Cougar Bytes for July 9, 2009
July 9, 2009
Volume II, Number 21
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The next issue of COUGAR BYTES will come out on Friday, July 23, 2009.
IN THIS ISSUE:
- WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND CCCC
- PERSONNEL NOTES
- MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- CCCC-BAY
- COUGAR BITE-BACKS
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND CCCC
CCCC Stars Dancing To Help Kids Stay In School
Who will get your vote for Dancing with the Lee County Stars? Four CCCC employees will be showing their stuff on Friday, August 21, 2009 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center to help raise money for Communities in Schools (CIS) of Lee County, an organization that helps keep kids in school through programs like BackPack Pals, The Teacher Resource Room, the Adopt A School Program, and many others.
CCCC's own Carl Bryan (Chair, Social Science & Wellness), Dwight Hollingsworth (Cosmetology Instructor), Mike Neal (Director of Student Activities), and Joni Pavlik (Dean of Business/Media Technologies and Public Services) will be dancing their hearts out that night. President Bud Marchant will be one of the judges. The festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. with "A Taste of Lee County" featuring some of the area's finest chefs, such as Amy's Confection Company, Bella Bistro, Cafe 121, Fresh Choice Cafe, Harris Wholesale, Myra's Kitchen, Smith's Coffee and Bottled Water, and more. The main event, "Dancing with the Lee County Stars," will begin at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $50.00 each. All proceeds go to CIS of Lee County.
You, too, can vote by logging onto the CIS website,
http://www.dancingwiththeleecountystars.com. Each vote costs a $10.00 tax-deductible donation to CIS and you can vote as many times as you like.
Project Skill-UP Grant Launches Ag Class at West Harnett Center
Sustainable agriculture is taking root at Central Carolina Community College's West Harnett Center, thanks to a $40,000 Project Skill-UP grant.
Students in the "Introduction to Sustainable Vegetable Production" course are digging, planting, watering, and watching over tomatoes, peppers, okra, and other vegetables in a field at the Center.
Sustainable agriculture uses methods and supplies that are Earth-friendly, so the students are learning about weed, insect, and disease management and prevention without herbicides or pesticides. The class also covers growing herbs and cut flowers, cover crops, and crop rotation.
"In many ways, we are on fertile ground," said Stelfanie Williams, vice president of Economic & Community Development at the college. "As farmers and other interested community members pursue greener alternatives, the college can serve as the resource for training and development."
The grant-funded class at the West Harnett Center is a pilot program to train farmers in the skills to transition from tobacco-based farming to sustainable agriculture. The class, taught by Robert VanderVoort, is also open to community members interested in organic gardening. The grant pays for the students' enrollment fees, textbooks, and garden supplies.
BRAC tours Central Carolina C.C.'s Lee Campus
Members of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Regional Task Force, at Fort Bragg, visited the Lee County Campus July 1 to tour the campus and become more familiar with some of the college's offerings. During the tour, Renee Lane (left), BRAC RTF communications outreach coordinator, and Dr. Jane Smith, BRAC RTF education program manager, learn about mold creation by the college's machining students from Glenn Shearin (back, left), tool and die instructor; student Mike Amatucci (back, center) and Dr. Stephen Athans (right), dean of vocational & technical programs.
Third Friday Art Walk
Faculty Artists do not have lazy summers! Come see what they can do to please the eye! Again, the CCCC Sculpture student gallery, located at 138 N. Chatham Avenue, will be open during the Third Friday Art Walk in downtown Siler City from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, July 17. This show is by Sculpture and Pottery faculty, the folks who inspire students to produce the excellent artwork you've seen here before. View the sculpture work of Phillip Ashe, wood sculpture by Aaron Smith, pottery by Joyce Bryan, Jennifer Siegel, Raymond Edwards, and Darlene Brady.
During the Art Walk, which is sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Incubator, 20 galleries, shops, and eateries will be open. There will be live music on stage in the court yard by "Bluesville." Enjoy a leisurely summer evening in historic downtown Siler City.
Organizational Changes
The following exciting organizational changes have occurred within the division of Economic & Community Development effective July 1, 2009:
As of July 1, 2009, the college's Industry Services office is within the division. Cathy Swindell and Sue Whitman will now report to Vice President Stelfanie Williams.
Vicky Clark assumed the role of Continuing Education Registrar. In this capacity, Vicky will be responsible for managing data processing of student billing and records, as well as payroll and customer service in the division. She will supervise all administrative support staff in the main office of the division.
Doris Dowdy assumed the role of Internal Auditor/Documents Administrator. In this role, Doris will process all documentation in the division including dual enrollment, fee waivers, minor releases, service agreements, etc. and ensure compliance.
In addition, the college assumed the role of Administrative Entity for the local Workforce Investment Area that includes Chatham, Harnett, Lee, and Sampson counties. The Division of Economic & Community Development will be actively seeking a Workforce Development Director to oversee the grant and program.
Phyllis Huff, as Senior Director of Basic Skills and Extension Education, now occupies an office in Budd Hall and can be reached at 718-7405.
PERSONNEL NOTES
Cougar Profile
Robert VanderVoort
Sustainable Land Lab Instructor
There are 12 people in West Harnett Center's Sustainable Agriculture class. They range from a couple of people who want to do market gardening on their small Harnett County acreages to half a dozen gardeners who are serious about growing their own food to a quartet of neighbors in west Sanford who are organizing a community garden. They vary in age from 30 to 81. They are all there because they want to plant and grow in a sustainable way without using chemicals and pesticides.
Rob VanderVoort, the class instructor, has posted on the board two vital lists: a propagation calendar showing when to start your seedlings (some as early as January!) and a list of vegetables that grow well in this area. He is the man who will solve the mystery of nitrogen/potassium/phosphorous ratios for the class and show them how to put together a soil mixture that will grow robust plants.
Rob has undertaken the formidable job of building CCCC's Sustainable Agriculture program at the recently opened West Harnett Center literally from scratch. Rob was born up the road a piece in Southern Pines. He has degrees in both Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.
Rob began his relationship with the college in 2006 when he earned a Certificate in Sustainable Vegetable Production at CCCC's Chatham campus. Rob himself is a market gardener and sells the produce from his market garden, Half Acre Farm, at the Moore County Farmers Market in Southern Pines. He came to work for CCCC in November 2008 when it was decided to replicate the flourishing Sustainable Agriculture program on the Chatham campus at the West Harnett Center.
Rob's idea of fun is to take a "busman's holiday." This summer he traveled to Monticello, Virginia for a two-week program at the Historic Landscape Institute. The program focused on the historic horticulture practices of Native Americans and the early colonial settlers. While at Monticello, Rob lived in student housing that was designed and built by Thomas Jefferson.
"I went to get an idea of forgotten growing practices that will enhance our own program," said Rob. "These people used the limited resources available to them and sustained themselves. What the early settlers learned from the Indians helped them to survive. There is a lot for us to learn here, too."
News From the CCCC Family
I would like to thank the CCCC family for all of the beautiful flower arrangements, get well cards, thoughts and prayers during my recent hospitalization and medical leave. I now know more than ever that each day is truly a gift that is to be treasured. Words cannot express how special you have made me feel. Thank you again for everything." - Angela L. Glover, Evening Receptionist
Birthdays
| 7/10 | William Moses |
| 7/15 | Betty Carter |
| 7/16 | Lynda Everett |
| 7/16 | George Papageorgiou |
| 7/16 | Vicky Wesner |
| 7/18 | Cathy Giles |
| 7/18 | Ramona Leftwich |
| 7/21 | Darlene West |
| 7/21 | Theresa Cry |
| 7/21 | Morgan Steele |
| 7/24 | Sue Atkins |
| 7/24 | Renee Dusenbury |
| 7/26 | Heather McCracken |
| 7/26 | Mary Heston |
| 7/27 | Christine Harrelson |
| 7/27 | Sara Wathen |
| 7/27 | Nancy Wiser |
| 7/27 | Nena Leake |
| 7/28 | Daniel Thomas |
| 7/29 | Cathy Swindell |
| 7/30 | David Butler |
| 7/31 | Elizabeth King |
| 7/31 | Richard Biggs |
| 8/01 | Kevin Nooney |
| 8/02 | Marcie Dishman |
| 8/02 | Kim Rowland |
| 8/03 | Karen Owen-Bogan |
| 8/04 | Jon Matthews |
| 8/06 | Wanda Westbrook |
| 8/06 | Kim Browning |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Dates to Remember
July 17 - Third Friday Art Walk, Siler City
July 21 - Foundation Board Meeting
July 23 - AEOP Meeting
July 29 - Board of Trustees Meeting - Lee County Campus, Civic Center
Aug. 3 - Administrative Staff Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
CCCC-BAY
Things For Sale, For Adoption or for Free
BMW in excellent shape for sale: 1999 BMW 528it Wagon, fully loaded and in excellent shape-very clean. It has 150K miles and the asking price is $7000. Please contact Sheila or Toby Rogers at 919-721-4629 or sheila.g.rogers@pgnmail.com for pictures and more information.
Rent-A-Space Yard Sale: Benefiting participants of LCI, Inc., a local organization that helps individuals with disabilities to become independent and productive citizens through education and progressive vocational training. Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 7:00 am - 1:00 pm. Rent a space the size of three parking spaces for $15.00. Bring your own tables, tents, chairs, whatever you need to be comfortable. Contact Brenda Matteson at (919) 775-3439 for more information or to rent a space.
Tote Bags Needed: Need new or used non-paper/non-plastic tote bags needed for clients of the Coalition for Human Care. Tote bags are used for groceries given to clients from the Coalition Pantry. The number of clients is increasing daily and your help is appreciated! Please forward these much-needed tote bags to Ellen Dickey (Harnett campus), Diane Kannarr (Lee campus) and Jean Vollrath (Chatham campus). Thank you, in advance.
COUGAR BITE-BACKS
Compliments, Complaints, Comments
Have something you would like to get off your chest? Send your letters and your news to marketing@cccc.edu. The editors reserve the right to select what will be printed and to edit material to fit the space available.