The Chapel Hill Town Council made a wise choice on Monday by rescinding its vote the previous week to make themselves and other council members eligible for lifetime insurance benefits after serving eight years. Though council work is indeed demanding, town employees have to report for duty full time for 20 years to get the…
Author: Staff
For the Record: Summer’s here (duh)
You may have noticed that warmer weather has settled in. We have scientific proof of that thanks to a friend of ours — a local deli owner — who with the aid of a highly accurate, instant-read thermometer recorded temperatures on downtown sidewalks last week of well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The lay of the land in the disability rights world
By Vicki Smith A year ago, a new advocacy group for North Carolinians with disabilities was launched. Over the past 12 months, the staff of the new organization – Disability Rights North Carolina (DRNC) – has learned a lot. Not only did we learn mundane things, like how to use the new database and fill…
Keep Medicare premiums fair
By Bill Wilson Congress is embroiled in a debate over Medicare while older adults get ready to reach deeper and deeper into their pockets to pay for their health coverage. Medicare beneficiaries are willing to pay their fair share. They expect their premiums to go up, but they should not have to shoulder an extra…
The familiar budget battle
By Chris Fitzsimon The full Senate budget proposal was on display Tuesday in the Senate Appropriations Committee and there were few surprises in it, as many of the key decisions were released in sparsely attended subcommittee meetings late Monday afternoon. There wasn’t much of a debate Tuesday either. Most of the two-hour budget committee meeting…
A fiscal “Tale of Two Citiesâ€
Comparing Boone to Carrboro … by the numbers By Brian Voyce Carrboro rulers love to compare themselves to Paris, France. But the town with the mightily overblown “Paris of the Piedmont†moniker is more appropriately compared to the town of Boone. Both are in North Carolina. Both are subject to the same municipal rules and…
Community Calendar: 06/19/08
Special Events Potluck in a Pasture — local food, local farm, local arts and music. Share organic food and recipes with neighbors. June 29, 6-8pm. Contact 219-9840. Create ‘08 — June 20-22. 190 Sycamore Trail, Prospect Hill (N of Hillsborough). Live music, camping, open mic, community art, dance, workshops, kid stuff and more. $20 in…
Community Brief: Kids classic
The Carolina Kids Classic charity golf tournament celebrates its 20-year anniversary today (Thursday) and features coaches Butch Davis, Roy Williams and Dean Smith. The tournament has raised over $2.5 million since it began. The money is donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Children’s Hospital and the Childhood Trust, agencies…
Community Brief: New Kidzu
Kidzu is closed until July 10 to prepare for its new exhibit, “KidZoom: The Power of Creativity,†opening July 11. KidZoom will encourage children to be creative in all aspects of living and features creative work by local artists and artisans. While the museum is closed, they will offer “Kidzu Around Town†programs at various…
Spiderworts’ many colors “curiously lurking amongst the grassâ€
Spiderworts’ many colors “curiously lurking amongst the grass†In spite of the early heat wave, cool shades of spiderwort flowers continue to cheer up the early morning hours. The one moving around my yard is most likely Tradescantia ohiensis, Smooth Spiderwort, with leaves having a somewhat whitish cast (glaucous) to them. The pair of leaves…
Heat wave hits early
by Jordan Timpy Staff Writer Mark Crowder has seen his share of the heat this week. Crowder, who delivers Odwalla products, is also an umpire for youth baseball. Dropping off a shipment at Weaver Street Market Tuesday as temperatures hovered near 100 degrees, he said the diamond was a hot place to be this weekend….
County breaks ground on new animal shelter
by Susan Dickson Staff Writer The animals of Orange County will soon move into bigger and better facilities, with a new Animal Services Center under construction on Eubanks Road. County officials broke ground on the project last week. Despite sweltering heat, community members, county commissioners and adoptable pets showed up for the groundbreaking.
Death penalty opponents remain vigilant
by Taylor Sisk Staff Writer Stephen Dear, executive director of the Carrboro-based People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, is keeping a close eye on Raleigh. Last year, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed the Racial Justice Act, which, if approved by the Senate, will allow a person accused of a capital crime to…
A colorful tenure concluding
By Valarie Schwartz Only a few people were quietly working on projects as I stepped inside to the coolness of Paint the Earth last week and selected a square bowl to paint. It had been years since allowing myself the time to enjoy this pleasurable activity of painting a piece of pottery that a few…
