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THE CHAPEL HILL INSIDER
FROM THE INSIDE…
Inside This Issue: Meet Jane Sommers-Kelly of JSK Leadership — a Morehead-Cain scholar turned Wall Street VP turned leadership consultant who gets CEOs to stop putting off the hard conversation. Meri Lynch is back with your April Market Watch. And if you've been wondering what's coming to Kenan Stadium next weekend, why Chapel Hill left X, or what Caleb Wilson just announced — we've got you.
LET’S STEP INSIDE →
Feature Story
She'll Make You Do the Hard Thing
How JSK Leadership founder Jane Sommers-Kelly went from Wall Street to Chapel Hill — and built a practice around getting leaders to stop avoiding what matters most.
Jane Sommers-Kelly has a gift for getting people to think through and do the thing they've been avoiding.
Not through pressure. Not through a PowerPoint. Through a room full of peers who won't let you put it off for another month.
The Thinking Room
Jane is the founder of JSK Leadership, and for the past several years she's been running CEO peer groups for small and medium business owners — face-to-face monthly meetings where each person brings their hardest strategic challenge to the table. They talk it through with peers from completely different industries. They commit to what they're going to do before next meeting. And every meeting starts the same way: here's what I did. Here's what I didn't. Here's what I learned…
A Morehead-Cain scholarship, a flight she almost didn't take, and the false perception that changed everything.
Inside the CEO peer groups, leaders from completely different industries solve each other's hardest problems.
The small, specific commitment that changed the temperature of an entire team's meetings.
Why Jane will call out the boss in the room — even when the boss is the one who hired her.
Where to Find the Best Easter Brunch in Chapel Hill & Beyond
This is not an all-inclusive list…more like a hightlight reel…please comment with your additions!
Easter Sunday is just four days away, and in Chapel Hill, brunch isn’t just a meal—it’s an Olympic sport. Whether you’re looking for a white-tablecloth buffet or a "to-go" feast you can eat in your pajamas, I’ve done the legwork so you don't have to.
The "Big Three" Buffets: A look at the legendary spreads at The Carolina Inn, Glasshouse Kitchen, and the Washington Duke Inn (and who actually has tables left).
Mediterranean or Southern? Why Kipos’ spit-roasted lamb is a local cult favorite and where to find the best scratch-made biscuits in Carrboro.
The "Pajama Option": Our favorite local spot offering a full Easter feast to-go for those who want a five-star meal without leaving the couch.
Beyond the Plate: A curated list of the best local egg hunts in Durham and Chapel Hill for the kiddos (including a flashlight hunt for teens!).
The Realtor’s Playbook: My personal tips for surviving the Franklin Street parking scramble and snagging a last-minute reservation.
From Last Week
Market Watch with Meri Lynch
Your monthly Chapel Hill & Chatham County real estate check-in
If you haven't driven down to Pittsboro in a while, you might want to sit down for this. This month Meri breaks down:
Meri Lynch, REALTOR with Coldwell Banker, HPW
Mortgage rates climbed back to ~6.4% after briefly dipping below 6% in February — what happened?
Chapel Hill homes are sitting nearly twice as long as last year. What that means for buyers and sellers.
Chatham County is still growing, but the affordability gap is getting harder to ignore.
Meri's spring take: this is the most balanced market we've had in years — and that's a good thing.
Questions? Reach out to Meri Lynch at https://merilynch.hpw.com/
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Upcoming Events
🎉 LOCAL EVENTS THIS WEEK
April 2-16
🎵 Live Music
Thursday, April 3 Remember Sports and Youbet | Cat's Cradle | 300 E. Main St., Carrboro | Doors 7 PM, Show 8 PM | catscradle.com
Friday, April 10 Billie Marten | Cat's Cradle | Doors 7 PM, Show 8 PM | catscradle.com
🎭 Theater & Arts
Wednesday, April 8 – through April 26 Steel Magnolias at PlayMakers | Paul Green Theatre, UNC Campus | PlayMakers Repertory Company's production featuring Emmy-nominated Sharon Lawrence ("NYPD Blue," "Shameless") and Beth Grant ("The Mindy Project," "Little Miss Sunshine"). This is going to be a hot ticket. | playmakersrep.org
Thursday–Sunday, April 9–12 The Price by Arthur Miller | The ArtsCenter, 400 Roberson St., Carrboro | Presented by Redbird Theater Co. | April 9–11 at 7:30 PM, April 12 at 3:30 PM | $30 | artscenterlive.org
Friday, April 10 2nd Friday Artwalk | Carrboro & Chapel Hill | 6–9 PM | Free | Galleries, studios, and pop-ups open their doors across both towns. Always worth the stroll. | visitchapelhill.org/events
Ongoing through April 27 "Down to Earth" Exhibition | The ArtsCenter, 400 Roberson St., Carrboro | Art made from recycled, natural, or sustainable materials themed around the environment, climate, and sustainability. | Free | artscenterlive.org
⚾ Sports & Entertainment
Saturday & Sunday, April 11–12 Savannah Bananas vs. Texas Tailgaters | Kenan Stadium | 7:00 PM | The Bananas' first-ever appearance in Chapel Hill — Banana Ball, dance-offs, and controlled chaos under a Carolina sky. Downtown is rolling out the yellow welcome mat with fan specials at local restaurants. Shuttle service available from Park & Ride lots ($10 round-trip). | visitchapelhill.org/bananas-take-over-chapel-hill
Friday & Saturday, April 10–11 Tarheel Antiques Festival | Barn at Lloyd's Dairy (I-40 & I-85) | Antique vendors, auctions, and appraisals. $7 weekend pass. | visitchapelhill.org/events/annual-events
👨👩👧👦 Family & Kids
Saturday, April 11 UNC Science Expo | Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, UNC Campus | 11 AM–4 PM | Free | 100+ hands-on activities and science demos. Great for families. Part of the NC Science Festival. | moreheadplanetarium.org
Saturday, April 11 EGGstreme Spring Fling | CCCC Pittsboro Campus | 10 AM–1 PM | FREE | Egg hunts by age group, bounce house, crafts, food trucks, glitter tattoos, and the Spring Bunny. Rain date: Sunday, April 12. | chathamcountync.gov
Saturday, April 11 Puppy Yoga with Paws4Ever | 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd, Hillsborough | 2:00 PM | Yoga. With puppies. What else do you need to know? | eventbrite.com
Ongoing: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays Carolina Tiger Rescue Tours | 1940 Hanks Chapel Rd, Pittsboro | Various times | Advance tickets required | Tiger Tales Tours for kids ages 2–9 with storytime and crafts. Plus Twilight Tours for adults only (weekends through October, $32/person). | carolinatigerrescue.org
Ongoing: Fridays–Sundays Morehead Planetarium & Science Center | 250 E. Franklin St., UNC Campus | Fri 2:30–6 PM, Sat 10 AM–6 PM, Sun 1–6 PM | Planetarium shows and exhibits for all ages. | moreheadplanetarium.org
⛪ Easter Weekend
Thursday, April 2 Maundy Thursday Communion Service | Chapel Hill Church | 6:30 PM | A quiet evening of worship, Scripture, and communion. | chapelhillpc.org
Friday, April 3 Community Good Friday Service | Battle Park & Forest Theatre, UNC | 6:00 PM | An outdoor service in one of the most beautiful settings in Chapel Hill. | allevents.in
Sunday, April 5 Easter Sunday 🐣 | Happy Easter, Chapel Hill. Get outside. Hug somebody. Eat too much.
🏛️ Community & Civic
Wednesday, April 9 Games Night at Bru's Carrboro | Bru's, Carrboro | 5:30 PM | FREE | A few low-stakes games, no scripts, no awkward networking rituals — just a chance to meet new people and connect naturally. Come solo or bring a friend. Free, but please register. | Register here
Saturday, April 11 Revolutionary War Living History Day | Alexander Dickson House, 150 E. King St., Hillsborough | 10 AM–4 PM | Live reenactments, dancers, historic tours. Family-friendly and free. | visithillsboroughnc.com
Monday, April 14 Greene Tract Design Workshop | Morris Grove Elementary, 215 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill | 2–5 PM | Carrboro is inviting the public to help shape the future of the Greene Tract — undeveloped land owned by Orange County, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro near the Rogers Road neighborhood. If you care about affordable housing and community development, show up. | chapelboro.com
🎓 Talks & Learning
Monday, April 7 Carolina Science Cafe: Science Under Pressure | Haw River Tap & Table, 300 E. Main St., Carrboro | 6–7 PM | Free | UNC's Vice Chancellor for Research on what's at stake for federally funded science. Light appetizers provided. Drinks available for purchase. | moreheadplanetarium.org
🧓 Senior Center
Wednesday & Thursday, April 2 Introduction to iPad | Seymour Senior Center, 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill | 1–3 PM | $10 | Learn email, Siri, the App Store, and more. Call (919) 968-2070 to enroll.
Friday & Saturday, April 10–11 Google Docs & Google Drive | Seymour Senior Center | 1–3 PM | $10 | Two sessions covering document creation, sharing, and cloud storage. Call (919) 968-2070 to enroll.
⚠️ HEADS UP
Chapel Hill Community Center is closed starting March 23 for HVAC replacement. Expected to reopen in May. Plan accordingly if you use the facility for fitness, programs, or meetings.
Town offices and services in Carrboro will be closed on Friday, April 3, for the Good Friday holiday.
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Local News
FROM AROUND TOWN
The Bananas Are Coming to Kenan
Next weekend, the Savannah Bananas will play their first-ever games at UNC's Kenan Stadium — and Chapel Hill is going all in. The viral baseball entertainment team takes on the Texas Tailgaters on April 11 and 12 as part of their 2026 Banana Ball World Tour. If you've never seen Banana Ball, think baseball meets improv comedy meets a dance party. The team has a sellout streak dating back to 2016, and downtown Chapel Hill is rolling out the yellow welcome mat with fan specials at local restaurants. Chapel Hill Transit is running Tar Heel Express shuttles from Park & Ride lots ($10 round-trip). Parking on Stadium Drive closes starting April 9, so plan accordingly. Chapel Hill Welcomes the Savannah Bananas | UNC's Kenan Stadium
Chapel Hill Says Goodbye to X
The Town of Chapel Hill announced it will no longer post to or monitor its accounts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The move makes Chapel Hill one of a growing number of municipalities stepping away from the platform. Official town communications will continue through the town website, email newsletters, and other social media channels. If you've been getting your town updates from X, now's the time to adjust.
Caleb Wilson Declares for the 2026 NBA Draft
UNC's Caleb Wilson has officially declared for the NBA Draft. Wilson was a key piece of the Tar Heels' roster this season, and his decision comes as the program simultaneously navigates a head coaching search following the post-Hubert Davis transition. It's a lot of change in one offseason for Carolina basketball fans — but Wilson's talent has earned him a shot at the next level, and Chapel Hill will be rooting for him.
CHCCS School Closure Conversations Continue
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board continues to evaluate potential closures of multiple elementary schools in response to declining enrollment — projected to drop by nearly 300 students this year — and a $2.1 million reduction in state funding. Schools under consideration include Ephesus, Estes Hills, Frank Porter Graham, Glenwood, and Seawell. No final decisions have been made, but this is one to keep watching if you have kids in the district or live near any of these campuses.
Chapel Hill Insider is your weekly guide to the people, places, and stories that make our community special. Know someone we should feature? Have a story tip? Reply to this email.
INsight from the INSIDER
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said."
— Peter Drucker
That one hit different after spending an hour with Jane Sommers-Kelly. Sometimes the bravest thing a leader can do is stop talking and start asking.
Chapel Hill Cartoon Map
Big news: Ed King's beloved hand-drawn Chapel Hill Cartoon Map is now available digitally! In partnership with the original artist, we've brought this charming map—capturing every quirky corner and beloved business in our town—into the digital age.
Click to view the map online!
Until next time,
Be in the know!