My apologies about the update lapse.
The blog will switch modes a bit in the coming months. I will no longer be strictly reporting on the Hillsborough area.
However, keep your out for upcoming events coverage and political commentary for the Triangle community right here!
Showing posts with label triangle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label triangle. Show all posts
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Last Fridays in Hillsborough starting up again
Hillsborough residents gear up for Last Fridays which take place August through September in downtown Hillsborough and attract crowds from near and far.
“Last Fridays is something we do as a family during the warmer months,” said David Irvin, a 42-year-old Hillsborough resident. “It’s one of the great things about living here, seeing your friends and neighbors while enjoying some great music.”
Elizabeth Read, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough said that she has seen the event grow exponentially over the years.
“This will be our 12th season of Last Fridays and I remember at the first one there were only 100 or so people, but now it is in the thousands,” said Read.
Last Fridays take place over a four-block area around the King Street and Churton Street intersection. The event features live music, an art walk, vendors, and other community activities.
The Hillsborough Art Council sponsors the free concert series and the art walk. Armand Lenchek and Bluesology featuring Will McFarlane will be the headlining musical act.
Local restaurants feature take-out menus so that attendees may eat and socialize out on the lawn.
Weaver Street Market has a band playing on their lawn during last Fridays as well. John Howie and the Sweethearts will be April’s performer.
The town will also hold a pie contest with “celebrity” judges such as Mayor Tom Stevens.
The flavor of the month is chocolate and after the best chocolate pie is awarded, slices will be available for sale as a fundraiser.
Hillsborough Presbyterian Church will sponsor the Decatur Streets Dixie Land Band in front of their church on East Tyron Street.
A live wax museum will take place at the Orange County Historical Museum from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and students from Grady Brown Elementary School will be dressed as famous historical characters and attempt to be as still as possible for observation.
“Last Fridays is one of my favorite parts of living in this town,” said Jim Stuart of Hillsborough. “I have never seen another town consistently put on something so great.”
“Last Fridays is something we do as a family during the warmer months,” said David Irvin, a 42-year-old Hillsborough resident. “It’s one of the great things about living here, seeing your friends and neighbors while enjoying some great music.”
Elizabeth Read, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough said that she has seen the event grow exponentially over the years.
“This will be our 12th season of Last Fridays and I remember at the first one there were only 100 or so people, but now it is in the thousands,” said Read.
Last Fridays take place over a four-block area around the King Street and Churton Street intersection. The event features live music, an art walk, vendors, and other community activities.
The Hillsborough Art Council sponsors the free concert series and the art walk. Armand Lenchek and Bluesology featuring Will McFarlane will be the headlining musical act.
Local restaurants feature take-out menus so that attendees may eat and socialize out on the lawn.
Weaver Street Market has a band playing on their lawn during last Fridays as well. John Howie and the Sweethearts will be April’s performer.
The town will also hold a pie contest with “celebrity” judges such as Mayor Tom Stevens.
The flavor of the month is chocolate and after the best chocolate pie is awarded, slices will be available for sale as a fundraiser.
Hillsborough Presbyterian Church will sponsor the Decatur Streets Dixie Land Band in front of their church on East Tyron Street.
A live wax museum will take place at the Orange County Historical Museum from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and students from Grady Brown Elementary School will be dressed as famous historical characters and attempt to be as still as possible for observation.
“Last Fridays is one of my favorite parts of living in this town,” said Jim Stuart of Hillsborough. “I have never seen another town consistently put on something so great.”
Friday, January 29, 2010
GOAT PATROL
The town of Hillsborough has hired the Goat Patrol to remove English ivy on the town hall grounds. The goats will be at the Hillsborough Town Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.
The town’s Tree Board decided last year to use the 16-goat team.
Phil Ray, the current chair of the Tree Board and an arborist for Duke Energy, has been serving on the board for 16 years. Ray said that the board wanted to clean up the town hall grounds.
“The Town Hall campus is one of the important historical sites in the town of Hillsborough and it needs some work,” said Ray.
Much like the rest of the state, Hillsborough has an exotic invasive problem. Many species are spreading quickly and choking out native plants.
Ray said, “There are a lot of different invasives around, but Hillsborough definitely has its share of English Ivy. You don’t have to look far to find it. It just takes over. We want to reclaim our town hall campus.”
Ken Hines, public works supervisor of Hillsborough, is the town representative for the Tree Board. Hines said this is the first time the town has used the Goat Patrol. He said he is excited about this option for clearing unwanted plants.
“I have not received any negative feedback from the public in any way,” said Hines.
Peter Grandstaff, a Hillsborough resident, “I’ve always been a fan of goats for sustainable vegetation control, plus what fun for the kids!”
The Goat Patrol is a team of 16 goats who can eat about 1000 square feet of English ivy per day. The goats are hard workers, clearing shrubbery for eight-to-12 hours per day.
Ray said, “They don’t even take a lunch break!”
The Goat Patrol is owned by Alix Bowman, a Durham resident who started the business to provide an environmentally friendly option for weed and shrub problems.
Bowman said: “Goats are good for the job because there is a very small number of plants they won’t eat or shouldn’t eat. They are best for wholesale clearing jobs rather than detailed landscaping because they will pretty much eat everything.”
The goats will be contained in an electric fence and Bowman will stay with them through the course of the day. Bowman said that she usually has to watch the people more than the goats.
“I have to remind people that the goats are there to work and that it’s not a petting zoo,” said Bowman. “Goats are very social creatures and are easily distracted.”
Ray said that the board did explore other options, such as using manpower or herbicide.
“Using manpower to pull the ivy is a very costly and labor-intensive job,” said Ray. “The goats are a much more cost effect option and are more environmentally friendly than using herbicide.”
This isn’t the first time that a city government has hired the Goat Patrol. The town of Carrboro and the town of Chapel Hill have used the goats to clear unwanted shrubbery.
Bowman said: “A lot of people are looking for a more sustainable option. I have been in business for 18 months and it has been well received in the triangle. I have heard only positive feedback.”
“This will be an experiment for us, but we want to see how it all works,” Ray said. “And this also serves as an educational opportunity for the tree board and the Hillsborough residents.”
Hines said, “People are looking forward to having them come and eat the ivy. We’ll just see how it goes. I mean, who doesn’t love goats?”
The town’s Tree Board decided last year to use the 16-goat team.
Phil Ray, the current chair of the Tree Board and an arborist for Duke Energy, has been serving on the board for 16 years. Ray said that the board wanted to clean up the town hall grounds.
“The Town Hall campus is one of the important historical sites in the town of Hillsborough and it needs some work,” said Ray.
Much like the rest of the state, Hillsborough has an exotic invasive problem. Many species are spreading quickly and choking out native plants.
Ray said, “There are a lot of different invasives around, but Hillsborough definitely has its share of English Ivy. You don’t have to look far to find it. It just takes over. We want to reclaim our town hall campus.”
Ken Hines, public works supervisor of Hillsborough, is the town representative for the Tree Board. Hines said this is the first time the town has used the Goat Patrol. He said he is excited about this option for clearing unwanted plants.
“I have not received any negative feedback from the public in any way,” said Hines.
Peter Grandstaff, a Hillsborough resident, “I’ve always been a fan of goats for sustainable vegetation control, plus what fun for the kids!”
The Goat Patrol is a team of 16 goats who can eat about 1000 square feet of English ivy per day. The goats are hard workers, clearing shrubbery for eight-to-12 hours per day.
Ray said, “They don’t even take a lunch break!”
The Goat Patrol is owned by Alix Bowman, a Durham resident who started the business to provide an environmentally friendly option for weed and shrub problems.
Bowman said: “Goats are good for the job because there is a very small number of plants they won’t eat or shouldn’t eat. They are best for wholesale clearing jobs rather than detailed landscaping because they will pretty much eat everything.”
The goats will be contained in an electric fence and Bowman will stay with them through the course of the day. Bowman said that she usually has to watch the people more than the goats.
“I have to remind people that the goats are there to work and that it’s not a petting zoo,” said Bowman. “Goats are very social creatures and are easily distracted.”
Ray said that the board did explore other options, such as using manpower or herbicide.
“Using manpower to pull the ivy is a very costly and labor-intensive job,” said Ray. “The goats are a much more cost effect option and are more environmentally friendly than using herbicide.”
This isn’t the first time that a city government has hired the Goat Patrol. The town of Carrboro and the town of Chapel Hill have used the goats to clear unwanted shrubbery.
Bowman said: “A lot of people are looking for a more sustainable option. I have been in business for 18 months and it has been well received in the triangle. I have heard only positive feedback.”
“This will be an experiment for us, but we want to see how it all works,” Ray said. “And this also serves as an educational opportunity for the tree board and the Hillsborough residents.”
Hines said, “People are looking forward to having them come and eat the ivy. We’ll just see how it goes. I mean, who doesn’t love goats?”
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