Friends of the Downtown: 2011 Programs
December 1, 2011 – John Shelton Reed and Dale Reed, authors of Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina BBQ, discussed the fascinating history of barbeque. In the spirit of the season, Downtown Merchants donated numerous gift certificates for exciting door prizes.
October 27, 2011 – Barry Leffler, CEO and managing partner of 1360 WCHL radio and Chapelboro.com shared his insights on how Chapelboro.com is serving the community in a new and unique way . . . emphasizing how Downtown businesses and non-profits can take advantage of the free aspects of this community resource.
September 29, 2011 – Larry Short presented the Shortbread Lofts Project which will be located on the site of Larry Short’s apartments and the old Breadmen’s (therefore the name). Students from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler MBA real estate class commented on the project.
August 25, 2011 – Friends of the Downtown Candidate Forum, moderated by Gregg Gerdau. Town Council and Mayoral candidates answered questions about the downtown and the community, prepared by Board Members of Friends of the Downtown with follow up questions from the audience.
July 28, 2011 – Jones Angell, the new “Voice of the Tar Heels,” discussed the details of being a play-by-play announcer for both UNC football and UNC basketball.
June 30, 2011 – Blair Pollock, Orange County Solid Waste Planner and Muriel Williman, Orange County Solid Waste Education and Outreach Coordinatordiscussed practical ideas on “reduce and reuse” and solid waste in our downtown.
May 26, 2011 – Emily Kass, Director of the Ackland Art Museum, discussed the new Ackland Museum Gift Shop at the corner of Franklin and Columbia Streets and plans for our amazing downtown Chapel Hill museum.
April 28, 2011 – Gordon Merklein, UNC’s Executive Director of Real Estate Development, provided an in-depth update of the current plans for the redevelopment of University Square in Downtown Chapel Hill.
March 31, 2011 – Sarah Frier, Editor in Chief of the Daily Tar Heel, shared history of the Daily Tar Heel, how they work and their views about now being located in downtown.
February 24, 2011 – Roger Waldon, former Chapel Hill Planning Director, presented ideas and examples from other communities and discussed whether any are worth considering in Downtown Chapel Hill.
January 27, 2011 – Chris Blue, new Police Chief, presented his ideas about policing downtown, especially during major University celebrations.