Categories
Miscellany

PDF version of today’s Citizen now up!

Here’s the link:

http://www.ibiblio.org/carrborocitizen/print/citizen020410.pdf

Categories
Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Josh Kimbrough of Butterflies

nothingspersonal

When his band Mortar and Pestle went bust, Josh Kimbrough decided that instead of taking some deserved time off, he’d channel his feelings into a batch of new songs.  So Kimbrough harnessed his chops and gathered his friends and launched Butterflies, a band whose music aims for some balance of college rock accessibility and acoustica living room sincerity.

Butterflies’ sole full length (to date), Nothing’s Personal, is an promising collection of tunes that showcase the band’s range.  The plaintive quality of Kimbrough’s songwriting and the tight-knit instrumentation brought by his full-time (Ross Connolly/TJ Maiani) and sometime (Katie Zickefoose/Bobby Britt/Joe Norkus) band-mates makes it clear that the title is but only wishful lying.  Nothing may be personal, but these songs definitely are.

As are the five toughest questions Kimbrough may have ever faced:

1. If your band were a book, what would it be?butterflies

I hate to do this, but my answer is a movie, not a book: A Few Good Men. Right now Butterflies is operating as a three piece, and I’ve got to tell you, TJ Maiani and Ross Connolly are unusually good men. After I’ve had a press pot of coffee, I’m not so bad myself. If you’ve missed Katie Zickefoose (keyboard) or Bobby Britt (fiddle) since we’ve scaled down to a triangle of testosterone, I can assure you that those two will be gracing our new record. We are working on it as you read this!

2. When was the moment you knew Butterflies was really going to work out?

Every time we find an excuse to pick up our instruments and make noise together, Butterflies is a success.  Other than that, I try not to think about whether it’s working out. There’s no time for that. Hopefully I’ll be able to look back once it’s over and have that moment.  That’s not to say I plan for it to ever end, but I also remember swearing to myself that I would never stop skateboarding, collecting basketball cards, and going to Toys “R” Us.

3. Describe the first time you ever wrote a song.

I was a little guy with a mini Casio keyboard and a supportive Dad. Having written songs for his jazz-fusion band in the 70s, my dad was a choice source for advice when I was inspired to write my first song. To get me started, he told me that a chorus is usually a general mantra or saying. I used the exact example he gave me and based the verses off of that. The keyboard was set  to banjo mode, which sounded nothing like a banjo. My Dad has taught me lots of songwriting tricks over the years.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?

Most members of Butterflies have a healthy appreciation of 80s punk rock. Minutemen, Black Flag, and Fugazi would be in this category. We are definitely inspired by the DIY culture that took root in that time period. Our sound, however, is probably more influenced by the first couple waves of bands that tried to sound like those bands.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How’d that turn out?)

I wanted to be an architect when I was a kid. I thought it would be a unique and practical way to exercise my creative instincts. I did not follow that dream. That’s so sad. Now I feel like I’ve let my childhood self down. We can’t end this on a bad note, though. Here’s a daily affirmation Stuart Smalley style: You know what? I think this is the best interview I’ve ever done. And you know what? I deserve it! [turns to mirror] Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and, doggonit, Butterflies is playing Local 506 on February 13th!

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Even if he did skirt the first question, you heard the man, go check out Butterflies live at the 506 on Feb. 13th!  And give Josh a high five when you see him!

Categories
Arts & Music

Advance Notice: The Week in Happenings 2/1-7

Apparently, it’s the week for benefits and orchestral performances and tough decisions. Oh and Sunday you’ll just have to figure out something to do on your on.  Something tells me there’ll probably be something on television…you know like a House marathon or something.*

Mon – 2/1

  • Sound Painting Orchestra Residency @ The Nightlight – First installment of a four Monday series featuring the SPO and their exploration of the improvisational composition process…or something wild and musically educational like that.  – $FREE!

Tues – 2/2

  • Citizen Cope @ Cat’s Cradle – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 pass for Tues & Wed

Wed – 2/3

  • Citizen Cope @ Cat’s Cradle – $22 adv / $25 day of the show / $40 pass for Tues & Wed
  • The Bootlegs / Fluff Chick @ Local 506 – $FREE!

Thurs – 2/4

  • Haiti Benefit featuring Chatham County Line, A Rooster for the Masses, Filthybird, The Hotwires, Roger Gupton, The Debonzo Brothers, and Andy Bilinski @ The Pour House – $12 suggested donation

Fri – 2/5

  • Embarrassing Fruits / Secret Message Machine / Brambler Ramblers (members of Inspector 22, Waumiss, and Kingsbury Manx) @ The Nightlight – $5
  • Organos EP Release Party featuring Birds and Arrows and Ye Old Shoppe @ The Pinhook – If you recall, I’ve already featured and sung the praises of Organos AND Birds and Arrows. Now’s your chance to catch both in action at one of Durham’s best venues.  It couldn’t be a clearer opportunity, if I’d of planned it myself. – $5
  • WKNC Double Barrel Benefit featuring Max Indian, Bellafea, VeeLee, and The Light Pines @ The Pour House – $7 adv / $9 at the door

Sat – 2/6

  • Bob Marley Birthday Bash featuring Mickey Mills and Steel, Jamrock, dub Addis, Truth and Rights, Joel Keel, and DJ Ras J @ Cat’s Cradle – $15 adv / $20 day of the show
  • Sinful Savage Tigers / Mandolin Orange / Ox Magnolia @ The Cave – $5
  • Dylan vs. Petty for Haiti featuring Big Fat Gap, Birds and Arrows, Gambling the Muse, It Is Rain On My Face, Mandolin Orange, Mary Johnson Rockers, The Pneurotics, Semi-Formal @ Local 506 – $5 minimum donation
  • WKNC Double Barrel Benefit featuring Roman Candle, Spider Bags, Midtown Dickens, and The Tender Fruit @ The Pour House – $7 adv / $9 at the door

*God, how I wish it really was a House marathon.

Categories
Community

Franklin McCain on the events of February 1, 1960

A couple of years back, one of the Greensboro Four explained the day to a group of students at Rashkis Elementary School.
Sorry about the shaky camera.

Categories
Weather

Hillsborough trash pickup delays

Here’s the info:

Due to road conditions from the winter storm, residential garbage will not be collected on Monday, Feb. 1.

Monday’s route will be collected on Tuesday, Feb. 2, if road conditions permit.

If roads still are icy Tuesday, Monday’s route will be collected on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and Tuesday’s route will be collected on Thursday, Feb. 4.

For up-to-date information, call 732-1270 Ext. 78.

Categories
Weather

Update from Carrboro on roads

This from the town:

9:30 am – Carrboro Public Works crews worked Sunday night into Monday morning spreading salt/sand mixture and re-plowing difficult areas. Most main roads are relatively clear but will become slushy again today with rising temperatures. Most residential areas remain snow/ice packed. Crews will be out working again today checking roads as needed. As noted yesterday, the downtown business area roads (Main St., Weaver St.) are in relatively good shape and downtown public parking lots have been cleared. Crews are also clearing snow at bus shelters. The Libba Cotten and Francis Shetley bike paths have both been plowed. All roads and paths remain slippery/dangerous and drivers/walkers should use caution.

Residential trash collection routes normally scheduled for Monday, February 1 have been postponed until Wednesday, February 3. This change was made to minimize having large trucks on slippery and narrow roads in residential areas.

The gates at Wilson Park and Anderson Park will remain closed until Town staff is able to evaluate park facilities and possible tree damage, and clear some of the roadways and parking areas. It is hoped that the gates will be opened sometime on Monday, February 1.

Categories
Weather

Chapel Hill trash collection delayed

This from the Town of Chapel Hill:

Following the weekend snowstorm, normal operations for Town of Chapel Hill services are anticipated tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 1) with the exception of Monday trash collection, which has been rescheduled to Wednesday.

Public works crews will remain busy with snow plowing and de-icing work, necessitating the delay in trash collection. Monday recycling services, provided by Orange County, are cancelled. For more information, contact Orange Community Recycling Programs at
919-968-2788.

Although residents finally got to see pavement on many Chapel Hill streets on Sunday, they are cautioned that hazardous driving conditions persist with slick roads. Expect to encounter ice in the morning. As temperatures rise, melting ice and snow may cause runoff that could result in flooding of some streets and low lying areas. Crews over the weekend have focused on primary roads and bus routes. On Monday, they will address secondary streets.

Categories
Weather

Carrboro trash collection postponed

Residential trash collection routes normally scheduled
for Monday will be postponed until Wednesday. This change is being made to
minimize having large trucks on slippery roads in residential areas.

Categories
Weather

Town Hall, Century Center opening at 10 a.m.

This from the Town of Carrboro:

Carrboro Town Hall and the Carrboro Century Center will open at 10:00 am
on Monday, February 1st, 2010, with a limited staff. The delayed opening
will not affect Police, Fire and Public Works schedules.

Categories
Weather

Bus schedules

This from Chapel Hill Transit this am:

CHT buses will follow their normal routes and schedules on Monday, February 1, 2010, as long as the streets are safe for travel. Bus routes that will be operating on detours are the A, F, N, T, V, HS, PX and 420. All routes will likely experience delays due to road conditions. CHT will not be operating on the following streets/areas until further notice:

A – Sevrin, Umstead and North Forest Hills
F – McDougle School
N – Village Drive, Longview and Pritchard Hill
T – Weaver Drive, Carol Woods, East Chapel Hill High School
V – Highgrove Drive, Brookgreen Drive and Greenview Drive
HS – Rogers Road and Seawell School
Pittsboro Express (PX) – Fearington Village
420 – Durham Tech

CHT encourages customers to be extra cautious when boarding and alighting vehicles as many area sidewalks and roadways remain slippery. EZ Rider and Shared Ride services are providing normal service today, however, customers may experience significant delays as road conditions dictate the ability of drivers to maneuver their vehicles on many area side streets and provide door-to-door service.

Categories
Miscellany Weather

Chapel Hill weather update

The official word from the Town of Chapel Hill:

Due to the accumulation of snow compacted by sleet and subfreezing temperatures over the weekend, the Town of Chapel Hill announces the following changes to services:

– Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 31
– Chapel Hill Public Library will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 31
– Trash Collection routes normally scheduled for Monday, Feb. 1, will be postponed until Wednesday, Feb. 3
– All Chapel Hill Transit routes are operating with delays due to road conditions. In addition, buses will operate Safe Routes on Saturday night. Chapel Hill Transit will provide Tar Heel Express shuttle service on Sunday for the UNC men’s basketball game against the Virginia Cavaliers, scheduled for 7:45 p.m. at the Dean E. Smith Center. For more information about the Tar Heel Express service, visit: http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?recordid=1468&page=22
– CHT will not be operating on the following streets/areas until further notice:
• Bowles Drive – NU Route (Customers can catch the NU on Manning Drive)
• Chapel Hill Public Library – DM Route
• Carol Woods, East Chapel Hill High School, Hillsborough Street – T Route
• Umstead and Severn – JN Route
• Pritchard Hill – JN Route
• Village Drive – JN

Although a vigorous effort to plow and salt the roads continues by both Town public works crews and crews from the NC Department of Transportation, road conditions continue to be treacherous, and residents are advised not to drive.

Thankfully, most are heeding this warning. Traffic is very minimal on Chapel Hill streets on Saturday. There have been nine reported weather-related accidents, all of which occurred on Friday night. Public safety officers are concerned about the safety of residents who are sledding and tobogganing in streets and traffic lanes. People are urged to never use streets or roads for sledding unless they are blocked off from traffic. Also, do not sled on icy hills; sledding hills should be only snow covered.

Public Works crews are working the roads with eight snow plow trucks, three motor graders and four box spreaders that spread salt and sand. The Town’s snow removal plan prioritizes all streets within the town limits giving first priority to major thoroughfares, bus routes and hospital areas. The second priority is the major collector streets that feed into the major arterial routes plus trouble spots such as hills and dangerous intersections. When these streets are passable the next focus is the minor collector streets and finally neighborhood streets.

In addition to the work of Town crews, the NC Department of Transportation also assists with snow removal on state-maintained major arterials. They have 12 snow plow trucks with box spreaders and two motor graders assigned to Chapel Hill and focus on the following streets: Franklin Street, Hwy 86 (MLK, Columbia and 15-501 by Southern Village, South Road/Raleigh Road/Hwy 54, Manning Drive and Fordham Boulevard.

Chapel Hill has an interactive Adverse Weather Map. See http://gis.townofchapelhill.org/adverse_weather. Many of the roads that have been treated or plowed are still considered treacherous and extreme caution should be used at all times.

Residents who wish to report non-emergency problems or ask questions may call the Public Works Department at 919-969-5100 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For emergencies, always call 911.

General Information – For information during inclement weather, Chapel Hill residents should visit the official Town website at www.townofchapelhill.org.

For updates from Chapel Hill Transit, visit its Inclement Weather page at www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=696 or call 919-969-4900 and press “1” for Route and Schedule Information – expect some wait time due to high call volumes. For EZ Rider/Shared Ride Services, call 919-969-5544.

Announcements about the weather’s effect on Town services are made on WCHL radio (1360 AM). Our inclement weather web page www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=851 contains many quick links to public services and guides to emergency preparation.