The Purple Shoe Thrift Shoppe on 407 West Gannon Ave, Zebulon, is in need of donations, according to Alice Coleman, executive director of Domestic Violence Outreach Stores. The thrift shop that opened last spring has been generating consistent shoppers. The proceeds from the store help shelter victims of domestic violence.

The Purple Shoe is always accepting donations of men’s and women’s clothing, jewelry, handbags, shoes, belts and accessories. The shop also accepts household décor and small furniture items.

For more information or to make a donation call 269-0109 or visit http://www.ncadvos.org


A story that we reported on October 9, a couple of days after a young mother was shot to death in Fuquay Varina, drew critical responses from many who say they are advocates for victims of domestic violence.

The story was written after a question was raised about whether the victim, Jammie Shantel Street, had sought law enforcement help to fight abuse from the man who is now charged with killing her. 
And if she had sought help, was the police response adequate? We found that she had let a protective order lapse, had stayed silent on an occasion when he could have faced jail for assault and had signed a statement saying that she was not afraid of him.

After raising the question, we were obligated to report what we found. The story also reported that Ms. Street had separated from Daniel Jerome Montgomery, the man now charged with killing her,  and that the separation was followed by threats against Ms. Street in the weeks before she died. 

For reporting these facts, the N&O has been accused of blaming Ms. Street for her death. Our story made no judgments. There can be honest disagreements over how much more we should have included in that one story--the second of three related to Ms. Street's death--but the assertion of a writer of a letter  to the editor on Friday that the paper has "continued a long trend of blaming women for domestic violence, shifting focus away from perpetrators" is utterly without any factual basis.

The N&O has reported aggressively on domestic violence for a decade and our efforts contributed to significant legal protections for victims and potential victims.

A 2003 investigation by N&O reporters Andrea Weigl and Angela Heywood Bible showed that this state lagged in prosecuting domestic assaults that tended to lead to homicides. The investigation noted that even when charged, few perpetrators were jailed.

Several other stories followed that series. Additionally, N&O columnist Ruth Sheehan has written repeatedly about the complexities of fighting domestic violence, including the many challenges of women in abusive relationships. She has been diligent bringing attention to resources for victims in this community.

Linda Williams

Senior Editor/News

Mildred Muhammad, ex-wife of the “D.C. Sniper” John Allen Muhammad, speaks in Durham Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main St.

Orange County Commissioners had a full agenda Tuesday night. As of about 9:45 they had only just finished with the budget. They were also faced with a decision about the transfer station siting process, and were still supposed to talk about asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase.

Several Terry Road-area residents spoke in opposition to a building project proposed by the Montessori Farm School.

Currently the school operates out of a building at Abundant Life Church in Hillsborough, and has 48 students.

But it wants to build on a narrow, 14-acre strip of land on Terry Road in northeastern Orange, and grow to as many as 120 students.

I can't find a picture online of the proposed site, but here's an approximate property line and location.

Director Lisa Wallace Tate said the school planned to have a few goats and maybe some sheep, and other livestock on a temporary basis.

About five area residents expressed concern about changing rural character, the density of the proposed school buildings and traffic. Some said the property was too narrow to support the plan, and that buildings would be too close to their land.

The residents said they supported the concept of the school, but that they didn't want it near them.

"The lot is much too narrow," said Don Bagwell, who said he lived nearby. "This does present a radical departure to this community."

Another neighbor said he was worried he wouldn't be able to safely hunt on his 21-acre parcel to the south.

Commissioner Alice Gordon had questions about the width of the property, septic plans and water supply for firefighting.

Barry Jacobs asked that the planning board consider more than just the projected number of car trips when discussing the project's traffic impact, and factor rural character into account.

The planning board will next discuss the project, and the public hearing will resume in August.

WOMEN'S SHELTER

Several women addressed the board about the need for a domestic violence shelter in the county.

Hudson Fuller of the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County told the board her organization had extremely limited capacity to house women fleeing abusive situations. What options there are, she said, required them to leave the county and perhaps take their children out of school. Last year 63 women called the center for help finding somewhere to live and escape abuse.

Commissioner Mike Nelson asked the county staff to do some research and bring back an agenda item for discussion.