Jen Shurney

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Franklin Street exhibit awaits

By Jen Shurney | April 23

The heart of Chapel Hill, Franklin Street, is the inspiration for a new exhibit at the Chapel Hill Museum scheduled to open in October. The decision to construct the exhibit followed popular demand for more historical information about Franklin Street, said Traci Davenport, executive director of the museum. "A lot of visitors would come in and say, 'I'd really like to see what was going on 100 years ago outside the door,'" she said. The exhibit will focus primarily on the artifacts donated by members of the Chapel Hill community.

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Students present living wax museum

By Jen Shurney | March 28

It might not be a typical research project, but Carrboro Elementary School third-graders' wax museum project has excited both students and spectators. The "museum," which features students posing as wax characters, was open to visitors all day Tuesday. The research project has been an annual adventure for third-graders at various elementary schools in Carrboro for about 20 years, said Larisa Cortes, the dual-language third-grade teacher. Carrboro Elementary has participated for several years as well.

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Schools take part in music month

By Jen Shurney | March 26

This month, music and cultural art educators are encouraged to inspire students nationwide to participate in music and art programs in light of Music in Our Schools Month. Music in Our Schools Month is strongly supported by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, a 100-year-old organization that serves to alert teachers and students of the purpose and necessity of music programs.

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Group seeks student input

By Jen Shurney | February 21

If Eve Carson doesn't have enough to look forward to next year, she might have one more meeting on her agenda - with the Community Leadership Council of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The council discussed Friday extending its membership to include a student body representative. The Community Leadership Council meets regularly to discuss sustainability issues and to attempt to find solutions for these issues, said Jon Wilner, executive director of the ArtsCenter and council member.

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Grant to sync up security efforts

By Jen Shurney | January 26

Terrorism might not be the biggest issue in Orange County, but a grant of $1.8 million from the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, supported by the Department of Homeland Security, will pay to outfit two existing radio towers with VIPER technology. VIPER, the Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders, is a project funded by the N.C. Highway Patrol that helps facilitate communication among various emergency departments by coordinating towers' signals with one another.

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Satellite plan gets guideline

By Jen Shurney | January 19

The committee charged with examining the University's proposed satellite campus saw the culmination of months of work Thursday, though some concerns still remain. The Leadership Advisory Committee met to finalize the development principles and overall report for Carolina North, the research campus to be located one and a half miles from UNC. The committee consists of 24 members including University professors, Chapel Hill and Carrboro officials and the chairman of the committee, law professor and former Chapel Hill Mayor Ken Broun.

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Event addresses N.C. gang activity

By Jen Shurney | November 20

Mitch McKinney, alcohol and gang intelligence officer of the Chapel Hill Police Department, is working to quell gang activity in the state with the nation's fastest growing rate - North Carolina. McKinney presented a speech, "Gang Awareness: Their Problem is Our Problem," on Sunday at the Chapel Hill Institute for Cultural and Language Education office in Carrboro. CHICLE works with translating and interpreting in Latino culture, said Jane Stein, one of the group's owners. It hosts video showings and speakers two Sundays each month.

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AAA rewards local businesses for excellence

By Jen Shurney | November 15

AAA's Four Diamond award ceremony Tuesday in the Carolina Inn was nothing short of extravagant. With an array of fine foods, floral arrangements and wine, the event seemed to embody the standards of the four businesses in Chapel Hill that were granted the award. "These are the nuances that bespeak of the elegance that you expect in hotels and restaurants that achieve Four Diamonds," said Tom Crosby, AAA Carolinas vice president of communications. "They are above average, but they still work to exceed expectations."

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Director of county EMS retires

By Jen Shurney | November 14

Orange County Emergency Medical Services still is on the ready 24-7, but under new management since the retirement of director Jack Ball. Ball is trading in emergency management and medical dispatches for a life of deer watching and family time. He retired Nov. 3 after spending two years as Emergency Medical Services director and 36 years of involvement in public safety. Ball retired from a position as the director of public safety in Amherst County, Va., before returning to work in public safety in North Carolina.

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Contest features songwriters

By Jen Shurney | November 13

After taking a break from his music to attend UNC for graduate school, Karl Ruch said he has returned to his former pastimes: music and song writing. Ruch and seven other songwriters competed Saturday in the ninth annual N.C. Songwriters Co-op Songwriting Contest at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. The style of music most prevalent at the competition was a mixture of folk, pop and alternative country. Each songwriter used a guitar in the competition.