Introducing the Summer Careers Academy

New trades training program will connect local youth with skills, employers, and a compelling career pathway

A diverse coalition of educators, employers, governmental officials, and experts are pleased to introduce the Summer Careers Academy. Launching Summer 2022, this new trades training program will connect Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange County youth with skills, employers, and a compelling career pathway. The program will focus on serving the needs of youth from refugee and migrant families as well as low income students and students of color.

“The construction industry offers exceptional career opportunities,” said Holly Fraccaro, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties. “This new Summer Careers Academy will connect local youth with new skills and a paid summer work experience while also building the talent pipeline our industry needs.”

Summer Careers Academy
The inaugural Summer Careers Academy is designed to be an eight week summer pre-apprenticeship program (i.e., Registered Youth Apprenticeship) that will offer at least ten local high school students free in-classroom training and paid work experience in the skilled trades. The training, assessment, certification, and career development standards will be based on the respected and widely-adopted National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) core construction curriculum, which prepares students for careers in the construction trades, including occupations in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, and HVAC-R repair.

Students who successfully complete the program will earn Construction Core high school credit and a NCCER Certificate, and an U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration Fundamentals for Construction Certificate (OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Certification), both of which are industry-recognized credentials. In addition, students will earn college scholarships and prior learning credit towards the college-level skilled trades apprenticeship program at Durham Technical Community College and/or other community colleges in the region. Further, students will be prepared for immediate full-time employment as well as eligible for entry into a Registered Apprenticeship, which allows students to continue to earn and learn as they progress in their chosen career.

Orange County has a skilled trades worker shortage, and the talent pipeline needs attention. This challenge was documented in the Skilled Construction Trades Study commissioned by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in 2019 and conducted by The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro in 2020.

Visit The Chamber website for more information.

Youth winter basketball registration graphic

The Orange County Youth Basketball League is a developmental program for area youth ages 5 to 12. Volunteer coaches will work with the children to improve individual skills in dribbling, passing, and shooting while instilling values in teamwork and sportsmanship. Players ages 7 and above will be placed on teams through a mandatory skills assessment process. Click the graphic to register.

Animal Services needs homes for working barn cats

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) needs to find homes for cats that are part of their Working Barn Cat initiative. These cats are currently housed at the Animal Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC, and they are not quite social enough to be adopted through the regular adoption program. However, these cats would likely make great working cats if you have a barn, stable, or other structure that could use hard-working felines.

Adopting a working cat may be an effective way of controlling the rodent population in a structure or area while providing a safe home for a cat that is not social enough to be adopted to an indoor household. Working cats will be sterilized and fully vaccinated before going to their new homes. They will also come with general care instructions and recommendations for helping them to adapt to their new space on an adopter’s property.

For more information on what adopters need to provide for these cats, please review this document.

"This is a way to offer these cats a second chance for a natural life," said OCAS Director, Dr. Sandra Strong. "We want to do everything we can to ensure the best possible outcome for any animal that enters our shelter. This life-saving program is a major step towards achieving that goal."

If anyone is interested in adopting a working cat, please call the OCAS adoption desk at 919-942-7387, menu option 3.

Blackwood Morning painting by Duncan Moore of Durham, NC

Blackwood Morning by Duncan Moore of Durham won third place in the 2018 contest.

OCAC sponsors Fifth Annual Paint It Orange Plein Air Pain-Out

The Orange County Arts Commission presents the 5th Annual Paint It Orange Plein Air Paint-Out and Wet Paint Sale November 3-5, 2021.

Artists are invited to Orange County to capture the landscapes and landmarks signature to the Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Carrboro communities. Participating artists will paint at sites of their choosing throughout Orange County from Nov. 3-5, and will submit up to three of their favorite paintings for jurying on Friday, Nov. 5 at the Eno Arts Mill Gallery in Hillsborough.

An awards reception and preview party will take place at 6 p.m., followed by a reception and Wet Paint Sale at 7 p.m., in which the submitted paintings will be available for sale.

Activities at the Orange County Senior Centers

Medicare's Open Enrollment Period is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7
Medicare plans change each calendar year. Your medication costs can increase significantly if your plan changes its drug list and pricing as of Jan 1. Many people save hundreds and even thousands of dollars by switching plans, but most can only change during Medicare's Open Enrollment Period. The Orange County Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) provides free and unbiased assistance.

Meet with a certified counselor for an Annual Medicare Review. We will be offering in-person appointments at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill and the Passmore Center in Hillsborough as well as online using Zoom Video Chat. We begin scheduling appointments for Open Enrollment on Oct. 5. Schedule online at www.orangecountync.gov/Medicare or call 919-245-4274.

Autumn Social
Enjoy a performance from cellist, Nathan Spear, while enjoying autumn treats and socializing with friends. You will hear a varitey of sounds from classical, folk, fiddle, and much more!
Date: Wednesday, Nov 4.
Time: 3 p.m.
Fee: FREE
Location: Passmore Center, 103 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough, NC
Register by: Thursday, Oct. 28, call 919-245-2015.
Activity Code: 243084-01

Movie Night Under the Stars
News of the World” starring Tom Hanks
Watch a movie outdoors at the Seymour Center from the comfort of your car or from a folding chair you've brought along. Light refreshments will be served. This will be a family-friendly movie event, co-sponsored by Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation.
Date: Friday, Nov. 5
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Fee: FREE
Location: Seymour Center (Outdoor), 2551 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill
Register by: Friday, Oct. 29, call 919-968-2070.
Activity code: 313073-01

How to find the Orange County library graphic

Visitor's Bureau Board meeting postponed to Oct. 27

The Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau has rescheduled its board meeting from Oct. 20 at 8 a.m. to Oct. 27, at 8 a.m. The meeting will be held virtually. Interested parties can call (919) 245-4320 or email info@visitchapelhill.org for information on viewing the meeting.

early voting graphic with dates and locations

Early voting for municipal elections and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education began Oct. 14. Click the link for more information or to learn how to register.

www.orangecountync.gov