Chapel Hill Delivered the Thrills in 2019
2019 was an action-packed year for Glen Lennox and the Chapel Hill community as a whole. The new Glen Lennox Vision came into view, with construction beginning on the Link Apartments® Linden, the Clubhouse and the Gwendolyn office building. Check out all the other noteworthy events and changes that happened around town this year.
Making National News
A rogue emu captured national headlines as she darted across Orange County and eluded capture for months. Her notoriety earned her a parody Twitter handle, the nickname “Eno” and throngs of followers who delighted in every emu sighting.
Silent Sam stirred up controversy as the statue’s location and ownership were hotly debated after student protestors toppled the monument in 2018.
Local 11-year-old violinist and cancer survivor, Tyler Butler-Figueroa, had the Triangle cheering him on as his passionate performances won hearts and advanced him all the way to the semi-finals of America’s Got Talent.
Adding to Our Quality of Life
Chapel Hill and Carrboro welcomed a slew of tasty new restaurants to its dining scene, including Coronato Pizza, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews, Big Belly Que, The Casual Pint, 401 Main and Deli Edison. Al’s Burger Shack also expanded and now has a Governor’s Village presence in addition to its original location on Franklin Street.
The outdoor space around Weaver Street Market in Carrboro underwent a makeover. The remodel features more seating, a widened patio, and a small artificial (albeit made from processed sugar cane stalks) grass area.
Chapel Hill got the Triangle’s first cat café, Cat Tales on Franklin Street. All of the felines are up for adoption through The Goathouse Refuge in Pittsboro.
Pam Hemminger won reelection as the mayor of Chapel Hill in a landslide victory.
Sadly, this year we also learned we’ll be bidding adieu to Southern Season in January, but their products will still be available online.
After announcing it would be shuttering, the Lumina Theater found angel investors who believe the show must go on and are retooling the business to keep its doors open.
Buzzing Around Campus
Mack is back! Coach Mack Brown returned to Carolina for his second stint leading the Tarheels on the gridiron. Under Coach Brown, the team put up a 6-6 overall record and sold out Kenan Stadium’s 51,000 seats for every home game.
While the UNC men’s basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, and the women’s soccer team was the national runner up, it was the field hockey team who brought home a national title to Chapel Hill—winning its second consecutive championship in a victory over Princeton.
UNC appointed Kevin M. Guskiewicz to be the new Chancellor, becoming the 12th person to hold the post in the university’s 230-year history.
Harry Smith, the chair of the UNC System Board of Governors resigned abruptly, and Randy Ramsey was selected to fill his shoes.
2019 was a fabulous year, and we’re looking forward to what 2020 will hold. Happy New Year!