ROSES to Bill Melega and the Chapel Hill Historical Society, who are collaborating on a unique project that will bring one of the most important events in American history to life for students at Chapel Hill High School.

This Friday is Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day. Melega -- a history teacher who was named the 2007-08 CHHS teacher of the year -- said that many students have a hard time fully grasping the significance of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor simply because it seems so remote, both geographically and in time.

How, he wondered, could he make it more real and relevant to them? Since he can't take all 800 history students to Pearl Harbor, he's come up with a way to bring Pearl Harbor to them.

Thanks to a grant from the Historical Society, Melega will go to Hawaii in January. He'll shoot video on the USS Arizona monument, on board the USS Missouri and the USS Bowfin, behind the scenes at the Pearl Harbor museum and from a helicopter flying above the harbor.

Then, on Jan. 18, all 800 history students will gather in the CHHS auditorium and Melega will give them a 90-minute presentation live from Pearl Harbor, using satellite technology. He'll be joined by a Park Service ranger and perhaps a Pearl Harbor survivor, and the students will have the opportunity to ask questions.

It's ambitious, innovative and creative, using modern technology to give students a look deep into the past.


ROSES to the local officials who were elected -- in most cases, re-elected -- in November and are taking their oaths of office this week, and to the outgoing officials who have served their constituents well.

In Chapel Hill, Mayor Kevin Foy and Town Council members Matt Czajkowski, Sally Greene, Bill Strom and Jim Ward took their oaths of office on Monday. All are incumbents except Czajkowski, who was elected in his first run for office; true to his campaign promise, he rode his bicycle to the meeting.

In Carrboro, Mayor Mark Chilton and Aldermen Dan Coleman, Joal Hall Broun and Lydia Lavelle were to be sworn in Tuesday night. Lavelle is the newcomer there.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education will swear in its new members Thursday. Newcomer Mia Burroughs joins incumbents Annetta Streater, Jamezetta Bedford and Mike Kelley.

Concluding their terms of service are Cam Hill in Chapel Hill, Alex Zaffron in Carrboro and Elizabeth Carter with the school board. Those of us who have never held public office can't fully understand how much amount of time, energy and attention elected officials devote to the job. We can be quick to criticize and slow to appreciate the work they do.

In the spirit of the season, and with new terms beginning this week, this is a good time to say thank you to those, past and present, who have made the commitment to serve on behalf of the rest of us.