Orange County looks at broadband options for rural areas

Despite state and federal efforts to expand broadband Internet access, rural Orange County faces several roadblocks.

High-speed Internet is still unavailable or unreliable in some areas of the county, which can discourage growth and make it more difficult to run existing businesses.

And although the county prepared an application for federal money from the Rural Utilities Service this year, officials could not submit it because the county could not find a broadband company willing to partner with them.
APR 15

Student business owners juggle school, running companies

Correction (March 31 1:35 a.m.): Due to a reporting error, this story stated incorrectly named the store that Evan Smith co-owns in a photo caption and several times in the article. It is called The Bead Store. The story has been changed to reflect the correction. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

She’s also a senior history major.
MAR 30

Downtown shuttle proposed as tourist attraction

In an attempt to lure tourists away from growing Wake and Durham counties, the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau has proposed a tourist shuttle for downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

But history suggests it might not be as successful it is hoped to be.
FEB 17

KlingStubbins chosen to create downtown Chapel Hill plan

In choosing a firm to study downtown Chapel Hill, the town looked mere miles down the road — to Raleigh.

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership announced Wednesday that KlingStubbins, a Philadelphia-based architecture and planning firm with an office in Raleigh, was chosen out of eight candidates to develop a master plan for downtown.
FEB 12

Town to forge new vision for downtown

Downtown Chapel Hill, long beset by worries about empty storefronts and slow development, will soon be getting a new vision.

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and the town of Chapel Hill have recommended hiring a consulting firm to help create a master plan for downtown redevelopment — which will help define how the area grows and changes in the next decade.
FEB 4

N.C. unemployment level is eighth highest in the nation

Bus driver Jeffrey Hinckley was at a computer last week, not behind the wheel.

On the screen was a list of job postings dating back to early 2009, which is when he moved to North Carolina from Wisconsin.

Despite 10 years of professional driving, he’s still looking for a job.
JAN 31

Orange County house sales show small sign of recovery

Home sales in Orange County were sluggish throughout 2009, but they’re beginning to show signs of recovery.
JAN 28

New mayor, council step in

Correction (Dec. 8 11:15 p.m.): Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly states that none of the 10 Town Council applicants have served before. Applicants Joe Capowski and Lee Pavao are former council members. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

Children’s museum expansion hopes to energize town

After years of planning, Kidzu Children’s Museum can finally move forward on a large expansion.

The Chapel Hill Town Council approved a lease for the museum to build a new site on the roof of the Wallace Parking Plaza at Rosemary and Henderson streets.
NOV 10

Fifth Town Council seat debated

Four seats on the Chapel Hill Town Council were decided in Tuesday’s election, but there’s one more to fill.

Tonight, the council will again discuss a seat vacated when former member Bill Strom resigned in August.
NOV 8

Rich, Pease will join Easthom and Harrison on council

Despite a particularly divisive race for Chapel Hill Town Council, familiar faces won the day.

Incumbents Laurin Easthom and Ed Harrison will return. And the newcomers, Penny Rich and Gene Pease, are no strangers to local politics. They proved they could reach a broad base in a year where candidates were pigeonholed as “pro-environment” or “pro-business.”
NOV 5

Chapel Hill Town Council will wait to replace Councilman Bill Strom's seat

It’s looking more likely that the newly elected Chapel Hill Town Council will determine who is appointed to a vacant seat — despite Mayor Kevin Foy’s disagreement.

Six out of eight council members said at a Wednesday meeting that they supported waiting until December, after a new council is elected, to appoint someone to the seat vacated by Bill Strom.

All twelve applicants for the seat were formally nominated. They will not make their presentations on Nov. 9, as was originally planned, but at a later date to be announced.
OCT 29

Twelve apply for seat vacancy

Twelve people applied for an appointment to the Chapel Hill Town Council, but it will likely be at least November before the council picks a new member.

At Monday's meeting, the council was divided about whether the sitting members should appoint the next member or whether a newly elected council should.

Mayor Kevin Foy said he wanted the seat filled by the current council by Nov. 9 despite opposition by other council members.
OCT 14

Last day to apply for Town Council

Today is the last day to apply for a vacant seat on the Chapel Hill Town Council.

All five challengers in the town council election have joined the pool of applicants for the seat vacated by Bill Strom.

This means that even if voters do not elect a challenger to one of the four open seats, he or she will still have a chance to be appointed to the council.

Filing ends at 5 p.m. today. The current council members will receive the applications at tonight’s meeting.

Chapel Hill town council candidates plan for future in forum

The eight candidates for Chapel Hill Town Council shared their plans for the town’s future at a forum Tuesday at the Lincoln Center.

More than 50 people attended the forum. It was sponsored by The Daily Tar Heel, WCHL, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and Empowerment, Inc., and moderated by former mayor Rosemary Waldorf.

The questions spanned a wide range of town issues, particularly those relevant to businesses, young people and minorities.

Library costs
OCT 12

Candidates defend stances

More than 50 students and residents attended a forum Tuesday in hopes that Chapel Hill mayoral candidates could offer new solutions to local problems.

The Daily Tar Heel, WCHL 1360, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and Empowerment, Inc. sponsored the forum, which was moderated by former mayor Rosemary Waldorf.

It was one of several forums Augustus Cho, Matt Czajkowski, Mark Kleinschmidt and Kevin Wolff will use to publicize plans.
OCT 12

Candidates plan for safety

Since former Student Body President Eve Carson was kidnapped and killed by strangers in March 2008, safety has been an even more pressing issue for the town of Chapel Hill.

And as elections draw near, the eight candidates for four seats on the Chapel Hill Town Council will have to address resident concerns.

After Carson’s death, Chapel Hill officials increased security measures, and students and residents asked the council to install emergency blue lights at several off-campus locations.
OCT 12

Five apply for open Town Council seat

Five Town Council hopefuls have submitted applications to be appointed to the seat vacated by Bill Strom, who resigned in August.

Names include relative political newcomers, a former mayor pro tem and some who already are challenging seats in the election.

As of Tuesday, the applicants are council candidates Will Raymond and Penny Rich, attorney H. Brock Page, strategic consultant Joshua Ravitch and former council member Joe Capowski.

The deadline to apply is Oct. 12.
OCT 12

Town-gown relations key for council candidates

As one of Chapel Hill’s largest developers and employers, the University has been in a close relationship with the Chapel Hill Town Council for decades.

But as the University continues to grow, its needs and wishes often come into conflict with those of the town.

“That’s pretty typical on any campus that’s growing,” said Linda Convissor, director of local relations for the University.

The eight candidates for four spots on the Town Council will have to address town-gown relations as they campaign for the Nov. 3 elections.
OCT 12

Weekend sports bring business to town

Saturday’s football game against The Citadel was a win not only for UNC, but for many local businesses too.

Despite the slowed economy, when the tides of Carolina blue-clad spectators rushed to and from Kenan Stadium for the first game of the season, they visited Franklin Street stores and restaurants at a higher rate than in years past.

“The crowds were really decent,” said Matthew Clements, the manager of Carolina Brewery. “You could certainly tell that there were a lot of people in town who weren’t the season ticket holders.”
SEP 8

First person applies for Strom seat

 Chapel Hill has its first applicant for former town council member Bill Strom’s seat.

Joshua R. Ravitch, of Chapel Hill, is the first and so far the only person to file, Chapel Hill communications and public affairs director Sabrina Oliver said.

Ravitch is a strategic consultant in the Raleigh-Durham area and the secretary of the Chapel Hill Kehillah Board, a Jewish organization.
SEP 24