July 2005
Both the Chapel Hill News and the Chapel Hill Herald (happy, Ray?) report that a challenger has filed to run for the Carrboro Board of Aldermen.
The new guy's name is David Marshall. He is 41, latino, a veteran, a single (?) parent, a self-described "technocrat," and is pursuing joint law/masters degrees from UNC and Duke (impressively bi-partisan, but depressingly driving a lot, I guess). I've never heard his name before. He doesn't appear to have served on any town boards or commitees. Does anyone here know him or have any additional information to share?
With only two incumbents running for three open seats, it looks good for Marshall so far. But filing doesn't close for about 3 more weeks, so who knows...
Here's an announcement from the folks at OWASA:
Customers are invited to “Free Fridays†at University Lake and the Cane Creek Reservoir from July 15th through August 19th
OWASA cordially invites all customers to use the Cane Creek Reservoir and University Lake for free on July 15, 22 and 29th; and on August 5, 12 and 19th.
The “Free Friday†program enables OWASA customers to rent an OWASA boat or use a private boat without the usual lake use fees. (The fee for renting an electric trolling motor does apply on Free Fridays.)
To get a waiver, an OWASA customer would need to bring a recent bill.
In addition, the Free Friday program is offered to residents of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community who receive OWASA service but do not receive an OWASA bill because they live in a development served through a master meter. Residents without a bill are asked to bring identification so that their local residence can be confirmed.
The lakes will be open for recreation through mid-November as follows:
Carrboro now has a competitive alderman election. Four candidates (at least) for three seats. The following accompanied Randee Haven-O'Donnell's announcement:
Today I filed for a seat on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. As you know,
the November election will bring change to the longstanding leadership in
Carrboro. My experiences as a long time Carrboro resident, a teacher, and
community advocate have prepared me to be an effective voice for the
community.
Well, I don't believe Ray Gronberg is gone to Durham never to be heard from in Orange again. Neil Offen did report today that Ray has been reassigned to a Durham County beat. Unfortunately Neil's piece is not available through the on-line edition.
Ray does have a great memory of votes and issues over the years he's covered Orange. If you don't believe that, try having him edit your work on some of those issues! I still have some of the lengthy email exchanges to attest to it.
I'm sure, despite his Parkwood address and Durham beat, he'll be popping up on these pages from time to time to keep us honest.
Good luck, Ray.
I was thinking of writing my own column on the question of the UNC system president's pay and the implications thereof. Perry Deane Young has done such a good job in today's News that I may not have to:
the university system's governors have suggested they may raise the university president's salary to $500,000 in order to attract the best candidate for the job. Never mind that the current president's salary of $300,000 carries with it an extraordinary expense account, a free car and one of the grandest historic houses in Chapel Hill.
Well, boy howdy, I hope you'll agree, it doesn't take a doctorate to figure out how wrong-headed this kind of thinking is. If candidates come here for $500,000, they would just as easily keep on going to the next place for even bigger bucks. Furthermore, if they're in it for the money, we shouldn't want them; we don't need them.
Today UNC student Jason Baker filed to run for Chapel Hill Town Council. I am very excited to see a serious student candidate, something we haven't had here for a few cycles.
It's actually not much of a jungle - yet. Chapel Hill's field of candidates seems pretty tame, at the moment there are only 4 candidates for 4 seats! I'm sure that will change, but so far all of the competitive action is in Carrboro. Anyway, it's a good year for challengers in Chapel Hill...
Chapel Hill Herald, Saturday July 16, 2005
The Raleigh-based Common Sense Foundation has launched a research and advocacy project to increase awareness of the many struggles faced by North Carolina's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community. This fall they will release a comprehensive study on the laws and policies affecting LGBT North Carolinians.
Issues to be addressed include adoption, child custody, marriage, visitation rights, gender identity, crimes against nature laws, employment/ housing/health care discrimination, harassment, hate-crime legislation and HIV/AIDS. For heterosexuals, many of these issues, the first few in particular, are matters that we take for granted.
Many of us are privileged in that we do not have to think about our sexual orientation, just as many do not have to think about their race, religion or gender. But in matters of fundamental rights, there should be no privileged class. Unfortunately, the LBGT community in North Carolina is being discriminated against in nearly all aspects of public and private life.
In today's Chapel Hill News, Fearrington Village Resident Lola Spritzer wants to have her cake and eat it too. She moved out into the country not because she couldn't afford living in town, but because she "loved the rural-like atmosphere of Chatham County." And yet now she "can't accept" the inconvenience of having to drive 30-minutes to get what she needs.
We moved to this area 10 years ago because we loved the rural-like atmosphere of Chatham County. But growth is inevitable. So it is with a great sense of loss that I accept the upcoming housing developments, the increase in population and the denuded two-lane country road that was once U.S. 15-501.
What I don't accept is the long-distance driving we face week after week. Wal-Mart, if the rumor becomes a fact, would be just down the road. So considering the high cost of fuel and the wear and tear on the car, I'll swallow my reservations, ignore the barbs from my friends and enjoy the convenience
- My View, Chapel Hill News, 7/20/05
To talk about whatever is bothering you....
For those unfamiliar with it, the Orange Water And Sewer Authority Board of Directors is considered by many to be the most powerful non-elected body in Orange County. Members are appointed by the elected officials of the various government bodies. According to a recent announcement from OWASA:
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen, Chapel Hill Town Council and Orange County Board of Commissioners recently made four appointments to the OWASA Board of Directors.
- Mr. Mac Clarke of Chapel Hill, who began serving on the OWASA Board in 2003, was reappointed.
- Ms. Terri Buckner and Mrs. Laura Sandvik were appointed by the Carrboro Aldermen.
- Ms. Marge Anders Limbert was appointed to the OWASA Board by the Orange County Commissioners.
Ms. Buckner has served on Carrboro's Transportation Advisory Board and Environmental Advisory Board. She is now Vice Chair of the Chapel Hill Information Technology Committee and a volunteer researcher for the local Community Initiative to End Homelessness.
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