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Miscellany

August Mill

August is a month of contradiction. Summer is at its lazy, catfish-jumping peak, and by the beginning of the month we all have the hot-weather slows, as our bodies have learned again that the only way to stay cool is to move as little as possible. Then, somewhere around mid-month, that all comes to an abrupt end. The town fills back up, as families return from vacations and Carolina students start pouring back in. You can hear the roar of civilization build as the university gears back up (residence halls open on Aug. 22) and the local schools do likewise (first day of school is Aug. 25.) Old Sol doesn’t know that though, and as we get more crowded and congested he continues to beat down as hard as when we were all in mosey mode.

We invite you to not get too caught up in all the noise and haste of getting ready for the school year. As this issue of MILL indicates, there’s still plenty to do other than scurrying around with the rest of the herd.

This issue also offers a kind of meditation on Carrboro, this paper’s beloved hometown and a place that can sometimes be as confusing for longtime residents as it is for newcomers. We’ve included a few tips for getting around and making the most of life here that we hope will benefit both groups, as well those venturing into town for a visit. And there’s a tough little quiz with tidbits of town history woven through it. Pass it and you’re eligible to win a Carrboro Citizen coffee mug and T-shirt (details on page 5). Good luck and stay cool.

— Kirk Ross