Not going to duplicate the posts here, but we’re following the Cindy Sheehan visit to Carrboro at The Mill.

Haw River Watch Project coordinator Cynthia Crossen keeps a focus on the challenges to the health of the river as she helps build a network of monitors. Photo by Kirk Ross

By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Four times a year, volunteers from across the Haw River watershed head down to their piece of creek or riverbank to take a serious look at the water and the life around it.

Haw River Watch Project teams are instrumental in monitoring the health of the river and its tributaries. They check for changes in the color of the water, erosion and any indication of the health of the river to report back. In addition, volunteers test the pH levels and look for different aquatic insects.

On Saturday, River Watch coordinator Cynthia Crossen demonstrated water sampling on the banks of the Haw in Saxapahaw. Participants of all ages traipsed around the river collecting water samples and various critters.

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(Please note that there have been filings since the print edition. You can follow the election on our Elections & Politics site.

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

The mayors may have a smooth ride, but in Orange County every other elected office on the November ballot has more candidates than seats open to accommodate them.

With less than 36 hours to go in the filing period, only Mark Chilton, Kevin Foy and Tom Stevens, mayors of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, respectively, are running unopposed.

(For school board filings, see story.)

On Wednesday, Frank Abernethy, 49, filed to run for Carrboro Board of Aldermen, bringing the total number of candidates to four for the three seats up this year.

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By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

Six candidates have filed for election to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education.

Newcomers include Mia Day Burroughs, Mehar Safvi and Gary Wallach. Incumbents Jamezetta Bedford, Mike Kelley and Annetta Streater have filed for reelection. Board member Liz Carter has announced that she will not seek reelection.

Burroughs, 45, has two children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, at Phillips Middle School and East Chapel Hill High School. She has lived in Chapel Hill since 1995 and works as a freelance grant strategist. Burroughs has also served as chair of the Estes Hills Elementary School Governance Committee.

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By Taylor Sisk
Staff Writer

Ask each of the dozen or so individuals from throughout the Carrboro community why they attended the U.S. Social Forum and you’ll likely get a dozen or so variations on a common objective – to help create a space for change, gather inspiration, rejuvenate, rejoice, join forces, connect. And many, if not all, among those are also likely to reveal having come away with a sense of something gained, some sense of, “This thing that we’ve got – it’s big.”

That is, precisely, how one local attendee, Ruby Sinreich, defined it – the “this thing” that she describes being a movement, or, rather, a movement of movements, for a more just, peaceful and equitable world in which to live.

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By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education is set to adopt the $54.3 million 2007-08 district operating budget and approve about $1.1 million in reductions tonight (Thursday) at a budget work session.

Board members identified potential cuts at a meeting last Thursday after hearing recommendations from Superintendent Neil Pedersen.

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By Taylor Sisk
Staff Writer

A meeting of the Rogers Road Community Enhancement and Monitoring Taskforce was held Tuesday night at the Faith Tabernacle Oasis of Love Church with approximately 30 people in attendance. Frustrations were many, and some small agreements were reached.

The proceedings began with a demand that action be taken to keep a solid waste transfer station out of the community. “The consensus at the neighbor-to-neighbor meeting was that there should be no transfer station,” said Neloa Barbee Jones, a task force member and Rogers Road community member, referring to a June 19 meeting that was open to community members only. (The transfer station site, on Eubanks Road, was approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners in April. As part of that development plan, the board agreed to form the task force to address community concerns and recommend enhancements to the neighborhood.)

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Soul, rhythm and blues and gospel vocalist Al Green will replace Aretha Franklin as the headliner of Carolina Performing Arts’ 2007-2008 season-opening concert on Sept. 13.

Green, known for classics including “Let’s Stay Together,” “Tired of Being Alone” and “Here I Am (Come and Take Me),” will perform at 8 p.m. in Memorial Hall.

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Low-cost rabies clinic
Orange County Animal Services will offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics July 19 and 26.

The first clinic will be held July 19 from 6-7 p.m. at Pathway Elementary School in Hillsborough, and the second will be held July 26 from 6-7 p.m. at Efland Cheeks Elementary School in Efland.

Rabies vaccinations will be offered for $5 at the clinic. Payment must be made in cash.

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Ruellia standing tall in ditch in lower Bynum. Photo by Ken Moore

By Ken Moore

I spied it three weeks ago along a roadside ditch in lower Bynum while helping volunteers clear a site for the Haw River Assembly’s new storage building. Then, this past week, some of us were back down there helping move stuff into the new shed.

There it was again, and this time there were more lining the weedy roadside.

I’ve been happy to spot it here and there in my yard, at the edge of the back steps and along the edge of the house foundation where the mower blade seldom travels.

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The Carrboro Farmers’ Market will hold its annual tomato tasting on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons.

Participants will be able to sample more than 60 types of tomatoes, from conventional to heirloom varieties, all grown within a 50-mile radius of the market. In addition, master gardeners will offer tomato-growing tips and tomato recipes will be available.

After sampling tomatoes, participants will be able to vote for their favorite varieties, and the winners will be announced next week.

DSI COMEDY THEATER - 338-8150, www.dsicomedytheater.com.  HAROLD NIGHT - 2 teams perform 30-min collection of improvised scenes & games. 8pm. $5. COMEDYSPORTZ - Competitive improv for all ages. Every Sat, 7:30pm. $10
MISTER DIPLOMAT - Longform improv featuring local celebrity guests. Every Fri, 9:30pm. $10. BEST SHOW EVER - All-star comedy showcase featuring the best of DSI. Sat, 9:30pm. $10. CAGEMATCH - Competitive longform improv; audience votes - winning team plays new challenger. Every other Thu, 8pm. $8
Comedy Hour – Fourth Sat, 7:30pm. Comedy open mic – Fourth Tue, 7:30-9:30pm. The Cave, 968-9308, www.caverntavern.com.

Coaches wanted
The Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department is currently accepting volunteer coaches’ applications for the 2007 - 2008 Youth Basketball Program. Coaches must exhibit the ability to organize practices and communicate effectively with players, parents and Recreation Department staff. They must also exhibit the ability to teach proper playing skills and fundamentals, proper sportsmanship, and provide an enjoyable atmosphere at practices and games. Initial deadline for all applications is Friday, August 17. To receive a volunteer coach’s application or additional information, please contact the Recreation Department at 918-7364.

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Carrboro Film Festival  coming soon. Photo Illustration Courtesy of Jackie Helvey

Organizers for the second annual Carrboro Film Festival are putting out the call for submissions from local filmmakers.

The festival will be held November 18 and will feature films no longer than 20 minutes.

According to the festival requirements, filmmakers must have “at one time in life had a brush with Orange County.”
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Seniors/Wellness Program
ORANGE COUNTY SENIORSTRIDERS - A University Mall-walking program designed for all levels of walkers. 8:00am exercise warm-up, breakfast at Bear Rock, and health talk by local health experts on a variety of topics. Orange County residents age 55 and older. Free. 3rd Wed of every month. 968-2073.

Groups
MEDITATION - Practices of Tibetan Buddhism: Shinay, Tonglen & Deity Practice. Everyone is welcome. Piedmont KTC Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center. www.piedmontktc.org. 933-2138.

YOGA FOR CANCER PATIENTS - Restorative yoga offered every week for cancer patients and their families at Cornucopia House Cancer Support Center, Wed 11am-noon and Thu 6-7:30pm. Free. 401-9333, www.cornucopiahouse.org.

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