Citizen Will

Category: Ruminations

  • Eve Carson, An Unfortunate Loss

    [UPDATE 5:31pm] Over at the impromptu memorial behind the “Y”, WTVD 11 is reporting that the SUV has been found and is currently being processed by the CHPD crime unit. [UPDATE 5:50] Further coverage from 1360 WCHL. [UPDATE: 6:16PM] The Chancellor’s remarks via 1360WCHL.com here [MP3]. ORIGINAL POST The young woman found fatally shot on […]

  • OrangePolitics 3.0: Already a Rocky Start?

    As probably most readers of CitizenWill know, I decided to stop posting on locally owned OrangePolitics (OP) for many reasons: an escalating and stifling intolerance of valid though different viewpoints, the site’s authors acting as surrogates for political allies who didn’t have the courage to engage the community directly in an honest, fact-based and open […]

  • Weave Real Connections

    Connections are made slowly, sometimes they grow underground. You cannot tell always by looking what is happening. More than half the tree is spread out in the soil under your feet. Penetrate quietly as the earthworm that blows no trumpet. Fight persistently as the creeper that brings down the tree. Spread like the squash plant […]

  • Mike Nelson: Marty Ravellette “American Hero”

    Orange County Commissioner Mike Nelson on Marty Ravellette. He was, perhaps, the most impressive individual I’ve ever met. The world was a richer place because he walked amongst us. [UPDATE] The Chape l Hill News reports on Marty’s service: There will be a graveside service for Marty Ravellette at Maplewood Cemetery Thursday at 2 pm. […]

  • Marty Ravellette

    Heck of a month for Chapel Hill legends. Photo AlderMedia I met Marty many years ago, used to run into him down at 501 Diner and on Franklin Street. He was an industrious guy, grinning away as he worked. Willing to take a minute and meet new folks – talk to them openly about his […]

  • Joe Herzenberg

    From the Carrboro Citizen Joe Herzenberg, longtime Chapel Hill Town Council member, Democratic Party stalwart, Greenways champion and an astute historian of local politics died today from complications of diabetes. He left this world, we are told, surrounded by friends. Details of memorials to follow. I met Joe way back in ’81 when my brother […]

  • Election 2007: On Environment, Early to the Carolina North Party

    I’m a longtime watchdog of the UNC development process. UNC, with Carolina North, started off as they had with many of their main campus projects – discounting our community’s concerns and dispensing with residents input. I knew there had to be a better way to work towards a satisfactory conclusion for both our University and […]

  • Election 2007: Sierra Club Endorsement

    I do know that the Sierra Club, in 2005, thought I was a candidate well-suited for addressing our Town’s environmental issues. Will Raymond has been one of the most outspoken and effective citizen activists in Chapel Hill in recent years. We look forward to him using his talents to advocate for the environment as a […]

  • Election 2007: League of Women Voters Forum Unplugged

    In keeping with their charter to “encourage the informed and active participation of citizens in government” and “influence public policy through education and advocacy”, the the League of Women Voters of Orange-Durham-Chatham held a forum for Chapel Hill Town Council Oct. 1st. Also, in keeping with that charter, they provided me the raw footage so […]

  • Incumbency Is Not Enough or Nineteen Seconds Is Too Long

    I was recently asked by a close observer of the local political scene what I thought of the power of incumbency. I mentioned the rather obvious. Watching the incumbents appear at gatherings “bearing gifts”. The several months of the election cycle the incumbents appear, in their official capacity, regularly before the public reminding folks of […]

  • Visions of Avalon

    Last night there was an unfortunate and possibly gang-related incident at Rosemary Street’s Visions nightclub. At approximately 1:00 a.m. this morning officers responded to a report of gun shots at Visions Night Club located at 136 E. Rosemary Street. Multiple shots were reportedly fired from a handgun by an unidentified black male suspect after a […]

  • Hail to Our New Chief: Brian Curran Takes the Helm

    [UPDATE:] Not 15 minutes went by before I got the chance to congratulate Chief Curran in person. He was making his rounds through the Northside neighborhood (I noticed him rolling around Town before – he doesn’t seem to be much of a desk jockey). [ORIGINAL] I’ve had an opportunity to meet Brian in a few […]

  • Election 2007: Sierra Club Interview

    X-Posted from Will Raymond for Town Council 2007: The local Orange-Chatham Sierra Club participates in the local election process two ways: endorsing candidates and sponsoring a forum. Last Sunday, Chairman Bernadette Pelissier, Political Chair Loren Hintz and member Matthew Scheer interviewed me on behalf of the Sierra Club to determine if I qualified for an […]

  • Rogers Road Community: A Unified Front

    Rev. Campbell David Richter Tracy Coleman Jeff Kingman Jeanne Stroud Nancy Ignia Sharon Cook The Rogers-Eubanks Coalition to End Environmental Racism, a coalition of the Chapel Hill -Carrboro Branch of the NAACP Environmental Justice Network West End Revitalization Association Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom Orange County Progressive Democrats and members of UNC-CH Faculty, […]