Kirk Ross and Beth Mechum
Staff Writers

It was awfully pretty, what with the big moon and all.

But the major winter storm that dropped eight inches of snow on Carrboro and Chapel Hill will more likely be remembered for causing a near-complete shut down of travel and commerce and days of closed schools, icy roads and widespread inconvenience.

The snow, followed in quick succession by several hours of ice pellets and a day and half of cold rain, was one of the largest winter storms of the past several years. Cooler temperatures, however, kept it from causing the same kind of widespread power outages as the devastating ice storm of 2003. More »

Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

With the smokestacks and coal silos of the UNC co-generation plant as a backdrop, climate change researcher James Hansen joined students, university scientists and members of the Sierra Club’s Coal Free Campus campaign on Tuesday to ask the university to end the use of coal at the plant.

José Rial, a professor in the department of geological sciences, said his work in the Arctic compelled him to speak out. A glaciologist, Rial said he has seen new research that shows an even faster sea level rise than previously predicted. More »

A northbound lane of U.S. 15-501/Fordham Boulevard will be closed intermittently for about four months during the construction of a sidewalk on the east side of Fordham Boulevard between Manning Drive and Old Mason Farm Road.

In addition, the outside left turn lane from Manning Drive to Fordham Boulevard will be closed during these times. Traffic will not be altered during UNC home basketball games and other special events. Crews will be working on the project between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The News and Observer Publishing Co. announced the sale of its Franklin Street headquarters for its Chapel Hill News and Durham News newspapers to Scott Maitland. Maitland, owner of Top of the Hill restaurant and brewery plans to turn the former press room into a liquor distillery.

He paid $2.15 million for the 0.8-acre site, which includes about 10,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of warehouse space. Maitland will lease office space to the N&O for its western Triangle news and advertising staff.

Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL — Town leaders will take a hard look at library funding and the consequences of a proposed expansion of the Chapel Hill Public Library at the Town Council’s retreat this weekend.

After looking at the impact of the project during its regular meeting Monday night at Town Hall, council members said that while they support the project, the long-term costs and their effect on the town budget warrant more conversation. More »

Rich Fowler
Staff Writer

Warmer weather may be on the horizon, but don’t expect that to translate into a hot housing market. Uncertainty about the economy is one reason the market is tepid. Another is that the number of foreclosures continues to be high and new data on the types of filings points to a rise among traditionally safer borrowers. More »

By Beth Mechum
Staff Writer

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen held its public hearings for January Tuesday night at the Carrboro Town Hall.

First up was a request to revise outdoor lighting standards. Shannon Brummett, a regional property manager with General Services Corp., was there to enquire about the light-pole regulation. He said he preferred one 25-foot light pole on his properties in Carrboro as opposed to the 15-foot poles the plan now calls for. More »

Public Health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated against the flu. H1N1 is still the predominant strain circulating in North Carolina but seasonal flu is emerging and usually lasts until late March. Free H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are available five days a week through the Orange County Health Department. No appointment is necessary.

Walk-in clinic schedules are: Chapel Hill office, 2501 Homestead Road, Monday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to
6 p.m.; and Friday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Hillsborough office, 300 W. Tryon Street, Tuesday, 2 to
6 p.m. and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more flu information, visit co.orange.nc.us/health. For specific health-related questions, call the nurse line at 605-2051 or email questions to flu@co.orange.nc.us

The Carrboro Police Department is asking for the public’s help in reducing the number of vehicle break-ins, as there has been a recent uptick in the number of these crimes. Many of these thefts are from unlocked or unsecured vehicles with valuables in plain sight. The Carrboro Police Department offers these tips to help reduce the chances that your vehicle will be broken into: Always roll your windows up and lock your doors when leaving your vehicle unattended, even if it is parked in front of your residence; do not leave any valuables in plain sight (this means all portable music devices, loose change, laptop computers, GPS units and mounts, cell phones and similar items); park your vehicle in well-lighted areas if possible and if you notice suspicious activity, call 911 and report it.

If your vehicle is broken into, call 911 to report it promptly, as physical evidence can be destroyed with the passage of time. If you have information on the suspects in these crimes, call 918-7397 or Crime Stoppers at 942-7515.

There will be four focus groups dedicated to citizens’ experiences with and thoughts on the Chapel Hill Police Department. Citizens are asked to attend and provide input.

These community conversations will be Saturday, Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chapel Hill Public Library; Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the United Church of Chapel Hill; Saturday, Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church; and Thursday, Feb. 18 from 6 to
8 p.m. at the Hargraves Community Center.

If possible, RSVP to outreach@townofchapelhill.org

Project SAFE Orange will host a community meeting concerning gang and gun violence on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. at Central Recreation Center, 300 W. Tryon Road in Hillsborough.

Organizers invite community members, social-service providers and anyone who can assist in the collaborative effort to reduce gun violence. Project SAFE Orange is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national network that brings partners together to make communities safer.

RSVP to Tenesha Robinson at trobinson@townofchapelhill.org or 632-1314.

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

For the past two years, as officials in Chapel Hill and Carrboro have begun working up their respective budgets, the game has been to tread water through cost cutting and putting off major projects and expenditures.

As southern Orange County continues to post anemic growth numbers and stubbornly high unemployment, leaders in both towns profess caution. But this year, out of necessity and opportunity, both towns will try to forge ahead a bit. More »

CARRBORO — Northwest Property Group, which wants to build a shopping center at the intersection of Jones Ferry Road and Barnes Street, has won an appeal in its case against the Town of Carrboro. More »

By Beth Mechum
Staff Writer

The Board of Aldermen met at Town Hall Tuesday night to further discuss a long-range water-supply plan and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2035 Long Range Transit Plan.

Both plans had been presented to the board last year and the aldermen had resolved to meet again to parse out some of the details. More »

Recent bad weather across the country on the heels of the holiday season has drastically decreased the Red Cross’ blood supply in its Carolinas Region. Type O negative and type B negative blood supplies have dropped to emergency levels, and help is needed. Since type O negative blood can be used for any patient when there is not time to determine the patient’s blood type, it is crucial to have a sufficient supply.

The next blood drives will be Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25 and 26, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Great Hall in the student union on the UNC Campus. Sign up to give at unc.givesblood.org

There also will be a drive on Sunday, Jan. 31 from noon to 4:30 p.m. at New Sharon United Methodist Church on New Sharon Church Road in Hillsborough.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people aged 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

For more information or to locate a nearby blood drive, visit redcrossblood.org