OUR TOWN (A WCHLCommentary)

Most may remember the old story about the stranger who arrives in town and asks a resident to tell him what kind of town it is.  The resident ask the stranger to tell him about the town he came from and the stranger replies, well people aren’t friendly, the gossip about each other, rarely take the time to listen to each other or work together in harmony.  The resident tells the stranger that the town is just like the one he came from.  The stranger thanks him and departs shaking his head.   

A few days later, another stranger asks the resident the same think and again, the resident asks the stranger to describe the town he’s from.  The strange says, well my town is full of warm and friendly people who come together to help each other, work hard to address their challenges together, and are as civil as any people you’ve ever met.   The resident tells the stranger that the town is just like the one he came from and the stranger goes away smiling.   

All during the public input phase of Chapel Hill 2020, it was possible to hear a variety of descriptions of our town.  And as the story illustrates, what exists in reality usually isn’t one end of the spectrum or the other.  The more that we are all involved in the life of our community, the more likely we will be able to tell a stranger who we are and what we are like.  Let’s be involved in helping to make our community what we would like it to be. 

A NEW YEAR (A WCHL Commentary)

This is Fred Black.  With the coming of a new year, some follow the tradition of making resolutions that are intended to guide our behavior or motivate us to again try to do things we said we would do in the last year but didn’t do.  It’s pretty obvious that most who engage in this practice don’t do a very go job of making the resolutions a reality, but we still start the new year with the best of intentions.  One of the important things that will happen in 2012 that will have a significant impact on our local community is the comprehensive plan.  The Town’s 2020 Chapel Hill process is designed to include as many voices as possible, indicating what they would like our town to look like in the coming years.  There are themes covering a variety of issues and all have been invited to share their opinions.  There have been three discussion sessions and more are to come.  A lot has been written about the feeling that some have about the feeling that not all of the voices that need to be included are present.  We need this process to include everyone so that all points of view are considered.  Even if you can’t attend the meetings there is a website where opinions can be shared.  Just go to www.chapelhill2020.org to learn more about the details, and go to www.2020buzz.org  to read blog posts and to leave your own comments.  If you haven’t already participated, I hope you will include doing so a priority for 2012.  When the process concludes, wouldn’t it be great for you to say, We did a good job because the “we” included me.  This is Fred Black.