November 2007

Saving your gallon?

Governor Mike Easley wants us all to cut our water use in half. How are you doing it?

"Whenever you use water, cut the amount by half, whether it is taking a shower or washing the dishes," Easley said. "We all need to know whether this will be extremely difficult or easily doable."

Few water managers described Easley's request as easily doable. Having already slashed usage by about 20 percent by eliminating most outdoor watering, the next step is to head indoors where water use often isn't considered optional.

That means three-minute showers, limited washing of clothes and dishes, and strategic toilet flushing. Other possibilities: turning off the tap while shaving and brushing teeth, and collecting water in a bucket from your shower to use elsewhere.
- newsobserver.com | Easley: Cut water use by half, 10/23/07

Compiling the candidates

So I spent this evening reading campaign expense reports. I don't usually do this, preferring to rely on the talents of those who are better with numbers. However, Will has his own finances to worry about this year, so I am having a go. ;-)

Here (and below) is a spreadsheet where we are compiling candidate information including finances and endorsements. What other information should it have?

Campaign finance data is from http://www.co.orange.nc.us/elect/campfin.asp

A few of these reports didn't look right to me (Kevin Wolff spent $1,182.93 and has $1,182.93 cash on hand? Bill Strom's IndyWeek.com ad only cost $100!) but I did the best I could. Corrections are extremely welcome!

Herzenberg memorial service, 11/15

I clipped this from an email Kathie Young just sent me (she asked me to post):

A memorial service for Joe Herzenberg will be held Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 10:30 a. m. at the Chapel Hill Kehillah, 1200 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, with Rabbi Jennifer Feldman officiating. Funeral will be in Franklin, New Jersey and burial will be in North Church cemetery in Hardiston Township, New Jersey.
His "Chapel Hill Family" will receive friends from 11:30-2:00 November 15, 2007 at Margaret's Cantina where a light lunch will be served and there will be time for sharing stories and memories of Joe.

See my blog post about Joe, and the "we'll miss you Joe" thread here at OP.

Let's vote

Tomorrow is the last day of early voting. Polls at Carrboro Town Hall, the Franklin Street Post Office, and the Orange County Public Library will be open from 9 am to 1 pm. Anyone want to meet up for some voting and brunch?

I'm thinking Post Office then Ye Olde Waffle Shop, but I'm open to other proposals. Anyone game? Say, 10:30?

Shoulders for Estes Drive Extension!

Those who traverse Estes Drive Extension regularly may have noticed some delays from paving work going on. But wait, before you curse your fate for being stuck in traffic, take note: Those wide paved shoulders are going in right now to make biking on Estes safer!

A month ago, Eric Muller, asked 'Will Chapel Hill/Carrboro Ever Be Bike-Friendly?' Collaboration between the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Chapel Hill Town Council is leading to new paved shoulders on Estes Drive Extension – and a whole lot more!

Moving past the horse race

In national politics, we often criticize the mainstream media for covering the "horse race" between candidates instead of the issues. Do voters really need to know how much money someone has or do they need to know which candidate's health plan with help their family the most? In reflecting on OP's discussion of this year's election, I find it a little more horse-race oriented than I would like, although there is also a great deal of substantive and useful commentary.

Shine up your crystal balls

You've shared your predilections, now let's hear the predictions. Who is going to win tomorrow?

Click here to take the 2007 OP Pundit of the Year Survey.

Submissions are open until 7:30 pm on Tuesday. Results will be announced after I recover from my hangover on Wednesday.

In 2005, Fred Black swept this contest. Can any of you beat him? If you like, feel free to share your selections and the reasoning behind them below.

"Free Men" Reunion Recalls Chapel Hill Desegregation

Participants in and witnesses to desegregation protests that rocked Chapel Hill in the 1960s will speak in a free public program at 5:45 p.m. Nov. 8 in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Wilson Library.

They will recall their experiences and celebrate republication of John Ehle's “The Free Men,” a landmark book about the era that was first released in 1965. Winston-Salem publisher Press 53 reissued the book in February. Ehle will participate in the UNC program with:

A first?

Today I got a robocall from Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, urging me to vote for him and the other 4 incumbents for Chapel Hill Town Council! Is this a first in Orange County municipal races?

Does anyone think this has a positive influence on voters? It's hard to imagine that the informative nature outweighs the don't-call-me-at-home aspect. Then again, it's always good to have a reminder to get out the vote.

Reprieve for Rogers Road?

I just heard that the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted tonight to reopen the search for a place to put the new waste transfer station! (This wasn't even on their agenda.) They haven't agreed to exclude the Rogers/Eubanks area yet, but this is great progress.

Further discussion will be on their next agenda. Now is the time to show our appreciation to Moses, Mike, Barry, Valerie, and Alice for keeping an open mind, and keep the pressure on to make sure a NEW location is found.

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