Chatlist Chatters

Teaching in August
[Jun. 17, 2007] I must apologize to the month of August. I do in fact teach in August. August is a fine month to stay in an overly air conditioned space, learning to read, write and solve problems. For many children, this is preferable to the alternative of watching endless hours of cartoons and fending off parents attempts to get you to go outside "and have fun" in the 95degree 100% humidity of central North Carolina. By Dan Cahoon

Pittsboro Food Lion vs Lowe's Foods
[Jun. 17, 2007] I have to simply speak out on this issue. I have been shopping in Pittsboro for roughly 20 years now, and I also frequent the market and the coop. Irregardless of complaints, the bulk of our shopping has been and probably will continue to be Lowe's. Why? I can get most everything I need there, and if I can't, the wonderful staff will order it in for me, given enough notice. By Deborah Bair

Local calendar control legislation
[Jun. 17, 2007] I am an elementary school teacher and so painfully aware of the calendar and deeply appreciative of time away from my precious, absolutely perfectly behaved first graders (supply your own eye roll of disbelief). School is a great place for children to be for as much time as can possibly be arranged. I think summer time does slow down the rate at which children perfect their communication and thinking skills. Spring break is right in the middle of the last push to teach reading, writing, and math. By Dan Cahoon

Remembering dad (aka Yabo)
[Jun. 6, 2007] Some of you will know my father Alvin Clark, and Yabo to others, but if you didn't get the chance to ever meet him, maybe one day in heaven you will. My father died on May 30th 2007. He was riding his favorite scooter uptown to visit with local friends, and had a few birdhouses on his cart with him at the time of his accident. As sad as I am feeling having lost someone so precious to me, I have to remember that he was doing exactly what he loved, riding his scooter and talking with locals from Pittsboro. By Wanda Hudgins

Seats available for Pittsboro van pool
[Jun. 5, 2007] Feeling the gas pinch? The Pittsboro Vanpool can help you save money on gas and wear and tear on your car. We depart each weekday from downtown Pittsboro at 6:45 am and head north on 15/501 to Chapel Hill where we drop folks off at the corner of Manning and S. Columbia on UNC's campus around 7:15 am. By Karen Crowell

Pittsboro water quality continues to be a problem
[May 31, 2007] This is the email I sent to the consulting engineers firm of Hobbs Upchurch mentioned in the unsafe water alert sent to town residents. Though the notice is dated May 15, it just arrived in my mailbox yesterday and tells of unsafe water test results found April 14, 2007. Failing the slow distribution of the notice and the lack of adequate response from the town officials after the last notice, I suggest we all start emailing both the town officials and the consultants to get moving on this problem now. By Susan Bridgers

Murder at 29 Red Pine Rd in Chatham subdivision
[May 16, 2007] I'm just writing to blow off a tiny bit of steam and a lot of anxiety. I live three houses down from the scene where Ms. Baldwin's body was found last Saturday. Apparently, she had been deceased for at least 48 hours. The news reports indicate no real sign of struggle, but the Sheriff's office has not stated whether or not there was forced entry. By Donna McCorkle
Also: Chatham County Sheriff

Is a land transfer tax fair?
[Apr. 29, 2007] Reading the county's justification of a transfer tax, one suspects that this particular tax appeals to the county because: it's unavoidable; revenues rise (as property values rise and the market activity increases) without commissioners having to justify a tax increase; by passing a single tax to meet wished for expenses, commissioners are saved the trouble of finding savings in the budget and/or adopting a variety of smaller measures that might in total achieve the same revenues. By Wallace Kaufman

Land transfer tax will expand county government
[Apr. 26, 2007] Any discussion of taxes has to start with the recognition that a tax is the way government takes money from some people and give it to others. In economics we call it redistribution. A rational discussion of the transfer tax begins by identifying from whom and to whom. By Wallace Kaufman

Does "Teen Challenge" mask special interests?
[Apr. 26, 2007] I read with interest the story about the "Teen Challenge" presentation at Northwood. There is no question in my mind this assembly was the result of either an apparent blanket approval of the entire school district or it is a perfect example of just how easy it is to mask your special interest and achieve your goal by successfully sliming it by the only ones who count: The students, and most importantly, the students' parents. By Amy Butcher

Land transfer tax is one of the best options available
[Apr. 26, 2007] I think land transfer tax opponents raise some valid concerns, but I still believe that this tax is one of the best options available to us at this point in time. By Pete Rubinas
Also: Chris Fitzsimon opinion piece

We pay enough taxes already
[Apr. 25, 2007] Is it true that Chatham county has in it's budget money to spend on the infrastructure of neighboring counties? The land transfer tax (LTT) is supposed to upgrade infrastructure, but for what county? By Steve Candelori

Offended by Northwood's "Teen Challenge"
[Apr. 25, 2007] A recent assembly at Northwood High School has hit a real hot button. I am wondering if anyone else is aware of the program and how it came to be approved by our school system. Since the superintendent and assistant principal at Northwood can't seem to be bothered to return my phone calls after two days I am posting to the chatlist. By Lynn Webster

Foolish and disingenuous arguments for the land transfer tax
[Apr. 25, 2007] We are bringing some badly needed rational thinking to a debate which has been marred by foolishness and disingenuous (to be polite) assertions, such as that the tax would be paid by "people coming into the county". Let's get this straight - this large tax would be on the sale of property, and would therefore be paid by the seller, NOT the buyer. By Ed Williams
Also: Mike Cross' Weblog
Also: It's a bad idea