NEWS BRIEFS
The American Legion, a fraternal, service-based organization, is seeking new members to help us better the lives of all residents here in Chatham County.
There are currently four American Legion Posts in the county: Posts 93 and 277 in Siler City, Post 283 in Pittsboro, and Post 292 in Goldston.
The posts would welcome new members wishing to establish a camaraderie with local Veterans and engage in service to our communities.
For instance, Siler City Post 93 hosts the American Red Cross and assists with quarterly blood donation drives at the Moose Lodge on Alston Bridge Road.
The post has also “adopted” Harold Andrews Road in Siler City and assists the NCDOT by conducting periodic litter and trash collections.
Post 93 is looking forward to sending eligible students from the local high schools to Boys-Girls State, a North Carolina program that teaches young people all about the function of government, how the different branches operate and how to navigate the ever-changing world of politics. Post 93 is also wanting to start sending students to the Student Trooper Program of N.C. where participants are given an up-close and personal view of the operational ins and outs of life as an trooper.
An increase in dedicated members would allow other posts to engage in comparable community activities.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to message the American Legion District Commander at NCDistrict13@gmail.com or call 919-704-1219.
The Chatham County Council on Aging has an ongoing fan distribution program for individuals 60 years or older. Fan recipients must be Chatham County residents and, if younger than 60 years old, have a disability.
Pickup is available at both Council on Aging centers, including the Eastern Chatham Senior Center (365 N.C. Hwy. 87 North) in Pittsboro and the Western Chatham Senior Center (112 Village Lake Rd.) in Siler City.
Recipients are limited to one fan per calendar year. For more information, contact the Eastern Chatham Senior Center at 919-542-4512 or the Western Chatham Senior Center at 919-742-3975.
— CN+R staff reports
SILER CITY — Siler City Parks and Recreation announces the sixth season of Friday Night Flicks, a popular movie in the park series held at Bray Park on the fourth Friday night of August, September and October.
The series will kick off Friday, Aug. 26, featuring “Raya and the Last Dragon,” a 2021 Disney animated film that takes place in the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now 500 years later, those same monsters have returned and it’s up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good. Grab your blankets, and chairs and enjoy this free, family-friendly movie under the stars.
The movie will premiere at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.). The community is invited to come early for fun activities, free inflatable attractions, music and more. Delicious concessions will be available for purchase by Customized Dogs and Catering. In case of inclement weather, the event rain date is Saturday, Aug. 27, for the movie only.
Friday Night Flicks is made possible by the following sponsors: Southern States Siler City Service, Brookwood Farms, Little Caesars, North Carolina National Guard, The Cowboys Café and Catering, Central Piedmont Urgent Care, Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing Site, Crossroads Grill, Mountaire Farms, Salvation Army and Chatham News + Record.
In conjunction with the Aug. 26 Friday Night Flicks event, at 6 p.m., the Siler City Police Department will be hosting a Bicycle Rodeo, featuring an obstacle course, safety tips and a free helmet give-away.
“Sing 2” will premiere on Friday, Sept. 23, and “Encanto” will take the big screen on Friday, Oct. 28. These community events bring families, friends and neighbors together for a fun evening, watching their favorite movies on the big screen. Be sure to follow Siler City Parks and Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date information.
The Bray Park Sports Complex is located at 200 Bray Park Complex Dr., Siler City.
For more information, please contact the Siler City Parks and Recreation Department at 919-742-2699, email recreation@silercity.org, or visit the Town Website at www.silercity.org.
RALEIGH — Two state first responder professions are facing the same major problem.
The Move Over Law requires drivers to change lanes when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights. But drivers aren’t always adhering to the law, and that can cause life-altering situations.
“It’s just sad because it’s totally preventable,” N.C. State Highway Patrol Trooper Joseph Atwell said.
You have to move over, but if you are unable to because of the traffic conditions, you have to significantly reduce your speed.
Roger Hawkins, an N.C. Dept. of Transportation safety patrolman said, “this is a thing we deal with every day.”
“You have to keep your eyes peeled all the time,” Hawkins said.
Atwell and Hawkins agree drivers do not follow the law often. Both careers put them on the side of an interstate week after week with vehicles whizzing by.
“Vehicles are more than likely our No. 1 threat here on the highway patrol…” Atwell said. “There’s no excuse and it’s something I’ve dealt with personally.”
This summer, both Hawkins and Atwell encountered drivers not moving over: Hawkins got ear-ended which he was in his car, but did not experience any major injuries, and a suspected drunk driver hit Atwell’s car, thankfully without him in it.
Together, NCDOT and NCSHP have a simple message: move over.
Hawkins said, “so you can slow down and take your time, not only for your life, but everyone else’s life that’s around you too. Because almost all of us have family too.”
“If you just look up and quit texting and driving, quit drinking and driving — just move over — all this could’ve been avoidable,” Atwell added.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
— CN+R staff reports
PITTSBORO — For the 21st year in a row, sculptors will display their creations at the Come Out and Play sculpture show at JimGin Farm just outside Carrboro in Chatham County. There are many Chatham County artists involved in the show and many of the works will be for sale. Artists keep 100% of the proceeds.
The opening party will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27, and Sunday, Aug. 28, from noon until dark. There are also picnic receptions every Saturday in September (3, 10, 17 and 24), beginning at 2 p.m. and going until dark. There is no admission and all are welcome, including dogs if they are on leashes. There is also parking on-site.
Sculptures of many media, created by dozens of artists, will dot the landscape of this 17-acre farm at 150 Wild Horse Run in Pittsboro. This year, organizers are delighted to have the participation of UNC’s Center for Galapagos Studies with a sculpture, El Gran Gigante by Nico Amortegui. This sustainable sculpture was created this year in celebration of the 10th anniversary of UNC’s Galapagos Initiative, and is on loan for the show from Arts Everywhere, UNC-Chapel Hill.
This show began in 2002 as part of a group of shows put on by Hunter Levinsohn, Jackie Helvey, Anke Gassen, Hollie Taylor and Debbie Meyer to honor those directly affected by the events of 9/11. For more information, go to www.comeoutandplay.info.
SANFORD — Are you thinking about starting a new business? Or have you been in business less than two years?
The RISE (Real Investment in Sanford Entrepreneurs) Program introduces entrepreneurs and existing business owners to the concepts and practices that will give interested individuals the tools necessary for business success.
This eight-class program begins Oct. 3 and ends Nov. 2, with classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center in Sanford.
At the end of the program, each participant should have produced a basic small business plan and will have the opportunity to present their plan and business concept to a team of business professionals.
All attendees must apply online. Classes are free, but participants must be pre-registered and approved to be guaranteed a space. The deadline to apply is Sept. 1. Class size is limited to 12 individuals.
The RISE Program is an entrepreneur-development program presented by the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center, Downtown Sanford Inc., and the Sanford Area Growth Alliance Chamber of Commerce.
Learn more and register at www.leesbc.com/rise/. Or, for more information, call the CCCC Small Business Center at 919-718-7558.
RALEIGH — The N.C. Dept. of Transportation is looking for volunteers for the Adopt-A-Highway Fall Litter Sweep, which runs Sept. 10 to 24.
Each April and September, the department calls on volunteers to help remove litter from roadsides. Volunteers from local businesses, schools, non-profits, churches and community groups play an important role in keeping North Carolina’s roads clean.
“North Carolina is a wonderful place thanks to the thousands of volunteers who donate their time every year,” says David Harris, state roadside environmental engineer. “The Litter Sweep is a great opportunity to get outdoors with family and friends and work alongside NCDOT to ensure North Carolina remains a beautiful place to live and work”
Volunteers can request gloves, safety vests and bags from their local county maintenance office during the sweep People looking to participate should contact their local litter management coordinator.
Visit the Litter Sweep webpage for more information.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
RALEIGH — North Carolina will see six major transportation improvements, thanks to new federal spending from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The U.S. Dept. of Transportation announced Thursday that 166 projects will receive funds nationwide this year under the $2.2 billion Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, grants.
North Carolina’s nearly $60 million share of the RAISE grants will pay to: reconstruct 28 bridges in western North Carolina. The $10.7 million in RAISE funds will help fix low-water bridges in six counties so they can better function during flood events and other bad weather emergencies; transform a busy corridor from Rutherfordton to Spindale into a Complete Street. RAISE funds totaling over $20 million will pay for road improvements and bicycle, pedestrian and transit improvements in Rutherford County; fund the planning of mobility hubs in seven communities along the S-Line, a rail corridor between Raleigh and Petersburg, Virginia. The $3.4 million in RAISE funds will increase access to transportation options, rail and transit services. It will also better connect urban and rural communities, improve freight services, and reduce travel time on rail between Raleigh and Washington, D.C.; build a new intermodal facility at the Wilmington port. More than $18 million is going to construct a facility that will enable the loading and discharging of supply containers on and off trains at the port; engineer and design a 3.6-mile multi-use path and add other sidewalks and paths in the Elizabeth City area. The law will provide $2 million in funds for this project; and construct a 1.2-mile extension to the Long Branch Trail in Winston-Salem. The extension aims to reduce pedestrian and bicycle-related crashes in an underserved community. The law provides $6 million for this project.
NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division supported the S-Line communities on their application and did the same for Rutherfordton and Spindale. The division offers similar technical expertise to small towns, counties and other communities around the state. Spindale’s Town Manager G. Scott Webber was excited to hear about the grant for his community in Rutherford County.
The RAISE program was the first discretionary grant program for which applications were accepted under last year’s $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Thursday‘s announcement was one of the first opportunities that President Joe Biden had to demonstrate plans for distributing the money.
For more information about Thursday’s announcement, visit USDOT’s website. Communities and others interested in applying for federal transportation grants are welcome to contact staff in NCDOT for assistance.