March 2008

Chapel Hill "Big Picture" Economic Strategy Community meeting

Having a "big picture" economic development strategy will help the Town and other partners in economic and community development shape policy and prioritize investments in a proactive manner. The strategy will serve as a guide for understanding choices and making decisions.

The Council Committee on Economic Development, which includes Mayor pro tem Jim Ward and Council members Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Strom and Ed Harrison, has drafted an economic development draft strategy with Town Manager Roger L. Stancil and Dwight Bassett, economic development officer. After community input this March, the draft plan will be reviewed by the Town Council for consideration.

Discussions about developing an economic development strategy for the town tie back to the Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2000. The Council renewed its commitment to developing a strategy when it created the position of economic development officer in June 2006. The position is expected to communicate Town policy and Council expectations to businesses as it assists businesses with understanding processes of Town government.

The draft of Chapel Hill's economic development strategy is available at www.townofchapelhill.org/economic_development. Its summary statement proposes: " The Town of Chapel Hill will work innovatively and proactively to diversify local economic opportunities by retaining and supporting existing jobs, and attracting new, desirable jobs in locations convenient to transit and housing. Our goal is to build a more sustainable economy for the 21st century by creating a healthy balance among employment, housing and commercial development. In all of our development efforts, the Town of Chapel Hill places importance on the built & natural environment, community character, transit orientation, social equity and quality of life for its citizens."

Date:

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 - 5:00am

Location:

Franklin Hotel, 311 W. Franklin St.

Events

Chapel Hill "Big Picture" Economic Strategy Community meeting

Date:

Thursday, March 6, 2008 - 10:00am

Location:

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 S. Estes Drive

Events

Chapel Hill "Big Picture" Economic Strategy Community meeting

Date:

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 3:00pm

Location:

Christ United Methodist Church, 800 Market St., Southern Village

Events

Free Composting Class

"Anybody anywhere can make their own compost!" says Muriel Williman of the Orange County Solid Waste Management Department. "Even apartment dwellers with a couple of houseplants can make a windowsill garden thrive by composting indoors with worms. A single person can reduce the amount of waste produced by as much as 40%, simply by composting their fruit and vegetable scraps."

Muriel will conduct a demonstration on the lawn at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro on Saturday, March 22 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm to teach the principles of indoor and outdoor composting. She will show a variety of feedstocks that can be used to create compost and will demonstrate how to build, maintain, and harvest a worm bin. (No registration is required, but please be prompt.)

"Because of drought conditions," Muriel explains, "compost is especially critical for maintaining a garden this growing season. It holds moisture and nutrients in the soil so plants can take them up through their roots, as needed. You cannot have a serious discussion about sustainability, or conserving water, or saving the earth without talking about composting." Consider Composting!

Date:

Saturday, March 22, 2008 - 7:00am

Environment

composting

Consultants give us county info

Have y'all seen the web site that the County's consultant set up about the new site search process? At the Orange County Transfer Station Siting Website, visitors can find background, details on the siting criteria, and upcoming meetings.. This is a good start and represents an improvement on the amount of information previously available.

My wishes are that:

They would provide a syndicated feed so that we can follow updates to the site without having to visit each page every day to see whether there's something new.
The COUNTY ought to provide this kind of information on it's own website, since this is the people's information, and should do this for more projects. Of course, the Towns should do this as well.

Water, Water, Not Everywhere

As the weather warms but the drought persists, we're reading more and more concern about swimming pools. I've been trying to figure out whether a distinction between public and private residential pools exists or is under consideration. The media get quotes or sound bites from places like the Meadowmont Pool or the Y, expressing great concern about what will happen over the summer. Meanwhile, I'm only seeing generic comments about not filling or topping off residential pools -- to the effect that if you can't top off, the pool becomes unusable.

OP Happy Hour

It's time for our quarterly gathering, folks! This one will focus on the upcoming primaries. (local, state, and national) It will also serve as the monthly BlogTogether meet-up, so this is a great chance to meet some local bloggers.

This will be our last Happy Hour before the May primary so let's see if we can get some candidates to join us. Any suggestions for location?

Date:

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location:

Milltown, 307 E. Main St., Carrboro

About This Web Site

happy hour

Meet Jim Neal, talk about women's issues

The campaign of Jim Neal, Democratic and first openly gay candidate for U.S. Senate, is holding a meet & greet on Tuesday, March 18th from 6-8pm. It's going to be an informational session with Jim. He's adamantly pro-choice and wants to be on top of women's issues nationally and in North Carolina, especially seeing how abysmal Elizabeth Dole's performance has been in that arena. While his campaign staff has been breifing him on the issues, he really wants to make a point of reaching out to the choice community here and educating himself. This is not an endorsement event or a fundraiser, but an opportunity to meet the candidate and learn more about his positions on a range of women's issues.

For more information, contact Emily Batchelder at the Neal campaign, batcheldere@gmail.com.

Location:

Southern Rail, Carr Mill

Elections

Chapel Hill Murder (What the ????)

The media is reporting that Eve Carson, the UNC Chapel Hill student body president, was identified Thursday as the woman who was fatally shot in a neighborhood near campus early Tuesday morning.

The other side of the Eve tragedy

I wish there was more talk about the messed up fact that our town includes kids who think they have nothing to lose, so they may as well risk life in prison in exchange for... what? A car, a few bucks, gang membership??

I don't know much about sociology or the demographics of CH, but I'd love to hear from someone who does.

I do know that when I used to live in the Northside neighborhood, >50% of the people I saw walking down Broad St were visibly high/drunk. At a community watch meeting, the cop said that people would walk down our street to buy drugs in the park. Some people I know who lived by that park found syringes in their yard. The Carrboro cops do a great job in that neighborhood, yet it continues.

My inclination is to blame poverty. But these are people in the OC with OC schools! Maybe they didn't grow up here?

Could someone please tell me why these local kids don't get jobs and quit hanging out on Rosemary self-medicating and concocting brilliant plans involving hiding your hair while at the ATM??? Seriously. I'm not trying to be rude. I just want to know what the hell is going on.

Carrboro/Chapel Hill Leads By Example But Still Has to Bail Out Durham?

I am all for lending my fellow brother a helping hand, but not if my brother expects the handout without making the necessary changes needed to prevent further bailouts. For months, citizens of Chapel Hill/Carrboro have bit the bullet and took necessary action to conserve water during the drought. As we watched our gardens wilt and our vehicles dust over, our Durham neighbors still washed their cars and hand-watered their lawns. We silently noted the limited supply of our Farmer's Markets while still supporting our struggling farmers, and while we grew impatient with the restrictions, we gain perspective every time we passed a sign in town reminding us to conserve. Perhaps the rumors are true, and Carrboro/Chapel Hill is the hippie,green cousin of our Durham city, and therefore able to embrace green incentives easier, but as they laughed at our progressiveness, Durham held out a bucket and asked for us to fill it up. Our supply is still barely half full, and OWASA is upholding Stage 3 restrictions, but my patience is wearing thin for my Durham neighbors when I see a gas station car wash being used in Durham that is not using recycled water!

Deliverance (Remembrance) Ceremony for Eve Carson

There will be a seven-week Deliverance (Remembrance) Ceremony for Eve Carson, every Tuesday @ 6pm until April 22nd given in the Buddhist tradition.

For more information on this event please contact Rev. Wongong or Rev. Illdug

Won-Buddhism Meditation Temple
8021 Old NC 86
Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA
Phone. 919-933-6946

Date:

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 2:00pm

Location:

Won-Buddhism Meditation Temple; 8021 Old NC 86, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, Phone. 919-933-6946

More Information:

http://www.wonbuddhismnc.org

Events

mental health how can we let this happen whats going to happen next

heres another article

http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/

East West Partners discuss LEED-ND

Via an email...

Please join the Triangle Chapter EGB and East West Partners as we talk about the East 54 community development project in Chapel Hill. East 54 is currently under construction as one of the only LEED-ND pilot participants in North Carolina. East West Partners will be discussing the LEED-ND rating system, which credits they are incorporating into East 54, as well as any challenges they have faced while designing the project.

For more information on East West Partners, please visit their Website at: http://www.ewp-nc.com/
And for more information about East 54 (and a construction webcam!) Visit: http://www.east54.com/index.php

Date:

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location:

East 54 - 1201-J Raleigh Rd., Chapel Hill

Environment

Over 30,000 served

Congratulations to Patrick McDonough for posting the 30,000th comment on OrangePolitics! He has earned a free drink at OP's spring happy hour on March 26th. I hope to see many of you there.

And what an informative comment it was:

Information about Hampton Dellinger for Lieutenant Governor

Hello Folks,

My name is Nick Auten. I am a Carrboro resident and am a volunteer for the Hampton Dellinger Lieutenant Gubernatorial campaign in Orange County. Today, many of us will have our precinct meetings that will kick off our collective preparation for the 2008 Primaries on May 6th. I am very excited and optimistic for the advancement of progressive policies at a federal, state, and local level this election cycle!

We have some good Democratic candidates to choose from for the Lt. Governor's race. I would like to give you some weblinks that have some content about Hampton Dellinger for you to read and also tell you about some organizations that feel the same way that I do about his candidacy: that Hampton Dellinger is the most electable progressive on the ticket.

Al Gore supports Dellinger's environmental stances: http://www.charlotte.com/politics/story/491485.html

AFL-CIO endorses Dellinger: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/afl_cio_endorses_dellinger

NARAL Pro-Choice NC endorses Dellinger: http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/naral_endorses_dellinger

Sierra Club County Commissioner Forum

It's that time of year again, the sweet smell of campaigns are starting to fill the air. The Sierra Club will be hosting a forum on environmental issues for Orange County Commissioner candidates on Monday, March 17th at 7pm in Carrboro Town Hall. Members of the public are invited to attend, though it will be televised if you are unable to make it.

Because I get a number of questions regarding the process the Sierra Club takes to endorse local candidates, I wanted to explain exactly what it is we do to make our decisions. Rather than put you to sleep with a long written explanation, I took to my webcam and tried to describe the process as best I could. Enjoy by clicking "read more" below.

Women for Neal Event

A coworker of mine is organizing this event. Here is the information below:

Any OP Bloggers Organized to Commemorate the Fifth Anniversary of the Iraq War?

Curious to know if anybody on here wants to join in with WILPF/UNC or organize Orange Politics own form of demonstration. It's time to take a stand and not let another year of this war slip through the cracks.

We'll All Go Down Together

I just got back from Tucson and dropped by Weaver Street Market today for groceries. While the bright white arrows directing traffic seem useful, Carr Mill Mall's new approach to territory does not.

As I got out of my car, one of the guards lectured three twenty-something people on where they could and could not go. As they looked somewhat nervous and a little confused, he explained that their parking space belonged to "this building" and they could only go in "this building" and if they crossed the street or crossed the lot, he would be watching them and he would know and he would tow them. No question about it. If they strayed across that parking lot, there was a towing in their future.

Rain makes a dent

Some good news: our drought is only "extreme" now! The rain is is barely, slightly, kind of starting to catch us up.

Durham, Orange, Chatham, Person and Granville counties are now listed as being in "extreme" drought, the fourth highest of five drought classifications used by the state. The five area counties had been listed in the worst drought classification, "exceptional," for months.
- herladsun.com: Rain lowers drought category, 3/14/08

But don't stop conserving. We've got a long way to go, and OWASA's surcharges will still kick in on Monday as planned.

Counterprotest

The Westboro Baptist Church is being called upon to protest at Eve Carson's memorial service tomorrow afternoon at the Dean Dome. A friend of mine who usually rides with the Patriot Guard says that he'll be counterprotesting Phelps' crew tomorrow afternoon, and all are welcome to join him. I'm a UNC alum and considering going to the service, if not also the counterprotest.

Location:

Smith Center

Events

Eve Carson

Rogers Road is not out of the woods

Yesterday's Chapel Hill News discussed the possibility of constructing a new elementary school in the Rogers Road neighborhood as if it would bring an instant end to the problems this neighborhood has had for decades of living next to the landfill. While the schools' ability to pay for the extension of sewer to this area would be a tremendous benefit, it's not like sewer acess is the only challenge facing the Rogers Road area.

Women for Neal -- NEW TIME

From Emily Batchelder (batcheldere@gmail.com), with the Neal campaign:

Hey y'all,

Just a final reminder that the Women for Neal Meet & Greet is this Tuesday, March 18th from 7-9pm at the Station at Southern Rail in downtown Carrboro (see below for details and directions). Out of respect for Eve Carson's memorial service, and to accommodate those wishing to attend, we've pushed our event back an hour to begin at 7pm.

I've tried to incorporate as many of your issues as possible into the agenda for Jim and I hope he has a chance to speak with you about all of them, but please understand that in the interest of time, we've primarily stuck to issues surrounding reproductive health and rights.

Also, please note that all ages are welcome to attend, those purchasing alcoholic beverages will only be carded at the bar. I also ask that in order to facilitate everyone comfortably, you please RSVP by replying to this email with approximately how many guests you will be attending with. Also, I know a lot of you forwarded this email on (thank you, thank you, thank you!), so could you please forward this email with the time change along, as well?

I still welcome any questions or concerns you may have and look forward to seeing you all there!

Thanks so much!

Cheers,

Emily

Date:

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 3:00am to 5:00pm

Location:

The Station at Southern Rail, next to Carr Mill, Weaver St, Carrboro

Elections

New Priorities Vigil

Tomorrow is the FIFTH anniversary of the Iraq War! MoveOn.org is organizing vigils across the country. Here's ours...

We will be meeting on the fifth anniversary of our misguided invasion of Iraq to honor and mourn the great loss this senseless war has meant for the families of our service men and women and the loss of resource our government could have used for humanitarian or economic purposes.

Address: 179 E. Franklin St., in front of the post office building (across from campus) (Map)
Location: Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Directions: 179 E. Franklin St., across from campus and in front of the post office (near intersection with Henderson). There is parking available on Franklin and some side streets with out charge after 6pm I believe. There are also a couple of parking garages on Rosemary and the planetarium parking lot are available but may still charge.
Host: Sarah Nixon

Date:

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Location:

Peace and Justice Plaza at Franklin Street Post Office

More Information:

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=45601&r=3133&id=12330-537…

Events

Ordinance Writing is Expensive and Getting More So!

Daniel Goldberg wrote in this morning's CHH about the decision by the Chapel Hill Town Council to devote not to exceed $10,000 more for a consultant to help write the Inclusionary Zoning ordinance.

Brackets, y'all

Last year there was some interest in having a tournament pool here on OrangePolitics. Since all of the online pools require registration, I figured we might was well use Facebook, where many of us already have accounts. (I also couldn't find a site that includes the women's tournament, please send me links if you know of one.)

So without further ado, I give you: The Official OrangePolitics B-ball Pool! You have to pick your teams before the first game starts on Thursday, so don't delay. To join, send me a message via Facebook and you will get an invitation.

Forum to address land transfer tax

What: forum to discuss land transfer tax

When: Thursday 7:30pm

Where: Homestead Community Center, 600 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill

Who: Seven Orange County Democratic precinct committees plus Sen. Ellie Kinnard, Orange County Commissioner Mike Nelson and Kara Milonzi, assistant professor of public law at UNC

More info: Sally Crumbaugh at 968-8587 or scrumbaugh@infohandler.com or Stan Cheren at 942-9493 or stan@ranchopark.com

Citizens for Schools and Parks organizational meeting

Next week a group of Orange County residents will be organizing Citizens for Schools and Parks to advocate for passing the real estate transfer tax in Orange County. This group will be ad-hoc and will dissolve after this May's vote on the issue.

If you are concerned about school, park and open space funding in Orange County and want to help pass this referendum, then please come to this meeting. If you cannot come, then please email Mark_Chilton@hotmail.com to let us know how you can help.

BE THERE: Wednesday March 26, 2008 at 7:30 pm at Carrboro Town Hall in Room 100.

Citizens for Schools and Parks Meeting

Next week we will be organizing a committee to be called Citizens for Schools and Parks to advocate for passing the real estate transfer tax in Orange County. This group will be ad-hoc and will dissolve after this May's vote on the issue.

If you are concerned about school, park and open space funding in Orange County and want to help pass this referendum, then please come to this meeting. If you cannot come, then please email Mark_Chilton@hotmail.com to let us know how you can help.

Date:

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 - 3:30pm

Location:

Carrboro Town Hall in Room 100

Elections

Transfer tax

New Triangle Parkway Impacts Us All

The planned Triangle Parkway is a 3.5 mile, 4 lane toll road, connecting I-40 to I-540, and serves to capture traffic into the toll system that continues on the I-540 South. Why should orange County residents care?

Transfer Station Siting - Public Information Session

Via David Hunt:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 25, 2008
Contact: Bob Sallach, Olver, Inc., 704-527-3227

Transfer Station Siting Process Public Information Sessions

Transfer station siting public information sessions are scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, in Hillsborough and on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd., in Chapel Hill.

The public information sessions will include a presentation describing the function and operation of a solid waste transfer station. The transfer station siting process will also be discussed in detail focusing on the purpose and use of technical and community-specific criteria and weighting factors in the evaluation and final selection of a recommended site.

· Exclusionary Criteria include the stipulation of areas where development is prohibited by federal, state, or local laws or regulations. Exclusionary criteria also include consideration of transportation distance, land use, zoning requirements, watershed protection, and other factors that may significantly impact the environment, facility costs, or project implementation.

· Technical Criteria include specific engineering, operation, and transportation parameters that should be considered to assure that sites are feasible from a technical design, environmental, and economic prospective.

· Community-Specific Criteria consider the impacts that the facility will have on the surrounding community.

The primary objective of these public information sessions will be for Olver, Inc. to provide the public at large with information regarding the operation of a transfer station; to provide the public at large with information regarding the site selection process; and to receive broad public input and comment on the preliminary set of site selection criteria and weighting factors, so that the needs and concerns of the residents of Orange County can be integrated into the final decision-making process.

These public information sessions are being conducted by Olver, Inc. on behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. A summary of session proceedings will be provided to the Board and posted to the website being maintained by Olver, Inc. as part of the Orange County Transfer Station siting project.

For more information, go to http://www.olver.com/orangecounty/

# # #

Date:

Thursday, April 3, 2008 - 3:00pm to 6:00pm

Location:

F. Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, in Hillsborough

Environment

Transfer Station Siting - Public Information Session

Via David Hunt:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: March 25, 2008
Contact: Bob Sallach, Olver, Inc., 704-527-3227

Transfer Station Siting Process Public Information Sessions

Transfer station siting public information sessions are scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom, 106 E. Margaret Lane, in Hillsborough and on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd., in Chapel Hill.

The public information sessions will include a presentation describing the function and operation of a solid waste transfer station. The transfer station siting process will also be discussed in detail focusing on the purpose and use of technical and community-specific criteria and weighting factors in the evaluation and final selection of a recommended site.

· Exclusionary Criteria include the stipulation of areas where development is prohibited by federal, state, or local laws or regulations. Exclusionary criteria also include consideration of transportation distance, land use, zoning requirements, watershed protection, and other factors that may significantly impact the environment, facility costs, or project implementation.

· Technical Criteria include specific engineering, operation, and transportation parameters that should be considered to assure that sites are feasible from a technical design, environmental, and economic prospective.

· Community-Specific Criteria consider the impacts that the facility will have on the surrounding community.

The primary objective of these public information sessions will be for Olver, Inc. to provide the public at large with information regarding the operation of a transfer station; to provide the public at large with information regarding the site selection process; and to receive broad public input and comment on the preliminary set of site selection criteria and weighting factors, so that the needs and concerns of the residents of Orange County can be integrated into the final decision-making process.

These public information sessions are being conducted by Olver, Inc. on behalf of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. A summary of session proceedings will be provided to the Board and posted to the website being maintained by Olver, Inc. as part of the Orange County Transfer Station siting project.

For more information, go to http://www.olver.com/orangecounty/

# # #

Date:

Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 3:00pm to 6:00pm

Location:

Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill

Environment

Chamber of Commerce's NC Senate Candidate Debate

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Adam Klein, Director of Government Relations and Economic Development aklein@carolinachamber.org

(919) 967-7075 ext. 24

N.C. STATE SENATE PRIMARY DEBATE HOSTED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Area citizens will have the opportunity to hear a debate between two Democratic candidates running for the 23rd District N.C. Senate seat on Wednesday, April 9. Incumbent N.C. Senator, Ellie Kinnaird, and Orange County commissioner, Moses Carey Jr., are running for the seat in the Democratic Primary, which will be decided on May 6.

EmPOWERment, Inc., the League of Women Voters and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to host the debate. These organizations are partnering to provide a forum for the community to hear the candidates’ stance on policy issues and their vision for Orange and Person Counties.

Kinnaird was re-elected in November 2006 and is currently serving her sixth term in the N.C. Senate. In 1987 she was elected as mayor of Carrboro and served four terms in that position.

Carey was elected to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in 1984 and is currently serving in his sixth term. He has served as chairman for eleven non-consecutive years.

The debate will be at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Chapel Hill Town Hall located at 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Debate questions will be generated by the Daily Tar Heel, Chapel Hill News, Chapel Hill Herald and Carrboro Citizen. 1360 WCHL will be broadcasting and moderating the debate.

For more information visit the Chamber Web site at www.carolinachamber.org closer to April 9.

Date:

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Location:

Chapel Hill Town Hall

More Information:

http://www.carolinachamber.org

Elections

Less trash at Hog Day

Kudos to Hillsborough Hog Day for trying to go (almost) garbage-free! I wonder if Chapel Hill would try this for FestiFall?

"Our goal is waste minimization, reducing waste in the first place and composting and recycling as much as we can," said Muriel Williman of Orange County's Solid Waste Management Department and a Hog Day Committee member. "While some trash is expected, we would like to reduce waste by 75-80 percent, even 90 percent. With everyone's help, we can."
Visitors should expect to see vendors serving on paper plates and bowls, or using wax paper to wrap food. Vendors will also be using biodegradable utensils (made from corn, potato or wheat starch) though most people will not even notice the difference. The goal is to be able to compost as much as possible. Any plastic utensils, film, condiment packets or other plastic can contaminate the compost collection.

Reminder: OP Happy Hour today at 6pm

OrangePolitics has a quarterly gathering so we can meet and have some fun in person. Our Spring meeting is 6:00 TODAY at Mill Town in Carrboro. The weather is going to be perfect for sitting outside, and Mayor Chilton has assured me that it is OK to show up a little tipsy at the Citizens for Schools and Parks meeting at 7:30. ;-)

Plus, free stickers! Lurkers welcome.

Online gubernatorial debate

James Protzman writes:

I am happy and honored to announce that our Democratic candidates for governor will join us on Monday, March 31, at 7:45 pm, for the first online gubernatorial debate in North Carolina history. My deepest thanks to both candidates and their very busy campaign staffs, for working with us to make this event happen. In keeping with our commitment to transparency, here is the proposal that has been accepted by both campaigns. Now we need your help to make it happen. As you'll see below, your first job is to load up the questions.
- We're on. | BlueNC

Should be interesting!

Date:

Monday, March 31, 2008 - 3:35pm

Location:

BlueNC.com

More Information:

http://bluenc.com/were-on.

Elections

County Commissioners forum 3/27

Thursday, March 27. The Orange County Democratic Women will sponsor a County Commissioner's Forum at 7:30pm at the Chapel Hill Museum, 523 E. Franklin St. Commissioner Alice Gordon will explain the roles and responsibilities of the county commissioners and the changes to the board beginning with this election. Each candidate will be allowed individually on their goals and will answer questions from the audience. This event will be open to the public. For more info call Betsy Russell at 644-0869. (from News of Orange)

Location:

Chapel Hill Museum 523 E. Franklin Street Chapel Hill

Events

County Commissioners

"The Role of Media in Politics": Schneider to give Benton Lecture

Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst and one of the country’s leading political commentators, will deliver the Nelson Benton Lecture at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication on March 27 at 6 p.m. in the Carroll Hall auditorium.

Schneider’s talk, “The Role of Media in Politics,” is free and open to the public. He joins notable journalists who have spoken in the series including Walter Cronkite, Charles Kuralt, Sam Donaldson, Bob Schieffer, Cokie Roberts and Dan Rather.

The lecture coincides with a major conference being held at the school in honor of Knight Chair in Journalism Phil Meyer, who retires this year. Meyer has been at the forefront of applying social-science research methods to the practice of journalism. The conference brings media scholars together to consider how research and theory can serve journalism in the information age. Schneider and Meyer first met in 1968 when Meyer was analyzing a survey for the Miami Herald on race relations in Miami.

Schneider, who joined CNN in 1991, is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., and a contributing editor to the Los Angeles Times, National Journal and The Atlantic Monthly.

The Washington Times called Schneider "the nation's election-meister" and The Boston Globe called him "the Aristotle of American politics," while Campaigns and Elections magazine called him "the most consistently intelligent analyst on television." In 1997, Washingtonian magazine named Schneider one of the 50 most influential Washington journalists.

Schneider co-authored The Confidence Gap: Business, Labor and Government in the Public Mind with Seymour Martin Lipset. He also has written extensively on politics and public opinion for The New Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, The Washington Post and other publications. Schneider is a frequent television commentator and featured speaker on public affairs, both in the United States and abroad.

Schneider has a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a doctorate in political science from Harvard University, where he later taught in the Department of Government. He has held an International Affairs Fellowship from the Council on Foreign Relations and a National Fellowship from the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. From 1990-1995, he was the Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Visiting Professor of American Politics at Boston College.

The Nelson Benton Lecture Series was established in the school by the CBS newsman’s friends and family after his death in 1988.

Benton began his broadcasting career at radio station WSOC in Charlotte, N.C., after receiving his degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1949. The next year, he established the first television news department in the Southeast at WBTV in Charlotte. In 1960, he joined CBS News in New York City as an assignment editor and reporter. He worked in Dallas when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and became the New Orleans bureau chief and correspondent for CBS News in 1964. He reported on the civil rights movement in the South and covered the Vietnam War from Saigon, Hue and the Vietnamese countryside. He spent the next decade as a Washington correspondent.

During the early 1970s, he was an anchor on the "CBS Morning News." He covered Watergate and the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974. He won an Emmy for a special broadcast about the Watergate tapes. When the country faced an acute shortage of energy resources in the 1970s, he pioneered the energy beat for CBS News.

He was a member of the team of CBS News correspondents who covered the American space program from the days of the Mercury astronauts through the moon landing on July 20, 1969.

(Will end before basketball game)

Date:

Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Location:

UNC Campus - Carroll Hall auditorium

More Information:

http://jomc.unc.edu/schneider

Media

jomc unc cnn lecture journalism politics

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!

It’s budget time again and the good bet is that our taxes will increase. For those who desire/need a historical refresher, read the 2007 OP thread, "No Chapel Hill Tax Increase!"

I never got an answer on what not raising taxes in 2007 would do to the cost of things in 2008. Take a look at the budget documents for this year. The Mayor was quoted in the morning CHH saying that it might take a five cent increase per $100 valuation to fund the forecasted deficit.

And of course, rereading last year’s thread reminded me hom many folks told me that not having an increase last year had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it was a Council election year!

Let the games begin! Council members are expected to adopt the budget on June 9.

Lt. Governor Candidate at Carrboro Town Hall this Monday!

Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Besse will be at Carrboro Town Hall this coming Monday night March 31, at 7:30 pm to meet Orange County voters and speak a little about his campaign. Please come on out. We will be in Room 100.

Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton will be on hand to welcome the current Winston-Salem City Councilman and Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate.

Dan Besse has been endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina and the NC Sierra Club and has long been an advocate for the environment and social justice. Please come hear how Dan plans to help create a better North Carolina.

To quote Dan's website: "I'm Dan Besse, and I'm running for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina because I have the experience to meet the challenges of our changing state, a demonstrated record of working for solid Democratic ideals of economic and educational opportunity for all, and a passionate commitment to combining growth and opportunity for our people with the stewardship necessary to keep our air, land, and water clean and productive."

check out what benton is doing now

http://www.ncmentalhope.org/

Have your say on the countywide Comprehensive Plan

Thanks to the VIllage Project's blog for reminding us about three community meetings in April for the public to comment on Orange County's new draft Comprehensive Plan.

Open House*
April 3, 2008, 3:00-7:00PM
Planning and Agricultural Center, "Food-Lab"
306-F Revere Rd., Hillsborough

County Commish Candidates '08

Here are some hastily scribbled notes from last night's forum to meet the new cast of county commissioner candidates hosted by the Dem Women of OC.

From the DWOC handouts :

OC is going to a 7 member CC Plan; D1 = 3 members, D2 = 2 members + 2 "At Large" members. District 1 is the 71,389 people in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District. District 2 is the 44,142 of us that make up the rest of the rest of the county. In 2008 4 commissioners will be elected. D1 gets 2 seats, D2 gets one seat and one "At-Large" seat. 3 Commishes are not up for re-election until 2010: Alice Gordon, Barry Jacobs and Mike Nelson.

From notes:

Valerie Foushee D1 - (D-CH) uncontested "safe seat" - spoke on community mental health needs and diversity in housing, said state offered current county commissioners only 2 choices in raising taxes: land transfer tax or sales tax, which she sees as more regressive

Mary M. Wolfe - At Large -- absent

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BlueNC Blogger Bash

Calling all bloggers! BlueNC Blogger Bash Sunday, April 27 3 to 6pm 451 Lakeshore Lane, Chapel Hill A $10 charge to help cover the barbecue & beer. Candidates free.

Date:

Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 11:00am to 2:00pm

Location:

451 Lakeshore Lane, Chapel Hill

Events

bluenc bbq blogger

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