On Sunday, Sept. 20, CHICLE will present Witness for Peace 2009 Trip to Mexico and the Roots of Migration. There also will be a discussion led by Ajamu Dillahunt of the N.C. Justice Center, Gail Phares of Witness for Peace, Irene Godinez of El Pueblo and filmmaker Mikel Barton. CHICLE is located at 101 E…
Author: Staff
Open letter on Duke rate increase
Editor’s note: Following is an open letter from environmental and civic groups to N.C. Utilities Commission chair Edward Finley on Duke Energy’s proposed rate increase. The commission is holding a public hearing on the matter tonight (Thursday) at Durham City Hall. Dear Chairman Finley, We, the undersigned health, business, social justice and environmental organizations –…
Carrboro’s business wish list
By Dan Coleman Serving on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen, I hear a lot about what residents think would improve the town. Although these conversations can pertain to any area of government or community life, business is among the most prominent topics. Here are some of the most desired businesses for Carrboro, based on what…
Letter to the editor: Letter writer wrong
I was puzzled by the hostility in the op-ed piece written by Marianne Prince regarding the keeping of farm animals in urban environments (Sept. 3). It is obvious to me that Ms. Prince doesn’t know either Brian or Sharon or their motivations in regulating “urban homesteading.†She contends that rabies is rare in goats, and…
Real commitment or empty rhetoric?
By Chris Fitzsimon When Gov. Beverly Perdue ordered state agencies to cut another 5 percent of their budgets two weeks ago, the executive order exempted Medicaid, public schools and Health Choice, the state’s health care program for children. The cuts came a week after Perdue signed the state budget that made almost $2 billion in…
Teachers need a career path too
By Jennifer Colletti I am a bright, ambitious young professional. I am also a high school teacher. Contrary to popular belief, these two things are not mutually exclusive — at least not during the first few years of a teaching career. While earning my master’s degree from UNC’s education school, I scoffed at the oft-cited…
Former police chief McCarthy dies
Lifelong policeman Tom McCarthy, 62, has died. He was a former Fayetteville police chief and at the time of his death was the interim Hope Mills chief. After retiring from the Fayetteville Police Department in 2007, McCarthy was hired as Chapel Hill police chief but was unable to pass the physical exam required for the…
Town studies major purchase
Buying most of Dawson Hall would ease space crunch, manager says By Kirk Ross Staff Writer Town Manager Roger Stancil expects to have a plan ready within 30 days on the town’s use of space in an office building off Weaver Dairy Road near Timberlyne. The Chapel Hill Town Council held a hastily scheduled special…
Fire hydrant flushing
Town of Hillsborough personnel will flush and perform basic maintenance to fire hydrants in the town’s water system beginning Thursday, Sept. 9. The inspections and maintenance will take place through mid-October. During the process, town personnel and citizens may be required to trim plantings or remove other items to ensure adequate access to the hydrants…
Road construction on Margaret Lane
Citizens are advised to be alert for road construction on West Margaret Lane in downtown Hillsborough next week. One or both lanes of West Margaret may be closed Sept. 9-11, weather permitting, to allow for resurfacing of the road. Resurfacing will take place in front of the newly constructed building that will house the Orange…
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery! will be held at Freedom House Recovery Center in Chapel Hill on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event recognizes the efforts of persons to overcome the effects of substance abuse and to encourage those who support them. Free and open to the public, Celebrate Recovery! is an evening of…
Interim county manager offers candid assessment
The Orange County Board of Commissioners have scheduled a work session for Thursday to review a detailed assessment of county policies, procedures and organization compiled by interim County Manager Frank Clifton. Clifton took over from former manager Laura Blackmon, who stepped down June 30. In his review, Clifton interviewed employees and department heads and toured…
Recycling routes to change
By Beth Mechum Staff Writer Ten thousand of the more than 18,000 homes Orange County Recycling provides services for will have their routes changed starting Sept. 14. Those impacted by the route changes will have postcards mailed to them. In the past eight years, residences serviced for recycling have increased by about 3,500 units. The…
Read aimed at raising awareness about homelessness
Orange County’s Partnership to End Homelessness invites the public to participate in discussions on the community read of the book The Soloist by Steve Lopez. The collective reading is the first in a series of community education activities exploring the issues of homelessness. The Soloist is the true story of the friendship between Steve Lopez,…
911 system down — again
update: 911 system back up as of noon. Orange County’s 911 system is down for the second time in a month. The alternative number is 919-732-5856.