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(04/18/08 4:00am)
Discussion at WCHL 1360's "Crime and Public Safety: A Tough Job Gets Tougher" forum did not begin with talks of criminals or public safety but with memories of former Student Body President Eve Carson.
"I knew from her reputation the tremendous amount of impact she had on the community in a short amount of time," Carrboro police Capt. Joel Booker said. "How does this type of thing happen in a Chapel Hill community?"
Booker's question began the conversation during the third session of WCHL's annual townwide forum, which focused mainly on the misperceptions people have about Chapel Hill.
Because people think it's so safe, they're less likely to be careful, officials said.
Even WCHL manager and forum moderator Walter Sturdivant, said he referred to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area as "Pleasantville."
But events such as the Virginia Tech shooting last year and the Eve Carson case have been a reality check for college students.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran said the area attracts crimes because of the night life, the vibrant atmosphere and the large population of 18- to 22-year-olds.
Before the Virginia Tech shooting, the University already was working on putting in an emergency siren and text messaging. Plans for the town's Code Red system, which alerts residents to emergencies for UNC and the surrounding area, also was under way.
"I'm not sure we ever have a peace of mind," Curran said. "But these are tools to communicate with the public.
"To be able to put out a telephone blast and talk to the community within a matter of minutes is invaluable to us."
Curran said the rate of personal crimes has actually gone down in Chapel Hill but that to maintain that status the officers and public have to be very diligent about safety.
"We want to have a reputation as a place you don't want to go if you're up to no good," Curran said. "We have some of our own homegrown gang sets in Chapel Hill.
"Even 'Pleasantville' has its neighborhoods."
Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour said that mental health, substance abuse and lack of education or employment are the three issues behind most crimes.
"The gangs in our community may exceed our ability to recognize them," Booker said. "Law enforcement tends to be very reactive in things we do, but we need to be more proactive in the three issues Baddour was talking about."
Baddour said that while people suffering from one or more of these conditions cannot always use it as justification for their actions, they do need support and resources of the community to address them.
The key to fixing the problem is early intervention.
"Seventy percent of juveniles are mentally ill . and 40 percent of people in the prison system are mentally ill and are not treated until after they commit a crime," state Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, said.
"It's about priorities and funding. If we put money in at the front end, we wouldn't have to build as many prisons."
But even after the forum, Sturdivant said he still wonders, "How do we get closer to Utopia?"
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/18/08 4:00am)
Local environmental experts said Thursday that Orange County, Carrboro and Chapel Hill are not very sustainable.
Panelists at WCHL 1360's annual community forum discussed sustainability and environmental issues ranging from water and energy conservation to the local economy.
Chris Moran, executive director of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, said that Orange County has the fifth-largest divide between "haves" and "have nots" in the nation and that this proves it's not sustainable.
"In Orange County, 51 percent of jobs are government jobs and have to be paid for by taxes," said Margaret Cannell, executive director of the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of Commerce.
"Fifteen percent of the population lives below the poverty line, which puts a tremendous burden on tax service that needs to be paid."
Members of the panel also worried that residents aren't supporting local businesses.
More than half of each dollar made in Orange County is spent in other places, and only about 1 percent of all food purchases is spent in the county, said Bernadette Pelissier, a candidate for Orange County Board of Commissioners.
"Each dollar spent at a local store has three to four times the impact than bought at a nonlocal store," Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman said. "A huge portion of community leaves Orange County to go to distant hands."
But Cannell said she understands why this is happening to the local economy. Local stores do not always offer the things people want and need to buy, she said.
The panel gave examples of underwear and pre-made curtains, two common goods that could be difficult to find in a town like Carrboro.
Bringing in new businesses to the area could provide residents with more options and maybe even more underwear.
But this is complicated since the town offers no incentives and little space for building, Cannell said.
"We don't actively recruit businesses, we don't have the space for them," Cannell said.
Greg Overbeck of the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group said residents should want to support local businesses because of what they give back to the community.
"Local restaurants give back to the community three times more than chain restaurants," he said. "A big part of sustainability is buying locally."
Overbeck also talked about recycling and conservation in local eateries.
OWASA Executive Director Ed Kerwin said the drought actually reaffirmed strong sustainability among OWASA customers, who reduced consumption more than 20 percent during the past two to three months.
Residents who have learned water conservation strategies will realize that their investments in efficient appliances could be paid off in two years, Kerwin said.
"We have to take a long-term approach to this and say what we do now will make a difference," Overbeck said. "If everyone will start trying to make a little bit of a difference, it can make a big difference."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu
(04/11/08 4:00am)
With 403 days of water stored and a decrease in customer consumption, Chapel Hill and Carrboro moved from Stage 3 to Stage 1 water restrictions Thursday.
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors made the decision with reservoirs almost 70 percent full and with enough water to make it to New Year's Eve even if it doesn't rain.
Residents can now return to washing cars and watering lawns while paying lower surcharges after reducing their water use to historically low levels.
Residents used 6.36 million gallons per day last week, compared to 8.38 million the first week of April during the 2002 drought.
Board Chairman Randy Kabrick said he believes the community will continue those conservation efforts.
"I think they will continue conservation as a lifestyle," he said. "Why not? It saves them money."
The move to Stage 1 will ease restrictions for large consumers and individual residents.
Butch Kisiah, director of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, said moving to Stage 1 would aid in county construction projects, as well as the upkeep of recreational parks and fields.
"Athletic fields are deteriorating at a rapid rate, and without irrigation to promote recovery of fields, we're looking at canceling outdoor recreation this fall," Kisiah said.
The University, too, needs water for watering lawns and athletic fields, said Carolyn Elfland, associate vice chancellor for campus services.
The University is OWASA's largest customer and accounted for 26.2 percent of OWASA water used in December and January.
"We need 8 million gallons between now and the end of the year for athletic fields, which is about one day's demand, but we will stick to that whether we go to Stage 1 or not," Elfland told the board.
OWASA will reconsider the water restriction at upcoming meetings. They are likely to return to Stage 2 restrictions if water levels are still below 70 percent May 1.
"We recognize that we're in a new paradigm, and we may see ourselves bouncing in and out of stages until the drought passes us by," Vice Chairman Gordon Merklein said.
"But right now it looks like we can afford to go to Stage 1."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/27/08 4:00am)
Durham courts have raised bond rates, making it harder for those arrested in the county to get out of jail while they await sentencing.
The bond guidelines were changed just before Lawrence Alvin Lovette was charged in connection with the murders of UNC Student Body President Eve Carson and Duke University graduate student Abhijit Mahato.
The 17-year-old faces a $3 million bail in Durham for the Mahato case and was held without bail in Orange County for the charges related to Carson's murder.
When Orange County revised its bond guidelines about two years ago, it also increased the rates significantly, Orange-Chatham District Attorney Jim Woodall said.
"It's not just to ensure they appear in court, but to protect the community," Woodall said.
"Often you have a person with a history of crime behavior. Obviously it's to the community's benefit if they are held in custody pending trial."
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Carl Fox, a former district attorney who worked on the guidelines for three years, said the bond a judge sets is decided by a variety of factors.
Ties to the community, prior criminal history, the nature of the charge, evidence, the number of charges pending, and whether the person was released previously on bond all are considered, Fox said.
Judges have some leeway in deciding bond rates and can set bonds higher than the guidelines, which Woodall said is a starting point.
Fox ranked protection of society as the most important factor in determining bond.
"When there is a higher degree of them fleeing town, they have a higher bond, or in some cases no bond," said Matthew Suczynski, an attorney with Everett Law Firm.
But some worry increased bonds will create an influx in jail populations, which already are overcrowded.
"The higher secured bonds you have, the higher number of people you'll have in jail," Suczynski said.
"That's something to be taken into consideration, especially in Durham where the jail is near, if not at, capacity."
Fox said alternative sentencing helps correct the possible overcrowding in local jails.
Orange Chatham Alternative Sentencing provides ways for defendants who have not been convicted of serious or multiple crimes and are not dangerous to the community to avoid jail by participating in community-based or rehabilitation programs.
"It's been very successful in its return-to-court rate," said Joyce Kuhn, executive director of the agency.
"We screen factors that have been used reliably over time to indicate a person's stability in the community."
Staff writer Jake Ratliff contributed reporting.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/29/08 5:00am)
High school students will trade in sleeping late for bubble sheets and No. 2 pencils Saturday morning as the SAT is given nationwide.
Some students have been preparing all school year for the test, taking classes, buying study books and hiring tutors.
Tutoring Director for the Princeton Review of the Triangle and Triad, Alison Heckel, said the majority of this preparation is the pressure for students to get into their college of choice.
"Some students are very motivated to get into great schools, so they put in the extra effort to do all of the work it takes to get that score," Heckel said.
"College is extremely competitive. Even after students get a 4.0 grade point average, play three sports and two instruments and start clubs they need great SAT scores to get into the really selective schools."
The most recent class to enter UNC had an average math and verbal SAT score of 1302.
With the pressure of getting into college increasing, Laurie Calder-Green, an SAT prep teacher at Cedar Ridge High School, said taking prep classes can help relieve the anxiety and stress students often encounter when the test draws near.
"I think anxiety is a tremendously big obstacle for them," Calder-Green said. "When students feel like they know the test cold and they know what's coming and have practiced reasoning then their scores improve dramatically."
While Cedar Ridge High School offers SAT prep classes as part of their regular curriculum, high schools such as Chapel Hill did not receive enough interest from students to offer the class.
"Most students will do it through one of the big companies," Linda Klemmer, guidance counselor at CHHS said. "They go to Princeton Review, Kaplan or smaller local companies."
But SAT Prep courses similar to the ones offered from the Princeton Review cost thousands of dollars.
The high price could put students from lower-income families at a disadvantage when preparing for the test and applying to college.
"(The courses) will raise scores; we know that. If everyone had them, then we probably wouldn't see an effect," George Noblit, Joseph R. Neikirk Distinguished Professor of Sociology of Education, said.
"So they do give those who can afford an advantage. They have time for them, don't have to work a job and their parents have enough money."
But Klemmer said CHHS offers programs like Advancement via Individual Determination, or AVID, which offers SAT prep free of charge to disadvantaged students. She said most of the students in the program will be the first college-bound members of their family.
Calder-Green said the Orange County School district purchased the SAT online course, which is accessible to students for free.
"It's invaluable. It literally tells you the kinds of questions they're going to ask," Green said.
The SAT also offers fee waivers that are available to all students to apply for.
"If we give kids fee waivers then when they apply to college we have fee waivers we can give for applications as well," Klemmer said.
Whether a student purchased test prep material or has used a free resource, said Debbie Kitts, Marketing Director for Princeton Review of the Triangle and Triad, the most important thing for a student to do is become familiar with the test.
"There are ways that you can prep regardless of your class background. There's something for everyone to take advantage of, Kitts said.
"The definite message that I think is being sent out to students today that prepping for the SAT is just to not walk into that test cold and have an idea of what test is about."
Contact the city editor at citydesk@unc.edu
(02/28/08 5:00am)
High school students will trade in sleeping late for bubble sheets and No. 2 pencils Saturday morning as the SAT is given nationwide.Some students have been preparing all school year for the test taking classes buying study books and hiring tutors.Tutoring Director for the Princeton Review of the Triangle and Triad Alison Heckel" said the majority of this preparation is the pressure for students to get into their college of choice.""Some students are very motivated to get into great schools" so they put in the extra effort to do all of the work it takes to get that score Heckel said.College is extremely competitive. Even after students get a 4.0 grade point average" play three sports and two instruments and start clubs they need great SAT scores to get into the really selective schools.""The most recent class to enter UNC had an average math and verbal SAT score of 1302.With the pressure of getting into college increasing" Laurie Calder-Green an SAT prep teacher at Cedar Ridge High School" said taking prep classes can help relieve the anxiety and stress students often encounter when the test draws near.""I think anxiety is a tremendously big obstacle for them"" Calder-Green said. When students feel like they know the test cold and they know what's coming and have practiced reasoning then their scores improve dramatically.""While Cedar Ridge High School offers SAT prep classes as part of their regular curriculum"" high schools such as Chapel Hill did not receive enough interest from students to offer the class.""Most students will do it through one of the big companies"" Linda Klemmer, guidance counselor at CHHS said. They go to Princeton Review"" Kaplan or smaller local companies.""But SAT Prep courses similar to the ones offered from the Princeton Review cost thousands of dollars. The high price could put students from lower-income families at a disadvantage when preparing for the test and applying to college.""(The courses) will raise scores; we know that. If everyone had them" then we probably wouldn't see an effect" George Noblit, Joseph R. Neikirk Distinguished Professor of Sociology of Education, said. So they do give those who can afford an advantage. They have time for them"" don't have to work a job and their parents have enough money.""But Klemmer said CHHS offers programs like Advancement via Individual Determination" or AVID which offers SAT prep free of charge to disadvantaged students. She said most of the students in the program will be the first college-bound members of their family.Calder-Green said the Orange County School district purchased the SAT online course" which is accessible to students for free.""It's invaluable. It literally tells you the kinds of questions they're going to ask" Green said.The SAT also offers fee waivers that are available to all students to apply for.If we give kids fee waivers then when they apply to college we have fee waivers we can give for applications as well" Klemmer said.Whether a student purchased test prep material or has used a free resource, said Debbie Kitts, Marketing Director for Princeton Review of the Triangle and Triad, the most important thing for a student to do is become familiar with the test.There are ways that you can prep regardless of your class background. There's something for everyone to take advantage of"" Kitts said.""The definite message that I think is being sent out to students today that prepping for the SAT is just to not walk into that test cold and have an idea of what test is about.""Contact the city editor at citydesk@unc.edu
(02/22/08 5:00am)
To Bob Harrison, public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion in Raleigh, the most important part of his job is giving people the opportunities they need to achieve life goals.
But last week more than 50 Cedar Ridge High School juniors passed up the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, an Army test that pinpoints mathematical, reading and mechanical skills.
"It helps individuals know strengths and weaknesses at that moment," Harrison said. "Schools and guidance counselors can use data in helping plot their students' futures."
There were reports that three students were sent to in-school suspension for refusing to take the test, but Cedar Ridge Principal Gary Thornburg said the students weren't disciplined for not taking the test.
Other students did not participate because they didn't want the Army to have their test scores, he said.
Thornburg said the school did not automatically release students' scores to recruiters. Students still could choose to release their scores.
The test was given to the entire junior class for the first time. Previously students had to sign up to take the test.
"Some people say schools target only certain kids and only gave tests to students that would be better suited for the military," Thornburg said. "But we did it for everybody so that it wouldn't seem like a military recruitment tool."
As part of the No Child Left Behind Act, student information, such as names and addresses, is given to the military even if students do not take the ASVAB.
Ben Carroll, a member of the UNC chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, said neither the tests nor the military should be in high schools.
"Military recruiters often hound students," Carroll said, adding that recruiters often promise job training and money for college. "They give you tons of promises."
But Harrison said military recruiters in high schools focus on helping students realize and achieve their life goals.
"We focus on what it is that you want to do with your future, experiment with different career options and give you an opportunity to gauge what your future is going to hold," Harrison said.
The district might re-evaluate the new test policy, Orange County Board of Education member Al Hartkopf said, due to misinterpretations of this year's examination and its involvement with recruitment.
"I think that we probably will discuss changes before the ASVAB comes back around."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/22/08 5:00am)
When Chapel Hill resident Rebecca Clark took her friend Rosa McMaster Praylo to visit the grave site of Praylo's father, she didn't expect that the marker would be in the wrong place.
Praylo's father was laid to rest in the corner of the segregated section. When led to a different grave, the two realized that the mishap was caused by poor preservation of the cemetery, especially the two black sections.
The Old Chapel Hill Cemetery, across from Hooker fields, is divided into six sections. White members of the community fill the first four sections. The two other sections hold black laborers and the University's slaves.
A short rock wall has segregated the groups since the late 18th century, when churches didn't have black cemeteries.
"The wall will always be there because that's history," Clark said. "I don't think they'll ever tear that down."
In the 1950s the local black community fought to keep family members' resting spots. Clark said the town proposed to have all the blacks moved from University property to Carrboro, across the railroad tracks.
Clark said one newly elected black town official said then that he had never heard of anyone getting up out of their graves to interfere with anybody else on the other side of the rock wall, so moving the blacks wouldn't make a difference.
Preservation of the segregated section's land and historical records has been inconsistent, she said. Many headstones have been destroyed, which is what made it hard for Praylo to find her father's grave site.
"People came to me asking, 'Why don't you get the Negroes to get in there and clean up their family's grave?,'" Clark said. "And I said, 'Ninety-five percent of these families that are here . their families are dead.'"
But Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy said that the town has done a good job of protecting the cemetery and that it is in much better condition than it was five years ago.
"(There's) just less awareness for the people that go to the cemetery about what the stones in the black section represent," Foy said.
"They can look like they're just stones instead of grave markers, which leads to greater disturbance."
Clark agreed that the effort to preserve the cemetery is growing.
"They're trying to unify it, and they're doing a beautiful job. I just keep pushing for the upkeep and the beauty of the cemetery," she said.
A Chapel Hill Cemetery Advisory Board has been proposed, and the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill is looking to start a Friends of the Cemetery group to help with the site's upkeep.
"That's what a cemetery symbolizes: a peace of mind, the history of death, how we understand death and dying and a way to see the reflection of American culture by what cemeteries do," said Ernest Dollar, executive director for the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill.
"For those who have family in there, the upkeep and respecting their memory is very important."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu
(02/21/08 5:00am)
When Chapel Hill resident Rebecca Clark took her friend Rosa McMaster Praylo to visit the grave site of Praylo's father she didn't expect that the marker would be in the wrong place.Praylo's father was laid to rest in the corner of the segregated section. When led to a different grave the two realized that the mishap was caused by poor preservation of the cemetery especially the two black sections.The Old Chapel Hill Cemetery across from Hooker fields is divided into six sections. White members of the community fill the first four sections. The two other sections hold black laborers and the University's slaves.A short rock wall has segregated the groups since the late 18th century" when churches didn't have black cemeteries.""The wall will always be there because that's history"" Clark said. I don't think they'll ever tear that down.""In the 1950s the local black community fought to keep family members' resting spots. Clark said the town proposed to have all the blacks moved from University property to Carrboro" across the railroad tracks.Clark said one newly elected black town official said then that he had never heard of anyone getting up out of their graves to interfere with anybody else on the other side of the rock wall so moving the blacks wouldn't make a difference.Preservation of the segregated section's land and historical records has been inconsistent she said. Many headstones have been destroyed" which is what made it hard for Praylo to find her father's grave site.""People came to me asking" 'Why don't you get the Negroes to get in there and clean up their family's grave?"'"" Clark said. ""And I said"" 'Ninety-five percent of these families that are here ... their families are dead.'"" But Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy said that the town has done a good job of protecting the cemetery and that it is in much better condition than it was five years ago.""(There's) just less awareness for the people that go to the cemetery about what the stones in the black section represent" Foy said. They can look like they're just stones instead of grave markers" which leads to greater disturbance.""Clark agreed that the effort to preserve the cemetery is growing.""They're trying to unify it" and they're doing a beautiful job. I just keep pushing for the upkeep and the beauty of the cemetery" she said.A Chapel Hill Cemetery Advisory Board has been proposed, and the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill is looking to start a Friends of the Cemetery group to help with the site's upkeep.That's what a cemetery symbolizes: a peace of mind" the history of death how we understand death and dying and a way to see the reflection of American culture by what cemeteries do" said Ernest Dollar, executive director for the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill.For those who have family in there"" the upkeep and respecting their memory is very important.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu
(02/21/08 5:00am)
To Bob Harrison public affairs officer for the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion in Raleigh the most important part of his job is giving people the opportunities they need to achieve life goals.But last week more than 50 Cedar Ridge High School juniors passed up the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test an Army test that pinpoints mathematical" reading and mechanical skills.""It helps individuals know strengths and weaknesses at that moment"" Harrison said. Schools and guidance counselors can use data in helping plot their students' futures.""There were reports that three students were sent to in-school suspension for refusing to take the test" but Cedar Ridge Principal Gary Thornburg said the students weren't disciplined for not taking the test.Other students did not participate because they didn't want the Army to have their test scores" he said.Thornburg said the school did not automatically release students' scores to recruiters. Students still could choose to release their scores.The test was given to the entire junior class for the first time. Previously students had to sign up to take the test.""Some people say schools target only certain kids and only gave tests to students that would be better suited for the military"" Thornburg said. But we did it for everybody so that it wouldn't seem like a military recruitment tool.""As part of the No Child Left Behind Act" student information such as names and addresses is given to the military even if students do not take the ASVAB.Ben Carroll a member of the UNC chapter of Students for a Democratic Society" said neither the tests nor the military should be in high schools.""Military recruiters often hound students"" Carroll said, adding that recruiters often promise job training and money for college. They give you tons of promises.""But Harrison said military recruiters in high schools focus on helping students realize and achieve their life goals.""We focus on what it is that you want to do with your future" experiment with different career options and give you an opportunity to gauge what your future is going to hold" Harrison said.The district might re-evaluate the new test policy, Orange County Board of Education member Al Hartkopf said, due to misinterpretations of this year's examination and its involvement with recruitment.I think that we probably will discuss changes before the ASVAB comes back around."" Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/15/08 5:00am)
Officials from the Orange Water And Sewer Authority will wait to decide on Stage Three water restrictions until its Feb. 28 meeting.
At the Thursday meeting of the OWASA Board of Directors, planning director Ed Holland proposed implementing Stage Three water shortage restrictions if water levels are still below 45 percent at the next meeting.
Even after this week's rains, water levels are, as of Thursday, only at 40 percent of their full capacity.
Stage Three restrictions include limiting water uses such as laundry, gardens, toilet flushing, car washing, lawn watering and dog washing.
The restrictions prohibit irrigation, except with hand-held hoses and watering pumps, pressure washing and filling or topping off pools.
"Stage Three is really severe and a big step for the community," said board member Gene Pease. "If we have to make it, we don't want to make it too late, but I'm struggling with us moving too fast.
"The risk is difficult to check."
But Holland said they are planning for the worst possible situation.
"There is an increased risk of emergency if we don't get regular rainfall patterns soon," Holland said.
Holland and the board frequently referred back to the 2002 drought and its outcome.
"We are basing this recommendation on the background history we learned after the 2002 drought," Holland said. "We should've recognized and taken action sooner."
But board members are cautious to take action too soon.
"What concerns us is that this is totally uncharted territory," OWASA's Executive Director Ed Kerwin said. "This is the lowest storage capacity we have had for this time of year."
Since Stage Two restrictions were implemented, OWASA customers have been more efficient in their water usage.
Customers are using 10 percent less of water than projected, Holland said.
"People are conserving, and we expect it to improve."
Members of the board encourage the public to attend the Feb. 28 meeting, when the levels of restriction will be discussed further.
"We're gonna make dang sure we don't run out of water. Period," Kerwin said.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/05/08 5:00am)
Forget North Face jackets and Nalgene bottles a considerable number of people on the Indian Creek Wildlife Observation Trail are visiting the park equipped with just their birthday suits. Due to reoccurring complaints of nudity and sexual activity" the U.S. Corps of Engineers will close the trail near Jordan Dam.""We've had problems with the general public being harassed and" you know advanced sexual acts" Chris Dawes, a wildlife biologist supervisor for N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, said. It's not a family friendly atmosphere anymore.""Dawes said this type of activity has been increasing for years and undercover officers have written more than 30 citations at the site.The closed trail lead to the old Indian Creek Bald Eagle observation platform. The closing will affect a variety of people" including the members of the New Hope Audubon Society" who used the path monthly for bird watching trips.""So many people use it" and we maintained it for the public to come out" said Judy Murray, NHAS member in charge of the Jordan Lake Wildlife observation site.Other parks and recreation centers are struggling with some of the same dilemmas.Sexual activity, along with drug use, is not uncommon in local parks and trails, Lori Taft, management director for Orange County Recreation and Parks, said.We do have sexual activity occurring from time to time in our parks" but we haven't had to close any facilities for inappropriate social activity" Taft said.Once in a while we'll find a syringe or a condom but we're trying ... to prevent those things from coming and part of that is outreach to teens or young adults with programming.""Chapel Hill Parks and Recreations Director Butch Kisiah Jr. also said drugs can be a problem.""Once the word gets out that that kind of activity can go on without consequences" there are folks that will go out and do that kind of stuff" Kisiah said.The NHAS built and maintained the original platform. There is no specified date for when the trail will reopen but the Audubon Society is looking for new possible sites around the lake to rebuild the observation platform.Murray said that the closing of the trail came at an inconvenient time.Efforts to replace a destroyed observation platform had just begun, she said. We're not too happy because the platform this year was destroyed by a storm" and we went down there and hauled out all the old lumber Murray said.We were also in the process of applying for grants to REI and Lowe's" and we were going to order lumber and start rebuilding.""Murray said the group will miss bird-watching along the observation trail.""The site was a great place to go"" she said. It had a good number of birds and an eagle nest right across the lake that we used to monitor.""The Indian Creek Wildlife Observation Trail is located on N.C. 751 in Chatham County.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/05/08 5:00am)
A part of Chapel Hill's history is up for grabs as the historic Edward Kidder Graham House can now be purchased on the real estate market.Built in 1908 the 100-year-old house located at 115 Battle Lane in the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District was condemned in January after a tree fell into the house.Preservation North Carolina wants to sell the house in order to restore and preserve a part of Chapel Hill that has significant historic value. The group has six months to sell before other measures will be taken.The location was home to UNC alumnus professor and president Edward Kidder Graham as well as his cousin former UNC President Frank Porter Graham" whose name dawns the Student Union's entrance.The home was also the location for the 1968 film ""Three in the Attic" an early sexual revolution film in which three women essentially love their cheating boyfriend to death in the attic of Graham's abode.Having the movie shot here puts the house in a whole other category" said Ernest Dollar, executive director of the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill. This film proves that preservation is sexy.""Preservation North Carolina is searching for an owner to make the proper renovations to the home.""We are catering to a certain niche"" said Todd Dickinson, president of Dickinson Restorations Inc. in Hillsborough. We're looking for people who care for and appreciate older houses more than just a new"" big one.""But restoring the two-story building will require much more than a love for elegant staircases and a quintessential early-21st-century feel" as Cathleen Turner regional director of Preservation North Carolina described the house.The market price of the house is $9000 but according to Dickinson renovations to get the house in full running order could cost up to a million dollars more.Renovations would begin from the inside out he said. It would include tasks such as covering walls repairing doors and windows replacing floors and repairing heating" cooling and plumbing facilities.Dollar said the price tag of the renovation home is worth the significance of the home.""You get to wake up in the morning and hear the Bell Tower" walk to the basketball games walk to Franklin Street" he said. This house really embodies Chapel Hill.""Dickinson said the house was unique to many homes in the area.""So many folks are now buying new 'McMansions"""" Dickinson said. ""But there's a big difference between an old house that's been tastefully restored and a new house that just jumped out of a blue sky - there's style and grace.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/30/08 5:00am)
While a sophomore at UNC, Nicholas Minter decided to volunteer at the Orange County Literacy Council on a recommendation from a professor.
But after three years at the literacy council, the alumnus said he discovered things about himself and the community that he thinks no classroom could teach.
Making the trek early mornings and weekends to the literacy council's office on Franklin Street, Minter said the occasional frustration was made up for with the new life perspective he discovered.
(01/28/08 5:00am)
To some, cleaning tables, swiping cards and interacting with customers is just another tedious day at work. However, it is a step toward independence and a sense of accomplishment to the people the Arc of Orange County serves.
The Arc of Orange County works with local developmentally disabled residents to help incorporate their skills into the community.
The nonprofit is increasing the resources available to these residents with the newly formed Employment Support Services.
The main focus will be to assist individuals in finding paid employment, said Christian Keller, director of group programs and specialized services.
"These guys have a lot of viable and useful skills, but they just need that extra support to go through the process," Keller said.
The month-old department is working with eight people currently, and new referrals come in everyday, Keller said.
"We're just starting to expand the program," said Michelle Antonelli, employment specialist for Arc. "Our goal is to serve many more than that."
Arc works to provide disabled residents with the resources they need to locate, secure and maintain a competitive employment position.
Keller said they try to place clients in jobs that complement existing interests and skills.
"If someone really loves music, we'll look into some of the record stores or a place where they can be working with folks that play instruments," Keller said.
Arc has provided this aid before. They've set up summer internships and volunteer opportunities for clients at local businesses for years.
"We have done bits and pieces of employment support services but nothing to this extent," Keller said. "Now we can put all of our energy and time into helping clients find jobs."
One client already works at Café Carolina in Meadowmont Village.
"It allows him to be around and talk to people he wouldn't normally be exposed to," said Sam Rhule, Café Carolina general manager. "He gets to learn . communication skills and how to deal with people."
Rhule said he would encourage other businesses to become involved with Arc's employment services.
The most successful part of the program is the individual's sense of pride and independence in their vocation, Keller said.
"It's a real job. It's not something that's made up for them," Keller said. "They're in a real business with a real job. They are being able to be productive and contributing members of a society."
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(01/18/08 5:00am)
Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved the Capital Improvement Plan Jan. 7, which focuses on adapting the county to the population growth seen in the past 17 years.
The county's population has increased 55 percent since the 1990 U.S. Census Bureau.
Though the plan aims to accommodate the growing population for the years 2009-2013, the adjustments are not cheap. The CIP's current estimated cost is $270 million, which could rise because of an 8 percent increase in construction costs per year.
"It's something we do each year, and it's updated each year," said Patrick Barnes, Chatham County commissioner. "It's the way we handle the future's needs."
The plan includes money for three new schools and expansion and renovation of current schools.
Money for bleacher replacements, camera systems and floor tile replacement also was included.
The county plans to spend $15 million in 2009 on the Jordan Lake's water plant upgrade that will increase water capacity from 3 million gallons to 7 million a day, Barnes said.
The plan also includes the construction of a new $23.9 million judicial building and the development of two district parks.
The county already has more than $66 million of the project funded, but the source of the remaining funding has yet to be determined.
"It depends on what we do, what we need to build and what the state and federal government mandates that we do. It depends on our economy and our needs," Barnes said.
But Commissioner Allen Cross said he expects a tax increase somewhere between 3.5 and 6 cents.
"I think everybody likes the plan, but nobody likes the taxes," Cross said.
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(01/16/08 5:00am)
Fruits, vegetables, minimum wage and poor living facilities are issues that the nonprofit group Student Action with Farmworkers have been advocating for since 1992.
SAF Executive Director Melinda Wiggins spoke to the League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham counties at the Hargraves Community Center on Tuesday.
They discussed the meaning of the word "immigrant," the country's perception of immigrants and how guest-worker programs operate. They also talked about how their families came to the United States.
The league hosted Wiggins in order to become more educated about the topic of immigrant workers for their Jan. 26 decision on a platform of beliefs about local immigration issues.
"The National League of Women Voters is developing an immigration consensus," said Joyce Colaiace, program chair for the local LWV.
"We will have a consensus of immigration issues, discussing them on state and local levels and feeding that information back to the national league for a final consensus statement."
Wiggins also led the women in conversations about how SAF advocates for improvements for migrant seasonal farmworkers and the reasons people migrate to the U.S.
The league identified economic opportunity, war, forced labor, political persecution, education, natural disaster and job prospects as key factors in immigration.
The meeting ended with a description of the purposes and stances of SAF.
"We want people to have a better understanding of where their food comes from," Wiggins said. "They harvest fruits and vegetables that we eat and do that at their cost."
"We as consumers benefit from very cheap food because the folks who harvest earn low wages."
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(11/28/07 5:00am)
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools students could be buckling up more often in the near future.
The school district is waiting on a state decision on seat belt implementation in standard-size school buses.
The only bus seat belt requirement in place is lap belts on small-size buses.
But district schools are already ahead of the seat belt implementation schedule.
District transportation officials currently are monitoring the effectiveness of seat belts in some of the city's standard-size buses.
"We're looking closely at the issue," said Mary Lin Truelove, director of transportation for CHCCS.
"We've actually got 13 school buses that have lap and shoulder belts on them," Truelove said. "We've had those in place since 2003, so we've been looking at pros and cons from that perspective."
The district will be able to choose between reinforcing the buses with seat belts and purchasing new buses already equipped with seat belts if the state decides to enforce the new bus safety policy.
"The cost for a new school bus is about $10,000 for lap and shoulder belts," Truelove said. "How it would be funded would be up to the state legislature."
The district would implement the three-point restraint system, which consists of a shoulder and lap belt and is proven to be safer and more effective than just a lap belt.
"There's a lap belt that goes across the waist, which is proven to be more harmful," said Derek Graham, section chief of N.C. Transportation Services.
"The restraint system (the state is) talking about is a three-point system which has a lap belt and one (belt) across the chest."
According to a survey conducted by the Center of Urban Affairs and Community Studies at N.C. State University, 58 percent of parents surveyed were more positive about their children riding buses when they were furnished with lap and shoulder belts.
Funding will not be a problem for the school district. Buses are initially paid for by the Local Education Agency, and replacement buses are funded by the state.
But whether safer buses will be picking children up in the future has not yet been determined.
CHCCS plans to continue monitoring the success or failure of the belts that are in practice while waiting on a decision from the state.
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(11/20/07 5:00am)
Dog owners in Orange County might be trading their chains in for fences and pens in coming years.
The Orange County Tethering Committee met with the Orange County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 13 to present recommendations for revising tethering regulations.
"Some of the specific concerns identified with tethering had to do with humane care of animals and assurance of public health and safety," said Robert Marotto, director of Orange County Animal Services.
Residents are allowed to tether their dogs in their lawns if the chain is at least 10 feet long and has a swivel hook.
The proposed recommendations would permit owners a three-hour tethering limit within a 24-hour period and would include requirements for types of collars and equipment and a minimum kennel size for outdoor dogs.
After the committee was created in October 2006, the commissioners charged members with performing research and holding public hearings to create a recommendation.
The recommendation says tethering would be allowed during training or sporting events for dogs, but not for more than seven days at a time.
Some hunters and kennel owners have spoken out against tethering regulations at recent public hearings, saying they tether their dogs humanely.
"What makes a dog vicious or unruly is not being tethered," said Bobby Kirk, owner of Cane Creek Farms and Kennel in Efland.
"It has to do with human touch and contact. It's sad that they're blaming the problem on tethering."
The committee also suggests an 18-month education period consisting of a 12-month public response period and a six-month warning period before enforcing the rules.
"It was necessary and desirable for all members of the community to be aware of the changes that were going to be made and to have time to adapt," Marotto said.
"The hope is that it will be a process in which people can make adjustments from tethering to alternative methods of confinement and to tap resources."
But some Orange County residents do not feel changing the tethering ordinance would be beneficial.
"I think it will impact a lot of people that can't afford to buy a $300 fence," resident Phillip Pennell said. "The only thing they're doing is creating more expense."
But the committee studied other N.C. counties' tethering policies and found successful implementations of similar regulations.
The committee's members said they plan to educate residents.
"I think anytime you start something new like this you'll get varying reactions from the community, and we expect those to play themselves out over the next few months," said Moses Carey Jr., chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
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(11/13/07 5:00am)
Carrboro Elementary School students will pack a few more books into their backpacks this year.
The school was the only one in the district given a $2,754 grant from Macy's through the Reading is Fundamental Program.
The grant helps fund the RIF program, which encourages students to read by providing free books and reading activities.
"Students have the opportunity to choose new books three times a year. We hand them out before winter, spring and summer breaks," said Debbie Bolas, the media specialist and coordinator of the RIF program at Carrboro Elementary.
The school has participated in the RIF program for more than 25 years.
There is an application process for the grant, and schools are picked based on certain qualities.
"We try to target the schools that have the greatest children at risk for educational failure," said Frank Walter, RIF's marketing and public relations director. "Children who are from lower-income families are generally considered to be at a higher risk."
RIF was founded 41 years ago and is the nation's largest and oldest children and family literacy organization.
"Last year we served more than 4.5 million children and families around the country and gave out 16 million new books to children," Walter said. "In North Carolina we serve about 75,000 children in almost 500 different locations."
Eighty-three percent of RIF's funding comes from Congress, and the rest is sponsored by a combination of corporate and individual funding, Walter said.
Macy's joined RIF in creating the "Be One for the Books!" program, which provides literary material to disadvantaged children in elementary schools nationwide.
"Through the generosity of Macy's and its customers, we hope to expand our outreach to the many children in this country who do not have adequate access to books, and are at the greatest risk for reading difficulties," Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF, stated in a press release.
Bolas is working on contacting and publishing books from several publishers who offer RIF books at cut prices. Though most of the funds are covered by the grant, the school's PTA also contributes financial support.
"We usually put out a huge array of books, but we try and keep it by grade level," Bolas said. "Really, the intent of the program is that the children choose what they want.
"We try and guide them to something that is at their reading level at that moment."
It won't be long until students will get to choose their first new books before winter break in December.
"Our mission is to promote literacy," Walter said. "We try to excite children about reading so that they will develop a love of reading."
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