May 2008

Hillsborough Literary Association's Short Film Festival

From the Chapel Hill Herald:

For one night only, watch films written by local authors Lee Smith, Allan Gurganus, Michael Malone and Daniel Wallace and adapted by Duke University students for the screen. Enjoy complimentary popcorn as you listen to the authors read short passages from their works and answer questions, together with Duke University film Professor Benfey.The festival will be at the Burwell School Historic Site on May 29th at 7:30 p.m.

For more information and tickets ($12), call (919) 732-7451 or visit http://wwww.burwellschool.org.

Burwell School Historic Site is at 319 N. Churton St. All proceeds benefit the continuing programming and preservation of the Burwell School Historic Site.

Date: 

Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 3:30pm

Location: 

Burwell School Historic Site, 319 N. Churton St.

Bus ridership up trianglewide: CH up 30%

Given the rising cost of gas, it's not surprising that riding the bus has become increasingly popular. Of interest is the idea that in wealthy CH bus riding has increased 30%, whereas in Durham bus riding has only increased just 9.5%.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1073429.html

Is it a case of those who are most able to afford it taking advantage of CH's fare free system? Is it purely different demographics? Or is it  different levels of  service?

Bike to Work Day Today!

The culmination of Bike to Work Week is Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16th. Read more to find local links.

Local Activities:

  • 7:00am - Raleigh Bikers' Breakfast and Bike to Work Week Celebration (NW corner of Fayetteville & Hargett, Raleigh)
  • 7-9am - Bike to Work Brunch at the Research Triangle Park Headquarters (12 Davis Drive, RTP)
  • 7:30am - Durham Bike to Work Day Gathering (The Mad Hatter at Broad Street & Main Street, Durham)

Hello-Goodbye Internationalist Fundraiser Party

I'm not involved with Internationalist anymore, but they're still doing great work and deserve our support...

Daniel says goodbye, Nick says hello, hello, hello!

7-9pm at Internationalist Books (free, all ages!)
Come welcome in our new manager, Nick Shepard, and say goodbye to our old manager, Daniel Elam. There will be food, music, and good company. Bring friends!

9pm-2am at SOUTHERN RAIL (across from Weaver Street Market, free, all ages!)
Continue the party at Southern Rail, with drinks, dancing, and more fun! We'll pass the hat to support Internationalist Books

Date: 

Friday, May 16, 2008 - 3:00pm

Location: 

Internationalist Books (405 W Franklin) & Southern Rail (Carrboro)

Rogers-Eubanks Coalition Springtime Party and Open House

I'm a little frustrated because I just learned about this event yesterday, and I think the word needs to get spread farther for this to be effective. But anyway, here's the deal:

The Historic Rogers Road/Eubanks Community
Invites you to meet the folks
behind the headlines

If you’ve been following the news stories about the Orange County Landfill and the siting of the new Waste Transfer Station for the past year, you’ve heard a lot about the folks that live in the historic Rogers Road/Eubanks Community.

Now, come and meet the folks behind the headlines in this historic and vibrant community. Come spend a Saturday afternoon and hear their stories, meet their kids and absorb first-hand, the 150 years of history in this community. Come share home-cooked food, listen to live gospel and steel-drum reggae music and join hands with others to end environmental racism. Click here for the event flier.

I already have two committments tomorrow afternoon but will try to stop by around 4:30 if at all possible. 

Date: 

Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 10:00am to 1:00pm

Location: 

Faith Tabernacle Oasis of Love International Church, Rogers Road

Make Orange County More Sustainable by Equitably Balancing Development and Environmental Protection

This Monday at 7:30 p.m. the county commissioners and planning board will be conducting a public hearing at the courthouse in Hillsborough on the proposed comprehensive plan update. Ideally, the plan will firmly establish the county on a path toward sustainability that balances environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality. The draft plan can be accessed from http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/compre_cpupdate.asp.

In the first chapter many encouraging phrases are found such as: "Mixed-use districts are being actively encouraged, and locations are being identified, providing live-work-shop opportunities that minimize travel needs ... (T)he identification of growth opportunity areas near transit corridors and along major thoroughfares encourages more public transportation use by County residents. ... (P)lacing public water and sewer facilities near areas targeted for dense development can reinforce a more sustainable land use pattern ... (P)ublic investment will be focused to stimulate and accommodate (economic) development in strategic locations that can be served by transportation systems and be convenient to housing opportunities."

Work session on Waste Transfer Station

For those following the Waste Transfer Station siting process, the next work session with the BOCC and Olver Corporation will be this Tuesday May 20 at 5:30 pm at the OC Dept. of Social Services at 2501 Homestead Road,Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

This important work session will be focusing on finalizing the "Exclusionary Criteria" for selecting the Waste Transfer Station site and is open to all.

Background materials may be found at the BOCC web site at: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/OCCLERKS/080520e.htm

The regular BOCC meeting follows at 7:30.

Date: 

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - 1:30pm

Location: 

Southern Orange Human Services Center

4th Annual RTP Ride of Silence

Information from the M.S. Fits Cycling Team website

Wednesday, May 21st, 2008

What: A 5-mile loop, in silence, no faster than 12 MPH in honor of cyclists and others killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. The ride, which is being held during Bike Safety Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways.

Where: Triangle Life Science Center Parking Lot (on Hwy. 54 just west of T.W. Alexander Dr. - former USEPA building), Research Triangle Park, NC...

MAP

When: We will leave promptly at 7:00 p.m.. Please arrive early enough to air up tires and participate in a moment of silence before the ride.

Registration: No registration, no fee, spread the word!

Helmets are required and lights highly advised.

Host: Team MSFits — Blanche & Larry Dean

More info:National Ride of Silence Website - On Wednesday, May 21st, the Ride of Silence will roll across the country, starting at 7:00 PM. In more than 50 cities in the U.S. and Canada, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas (May 2004) after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is being held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

Date: 

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 2:34pm to 6:35pm

Location: 

Triangle Life Science Center Parking Lot (on Hwy. 54 just west of T.W. Alexander Dr. - former USEPA building), Research Triangle Park, NC

Endangered pedestrians

With this weekend's bad news, Chapel Hill's pedestrian death toll rises to THREE in the past month. May 17: Barbara Boone Sims was killed crossing Weaver Dairy Road at Perkins Drive, May 15: Lisa Carolyn Moran was fatally hit by a bus on Manning Drive near UNC Hospital, April 27: Clifton Walker Steed was killed crossing MLK Blvd at Hillsborough Street. All were killed within a block of the NC 86 corridor (South Columbia Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard).

I know the Town has studied the MLK portion of the corridor and proposed some pedestrian improvements (PDF report), but none have been implemented yet as far as I know. We also need to remember that crosswalks don't exist in a vacuum, we need safe sidewalks, well-lit bus shelters, adequate bike lanes, and much more.

Memorial Day Commemoration

Via Peggy Misch:

Memorial Day Commemoration: Orange County Peace Coalition invites the community to its program including speakers Joe Cole, Professor of Ethics and Philosophy, Guilford College, and Wally Myers, organizer, Triangle Area Chapter Veterans for Peace; singer Mary Moffit; the Raging Grannies; readings. Monday, May 26, 2-3:30 PM, Carrboro Town Commons, West Main and Laurel Streets. (929-3316, 419-1261)

Date: 

Monday, May 26, 2008 - 10:00am to 11:30am

Location: 

Carrboro Town Commons

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