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(08/25/09 1:16am)
One man’s complaint about his car getting towed might inspire Carrboro government to reconsider local towing regulations.Jack Wolf, a Hillsborough resident, left The ArtsCenter with his wife Aug. 8 to find his car towed. It was only after he walked down the row of parking spots that he saw a sign designating them as reserved for VisArt Video customers only.Wolf said the sign in the 300 E. Main St. lot was poorly labeled, ambiguous and not visible from the side where cars enter.Wolf also complained that the painted white markings on the asphalt indicating the towing enforcement were partially faded and sloppily placed.“It’s unreasonable that the spots are so poorly marked,” he said.He told Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen of his experience via e-mail, and they listened.In an e-mail, Town Manager Steve Stewart suggested to Alderman Dan Coleman that staff consider adopting towing regulations similar to Chapel Hill’s.Chapel Hill’s rules require that 2-foot by 2-foot signs indicating towing zones be prominently placed at any curbs or vehicular access points. They dictate the height of the letters in the words “Tow-Away Zone” — at least 1.5 inches — and that the words must be printed on a contrasting background for easy visibility.“I hear problems all the time with towing and people getting towed unexpectedly,” Coleman said. “If people can be towed, there ought to be clear signs.”Cameron Price, a VisArt Video employee, said he enforces the store’s towing policy only when Cat’s Cradle and The ArtsCenter are hosting events, which tend to draw crowds and fill up the parking lot.Price said he considers the signs in his parking lot adequate, but understands Wolf’s frustration and would support any proposed improvements.“If it’s dark and you’re not looking for it, you’re not going to see it,” he said.But Wolf thinks it’s time Carrboro improved the signage in the 300 lot.“If every spot was a true tow-away zone, they should have an upright sign right in front,” he said.“Towing is enough of a major deal that you just can’t write something on paint in the asphalt that can wear away.”Price said when customers aren’t sure, they can park at any of three municipal parking lots in the surrounding area.“You should know to look for towing enforcement if you’ve been living in Chapel Hill or Carrboro for a number of years,” he said.Coleman said the board would discuss the proposed changes at a future work session.“I can only assume that thousands of dollars are being lost by citizens and visitors to Carrboro every weekend,” Wolf wrote in the e-mail. “It is ordinary citizens like myself, many who are unaware that they will be towed, who are paying thousands of dollars at the behest of one video store.”Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(08/24/09 5:26am)
In the next few months, 24 candidates will vie for 12 open seats in local town government.
(04/23/09 4:00am)
Some Carrboro residents wishing to hang their laundry on clotheslines are out of luck thanks to changes made to a recent bill in state legislature.The bill would have allowed aldermen to enable residents to circumvent their homeowners' association covenants and set up energy-saving devices such as clotheslines and solar collectors.But before the bill was approved by the N.C. Senate on Wednesday" the language was altered to have the rule apply only to future developments.Alderman Jacquie Gist didn't consider that much consolation.""We're getting close to build-out. There aren't going to be a ton of new developments"" she said.Some homeowners' associations in Carrboro prevent residents from having clotheslines and other unsightly objects on the basis that their presence will lower property values in the neighborhoods. But at a February meeting, Carrboro officials proposed to declare null and unenforceable any restriction preventing the installation of energy- and water-conserving devices.N.C. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, called the altered bill a compromise. But members of the Board of Aldermen consider the exclusion of existing neighborhoods a disappointment.I think it's a good outcome given what's possible under state law"" Alderman Dan Coleman said. But there are a lot of people who want to do things they're restricted from doing.""Kinnaird" who sponsored the bill" said the Senate does not have the power to override a covenant and that only the homeowners' associations themselves could.""The law of the constitution simply cannot be controverted"" she said. You can't interfere with a contract.""Now that the state senate has approved the bill" it will move to the House of Representatives where Kinnaird expects it will be approved with little or no changes.If passed" Carrboro will be able to enforce the rule starting Oct. 1. Gist said she hopes the issue will help bring energy conservation to the forefront of homeowners' association's priorities.""I would imagine 10 years from now this would be a moot issue" she said. Pretty soon every new home will have solar energy" and clotheslines will make a deserved comeback.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/16/09 4:00am)
As Carrboro prepares to put its Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan into action those behind the project are recognizing that funding might be hard to come by.The plan approved at the March 24 Board of Aldermen meeting attempts to bring bicycle access to more areas of town and integrate its network of greenways" or paths for walking and biking.But Alderman Joal Hall Broun said the economic recession has forced the town to reconsider which aspects of the plan can be implemented first.""The amount of revenue is definitely decreased because of the downturn"" she said.The plan's more expensive projects include the widening of Estes Drive and Smith Level Road to accommodate bike lanes. Funding for such projects would come from the N.C. Department of Transportation, said Charlie Hileman, chairman of Carrboro's Transportation Advisory Board.The town simply doesn't have the money right now"" Hileman said. Broun said the board has not begun estimating the total costs of the street-widening projects.The planning department also will seek funding from grants and the local Metropolitan Planning Organization, which helps with transportation planning in the Triangle.In the meantime, town officials will focus on implementing less expensive aspects of the plan such as the establishment of a bicycle advocacy group, which will work to create educational programs for bicycle awareness and encourage biking around town.Matt Hayes, who helped with the plan with Greenways Inc., said the formation of the group will be instrumental in the plan's success.It's huge" having a group of people to champion this plan and support it to create programs to encourage more people to bike" he said. It will make sure the town keeps this as a priority.""Members of the Transportation Advisory Board said they will begin forming the advocacy group within the next few weeks" with the long-term goal of having the group be independent of town government.Hileman said the exposure the advocacy group will bring to Carrboro bicycling could help the town improve its bronze-level status as a bicycle-friendly community" awarded by the League of American Bicyclists in 2004.""Five percent of the people in Carrboro get around on bicycles right now"" he said.That's 95 percent of the people we could potentially persuade.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(04/01/09 4:00am)
Carrboro has flirted with the idea of a town-sponsored day laborer pick-up site for years.For nearly a decade local day laborers have flocked to the corner of Davie and Jones Ferry roads each morning to wait for contractors to stop by and hire them. The Carrboro Board of Aldermen has begun considering a new site probably on land already owned by the town of Carrboro. The location will provide a sheltered area and a bathroom for the workers while they wait.The corner of Davie and Jones Ferry as a pick-up spot has concerned neighbors near the site. After neighbors complained about workers drinking smoking and urinating publicly Carrboro established an ordinance that prevented anyone from standing at the corner between 11 a.m. and 5 a.m.Although police say crime is down" the aldermen say an official site could serve as a compromise between day laborers and other residents. ""I think once we can give the workers the dignity of having a place where they gather for the expressed purpose of getting to work and being identified as workers" I think that's going to answer a lot of questions" Alderman Randee Haven-O'Donnell said.Alderman Lydia Lavelle said the aldermen have been independently brainstorming potential locations for the past few months, and will share ideas at an April session. Lavelle has researched towns which have tried to find a win-win: a place for the day laborers to go and not impact the neighbors"" she said, mentioning in particular a town in northern Virginia.In the 22,000-person town of Herndon, Va., day laborers stood on the corner outside a 7-Eleven in a busy part of town, and residents often complained about workers littering and drinking in public.In August 2005 the town established its official day labor site, a screened area where a police station once stood. Two weeks later, town government faced a lawsuit from a political watchdog group for using taxpayers' money to help illegal immigrants.The next election, Herndon residents voted out all but one of the sitting council members. The new government closed the site in 2007, and current council member Richard Downer said tension is still high.This thing tore the community up" Downer said. For the last four years it's been the dominant issue" and unfortunately it's created a lot of animosity here."" Mauricio Castro" co-founder of El Centro Latino" is familiar with the situation in Herndon and said the town's problem was focusing on the legal aspect of day labors rather than the dignity of the workers.""Carrboro's not going to make the same mistake"" he said. We have a great appreciation of the principles of freedom and democracy.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/25/09 4:00am)
Dozens of bike riders left Carrboro Town Hall happy Tuesday night as the town's Board of Aldermen finalized a plan intended to make their lives a little easier.At the public hearing the board unanimously adopted the final draft of a Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation Plan which presents guidelines to make Carrboro more bicycle-friendly.The plan prepared by Greenways Incorporated features bicycle access to all areas of town more bicycle lanes and an integrated network of bicycle paths and greenways.Matt Hayes of Greenways" Inc. said the plan was prompted by resident feedback suggesting Carrboro could be more bicycle-friendly. A poll the planners conducted revealed 75 percent of those surveyed felt Carrboro biking conditions were only ""fair.""""Fair still indicates some room for improvement"" he said.Hayes said Greenways, Inc. also will work to connect Carrboro's greenways with those of Chapel Hill.The board heard comments from several bike riders present, including Elise Giddings, owner of Cycle 9 bike shop.The more we can encourage and educate people about riding their bikes" it gives people a flexible alternative for transportation" she said. The only resident who spoke at the meeting completely opposed to the plan was Wayne Pein, who felt creating more bicycle lanes on local roads would deny bicyclists the privilege of using the entire road.If I ride in a wide lane such as Rosemary" motorists can pass me and I'm OK with that" Pein said. But putting down a stripe and confining me to a debris-filled spot — that's not friendly to me.""""That's friendly to motorists.""Hayes said that in the upcoming months the planners will work to establish a bicycle advocacy group in Carrboro.The board requested that town staff compile a list of the town's top 10 bicycle-related priorities and a plan for implementation.Winmore growth approvedThe board also approved the permit of the Arbors at Winmore development project" with a few stipulations.The 0.95-acre development located on a single lot within the Winmore neighborhood off Homestead Road will add 22 multi-family units to the area. For the developers the next step in the process is hammering out details in the project's plan including the exact number and height of its trees and a possible name-change.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/19/09 4:00am)
The Inter-faith Council of Social Services will host its 23rd annual CROP Walk to combat local and global hunger on Sunday.But this year might be the most important in its history.Inter-faith Council officials are hoping this year's crop of donations and sponsorships will be enough to cover the rising demands for social aid caused by the current economic recession.John Dorward assistant director" said the nonprofit group has had to give 32 percent more people financial aid in this fiscal year than the previous one.The group has also supplied food and groceries to 18 percent more people.""The hard part for us is seeing more and more people" while we don't necessarily have extra resources" he said.Typically, the 4-mile charity walk raises $20,000 to $25,000 for the Inter-faith Council. This is about 1.6 percent of the budget.Since she won't know the amount of funds raised until a month after the event, CROP Walk coordinator Shannon Gigliotti said she can't estimate how different this year's total will be.I worry a little that the real fear that's out there right now — in terms of economic problems we're facing — is going to affect the money raised"" she said.Still, Gigliotti said she is optimistic, and predicts that about 550 people will participate in the walk, the same number who walked last year.Dorward isn't concerned about receiving less revenue. He said despite the area's small size, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro event frequently places among the nation's 25 most lucrative CROP Walks.He also noted that in the past few months, both the amount of food donations and the number of IFC volunteers has increased significantly.The walk also has maintained almost all of its sponsors from last year, including Chapel Hill Sportswear, which supplies the event's organic T-shirts.We never considered not sponsoring them"" manager Holly Dedmond said. It's a cause we believe in.""Registration for the CROP Walk begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Carrboro Town Commons.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(03/04/09 5:00am)
Carrboro residents at Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting agreed that money should not determine an election.There was no debate when a law capping campaign contributions from individuals at $250 in Carrboro elections passed unanimously.As no Carrboro candidate received individual contributions of more than $250 in the 2007 election" Alderman Joal Hall Broun described the ordinance as more of a safety measure.""It just seems unseemly in a town of 18"0 almost 19000 people that you could buy an election" she said. Before the ordinance, Carrboro followed the state-set limit of $4,000 individual donations. The $250 cap is the lowest the state allows, and is identical to Chapel Hill's.The board's main reason for passing the ordinance was to ensure that low fundraising totals wouldn't doom future candidates.When you neutralize the costs" you have everyone on a more level playing field" Alderman Randee Haven-O'Donnell said.The two Carrboro residents who spoke Tuesday said the limit would encourage strong, grassroots campaigning.I don't want to run the risk that developers or other corporate or moneyed interests could railroad us"" Carrboro resident Fritzi Ross said after the meeting. The board acknowledged the ordinance's main criticism — that donations caps could make it harder to run against incumbent candidates. Still, Mayor Mark Chilton argued that the incumbent advantage was minimal.I don't believe more than a couple thousand dollars have been spent on an alderman race"" he said.Chilton said, even with the previous $4,000 limit, money was never a determining factor in any elections.The reality is" for example we had a very spirited mayor's race where both candidates spent less than 2000 dollars" he said. This leaves ample opportunity for any candidate to make a bid for office.""The board will revisit the ordinance in 2011" when its two-year duration expires.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/25/09 5:00am)
A handful of Latino day workers remained standing on the corner of Davie and Jones Ferry roads when the clock struck 11 a.m. Police officers drove up within a few minutes and in a gesture that some call necessary and others racist signaled them to please move along.The controversy surrounding Carrboro's anti-lingering ordinance persists even as evidence points to mixed results.According to records from Carrboro police reported crime has decreased on the corner itself.But in the surrounding blocks reports of loitering have increased greatly while other crimes remained constant or decreased slightly.Since November 2007 an ordinance has prevented people from standing at the corner of Davie and Jones Ferry roads from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. The corner is the unofficial pickup location for Latino day laborers so the spot typically hosts dozens of hopeful workers each morning.The day laborers themselves generally consider the ordinance unfair" emphasizing that the workers are penalized without having committed a crime.""I don't know why they don't leave us alone"" said day worker Juan Gonzalez. We're not to blame because we're not out here drinking.""Before the ordinance" police said they regularly received complaints from local residents of people smoking" drinking and even urinating publicly.Some Davie Road residents like Chris Kreutzer see the ordinance as essential to curbing unruly behavior.""People have been drinking in my yard" urinating littering … and lately it hasn't been nearly as bad as it was he said. You don't want anybody urinating in your yard" regardless of race.""Police statistics show that the number of crimes around the corner has decreased in the year since the ordinance was adopted. From November 2006 to November 2007" there were 24 incidents at or near the corner. Seven occurred during the following 12-month period.These crimes included loitering public alcohol consumption drunken and disruptive behavior and public urination.In the three-block area surrounding the corner the statistics show slight decreases in most cases except loitering. The number of loitering incidences in the surrounding area jumped from 18 to 70. Chief Carolyn Hutchison cites the corner statistics — along with the fact that police haven't had to make any actual arrests to enforce the ordinance — as reason for Carrboro to keep the law on the books. But critics of the ordinance maintain that it unfairly targets Latinos and violates their civil liberties.Ruby Sinreich founder of Orangepolitics.org a left-leaning community blog" said the ordinance's vague language targets Latino males.""It shouldn't be a crime to stand in a certain place at a certain time"" she said.I just wish Carrboro could find a better way to deal with the very real problems affecting the corner and the area.""But day laborer Pedro Ortega" said the ordinance doesn't discriminate against Latino workers as they already get sufficient time to look for a job in the hours allotted.He said that the people who haven't obtained work by 11 a.m. are unlikely to find any at all" and those who stay have other intentions. ""They're trying to hang out"" Ortega said.Hutchison is recommending that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen keep the law.The Aldermen will convene next month to brainstorm other potential pickup spots, and to discuss whether to keep the ordinance on the books.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/18/09 5:00am)
An effort to enact a Carrboro town charter amendment that facilitates environmentally friendly behavior drew strong criticism before it moved forward Tuesday.The amendment initially coupled with one banning housing discrimination based on sexual orientation was split into a separate vote after it received heavy opposition during the work session.Carrboro aldermen directed town staff to seek legislation from the state which would enable them to pass both amendments.Some homeowners' associations in Carrboro prevent individual homeowners from setting up household devices such as windmills and clotheslines.The environmental amendment would enable the board to erase barriers to certain devices and was met with dissent from the four residents who spoke at the meeting.The speakers delivered similar messages explaining how although the cause of conserving energy was noble" the amendments would unfairly strip homeowners of basic rights and protections.""What this language did is take away rights of the communities to govern themselves"" resident Robert Kirschner said. What was presented demonizes homeowners' associations who really work hard to represent communities.""As written"" the proposed amendment would allow the board to declare null and unenforceable any restriction preventing the installation of measures such as solar collectors and clotheslines. Resident Richard Anstine suggested the board collaborate with homeowners' associations to produce an amendment more respectful of their rules.""If one person brought this to be without any input from homeowners" there will be an outcry" he said. As the board voted to go forward, Mayor Pro Tem John Herrera acknowledged the speakers' frustrations and assured them their opinions would be taken into consideration in further discussion.We ask for your patience and open-mindedness" that you trust the system" Herrera said. There's plenty of citizen input and power that you have to affect what gets written in the end.""The aldermen plan to clarify the amendment to exclude condominiums from the environmental language before sending it to the state.The other amendment allows the alderman to adopt ordinances to ensure fair housing without regard to sexual orientation"" gender identification and gender expression. ""I think it's really interesting and neat that of these two amendments" the one that brought people out of the woodwork and was more controversial had to do with clotheslines and not (sexual) orientation" Alderman Jacquie Gist said.And that says something about how we've changed and evolved as a community over the past 20 years.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/08/09 5:00am)
Optimism in the Carrboro business community is falling along with revenue a recent survey indicated.Carrboro issued a survey to 18 nonprofits and 17 for-profit businesses to see how the recession is affecting local organizations and to determine how the town can help.The survey will set a starting point for the Board of Aldermen to decide on how to help local businesses" board member Lydia Lavelle said.""We as a board discussed and agreed it would be a good way to get feedback from as many groups as we could" she said.Many of the organizations expressed their desires to have the town intervene with assistance during the troubling economic time.They need to do what they're paid to do and that's help us" said Ted Hardin of The Music Loft.Popular suggestions as to how the town could help included promoting a buy local"" philosophy and creating more parking in downtown Carrboro. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce launched a Web site — webuylocal.org — in late January"" which encourages residents to shop in the area.Only about 6 percent of participants reported that the economy is having no effect on business.Carrburitos owner Gail Fairbanks said business has dropped 15 to 20 percent since last fall.""The arts in particular are suffering because art is a luxury rather than a necessity"" said Jackie Helvey, who owns UniqueOrn, a graphic and Web design company.More than 80 percent of participating nonprofits responded that the recession was affecting their organizations in a negative way."" Several are eliminating positions or refraining from hiring new staff members.Thirteen of the nonprofits said that they are receiving less funding.Lavelle said nonprofits have it harder than for-profit organizations during economic downturns.""The challenge for nonprofits — especially those who help people in dire circumstances — is when you have a recession" they get less money and less donations yet they need to provide more service" Lavelle said. It's kind of a paradox.""Lavelle said the aldermen want to work to help local business"" and hearing suggestions and new ideas from owners is the first step.""If there is a way we can help our local businesses that didn't affect us financially"" we wanted to be aware of that.""The board issued the surveys in December and January to prepare for upcoming work sessions that plan strategies to help local businesses" Lavelle said.Their answers are being reviewed by the local living economy task force. The board will discuss them in March.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(02/05/09 5:00am)
Carrboro officials are trying to take a proactive role in reducing the effects of the economic recession on residents.They already implemented a soft hiring freeze — leaving noncritical positions unfilled — and discussed ways to manage the town's budget.Carrboro began the soft freeze in January leaving two police jobs and one planning position unfilled until at least early March when the board reevaluates the budget.The town decided against a complete hiring freeze like that of Chapel Hill and will continue to fill positions it deems immediately necessary" Alderman Lydia Lavelle said.""It's part of an overall strategy to save money"" said Lavelle. Our staff is looking at every single program in every department and having them look at ways they can trim their budgets without affecting service.""To pinpoint what the government could do" town officials met Monday for a board retreat" where they discussed a list of 22 ideas to manage the town budget. The press was not sent standard e-mail notification prior to the event.Some of the items suggested were controlling the tax rate and supporting the growth of environmentally friendly industry.""Green energy in Carrboro would provide jobs" Alderman Joal Hall Broun said. And having people install solar panels can help them pay for their rent" clothe their children and buy food to eat.""Broun said with falling tax revenues and an increasing number of residents seeking aid from social services"" Carrboro residents will need the government to help them through the recession.""Many more people are asking for services" and the people asking for services don't fit the demographics" she said. People with college educations are seeking aid because of layoffs and the downturn of the economy.""If we're not the providers"" how do they get those resources they need?"" she said.Assistant town manager Bing Roenigk was one of three speakers who provided the board with information at Monday's meeting. She said that although the national economy is struggling" she still has found indicators that Orange County is faring well.The county's unemployment rate for December was 4.8 percent — the lowest in North Carolina" Roenigk said.""We have a stable employment situation" she said.Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton recognized the area's relative economic status compared to the rest of the U.S.But everyone's feeling it right now Chilton said. Our tax revenues are down" and it's a difficult situation.""Six local businesses and 10 nonprofit organizations filled out surveys about the economic impact in response to a town request. Most said they're either planning cuts or watching expenses carefully.Despite the town's efforts"" Chilton expressed concerns that the economic recession will lead to increased sales taxes.""I'm not optimistic — I think it's going to be difficult to cut costs enough"" he said. There's a limit to how deep we can cut. Obviously we want as little tax increase as possible.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(01/26/09 5:00am)
When Katrina and Randolph Ryan got the idea of opening Sugarland Bakery code violations weren't the first thing on their minds. They were however the reason it took the dessert shop six months to open its doors.The Ryans aren't the only ones who have struggled with code enforcement. Because of the difficulties of keeping up with state code many downtown Chapel Hill business owners have found maintaining their businesses a tedious and expensive process.Before opening every new business must pass an inspection administered by the town to ensure it complies with state code and sometimes additional local ordinances.Businesses also must gain approval from both the fire marshal and planning department. If they don't pass" the prospective tenant can't move in until the violations are fixed.Sugarland was put on hold because of a violation Katrina Ryan labeled ""infinite minutiae."" She said the town's inspector would not issue their occupation permit because the building's hand railing was one-eighth of an inch farther away from the wall than code permits.""It's virtually impossible in a 107-year-old building to make it do what she wanted it to do"" Ryan said. She wanted us to suspend the laws of physics in order to get it open.""Norm Praet's space didn't pass the fire test when he was preparing to open Cluck-U Chicken a year ago"" so he had to spend hundreds of dollars coating his space's steel beams with fireproof paint.""Everything's required to be fireproof" a term not defined in the state insurance code Praet said. Basically" Chapel Hill decides what fireproof means.""Senior Building Inspector Chelsea Laws said she understands the code can be strict" but that it is necessary to ensure occupants' safety.Town Economic Development Officer Dwight Bassett said other factors play into new business expenses besides just keeping up with code. When new tenants change the use of a building from a store to a sweets shop as the Ryans did" they have to pay extra to renovate it.""When you convert a building from one use category to another" it certainly impacts the rehab dollars" Bassett said.The buildings downtown are often 80 years old or more, Laws said, which leads to more expensive updates.Francis Henry said his restaurant, Ram's Head Rathskeller, lost business due to the 60-year-old building's deterioration, flooding and lack of wheelchair accessibility. It closed last year because of a failure to pay taxes.I wouldn't say it was unsafe" but someone new would definitely have to redo it" Henry said. I don't know how they could rent it out in the condition it's in today.""Ryan said after spending $700""000 to open Sugarland — double the amount she anticipated — she would imagine prospective owners would think twice before coming to downtown Chapel Hill.And Praet echoed Ryan's frustration.""Nobody wants anybody hurt or injured without cause"" but some of the regulations and requirements went a little bit too far.""He paused.""Chapel Hill is an expensive place to do business.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(12/03/08 5:00am)
An impressive showing at a nationally televised dog show launched a local pug to canine fame.After a year of successful presentations Chapel Hill resident Carolyn Koch and her prized pug Diva competed in the National Dog Show presented by Purina in November.Diva reached Group 2 — best among pugs and just short of best-in-show eligibility.The high finish marks another accomplishment on Diva's all-star resume which includes 10 best-in-show finishes this year and the current No. 1 national ranking among pugs" according to the American Kennel Club.Koch estimates she has entered Diva in anywhere from 150 to 175 shows since the pug was born in 2005 — often four or five in a weekend.The work paid off when the favorable ranks started coming.""It's a thrill to have such a beautiful bitch"" Koch said. I was pinching myself all year to make sure I wasn't dreaming.""Despite Diva's multiple wins" the Nov. 22 show was her first prominent competition. NBC broadcasts the Reading" Pa. event annually on Thanksgiving. The National Dog Show is the most widely viewed dog show in the country.""This was a very high profile win"" said Charlotte Patterson, a Florida dog breeder who bred Diva. It's so pleasing to know a dog you've bred is worthy enough to win at a big show.""Koch said Diva's status likely will rise after Koch advertises the achievement in some of the nation's leading dog magazines.Still" as accomplished as Diva has become this year she is not Koch's most decorated pug. That honor goes to Dermot who took the dog show circuit by storm from 2004-05.During his time on the circuit Dermot notched 65 best-in-shows" shattering the record of 56 victories by a pug. The record had stood for 24 years.""Dermot won everything"" Koch said. He's the top-winning pug in the history of the pug breed.""Overall" Koch has seen five of her dogs hold the top national pug ranking since 2000. Dermot even placed at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show where Diva will compete in February.Until then" Patterson said Koch and her agent will work hard to promote the award-winning pet.""They're going to plan out her career"" Patterson said. And it is a career. It doesn't happen by chance.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(11/30/08 5:00am)
An abandoned repeatedly vandalized building in Carrboro was demolished in mid-November but not before the town's fire department had some fun with it.The small cinder block structure on the future site of Martin Luther King Jr. Park had been boarded up by police for years" but vandals frequently pulled the boards off and congregated in the building. ""We talked as a staff. And since boarding up wasn't working — people were still breaking in — the building was going to be demolished"" Public Works Director George Seiz said.The construction stood among a group of modestly sized buildings once used as part of a farm property. While in the past few years the Parks and Recreation Department has utilized the other structures as storage space, this one's inconvenient location in the back of a field rendered it useless.The Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments decided Nov. 1 to tear it down, but since the demolition was planned for Nov. 18, the groups figured the fire department could use the site for training in its final days.Fire Chief Travis Crabtree was notified, and on Nov. 13, 14 and 17, shifts of Carrboro firemen practiced specialized training techniques in the building.The crews spent much of their time performing different entry-gaining methods on the structure — which measured 12 feet by 20 feet by 10 feet — including breaching its door and using chain saws to cut holes in its wood-shingled roof.The event was successful" Crabtree said. They learned a cinder block building is not near as hard to get into as one might think" with the proper tools.""The department also practiced ventilation techniques and taking down walls.""We pretend like there's a person in there that's trapped to save their life" Crabtree said. Making the proper hits" we can keep the structural integrity intact while making advancement into it.""Crabtree said the department would have burned the structure and practiced live fire training" but that would have required giving 20 days of advanced notice to the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.The firefighters despite the lack of actual fire" still managed to stay in character during the three days.""We worked hard to try to do our job and make it as realistic as possible"" Crabtree said. The person we want to save could be right behind the wall.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(11/07/08 5:00am)
In a move that angered a number of dog owners present Thursday night the Orange County Board of Commissioners agreed to pass later this month an ordinance limiting dog-tethering.The proposed ordinance didn't pass Thursday because it didn't garner the necessary unanimous vote but it will be discussed again later this month when it presumably will be approved.The ordinance states that dogs may not be tethered for more than three hours unattended within a 24-hour period. The rule also specifies appropriate equipment and collars for tethering.A number of tethering-related complaints prompted animal services to draft the amendment to the county's animal ordinance. Last year 37 of the 391 animal cruelty complaints registered in the county dealt with tethering.However" opponents of the restriction claim the ordinance prevents them from tending to their dogs' needs while they are away at work or school.""My wife stipulated we could not have a dog unless we had it outside most of the time"" said Chapel Hill resident Brian Fee, who usually keeps his German Shepherd, Lily, tethered in his backyard. She is definitely not an inside dog"" which is what she would have to be if this ordinance was passed.""Fee said the proposal suggests tethering is inhumane"" which he disputes.""Lily is humanely tethered" he said. She has 2"000 square feet to get around in. Tethering is not a problem.""The lone dissenting voice on the board" Commissioner Valerie Foushee" agreed with Fee:""I am not supportive of the ordinance"" she said. We had a dog that was tethered that was not treated inhumanely. Three hours is not enough time.""Those in favor of the ordinance pointed out that the time limit was actually a compromise and that animal services wanted to restrict tethering completely.""I see heartfelt arguments on both sides"" Chairman Barry Jacobs said.If passed — and commissioners suggested that the rule will pass at their next meeting — the amendment would take full effect after 12 months of education and a six-month period during which animal services would issue only warnings for violations.Jacobs said the board would be willing to listen to feedback after that time.Fee was visibly upset following the board's overall support of the ordinance, saying the amendment created unnecessary hardships on dog owners.Ninety-five percent of the dogs are fine"" he said. They want to protect the 5 percent.""Dog owners will also have to follow space requirements for the enclosures in which they keep their pets. Depending on the weight of the dog" the county will require minimums ranging from 80 feet to 120 feet.Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/15/08 4:00am)
Already recognized as one of the best towns in the state for biking Carrboro is one step closer to becoming even more bicycle-friendly.With the help of Greenways Inc. Carrboro's bicycle plan advisory committee formulated a draft for the town's bicycle transportation plan. The draft was presented to the Board of Aldermen at Tuesday's meeting.After hearing feedback from the board and the public" the committee will revise the plan and present it as a final draft in January or February.""It's exciting we're at this point in the planning process where we can actually talk about the draft plan"" said Adena Messinger, member of the advisory committee.Carrboro has prioritized bike transportation over the past 30 years"" and we're glad it wants to pursue a more comprehensive bicycle transportation plan.""The plan" which received a grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation in May 2007 calls for bicycle access to all areas of the town as well as the integration of Carrboro's bicycle and greenway networks.Since constructing its first bicycle lane in 1980 Carrboro has continued to accommodate bike riders. The town's actions paid off in 2004" when the League of American Bicyclists awarded it with a bronze-level designation for bicycle-friendly communities.Alderman Randee Haven-O'Donnell said she was enthusiastic about the plan and appreciated the fact that it encourages residents to ride bicycles.""I like how it uplifts the bicycle to a more transportation-oriented item rather than recreational"" she said. That elevation is important for people to realize that we're seeing it as a viable option.""Brian Bergeler" bicycle planner for Greenways Inc." said that encouraging bicycle riding will bring the town to a new level.""Carrboro is definitely very adamant in making bicycle transportation a priority"" he said. It's what's going to help elevate Carrboro to a higher stature.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
(10/02/08 4:00am)
There are plenty of reasons town officials want to tone down the Halloween celebration on Franklin Street: overcrowding security risks and high costs to name a few.But the Chapel Hill Police Department recently indicated another threat: gang activity.The annual celebration which attracted about 80000 partygoers last year and is not sponsored by the town" is being downsized after police noticed an increasing number of who they say are gang members making appearances in the crowd.""Typically what you see is these guys standing in a big circle and intimidating others" daring them to walk through their circle" said Brian Curran, chief of the Chapel Hill Police Department.As a result of the skyrocketing Halloween crowd, Chapel Hill police began enlisting the help of nearby departments. People were identified as gang members by police from neighboring Durham, Wake and Chatham counties.They are just pointing out different groups as they see them"" Curran said.He stated that as the crowd dissipates, the potential for gang-related incidents increases.As the night wears on and the students leave" these guys stay he said.Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Director Butch Kisiah said the tone of the celebration changes as the night progresses.At around 10:30 in the evening you can see a definite change in the atmosphere of the event" he said. The vast majority of folks are no longer in costume.""It's an issue of public safety at that point.""The issue of gang activity on Halloween night was raised in a memorandum to the town manager Sept. 22 explaining the need to shrink the festivities. The report" coauthored by Curran and Kisiah" includes the observation of ""criminal street gang members mingling throughout the crowd.""Police are hoping the changes this year will discourage gang members from attending"" but they cannot exclude alleged gang members from the event.""It's not illegal to be in a gang"" Curran said.Among the recommendations for managing the Halloween crowd were discontinuing Chapel Hill Transit shuttle service to Franklin Street and limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages at local bars.While these actions would not directly target street gangs, Kisiah said they would help regulate crowd size, which would lead to fewer potential conflicts.Halloween is on a Friday this year and officials had expressed concerns that the festivities would be bigger than usual, with last year's turnout at or exceeding 20,000 more people than the population of Chapel Hill.Kisiah said he understood making the event smaller will take years.There's no magic bullet that will fix it overnight"" Kisiah said. Hopefully we'll get it to where it is a community-friendly event."" ""The thing is"" if you don't try anything it will stay the way it is.""
(09/18/08 4:00am)
The organization behind a local charity effort is trying to quell the appetites of hungry cats and dogs.The Carrboro Plaza Veterinary Clinic's monthlong pet-food drive for the Orange County's Animal Shelter culminates today. The event will include food and cash prizes.""Any food we can get is just one less thing they have to buy"" said Jake Goad, a vet clinic administrative assistant who initiated the pet-food drive. We had heard about several human-food drives"" so we decided to put our own spin on it.""The food drive has the community enthused" including UNC senior Nicole Thompson" who recently purchased a cat from the animal shelter.""I think it's a neat idea" Thompson said. They get animals in all the time and they need food. So if people are able to buy it" then why not?""Local radio station WCHL will cover the event and also accept human-food donations for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.Today's event is the latest installment in WCHL's ""Cash & A Cause"" series.Throughout the summer" the station teamed up with area businesses to donate non-perishable items to the food bank.At today's event the station will provide free pizza catered by local restaurant Amante Gourmet Pizza.Attendees with WCHL logo stickers on their cars have the chance to draw envelopes of cash prizes ranging from $1 to $1000. Many of the people immediately donate their winnings to the charity hosting the event said Aubrey Fox" a senior account executive at WCHL.Fox said she thinks the community's positive reaction to the food drives shows the character of area residents.""(Local residents) understand we live in a very affluent and protected town"" Fox said. They know we should be able to give back. This community understands that we're fortunate.""Along with Fox" longtime radio personality Ron Stutts will attend the pet-food drive as will other members of the radio staff various vet clinic employees and representatives from the animal shelter.Goad said the vet clinic has collected more than 120 pounds of pet food during the drive" and he thinks today's donations will add to that total considerably.Goad hopes to make the pet-food drive an annual event:""Ultimately"" supporting our local shelter translates into saving animals' lives.""Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.