Rogers Road complaint to EPA alleges discrimination

By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

Orange County and the Board of County Commissioners are reviewing an administrative complaint against the county and others filed with the Environmental Protection Agency last summer.

According to a letter from the EPA to the county dated January 8, the agency received an administrative complaint in October “alleging that the Orange County, North Carolina Board of County Commissioners has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 … and EPA’s nondiscrimination regulations.”

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At its meeting on January 22, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved two major grant applications and an initial concept design plan to begin development of the new Northeast District Park on Big Woods Road.

Chatham County operates ballfields in Bynum and recently completed the major phase of Southwest Park in Bear Creek, but other parks have not yet been developed. Last fall, the Board of Commissioners purchased nearly 67 acres on Big Woods Road for the Northeast District Park. Recreation fees paid by developers when land is subdivided paid for the purchase of the land.
The first phase of Northeast District Park is expected to include a baseball field, multi-purpose field, walking trail, natural areas and a playground. It also will include a building with concession stand, restrooms and covered eating area.

At press time on Wednesday, the Chapel Hill Town Council held a public hearing at which UNC-Chapel Hill staff presented a Carolina North Master Use Plan to Mayor Kevin Foy, council members and Chapel Hill residents. Also on the agenda for the 7 p.m. public hearing: a presentation about the Concept Plan for the Innovation Center at Carolina North, a public hearing regarding Millennium Commercial Properties, LLC and Orange County Habitat for Humanity’s request for approval of the 63-lot Bradley Ridge Preliminary Plat Cluster Subdivision and a public hearing regarding a request for approval of a preliminary plat for the Estates at Oxford subdivision, a 4-lot subdivision near Smith Level Road and Dogwood Acres.

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The Board of County Commissioners seeks applicants for the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review.

The Board of Equalization and Review examines and reviews tax lists of the county for the current year with the intent that all taxable property shall be listed on the abstracts and tax records of Orange County and appraised according to the standards required by the General Statutes of North Carolina.

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Carrboro Police, Carrboro Fire-Rescue and Chapel Hill Fire Department officials rescued a dog trapped in a storm water drain pipe near Lake Hogan Farms on Friday.

The Carrboro Police Department’s animal control officer was alerted to a dog trapped in the pipe Friday morning after the dog’s owner was unable to coax it out. Police requested the assistance of Carrboro Fire-Rescue after the animal control officer ran out of options, and officials decided to dig down to the dog, about 10 feet.

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Caution: heavy traffic
It was a relief to hear that a strong emphasis will be placed on downtown parking during the board of aldermen retreat later this month. As the board will tell you and as anyone trying to place a vehicle within the confines of the town’s blocks during a busy evening, the parking situation is growing more frustrating by the month. More »

 Steve Peha and Margot Carmichael Lester

No matter what gains we make in education, the Achievement Gap haunts us. If the Gap seems intractable, it’s because of the way we perceive it as a single phenomenon applying broadly to large groups within our society. In reality, academic achievement is more meaningful in individual contexts, and the Achievement Gap results from other gaps representing individual differences in how children experience school. The key to closing the Gap is closing those gaps. More »

Chris Fitzsimon

The pundits and press are still weighing in about the latest gubernatorial debate: a discussion between the four Republican candidates moderated by WRAL-TV’s David Crabtree.

The debate covered the usual ground, education, immigration, transportation, taxes, leadership and not much news was made with one notable exception. It was the first appearance of Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in a televised debate. More »

Randy Dodd

This question is somewhat of a mantra for me these days.  You see, I’ve been fortunate enough to land within the friendly confines of the Bolin Creek Watershed Restoration Team.

The BCWRT has manifested at least in part because state and federal environmental agencies have confidence that we locals have the wherewithal to do something that other citizenry may not be as ready to tackle: restoring creeks so that a balanced and healthy aquatic ecosystem can thrive. More »

Special Events

• Join members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and Iraq Veterans Against the War and VVAW National Coordinator Barry Romo as he talks about the upcoming historic event— Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan. Fri, Jan 25, 6pm. Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro St. Free. Visit www.vvaw.org/events for more info. More »

Carrboro High School will hold a Mini College Night on January 24 at 6:30 p.m. Participating colleges include High Point University, Western Carolina University, UNC-Charlotte, East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Central University, Salem College and others.

The event will be held in the Carrboro High Café Commons.

The Parent-Teacher-Student Associations of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill high schools will sponsor a Parenting Healthy Teenagers Forum on February 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Chapel Hill High School Hanes Auditorium. More »

PAGE-CHCCS, a parent advocacy group for academically gifted students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, will meet January 24 at 7 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Public Library.

The group plans to discuss gifted education, advanced classes and other AG issues in the school district. Carol Horne, the district’s coordinator of Gifted Programs, will make a brief presentation and receive parent feedback.

The meeting is open to the public. For more information, contact Dabney Grinnan at dabneygrinnan@nc.rr.com.

David Brooks (23) of the Carrboro varsity Jaguars reaches for the basket during the matchup against the Northwood Tigers on Friday, Jan. 18 in Carrboro. Brooks led the Jaguar scoring with 32 points, including four 3-point buckets.  The Jaguars lost the game 62-73. Photo by Georg T Gordon

Haley Hegedus (25) of the Carrboro varsity Lady Jaguars releases a shot during the game against Northwood on Friday, Jan. 18 in Carrboro. Northwood won, 56-34.