Categories
Miscellany

Elizabeth Edwards opens Red Window

This from the OC Visitor’s Bureau. (note that on the latest check the store’s site was still under construction)

redwindow0809

Elizabeth Edwards Opens Red Window Furniture Store in downtown Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC—(August 7, 2009)—Elizabeth Edwards has opened Red Window furniture story, a 700- square foot dwelling, that sells unique items such as folk art paintings, lighting fixtures, furnishings, and accessories. The store was designed to appeal to all tastes and budgets and houses an eclectic combination of distinctive armoires, wardrobes, entertainment centers, tables, chairs and sofas and unique hand painted furniture, metal art and more. Red Window also features handmade sea shelled themed art designed by Edwards’s sister, Nancy Anania.

Red Window opened its doors in late-July to test summer hours and monitor foot- traffic through the town. The store will hold an official grand opening in late August, when students return to the college town. Chapel Hill is home of the University of North Carolina and also home to John and Elizabeth Edwards and their family. A grand opening is set for August 22.

Red Window is named in memory of the furniture store, Red Door, operated by Edwards’ mother, while the family resided in Japan.

“Elizabeth has a beautiful eye for art and creative furnishings,” says manager and family friend, Cameron Hughes. “A nearby warehouse is stacked with colorful, unique objects that we will continually add as inventory turns,” said Hughes.

“We are delighted to have Mrs. Edwards’ store in downtown Chapel Hill. Her creative eye and reputation for creativity and quality will only add to the allure of this famed area. We look forward to heralding in new stores such as Red Window as we continue to turn the spotlight on new additions to North Carolina’s main street,” said Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy.

Red Window is located at 400 W. Rosemary Street, Ste. 1004, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. 919.636.4563. Current hours are 10 am – 2 pm. The website is currently under construction but will be live in time for the grand opening. www.redwindow.net.

Categories
Weather

Monday weather

Hot, hot I tell ya. Hour by hour temps here.
But hey, it’s supposed to get own to 81 by 11 p.m. tonight.
The official heat advisory as follows:

HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

THE COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 98 TO 102 DEGREES AND SEASONABLE HUMIDITY LEVELS… WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 DEGREES FOR SEVERAL HOURS THIS AFTERNOON.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT CONDITIONS… WHICH CAN LEAD TO HEAT ILLNESSES UNLESS PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN… IS EXPECTED. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS… STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED BUILDING… STAY OUT OF THE SUNSHINE… AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

THE HEAT INDEX IS A MEASURE OF HOW HOT IT FEELS WHEN THE EFFECT OF HUMIDITY IS COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURE. A HEAT INDEX OF 105 DEGREES IS CONSIDERED THE LEVEL WHERE MANY PEOPLE BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL STRESS… EVEN WITH LIMITED ACTIVITY.

ANYONE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD PREPARE TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE HEAT. LIMIT TIME SPENT OUTDOORS THIS AFTERNOON. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE… LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TO THE MORNING OR EVENING HOURS… WHEN IT WILL BE COOLER.

Categories
Arts & Music

This Thing We Did Festival

Sanford rocks — at least one weekend a year. And this is that weekend. Food and Music. Music and Food. That is basically the theme. TTWD site with sked.
Bands include: Auxes, Caverns, White Tiger & The Bed Of Roses, Starmount, I WAS TOTALLY DESTROYING IT, Dr. Powerful, RENMINBI, Solar Powered Sun Destroyer, Vinny Vegas (on iTunes), Hymn All The Fires, fin fang foom, Hammer No More the Fingers, The Mitchells, Embarrassing Fruits.
ttwd

Categories
Miscellany

Edwards’ former mistress at grand jury in Raleigh

This from TPM:

The former mistress of John Edwards arrived at a federal courthouse in Raleigh, N.C., this morning, reports the Associated Press. Rielle Hunter is presumably testifying to a grand jury.

Categories
Schools

Back to school health tips via UNC:

Five tips for back to school time

Back to school time can be problematic for both children and parents. Here UNC Health Care experts offer tips for dealing with five issues that might arise.

Tip No. 1: Know the signs of school phobia, separation anxiety and social phobia

Starting or returning to school can stir up a bevy of emotions with a range of effects, from bothersome to debilitating. Knowing a little bit about a few of these problems helps parents and children manage and overcome them.

School phobia – extreme anxiety from going to school or even talking about it. Causes could range from being bullied to grieving for a lost pet. Reassure the child that fear is normal, remind him of good things in school, and don’t give in to a desire to stay home.

Separation anxiety – afraid of being without mom or dad can be paralyzing and have long-term effects. Focus on fun things, provide rewards and be consistent about leaving your child or he won’t learn that anxiety is temporary.

Social phobia – extreme fear and avoidance of social situations or of being the center of attention can begin in elementary school as extreme shyness, difficulty making friends or not speaking up. See a mental health professional. The disorder can manifest in adulthood as trouble keeping a job or staying in a relationship.

Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz, professor and associate chair of psychology at UNC Chapel Hill, is available to discuss each of these problems.

Tip No. 2: How to help your student return to healthy sleep habits

“One thing is clear; everybody is not getting enough sleep,” says Dr. Leslie Boyce, director of the UNC Pediatric Sleep Center.

Many problems are related to poor “sleep hygiene,” but others can be attributed to more serious problems such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome. In teenagers, a normal shift in their biological clocks could be to blame.

Kids up to 12 need about 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night; they average seven to nine.
Teenagers need at least nine, and they get seven. In children, lack of sleep can manifest in poor attention and foul mood.

Boyce can break down sleep problems. Some tips include:
Tonsils may cause obstructive sleep apnea; have your doctor consider that cause.
Lights out – including computers and games – an hour before bedtime
Melatonin might help regulate your teenager’s sleep time

Tip No. 3: Common myths, and reality checks, about sexually transmitted diseases

Dr. Nicole Swiner of UNC Health Care’s Durham Family Practice clinic says she has seen an increase in teens and 20-somethings with sexually transmitted diseases this summer. Back to school time could add to the increase, and many of these patients put themselves at risk because of certain myths they believed, Dr. Swiner said, such as:

Myth: “I feel fine and don’t have any problems, so I don’t need to be tested for STDs.”

Reality check: STDs can linger in the body for years before you notice symptoms, and even if you don’t have symptoms, you could still infect your partner. If you are sexually active, then you need to be tested for STDs when you have your annual physical exam, Dr. Swiner says. This is true for both sexes, from teens to older adults, who are sexually active.

Tip No. 4: Prescription meds can make back-to-school time tricky, and risky, for kids. Here are tips for a smooth and safe transition.

For children taking prescription medications, schools often require documentation from the physician and a separate prescription that will stay at the school, says Mary W. Roederer, Pharm.D., from the UNC Department of Family Medicine. So, before the school year starts, parents need to get an extra prescription from their physician, fill out all required forms and coordinate with their child’s teachers and/or school nurses.

Back to school time can be very stressful, a trigger that causes some older children to rummage through their parents’ medicine cabinets, while younger children may mistake prescription drugs for candy. For these reasons, parents should keep prescription drugs out of their children’s’ reach, preferably under lock and key, Roederer says.

Tip. No. 5: Know your child’s heart risk

Heart disease starts early in life, with sedentary lifestyles and poor eating choices. Dr. Cam Patterson, director of the UNC McAllister Heart Institute, explains the physiology and provides tips to help kids chart a heart-healthy course.

With sudden cardiac death, however, there seems to be little anyone can do to prevent it. It’s rare – about one in 50,000 for kids 12 and older, but the topic arises each year as our kids start playing school sports. There are things people can do to help prevent a catastrophe:

Be sure your child has a physical every year before beginning sports; The American Heart Association recommends a 12-point screening exam before beginning participation in sports
Be aware of symptoms of heart problems, including shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting
Encourage your community to install AEDs – automatic external defibrillators – and teach people how to use them
Make your doctor aware of any cardiovascular problems in your family’s history

Categories
Miscellany

Indy story on Amanda Ashley

Solid reporting on court records and a good follow up interview for the Indy’s Joe Schwartz on Carrboro mayoral candidate Amanda Ashley. Schwartz writes that Ashley has had a court judgment against her over failure to pay child support.
In the interview, Ashey, who now identifies as a woman, is candid about the child support issue — the result, she said, of extended unemployment and a “depression-related breakdown.”
Link here.

Categories
Miscellany

Aldermen to hold special meeting

From the Carrboro Town Clerk’s office this morning:

NOTICE OF SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING OF THE
TOWN OF CARRBORO BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Please take notice that the Town of Carrboro Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Carrboro Town Hall in Room 100. The Board will be discussing ongoing litigation in closed session pursuant to G.S. § 143-318.11{a)(3).

Categories
Miscellany

MILL: Carrboro meeting calendar

Town of Carrboro’s official August 2009 calendar of meetings.
(click for larger version)
carrboro0809cal

Community page on the Town of Carrboro site (with pdf links).

Categories
Miscellany

Strom to resign from town council

After a recent move and a decision not to enter the race for Chapel Hill mayor led to speculation about his future plans, Bill Strom announced today (Wednesday, July 29) that he is resigning from the Chapel Hill Town Council effective Aug. 1
Strom issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying he is leaving to pursue opportunities “outside the community.”
The statement reads:

After a decade of service on the Chapel Hill Town Council, the time has come for me to move on in my life’s commitments and challenges. I am resigning my council position as of Aug. 1, 2009, to pursue other personal and professional opportunities outside the community.

Categories
Miscellany

Safety tips on insect stings

Via Orange County EMS:

Medical Safety Tips on Allergic Reactions to Insects

Orange County Emergency Services would like to remind everyone to be cautious around stinging insects over the summer months. Whether you are cleaning up an old brush pile, mowing grass or enjoying an afternoon picnic, stay alert for nests, swarms and hives.

Captain Dinah Jeffries, Communications Operations Manager for Orange County Emergency Services stated that in Orange County in a three month period of April through June of this year there were over 15 calls to 9-1-1 for allergic reactions due to insect bites or stings. “Allergic reaction calls to the 9-1-1 Center increase over the summer,” Jeffries said. “Both insects and people are more active outdoors and sometimes they are active too close to each other.”

Most reactions to bites or stings from insects are mild. However, some individuals are far more sensitive to insects and suffer severe allergic reactions to the toxins injected with the sting of bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. These individuals may require emergency medical help.

First aid for severe reactions

1. Check the person’s airways and breathing. If they have trouble breathing, their throat feels tight or severe swelling around the face, call 9-1-1.
2. Reassure the person. Try to keep him or her calm.
3. Remove rings and constricting items near the affected area as swelling may continue.
4. Use the person’s Epi-pen or other emergency kit, if they have one. (Some people who have serious insect reactions carry it with them.)
5. If appropriate, treat the person for signs of shock. Remain with the person until medical help arrives.
6. If they are turning blue begin rescue breathing and CPR.

Do NOT give the person stimulants, aspirin, or other pain medication unless prescribed by the doctor.

The bites of most insects and small bugs such as ants, mosquitoes, flies, spiders, ticks, and mites – do not cause a severe reaction. Sometimes, it may be hard to tell which type of insect has caused the skin inflammation after a bite, as many insect reactions are similar. Flying insects tend to strike exposed skin areas, while bugs such as fleas tend to bite the lower legs and around the waist, and often have several bites grouped together.

General steps for most bites and stings:
Remove the stinger if still present by scraping the back of a credit card or other straight-edged object across the stinger. Do not use tweezers — these may squeeze the venom sac and increase the amount of venom released.
Wash the site thoroughly with soap and water.
Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process.
If necessary, take an antihistamine, or apply creams that reduce itching.
Over the next several days, watch for signs of infection (such as increasing redness, swelling, or pain).
The following methods of prevention are offered by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Health and Human Services.
Avoid provoking insects whenever possible.
Avoid rapid, jerky movements around insect hives or nests.
Avoid perfumes and floral-patterned or dark clothing.
Use appropriate insect repellants and protective clothing.
Use caution when eating outdoors, especially with sweetened beverages or in areas around garbage cans, which often attract bees.
For those who have a serious allergy to insect bites or stings, carry an emergency epinephrine kit (which requires a prescription). Friends and family should be taught how to use it if you have a reaction. Wear a medical ID bracelet.
For more information on first aid for stings and bites from insects, feel free to contact the Orange County Emergency Services at 919-245-6100.

Categories
Community

Vote for the Carrboro Farmers’ Market

According to market manager Sarah Blacklin, the Carrboro Farmers’ Market is only 59 votes away from being number one in the nationwide Love Your Farmers Market Contest sponsored by Local Harvest, a national local-food database that connects farms, food-related businesses and resources throughout the country.