The Vietnamese electric car manufacturer shipped its first 999 EVs to the United States Monday. VinFast executives called the shipment “a significant event” and a “historical milestone” for the company.
Nguyen Viet Quang, vice chairman and CEO of Vingroup, said he hopes this shipment is the first of many as the company attempts to break into the global EV market.
The company held a large celebration as the vehicles were loaded onto the ships headed across the Pacific Ocean including patriotic music, dancers, flags and a visit by the Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
VinFast, which is building a 1,700+ acre facility in Moncure, said the vehicles should arrive stateside in about 18 business days. This means the first U.S. customers can expect to drive their cars by the end of 2022, VinFast said. Those first customers are largely based in California where the company has six showrooms across the state and is planning three more.
Across the country, close to 17,000 orders have already been placed for a variety of models, VinFast said.
N.C.’s first car manufacturer will continue to build vehicles in Vietnam and ship them overseas until the Chatham facility is operational, which is expected to be by the summer of 2024. VinFast then plans to produce 200,000 electric SUVs each year in Chatham by 2027.
The Dec. 8 concert featuring Tayla Lynn and Tre Twitty, the grandchildren of Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, at the Mann Center of North Carolina in Sanford, has been postponed.
The two have been touring together to sold out shows for the past six years. They are fresh from their second Grand Ole Opry appearance, but the Sanford show will be re-scheduled.
PITTSBORO — The public is invited to join Chatham Community Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10, for a special event called Death and Cupcakes in the Holmes Family Meeting Room.
The event will provide a safe space to share stories and ask questions about sorrow, grief and love around death, dying and beyond. The goal is to bring positive awareness around death and to provide community support around living and dying.
This program will be facilitated by the Clinical Director of heart2heart Cathy Brooksie Edwards and by Abundance NC with music by Amy Durso. The mission of heart2heart is to support individuals, families, and communities as they navigate the living path during the dying time and beyond. Abundance NC works to create events that connect people to one another in a world less connected than ever.
Coffee, tea and cupcakes will be served. Coffee is provided by Aromatic Roasters of Pittsboro, and cupcakes are provided by Carolina Cravings Co. of Pittsboro.
This program is free and open to the public and made possible with funding from the Friends of the Chatham Community Library. Residents may also visit the libraries’ website www.chathamlibraries.org or contact the Library at 919-545-8084 or rita.vanduinen@chathamlibraries.org for more information on this and other events and programs.
SILER CITY — Dance performances return to Jordan-Matthews High School after many decades, when beginning students take the stage this week for “Winter Dance,” a free, 40-minute show featuring five works in the styles of jazz, modern and hip hop.
“Winter Dance” — set for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in the J-M Auditorium — is the first public performance since dance classes returned to J-M this semester after a several-decade hiatus.
JM Dance is now under the direction of Tara Rooks, who came to Siler City this fall to begin her first full-time faculty position in schools. She previously taught residencies for K-12 students as a dancer and instructor with Annex Dance Company in Charleston, S.C. Before that, she served as a dancer, choreographer or instructor with Burlington (N.C.) Dance Center, West Virginia Dance Company and Infinite Dance Studios in Australia.
“When I interviewed, I liked the feel of JM, and the idea of building a program from the ground up is very exciting,” she said when named the school’s dance instructor. “High school dance was where I got inspired to study dance in college and make it my career. I want to bring this vibrant option to J-M students, especially those who’ve never had a chance to study dance. Maybe they can discover a passion they never knew existed.”
JMArts President Rose Pate, who retired this summer after more than four decades as the school’s librarian, has been working to expand the arts program and bring dance back to Jordan-Matthews. She is excited for what “Winter Dance” means for local arts.
“We look forward to showcasing the work of our beginning dance students, and we appreciate the support of the district and Northwood as we start to develop our dance program,” she said. “This concert is free, so all of our family, friends and public can enjoy the event.”
More information about JMArts, including a schedule of all upcoming arts events and information on membership, is available online at JMArts.org.
From 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, the Silk Hope Ruritans are having their 3rd annual Ruritan Country Christmas with Santa and kids giveaways. There will be lots of things for kids to do at 4221 Silk Hope Rd.
On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Pittsboro Business Association’s monthly First Sunday street fair will be featuring arts and crafts vendors, other businesses and civic organizations, music, food, and children’s activities from 12 to 4 p.m.. Many downtown businesses will also be open, along with the Historical Museum.
More information about attending or becoming a vendor is available on our Pittsboro Business Association Facebook page, at www.shoppittsboro.com, and via email to the event coordinator at pittsborofirstsunday@gmail.com.
PITTSBORO — The Pittsboro Gallery of Arts offers a variety of handmade treasures for gift giving this holiday, as well a a wide range of media: paintings, paper and fiber works, ceramics,wood work, jewelry and mosaics.
Recognized as a “destination art gallery,” it is situated just steps from the county courthouse. It’s open Tuesdays through Sundays. For more information go to www.pittsboroarts.org.
This gallery is owned and operated by local and regional artists, whose purpose is to exhibit and offer an opportunity for art lovers and patrons to view, purchase and collect fine art and fine crafts. Additionally, the artists wish to promote artistic excellence and contribute to the cultural and economic welfare of the community. Pittsboro Gallery of Arts is located at 44-A Hillsboro St., Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312 and our phone number is: 919-704-8552
SANFORD — Plan a holiday visit to House in the Horseshoe on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The warm glow of candlelight will welcome visitors to “O blessed Season!” guided candlelight tours. A yearly tradition continues this year, with the Alston house decorated with festive greenery.
Guests will learn how Christmas was celebrated in Colonial America and how many modern holiday traditions had not yet been introduced. Tours of the candlelit house will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Limited tickets available, $8 each. Advanced tickets must be purchased on Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.com<http://www.eventbrite.com>).
Visitors can enjoy warm fresh- pressed cider and ginger cakes around the fire after their tour.
In 1781 the Alston house was the site of militia skirmish between the owner, Whig Col. Philip Alston, and Loyalist Col. David Fanning. The house still bears some the scars from this engagement. From 1798 to 1814 the House in the Horseshoe, under the name Retreat, was home to another Patriot leader and four-time North Carolina governor, Benjamin Williams.
Located at 288 Alston House Rd., Sanford, House in the Horseshoe is 16 miles west of Sanford off NC 42 and 10 miles north of Carthage on the Carbonton-Carthage Road. The house was built in 1772 by Philp Alston who proved a fiery leader for the Whig cause during the American Revolution.
For additional information call 910-947-2051. House in the Horseshoe is part of the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.