Chapel Hill Library do not live in Chapel Hill and do not pay taxes in…
Affordable housing ordinance
The Town of Chapel Hill has started a public review process for a draft Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to help address the need for more affordable housing in Chapel Hill. A public information open house is scheduled for tonight (Thursday) from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Hargraves Center, 216 N. Roberson St. Repeating presentations will…
Information session on traffic
The Town of Chapel Hill will hold an information session from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Chapel Hill Public Library to share and receive comments on the draft Transportation Impact Analysis Update for Carolina North. The Carolina North development agreement required an update to the June 2009 Transportation Impact Analysis….
Holiday parade
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 12, beginning at 10 a.m. Join your neighbors for music, dancing, community-sponsored floats, marching bands, scout troops and more. The parade, presented by the Chapel Hill Jaycees, will begin at East Franklin Street at the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill and end at the Carrboro Town…
Grinch reading on campus
The Bull’s Head Bookshop’s annual bilingual reading of the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be on Wednesday, Dec. 9th at 4 p.m. It’s free and open to the public. Professor emeritus Tom Stumpf will read boomingly in English and the UNC Student Stores’ own George Morgan will read soothingly in Latin….