Good morning, we’re all new here.
I posted a kind of welcome earlier with a short bio in case you missed it. Just getting started. If there are some local blogs, sites, substacks and so on that might offer some insights or a good read or two, feel free to note them in the comments.
Anyhoo, here’s a look-around of various news stories and items of interest for the Last Sunday of Summer.
Verla retires — Not sure when she started doing it, but one thing I’ll always remember about Rep. Insko is that she’d file a bill every session calling for a referendum to make health care a constitutional right for every North Carolinian. Here’s her FB post announcing her retirement.
An Actual Primary — Then school board chair Verla Insko was appointed OC representative after Anne Barnes resigned in 1996. She won the seat outright in the following Democratic primary against Moses Carey. That may be the last time there was anything resembling a hotly contested NC House primary in Orange County. This year that is probably going to change. We haven’t gone through redistricting yet, but all the feedback I’ve got is that the districts will only move around by a precinct or two. Filing for state House and Senate races starts at noon on Monday, December 6 and ends at noon on Friday, December 17.
OWASA to Join PFAS Suit — On Thursday, the OWASA Board of Directors will vote on hiring a law firm and joining a class action lawsuit to force PFAS manufacturers to cover the cost of cleanup.
Public Services Labor shortages — Local governments continue to struggle with staffing. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is offering bonuses for new school bus drivers and Chatham County is closing 7 of its 12 recycling centers until they hire on more people. Chapel Hill Transit is altering its schedule starting Monday.
South Building — Vice Chancellor of Communications Joe Curran, who has been at UNC comms since 2013 is heading for Notre Dame. Last day is October 8.
Faith Hedgepath — Her family releases a statement after the arrest last week in the 2012 murder in Chapel Hill.
Affordable Housing — Applications for affordable housing programs from the Town of Chapel Hill, which are also available to residents of the ETJ, are open through October 1. A lot of people don’t realize they qualify so it’s worth taking a look.
Immigrant Community board — Siler City has reopened applications to try to get more people interested in serving on its immigrant advisory board.
Wetlabs, who knew? — “We need wetlabs” has been an economic development mantra in Chapel Hill as long as I can remember. So, after a long run of university spinoffs jumping over to lab space in Durham, Burlington & elsewhere, the town got serious and hey guess what?
Damn the ivy — As someone who has dealt with the real world consequences of Dr. Powell’s love of English Ivy, this DTH piece hits home.
Stuff to Do/ Think About
Sunday — Nightlight is having an outdoor thing w/ bands from 3-5 today (Sunday) in the parking lot behind All Day Records, next to the fish store. Bill includes Crowmeat Bob w/ Chris Eubank and Nora Rogers playing cello
Monday — Chapel Hill Transit changes take effect until they can get more drivers
The last trip on most routes will run until 8 p.m.
No midday service on F, G, HS, S & T routes.
420, CL, NU, S, weekend J, and weekend NS customers will have fewer trips
Friday Center South Park and Ride Lot users will need to use the Friday Center Park and Ride Lot
Tuesday — Carrboro Town Council Meeting, 7pm, Town Hall
Wednesday — Chapel Hill Town Council Meeting, 7pm, Town Hall
Thursday — OWASA Board Meeting, 6pm, Virtual
Friday — BTW, there are still tickets for Son Volt w/ Florence Dore at the Haw River Ballroom
That’s all for now. Have a great whatever. I’ll post a few things during the week and have another long and hopefully more helpful post next weekend. You can follow my rambling twitter account here, but it’s probably better to just get outside more. — kmr