Maggie Kao

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Off-Campus Students Adjust to Transit Woes

By Maggie Kao | February 5

Despite the scarcity of on-campus parking spaces, students living off campus are making the best of a bad situation. Cheryl Stout, assistant director of parking services, said that out of the 3,553 parking permits issued, 1,852 are available to student commuters. "Parking is open to students who live off campus," she said. Those students who live within a two-mile radius of the Bell Tower are ineligible for on-campus parking. "Those that live outside of the two-mile radius can apply for permits distributed by lottery." Because of the hassle of wait lists and lines for parki

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Local Schools Hope To Enrich ESL Classes

By Maggie Kao | January 22

Due to the growing diversity of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area, school officials are working to accommodate the specific needs of low English proficiency students. When the LEP program was introduced in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in 1987 to better serve students with special language needs, there was one teacher for 67 students. Today, all schools in the system offer LEP services, including the preschool level, said Kim Hoke, spokeswoman of Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools.

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Twinkle Toes in a Row

By Maggie Kao | January 17

After 14 years of tenancy at Carrboro's ArtsCenter, the Carrboro Senior Program has found a new home -- and a new name. A Nov. 28 press release announced the program's move from West End Theater located at 300 E. Main St. on Dec. 31, 2001. Jerry Passmore, director of the Orange County Department of Aging, said the program has now relocated to the Century Center of Carrboro. Its full name has been changed to Carrboro Recreation and Parks Senior Leisure Program at Century Center.

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Town Council Advances Hotel Project

By Maggie Kao | November 14

The Chapel Hill Town Council unanimously approved the construction of a hotel on Franklin Street that is expected to bring more than 30 jobs to the area. At its Monday night meeting the council approved a special-use permit for construction of the five-story 51,100 square foot hotel, temporarily called the Franklin Hotel. The planned hotel will have 66 rooms and will be built in the place of the abandoned Carolina Trailways bus station on the corner of West Franklin and Kenan streets.

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Voters Pass Largest Bond in County History

By Maggie Kao | November 7

Orange County residents approved all four components of a $75 million bond package last night, passing the largest bond in the county's history. The bond was divided into four sections and will fund the county's two school systems, parks and recreation, senior centers and affordable housing. "I had been optimistic that the bond would pass, based on general comments and also editorials," Orange County Commissioner Alice Gordon said. The majority of the $75 million will go toward education, with $47 million slated to construct and improve Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City s

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Town Braces for Halloween Crowd

By Maggie Kao | November 1

Chapel Hill businesses and law enforcement officers battened down the hatches Wednesday in preparation for the onslaught of Halloween revelers. Local bars owners also said they prepared for the festivities by stocking up on keg beer and employees. Chris Rice, the co-owner of Carolina Brewery, located at 460 W. Franklin St.

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New School Sites Discussed

By Maggie Kao | October 22

School officials discussed potential sites for a new high school Tuesday to ease overcrowding in the area's public schools. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education proposed four potential locations in the southern part of town, with three located off Smith Level Road and the fourth near U.S. 15-501.

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Candidates, Residents Discuss Local Growth

By Maggie Kao | October 15

Carrboro residents expressed concerns about housing and neighborhood growth at a round-table discussion with candidates Sunday. The Citizens for Livable Communities, an organization based on promoting positive community growth, organized the forum, which was held at the Century Center in downtown Carrboro. The CLC was founded in 1991. All eight of the candidates for Carrboro mayor and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen were present to discuss various topics with concerned citizens.

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Surge in Public Generosity Helps Orange County Red Cross Stay Afloat

By Maggie Kao | October 2

Despite earlier funding difficulties, the financial outlook of Orange County's Red Cross chapter is improving with the help of community support and awareness. Wallace Hill, chairman of the chapter's Board of Directors, said the chapter will not be closing despite financial concerns. Hill said several circumstances have led to problems within the chapter during the last four years.

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Zorbas Owners Making Effort to Regain Business

By Maggie Kao | September 27

The owners of Zorbas Restaurant have seen a sharp decline in business after an incident last October in which they denied entrance to a blind man's guide dog. Oct. 7 of last year, Iris Andros, one of the owners of Zorbas Restaurant, on 105 S. Elliott Road, refused service to David Oberhart and his guide dog, Cooper, citing heath concerns of other customers. Louis Andros, Iris' husband and an owner of the business, was not present to assist her with the matter.