Citizen Will

Category: ChapelHill

  • Farewell Chief!

    I rushed back from Asheville this evening and missed the announcement (WCHL1360 and Daily Tar Heel) that Chief Brian Curran is resigning effective Nov. 30th. I posted Sept. 24, 2007 when Brian was appointed. I’ve had an opportunity to meet Brian in a few different venues these last few months and my initial impression that […]

  • Parks Impact Fee: How Many (More) Goodies Do High Density Developers Need?

    I spoke before Council this evening on the proposed changes to Section 5.5 (Recreation) of the Town’s Land Use Management Ordinances (LUMO). The changes, which were discussed over a decade ago, approved by the NC Legislature July 10, 2008, essentially amount to an impact fee paid by developers to support parks and recreation. To quote, […]

  • Well Done Rogers Road Coalition!

    Some welcome news on the Rogers Road front. The Rogers-Eubank Neighborhood Association has been awarded a Federal EPA Environmental Justice grant to help address some of the long term environmental issues that neighborhood has faced as a consequence of taking on our trash disposal burden. Recipient: Roger-Eubanks Neighborhood Association Project Name: PITCH (Partnerships in Transforming […]

  • Civilian Review Board: Process Lurches Forward

    I was unable to attend the latest Civilian Review Board meeting but according to the Indy’s Joe Schwartz, the process continues to lurch forward. One point that I thought needed answering, why wait for NC legislative approval, was dealt with. Sally Greene and Mark Kleinschmidt both seemed to endorse moving forward creating a board that […]

  • A Busier Week: University Square Meeting, Aug. 18th

    In listing the roll of important events this coming week, I accidentally left out one that promises to be quite interesting. Cousins Properties Inc., which is leading the redevelopment of University Square for Chapel Hill Foundation Real Estate Holdings Inc., will host a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18, to discuss the long-term vision for the […]

  • Coming Events: Summer Slumber? Not!

    Summer in Chapel Hill can be somewhat slow as far as community initiatives. Council is on hiatus. UNC downshifts. Most folks have their hands full dealing with the heat, their jobs, kids home from school, vacations. Summer, though, is not always a time for sluggish vigilance. For instance, I learned many years ago UNC’s favored […]

  • IFC Community House: Balanced Social Services?

    One of the common criticisms of the Inter-Faith Council’s (IFC) proposed Community House site is that the Homestead area of Chapel Hill already hosts more than it’s fair (“a four letter word for responsible growth”) share of social services. Is that the case? The IFC and UNC’s School of Social Work put together this map […]

  • A Bit Older, Less Grayer

    I ended up talking about the troubling aspects of both East54 and the Lot $5 with a native Chapel Hillian after a recent community meeting. While introducing myself they exclaimed “you’re Will Raymond? I saw you speak several years ago about the Town’s Downtown project” but, they went on, I “looked different”, even younger than […]

  • A Special Request For A Special Cause

    Elaine and Lee are my next door neighbors. I’m usually hesitant to participate in these corporate campaigns but….the need is there and Elaine and Lee are working hard to address the growing demand for recreational opportunities for special needs folks in this community. That was enough to get me beyond my initial trepidation. Please consider […]

  • 140West: RAM Development’s Money Tree, Chapel Hill Taxpayers Moneypit

    Local commentator and involved citizen Fred Black invited me to do a WCHL1360 Who’s Talking segment last week. It airs this evening (Tues. Aug. 3rd, 2010) at 6PM. While the subject was supposed to be the Lot #5/140 West project, which is slated to finally get started later this month, Fred used this opportunity to […]

  • Ellie Reinhold: Dream Nature

    Ellie Reinhold, Chapel Hill artist and founding member of the Hillsborough Gallery of Art has a new show opening today (Fri. 7/30/2010). Ellie works in various mediums – this show features paintings and one assemblage. Her work draws heavily on both her vibrant inner nature and a deep appreciation of nature. Over the 27 years […]

  • Bus Stop #1409

    [UPDATE:] In researching another post I ran into this kudos from 2006 – Bus 734’s Act of Kindness A quick kudos to the N/S Express bus #1409 driver. At 8:32 this evening you waited for a passenger to hustle from roughly Town Hall south down MLK, Jr. 150 yards to catch the bus. The young […]

  • Burr vs. Marshall: Let’s Start With A Little Credit

    I generally don’t say much on CitizenWill about Federal officeholders but since there’s been a lot of blather about Elaine Marshall’s chances of overcoming Richard Burr I thought I would submit one way she can challenge Burr’s reputation of supporting our troops. Elaine, as part of her Senate campaign, started a petition calling on Burr […]

  • Great SCoTS

    Chapel Hill’s Locally Grown Summer series kicks off this Thursday with a concert by Southern Culture on the Skids. I remember when SCoTS first formed (they were friends of friends) in 1983 (wow, that feels like a zillion years ago!). The Parks & Rec Locally Grown series features music and movies throughout the Summer and […]

  • Lucky #13: Vimala’s Curryblossom Café

    Local chef and stalwart activist Vimala Rajendran (Indy profile) opened her new Curryblossom Cafe today. Though Ellie, Elijah and I were her 13th customers, our luck was far from bad. Not a big surprise for anyone who has tasted Vimala’s take-home menu. By 5:30pm the small restaurant was bustling with activity. The kitchen was full, […]