Voters tune into new registration rules, new county commissioner districts and contested races from the top of the ticket to a local tax referendum

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

With news reports along the presidential campaign trail now including datelines like Raleigh, Greensboro and the UNC campus, this spring’s primary season is heating up.

Set late in the season, North Carolina’s presidential primary is rarely a factor in deciding the presidential candidate of either party. This year, though, it may have a significant impact on the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In turn, that race is most certainly going to have an impact on local turnout.

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By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer

A community series of presentations and discussions this month seeks to address the hard questions surrounding immigration issues.

The Chapel Hill Institute for Cultural and Language Education is conducting the series on Sundays throughout the month at the FedEx Global Education Center on the UNC campus.

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By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

Somewhere close to 90 minutes into a board of aldermen discussion on how to shape development in a much-studied area in northern Carrboro, Town Attorney Mike Brough politely encouraged them to cut to the chase.

Rather than hash over types of zoning strategies and what they might yield, he said, it would be most helpful if the board would first settle on what they’d like to see happen in the area.

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Composer Ari Picker hopes to make a living scoring films. Photo by Valarie Schwartz.

By Valarie Schwartz

If you think that all classical music was written by long-haired men who are long-dead, think again.

Ari Picker is writing a symphony, and he’s very much alive — with close-cropped hair.

Picker, 26, grew up in Bynum, took no music lessons as a child and only started playing instruments (piano and cello) after moving to Boston and entering the prestigious Berklee School of Music.

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Thursday April 10

The ArtsCenter: Shelby Lynne 8:30pm $27
Blue Horn Lounge: Windy City Slim & Ken Yow 10pm
Cat’s Cradle: Between The Buried and Me, Lye By Mistake, Giant, Knives Exchanging Hands 7pm $14
The Cave: Early: John Amos Late: Spider Bags, Turpentine Brothers, Limes $5
General Store Café: Jazz with Club Boheme 8:30pm
Local 506: Murder By Death, O’Death, Thunderlip, Kiss Kiss 8:30pm $12
Nightlight: Dark Inside the Sun, Projexorcism, Cab Caligari 9:30pm

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A celebration of the life of Margaret McCaull Carmichael Lester will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19th, in the North & South Parlors of the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. For more information, contact Margot Carmichael Lester at 967-3477.

Robert A. Kistner of Chapel Hill, died Wednesday April 2, 2008 at his residence. Robert was a native of Illinois.  He moved to Chapel Hill in 1983.  He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago, and earned medical degrees from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Loyola Medical School (Chicago).  He served in the United States Navy in World War II.  Dr. Kistner had a family medical practice in the south suburbs of Chicago.  He served as Dean of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine for 20 years.  At the state level, he served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Regional Programs; the task force on medical education; and the Council on Continuing Education for the State of Illinois.  At the federal level, Dr. Kistner served as a representative to the White House Conference on Heath; a consultant to the Health Professions Educational Program; and a member of the Graduate Medical Educational National Advisory Committee of the HRA.

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George Odell Barham, 89, passed away at Britthaven of Chapel Hill on Saturday, April 5, 2008.
He was a veteran of WWII and served in the Army in the South Pacific.

His family wrote, “His patience and ingenuity and joy in life were an inspiration to us.”

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The Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, in conjunction with Church World Service, will hold the CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday.

Seventy-five percent of money raised during the walk benefits Church World Service, a nonprofit that funds global hunger education, refugees, disaster relief and self-help projects in more than 80 countries. The remaining 25 percent supports the IFC’s hunger-relief programs, including the Community Kitchen and Food Pantry.

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The Orange County Office of Human Rights and Relations will hold its 4th Annual Fair Housing Fair on April 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone seeking to rent or own a home in Orange County is encouraged to attend. Information on fair housing regulations and housing opportunities will be available. In addition, participants will learn about housing options, financial assistance and other issues related to fair and affordable housing. Banks and community-based organizations will provide information on buying land trust homes, forming individual development accounts and more.

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Orange County’s Animal Services Department will hold several low-cost rabies vaccination clinics in April.
Under North Carolina law, pets over the age of 4 months must have a current and valid rabies vaccination at all times.

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The Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating three robberies that occurred at three apartment complexes between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

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Special Events

Public Art 360: A Symposium from Seven Perspectives — Addressing the many perspectives involved in public art with guest speakers. April 11-12, Hanes Auditorium, UNC Campus. Information and registration at publicartcollective.org.

Sunday, April 12, 11-5 on The Lawn at Chatham Mills (480 Hillsboro St, Pittsboro — 1/2 mile north of the traffic circle on 15-501).  Local artists display original work.  Featuring potters, glass workers, jewelers, soap makers, wood workers, metal workers, painters, textile artists, and more.  Sponsored by Chatham Marketplace and Chatham Mills, Inc.  Contact 542-2643 or cameron@chathammarketplace.coop for information.

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Special Events

Ackland Art After Dark — See a variety of artwork, listen to jazz, commune with art lovers. Fri Apr 19, 9pm. Ackland Art Museum.

Bingo Night — Hosted by Team Eurosport, a Relay For Life team. April 11th at the Big Barn Convention Center, Hillsborough. Doors open at 6:00 pm; Games start at 6:30. 20 games. Cost for all games is $20. Food and drink available. All proceeds to the American Cancer Society. Contact 640-6123 or 640-6220 for details.

ClydeFest — Bynum, N.C., celebrates folk artist Clyde Jones with art, food, games and more. April 26, 11am-4pm at Bynum Ball Park. 542-0394, chathamarts.org

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While we are big fans of agriculture and other outdoor activities, those of us who distribute free newspapers in this area find that there are some people who believe that emptying out a newspaper box for mulching material is an acceptable practice.

Our friends at the Independent Weekly have noticed this for years, particularly around Carrboro.

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