By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

State workers plan to rally at the Legislature Tuesday to try to convince legislators that recent pay cuts and health insurance hikes are hurting their ranks.

UNC Employee Forum chair Tommy Griffin said he’s heard a steady stream of feedback after Gov. Beverley Perdue’s actions Tuesday exacerbated what was already shaping up as a tough year for state employees. More »

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

The legislative agenda for the town of Carrboro wasn’t complicated when it was handed off to the local delegation, but once in Raleigh that changed.

A request to amend the town’s charter to allow the town to pass ordinances to outlaw discrimination in housing was bogged down in a House committee after the N.C. Family Policy Council and Christian activists objected to the inclusion of discrimination because of gender identity and sexual orientation along with race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or handicap. More »

By Tom High

The politics of misplaced frustration subsequent to last week’s Carrboro Board of Aldermen vote to reject the N.C. Department of Transportation’s latest “improvement” project for Smith Level Road led a frustrated Mayor Mark Chilton, who cast the lone vote in favor of the project, to vent thusly:

“I’m frustrated because there was an awful lot of rhetoric here tonight that suggests that this current situation is somehow safe, that the current situation is somehow acceptable, that it would be OK to wait another 20 years to have pedestrian improvements on Smith Level Road and Culbreth Road.” More »

The OWASA board of directors has proposed a 9.75 percent rate increase for monthly water and sewer charges.

The proposed rate increase would raise a monthly bill from $68.24 to $74.92 for a typical individually metered residence using 5,000 gallons a month. If the increase is approved, it would take effect Oct. 1. The proposed increase reflects continuing low water demand and reduced revenue from new-development connections due to the slow economy. More »

James Willie Orr, the Chapel Hill Transit bus driver charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle in connection with the death of a pedestrian last fall, pleaded no contest on Tuesday.

Orr, 65, was driving a Chapel Hill Transit bus when it struck Valerie Hughes, 33, at the intersection of South Columbia Street and Mason Farm Road. She later died at UNC Hospitals. Orr was terminated as an employee of the town shortly after. More »

The steering committee of United with the Northside Community Now (UNC-NOW) will host a community meeting tonight (Thursday) to push for action on points set forth earlier this month in their open letter to the Town of Chapel Hill, the Greenbridge partners and community members.

According to a UNC-NOW press release, the group hopes to “engage attendees in a constructive conversation on how we can move forward collectively to ensure that social equity becomes an equal leg of the triple bottom line model for development set forth by the Town and Greenbridge.” More »

The Town of Chapel Hill will declare May 4 Anoop Day in honor of Chapel Hill native Anoop Desai, who was recently voted off of the top-rated reality show “American Idol.”

Desai made it to the round of the top seven before being voted off last week. He will attend Monday’s Chapel Hill Town Council meeting, where council members and Mayor Kevin Foy will present him with the key to the city and the proclamation declaring May 4 Anoop Day in Chapel Hill. More »

OWASA will resume the annual mowing, clearing and inspection of its public sewer easements in early May.

The easement-clearing work includes trimming trees and shrubs where needed, and is intended to prevent roots from entering cracks and joints in sewers and to ensure safe access for inspections, maintenance and repair work. More »

Mrs. Julia Blackwood, 88, died Easter weekend at her home in Chapel Hill.
Julia was born in Clinton, NC to Herman Stewart and Jenny B. Merritt. She came to Chapel Hill as the young bride of Eugene M. Blackwood. Soon after, she went to work as a secretary at the American Tobacco Company in Durham.

She was a very active member of Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill. During her years there, she served as the secretary for the Administrative Board, church Treasurer, sang in the chancel choir, taught Sunday School and was the primary contributor to “Facing Tomorrow, Understanding Yesterday,” the only history book ever published about OUMC. Until her death, she hosted a church bible study at her house every Tuesday evening.

One of her friends said, “I wish you had known Julia in the many idyllic years she had with Eugene at the farm. What happy gatherings we had there! Sunday School picnics, I remember especially. The place felt like heaven. And I guess you could say that Julia and Eugene were the ‘heavenly hosts.’” More »

Clara Ward Hardee Horton, 91, wife of Fred B. Horton for 53 years until his death in 2005, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 23, 2009.

She was born in Boardman in Columbus County on July 6, 1917 to Maude Hardee and Charles Van Ward, who both predeceased her. She had two brothers, Paul and Ralph Ward, who are also deceased. She was adopted at age three by her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T.D. Hardee of Carrboro. Clara had five brothers, Trusie, Dawson, Everrett, Joe and Bill Hardee; and seven sisters, Mary, Bertha, Lonie, Dora, Maggie, Maude and Girline. All predeceased her. She was educated in Carrboro schools.

She is survived by two sons, Billy Van Blake (Cheryl) of Raleigh, granddaughters, Suzanne, Bobbie Ann and Mary Ann, and two great-granddaughters, Heydan and Jordan Holt; and Bobby Ward Blake (Darlene) of Carrboro, two granddaughters, Rebecca Lewis and Beth Anne Beyle (Jon), and five great grandchildren, Taylor, Jordan, Jon Ward Beyle, and J.C. and Blake Lewis. More »

Clyde Ray Jones, 81, of Mebane died Monday April 20, 2009 at his home. He was born May 17, 1927 in Chatham County and raised in Orange County. He was one of eight children born to the late Millard and Thelma Jones.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeanette Jones; his son, Sam (Joan); stepdaughters, Angie (Johnny) Johnson, Candi (Jimmy) Dykes and Lysa (David) May; grandchildren, Joseph and Joshua Jones; step-grandchildren, Lauren and Aaron Johnson, Ashley (Matt) Netzel and Travis Dykes, B.J. and Kyle Moffett, and Tara and Colby May; and step-great grandchild, James Netzel. Survivors also include brothers Roy (Clairice) Jones and Ed Jones; sisters Marie (J.D) Zedaker and Nancy (Robert) Dodd; and numerous nieces and nephews. His former wife, Mildred, also survives. He was predeceased by three brothers, Clarence, Raymond and Billy. More »

Mrs. Mary Evelyn Jaber Laws, 86, 1720 Palmers Grove Church Road, died Monday, April 20, 2009. She was one of the founding members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillsborough. She had a passion for sewing and working in her beautiful flower gardens. She was retired from Home Security Life Insurance Co. in Durham.

Surviving are three sons, Tony Laws (Patsy), Burlington, Ken Laws (Susan), Raleigh, and Freddy Laws, Hillsborough; two brothers, Eddie Jaber (Becky), Wake Forest, and Tony Jaber, Many, La.; six grandchildren, Lee Laws and Chad Laws (Carly) of Burlington, Greg Laws (Amy), Florida, Chelsie Laws, California, Kaylyn Laws and Hannah Laws of Raleigh; and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Laws was predeceased by her parents, Hannah and Antone Jaber, her husband, Willie Laws, her son, Tim Laws, her brothers, Farris Jaber and George Jaber, and her sister, Alice J. Parker. More »

The Town of Carrboro will hold two workshops in May and June to gather input as staff develops conceptual plans for greenways along Bolin Creek, Jones Creek and Morgan Creek.

A workshop on May 20 will focus on plans for a Bolin Creek greenway and another along Jones Creek. The workshop will be held at the Homestead Community Center at 600 Homestead Road from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
In addition, the town will hold a workshop on June 15 to gather input for plans for a Morgan Creek greenway. The workshop will be held at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School at 101 Smith Level Road from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Town staff, project consultants and members of the Greenways Commission will be available to discuss the projects at both workshops.

For more information, visit townofcarrboro.org/AdvBoards/Greenways/ResourceInfo.htm

Neighbors for Responsible Growth will sponsor a community discussion, “Carolina North: Don’t Get Stuck in Traffic,” on May 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Homestead Community Center.

The discussion will focus exclusively on traffic and transportation issues for Carolina North. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to discuss possible solutions with elected and UNC officials.

NAMIWalk for the Mind of America will be held on Saturday on the Dorothea Dix campus in Raleigh.

The walk will benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness of North Carolina. The organization hopes to raise $110,000 and host 500 walkers.
The 2.3-mile walk will start at 10 a.m., with check-in at 9 a.m. For more information, visit naminc.org