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(03/04/09 5:00am)
Officials are looking to stabilize Chapel Hill Transit's fuel costs amid swings in prices and an uncertain economic environment.The free local bus system might start purchasing fuel requirements up to a year ahead of time through fixed-price contracts said Brian Litchfield assistant director of Chapel Hill Transit.Currently fuel is bought whenever necessary at the lowest cost available.This change would allow the department to purchase up to a year's worth of fuel at the market price. If gas prices go up the transit authority would be insulated. Transit providers across the country including Federal Express UPS and most commercial airlines purchase their fuel through fixed-price contracts.But if the authority buys ahead of time and gas prices continue to drop" it would pay more than was necessary for the same amount of fuel.""There's a trade-off on this" said Kenan-Flagler Business School professor John Kasarda. They're betting fuel prices will go up and not down. If they go up then the town absolutely wins. If they're wrong" they lose that opportunity cost.""But cost-effectiveness isn't the only consideration when it comes to shaping Chapel Hill's budget for the coming fiscal year. The uncertainty and volatility associated with the current recession has made predictability valuable.Kasarda said many experts are predicting that the recession will continue for another 6 to 12 months. He said he does not expect fuel prices to go up significantly in the next year.The transit system purchases 600"000 gallons of diesel fuel each year" Litchfield said.""When we buy fuel off the spot market now" we receive quotes from a number of different vendors and a state contract. We then opt with the lowest cost" he said.Scott McClellan, general manager of Capital Area Transit in Raleigh, said that so far his staff has not considered purchasing its fuel through contracts.I suspect that there are risks and opportunities" he said. You may pay at a level more than you would on the spot market" but there's something to be said for having that fixed number in the budget.""Town officials are currently engaged in risk-assessment and preliminary planning for the contracts" Litchfield said. The issue will go before the Chapel Hill Town Council on March 9 Litchfield said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/16/09 5:00am)
Chapel Hill Town Council member Matt Czajkowski is formulating a plan to protect cyclists on roads.The proposal involves adding a section of questions to the state driver's license exam. The questions would test drivers on current cyclist laws" which grant cyclists full use of lanes and protection against aggressive passing.Greater tolerance of cyclists on the road could result in fewer bike-related accidents. ""When drivers get mad" they tend to pass you very very close Czajkowski said. If they just brush you" it could be a catastrophic event.""He said he was shocked to read the section of the N.C. Driver's Handbook that pertained to cyclists.""Bicyclists usually ride on the right side of the lane but are entitled to use the full lane"" the handbook states. A bicyclist staying to the right in their lane is accommodating following drivers by making it easier to see when it is safe to pass.""""I read that to my wife" and she was like ‘Nobody knows that"'"" Czajkowski said. ""You're lucky to get one in 20 people who can tell you that's a fact.""Rainer Dammers" a member of the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board" said drivers' ignorance of cycling laws leads to aggressive driving.""Motorists basically shout at you and try to push you off the street"" he said.Carl Sundstrom, engineering research associate at the UNC Highway Safety Research Center, said cyclists have the right to use any non-interstate roadway.Motor vehicles have to wait when there is not enough room to pass, he said.The minimum passing distance is two feet in North Carolina, though three feet is recommended, he said in an e-mail.Bicyclists often take the full lane for self-protection, to prevent cars from passing around blind corners or at the tops of hills, he said.While biking toward downtown Chapel Hill on N.C. 54, he often is forced into the middle lane when the road absorbs traffic from N.C. 15-501.We say we want to see more people using their bikes"" he said. Anyone living on the other side of the 15-501 off-ramp is taking their life into their own hands if they want to take that route.""The town council could turn to the state legislature for changes" unless they could be implemented directly by the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles he said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/29/09 5:00am)
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce is now first in the state to offer discounted health care directly to its members.The chamber is attempting to provide a health care option to employers who struggle to insure their employees by allowing members to seek coverage directly from the chamber. The program in partnership with Carrboro-based Piedmont Health Services will charge flat fees of $60 for visits to a general practitioner $20 for lab results and $10 for prescriptions.Only uninsured employees of chamber member businesses are eligible. Families of eligible employees will also be able to sign up for the program.Aaron Nelson president and CEO of the chamber said 30 people have signed up for the pilot program so far. Enrollment is currently capped at 50 people he said.Betty Melanson public relations and marketing spokeswoman for Piedmont Health" said those who have enrolled in the program have reacted positively.""I have had people come in and sign up for this program and leave in tears because they could finally visit a doctor"" Melanson said.A visit to a primary health care provider without insurance would cost three times this amount, if not more, she said.People without insurance get care less often and later, resulting in worse outcomes, according to Bill Roper, CEO of UNC Health Care.It will mean that some businesses will be able to offer health benefits to their workers" who otherwise would be not covered and thus not able to access health services as readily" Roper wrote in an e-mail.In states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, chambers of commerce insure members directly, Nelson said. This is not the case in North Carolina.Nita Fulbright, vice president for membership services and small business at the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, said North Carolina is one of the few states in the country whose chambers of commerce do not offer discounted medicine plans.All chambers get calls requesting enrollment in medical plans" especially from people moving from other states" Fulbright said.I think it's exciting that some of the chambers are providing services for chamber members.""Melanson said Piedmont hired a team of students at the Kenan-Flagler Business School to determine who the health plan should target.The study concluded that the plan should target people who work"" but lack health insurance. The model then took more than a year for Piedmont Health Services to develop.""It was a brand new concept. We wanted to be sure that we were ready to handle it"" Melanson said.Steve Henson, a business broker with Carolina Business Enterprises and a new chamber member, said he likes to see the chamber providing benefits.I think it's a good intermediate step between no health care and full coverage.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(11/12/08 5:00am)
In a television interview before last week's election" former Chapel Hill mayor and civil rights figure Howard Lee was asked if Barack Obama's race would impede his chances of becoming president.Lee said no.""That's something I could not have said 30 years ago"" he said.When Lee was elected mayor of Chapel Hill in May 1969, he became the first black mayor in any predominantly white town in the South. The victory made international headlines.His landmark campaign for mayor occurred a year after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He won in a town where only 10 percent of 12,500 residents were black.Lee said that when he started his political career, he didn't think he would see a black president elected in his lifetime. He said he experienced a warm"" fuzzy feeling"" as election results came in Nov. 4.""To me this completes the fabric of what America was meant to be"" he said. It's hard to believe we've made such a great leap forward.""Lee spoke at the Hill Alumni Center on Wednesday as part of a tour promoting the release of his book"" ""The Courage to Lead: One Man's Journey in Public Service.""Laura Curtis" a UNC alumna came to meet Lee in person" and to hear his story.""What he's meant to civil rights" to the state to the country is incredible" she said.Lee, a UNC graduate who has been politically active since the days of segregation, said today's political environment is drastically different from that of his youth. He cited Obama, N.C. Governor-elect Bev Perdue and former Secretary of State Colin Powell as evidence of a new political era with fewer racial and gender-based tensions.Young people are free of much of the baggage older people bring forward at any given time" he said.Lee faced blatant racial discrimination when he first toured the South. He described being barred from speaking at country clubs or from addressing white audiences. This stands in stark contrast to the respect Obama receives in most corners of the U. S. — respect that Lee said he had to earn himself.He is being referred to simply as ‘president-elect"'"" he said. ""I was referred to constantly as ‘the black mayor of Chapel Hill.'""Lee said that a hesitancy to get involved is one of the greatest barriers that minorities and women interested in politics face today. Lee ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1976"" and now serves as the chairman of the N.C. State Board of Education.He said that he overcame a great obstacle as a young man when he was able to stop blaming society for his problems.""I think the outside influences today will not be the great barriers for minorities or women" he said.It's the obligation of those interested in politics to become involved" grassroots up.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(11/05/08 5:00am)
The Orange County Board of Commissioners will consider becoming one of the first in the nation to adopt a set of guidelines ensuring fairness consideration in decisions. The board will review the final draft of a proposed social justice goal at its meeting tonight.The five page report written by the Orange County Human Relations Commission" is intended to formalize the principles that the board aims to uphold.""These principles need to be highlighted and celebrated"" Chairman Barry Jacobs said.The document divides social justice into six categories that the board should consider: elimination of oppression, economic self-sufficiency, safe communities, environmental justice, civic participation and other.It also includes specific recommendations for promoting social justice, including extending county civil rights ordinances to protect people against discrimination based on sexual orientation and expanding public transportation.Currently there are no articulated standards for ensuring justice in board decisions. The guidelines will serve as a measuring stick to which the public can hold commissioners accountable.If the social justice goal is adopted, Orange County would be one of few in the nation with a set of fixed social justice guidelines.We would certainly be the first county in North Carolina to have social justice goals"" Commissioner Mike Nelson said.The board first asked the Human Relations Commission to formulate the goal in 2004. A first draft was presented to the board at a February work session.The county manager recommended that the goal be adopted in spring of 2009, said Shoshannah Smith, director of Human Rights and Relations for the county.Aspects of the goal have already been considered by the board as part of the process for locating a proposed waste transfer station in Orange County.In March 2007, the board decided to place the transfer station at the location of the current landfill, at Eubanks Road.After opposition from residents of the mostly black community, where the landfill has been located since 1972, the commissioners reopened the search in Nov. 2007.In September of this year, the board adopted environmental justice as one of its criteria in the search for the waste transfer site.Stan Cheren, communications chair of the Rogers-Eubanks Coalition to End Environmental Racism, said a set of social justice guidelines would have done little to benefit the community residents.I don't think it would have had a major difference" he said.But others said fixed social justice criteria would have saved residents great amounts of trouble.I think that that's an excellent thing" said Yonni Chapman, of the coalition and local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It changes the culture in that social justice is recognized as a community concern.""If they had been in place"" it would have meant the original decision to site the waste transfer station would never have happened.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/31/08 4:00am)
A record-breaking 80000 revelers showed up to celebrate Halloween on Franklin Street last year. And even though the town of Chapel Hill is aiming to downscale celebrations this year the attendees will most likely still number in the tens of thousands.For those not keen on crowds drunks or mounted police several alternative festivities are taking place in and around Chapel Hill Friday ranging from late-night live music to kid-friendly daytime events.What: The Durham Jaycees' 36th Annual Haunted House. Admission to the haunted hospital-themed event is $7.When: 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.Where: Durham Bulls Athletic ParkWhat: A Halloween party and costume contest at Papa Mojo's Roadhouse will feature Louisiana-style live music a costume contest" and film screenings. Prizes for best costume include a $50 gas card and a free Sunday brunch for six people at the restaurant.""We're going to be showing some old" grade-B horror movies restaurant owner Mel Melton said. Lots of chain saws" lots of guts."" Admission to the Mojo Halloween Party is $10 and $12 at the door.When: 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.Where: Highway 55 in DurhamWhat: A Southern Season in Chapel Hill will be hosting a blind wine tasting" called ‘Fear of the Unknown.' Tasting sessions generally run for two to three hours and the event costs $11 at the door.When: 5 p.m.Where: 201 S. Estes Dr. Chapel HillWhat: The Carrboro Halloween Carnival. The carnival is intended for people of all ages and will feature a cake walk a beanbag toss and a live owl with its handler. Costumes are encouraged and the event is free.When: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Where: Carrboro Town CommonsWhat: The Halloween Pumpkin Walk. The walk will feature a display of expertly carved Jack-o'-lanterns. Admission is free and open to the public.When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Where: Fearrington Village in PittsboroWhat: The Hallelujah Festival at the Russell Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Guests can participate in games Bible trivia and Bible bingo at the free event.When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Where:703 S. Alston Ave." DurhamWhat: The Morehead Planetarium will be airing ""Scare-o-lina Skies"" on Saturday. The showing is designed for adults and older teenagers. Admission is $6 for adults" $5 for students" seniors and children.""It concentrates on the more scary" and perhaps gory aspects of the legends surrounding the constellations" said Richard McColman, the Star Theater director at the planetarium.Some of them can get pretty intense. The version for kids is watered-down a little bit."" When: 8 p.m.Where: 250 E. Franklin St.
(10/27/08 4:00am)
With his recent endorsement of Pat McCrory for governor" Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton joins the list of Democratic politicians backing the Republican Charlotte mayor's candidacy.But in an area known for its left-leaning politics — 90 percent of Orange County residents voted for Democrat Mike Easley in the 2004 governor's race — Chilton's decision has provoked mixed responses.Chapel Hill resident Jong-Gyu Paik is pro-choice and pro-gay marriage and said he can understand why Chilton's decision leaves some feeling betrayed.""That would make me feel very uncomfortable and powerless"" he said.Joanne Hundley said in a call to the mayor's office that Chilton's endorsement helped her over the hump"" to vote for McCrory as well.An e-mail to Chilton states that another resident" Mary Mendini" called ""to express her extreme displeasure"" about his endorsement of ""an openly homophobic candidate.""Chilton" a registered Democrat and a local leader in progressive causes" said he is aware of the controversy of his decision to choose the Republican instead of Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue.""It's an uncomfortable situation to be in" but I feel many Carrboro residents disagree with both Perdue and McCrory on key social issues" he said.Chilton knows McCrory through their work with the N.C. Metropolitan Coalition, a committee of mayors that works with state officials involved in city planning.He said McCrory's involvement with the coalition resulted in its expansion and a broader focus.Chilton said his decision to endorse the Charlotte mayor stemmed from McCrory's pledge to reform the state's Department of Transportation.I think Mayor McCrory is a person who has made such a system come to life"" he said, referring to McCrory's work with public transportation in Charlotte. The Triangle needs to follow in Charlotte's footsteps in that regard.""Chilton said improving local public transportation Trianglewide has been an interest of his for years.He was elected to the Chapel Hill Town Council as an undergraduate at UNC" where he advocated on behalf of environmental issues such as public transportation" recycling and promoting bike lanes and sidewalks. Carrboro alderman Joal Hall Broun said she disagrees with Chilton's choice.She said she is attracted to Democratic candidate Bev Perdue's emphasis on strengthening public education.""I think that's the thing that's going to keep us in front of our surrounding states"" she said.She said the board would like to see the creation of dedicated bus routes in the Triangle region, as well as the development of fixed railway transportation and the construction of more bike lanes.Chilton said he thinks McCrory is someone who would advance this cause as governor.Carrboro alderman Jacquie Gist said that she is supporting Perdue but that she respect's Chilton's decision to endorse McCrory.Mark makes decisions not on an emotional basis" Gist said. That's one thing about him" he's not an ideologue.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(09/29/08 4:00am)
During World War II an American serviceman exchanged a series of letters with his wife. The letters are rich in details pertaining to both field conditions and affairs on the home front.And of course they are also highly personal.These letters and many more" were included in ""War Bonds: The Songs and Letters of World War II"" a play performed at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Friday.In addition to the letters, the play featured 22 popular songs from World War II era America.Audience members Bob Whyte and his wife, Chris, were interested in the show's musical aspect. Bob Whyte, 71, feels a special affinity for the popular music genres of the era.I learned to play banjo in the '50s" Whyte said. That whole era from 1900 through World War II" it wasn't called the Golden Era for nothing.""Hugh Kelley" a sixth grader from Chapel Hill" came to see the play with two of his friends. This was their first exposure to many of the songs in the program.""It was an interesting way of telling about the war"" he said.The play was arranged and performed by Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen, two UNC graduates who married in the Forest Theatre in 1988 and founded EbzB Productions, a professional touring theater. Chester zum Brunnen, David's father, served in Germany during World War II. The correspondence from his years as a soldier helped inspire the dramatists to arrange the play.We realized that Chester's letters interspersed with the songs in chronological order would tell a very personal story of the war"" Ebhardt said in an e-mail.We expanded that idea to include letters and memories from other relatives and family friends who had also served in World War II.""The collection of letters reflects the diversity of American wartime experiences.Letters from commanders like Chester Nimitz and Dwight Eisenhower were read alongside those of enlisted men" female officers" minority servicemen and fresh recruits.The songs reflected America's national attitude as it progressed from the end of the Great Depression to victory in 1945. ""One Meatball"" deals with poverty"" ""Rosie the Riveter"" with the experience of female factory workers.Brooke Kesterson" director of children's and family programs at The ArtsCenter said she appreciated the unique way in which the show examined the war's history.She also said the show was relevant to modern times" considering current global affairs.""It's an interesting way of looking back on this historical moment"" Kesterson said. I felt this production was very pertinent in terms of war times.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(09/24/08 4:00am)
The Occaneechi Native Americans had always felt distanced from their Orange and Alamance County neighbors. They faced discrimination from whites and they were not accepted by the black community.As a people they were racially and ethnically distinct yet there was no national identity for them to embrace.Were it not for the efforts of tribal historian Forest Hazel the Occaneechi may never have gained that identity.Most adult Occaneechi grew up without any sense of cultural belonging but starting in 1984 Hazel and others began researching the history of the tribe and the community began to lobby for state recognition. The Occaneechi Tribe which is made up of about 800 individuals is the smallest N.C.-recognized Native American tribe.Hazel gave a presentation about the tribe Wednesday at the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill's Lunchbox Lecture.Ernest Dollar executive director of the Preservation Society" said that the lectures feature experts on a wide variety of historical topics. This variety aims to draw a greater number of people to the lectures and to become involved with the Preservation Society.""The Preservation Society is the one organization that really tries to save those things which make Chapel Hill special" he said.Hazel said the Occaneechi are now looking to build a tribal center on 25 acres of recently purchased land near the border of Orange and Alamance counties. The center will become the tribe's economic and cultural headquarters.We'd like to see that be the source of economic development and also the focus area of the community" Hazel said.The tribal center will be built near the historic Occaneechi community known as Little Texas. This area has been home to the tribe since the late 18th century.The Occaneechi nation is not currently pursuing federal recognition, which can take decades, Hazel said. The Preservation Society has been producing Lunchbox Lectures since July 2007. Past guests have included muralist Michael Brown and UNC Athletic Director Dick Baddour.Sherril Koroluk, assistant to the director of the Preservation Society, is happy with the crowds that the Lunchbox Lectures attract.It varies from university students to people who are walking in off the street" she said. Every time" we're surprised.""The next Lunchbox Lecture will feature Tim McMillan"" who will give the lecture ""Black and Blue: African-Americans and the UNC Campus."" Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.