tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36646958211595229742024-03-12T23:31:02.528-04:00The NewsroomSee what ended up on The News of Orange County's cutting room floor.Vanessa Shortleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15996805741580886754noreply@blogger.comBlogger817125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-2190417340760294862012-08-22T12:32:00.001-04:002012-08-22T12:32:35.560-04:00Clean off those cleats, dust off those shoesIt's time for high school sports!<br />
Now, I'm not going to lie, it wasn't long ago when I got less than excited about such a statement. Sports fanatic that I am (and born and raised in Green Bay Packer land, to boot), as soon as I graduated high school I all but washed my hands of any games lower than the college level—with the exception of those of friends and family, of course. <br />
But last year as a rookie sports reporter, I rediscovered something: high school athletes have a passion that's difficult to find on other levels. Because they're actually doing it just for the love of the game, or the run or whatever sport it is they've lost their hearts to. <br />
Now I'm ready and raving to dive back in! Taking over both high schools as sports reporter this year, I got a little taste of the fall season last week at the Orange-Cedar Ridge tennis match. And I can't wait to continue that cross-town rivalry the next few weeks as the Red Wolves and the Panthers duke it out.<br />
Previews of all 10 sports teams—as well as the two cheerleading squads—are in today's News of Orange (the Wednesday, Aug. 22, edition). Stay tuned for more as the seasons progress! I can't wait to see how our athletes do.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-10542987607298234042012-08-04T10:30:00.000-04:002012-08-04T10:30:02.199-04:00The toymaker's chest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oe7wt1qyjiq-M7lBizI3QqwtnyVYCUtSTbAp6QN9JzLZy49JzL3DNX3Rxs7aJuHgfqtxY5CJuiXdYv1xHefILX0IfxeB6cvF5TunVufN9zCmYo9lA_nc939uSpsh75_UR1FJgCuygAI/s1600/toy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oe7wt1qyjiq-M7lBizI3QqwtnyVYCUtSTbAp6QN9JzLZy49JzL3DNX3Rxs7aJuHgfqtxY5CJuiXdYv1xHefILX0IfxeB6cvF5TunVufN9zCmYo9lA_nc939uSpsh75_UR1FJgCuygAI/s400/toy.jpg" width="400" /></a>There is something magical about making toys. As a child, of course, any toy--especially a new one--absolutely captivated me. Remember the feeling of walking into one of those giant toy stores? The one I remember most vividly is the one in Chicago--I forget the name--a two-story wonderland of stuffed animals, games, trains. Magic.<br />
Naturally the creator of such a wonderful thing must be equally magnificent, right? <br />
I had the pleasure of meeting with one of Hillsborough's own toymakers the other day. Vince Krauth and his wife, Leona, moved to the South a few years ago, bringing along Vince's hobby of woodworking.<br />
Listening to the couple illustrate the behind-the-scenes work of a toymaker, the intricacies, the fine touches, even the inspiration--it was clear by the fire in their eyes how much they loved this passion they have dedicated so much of their lives to. And it is a commitment, from what they said: the craft shows, the traveling.<br />
It's been a while since I felt that thrill only a toy shop can bring, but I certainly felt the stirring of a shadow in my heart when I stepped into the garage-turned-workshop and saw the wooden trains, the cars, the trucks even the mini table and chairs for dolls' tea parties. I could only laugh knowingly as Vince's grandson snuck in behind us to fiddle with a wooden crane. Oh to have that fascination again!<br />
Vince's toys had a way of bringing that back. <br />
For more on the story, see the Wednesday, Aug. 8, edition of the News of Orange.<br />
<br />Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-11794897394376669592012-08-03T13:24:00.000-04:002012-08-03T13:24:36.474-04:00Photos for saleWe now have the ability to sell our picture on our website! It's the Buy Photos icon on the top right of the homepage. We're working on putting up some pictures from 2012--currently we have the pictures from July Last Fridays and Partnership Academy's 2012 graduation. If you have any requests for pictures you'd like to buy, let us know!Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-78117115100232853952012-08-01T10:00:00.000-04:002012-08-01T10:00:06.261-04:00When the PR person for benefacting.org first contacted me, I thought the whole concept sounded a little strange. At first, honestly, I thought it was a telemarketer of some kind.<br />
But I asked her to email me the information anyway, and, once I read it, I was fascinated. What a concept! A website that lets people post goods and services that they either love to do or want to get rid of anyway--all to benefit a nonprofit.<br />
It's a win-win situation. So the way it works is a person, referred to as an actor, posts a good or service on the site, similar to Craigslist. It can be an item such as a dresser you want to get rid of or some books you don't need anymore. It can also be a service; some I have seen are mowing the lawn, babysitting, painting a portrait or working as a job coach.<br />
The actor assigns a value to whatever they're selling--say $25 to mow your lawn and picks a nonprofit to benefit. And that's where a sponsor comes in. Sponsors are the ones who purchase the good or service.<br />
The bonus here is you can browse Benefacting's website for things that you already need so that money you've already budgeted for X, Y or Z not only gets your bike fixed or that kitchen table you wanted but also helps a charity--maybe something you couldn't have afforded to do otherwise.<br />
Also, the sponsor pays online through a secure site that sends the money directly to the nonprofit; the actor never has to deal with any funds.<br />
So the actor wins: She can help out a nonprofit doing something she loves, donating time (especially nice if money is limited) in a convenient and efficient way for her. The sponsor wins: He gets something he either wants or needs while also donating money to a charity--money that goes twice as far. And the nonprofit wins: It taps into a revenue stream previously unavailable to it AND has unlimited volunteer opportunities.<br />
Check it out at benefacting.org. To read the full story about how it began and how it has helped nonprofits in Orange County, see the Wednesday, Aug. 1, edition of the News of Orange.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-51524502318800329962012-07-31T21:48:00.000-04:002012-07-31T21:49:58.791-04:00Following your dreamThe young entrepreneur certainly has been a theme this edition.<br />
I
spoke to two young men this past week--both of them teenagers just out
of high school who realized college wasn't the right fit for them.<br />
But
they had plans. Devon Landon capitalized on his love of cars to open
his own towing company, shouldering the responsibility of running a
business and working around the clock--something many adults can't
handle. Tucker Beneville followed his childhood passion, applying to
umpire school, graduating at the top of his class and taking a post in
the Gulf Coast Rookie League in Florida.<br />
In today's day in age,
with the heightened emphasis on secondary education, college seems to
have become a necessity. In my family, there was never any question;
that's where I was going. I have to hand it to these young men for not
only recognizing their strengths and weaknesses--and the opportunities
around them--but for taking the initiative to talk to their parents, to
find their calling and to chase it wholeheartedly.<br />
But some kudos
also has to go to the parents of these young men, the parents who
probably panicked a bit when their children told them they didn't want
to go to college. It takes guts and a good deal of faith in an
18-year-old to let go, to let them follow their own path.<br />
It was an absolute joy talking to both Devon and Tucker about their plans. Best of luck to them both as they take on the future!<br />
<br />
For more about the boys' stories, see the Wednesday, Aug. 1, edition of the News of Orange.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-62469711537753057442012-07-27T13:43:00.000-04:002012-07-27T13:43:01.160-04:00Blog revivalHello readers!<br />
So we've had a bit of a hiatus from blogging in the past few months from mostly being swamped with increased sports coverage and our new website (newsoforange.com--check it out!).<br />
But we're now trying to get back in full swing, though a few things are going to change. We used to use this as a forum to post the press releases and news tidbits that wouldn't make it into the printed paper. That information will now shift to the website (there may be a delay in getting everything up, as it will take a bit of time to get into the flow of things).<br />
This blog, now, will now be an outlet for us to reflect on stories we are working on, events we have covered and people we have met. It will become more of a reflection of our thoughts on what is going on in the community.<br />
We hope you like what's to come! And, as always, if you have any comments, questions, ideas, complaints, suggestions--anything--please let us know!Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-3902936452126530452012-03-16T08:49:00.000-04:002012-03-16T08:49:01.129-04:00N.C. Museum of Art announces March events<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tours</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Explore the Collection</span><br />Tuesdays through Fridays at 1:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />A daily docent-led tour of Museum highlights. Meet at West Building Information Desk. For individuals and groups smaller than 10.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Meet Your Museum tours</span><br />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.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />Meet at East Building Information Desk. Guided tour introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, Plaza and related works of art.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Storytelling in the Galleries weekend family-friendly tours</span><br />Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.<br />Free; sign up that day; first come, first served.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Special events</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Lunch and lecture</span><br />Curator’s Highlights: El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa<br />Friday, March 23, at 11 a.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$23 for members and $28 for nonmembers<br />Linda Dougherty, chief curator and curator of contemporary art, explores the five-decade long career of contemporary African artist El Anatsui and his ability to transform simple materials—bottle caps, milk tins, cassava graters, wood trays, clay pots—into stunning works of art that tell both personal and universal stories. The discussion continues over a lunch catered by Iris, the museum restaurant. To register, call (919) 664-6785. Registration and payment for the combined program is required by 4 p.m. on the Wednesday before the event.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Free tour: Friday Night Art Encounters</span><br />Friday, March 23, at 6 and 7 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Mad about Mad Men spring film series</span><br />Film: <span style="font-style: italic;">BUtterfield 8</span><br />Friday, March 23, at 8 p.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others<br />A party girl wakes up in a strange bed and “borrows” a mink coat for the taxi ride home, jump-starting this sizzling adaptation of John O’Hara’s novel. Liz won an Oscar for playing restless Gloria Wandrous. Tickets are available online at <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncartmuseum.org/">www.ncartmuseum.org</a>, through the museum box office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Kids at the ncma: family fun Saturday</span><br />Family Fun Saturday: Transforming Everyday Materials<br />Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.<br />East Building, Education Studio 2<br />$3 for members and $5 for nonmembers<br />Reuse, recycle, repurpose! Come learn how to transform the ordinary into extraordinary. At this gallery tour-plus-studio workshop for families with children ages 5 to 11, kids and adults delight in exploring the museum’s collection, creating projects together and discovering one another’s creativity. For more information or credit card reservations, call the museum box office at (919) 715-5923. Space is limited; advance purchase is strongly suggested.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Sketchbook Saturday</span><br />Saturday, March 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon<br />$7 for members and $10 for nonmembers<br />Ages 11 to 14<br />Teens and tweens are invited for an in-depth exploration of tools and techniques used in keeping an artist sketchbook. We’ll be inspired by work in the galleries and Museum Park, and then head back into the studio to play with a variety of materials. Price includes one sketchbook per participant (not per session). Registration is required; space is limited. For more information or credit card reservations, call the museum box office at (919) 715-5923.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">12th annual Abram and Frances Pascher Kanof lecture</span><br />Lecture: “John Singer Sargent’s Israel and the Law: The Key to a Missing Keynote”<br />Dr. Sally Promey, Professor of American Studies and Professor of Religion and Visual Culture, Yale University<br />Sunday, March 25, at 2 p.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />Free; ticket from Box Office required<br />Israel and the Law holds a crucial place in John Singer Sargent's mural cycle at the Boston Public Library. In multiple ways, this one painting exemplifies the artist's hopes for the shape of religion's triumph in secular modernity in a pluralist society. This lecture examines Israel and the Law in the context of its roles in Sargent's larger mural cycle, from this panel's 1916 installation through the controversy that ensued in 1919 and the recent conservation and restoration of the mural cycle.<br />A reception follows the lecture.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Senior sampler</span><br />Senior Sampler: “Taking Shape”<br />Tuesday, March 27, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.<br />Meet in West Building Lobby<br />$15 for members per session or $80 for all six sessions<br />$20 for nonmembers per session and $110 for all six sessions<br />How do artists use positive and negative shapes in a work of art? Explore shapes within a composition and make a collagraph using a printing plate made from collaged materials.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Kids at the ncma: preschool playshop</span><br />What’s in the Box?: Seasons and Nature<br />Thursday, March 29, at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m.<br />East Building, Education Studios 1 and 2<br />Free for members; $3 for nonmembers<br />Tickets required from Box Office; first come, first served.<br />It’s spring! Come to the museum to celebrate and explore the seasons. 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Auction preview</span><br />Friday, March 30, at 5:30 p.m.<br />Free<br />The Auction preview combines live music, tasty bites and beverages with an opportunity to preview the works of art to be auctioned at Art of the Auction benefit on April 14. Enjoy the eclectic stylings of local jazz quintet Peter Lamb and the Wolves and mingle with many of the artists, who will be in attendance to discuss their work. This is your chance to see all the exceptional works of art, many by North Carolina artists, that can be yours to take home from the auction! This event is part of Art of the Auction.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Free tour: Friday Night Art Encounters</span><br />Friday, March 30, at 6 and 7 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Mad about Mad Men spring film series</span><br />Film: <span style="font-style: italic;">Lover Come Back</span><br />Friday, March 30, at 8 p.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others<br />A prissy virgin gets ready to sacrifice her virtue to land the advertising account for a mysterious product called VIP. Day frantically woos the virile Jerry, played with great charm and not a little irony by Rock Hudson. Tickets are available online at <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncartmuseum.org/">www.ncartmuseum.org</a>, through the museum box office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-69909663469641947432012-03-08T08:37:00.001-05:002012-03-08T08:37:00.936-05:00N.C. Museum of Art announces March events<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tours</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Explore the Collection</span><br />Tuesdays through Fridays at 1:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />A daily docent-led tour of Museum highlights. Meet at West Building Information Desk. For individuals and groups smaller than 10.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Meet Your Museum tours</span><br />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.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />Meet at East Building Information Desk. Guided tour introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, Plaza and related works of art.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Storytelling in the Galleries weekend family-friendly tours</span><br />Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.<br />Free; sign up that day; first come, first served.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Special events</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Senior sampler</span><br />Senior Sampler: “Drawing the Line”<br />Tuesday, March 13, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.<br />Meet in West Building Lobby<br />$15 for members per session or $80 for all six sessions<br />$20 for nonmembers per session or $110 for all six sessions<br />What does an artist need to consider when arranging a composition? Gain a deeper understanding of the underlying structure of a work of art while sketching selected pieces in the galleries. Each session offers an informal gallery discussion paired with a studio experience exploring subjects in paintings and sculpture. Supplies provided. To register, call the museum box office at (919) 715-5923.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Free tour: Friday Night Art Encounters</span><br />Friday Night Art Encounters<br />Friday, March 16, at 6 and 7 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Mad about Mad Men spring film series</span><br />Film: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Match King</span><br /> Friday, March 16, at 8 p.m.<br /> East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others<br />Wolfish William plays an industrialist who corners safety match production with epic financial shenanigans. Warner Bros. proclaimed that plots for their films were “torn from today’s headlines”—this one could easily be torn from ours, as well. Tickets are available online at <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncartmuseum.org/">www.ncartmuseum.org</a>, through the museum box office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Lunch and lecture</span><br />Lecture: “Edward Durell Stone: American Modernist”<br />Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$23 for members; $28 for nonmembers<br />Edward Durell Stone, designer of the NCMA’s East Building, was one of the first American architects to experiment with European modernism in the early 1930s with a series of prominent homes in the Northeast and in his design for the Museum of Modern Art. In this slide lecture, Stone’s youngest son and biographer, Hicks Stone—himself a practicing architect—documents the breadth of his father's life and career. The discussion continues over a lunch catered by Iris, the Museum Restaurant. To register, call (919) 664-6785. Registration and payment for the combined program is required by 4 p.m. on the Wednesday before the event.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa Members Opening</span><br />Saturday, March 17, from 7 to 9:30 p.m.<br />East Building<br />$30 for members; $40 for all others<br />Drums! Dance! Costumes! Song! Story! Join other museum members and Durham’s own The Magic of African Rhythm at the first major retrospective of El Anatsui’s work. To celebrate the work of contemporary artist El Anatsui, the museum presents a colorful evening of music and dance spanning many cultures of the African continent. Performances include Balankora, a melodic duo of traditional griot instruments backed by African diasporic percussion instruments and singing, and Djembe Fire!, featuring djembe and dundun drumming, dance choreography, singing and audience participation. African-inspired hors d’oeuvres, South African wines, beer and nonalcoholic beverages included. The exhibition will be open for viewing. Performances take place at 7:30 and 8:15 p.m.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Artist discussion</span><br />“Artist to Artist”<br />Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m.<br />East Building, Museum Auditorium<br />Free; ticket from Box Office required<br />For nearly a year, the NCMA has enjoyed an extended loan from Bennett College of a work by Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas. Artist Stacy Lynn Waddell leads a discussion about Douglas’s Harriet Tubman that considers Douglas in the context of art history and as an illustrator and master draftsman.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Kids at the ncma: family fun Saturday</span><br />Family Fun Saturday: Traveling through Time<br />Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.<br />East Building, Education Studio 2<br />$3 for members; $5 for nonmembers<br />Join us for a workshop that travels through space and time to learn about art from different cultures. At this gallery tour-plus-studio workshop for families with children ages 5-11, kids and adults delight in exploring the museum’s collection, creating projects together and discovering one another’s creativity. For more information or credit card reservations, call the museum box office, (919) 715-5923. Space is limited; advance purchase is strongly suggested.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Sketchbook Saturday</span><br />Saturday, March 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon<br />$7 for members and $10 for nonmembers<br />Ages 11 to 14<br />Teens and tweens are invited for an in-depth exploration of tools and techniques used in keeping an artist sketchbook. We’ll be inspired by work in the galleries and Museum Park, and then head back into the studio to play with a variety of materials. Price includes one sketchbook per participant (not per session). Registration is required; space is limited. For more information or credit card reservations, call the museum box office, (919) 715-5923.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Lecture: “El Anatsui: A Curator’s Perspective”</span><br />Dr. Lisa Binder, Curator of Contemporary Art, Museum for African Art<br />Sunday, March 18, at 2:30 p.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />Free; ticket from Box Office required<br />Dr. Lisa Binder discusses the work of artist El Anatsui, highlighting some of the stunning sculpture, paintings, prints and drawings in the retrospective exhibition El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa. The lecture includes a history of the artist’s career and a discussion of his recent projects, including Lines That Link Humanity in the museum’s permanent collection.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-44325857579882085432012-03-01T08:04:00.000-05:002012-03-01T08:04:00.858-05:00N.C. Museum of History presents Cotton Mill ColicIn the early 20th century, Piedmont mill towns were incubators for innovative string bands and musical performers in an emerging genre known as country music. Mill workers sang of their hard fate, protesting living conditions, poor wages and workplace struggles. As tension increased between management and labor, the songs became a rallying cry in labor halls, on strike lines and at protest rallies.<br />At the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh, musicians Gregg Kimball, Sheryl Warner and Jackie Frost will present <span style="font-style: italic;">Cotton Mill Colic: Songs of Labor from the North Carolina Piedmont</span>, which will draw on commercial recordings by millworkers, such as Dave McCarn, the Dixon Brothers and Wilmer Watts as well as union strike songs—especially those sung by Ella Mae Wiggins, the voice of the 1929 Gastonia strike. This free performance takes place Sunday, March 4, at 2 p.m. in Daniels Auditorium. Parking is free on weekends.<br />With Kimball on guitar, banjo and fiddle, Warner and Frost will add their own distinctive vocal styles. Warner's rich, expressive voice has developed from more than 30 years of singing in the blues and folk traditions.<br />With two CDs to her credit, Frost’s music is grounded in early-American music traditions, ranging from early country to jazz to blues. She is especially adept at tight, soul-stirring harmonies.<br />Kimball is a historian and musician who has lectured and written extensively on the South’s musical traditions. He is Director of Public Services and Outreach at the Library of Virginia. He earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Virginia.<br />Don’t miss this performance with an intriguing, historical twist on March 4 at the N.C. Museum of History.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">About the N.C. Museum of History</span><br />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.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-13021129907416907422012-02-29T18:35:00.000-05:002012-02-29T18:35:00.552-05:00Curves 14th annual food drive begins todatRecognizing 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.<br />"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<br />help to make ends meet. Our food drive gives our members a way to reach out and support their neighbors."<br />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<br />clubs who enter the contest.<br />"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."<br />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:<br />• Curves of Durham, located at 1829 Martin Lurther King Jr. Pkwy., at (919) 489-6800 or 97AF9QJ@curvesmail.com<br />• Curves of Durham, located at 4711 Hope Valley Road, Ste. 4B, at (919) 489-6200 or 97OGBY@curvesmail.com<br />• Curves of Burlington, located at 235 South Graham Hopedale Road, at (336) 513-4747 or 97PGS6G7@curvesmail.com<br />• Curves of Graham, located at 101 Ivey Road, at (336) 222-7008 or 97PVC5RML@curvesmail.com<br />• Curves of Mebane, located at 1239-C S. 5th St., at (919) 304-3481 or curvesmebane@centurylink.net<br />For more information about Curves, visit <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.curves.com/">www.curves.com</a>.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-41031522578675908322012-02-29T17:45:00.000-05:002012-02-29T17:45:00.344-05:00Food Truck applications accepted March 1 in Chapel HillThe Town of Chapel Hill will begin accepting applications on Thursday, March 1, for food trucks operating on private property in commercial districts.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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<br />the <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=1682">website</a>.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-57473080640597629552012-02-29T14:51:00.001-05:002012-02-29T15:50:37.685-05:00Researcher details excavation of ancient port of ConstantinopleA unique first-person report on the exploration of the archaeological site Byzantium, or Constantinople, is available to North Carolina residents this week.<br />Dr. Ufuk Kocabas, director of Istanbul University's Department of Marine Archaeology and Yenikapi Shipwrecks Project, will speak at the <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/">N.C. Museum of History</a> 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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />"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."<br />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.<br />The Division of State History Museums is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. For additional information call (919) 807-7389.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-76961907709013215142012-02-29T14:00:00.001-05:002012-02-29T14:35:03.681-05:00Inmate escapes from Piedmont Correctional Institution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWTu68kmMx6LFohr_MEzhdJ5yuRV3Uh5-hx7dR0I-pz7MG5c3skGvWnjSN8daq0TZJ3b-NDPoLMQUc9vA7K6bmfC8KPpM4ju11OwY1CgVdENku_Eo0IYU3OCBok4AB252dYGP4qkqkhg/s1600/Pritt_Ronald0331636.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWTu68kmMx6LFohr_MEzhdJ5yuRV3Uh5-hx7dR0I-pz7MG5c3skGvWnjSN8daq0TZJ3b-NDPoLMQUc9vA7K6bmfC8KPpM4ju11OwY1CgVdENku_Eo0IYU3OCBok4AB252dYGP4qkqkhg/s320/Pritt_Ronald0331636.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714643378872182434" border="0" /></a>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.<br />Pritt, 35, is a minimum-custody inmate serving a three-year sentence for habitual drunk driving. He was due for release in July.<br />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.<br />Anyone who has seen this inmate or has information on his whereabouts should call 911 or local law enforcement.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-28119586957761954322012-02-29T11:09:00.002-05:002012-02-29T13:37:29.211-05:00North Carolina Museum of Art announces March events<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tours</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Explore the Collection</span><br />Tuesdays through Fridays at 1:30 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />A daily docent-led tour of Museum highlights. Meet at West Building Information Desk. For individuals and groups smaller than 10.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Meet Your Museum tours</span><br />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.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />Meet at East Building Information Desk. Guided tour introduces visitors to the Museum buildings, Plaza and related works of art.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> Storytelling in the Galleries weekend family-friendly tours</span><br />Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m.<br />Free; sign up that day; first come, first served.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Special events</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Kids at the ncma: preschool playshop</span><br />What’s in the Box?: Parts of Art<br />Thursday, March 1, at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m.<br />East Building, Education Studios 1 and 2<br />Free for members; $3 for nonmembers<br />Tickets required from Box Office; first come, first served.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">free tour: Friday night art encounters</span><br />Friday Night Art Encounters<br />Friday, March 2, at 6 and 7 pm<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Mad about Mad Men spring film series</span><br />Film: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Mollycoddle</span><br />Friday, March 2, at 8 p.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others.<br />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 <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncartmuseum.org/">www.ncartmuseum.org</a>, through the Museum Box Office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Kids at the ncma: childrens performance</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">American Dreams</span> with Bright Star Touring Theatre<br />Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.<br />East Building, Museum Auditorium<br />$3 for members; $5 for nonmembers<br />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).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Kids at the ncma</span><br />Drop-In Studio<br />Saturday, March 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.<br />East Building, North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation Gallery<br />Free, all ages welcome.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Free tour: Friday Night Art Encounters</span><br />Friday, March 9, at 6 and 7 p.m.<br />Free; no reservations necessary.<br /> 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Art in the evening</span><br />Invisible: The New Obsolete<br />Friday, March 9, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.<br />West Building Lobby<br />Free<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Mad about Mad Men spring film series</span><br />Film: <span style="font-style: italic;">Vitaphone Varieties</span><br />Friday, March 9, at 8 p.m.<br />East Building | Museum Auditorium<br />$3.50 for museum members, students, Cinema Inc. and Galaxy Cinema members; $5 for all others<br />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 <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncartmuseum.org/">www.ncartmuseum.org</a>, through the museum box office by phone at (919) 715-5923 and in person (East Building).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Friends of the Judaic Art Gallery</span><br />Purim Madness: An Evening of Fun, Food, and Dancing<br />Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m.<br />West Building<br />$54 General admission<br />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 <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="https://www.ncmoa.org/interim/secure/">www.ncartmuseum.org/ersvp</a>. Space is limited; advance reservations are required.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-22768335554635253132012-02-29T08:37:00.000-05:002012-02-29T08:37:00.062-05:00Register for the Durham Art WalkDurham Art Walk Spring Market will run Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29.<br />The deadline to register is Thursday, March 1.<br />This celebration of Durham's visual culture will highlight the continuing growth and development of the cultural scene, businesses and restaurants of downtown Durham.<br />For online artist registration, <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://durhamartwalk.com/artists/artist-registration">click here</a>.<br />For sponsor registration forms, <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://durhamartwalk.com/partners/">click here</a>.<br />(click here)<br />For more information, contact Lindsay Gordon, artist services manager, at lgordon@durhamarts.org or (919) 560.2719.<br />Durham Art Walk is presented and produced by the Durham Arts Council.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-45804219211015796522012-02-28T08:47:00.000-05:002012-02-28T08:47:00.112-05:00N.C. Museum of History offers March programs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKggLaUaphFvNTroKPec578ta2YZKUL9FMn90UGOWY3BeC-ZDpuHQgfzfxJzbzCTSqy2_0U6UHZAA4iTPGbS5UQwpbzMrtw1brVntp5qEW7euUbfPodhV-MtokBhdKhLJcIpwMp2UAA4/s1600/Family+photo.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKggLaUaphFvNTroKPec578ta2YZKUL9FMn90UGOWY3BeC-ZDpuHQgfzfxJzbzCTSqy2_0U6UHZAA4iTPGbS5UQwpbzMrtw1brVntp5qEW7euUbfPodhV-MtokBhdKhLJcIpwMp2UAA4/s320/Family+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711343954824024018" border="0" /></a>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.<br />Enjoy all this and more in March at the museum. Admission is free unless otherwise noted. Parking is free on weekends.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">First Friday Performance: <span style="font-style: italic;">Sojourner Truth and Her Children</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Friday, March 2, from 7 to 9 p.m.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost</span>: $5 per person; ages 12 and younger free. You can purchase tickets in advance at <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/">ncmuseumofhistory.org</a> or the night of the event in the Museum Shop.<br />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.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Cotton Mill Colic: Songs of Labor from the North Carolina Piedmont</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Sunday, March 4, from 2 to 3 p.m.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Time for Tots: Saint Patrick’s Day</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Tuesday, March 6, and Tuesday, March 13, from 10 to 10:45 a.m.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who</span>: Ages 3 to 5 with an adult<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost</span>: $1 per person. To register, call (919) 807-7992.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">History Hunters: Greetings from North Carolina!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Wednesday, March 7, from 10 to 11 a.m.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who</span>: Ages 10 to 13<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost</span>: $1 per person. To register, call (919) 807-7992.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Make It, Take It: Blimps</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Saturday, March 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. (drop-in program)<br />Discover how blimps protected ships off the North Carolina coast during World War II and make a paper model to take home.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Music of the Carolinas: Patrick and Cathy Sky</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Sunday, March 11, from 3 to 4 p.m.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">History à la Carte: Variety Vacationland</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Wednesday, March 14, from 12:10 to 1 p.m.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extras</span>: Bring your lunch; beverages provided.<br />Presented by Sandy Webbere, associate curator.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Curator’s Choice Tour: The Story Behind The Story of North Carolina</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Sunday, March 25, from 2 to 2:30 p.m.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">2012 Women’s History Month Celebration</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: Tuesday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m.<br />To register, call (919) 807-7992 <span style="font-weight: bold;">by Friday, March 23</span>.<br />Presented by Anita Brown-Graham, executive director of the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">About the N.C. Museum of History</span><br />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.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-9829016388826701992012-02-27T12:57:00.000-05:002012-02-27T12:57:00.722-05:00Recycling bins come to downtown Chapel HillTown 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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />"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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />"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."<br />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.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-41314753456556210252012-02-27T10:03:00.000-05:002012-02-27T10:03:00.100-05:00The Burwell School opens a new exhibitThe 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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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, <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.burwellschool.org/">www.burwellschool.org</a> or call (919) 732-7451 for more information.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-61702071964539693922012-02-27T08:44:00.000-05:002012-02-27T08:44:00.121-05:00Hillsborough Tourism Board requests proposals for 2012 Tourism GrantThe 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.<br />Completed applications are due by 3 p.m. Monday, April 2.<br />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.<br />For further information, click on <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ci.hillsborough.nc.us/content/2012-tourism-grants">2012 Tourism Grant Application information</a>.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-75147653862649596322012-02-26T13:17:00.000-05:002012-02-26T13:17:00.353-05:00N.C. Museum of History presents a new Readers' Theater work about Sojourner TruthA 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 <span style="font-style: italic;">Sojourner Truth and Her Children</span>. Tickets cost $5 per person; ages 12 and younger are free. Purchase tickets in advance at <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/">ncmuseumofhistory.org</a> or the night of the event in the Museum Shop.<br />Written by playwright Rudy Wallace, artistic director of <span style="font-style: italic;">Voices in Concert</span>, 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.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">What is Readers’ Theater?</span><br />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. <br />Come learn more about the inspirational life of Sojourner Truth at the Museum of History on March 2.<br /><br />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.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-34164092079178343542012-02-26T12:59:00.000-05:002012-02-26T12:59:00.370-05:00Hillsborough to disinfect water with chlorine, flush lines through MarchThe Town of Hillsborough will use chlorine instead of chloramines, a compound of chlorine and ammonia, to disinfect public drinking water in March.<br />In addition, town employees will flush and perform basic maintenance to fire hydrants in the town’s water system, beginning March 1.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Chlorine disinfection</span><br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Hydrant flushing</span><br />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,<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-37699114910399615682012-02-26T11:56:00.000-05:002012-02-26T11:56:00.678-05:00Durham craft market held at MotorcoCraft Market, along with dtownMARKET, guest stars at Motorco Music Hall's Sunday Bloody Brunch events.<br />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.<br />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 <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.durhamcraftmarket.com/">www.DurhamCraftMarket.com</a> for more information.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-35201089006115097732012-02-26T10:09:00.000-05:002012-02-26T10:09:00.138-05:00Get close to scales and tails at aquarium eventMake 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.<br />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.<br />“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?”<br />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.<br />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.<br />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 <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncaquariums.com/">website</a>.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-79689708368633884142012-02-25T12:58:00.000-05:002012-02-25T12:58:00.826-05:00Agritourism Networking Association to host annual conference March 8-9The 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.<br />“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.”<br />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.<br />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.<br />For more information or a registration form, go to <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/agritourism/">www.ncagr.gov/agritourism</a>, or call agritourism manager Martha Glass at (919) 707-3120.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664695821159522974.post-13838868383597781542012-02-25T10:00:00.000-05:002012-02-25T10:00:06.360-05:00New directory helps connect low-income women to cervical cancer services in North CarolinaA new online resource is available to help connect women and adolescents to life-saving cervical cancer-related services.<br />The <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ccresourcedirectory.org/">NC Cervical Cancer Resource Directory</a> 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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />"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."<br />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.<br />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.<br />"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."<br />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." <br />For more information, visit the directory at <a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.ccresourcedirectory.org/">www.ccresourcedirectory.org</a> or email info@ccfnc.org.Erin Wiltgenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124831743989014764noreply@blogger.com0