News Briefs

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NEWS BRIEFS

Holiday in the Park: a Holly Jolly drive-thru

The Chatham County community is invited to get into the holiday spirit with the Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department’s second annual Holiday in the Park event, schedule for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at Northeast District Park.

Modified due to COVID-19, this year’s event will take place as a holly jolly drive-thru, where participants will be asked to stay in their cars while in attendance.

During Holiday in the Park, families can collect an ornament kit to decorate at home, reindeer food and candy canes, while supplies last. Participants are encouraged to write a letter to Santa Claus ahead of time. Children will be able to hand their letters to Santa himself and wave at him through their car window.

“We are excited to continue to provide recreational activities and special events to allow Chatham County families the opportunity to enjoy fun times while also maintaining safety during the pandemic,” said Chatham County Parks and Recreation Director Tracy Burnett.

For more information, visit the Holiday in the Park Facebook event at facebook.com/CCParksandRecNC/events, or contact Mallory Peterson at (919) 548-0301 or at mallorypeterson.ccpr@gmail.com.

West Chatham Food Pantry seeks volunteers

The West Chatham Food Pantry is in dire need of volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering or know someone that might be interested, please come by the pantry at 2535 Old U.S. Hwy. 421 North in Siler City, or contact Diane Smith at (919) 742-3111 or by email at wcfoodpantry@gmail.com.

— CN + R staff reports

Few updates on county’s ‘cyber incident’

PITTSBORO — Chatham County officials said Monday they had no new updates about the status of the “cyber incident” which knocked out the county government’s computer, email and phone systems on Oct. 28.

“No additional information is available at this time as the incident is still under investigation,” said Kara Dudley, the county’s public information officer.

Dudley previously told the News + Record that Chatham County has cyber insurance, and that state and federal authorities are leading the incident investigation.

“Most Chatham County office phones are operating again; however, the voicemail system is still being repaired and expected to be restored in the coming days,” Dudley reported.

Chatham County will soon be moving to a .gov email domain for county employee email addresses.

TSWDB seeks applications for T3 training

The Triangle South Workforce Development Board (TSWDB) is accepting applications for its T3 (Training Today’s Teams) Grant for Incumbent Workers.

The TSWDB provides funding through its T3 Grant for Incumbent Workers to allow businesses with five or more employees operating in the Triangle South local area (Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Sampson counties) to “skill up” their existing workforce to meet the challenges of changes to production processes or market demands. The maximum amount is $5,000 per grant, and $10,000 per program a year, with a lifetime funding limit of $50,000.

The “skill-ups” that are addressed in a grant application can be a result of changing market conditions, a worker(s) changing responsibilities/requirements in her/his job, or for enhancement to production or services as part of the applicant organizations operations. The TSWDB T3 Grant for Incumbent Workers will result in workers with increased knowledge, certifications, and/or value to the company.

Eligibility is limited to North Carolina for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, with five or more employees, that have been in operation in North Carolina for a minimum of one year prior to the semi-annual submission deadline date, are current on all federal and state tax obligations, and are financially viable are eligible to apply. Triangle South T3 Incumbent Worker Training Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Applications are available upon request from the Triangle South Workforce Development Board office. The application is a part of the T3 Grant for Incumbent Workers policy. Applications should be submitted directly to a TSWDB business services team member. TSWDB may request additional information or establish supplemental provisions and requirements for the training applications.

T3 Grants are awarded on a competitive, as-needed basis and are dependent upon the availability of funding. T3 Grant Applications will be accepted through Dec. 16. Applicants should expect to be notified on their application status in January.

For more information on this program, or to request an application, people can contact a member of the Triangle South Business Outreach team: Norman Collins can be reached at 919-704-6655, or by email at ncollins@cccc.edu; Jessica Ingram can be reached at (919) 895-0302 or by email at jtingram@cccc.edu.

The Triangle South Workforce Development Board is responsible for planning, policy guidance, and oversight of the workforce investment system in Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Sampson counties. Its goal is to combine area employment, training, and supportive services and programs into a consumer-based, market-driven system that meets the needs of job seekers and employers.

For more information on the Triangle South Workforce Development Board, visit trianglesouthworkforce.com.

— CN + R staff reports

Cougar Express holiday drive-thru event set for Dec. 3

SANFORD —The Central Carolina Community College Foundation is sponsoring a special holiday season drive-thru event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center parking lot.

The “Cougar Express” drive-thru event that is geared toward small children will include cookies and candy canes, elves, a snowwoman and Santa Claus.

Appropriate COVID-19 measures are in place and will be observed.

“The CCCC Foundation is pleased to offer the Cougar Express drive-thru,” said Dr. Emily C. Hare, the CCCC Foundation’s executive director. “Please come out and join us for this special occasion.”

For more information, contact Dr. Hare at (919) 718-7230 or at ehare@cccc.edu.

Free services offered at Piedmont Community
Health Services

Piedmont Health Services is offering free assistance for people who no longer have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance, which closes in early December, as well as assisting people in deciding what Medicare options which closes in early December.

For information, contact Debra Markley at (919) 619-2159, or go to www.piedmonthealth.org.

— CN + R staff reports

Gladys McAuley is newest CCCC Trustee

SANFORD — Gladys Rodriguez McAuley is the newest member of the Central Carolina Community College Board of Trustees. She was appointed to the board by N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper.

McAuley holds an associate degree in accounting from Central Carolina Community College and a bachelor’s degree in management from Meredith College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

She retired in 2012 from IBM in Research Triangle Park.

McAuley is married to Larry E. McAuley. They have one child, Chris McAuley.

Holiday in the Park: a Holly Jolly drive-thru

The Chatham County community is invited to get into the holiday spirit with the Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department’s second annual Holiday in the Park event, schedule for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at Northeast District Park.

Modified due to COVID-19, this year’s event will take place as a holly jolly drive-thru, where participants will be asked to stay in their cars while in attendance.

During Holiday in the Park, families can collect an ornament kit to decorate at home, reindeer food and candy canes, while supplies last. Participants are encouraged to write a letter to Santa Claus ahead of time. Children will be able to hand their letters to Santa himself and wave at him through their car window.

“We are excited to continue to provide recreational activities and special events to allow Chatham County families the opportunity to enjoy fun times while also maintaining safety during the pandemic,” said Chatham County Parks and Recreation Director Tracy Burnett.

For more information, visit the Holiday in the Park Facebook event at facebook.com/CCParksandRecNC/events, or contact Mallory Peterson at (919) 548-0301 or at mallorypeterson.ccpr@gmail.com.

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 sign-up ends Dec. 11

Agricultural producers may apply for CFAP 2 through the Chatham County Farm Service Agency Office through Dec. 11.This program provides producers compensation for ongoing market disruptions and with the associated marketing costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. CFAP 2 payments will be made for three categories of commodities: Price Trigger Commodities, Flat-rate Crops and Sales Commodities. Price trigger commodities are major commodities that meet a minimum 5-percent price decline over a specified period of time. Eligible price trigger crops include barley, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, upland cotton, and all classes of wheat. Payments will be based on 2020 planted acres of the crop. Eligible price trigger livestock are beef cattle, pigs, and lambs. Payment is based on maximum owned inventory of eligible livestock, excluding breeding stock, on a date selected by the producer, between April 16 and Aug. 3.

A complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates and calculations can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. If you have any questions or would like to apply for the CFAP 2 program, please call the county office at 919-542-2244, ext. 2. USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone or email only at this time.

— CN + R staff reports

DOT suspending most construction over Thanksgiving

RALEIGH — The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Thanksgiving Travel: the DOT is suspending most construction activity along its major highways to keep lanes open for those traveling for Thanksgiving.

The work along interstates, as well as U.S. and key N.C. routes is expected to shut down through the evening of Nov. 30. There are some exceptions where construction conditions make it unsafe to open all lanes. This includes some locations where lanes are under construction or where a bridge is being replaced. Work that does not impact travel lanes can continue for some projects.

Before you hit the road, go to driveNC.gov for the most up-to-date traffic information.

Thanksgiving Click It or Ticket Campaign: The annual Thanksgiving Click It or Ticket campaign will be in place this week.

Law enforcement will be stepping up enforcement of speeding, drunk driving and, of course, seat belt laws in all 100 counties. Violators of North Carolina’s seat belt law are fined $179; if a passenger under 15 is not properly restrained there’s a $263 fine.

Great Trails State Plan: the DOT needs your help during the final stages of the Great Trails State Plan. The initiative will use existing plans and recommendations to identify a network of shared-use paths and trails connecting every county in North Carolina.

The department recently collected more than 11,000 responses to a public survey about the types and locations of trails they would like to see. Now, we need your review and input of the draft network plan. You have until Dec. 4 to provide your input.

For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at 919-707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.

— CN + R staff reports

Library offers winter reading program

PITTSBORO — Winter is just around the corner, and Chatham Community Library is thrilled to offer its virtual Winter Reading Program “Ten to Try” from Dec. 1 through Jan. 15.

Ten to Try is a challenge to encourage community members to read a book in each of 10 categories, keep track of their reading, and share their favorite discoveries with the library and fellow readers. Participants will be entered in a prize drawing when they have read a book in at least five of the 10 listed categories.

Additionally, there is a challenge for children ages 2-8, and one for tweens and teens ages 9+. Both challenges can be found at the library’s Beanstack site. Readers who have used Beanstack before may log in to find the right challenge for them. Those who are new to Beanstack may create an account and get started. Readers can log their activities in the appropriate challenge, and the library staff keep track of the rest.

Readers can broaden their horizons and earn a chance to win a $50 gift card to McIntyre’s Books, courtesy of the Friends of the Chatham Community Library.

For more information, contact Youth Services Librarian Katy Henderson at katyh@gmail.com.

— CN + R staff reports