Hecho a mano: El arte del libro cien libros hechos a mano en diferentes países de América Latina. No son libros normales- los libros toman formas diferentes: maleta, tigre, etc. Expuesto de los libros desde el lunes, 14 de julio hasta el 30 de septiembre. Tour del expuesto el 23 de julio a las 5.45p.m. Incluye libros hechos por los siguientes talleres: Taller Leñateros (Mexico), Ediciones Vigía (Cuba) y Eloisa Cartonera (Argentina). Coleccionado por Teresa Chapa. Wilson Library, en el campus de UNC. Más información al 962-3948 Para ver unos libros en Internet: http://www.lib.unc.edu/spotlight/2008/hecho_a_mano_images.html
Comentarios, sugerencias y preguntas al betsy@carrborocitizen.com

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Community Relations Department recently received two awards from the National School Public Relations Association for publications produced for community members.

The district’s Learning Skills: Scope and Sequence publication received the NSPRA’s 2008 Award of Excellence in the special purpose publication category. The district’s 2005-06 Annual Report earned the NSPRA’s Award of Merit in the annual report category.

The Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department will be sponsoring a youth football program. Kids age five and six can compete in a flag football league. Ages 7-12 will be grouped in tackle leagues. Registration is now being accepted at the Recreation Department at 100 N. Greensboro St. in the Century Center. Hours are weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Non-Orange County residents can register July 14. The fee is $52 for county residents and $91 for out-of-county residents. A birth certificate is required and registration is first-come, first-serve. Practice starts in late July and games start in September; the season ends in late October.

The weekend rains were scattered thunderstorms and so the drenching was not universal. But in most places in Carrboro and south of town, more rain fell this weekend than in the entire summer of 2007.

The Fourth of July went well until around dusk when the heaviest rain we’ve seen in a good while washed out plenty of evening festivities.

We’ve heard more than a few complaints about the Kenan fireworks display, most of them surrounding the fact that they were snuck in during a lull in the storm and after most folks went home. Many were convinced they were going to return the next night. But the town announced Saturday morning that despite the rain the fireworks had happened.
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The recently announced cuts at the Carrboro Branch Library at McDougle Middle School are certainly getting some attention. Patrons and library supporters alike are saying that less staff and fewer hours — the result of a tight county budget — are the wrong direction.

The county is cutting hours in Hillsborough and Cedar Grove as well, but we agree that the cuts seem to fall hardest in Carrboro. The question is what to do now.
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On July 1, at 3:30 p.m., 30 Carrboro Branch Library patrons arrived at the McDougle School to find the doors locked. This included a family of five children with books in hand, senior citizens arriving on public transportation and library regulars. The newly posted sign on the door stated the revised hours – Closed Monday; open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 5–8 p.m.; Saturday: 10–2 p.m.; and Sunday: 1–5 p.m. – reducing the library hours to a total of 17. Many of those waiting stated it would not be convenient to return at 5 p.m. or later that day. At the same time, three library employees were terminated due to cuts in funding, some with over 10 years of service to the Carrboro Branch Library. Another two had their hours severely cut back.
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By Chase Foster

Long before the recent decision by Sen. Barack Obama to forego participation in public financing, there has been a growing consensus that our current system of presidential public financing is in need of repair. All serious candidates — including McCain in the primary and Obama in the primary and general — will continue to opt out unless the system reflects the reality of modern political campaigns, including skyrocketing costs and earlier primaries.

But we need to do much more than merely write candidates a bigger check if we want to expand the program’s public benefit and maintain its public support. The system needs a complete overhaul that bars all big money and special interest donations, better leverages the power of grassroots support and truly allows the public to own the election process.
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By Chris Fitzsimon

One of the most contentious issues in the General Assembly in the last two years has been something that doesn’t seem all that complicated: protecting kids from being harassed or bullied at school.

The House voted Wednesday to reject the Senate version of the anti-bullying bill, making it likely that a conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences between the House and Senate proposals.
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The Chatham County Council on Aging says that reports of banking scams are on the rise, after having received another last week. An elder Chatham resident received a phone call from someone claiming to work for Wachovia. Then another person, posing as an “account specialist,” asked for account and personal information. In this case, the target was fooled, but only for a short while. She managed to put a hold on her checking account and open a new one without losing any money.
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Daniel Abbott Murphy, 86, of 1304 Willow Drive, died Wednesday morning at his home. A native of Manchester, NH, he had lived in Chapel Hill for many years.

Mr. Murphy was retired from the US Army, retiring in 1982 as a Major. Serving during World War II he received many decorations and citations. He was past commander of VFW Post 9100 and American Legion Post 6 in Chapel Hill.
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The Reverend Peter Chase Robinson died Monday morning, the day after his 84th birthday at his home at the Forest at Duke in Durham. He was born in Mendham, NJ to The Rev’d Clayton Earle Bullis and Susan Jeanette (Chase) Robinson, and spent most of his growing up years in Cooleemee, NC. Peter was a graduate of UNC - Chapel Hill and General Theological Seminary in New York. Midway through seminary he suffered “religious indigestion” to pursue a career in his first love, journalism, having worked at several papers in high school and college. He became managing editor of the Enfield Progress, where he met his wife, the late Mary Young Robinson. After his fill of journalism he decided to return to seminary. Peter was ordained an Episcopal priest May 30, 1952. His first pastoral call was to St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sanford. He then went to Greensboro as founding rector of St. Francis Episcopal Church, taking it from small mission parish to a thriving faith community. He remained at St. Francis for 20 years. Peter served St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Goldsboro, and then he retired to Durham and assisted on the pastoral staffs of St. Philip’s Church in Durham and Church of the Holy Family, Chapel Hill. The real backbone of Peter’s ministry was his wife, Mary Young, who skillfully organized his affairs and gave him unfailing support.
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Chef Bill Smith of Crook’s Corner offers words of wisdom on figs.

The local wild fig is called a turkey fig. They are easy to gather and are just now coming in.

As the fruit ripens, it turns from green to brown, shedding the fuzz from its skin. It will soften and should come right off of the tree. To double check, there is a little opening at the bottom of the fruit. Pink or red coloring there will indicate ready ripeness. Gather should be easy, as fig trees are generally short and have no thorns to worry about. It’s possible to be allergic to fig tree latex, so if you notice skin irritation put on some rubber gloves.
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The Haw River Watch Project will host a “Finding River Critters” event on the Haw River in Saxapahaw Saturday.

River Watch Project coordinator Cynthia Crossen will teach participants how to measure a stream’s water quality by identifying the number and type of water bugs and doing simple chemical tests.
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Story and photos
by Jordan Timpy

Rain may have dampened the fun at the Kenan Stadium fireworks display this Independence Day, but the sunny morning and afternoon were perfect for the all-day festivities at the annual Carrboro 4th of July Celebration.
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