Special Events

Really Really Free Market — First Saturdays from 2:30-5:30pm. Town Commons. Come, swap, take!

N.C. Children’s Hospital Benefit Concert with Vince Gill— 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. $50-$100. Wed, Apr 30, 8pm. Memorial Hall, Cameron Ave, UNC Campus. 843-3333, carolinaperformingarts.org

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Might as well just bring a tent and a sleeping bag to the Town Commons next weekend.
The sequence of events goes like this:

Friday, May 2 — Arcade Fire, Superchunk rock show and rally for Obama
Saturday, May 3 — Farmers’ Market 30th Anniversary/First Really, Really Free Market of Spring
Sunday, May 4 — Carrboro Day

See what I mean?

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Those are the words being used to describe North Carolina by pundits across the country after Hillary Clinton’s win in the Pennsylvania primary. Anyone who kept an eye on the race for the delegates of that state knows that as it wound down, things got downright nasty. Accusations flew, ads got muddy and ABC debate viewers were witnesses to one of the most god-awful performances ever by our blow-dried press corps.

So kindly — to all the campaign types, the ardent supporters, the sharp-knifed surrogates and especially to all you giant egos in cable news — we offer this advice: Don’t you bring that junk down here. It’s weak, and doesn’t do democracy one whit of good.

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As you may notice, a flood of letters on the upcoming primary rolled into the office this week — items we feel obligated to print. So, with apologies, we’re bumping a story on the effect of gas prices on the local economy until the primary dust has settled. In the meantime, if you have a story or anecdote to add about how prices have affected your business or nonprofit, please email editor@carrborocitizen.com

A reminder that we are seeking fiction and creative non-fiction works by local authors for to run in MILL, our monthly arts, music and literature publication. Stories should be between 500 and 600 words and should pretty much be suitable for the whole family. Send inquiries to editor@carrborocitizen.com

By Chris Fitzsimon 

One week after North Carolina voters head to the polls in the May primary, the General Assembly will convene for its summer session. Lawmakers are likely to spend much of their time in Raleigh struggling to pass a budget based on lower revenue projections and balancing expectations about the session with their November general election campaigns.

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By Mike Nelson 

I know. No one likes to have their taxes raised. Who would?

But sometimes a need is so great that raising a tax is an appropriate course of action. Here in Orange County, we have serious school and park needs. For example, Morris Grove Elementary School, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro system’s newest school, hasn’t even opened yet and already we’re looking to start construction on the next elementary school. It’s going to cost an estimated $34 million to build elementary #11. Where’s the money going to come from?

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By Brian Voyce

To present a balance in the editorials and letters on the upcoming vote on the local transfer tax, I present the following guest editorial.

Voting for the home equity/local land transfer tax rewards the financial incompetence of our politicians.

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For the transfer tax

With Orange County growing so fast, it seems we need new schools every time we turn around. Somehow we have to pay for educating these new children, who are our future. Counties have very few options in paying for schools. Mostly, they rely on the property tax. Every property owner has to pay this tax every year whether or not they are contributing to the growth.

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We want to thank Reps. David Price and Mel Watt for their endorsements of Barack Obama, the clear choice for the Democratic nomination.

We are glad they listened to North Carolina voters, more than 2,000 of whom have signed petitions over the past two months asking N.C. superdelegates to back Obama.

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Support Leo Allison

The Orange County commissioners race this year includes seats for several districts. One of the reasons we changed to district representatives was to ensure that all parts of the county were represented by their own community representatives. I am thrilled and honored to support Leo Allison for county commissioner in District 2.

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Bernadette Pelissier

I encourage Orange County Democrats to support Bernadette Pelissier for county commissioner. Growth and water are the two biggest issues Orange County will face over the next four years. As a member of the county’s Planning Board and former chair of the OWASA Board, Bernadette has a great deal of experience in handling these issues. I am confident that as a longtime leader in the local Sierra Club, she will put the environment in the forefront as our county evolves. If you want a candidate with the right values and experience, support Bernadette Pelissier for the at-large seat in the Democratic primary.

Tom Jensen
Chapel Hill

For Neloa Jones 

As an Orange County commissioner, Neloa Barbee Jones will work hard to assure that all voices are heard and considered before making policy decisions. Neloa earned both her B.A. and M.A. at UNC. She has spent her career as an educator and is committed to ensuring the best possible education for our children without merging our school districts.

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For Ellie Kinnaird 

The root cause of many of our problems is too much big money in politics. Fortunately, the best example of campaign finance reform is right in our midst. Sen. Ellie Kinnaird has never taken corporate PAC money and limits individual contributions to maintain her independence. She has consistently run her campaigns on small contributions from her constituents.

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The Chapel Hill High School orchestra recently traveled to the United Nations in New York City. Forty-five students, including soloists Will Myers and Gina Balamucki, performed. The Chapel Hill High orchestra has been invited to perform for the U.N. twice in the past five years. Barbara Smith directs the orchestra.

Photo by Carla Sauer.