Chatlist Chatters

Chatham EDC has taken the lead on developing a conceptual Land Use Plan for Chatham County
[May 9, 2013] The Chatham Economic Development Committee (EDC)DC has taken the lead on developing a conceptual Land Use Plan for Chatham County.This is not a detailed, comprehensive plan, but rather a review of where we are now and four generalized scenarios for how the county might develop. By Donna Kelly

Siler City Relay for Life loses a long-term corporate sponsor
[Apr. 12, 2013] My mom, Lynne Marley, has tied the Relay for Life purple bows for the past ten years (since 2003) to honor the memory of her brother, Edward Tilley, who died from bone cancer May 24, 2002. Over the years, a lovely woman named Betty Terry carefully collected the bows and gently delivered them to the volunteers, who sold them to the public. The bows have always been of top quality and absolutely beautiful. Anyone who knows my mom’s work knows she puts her heart and soul into making every bow. By Rita Marley-McKenzie

Heads Up Therapeutic Riding Center is closing
[Mar. 14, 2013] I was very sad to learn today that the Heads Up Therapeutic Riding Center in Pittsboro is closing. It's a great program that has benefited so many people, children and adults alike. For anyone who is unfamiliar with them, Heads Up is a Path International premier accredited center which was formed here in Pittsboro in 1991. By Shirley

Come celebrate the Chatham County PTA Thrift Shop 30th anniversary
[Mar. 14, 2013] The Chatham County PTA Thrift Shop will be celebrating their 30th Anniversary the whole month of April. There will be daily specials and each Saturday from 10am-2pm there will be entertainment and drawings for prizes. There will be balloons for the kids at different stores starting with the Siler City store April 6, Pittsboro April 13 and Cole Park April 20. Please plan to come out and support the PTA Thrift Shops in this wonderful celebration.

Megasite in Chatham County was put together privately
[Mar. 13, 2013] Karen Crowell drew some very odd conclusions from the article Gene posted on Saturday about the potential certified megasite in Siler City.The county will not be signing any contracts, securing any deals or luring any contracts away from neighboring counties.Here's a little more background on certified sites. By Donna Kelly

Just because a house is old does not mean it was built well
[Mar. 5, 2013] I spent a winter as a renter in one of those deteriorating old multi-generation, farm-family homes 20 years ago. I had buckets under the leaky places in the roof and the water would freeze overnight. You couldn't keep a candle burning for the drafts. By Karen Tiede

Harvesting wonderful materials from an old house
[Mar. 5, 2013] Perhaps there is another way, Maclyn Humphrey. You might join with us in making the land agriculturally productive. Don't know where your farm is or how many acres or what soil types or water sources etc. but by joining with us or other farmers nearby, you may be able to become productive. By John R Dykers

Saving a little bit of history
[Feb. 27, 2013] I want to thank Maclyn Humphreys for an excellent response to the discussion about old farmhouses. Every time I pass one of those abandoned old houses, often with a double wide in front, my heart breaks. By Lynn Hicks

How to measure a champion tree
[Feb. 27, 2013] Thanks, N.A. Booko, for your descriptions of trees that inspire you (Chatlist #4559). As you guessed, there is a standard method for measuring trees that are being nominated for champion tree status. You will find descriptions of the award categories and links to instructions on this Grand Trees of Chatham web page. By Margaret Tiano

Old wood houses fall apart. That is their nature.
[Feb. 26, 2013] Most of us who inherited old farms and farm houses do not have the financial ability to rescue them, nor do we care to turn family land over to developers who only want to make money with their ticky-tacky ugly sameness, or to wealthy outsiders who think they know better than we do what to do with our land. By Maclyn Humphrey

Finding answers about what Chatham County government is doing
[Jan. 8, 2013] I've actively followed county government for the last four years so I'm familiar with what resources are available and many of the issues that have been raised.That's why I'm making an effort to answer questions and point people in the right direction to find information for themselves.I'm getting a jumpstart on my New Year's Resolution to contribute more to the discussion. By Donna Kelly

Aqua NC approached Chatham County about long-term plans to purchase water
[Jan. 8, 2013] Aqua NC approached the county about long-term plans to purchase water from the county to supply customers in the northeastern portion of the county. The proposal was discussed at the November 19 Board of Commissioners work session. Aqua NC currently provides water to almost 900 customers in the county and also services about 2300 wastewater connections. They provide water and wastewater systems for developments. Some of their water is provided from wells but they also purchase some water from Chatham County and Pittsboro. If they purchase water from the county they are responsible for all necessary infrastructure required to tap into existing county water lines. By Donna Kelly

A new chicken processing plant in Chatham would produce a product most of us enjoy and jobs for many
[Dec. 10, 2012] We at one time each raised our own chickens to eat and lay eggs if we were lucky enough to have chickens. Harvesting one for Sunday dinner entailed catching it, chopping its head off with an axe or hatchet, using a block of wood for a chopping block, and doing this outdoors. Then the chicken had to be boiled to loosen the feathers which then had to be picked off the carcass. Usually the bird selected from the flock was an old hen who was no longer laying eggs well. The carcass was then boiled long enough to tenderize it, and it could then be cut into parts which might be fried and eaten. This was a special treat. By John R Dykers

Small post offices in Chatham County are at risk
[Nov. 1, 2012] We have a number of small post offices in Chatham - e.g. Bear Creek, Bonlee, Goldston, and Moncure. There may be others. I live in Moncure, where we have about 300 people getting their mail in post office boxes, and many more on two delivery routes. A lot of businesses in our area use our post office (we have excellent, friendly service at the window -- have since I've moved here in 1998), and so we have fairly high income in sales at the counter from people mailing things out of the post office. By Judy Hogan