James Carnahan Thanks for opening up the public discourse about possible changes to zoning in Carrboro’s Northern Study Area (“Calvander at the Crossroads,†Jan 10). I would like to expand a bit with my personal interpretation of the proposals the NSA Plan Update Committee was in strong agreement with.
Category: Opinion
Clubbing at the Open Eye Café
Rebekah Cowell In our house, when you go to get a cup of coffee at the Open Eye, it is called “clubbingâ€! The term was coined by my toddler’s father. One day he brought Hannah with him; she was still an infant — alert and happy to look around, she took in the music jamming,…
For the Record: 01/10/08
Defining terms We should never lose sight of the fact that the achievement gap is not by any means as innocuous as the phrase sounds. Achievement in this case means being proficient in reading, writing, math and a host of other skills critical to not only a sound education but a life more richly lived.
Guest Column
By Mary Jane P. Baker Tagging and gang graffiti in Carrboro has recently increased dramatically. Every time I drive by the empty Triem building at the bottom of Greensboro Street, there is more spray, especially on the warehouse. At the end of Hillsborough Street, where it meets Old 86, there are large gang signs. These…
Public participation needed at Comprehensive Plan session
By Fred Black and Adam Klein What’s a comprehensive plan and why should you care about the one being developed for Orange County? Excellent questions both, and citizens deserve good answers. A comprehensive plan serves as a public document that guides policy decisions pertaining to a wide range of local issues, from housing to economic…
Governor Easley should just say no to feds’ “abstinence-only education dollars
By Paige Johnson What do North Carolina’s signature Smart Start and More at Four programs for preschoolers have in common with comprehensive sex education? All three efforts do what sound public policy is intended to do. They make wise use of our investment in preparing young people for future success. More at Four and comprehensive…
For the Record: 01/03/08
Editor’s note: Last Tuesday was New Year’s Day, but for many it is also known as Freedom Day, marking the anniversary of the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jauary 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a…
Reading allowed!
Steve Peha & Margot Carmichael Lester What gets tested, gets taught. That’s a guiding principle of education reform. And it appears to be working. But is it working the way we want it to in reading? In a New York Times article (“Mission: Making a Love of Reading Happen,†October 14, 2007), a parent wrote…
New news
Chris Fitzsimon There were a few stories that didn’t make it into the year-end stories, news that you might have missed during the holiday break. One of them involves North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is also up for re-election in November. Dole is among a group of senators who recently signed a letter to…
As hate crimes rise, NC must act
Ian Palmquist Earlier this fall, I met an incredible woman. Elke Kennedy approached me at an event. She was friendly, but I could see a sadness in her eyes. Elke’s son Sean Kennedy was murdered on May 17 in Greenville, South Carolina. He was targeted because he was gay.Â
Letters to the Editor: 12/27/07
Chaining wrong In response to Mr. Stern’s letter of December 12, I am outraged that he thinks that a chained dog might be perceived as “spoiled.†There is no difference between his dog and the hunting dogs that he claims are the ones who are being abused. This issue is not due to the transgressions…
For the Record: Best ideas of 2007
Contested elections Things were looking dull in this year’s municipal elections — at least that’s what some folks thought. But the idea that no one should have an unchallenged stroll to re-election was at least some of the impetus behind a number of those who decided to seek public office. The result was a lot…
Letters to the Editor: 12/27/07
Chaining wrong In response to Mr. Stern’s letter of December 12, I am outraged that he thinks that a chained dog might be perceived as “spoiled.†There is no difference between his dog and the hunting dogs that he claims are the ones who are being abused. This issue is not due to the transgressions…
For the Record: 12/20/07
Higher ground This county is no more awash in illegals than it was at another time “awash†in Italians, Irish and Germans. If it is awash in anything, it’s in racist and dangerous rhetoric contrary to the highest principles on which it was founded. Occasionally, this column has joined the attempt to inject some simple…
Let it shine
Rebekah L. Cowell If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a dozen times, “It just doesn’t feel like Christmas,†with a segue into the favorite topic, our un-seasonably warm weather. True, it doesn’t feel like December, even for the South. But for me, this is the best Christmas present the weather gods could bestow…