Two teenagers were arrested over the weekend for damaging a speed bump at East Chapel Hill High School. According to Chapel Hill Police reports, Karsten William Bench, 18, and William Mundy Laundon, 17, were spotted using a sledge hammer to damage the speed bump. Bench was cited and released on Saturday; Laundon was cited and…
Rabid raccoon found in Orange County
A raccoon found in Orange County tested positive for rabies last week at the State Laboratory of Public Health. The raccoon was submitted after residents in the vicinity of N.C. 86 and Phelps Road saw their three dogs chase the raccoon up a tree in their yard, then surround the raccoon after it fell from…
Greenbridge, activists look beyond ugly incident
By Kirk Ross Staff Writer As Chapel Hill Police continue to investigate a hoax email and pointedly worded fliers circulated this week, officials with the Greenbridge project say that, moving forward, they want to see more positive dialogue. Likewise, members of UNC-NOW, a partnership of community and campus groups that says the project is emblematic…
Uncommon Garden Tour
Local artist Rick Hermanson began designing the uncommon garden seven years ago. Today, this formerly ordinary backyard is an intricate web of sculptural landscapes. Every square foot has been transformed into an exotic natural wonderland, with artful snakes, dragons, water features and more. The garden is open to the public on May 2 as a…
FAN seminar to offer insurance tips
The Family Advocacy Network (FAN), a program of the Mental Health Association in Orange County, will sponsor a free seminar, “How to Get What You Need From Your Insurance Company,†on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Orange United Methodist Church. Amy Martin-Jewett, a nurse who is also an insurance professional, will present the…
Habitat seeks women volunteers
Chatham Habitat for Humanity seeks women volunteers to work on a Habitat house construction site during National Women Build Week, May 5-8. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary. Volunteers will engage in various house-framing activities to start three homes in the new Chatham Oak subdivision in Pittsboro. To volunteer for the project, email…
Low-cost rabies vaccinations
The Orange County Animal Services Department will offer two low-cost rabies vaccination clinics in April and May. Clinics are April 29, 6 to 7 p.m., at the Governments Services Center Annex in Hillsborough, and May 1, 1 to 5 p.m., at the OC Animal Shelter on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The vaccination fee is…
Earth Action Day set for Saturday
The Town of Chapel Hill will present the 2009 Earth Action Day Celebration from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday on the grounds of UNC’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center on Franklin Street. The event will feature an Earth Day Ballet by the Studio A Dancers, musical performances by Equinox and the Kickin’ Grass Band…
Haw River Festival
The 20th annual Haw River Festival will be held May 9 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the old Bynum Bridge between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro. The festival will feature live music, kid’s activities, a silent auction of artist Clyde Jones’ critters and paintings, a native plant sale and more. For more information, visit hawriver.org…
Celebration of Earth and Sky
The Celebration of Earth and Sky will be held Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Carrboro Century Center. To volunteer or for more information, contact Chapel Hill High School earth and environmental science teacher Ron Greenburg at rgreenburg@chccs.k12.nc.us or 929-2106, ext. 1119.
Something strange is happening in Chatham: Everyone’s uniting to eat, drink and raise revenue
By Jeffrey Starkweather and Randy Voller Something strange is happening in politically polarized Chatham County. All ideological persuasions are uniting behind the same financially potent but missing brew – cocktails with meals. But without the usual conflict, will voters show up for the May 5th countywide mixed-beverage referendum?
Public financing of local elections a logical step
By Bob Phillips The anti-democracy reform crowd is at it again — spreading misinformation about campaign finance reform. Their current target is House Bill 120, a fairly innocuous proposal in the state Legislature to provide municipalities the legal authority to experiment with public financing of local elections. It’s something the town of Chapel Hill will…
We must get past ‘urgency denial’ on climate change
By Jim Warren Chances are, you’re concerned about climate change. Unfortunately, it’s probably much worse than you realize. Severe climate changes are occurring at an accelerating rate. Our planet is in crisis, according to the world’s top scientists, and corrective measures that are proven and economically beneficial need to be implemented now. In North Carolina,…
Letter to the Editor: Walk Carrboro
You reported on 4/9 that, “The Local Living Economy Task Force hopes to launch educational campaigns,†which will help tell Carrboro citizens what’s available to them right here in town. As president of the 4-month-old Carrboro Merchants Association and the founder, along with my wife Helen, of the Walk Carrboro map, website and advertising campaign,…
Letter to the Editor: Council made the right call
Bravo to the town council and good riddance to proponents of development and destruction. These developers are all about making money at the expense of nature. Environmental concerns and “growth we can believe in†are secondary. This decision is a victory for Chapel Hill and a rude awakening for developers who think they can always get…