Recognizing that the need for donations is greater than ever at local food banks across the nation, Curves International is kicking off the 2012 Curves Food Drive on Thursday, March 1, with a challenge to all Curves clubs to meet or exceed last year's donations. Each club, including Curves clubs in the Hillsborough area, is asking its members to donate bags of non-perishable food or cash throughout the month of March to support area community food banks. In addition, Curves clubs in the Hillsborough area will waive the joining fee for new members who bring in a bag of non-perishable food or donate $30 to their local food bank from March 12 to 25.
"Curves is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our members, so the food drive is a natural extension of that commitment to the communities where our clubs are located," said Curves founder Diane Heavin. "Many families are struggling with basic expenses and need some
help to make ends meet. Our food drive gives our members a way to reach out and support their neighbors."
With a theme of "Good for your body and your soul," this year's drive encourages Curves members to feel doubly good about themselves as they make time to exercise for good health and take time to help others in the community with a donation of nutritious food. Area Curves clubs may also qualify to win cash prizes for their local food banks. Curves International will award cash prizes to the clubs that collect the most food, the clubs that show the greatest increase in donations over the 2011 food drive and to two additional clubs randomly selected from all the
clubs who enter the contest.
"We would love to see all of our clubs top their donation levels from last year," said Heavin. "But the main goal of our annual drive is to enlist the help of our members in re-stocking the shelves of local food pantries across the country. We also hope that new members will take this opportunity to give back to their local communities as they join our Curves community."
For more information about Curves women's gyms in the Hillsborough area and the 2012 Curves Food Drive, please contact one of the following Curves locations:
• Curves of Durham, located at 1829 Martin Lurther King Jr. Pkwy., at (919) 489-6800 or 97AF9QJ@curvesmail.com
• Curves of Durham, located at 4711 Hope Valley Road, Ste. 4B, at (919) 489-6200 or 97OGBY@curvesmail.com
• Curves of Burlington, located at 235 South Graham Hopedale Road, at (336) 513-4747 or 97PGS6G7@curvesmail.com
• Curves of Graham, located at 101 Ivey Road, at (336) 222-7008 or 97PVC5RML@curvesmail.com
• Curves of Mebane, located at 1239-C S. 5th St., at (919) 304-3481 or curvesmebane@centurylink.net
For more information about Curves, visit www.curves.com.
See what ended up on The News of Orange County's cutting room floor.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Food Truck applications accepted March 1 in Chapel Hill
The Town of Chapel Hill will begin accepting applications on Thursday, March 1, for food trucks operating on private property in commercial districts.
When the Town Council adopted on Jan. 30 regulations to amend the Town Code and Land Use Management Ordinance to allow food trucks, it was responding to a community interest to offer more food choices while also protecting the viability of existing restaurants. The council requested that the town staff report back in one year so that it may evaluate the community response to food trucks in Chapel Hill.
The rules governing food trucks are designed to prevent unfair competition to restaurants, nuisances and safety hazards. Food truck vending is generally limited to commercially zoned, privately owned properties that can accommodate additional foot traffic. There are restrictions on food truck on-site locations and on hours of operation.
The permitting process will require several permits, including applications from the food truck vendor and the property owner and business licenses, as well as documentation from the originating county's health department showing that approval has been given. The Town of Chapel Hill's annual fee for the food truck vendor is $718 while the annual fee for the property owner is $118. In addition, the food truck vendor must have a business license to operate in Chapel Hill.
To apply for the associated permits to operate a food truck in Chapel Hill, visit the permit center on the third floor of Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., or call (919) 968-5066. Staff will help determine which permits an operator at a proposed location will need. For additional information posted online—including a Frequently Asked Questions web page—visit
the website.
When the Town Council adopted on Jan. 30 regulations to amend the Town Code and Land Use Management Ordinance to allow food trucks, it was responding to a community interest to offer more food choices while also protecting the viability of existing restaurants. The council requested that the town staff report back in one year so that it may evaluate the community response to food trucks in Chapel Hill.
The rules governing food trucks are designed to prevent unfair competition to restaurants, nuisances and safety hazards. Food truck vending is generally limited to commercially zoned, privately owned properties that can accommodate additional foot traffic. There are restrictions on food truck on-site locations and on hours of operation.
The permitting process will require several permits, including applications from the food truck vendor and the property owner and business licenses, as well as documentation from the originating county's health department showing that approval has been given. The Town of Chapel Hill's annual fee for the food truck vendor is $718 while the annual fee for the property owner is $118. In addition, the food truck vendor must have a business license to operate in Chapel Hill.
To apply for the associated permits to operate a food truck in Chapel Hill, visit the permit center on the third floor of Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., or call (919) 968-5066. Staff will help determine which permits an operator at a proposed location will need. For additional information posted online—including a Frequently Asked Questions web page—visit
the website.
Researcher details excavation of ancient port of Constantinople
A unique first-person report on the exploration of the archaeological site Byzantium, or Constantinople, is available to North Carolina residents this week.
Dr. Ufuk Kocabas, director of Istanbul University's Department of Marine Archaeology and Yenikapi Shipwrecks Project, will speak at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh on Thursday, March 1, the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort on Saturday, March 3, and the N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport on Sunday, March 4.
The lecture and question-and-answer session at each venue will review work and archaeological findings of the ancient harbor beneath the modern Yenikapi neighborhood in present day Istanbul, Turkey. In 2004, workers discovered the silted remains of the 4th century harbor during construction of the world's deepest tunnel for a rail and metro network designed to run under the Bosphorus Sea and link Europe and Asia.
The vast archeological site covers the equivalent of ten city blocks in Istanbul. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of 36 Byzantine ships, cargo boats, gold coins, marble, 8,500 year old skeletons and more.
"This is unquestionably one of the most important archaeological finds in the last 100 years," said Joseph Schwarzer, director of the N.C. Maritime Museums. "This has changed and will continue to change, our understanding of history."
The two-week lecture tour is the first for Kocabas in the United States. The free presentations will be at the N.C. Museum of History, March 1 at 6:30 p.m.; the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort March 3 at 5;30 p.m.; and the N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport March 4 at 2 p.m.
The Division of State History Museums is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. For additional information call (919) 807-7389.
Dr. Ufuk Kocabas, director of Istanbul University's Department of Marine Archaeology and Yenikapi Shipwrecks Project, will speak at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh on Thursday, March 1, the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort on Saturday, March 3, and the N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport on Sunday, March 4.
The lecture and question-and-answer session at each venue will review work and archaeological findings of the ancient harbor beneath the modern Yenikapi neighborhood in present day Istanbul, Turkey. In 2004, workers discovered the silted remains of the 4th century harbor during construction of the world's deepest tunnel for a rail and metro network designed to run under the Bosphorus Sea and link Europe and Asia.
The vast archeological site covers the equivalent of ten city blocks in Istanbul. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of 36 Byzantine ships, cargo boats, gold coins, marble, 8,500 year old skeletons and more.
"This is unquestionably one of the most important archaeological finds in the last 100 years," said Joseph Schwarzer, director of the N.C. Maritime Museums. "This has changed and will continue to change, our understanding of history."
The two-week lecture tour is the first for Kocabas in the United States. The free presentations will be at the N.C. Museum of History, March 1 at 6:30 p.m.; the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort March 3 at 5;30 p.m.; and the N.C. Maritime Museum in Southport March 4 at 2 p.m.
The Division of State History Museums is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. For additional information call (919) 807-7389.
Inmate escapes from Piedmont Correctional Institution
Corrections and law enforcement officers are seeking inmate Ronald Pritt, who escaped Monday, Feb. 27, from a work assignment at Piedmont Correctional Institution in Salisbury.Pritt, 35, is a minimum-custody inmate serving a three-year sentence for habitual drunk driving. He was due for release in July.
Pritt was working as a groundskeeper outside the fence on prison property when he went missing. He was last seen about 2:30 p.m.
Anyone who has seen this inmate or has information on his whereabouts should call 911 or local law enforcement.
North Carolina Museum of Art announces March events
Tours
Explore the Collection
Tuesdays through Fridays at 1:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Free; no reservations necessary.
A daily docent-led tour of Museum highlights. Meet at West Building Information Desk. For individuals and groups smaller than 10.
Meet Your Museum tours
Fridays at 6 and 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 11 a.m., noon and 2 and 3 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 and 3 p.m.
Free; no reservations necessary.
Meet at East Building Information Desk. Guided tour introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, Plaza and related works of art.
Storytelling in the Galleries weekend family-friendly tours
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Free; sign up that day; first come, first served.
Meet at West Building Information Desk. Half-hour tours for kids age 5 to 10 and their adult companions. Join a Museum guide for a lively discussion and activities in the galleries.
Special events
Kids at the ncma: preschool playshop
What’s in the Box?: Parts of Art
Thursday, March 1, at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m.
East Building, Education Studios 1 and 2
Free for members; $3 for nonmembers
Tickets required from Box Office; first come, first served.
Come to the museum to explore a part of art. What will be in the box this week? Lines, shapes, colors, textures or patterns? Preschoolers, ages 2 to 4, and their caregivers discover a new adventure in the box each time and experience fun and engaging ways of looking at art together in the museum and at home. Activities are designed to stretch the imagination while children explore materials and make personal connections with art and their world.
free tour: Friday night art encounters
Friday Night Art Encounters
Friday, March 2, at 6 and 7 pm
Free; no reservations necessary.
Meet at West Building Information Desk. Enjoy a lively introduction to the museum’s collection with 30-minute gallery conversations that take you through a variety of explorations.
Mad about Mad Men spring film series
Film: The Mollycoddle
Friday, March 2, at 8 p.m.
East Building | Museum Auditorium
$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others.
An expatriate dandy must reclaim his red-blooded manhood to defeat a gang of diamond smugglers in the last of Fairbanks’s modern adventures before he became a full-time swashbuckler. Silent film with live music by David Drazin. Tickets are available online at www.ncartmuseum.org, through the Museum Box Office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).
Kids at the ncma: childrens performance
American Dreams with Bright Star Touring Theatre
Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
East Building, Museum Auditorium
$3 for members; $5 for nonmembers
Bright Star Touring Theatre welcomes audiences of all ages to this fast-paced introduction to America and the American Dream told through a variety of uniquely American stories. This production touches on patriotism, citizenship, diversity and civic pride. Tickets are available through the museum box office at (919) 715-5923. Children ages 5 and older ( children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult).
Kids at the ncma
Drop-In Studio
Saturday, March 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
East Building, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Gallery
Free, all ages welcome.
Free tour: Friday Night Art Encounters
Friday, March 9, at 6 and 7 p.m.
Free; no reservations necessary.
Meet at West Building Information Desk. Enjoy a lively introduction to the museum’s collection with 30-minute gallery conversations that take you through a variety of explorations.
Art in the evening
Invisible: The New Obsolete
Friday, March 9, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
West Building Lobby
Free
Invisible is the brainchild of Greensboro-based musicians/artists/designers Bart Trotman and Mark Dixon. They’ve created the most amazing sound-and-music machine from old technology and six channels of video. The installation is as much fun to see as it is to hear. Their latest project, The New Obsolete, features their wildest invention yet, Selectric Piano, which allows a typist to become an experimental pianist. Invisible was a highlight of the Museum’s 2010 grand opening celebration; don’t miss this much-anticipated return! Performance art and music sponsored by SignalFest.
Mad about Mad Men spring film series
Film: Vitaphone Varieties
Friday, March 9, at 8 p.m.
East Building | Museum Auditorium
$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others
In early talkie days, many vaudevillians stepped offstage to immortalize their acts on film. Journey back in time as Jay C. Flippen, Dora Maughan, Dick Rich, Al Lyons, Jack White and the Montrealers, Billie “Swede” Hall, and Jason Robards Sr. each have their one reel of immortality. Tickets are available online at www.ncartmuseum.org, through the museum box office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).
Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery
Purim Madness: An Evening of Fun, Food, and Dancing
Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m.
West Building
$54 General admission
Join the Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery for a colorful evening of food, music and entertainment to celebrate Purim. Designed for adults, this event features tapas-style hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and a specialty cocktail. Masks and other festive attire are encouraged, but costumes are not required. Proceeds benefit the Judaic Art Fund. For information about sponsorships, call (919) 664-6807 or register online at www.ncartmuseum.org/ersvp. Space is limited; advance reservations are required.
Explore the Collection
Tuesdays through Fridays at 1:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Free; no reservations necessary.
A daily docent-led tour of Museum highlights. Meet at West Building Information Desk. For individuals and groups smaller than 10.
Meet Your Museum tours
Fridays at 6 and 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 11 a.m., noon and 2 and 3 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 and 3 p.m.
Free; no reservations necessary.
Meet at East Building Information Desk. Guided tour introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, Plaza and related works of art.
Storytelling in the Galleries weekend family-friendly tours
Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Free; sign up that day; first come, first served.
Meet at West Building Information Desk. Half-hour tours for kids age 5 to 10 and their adult companions. Join a Museum guide for a lively discussion and activities in the galleries.
Special events
Kids at the ncma: preschool playshop
What’s in the Box?: Parts of Art
Thursday, March 1, at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m.
East Building, Education Studios 1 and 2
Free for members; $3 for nonmembers
Tickets required from Box Office; first come, first served.
Come to the museum to explore a part of art. What will be in the box this week? Lines, shapes, colors, textures or patterns? Preschoolers, ages 2 to 4, and their caregivers discover a new adventure in the box each time and experience fun and engaging ways of looking at art together in the museum and at home. Activities are designed to stretch the imagination while children explore materials and make personal connections with art and their world.
free tour: Friday night art encounters
Friday Night Art Encounters
Friday, March 2, at 6 and 7 pm
Free; no reservations necessary.
Meet at West Building Information Desk. Enjoy a lively introduction to the museum’s collection with 30-minute gallery conversations that take you through a variety of explorations.
Mad about Mad Men spring film series
Film: The Mollycoddle
Friday, March 2, at 8 p.m.
East Building | Museum Auditorium
$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others.
An expatriate dandy must reclaim his red-blooded manhood to defeat a gang of diamond smugglers in the last of Fairbanks’s modern adventures before he became a full-time swashbuckler. Silent film with live music by David Drazin. Tickets are available online at www.ncartmuseum.org, through the Museum Box Office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).
Kids at the ncma: childrens performance
American Dreams with Bright Star Touring Theatre
Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
East Building, Museum Auditorium
$3 for members; $5 for nonmembers
Bright Star Touring Theatre welcomes audiences of all ages to this fast-paced introduction to America and the American Dream told through a variety of uniquely American stories. This production touches on patriotism, citizenship, diversity and civic pride. Tickets are available through the museum box office at (919) 715-5923. Children ages 5 and older ( children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult).
Kids at the ncma
Drop-In Studio
Saturday, March 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
East Building, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Gallery
Free, all ages welcome.
Free tour: Friday Night Art Encounters
Friday, March 9, at 6 and 7 p.m.
Free; no reservations necessary.
Meet at West Building Information Desk. Enjoy a lively introduction to the museum’s collection with 30-minute gallery conversations that take you through a variety of explorations.
Art in the evening
Invisible: The New Obsolete
Friday, March 9, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
West Building Lobby
Free
Invisible is the brainchild of Greensboro-based musicians/artists/designers Bart Trotman and Mark Dixon. They’ve created the most amazing sound-and-music machine from old technology and six channels of video. The installation is as much fun to see as it is to hear. Their latest project, The New Obsolete, features their wildest invention yet, Selectric Piano, which allows a typist to become an experimental pianist. Invisible was a highlight of the Museum’s 2010 grand opening celebration; don’t miss this much-anticipated return! Performance art and music sponsored by SignalFest.
Mad about Mad Men spring film series
Film: Vitaphone Varieties
Friday, March 9, at 8 p.m.
East Building | Museum Auditorium
$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others
In early talkie days, many vaudevillians stepped offstage to immortalize their acts on film. Journey back in time as Jay C. Flippen, Dora Maughan, Dick Rich, Al Lyons, Jack White and the Montrealers, Billie “Swede” Hall, and Jason Robards Sr. each have their one reel of immortality. Tickets are available online at www.ncartmuseum.org, through the museum box office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).
Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery
Purim Madness: An Evening of Fun, Food, and Dancing
Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m.
West Building
$54 General admission
Join the Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery for a colorful evening of food, music and entertainment to celebrate Purim. Designed for adults, this event features tapas-style hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and a specialty cocktail. Masks and other festive attire are encouraged, but costumes are not required. Proceeds benefit the Judaic Art Fund. For information about sponsorships, call (919) 664-6807 or register online at www.ncartmuseum.org/ersvp. Space is limited; advance reservations are required.
Register for the Durham Art Walk
Durham Art Walk Spring Market will run Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29.
The deadline to register is Thursday, March 1.
This celebration of Durham's visual culture will highlight the continuing growth and development of the cultural scene, businesses and restaurants of downtown Durham.
For online artist registration, click here.
For sponsor registration forms, click here.
(click here)
For more information, contact Lindsay Gordon, artist services manager, at lgordon@durhamarts.org or (919) 560.2719.
Durham Art Walk is presented and produced by the Durham Arts Council.
The deadline to register is Thursday, March 1.
This celebration of Durham's visual culture will highlight the continuing growth and development of the cultural scene, businesses and restaurants of downtown Durham.
For online artist registration, click here.
For sponsor registration forms, click here.
(click here)
For more information, contact Lindsay Gordon, artist services manager, at lgordon@durhamarts.org or (919) 560.2719.
Durham Art Walk is presented and produced by the Durham Arts Council.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
N.C. Museum of History offers March programs
Musicians Patrick and Cathy Sky will get you in the mood for Saint Patrick’s Day with Irish reels, jigs and hornpipes. This lively performance and more will take place in March at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. During a special presentation, watch a new Readers’ Theater work about the family life of Sojourner Truth, a 19th-century abolitionist and women’s rights activist. A cast of four professional actors will present this play that suits all ages. Don’t miss Cotton Mill Colic, a music performance with an intriguing, historical twist: songs from Piedmont cotton mills in the early 20th century. Seasoned musicians Gregg Kimball, Sheryl Warner and Jackie Frost will draw on commercial recordings by mill workers and on accounts of union strike songs.Enjoy all this and more in March at the museum. Admission is free unless otherwise noted. Parking is free on weekends.
First Friday Performance: Sojourner Truth and Her Children
When: Friday, March 2, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Cost: $5 per person; ages 12 and younger free. You can purchase tickets in advance at ncmuseumofhistory.org or the night of the event in the Museum Shop.
The local performance group Voices in Concert will dramatize the family life of 19th-century abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth. This new Readers’ Theater work centers on Truth’s efforts to reunite her family as three of her enslaved children approach their freedom. She is challenged to inspire her children to dream of more for themselves as they await freedom. The play was written by Rudy Wallace, artistic director of Voices in Concert.
Cotton Mill Colic: Songs of Labor from the North Carolina Piedmont
When: Sunday, March 4, from 2 to 3 p.m.
Musician Gregg Kimball and singers Jackie Frost and Sheryl Warner will perform songs from Piedmont cotton mills. The trio will draw on commercial recordings by mill workers and on accounts of union strike songs. In the early 20th century, Piedmont mill towns were incubators for innovative string bands and musical performers in an emerging genre known as country music. With Kimball on guitar, banjo and fiddle, Frost and Warner will add their own distinctive vocal styles.
Time for Tots: Saint Patrick’s Day
When: Tuesday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 13, from 10 to 10:45 a.m.
Who: Ages 3 to 5 with an adult
Cost: $1 per person. To register, call (919) 807-7992.
Discover the history, foodways and traditions of Saint Patrick’s Day, a holiday observed by the Irish for 1,000 years. Then make a take-home craft to give you the luck of the Irish.
History Hunters: Greetings from North Carolina!
When: Wednesday, March 7, from 10 to 11 a.m.
Who: Ages 10 to 13
Cost: $1 per person. To register, call (919) 807-7992.
Before Facebook and Skype, how did you say, “Wish you were here!” when you vacationed? Learn about North Carolina holiday spots, get a bit of postcard history and make your own postcard.
Make It, Take It: Blimps
When: Saturday, March 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. (drop-in program)
Discover how blimps protected ships off the North Carolina coast during World War II and make a paper model to take home.
Music of the Carolinas: Patrick and Cathy Sky
When: Sunday, March 11, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Get ready for Saint Patrick’s Day with a program of Irish reels, jigs and hornpipes. The performance is presented with PineCone, with support from the N.C. Museum of History Associates, Williams Mullen, and WLHC-FM/WLQC.FM.
History à la Carte: Variety Vacationland
When: Wednesday, March 14, from 12:10 to 1 p.m.
Extras: Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
Presented by Sandy Webbere, associate curator.
What was a typical family vacation in North Carolina in decades past? Using historic postcards, maps and film, Webbere will identify early tourist destinations from the coast to the mountains and discuss how they have evolved.
Curator’s Choice Tour: The Story Behind The Story of North Carolina
When: Sunday, March 25, from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
How do you cover 14,000 years of history in one exhibit? Join curator RaeLana Poteat for this special tour and hear how staff worked to tell the state’s story through artifacts, multimedia presentations and hands-on interactives.
2012 Women’s History Month Celebration
When: Tuesday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m.
To register, call (919) 807-7992 by Friday, March 23.
Presented by Anita Brown-Graham, executive director of the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University.
Women compose more than half of the U.S. electorate and have influenced electoral outcomes for more than 40 years. Learn about their importance to the 2012 campaigns. The event is sponsored by the N.C. Council for Women.
About the N.C. Museum of History
The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St. in Raleigh, across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Recycling bins come to downtown Chapel Hill
Town of Chapel Hill crews installed along Franklin Street some 13 new recycling bins to collect cans and bottles that previously were mostly thrown in the trash. The bins were installed the week of Feb. 10. Another four recycling bins will be placed in Southern Village's central business area. Orange County's Solid Waste Department Recycling Division will collect the recycled materials.
The recycling bins were purchased through a $13,000 grant from N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The bins are being installed downtown at crosswalks, bus stops, near parking pay stations and parking lots.
Emily Cameron, landscape architect for the Town of Chapel Hill, said the sidewalk recycling project was the result of a successful partnership with Orange County.
"It's gratifying to be able to continue improving the downtown pedestrian experience while protecting the environment as we have in recent months with installation of cigarette disposal units and the new recycling containers," Cameron said.
Recovered cans and bottles will be trucked along with the other recyclable materials collected by Orange County to the private materials recovery facility in Greensboro owned by ReCommunity. From there, the materials are sorted, baled and sold for remanufacture into new drink cans, car parts, carpets, fiberfill, strapping and new plastic bottles.
While it is illegal under North Carolina law to dispose of aluminum beverage cans and plastic bottles in landfills, there have not been very many convenient opportunities for downtown pedestrians to recycle. With the exception of one recycling bin in front of the old Post Office and another on the south side of East Franklin, the closest pedestrian recycling containers were located on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus prior to the downtown installation.
According to Orange County Solid Waste Planner Blair Pollock, more than 46 million plastic beverage bottles and aluminum cans were disposed in the Orange County landfill last year.
"Providing recycling containers along Franklin Street makes recycling more convenient, and that is a key to capturing more material for recycling," Pollock said. "Demand for recyclable material is high, markets are strong and a lot of the plastic bottles are recycled right here in the Carolinas."
Orange County currently provides public recycling containers at all five Chapel Hill Park and Ride lots, and there are 60 walkway collection sites around the UNC campus. Away from home recycling is an important way to capture cans and bottles, Pollock said, because an estimated 50 percent are consumed away from home where there generally far fewer recycling opportunities.
The recycling bins were purchased through a $13,000 grant from N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The bins are being installed downtown at crosswalks, bus stops, near parking pay stations and parking lots.
Emily Cameron, landscape architect for the Town of Chapel Hill, said the sidewalk recycling project was the result of a successful partnership with Orange County.
"It's gratifying to be able to continue improving the downtown pedestrian experience while protecting the environment as we have in recent months with installation of cigarette disposal units and the new recycling containers," Cameron said.
Recovered cans and bottles will be trucked along with the other recyclable materials collected by Orange County to the private materials recovery facility in Greensboro owned by ReCommunity. From there, the materials are sorted, baled and sold for remanufacture into new drink cans, car parts, carpets, fiberfill, strapping and new plastic bottles.
While it is illegal under North Carolina law to dispose of aluminum beverage cans and plastic bottles in landfills, there have not been very many convenient opportunities for downtown pedestrians to recycle. With the exception of one recycling bin in front of the old Post Office and another on the south side of East Franklin, the closest pedestrian recycling containers were located on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus prior to the downtown installation.
According to Orange County Solid Waste Planner Blair Pollock, more than 46 million plastic beverage bottles and aluminum cans were disposed in the Orange County landfill last year.
"Providing recycling containers along Franklin Street makes recycling more convenient, and that is a key to capturing more material for recycling," Pollock said. "Demand for recyclable material is high, markets are strong and a lot of the plastic bottles are recycled right here in the Carolinas."
Orange County currently provides public recycling containers at all five Chapel Hill Park and Ride lots, and there are 60 walkway collection sites around the UNC campus. Away from home recycling is an important way to capture cans and bottles, Pollock said, because an estimated 50 percent are consumed away from home where there generally far fewer recycling opportunities.
The Burwell School opens a new exhibit
The Burwell School Historic Site, 319 N. Churton St., presents a new temporary exhibit entitled Around the Town: The Burwell’s Hillsborough. The exhibit highlights a view of Hillsborough in the year 1839, four years after the Burwell family moved to the town and two years after Mrs. Burwell opened her landmark school for young ladies.
Based on a map drawn by William H. Bailey, who himself married a Burwell School student, this unique exhibition shows the recognizable roads, landmarks, offices and residences of Hillsborough’s most prominent residents. In the 19th century, Hillsborough remained at the center of political activity, attracting lawyers, doctors, politicians and merchants, many of whom were friends of the Burwell family. The exhibit interprets the relationships between the Burwell family, the Burwell School students and the town residents. The exhibit features the original Bailey map, medical instrument case, jeweler’s tweezers and other key photographs, newspaper articles and artifacts from this critical time in Hillsborough’s history.
Join the Burwell School Historic Site for this exciting opportunity to see Hillsborough during the time of the Burwell family, their neighbors and friends who would become so prominent in North Carolina’s history.
Our business hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit and free docent-led tours will be available during these hours, and you can find our special event calendar listed on our website, www.burwellschool.org or call (919) 732-7451 for more information.
Based on a map drawn by William H. Bailey, who himself married a Burwell School student, this unique exhibition shows the recognizable roads, landmarks, offices and residences of Hillsborough’s most prominent residents. In the 19th century, Hillsborough remained at the center of political activity, attracting lawyers, doctors, politicians and merchants, many of whom were friends of the Burwell family. The exhibit interprets the relationships between the Burwell family, the Burwell School students and the town residents. The exhibit features the original Bailey map, medical instrument case, jeweler’s tweezers and other key photographs, newspaper articles and artifacts from this critical time in Hillsborough’s history.
Join the Burwell School Historic Site for this exciting opportunity to see Hillsborough during the time of the Burwell family, their neighbors and friends who would become so prominent in North Carolina’s history.
Our business hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibit and free docent-led tours will be available during these hours, and you can find our special event calendar listed on our website, www.burwellschool.org or call (919) 732-7451 for more information.
Hillsborough Tourism Board requests proposals for 2012 Tourism Grant
The Tourism Board, on behalf of the Town of Hillsborough, is requesting proposals from nonprofit agencies and civic groups to establish programs to promote and support tourism and visitor services within Hillsborough. Funds are to be allocated from monies collected by the 1 percent prepared food tax.
Completed applications are due by 3 p.m. Monday, April 2.
The Tourism Board will review applications and make recommendations for grant awards to the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners based on availability of funds and other criteria.
For further information, click on 2012 Tourism Grant Application information.
Completed applications are due by 3 p.m. Monday, April 2.
The Tourism Board will review applications and make recommendations for grant awards to the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners based on availability of funds and other criteria.
For further information, click on 2012 Tourism Grant Application information.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
N.C. Museum of History presents a new Readers' Theater work about Sojourner Truth
A new Readers’ Theater work about the family life of Sojourner Truth, a 19th-century abolitionist and women’s rights activist, will be presented at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh on Friday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Four professional actors in the performance group Voices in Concert will present a play that suits all ages. Begin your weekend with a First Friday performance of Sojourner Truth and Her Children. Tickets cost $5 per person; ages 12 and younger are free. Purchase tickets in advance at ncmuseumofhistory.org or the night of the event in the Museum Shop.
Written by playwright Rudy Wallace, artistic director of Voices in Concert, the drama begins when Truth and her son, Peter—both of whom are free—visit a farm in upstate New York, where three of her children are enslaved. They will be freed in six months, and Truth is making every effort to reunite her family when they receive their freedom. However, the children have other plans, which are not worthy ones. Truth is challenged to inspire them to dream of more for themselves as they await their freedom.
What is Readers’ Theater?
Like storytelling, Readers’ Theater is a format that stimulates the imagination and often leads to a powerful experience for the audience. Minimal stage props free the performers and the audience from the physical limitations of conventional theater, and narration serves as the framework of the dramatic presentation.
Come learn more about the inspirational life of Sojourner Truth at the Museum of History on March 2.
The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St. in Raleigh, across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
Written by playwright Rudy Wallace, artistic director of Voices in Concert, the drama begins when Truth and her son, Peter—both of whom are free—visit a farm in upstate New York, where three of her children are enslaved. They will be freed in six months, and Truth is making every effort to reunite her family when they receive their freedom. However, the children have other plans, which are not worthy ones. Truth is challenged to inspire them to dream of more for themselves as they await their freedom.
What is Readers’ Theater?
Like storytelling, Readers’ Theater is a format that stimulates the imagination and often leads to a powerful experience for the audience. Minimal stage props free the performers and the audience from the physical limitations of conventional theater, and narration serves as the framework of the dramatic presentation.
Come learn more about the inspirational life of Sojourner Truth at the Museum of History on March 2.
The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St. in Raleigh, across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.
Hillsborough to disinfect water with chlorine, flush lines through March
The Town of Hillsborough will use chlorine instead of chloramines, a compound of chlorine and ammonia, to disinfect public drinking water in March.
In addition, town employees will flush and perform basic maintenance to fire hydrants in the town’s water system, beginning March 1.
Chlorine disinfection
The annual change to chlorine helps ensure a high level of disinfection in the community’s water mains. North Carolina regulations require Hillsborough and other utilities that normally use chloramines for disinfection to use chlorine for one month each year. The City of Durham, Orange Water and Sewer Authority and other municipal public water systems in the region also typically use chlorine instead of chloramines for disinfection in March.
Some customers may notice that Hillsborough’s drinking water will have a chlorine taste or odor in March. However, the water will be safe to drink.
Customers who use Hillsborough water for special purposes or for processes involving careful control of water characteristics are encouraged to get advice from an appropriate technical source—such as a filter vendor or service company—about whether and how to make adjustments to their use of Hillsborough water during the one-month period when chlorine is used for disinfection.
The town began using chloramines in July 2005. Disinfection with chloramines has improved the taste, odor and overall quality of the town’s drinking water. Before 2005, Hillsborough used gaseous chlorine for disinfection.
Customers are invited to contact the town with any questions or comments about the use of chlorine in March and about the characteristics of Hillsborough’s drinking water. Contact Water Plant Superintendent Russell Bateman by email or phone at (919) 732-3621.
Hydrant flushing
Customers also may see Hillsborough crews releasing water from fire hydrants and some water system valves in March. This flushing of the water mains will ensure water with chlorine goes through the entire system. The flushing helps remove sediments, improving the water system’s circulation and water quality,
The town typically flushes hydrants twice a year. About 6 million gallons of water—six days of supply—will be used. Staff will open each hydrant to flush the water system. They also will lubricate hydrants and identify any follow-up repair needs. The inspections and maintenance should be complete by March 31.
During the process, town personnel may be required to trim plantings or remove other items to ensure that adequate access to the hydrants exists for emergencies and maintenance.
Residents may be asked to relocate plants and other items in street rights-of-way where necessary to provide a clear, 3-foot-wide area around a hydrant. The town encourages everyone with hydrants—whether private or in adjacent street rights-of-way—to ensure the hydrants are accessible.
Plants relocated in the right-of-way should not interfere with the visibility of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and traffic signs and should not interfere with utilities or street drainage. Property owners should obtain permission from the town before making landscape improvements within the street right-of-way.
Opening the hydrants might cause some temporary cloudiness or discoloration of water. Discoloration can occur because small particles of iron and manganese that have settled in a water main may be stirred up. The discoloration does not make water unsafe to drink, but it could discolor fabric. Similarly, when air bubbles enter the water system during the hydrant flushing, they may cause cloudiness in drinking water.
If discoloration or air bubbles appear in the water, customers should run cold water in a bathtub for a few minutes until the water and/or air bubbles clear. If the water does not clear within five minutes, contact the town at (919) 732-2104 during normal business hours or at (919) 732-3621 for emergencies during nights and weekends.
In addition, town employees will flush and perform basic maintenance to fire hydrants in the town’s water system, beginning March 1.
Chlorine disinfection
The annual change to chlorine helps ensure a high level of disinfection in the community’s water mains. North Carolina regulations require Hillsborough and other utilities that normally use chloramines for disinfection to use chlorine for one month each year. The City of Durham, Orange Water and Sewer Authority and other municipal public water systems in the region also typically use chlorine instead of chloramines for disinfection in March.
Some customers may notice that Hillsborough’s drinking water will have a chlorine taste or odor in March. However, the water will be safe to drink.
Customers who use Hillsborough water for special purposes or for processes involving careful control of water characteristics are encouraged to get advice from an appropriate technical source—such as a filter vendor or service company—about whether and how to make adjustments to their use of Hillsborough water during the one-month period when chlorine is used for disinfection.
The town began using chloramines in July 2005. Disinfection with chloramines has improved the taste, odor and overall quality of the town’s drinking water. Before 2005, Hillsborough used gaseous chlorine for disinfection.
Customers are invited to contact the town with any questions or comments about the use of chlorine in March and about the characteristics of Hillsborough’s drinking water. Contact Water Plant Superintendent Russell Bateman by email or phone at (919) 732-3621.
Hydrant flushing
Customers also may see Hillsborough crews releasing water from fire hydrants and some water system valves in March. This flushing of the water mains will ensure water with chlorine goes through the entire system. The flushing helps remove sediments, improving the water system’s circulation and water quality,
The town typically flushes hydrants twice a year. About 6 million gallons of water—six days of supply—will be used. Staff will open each hydrant to flush the water system. They also will lubricate hydrants and identify any follow-up repair needs. The inspections and maintenance should be complete by March 31.
During the process, town personnel may be required to trim plantings or remove other items to ensure that adequate access to the hydrants exists for emergencies and maintenance.
Residents may be asked to relocate plants and other items in street rights-of-way where necessary to provide a clear, 3-foot-wide area around a hydrant. The town encourages everyone with hydrants—whether private or in adjacent street rights-of-way—to ensure the hydrants are accessible.
Plants relocated in the right-of-way should not interfere with the visibility of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and traffic signs and should not interfere with utilities or street drainage. Property owners should obtain permission from the town before making landscape improvements within the street right-of-way.
Opening the hydrants might cause some temporary cloudiness or discoloration of water. Discoloration can occur because small particles of iron and manganese that have settled in a water main may be stirred up. The discoloration does not make water unsafe to drink, but it could discolor fabric. Similarly, when air bubbles enter the water system during the hydrant flushing, they may cause cloudiness in drinking water.
If discoloration or air bubbles appear in the water, customers should run cold water in a bathtub for a few minutes until the water and/or air bubbles clear. If the water does not clear within five minutes, contact the town at (919) 732-2104 during normal business hours or at (919) 732-3621 for emergencies during nights and weekends.
Durham craft market held at Motorco
Craft Market, along with dtownMARKET, guest stars at Motorco Music Hall's Sunday Bloody Brunch events.
Durham Craft Market, usually on hiatus during the cold winter months, will set up within the warm walls of Motorco Music Hall on Sunday, March 4. It's a great opportunity to catch up with many of the talented artists and hip vendors that make up Durham Craft Market and dtownMARKET.
Motorco's Bloody Brunch is always a good time with food trucks, music and Bloody Marys The events run from noon to 5 p.m. at Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Ave. in Durham. Visit www.DurhamCraftMarket.com for more information.
Durham Craft Market, usually on hiatus during the cold winter months, will set up within the warm walls of Motorco Music Hall on Sunday, March 4. It's a great opportunity to catch up with many of the talented artists and hip vendors that make up Durham Craft Market and dtownMARKET.
Motorco's Bloody Brunch is always a good time with food trucks, music and Bloody Marys The events run from noon to 5 p.m. at Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Ave. in Durham. Visit www.DurhamCraftMarket.com for more information.
Get close to scales and tails at aquarium event
Make a connection with lizards, gators, snakes and more at Scales and Tails. The wild weekend at the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, allows visitors to come face-to-face with reptiles and amphibians of all kinds in a safe and exciting learning environment.
During the two-day event, regional exhibitors and aquarium staff will show off scaly and exotic creatures from their collections while debunking myths and sharing facts about these amazing animals. This year’s event includes species from around the world, including Burmese pythons, boa constrictors, iguanas, sea turtles and giant tortoises.
“Scales and Tails offers a unique family experience,” said Hap Fatzinger, aquarium curator. “Where else can a child or adult reach out and safely touch a 6-foot python or an American alligator and talk with experts about why these animals matter?”
Author Bob Palmatier will also sign copies of his children’s books, “Stormy's Return” about spotted turtles and “The Tiny Turtle of the Marsh” about diamondback terrapins.
Attend Scales and Tails from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 4. Regular Aquarium admission rates apply.
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for ages 13 to 62; $7 for seniors; and $6 for ages 3to 12. Free admission for children younger than 2, registered groups of North Carolina school children and NC Aquarium Society members. For more information, visit the website.
During the two-day event, regional exhibitors and aquarium staff will show off scaly and exotic creatures from their collections while debunking myths and sharing facts about these amazing animals. This year’s event includes species from around the world, including Burmese pythons, boa constrictors, iguanas, sea turtles and giant tortoises.
“Scales and Tails offers a unique family experience,” said Hap Fatzinger, aquarium curator. “Where else can a child or adult reach out and safely touch a 6-foot python or an American alligator and talk with experts about why these animals matter?”
Author Bob Palmatier will also sign copies of his children’s books, “Stormy's Return” about spotted turtles and “The Tiny Turtle of the Marsh” about diamondback terrapins.
Attend Scales and Tails from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 4. Regular Aquarium admission rates apply.
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for ages 13 to 62; $7 for seniors; and $6 for ages 3to 12. Free admission for children younger than 2, registered groups of North Carolina school children and NC Aquarium Society members. For more information, visit the website.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Agritourism Networking Association to host annual conference March 8-9
The sixth annual Agritourism Networking Association Conference will be held Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Asheville. The two-day event will feature informative speakers, workshops and networking opportunities for agritourism entrepreneurs and those interested in rural tourism in North Carolina.
“There’s a nearly endless amount of agritourism possibilities out there for farmers to try on their farms, but the amount of choices can be overwhelming,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Events such as this conference give folks an opportunity to learn more about the different types of agritourism from people who have applied it on their own farms.”
Optional mid-afternoon farm tours will be held Thursday, March 8, with a reception to follow. On Friday, March 9, workshops will cover topics such as keeping your farm successful in today’s economy, using social media to expand your customer base, using mediation for farm problems, hospitality success and customer service, and maintaining the success curve after year one.
Early registration by March 1 is $75 for ANA members, $85 for non-members and $35 for cooperative extension staff. The registration fee increases to $100 after March 1.
For more information or a registration form, go to www.ncagr.gov/agritourism, or call agritourism manager Martha Glass at (919) 707-3120.
“There’s a nearly endless amount of agritourism possibilities out there for farmers to try on their farms, but the amount of choices can be overwhelming,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Events such as this conference give folks an opportunity to learn more about the different types of agritourism from people who have applied it on their own farms.”
Optional mid-afternoon farm tours will be held Thursday, March 8, with a reception to follow. On Friday, March 9, workshops will cover topics such as keeping your farm successful in today’s economy, using social media to expand your customer base, using mediation for farm problems, hospitality success and customer service, and maintaining the success curve after year one.
Early registration by March 1 is $75 for ANA members, $85 for non-members and $35 for cooperative extension staff. The registration fee increases to $100 after March 1.
For more information or a registration form, go to www.ncagr.gov/agritourism, or call agritourism manager Martha Glass at (919) 707-3120.
New directory helps connect low-income women to cervical cancer services in North Carolina
A new online resource is available to help connect women and adolescents to life-saving cervical cancer-related services.
The NC Cervical Cancer Resource Directory includes county-specific information on where uninsured or underinsured women can go to find screening or Pap test services. The site also has information on HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, answers to frequently-asked questions and additional resources.
The directory—available in both English and Spanish—was developed by Cervical Cancer-Free NC, an initiative based at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program is working to eliminate or substantially reduce cervical cancer in North Carolina.
Each year, more than 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 4,000 die from the disease in the United States. In 2011, almost 400 women in North Carolina received cervical cancer diagnoses, and more than 100 died. Health-care experts say a majority of these deaths could be avoided through regular cervical cancer screenings, commonly known as Pap tests, and timely HPV vaccination.
Noel Brewer, Ph.D., director of Cervical Cancer-Free NC and associate professor of health behavior at UNC's public health school, said he knows how important the directory and other resources could be to women throughout the state. His own mother was recently diagnosed with incurable cervical cancer.
"Screening would have caught her cancer early and saved her life, but she could not afford it," said Brewer, also a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Resources like the new directory will help other women find affordable screening and avoid what my mom is going through now. We can end cervical cancer. We have to."
African-American and Latina women, who are less likely than others to be screened, are twice as likely as white women to die from cervical cancer. Research has shown that one reason for the disparity is that, in North Carolina, African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.
Connecting women to cervical cancer resources in North Carolina is an important step in reducing unnecessary deaths, according to the Cervical Cancer-Free NC initiative and its collaborators.
"Latinas are a growing component of the healthcare community and they need culturally appropriate information that is available to them in their own language," said Florence Simán, director of health programs at El Pueblo Inc., a Latino advocacy organization based in Raleigh. "This directory is a great resource for us to use to help connect women who may otherwise not know where to go."
Schatzi H. McCarthy, associate director of Cervical Cancer-Free NC, said the new resource will go a long way to help clarify access to cervical cancer prevention services in North Carolina. "Navigating through our healthcare system can be extremely challenging, especially for those who are uninsured or under-insured. It is not acceptable that women should die for lack of access to services when, in fact, they are available. We want to help match low-income women with needed services. For this reason, we are very proud of the resource directory and believe it will be an invaluable tool for women and adolescents throughout our state."
For more information, visit the directory at www.ccresourcedirectory.org or email info@ccfnc.org.
The NC Cervical Cancer Resource Directory includes county-specific information on where uninsured or underinsured women can go to find screening or Pap test services. The site also has information on HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, answers to frequently-asked questions and additional resources.
The directory—available in both English and Spanish—was developed by Cervical Cancer-Free NC, an initiative based at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program is working to eliminate or substantially reduce cervical cancer in North Carolina.
Each year, more than 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and more than 4,000 die from the disease in the United States. In 2011, almost 400 women in North Carolina received cervical cancer diagnoses, and more than 100 died. Health-care experts say a majority of these deaths could be avoided through regular cervical cancer screenings, commonly known as Pap tests, and timely HPV vaccination.
Noel Brewer, Ph.D., director of Cervical Cancer-Free NC and associate professor of health behavior at UNC's public health school, said he knows how important the directory and other resources could be to women throughout the state. His own mother was recently diagnosed with incurable cervical cancer.
"Screening would have caught her cancer early and saved her life, but she could not afford it," said Brewer, also a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Resources like the new directory will help other women find affordable screening and avoid what my mom is going through now. We can end cervical cancer. We have to."
African-American and Latina women, who are less likely than others to be screened, are twice as likely as white women to die from cervical cancer. Research has shown that one reason for the disparity is that, in North Carolina, African-Americans and Latinos are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.
Connecting women to cervical cancer resources in North Carolina is an important step in reducing unnecessary deaths, according to the Cervical Cancer-Free NC initiative and its collaborators.
"Latinas are a growing component of the healthcare community and they need culturally appropriate information that is available to them in their own language," said Florence Simán, director of health programs at El Pueblo Inc., a Latino advocacy organization based in Raleigh. "This directory is a great resource for us to use to help connect women who may otherwise not know where to go."
Schatzi H. McCarthy, associate director of Cervical Cancer-Free NC, said the new resource will go a long way to help clarify access to cervical cancer prevention services in North Carolina. "Navigating through our healthcare system can be extremely challenging, especially for those who are uninsured or under-insured. It is not acceptable that women should die for lack of access to services when, in fact, they are available. We want to help match low-income women with needed services. For this reason, we are very proud of the resource directory and believe it will be an invaluable tool for women and adolescents throughout our state."
For more information, visit the directory at www.ccresourcedirectory.org or email info@ccfnc.org.
Never forgotten: 360 photos of North Carolina Vietnam War heroes still needed
Photos of Vietnam heroes needed for inclusion in The Education Center at The Wall in Washington, D.C.
The people of the state of North Carolina suffered among the greatest number of losses in the Vietnam War, sacrificing 1,610 service-men and women in combat. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s mission to honor these heroes continues with the National Call for Photos, a movement to collect photos of the more than 58,000 service-members inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. When collected, all photos will be displayed for generations to come at The Education Center at The Wall, a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
With the support of schools, volunteers, friends and family from around the country, VVMF has collected more than 25,000 pictures to date, including 1,250 from the state of North Carolina.
The task is far from complete. Generous support from volunteers, fellow service-members, family and friends is still needed in order to gather the remaining 360 photos necessary to honor our heroes from North Carolina for display at The Education Center.
With a groundbreaking planned for November, The Education Center at The Wall is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art visitor’s center and learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and the Lincoln Memorials. Visitors will better understand the profound impact the Vietnam War had their friends and family members, their home towns and the nation. The Education Center will feature the faces of the 58,272 men and women on “The Wall,” and will forever honor those who fell in Vietnam. Those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served and perished, will have their stories shared. For more information, visit www.buildthecenter.org.
“North Carolina suffered some of the highest casualty rates of any state in the Vietnam War,” said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “The Education Center at The Wall will allow Americans to put faces with the names of brave men and women who lost their lives, fostering their appreciation and respect for generations to come.”
VVMF urges the citizens of North Carolina to assist the National Call for Photos by submitting photographs of fallen service-members and generously supporting the Education Center, ensuring that the sacrifices of our military heroes are never forgotten.
How to submit a photo
If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, please help the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honor these individuals by putting a face with their name. You may use either of the following methods to submit your photograph:
Submit online
If you have a digital copy of the photograph, you can upload the photograph at http://vvmf.org/submit_other.
Mail a copy of your photograph
Make a copy of your photo. VVMF does not want original photos and cannot be responsible for returning photos. When having the photo copied, ask the photo professional to make it the highest quality possible, use a glossy finish and reproduce the photo at an 8 x 10 size, if possible. Be sure to include the photo submission form and indicate on the front of the envelope that a photo is enclosed. Mail to:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Attn: Call for Photos
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20037
For more information about how to add a photograph to the collection, please contact VVMF at (202) 393-0090 or via email at mjohnson@vvmf.org.
About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall
Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall is a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Support the Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.buildthecenter.org, calling 866-990-WALL, or by texting "WALL" to 2022.
The people of the state of North Carolina suffered among the greatest number of losses in the Vietnam War, sacrificing 1,610 service-men and women in combat. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s mission to honor these heroes continues with the National Call for Photos, a movement to collect photos of the more than 58,000 service-members inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. When collected, all photos will be displayed for generations to come at The Education Center at The Wall, a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
With the support of schools, volunteers, friends and family from around the country, VVMF has collected more than 25,000 pictures to date, including 1,250 from the state of North Carolina.
The task is far from complete. Generous support from volunteers, fellow service-members, family and friends is still needed in order to gather the remaining 360 photos necessary to honor our heroes from North Carolina for display at The Education Center.
With a groundbreaking planned for November, The Education Center at The Wall is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art visitor’s center and learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and the Lincoln Memorials. Visitors will better understand the profound impact the Vietnam War had their friends and family members, their home towns and the nation. The Education Center will feature the faces of the 58,272 men and women on “The Wall,” and will forever honor those who fell in Vietnam. Those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served and perished, will have their stories shared. For more information, visit www.buildthecenter.org.
“North Carolina suffered some of the highest casualty rates of any state in the Vietnam War,” said Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. “The Education Center at The Wall will allow Americans to put faces with the names of brave men and women who lost their lives, fostering their appreciation and respect for generations to come.”
VVMF urges the citizens of North Carolina to assist the National Call for Photos by submitting photographs of fallen service-members and generously supporting the Education Center, ensuring that the sacrifices of our military heroes are never forgotten.
How to submit a photo
If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, please help the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honor these individuals by putting a face with their name. You may use either of the following methods to submit your photograph:
Submit online
If you have a digital copy of the photograph, you can upload the photograph at http://vvmf.org/submit_other.
Mail a copy of your photograph
Make a copy of your photo. VVMF does not want original photos and cannot be responsible for returning photos. When having the photo copied, ask the photo professional to make it the highest quality possible, use a glossy finish and reproduce the photo at an 8 x 10 size, if possible. Be sure to include the photo submission form and indicate on the front of the envelope that a photo is enclosed. Mail to:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
Attn: Call for Photos
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 104
Washington, D.C. 20037
For more information about how to add a photograph to the collection, please contact VVMF at (202) 393-0090 or via email at mjohnson@vvmf.org.
About VVMF and the Education Center at The Wall
Established in 1979, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., promoting healing and educating about the impact of the Vietnam War. The Education Center at The Wall is a place on our National Mall where our military heroes' stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Support the Education Center at The Wall by visiting www.buildthecenter.org, calling 866-990-WALL, or by texting "WALL" to 2022.
Friday, February 24, 2012
March 2012 programs at N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher
For more information or to register for a program, call (910) 458-7468 or visit ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher. For all programs, children ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult, except for camps. All programs require pre-registration and fees.
Behind the scenes
Aquarist apprentice
When: Saturday, March 10 and 24, at 2 p.m.
Check out a dirty job you’re sure to love. Join staff on a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about aquarium animals, what they eat, how they live and how to care for them. Then, assist aquarists with food preparation and help feed the animals. Participants also observe aquarists during daily care and maintenance tasks. This limited opportunity is only open to 10 participants.
Participants should wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to smell fishy. For ages 10 and older. Ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is $25 for ages 13 and older and $23 for ages 10 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
Behind-the-scenes tour
When: Thursday, March 1 and 15, at 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at an aquarium? Space for animal holding, husbandry, life support systems and access to exhibits is hidden behind the aquarium walls. If you have ever cared for a home aquarium, you may have some idea of what it takes to operate a collection of salt and freshwater exhibits with hundreds of animals. Accompany aquarium staff on a guided tour of animal quarantine, life support, food preparation and access areas. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee is $15 for ages 13 and older and $13 for ages 8 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
Extended behind-the-scenes tour
When: Friday, March 9 and 23, at 2 p.m.
It’s feeding time, and you’re invited to watch. Visit the top of our largest exhibit, the Cape Fear Shoals, during an expanded tour behind the scenes. Get a birds-eye view of this 235,000 gallon tank as sharks, stingrays, moray eels and other fish swim below! Aquarists feed the animals during the tour, offering a unique opportunity for close-up viewing. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between ages 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee is $20 for ages 13 and older and $18 for ages 8 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
Green behind-the-scenes tour
When: Saturday, March 17, at 11:00 a.m. at 2 p.m.
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the aquarium with our inaugural Green Behind-the-Scenes Tour. Come view the inner workings of various departments and witness firsthand our sustainability action plan. Check out where the animals are held and how we assist endangered species. See how our operations department uses eco-friendly products and maintains low-energy and water consumption and so much more! Accompany aquarium staff on this guided tour of animal quarantine, life support, food preparation and access areas. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between ages 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee is $15 for ages 13 and older and $13 for ages 8 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
For children and parents
Children's discovery time
When: Thursday, March 1, at 10 a.m.—Sharks
Thursday, March 15, at 10 a.m.—Amphibians
Creatures come alive in this story-telling and critter-creating program. For ages 3 to 5. Fee is $11 per child. Aquarium admission is included.
Parents pay admission only. Pre-registration required.
Special programs
Alligator egg hunt
When: Saturday, March 31, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Friday, April 6, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 7, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Come join the fun on our Alligator Egg Hunt. Kids get to see a live baby alligator and learn about these fascinating animals. They create their own special alligator egg basket and then search for candy filled “alligator eggs.” Recommended for kids ages 3 to 10, however all ages are welcome. Limited space is available. Ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is $17 per child and includes admission to the Aquarium. Cost is $11 for NC Aquarium Members. Adults will need to pay admission to Aquarium.
Preregistration is required by Wednesday, March 28, for the Saturday, March 31, programs. Preregistration is required by Wednesday, April 4, for the Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7, programs.
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach on U.S. 421. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for ages 13 to 61, $7 for seniors and $6 for ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and younger, registered groups of N.C. school children and N.C. Aquarium Society members receive free admission. For more information, visit the website.
Behind the scenes
Aquarist apprentice
When: Saturday, March 10 and 24, at 2 p.m.
Check out a dirty job you’re sure to love. Join staff on a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about aquarium animals, what they eat, how they live and how to care for them. Then, assist aquarists with food preparation and help feed the animals. Participants also observe aquarists during daily care and maintenance tasks. This limited opportunity is only open to 10 participants.
Participants should wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to smell fishy. For ages 10 and older. Ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is $25 for ages 13 and older and $23 for ages 10 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
Behind-the-scenes tour
When: Thursday, March 1 and 15, at 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at an aquarium? Space for animal holding, husbandry, life support systems and access to exhibits is hidden behind the aquarium walls. If you have ever cared for a home aquarium, you may have some idea of what it takes to operate a collection of salt and freshwater exhibits with hundreds of animals. Accompany aquarium staff on a guided tour of animal quarantine, life support, food preparation and access areas. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee is $15 for ages 13 and older and $13 for ages 8 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
Extended behind-the-scenes tour
When: Friday, March 9 and 23, at 2 p.m.
It’s feeding time, and you’re invited to watch. Visit the top of our largest exhibit, the Cape Fear Shoals, during an expanded tour behind the scenes. Get a birds-eye view of this 235,000 gallon tank as sharks, stingrays, moray eels and other fish swim below! Aquarists feed the animals during the tour, offering a unique opportunity for close-up viewing. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between ages 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee is $20 for ages 13 and older and $18 for ages 8 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
Green behind-the-scenes tour
When: Saturday, March 17, at 11:00 a.m. at 2 p.m.
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the aquarium with our inaugural Green Behind-the-Scenes Tour. Come view the inner workings of various departments and witness firsthand our sustainability action plan. Check out where the animals are held and how we assist endangered species. See how our operations department uses eco-friendly products and maintains low-energy and water consumption and so much more! Accompany aquarium staff on this guided tour of animal quarantine, life support, food preparation and access areas. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes. Children younger than 8 are not permitted. Children between ages 8 and 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Fee is $15 for ages 13 and older and $13 for ages 8 to 12. Aquarium admission is included. Pre-registration required.
For children and parents
Children's discovery time
When: Thursday, March 1, at 10 a.m.—Sharks
Thursday, March 15, at 10 a.m.—Amphibians
Creatures come alive in this story-telling and critter-creating program. For ages 3 to 5. Fee is $11 per child. Aquarium admission is included.
Parents pay admission only. Pre-registration required.
Special programs
Alligator egg hunt
When: Saturday, March 31, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Friday, April 6, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 7, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Come join the fun on our Alligator Egg Hunt. Kids get to see a live baby alligator and learn about these fascinating animals. They create their own special alligator egg basket and then search for candy filled “alligator eggs.” Recommended for kids ages 3 to 10, however all ages are welcome. Limited space is available. Ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is $17 per child and includes admission to the Aquarium. Cost is $11 for NC Aquarium Members. Adults will need to pay admission to Aquarium.
Preregistration is required by Wednesday, March 28, for the Saturday, March 31, programs. Preregistration is required by Wednesday, April 4, for the Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7, programs.
The N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher is located just south of Kure Beach on U.S. 421. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for ages 13 to 61, $7 for seniors and $6 for ages 3 to 12. Children 2 and younger, registered groups of N.C. school children and N.C. Aquarium Society members receive free admission. For more information, visit the website.
Homestead Aquatic Center closed for maintenance
The Homestead Aquatic Center will be closed from Saturday, Feb. 25, through Friday, March 2, for facility maintenance. The Aquatic Center will re-open at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 3.
The Community Center Pool, 120 S. Estes Drive, will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for lap and open swimming during the Aquatic Center maintenance period.
View poolschedules at www.townofchapelhill.org/aquatics.
The Community Center Pool, 120 S. Estes Drive, will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for lap and open swimming during the Aquatic Center maintenance period.
View poolschedules at www.townofchapelhill.org/aquatics.
Burning Coal Theatre Company presents 'Two Buildings/One Heart'
Burning Coal Theatre Company teams up with the First Baptist Churches of Salisbury and Wilmington Streets in downtown Raleigh to present a play, “Two Buildings/One Heart: 200 Years of the First Baptists Churches of Raleigh” from Friday through Sunday, March 2 through 4. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 2, and Saturday, March 3, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, and Sunday, March 4. The first two performances will begin at the First Baptist Church located at 99 North Salisbury St. and the final two performances will begin at the First Baptist Church located at 109 S. Wilmington St. All performances are $10, and tickets may be purchased by calling (919) 834-4001. For more information, visit the website at www.burningcoal.org.
About the show
Raleigh was only 20 years old when First Baptist Church was established in 1812 with 23 members: 14 African-American and nine white. Burning Coal Theatre will explore the history of the church and the two congregations it became after the Civil War in a play to be performed Friday through Sunday, March 2 through 4, in the sanctuaries of the two churches, both of which face Capitol Square.
“Two Buildings/One Heart: 200 Years of the First Baptist Churches of Raleigh,” written by Burning Coal Education Director Ian Finley—along with Jerome Davis and Rebecca Wyrick—will bring together Burning Coal actors and a choir of singers from both congregations to tell the story of the churches’ origin and key moments from their histories.
Jerome Davis, artistic director of Burning Coal Theatre Company, said “When the two churches approached us about this, my eyes lit up! I couldn’t think of a more inherently dramatic or worthwhile story to tell. Working with these two congregations has been terrific, and getting to know more about their past histories has been a truly rewarding experience for me.”
Playwright Ian Finley (2012 Piedmont Laureate) was similarly thrilled with the prospect: “The storied history of the churches, spanning 200 years, was a natural fit for dramatization, especially when framed in the actual church buildings themselves.”
Four performances are scheduled. On Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m., the play will start in the sanctuary at 99 North Salisbury St. The 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday performances will begin in the sanctuary at 109 S. Wilmington St. At each performance, the audience will move to the other church at intermission.
Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling Burning Coal at (919) 834-4001.
Burning Coal Theatre Company is Raleigh's small, professional theater. Burning Coal is an incorporated, non-profit [501 (c) (3)] organization. Burning Coal's mission is to produce literate, visceral, affecting theater that is experienced, not simply seen. Burning Coal produces explosive reexaminations of overlooked classic and modern plays, as well as new plays, whose themes and issues are of immediate concern to our audience, using the best local, national and international artists available. We work toward a theater of high-energy performances and minimalist production values. The emphasis is on literate works that are felt and experienced viscerally, unlike more traditional linear plays, at which audiences are most often asked to observe without participating. Race and gender non-specific casting is an integral component of our perspective, as well as an international viewpoint.
About the show
Raleigh was only 20 years old when First Baptist Church was established in 1812 with 23 members: 14 African-American and nine white. Burning Coal Theatre will explore the history of the church and the two congregations it became after the Civil War in a play to be performed Friday through Sunday, March 2 through 4, in the sanctuaries of the two churches, both of which face Capitol Square.
“Two Buildings/One Heart: 200 Years of the First Baptist Churches of Raleigh,” written by Burning Coal Education Director Ian Finley—along with Jerome Davis and Rebecca Wyrick—will bring together Burning Coal actors and a choir of singers from both congregations to tell the story of the churches’ origin and key moments from their histories.
Jerome Davis, artistic director of Burning Coal Theatre Company, said “When the two churches approached us about this, my eyes lit up! I couldn’t think of a more inherently dramatic or worthwhile story to tell. Working with these two congregations has been terrific, and getting to know more about their past histories has been a truly rewarding experience for me.”
Playwright Ian Finley (2012 Piedmont Laureate) was similarly thrilled with the prospect: “The storied history of the churches, spanning 200 years, was a natural fit for dramatization, especially when framed in the actual church buildings themselves.”
Four performances are scheduled. On Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m., the play will start in the sanctuary at 99 North Salisbury St. The 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday performances will begin in the sanctuary at 109 S. Wilmington St. At each performance, the audience will move to the other church at intermission.
Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling Burning Coal at (919) 834-4001.
Burning Coal Theatre Company is Raleigh's small, professional theater. Burning Coal is an incorporated, non-profit [501 (c) (3)] organization. Burning Coal's mission is to produce literate, visceral, affecting theater that is experienced, not simply seen. Burning Coal produces explosive reexaminations of overlooked classic and modern plays, as well as new plays, whose themes and issues are of immediate concern to our audience, using the best local, national and international artists available. We work toward a theater of high-energy performances and minimalist production values. The emphasis is on literate works that are felt and experienced viscerally, unlike more traditional linear plays, at which audiences are most often asked to observe without participating. Race and gender non-specific casting is an integral component of our perspective, as well as an international viewpoint.
Orange County holds pesticide applicator workshop
Orange County Cooperative Extension will host a Pesticide Applicator Workshop for Growers, Landscapers, Dealers, Bilingual Supervisors on Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the Orange County Extension Office at 306 Revere Road. The session will start at 8 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. and will prepare agricultural professionals to use the Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit.
The workshop will offer three hours of pesticide applicator credit for the following categories: Private Specialty Training (X), Dealers (D), Regulatory (I), Ornamental/Turf (L), Ag Pest Plant (O), and Demonstration and Research (N). NC Cooperative Extension and the NC Farm Bureau Safety Team are excited to collaborate on this workshop.
The Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit is a pesticide education resource for EPA-approved Worker Protection Standard training of Spanish-speaking farmworkers. It was developed by extension specialists Dr. Greg Cope, Dr. Catherine LePrevost and Julia Storm in the N.C. State University Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology with funding from NCDA’s Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund. Toolkits are available in Spanish and English for 11 hand labor-intensive North Carolina crops, including apples, bell peppers, blueberries, Christmas trees, cucumbers, grapes, landscape/turf, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and tomatoes. The Toolkit features a colorful, illustrated flipchart with leaders guide, a one-page handout with essential safety messages, and interactive learning activities including jug-labeling and symptom charades. A bilingual poster is also available for purchase.
Registration for this workshop is required and space is limited. Call Orange County Extension at (919) 245-2050 to reserve your space. A breakfast meal will be sponsored by County Farm Bureaus.
The workshop will offer three hours of pesticide applicator credit for the following categories: Private Specialty Training (X), Dealers (D), Regulatory (I), Ornamental/Turf (L), Ag Pest Plant (O), and Demonstration and Research (N). NC Cooperative Extension and the NC Farm Bureau Safety Team are excited to collaborate on this workshop.
The Pesticides and Farmworker Health Toolkit is a pesticide education resource for EPA-approved Worker Protection Standard training of Spanish-speaking farmworkers. It was developed by extension specialists Dr. Greg Cope, Dr. Catherine LePrevost and Julia Storm in the N.C. State University Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology with funding from NCDA’s Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund. Toolkits are available in Spanish and English for 11 hand labor-intensive North Carolina crops, including apples, bell peppers, blueberries, Christmas trees, cucumbers, grapes, landscape/turf, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and tomatoes. The Toolkit features a colorful, illustrated flipchart with leaders guide, a one-page handout with essential safety messages, and interactive learning activities including jug-labeling and symptom charades. A bilingual poster is also available for purchase.
Registration for this workshop is required and space is limited. Call Orange County Extension at (919) 245-2050 to reserve your space. A breakfast meal will be sponsored by County Farm Bureaus.
Town of Carthage joins regional council of governments
At its Wednesday, Jan. 25, meeting, the Triangle J Council of Governments’ Board of Delegates unanimously approved a request by the Town of Carthage for membership into the regional organization. Carthage, the county seat of Moore County, is the county’s third municipality to join Triangle J since 2001 when regional boundaries were shifted, adding Moore County to region J. The Town of Carthage is Triangle J’s 36th member government.
Carthage Town Commissioner Artie Barber will serve as the town’s delegate to the Triangle J Board of Delegates. Barber represented Carthage at the board meeting and expressed the town’s interest in becoming part of the regional organization.
Triangle J Council of Governments is a membership organization comprised of municipal and county governments across a seven-county region. The organization leads regional planning and collaborative efforts in land use and infrastructure, water resources, energy efficiency and air quality. TJCOG also coordinates county-based services for the region’s aging population.
Designated by the State of North Carolina as Region J, the organization covers Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange and Wake counties. To learn more about TJCOG, go to www.tjcog.org.
Carthage Town Commissioner Artie Barber will serve as the town’s delegate to the Triangle J Board of Delegates. Barber represented Carthage at the board meeting and expressed the town’s interest in becoming part of the regional organization.
Triangle J Council of Governments is a membership organization comprised of municipal and county governments across a seven-county region. The organization leads regional planning and collaborative efforts in land use and infrastructure, water resources, energy efficiency and air quality. TJCOG also coordinates county-based services for the region’s aging population.
Designated by the State of North Carolina as Region J, the organization covers Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange and Wake counties. To learn more about TJCOG, go to www.tjcog.org.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Juvenile escapes near Goldsboro while in transportation custody from court
A 16-year-old male committed to the custody of the Division of Juvenile Justice and placed at Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center in Concord has escaped while in transport from a juvenile court visit in Goldsboro.The juvenile—identified as “Ishmael,” last initial “B”—was last seen on U.S. 70 West outside of Goldsboro between Leslie Road and Edgar Street at 10:30 a.m. The juvenile’s home county is Wayne County.
Juvenile Justice has notified local law enforcement and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Due to the unpredictability of juvenile behavior during an escape, the division has a high degree of concern for the safety of both the juvenile and the public. This juvenile has a history of assaultive behavior.
This is the most recently taken photograph of the juvenile escapee. If you see this juvenile, please contact local law enforcement.
Aquarium Science Café kicks off
A new discussion series introduced by the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher offers the community an opportunity to dine with purpose.
William McLellan—research associate of biology and marine biology at UNC—Wilmington and North Carolina’s State Stranding Coordinator—kicks off the Aquarium’s Science Café series with a discussion of North Atlantic right whales from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Surf House Café at 250 Racine Dr., Suite 1, in Wilmington.
“The Science Café brings the community together to learn and talk with experts,” said aquarium Director Peggy Sloan. “It’s about introducing important topics and starting conversations in a relaxed atmosphere.”
The free series, which will run the third Tuesday of each month, begins with McLellan speaking on “The right time for Right whales—is it now?” As one of the key players in right whale research and recovery, McLellan, lives here in Wilmington and works through UNCW to study and protect these unique—and quite amazing—whales.
North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered species on the planet, and North Carolina plays a critical role in their continued survival. In 1935, the last intentionally killed right whale died off of Jacksonville, Fla. Since then, the species has struggled to recover. They are called the urban whale because of their dependence on near-shore coastal waters heavily trafficked by boats and littered with fishing gear. Right whales survive today due to the dedicated efforts of researchers and rescuers all along the eastern seaboard.
Science Cafe kick-off
WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28; discussion begins at 7 p.m. followed by Q&A
WHERE: Surf House Café, 250 Racine Dr. Suite 1, in Wilmington
RSVP: Joanna.Zazzali@ncaquariums.com, (910) 458-7468
William McLellan—research associate of biology and marine biology at UNC—Wilmington and North Carolina’s State Stranding Coordinator—kicks off the Aquarium’s Science Café series with a discussion of North Atlantic right whales from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Surf House Café at 250 Racine Dr., Suite 1, in Wilmington.
“The Science Café brings the community together to learn and talk with experts,” said aquarium Director Peggy Sloan. “It’s about introducing important topics and starting conversations in a relaxed atmosphere.”
The free series, which will run the third Tuesday of each month, begins with McLellan speaking on “The right time for Right whales—is it now?” As one of the key players in right whale research and recovery, McLellan, lives here in Wilmington and works through UNCW to study and protect these unique—and quite amazing—whales.
North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered species on the planet, and North Carolina plays a critical role in their continued survival. In 1935, the last intentionally killed right whale died off of Jacksonville, Fla. Since then, the species has struggled to recover. They are called the urban whale because of their dependence on near-shore coastal waters heavily trafficked by boats and littered with fishing gear. Right whales survive today due to the dedicated efforts of researchers and rescuers all along the eastern seaboard.
Science Cafe kick-off
WHEN: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28; discussion begins at 7 p.m. followed by Q&A
WHERE: Surf House Café, 250 Racine Dr. Suite 1, in Wilmington
RSVP: Joanna.Zazzali@ncaquariums.com, (910) 458-7468
Deep Dish Theater presents 'The Baltimore Waltz'
Deep Dish Theater Company will present a 20th Anniversary production of Paula Vogel’s acclaimed comedy, The Baltimore Waltz, Feb. 24 through March 17. Directed by Chip Rodgers, the play continues the company’s eleventh season at University Mall.
“We’re very excited to be presenting this ground-breaking play,” said Artistic Director Paul Frellick. “It works on so many different levels, with an effervescent theatrical energy and a raw emotional power. Paula Vogel has had such an influence on American theater, and this piece certainly demonstrates why.”
A sensation when it opened in 1991, The Baltimore Waltz follows a brother and sister (Jesse R. Gephart and Mary Forester) who flee a frightening medical diagnosis by embarking on a fantastical trip across Europe. A third actor (Kit FitzSimons) plays the quirky characters they encounter, including the Little Dutch Boy (at age 50) and Harry Lime, from the classic movie The Third Man. Vogel is the Obie Award-winning writer of such celebrated works as Desdemona, A Play about a Handkerchief and How I Learned to Drive, for which she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
Director Chip Rodgers is a Raleigh native currently living in New York City, where he has worked with such theaters as The Wooster Group, St Ann’s Warehouse and The Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2011, his work was featured in Time Out New York for the sound design of the Blueprint Theater Project’s Largo, a dance-theater piece performed in a nightclub. A founding member of United Broadcasting Theater Company, where he devised Arcane Game at Incubator Arts Project, he is currently developing the sci-fi opera The Life and Times of Bruno Tallywacker, premiering in 2013 at The Performing Garage. Later this spring in the Triangle, he will direct Hungry at Stillwater Theater and assistant direct Penelope at PlayMakers Repertory Company.
The production staff for The Baltimore Waltz includes Chris Bernier (set design), David Serxner (costume design), Scott Marlow (lighting design), Brittany Bugge (properties) and Marc Maximov (sound design). Jenny Wales is the vocal coach, Jen Bauer the stage manager and Lisa Keaton the dramaturg.
Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and U.S. 15-501. There will be a pre-show "Meet the Play" talk with the dramaturg on Friday, March 2, at 7 p.m., and post-show discussions on Sunday, March 4, and Thursday, March 8. The Deep Dish Book Selection, A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, will be discussed on Monday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at Flyleaf Books.
Tickets are $21 for adults and $19 for seniors regularly, with a $2 discount for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Student tickets for all performances are $14. Wednesday, Feb. 29, is "Leap Cheap Dish Night"—all tickets are $10 (no reservations accepted). Call (919) 968-1515 for reservations and visit www.deepdishtheater.org for information.
The Baltimore Waltz replaces the previously announced Terra Nova.
The Deep Dish Theater Company is committed to presenting compelling, human-centered dramatic work that contributes to the cultural richness of the Triangle area and challenge audiences to explore concerns of the community and the world-at-large.
“We’re very excited to be presenting this ground-breaking play,” said Artistic Director Paul Frellick. “It works on so many different levels, with an effervescent theatrical energy and a raw emotional power. Paula Vogel has had such an influence on American theater, and this piece certainly demonstrates why.”
A sensation when it opened in 1991, The Baltimore Waltz follows a brother and sister (Jesse R. Gephart and Mary Forester) who flee a frightening medical diagnosis by embarking on a fantastical trip across Europe. A third actor (Kit FitzSimons) plays the quirky characters they encounter, including the Little Dutch Boy (at age 50) and Harry Lime, from the classic movie The Third Man. Vogel is the Obie Award-winning writer of such celebrated works as Desdemona, A Play about a Handkerchief and How I Learned to Drive, for which she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
Director Chip Rodgers is a Raleigh native currently living in New York City, where he has worked with such theaters as The Wooster Group, St Ann’s Warehouse and The Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2011, his work was featured in Time Out New York for the sound design of the Blueprint Theater Project’s Largo, a dance-theater piece performed in a nightclub. A founding member of United Broadcasting Theater Company, where he devised Arcane Game at Incubator Arts Project, he is currently developing the sci-fi opera The Life and Times of Bruno Tallywacker, premiering in 2013 at The Performing Garage. Later this spring in the Triangle, he will direct Hungry at Stillwater Theater and assistant direct Penelope at PlayMakers Repertory Company.
The production staff for The Baltimore Waltz includes Chris Bernier (set design), David Serxner (costume design), Scott Marlow (lighting design), Brittany Bugge (properties) and Marc Maximov (sound design). Jenny Wales is the vocal coach, Jen Bauer the stage manager and Lisa Keaton the dramaturg.
Performances begin Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Deep Dish is located in Chapel Hill's University Mall, on Estes Drive and U.S. 15-501. There will be a pre-show "Meet the Play" talk with the dramaturg on Friday, March 2, at 7 p.m., and post-show discussions on Sunday, March 4, and Thursday, March 8. The Deep Dish Book Selection, A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, will be discussed on Monday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at Flyleaf Books.
Tickets are $21 for adults and $19 for seniors regularly, with a $2 discount for Wednesday and Thursday shows. Student tickets for all performances are $14. Wednesday, Feb. 29, is "Leap Cheap Dish Night"—all tickets are $10 (no reservations accepted). Call (919) 968-1515 for reservations and visit www.deepdishtheater.org for information.
The Baltimore Waltz replaces the previously announced Terra Nova.
The Deep Dish Theater Company is committed to presenting compelling, human-centered dramatic work that contributes to the cultural richness of the Triangle area and challenge audiences to explore concerns of the community and the world-at-large.
Huntington's Disease Society of America hosts hoop-a-thon
We at the Huntington's Disease Society of America, North Carolina Chapter, believe it is important to help families in North Carolina affected by Huntington's Disease, including the children. This year, we are putting on a youth-focused hoop-a-thon on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 8:30 am to noon at Gravelly Hills Middle School in Orange County. Geoff Schwarts of the Carolina Panthers will be participating as a team captain of one of the teams, and we will also be auctioning off a football signed by Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton. All proceeds will be going to the North Carolina Chapter of Huntington's Disease Society of America to help families in North Carolina affected by Huntington's Disease.
Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder which is caused by an expanded gene in a person's DNA. It is is also a neurodegenerative disorder, which means the condition affects the cells of the brain and causes damage over time. This stops the brain and body from working as well as they used to. As a result, people develop symptoms of Huntington's disease. These symptoms can be divided into three main types: involuntary movements, cognitive and behavioural. Currently, there is no cure for Huntington's, and there is a 50 percent chance of it being passed on to offspring. It is fatal. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with Huntington's have a juvenile form, which is much worse than adult onset.
Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder which is caused by an expanded gene in a person's DNA. It is is also a neurodegenerative disorder, which means the condition affects the cells of the brain and causes damage over time. This stops the brain and body from working as well as they used to. As a result, people develop symptoms of Huntington's disease. These symptoms can be divided into three main types: involuntary movements, cognitive and behavioural. Currently, there is no cure for Huntington's, and there is a 50 percent chance of it being passed on to offspring. It is fatal. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with Huntington's have a juvenile form, which is much worse than adult onset.
Conference explores wind energy
What: 2012 Southeastern Coastal Wind Conference
When: Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9
Where: Charlotte Convention Center at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte
Information: The Southeast has the potential to be the long-term leader in East Coast wind energy supply chain and development. The region's offshore wind resource is second to none. Come to network with decision makers in the region and learn what makes the southeastern U.S. unique. For more information, go to secoastalwind.org.
North Carolina has the largest offshore wind resource on the East Coast. Join stakeholders from across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia as they educate industry leaders and decision makers about the costs, benefits and policy options that will drive wind energy development in our area. The 2012 Southeastern Coastal Wind Conference gives industry leaders, policy makers and developers a chance to plan the future of wind energy in the Southeast.
The conference will highlight the many advantages of the Southeastern United States for wind energy, including:
• The largest offshore wind resource on the East Coast;
• Existing, low-cost supply chain infrastructure;
• Highly skilled, affordable labor; and;
• Strong electricity demand that continues to grow.
Breakout sessions will focus on market and policy issues, regional highlights, and manufacturing and supply chain resources. While the event will cover both land-based and offshore wind energy, the primary focus will be on offshore wind.
Some of the confirmed speakers include:
• Jim Lanard, President, Offshore Wind Development Coalition
• Chris Hart, Offshore Wind Manager, U.S. Department of Energy
• Bruce Bailey, President and CEO, AWS Truepower
• Joel Whitman, CEO, Global Marine Energy
• Dan Renshaw, Director of Development, Gamesa Energy USA
• Fara Courtney, Executive Director, US Offshore Wind Collaborative
• Elizabeth Kress, Principal Engineer, Santee Cooper
• Targeted manufacturers seminars hosted by GLWN and BlueGreen Alliance
• A world-class panel discussion including offshore developers, land-based developers, and the Atlantic Wind Connection.
To learn more about the event and to signup, visit secoastalwind.org. For the complete agenda, click here.
When: Thursday and Friday, March 8 and 9
Where: Charlotte Convention Center at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte
Information: The Southeast has the potential to be the long-term leader in East Coast wind energy supply chain and development. The region's offshore wind resource is second to none. Come to network with decision makers in the region and learn what makes the southeastern U.S. unique. For more information, go to secoastalwind.org.
North Carolina has the largest offshore wind resource on the East Coast. Join stakeholders from across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia as they educate industry leaders and decision makers about the costs, benefits and policy options that will drive wind energy development in our area. The 2012 Southeastern Coastal Wind Conference gives industry leaders, policy makers and developers a chance to plan the future of wind energy in the Southeast.
The conference will highlight the many advantages of the Southeastern United States for wind energy, including:
• The largest offshore wind resource on the East Coast;
• Existing, low-cost supply chain infrastructure;
• Highly skilled, affordable labor; and;
• Strong electricity demand that continues to grow.
Breakout sessions will focus on market and policy issues, regional highlights, and manufacturing and supply chain resources. While the event will cover both land-based and offshore wind energy, the primary focus will be on offshore wind.
Some of the confirmed speakers include:
• Jim Lanard, President, Offshore Wind Development Coalition
• Chris Hart, Offshore Wind Manager, U.S. Department of Energy
• Bruce Bailey, President and CEO, AWS Truepower
• Joel Whitman, CEO, Global Marine Energy
• Dan Renshaw, Director of Development, Gamesa Energy USA
• Fara Courtney, Executive Director, US Offshore Wind Collaborative
• Elizabeth Kress, Principal Engineer, Santee Cooper
• Targeted manufacturers seminars hosted by GLWN and BlueGreen Alliance
• A world-class panel discussion including offshore developers, land-based developers, and the Atlantic Wind Connection.
To learn more about the event and to signup, visit secoastalwind.org. For the complete agenda, click here.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Hagan votes to extend key middle-class tax cut
U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan (D—N.C.) on Friday, Feb. 17, voted to extend the payroll tax cut through the end of the year for 4.7 million North Carolinians. The vote also extended enhanced unemployment benefits through the end of 2012. The measure passed the Senate 60 to 36 and will now go to the President’s desk for signature.
“Today I was proud to vote to extend the payroll tax cut for working, middle-class Americans that will benefit 4.7 million North Carolinians and ensure an extra $900 in the pockets of our hardworking families this year,” said Hagan. “With families still struggling to make ends meet, this extra money will go along way in helping to afford necessities such as groceries, gas and school supplies. While the entire final bill may not be perfect, I am pleased that Congress reached a bipartisan compromise that didn’t bring Congress again to the 11th hour, leaving middle-class families hanging in the balance.
“With North Carolina's unemployment rate at nearly 10 percent, the unemployment insurance represents a lifeline for many of our families who are trying to get back on their feet.”
To see an interactive map of how families in your county will save from this measure, click here.
“Today I was proud to vote to extend the payroll tax cut for working, middle-class Americans that will benefit 4.7 million North Carolinians and ensure an extra $900 in the pockets of our hardworking families this year,” said Hagan. “With families still struggling to make ends meet, this extra money will go along way in helping to afford necessities such as groceries, gas and school supplies. While the entire final bill may not be perfect, I am pleased that Congress reached a bipartisan compromise that didn’t bring Congress again to the 11th hour, leaving middle-class families hanging in the balance.
“With North Carolina's unemployment rate at nearly 10 percent, the unemployment insurance represents a lifeline for many of our families who are trying to get back on their feet.”
To see an interactive map of how families in your county will save from this measure, click here.
Price supports payroll tax cut extension
Rep. David Price (NC-04) issued the following statement Friday, Feb. 17, after voting in favor of legislation to extend the Obama Administration’s payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs as a result of the recession. The measure—which will add an average of $1,000 to the paychecks of 160 million working Americans and inject $100 billion into the economy—also avoids an impending cut in Medicare payments to doctors, ensuring that millions of seniors will not lose access to affordable health care.
Although Price expressed strong support for the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance and Medicare doctors provisions, he also criticized congressional Republicans’ insistence on offsetting the cost of these measures by increasing federal employees’ contributions to their pension funds, reducing Medicare payments to hospitals and laboratory service providers, and rescinding funding from a key provision of the Affordable Care Act.
“I am proud to stand with the President and working Americans today by supporting this measure, which will add an average of $1,000 to the paychecks of working North Carolinians this year, extend unemployment benefits for Americans who have lost jobs through no fault of their own and ensure seniors on Medicare will be able to see their doctors," Price said. "After a year in which Republicans in Congress took the country from one manufactured crisis to the next, this bipartisan agreement is a step in the right direction—and at a time when so many families are still struggling to make ends meet, it may be our last chance to help revive the economy as we head into an election year.
“... I cannot in good conscience oppose a measure that puts money in the pockets of American workers, protects our fragile economic recovery and maintains the safety net for unemployed workers and health care for seniors. But we simply must do better if we are to maintain the promise of expanding opportunity for working and middle class Americans.”
Although Price expressed strong support for the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance and Medicare doctors provisions, he also criticized congressional Republicans’ insistence on offsetting the cost of these measures by increasing federal employees’ contributions to their pension funds, reducing Medicare payments to hospitals and laboratory service providers, and rescinding funding from a key provision of the Affordable Care Act.
“I am proud to stand with the President and working Americans today by supporting this measure, which will add an average of $1,000 to the paychecks of working North Carolinians this year, extend unemployment benefits for Americans who have lost jobs through no fault of their own and ensure seniors on Medicare will be able to see their doctors," Price said. "After a year in which Republicans in Congress took the country from one manufactured crisis to the next, this bipartisan agreement is a step in the right direction—and at a time when so many families are still struggling to make ends meet, it may be our last chance to help revive the economy as we head into an election year.
“... I cannot in good conscience oppose a measure that puts money in the pockets of American workers, protects our fragile economic recovery and maintains the safety net for unemployed workers and health care for seniors. But we simply must do better if we are to maintain the promise of expanding opportunity for working and middle class Americans.”
President Obama’s budget expands, simplifies small business health care tax credits
The Affordable Care Act includes a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to help small businesses afford the cost of covering their workers. For tax year 2011 alone, the existing tax credit will benefit an estimated 360,000 small employers who provide health insurance to 2 million workers.
In his fiscal year 2013 budget, President Barack Obama has called for expanding and simplifying the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. If the President’s proposal is enacted, the tax credit would benefit nearly 0.5 million employers who provide insurance to 4 million workers. Over the next 10 years, the proposal would provide an additional $14 billion in tax credits. For a particular business, these changes could mean a tax cut of tens of thousands of dollars. The President has proposed to:
• Allow small businesses with up to 50 workers to qualify for the credit. Currently the tax credit is only available to employers with fewer than 25 full-time workers. (Part-time workers are counted proportionally based on the hours they work.) The President’s budget doubles this ceiling to 50. It also doubles—from 10 full-time workers to 20—the maximum size for a firm to receive the maximum credit matching rate (which is currently 35 percent and increases to 50 percent in 2014).
• Adopt a more generous phase-out schedule. The tax credit phases out based on both the average wage paid by the employer and the number of workers it employs. The President’s budget makes the phase-out schedule more generous and permits every otherwise eligible firm that falls within the limits for size (50 full-time workers) and average wage ($50,000 per full-time worker) to receive the credit.
• Simplify the credit by streamlining the rules. The President’s budget eliminates two requirements for claiming the credit:
o Uniformity requirement. The budget eliminates the requirement that employers claiming the credit determine that they contribute the same percentage of the cost of each employee’s health insurance. This will make the credit less dependent on the specific practices of the employer and easier to claim. Employers would still be required to contribute at least 50 percent of the premium, ensuring a substantial commitment to their employees’ health coverage.
o Cap based on state average premiums. The budget eliminates the cap that limits eligible employer contributions to the amount an employer would have contributed if it offered the plan with the average premium in the state—another requirement that can be complicated to calculate and which is unnecessary given other incentives to control premiums.
Together, eliminating these requirements will significantly simplify the process of claiming the credit.
Examples of how the budget proposal affects various businesses
Example 1: Budget makes small business with 30 full-time employees eligible
Business Profile:
• Full-time employees: 30
• Wages: Average $25,000 per employee
• Employer premium contribution per employee: $5,000
Tax credit in 2012:
• Under current law: Not eligible
• Under budget proposal: $35,000
Tax credit in 2014:
• Under current law: Not eligible
• Under budget proposal: $50,000
Example 2: Budget more than doubles credit for small business with 15 full-time employees
Business profile:
• Full-time employees: 15
• Wages: Average $35,000 per employee
• Employer premium contribution per employee: $6,000
Tax credit in 2012:
• Under current law: Up to $8,400
• Under budget proposal: $18,900
Tax credit in 2014:
• Under current law: Up to $12,000
• Under budget proposal: $27,000
In his fiscal year 2013 budget, President Barack Obama has called for expanding and simplifying the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. If the President’s proposal is enacted, the tax credit would benefit nearly 0.5 million employers who provide insurance to 4 million workers. Over the next 10 years, the proposal would provide an additional $14 billion in tax credits. For a particular business, these changes could mean a tax cut of tens of thousands of dollars. The President has proposed to:
• Allow small businesses with up to 50 workers to qualify for the credit. Currently the tax credit is only available to employers with fewer than 25 full-time workers. (Part-time workers are counted proportionally based on the hours they work.) The President’s budget doubles this ceiling to 50. It also doubles—from 10 full-time workers to 20—the maximum size for a firm to receive the maximum credit matching rate (which is currently 35 percent and increases to 50 percent in 2014).
• Adopt a more generous phase-out schedule. The tax credit phases out based on both the average wage paid by the employer and the number of workers it employs. The President’s budget makes the phase-out schedule more generous and permits every otherwise eligible firm that falls within the limits for size (50 full-time workers) and average wage ($50,000 per full-time worker) to receive the credit.
• Simplify the credit by streamlining the rules. The President’s budget eliminates two requirements for claiming the credit:
o Uniformity requirement. The budget eliminates the requirement that employers claiming the credit determine that they contribute the same percentage of the cost of each employee’s health insurance. This will make the credit less dependent on the specific practices of the employer and easier to claim. Employers would still be required to contribute at least 50 percent of the premium, ensuring a substantial commitment to their employees’ health coverage.
o Cap based on state average premiums. The budget eliminates the cap that limits eligible employer contributions to the amount an employer would have contributed if it offered the plan with the average premium in the state—another requirement that can be complicated to calculate and which is unnecessary given other incentives to control premiums.
Together, eliminating these requirements will significantly simplify the process of claiming the credit.
Examples of how the budget proposal affects various businesses
Example 1: Budget makes small business with 30 full-time employees eligible
Business Profile:
• Full-time employees: 30
• Wages: Average $25,000 per employee
• Employer premium contribution per employee: $5,000
Tax credit in 2012:
• Under current law: Not eligible
• Under budget proposal: $35,000
Tax credit in 2014:
• Under current law: Not eligible
• Under budget proposal: $50,000
Example 2: Budget more than doubles credit for small business with 15 full-time employees
Business profile:
• Full-time employees: 15
• Wages: Average $35,000 per employee
• Employer premium contribution per employee: $6,000
Tax credit in 2012:
• Under current law: Up to $8,400
• Under budget proposal: $18,900
Tax credit in 2014:
• Under current law: Up to $12,000
• Under budget proposal: $27,000
Orange County residents will receive Pauli Murray Human Relations Awards Sunday, Feb. 26
The Orange County Human Relations Commission will host the Pauli Murray Human Relations Awards Ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 26. The event will be held in the Central Orange Senior Center Ballroom at 103 Meadowlands Drive from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Pauli Murray Award is presented annually by the Human Relations Commission to an Orange County youth, an Orange County adult and an Orange County business that have served the community with distinction in the pursuit of equality, justice and human rights for all residents.
This year’s ceremony will include musical entertainment, poetic recitals by the Sacrificial Poets, the winners of the Human Rights Student Essay Contest reading their winning essays and the recipients of the Pauli Murray Human Relations Award being recognized.
The public is encouraged to attend this community event. A reception will follow the ceremony.
For more information, call (919) 245-2487.
The Pauli Murray Award is presented annually by the Human Relations Commission to an Orange County youth, an Orange County adult and an Orange County business that have served the community with distinction in the pursuit of equality, justice and human rights for all residents.
This year’s ceremony will include musical entertainment, poetic recitals by the Sacrificial Poets, the winners of the Human Rights Student Essay Contest reading their winning essays and the recipients of the Pauli Murray Human Relations Award being recognized.
The public is encouraged to attend this community event. A reception will follow the ceremony.
For more information, call (919) 245-2487.
Orange County Animal Services celebrates Spay Neuter Day 2012
To combat pet overpopulation in Orange County, the animal services department is celebrating Spay Neuter Day on Tuesday, Feb. 28. This celebration is a local version of Spay Day, recognized nationally by the Humane Society of the United States, and is designed to raise awareness and help eliminate the need for euthanasia as a means of population control.
In recognition of Spay Neuter Day in Orange County, Animal Services—with assistance from the Department of Social Services—has partnered with Pet Overpopulation Patrol of North Carolina to offer no-cost spay and neuter surgeries to pets of households that receive services from Orange County DSS. It is the hope of Animal Services and Orange County that this celebration, along with other longer-term programs developed by the department, will increase the number of pets that are spayed and neutered in the county and in turn help eliminate the ongoing problem of pet overpopulation we face as a community.
For information on Spay Neuter Day and whether you qualify to receive services, call Sarah Fallin at (919) 942-7387, extension 224.
In recognition of Spay Neuter Day in Orange County, Animal Services—with assistance from the Department of Social Services—has partnered with Pet Overpopulation Patrol of North Carolina to offer no-cost spay and neuter surgeries to pets of households that receive services from Orange County DSS. It is the hope of Animal Services and Orange County that this celebration, along with other longer-term programs developed by the department, will increase the number of pets that are spayed and neutered in the county and in turn help eliminate the ongoing problem of pet overpopulation we face as a community.
For information on Spay Neuter Day and whether you qualify to receive services, call Sarah Fallin at (919) 942-7387, extension 224.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Applicants needed for Orange County Board of Equalization and Review
One major way citizens can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to volunteer to serve on the various county advisory boards and commissions.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting for the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review. This board hears appeals from citizens who are protesting assessed property values. The Board of Equalization and Review is charged with ensuring that all taxable property is appraised according to the standards required by the General Statutes of North Carolina.
The Orange County Board of Equalization and Review will meet up to three days per week for approximately three to four hours per meeting for up to three consecutive months (April through June). Members will be paid for all meetings attended.
Interested Orange County residents with knowledge of real estate are encouraged to apply. Other interested residents will also be given consideration. If interested, apply at www.co.orange.nc.us/boards.
Select "Equalization and Review Board" under "Boards and Commissions Listing." For additional information or call Donna Baker (919) 245-2130 or Jeanette Jones (919) 245-2125.
With more than 20 different boards and commissions, volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have an opportunity to influence the way of life in Orange County.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting for the Orange County Board of Equalization and Review. This board hears appeals from citizens who are protesting assessed property values. The Board of Equalization and Review is charged with ensuring that all taxable property is appraised according to the standards required by the General Statutes of North Carolina.
The Orange County Board of Equalization and Review will meet up to three days per week for approximately three to four hours per meeting for up to three consecutive months (April through June). Members will be paid for all meetings attended.
Interested Orange County residents with knowledge of real estate are encouraged to apply. Other interested residents will also be given consideration. If interested, apply at www.co.orange.nc.us/boards.
Select "Equalization and Review Board" under "Boards and Commissions Listing." For additional information or call Donna Baker (919) 245-2130 or Jeanette Jones (919) 245-2125.
With more than 20 different boards and commissions, volunteers appointed by the Board of County Commissioners have an opportunity to influence the way of life in Orange County.
Perdue announces 350 new jobs with Reed Elsevier expansion
Gov. Bev Perdue announced Wednesday, Feb. 15, that Reed Elsevier Inc.—a world-leading provider of professional information solutions—will expand its operations in Cary. The company plans to create 350 jobs over the next five years and invest $1.75 million. The project was made possible in part by state grants from the Job Development Investment Grant.
“Creating jobs is my top priority and the fact that globally competitive companies continue to make investments like these proves we have a top-notch business climate and a tremendously talented workforce,” Perdue said. “Our legacy of strong investments in education and economic are continuing to pay off.”
Reed Elsevier was formed in 1993 when Reed International joined Elsevier NV, and the two entities focused on professional information solutions in the science, medical, legal, risk management and business-to-business sectors. Reed Elsevier currently consists of five major business units including: Elsevier, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, LexisNexis Legal & Professional, Reed Exhibitions and Reed Business Information. As part of this project, Reed Elsevier will concentrate additional marketing, sales, customer support and product development in the Wake County facility.
“We’re laser-focused on delivering greater value and better outcomes for our customers,” said Mike Walsh, CEO of LexisNexis Legal & Professional. “The expansion in Cary supports our mission to bring innovative products and services to market, even faster than today.”
The company currently employs more than 300 people in Cary and Charlotte. The group employs more than 30,000 people globally, including more than 16,000 in North America.
While individual wages for the positions will vary by job function, the overall average for the new jobs will be $91,644, plus benefits. The average annual wage in Wake County is $44,980.
To help facilitate this expansion, the state Economic Investment Committee voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Reed Elsevier. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.
Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive a grant equal to 75 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs for each of the 10 years in which the company meets annual performance targets. If Reed Elsevier meets the targets called for under the agreement and sustains them for 10 years, the JDIG could yield $8.86 million in maximum benefits for the company.
In addition, up to $2.95 million could be added to the state’s utility fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed counties. When a JDIG is awarded in Tier 3 counties such as Wake, 25 percent of the grant is allocated to this fund to encourage economic development in less prosperous areas.
Other partners who assisted with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, the Town of Cary and Cary Economic Develelopment.
Through Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state continues to work aggressively to create well-paying jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about Reed Elsevier, including job opportunities, visit www.reedelsevier.com.
“Creating jobs is my top priority and the fact that globally competitive companies continue to make investments like these proves we have a top-notch business climate and a tremendously talented workforce,” Perdue said. “Our legacy of strong investments in education and economic are continuing to pay off.”
Reed Elsevier was formed in 1993 when Reed International joined Elsevier NV, and the two entities focused on professional information solutions in the science, medical, legal, risk management and business-to-business sectors. Reed Elsevier currently consists of five major business units including: Elsevier, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, LexisNexis Legal & Professional, Reed Exhibitions and Reed Business Information. As part of this project, Reed Elsevier will concentrate additional marketing, sales, customer support and product development in the Wake County facility.
“We’re laser-focused on delivering greater value and better outcomes for our customers,” said Mike Walsh, CEO of LexisNexis Legal & Professional. “The expansion in Cary supports our mission to bring innovative products and services to market, even faster than today.”
The company currently employs more than 300 people in Cary and Charlotte. The group employs more than 30,000 people globally, including more than 16,000 in North America.
While individual wages for the positions will vary by job function, the overall average for the new jobs will be $91,644, plus benefits. The average annual wage in Wake County is $44,980.
To help facilitate this expansion, the state Economic Investment Committee voted to award a Job Development Investment Grant to Reed Elsevier. JDIGs are awarded only to new and expanding businesses and industrial projects whose benefits exceed the costs to the state and which would not be undertaken in North Carolina without the grant.
Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive a grant equal to 75 percent of the state personal income withholding taxes derived from the creation of new jobs for each of the 10 years in which the company meets annual performance targets. If Reed Elsevier meets the targets called for under the agreement and sustains them for 10 years, the JDIG could yield $8.86 million in maximum benefits for the company.
In addition, up to $2.95 million could be added to the state’s utility fund for infrastructure improvements in economically distressed counties. When a JDIG is awarded in Tier 3 counties such as Wake, 25 percent of the grant is allocated to this fund to encourage economic development in less prosperous areas.
Other partners who assisted with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, the Town of Cary and Cary Economic Develelopment.
Through Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state continues to work aggressively to create well-paying jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
For more information about Reed Elsevier, including job opportunities, visit www.reedelsevier.com.
Humane Society president discusses new book
On Friday, Feb. 24, Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Wayne Pacelle will discuss his book, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. The discussion will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and is being co-sponsored by Orange County’s Animal Services, which will have adoptable animals on site during the reading.
With the poignant insight of Animals Make Us Human and the shocking reality of Fast Food Nation—filled with history, valuable insights and fascinating stories of the author’s experience in the field—The Bond is an important investigation into all the ways we can repair our broken bond with the animal kingdom and a thrilling chronicle of one man’s extraordinary contribution to that effort.
HSUS is the world’s largest animal protection organization. It is highly visible and works on a variety of levels and issues to protect and improve animal welfare worldwide.
“Mr. Pacelle’s appearance is a significant opportunity to promote awareness and discussion of animal welfare and the contemporary humane movement," Bob Marotto, director of Orange County Animals Service, said. "It is also a significant opportunity for us to continue to promote the needs of homeless animals for new homes and tremendous efforts of shelter workers in our own and other communities.”
Flyleaf books is located at 752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Chapel Hill, and information about their events—including this one—can be found on their website. For more information about the animals currently available at Orange County Animal Services, visit them at www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices.
With the poignant insight of Animals Make Us Human and the shocking reality of Fast Food Nation—filled with history, valuable insights and fascinating stories of the author’s experience in the field—The Bond is an important investigation into all the ways we can repair our broken bond with the animal kingdom and a thrilling chronicle of one man’s extraordinary contribution to that effort.
HSUS is the world’s largest animal protection organization. It is highly visible and works on a variety of levels and issues to protect and improve animal welfare worldwide.
“Mr. Pacelle’s appearance is a significant opportunity to promote awareness and discussion of animal welfare and the contemporary humane movement," Bob Marotto, director of Orange County Animals Service, said. "It is also a significant opportunity for us to continue to promote the needs of homeless animals for new homes and tremendous efforts of shelter workers in our own and other communities.”
Flyleaf books is located at 752 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Chapel Hill, and information about their events—including this one—can be found on their website. For more information about the animals currently available at Orange County Animal Services, visit them at www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices.
N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service announces 2012 AmeriCorps State Formula Planning Grant
The North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service announces that the 2012 AmeriCorps State Formula Planning Grant is available for nonprofit and government organizations.
The planning grants are small grants for organizations that have never operated an AmeriCorps program. In addition, grants will support the development of a program that will engage members in evidence-based interventions to solve community problems. The planning grants do not come with member positions and recipients are not guaranteed future operational funding. Public or private nonprofit organizations that have not received AmeriCorps state or national funds in the past are eligible to apply.
All grant applications are due to the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 16. Applications can be submitted electronically to Ray.Riordan@nc.gov or by mail. Mail applications must be received by that date, not postmarked by that date. For more information, visit www.VolunteerNC.org.
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, a federally and state-funded agency housed in the Governor’s Office, administers funding to 12 N.C. AmeriCorps programs for the 2011-2012 program year. AmeriCorps is a national service initiative designed to increase volunteering and civic engagement in America. Since 1994, more than 12,153 individuals have participated in N.C. AmeriCorps programs. Members tutor and mentor school-aged youth, improve the quality of care for preschool children and address the need for energy-efficient housing for low-income families. For more information on the N.C. AmeriCorps programs, visit the Commission’s Web site at www.VolunteerNC.org or call 1-800-820-4483 or 1-877-877-1765 (TTY).
The planning grants are small grants for organizations that have never operated an AmeriCorps program. In addition, grants will support the development of a program that will engage members in evidence-based interventions to solve community problems. The planning grants do not come with member positions and recipients are not guaranteed future operational funding. Public or private nonprofit organizations that have not received AmeriCorps state or national funds in the past are eligible to apply.
All grant applications are due to the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 16. Applications can be submitted electronically to Ray.Riordan@nc.gov or by mail. Mail applications must be received by that date, not postmarked by that date. For more information, visit www.VolunteerNC.org.
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, a federally and state-funded agency housed in the Governor’s Office, administers funding to 12 N.C. AmeriCorps programs for the 2011-2012 program year. AmeriCorps is a national service initiative designed to increase volunteering and civic engagement in America. Since 1994, more than 12,153 individuals have participated in N.C. AmeriCorps programs. Members tutor and mentor school-aged youth, improve the quality of care for preschool children and address the need for energy-efficient housing for low-income families. For more information on the N.C. AmeriCorps programs, visit the Commission’s Web site at www.VolunteerNC.org or call 1-800-820-4483 or 1-877-877-1765 (TTY).
15 area artists to receive Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists grants
Recipients to be honored at the annual awards ceremony Feb. 23
Durham Arts Council announced the 15 local area artists selected to receive Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grants in 2012. The artists will be honored at the annual Emerging Artists Awards Ceremony and reception on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Durham Arts Council PSI Theatre and Semans Gallery. Tickets for the evening are available.
The awards event will feature music and remarks by jazz vocalist and songwriter Lois Deloatch (Emerging Artist 1995) and dancer and choreographer Gaspard Louis (Emerging Artist 2010). The awards ceremony will be dedicated to the late Mary D.B.T. Semans, who inspired and supported the creation of the Emerging Artists Program, with her husband Dr. James H. Semans. For more information, contact Margaret DeMott at (919) 560-2720. For tickets, visit www.durhamarts.org.
The Emerging Artists Grant Program, administered by Durham Arts Council, is designed to enable individual artists who have mastered the basic techniques of their art form to complete projects that will establish or enhance their professional careers. The Emerging Artists Program is cited repeatedly by local artists as providing important financial support and significant public recognition of their professional achievements. A 2009 survey of individual artists conducted by Seattle-based Artist Trust revealed that small grants are one of the most useful resources for artists in the current economy.
Criteria for making the awards include the accomplishment and commitment of the artist, the feasibility of the proposed project and the impact the project will have on the applicant’s career.This year, a total of $23,000 was awarded. Ninety-seven applications were submitted to the program this year.
The Durham Arts Council coordinates this program in partnership with the arts agencies of adjacent Chatham, Orange, Granville and Person counties.This joint effort provides an efficient, non-duplicative administration that allows artists in all five counties to participate in the Emerging Artists Program. Significant contributions, in addition to annual grant support, are necessary to maintain the program.
The award was renamed the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant in 2009 to honor Ella Fountain Pratt, who founded the program in 1984 as a joint endeavor of the Durham Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. Ella Fountain's contribution to the arts—locally and nationally—are honored in the Ella Fountain Pratt Legacy Gallery in the Durham Arts Council building, which also includes an area to highlight the work of artists who have received the Emerging Artists Grant.
Counting the current recipients, 435 grants have been made to area artists during the program’s 28-year history. Past recipients include six-time Grammy-nominated, jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon; painter and Guggenheim Fellow, Beverly McIver; and violinist and Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Nicholas Kitchen. Novelist Marjorie Hudson won a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship this year. Poet Jaki Shelton Green, has published six books of poetry and a play, received the 2007 Sam Ragan Award and served as the first Piedmont Laureate in 2009. Film maker Ryan Koo won a Webby Award for Best Drama Series and is preparing to make his first feature film set in North Carolina.
Orange County residents who received a grant were the grant were:
• Sasha Bakaric, craft, www.sashaceramics.com
• Nuno Gomes, mixed media, www.nunogomes.org
• Gracelee Lawrence, sculpture, www.graceleelawrence.com
• Chance Murray, mixed media
• Will Ridenour, music, www.myspace.com/zymana
• Anita Woodley, drama, www.mamajuggs.com
Durham Arts Council announced the 15 local area artists selected to receive Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grants in 2012. The artists will be honored at the annual Emerging Artists Awards Ceremony and reception on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. in the Durham Arts Council PSI Theatre and Semans Gallery. Tickets for the evening are available.
The awards event will feature music and remarks by jazz vocalist and songwriter Lois Deloatch (Emerging Artist 1995) and dancer and choreographer Gaspard Louis (Emerging Artist 2010). The awards ceremony will be dedicated to the late Mary D.B.T. Semans, who inspired and supported the creation of the Emerging Artists Program, with her husband Dr. James H. Semans. For more information, contact Margaret DeMott at (919) 560-2720. For tickets, visit www.durhamarts.org.
The Emerging Artists Grant Program, administered by Durham Arts Council, is designed to enable individual artists who have mastered the basic techniques of their art form to complete projects that will establish or enhance their professional careers. The Emerging Artists Program is cited repeatedly by local artists as providing important financial support and significant public recognition of their professional achievements. A 2009 survey of individual artists conducted by Seattle-based Artist Trust revealed that small grants are one of the most useful resources for artists in the current economy.
Criteria for making the awards include the accomplishment and commitment of the artist, the feasibility of the proposed project and the impact the project will have on the applicant’s career.This year, a total of $23,000 was awarded. Ninety-seven applications were submitted to the program this year.
The Durham Arts Council coordinates this program in partnership with the arts agencies of adjacent Chatham, Orange, Granville and Person counties.This joint effort provides an efficient, non-duplicative administration that allows artists in all five counties to participate in the Emerging Artists Program. Significant contributions, in addition to annual grant support, are necessary to maintain the program.
The award was renamed the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant in 2009 to honor Ella Fountain Pratt, who founded the program in 1984 as a joint endeavor of the Durham Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council and The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. Ella Fountain's contribution to the arts—locally and nationally—are honored in the Ella Fountain Pratt Legacy Gallery in the Durham Arts Council building, which also includes an area to highlight the work of artists who have received the Emerging Artists Grant.
Counting the current recipients, 435 grants have been made to area artists during the program’s 28-year history. Past recipients include six-time Grammy-nominated, jazz vocalist, Nnenna Freelon; painter and Guggenheim Fellow, Beverly McIver; and violinist and Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Nicholas Kitchen. Novelist Marjorie Hudson won a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship this year. Poet Jaki Shelton Green, has published six books of poetry and a play, received the 2007 Sam Ragan Award and served as the first Piedmont Laureate in 2009. Film maker Ryan Koo won a Webby Award for Best Drama Series and is preparing to make his first feature film set in North Carolina.
Orange County residents who received a grant were the grant were:
• Sasha Bakaric, craft, www.sashaceramics.com
• Nuno Gomes, mixed media, www.nunogomes.org
• Gracelee Lawrence, sculpture, www.graceleelawrence.com
• Chance Murray, mixed media
• Will Ridenour, music, www.myspace.com/zymana
• Anita Woodley, drama, www.mamajuggs.com
Monday, February 20, 2012
Hagan introduces bill to accelerate patient access to targeted treatments
U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan (D—N.C.) introduced Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Transforming the Regulatory Environment to Accelerate Access to Treatments Act to get targeted treatments to patients with serious or life-threatening diseases in a quick and safe manner. The bill will be referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that oversees healthcare issues. Hagan is a member of the HELP Committee.
“The TREAT Act is a commonsense bill that will get innovative treatments to patients more quickly, while maintaining FDA’s high standards for safety and effectiveness,” said Hagan. “Accelerated approval processes helped HIV and cancer treatments advance by leaps and bounds in the 1990s. For patients suffering today from rare diseases for which there are no current treatments, medical advances can’t come fast enough. This legislation creates a consistent process and a clear and effective pathway at FDA that will encourage the development of innovative treatments for patients otherwise dependent on the uncertainty of medical breakthroughs.
“Furthermore, in this global economy, American innovation means American jobs. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build support for this bill.”
The TREAT Act accelerates the review and approval process for medicines that:
• treat an unmet medical need,
• significantly advance the standard of care or
• are highly targeted therapies for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions.
“NORD appreciates that Senator Hagan and her staff have listened to the concerns of rare disease patients in drafting this proposed legislation,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders. “We look forward to working with Senator Hagan in support of this effort to accelerate the process for bringing safe, effective therapies to patients who desperately need them.”
Dr. Ellen Sigal, Chair & Founder of Friends of Cancer Research also commended Hagan's efforts.
“Friends of Cancer Research would like to applaud Senator Hagan for her continued support of the Food and Drug Administration," she said. "The bill she introduced today addresses some very important issues that will help the FDA enhance its scientific capacity, continue to review new treatments in a timely and efficient manner and assure that patients—suffering from serious illness and disease—have access to the safest and most effective therapies.”
The bill enhances FDA’s access to external scientific and medical expertise. It allows the FDA Commissioner to better utilize waivers when potential conflicts of interest are outweighed by the need to have input from leading medical and scientific experts. It also recommends that patient and disease research organizations have more representation on FDA advisory committees. This is critical in areas where research is on the cutting edge.
The TREAT Act advances regulatory science within the FDA. It ensures that drug sponsors are provided explanations when their drugs are turned down so that they might address concerns, improve the treatment and get approved medications to patients more quickly.
The TREAT Act updates the FDA mission statement to reflect FDA’s role in advancing medical innovation while promoting and strengthening the agency’s safety and effectiveness standards. The bill establishes new positions to promote innovation, integration and oversight as well as a Management Review Board to help FDA keep pace with advancing medical innovation and ensure that safety precautions are adhered to.
For more background on the TREAT Act, click here.
“The TREAT Act is a commonsense bill that will get innovative treatments to patients more quickly, while maintaining FDA’s high standards for safety and effectiveness,” said Hagan. “Accelerated approval processes helped HIV and cancer treatments advance by leaps and bounds in the 1990s. For patients suffering today from rare diseases for which there are no current treatments, medical advances can’t come fast enough. This legislation creates a consistent process and a clear and effective pathway at FDA that will encourage the development of innovative treatments for patients otherwise dependent on the uncertainty of medical breakthroughs.
“Furthermore, in this global economy, American innovation means American jobs. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build support for this bill.”
The TREAT Act accelerates the review and approval process for medicines that:
• treat an unmet medical need,
• significantly advance the standard of care or
• are highly targeted therapies for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions.
“NORD appreciates that Senator Hagan and her staff have listened to the concerns of rare disease patients in drafting this proposed legislation,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, president and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders. “We look forward to working with Senator Hagan in support of this effort to accelerate the process for bringing safe, effective therapies to patients who desperately need them.”
Dr. Ellen Sigal, Chair & Founder of Friends of Cancer Research also commended Hagan's efforts.
“Friends of Cancer Research would like to applaud Senator Hagan for her continued support of the Food and Drug Administration," she said. "The bill she introduced today addresses some very important issues that will help the FDA enhance its scientific capacity, continue to review new treatments in a timely and efficient manner and assure that patients—suffering from serious illness and disease—have access to the safest and most effective therapies.”
The bill enhances FDA’s access to external scientific and medical expertise. It allows the FDA Commissioner to better utilize waivers when potential conflicts of interest are outweighed by the need to have input from leading medical and scientific experts. It also recommends that patient and disease research organizations have more representation on FDA advisory committees. This is critical in areas where research is on the cutting edge.
The TREAT Act advances regulatory science within the FDA. It ensures that drug sponsors are provided explanations when their drugs are turned down so that they might address concerns, improve the treatment and get approved medications to patients more quickly.
The TREAT Act updates the FDA mission statement to reflect FDA’s role in advancing medical innovation while promoting and strengthening the agency’s safety and effectiveness standards. The bill establishes new positions to promote innovation, integration and oversight as well as a Management Review Board to help FDA keep pace with advancing medical innovation and ensure that safety precautions are adhered to.
For more background on the TREAT Act, click here.
Free tree pruning workshop Feb. 25
Orange County Cooperative Extension will host a peach and apple tree pruning workshop on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The workshop and demonstration will be held at Orchard Creek Farm, 4812 Timberwood Trail in Efland.
Dr. Michael Parker, NCSU Extension Specialist, will provide a hands-on demonstration on pruning established peach and apple trees and explain how to train young trees. The workshop will also cover common insect and disease control options.
For additional information, contact Sandra Beal at 919-563-3643.
Dr. Michael Parker, NCSU Extension Specialist, will provide a hands-on demonstration on pruning established peach and apple trees and explain how to train young trees. The workshop will also cover common insect and disease control options.
For additional information, contact Sandra Beal at 919-563-3643.
American Poolplayers Association will hold a tournament in memory of Alexander "Skip" Wade and Phillip Johnson—members of the club who were murdered in Cedar Grove on Jan. 25.
Top Dawg Memorial Tournament will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at Oscar’s “Q” & Bar in Chapel Hill. The tournament will be an 8-Ball Scotch Doubles tournament that is open to the public.
For more information, see the Wednesday, Feb. 22, edition of the News of Orange County.
Top Dawg Memorial Tournament will be held Saturday, Feb. 25, at Oscar’s “Q” & Bar in Chapel Hill. The tournament will be an 8-Ball Scotch Doubles tournament that is open to the public.
For more information, see the Wednesday, Feb. 22, edition of the News of Orange County.
Distinguished panel to discuss changes to college sports Feb. 28
Three prominent critics of collegiate sports will discuss the topic "Big-Time College Sports: What Needs to Change?" during a panel presentation Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The free public program will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Sonja Haynes Stone Center Theater.
The panel will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian Taylor Branch, UNC President Emeritus William C. Friday and Charles T. Clotfelter, author and professor at Duke University. Author Will Blythe will moderate.
The Southern Historical Collection in the Wilson Special Collections Library will display archival materials from the papers of Branch and Friday and from the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. The collection is sponsoring the program, along with Friends of the Library and the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. For program information, contact Liza Terll at liza_terll@unc.edu or (919) 548-1203.
Branch's article "The Shame of College Sports" appeared last year in The Atlantic magazine. An expanded e-book version, "The Cartel: Inside the Rise and Imminent Fall of the NCAA," is available at Byliner.com. Branch's previous books include "The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling with History and the President" and studies of the American Civil Rights movement. Branch, a 1968 alumnus, is a Morehead-Cain Alumni Visiting Distinguished Professor at UNC during the spring 2012 semester.
Friday served as president of the UNC system from 1957 to 1986 and later as president of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust. He was a founding co-chair of the Knight Foundation Commission, which was established in 1989 with the purpose of drafting a reform agenda for the administration of intercollegiate sports. He earned a UNC law degree in 1948.
Clotfelter is the Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy and professor of economics and law at Duke University. His most recent book is "Big-Time Sports in American Universities" (Cambridge University Press, 2011).
Blythe is a former editor of Esquire magazine. His books include "To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever" (HarperCollins, 2006), a chronicle of the UNC-Duke basketball rivalry. A 1979 UNC alumnus, he has written for the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated and the New York Times Book Review.
At the event, Bull's Head Bookshop will be selling books by Branch and Clotfelter.
The panel will feature Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian Taylor Branch, UNC President Emeritus William C. Friday and Charles T. Clotfelter, author and professor at Duke University. Author Will Blythe will moderate.
The Southern Historical Collection in the Wilson Special Collections Library will display archival materials from the papers of Branch and Friday and from the Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. The collection is sponsoring the program, along with Friends of the Library and the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. For program information, contact Liza Terll at liza_terll@unc.edu or (919) 548-1203.
Branch's article "The Shame of College Sports" appeared last year in The Atlantic magazine. An expanded e-book version, "The Cartel: Inside the Rise and Imminent Fall of the NCAA," is available at Byliner.com. Branch's previous books include "The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling with History and the President" and studies of the American Civil Rights movement. Branch, a 1968 alumnus, is a Morehead-Cain Alumni Visiting Distinguished Professor at UNC during the spring 2012 semester.
Friday served as president of the UNC system from 1957 to 1986 and later as president of the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust. He was a founding co-chair of the Knight Foundation Commission, which was established in 1989 with the purpose of drafting a reform agenda for the administration of intercollegiate sports. He earned a UNC law degree in 1948.
Clotfelter is the Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy and professor of economics and law at Duke University. His most recent book is "Big-Time Sports in American Universities" (Cambridge University Press, 2011).
Blythe is a former editor of Esquire magazine. His books include "To Hate Like This Is to Be Happy Forever" (HarperCollins, 2006), a chronicle of the UNC-Duke basketball rivalry. A 1979 UNC alumnus, he has written for the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated and the New York Times Book Review.
At the event, Bull's Head Bookshop will be selling books by Branch and Clotfelter.
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