Saturday, May 31, 2008
Edsel 500: Rockabilly Band: 50's and 60's Rock 'n Roll (Chapel Hill, NC)
The band that is to perform on the Green tomorrow, Sunday at 7 PM.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Sidewalks in Southern Village
It struck me yesterday as I walked to Market Street that many of the sidewalks in Southern Village require you to make what might otherwise seem to be an unnecessary square turn at an intersection. In other words, why were the sidewalks not laid out to anticipate how people were likely to walk if they go down one side of the street and intend to cross over to the other side at a crosswalk or intersection? I guess the answer is simply that the designers did not put themselves in walker shoes when they laid it out. That's too bad and I hope other developers have learned from this and so many other similar places.
We all seem to tolerate this so much more than we do something that takes our cars where we don't want them to go. Imagine if you were a small car instead of a person on our sidewalks!
We all seem to tolerate this so much more than we do something that takes our cars where we don't want them to go. Imagine if you were a small car instead of a person on our sidewalks!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Bicycles and stop signs...
I watched two young girls ride their bicycles down Brookgreen today and race through the intersection with Edgewater without stopping.
What traffic rules apply to bicycles in that situation? This appears to be pretty clear that bicyclists most obey all traffic rules.
In any case, if I were the parent, I'd take away the bicycles until the girls really understood the importance of stopping where there is a stop sign.
A day later, I saw a couple of young kids on bicycles cross a street at a crosswalk --- but mounted on their bicycles and without stopping before crossing. Didn't there used to be rules that children should cross streets walking their bikes? Riding them without stopping strikes me as unacceptably dangerous.
What traffic rules apply to bicycles in that situation? This appears to be pretty clear that bicyclists most obey all traffic rules.
In any case, if I were the parent, I'd take away the bicycles until the girls really understood the importance of stopping where there is a stop sign.
A day later, I saw a couple of young kids on bicycles cross a street at a crosswalk --- but mounted on their bicycles and without stopping before crossing. Didn't there used to be rules that children should cross streets walking their bikes? Riding them without stopping strikes me as unacceptably dangerous.
Sidewalk grinding service
I understand that the Town of Chapel Hill will come out and grind down any sidewalks that have popped up due to the tree roots.
Benches on the trail?
There are some nice new benches freshly installed on the trail extension that runs behind Scroggs. What are the chances of getting more of them on the existing trail?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Market Street Books at Arts & Letters Community Center
This is the link to the events page for Market Street Books. There are many of them - the events!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Concerts on the Green
I think the merchants association for Southern Village pays for all of the concerts on the Green. We should know more about that, and do a better job of thanking them!
Jaluka Juice
They have reopened on Market Street. Owners appear to have Brazilian roots!
Only open during the week, for now.
Only open during the week, for now.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
"It's boom times for bus service" - News & Observer
Over 600,000 people riding Chapel Hill Transit in April! Look at the increase and think about how much higher we can push that number?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Farmers' Market
I made my third trip up the hill today to the Southern Village Farmers' Market this season. It is disappointing to see so few vendors; we can only hope the number - and the business for them - increases as the summer approaches.
In order to help those who may not have gone up on a Thursday late afternoon, here is what I wound up buying today:
Basil - $2/bag
Arugala - 2.50/bag
Eggs - $4/dozen
Strawberries - $4/quart (I think that's one of those little containers?)
Peas - $2/pound(don't hold me to that)
This is a great resource to have here in Southern Village and whether you go up to complain about prices or tell them what you don't see, it's in everyone's interest for us all to go.
You may find, like me, that there are always at least a few good things well worth buying!
In order to help those who may not have gone up on a Thursday late afternoon, here is what I wound up buying today:
Basil - $2/bag
Arugala - 2.50/bag
Eggs - $4/dozen
Strawberries - $4/quart (I think that's one of those little containers?)
Peas - $2/pound(don't hold me to that)
This is a great resource to have here in Southern Village and whether you go up to complain about prices or tell them what you don't see, it's in everyone's interest for us all to go.
You may find, like me, that there are always at least a few good things well worth buying!
Orange County Master Plan
Here is the the text of some brief comments on the proposed Orange County Master Plan that I have submitted:
"I have reviewed the updated version of the Orange County master plan andoffer these brief comments in making three recommendations.
The first is that I do not believe that transportation other thanautomobilies ought to be considered "alternative". Rather, I think thatalltransportation modes ought to be considered on the same basis. Anautomobile is one, a bus another, trains, feet, bicycles, etc. None ismore"equal" than any other.
The second is that I believe we should commit ourselves to having asfullyfunctional a sidewalk network in Orange County as we do one forautomobiles. In other words, if we are going to consider comprehensiveplans for how our automobiles and other vehicles get around the county,weshould do the same for people who choose to walk. The current sidewalkroute throughout the county is abysmal and demands and deserve the samelevel of attention as that given to the road system.
The third is that I do not recall seeing in the document a comprehensivediscussion of energy production and use in the county. Perhaps I justmissed it, but I think any master plan today ought to containinformationon energy consumption and on local energy production. Again, I would notuse the term "alternative". Solar energy production, for example,deservesto be treated in exactly the same way as any other energy we producehere.
Thanks for considering these views."
"I have reviewed the updated version of the Orange County master plan andoffer these brief comments in making three recommendations.
The first is that I do not believe that transportation other thanautomobilies ought to be considered "alternative". Rather, I think thatalltransportation modes ought to be considered on the same basis. Anautomobile is one, a bus another, trains, feet, bicycles, etc. None ismore"equal" than any other.
The second is that I believe we should commit ourselves to having asfullyfunctional a sidewalk network in Orange County as we do one forautomobiles. In other words, if we are going to consider comprehensiveplans for how our automobiles and other vehicles get around the county,weshould do the same for people who choose to walk. The current sidewalkroute throughout the county is abysmal and demands and deserve the samelevel of attention as that given to the road system.
The third is that I do not recall seeing in the document a comprehensivediscussion of energy production and use in the county. Perhaps I justmissed it, but I think any master plan today ought to containinformationon energy consumption and on local energy production. Again, I would notuse the term "alternative". Solar energy production, for example,deservesto be treated in exactly the same way as any other energy we producehere.
Thanks for considering these views."
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Town of Chapel Hill Official Website - 2007 Crime Statistics
This is interesting because it shows crimes committed in Southern Village rental apartments compare to other apartment complexes in Chapel Hill.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Sunday, May 04, 2008
V bus in Southern Village
I stood at Edgwater and Brookgreen the other day waiting for the V bus to stop about 2 PM. I looked up Brookgreen at about that time and saw it turning up toward Market St. I walked very fast up to the Park and Ride lot next to the church and the bus was just leaving. He stopped and let me on.
When I asked if the route had changed, he said, no, that he goes all the way to Highgrove every hour and middle of the day there is never anyone there. So he skipped it for once and sure enough, I appeared!
The NextBus function on the Chapel Hill Transit website worked pretty well; it, of course, is not responsible for the driver! I wonder if I had been at the stop whether the GPS system they use to track buses would have detected that the bus indeed was not coming where I was waiting?
When I asked if the route had changed, he said, no, that he goes all the way to Highgrove every hour and middle of the day there is never anyone there. So he skipped it for once and sure enough, I appeared!
The NextBus function on the Chapel Hill Transit website worked pretty well; it, of course, is not responsible for the driver! I wonder if I had been at the stop whether the GPS system they use to track buses would have detected that the bus indeed was not coming where I was waiting?
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Weekend America: Klezmer Funk Hip-Hop? Abraham Inc.
See 25 May on the Green at Southern Village for another Klezmer group....Magnolia Klezmer Band.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Children and screens
When I was walking to the Farmer's Market yesterday, I passed a window in which a young girl was sitting on the window sill inside, seemingly resting against the screen on that window.
On morning television, I saw a piece about a woman whose very young child had fallen out of such a window, and fortunately was unharmed.
None of the screens of which I am aware on Southern Village dwellings is designed to support any weight whatsoever and it sure seems prudent to remind young kids of this!
On morning television, I saw a piece about a woman whose very young child had fallen out of such a window, and fortunately was unharmed.
None of the screens of which I am aware on Southern Village dwellings is designed to support any weight whatsoever and it sure seems prudent to remind young kids of this!
Woods next to soccer field
I've noticed at least one scooter/motorcycle on the path that runs from the corner of the soccer field through the woods to Dogwood Acres.
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the path through Southern Village and I don't think any ought to be permitted on this more "rustic" path.
It also would be a good idea for more adults to walk back there regularly to make sure nothing is happening there that should not....
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the path through Southern Village and I don't think any ought to be permitted on this more "rustic" path.
It also would be a good idea for more adults to walk back there regularly to make sure nothing is happening there that should not....
Trail from Aberdeen to new park....
I walked down the trail today from Aberdeen hoping to check on progress at the end of it - for the new park. Two things caught my attention.
One was the fact that they have redone the drain for the overflow from the pond in front of Scroggs, but there is still a lot of standing water there. I could imagine a lot of mosquitoes coveting that as home in a short time. It looks to me as though they will have to redo it again, or deal with whatever problem prevented them from getting it right the first time.
Second was the barrier, once again in place, that shuts off the path at the bottom of the Scroggs walkway. Why couldn't they let people walk up the path to the point of the construction instead of closing off the whole thing?
Anxious to get a feel for how the new park is shaping up.....
One was the fact that they have redone the drain for the overflow from the pond in front of Scroggs, but there is still a lot of standing water there. I could imagine a lot of mosquitoes coveting that as home in a short time. It looks to me as though they will have to redo it again, or deal with whatever problem prevented them from getting it right the first time.
Second was the barrier, once again in place, that shuts off the path at the bottom of the Scroggs walkway. Why couldn't they let people walk up the path to the point of the construction instead of closing off the whole thing?
Anxious to get a feel for how the new park is shaping up.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
