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(02/18/10 4:56am)
As H1N1 vaccination clinic attendance declines, county health officials will now visit any group of people requesting vaccinations.In addition to operating its clinics, the Orange County Health Department is using the offer to expand their community outreach efforts.Vaccination sites recently have been offered outside normal clinics at the Hargraves Community Center and Weaver Street Market, said Angela Cooke, dental health services division director for the health department.
(02/16/10 3:59am)
N.C. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird said she is giving up on bringing a Costco to Carrboro.Kinnaird pushed for a Costco in the area because she thought its addition to the tax base would benefit the town.“It’s very well suited to the county,” Kinnaird said. She said bringing a big-box store like Costco would have created jobs for low-income community members.But Kinnaird said her idea was informally rejected by the Carrboro Board of Aldermen.Some community members said a Costco would hurt the small businesses in the area and would be environmentally irresponsible to build, because there’s no clear space for one.“I’m giving up,” Kinnaird said. “It’s a lost cause.”Alderman Jacquie Gist said bringing in a big-box store at the expense of smaller businesses would hurt the local economy.“They only have loyalty to themselves,” she said.Gist said the town has not been approached by Costco to build a store.Paul Moulton, executive vice president of real estate for Costco, said the company does not disclose its real estate strategies to the public.Kinnaird said she thought that the company could have been successfully solicited. She also said the extra commercial and property tax revenue would fix what she said is a habitual problem of depending too much on residential property taxes.Bernadette Pelissier, vice chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, confirmed that both the county and Carrboro would get a portion of real estate taxes from a store like Costco.Pelissier also said the county needs to diversify its tax base and is heavily dependent on property taxes.She also said more than half of the purchases county residents make are at places like The Streets at Southpoint in Durham, outside the county.“We would like to see people spend more money in Orange County,” Pelissier said.But Jason Baker, the owner services and events coordinator for Weaver Street Market, said big-box stores leave large carbon footprints and smaller businesses are more environmentally friendly.“We don’t need to tempt people with bad choices,” he said.Baker said that money that comes from local businesses is better for the community as a whole.He also said there isn’t a good place for a store like Costco in the area, which means building one would have a negative impact on the environment.Gist said bringing a store like Costco would be a long process and could end up taking the better part of a year, depending on the committee to which the application is presented.She also said that although Carrboro doesn’t have as many big-box stores as other areas, the town is still doing better financially than many places that depend on them.“Big corporations are a part of the reason the economy is the way it is,” Gist said. Kinnaird said she agreed with some of the obstacles a big-box store would present, which is one of the reasons she ultimately decided to stop pursuing the idea. “If they don’t want it, they don’t want it.”Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/01/10 4:46am)
The town of Hillsborough is expected to find out by the end of this week whether it will receive state funding for a new railway station.The town asked the state for about $5.5 million for a train stop along the Amtrak railway, which travels through Durham, Greensboro and Charlotte.Amtrak trains go through Hillsborough but do not stop there.North Carolina received $545 million Thursday in federal stimulus money as a part of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor plan. President Barack Obama distributed $8 billion in grants to 13 major rail corridors.Hillsborough’s portion of the money would be used to improve existing tracks as well as build more tracks and add trains, said Elizabeth Read, director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough.A decision about whether to fund the project should be made by the end of this week, said Allan Paul, director of operations and facilities at the N.C. Department of Transportation, rail division.The town assembled a Rail Station Task Force in 2008 to make suggestions for possible railway stop locations. Members have set their eyes on a town-owned, 20-acre piece of property near Churton Street.The parcel would be a good place because it is big enough and the train tracks that run through are straight, said task force member Paul Guthrie. It is not ideal to build a station on a curve, he said.The changes would make it easier and more efficient for travelers and residents commuting to work. Amtrak also attracts students who travel home to Charlotte via train.“By building additional tracks, all the current Amtrak trains will go faster,” Read said. “It will both bring additional travelers here, as well as attract more people to live here.”Travelers will save time by not having to go to the train station in Durham, Read said. With the proposed changes, travelers could go from Hillsborough to Charlotte in about two hours and fifteen minutes. As things are now, a train ride from Durham to Charlotte takes about three hours.Laurie Paolicelli, executive director of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, said that many of the tourists and day-trippers from the Triad region are University alumni traveling to sporting events.The proposed stop would have them get off in Hillsborough, increasing tourism in the area.Guthrie also expected the population of Hillsborough will double in the next 20 years, increasing the need to improve transportation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hillsborough population in 2008 was 5,653.If the funding is awarded, the Department of Transportation would enter into a municipal agreement with the town of Hillsborough.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(12/07/09 5:22am)
The number of Orange County children on food stamps increased almost 10 percent since January, and officials say the economy is to blame.In January, the number of people less than 18 years old receiving food stamps was 3,531. That figure has increased to 3,881 in October — the most recent figures available, according to the Jordan Institute for Families, part of the UNC School of Social Work.This increase is directly related to a 31 percent increase in the number of Orange County households in need since last year, said Yvette Smith, the Division of Social Services economic services director.She said there are new families applying for food stamps daily.“Our eligibility is higher than what we are serving,” Smith said.Orange County served about 41 percent of eligible participants in June. The county has a high number of eligible residents due to the number of college students in the area, she said. Anyone more than 18 years old who meets the requirements can receive food stamps.Chris Moran, the executive director of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services, said since last year there has been about 50 percent more people coming to their community kitchen. The Inter-Faith Council serves about 2,500 households and about 12,000 people, he said.“We see new faces all the time,” he said. “Those numbers are always going up.” Moran said some families often need food pantry services and food stamps to survive.As of August, North Carolina has the 10th highest amount of households on food stamps, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey.“We’re still not meeting the need,” said Brad Deen, spokesman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.In October, N.C. issued more than $162 million worth of food stamps across the state to 568,323 households. About 589,068 N.C. residents receiving food stamps are less than 18 years old.Deen said an increase in the need could put a heavier strain on the state and counties’ resources. Not everyone is getting help because some don’t know they are eligible and some just don’t want to ask, he said.“I feel that there are families who find it difficult to make that first step,” Smith said.Individuals who want to apply for food stamps must talk to a case worker to determine their eligibility, said Louise Moize, an Orange County economic services intake supervisor. The household income and any available funds are considered and approval can take up to 30 days, she said.Those interested in applying for food stamps can contact Chapel Hill’s Southern Human Services Center.“We encourage families to continue to try and meet the needs of their children,” Smith said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(12/03/09 6:18am)
Pneumonia is a top killer of children, and one organization is spreading the word in a unique way: dodgeball.Chapel Hill is one of 16 cities chosen to host the first Best Shot Foundation’s Pnock Out Pneumonia Dodgeball Tournament in 2010.There is no set date, but foundation employees estimate the tournament will occur between February and April.The foundation is looking to get college students involved in its cause to increase awareness about the deadliness of pneumonia.“College students are the leaders of today,” said Lia Katz, special coordinator at the Best Shot Foundation. Katz said in the search for college students that would be committed, Chapel Hill stood out.David Rubenstein, the founder and executive director of the foundation, said a dodgeball tournament seemed to be the best way to get students involved.“We figured a beer and pizza party would be too hard to organize,” he said.Katz said each of the 16 cities that hosts a tournament will have a reigning champion. There is a $25 fee per person, and each team must raise $300 to participate.The tournament will feature 32 teams with up to 15 people per team. The Best Shot Foundation is also looking for a local college student to serve as regional tournament coordinator.Christen Graffo, campaign coordinator for Survive to 5 program at the Save the Children Foundation, said the tournament is a fun way to get campuses working for the cause.Graffo said 2 million children die from pneumonia every year despite the fact that it is easy and affordable to treat because most people don’t realize the danger it poses to children. Already stretched resources are often diverted to other health issues that are thought to be more pressing.Katz said 98 percent of child deaths from pneumonia are in developing countries.“There hasn’t been a grassroots movement to take this on,” Katz said. “Pneumonia is this really serious threat to children.”Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(11/12/09 6:09am)
Town police and local business and organizations teamed up Wednesday to keep prescription drugs and alcohol locked up and out of the hands of children.To promote their new “Talk it Up, Lock it Up” campaign, the Coalition for Alcohol and Drug Free Teenagers of Chapel Hill and Carrboro worked with several local groups to organize Operation Medicine Cabinet.The event aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse and educate the public on the proper disposal of prescription drugs.“‘Talk it Up, Lock it Up’ encourages adults to secure their alcohol,” said Dale Pratt-Wilson, director of the coalition. “Drugs should also be secure.”The groups set up a place in the University Mall parking lot for residents to drop off their unwanted medicines.Dropped-off drugs will be collected and sent to an incinerator.“People can use this to get rid of the drugs people have laying around,” said Robin Clark, community services officer for the police department. “Any time children can get their hands on prescription medicine, it can be a problem.”Pratt-Wilson said studies showed 30 percent of Chapel Hill and Carrboro teens have taken alcohol from parents without their knowledge. Sixty percent get drugs at parties with their friends.“It flies under the radar sometimes,” Clark said.Stephen Lair, franchise owner of Home Instead Senior Care, said drugs left in the house can become toxic and get into the hands of children.Improper disposal can also hurt the environment, he said.Sherry Yang, a fourth-year pharmacy student attending the event, said placing medicines in sealed containers before putting them in the trash is better than pouring them in the toilet, which would release them into the water stream.“Flushing them is not recommended,” she said.Katie Conger, the office manager of Home Instead Senior Care, which works with senior citizens, said the event was important for their customers.She said because seniors often have many prescriptions, they may not notice when the medicines expire or be aware of proper disposal methods.Conger said locking away drugs from children and taking all of the prescribed medicine are important steps in preventing misuse.Clark said the potential for drug and alcohol overdoses is high when substances aren’t kept out of the reach of children and teens.“It’s something we always see,” said Charlie Pardo, Chapel Hill police officer.Clark said police receive calls from schools and concerned parents who are aware a problem exists but don’t think their children are part of it.She said the peer pressure that often contributes to youth substance abuse could be combated by increased education.“It’s our job to educate our kids,” said Anne Shelton, a member of the coalition. “It is impossible to protect children from everything.”Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/30/09 3:12am)
Carrboro officials and candidates alike are in favor of building a grocery store on Homestead Road, but the process might be easier said than done.Aldermen Jacquie Gist and Randee Haven-O’Donnell, who are both running for re-election this year, said the town is interested in developing commercial areas in the northern part of Carrboro.Town officials have indicated the Homestead Community Center, which was put up for sale by the county in August, could serve as an appropriate site for a grocery store. Located at 600 Homestead Road, the center has provided recreation programs and a general meeting space.“I thought that would be a perfect location,” Gist said. “Something that would complement the neighborhood.” But Craig Benedict, planning director for Orange County, said the approval process for the space could be difficult under the county’s Land Use Plan.Residential homes and a community center are permitted in the area, but commercially developing the land would require special permission from the Board of Aldermen and the Orange County Board of Commissioners, he said.Haven-O’Donnell said she would support a grocery store there since no store exists within walking distance, as long as it is the right size and contains the right services.“I would like the neighborhood to weigh in on what they’d like to see,” she said.Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman said the community needs a place where residents can socialize and get basic necessities.The board of commissioners set a minimum price of $275,000 for the property, said Pamela Jones, asset management and purchasing director of Orange County. She said the first round of bidding on the community center ended Oct. 20, and the bids will be presented to the county commissioners Thursday.She did not disclose the names of the bidders and said she is unsure how many bids were offered.The county will then re-advertise the property and start accepting additional bids sometime in November, Jones said.Alderman candidates Sharon Cook, Tim Peck and Sammy Slade said they think commercial development along Homestead Road would be a good idea.Slade said that one of the issues Carrboro faces is the heavy tax burden on homeowners. The tax base could be diversified by bringing in locally-owned businesses, he said.Cook said she is disappointed that the community center is being sold, as it serves as a meeting place and voting precinct for northern Carrboro.They should have asked the residents to get their opinions on what should be done with the center, she said. The residents only found out the county was selling it when they saw it on the news, she said. But she said she supports a grocery store in the area.“A locally-owned grocery would be nice,” said Cook, who lives in northern Carrboro. “We don’t need another Harris Teeter.”Alderman Lydia Lavelle said the board will begin holding public meetings with the residents early next year.The board will receive a staff report on northern Carrboro in November, Haven-O’Donnell said. The report will list potential locations for commercial development in the area.Haven-O’Donnell said she thinks the community could benefit from having businesses like a grocery store, a pharmacy and a coffee shop.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/16/09 4:07am)
Board of Aldermen candidates aren’t the only ones running for office in Carrboro this election season.Elections for the Weaver Street Market Board of Directors began earlier this month and will continue through Nov. 1.One seat is up for grabs in the Board of Directors for consumer-owners of the co-op.The candidates for the consumer seats are Robert Short and Rickie White. The board’s responsibilities include policymaking and educating owners about the co-op.Voters will have a chance to meet Short and White at a meeting at Carrboro’s Century Center on Oct. 25. Author Michael Shuman will speak about the economic benefits of local food businesses.The candidates will also make an appearance from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Southern Village location, where visitors may ask them questions.How does the co-op work?Owners pay a one-time fee to shop at the market and receive dividends when the market is profitable. This dividend will be given in profitable years based on the amount each owner purchased that fiscal year.Owners receive coupons on their purchases at the market and can participate in numerous activities such as wine tastings.Weaver Street holds elections every two years to fill two consumer-owner and two worker-owner spots on the board. The board is rounded out by two board appointees and the market’s general manager.How is the co-op doing?Weaver Street experienced a loss of profits in 2008. But their last quarter, which ended in September, showed improvement, said Ruffin Slater, general manager of the co-op.He attributed the decline in sales in 2008 to the general economic situation and competition from other food markets.The newer store in Hillsborough is more successful than the ones in Carrboro and Southern Village, he said.But the co-op is still trying to make up for the $1.2 million loss from last year, according to the market’s 2009 annual report.Consumer-owners now receive dividends instead of discounts, Slater said.Eliminating the discounts has saved the co-op $60,000 per month and has helped make up for their losses.Do people vote in this election?Although 14,000 Weaver Street co-owners could be affected by the election, the co-op has historically had low voter turnout.Last year, only a few hundred of the consumer-owners showed up to vote, Slater said, adding that the turnout was normal for a food co-op.Many Weaver Street owners said they aren’t planning on voting this year.“As long as things are going well, members aren’t as likely to vote,” owner Donell Kerns said.Another owner, Chris Long, said he hadn’t felt compelled to vote.Owner Maria Hitt said at the market last week that she probably won’t vote, adding that she wasn’t even sure who was running.“I’m not sure the board has that much power,” she said.Board chairman Dave Rizzo said he didn’t know why voter turnout is typically low.“Generally speaking, people are happy with the market,” he said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/01/09 3:53am)
Krista Bremer didn’t even know she was nominated for a writing award until she received a package in the mail that said she was a finalist.But Bremer, an essayist and The Sun Magazine associate publisher, won a $25,000 national writing award for female writers from the Rona Jaffe Foundation. She was one of the six to receive the award.The Carrboro author said she does not know who nominated her. The Rona Jaffe Foundation keeps nominators anonymous. The anonymous nominator wrote that “Krista writes with a keen eye for the beauty — and absurdities — of contemporary American culture.”Bremer said her writing is inspired by uncomfortable experiences. “I like writing about issues that get stuck in my head,” she said. She and her Libyan husband, who was raised in a devoutly Muslim household, have an 8-year-old daughter who one day asked her parents to buy her a head covering.“I had mixed feelings about it,” Bremer said. She said later, while at a pool, she saw another young girl in a small bikini.She began to think about the pressures of women.“My intention when I write is to increase tolerance and awareness,” she said.The foundation awards female writers who are in the early stages of their writing careers.Bremer told the foundation she plans to use some of the money to travel to North Africa. “I want to spend time with my in-laws,” she said.She said she believes every relationship is bicultural since every person has their own background.Her colleague and the managing editor of The Sun Magazine, Tim McKee, said he isn’t surprised she won.“She has a fine craftsmanship with words,” he said. “It’s hard, in nonfiction, to be personal in a way that is also universal.” He said she is able to write about her life and marriage in a way people can relate to.Bremer has also won other awards, including a 2008 Pushcart Prize for her essay, “My Accidental Jihad.” She also has a Artist Fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council.“My intention is to start cutting back my hours,” Bremer said, who currently works full-time at The Sun Magazine but would like to begin writing a memoir. Bremer, along with the other five winners, was honored in a private ceremony last Thursday in New York City.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu
(09/29/09 4:40am)
For the 2007 elections, Chapel Hill Town Council candidate Penny Rich had a friend design her sign to have her name encircled in brown, resembling a penny.“You can’t be named Penny and not use it,” Rich said.Those same signs are out again this year.Rich is one of several candidates for local government positions who decided to use the signs she has left over for November’s election, rather than use campaign funds for new ones.“It’s important for someone who is a challenger to stand out,” said Rich, who has 92 signs around town.For candidates using public financing through the voter-owned elections program, reusing signs could save money only if the cost was less than $100, said Amy Strange, campaign finance compliance specialist at the N.C. State Board of Elections.All candidates have to report reused campaign materials.Jacquelyn Gist, a Carrboro alderman running for reelection, said in her 20 years on the board she has only ordered new signs three times.“I’ve used them and used them,” Gist said.After the elections, Gist said she goes and picks up all the signs so she can use them for the next election.Gist and Carrboro Alderman Randee Haven-O’Donnell, also running for reelection, said the only change they have made on their signs is adding the word “reelect.”“It’s critical to create an environment so your constituency can be reacquainted with you,” Haven-O’Donnell said.Chapel Hill Town Council member Laurin Easthom, who is using some of her old campaign signs, said she thinks signs are more important for those who are not incumbents.“It’s not going to make or break an election,” Easthom said. “Signs are one part of the campaign.” Not everyone will be using the same signs as last time.Will Raymond, who is running for Town Council for the second time, will be getting new signs with a different design.Raymond has not put out any signs yet, he said. “I never want to start cluttering up town early,” he said.Sign prices vary depending on the amount and can range between 50 cents and $3.50 per sign, he said.But even the priciest signs don’t impress everyone.“I just tune them out,” Kieron James, a Chapel Hill resident, said.He said he thinks that a sign should have more than just a picture and name. A good sign will encourage him to look into the candidate, he said.Junior Daniel Marchon said reusing signs reflects well on the candidate.“In today’s economy, its really responsible to recycle,” Marchon said.Matt Pohlman, a first-time Town Council candidate, made putting up his signs a family affair. His wife and two young sons got up at 6 a.m. to help him put up between 150 and 175 signs around Chapel Hill.But Pohlman said he thinks the election should be more about the issues.“I’d like to think signs are not important,” he said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(09/29/09 4:40am)
For the 2007 elections, Chapel Hill Town Council candidate Penny Rich had a friend design her sign to have her name encircled in brown, resembling a penny.“You can’t be named Penny and not use it,” Rich said.Those same signs are out again this year.Rich is one of several candidates for local government positions who decided to use the signs she has left over for November’s election, rather than use campaign funds for new ones.“It’s important for someone who is a challenger to stand out,” said Rich, who has 92 signs around town.For candidates using public financing through the voter-owned elections program, reusing signs could save money only if the cost was less than $100, said Amy Strange, campaign finance compliance specialist at the N.C. State Board of Elections.All candidates have to report reused campaign materials.Jacquelyn Gist, a Carrboro alderman running for reelection, said in her 20 years on the board she has only ordered new signs three times.“I’ve used them and used them,” Gist said.After the elections, Gist said she goes and picks up all the signs so she can use them for the next election.Gist and Carrboro Alderman Randee Haven-O’Donnell, also running for reelection, said the only change they have made on their signs is adding the word “reelect.”“It’s critical to create an environment so your constituency can be reacquainted with you,” Haven-O’Donnell said.Chapel Hill Town Council member Laurin Easthom, who is using some of her old campaign signs, said she thinks signs are more important for those who are not incumbents.“It’s not going to make or break an election,” Easthom said. “Signs are one part of the campaign.” Not everyone will be using the same signs as last time.Will Raymond, who is running for Town Council for the second time, will be getting new signs with a different design.Raymond has not put out any signs yet, he said. “I never want to start cluttering up town early,” he said.Sign prices vary depending on the amount and can range between 50 cents and $3.50 per sign, he said.But even the priciest signs don’t impress everyone.“I just tune them out,” Kieron James, a Chapel Hill resident, said.He said he thinks that a sign should have more than just a picture and name. A good sign will encourage him to look into the candidate, he said.Junior Daniel Marchon said reusing signs reflects well on the candidate.“In today’s economy, its really responsible to recycle,” Marchon said.Matt Pohlman, a first-time Town Council candidate, made putting up his signs a family affair. His wife and two young sons got up at 6 a.m. to help him put up between 150 and 175 signs around Chapel Hill.But Pohlman said he thinks the election should be more about the issues.“I’d like to think signs are not important,” he said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(09/29/09 4:40am)
For the 2007 elections, Chapel Hill Town Council candidate Penny Rich had a friend design her sign to have her name encircled in brown, resembling a penny.“You can’t be named Penny and not use it,” Rich said.Those same signs are out again this year.Rich is one of several candidates for local government positions who decided to use the signs she has left over for November’s election, rather than use campaign funds for new ones.“It’s important for someone who is a challenger to stand out,” said Rich, who has 92 signs around town.For candidates using public financing through the voter-owned elections program, reusing signs could save money only if the cost was less than $100, said Amy Strange, campaign finance compliance specialist at the N.C. State Board of Elections.All candidates have to report reused campaign materials.Jacquelyn Gist, a Carrboro alderman running for reelection, said in her 20 years on the board she has only ordered new signs three times.“I’ve used them and used them,” Gist said.After the elections, Gist said she goes and picks up all the signs so she can use them for the next election.Gist and Carrboro Alderman Randee Haven-O’Donnell, also running for reelection, said the only change they have made on their signs is adding the word “reelect.”“It’s critical to create an environment so your constituency can be reacquainted with you,” Haven-O’Donnell said.Chapel Hill Town Council member Laurin Easthom, who is using some of her old campaign signs, said she thinks signs are more important for those who are not incumbents.“It’s not going to make or break an election,” Easthom said. “Signs are one part of the campaign.” Not everyone will be using the same signs as last time.Will Raymond, who is running for Town Council for the second time, will be getting new signs with a different design.Raymond has not put out any signs yet, he said. “I never want to start cluttering up town early,” he said.Sign prices vary depending on the amount and can range between 50 cents and $3.50 per sign, he said.But even the priciest signs don’t impress everyone.“I just tune them out,” Kieron James, a Chapel Hill resident, said.He said he thinks that a sign should have more than just a picture and name. A good sign will encourage him to look into the candidate, he said.Junior Daniel Marchon said reusing signs reflects well on the candidate.“In today’s economy, its really responsible to recycle,” Marchon said.Matt Pohlman, a first-time Town Council candidate, made putting up his signs a family affair. His wife and two young sons got up at 6 a.m. to help him put up between 150 and 175 signs around Chapel Hill.But Pohlman said he thinks the election should be more about the issues.“I’d like to think signs are not important,” he said.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(09/22/09 3:34am)
If the N.C. Botanical Garden doesn’t raise about $200,000 in forty days, it won’t be able to buy land to expand a nature preserve as planned.The 5.6-acre tract of land is adjacent to the Stillhouse Bottom Nature Preserve. The N.C. Botanical Garden has been interested in the land for about two years, said Johnny Randall, assistant director for the garden’s conservation programs.The garden plans to add the piece of land to the 17-acre Stillhouse Bottom area, which was given to the garden by Duke Power and James Eder, a partner in the Morgan Creek Land Company. But the botanical garden’s option to buy expires on Oct. 31, Randall said.“It’s critical for the conservation of this site,” Randall said. The property lies in the center of the preserve and is important for the entire site’s protection.Julia Ivey, the owner of the land, offered it for $500,00 in 2007. Ivey agreed to lower the price by $100,000 if the Botanical Garden Foundation could raise the remaining $400,000. The garden has hosted two fundraisers and received other donations to help with the purchase.So far, the garden has received $172,000, with pledges of $34,000 from the town of Chapel Hill and $100,000 from the Orange County Lands Legacy Program. They have also received about $18,000 in private donations.If the rest of the money is not raised by October, officials said they hope to extend the time they have to purchase the land, Randall said.“This land is a beautiful, rich forest of many plant species,” said Peter White, director of the N.C. Botanical Garden. He said the area is important to conserving biodiversity — it supports more than 100 plant species and provides a forest habitat for migrating birds.The garden hopes to create a 65-acre preserve, combining their land purchases with land donations.The garden’s staff helps with the preservation of approximately 800 acres of land including Battle Park, Forest Theatre, Mason Farm Biological Reserve and other areas along Morgan Creek.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.