Erika Heyder

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Town Officials Delay Improvement Plans

By Erika Heyder | April 24

Chapel Hill officials are working to prioritize capital improvements projects in light of the release of the town's 2002-03 proposed budget, which includes delaying some projects. Bill Stockard, assistant to the town manager, said the town's original $1.2 million budget for its Capital Improvements Plan -- a 15-year financial strategy to meet the town's major infrastructure needs -- has been decreased by 60 percent.

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Space Limited in Local Day Cares

By Erika Heyder | April 23

While UNC student parents have been battling a lack of funding and available child-care facilities on campus, local day-care officials say they are struggling with similar problems. Last week, student parents accomplished one goal when UNC officials pledged to match a $36,000 referendum, which the student body passed in February, that would allocate dollars for child-care subsidies. The subsidies will be valid for University-sponsored child care centers, like Victory Village Day Care Center.

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Aldermen Refine Vision for Downtown

By Erika Heyder | April 4

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night to review the Downtown Visioning report and provide direction on what elements of the documents it would like staff to address. The report is part of the Vision 2020 plan, a comprehensive guide for developing downtown Carrboro that was created by residents, officials and the commissioned group Walkable Communities. James Harris, Carrboro's community and economic development director, helped the board sort through the plan's documents piece by piece.

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Club Nova Could Receive Makeover

By Erika Heyder | March 28

A local architect is one step closer to building new apartments at Club Nova that would provide mentally ill people with the opportunity to live on their own. On Tuesday night, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen unanimously granted Giles Blunden's request with Blunden-Piesse Architects to hold a public hearing to gauge input on an apartment building conditional-use permit. Blunden requested the permit so he can build 24 single-room occupancy units at the club's existing site and demolish the existing eight units presently there.

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Specialists Use Education To Combat Child Abuse

By Erika Heyder | March 22

Recent child pornography ring busts and charges against clergy members nationwide have increased local awareness in educating the targets of predators. Although child abuse cases are uncommon in Chapel Hill, experts say there is still reason for concern. According to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, one in three girls and one in six boys are sexually assaulted before the age of 18.

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Resident May Face 2nd Blindness

By Erika Heyder | February 27

Resident May Face 2nd Blindness After one surgery to restore his vision lost in an accident, a high school sophomore awaits another to help him keep his sight. By Erika Heyder Staff Writer A year after technologically advanced surgery gave him the gift of sight, Francisco, a soft-spoken high school sophomore, is slowly watching the miracle fade. Today, Francisco is finding himself closer and closer to darkness, the way he lived his life for six years before science offered him the chance to see again.

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Commissioners Discuss Parks Proposal

By Erika Heyder | February 20

At Monday night's work session, Orange County Commissioners further discussed a proposal requesting that county funds be used for new parks and open-space projects in Orange County. No major decisions regarding plans for the parks projects were made at the session. "The commissioners just brainstormed," said Orange County Budget Director Donna Dean. "The basic point was to update the commissioners on what the Intergovernmental Parks Works Group is pursuing and working on." Orange County voters approved $20 million for parks, recreation and open space in November.

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Singles Make Different Valentine's Day Plans

By Erika Heyder | February 12

Cupids, hearts, dinner reservations and chocolates for Valentine's Day can stir up mixed feelings among single students on campus. While some pass it off as just another day, many feel that it can be quite special if you have someone to share it with. This Valentine's Day, singles all around campus have developed alternate means of spending the day that celebrates the relationships they might not have. Many women have planned girls- only outings. Carlette Cavenaugh, a freshman biology major, has her own plans for rebuking Valentine's Day.

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Town Council Approves Using Part of Bond Money for Parks

By Erika Heyder | January 30

The Chapel Hill Town Council approved the allocation of funds from a $20 million Orange County bond package Monday night to finance a joint parks and recreation project.At its regular business meeting, the Town Council made minor adjustments to a policy proposal, which addresses the Joint Parks and Open Spaces Projects resolution, and then approved it.

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Despite Financial Woes, Buses Will Stay Free

By Erika Heyder | January 23

Despite looming budget concerns, town and University officials are confident that fare-free busing is here to stay. Fare-free busing is the result of a collective effort between Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University's Department of Public Safety. The service, which allows all public transportation patrons to ride with no extra fee, began Jan. 2. Thus far, the project has been heralded as a success, and ridership numbers have increased on nearly all routes.