Whether you check the box on the census form indicating you’ve done post-doc work or dropped out of high school and went into a trade, the importance of a good education for your children is a shared value in this community.

Parents here are passionate about their kids’ education, which makes the schools a focal point of interest and scrutiny. For the most part, the district does a good job of keeping parents and students informed. But there’s been a troubling lack of communication regarding the major changes at Carrboro High School, where the reassignment of Jeff Thomas, the school’s inaugural principal, was announced via a terse email to the media. More »

Editor’s note: following are letters to the Carolina community from former Chancellor James Moeser and his successor, Holden Thorp.

Out with the old
Dear Members of the Carolina Faculty and Staff:

As the curtain is about to close on my tenure as chancellor, one of my hardest tasks is to find a suitable way to acknowledge all of the good wishes and thoughtful observations that so many of you have shared with me about the last eight years. More »

I was in the Triad the other day visiting with some fellow media types including blogger Jon Lowder, who related an incident he’d happened upon while returning from a recent visit to Pittsboro.

Lowder encountered a traffic stop on N.C. 87 just inside the Alamance County line. After watching the sheriff deputies and highway patrol checking licenses and looking over the cars, Lowder said it was apparent that the law was interested in vehicles with Hispanic occupants and not much interested in anyone else.
More »

The town of Chapel Hill has shown remarkable foresight in their decision to authorize a pilot public-financing program for their town elections. Instead of waiting for election costs to get out of hand and for special-interest money to corrode the process (as they have in some towns in the area), Chapel Hill is creating public safeguards now while running small-dollar, grassroots campaigns are still tenable. This will help the town avoid being overrun with expectation-laden high-cost elections and preserve the integrity of the town’s democratic process for years to come. At less than 50 cents per resident per year, the benefit of more fair and clean elections is well worth the modest cost.
More »

At Pa’lante’s celebration of Latino high school graduates last week, a young man encouraged his younger peers:
“Even if you think you’ll never get English, keep trying because you will get it eventually. And keep studying until you graduate, because it’s not that hard after all. And standing here ready to graduate feels really good.”
More »

“Kidzoom: The Power of Creativity” will open on July 11 at Kidzu Children’s Museum. The exhibit uses creative work by local artists and crafters to teach children about the importance of creativity in everyday life. Admission is free on opening day and a grand opening takes place at 10 a.m. The exhibit includes three creation zones entitled the “Green Thumb,” teaching about garden produce and markets, the “Build-A-Dream” construction zone and the “Kidoodle Moodle” art studio. The exhibits are bilingual. Museum members are invited to a preview on July10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Kidzu Children’s Museum is a nonprofit organization working to teach children through play. See kidzuchildrensmuseum.org for details.

The General Store Café in Pittsboro will host the Claws & Hooves Burrito Bash on July 15. The bash benefits the Carnivore Preservation Trust and the Heads Up! Therapeutic Riding Program. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. A ticket gets you a burrito, chips and salsa, music by Regina Hexaphone and entrance to the silent auction of art, jewelry and more. The Carnivore Presentation Trust is a sanctuary for big cats and offers walking tours. The Heads Up! Program provides horse-assisted therapeutic services. Information at cptigers.org or headsuptrp.org.

The Orange County Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold several blood drives throughout the month of July. Dates include:
• July 16, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the UNC Student Union Great Hall;
• July 16, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., in a bus in the parking lot behind UNC Hospitals off Manning Drive;
• July 17, 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m., at the Piedmont Electric office at 2500 Hwy. 86;
• July 18, 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 400 Country Club Rd.; and
• July 26, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department at 4102 Whitfield Rd.
For more information, visit www.ocncredcross.org.

UNC Hospitals is urgently seeking platelet donors. Because of two patients in critical condition, platelets are in high demand. Donation typically takes about two and a half hours. Donors are usually given snacks and shown a movie. The donated platelet supply is then administered to patients with cancer, liver disease and transplanted organs; premature babies; trauma and burn patients; and patients undergoing open-heart surgery. More »

by Valarie Schwartz
Staff Writer
Word came on Monday that shelves at local food pantries were bare. John Dorward, associate director of the Inter-Faith Council (IFC), gladly reported that its food pantry in Carrboro remains in good shape for this time of year. “I’m happy not to have to show you empty shelves,” he said as we walked into the pantry, which contains three long aisles stocked with non-perishable items.
The story was vastly different in Pittsboro, where Tina Gaines, director of the Salvation Army, said that donations were greatly needed. More »

The Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department will host the Hoop Jam with Julia Hartsell on July 20 at 3 p.m. at the Carrboro Branch Library (at McDougle Middle School). Hoop for fun and health with hoopstress Hartsell while Scott Crews provides live musical accompaniment. Call 918-7364.

(via Tony Blanford)

Monday 4-21
Carrboro beat the Durham School of the Arts 4-0 at Carrboro.

Goals scored by Olivia Blanford (2), Vicky Aldana and Mel Cranfill, assisted by Katie Gilmore, Peyton Kennedy, Kelly Casey and Molly Acuff. Shots taken: Carrboro 16, DSA 9. Saves: Carrboro’s Rachel Horton had 7, DSA 8.

More »

Chapel Hill-Carrboro district alumni were inducted into the Chapel Hill High School/Lincoln High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Inductees were Mike Earey, basketball; Dovonte Edwards, football; Robert Edwards, football; Lizzie Newton, lacrosse; Steve Scott, soccer; and Coach Joe Augustine, football. Dovonte Edwards plays football for the Detroit Lions.

More »

The Carrboro High School Spring Athletic Awards Ceremony will be held May 20 at 7 p.m.

The ceremony will celebrate the accomplishments of the baseball, men’s golf, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, softball, men’s tennis and track and field teams.

The ceremony will be held in the Carrboro High School gymnasium.

(via Tony Blanford)

April 11

The Carrboro High School Lady Jaguars soccer team’s match with Cary’s Panther Creek High School ended in a 1-1 draw on Friday. Carrboro’s Katie Gilmore scored, while Alisa Beardon put in a goal for Panther Creek. Carrboro took seven shots, Panther Creek 14. Carrboro goalkeeper Rachel Horton had eight saves. Carrboro had three corner kicks, Panther Creek had four. The Lady Jaguars’ record stands at 10-3-2.

More »

The Jesse Helms Center at Wingate College announced today that the former senator died in Raleigh at 1:15 a.m. Friday.

Updates to follow.

by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
After nearly five years, construction could begin this fall on a James Street sidewalk that residents say is long overdue.

George Seiz, director of Carrboro Public Works, said that despite delays and design challenges he hopes sidewalk construction will begin this fall, with completion of the project about six months later.

The James Street sidewalk is part of a sidewalk bond project approved by voters in 2003. The project includes 0.65 miles of sidewalks, from West Main Street to Hillsborough Road. The sidewalk is planned for the west side of James Street. More »

by Rich Fowler
Staff Writer
Jerry Neville is a Carrboro native, UNC graduate and has worked for the Town of Chapel Hill for over twenty years. For the last seven years, he has volunteered at the Hargraves Community Center, teaching tennis to local kids on Saturdays.

He works in the brand-new Town Operations Center in the Traffic Engineering department, and for the last two months, every time he’s gone to the men’s room, he’s had to look at racist graffiti targeting him and using the N-word. More »

An autopsy report released Wednesday confirmed that Eve Carson, former UNC student body president, was shot at least five times with two weapons. According to the report, it appears Carson held her hand over her face as the shooter fired a shotgun that sprayed birdshot through her hand and into her temple. More »

The hours of operation for branches of the Orange County Public Library System were reduced starting July 1. Changes include:
• The Carrboro Library at McDougle School will be closed on Mondays. In addition, Tuesday-Thursday hours have been reduced to 5-8 p.m.;
• The Main Orange County Public Library’s Saturday hours have been reduced to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and
• The Cedar Grove Library will be closed on Saturdays, and Monday-Thursday hours have been reduced to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Other hours not noted have not been changed. For more information, visit www.co.orange.nc.us/library/orange or call 245-2525.

by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Carrboro High School teachers and parents say they don’t understand Superintendent Neil Pedersen’s recent decision to replace Principal Jeff Thomas and that district administrators owe them more of an explanation.
The district announced June 18 that Thomas has been reassigned to the district’s central office and that Rodney Trice, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, would serve as interim principal. The release announcing the change did not indicate why Thomas was being replaced. More »

by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Neil Pedersen said on Wednesday his recent decision to replace Jeff Thomas as principal of Carrboro High School was based on unsolicited feedback from staff and parents, as well as the results of surveys that indicated both students and teachers were unhappy with their experiences at Carrboro High.

The district announced last week that Thomas was reassigned to the district’s central office and that Rodney Trice, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, will serve as interim principal. The release announcing the change did not indicate why Thomas was being replaced.
More »

by Jordan Timpy
Staff Writer

The Dean Dome was rocking Saturday – for Tigers and Wildcats rather than Tar Heels – as Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill high held graduation ceremonies.

Nearly 400 anxious-looking CHHS students dressed in caps and gowns lined the corridors of the Smith Center before their afternoon ceremony began. Sporadic applause and shouting from the seating area was audible even before any of the students entered, as the faces and names of graduates were displayed on the big screens around the court.
More »

by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has announced that Carrboro High School Principal Jeff Thomas has been reassigned to the district’s central office and that Rodney Trice, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, will serve as interim principal.

District officials wrote in an email to The Citizen that Thomas had one year remaining on his contract and that he “is not filling a specific position and his responsibilities are yet to be determined.”
More »

by Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education is considering changes to grading policies that would make 61 the lowest score a student could receive and eliminate zeros.

The school board discussed the possible policy revisions last week in a work session. A number of teachers and parents, however, have sharply criticized the proposed changes, saying they would lower standards and inflate grades.
More »

Special Events
Computer classes — free computer classes: Internet, Email, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, NC Live. Registration required. Wednesdays, through Aug. 6, 7pm Century Center 918-7387 cybrary@co.orange.nc.us
The Music Man — Summer Youth Conservatory presents the musical. July 24-27. Thu-Sat 7pm, Sun 2pm. Tickets and information at 962-7529 or playmakersrep.org
More »

Thursday, June 26

Cat’s Cradle: mewithoutYou, Maps & Atlases, Telescreen. 8pm
Blue Horn Lounge: Blue Diablo’s Pete Waggonner. 9pm
Local 506: Russian Circles, Daughters. 9:30pm
The Cave: EARLY: Lauderdale. LATE: Brett Harris w/ Joanna Lynne.
General Store Café: Bo Lankenau & Friends. 8:30pm
Weaver Street Market: The Tim Smith Band. 6pm
Blue Bayou Club: Lisa Kyle Acoustic. 8:30pm
Reservoir: The Here We Go Boys, The Dirty Little Heaters. 10pm
More »

Special Events

Computer classes — free computer classes: Internet, Email, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, NC Live. Registration required. Wednesdays, through Aug. 6, 7pm Century Center 918-7387 cybrary@co.orange.nc.us

African Roots of Banjo and Fiddle in Southern Traditional Music — June 26, 4-6 p.m., Sonja Haynes Stone Center, 150 South Road, free and open to the public. Singer and fiddler James Leva and West African griot (storyteller) Cheick
Hamala Diabaté will join folklorist Cece Conway for live music and a multimedia presentation on the influence of African musical traditions on southern banjo and fiddle music.UNCSouth.org.
More »

Thursday June 19

Blue Bayou Club: Andy Coats. 9pm
The Cave: EARLY: Brandon & Rob. LATE: Who Are We featuring M.P.
General Store Café: Tony Galiani Band. 8:30pm
Local 506: Centro-matic, The M’s. 9:30pm
Reservoir: Worn in Red, Hazerai, Dr. Powerful. 10pm
Weaver Street Market: After Hours. 6pm
More »

Special Events

Potluck in a Pasture — local food, local farm, local arts and music. Share organic food and recipes with neighbors. June 29, 6-8pm. Contact 219-9840.

Create ‘08 — June 20-22. 190 Sycamore Trail, Prospect Hill (N of Hillsborough). Live music, camping, open mic, community art, dance, workshops, kid stuff and more. $20 in advance for 3 days, $30 at gate. Day tickets $10. createnc.org
More »

• Obituary - Janet Francis Anderson
  Jun 26, 2008

• Obituary - Barbara Marie Campbell Hardee
  Jun 26, 2008

• Obituary - Brittany Anne Hauchman
  Jun 26, 2008

• Aldermen agenda
  Apr 21, 2008

• County Commissioners January 16 Agenda
  Jan 15, 2008

• County Commissioners January 15 Agenda
  Jan 14, 2008

• Music Calendar: 04/17/08
  Apr 17, 2008

• Community Brief: Music benefit
  Mar 13, 2008

• Recently: Hitting new highs
  Jan 3, 2008