VOLUME 147 ISSUE 9 | THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Parks and Rec releases Summer Program guide Chatham County has released its annual summer program guide highlighting events and activities available in the county this summer. New programs include visual arts programs for youths and adults, adaptive basket ball, youth volleyball, open play adult soccer and more. The guide can be picked up from the Parks and Rec office at 964 East Street in Pittsboro or online at chathamcountync.gov/ parks-rec ENA SELLERS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
VinFast signs 12 new dealers Vietnamese EV startup VinFast, which is building a large facility in Chatham County, has signed up 12 new dealers to sell its vehicles. This brings the company’s total US dealer network up to 18 outlets across seven states. In addition to Leith VinFast in Raleigh, previously announced, Greensboro gains its own dealership in Triad VinFast. The company’s other new dealers are scattered across Florida, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Kentucky and Kansas.
Love. Lowriders. Latinos. Daniel Castañeda, president of the City Knights Lowriders Car Club in Fayetteville, and his son Daniel stand in front of their 1967 Chevy Impala at the Lowrider Show on Saturday in Pittsboro. For more on lowriders and what they mean to North Carolina’s Latino community, turn to page A10.
Chapel Hill Garden Tour offers peek at gardening mastery The annual tour includes five private gardens plus the N.C. Botanical Garden
NCDOT distributing free bicycle helmets for kids This spring, NCDOT is set to distribute approximately 12,500 bicycle helmets to organizations across the state, bolstering safety for young cyclists. Launched in 2007, the Bicycle Helmet Initiative focuses on educating children about the importance of helmet usage to prevent severe brain injuries. “Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of head injuries,” said Brennon Fuqua, interim director of NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division. Funded by federal grants and “Share the Road” specialty license plates, the helmets are provided during public safety events by participating community groups and schools. Applications will open next year in January. In Chatham County, the Pittsboro Kiwanis Club was awarded 100 helmets in small, medium and large to distribute in the community.
By Robert Owens For Chatham News & Record
PHOTO COURTESY DAPHNE MCLEOD / CHAPEL HILL GARDEN CLUB
The Yost’s backyard patio is framed with lush plantings and containers brimming with bright spring color.
Boats needed for veterans’ fishing event at Jordan Lake The day is free to the wounded warriors, with no registration fee for host boaters.
Operation North State is hosting a daylong fishing festival on May 2 By Bob Wachs For Chatham News & Record A DAY on the lake fishing for the big ones needs a lot of parts to pull it off — fishermen, tackle, fishing holes and boats. Especially boats. And that’s where there’s a need for a Chatham County event coming up in early May at Jordan Lake that benefits wounded and disabled military vets. Operation North State (ONS) is an entirely volunteer organization dedicated to helping wounded and disabled veterans overcome their challenges and rejoin society — full disclosure, I volunteer with the organization. On Thursday, May 2, ONS will host a daylong fishing festival for 50 vets on Jordan Lake, but only 27 host boats are confirmed so far and they need more. “We’re behind where we need to be for these folks,” says ONS founder Terry Snyder, a retired Winson-Salem businessman. “We’re getting into the homestretch.” The day is free to the wounded warriors, with no registration fee for host boaters. Fishing licenses are waived for the day and all needed equipment — life vests, tackle, bait and daylong snacks — are provided by ONS. At the end of the day, a dinner sponsored by area churches and organizations, is held at nearby Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. The event kicks off at the Farrington Point boat ramp at 6:15 a.m. and runs through the See JORDAN LAKE, page A2
THE CHAPEL HILL Garden Club is hosting its 14th biennial garden tour this weekend, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “Tucked Away Treasures” and will show-
case five private gardens, each with its own unique charm and character, as well as the North Carolina Botanical Garden (NCBG). The tour offers a diverse range of gardens for exploration. The Carnahan garden is a certified wildlife habitat, showcasing the beauty of native trees and pollinator plants, and the Conger garden demonstrates how deer-resistant plants can create a lush, verdant space. The Eberts garden is a zen, See GARDEN, page A7
Downtown Pittsboro scores recognitions SoCo Pittsboro won an award for Best Outdoor Space improvement By Robert Owens For Chatham News & Record DOWNTOWN Pittsboro has been reaccredited as a NC Main Street community, one of only 50 other communities across the state to receive the designation. It’s especially significant as Pittsboro moved up from the Small-Town Main Street program in 2022 and is competing against larger downtowns. The accreditation examines six Main Street America performance standards for a downtown business district including community commitment to revitalization, inclusive leadership and organizational capacity, diversified funding and sustainable program operations, strategy-driven programming, preservation-based economic development, and demonstrated impact and results. The Pittsboro Main Street program achieved high-level performance across all six metrics. “Achieving accreditation is very rewarding to our community and downtown business owners,” stated Theresa Thompson, Assistant Planning and Downtown Direc-
tor for the Town of Pittsboro. “This shows that our downtown program is progressing well relative to Main Street America standards, and our volunteer Board members are working diligently to improve Downtown Pittsboro.” The Pittsboro Downtown Advisory Board currently has three openings, with applications due by Friday at noon. There are a number of different categories eligible including Pittsboro or downtown area restaurant, bar or business owners and managers, local landowners, contractors, architects, landscapers or real estate attorneys. Visit pittsboronc.gov for more or to put in an application. In addition, SoCo Pittsboro won an Award of Merit for Best Outdoor Space improvement at the 2024 NC Main Street conference last month. The project was recognized for creating a new and popular gathering space for residents and visitors.
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