For approximately 25 years, DOT has been wanting to widen Smith Level Road. The latest effort to expand the number of vehicle lanes between Ray Road (town limit) and Morgan Creek bridge, was voted down by the Carrboro Board of Aldermen on April 20.
This morning's Herald-Sun reports that DOT staff has offered Carrboro 3 options:
Let me see if I've got this straight: Real estate developers want more say over real estate development?
The council is planning a 12-member committee with two Planning Board
members, one Transportation Board member, one Sustainability Committee
member, one Justice-in-Action Committee member, one business community
representative and five citizens at-large. The petitioners, many of
whom work in real-estate related fields, want to add six more members
to represent: small businesses, downtown businesses, development
professionals, large businesses, UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Healthcare.
Partly because I ran for the Chapel Hill Town Council in my Senior Year (Fall 1991), I took five years to graduate from UNC, but I have absolutely nothing on Griffin Miller who will graduate from UNC this Saturday - 75 years after enrolling as a Freshman:
It was dumped in the ocean until it killed fish and other ocean life - now it’s being spread on farmlands in N.C. Hear how sewage sludge or ”free fertilizer” may be affecting our health and environment...
In OrangeCounty, 3057 acres
are permitted for land application of residuals!
Come to the premiere showing of “Sludge Diet,” a 50-minute Canadian-produced film documentary.
FREE admission!
Locations:
Central Carolina Community College, Pittsboro, Tues. May 12
If you would like a free showing of “Sludge Diet” for your group or organization, please contact Sue Dayton. telephone (336) 525-2003 or email sdayton at swcp.com
The NY Times today ran a brief, not particularly incisive, story on increased town-gown friction because of the recession. "Slump Revives Town-Gown Divide Across US" http://tinyurl.com/NYTtownoGown (registration required) "As endowments everywhere sink with the economy, town-gown
relationships, often carefully nurtured during the boom years as
colleges and universities sought to expand, are fraying."
If you are interested in the Downtown "Riddle," you must read the May/June edition of the Chapel Hill Magazine. On page 56, there is an interview with Fayetteville's own Joe Riddle, the well-known owner of some of our empty Franklin St. property.
In the "Letter from the publisher," Dan Shannon says the interview is "a lively mixture of raw honesty, combativeness, disingenuousness and skepticism." The wary Riddle doesn't treat reporter Lisa Rossi with much respect and obviously doesn't believe that any interview will do him justice.
Smoking ban passes General Assembly
Cigarette smoking
Posted: May 13th at 11:07 a.m.
RALEIGH, N.C. — The House narrowly approved a broad indoor smoking ban
Wednesday that was previously passed by the Senate, delivering another
jolt to the tobacco industry that once was a key piece of North
Carolina's economy.
House Bill 2, which lawmakers approved by a 62-56 vote, bans smoking in
nearly all restaurants and bars. Private clubs and cigar bars are
exempted from the no-smoking restrictions.
The bill now heads to Gov. Beverly Perdue's desk, and she said Wednesday that she was ready to sign it into law.
"Today is an important and historic day for North Carolina," Perdue
said in a statement. "I have vigorously supported efforts to reduce and
eliminate smoking, and this bill will help more North Carolina citizens
avoid the dangers of second-hand smoke."
House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman said the proposal is a good step toward protecting the public's health.
"Tobacco has a great legacy in North Carolina. It's done some great
Originally posted on Amplify: http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/u/dandaman6007/2009/5/14/NCmarriage
One man. One woman. That’s marriage.
This is the tagline of the conservative North Carolina organization called NC4marrige. They are trying to pass the Defense of Marriage Act, which would protect marriage under the state constitution, making it harder to legalize same-sex marriage in the future. North Carolina is the only southern state that doesn’t have a constitutional same-sex marriage ban in place, which makes it a target for conservative activists and same-sex marriage advocates alike. Basically, these groups tell their supporters that North Carolina could become the next state to legalize gay marriage unless it becomes banned under the constitution.
Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina's Paige Johnson wrote a great piece in the Carrboro Citizen about the Healthy Youth Act and comprehensive sex education.
You can follow all of their policy/activist efforts on twitter at http://twitter.com/ppcnc.
Comprehensive sex education will equip our children to survive
The Agenda
for our May 20 Board Meeting includes major reports from the General
Manager on our financial position and on our Owner Investment and
Return policy. Both of these items have been out of compliance in
recent months and the GM will be reporting on his progress and plans to
get us back on track.
Date:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 2:15pm to 5:15pm
Location:
Corner Building (corner of Weaver St and Greensboro St; aka WCOM or Community Realty building), Carrboro
The Program operated by
The Conservation Fund invites land trusts, local governments, and other
organizations to submit proposals for small greenway project grants.
Funded projects typically advance one or more of the following Program
goals:
You can't turn your back on the BOCC for a second. The Rogers/Eubanks community is back in the mix for the Transfer Station. As I have said previously the fight for environmental justice is far from over and vigilance is required. What is Foy thinking? And Jacobs was the original Sassaman buddy so Jacob's position is no surprise.
My heart goes out Reverend Campbell and Neloa Jones. Just as it appears that they are approaching the top of the mountain, voila, there is another vertical cliff to scale.
The Arts Wing does not compete with teaching positions for funding. Construction projects are funded through construction bonds NOT the operating budget.
Federal stimulus package provides $5.5 million in interest-free loans for qualified school construction.
The County Commission needs to vote to accept these funds, which would
So I'm exploring this past weekend. I take Jones Ferry Rd. through Carrboro and over University Lake and then I turn right onto Old Greensboro Rd. I go a few miles and I make a right onto Neville Rd. I had never been out there before. I was just exploring. I saw a left with a street sign so I decided to take it. I turned left from Neville Rd. onto Farmstead Dr.
After I turn onto Farmstead Dr., perhaps 100-150 feet ahead I see signs that say "Keep Out" and "No Trespassing." There is nothing else on the road before those signs. I guess that means it's a town road for 100-150 feet and then it magically becomes someones driveway.
I had two choices at that point. One was to go onto this persons property and turn around and I figured I shouldn't do that since there was not one but two signs warning me to stay away. My other choice was to back out onto Neville Rd. The length of visibility was pretty good because the road was straight but at the same time the fact that the road was straight meant that other cars would be barrelling ass on it.
I couldn't find any events in NC, so I'm making one.
If anyone is nearby and has 8 minutes to spare, I'm going down to
the Court House (symbolic right?) in down town Chapel Hill across from
the university. I figure the most open minded part of this state has to
have some kind of event.
I've still got my sign from the November protests, and I've got some
equality NC brochures that we could pass out. I'm going even if I have
to stand alone. Its a little muggy, but I think the rain has cleared
up. If there are any other North Carolinians who want to stand with our
family & friends & allies in California, then feel free to meet
me down their at 8.
Its a work night for me, gotta be up at 5:00 am, so I can't stay
down there long, but I think we can at least muster this symbolic
gesture for our allies in California.
Hey folks. Sorry for the interlude. I've been reading your comments, but between learning how to be a parent and starting to work again, I have not had much time to go to meetings or post on OP.
I can't help but notice on our calendar that the window for candidate filing is starting to sneak up. Any thoughts about who will be running for municipal and school board offices this year?
For 37 years, the Rogers Road community in Chapel Hill has been at the center of a public debate about the impact of the Orange County Landfill, which borders the neighborhood.
An
exhibit opening June 12 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill will tell a deeper story, uncovering more than two centuries of
the community’s history.
Irving and Frances Nunn with their children in 1927Photo credit: North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The
exhibit, “We’re all Family Here: Preserving Community Heritage in the
Rogers Road Neighborhood of Chapel Hill,” will be open until Aug. 31 in
the North Carolina Collection Gallery of Wilson Library.
In a
free public program at 5:45 p.m. June 25 in the library, residents will
discuss their history. Panelists for the program, “Documenting
Neighborhood History in the Rogers Road Community of Chapel Hill,” will
include the Rev. Robert Campbell, other members of the community and
researcher Emily Eidenier. The program will follow a reception and
exhibit viewing at 5 p.m.
Weaver Street Market will change the way it rewards consumer owners. Starting at the end of June, consumer owners will receive a Patronage Dividend at the end of the year rather than a 5% discount on some products at the cash register. The co-op will also eliminate its 10% discount for senior citizens on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Like many businesses, Weaver Street Market is going through a difficult financial time; the change is expected to save the co-op $60,000 per month. “Changing from discounts to dividends, along with other changes that our staff is making, will put us back in the black,” said Dave Rizzo, Chair of the Board of Directors. The co-op is currently losing $65,000 a month primarily because sales are down 12% compared to last year in its Carrboro and Southern Village locations. The lower sales are due to the economy and increased competition.
Weaver Street Market is moving from discounts at the register to a patronage dividend system, and the Board of Directors wants your feedback and the opportunity to answer your questions. If you are unable to attend this meeting, another will be held Wednesday, June 3 at 7pm in the Big Barn in Hillsborough. Or, you can email our Board directly at board@weaverstreetmarket.coop.
Weaver Street Market is moving from discounts at the register to a
patronage dividend system, and the Board of Directors wants your
feedback and the opportunity to answer your questions. If you are
unable to attend this meeting, another will be held Sunday, May 31st
at 7pm in the Carrboro Century Center. Or, you can email our Board
directly at board@weaverstreetmarket.coop.
ON THE VERGE OF EXPANSION, THE PEOPLE’S CHANNEL CELEBRATES TEN YEARS OF COMMUNITY MEDIA
The People’s Channel marks 10 years of community media
in Chapel Hill, on the heels of starting a new operation for the Durham community.
In 1997 a small group of concerned community members formed
a non-profit organization to facilitate Public Access TV for Chapel
Hill and surrounding areas. That organization was The Peoples
Channel (TPC).The station opened its
doors in the summer of 1998, and on May 30, 2009, will celebrate the completion
of its 10th year with local bands, activities for kids and adults,
free local North Carolina Barbeque, and a dessert potluck.The celebration will take place at TPC, 300-AC
South Elliot Rd, Chapel Hill,
from 4-8pm and will also be broadcast
live on Channel 8 in Chapel Hill and OrangeCounty. This event is free and open
to the public.
For ten years, TPC has been promoting the advancement of
democratic ideals by ensuring that community members have access to electronic
media and by promoting effective communication through community uses of media.
Through TPC, area citizens have access
to a free speech forum through media production, education and distribution of
cable television programming.
Over the years, countless people have come to TPC to create
and distribute their own media.In a few
weeks, TPC is set to expand their services into neighboring Durham, North
Carolina, which up until recently had public access services operated by Time
Warner Cable. TPC’s founders, Board of Directors, local media producers, and
volunteers are proud of The Peoples Channel’s past achievements and excited
about the opportunities that lie ahead.
“I feel very blessed to have been a part of this
organization over the last five years” states Chad Johnston, Executive
Director.“We have faced many challenges
in that time, but because of the community’s support, we always seem to
prevail.”
Despite legislative changes regulating cable TV and times of
economic hardships, TPC has continued to grow.The 10 year celebration is a time for the community to reflect on the
importance of having a space in the media for the community to speak to
itself.In times of greater media
consolidation over the last decade, TPC has represented an electronic green
space safe from commercial interests.The event is also a time to celebrate the community which has made this space
so vibrant and an integral part of the culture of Chapel Hill,
and soon, Durham.
Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Meet & Greet! Spanky's Restaurant
Thursday June, 4
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Join the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership in
welcoming our new Executive Director, Jim Norton to Downtown Chapel
Hill! There will be a brief introduction followed by a time to meet Jim
and mingle with other members of the community. There will be light
hors d'oeuvres and refreshments along with a cash bar. Spanky's is
located at 101 East Franklin Street. For more information please
contact the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership at 967-9440 or
partnership@downtownchapelhill.com.
I usually try to discourage wholesale posting of press releases - as I'm about to do - but this just sounds like a great idea and I don't have anything to add to it.
Orange County’s Partnership to End Homelessness would like to invite the public to participate in a “Community Read” of the book The Soloist by Steve Lopez. The event is the first in a series of community education activities that will explore the issues of homelessness.
Bring something to share- Take something you need.
Carrboro's Really Really Free Market
Saturday, June 6, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
Carrboro Town Commons
301 West Main Street, Carrboro, NC
First Saturday of every month
Bring something to share--take something you need!
Everyone is welcome at this monthly event at which people share goods, services, skills, performances, stories, crafts, food, games, music, clothing, furniture, plants, and other resources.
In a time of recession and economic crisis, events such as this one are especially important, as they demonstrate how communities can maintain themselves even when the capitalist system fails them. If you are unemployed, facing foreclosure, or struggling with debt, or if you care about others who may be facing these challenges, come participate in building this community infrastructure! We can all prosper with or without the economy, if we base our lives and interactions on cooperation rather than competition.
Better than a yard sale, the Really Really Free Market has no price tags: there is no buying, selling, or exchanging involved. At this market, everything is strictly free. This event is a celebration of the cooperation and gift-giving that make life possible beyond the constraints of market capitalism: it is an afternoon when social status has nothing to do with what you own, and when giving and receiving happen directly rather than being administered through an institution or organization. As at other Really Really Free Markets across the U.S. and around the world, we aim to create and participate in a world in which resources are held in common, the community meets the needs of the community, and "free" means just that: really, really free.
Nothing is required for participation, but think creatively about the skills you have and could teach, the useful or beautiful things you have and don't need, or the resources you might be able to bring and share.
Because there's enough for everyone Because sharing is more fulfilling than owning Because corporations would rather the landfills overflow than anyone get anything for free Because a beautiful day outside together is better than anything money could buy Because "free trade" is a contradiction in terms Because no one should go without food, shelter, entertainment, and community Because life should be a picnic, but it's up to us to make it one BECAUSE THERE IS TOO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH
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