Noted

WHAT WE’VE HEARD AROUND TOWN …

WHAT AN HONOR

In July, TABLE was named one of five recipients of a $25,000 Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope grant. Recipients also won an ice-cream party and the opportunity to have their names displayed on NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson’s helmet during a race.

On Aug. 15, Orange County Commissioner Renee Price was honored as the Commissioner of the Year by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. “[The award] signifies my dedication to advancing quality of life and justice for all people,” Renee said in a press release.

On Sept. 1, the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a proclamation recognizing retiring Maj. David Lewis Caldwell Jr. for his services as a Town of Carrboro police officer and Orange County deputy sheriff for 40 years, and as head of support services and community outreach for the sheriff’s department, a role he’s had since 2016. The proclamation states “the Board profoundly thanks [Maj. Caldwell] for his uncompromising commitment, dedication and distinguished service.”

UNC Department of Communication

professor Bill Brown’s film “XCTRY” was selected as part of the fourth annual Tarheel Shorties Film Festival, which took place online this year on Aug. 25-27. His film features footage from a past cross-country road trip from Chicago to Las Vegas, documenting leaving one town in the hopes of finding another to love. Compiled by Renee Ambroso

Chapel Hill-based architect Arielle Condoret Schechter’s “Haw River House” received second place in the coveted Jury Awards category as part of the 2020 George Matsumoto Prize, which recognizes excellence in modernist residential design. The 2,600-square-foot house, designed for owners Kate Paradis and Scott Zimmerman, blends into a rocky knoll, which faces the western side of the Haw River in Chatham County. Arielle designed the net-zero house to create as much or more energy than the PHOTO BY TZU CHEN PHOTOGRAPHY home requires, utilizing a butterfly-shaped roof to collect rainwater, among other ecofriendly features. BOOKIN’ IT Christine Parks, the founder and owner of Sera Cuni, co-owner and Camellia Forest Tea Gardens, co-authored chef of The Root Cellar “Grow Your Own Tea” with tea historian Cafe & Catering, made Susan Walcott. The book, released on Sept. her national 1, provides a thorough overview of growing, television debut on harvesting and preparing different types of tea. Food Network’s “Guy’s This handbook was written for avid gardeners Grocery Games” on as well as tea lovers who are interested in Aug. 19. Hosted by discovering new recipes and learning more restaurateur Guy Fieri, about the history of tea. the show features chefs from across the country who create dishes to be evaluated by a panel of Hillsborough resident and mystery author three judges. The chefs have a limited time to Melissa Bourbon’s new novel “Murder in grab necessary ingredients from the “Flavortown Devil’s Cove” was released on Sept. 22. Set in a Marketplace” designed by Guy for the chance fictional Outer Banks town, it is the first book to win $20,000. Sera never applied to be on in the new series, “Book Magic.” the show and was shocked to receive an invitation via Facebook Messenger. Sera came to the area in 2006 to work at Foster’s Market in Chapel Hill. In 2013, Send us your noteworthy ➾ “Goodnight Carolina” author Missy Julian Fox and illustrator Elaine O’Neil’s new book, “Violet Stands she purchased the restaurant moments! Tall,” will be released on Nov. with her wife, Susan White, and rebranded it as The Root Cellar From births to awards 15. The book is their third collaboration and features a a year later. Although she didn’t to new biz creative, entrepreneurial bunny, win the competition, Sera hopes that her appearance will draw and more –noted@ chapelhill Violet, who opens a clothing store on Franklin Street. more people to her restaurants. magazine.com Elaine enhanced her colorful

illustrations with vibrant fabric swatches. Missy says she aimed to “weave a rich, layered story using Violet’s experience that is truly tailormade for those who need a dose of confidence . . . to follow their dreams. There is no age limit to that need.” Find “Violet Stands Tall” and other books at roadtripcarolina.com.

ON THE MOVE

After five years as Kidzu PHOTO BY BETH MANN Children’s Museum’s development director, Kate Sullivan returned to her former profession, education. This school year, she is teaching seventh grade English at Sherwood Githens Middle School. Lisa

Brown returned to Kidzu to serve as interim development director. Chief District Court Judge Joe Buckner retired on July 31 after serving for more than 25 years. Joe (pictured second from right with District 15B, which includes all of Chatham County and part of Orange County. Born and raised in Siler City, Joe earned his law degree After 22 seasons as UNC’s head baseball coach, Mike became head coach at his alma mater in 1999 and went on to earn more wins than any other coach in the program’s history. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and was ACC Coach of the Year in 2018. Mike led the team to seven College World Series appearances and took part in all 18 Tar Heel victories in the series as either a player or a coach. Scott Forbes was named as Mike’s replacement. As a pitching coach, recruiting coordinator and associate head coach, Scott has been a member of the Tar Heels’ staff for almost 20 seasons.

Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Carl Fox retired on Oct. 1 from his post serving District 15B after a long judicial career. The first Black district attorney in state history, Carl was also the first Black judge appointed in his district. “Thank you so very much

PHOTO BY FRED STIPE his family, Eva Buckner, Zane Buckner, Nell Buckner and Julia Buckner) presided over at UNC before becoming a judge.

Mike Fox announced his retirement in August. for your confidence and trust in me,” Carl

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IN MEMORIAM

Chapel Hill resident Euzelle Smith passed away on Sept. 19, 2020, at the age of 101. She is survived by three of her four children, 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and her brother, Audel Patterson. A dedicated educator, Euzelle began teaching at Orange County Training School and Lincoln High School upon moving to the area in 1943. Following the integration of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, she taught elementary and middle school students in the school system and finished her career as a guidance counselor at Culbreth Middle School in 1981. Euzelle and her late husband, R.D. Smith, were honored for their long teaching careers and passion for mentoring students in 2008 when Smith Middle School was named after them. They were also named Community Treasures by the Chapel Hill Historical Society that same year. In addition to attending events and visiting Smith Middle School regularly, Euzelle was an active member of First Baptist Church of Chapel Hill.

Chapel Hill resident

Miriam Kresses

Slifkin passed away on Aug. 28, 2020, at the age of 95. She is survived by her four daughters, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and her brother, Sid Kresses. Miriam, a native of Alabama, PHOTO BY FIFTY TWO HUNDRED PHOTO and her late husband, Larry Slifkin, became Chapel Hill residents in 1955. Miriam was a scientist with a Ph.D. in mycology, and after discovering discrimination in her own workplace, she became a tireless advocate for women’s rights. Once she became president of Chapel Hill’s chapter for the National Organization for Women, she helped found the Orange County Rape Crisis Center in 1973. Miriam advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment to be passed by the North Carolina General Assembly, another example of her staunch determination to enact change. At UNC, Miriam was an advisor to students working to establish a women’s studies program, spearheaded a campaign for women to be eligible for the Morehead-Cain scholarship and was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1980.

Progressive pastor and longtime civil rights activist Robert Seymour passed away at 95 on Oct. 11, 2020. He is survived by his two children, Frances and Rob, and grandchildren. Born in Greenwood, South Carolina, Bob earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and a master of divinity from Yale Divinity School. He was awarded a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 1955. When he returned to the States, he met his wife, Pearl Francis, in 1956 during the four years he served as a minister in Mars Hill, North Carolina.

Bob and Pearl came to Chapel Hill in 1959 when he was chosen to lead Binkley Baptist Church, which was founded the previous fall by 40 white members who intended to focus on social justice and inclusion. “Binkley was a turning point in my life,” Bob told Chapel Hill Magazine in December 2014. Under Bob’s guidance, the church advocated for civil rights and encouraged women to take on leadership roles. In January 1960, Binkley welcomed its first Black member, a UNC student.

Bob’s circle of influence grew as he became involved in other social justice causes. Through the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, where he served seven years as the group’s founding president, he rallied citizens of all faiths to ensure that the less able had food to eat, clothes to wear and a decent place to live.

Though he retired from Binkley in 1988, Bob could not resist engaging in projects that benefited his community. He wrote four books and a regular column in the Chapel Hill News and founded the Chapel Hill Senior Center. When the new facility on Homestead Road opened in 2007, it was named in honor of him and his wife.

REV. ROBERT SEYMOUR (1925–2020)

PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH

UNC’s Asian American Center officially the past 33 years.” Carl, an alumnus of UNC town attorney School of Law. She replaces Town closure last November. The museum welcomed

opened in September with a goal to facilitate dialogue and help cultivate the Asian American community at and around the university. Dr. Heidi Kim, an associate professor of English and comparative literature, was appointed wrote in his announcement. “It has been the center. Students hosted a virtual kickoff my pleasure and an honor to serve you over event to celebrate. School of Law, held his position as Superior IN OTHER NEWS Court judge for 14 years. The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill The Chapel Hill Town The gala, which featured a silent auction as well Council appointed as a virtual tour of the house, raised $108,000 Ann M. to bolster efforts to support families Anderson as coping with hospital stays and illness. in July. Ann The Ackland Art Museum received was previously three paintings as part of Connecticut a faculty resident Jane Kearns’ bequest. The PHOTO COURTESY OF member at the pieces, two by Joan Mitchell and one ANDERSON FAMILY UNC School by Milton Avery, are valued at $12.1 of Government and attended UNC million. director after her continued efforts to develop held its virtual Carolina Love Gala on Aug. 6. Attorney Ralph Karpinos, who “UNTITLED,” 1962 © On July 1, the Chapel Hill Public served Chapel Hill for 35 years, ESTATE OF JOAN Library stopped charging late fees for MITCHELL the longest tenure of any town overdue materials. Library Director or city attorney in the state. The Susan Brown noted in a Town Town Council honored Ralph with a key to of Chapel Hill press release: “... Soon after the town at a meeting on Sept. 9 and also adopting a fine-free model, [other libraries declared the date “Ralph Karpinos Day.” that implemented the change saw] both lapsed users and long-lost materials came back in great Dr. Alex Yarborough, numbers, and that well after the model was in DDS, joined Studio G place, items were returned in a timely fashion.” Aesthetic & Family The library previously fined individuals for Dentistry. A board- each successive day a material was late. Under certified prosthodontist, the new system, a series of notices will be sent Alex came to Studio G out, and after a certain period of time, the following seven years library will send a bill for the missing item and as a clinical assistant professor at the UNC freeze the user’s account until the bill is paid Adams School of Dentistry. She continues or the item is returned. “When the Board and to be an active member of the American Council dug into this issue, we found that Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics and the fines disproportionately affect low-income and American College of Prosthodontics. traditionally marginalized populations,” Town NOW OPEN Jess Anderson said in the same release. “This The Orange County Historical Museum policy change is one more way that we can put reopened on Sept. 25 after its temporary our values into action in Chapel Hill.” Council Liaison to the Library Advisory Board two new staff members: Site Manager Tanya Girls on the Run of the Triangle celebrated Day and Exhibits and Programs Coordinator 20 years of supporting and empowering young Courtney Smith. Visitors can also view women in June. Additionally, after serving as its newest exhibit, “Yésah: Journeys of the interim executive director for 18 months, Meg Occaneechi,” virtually through the museum’s Pomerantz was named executive director of website, orangehistorync.org. Girls on the Run of the Triangle on July 1. Meg

has been involved with GOTR since 2007 and has served as a board member, fundraiser and volunteer for the nonprofit youth development organization. GOTR Triangle hopes to serve 20,000 girls this year, whether virtually or in person, as the organization shifts to fit the community’s needs.

On Aug. 21, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools announced a partnership with Chapel HillCarrboro YMCA to provide free academic support and supervised care for 100 K-5 students at the Hargraves Community Center and the Chapel Hill Community Center. The program, running from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., will also offer extended care hours. Tuition, food and transportation is funded by the Oak Foundation and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation, as well as the YMCA “We Build People” campaign.

In August, Hillsborough natives Elena Curelop (pictured left) and Rebecca Felicelli (right) began nonprofit Bags for Boredom to provide Orange County children living in poverty or foster care with games that are both educational and fun. Elena says she noticed a “severe lack of entertainment for these children” during the pandemic and hopes the provided games will “improve literacy and give [the kids] social development enhancement during this time of social distancing.” Elena, a junior at Appalachian State University, and Rebecca, a sophomore at N.C. State, have raised funds through discount nights at local restaurants, including Antonia’s, among other avenues. Elena and Rebecca have raised more than $2,500 and aim to donate 250 bags to the Orange County Department of Social Services this month. CHM