An unusually heavy fruiting Persimmon Tree in the middle of Chapel Hill. Photo by Ken Moore

By Ken Moore

A desperate call two weeks ago: “Ken, that persimmon tree near my office is already dropping fruit and I’m leaving for a couple of days and don’t want them to go to waste!” I assured him I would collect those ‘simmons during his absence. We shared mutual curiosity that the ripe persimmons were dropping before the first frosts this year. So, it must be shorter days rather than frigid nights that trigger fruit ripening.

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Age: 50 (but I look younger)

Neighborhood: Downtown, next to the Town Commons for 15 years (since before there was a Farmer’s Market)

Family: Married to Wendy Wenck on May 5, 2005 after 20 years of togetherness. No children, but we have two terrier dogs and a yellow cat.

Profession/Business: Recent graduate in accounting, still looking for a real job. I have worked with Tarheel Takeout since August 2006.

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Age: 37

Neighborhood: Downtown Carrboro

Family: Married with two boys, ages 6 and 8.

Profession/Business: Attorney and broker

Education & Experience: Juris Doctor NCCU School of Law 1997; Bachelor of Arts, UNC-CH, Geography, 1993.  Chapel Hill Town Council, 1991-1997; Carrboro Board of Aldermen, 2003-2005; Mayor of Carrboro, 2005-present.

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Special Events

Peak of Autumn Tour at Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve – Take a guided walk through the colorful fall landscape. Enjoy a public hike along the Eno River in northwest Durham. Sat, Nov 3, 2-4:30pm. $8. To pre-register and get directions, call 962-0522 or visit www.ncbg.unc.edu.

Community Pet Memorial Service - Artwork and memorial service in honor of deceased pets. Sun, Nov 4, 3:30pm. The Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro St, Carrboro. 918-7385.

The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra – 18-piece ensemble performing big band jazz. Presented by Central Carolina Community College. Sun, Nov 11, 2-4pm at The Barn at Fearrington Village. For more info, contact Carl at 542-6495, ext 224.

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The 6th Annual Orange County Business Expo will take place on Monday, November 5th from 1 to 7:30pm at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel. The Expo showcases the businesses of greater Orange County and is open to the public.

The Orange County Animal Shelter will hold an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday in recognition of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, November 4-10.

The open house will provide animal-related literature, an arts and crafts table for children, refreshments and displays of the county’s new shelter plans. Visitors will also be able to tour the shelter.

More information at www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices.

The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service last week honored Mayor Kevin Foy, the University Presbyterian Church and volunteer Margaret Stumpf for their commitment and service to the homeless and hungry in the community.

Stumpf, who has volunteered at IFC for nearly 25 years, received the Mildred Berkeley Community Service Award, which is awarded annually to an individual who has made a difference for IFC’s board, staff, volunteers and clients.

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Court-ordered mediation last Thursday by the Dispute Settlement Center resulted in an agreement between Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman and Amanda Kotecki, a cross-country meet volunteer.

After a Sept. 5 incident at Hank Anderson Park, Kotecki testified to a magistrate that Coleman bumped her with his car after she had stopped traffic to protect runners as they crossed through the park. A magistrate issued a charge against Coleman for misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.

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Age: 40

Neighborhood: Highlands

Family: Husband, Randolph; daughters, Lara  & Courtney; cat, Fred

Profession/Business: Pastry Chef, La Residence; Local Business Owner, Sugarland, Chapel Hill

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Age: 46

Neighborhood: Spring Valley Subdivsion

Family: Married to Jonathan E. Broun, two children

Profession/Business: Attorney; director, North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, Lobbying Compliance Division

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Age: 46

Neighborhood: Fox Meadow

Family: Partner, Alicia Stemper; children, Riley (12) and Avery (9)

Profession/Business: Attorney/Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, North Carolina Central University School of Law

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Age: 55

Neighborhood: Fairoaks

Family: married with two children

Profession/Business: Develop database software for nonprofits

Education: Brown University; UNC School of Business Administration Program for Technical Managers

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Age: 53

Neighborhood: Highlands

Family: My husband, Bill, and I have been married for 23 years. We have three teenage children.

Profession/Business: For the past 18 years, I’ve been a homemaker and community volunteer working in a wide range of community organizations where I regularly apply my writing, research, leadership, organization and team-building skills.

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Age: 49

Neighborhood: The Village Apartments off Smith Level Road

Profession: Unemployed due to disability

Education and Experience: B.A. in Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill. Former board member Disability Council; volunteer with Orange County Skills Development Center, Helpline and United Methodist Church; Governor’s award for outstanding volunteer of the year

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Joe Herzenberg — the first openly gay elected official in the American South, an ardent defender of civil rights and the environment, and the unofficial Mayor of Franklin Street — died on October 28, 2007 at UNC Hospital. He was 66 years old.

Joe was born June 25, 1941, to Morris & Margaret Herzenberg. His father owned the town pharmacy in Franklin, N.J., where Joe grew up.

After he graduated from Yale University in 1964, Joe went to Mississippi to participate in voter registration for Freedom Summer. He joined the faculty of historically-black Tougaloo College, where was appointed chair of the history department. A very popular instructor, Joe was named an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. During this time, Joe was briefly married.

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