01 December 2007
02 November 2007
17 October 2007
Surface Navigation Help for Subway Riders - New York Times
There are a lot of places on twisty Chapel Hill streets where this would help as well!
04 October 2007
25 September 2007
Harry BELAFONTE
It seems strange to me that none of the local papers seems to have covered Harry BELAFONTE's talk last night at Memorial Hall. It was a unique opportunity to hear from a man who has so much to share with all of us. Apart from his message, what really struck me was how much better the color of the audience looked to me than most events I attend around Chapel Hill, Memorial Hall included. Why can't we work harder to achieve that level of diversity all of the time? We are all the richer for it when we do.
Related to this is the question of whether the Frey visiting lecturers, like BELAFONTE, are programmed to do all that they might while in Chapel Hill. BELAFONTE shared much last night and was said to have met with some students over dinner prior to the 7 PM event (drawing the largest group ever for a Frey Foundation visitor). What more did he do? What more might he have done? Oddly, there does not appear to be any easily-findable mention of the grant to UNC for this program on the Frey Foundation website.
Related to this is the question of whether the Frey visiting lecturers, like BELAFONTE, are programmed to do all that they might while in Chapel Hill. BELAFONTE shared much last night and was said to have met with some students over dinner prior to the 7 PM event (drawing the largest group ever for a Frey Foundation visitor). What more did he do? What more might he have done? Oddly, there does not appear to be any easily-findable mention of the grant to UNC for this program on the Frey Foundation website.
21 September 2007
Lacock's is oldest continuous operately business in Chapel Hill
I learned today - in the shop - that Lacock's Shoe Repair, more or less next to Whole Foods, is the oldest business in Chapel Hill. Mr. LACOCK started in 1916 and the family has been running it ever since, or so it appears from what they have hanging in the always-friendly shop.
15 September 2007
Historic tobacco?
I sure am glad that Chapel Hill and environs do not have to suffer with a center called historic tobacco, as does Durham. Why do they want to retain that word and why does WUNC feel obliged to repeat it every time they promote something at their studio there? We don't want to forget the history of tobacco in Durham and all the pain and deaths it has caused, but surely we don't have to celebrate it by naming buildings or districts after the death-causing weed, do we?
13 September 2007
Average spending per resident
I wonder what the average allocatable government /tax spending is per person in this area, and how does it vary within the area? In other words, we all benefit from a certain number of government expenditures and so those - like road maintenance - should simply get divided among jurisdiction populations. Other expenditures, such as support for the senior center or for schools, can be allocated more finely. In the end, we should be able to know what amount of money and for what purposes gets spent for each of us depending on who we are. Again, for example, this might be a 70 year old resident, a 12 year old, a single mother or father with x kids, etc. Even students might be a category. Good exercise? Already done?
More generally, we might have an idea on average spending for residents 18 or younger v. 60 or older...or whatever age breakdowns make sense and also divided according to jurisdiction.
More generally, we might have an idea on average spending for residents 18 or younger v. 60 or older...or whatever age breakdowns make sense and also divided according to jurisdiction.
Smart cars....
I have not bought a new car in many years. That said, I have driven many new cars as rentals - primarily in France and a few here in the US. One of my favorite cars in France is the Smart car, made by Mercedes.
Today, I was able to drive one for the first time in NC. Smart had several cars at Streets of Southpoint today (and will have them there tomorrow, too).
The model that will be sold here is very impressive. They are predicting an average of 40 MPG, less than what I think has been the case in France, but I need to check on that. How does that compare to other cars now on the US market starting at 12,000?
I have reserved one for purchase in the spring ... refundable deposit of $99.
None of the insurance companies have yet said how they will look upon this little fellow, and I plan to talk with my insurance company before making a final commitment.
The car here has an dual automatic and manual system, with the latter clutchless.
The convertible model is very tempting....metallic blue with silver or black (still reflecting on this) "wings" if you are familiar with the design of the car.
Today, I was able to drive one for the first time in NC. Smart had several cars at Streets of Southpoint today (and will have them there tomorrow, too).
The model that will be sold here is very impressive. They are predicting an average of 40 MPG, less than what I think has been the case in France, but I need to check on that. How does that compare to other cars now on the US market starting at 12,000?
I have reserved one for purchase in the spring ... refundable deposit of $99.
None of the insurance companies have yet said how they will look upon this little fellow, and I plan to talk with my insurance company before making a final commitment.
The car here has an dual automatic and manual system, with the latter clutchless.
The convertible model is very tempting....metallic blue with silver or black (still reflecting on this) "wings" if you are familiar with the design of the car.
15-501 traffic light timing
It strikes me that a large part of the problem on 15-501 is the timing of the traffic lights. There have been huge advancements in this technology and I wonder if we are seeing the full deployment of those improved systems here?
Cool Cities - North Carolina
Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough or on this list. What happened to Pittsboro?
A chance to learn from a very smart person.....
I attended a Kenan-Flagler event last night, free to anyone who chose to attend.
It is a wonderful example of the kind of local resources we have in this are, most of which go overlooked or at least missed by most people.
Peter BREWS, a professor at Kenan-Flagler, talked about megatrends in business. Even for someone who has followed these issues fairly closely, this was an eye-opener.
Some notes that I took.....
Only 25% of the global population today - 6 billion or so - is really "in" the global marketplace as we know it. That leaves 75% en route.
1970 is the dividing point in terms of global production -- the amount of "stuff" that we have produced since 1970 is equal to the total amount produced in all time prior to 1970. That really got my attention!
To bring those "in" and "out" into perspective, the world's two largest countries - India and China - have 800-900 million each trying to get "in". Only about 25% of each country has so far joined the rest of the world in this marketplace. The oppportunities, and of course the risks, are immense.
BREWS highly recommended we all read the Stern Review on global warming. You can access it here.
The mantra for succeeding today is very much to do it better, faster, cheaper, different and - he emphasized many times - cleaner.
For example, he thinks that companies around the world will be tracking the footprints of their employees as they grossly add to global warming every time they get on an airplane.
BREWS talked about the evolution in most countries from being supply seeking to becoming market seeking.
There is an ongoing re-pricing of the value of work underway everywhere whether we realize it or not.
It is far better - essential - to innovate faster than simply to replicate.
His pie chart of the world includes the globalizers, the anti-globalists, and the hopeful majority. It's a fascinating analysis that makes huge sense.
Inevitably over the next 10 years, we will see our share of consumption of global resources reduce dramatically to what may be our 400 million population's proportional share of a globe with 8 billion people.
Two highly important trends in the US are its browning and its graying.
Today, he believes, some 35% of the US work force is in the "creative class".
Future trends are toward companies that are less hierarchical, more focused and more networked.
In his review of the Stern Review, he noted - with special connections to NC - that 24% of greenhouse gases are coming from power companies, with 18% from land uses with 14% each for industry and agrriculture.
Before concluding, he turned to a Grant Thornton survey done with Business Week, released 5 July 2007 [I could not find a link to this....]
510 CEOS were surveryed. They came back saying that the environment - in several different ways - was going to be far more important to them in their companies than most would have thought. This has grown dramatically in the past year, BREWS says. There is a dramatic change in mindset underway.
We risk, he fears, that we are seeing a global market failure in global warming. It will take a strong measure of government action in order to deal with this. We will see this increase on a more global level in coming months and years.
The good news in all of this is that the market opportunity ahead is almost as big as the cost.
We - in the US especially - must innovate more in a less destructive way. The Europeans and Japanese are ahead of us already.
Some of the trends he sees as he expressed optimisim about the US ability to become a world in leader in less polluting technology that we and the whole world increasingly need. This is where people who have been in the furniture business in the US ought to re-orient themselves.
Some of those trends....
+ global warming will drive up costs
+ there will be a boom in clean energy
+ consumption models will change
+ US consumption will reduce
+ there will be less global inequality
+ by 2050, the US will still be outdoing most of the rest of the world in productivity, but the gap will have narrowed
There is a need for us in the US to downsize and we will. 25% smaller cars. 25% smaller houses. Etc.
What a fascinating tour du monde this was. It makes me feel very lucky to be here in Chapel Hill and able to hear this presentation. Thousands more ought to have been there......
It is a wonderful example of the kind of local resources we have in this are, most of which go overlooked or at least missed by most people.
Peter BREWS, a professor at Kenan-Flagler, talked about megatrends in business. Even for someone who has followed these issues fairly closely, this was an eye-opener.
Some notes that I took.....
Only 25% of the global population today - 6 billion or so - is really "in" the global marketplace as we know it. That leaves 75% en route.
1970 is the dividing point in terms of global production -- the amount of "stuff" that we have produced since 1970 is equal to the total amount produced in all time prior to 1970. That really got my attention!
To bring those "in" and "out" into perspective, the world's two largest countries - India and China - have 800-900 million each trying to get "in". Only about 25% of each country has so far joined the rest of the world in this marketplace. The oppportunities, and of course the risks, are immense.
BREWS highly recommended we all read the Stern Review on global warming. You can access it here.
The mantra for succeeding today is very much to do it better, faster, cheaper, different and - he emphasized many times - cleaner.
For example, he thinks that companies around the world will be tracking the footprints of their employees as they grossly add to global warming every time they get on an airplane.
BREWS talked about the evolution in most countries from being supply seeking to becoming market seeking.
There is an ongoing re-pricing of the value of work underway everywhere whether we realize it or not.
It is far better - essential - to innovate faster than simply to replicate.
His pie chart of the world includes the globalizers, the anti-globalists, and the hopeful majority. It's a fascinating analysis that makes huge sense.
Inevitably over the next 10 years, we will see our share of consumption of global resources reduce dramatically to what may be our 400 million population's proportional share of a globe with 8 billion people.
Two highly important trends in the US are its browning and its graying.
Today, he believes, some 35% of the US work force is in the "creative class".
Future trends are toward companies that are less hierarchical, more focused and more networked.
In his review of the Stern Review, he noted - with special connections to NC - that 24% of greenhouse gases are coming from power companies, with 18% from land uses with 14% each for industry and agrriculture.
Before concluding, he turned to a Grant Thornton survey done with Business Week, released 5 July 2007 [I could not find a link to this....]
510 CEOS were surveryed. They came back saying that the environment - in several different ways - was going to be far more important to them in their companies than most would have thought. This has grown dramatically in the past year, BREWS says. There is a dramatic change in mindset underway.
We risk, he fears, that we are seeing a global market failure in global warming. It will take a strong measure of government action in order to deal with this. We will see this increase on a more global level in coming months and years.
The good news in all of this is that the market opportunity ahead is almost as big as the cost.
We - in the US especially - must innovate more in a less destructive way. The Europeans and Japanese are ahead of us already.
Some of the trends he sees as he expressed optimisim about the US ability to become a world in leader in less polluting technology that we and the whole world increasingly need. This is where people who have been in the furniture business in the US ought to re-orient themselves.
Some of those trends....
+ global warming will drive up costs
+ there will be a boom in clean energy
+ consumption models will change
+ US consumption will reduce
+ there will be less global inequality
+ by 2050, the US will still be outdoing most of the rest of the world in productivity, but the gap will have narrowed
There is a need for us in the US to downsize and we will. 25% smaller cars. 25% smaller houses. Etc.
What a fascinating tour du monde this was. It makes me feel very lucky to be here in Chapel Hill and able to hear this presentation. Thousands more ought to have been there......
12 September 2007
Chapel Hill military deaths in Iraq
Three military men from Chapel Hill have died in Iraq since the war began.
Town of Chapel Hill Official Website - Morgan Creek Preserve Dedication
It would be great to see a map that shows, even provisionally how a pedestrian will be able to walk through the Morgan Creek Preserver, Merritt Pasture, Southern Village and the new Southern Community Park (now under construction). In addition, the route from there to UNC and downtown Chapel Hill - difficult at best - ought also to be highlighted including notations as to when it, too, will be improved. In addition, it would be nice to see the plans for how one walks east, west, and south from this network as well - today, with great danger and difficulty, tomorrow?
Development Briefing for Orange County
I attended the "development briefing" for Orange County last Monday.
Here are just a few notes that I jotted down, very much from the perspective of someone living in Southern Village.
The upcoming "parade" of homes reflects where the real estate action is. I think over 50 each in Durham and Chatham counties and only 19 in Orange.
I had not realized there were so many businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The Chamber of Commerce boasts 930 members.
There is Carrboro website that gives the status of all pending projects.
Chapel Hill's focus will be on transit-oriented development and increasingly on redevelopment. They want to reduce the number of cars driving about with only one person in them (I am reminded of this when I see all the SUVs lined up to leave the Catholic Church school on 15-501 after mother or father drops off student(s). Promote the buses, but I asked myself what it would have taken for me to take the bus to the Friday Center for the event. There is even a direct line from Southern Village but as bad as traffic was, it still would have taken longer and been overall less convenient. Somehow, we have to make that more appealing, I thought.
Carolina North was not presented by anyone which probably says a lot about how it "fits" into the region. It will be one million sqaure feet in the first 50 years and covers 1,000 acres. Area concern is very much on how many and what kind of "trips" per day it will generate for the people who work there.
Chapel Hill builds NO roads itself and relies on developers and then on the state DOT for the major roads.
Unhappily, sidewalks were barely mentioned.
It was encouraging to hear talk of how the rail lines in Orange County might get some use for transportation, possibly in conjunction with Carolina North.
There wer good maps shown, but largely balkanized. It sure would be great for us all to be able to generate maps that start where we want to start in looking around us. That might be home. Might be work. Might be shopping. Then "map" out what we want in connecting those dots or just being in any one of them.
It also occurred to me as I thought about that .... that each of us looking at where we spend our money in the course of a year between local businesses and those located a drive or a website away might be a worthwhile exercise. What assumptions do we all make about who shops where?
I wonder, too, if there are many ongoing studies of where people go when they park around the area. What are those patterns and how does it relate to the extent that local businesses and services get patronized. That could be downtown or UNC parkers or park and ride lots or parking for any commercial enterprise.
What is the status of the once-rumored development down 15-501 toward Cole Park Plaza where Smith Level Road intersects. That's the one where there was some talk of a Walmart. What's the plan now? I had heard it might be a new Lowes Home Improvement among other ideas.
There was a good question from Kathy IRWIN of Chapel Hill Magazine asking about the tax base and where development was headed to produce alternatives to homeowners to pay the cost of government in Orange County. The response included some of the rough figures on residential/commercial breakdowns - 86/14 for Carrboro, I think, and 60/40 for Durham. There is a plan to do another development briefing just on commercial development, Aaron NELSON said. The future of commercial office space in the area is certainly worth further analysis.
Chatham was barely mentioned except to note that there were 20,000 new units approved there either last year or are pending construction. That dwarfs Orange considerably.
My final note were some numbers from Aaron NELSON again. 40% of the people who work in Orange County drive here from outside the county and 40% of the people who live in Orange County drive to another county to work.
Here are just a few notes that I jotted down, very much from the perspective of someone living in Southern Village.
The upcoming "parade" of homes reflects where the real estate action is. I think over 50 each in Durham and Chatham counties and only 19 in Orange.
I had not realized there were so many businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The Chamber of Commerce boasts 930 members.
There is Carrboro website that gives the status of all pending projects.
Chapel Hill's focus will be on transit-oriented development and increasingly on redevelopment. They want to reduce the number of cars driving about with only one person in them (I am reminded of this when I see all the SUVs lined up to leave the Catholic Church school on 15-501 after mother or father drops off student(s). Promote the buses, but I asked myself what it would have taken for me to take the bus to the Friday Center for the event. There is even a direct line from Southern Village but as bad as traffic was, it still would have taken longer and been overall less convenient. Somehow, we have to make that more appealing, I thought.
Carolina North was not presented by anyone which probably says a lot about how it "fits" into the region. It will be one million sqaure feet in the first 50 years and covers 1,000 acres. Area concern is very much on how many and what kind of "trips" per day it will generate for the people who work there.
Chapel Hill builds NO roads itself and relies on developers and then on the state DOT for the major roads.
Unhappily, sidewalks were barely mentioned.
It was encouraging to hear talk of how the rail lines in Orange County might get some use for transportation, possibly in conjunction with Carolina North.
There wer good maps shown, but largely balkanized. It sure would be great for us all to be able to generate maps that start where we want to start in looking around us. That might be home. Might be work. Might be shopping. Then "map" out what we want in connecting those dots or just being in any one of them.
It also occurred to me as I thought about that .... that each of us looking at where we spend our money in the course of a year between local businesses and those located a drive or a website away might be a worthwhile exercise. What assumptions do we all make about who shops where?
I wonder, too, if there are many ongoing studies of where people go when they park around the area. What are those patterns and how does it relate to the extent that local businesses and services get patronized. That could be downtown or UNC parkers or park and ride lots or parking for any commercial enterprise.
What is the status of the once-rumored development down 15-501 toward Cole Park Plaza where Smith Level Road intersects. That's the one where there was some talk of a Walmart. What's the plan now? I had heard it might be a new Lowes Home Improvement among other ideas.
There was a good question from Kathy IRWIN of Chapel Hill Magazine asking about the tax base and where development was headed to produce alternatives to homeowners to pay the cost of government in Orange County. The response included some of the rough figures on residential/commercial breakdowns - 86/14 for Carrboro, I think, and 60/40 for Durham. There is a plan to do another development briefing just on commercial development, Aaron NELSON said. The future of commercial office space in the area is certainly worth further analysis.
Chatham was barely mentioned except to note that there were 20,000 new units approved there either last year or are pending construction. That dwarfs Orange considerably.
My final note were some numbers from Aaron NELSON again. 40% of the people who work in Orange County drive here from outside the county and 40% of the people who live in Orange County drive to another county to work.
11 September 2007
Car alternatives when going to UNC events
For those of us who only visit UNC on occasion, what is the full range of options for minimizing the use of a car to get there? Has anyone put this together? Other than walking and a bus, are there other options? Is there a guide anywher on how we can all "use" UNC in a more environmentally friendly way? Ditto for downtown Chapel Hill? And for Carrboro, Hillsborough and Pittsboro as well.....
08 September 2007
03 September 2007
"Don't hit Wi-Fi delete key" - San Francisco Chronicle
What does Chapel Hill have to learn from this?
29 August 2007
"Les abeilles malades de l'homme"
This is a troubling article from Le Monde in France that talks about the challenge to bee populations in France and here in the US. It's a serious issue, as we have read several times in recent months. The question for Chapelboro is "what are we doing to make sure we are the good news answer to that problem?" In other words, how many bees do we have, and what are we doing to encourage more? As the Le Monde story points out, there is a great danger in all of us becoming "insectophobes"! [Just found that there are beekeeper associations in both Chatham and Orange counties. See this story on an event they helped organize earlier in the summer.]
For those interested in how issues important to us are playing out in other places, especially France, here is a link to a list of all of the food issues that have arisen recently in several European countries stemming from imports from China. While the list appears in l"Expansion, the French business-oriented magazine, there is a broad review in Le Monde today as well.
For those interested in how issues important to us are playing out in other places, especially France, here is a link to a list of all of the food issues that have arisen recently in several European countries stemming from imports from China. While the list appears in l"Expansion, the French business-oriented magazine, there is a broad review in Le Monde today as well.
"The Black Swamp Bootleggers Bluegrass Band"
Here's the site for the group - a local Chapel Hill band - performing this Friday at "Fridays on the Porch" at the Carolina Inn. Has anyone heard them perform?
"Wildflowers Find Favor With Highway Gardeners" - The New York Times
This is a great story from Felicity BARRINGER at The New York Times. Mentioned in the story is Derek SMITH, an environmental engineer here in North Carolina with the state department of transportation. I have contacted him by e-mail to ask for more information about how we can bring more wild flowers to the roads we travel in Greater Chapel Hill....from among Carrboro, Hillsborough and Pittsboro. When I hear from him, I will add more. (You'll find his name and others listed on this page.)
28 August 2007
"Big Decline in U.S. Poverty Rate"- The New York Times
Now, let's bring that down to CHCHP......coming.
"SAT scores down in Triangle" - Triangle Business Journal
Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools drop 4 points, but remain at the top of the North Carolina list.
"Pittsboro Place gets a partial OK" - News & Observer
This potential new development deserves a lot of attention. It may determine just how busy 15-501 becomes and, more important for Pittsboro, define the character of that town for decades to come.
27 August 2007
WCOM ENews
The Carrboro radio station is a great gift to the community, and it behooves all of us to be more engaged as listeners, contributors and commenters!
North Carolina needs to go on a very big diet starting now!
These figures were released today. North Carolina kids 10-17 are the 5th most overweight of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. That age group is fatter only in DC, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Among adults, wer rank as the 17th fattest state in the country. It takes a village to solve this problem; start with the next overweight person you meet and ask how you can help him or her lose weight. Everybody wins when you succeed, everybody.
Stations — The Story from American Public Media
This shows and lists the stations that broadcast "The Story" with Dick GORDON, produced in Chapel Hill in partnership with WUNC, and distributed by American Public Media. It's carried at 1 PM M-F on WUNC.
Le Monde.fr : Michèle Alliot-Marie demande que soient interdits certains croisements de chiens
France is imposing new restrictions on the ownership and cross-breeding of "dangerous" dogs. What are the laws/rules in CHCHP?
25 August 2007
23 August 2007
22 August 2007
O.J. Simpson book will not be stocked by Barnes & Noble
It's nice that we have these two bookstores and each can make its own decision about what to carry, and we all get to make a decision there, as well as on the web, as to what to buy, or not buy.
21 August 2007
Value of CHCHP websites
We have lots and lots of websites tied to local people, places, businesses, organizations, institutions and governments. That's just the websites tied to our geography. Beyond lie all the big ones that some use a little, a lot or not at all.
But what is it that we actually use the local ones to do? Which are the most valuable? Which provide real help? The information we are seeking?
In other words, it's one thing to say my shop or organization has a website, and quite another thing to say that I went to x's website and could not even get the thing to load! How do we all help one another make these services work even better so that as many people as possible "win" in the process? I have some ideas. If anyone has some you'd like to share, please do so here if you are so inclined.
But what is it that we actually use the local ones to do? Which are the most valuable? Which provide real help? The information we are seeking?
In other words, it's one thing to say my shop or organization has a website, and quite another thing to say that I went to x's website and could not even get the thing to load! How do we all help one another make these services work even better so that as many people as possible "win" in the process? I have some ideas. If anyone has some you'd like to share, please do so here if you are so inclined.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (free registration required)
How UNC fared in the Princeton Review survey.
Best College Newspaper: The New 2008 "Best 366 Colleges" Rankings on The Princeton Review
Congratulations to the Daily Tar Heel!
20 August 2007
Jazz Vocalist Susan Reeves: Dynamic, Bluesy, Soulful, Classy, Scintillating swing.
This was a superb evening on the Green at Southern Village last night. Anyone else attend who wants to offer their opinion. You can listen to her radio show tonight, and every Monday night, here.
"ECU adds text alerts" - The Daily Reflector
How do we in CHCHP get news like this? It really is a hodge-podge at this point, isn't it? When and where were the last times you learned of a significant emergency situation in the CHCHP region? I will try to develop a longer article on this, perhaps for Chapel Hill Magazine!
19 August 2007
UNC News release -- North Carolina Public Radio/WUNC-FM reaches capital campaign goal early
It sure would be nice to know who gave the bulk of this money. We North Carolina citizens own this station and this should be public information.
"OWASA may declare water advisory" - chapelhillnews.com
Possible further Orange County water restrictions will be discussed on Thursday.
18 August 2007
V Route, Weekday Schedule | Chapel Hill Transit
For those who use the V route from or to Southern Village, the bus will not make as many twists and turns on the UNC campus starting on Monday.
False fire alarms in CHCHP
Yesterday, I waited outside 300 Market Street in Southern Village while Chapel Hill firemen waited for someone to come with a key to a storage room in which, it seems, fire alarm controls were located. I learned form the firemen that they had been responding to false alarms from this building many times.
I asked if there were other places in Chapel Hill with the same chronic problem. They said no. For UNC, they have an agreement that if they get a second false alarm from any spot on campus, a fire safety person from UNC must join them to resolve the difficulty. There are no fines on building owners for multiple false alarms. This information - the sending of false alarms - is all public information and it would make a good story to look at which businesses - and possibly some individuals - in all of the CHCHP jurisdictions are wasting the time of our firefighters.
I asked if there were other places in Chapel Hill with the same chronic problem. They said no. For UNC, they have an agreement that if they get a second false alarm from any spot on campus, a fire safety person from UNC must join them to resolve the difficulty. There are no fines on building owners for multiple false alarms. This information - the sending of false alarms - is all public information and it would make a good story to look at which businesses - and possibly some individuals - in all of the CHCHP jurisdictions are wasting the time of our firefighters.
Music events
What's the best way to find all the music events in CHCHP? I have come to rely on the e-mail calendar to which I subscribe from Backporch Music at WUNC. Are there others that are better? The negative of the WUNC calendar is that it is not accessible online if you do not have the e-mail.
Movie searches
This is the movie search that we use - from the News & Observer. The New York Times offers another that seems to be equally up-to-date. Are there any others that are better? For CHCHP, Chapel Hill is the only town with movie theaters....so far.
General Store Cafe Dinner Menu M-W
I've never seen an automatic gratuity of 18% added to split checks. Yes, it's a little extra work, but I sure would not want to agree to give that much of a tip before I'm served and see if the service is worth that tip, more, or less. It says here, too, that you have to announce when seated that you will want a split check; perhaps that is for those people who ordered many different things and then ask the server to sort it all at the end by who had what. I never do that; when we split a check, we just tell the server to divide it down the middle, in thirds, or whatever applies.
17 August 2007
How good are CHCHP schools today?
In learning more about the No Child Left Behind debate, it occurs to me that there ought to be some ways in which to evaluate how all of our CHCHP schools are performing, both public and private. Any ideas? Perhaps - as a non-parent - I'll start by what I can learn about the ways in which Scroggs Elementary School winds up getting evaluated, and perhaps the same for the pre-school here in Southern Village.
OWASA - Supply and Demand Graphs
If you are curious about our water supply in parts of CHCHP (Orange County served by OWASA), there are some fairly intuitive charts and graphs on this page that help explain where we are. "Why" we seem to be doing so well when the rest of the state is in such a drought condition, however, is not explained. We, too, have gotten no rain - yet - but the reservoir levels are at what seem to me to be comfortably-high levels. Here is more information about the greater Triangle area, but it does not include Pittsboro. Here is more on the situation in Chatham.
15 August 2007
Collecting restaurant reviews
There are so many different places where one might find, online, a review of a local restaurant. As blogs like this one explode, the number of those places is only going to increase, along with the volumne of such commentary. Wouldn't it be valuable to be able to go to a near-single place in order to see as many of these reviews as could be assembled, possibly with a little summary?
Imagine "reviews" like this one or a more traditional one - both for Bonne Soiree - being assembled in an easy-to-access format..... (Bonne Soiree, I learned last night from one of the owners, does not have a website and does not plan to have one.)
Imagine "reviews" like this one or a more traditional one - both for Bonne Soiree - being assembled in an easy-to-access format..... (Bonne Soiree, I learned last night from one of the owners, does not have a website and does not plan to have one.)
Costco olive oil
While I am trying to limit notes here to stores in the CHCHP area, there are some that some of us use that are short drives away. Since we are trying to help people who live here, it makes sense to include some number of those when they are the closest store in a chain.
In this case, the store is Costco.
With the stir created recently over the suspect origin of Italian olive oil, I decided to test how easy it would be to check on whether Costco was really on top of this. For the 2 liter bottles that we buy there, I asked them to tell me how they verified the claim on the bottle that all oilves came from Italy. A very helpful woman by the name of Tammy said she would get an answer within 24 hours. She got back to me within 20 saying she could have called earlier but did not want to wake me up! The answer was reassuring. She said that Costco sends its own people "into the fields" to inspect, and then follows through with the manufacturing process as well.
I have always like Costco, and now I like them even more for being so responsive and reassuring about their product.
In this case, the store is Costco.
With the stir created recently over the suspect origin of Italian olive oil, I decided to test how easy it would be to check on whether Costco was really on top of this. For the 2 liter bottles that we buy there, I asked them to tell me how they verified the claim on the bottle that all oilves came from Italy. A very helpful woman by the name of Tammy said she would get an answer within 24 hours. She got back to me within 20 saying she could have called earlier but did not want to wake me up! The answer was reassuring. She said that Costco sends its own people "into the fields" to inspect, and then follows through with the manufacturing process as well.
I have always like Costco, and now I like them even more for being so responsive and reassuring about their product.
Harris Teeter and Lowes personal shopping lists
I got an e-mail today from Harris Teeter inviting me to click and construct my own shopping list both from this week's specials and beyond. The tool works very well, and I actually might use it in the future now that I have those discount coupons to use! It does not appear, however, that you can get to it other than from the e-mail you can get for free if you have a VIC card from Harris Teeter.
Lowe's sent me the same kind of offer - to create a shopping list including specials. Unlike the Harris-Teeter offer, this one cannot be e-mailed. It also does not appear to be accessible from the main website without coming through the e-mail sent to holders of the Lowe's frequent shopping card.
Lowe's sent me the same kind of offer - to create a shopping list including specials. Unlike the Harris-Teeter offer, this one cannot be e-mailed. It also does not appear to be accessible from the main website without coming through the e-mail sent to holders of the Lowe's frequent shopping card.
"Triangle trees desperate for a drink" - newsobserver.com
The trees in our backyard, at least the younger ones, seem highly stressed to the point of looking near death.
"Town aims to clean up park, waterways" - heraldsun.com
This is in the southwest part of the town of Pittsboro. I will try to add a map.
14 August 2007
Azure Grille
Four of us had a very good meal at Azure Grille last night. We ate outside away from the sidwalk and it was a very nice evening for doing so. The wine we picked from Australia, a Penfolds Shiraz-Cabernet was excellent and very well priced under $30. The crab cakes were great as appetizers, along with two of the salads we had - one the baby greens and the other a caesar. The bread was a big disappointment; WonderBread might have been better, and the size of the dipping oil/tapenade was a joke (one of the smallest I've ever seen). Main courses and service overall were wonderful. Three of us had the risotto which was done very well indeed, as was a shrimp entree. Dessert was first class, two of us having the blueberry and peach cobbler (the blueberries overwhelmed the peaches, however) and the other two enjoying a cantaloupe sorbet and a wonderful mint chocolate chip cheesecake.
Harris Teeter
The Harris Teeter computer thinks that we have either "decreased" or "stopped " our shopping at their stores. So they sent us coupons today offering $20 total on $100 of purchases. On the one hand, the $20 is nice, but on the other, it is still a little spooky to think of how many computers are hard at work following, analyzing and now acting on personal information about us!
National Do Not Call Registry
Today, I got a call from (Credit) Card Services, Dallas, TX (214-245-0885) promoting a credit card consolidation service. Our number is on the FTC's Do Not Call list and so I filed a complaint with the FTC about this on a very easy-to-use form linked above. In the event that this firm is targeting numbers in this area, this may be a useful thing for others to do as well.
Murders in Chapel Hill?
With so much attention being given to the apparent horrific murders of young people in Newark, NJ, I wonder how many murders there have been in the CHCHP area this year? I doubt it is zero, but whatever number above that it is, perhaps we should go back and take a little more time describing those lives that were lost. Who were these people? What was it that made their lives special? What were the specific circumstances - as best known - that brought those lives to an end?
Bonne Soiree
It is surprising to find a restaurant without a website anymore. Such is apparently the case with Bonne Soiree in Chapel Hill and I will ask them when I got there tonight why they do not have one.
13 August 2007
Morning and evening outings today
This morning, I had to drop something off at a doctor's office in Chapel Hill. What was nice about that was how committed the nurse was there to dealing with the problem at hand. That could happen anywhere, but the fact that it is "remarkable" says something all by itself.
It was surprising to find that the CVS in the shopping center opposite EastGate (next to Food Lion) does not open until 9 AM. More positive was the clerk - or maybe manager - pointing out a new item at the store for kids "of all ages".....a little pocket antibacterial spray. For 1.99, it was a great deal. It's been a while since an employee in one of thos chain stores has recommended anything to me. It was a nice touch.
At Staples, there was more good news. I could not find a chair "pad" that I needed among those on display. After buying some other things, the employee went to the back, crawled on his stomach to check the label on the box, and produced exactly what I needed. He carried it to the cash register and I was on my way.
This evening, we go to the Azure Grille in Meadowmont for dinner with friends. I used the power of their website and my connection to it to print out the summer menu (nice to see something like this really kept up to date), the wine list, and the dessert list so that my wife and I can have a look before we get there. It is too bad that the page of specials was empty, and they need to provide some better tips on how to print pages; only the first page prints for me.
It was surprising to find that the CVS in the shopping center opposite EastGate (next to Food Lion) does not open until 9 AM. More positive was the clerk - or maybe manager - pointing out a new item at the store for kids "of all ages".....a little pocket antibacterial spray. For 1.99, it was a great deal. It's been a while since an employee in one of thos chain stores has recommended anything to me. It was a nice touch.
At Staples, there was more good news. I could not find a chair "pad" that I needed among those on display. After buying some other things, the employee went to the back, crawled on his stomach to check the label on the box, and produced exactly what I needed. He carried it to the cash register and I was on my way.
This evening, we go to the Azure Grille in Meadowmont for dinner with friends. I used the power of their website and my connection to it to print out the summer menu (nice to see something like this really kept up to date), the wine list, and the dessert list so that my wife and I can have a look before we get there. It is too bad that the page of specials was empty, and they need to provide some better tips on how to print pages; only the first page prints for me.
06 August 2007
Map of 2007 Orange County candidates
I can only assume that the flags on this map reflect where they live; it is not at all clear.
05 August 2007
"Dining cars bound for Carrboro" - Chapel Hill News
It looks from a distance as though they are hard at work!
National Night Out
None of the towns in CHCHP are registered here. I wonder why that is the case? There is probably more to the story..... Well, it looks like there is something, but this is the only information I found.
04 August 2007
"Reinspecting Bridges" - The New York Times
The US Department of Transportation has not included any bridges in the CHCHP region among the 450 requiring reinspection because they are similar in design to the one that collapsed in Minneapolis.
03 August 2007
02 August 2007
Farmers' Markets
We have a number of Farmer' Markets in CHCHP. How are they doing? The one on Thursday in Southern Village seems to be getting smaller. Is it viable? Are the others successful? What are the trends? What can we all do to help?
Bus routes
I wonder how often the Chapel Hill bus routes change? Wouldn't be a great add-on to their site to be able to offer general comments about new or changed routes, and specifically to comment on changes that would improve individual routes?
Sam W Hitt Medicinal Plant Gardens
I stumbled upon this garden while waiting for a bus yesterday. Every place is rapidly getting its own webpage or more! I wanted to know more about the garden and who was Sam HITT. Clearly someone was expecting I and others might be interested.....
Studio 91 wine bar?
There is a sign in their window in Meadowmont saying their wine bar is now open. Nothing here yet on their website.
American Tobacco Trail
The Trail is referred to often as being in the Triangle, which it is, but how can one WALK from Chapel Hill to the Trail? What is the shortest distance and and best route to do this? Or a bus? This News & Observer story says that the Trail will "connect the Triangle" and reports that the Trail may be finished in summer 2010.
Local at Whole Foods
Whole Foods plans to feature its local products:
"Friday, August 3rd
It's Local! a Celebration of North Carolina4:00–7:00pmStop by and sample the wonderful local produce, seafood, cheese, breads and beer, among other items which North Carolina has to offer. We will be showcasing growers and producers whose products are featured everyday, all year long in our store.
Saturday, August 11th
It's Local! a Celebration of North Carolina11:00–3:00pmStop by and sample the wonderful local produce, seafood, cheese, breads and beer, among other items which North Carolina has to offer. We will be showcasing growers and producers whose products are featured everyday, all year long in our store.
Friday, August 31st
It's Local! a Celebration of North Carolina4:00–7:00pmStop by and sample the wonderful local produce, seafood, cheese, breads and beer, among other items which North Carolina has to offer. We will be showcasing growers and producers whose products are featured everyday, all year long in our store."
"Friday, August 3rd
It's Local! a Celebration of North Carolina4:00–7:00pmStop by and sample the wonderful local produce, seafood, cheese, breads and beer, among other items which North Carolina has to offer. We will be showcasing growers and producers whose products are featured everyday, all year long in our store.
Saturday, August 11th
It's Local! a Celebration of North Carolina11:00–3:00pmStop by and sample the wonderful local produce, seafood, cheese, breads and beer, among other items which North Carolina has to offer. We will be showcasing growers and producers whose products are featured everyday, all year long in our store.
Friday, August 31st
It's Local! a Celebration of North Carolina4:00–7:00pmStop by and sample the wonderful local produce, seafood, cheese, breads and beer, among other items which North Carolina has to offer. We will be showcasing growers and producers whose products are featured everyday, all year long in our store."
01 August 2007
Great Harvest Bread Co - New Owners
This just received in a broadcast e-mail from the owners, announcing a sale of the business:
"It is with mixed emotions that Joan and I announce the sale of our Great Harvest Bakery to Martin and Rebecca McCorkle.
Most important to you is that Great Harvest in Chapel Hill will remain Great Harvest and continue to strive daily to give you the best bread in the Triangle while maintaining a high standard for community involvement.
The final closing of the sale and transfer of operations to Martin and Rebecca is scheduled for the 14th of August.
Martin and Rebecca started their training four weeks ago, but Joan and I will assist them for at least one week to ensure a smooth transition.
It’s very difficult for us, the Krueger’s, to find the words to express our gratitude for your support over the last 5 years. Like any thriving business, Great Harvest is nothing without you. We plan to continue to live in Chapel Hill for the foreseeable future. I will be looking for other employment just so Joan doesn’t have to put up with me around the house.
Other than that, our “retirement plans” are wide open."
"It is with mixed emotions that Joan and I announce the sale of our Great Harvest Bakery to Martin and Rebecca McCorkle.
Most important to you is that Great Harvest in Chapel Hill will remain Great Harvest and continue to strive daily to give you the best bread in the Triangle while maintaining a high standard for community involvement.
The final closing of the sale and transfer of operations to Martin and Rebecca is scheduled for the 14th of August.
Martin and Rebecca started their training four weeks ago, but Joan and I will assist them for at least one week to ensure a smooth transition.
It’s very difficult for us, the Krueger’s, to find the words to express our gratitude for your support over the last 5 years. Like any thriving business, Great Harvest is nothing without you. We plan to continue to live in Chapel Hill for the foreseeable future. I will be looking for other employment just so Joan doesn’t have to put up with me around the house.
Other than that, our “retirement plans” are wide open."
Fresh Market coming to Chapel Hill
Fresh Market will be replacing the Harris Teeter on Route 54, opposite Glen Lennox. If you want to see what's coming, there is one in Cary, and two in Raleigh - here and here.
31 July 2007
Best wiki use in CHCHCP?
What's the best use of Wiki technology that produces real value for the people of this area?
Finding shops and services
There are many online options open to us when trying to find a shop, a restaurant, another business or service in CHCHP. What are some of the best? This one from the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership is particularly good. What are the best for the rest of the area? How well do they work? Is this the best one for Hillsborough?
Connecting CHCHP......
How good a job are we doing in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Pittsboro (CHCHP) at connecting ourselves to all that the web and e-mai can do? How good a job are we doing of connecting ourselves to one another, especially our friends and neighbors, our governments, our schools, and our businesses and services? We will try to report periodically on how this seems to be changing......
The area's best websites?
Who has done somethng really special - specifically - with their website that should put it among the area's very best?
The best online maps of CHCHP?
Who has used some combination of technology and design to come up with the best and most valuale online maps relating to CHCHP?
Best blogs of Chapel Hill?
What are the best blogs that relate in some way to Chapel Hill - other than those simply done by people who live here (we can list them separately!)? Who is putting the blog technology to use to help CHCHP (Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Pittsboro) be a better place to live?
Whole Foods selling local food
Whole Foods has a sign out front saying that they are selling many food items that they buy locally. Wouldn't it be nice to see on a map what and where these are?
Age pays!
For those moving beyond the 50 mark, there are a number of ways in which local merchants are rewarding all those years. Kohl's offers a 15% discount, at least from time to time, to those 62 or over. The Lumina theater in Southern Village offers a lower ticket price for those 60 or over. The first day of every month is Senior Day at Belk but I think this applies only to the 65 or over crowd. I'll try to add more in this post and some links for details.
Trader Joe's
Lots of activity at the old Southern Season/new Trader Joe's site. Surely, we can find some details of what they are doing, what they are planning, and how the timetable is evolving. I think the expected opening is to be before Christmas? So far, there is nothing on the Trader Joe's site about "coming soon" to Chapel Hill.
06 July 2007
20 June 2007
18 June 2007
Chapel Hill and Mont Boron - Part I - Recycling
Mont Boron, France - I just made a note to myself to remember to put out the recycling on Wednesday. If I were back in Chapel Hill, I'd be doing the same, but where we live, a reminder to put out the blue boxes on Tuesday.
Here on Mont Boron, a hill that makes up the southeastern corner of the city of Nice, we are big on recycling, except for "mixed paper" as we call it in Chapel Hill. The newspapers and magazines here go into a conainer that's a five minute walk from our front door. Ditto with glass of all kinds.
The rest - and I mean virtually everything that won't "spoil" (excluding mixed paper....something I am seeking to clarify, but also including cardboard, plastic bags, etc.) - goes into a city-provided rolling cart with a smart yellow lid. Once a week, they come by in the late evening and empty those containers up and down the street. We put it out early evening and bring it in the next morning.
And, just as in Chapel Hill, everything we can possibly compost goes into the composter.
What's still surprising to me is that now that we have far less "all other" garbage than goes into our yellow-topped cart, another truck still passes our house 5 nights a week to collect any garbage that we put out.
But that's just our experience and what I see and hear from our French neighbors.
Another day it would be even more interesting to see how we compare overall in how much garbage we are producing here on Mt Boron and back in Chapel Hill and what the recycling trends are.
Here on Mont Boron, a hill that makes up the southeastern corner of the city of Nice, we are big on recycling, except for "mixed paper" as we call it in Chapel Hill. The newspapers and magazines here go into a conainer that's a five minute walk from our front door. Ditto with glass of all kinds.
The rest - and I mean virtually everything that won't "spoil" (excluding mixed paper....something I am seeking to clarify, but also including cardboard, plastic bags, etc.) - goes into a city-provided rolling cart with a smart yellow lid. Once a week, they come by in the late evening and empty those containers up and down the street. We put it out early evening and bring it in the next morning.
And, just as in Chapel Hill, everything we can possibly compost goes into the composter.
What's still surprising to me is that now that we have far less "all other" garbage than goes into our yellow-topped cart, another truck still passes our house 5 nights a week to collect any garbage that we put out.
But that's just our experience and what I see and hear from our French neighbors.
Another day it would be even more interesting to see how we compare overall in how much garbage we are producing here on Mt Boron and back in Chapel Hill and what the recycling trends are.
17 June 2007
16 June 2007
Following Chapel Hill news from out of town.....
Local news that interests us, individually, does not cease to be of interest even though we may be out of town. It's a little like the tree falling in the forest and does it make a sound if no one is listening? Well, news happens whether we are in Chapel Hill and neigboring communities or not.
Each of us probably has come up with our own way of doing this, and I hope to expand my experience to include those of others.
Even when I am in Chapel Hill, I find it a challenge to follow the local news of interest to me. I read newspapers, visit websites, subscribe to e-mail and try to keep my ears open. Even with all that, I miss a lot sometimes briefly and sometimes forever.
When I am out of town, my choices are considerably reduced and I am reliant on someone contacting me by one communications tool or another to tell me some news and the internet - both for those e-mail subscriptions and for websites.
Studies show over and over again that most of us are most interested in the news closest to us geographically. (Sure, big news from elsewhere in the US and around the world can catapault into a position of great importance, but day in, day out, it is the local stuff that touches us in some way that always seems to be the most important to most people.
I live in Southern Village. How do I follow any news relating to Southern Village, downtown Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, the three places most local to me? Each of us has our own definition of news and that will be clearer after you look at the list below; some of the sources on the list may surprise you!
There is no one solution that does the job, but here are some that I have tried and some that I continue to use. I'll start the list (not necessarily in order) now and come back and add more and some comments on each:
Each of us probably has come up with our own way of doing this, and I hope to expand my experience to include those of others.
Even when I am in Chapel Hill, I find it a challenge to follow the local news of interest to me. I read newspapers, visit websites, subscribe to e-mail and try to keep my ears open. Even with all that, I miss a lot sometimes briefly and sometimes forever.
When I am out of town, my choices are considerably reduced and I am reliant on someone contacting me by one communications tool or another to tell me some news and the internet - both for those e-mail subscriptions and for websites.
Studies show over and over again that most of us are most interested in the news closest to us geographically. (Sure, big news from elsewhere in the US and around the world can catapault into a position of great importance, but day in, day out, it is the local stuff that touches us in some way that always seems to be the most important to most people.
I live in Southern Village. How do I follow any news relating to Southern Village, downtown Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, the three places most local to me? Each of us has our own definition of news and that will be clearer after you look at the list below; some of the sources on the list may surprise you!
There is no one solution that does the job, but here are some that I have tried and some that I continue to use. I'll start the list (not necessarily in order) now and come back and add more and some comments on each:
- Chapel Hill News
- Herald-Sun
- Carrboro Citizen
- WUNC
- Chapel Hill Wine Shop
- Carolina Inn
- Acme
- The Independent
- Chapel Hill Magazine
- News & Observer (The best option on the website is to go to the Orange County section; most, if not all, of the Chapel Hill stories that appear in the N&O are accessible here.)
- Southern Neighbor
- Daily Tar Heel
- Southern Village Listserv
- Sally GREENE
- Chapel Hill Town Listserv
- A Southern Season
- Google News
- The New York Times (I have chosen "Chapel Hill" as one of the key words that triggers an e-mail link; I have rarely seen any local news via this route of intense interest to me.)
Some general comments:
- It has been a long time since I recall getting a news "alert" related to Chapel Hill that I considered to be local news important to me.
04 June 2007
03 June 2007
"Inland, more rain may not quench thirst" - News & Observer
What are the "numbers" in Chapel Hill that give us some meaningful indication of future water supply? This News & Observer story talks about likely challenges for the Triangle and notes that Orange County is asking for help from a UNC geography professor, Larry BAND. The current issue of US News and World Report carries a cover story on the water crisis here.
02 June 2007
"Southern Village may gain city flair" - News & Observer
Here's a story on the upcoming "charrette" to help developers decide what, if anything, to do with the parking area in downtown Southern Village.
"Looking to be greener" - News & Observer
This is a report of action by the Hillsborough Town Board in pursuit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7% from 1990 to 2012. Hillsborough, according to the N&O report, is one of four local governments in Orange County to subscribe to the "U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement". The other three are Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County.
01 June 2007
"Gump Joins CCJ Team as Print/Online Director" - Committee of Concerned Journalists
UNC's Journalism and Mass Communications School graduates play some valuable roles outside NC. This release reports the selection of Deborah GUMP, who received both a BA and a Ph.D. from UNC, to an important post with the Committee of Concerned Journalists in Washington, D.C.
31 May 2007
"Be careful about jumping to conclusions" - Chapel Hill Herald
This editorial in today's Chapel Hill Herald makes the most important point about the circumstances surrounding the rape charges against five Chapel Hill teenagers -- the importance of dealing with facts and not with rumors. The first fact I will attempt to include here is a link to the court record containing the specific charges made against each of the five. I have asked as well for a copy of the flyer that the Chapel Hill Police reportedly distributed to merchants on Market Street with new "rules" for teenagers. If anyone else has any facts to contribute or suggest, please feel free to do so here.
Each name is linked to the court record. The defendants are Colton SANDERS, Mario Chanquez NEVILLE, Brian Gregory MINTON (second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth (the rape charge), and seventh record), Mark Anthony HOLLAND, and Sean Lee CRAWFORD-BROWN.
And, according to LT Kevin GUNTER of the Chapel Hill Police Department, this is the text of the flyer distributed a "couple of weeks ago", he says, at the opening of the outdoor movie season. The same flyer was used last year as well, he reports.
"AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE MERCHANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF MARKET STREET IN SOUTHERN VILLAGE
We are pleased that Market Street in Southern Village has become an appealing place for shopping, dining and entertainment. We want everyone to enjoy our atmosphere and everything we offer.
Because of its popularity, Market Street has become a gathering place for teenagers. Often parents drop their kids off and return to pick them up late in the evening, thinking that Market Street is a place where they can leave their kids and not worry about what they are doing. With this becoming more common, we have had some disturbing occurrences – fights, graffiti, large groups of teens roaming the neighborhood, young teens hanging around the Lumina Theatre until almost midnight -- all when the doors to the theater and restaurants have long been locked.
Only a small number of teens have caused trouble, but we must be concerned about the safety of all who visit here.
Parents of teens should know that THERE IS NOTHING OPEN FOR PERSONS UNDER AGE 16 AFTER 9 PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. Pazzo is closed to teens at 9 pm, unless accompanied by an adult. Weaver Street Market closes at 9 pm. No one under age 16 will be allowed into a Lumina movie after 9 pm without an adult escort.
In an effort to keep Market Street a safe and welcoming place for families, adults and children, we request that you not drop your young teen(s) to “hang out” at Market Street in Southern Village after 9 p.m.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
Each name is linked to the court record. The defendants are Colton SANDERS, Mario Chanquez NEVILLE, Brian Gregory MINTON (second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth (the rape charge), and seventh record), Mark Anthony HOLLAND, and Sean Lee CRAWFORD-BROWN.
And, according to LT Kevin GUNTER of the Chapel Hill Police Department, this is the text of the flyer distributed a "couple of weeks ago", he says, at the opening of the outdoor movie season. The same flyer was used last year as well, he reports.
"AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE MERCHANTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF MARKET STREET IN SOUTHERN VILLAGE
We are pleased that Market Street in Southern Village has become an appealing place for shopping, dining and entertainment. We want everyone to enjoy our atmosphere and everything we offer.
Because of its popularity, Market Street has become a gathering place for teenagers. Often parents drop their kids off and return to pick them up late in the evening, thinking that Market Street is a place where they can leave their kids and not worry about what they are doing. With this becoming more common, we have had some disturbing occurrences – fights, graffiti, large groups of teens roaming the neighborhood, young teens hanging around the Lumina Theatre until almost midnight -- all when the doors to the theater and restaurants have long been locked.
Only a small number of teens have caused trouble, but we must be concerned about the safety of all who visit here.
Parents of teens should know that THERE IS NOTHING OPEN FOR PERSONS UNDER AGE 16 AFTER 9 PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. Pazzo is closed to teens at 9 pm, unless accompanied by an adult. Weaver Street Market closes at 9 pm. No one under age 16 will be allowed into a Lumina movie after 9 pm without an adult escort.
In an effort to keep Market Street a safe and welcoming place for families, adults and children, we request that you not drop your young teen(s) to “hang out” at Market Street in Southern Village after 9 p.m.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation."
Whole Foods interviews Carlo PERINI
Carlo PERINI, the Italian father of the Slow Food movement, made a big splash in Chapel Hill and the Triangle during his visit last week. Whole Foods recorded an interview with him and you can listen from this link.
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