Archive for February, 2008
Nia class gives Carrboro new exercise option
by Sean Umstead
Carrboro Commons Writer
Ninja flying through space may sound intimidating to most, but Kate Finlayson may have the answer in an alternative exercise built for anyone.
Finlayson, a Pittsboro resident, teaches Nia at the Carrboro Century Center. Nia is a fusion exercise that combines teachings of nine different disciplines including Yoga, modern dance and Tae Chi.
Instructor Kate Finlayson of Pittsboro leads the class in a “fighting cry.”
Staff photo by Sean Umstead
“The idea was to do something that didn’t impact the joints,” Finlayson said. “[Nia] works with them.”
When the music starts an older woman raised her hands slightly and the younger women threw them high above their heads. Each participant follows Finlayson’s lead but lets their bodies move and work comfortably to each individual.
Nia, neuromuscular integrative action, holds a core philosophy to offer a fitness skeleton of low impact cardiovascular exercise that allows participants to find create their own Nia to fit their own needs.
It is easy to see why she has over 40 members between her two classes. The music plunges from high energy to laid-back relaxation. Didgeridoos gently let the mind drift to wherever anyone wants to go. Finlayson molded the art into her own form, Nature Nia, which, she says, is an outward fusion of passions in her life, dancing, nature, and acting.
“Nia lets you explore yourself within the movement,” Finlayson said.
No commentsCarrboro Aldermen nix million dollar soccer field
by Ann Ansley
Carrboro Commons Writer
Most young athletes dream of playing on soccer fields that professionals like David Beckham and Christie Rampone practice and compete on every day.
Carrboro resident and state soccer referee William Madden stands at the lectern where he asked the Board of Aldermen to consider resurfacing the Smith Soccer Fields. The resurfacing would cost an estimated $1.62 million.
Staff photo by Ann Ansley
Carrboro’s youth might have to dream a little longer.
The Carrboro Board of Aldermen decided at its meeting on Feb. 19 that there was not enough funding available for the town to waive rental fees or to help fund resurfacing the soccer fields at Smith Middle School with artificial turf, a project that would cost $1.62 million.
On Jan. 15, Orange County presented the proposal to the Board of Aldermen to investigate the feasibility of several ways that the town could contribute to the project.
The Board of Aldermen concurred that the artificial turf would be too expensive, even if several local soccer clubs, including Triangle United Soccer Association, Triangle Futbol Club and Chapel Hill and Carrboro Soccer League, would be willing to offer almost $600,000 to help pay for the turf. The price of artificial turf is about $8 per square foot, according to the commissioners’ report.
That total cost, however, does not include any potential costs for design, engineering, permits or environmental studies.
The board acknowledged the importance of soccer to the community but decided that the town could not afford the fields.
Cat’s Cradle concert benefits Relay for Life
by Alexandra Mansbach
Carrboro Commons Writer
At first glance, the students and locals enjoying music and conversation at Cat’s Cradle Feb. 19 appeared to be hanging out like it was any other Tuesday night.
But this was not your typical bar night—most of the proceeds went to Relay For Life, which will take place in Chapel Hill in March.
Russell Baggett and Jeremy Buenviaje of the Honored Guests play at the concert fundraiser for Relay For Life at Cat’s Cradle last Tuesday night.
Staff photo by Alexandra Mansbach
“We’re usually open to things like this,” said Cat’s Cradle manager Derek Powers. “On average we do about two a month.”
Powers allows charities to use the venue for no cost, and on nights like Tuesday, Cat’s Cradle’s only profit comes from purchases made at the bar.
The event, “Cancer Sucks ’08,” charged a $5 cover fee at the door, which went directly to Relay For Life. Pizza sold for a dollar a slice and Relay For Life T-shirts sold for $12 a piece, or two for $20.
About 50 tickets were sold on campus prior to the event, but the small amount didn’t worry Amy Bugno, event chairwoman for this year’s Relay For Life planning committee. “College kids don’t usually like buying things in advance,” she said.
About 125 people ended up attending. The crowd was filled with students and local residents, some attending for the fundraiser and others attending for the music.
No commentsPerformance portrays local black history
by Shannon David
Carrboro Commons Writer
The ArtsCenter unveiled the hidden history of Carrboro and Chapel Hill through a multimedia performance titled, “Because We’re Still Here (And Moving)” on Friday, Feb. 15.
The performance incorporated original stories from the Carrboro and Chapel Hill communities with music, photographs, rap, poetry and dance.
The “Because We’re Still Here (And Moving)” performance used student actors as well as local actors from the community and incorporated original stories from the Carrboro and Chapel Hill communities with music, photographs, rap, poetry and dance.
Staff photo by Shannon David
“Because We’re Still Here (And Moving)” was the result of a two-year project in which local high school students and UNC-Chapel Hill students worked together to uncover stories by interviewing members of the local black community.
Lynden Harris, founder of the ArtsCenter’s Hidden Voices series, said the oral histories resulted in more than 1,400 pages of material. The stories were compiled with other information given to Hidden Voices such as photographs, scrapbooks and diaries.
“We talked to just an amazing wealth of community, and we are so fortunate,” Harris said. “Some of the people in this show are actually the students who went around and talked to the elders and gathered their stories.”
The performance not only featured oral histories of the community, but also screen-projected images of the actual people and places that were portrayed.
Roxanne Tatum, a resident of Chapel Hill, attended the performance and she said the images were very powerful in combination with the music, poetry and rap.
“Dramatic arts is a great vehicle to impact and educate,” Tatum said. “It is important for people to know their histories, not just African-Americans, but everyone.”
Tatum is not the only viewer praising the performance. Harris said that the ArtsCenter has been inundated with positive feedback in the form of letters, blogs and phone calls.
Harris said that many viewers have been asking for more performances, and as a result, the ArtsCenter is looking into an encore.
Staff videos by Shannon David
Carrboro hosts Valentine’s Day party for the ages
by Shera Everette
Carrboro Commons Writer
Heart-covered vases and rose petals decorated the tables where 60 senior citizens enjoyed their Valentine’s Day Party on Friday, Feb. 8. There were refreshments, door prizes and most of all fun.
Photo by Shera Everette
“This is the social event of the season,” said party-goer Gail Moriarty of Carrboro. “It’s just so great to be able to get together with my friends on an occasion such as this.”
The Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department hosted its annual event at the Century Center. Mickey Mills and Steel, a Trinidad native and Carrboro resident, serenaded the crowd with reggae music and his rendition of Bobby McFerrin’s famous song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which brought some of the seniors to their feet.
“It’s a day to rejoice and to have a good time,” Mills said to the crowd. “It’s Valentine’s Day, a time to have love and be happy.”
Dana Hughes, the event coordinator and a recreation supervisor with the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department, said the party is a great way to honor the older adults of Carrboro.
“It’s pretty neat,” Hughes said. “Most of the time they are very appreciative of the entertainment and afternoon snacks. They enjoy spending time with their friends, and it’s just a great outing.”
No commentsPopular mobile taquerias here to stay, says mayor
by Katie Spencer
Carrboro Commons Writer
Things seemed pretty normal Saturday evening at Gerardo Martinez’s taquería; there was little sign of recent controversy. Martinez’s truck, along with two others that operate from parking lots in Carrboro, have become familiar parts of the local scene, but in mid-January an anonymous complaint led town officials to ask that they shut down.
Photo by Katie Spencer
Mobile food stands are in violation of a Carrboro zoning regulation, according to a memo posted by Mayor Mark Chilton on OrangePolitics.org on Jan. 26. The town sent notification to property owners of Fitch Lumber, Cliff’s Meat Market and Johnny’s Sporting Goods, the businesses who allow the use of their parking lots.
The taquerías’ apparent doom threw loyal customers into action that weekend. Martinez said he usually stays open from 6 to 11 p.m. but, “that (Saturday) we closed at like 8:30 because I ran out of food,” estimating 400-600 taco sales that night.
Martinez, 30, said he moved to the area from Guanajuato, Mexico, at age 17 and has been an employee at Cliff’s Meat Market ever since. About a year and a half ago, he opened his taquería and began selling tacos and quesadillas filled with pork, chicken, beef or tongue, for the adventuresome.
Martinez has three children, ages 9, 8 and 1, and said he started the venture to make some extra money.
“I want to save money for my kids, for them to go to college,” he said.
The trucks have been a success. Carrboro customer Frank Desaix likened them to gourmet street vendors of New York City. He said he wouldn’t go anywhere else to get a taco.
“If you want Mexican food, you go to Mexican people,” he said.
Bill Fairbanks, 54, owner of Carrburritos, said he did not think the taco trucks were hurting his business.
No commentsCarrboro ArtsCenter continues Hidden Voices series
by Colin Campbell
Carrboro Commons Co-Editor
Most locals don’t know that the building that houses Carrboro’s Main Street Gallery was once home to the Hollywood Theater, a movie theater that catered to black patrons.
Photo by Colin Campbell
But a new exhibit at the ArtsCenter aims to change that. The exhibit, which opened Feb. 8, depicts more than a hundred years of black history and culture in the Carrboro and Chapel Hill area.
The community mapping project, which is titled “Because We’re Still Here (And Moving),” is the result of a collaborative effort by UNC-Chapel Hill students and local teens to collect oral histories.
“The stories were passing with the people,” said Lynden Harris, founder of the ArtsCenter’s Hidden Voices series, who organized the project. “People drive down Franklin Street and have no idea that it used to be an African-American community.”
In addition to the exhibit, local actors will present a performance of the collected stories Feb. 15 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the ArtsCenter. The show was written by Harris and is directed by Kathryn Williams.
The exhibit includes photos of local blacks such as James “Bubba” Norwood. Norwood formed a band at Lincoln High School, the local black high school during segregation. He went on to play drums with Tina Turner, the Monkees and James Brown.
No commentsNew bus driver brings joy to CW route
by Leah Szarek
Carrboro Commons Writer
Locked in a battle with the wind to collect the most leaves, the sweatshirt-clad man looked up from his rake with a start at the beep of the bus’s horn.
“Go to my house and rake mine when you get through,” the bus driver ordered him through the closed window, prompting a chorus of laughter and “yes, ma’ams” from the handful of passengers occupying the blue bucket seats behind her.
Photo by Leah Szarek
Joyce Wilson, better known as “Miss Joyce,” has been driving the CW route from the Jones Ferry Park and Ride Lot to the Pittsboro Street Credit Union for only four months, but she is already a Carrboro institution. The Merritt Mill Road resident said she loves the town and her route.
“I have a mix of people—students, elderly, little children,” she said, contrasting the CW line with her former route while deftly making the left turn from West Main Street onto Weaver Street one February morning. “On the T, it’s mostly just students.”
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MISS JOYCE
Miss Joyce dispenses a running stream of advice on cold cures (“Drink plenty of fluids. Orange juice is the best.”), the Carolina basketball team (“It took them two losses to make them stronger. Hold your heads up, boys.”) and fine dining (“You going to Country Junction today? Try their Chuck Wagon — it’s delicious.”). Her pronouncements are often punctuated by one of her cell phone’s several sing-along ring-tones, including the Black Eyed Peas’ anthem to the female body, “My Humps.”
Miss Joyce said it’s impossible to get bored on her 16 runs between Carrboro and Chapel Hill.
No commentsSchool board may expand dual-language program
by Morgan Siem
Carrboro Commons Writer
Overcoming his fear of the microphone, a preschool boy said, “A mi me gusta hablar en Español,” which means that he likes to speak in Spanish. He was among the many passionate supporters of the dual-language program who came to the Jan. 17 meeting of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education.
Kindergartner Jennifer Gonzalez works on her journal in Spanish with Luzma Henao, teaching assistant from Colombia.
photo by Morgan Siem
Dual-language programs began six years ago in two of the district’s schools: Carrboro Elementary and Glenwood Elementary. Since then, tremendous support and demand have prompted the board to consider expanding the program to Scroggs, McDougle and Frank Porter Graham elementary schools.
The program forces students to use visual cues, work with others and ask for help, said José Nambo, dual-language coordinator for the district.
“This program encourages students to think in a different format,” he said. “It gives them the ability to look for other ways to complete a task.”
Classes are formatted so that 50 percent of the students are English language learners and 50 percent speak English as their first language. For half of the day, the instructors teach in English. For the other half, they teach in a second language.
At Glenwood Elementary, the target language is Mandarin, and at Carrboro it is Spanish. If Frank Porter Graham, Scroggs and McDougle add dual-language programs, they will target Spanish.
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