ERICA RAFFERTY

News

Steps to a smooth summer

By ERICA RAFFERTY | April 27

Take exams, pack up your room, find a subletter. Some UNC students who live off campus find themselves trying to find a temporary roommate while juggling classes and studying. As the semester closes, fliers advertising summer subleases seem to blanket the bathroom doors of all major campus buildings, from the Student Union to the Undergraduate Library to Top of Lenoir. Emily Mann, a junior psychology and religious studies double major from Charlotte, used that tactic to advertise her duplex on Ashley Forest Road.

News

Retirement community goes bilingual

By ERICA RAFFERTY | March 29

High school and college classes are not the only places where people can learn to speak Spanish - Carol Woods Retirement Community in Chapel Hill has Spanish classes that are both taught and attended by residents. The program at Carol Woods started about six years ago. Violet Simon, a Carol Woods resident originally from New York, began teaching the Spanish class about five years ago. "I had never had any idea that I was going to do it, and I thought about it a lot," Simon says. "And I took the class, and I am glad that I did it."

News

Businesses, schools pitch in for biodiesel

By ERICA RAFFERTY | March 29

Most trends are considered fleeting, but there's one that could turn out to be sustainable - biodiesel. Weaver Street Market recently tuned up its image by joining the ranks of businesses in the Triangle that rely on biodiesel to fuel their vehicles. The University's P2P buses, Duke University's buses and businesses such as Ninth Street Bakery, also have switched to the ecofriendly alternative fuel.

News

Raise a glass for Guinness

By ERICA RAFFERTY | February 20

Glasses were raised, toasts were made and about four kegs of Guinness were drained at 11 p.m. Friday as W.B. Yeats Irish Pub patrons participated in the Great Guinness Toast 2006. The world's largest toast was celebrated at 20 locations throughout Chapel Hill, Durham and Carrboro. Each business sold "paper pints" for about a week leading up to the toast and donated all proceeds to the N.C. Children's Hospital. Keith Raitano, manager of W.B. Yeats, says his business probably raised $100 to $200 for the hospital.

News

Campus societies seeking successful students

By ERICA RAFFERTY | February 10

Now is the chance for students who have made significant contributions to UNC's campus to stand and hope to be recognized. Nominations for the Order of the Golden Fleece, Order of the Grail-Valkyries, Order of the Old Well and the Frank Porter Graham Honor Society are due today at 4 p.m. To nominate someone visit www.unc.edu/honoraries/NominationPage.htm. Each of the societies emphasizes honoring students who have made a long-lasting impact at UNC.

News

Dance troupe shakes, shimmies at Old Well

By ERICA RAFFERTY | February 10

A car stops in front of the Old Well. Its two passengers ogle at a group of more than 40 UNC students jumping and waving their hands in unison as a well-known techno anthem blares from an old boombox. It's approaching 11 p.m. Friday, yet the dancers are undeterred by the dark and the below-freezing temperature. The passengers park the car and run toward dancer Gabriella Miyares to ask her what's happening. "We're dancing in the moonlight," she says without missing a beat in the song's choreographed dance.

News

Bee interest swarms state

By ERICA RAFFERTY | January 23

David Langham has more than 300,000 bees - but he doesn't consider it a bug problem. Langham, who works for the University's Information Technology Services department, began beekeeping four years ago. Every summer, he shares his love of bees with the community by selling honey from a stand attached to his mailbox. "I have people who drive a long way to come to my mailbox to get honey because it's local honey," says Langham, who sold 150 pounds of honey last year.

News

Community revels in season

By ERICA RAFFERTY | October 10

Children swarmed the face-paint and arts-and-crafts tables, unconcerned by the foreboding sky at this year's Fall Fest at Baity Hill. Fall Fest is a celebration of the family housing community, sponsored by the department of housing and residential education and the Baity Hill and Mason Farm community staff. With the completion of the $43 million, student-family housing project, family housing has increased to 398 apartments. Lisa Inman, the community director of Baity Hill, said the event's purpose was two-fold.