• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

This Weekend FRIDAY 30% chance of rain 56/49 SA TURDAY Partly Cloudy 70/47 SUNDAY Jessee’s Brew Sunny and clear 72/43 See page 5 carrborocitizen.com NOVEMBER 12, 2009 u LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED u V OLUME III NO. XXXV FREE Ol’ Roy tells his story BY BETH MECHUM It was a relationship that was benefi- Staff Writer cial to both parties, creating a book-mak- ing process more personal than most. Roy Williams, head coach of the “What was great about this was it UNC men’s basketball team, is a na- was face to face, said Algonquin senior tional figure, but one that North Caro- editor Kathy Pories. “It was almost like linians call their own. the old-fashioned way, where editors That’s why it’s just perfect that Al- and authors are in touch all the time.” gonquin Books is the publisher of Wil- Algonquin Books was founded as liams’ first (and he says only) book, a small independent trade publisher Hard Work: A Life On and Off the in Chapel Hill in the early 1980s and Court, released on Nov. 2. Algonquin was bought by Workman Publishing in is based in Chapel Hill and once was 1989. Algonquin still maintains much housed in Carrboro. of its editorial control, and many of To be sure, there were other publish- its books tell stories that unfold in the ing companies on the hunt to buy the South. book, but Williams and co-author Tim Pories is an admitted Roy Williams Crothers felt that Algonquin had quali- enthusiast. Working on his autobiog- ties the New York-based publishing raphy, she said, was both professionally houses did not. and personally gratifying. “We shopped it to all of the major “I think in terms of getting the book, publishing houses and we decided the local connection helped,” Pories said, Algonquin was the best combina- “because I think [Williams] knew we tion of national distribution power knew North Carolina and Chapel Hill and the ability regionally,” Croth- better than a national house would.” PHoto BY KEN MooRE ers, a former Sports Illustrated senior Poires said she was surprised by how Apple-size fruit of Japanese persimmon are larger writer and current UNC journalism busy Williams was and how often he but not tastier than native persimmon. professor said. “They understand had to leave town on recruiting trips, how to move books in this area bet- but that it didn’t sway his commitment ter than anyone else.” to the book. FloRA BY KEN MOORE Crothers said he also enjoyed the “He’s very busy; but he’s so passion- PHOTO coURTESY OF FEARRington villagE benefit of having editors and publishers ate about this,” Pories said. “That to me As Fearrington Village’s Keebe Fitch readies another batch, UNC coach Roy so close. What most publishers would was huge. Bigger’s not better! Williams signs his book, Hard Work: A Life On and Off the Court, for fans after a do by email, Algonquin did with meet- everal weeks ago, I was Nov. 3 reading at McIntyre’s Fine Books. ings at coffee shops. SEE ROY PAGE 9 quizzed by a Citizen reader about a particularly dra- matic small tree in a Car- Slade takes his seat on board of aldermen Council sets rboro yard along his daily Sroute near the intersection of vote to fill Hillsborough and North Greens- boro streets. He described it as vacancy a small tree having orange minia- BY KIRK ROSS ture pumpkin-like fruits. I had to Staff Writer pause and think for a short while. “Oh, yes, I remember there is a CHAPEL HILL — The town council small tree in that neighborhood took another step toward filling a seat that appears festooned with lots left vacant when Bill Strom resigned in August. of little jack-o’-lanterns.” At its meeting Monday night at It’s one of those eye-catching Town Hall, the council approved Japanese persimmons, Diospyros a proposal introduced by recently kaki, often simply called kaki. It re-elected council member Laurin is a small tree that bears orange, Easthom to schedule a special meet- fleshy fruit, delicious when eaten ing on Wednesday, Dec. 9 to hear fresh or used for jams, breads presentations from those who have and puddings. applied for the seat, with a vote on the replacement at another special meet- Though kaki is the most fre- ing on Dec. 14. quently cultivated persimmon The new council, along with species, I don’t think it is as much Mayor-elect Mark Kleinschmidt, is a delicacy as our native persim- to be sworn in on Monday, Dec. 7. mon, Diospyros virginiana, a much PHOTO BY BETH MECHUM Easthom proposed that the review of taller tree, common in yards and With his niece Amelia Briggs looking on, Sammy Slade was sworn in Tuesday night by Town Clerk Sarah Williamson. the candidates come as quickly after along streets in our local neigh- the swearing-in as possible. Replacing Strom has been a borhoods. BY BETH MECHUM funds to cover the project at the pres- agreements with neighboring utili- politically contentious issue since his ent time and Carrboro officials must ties to purchase or sell water under The female, fruit-producing Staff Writer resignation on Aug. 1. The timing of find a source of money for the project appropriate conditions of supply trees are easy to find right now the resignation did not allow the open caRRBORO — As was decided before the Dec. 31 deadline. and demand. by looking for the soft, ripe, seat to be placed on the ballot in this at an August Carrboro Board of Much of the meeting was taken Another point Holland outlined year’s election. quarter-size (sometimes larger), Aldermen meeting, newly elected up with a presentation by Orange is that OWASA customers became Council member Matt Czajkowski, darkened, plum-like fruit on Sammy Slade was sworn in Tues- Water and Sewer Authority on its too good at water conservation. In who narrowly lost the mayor’s race, the ground beneath the tree. day night at Carrboro Town Hall long-range water supply plan. The 2007, when the area was experienc- has suggested that the council appoint I began collecting fallen ripe to finish the remaining few weeks point of the presentation was to re- ing a drought, many citizens pitched the fifth-place finisher in the election, of the seat John Herrera resigned. ceive feedback from the board be- in by doing their part to save water. persimmons beneath my favorite a position that has not drawn the open He will be sworn in again in early fore the end of the year. OWASA When the drought subsided, the tree a month ago, before the backing of others on the board. December to officially begin his has been making the same presen- newly formed habits did not. This recent frosts. Old-timers say Several members of the council term. tation to other affected governing cost OWASA revenue. it takes several frosts to ripen have expressed concern that the defeat Slade’s first order of business as bodies in Orange County. OWASA’s proposed strategy to of council member Jim Merritt in this persimmons. But not any more. an alderman was to join the board’s The key points OWASA repre- combat this is to purchase water month’s election leaves the council Perhaps shorter day light is the unanimous decision to reject the sentative Ed Holland made were from neighbors before alerting the without a black colleague for the first trigger. There are lots more on bid received for the N.C. 54 and W. that the quarry reservoir west of public of a water shortage. time in recent memory. the tree. They’ll be dropping for Main Street bus shelter installation Carrboro offers the most cost-ef- several weeks more. project and authorizing a re-bid of fective source of high-quality water The Japanese persimmon in the project. There are not sufficient and that OWASA wants to form SEE ALDERMEN PAGE 7 SEE COUNCIL PAGE 7 the garden of the nature sanctu- ary where I sometimes serve as a guide for school groups also has already produced soft ripe fruit. Radio station powered by volunteers RECENTLY . The programming is a testament to the SEE FLORA PAGE 10 BY ValaRIE SCHWARTZ work ethic of this former mill town, with 57 locally produced shows covering a mul- titude of music genres, the black and Latino With a Chapel Hill-located antenna and communities, journalism, local writers and INSIDE a reservoir of volunteer sweat, Carrboro has what’s happening in the community, plus hosted WCOM, its own nonprofit 100-watt “Democracy Now” and “Free Speech Ra- radio station for five years. At 103.5 on the dio.” The station has something for everyone Teen Halloween a success dial, the low-power FM station has proven — on an annual budget of $12,000. the power of grit and gumption, providing See page 3 “Nobody gets paid,” said Jackie Helvey, the 24/7 programming without an ounce of Friday co-host of “West End Report,” which INDEX corporate control or advertising. airs every weekday at 6 p.m. “You’re commit- We can thank Ruffin Slater, general ted to doing it every week, and if you can’t Music .................................................................................... 2 manager of Weaver Street Market, for get- be there you better have something ready. It’s News ................................................................................................ 3 ting the station started and for bringing in very unique for a town of our size to have such Community .........................................................................................4 Chris Frank (of the Red Clay Ramblers), great programming — it’s very eclectic.” Land & Table .........................................................................................5 who was the only person ever on the payroll, Think about it — a town the size of Car- Opinion .........................................................................................6 serving as part-time station manager for a rboro with both an independent newspaper Obits .............................................................................................................7 short while.

Load more

  10

Copy Link