April 2011
Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus Hosts Sustainability Technologies Fair
Interested in solar technology? Learn more during Durham Technical Community College’s Sustainability Technologies Fair. The event will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Durham Tech’s Orange County Campus in Hillsborough. Beginning this fall, the Sustainability Technologies program will offer both the Solar Photovoltaic certificate and the Renewable Energy diploma. Visitors can view solar technology demonstrations and talk to solar technology professionals. Some representatives from locally-owned solar installation companies include Strata Solar, Southern-Energy Management, and Sun Dogs Solutions. Visitors may also participate in 30-minute sustainability and renewable energy workshops led by Durham Tech instructors. Other highlights: - Enjoy live music from local high school bands using an amplification system powered by solar energy;
- Learn about the new Sustainability Technologies credit programming at the Orange County Campus;
- Find out how to apply for financial aid and admissions for Summer Term 2011 and Fall Semester 2011 courses;
- Enjoy a delicious meal prepared by one of our locally owned and operated food truck vendors
The Solar Photovoltaic certificate is designed for licensed electricians, those pursuing an electrical degree, and those who are working in facilities services under the supervision of an electrician. The certificate instruction includes both energy use analysis and solar photovoltaic system installation.
The new Renewable Energy diploma includes electrical and math courses for students without previous electrical experience. The diploma program includes work experience with a local company. The renewable energy diploma may be completed in five semesters. This new program will position Durham Tech and Orange County as leaders and models in the state for developing innovative and practical green training programs and initiatives.
For the most up-to-date event information please go to the event webpage:
For more information, contact Carlo Robustelli at 919-536-7238, ext. 4202, or robustec@durhamtech.edu.Date:
Saturday, April 30, 2011 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
Location:
Durham Tech's Orange County Campus, 525 College Park Road, Hillsborough NC
Via Town of Chapel Hill news list:
Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt invites residents to join him in riding Chapel Hill's fare-free transit system, followed by free coffee and an informal conversation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, at Starbucks at 103 E. Franklin Street.
The discussion about transportation issues in Chapel Hill will include updates on alternative transportation, including Chapel Hill Transit.
For more information, contact Len Cone at lcone@townofchapelhill.org or 919-969-5065.
Date:
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - 9:30am to 10:30am
Location:
Starbucks, 103 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Mary Norwood Jones, along with three others, will soon be remembered with a dedication at Chapel Hill’s Peace and Justice Plaza for her civil rights work in Chapel Hill. I knew her as the person who took care of Northside. When I first moved to Northside in 2002, I would often see Mrs. Jones out picking up cans, paper and other debris that littered the street our homes shared. I find myself following her example picking up trash as I walk through the neighborhood with my daughter. Mrs. Jones also had a beautiful yard with huge hydrangea bushes and a tidy lawn. It was again following her example that had me up on Saturday mornings pushing my lawn mower when I would rather be sleeping in and experimenting with what plants my brown thumb could keep alive in my front flower beds. While my yard still has far to go, I keep at it, thinking about the approving words she would give me if she found me kneeling in the dirt trying to beat back crabgrass to make room for some newly planted perennials. Along with planting tips, Mrs. Jones talked about the importance taking care of the young people and keeping the neighborhood looking nice.
I've been asked a couple of times what I think of the appointment last week so here goes.
In surely the most significant action the board takes (fortunately for us, a not-too-frequent action), the board chose Dr. Thomas Forcella of Guilford, CT
as the next superintendent. He certainly hit all the right
points in his introduction and initial interviews over the first day --
encourages community involvement, seeks strong growth by every child, has demonstrated high achievement
with a diverse student body. I am optimistic that we have found a proven leader to bring creative solutions to our schools. I even heard him utter the word "progressive" in a radio interview. Either he is extraodinarly savvy about saying all the right things or he is truly a good fit for the culture in our district and believes in the same goals we share. Probably a combination of those two, but that's not a bad thing either.
This year, WCHL tried something different and involved a panel of community members (including myself) in developing the ideas for what topics to cover and what guests to invite for the annual Community Forum. I haven't seen a full list of what is proposed, but I think it was a useful process and I applaud WCHL for taking a step toward a more participatory Forum.
Date:
Thursday, April 28, 2011 - 8:00am to 6:00pm
As we've mentioned before here on OP, the Town of Chapel Hill is preparing to revise its decade-old Comprehensive Plan (CP). In addition to documenting something of a shared vision of the community, it is also used as the basis of the Town's LUMO (Land Use Management Ordinance) which contains the actual policies and regulations with which all developers must comply. In an attempt to ramp up the process of creating this community document, the Town Council is trying a new approach: they decided to empanel an "Initiating Committee" (IC) that will lay out the process through which the actual CP wil be created.
With the month of May coming, it time for flowers to bloom and for our school district to trim resources. Every year when this happens I appreciate the flowers and figure there has to be a better way to fund our schools. Below is the text of a letter I send to Representative Insko with copy to County Commissioner Alice Gordon. There has to be a better approach that what we have now. Thoughts and comments are appreciated.
We haven't had one in a while. How are y'all?
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