Fresh young faces Representatives from Kidzu Children's Museum met with the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership on Wednesday asking for support. Jonathan Mills, co-founder of Kidzu and president of the board of directors, explained the benefits of the museum's placement in downtown Chapel Hill. Located at 105 E. Franklin St., the museum will open on March 7 with a "Where the Wild Things Are" exhibit. Mills said Kidzu would attract a greater number of families to the downtown area. The museum will provide a safe, organized place where children of all ages and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can play together, Mills said. Because of the revitalization benefits the museum offers, Mills also asked the partnership for help in making the museum a permanent part of Franklin Street after its lease expires in two years. Empowering youth Delores Bailey, executive director of Empowerment Inc., talked to the board about her internship project. Bailey said the project focuses on finding jobs for 15- to 18-year-olds who might not otherwise seek employment. She said that the program has five employment opportunities but that she would like to find at least five more. Partnership member Nancy Suttenfield, vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University, expressed strong interest in pursuing a partnership with UNC to hire or sponsor interns. Business concerns Liz Parham, executive director of the partnership, presented the results of the group's business survey, which was submitted to local businesses in fall 2005. Of the 304 businesses who received the survey, 96 responded. The survey asked business owners about their suggestions for improvements in the downtown. Parking, as expected, was of highest concern, with 33 businesses citing it as needing improvement. Increased police presence and addressing homelessness followed closely behind. Mayor Kevin Foy, a member of the partnership, assured the partnership that the Town Council is working on the lack of parking in Chapel Hill. What's in a name? In a light-hearted closing segment, the board discussed town slogans. Board member Lex Alexander gave several suggestions he created with members of the Splinter Group, a marketing and advertising agency based in Durham. Among the more generic names such as "A True Original" and "An Authentic Village," Alexander said one truly stood out to him: "Left of Center, Right at Home." The slogan elicited giggles and raised eyebrows from board members, but Parham and Alexander stood by its originality and memorable nature. Foy suggested that Alexander and members of the Splinter Group come up with more slogans to be presented at the board's March 8 meeting. Compiled by Courtney Wilson
