Testimony Begins in Murder Trial

This Weekend FRIDAY As 10% Chance of Precip 54/34 °F Harrison SATURDAY Barnes 10% Chance of Precip 49/25 °F goes... SUNDAY 0% Chance of Precip 47/25 °F See page 9 carrborocitizen.com DECEMBER 8, 2011 u LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED u VOLUME V NO. XXXIX FREE Human Rights Center must find new home BY SUSAN DICKSON mercial establishment in the residen- since 2009. Though the complex is to police regarding disturbances at Staff Writer tial complex was a violation of HOA zoned residential, the center received the apartments to parking issues and covenants. Lucas also serves as presi- a zoning variance from the town be- towed cars. Following a decision last week by dent and CEO of the Tar Heel Com- cause someone lives in one of the two Last month, the Carrboro Board of the Abbey Court Condominiums panies, which manages the complex. apartments. Aldermen voted to rescind its contro- homeowners’ association to force the “There seems to have been a belief White said the complex is intend- versial anti-lingering ordinance for the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Human that this was some kind of quick de- ed to be residential, and commercial corner of Jones Ferry and Davie roads, Rights Center (HRC) to leave the cision blindsiding the Human Rights properties aren’t permitted under adjacent to Abbey Court, where day complex, the HRC is searching for a Center,” White said. “The homeown- HOA covenants because of associated laborers – many of whom are residents new home. ers’ association has been trying to get noise and traffic. of the complex – wait to be picked up Bart White, an attorney for Ken the owner’s attention for over a year The removal of the center from for construction work. Lucas, owner of the majority of the that this was a violation of the cov- Abbey Court is the latest in a string Judith Blau, director of the HRC, property, said the association voted to enants.” of controversy at the complex, which said she believes that the decision give the HRC 90 days to leave Abbey The nonprofit center has been lo- in recent years has been riddled with Court because its presence as a com- cated in two Abbey Court apartments conflict ranging from numerous calls SEE AbbEY COURT PAGE 10 MICHELLE JOHNSON TAKES HER SEAT Testimony The Carrboro Board of Aldermen The Town of Carrboro has possibly the largest welcomed its newest begins in wreath in the state. member, Michelle Photo BY Ken MooRE Johnson, on Tuesday. Johnson and reelected board members murder Lydia Lavelle and Dan floRA BY KEN MOORE Coleman were sworn in as the board bid Carrboro’s giant farewell to longtime trial member Joal Hall BY ROSE LAUDICINA Broun. Broun decided holiday wreath not to seek reelection Staff Writer to the board after Carrboro Town Hall’s giant After a full week of jury selection, the trial began serving for 12 years. holiday wreath is possibly the for the State of North Carolina v. Laurence Alvin Photo BY AliciA Lovette on Wednesday with opening statements fol- largest one hanging in the state. I StempeR bet you can’t buy one anywhere. lowed by graphic testimony from witnesses. Opening statements from District Attorney Jim Ever wonder about its source? Woodall outlined what the jurors were to expect from Well, for more than 20 years the trial, detailing who would be testifying, what they the holiday greenery that has likely would be saying and what types of evidence adorned the massive entrance would be introduced. “You are going to hear a lot about how accom- of Carrboro Town Hall has been plished Eve Carson was, and that in so many ways a gift of time and creativity by she was a typical college student,” Woodall said to the members of the Carrboro Com- jury, comprised of 11 whites and one black. munity Garden Club. He also gave a very detailed timeline of the events In the early years, the group of the case, including when money was withdrawn created holly and pine swags SEE LOVEttE PAGE 3 with red bows for the town hall entrance. Fifteen years ago a giant plywood cutout circle, rescued from the landfill, became County Charting a path to recovery a frame for a giant wreath to BY TAYLOR SISK Mental Health – in Carrboro’s Carr says, “and they really need to under- hang over the entrance. Now considers Staff Writer Mill Mall. stand that this is not inevitably a chron- the hanging of this giant wreath Binanay needed direction; he need- ic, disabling illness, that people can – sometimes accompanied by This is the second in a three-part series ed acknowledgement of his perception learn to manage it. sales tax on the onset of psychosis in young adults, that what was going on was as much in “They need to understand that smaller wreaths or large swags its treatment and UNC’s Outreach and his heart as his head. It was a profound there’s tremendous hope.” on the columns – has become an Support Intervention Services program. spiritual experience. annual tradition. for sewer The staff at OASIS was willing to Effective treatment Over the years, the group has When David Binanay was diag- accept that. The importance of map- UNC’s OASIS program was BY ROSE LAUDICINA committed itself to utilizing only nosed with schizophrenia in 2006, a ping an exit strategy of the client’s own launched in September 2005. Its ob- Staff Writer year out of college, he was very fortu- design is a cornerstone of the OASIS native materials, and the results jectives are to engage young people in nate in a couple of fundamental ways. philosophy. The conviction that there’s treatment of the onset of psychosis and are not your ordinary holiday On Monday, the Orange County First, he had the support of his fam- hope is another. assist them in regaining social and oc- wreath. The group generally Board of Commissioners passed a ily. Diana Perkins, OASIS’ medical di- cupational functioning, toward, ulti- relies on local cedar, pine and resolution officially implementing the “My family went through psychosis rector, describes a recent meeting she mately, preventing disability from a psy- voter-approved quarter-cent sales tax magnolia for the base, but you as much as I did, particularly my mom had with the parents of an 18-year-old chotic disorder. in 2012. and dad,” Binanay says. boy in rural North Carolina who had From experience, Perkins and her can count on some infrequently Commissioners discussed what Obviously, the experience is a trau- been diagnosed with schizophrenia. colleagues have come to see that the used materials, like sumac cones, would be considered appropriate uses matic one, your loved one present, but They had taken him to a local hospital, needs of this young population are very broom sedge and cattails for ac- for the revenues from the tax, specifi- from afar. and were told by a psychiatrist that their different from those with chronic psy- cents. cally regarding the portion to be used “Imagine your son coming from son would never recover – no hope; get chosis. They’ve realized that early in- for economic development. here,” Binanay says, his hand reaching used to it. Each year, staff of the Car- tervention can prevent the illness from While new businesses and grants for the ceiling. “And now where did he “And it was just devastating,” Per- becoming chronic. rboro Public Works Landscape for infrastructure related to new busi- go? kins says. “Here they had this 18-year- “There is symptom recovery and and Grounds Division meet with ness are included in the approved uses “My family went through a lot,” and old boy, off in college, and now they’re functional recovery,” OASIS program members of the garden group for economic-development funding, stood by him each step of the way. being given this message. This was a director Sylvia Saade explains. Commissioner Barry Jacobs noticed to hang the giant wreath a day Binanay was also lucky to be diag- psychiatric hospital; this was a trained The strategy is to control symptoms that what seemed to be missing was a nosed soon after the onset of his illness, psychiatrist.” with low doses of antipsychotic medi- or two before the annual holiday category for existing businesses. and to be referred to the Outreach and The problem, Perkins says, is that psy- cation and then focus on functional parade. It’s not an easy task to “Were a municipality to approach Support Intervention Services (OASIS) chiatrists often don’t see schizophrenia hoist up and secure that wreath, program – administered by UNC’s patients until their illness is advanced. but the challenge is enthusiasti- SEE SEWER PAGE 10 Center for Excellence in Community “Clinicians have this bias,” Perkins SEE OASIS PAGE 7 cally undertaken by all present. Though the big wreath can be easily viewed by passersby on Three decades of enriching a community the street, to appreciate the RECENTLY . other three children in Raleigh, but a passel of flowers, which participants BY VALARIE SCHWARTZ when she was 22 and a sister was in arrange into cans or bottles they’ve SEE FLORA PAGE 9 school at UNC, she moved to Carr- decorated to be provided for Wheels on Our community includes all kinds boro. For 33 years, The Arc has pro- Meals deliveries. of people. Some among our popula- vided programs that help parents as “Everybody feels better when they INSIDE tion came here for the services pro- they raise their children with DD, as do something that helps someone else,” vided by our highly celebrated school well as adults like Perry.

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