The Downtown Partnership wants to know what residents think about allowing street vending in downtown Chapel Hill.

Street vending is used as an economic development tool in cities across the country, and there is some interest in allowing it here.

The public is invited to the Coffee With the Partnership meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday at 3Cups in The Courtyard on West Franklin Street to learn more about this topic.

The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Board of Directors will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Franklin Hotel.

Montross scores with sick children

Eric Montross has joined the board of advisers of Me Fine Foundation Inc. as honorary chair.

A former NBA and UNC basketball player, Montross founded the Eric Montross Father's Day Basketball Camp in 1995 and has raised more than $600,000 for the N.C. Children's Hospital.

The Me Fine Foundation is a nonprofit organization that assists children and families at the Duke Children's Hospital and the Children's Hospital at UNC.

The foundation was founded by friends and family of Folden Lee IV, who was diagnosed with AML leukemia in May 2003. During his 15-month battle with this disease, Folden's family found that along with the tremendous stress of caring for a child with a life-threatening illness, most families struggle with overwhelming medical costs as well as personal outpatient housing and living expenses while their child is undergoing treatment.

For more information, call (919) 202-0086 or visit www.mefinefoundation.org/.

Fleet Feet CEO inducted in hall

Tom Raynor, chairman and CEO of Fleet Feet Inc., was inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions at its annual awards dinner in San Diego. Raynor was cited for his leadership, innovation and outstanding contributions to running.

Raynor, who has owned Fleet Feet since 1993, has 30 years of running retail, manufacturing and sports experience and has worked on the vendor side of the business with Nike, Brooks Sports, and Wilson Sporting Goods.

Fleet Feet is the industry leader in franchising community-oriented running specialty footwear, apparel and accessory stores. There are 72 Fleet Feet Sports locations nationwide. Fleet Feet offers support for existing and potential franchises out of its corporate headquarters in Carrboro.

$5K gift will buy groceries

Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill has received $5,000 from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. The gift will be used to purchase groceries for the children and families to use while staying at the house.

"It's a gift that will make a very real difference to the more than 1,600 seriously ill children, and their families, who come to the Ronald McDonald House each year," said Shelley J. Day, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House. "Every time someone opens the refrigerator for a glass of milk, they will do so knowing that Food Lion cares. And that kind of support means the world to families struggling with difficult circumstances."

With this gift, the families will be given a pantry and refrigerator full of food free of charge. They will be able to make many meals at their leisure when returning "home" from a long day at the Hospital without the added stress of grocery store visits or the added financial burden.

Business briefly

• Chapel Hill Leads Group: The Chapel Hill Leads Group, a business networking group for Chapel Hill, Durham and surrounding areas, meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday at The Weathervane restaurant.
• SCORE: Volunteers from SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, are available for free consultations with businesses in Orange and Chatham counties from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. Call 968-6894 or 967-7075 to schedule an appointment.
• Hillsborough Leads Group: The group meets from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at Occoneechee Steak House, 378 S. Churton St.
• Pittsboro Business Women's Group: The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 8 to 9 a.m. at Chatham Mortgage, 76 Hillsboro St. Meetings include a 10-minute presentation on a member's business and offer the chance for each attendee to introduce her business.
• First Friday Business Before Hours: social networking from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday at Citrus, 100 Westgreen Drive in Southern Village in Chapel Hill. The event is sponsored by Citrus and A Better Image Printing.