By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

The sands are about run out on 2007, a pivotal year in the town’s history mainly due to the coming to fruition of a downtown strategy set in motion years before. At least five major downtown projects have surfaced since the town decided to double residential space downtown and increase the commercial tax base. In 2007, theory met practice: Several projects either were approved or moved further down the pipeline. As a result, the old Andrews Riggsbee hardware building came down, and next year a five-story commercial complex will rise along the tracks at Main Street and a four-story condo and retail building will go up on Roberson Street. Similar actions next door in Chapel Hill have also laid the groundwork for large-scale change, particularly in the West End.

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By Valarie Schwartz

The Meals on Wheels office at Binkley Baptist Church will seem a little less bright next year. Jeanie Arnel, who for the last 29 years has been director of the locally supported nonprofit, serves in that position for the last time on Dec. 31.
It only took a spark for Arnel to decide when to step aside from the job she had thought she’d stay with for maybe a year.

“I decided on the spur,” Arnel said last week. “I commented to a cousin that I was thinking about it and she said, ‘Do it by the end of the year.’”

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By Ken Moore

Years ago, a tradition was begun by the Eno River Association: Volunteers led New Year’s Day walks along the river that flows through Hillsborough and north through Durham to Falls Lake. Enthusiastic walkers turned out for hikes on some very cold days, and in recent years hundreds of appreciative walkers show up to share the beauty of the river’s winter woods on the year’s first day.

Here in our own community, we are fortunate to have nice trails along low-lying greenway corridors and the Botanical Garden’s nature trails, Mason Farm Reserve and the Battle Park forest between Forest Theater and the Chapel Hill Community Center.

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From 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday, nearly one and a half inches of cold rain fell over a wide swath of Orange County adding to lakes surrounded by new grasslands and streams that have long been dry or barely trickles. But don’t expect any declarations of victory over the drought.

According to Wednesday morning readings, University Lake rose about an inch and Cane Creek stayed even. Prior to the rainfall, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority reported that University Lake was eight feet below full and Cane Creek Reservoir more than 13 and a half feet below full. Together, the two reservoirs were at 43 percent of their capacity with 216 days of water.

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In Orange County, recycling that would have been collected on Christmas Day will be collected the following Saturday at 7 a.m. Curbside recycling scheduled for New Year’s Day will be picked up on Saturday, January 5.

The Orange County Landfill and all associated services will be closed New Year’s Day and will reopen on Wednesday.
The Solid Waste Management Administration Office and Solid Waste Convenience Centers also will be closed on New Year’s Day. As usual, the centers will be closed on Wednesday and will reopen on Thursday, January 3.

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Mary Chapin Carpenter, who was scheduled to perform a sold-out concert on Feb. 15 at UNC, has cancelled her 2007-08 tour and will be unable to keep the date.

In her place, Carolina Performing Arts will present four noteworthy artists to cap off its American Roots series at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14 in Memorial Hall.

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The ArtsCenter will host an interactive open house for the African American community on Sunday, Jan. 13 from 2:00 to 5 p.m. The open house will feature a community-led roundtable, refreshments, local entertainment and tours of the facility.

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University Mall and nearby Rams Plaza have been sold to a Washington D.C.-based property group. Citing Orange County land records, the Triangle Business Journal reported that University Mall sold for $40 million and Rams Plaza for $14 million to Madison Marquette, which specializes in redeveloping older shopping centers.

Chaining wrong

In response to Mr. Stern’s letter of December 12, I am outraged that he thinks that a chained dog might be perceived as “spoiled.” There is no difference between his dog and the hunting dogs that he claims are the ones who are being abused. This issue is not due to the transgressions of a few. All dog owners who leave their dogs chained outside are committing an act of animal cruelty. Carrboro is right to outlaw this practice and fine those who continue to tether their dogs. Spoiled dogs are kept inside, away from the elements and the possibility of being injured by humans or animals in the area.
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Special Events
The Eno River State Park will host several events this holiday season. Visitors to the park will be able to bird watch on Saturday, December 29 at 9 a.m. On Tuesday, January 1 at 2 p.m., the Eno River Association will host a New Year’s Day Hike at the Eno River State Park. Call 383-1686 for more information and to RSVP.

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Carrboro

Paintings by Peg Bachenheimer and Catherine Carter – Through December at Provence Restaurant, 203 W Weaver St, Carrboro. www.pegbachenheimer.com

Chinese Red Glazed Pottery by Ben Owen III - Through Dec 31. NC Crafts Gallery, 212 W Main St, Carrboro, 942-4048, www.nccraftsgallery.com, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1-4pm.

Works on Paper by John Ensslin – Through Jan 12 at Acme Food & Beverage Co, 110 E Main St, Carrboro. 929-ACME, www.acmecarrboro.com

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Thursday Dec 27

Blue Horn Lounge: Bill West. 10pm

General Store Café: Bo Lankenau & Friends. 8pm

Nightlight: The Men, The Still, Remora. 9:30pm. $5

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By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

This past year saw more than the usual degree of change for Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, with new schools, school board elections and shifts in principals.

While some changes were a loss to the district – the retirement of longtime board member Liz Carter and the death of tireless schools advocate and board veteran Mary Scroggs – change also brought fresh ideas and improvements. More »

In January
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen approved plans to create a Greenways Commission.

A winter storm settled in and closed the schools for a day.

Promising he’ll push through ethics reforms, Joe Hackney, a Chatham County native and longtime representative of Chatham and Orange counties, was elected speaker of the North Carolina House.

The ArtsCenter held a community meeting to discuss ways to leverage the area’s arts. More »

Alfred Henry Baumhover, 85, who was known within Carrboro’s Webbwood community as “Sir Alfred” because he was knighted by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1955, died Feb. 21.

Former Carrboro city attorney and district court judge Lowry Matthews Betts, 76, died July 9, having practiced law in North Carolina for more than 50 years. More »