VOLUME 146 ISSUE 33 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
Students examine a Fanuc industrial robot at CCCC’s 2023 National Manufacturing Day showcase on October 6, 2023.
Chatham County Parks & Recreation to host Trunk or Treat Fall Festival The Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department is treating the county to the annual Trunk or Treat Fall Festival this October. Community members are invited to come dressed up in their best costumes for an afternoon of fall fun. The festival will take place on Saturday, October 28, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Southwest District Park, which is located at 15124 NC-902 in Bear Creek. This free, family-friendly event will include pumpkin carving and painting, Halloweenthemed games and crafts, a Magician bounce house, a photo booth, and more. Trunk or treating will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. “We are excited to welcome the community to the 14th annual Trunk or Treat with Chatham County Parks and Recreation,” said Tracy Burnett, Parks and Recreation Director. “This event has become a staple for us each fall, and we look forward to offering this opportunity to bring the community together year after year.” To sign up to host a trunk or for more information regarding the event, please contact Mallory Peterson at (919) 624-7086 or email Mallory.peterson@ chathamcountync.gov.
N.C. students can take advantage of waived college application fees in October Students throughout North Carolina can submit college applications to the state’s many colleges and universities for free during College Application Week. This week, which is set to take place from October 16-20, is part of the College Foundation of North Carolina’s (CFNC) Countdown to College campaign, which kicked off on October 1. This annual campaign is run in partnership with individual high schools, colleges and universities across all 100 N.C. counties to help students take the necessary steps to plan and prepare for the education and career opportunities they want to pursue. Students and families can learn more and take advantage of the free resources available by visiting www.CFNC.org.
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CCCC addresses skills gap with new robotics course Aimed towards local employers, students will train on industrial robots By Cooper Mets For Chatham News & Record CHATHAM COUNTY’S labor force participation rates have lagged behind national rates since the onset of the pandemic, according to data from the Federal Reserve and American Community Survey. Siler City Town Manager Hank Raper suggests that these low rates indicate a mismatch between job vacancies and the education and skills of potential workers. “Many of those people not participating in the labor force, their education and job skills don’t align with [job] vacancies,” Raper said. “Students coming out of high school have limited oppor-
tunities to obtain the skills needed for these jobs, so courses that help bridge that gap are critically needed at this time.” In response, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) recently announced a new industrial robotics technician course. This addition is the latest in a series of efforts to address the skills gap, according to Patricia Anderson, CCCC’s executive director of industry services. The course, which can be completed in either 16 or 40 hours, uses a Swedish brand industrial robot to teach students safe robot operation, troubleshooting, programming, and maintenance. Bharat Forge in neighboring Lee County is already training its employees through CCCC’s course, and Anderson said VinFast, which will have 100 of the same robots at its Moncure location, plans to do the same.
Pittsboro Street Fair Set returns Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — Downtown Pittsboro is gearing up for the return of the annual Pittsboro Street Fair on Saturday, Oct. 28. The event, organized by the Rotary Club of Pittsboro, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An after-hours concert in the municipal town lot is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. This addition to the Street Fair will feature the Johnny Folsom 4, a Johnny Cash tribute band. Beyond offering entertainment and activities for the community, the event is the primary fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Pittsboro. The funds raised support the club’s various community initiatives throughout the year. In 2022, the Street Fair saw participation from more than 100 vendors with an estimated attendance of 5,000. This year’s fair will see craft, art, and non-profit vendors set up along Hanks, Fayetteville and Salisbury Streets. The municipal parking lot is designated for food and beverage vendors and will also host the entertainment area. A separate Kids Area will feature activities such as bounce houses, face painting and balloon art. Chapel Hill Festifall Arts Markets The Chapel Hill Festifall Arts Markets are starting this week on Franklin Street. The
festivities will span three consecutive Saturdays this October at the 140 West Plaza on Franklin Street, from 1 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 14, 21 and 28. Each Saturday will feature a lineup of regional artists and craftsmen, art activities, local entertainment and a range of food and drink. The Oct. 14 event will feature eco-friendly art projects by The Scrap Exchange and steamroller printing demonstrations by UNC’s Bob Goldstein. Musical acts include Andrew Kasab and XOXOK, with refreshments by CocoCrissi Tropical Icees and Craftboro Brewing Depot. Week two, on Oct. 21, will see bespoke screen printing by Robby Poore and live tunes from Story Charlemagne. Dingo Dog Brewing Company will serve drinks, complemented by Bahamian dishes from Mia’s Kitchen. October 28 marks the last weekend of the street fair. Personalized poems from Poetry Fox and street performances by Imagine Circus will be featured. Musical acts LM Songs and Emma Jane will take the stage. Carolina Brewery will showcase its signature brews, and Safari Eatz will introduce attendees to Kenyan BBQ. Each Saturday of the Festival, Garden Spot, an outdoor venue located behind Lantern restaurant at 421 W. Franklin St., will host the official Festifall afterparty from 5 to 8 p.m.
Approximately 1,800 acres are available between the two Chatham County megasites, according to Chatham County Economic Development Corporation President Michael Smith. These vacant acres could host tenants in need of this training. Anderson also noted that Wolfspeed in Siler City and Toyota in neighboring Randolph County may require their employees to take the course. The course will not only help close the county’s skills gap but also enable companies to produce at maximum capacity as their robots won’t need to be used for training. At the high school level, there’s an increased emphasis on career and technical education (CTE) courses, according to Northwood High School Career and College Advisor Timarie Franco. This focus helps guide students towards
classes that equip them with skills increasingly in demand by local employers, including large manufacturers like Wolfspeed, VinFast, and Toyota. Franco said part of the increased emphasis on CTE courses involves CCCC department heads visiting CTE classes at local high schools to discuss opportunities in their respective CTE fields. The community college also hosts an applied technologies day, where students can learn more about CTE-related jobs and course offerings. According to recent Federal Reserve data, Chatham County’s labor force participation rate is 58 percent, five percent below the 63 percent national rate. While CCCC’s robotics course won’t solve the problem alone, the community college is dedicated to providing solutions and bridging the skills gap in the county. “The community college has been a wonderful partner to Chatham County,” Raper said. “I think they’ve been on the cutting edge of trying to discover the most innovative [and] up-todate technology when it comes to training our labor pool and bridging that gap.”
Bear Creek native named to national 30 under 30 list By Matt Mercer North State Journal BEAR CREEK — A Chatham County native is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after political hands in North Carolina. Chase Gaines grew up in Bear Creek and is earning a reputation for political prowess despite just graduating college in 2022. Last week, Gaines was selected by the political polling firm Cygnal as one of their “30 under 30” rising stars in government, politics and advocacy. Gaines graduated from N.C. State University with degrees in Political Science and Agricultural Business and Management. Throughout his four years in college, he would take leadership positions with the Chatham County Republican Party and the North Carolina Young Republicans. In 2022, Gaines joined the campaign of then-Congressman Ted Budd, who was mounting an effort to win the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Richard Burr. Relentlessly traveling across North Carolina for over a year, Gaines became one of the key members of the Budd campaign. Working his way into the role of political director, he was often the first point of contact for activists and party leaders to connect with Budd. On election night in 2022,
“To be recognized on the national stage as a Chatham County native is incredibly meaningful. It’s a testament to the values and lessons I’ve learned right here.” Chase Gaines Gaines would revel in a victory for Budd and helped lead his transition into office. Gaines’ work would catch the attention of the North Carolina Chamber. In September, he accepted a job with the state’s largest pro-business advocacy organization as director of special projects. “My journey in politics started right here in Chatham County, and I’m immensely proud to bring this honor back to my community. It’s a testament to the values, work ethic and supSee GAINES, page A2