Siler City Parks to host drive-in movie
Siler City Parks and Recreation announces the August 2020 Friday Night Flick will be offered as a Drive-In Movie.
Friday Night Flicks events — a popular movie in the park series — are traditionally organized by the department in the park each year. Out of an abundance of caution, and to ensure compliance with both state and federal COVID-19 guidelines, the 2020 series of events will be modified to offer a family-friendly event for the community to enjoy.
Events will take place on the fourth Friday night of August, September and October at the Bray Park Sports Complex in Siler City. The first event will premier “The Lion King,” a 2019 photorealistic animated film. “The Lion King” will premier on the big screen on Aug. 28 and begin at dusk (movie will start between 8:15-8:30 p.m.) and gates will open at 7 p.m. for ticket-holders to enter. Tickets for the event are free, but pre-registration is required since space is limited. Tickets will become available two weeks prior to the event and can be reserved online at www.silercity.org or at the Water and Billing Department on the 1st floor of City Hall. (Tickets are 1 per vehicle, not per person). No tickets will be available on the day of the event. Tickets must be presented when entering the park to attend.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of park patrons and community members is a top priority. Space is limited and a parking space will remain open between each vehicle to encourage social distancing. Families are asked to remain in their vehicles and in their reserved parking spaces. Ticket holders will enjoy the movie from the comfort of their car and listen to the premier through a car radio, battery powered radio, or broadcast from speakers. Guests are encouraged to bring their own refreshments since concessions will not be available. Alcohol is not permitted in the park.
The Friday Night Flicks series will also include the premiere of the 2020 animated film “Onward” on Sept. 25 and the premiere of the 2019 animated film “The Addams Family” on Oct. 23. Operations of the September and October event will be announced at a later date and are subject to modifications to comply with future guidelines.
Friday Night Flicks is made possible by several local sponsors which will be highlighted the night of each event. These community events bring families, friends and neighbors together for a fun evening, watching their favorite movies on the big screen under the stars at a safe social distance.
For more information, please contact the Siler City Parks and Recreation Department at 919-742-2699, email recreation@silercity.org, or visit online at www.silercity.org.
CCCC announces BLET graduates
SANFORD — Thirteen Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training Cadets have graduated from the Spring 2020 Day Class or the Fall 2019-2020 Night Class.
Spring 2020 Day Class graduates, with their respective agencies, were:
• Thomas Robert Byrd (Chatham County Sheriff’s Office)
• Noah Paul Gill (Chatham County Sheriff’s Office)
• Caleb Toby Henrickson (Harnett County Sheriff’s Office)
• Madison Elizabeth Jordan (Broadway Police Dept.)
• Cameron Matthew Lynn (Fuquay-Varina Police Dept.)
• Remington Chase Mangum (Lillington Police Dept.)
• George Austin Moody (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
• James Steven Yates (North Carolina Parks and Recreation)
• Michael Todd Young (Broadway Police Dept.)
Fall 2019-2020 Night Class graduates, with their respective agencies, were:
• Stephen Edward Hubbard (Sanford Police Dept.)
• Johntavius DaReece King (Lillington Police Dept.)
• Krystallynn Michelle Robertson (Harnett County Sheriff’s Office)
• Martin Lucio Segovia (Angier Police Dept.)
County receives grant to install vehicle fast charging station
PITTSBORO — The N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality selected Siler City as one of 33 locations across the state to receive grant funds to install a zero emission vehicle fast charging station.
Chatham County’s project was chosen as part of a competitive grant application process designed to install fast charging stations for electric vehicles in strategically important travel corridors throughout the state. The grant will fund up to $82,971 (about 80% of the cost) to install a fast charging station located in the Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q parking lot at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 64 and U.S. Hwy. 421 in Siler City.
Gov. Roy Cooper announced the grant awards on July 29 as part the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s settlement with Volkswagen for unlawfully cheating on vehicle emissions. Cooper designated NC DEQ to administer distribution of the settlement funds.
“Fast charging stations are important for zero emission vehicle adoption because they can charge a vehicle more rapidly, about 20-30 minutes, compared to a standard charger, which takes three or more hours,” said Kevin Lindley, Chatham County’s Environmental Quality Director. “This charger will be strategically placed where drivers who stop to charge their vehicle will have several restaurants, stores, and medical offices available to them within walking distance. Having fast chargers along major travel corridors reduces ‘range anxiety’ and allows ZEV owners to more easily travel longer distances.”
The charger will be available to the public 24 hours per day in a well-lit parking lot. It will have two dedicated parking spaces, and one vehicle will be able to charge at a time. The charger is internet connected, so ZEV owners will be able to download a phone app to check the station’s availability, monitor their car’s charging and to pay for a charge.
Chatham County has a Comprehensive Plan goal of becoming carbon negative, which means releasing less carbon into the atmosphere, e.g. through greenhouse gases like vehicle emissions, than can be absorbed by the environment. Based on data from two greenhouse gas inventories that were completed in 2010 and 2015, the largest greenhouse gas contributor in the county is vehicle emissions.
“One of the goals in the Comprehensive Plan is to encourage zero emission vehicles by creating a countywide network of ZEV charging stations, and the fast charging station in Siler City will bring Chatham County one step closer to achieving this goal,” Lindley said.
NCDOL Encourages Businesses to Participate in “Safe + Sound Week”
RALEIGH — A national campaign to promote workplace safety and health has been declared in North Carolina for the week of Aug. 10-16 by Gov. Roy Cooper and in conjunction with NCDOL, the state’s lead agency for workplace safety and health.
The federal “Safe + Sound” campaign, promoted each August, encourages every business to develop a safety and health program to ultimately eliminate hazards and prevent injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the workplace.
“We are pleased with the proclamation issued by Gov. Roy Cooper recognizing ‘Safe + Sound Week’ once again in North Carolina,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “Given the current situation with the pandemic, safety and health has never been more important than it is today, and it must be constantly in the forefront of our minds not only in the workplace but in our daily tasks. I challenge all North Carolina businesses to register as participants in the 2020 program.”
Businesses can register for the program by visiting the OSHA website. Last year, more than 3,300 businesses across the country participated to help raise awareness. North Carolina currently has 61 businesses registered for the 2020 campaign.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical importance for North Carolina employers to develop and implement effective safety and health programs for their workplaces,” said Kevin Beauregard, director of the state OSH Division. “This week we celebrate the successes of those businesses that have already implemented safety and health programs in the workplace and strongly encourage other businesses to do the same.”
The OSH Division has developed many tools and resources that are available for employers and employees on the NCDOL website including important guidance information associated with COVID-19 prevention measures that should be implemented.
If your organization is participating this year, be sure to use #SafeAndSoundWeek on social media. For more information on the campaign, visit OSHA’s website.
Causey urges consumers to contact their insurance agents over insurance coverage
RALEIGH — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, noted that the state has suffered from both an earthquake and a Category 1 hurricane within the past week, and urged the state’s consumers to check with their insurance agent to review their policies and make sure they are covered from the effects of natural disasters.
“Damage from earthquakes are generally not covered under most standard homeowners’ insurance policies,” Causey noted. “However, homeowners can talk with their agents and easily add an earthquake endorsement to their policies. I also encourage consumers to get replacement coverage on both their homeowners’ and automobile insurance policies.”
Causey also urged North Carolinians to talk to their agents about getting flood insurance coverage policies through the National Flood Insurance Program. Damage from floods is also not covered under standard homeowners’ policies.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake, centered in Sparta, was felt across North Carolina Sunday morning. It’s the strongest earthquake to hit North Carolina since 1916.
Last week, Hurricane Isaias made landfall in southeastern North Carolina, causing loss of life and property destruction in portions of the eastern part of the state.
For most families, their home is their biggest investment. Commissioner Causey urges homeowners to protect their investment by making sure they have sufficient insurance coverage, and to make sure they review their coverage with their insurance agent at least annually.
97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com establish advertising fund
CHAPEL HILL — In September, 97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com will establish its “Campaign for Local Community Nonprofit Advertising Fund.”
Through this initiative, 10 local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations will be awarded advertising credit that can be used to promote the organization’s services in our community, fundraise, find volunteers, advertise events and more.
Each nonprofit’s advertising through the program will be customized based on the marketing needs of each organization — and promotion will be placed across the local media platforms of 97.9 The Hill, Chapelboro.com and its supporting social media outlets.
The nonprofit organizations will be chosen based on a community vote, which will take place between Sept. 9-25. To be included on the ballot, each organization must complete the Community Nonprofit Advertising Fund application on Chapelboro.com by Sept. 4.
Eligible organizations include those that are located in Alamance, Chatham, Durham, or Orange counties and are registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Religious organizations are ineligible for the award, as are political causes, candidates or campaigns.
The amount of advertising awarded to each nonprofit organization will be based entirely on the amount of funds raised through 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com’s Campaign for Local. For example, if $100,000 is raised for 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com through the Campaign for Local, then each nonprofit organization would receive $10,000 in advertising credit.
Visit www.Chapelboro.com/CampaignForLocal for full details, or contact Jada Jarillo at jada@wchl.com or 919-240-6026 with further questions.
Margaret Roberton joins CCCC as Vice President of Workforce Development
SANFORD — Margaret Roberton has returned home to Central Carolina Community College as Vice President of Workforce Development. Roberton, who once served as CCCC Chatham Continuing Education Director, most recently has served as Associate Vice President of Workforce Continuing Education with the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS).
“I enjoyed my time at the NCCCS and deeply appreciated the opportunity to be engaged at that level in policy, strategy, and programs impacting the state,” said Roberton, whose professional experience includes work at Wake Tech Community College and Wayne Community College. “That being said, I have always known there would be a time when I wanted to return to the college campus and engage at a deeper local level to implement the great ideas and concepts supporting workforce.”
Roberson, who lives in Chatham County, said she began her North Carolina community college career at CCCC and when Dr. Lisa Chapman left the System Office to return to the college as the President, and “it became very intriguing to consider if this was the correct time.
“The service area of CCCC — Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties — are so diverse and the location within the state provides space to consider regional relationships that respond to workforce needs in new and meaningful ways. The CCCC position is an ideal opportunity to return to a college that has a demonstrated desire to consider new initiatives and processes to address regional workforce needs.”
Dr. Chapman noted of Roberton: “We are very pleased to have Margaret joining the college as our Vice President of Workforce Development. VP Roberton worked at the college, serving Chatham County operations several years ago, so this is somewhat of a homecoming for her. She brings a wealth of workforce development experience that includes industry employment, serving at a few of our sister community colleges, and most recently engaged in statewide efforts at the North Carolina Community College System Office as the Associate Vice President of Workforce Continuing Education.
“That state-level experience coupled with a deep appreciation for how our colleges work allows Margaret to bring a very unique experience and set of skills to our college family just when our local and regional workforce demands are rapidly evolving and expanding. The college has been doing exceptional work over the last several years, improving access and student success, and Margaret’s leadership will allow us to further connect our successes with our growing community needs.”
Roberton sees her initial role as learning about the wide array of resources within CCCC and to engage with the various economic development and industry sector groups. “I want to be positioned to sit in meetings with industry and economic development decision makers and provide a response to supporting workforce that leverages the many strengths of the college,” she said.
“The college plays a key role in economic development and whether we are building pathway opportunities to impact future employees, upskilling incumbent workers or providing connections to resources, we should be engaged in those conversations supporting the economic growth of the region. One of my roles will be to work with the various members of the CCCC team to develop opportunities that address the spectrum of workforce needs and leverage all of our resources.”
Roberton noted that workforce development is the cornerstone of what community colleges provide -- whether it be literacy programs, short-term workforce credentials, customized training, small business centers, technical degrees or transfer pathways. “The North Carolina community colleges are uniquely positioned to respond to local and regional needs for talent development that supports both the members of our communities as well as our employers,” Roberton said.
“North Carolina community colleges are part of the equation when you consider economic mobility and access to advancement. At CCCC, workforce development is part of all conversations from how we respond to employers, advise students, create learning opportunities, and develop equitable paths to success,” Roberton said. “Workforce Development may be in my title, but it is the work of all the CCCC members, my goal is to help facilitate those activities for the best outcomes.”
Roberton will be actively reaching out through various avenues in the next several months to get to know the Central Carolina business community. “I’m interested in their thoughts on how we can partner to strengthen opportunities and create access to great jobs for the members of our community,” said Roberton. “If anyone in the business community has a need or a question, please reach out to me on how CCCC can support your needs for workforce development for both new employee pipelines and upskilling current staff.”
Roberton and her husband, James, have a 15-year-old son, James Kent, who will be joining the CCCC family as a Career & College Promise student this fall.