Police Chief Carolyn Hutchison told Carrboro officials Monday that she will retire Oct. 1 after 29 years working for the town.

Her first day with the department on Sept. 13, 1984, "was one of the luckiest days of my life,” Hutchison said in a letter to Town Manager David Andrews.

She worked in several roles with the department before being named chief in 1998, including as an undercover narcotics investigator, juvenile officer and patrol sergeant.

“Working as a Carrboro Police Officer has been, and remains, a distinct privilege,” Hutchison wrote in the letter.

“I have had, and continue to have, the opportunity to work with talented, creative, ethical, and accomplished Police Officers and Town staff. In addition, I honor and hold very dear the many experiences I have shared, and the relationships I have made, with community members.”

The location has been changed for a Public Arts Committee meeting to review posters hanging in the windows of an N.C. 54 restaurant.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the first-floor recreation room at the Chapel Hill Community Center, 120 S. Estes Drive. East 54 developer Ben Perry will make a presentation about the basketball murals at the Tobacco Road restaurant.
The Public Arts Committee and town staff are expected to decide whether the posters meet the town’s guidelines for public art and are appropriate in their current location.
The Community Design Commission, a town advisory board, reviewed the posters Dec. 19 and questioned their appropriateness and if other businesses would want the same type of “advertising.”
The town staff does not consider the posters, which some called murals, to be signs, senior planner Kay Pearlstein said.
All public art, including painter Michael Brown’s downtown murals, however, must go before the Public Arts Commission.

Bradey Scott spent the weekend of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings trying to keep his 5-year-old daughter away from the television screen. But come Monday, the fifth-grade teacher at Rashkis Elementary School knew he would not be able to avoid the subject.

Even before the shootings, the Chapel Hill teacher was planning to have his 10- and 11-year-old students write poems of hope, inspired by the holiday season and the book “Peaceful Pieces.”

"Little did I know how appropriate the assignment would align in helping my students deal with the emotions they were sorting through," he wrote us recently, asking if we would print some of the poems. I said we would take a look and try to publish a few. Scott sent eight, all of which we now hope to run Sunday, including this one below, "Moonlight" by a 10-year-old girl named Carolyn.

Bradey hoped the assignment might help the students process their feelings and focus on something positive. The assignments weren't due until that Wednesday, but many students arrived Tuesday morning eager to share their Peaceful Poems. "As the poems continued to come in, I was inspired by the maturity, the depth of reflection, and the honesty shared in the poems," he wrote.

We think you may be inspired too. Here is Carolyn's poem:

Moonlight

I lay down my head,
And slowly close my eyes,
Darkness fills my mind.
A vision appears,
Me,
No,
It doesn’t feel like me,
It feels like fear,
And has rage inside.
It feels like a shadow,
Living in a dark world,
Where people hate each other
And get killed by the second
There is no love,
No hope,
No one cares.
The world is a shadow devouring every life form,
Devouring itself,
Into a black hole,
Darkness and hate,
My mind is filled with darkness again.
I can’t wake up
NO, no,
I can’t get out,
Finally my eyes open,
Out the window, I see the moonlight.
Thank you moonlight.
Thank you.

Congratulations to Pat Gingrich, Bob Pecaut and Rex Mercer. You have won our 2012 Current Events Quiz. We'll be in touch later today to get your addresses and mail you your $25 worth of movie tickets. Thanks to everyone for playing.

Here are the answers

1. Three months after they pitched tents on Chapel Hill’s Peace and Justice Plaza, what group closed its encampment Jan. 10, 2012? A: Occupy

2. Shannon Thomas and Jenny Shultz did something Jan. 7, 2012, that North Carolina now prohibits by constitutional amendment. What? A: Got married

3. It was Love Me Not after two months of courtship when a BBC Worldwide reality show spurned what local town for its new reality show? A: Carrboro (Sorry, the answer was not the name of the show, "Lovetown, USA," as two people responded.)

4. Artist Michael Brown opened and closed the year with murals depicting modes of transportation. Name the two types of vehicles he painted in January and November 2012. A: Motorcycle and bus

5. After police evicted activists from the former WCOM building in Carrboro Feb. 4, activists returned to launch what kind of bombs over the fence? A: Seed bombs

Due to the fatal wreck that took the lives of two Orange High School students, Friday's basketball games between Orange and Chapel Hill High School have been postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, Jan. 10.

Here's a look at today's local headlines

OFFICER SHOT HIMSELF? At least that's what the attorney for the suspect in last week's assault says. Antonio Riley Jr. is accused of getting into a fight with Officer Kelly A. Stewart late Tuesday morning when the officer stopped the Nissan 300Z Riley was driving in a parking lot at the Forest Pointe Apartments on Forest Road. Find out what Riley's attorney says happened next in our story.

COW RENOVATION STALLED: Long before these colorful cows popped up around town to benefit the NC Children's Hospital, a lone bovine stood watch over Chapel Hill Road. Over the years, though, the cow began to show its age. Now the cow is getting a makeover, at least as soon as it warms up a little.

MLK SPEAKER ANNOUNCED: The Rev. William C. Turner, a 1971 Duke University graduate and a member of one of the first integrated classes, will give the keynote speech Jan. 20 at the university’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration.

We'd show you Turner's photo and provide links to these stories but we're having a technical problem today. You can find all these stories and more (and a kinda neat pic I took during "Christmas in the Carolinas" last weekend at Bennett Place) in today's Durham News, now reaching 70,000 homes every Sunday (and 68,000 Wednesdays).

Merry Christmas, and thanks for reading,
Mark

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

SANTA'S ELVES DELIVER: The Chapel Hill Service League works hard all year to make Christmas happen for less lucky kids in our area. This year the volunteer organization collected gifts for nearly 800 children. Tammy Grubb tells how they do it.

COLLINS CROSSINGS UPDATE: The board has approved that $5,000 fee we reported here first several weeks ago. The money will make long needed repairs at the complex. But as we report today some owners say they need more time to come up with the cash.

OUT OF TRAGEDY, OLD TIES RENEWED: In 2006, Harry Alston was riding his bicycle down N.C. 54 when a bus carrying the Boston College basketball team clipped him, ending his life at 39. That could have been the too-sudden end of the story but for the reunion of old neighbors Alston's death brought about. Correspondent Memet Walker has our story.

We've lost our links due to a technical problem, but you can find all these stories and more on our website -- www.chapelhillnews.com. We have the latest on those Dean Smith/Roy Williams/Michael Jordan posters at East 54 (plus what folks are saying about them on Twitter and Facebook.

New County Commissioner Mark Dorosin says the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board needs to put diversity first when reassigning students for the new elementary school in Northside.

And just four days until our special 2012 Year in Photos issue, an issue we're pretty darn proud of and one we hope you will hang on to for a while. Thanks to staff photog Harry Lynch and Jim Kenny, ace sports photographer, and designer Robin Johnston who helped make it happen.

Merry Christmas, and thanks for reading.
Mark

Dear Parents, 

The following letter is provided in order to ensure accurate information with regard to rumors that have been circulating throughout schools in North Carolina and in other schools throughout the country.

Apparently, in the aftermath of the Connecticut tragedy and in connection with the supposed "end of the world” Mayan Calendar story, a social media message was initiated that promulgated the notion that violent acts would occur in schools on Friday. As you can imagine, as this message made its way across the state and nation a variety of renditions materialized. 


After communicating with surrounding county school districts, it seems that the rumors were rampant in both Wake and Durham earlier in the week and an actual arrest was made in an Eastern NC county for disrupting the peace. 


It is important to know that we have been in constant contact with both the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Police Departments. As with any safety issue, it is always our intent to err on the side of being overly cautious and vigilant. For that reason, the following procedures have been put in place in all of our schools for tomorrow:

- There will be an increased law enforcement presence at all CHCCS 
- All doors will be secured and monitored throughout the day
- Increased monitoring of hallways and common areas 
- School officials reserve the right to check bags and backpacks


This particular rumor seems to be focusing on secondary level schools but I feel it is important to provide the increased security to all schools as one cannot be sure.


Unfortunately, this incident demonstrates one of the down sides of instant communication and social media. I urge parents to initiate conversations with their children regarding the dangers of spreading rumors and the appropriate use of social media.

A positive take-away from this event is that at all of our high schools it was groups of students who brought this issue to the attention of the administration. If you, at any time, have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Support Services Assistant Superintendent Todd LoFrese, Coordinator of Student Services/Safety Jeff Reilly, or me. 



Best wishes to all families for a restful and happy winter break. 



Sincerely, 



Thomas A. Forcella 


Superintendent of Schools

The Town of Chapel Hill has received inquiries from the public wishing to express their sympathy and support for those affected by the tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn. 

A member of the Town's legal staff with the Chapel Hill Police Department, Matt Sullivan, lost his 6 year old niece, Catherine Violet Hubbard, on Friday at the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. The family has asked their privacy be respected during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Newtown Animal Center, PO Box 475, Newtown CT 06470. Donations can also be processed online: http://www.theanimalcenter.org/donate.htm.

"We send our love and support to Matt and his family," said Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt. "We hope this family and the entire community of Newtown finds peace and comfort in time." 

Town Manager Roger L. Stancil sent the following email message to all Town employees on Monday, Dec. 17: 

It is with great sadness that I inform you that the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, CT last week claimed the life of Matt Sullivan's 6-year old niece, Catherine. 

After learning of the shooting on Friday, Matt left for Connecticut to be with his family. He has been in touch with his co-workers at the Police Department over the weekend and, through them, has asked that we allow him and his family some time to mourn. He is appreciative of your thoughts and prayers and he will spend the rest of this week supporting his sister and nephew, especially, during this difficult time. He has asked that we all keep them in our thoughts and prayers rather than contacting him via phone right now. He is checking email periodically and welcomes your message to him if you would like to send an email. 

I've included Catherine's obituary below. A statement from her family, as well as a photograph of Catherine are attached to this email, too. 

The Police Department will be making a donation to the Newtown Animal Center in honor of Catherine. If you would like to contribute to their donation, please send it to Marie James, Tiffanie Sneed, or Chief Blue no later than 5PM on Friday, December 21st. 

It is during times like these that we are reminded of the importance of faith, friendship, and love. Matt and his family will need our continued support long after he returns from Connecticut. Please keep them all in your thoughts. 

Catherine Violet Hubbard 

Catherine Violet Hubbard, 6, born June 8, 2006, died December 14, during the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Her older brother, Frederick William; her parents Matthew and Jennifer; her grandparents Susan and Leo Sullivan and her great-grandmother Geraldine Russell Holden, all of West Chester, Penn.; Nancy and Earl Hubbard of Chatham, Mass.; and four uncles, four aunts, and nine cousins survive Catherine. 

She will be remembered for her passion of animals and constant smile. Her family prays that she, all the students of Sandy Hook Elementary, and all those affected by this brutal event find peace in their hearts. 

A wake is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, from 4 to 7 pm, at St. Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown. A funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday, December 20, at 10 am, at St Rose. Interment will follow the Mass, in St Rose Cemetery, Cherry Streent, Sandy Hook. 

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the Newtown Animal Center, PO Box 475, Newtown CT 06470. 

The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, is in care of arrangements.

Here's a look at today's local headlines:

POLICE OFFICER SHOT: Still no word on the condition of the Durham police officer who was shot in the line of duty yesterday. His name was not released, but he was alert when taken to the hospital. This stiory broke too late for today's DN, but appears online and in the N&O. (Link here)

SOUTHERN DURHAM END RUN: Rebuffed by the City Council, the developers of 751 South are now talking to Chatham County about providing water to their proposed 1,300 home project near Jordan Lake. The irony? The water from Chatham would originate in Durham. Read correspondent Matt Goad's story. (Link here)

ART FOR DIABETES: If you've never done a Third Friday ArtWalk, now's the time. Correspondent Debbie Meyer reports how an exhibit opening Friday at Susan Frosch's Basement gallery on Chapel Hill Street was inspired by a friend's son living with the disease. (Link here.)

Do you drive into Chapel Hill each day? If you take NC 54 you've probably seen the giant window posters of Dean Smith and Michael Jordan. They're raising a ruckus in Chapel Hill (well, mostly a ruckus  of strong support). If you'd like to add your two cents, join the conversation on my Facebook page (link here) and you could see your comments in a future edition of the newspaper.

Today's Durham News also features a special 20 Questions contest. Test your knowledge of the current events of 2012 and you could win $25 worth of free tickets. Two winners will be chosen for most correct answers and one will be selected by random drawing just for entering. You have until Friday. Good luck!

And thanks for reading,

Mark