Last Tuesday was Car Free Day, an annual international event when people reflect on how our lives and our communities are improved when we develop and use alternatives to the personal automobile. Our communities are healthier when people choose to travel by foot, bicycle and public transit.
County, school leaders talk budget, capital plans
By Kirk Ross Staff Writer The biggest budget story of next year has already started, and without much surprise. The construction in the Northside neighborhood of Elementary School 11 by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District loomed large over next year’s finances, as county and school officials sat down Tuesday night to look over this…
A worthy suggestion
Interim County Manager Frank Clifton was a good hire on many counts. He brought in not only a high degree of competency and experience, but a fresh set of eyes on some lingering problems with the structure of county government. Like much of the rest of this place, county government grew too quickly and too…
The wrong man
By Rich Fowler Staff Writer He couldn’t let it go. When Charles Brown was stopped, handcuffed, searched and held for more than 40 minutes by Chapel Hill police in a case of mistaken identity, he didn’t let it slide. The town manager’s office is investigating the matter, while Brown and the local NAACP await a…
Preparing for flu season
With this spring’s outbreak of H1N1 flu and dire warnings about its resurgence with the return of students, many local businesses are gearing up for the infectious disease season like never before. While the worry may be focused on the new strain that’s making headlines, the methods being employed — more frequent hand washing, hand-sanitizer…
Trail closing
A section of the paved Fan Branch Trail through Southern Village will be closed starting Monday, Sept. 28 for about two weeks to allow replacement of decking on two pedestrian bridges. The closure could be prolonged by poor weather. The section of trail that will be closed lies between Culbreth Road and Edgewater Drive. Because…
County environment report online
The Orange County Commission for the Environment has released its 2009 State of the Environment Report for Orange County. The report uses 23 environmental indicators to describe the current status of the county’s air, water and land-based natural resources. The report also highlights major environmental challenges facing the county and recommends actions to confront those…
Shred-a-thon
To help prevent identity theft and save space in the landfill, the Chapel Hill Police Department and Orange County’s Solid Waste Department are teaming up to sponsor two free shred-a-thons for confidential papers. Orange County residents are encouraged to bring confidential papers free of plastic, computer disks and other non-paper items for shredding from 10…
Tweets and creeks
Would you like to know more about birding, but don’t know where to start? Or do you know a lot about birding and want to observe the fall migration with fellow enthusiasts? Triangle Land Conservancy is offering an opportunity for both novice and experienced birders to enjoy this pastime. TLC’s Creeks and Tweets event focusing…
Meeting roundup
The bulk of last Thursday’s Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board of Education meeting was devoted to Superintendent Neil Pedersen presenting his evaluation of the district’s 2008-09 priorities. The first priority was to implement pyramids of intervention at each school. Pedersen highlighted tracking mechanisms being created, such as flags for monitoring such things as Ds and Fs…
PBS honors
Four schools in the district have been designated Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Banner Schools. Estes Hills Elementary, McDougle Middle School and Carrboro Elementary were among 65 PBS Model Banner Schools named in the state. The Positive Behavior Support is a program seeks to impact the learning environment in the schools to foster high student performance…
Teacher receives grant
Kelly Sears, a science teacher at Smith Middle School, received a $1,400 grant from Donors Choose to support a project called “Taking the Pulse of Our Local Waterways.†Sears requested the grant to support the purchase of an AP Environmental Workstation Bundle. The equipment will be used by students in Sears’ eighth-grade science classes.
Liu to represent U.S.
Caroline Liu, a seventh-grade student at Smith Middle School, has been selected as one of three team members to represent the U.S. in the World Chinese Culture Contest final. The event will be held in Chengdu, China, in October. During her stay in China, Liu also will attend a camp and the World Overseas Chinese…
Pittsboro candidates share common concerns
By Taylor Sisk Staff Writer In a word: water. Among the candidates running for mayor of Pittsboro and the Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners, the most frequently mentioned issue facing the town is water – clean drinking water and the capacity to treat waste water. In order to keep pace with growth and prosper,…
Biz Beat: Carrboro’s identity crisis?
By Margot C. Lester Columnist Sigh. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Another big-time article has lumped Carrboro in with other (admittedly great) local food cities. This month’s Garden & Gunmagazine features a swell article on Chapel Hill. What’s better, albeit rather frustrating, is that much of what the writer asserts makes Chapel Hill great…