Columns

Opening up school business
[Jan. 11, 2007] During the past month I have been able to personally visit five of our schools. The teachers and staff continue to be impressive because of their dedication and hard work but certain conditions in two of them are less than impressive. More about that later. By Gerald Totten

NAACP holds fast to Dr. King’s dream
[Jan. 8, 2007] The NAACP, the oldest and most influential civil rights organization for African-Americans and other peoples of color worldwide, plans to launch a massive NAACP membership and voter registration drive beginning January 13, 2007 at the organization’s annual banquet. “It is time we honor Dr. King’s dream in a more tangible way,” noted Larry Brooks, President of the Western Chatham Chapter of the NAACP.” By Delcenia Turner

Growing pains
[Aug. 27, 2006] I have been sitting quietly watching the developments of late. I have listened to many comments about commissioners and the obvious run they are making to get all they can before getting booted out. I listened to one person talk about the tax situation and how development is hurting him in particular. He wasn't mad he was hurt. This is a point people don't need to get to. By Mark Stinson

Ralph
[Aug. 15, 2006] Saturday morning I was sitting on my porch swing drinking coffee as I do every morning. It's a daily ritual I do to get my thoughts clear and plan the day. I was discussing the days activities with my eldest son and across the yard in the rain wandered the nastiest mutt you ever saw. By Mark Stinson

Spinning the wheels of bureaucracy
[Jun. 26, 2006] It's the bane of your existence if you've ever had to call any large organization: getting put on hold. In that moment, you experience an overwhelming sense of frustration and helplessness. The decision to wait another minute for the cheesy elevator music to be broken by an actual human voice, or to merely hang up the phone is left hanging over your head. In short, it is a huge inconvenience. By Jon Lorbacher

Unrealized enforcement
[Mar. 30, 2006] I made a comment some time back I will gladly eat now. I made the comment I wouldn't partake in political tom foolery again. I have decided to speak my peace from a one on one experience with one of the current candidates for office in this county. By Mark Stinson

Freaky Friday
[Mar. 28, 2006] I took my daughter to the dermatologist Friday . Our van spit the transmission out at the intersect of MT Carmel and 15-501 at Chapel Hill . I wasn't happy and called a long time friend at Downtown Automotive in Siler City to come get me and my daughter . He came with his truck and brought us home in a very timely manner and at a very reasonable price . By Mark Stinson

Measurement of a little sister’s potential
[Mar. 10, 2006] Some of Chatham County’s greatest potential assets are realized through our children. I don’t like the fact certain guidance counselors think they can judge a child's potential to make their future far more complicated or pave an easy pathway to college just because they had a whim of like or dislike toward that child. Being in a person's chosen few shouldn’t determine the direction a child takes toward their adult career path. By Mark Stinson

Little boys
[Jan. 18, 2006] Once, a little boy grew and most everything he saw he learned to draw. His fascination with drawing and capturing the moment gets him noticed later in life. He goes on to become involved with a group of very talented people all intent on learning new things and exploring new possibilities. His eye for detail got the attention of his superiors. He was asked to draw what he envisioned their projects would look like. Larry’s work was well known throughout the group he was involved with. By Mark Stinson

Fifty cent miracle
[Dec. 30, 2005] Have you ever looked at fifty cents and thought "this ain't much?" I guess two quarters doesn’t seem to be a great fortune but it can be depending on your certain point of view. Thursday, December 29th and I had exactly fifty cents to my name. By Mark Stinson

The Citizen's College: How government works
[Sep. 11, 2005] Over the the past two years, CCEC - INSTITUTE, Inc. and several other citizen formed groups have become aware of the lack of knowledge and understanding that most residents of Chatham County and its three towns - Goldston, Pittsboro, Siler City - have about their own governments. The paucity of knowledge seems to stem from several things: little county wide information on a regular basis in varied media form; significant size of the county; "the east west divide", etc. By rita spina

State finds violations at Chapel Ridge golf course development
[Aug. 16, 2005] After months of outcry from citizens who have watched beautiful creeks in the rural forests of Chatham County turn brown from mud coming off of the Chapel Ridge construction site, we have been told that the state Division of Land Quality and Division of Water Quality have found violations of the sediment erosion controls and will ssue "Notice of Violations". The two creeks- Dry Creek and Brooks Creek - that are being impacted by the project both flow to the Haw River and then to Jordan Lake, where the state is working on new rules to reduce pollution. By Haw River Assembly

Another mini-Briar Chapel for Pittsboro
[Aug. 1, 2005] The Town of Pittsboro has scheduled a public hearing for its Monday August 8th meeting, 7pm on rezoning a 96.8 acre tract to MUPD -- Mixed Use Planning District (more on that below) to allow a very high density residential development with a tiny "village center" of shops and offices. The project is unnamed in the documents I obtained from the Pittsboro planner's office so for shorthand I will refer to it as Pittsboro West. By Liz Cullington

Initial meeting about potential Wal-Mart was a success
[Aug. 1, 2005] The informational pro and con meeting held at Dockside Restaurant on Thursday, July 28th regarding a potential Wal Mart in northeast Chatham was a success for the approximately 200 people who attended. By Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities
Also: Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities