durham skywriter — january 2013

January 2013

vol 11, no 1

durham, nc’s online community paper

Baba Chuck Davis, founder of the African American Dance Ensemble, majestically presides over Kwanzaa Fest at the Durham Armory.

(photo by patricia A murray)

2 The Durham Skywriter — January 2013

Look for the Skywriter every month—it will be uploaded right before the 1st of each month.

… and don’t forget to listen toRadio Skywriter

every Sunday from 6:30 to 7pmon WNCU / 90.7fm and wncu.org.

For more info and to be a guest on the show, get in touch with me (see contact info above).

I’m always on the lookout for positive and useful news and information. If you have news, would like to be interviewed,

or want to advertise, call 919-809-9682 or send email to [email protected].

January 2013 — The Durham Skywriter 3

At the end of last month, North Caro- lina’s unemployment rate was 9.1 per- cent, and just last week the unemployment rate rose in 81 out of 100 counties. I thought I’d better head to the JobLink office on Briggs Avenue to ask manager Chip Wood how Durham is faring. He works for the North Carolina Depart- ment of Commerce/Division of Work- force Solution. Some changes are under- way, so the “JobLink” that’s mentioned in this article might have a new name soon after the Skywriter goes to press.

Mr Wood admitted that we’ve been through some tough times. He said that in 2008, the lines of people signing up for unemployment benefits were “out the door.” But the local job outlook is getting better. Even though North Carolina’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average, Durham’s 7.1 per- cent rate is much better. Local textile companies had left or folded years ago, whereas other counties are just now suffering from recent failures or severe downsizing in that field.

Mr Wood explained that retraining is a major reason for the ability of newly laid-off personnel to bounce back and quickly rejoin the work force. North Carolina has one of the best community college systems in the country (it’s in the top 5), and Durham Tech(nical Community College) has been able to set up excellent workforce development programs. Some of the classes offered at Durham Tech are actually collaborations between the school and area employers.

The job outlook here in Durham is promising. One the day of this interview Mr Wood said that he had

(continued on page 4)

patricia A murray 365 job orders, which means 365 jobs just waiting to be claimed.

Many people refer to the Briggs Avenue JobLink site as the “unemployment office.” Mr Wood says that nine out of 10 people who come in to the office are there to file papers for unemployment benefits but don’t return to search for new jobs. This year will bring significant changes and JobLink will concentrate on letting people know that help is available for “reemployment.”

Mr Wood said that if he had a crystal ball, it would tell him that Durham is actually in pretty good shape. He directed me to visit the Durham Chamber of Commerce’s homepage, which announces that Durham was ranked #1 (in the USA!) in the Fourth Economy Community (FEC) Index. Fourth Economy Communities have created enviable situations—they attract modern investment while at the same time they’re able to manage economic growth. What played a large part in the ranking was the presence of area universities, a historic downtown, a booming technology industry, and the fact that creative entrepreneurs are attracted to Durham and local entrepreneurs are setting up shop as well.

JobLink staff has seen a significant increase in job orders. Mr Wood is quick to point out that—contrary to somewhat popular belief—not all of the jobs that are listed at JobLink are low-wage jobs. Some are, of course, but many reflect the presence of high-tech companies offering a good wage for trained, educated personnel.

Here are some of the services offered at the Briggs Avenue Employment Services Office:

• Career Resource Center— computers with Internet access, telephones and fax machines that are available for job seekers, and resource materials. Staff can help with just about anything you need, including résumé preparation.

• NC JobConnector—staff members can demonstrate how this works; this is an online job- matching service that you can use anywhere, once you register. You can look for jobs around the state and directly apply for jobs.

• Reemployment Services Workshops—attend these free sessions and learn how to develop a serious job-searching plan.

• Veterans Services—job searches and the identification of support services for military veterans.

• Community Resource Assistance Guide—a comprehensive listing of places you can reach out to for help: utility-bill payment help, health care, mortgage assistance, etc.

• Training Programs—local-, state-, and federally funded training sessions for people looking for a career change.

• Work Opportunity Tax Credit— identifying people who need a boost to find work; companies who hire them can get a tax credit of $1500 to $9600 per hire.

Job market outlook 2013


The Durham Skywriter is published monthly and is distributed via the worldwide web from Durham, North Carolina to everyone who wants to learn about and keep up with the Bull City. We bring information to our neighbors while looking at our city’s positive side. If you have any ideas, comments, sug-gestions, or would like to advertise, please write to:

[email protected]

Or call: 919-809-YOU2 (9682)

website:www.durhamskywriter.com

video channel:www.youtube.com/

durhamskywriter

patricia A murray, publisherSkywriter logo by John Pinkney

©2013 NCskywriter

(continued from page 3)

Job market outlook 2013• Limited English Proficiency Services—serving job seekers who have limited English skills.

• Former Offender Services—job seekers with criminal records can learn how to market themselves and their skills, in addition to overcoming any perceived barriers.

• Federal Bonding—job hunters who have found it hard to get a job due to a history of drug/alcohol abuse, dishonorable discharge from military service, or criminal record can earn fidelity bonds, which offers “just in case” insurance for employers.

• Older Worker Services—staff members promote the skills of older workers with local agencies on aging and employers while assisting people over age 55 locate jobs.

• Persons with Disabilities Services—interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing job seekers who are looking for work.

I keep saying “Briggs Avenue site” because I interviewed Chip Wood at 1105 S Briggs Avenue (919-560-6880) —but there are other sites you can visit to conduct your job searches:

• Northgate Mall, 1058 W Club Blvd, Suite 848, 919-354-2748

• Durham JobLink Satellite sites (self-service job search and résumé preparation):

WD Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville St

Durham County Main Library, 300 N Roxboro St

Oxford Manor, 3633 Keystone Pl

Durham Technical Community College, 1637 Lawson St

North Carolina Central University, University Career Services, 1801 Fayetteville St

CAARE, 214 Broadway St

Center for Employment Training, 807 E Main St

Call 919-560-6880 for information for free workshops/seminars that can help you land your next job. Here are the names of upcoming sessions: “Show Me My Money! Budgeting 101,” “Keywords: The Path to an Interview,” “Practice Makes Perfect: Mock Interviews,” “Does Your Résumé Walk the Walk? Résumé Writing Workshop,” “After the Plane Has Landed: Navigating Retention,” “How to Toot Your Horn and Be Heard: Marketing Yourself,” “Get Linked In: Using Social Media in Today’s Job Search,” “From the Battlefield to Everyday Survival: Veterans Seminar,” “Identifying Barriers and Overcoming Them: Former Offender Workshop,” “Mature, Valued, and Wanted: Older Worker Workshop,” and “Hispanic Speaking Employability: Resource Workshop.”

Chip Wood says that the prospects for finding a job here in Durham are good if you hang in there. JobLink’s revamped focus on reemployment and in creating jobs (entrepreneurship) will help make it possible for Durham residents to find more opportunities, keep that money coming in, and care for our families.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming change to the “JobLink” name and,

while you’re at it, stop by the office and introduce yourself to staff. They’re continuously receiving “job orders” from local companies and they’re also visiting these companies and finding out what their needs are in terms of hiring new employees. Keep tabs on the free workshops and be prepared to learn about the new trends in résumé preparation, dressing for success (and resources for free/inexpensive business attire), skill-upgrade workshops (introduction to computers, etc), and one-on- one entrepreneurship counseling with members of SCORE (and its online seminars).

Good luck with your job search!


I welcome the arrival of 2013. Thirteen just happens to be my lucky number; I was born on the 13th of December. Obviously, I’m hoping that this will be a big year—in a good way.

The biggest change for the Skywriter is displayed in big red let-ters on the front cover. Did you notice? It says “January” and not “January-February.” Several years ago I switched from a top-of-the-month format to a midmonth-to-midminth format. I had to do that because I was receiving press releases and news notices in time. Back then, the Skywriter was in print form and I had to take the time for printing and delivery into consideration. But now that the Skywriter is online, I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Yay! That’s a compromise I’m happy to get rid of.

Radio Skywriter has changed as well. For the past few years, my weekly interview show has aired on Saturday mornings. Right

Publisher’s pitchbefore finishing up this issue, I found out that the show will air on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm on WNCU / 90.7fm and wncu.org. I think that’s a better time, so I’m definitely happy about that. By the way, you can now listen to podcasts of Radio Skywriter via iTunes (search for “Radio Skywriter” of “WNCU”).

Are you ready for TV Skywriter? I’ll be debuting my live-streaming internet show on Sundays at 7pm. Unlike the Durham Skywriter and Radio Skywriter, TV Skywriter will not necessarily be Durham-centric. I’ll be featuring authors, artists, and musicians from around the world Yes! From around the world! Watch the show live by going to YouTube, typing “durhamskywriter,” and watching from the Durham Skywriter channel. You can also watch via Google+ by going to gplus.to/durhamskywriter. See you there!

— patricia A murray

Jazz & Public AffairsSpecialty Programming

Tune in at 90.7fmListen to our podcasts at www.wncu.org

Morning Jazz • Afternoon Jazz • Evening Jazz

8-Track Flashback • Bonjour Africa • Bull City Blues

Close to Thee • Democracy Now! • Hallelujah Praise

Inside NCCU • Jazz Focus • Mastering Your Money

Radio Skywriter • Reggae Scene • Tell Me More

The Funk Show • The Loft


WORD … WORD … WORD … R from the American Red Cross—Central North Carolina Chapter, 4737 University Dr, Durham, 919-489-6541, http://cncredcross.org/:

Be prepared for emergencies by taking classes offered by the American Red Cross. You can visit the website for class descriptions:

• Adult CPR/AED—Thursday, January 24, 6–9pm; $70. • Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED— Wednesday, January 16, 5:30–7:30pm; $110. Saturday, January 19, 9am–3:30pm; $110. • Adult First Aid/CPR/AED—Wednesday, January 16, 9:30–11:30am, 9am–3pm, or 5:30–7:30pm; $90. • Babysitter’s Training—Saturday, January 12, 9am– 4pm or Friday, January 18, 9am–4pm; $85. • Pediatric CPR/AED—Wednesday, January 9, 5:30–8:30pm; $70.

R from the Durham Literacy Center, 1905 Chapel Hill Rd, 919-489-8383, durhamliteracy.org:

The Durham Literacy Center is known for helping adults to improve their reading skills, teaching English to speakers of other languages, and working with young people who dropped out of high school to earn their GEDs. Vol- unteers are needed to work either one-on-one in the adult literacy and GED programs or in front of a classroom while teaching immigrants English. Volunteer Informa- tion Sessions will be held on January 9, 10, and 24, all from 6 to 7pm. Adult literacy and English for Speakers of Other Languages training sessions will be held Tuesday, January 22, 6–9pm, Thursday, January 24, 6–9pm; and Saturday, January 26, 9am–3pm. Call for more information and to reserve your spot.

R from Durham Parks and Recreation, 400 Cleveland St, Durham, 919-560-4355, http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/prd/Pages/Home.aspx:

Losing control of your dog? If he or she is more than 4 months old, you can sign up for DPR’s Canine Obedience

class (dog owner must be least age 14). The next Beginner Obedience course (course #9204) will be held on Tues- days and Thursdays, 6:30–8pm, January 15–31. The cost is $77, $69.25 with a Play More card. You and your dog will learn to work together and to have positive results with the terms “Sit,” “Down,” “Stay,” “Come,” and “Don’t Jump.” Classes are held at the Durham Armory (212 Fos- ter St). Call for more info and to sign up.

R from the Durham Police Department, 505 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, 919-560-4600, durhampolice.com:

The next academy, where citizens are trained to become officers of the law, is scheduled to start in August. The requirements for becoming a police officer include:

• completionofhighschool(orequivalent);college is preferred; candidates must be able to provide certified school transcripts • mustbeatleastage21bythetimeclassroompolice training is completed • mustmeetallphysicalrequirements(including vision and hearing) • mustmeetcreditstandards • nofelonyconvictionsofanykind,andnoserious misdemeanor convictions in the past 5 years • nodomestic-violenceconvictions • noDUI/DWIconvictionsinthepastyears.

Prospective candidates must attend at least one open house informational session—this month’s sessions will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 9am and 9pm, and Saturday, Janu- ary 12, 9am. Dress well (a minimum of business casual) and don’t be late—late arrivals will not be admitted.

R from Durham Technical Community College/ The Small Business Center, 400 W Main St, 3rd floor of the SouthBank Bldg, Durham, 919-686-3448, durhamtech.edu/html/current/ noncredit/sbccseminars.htm:

Durham Tech’s Small Business Center offers classes and seminars in their new location to entrepreneurs who are


planning or starting their own businesses. These particular classes are being offered free of charge; check the website for additional classes and workshop series:

• The Most Important Legal Questions Facing a Startup Business—Thursday, January 17, 6–8:30pm, SouthBank Bldg (400 W Main St, 3rd floor); free. • Manage Your Debt and Credit Prior to Starting Your Business—Thursday, January 24, 6–9pm, SouthBank Bldg (400 W Main St, 3rd floor); seminar designed for entrepreneurs in the creative arts; free. • 10 Steps to Starting Your Own Business—Tuesday, January 22, 6–9pm, SouthBank Bldg (400 W Main St, 3rd floor); course designed for entrepreneurs in the creative arts; free. • Thinking of Starting a Business?—Saturday, Janu- ary 26, 9:30–11:30am, The Scrap Exchange (923 Franklin St) and another on Monday, January 28, 6–8pm, SouthBank Bldg (400 W Main St, 3rd floor); free; an overview for business startups, with information on resources. The seminar at The Scrap Exchange is for creative-arts entrepreneurs. • Creating a Winning Business Plan—Thursday, January 31, 6–9pm, The Scrap Exchange (923 Franklin St); course designed for entrepreneurs in the creative arts; free.

R from Operation Breakthrough, 800 N Mangum St, Durham, 919-688-8111, www.obtnc.org:

Operation Breakthrough runs a Weatherization Assis- tance Program that helps low-income individuals/families improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The services that are offered include: Sealing air leaks around windows and doors; installing insulation between interior and exterior walls, ceilings and attics, and floors and basements; replacing “regular” light bulbs with com- pact fluorescent bulbs; tuning up and repairing heating and cooling systems; checking for carbon-monoxide levels; installing a “smart” thermostat; and sealing and insu- lating your home’s ductwork. Families with incomes less than double the Federal Poverty Level, or families

with at least one member who receives cash-assistance payments under SSI or TANF, are typically eligible for these services. You can check to see if you (or neighbors who could use some help) fit the bill by visiting the website and checking the income/eligibility-criteria table.

R from the UNC School of Dentistry’s Student National Dental Association, www.uncsnda.com/index.php/caare-clinic:

There’s an SNDA CAARE Clinic every Tuesday starting at 6pm at CAARE, 214 Broadway for people without insurance and/or on Medicaid. Dental procedures are performed by 3rd- and 4th- year dental students under the supervision of dental school faculty members.

R from Welcome Baby, 721 Foster Street, Durham, 919-560-7150, welcomebaby.org:

Welcome Baby is a nonprofit organization operating out of the Durham County Cooperative Extension Building. The services they offer include parenting classes and workshops for parents of children from birth to age 5. They also have a Giving Closet and are in desperate need of children’s coats up to size 8 and diapers of all sizes. You can help by dropping off diapers and/or coats (clean and in good condition) at the following locations:

• Durham County Cooperative Extension (721 Foster St) • Durham County Main Library (300 N Roxboro St) • Durham County Department of Public Health (414 E Main St).

R Attention, nonprofit organizations and government agencies: Send us information on your programs and ini- tiatives for inclusion in the next issue of the Durham Skywriter. These are free listings.

WORD … WORD … WORD …


We add just the right accent for your special eventR&B (including old school) • rock/pop • jazz • classical

children’s music • world music (including salsa/tropical, bachata, Brazilian, and music from

the Middle East, México, and more…)

DJ Piddipatyour multicultural deejay

Call 919-809-9682 today!

Kids’ parties

all-clean, age-appropriate musicbirthday parties • school events

carnivals • casino nights • pep rallieslighting • giveaways • games

Nonprofit & Neighborhood Fundraisers

Wide range of background music for banquets (jazz, classical, and pop)

Music • Lights • MCing

Great music for dancing (old-school R&B, rock, country, and

clean versions of current hints)

Ask about our “Worldwide Dance Party” package

CORPORATE and COMMUNITY HOLIDAY PARTIES

I have a wide variety of Christmas music—all different styles and

from various coun-tries as well.


Radio Skywriteris now available via podcast!

If you can’t listen on Sundays at 6:30pm on

WNCU/90.7fm or wncu.org,

listen to the podcast any time on iTunes or wncu.org.

Call 919-809-9682 to be a guest on Radio Skywriter!

Don’t let Durham’s online community paper be a one-way street!

Got information? Have story ideas?

Send them in! Most of our ideas for articles are sparked by conversations with our reader and listeners.

Contact us via email at: [email protected] or mail announcements, flyers, and submissions for the Guest Spotlight (poetry, essays, photographs,

drawings, etc) to: Durham Skywriter, 1910 Capps St, Durham, NC 27707.

Hoping to hear from you soon!


Zooom!The kids’ page

SEND US JOKES!SEND US RIDDLES!

SEND US SCIENCE FAIR IDEAS!

SEND US MONEY!(LOL! Just kidding!)

Funny jokesof the

month

Maria: What is a nosy pepper known for doing?Célia: Getting jalapeño business!

One day, Thomas overslept. He got dressed as quickly as he could and rushed to his job. When he walked in the door, his boss yelled, “Hey, you should have been here at 8:30!”Thomas grinned and asked, “Wow, what did I miss?”

Say these tongue twisters three times fast:

Rubber baby buggy bumpers.

Hiccup teacup.

Swim, swam, swum’.

We love funny jokes and riddles! Send us one—if we

use it, you’ll win a prize!

HISTORY OF THE TEDDY BEAR Way back in 1902, President Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt went on a hunting trip with his friends. They hiked for hours, but didn’t come across any wild animals. Finally, they found some tracks, followed them, and found a small bear. One of the president’s friends told him to shoot the bear so he could try to win a hunting tro-phy. The bear was cute and president couldn’t do it.

Everybody talked about how nice is was that President Roosevelt didn’t shoot that bear. A famous cartoon-ist draw a picture of the president and the bear. When a store owner saw the cartoon, he got an idea: He asked President Roosevelt if it

Betcha didn’t know that …

• whentheoriginalMrPotatoHeadwascreatedin1952,kidshadtosticktheplasticpieces(eyes,ears,etc)ontoarealpotato.Finally,in1964,Hasbro,thetoycompany,decidedtoaddthehardplasticbodytotheMrPotatokitsokidswouldn’tbewastingtheirmoms’potatoes.

• theBarbiedollwasnamedafterarealgirl.Backinthe1950s,awomannamedRuthHandlerenjoyedwatchingherdaughterBarbaraplaywithpaperdolls.ShecreatedtheUSA’sfirstadult-bodieddollin1959andnamedit“Barbie”afterherdaughter.Infact,thedoll’sfullnamewas“BarbaraMil-licentRoberts,”andherboyfriendwasnamed“KenCarson.”

would be okay to name the stuffed-toy bears in his shop “Teddy’s bears.” The president agreed that it would be fun, and to this day, toy stuffed bears are called Teddy bears.


Magnet & Pathway Information FairThe Durham Public Schools will hold a Magnet & Pathway Information Fair on Saturday, Janu-ary 12, 10am–1pm, at Southern High School (800 Clayton Rd). Magnet schools are designed to serve students with special interests in certain fields.

Five schools have been approved as magnet schools, starting with the 2013–14 school year:

• Holt Year-Round Elementary School will become a Language Academy that will offer Spanish and Mandarin Chinese (starting with next year’s kindergarten class). • Lowe’s Grove Middle School will become a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) magnet school. Students will be able to study digital media technology, robotics & design technology, environmental technology, and arts & kines- thetic technology. • Neal Middle School will become a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) magnet school with a focus on engineering and design. • TheSchool for Creative Studies will open at what is now called Chewning Middle School. This new school will operate year- round, will offer grades 6 to 12, and will focus on media & entertainment arts, graphic design, architectural design, and literacy arts. • SouthernHighSchoolwillbecomethe Southern School of Energy and Sustain- ability. As a 4 schools-in-1, magnet high school, students will be able to choose to attend the School of Computer and Tech- nology Engineering, the School of Infra-

SCHOOL TOOLS structure Engineering, the School of Busi- ness Management and Sustainability, and the School of Biomedical Technology.

You can also learn about the CTE Pathway Clus-ter program, where courses leading to job/career development will be offered at traditional high schools:

• Hillside—Business & Finance Academy (study finance and business management & administration) • Hillside—Information Support & Services (study information technology) • Hillside—JROTC-Army. • Jordan—Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (study plant, animal, and natural resources systems) • Northern— Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (study plant, animal, and natural resources systems) • Northern—Hospitality & Tourism (study restaurant & food/beverage service) • Northern—Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics (study facility & mobile equipment maintenance) • Northern— JROTC-Air Force. • Riverside—Science, Technology, Engineer- ing, & Mathematics (study engineering & technology).

Current magnet elementary schools: Sandy Ridge (visual and performing arts), Burton (international baccalaureate), Club Boulevard (humanities), RN Harris (integrated arts & core knowledge), Morehead (a Montessori school), WG Pearson (gifted and talented), George Watts (a Montessori school), Easley (a year-round school), and Pearsontown (also a year-round school).

Visit www.dpsnc.net for more information.


The Hindu Society of North Carolina’s Om Squad for (8th-graders and high school students) will hold an open house and information session on Saturday, January 5, 4–7pm, at Hindu Society of North Carolina Temple (309 Aviation Pkwy in Morrisville). Call 919-460-0412, email to [email protected], or visit the website at hsnconline.org/omsquad for more info.

Durham Congregations in Action will have its annual banquet on Tuesday, January 22, 6–8pm, at Blacknall Memo-rial Presbyterian Church (1902 Perry St). The cost of attend-ing is $14 per plate; please re-serve your seat by Friday, January 18. DCiA’s mission is: To bring together congregations to pro-mote understanding across boundaries of faith, race and ethnicity and build an inclusive community of justice and peace. Learn more about this 62- member organization at dcia.org.

The Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham’s next Com- munity Luncheon Roundtable will be held on Thursday, January 24, noon–1pm, in the fellowship hall of Shepherd’s House United Methodist Church (107 N Driver St, corner of Driver and Main, back entrance). You’re invited to help figure out how caring citizens in the community can best respond to societal problems that most people just talk about: gang and handgun violence, and the failure of many ex-offenders to stay out of jail. Contact Marcia Owen at 919-358-1113 or [email protected], or visit the website at nonviolentdurham.org for more information.

Durham’s Partnership for Children and End Poverty Durham are teaming up to present the Faith Summit on Child Poverty on Thursday, January 24, 8:30am–3pm, at Union Baptist Church (904 N Roxboro St). Studies have shown that growing up in poverty can actually create a type of stress that can adversely affect brain development. The summit will focus on ending poverty of the 14,000 im-

poverished young people in Dur-ham by discussing the creation of opportunities and identifying re-sources for three age groups: birth to age 5, elementary-school age, and high schoolers. Contact Win-nie Morgan at 919-732-1524 or [email protected] to reg-ister. The summit is free and open to all, but $10 to cover lunch and breaks is requested of those who can afford it.

You might have heard of Teyve, the character from Fiddler on the Roof. Now you can learn about the real Te-vye by reading Tevye the Dairyman by Sholem Aleichem (and translat-ed by Aliza Shevrin) and discuss-ing the book while taking a 4-week Jewish Literature class led by Sheva Zucker. The first class will be held on Saturday, January 26, 1pm (after Kiddush lunch) at Beth El Syna-gogue (1004 Watts St). The cost is $35, $20 for Beth El members (the

book costs around $15). Call 919-682-1238 or visit bethel durham.org for more info.

Send information about your place of worship’s outreach activities, programs, and special events to us at durhamskywriter@yahoo. com. These are free listings.

thepraise page


15 years. You don’t have to include any-thing beyond that. Don’t give the em-ployer the opportunity to eliminate you by what you have in your résumé. You want that interview and the chance to prove yourself during the interview.

And most people list their jobs in reverse chronological order. If most of your jobs have been pretty similar, don’t bother to list them all separately. Instead, list your skills, what you accomplished, followed by the places where you worked.

Q Someone once told me that it’s okay to have more than one résumé. Is that true?

This month we spoke with Linzie Atkins, assistant manager and job coach supervi-sor at the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions office on Briggs Ave (aka the JobLink office).

Q What are the duties of a job coach?

A You’ve probably heard of the job coaches who help new hirees with on-the-job vocational training. What the job coach, Brigette McKinney- Newby, does is to plan, put together, and lead workshops for job seekers. She also creates specialized workshops for older workers and ex-offenders look-ing for work. They need to learn how to market themselves and emphasize their strengths.

Ms McKinney-Newby really knows the job market and she can look at a résumé and give advice on how to improve it.

Q Can you give me an example on how to improve a résumé?

A The first thing I’d say is to get a professional-looking email address. You’re not going to be taken seriously if your address is “grandma” or “pookie” @yahoo or gmail. It’s better to use your full name or initials plus last name.

Keep in mind that résumés can screen you in or out. If you’re older, don’t date yourself by listing the date of your high school or college graduation. Only in-clude jobs that you have had in the past

ON THE JOB:job coach

A You should have more than one résumé. Create a target résumé for every job you go after and tailor it for that job. If you’re looking at the job description for a position you’d like to apply for, make sure

to emphasize those skills that you have that match the job.

And don’t oversell yourself. If you want to apply for a job that doesn’t require an advanced degree, don’t put your master’s degree on your résumé. Realize that a résu-mé is a marketing tool and not a legal document. Don’t let the prospective employer eliminate you because he feels that you’re overqualified. Don’t advertise anything that’s not needed.

Q Wow, that’s really great advice. What additional advice can you give for people trying to land a good job?

A Come by our office. We have so many different ways of helping people get reemployed. We hold job fairs here and we screen for many local companies. If you’re dissatis-fied with your job, start looking now

while you’re employed. You know the say-ing, “The longer you’re unemployed, the longer you’re unemployed.” It’s true. We have job orders coming in from all over—your usual construction jobs but also jobs with companies like IBM, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Merck, and federal contract jobs. Also, people with EBT cards are eli-gible for job training and free access to re-sources like GED programs for one year. Come see us.


Dr Martin Luther King Jr

Day of Service

Celebrate the legacy of Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr by participating in a project that helps build community during the MLK Day of Service (Monday, January 21). Look at the opportunities listed below; when you find one that interests you, got to www.mlkday.gov to sign up.

New Horizons Academy— 916 Lamond Ave, Durham 919-688-7776, [email protected]–1pm

what’s needed:• Spruceuptheyard• Paintinsideoroutside • Maintenanceonbuilding

Contact: DeWarren Langley

East Durham Children’s Initiative—starting at the Holton Career and Resource Center, 401 N Driver St, Durham9am–1pm

what’s needed:

• Cleanupoftheareaserved by EDCI; the boundaries are Highway147, Alston Ave, Holloway St, and Miami Blvd • Paintinsideoroutside• Maintenanceonbuilding

Contact: Amber Wade

Threshold Clubhouse—609 Gary St, Durham, www.thresholdclubhouse.org9am–2pm

what’s needed:

• Helpcleanuparoundtheperimeterofthebuilding• Performlightlandscapingduties.

Contact: Irene Dwinnell

Levin Jewish Community Center ( JCC)—1937 W Cornwallis Rd, Durham; this is the site of the “Durham

Signature Project”

9am–noon

what’s needed:

• assemblebirthdaykitsforlocalfoodbanks• assemblehygienekitsforlocalhomelessshelters• makebabyblankets,teddybears,andwalker pockets• collectandsortfoodforlocalfoodbanks• volunteersareencouragedtobringcannedanddry

food items

Contact: Natasha Wayne

Duke University—IM Build-ing, 208 Wannamaker Dr, Durham1st shift: 10am–noon2nd shift: 1–3pm

what’s needed:

• Helppackage100,000for the hungry

This special project is co-sponsored by North Carolina Central University and Duke University. If you’re not a stu-dent, just show up. There will be plenty of ways you can help.

Extraordinary Ventures Event Center—200 S Elliott

Re, Chapel Hill; this is the site for the “Orange County Signature Project” 9am–noon

what’s needed:

• assemblebirthdaykitsforlocalfoodbanks• assemblehygienekitsforlocalhomelessshelters• makebabyblankets,teddybears,andwalker pockets• collectandsortfoodforlocalfoodbanks• volunteersareencouragedtobringcannedanddry food items

Contact: Natasha Wayne


Durham Upholstery

Reupholstery • Repairs • Refinishing • Restoring

also… Car Upholstery • Upholstery cleaningCar tops & covers • Expert antiques repair

See our website for impressive Before & After photos

We pick up and deliver

Call today for your free estimate

Individual homes • Businesses • Government

Roger R Brown, sales

809 Midland Terrace Durham919-682-8301 www.durhamupholstery.com

Monday–Friday 8am–5pm www.seniorpharmassist.org

If you’re a Durham resident age 60 and up, we can help you:

• decrease what you pay for your medications • manage your medicines safely and effectively • get the most appropriate drug and medical coverage (this service is available to all ages)

Senior PharmAssist is a local nonprofit that has been helping seniors obtain and manage their medications since 1994. If necessary, we can arrange for home visits or transportation.

Call 919-688-4772 for more information or to set an appointment.

We’re located in the Durham Center for Senior Life building, 406 Rigsbee Avenue.

Local agent, NC Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)

4723 Fayetteville Rd Durham919-544-3735 or 919-544-3736

Monday–Friday 8am–6pm

All major repairsSpecializing in tune-ups • Brakes • A/C

Electrical systems • Cooling systems

Speight’sAuto Service Center

Car alarms • Car audio • Car detailingCar TV • DVD & navigation

Wheels & accessories • Window tintingPaint • Rims • Keyless entry/Remote start

Davenport Customs

Mention this ad and get $5 off

$224.99 limited-time special: Pioneer CD Player Installed + Window Tint

2824 Hillsborough Rd Durham919-682-5627 davenportcustoms.com

The High Strung School of Music

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass (upright and electric)Guitar, (acoustic, electric, classical)

Clawhammer Banjo, Ukulele, Ocarina & more!

Private lessons with experienced teachers in a beautiful, newly renovated music studio. Our teachers can help you

get started or coach you to new levels in your playing.

Visit www.highstrungdurham.com for details.

1805 W Markham • Durham

Chicken Hut

Fried Chicken • Fish • Home-cooked vegetablesHomemade desserts • Dinners cooked to your liking:

Baked Chicken, Beef Liver, Chitlins, OxtailsRibs (beef and pork)

Lemonade & Sweet Tea by the gallon/half-gallon

Eat In • Take Out • Catering

3019 Fayetteville St Durham919-682-5697

Monday–Saturday 10am–6pm


There’s a gastrointestinal illness going around that Durham County public-health officials wants to warn us about. Called “norovirus,” this common illness is easily passed from person to person and causes stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Noroviruses can be spread by people eating foods, drinking liquids, or coming into contact with things that have been touched by persons with the virus. The best way to pro-tect yourself is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Hand sanitizers don’t work against the virus, so for now, make sure that you and your kids use warm water and soap (antibacterial soap if you’re washing your hands in cool water). For more information, call the Durham County Department of Public Health’s Communicable Disease program at 919-560-7886.

Flu shotsInfluenza vaccinations (flu shots) are now available free of charge at the Durham County Department of Public Health (414 E Main St) for anyone more than 6 months old. You can drop in on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 8:30 to 11am, or from 1 to 4pm. Please note that on the first Wednes-day of the month (December 5), flu vaccinations will only be offered from 8:30 to 11am. Go to the Immunization Clinic in Lobby 7.

If you’d like more information about the flu, its symptoms, and whether you should get a flu shot, you can call the flu hot-line at 919-560-7300. You can also get additional information about the flu on the Durham County Department of Pub-lic Health’s homepage at www.dconc.gov/index.aspx?page=379

To your health

Norovirus warning(or go to the County’s homepage at www.dconc.gov and scroll down and click on “Public Health”).

Upcoming autism conferenceThe “Autism Grows Up” conference, the largest annual autism gathering in North Carolina, will be held February 8 and 9 at the Hilton University Place Hotel in Charlotte. Spon-sored by the Autism Society of North Carolina, this conference will explore the concepts of social communication, behavior, and relationships as they relate to autism, a neurodevelopment disorder that affects the person’s ability to communicate with others. Here are some of the featured speakers:

• PeterGerhardtfromtheScientificCouncil,which conducts autism research • JulieClark,whowrote“Asperger’sinPink:Pearlsof Wisdom from inside the Bubble of Raising a Child with Asperger’s” • LindaGundAndersonandBrentAnderson,whowrote “Unintentional Humor: Celebrating the Literal Mind of Autism” and • JohnThomas,atrainingconsultantontheautism spectrum and their families.

The cost of attending both days is $240 for early birds and $340 for last-minute signups ($160 for people with autism spectrum disorder) ($135 for Friday only and $185 for Sat-urday only). Visit the Autism Society of North Carolina at autismsociety-nc.org for more information.


Q News from Duke University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), 919-684-2703, www.learnmore.duke.edu/olli/:

OLLI offers classes just for fun, like How Airports Work, Calligraphy, Buddism, and Free Will & Determism. See all of the offerings at the website; classes will start the week of January 7.

Q News from the Durham Center for Senior Life, 406 Rigsbee Ave, 919-688-8247, www.dcslnc.org:

Representatives from Durham County Social Ser- vices make themselves available on Tuesdays, 1–5pm, to help you deal with Medicaid issues. On Wednes- days, 9am–1pm, you can meet with a social worker from DSS Adult Services.

A Birthday Party, featuring an Elvis Presley imperson- ator, will be held for January celebrants on Thursday, January 10, 1:30pm.

Take a Bull City Golden Riders Field Trip on Friday, January 11, 11:30am. Call and reserve your spot by Monday, January 7.

Seniors have fun bowling together on Wednesday, Jan- uary 16, 9:30am–noon, at the AMF Bowling Lanes (4508 Hwy 15-501). Join them and have a ball; call and ask about bus transportation.

Sessions for Legal Document Preparation for Age 60+ will be held on Friday, January 18, 9am–noon. Call to set up an appointment.

Watch an MLK Documentary in the theater on Tues- day, January 22 at 1:30pm.

Explore the various eateries around town by participating in the next Dining Around Durham on Wednes- day, January 23, 11am–1pm. Enjoy lunch and have a nice social outing with other seniors. You can meet everyone at the restaurant to be chosen or you can meet up and take a chartered bus (which will cost a couple of dollars).

Q News from Durham Parks and Recreation, Mature Adults office, Walltown Recreation Center, 1308 W Club Blvd, 919-560-4296 or 919-354-2710, http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/prd/ Pages/Home.aspx:

Seniors (age 55+) are invited to pick up some free fruits and vegetables at the Senior Room on the 2nd floor of the Holton Career and Resource Center (401 N Driver St) on Thursdays, January 3 and 17, 11am. They don’t always have bags, so you might want to take your own. If you arrive a half-hour early on January 17, you can attend the free workshop on healthy eating. Interested in writing your story or working on original poems? Join the Durham Senior Games Writer’s Workshop at Lyon Park (1309 Halley St) January 8–10, 10:30am–noon. It’s free!

The next senior trip will be to Greenboro’s Barn Din- ner Theater to see the comedy “Things My Mother Taught Me” on Tuesday, January 15. Meet at North- gate Mall (1058 W Club Blvd) at 10:45am. The $51 fee ($46 with Play More card) will cover roundtrip transportation, theater admission, and dinner. The bus is scheduled to return to Northgate Mall around 5pm.

SENIORSCOPE


File your own visitation or custody lawsuit North Carolina Central University’s Family Law Clinic holds monthly File It Yourself Clinics at the Legal Aid of North Carolina office (201 W Main St, Suite 400). Attend- ees will learn some basic family law and how to file their own visitation or custody lawsuits. A mediator can offer free help in getting you what you want without having to go to court. Call 530-7169 to reserve your spot; the cost to attend is $15 (cash or money order). Visit nccu. edu/law/clinic/index.html to learn about NCCU’s various legal clinics, and call 530-7169 to find out the date of the January File It Yourself Clinic.

Free legal seminarsLaw professors from the North Carolina Central University School of Law are giving infor- mative seminars at the Turner School of Law building (640 Nelson St). They’re free and the public is invited. You don’t have to register, but you can call 919-530-6601 for more information:

• Getting Documents Together for Filing Season: What Do I Need?—Thursday, January 3, 6–7:30pm

Find out what you need to do to prepare for filing your income taxes for 2012.

• IRS Filing Statuses and Dependents Issues: Which Filing Status?—Thursday, January 10, 6–7:30pm

Learn about filing requirements when working on your income tax, what standard deductions are, and the rules for eligibility for certain tax credits.

• IRS Credits from A to Z: What You Need to Know— Thursday, January 17, 6–7:30pm

LEGAL EASE Learn all about the tax credits that you might be eligible for when filing your income tax.

• Understanding the Ins and Outs of Establishing a Child Support Order—Tuesday, January 22, 6–7:30pm

Attorney Nakia Davis will describe how child support is determined (including taking paternity tests), the various types of child support orders, and will also discuss various custody issues. You can call 919-530-6601 or send email to [email protected] for more information.

• Nonprofit Governance and Management—Monday, January 28, 6–7:30pm

Attorney Evan Lewis and Darryl Lester, a nonprofit organizational development consultant, will discuss how nonprofit organizations can remain or become relevant and productive by understanding both the public interest and the agency’s legal responsibilities.

Historic Rehab Tax Credit

WorkshopStaffers from the State Historic Preservation Office will lead two Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Workshops—the first will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 7–8:30pm, at King’s Daughter Inn (204 N Buchanan Blvd). These workshops are free; for more information, contact Preservation Durham at 919-682-3036 or [email protected]. Visit the web-site at preservationdurham.org.

Attention, attorneys: Contact us so we can interview you about the latest legal issues (we won’t ask you to dispense legal advice).


•TheHeart & Sole Mall Wal- kers ClubwalkatNorthgate Mall(1058WClubBlvd)Mon- day–Saturday between 7am and 9pm and Sundays be- tween9amand6pm.Thefree monthlybreakfastandhealth talk will take place on Tues- day, January 8 at 8:30am. Call 919-286-4400 for more info.

•Durham Parks and Recre- ation’sHigh Ropes Course Discovery Day is Saturday, January19,atBethesdaPark (1814StageRd).Theone-hour course is offered from11am to2pm.Challengeyourselfby conquering this obstacle course,whichis55feetupin theair.Thefeeis$8,$7with PlayMorecard.

•Heels in Motion, whowalk forgoodhealth atStreetsat Southpoint Mall (6910 Fay- etteville Rd), can walk Mon- day–Saturday between 7am and 9pm and Sundays between 10am and 7pm. The monthly free breakfast and health talk will take place in the FoodCourt onWednes- day,January23at8am.Call 919-572-6450formoreinfo.

NC High School OpenerHigh school athletes from North Caro-lina and Virginia are getting ready for the 2013 North Carolina High School Open-er (indoor track & field), which will be held Saturday, January 5 at UNC–Chapel Hill’s Dick Taylor Track/ Eddie Smith Field House.

Those who would like to compete by joining the Durham Striders Track Club can contact Coach O through www.coa-cho.com. You can also get information at www.durhamstriders.com and pay all fees by mail; the deadline is Wednesday, Janu-ary 2.

Here are the events for the NC High School Opener:

• Field events—long jump, high jump, shot put, triple jump, and pole vault. • Running events—4 x 800-meter relay, 55-meter high hurdles, 55- meter dash, 1600-meter run, 500- meter run, 3200-meter run, 1000- meter run, 300-meter dash, and the 4 x 400-meter relay.

DBAP to host ACC this springThe Durham Bulls Athletic Park will be the host site of next year’s ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) baseball champion-ship. Full-tournament passes are already being sold for $130 for the 38th annual tournament, which will be held May 22–

SPORTS SHORTS

SPORTIN’ LIFE

26. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

The top eight teams will compete in the round-robin tournament Wednesday through Saturday and the champion-ship game between the two pool win-ners will then be played on Sunday. (By the way, Duke University is a member of the ACC.)

If you’d like to get your 2013 ACC full-tournament pass now, call the Durham Bulls ticket office at 919-956-BULL or visit https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=5154 (if that doesn’t work, try www.durhambulls.com).

Bounceback Kids to go bowlingThe Bounceback Kids program offers young people (ages 3–21) with chronic illnesses opportunities to play sports (including basketball and bowling) and to participate in fun social events like visiting museums, joining in arts & crafts activities, and attending the-atrical productions. The next outing will be Bowling at Buffaloe Lanes (151 High House Rd in Cary) on Satur- day, January 12, 10:30am–12:30pm.

Call 919-246-9100, send email to [email protected], or visit the website at bouncebackkids.org for more informa-tion.


photos by patricia A murray — see more pix at flickr.com/photos/durhamskywriter

Well-wisher greets Karen Ochola (from Palace International Restaurant) at Kwanzaa Fest,

which was held at the Durham Armory.

These buildings (on Main St, just off Duke St) were part of the Liggett & Myers operation. Here’s an amazing fact:

The smaller building on the left was moved across the street to make room for the larger one.

North Carolina Central University’s new electronic sign (on the corner of Fayetteville and Lawson) displays the date 12/12/12.

(And isn’t it cool that 12x12=144!)

The old “Liggett & Myers Tobacco Co” sign is still on an old building on the corner of Duke and Main streets.


Kids enjoying a fun pony ride at Durham Parks and Recreation’s Holiday Fun Fest in

Durham Central Park.

Colorful procession at the beginning of Kwanzaa Fest at the Durham Armory downtown.

photos by patricia A murray — see more pix at flickr.com/photos/durhamskywriter

Vocalist Yolanda Rabun and the Art of Cool’s Al Strong visit air personality BH Hudson at WNCU.

Frank Stasio (from WUNC’s “The State of Things”) sets off for Occoneechee Mountain with his little grandson in tow.


LET’S GO!Í Tuesday Night Learning Jams are held every week, 6:30–8pm, at High Strung Musical Instru- ments (1116 Broad St). Make friends and learn some old-time tunes. They’re free; call 919-286- 3801 or check highstrungdurham.com for more info.

Í English Country Dance sessions are held every Thursday, 7:30–9:30pm, at the Freedman Center of Beth El Synagogue (1004 Watts St). Be sure to take soft, non-street shoes or dance in your socks. $5 suggested donation; beginners are welcome. Visit ncfolk.net/contra for more info.

Í Take a tour of a roastery and sample different types of coffee on Fridays, 10am, at Counter Culture Coffee (4911 S Alston Ave). It’s free; call 919-361-5282 or visit counterculturecoffee.com for more info.

Í The Durham Central Park Pavilion at 502 Foster St is the home of the Durham Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 10am to noon. You can buy fresh produce, free-range eggs, honey, cheese, handmade soaps, home-made yummies, and antibiotic and hormone-free meats. Check durhamfarmersmarket.com or call 919-484-3084 to find out what’s in season.

Í The South Durham Farmers Market is held on Saturdays (rain or shine) from 8am to noon in the Greenwood Commons Shopping Center (5510 Hwy 55). Winter hours are 10am–1pm. You can buy winter produce, meats, pies, and crafts, and more. Check southdurhamfarmersmarket. org to read about the vendors and to subscribe to the e-newsletter.

RecuRRing events

Í Allow yourself to explore self-expression at the Ecstatic Dance–Durham Dance Wave in Golden Belt’s Cotton Room (807 E Main St) on Mondays, 7:30–9pm. The cost is $7; call 919-768-2489 or visit durhamdancewave.com for more info.

Í You can drop off Household Hazardous Waste on Tuesdays and Wednesdays noon to 6pm, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 7:30am to 3pm, at 1900 E Club Blvd. They’ll take paint, used motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, pool cleaners, strong cleansers, stains, varnishes, and fluorescent bulbs. If you’re worried about spills, wrap con- tainers with newspapers and place them in cardboard boxes for safe transport. This service is for individuals only—commercial users are not allowed. Call Durham One-Call at 919-560-1200 or visit durhamnc.gov/ich/op/swmd/Pages/ Hazardous-Waste.aspx for more info.

Í Overeaters Anonymous meetings are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30–1:30pm, at First Presbyterian Church (305 E Main St, 2nd floor of the Christian Ed Wing). Call Robin at 919-683- 3013 for more info. Meetings are also held on Saturdays, 10–11:30am, at Westminster Presby- terian Church (3639 Old Chapel Hill Rd, Youth Hut). Call Harriette at 919-596-9543 for more info. Sunday meetings are held at 10am for newcomers and 10:30am for regulars at the Structure House (3017 Pickett Rd, Room 220). Call Judith at 919-929-9891 for more info.

Í Have you always wanted to learn how to play “old-time” music? Bring your stringed instrument to the Old-Time Learning Jam at High Strung Musical Instruments (1116 Broad St) on Tuesdays, 6:30–8pm. It’s free and “near-beginners” are welcome. Call 919-286-3801 or check highstrungdurham.com for more info.


LET’S GO!JAnuARY 1 – 6

Í Kwanzaa Fest will be celebrated on Tuesday, Jan- uary 1 at the Durham Armory (220 Foster St). The doors will open at noon so that attendees can tour the vendors’ booths and sample the fresh fruit. The festivities, featuring Chuck Davis and the African-American Dance Ensemble, will start at 2pm and end at 6pm. Free admission; everyone is welcome. Call 919-560-2729 for more info.

Í The Durham Community Concert Band will hold its annual Open Reading Session on Saturday, January 5, 10am–1pm, at the Durham Arts Coun- cil (120 Morris St). That’s where local wind and percussion musicians are invited to sit in with the band and play great music (graded from medium to advanced level). Take your instrument and don’t forget your music stand. It’s free; call 919- 885-4237 for more info.

Í The Resource Center for Women and Ministry in the South is sponsoring an essay contest for women age 18 and older. You can submit a pre- viously unpublished nonfiction essay up to 1400 words on the theme “Home.” Explore what that word means to you—you can write about a physi- cal or spiritual home, a longing to return home, or any other feeling or expression of home. Each contestant can submit up to two essays—each must be double-spaced. The 1st place prize is $300, 2nd place is $200, and 3rd place is $100. Mail four copies of your essay, along with a cover letter with the name of your essay, your name, address, tele- phone number, and email address, to RCWMS Essay Contest, 1202 Watts St, Durham, NC 27701 by January 15. Do not put your name on your essay. Winners will be notified by mail.

Í This just in: Durham Technical Community College announces that it’s offering online, instructor-led, continuing-education courses as

part of its Ed2Go program. Dozens of classes in the following fields will be offered: Account- ing and Finance, Business, College Readiness, Computer Applications, Design and Composition, Health Care and Medical, Language and Arts, Law and Legal, Personal Development, Teaching and Education, Technology, and Writing and Pub- lishing. Most courses will cost $75 and will start the week of January 15; check out the catalog at www.ed2go.com/dtcc.

JAnuARY 7 – 13

Í If you like science, check out Periodic Tables, which are monthly talks about science in an infor- mal setting (sponsored by the Museum of Life and Science), at the Broad St Café (1116 Broad St, 919-416-9707, thebroadstreetcafe.com). The next one will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 7pm, and Dr Nita Farahany, professor of Law, Genome Science and Policy at Duke University, will lead a discussion on Cognitive Neuro- science, Privacy, and Responsibility.

Í The next District 5 PAC (Partners Against Crime) meeting will be held in City Hall’s Com- mittee Room on the 2nd floor (101 City Hall Plaza) on Thursday, January 10, 5:30–7:30pm. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about City/County services.

Í The Scrap Exchange will host the Kids and Fami- lies Junk Jam on January 10, 7–8pm, at their new spot, 923 Franklin St, behind Golden Belt. Make crazy homemade percussion instruments out of discarded and found materials with sound experimentor Shannon Morrow. For kids age 5 and up; parents are welcome to join in. Admission is $5 per person; call 919-688-6960 for more info.


LET’S GO! Food Lion (2811 Hillsborough Rd; park in the rear). Register by emailing Sandy at yikes.contact @gmail.com; be sure to find out how much is being charged for the workshop (usually between $5 and $15). Visit communecos.org for more info on Recyclique.

Í A Youth Awareness Service will be held at the Hayti Heritage Center (Fayetteville and Lake- wood) on Sunday, January 13, 4pm. Public- affairs strategist Derwin Dubose will give a motivational speech. (a Durham Community martin Luther King Jr Steering Committee event)

JAnuARY 14 – 20

Í The next District 2 PAC (Partners Against Crime) meeting will be held at the Durham Public Schools’ Resource Center (2107 Hillandale Rd) on Monday, January 14, 6pm. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about City/County services.

Í Rabbi Daniel Greyber and Reverend Joe Har- vard will discuss the ideas explored in the book “Faith Unravels” at the Regulator Bookshop (720 Ninth St) on Tuesday, January 15, 7pm. They’ll talk about grief, mourning, and the process of losing one’s faith and then regaining it. Call 919-286- 2700 for more info about the book signing.

Í The next regular meeting of the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission will be held in the 2nd-floor Committee Room of City Hall on January 15, 7–9pm. Topics to be discussed will include the NCDOT Access to Transit Project, NCDOT Resurfacing in Durham City/County this year, and a City Code discussion on “Bicycles on Sidewalks.”

Í The City-County Government’s Martin Luther King Jr Celebration will be held on Wednesday,

Í The next District 3 PAC (Partners Against Crime) meeting will be held at Lyon Park (1309 Halley St) on Saturday, January 12, 10am. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about City/County services.

Í The next District 4 PAC (Partners Against Crime) meeting will be held at IR Holmes Sr Recreation Center at Campus Hills (2000 S Alston Ave) on January 12, 10am. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about City/ County services.

Í The Music Explorium (5314 Hwy 55, Suite 107) will hold its Family Rhythm Jam on January 12, 10–11am. The cost is $10/family. Call 919- 484-9090 or visit musicexplorium.com for more info.

Í Young people are invited to participate in the Youth Rap Forum, which will be held on Janu- ary 12, 10am–1pm, at the Hayti Heritage Center (Fayetteville and Lakewood). The topic will be “Reclaiming Our Youth,” and speakers will include NCCU’s Lady Lyke, Rev Frederick Feely, and members of the Durham Police Dept. (a Durham Community martin Luther King Jr Steering Com- mittee event; viSit DurhammLKCommittee.org for more info)

Í Durham Parks and Recreation presents Dr Martin Luther King Jr: Remembering the Legacy Through Art at the WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St) on January 12, 2–4pm. Enjoy the visual-art displays, participate in the community discussions and arts & crafts projects, and join in the food and fellowship. It’s free; call 919-560-4292 for more info.

Í Learn how to repair chair seats at Recyclique’s Art of Caning Chairs Workshop on January 12, 2–4pm, in the green house just east of the


LET’S GO! January 16, noon, at First Presbyterian Church (305 E Main St). Dr Eric Becoats, superintendent of Durham Public Schools, will be the keynote speaker, the City-County Martin Luther King Jr Mass Choir will give a performance, and Humani- tarian Awards will be presented to deserving Durham City and County employees. It’s free and all are invited; call 919-560-0008 for more info.

Í Singers, instrumentalists, and spoken-word artists are invited to showcase their talents at an Open Mic on January 16, 8pm, at the Broad Street Café (1116 Broad St). Original music is preferred and all poetry and spoken-word pieces must be pg-rated. Free admission; call 919-416- 9707 or visit thebroadstreetcafe.com for more info.

Í Learn how to salvage good stuff at Recyclique’s Building Deconstruction and Recycling Work- shop on Friday, January 18, 6–8pm, in the green house just east of the Food Lion (2811 Hills- borough Rd; park in the rear). Register by emailing Sandy at [email protected]; be sure to find out how much is being charged for the workshop (usually between $5 and $15). Visit communecos.org for more info on Recyclique.

Í Flit from venue to venue downtown during Third Friday on January 18, 6–9pm (depending on the venue). Enjoy art displays, live and recorded music, and snacks; participating spaces include the Durham Arts Council/Durham Art Guild, Bull City Arts Collaborative, Through This Lens, The Scrap Exchange, Durham Arts Place, Exotique, Claymakers, The Carrack Gallery, Golden Belt, and others. Check thirdfridaydurham.com for more info.

Í Volunteers are needed for the MLK Day-of- Service Project at New Horizons Academy (916 Lamond Ave) on Saturday, January 19, 9am–1pm.

They’ll reorganize the classroom and remodel the teachers’ lounge. Visit http://realityministries inc.org/newhorizons for more info; you can sign up by contacting Brandon Hudson at 919-308- 3900 or [email protected]. (a Durham Community martin Luther King Jr Steering Committee event)

Í The next District 1 PAC (Partners Against Crime) meeting will be held at the Holton Career & Resource Center (410 N Driver St) on January 19, 9:30am. Find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about City/County services.

Í The annual MLK Sermon will be given by Rev Prinn Deavens, senior chaplain at the Raleigh Correctional Institution for Women, on Sunday, January 20, 11am, at Watts Street Baptist Church (800 Watts St). Rev Deavens will share some of Dr King’s writings, and the lecture will be followed by a luncheon discussion where attendees will be able to discuss ways we can carry on Dr King’s legacy of peace and reconciliation. This event is free and open to all; call 919-688-1366 for more info.

Í Duke University’s Martin Luther King Jr Com- memoration will be held on January 20, 3pm, at Duke Chapel on Science Dr. Rev William C Turner, from the Class of 1971, one of the first to include African-Americans, will be the keynote speaker. It’s free and open to all; call 919- 684-5600 for more info.

JAnuARY 21 – 27

Í The 33rd annual MLK Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel (4700 Emperor Blvd) on Monday, January 21, 7am. A special keynote address will be given by Reverend Dr Ronald Smith from the Seventh Day Adventist Church’s South-


LET’S GO!Í Learn about the Self-Help Credit Union & Local Lending at Recyclique on Friday, January 25, 6–8pm, in the greenhouse just east of the Food Lion (2811 Hillsborough Rd; park in the rear). Register by emailing Sandy at yikes.contact@ gmail.com; be sure to find out how much is being charged for the workshop (usually between $5 and $15). Visit communecos.org for more info on Recyclique.

Í Singers, instrumentalists, and spoken-word artists age 18 and under are invited to showcase their talents at The Relative Pitch: Youth Open Mic on Sunday, January 27, 4:30–6:30pm, at the Broad Street Café (1116 Broad St). Free admission; call 919-416-9707 or visit thebroad streetcafe.com for more info.

JAnuARY 28 – FeBRuARY 3

Í Singers, instrumentalists, and spoken-word artists are invited to showcase their talents at an Open Mic on January 30, 8pm, at the Broad Street Café (1116 Broad St). Original music is preferred and all poetry and spoken- word pieces must be pg-rated. Free admission; call 919-416-9707 or visit thebroadstreetcafe.com for more info.

Í The annual Durham MLK/Black History Month Parade will step off at noon, Saturday, February 2, at WD Pearson Elementary (3501 Fayetteville St) and proceed north on Fayetteville St to the NCCU campus. Call 919- 680-0465 for more info.

DuRHAM cOuntY LiBRARY Now that the Durham County Library’s “Branching Out” newspaper is available online at durhamcountylibrary.org/news/ publications.php, I decided not to list the classes and meetings—however, I will continue to list the special events. All events are free of charge.

ern Union Conference in Decatur, GA. Free and open to the public. (thiS Durham Community martin Luther King Jr Steering Committee event iS SponSoreD by the CapitoL broaDCaSting Company)

Í The Dr King Children’s Event and Sock Hop will take place at Northgate Mall’s Center Court (1058 W Club Blvd) on January 21, 10am–1pm. Sing freedom songs, learn about the Durham Sit-In, hear civil rights stories, and dance to Civil Rights– era music. It’s free! Call 919-286-4400 or visit northgatemall.com for more info.

Í On January 21, the Unity March & Rally will step off at the NC Mutual Life Insurance Company building (411 W Chapel Hill St) at 10:30am, will proceed downtown, and will then end at First Presbyterian Church (305 E Main St). Head inside the church for inspirational speeches and pre- sentations. (a Durham Community martin Luther King Jr Steering Committee event)

Í The MLK Annual Religious Service will be held on January 21, 6pm, at St Mark AME Zion Church (531 S Roxboro St). Dr John Mendez, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, will be the keynote speaker. (a Durham Community martin Luther King Jr Steering Committee event)

Í Author Katya Lezin will talk about “But I Just Grew Out My Bangs,” an honest and witty memoir about her battle with ovarian cancer, from the diagnosis through a year of treatment. This talk and book signing will be held on Tues- day January 22, 7pm, at the Regulator Bookshop (720 Ninth St).

Í Durham Public Schools superintendent Dr Eric J Becoats will give an update of the “State of Our Schools” on Wednesday, January 23, 5pm, at the Carolina Theatre (309 W Morgan St). Call DPS at 919-560-2000 for more info.


LET’S GO!Í MAIN LIBRARY, 300 N Roxboro St, 919-560-0100; Children’s Unit 919-560-0130; register for events at durhamcountylibrary.org hourS: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9am– 9pm; Wednesdays 9am–6pm; Fridays 2–6pm; Saturdays 9:30am–6pm; Sundays 2–6pm.

• Tutoring (kindergarten–elementary school)—by appointment; call 919-560-0130 to set days and times. • Game Day (teens)—Tuesdays 3:30–5pm; play board games, Wii, and Xbox Kinect. • SCORE Counseling—Tuesdays 4–7pm; get free one-on-one entrepreneurial counseling; call to set up a time. • Let’s Move—Mon, Jan 7, 7–8pm; fun with zumba and line dances. • Craft Time (teens)—Thur, Jan 10 and 31, 4–5pm. • Thank You, Dr King, Puppet Show—Thur, Jan 17, 10:30–11:30am. • A Russian Winter Celebration—Sat, Jan 12, 3– 4:30pm; learn about the winter celebratory customs of Kostroma Russia, one of our Sister Cities. • Let’s Move—Mon, Jan 14, 6:30–7:30pm; zumba, fitness, and line dancing. • Financial Aid and Scholarships—Thur, Jan 17, 6:30–8pm; get tips on how to pay for college. • Meet the Author: Bland Simpson—Tues, Jan 22, 7–8:30pm; meet Bland Simpson, who wrote “Two Captains from Carolina.” • Teen Advisory Board—Thur, Jan 24, 4–5pm. • Bull City Lightning Talks—Sat, Jan 26, 3–4:30pm; Splatspace presents 5-minute talks on various subjects. • Cooking with Karema—Wed, Jan 30, 12:30– 1:30pm; learn how to make a pizza; call to register.

Í BRAGTOWN LIBRARY FAMILY LITERACY CENTER, 3200 Dearborn Dr, 919-560-0210 hourS: Monday–Friday 2–6pm

• Homework Help—Mon–Thur 4:30–4:45pm (except Jan 21).

• Family Fun Friday—Jan 4, 3–5pm; read a good book, watch a movie, or play board games. • Odds ‘n Ends Art—Thur, Jan 10, 3:30–4:30pm; make a masterpiece with straws, sequins, beads, and buttons. • Neighbor to Neighbor—Fri, Jan 11, noon– 1:30pm; enjoy chats with neighbors on various interesting subjects; call to register. • Gaming @ Bragtown (teens)—Wed, Jan 16, 3:30–4:30pm; play with Wii, Game Cube, and Xbox 360 Kinect. • Make & Take Crafts—Mon, Jan 21, 3:30–5pm. • Science Madness (teens)—Thur, Jan 24, 3:30–4:15pm; fun with messy, loud, and some- times gross science.

Í EAST REGIONAL, 211 Lick Creek Ln (off Holloway/Hwy 98), 560-0203; Children’s Unit 919-560-0214 hourS: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9am– 9pm; Wednesdays 9am–6pm; Fridays 2–6pm; Saturdays 9:30am–6pm; Sundays 2–6pm.

• Preschool Beginning Spanish—Mondays 10:30–11:30am (except Jan 21). • Game Days—Wed, Jan 2, 9, and 30, 3:30– 4:30pm; play Wii and Kinect games. • The Hunger Games—Thur, Jan 3, 6–8:30pm; watch this popular movie with members of the Teen Book Club. • Teen Book Club—Thur, Jan 3, 17, and 31, 6:30– 7:30pm; talk about the best books for teens. • Preschool Science—Thur, Jan 10 and 24, 11am– noon. • Teen Creative Writing Group—Thur, Jan 10 and 24, 6:30–7:30pm; work on your own stories and poems or find someone to collaborate with. • Durham Voices—Tues, Jan 15, 6:30–8:30pm; adult creative-writing group. • East Geeksters Teen Book Club—Thur, Jan 17 and 31, 6:30–7:30pm; talk about the latest books for teens. • A2Z Financial Planning for College—Thur, Jan 31, 6:30–8pm; learn about college costs, financial aid, and how to determine eligibility.


LET’S GO!Í SOUTH REGIONAL, 4505 S Alston Ave, 919-560-7409; Children’s Unit 919-560-7441 hourS: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9am– 9pm; Wednesdays 9am–6pm; Fridays 2–6pm; Saturdays 9:30am–6pm; Sundays 2–6pm.

• 2nd–3rd Grade Book Club—Wed, Jan 2, 4:45– 5:30pm; sign up online and pick up a copy of the book at the information desk. • Yoga—Mon, Jan 7, 14, and 28, 7:30–8:30pm. • Passion for Pinterest—Tues, Jan 8, 7–8pm; create crafts based on posts made on the social networking site. • Game Day—Wed, Jan 9, 3:30–4:30pm; play Wii, Kinect, and board games. • 4th–5th Grade Book Club—Thur, Jan 10, 4:45– 5:30pm; sign up online and pick up a copy of the book at the information desk. • Bull City Writers—Jan 10 and 24, 6:30–8pm; creative-writing club. • Nonfiction Book Club—Tues, Jan 15, 7–8:30pm. • K/1 Book Club (kindergarten and 1st grade)— Wed, Jan 16, 4:45–5:30pm; sign up online and pick up a copy of the book at the information desk. • Saturday Matinee—Sat, Jan 19, 11am–noon; watch a family movie. • Get Crafty: Make Your Own Safety-Pin Bracelet—Wed, Jan 23, 3:30–4:30pm. • Love Your Library Scavenger Hunt (teens)— Wed, Jan 30, 3:30–4:30pm; win prizes by finding clues and solving puzzles.

Í SOUTHWEST REGIONAL, 3605 Shannon Rd, 919-560-8590; Children’s Unit 919-560-8592 hourS: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9am– 9pm; Wednesdays 9am–6pm; Fridays 2–6pm; Saturdays 9:30am–6pm; Sundays 2–6pm.

• Down South Shuffle—Mon, Jan 7 and 28, 6:30– 8:30pm; fitness and line dancing. • Beyblade Club—Fri, Jan 11 and 25, 4–4:45pm; take your beyblades and join in the fun.

Í McDOUGALD TERRACE BRANCH, 1101 Lawson St, 919-560-0240 hourS: Monday–Friday 2–6pm

• Mad Scientist Club (elementary school)—Fri, Jan 11 and 18, 4:30–5:30pm; hands-on experi- ments with science books and online resources. • Rags to Riches Theatre—Fri, Jan 18, 3:30– 4:30pm; see a production of The Frog Prince. • Early Dismissal Game Day—Wed, Jan 30, 2:30–6pm; play games and have a snack.

Í NORTH REGIONAL, 221 Milton Rd, 919-560-0231; Children’s Unit 919-560-0232 hourS: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9am– 9pm; Wednesdays 9am–6pm; Fridays 2–6pm; Saturdays 9:30am–6pm; Sundays 2–6pm.

• Get Creative Online (teens)—Mon, Jan 7, 3–4pm; create multimedia projects with free online programs. • Rock On, Dude! (elementary school)—Jan 7, 6:30–7:30pm; take a potato, onion, or can of mixed vegetables for the “Stone Soup” party; call to register. • Homeschoolers: Celebrate National Static Electricity Day—Wed, Jan 9, 12:30–1:30pm; check out the Van de Graaf Generator; call to register. • Madden 13 Tournament (teens)—Mon, Jan 14, 2:30–4:30pm; play this football videogame; call to register. • Mystery Book Club—Jan 14, 7–8:30pm; read and talk about mysteries. • Tuesday Night Women Authors Book Club— Jan 22, 6–8pm. • American Girl Tea Party—Fri, Jan 25, 3:30– 4:10pm; take your dolls for this special occasion; call to register. • Chess Club—Sat, Jan 26, 2–4:30pm; play and learn how to improve your game; all ages and levels welcome. • Games Galore (middle schoolers)—Mon, Jan 28, 2:30–4pm; play Settlers of Catan, Apples to Apples, Catch Phrase, and other games.


LET’S GO! • American Girl Book Club (ages 4–12)—Sat, Jan 12, 2–2:45pm; dress like your favorite American Girl and have a tea party. • In the Wings: Playmakers on Raisin in the Sun/ Clybourne Park—Mon, Jan 14, 7–8:30pm; learn about the upcoming production of plays by Lorraine Hansberry and Bruce Norris. • African Writers Book Club—Tues, Jan 15, 2:15– 4:15pm. • Kids Comics Club (elementary school)—Jan 15, 4–4:45pm; learn how to make your own comics. • Book to Movie Group (teens)—Wed, Jan 16, 3:30–5:30pm; read It’s Kind of a Funny Story. • Durham Coupon Swap—Thur, Jan 17, 7–8:30pm; exchange coupons and save money. • Rags to Riches: Rumplestiltskin—Jan 17, 7–8pm; performance of the popular fairy tale. • Game Day (ages 10–17)—Mon, Jan 21, 3:30– 5pm; play board games and video games. • Dr Who Party (teens)—Wed, Jan 23, 3:30– 5:30pm. • Superhero Book Club (ages 6–12)—Thur, Jan 24, 4–4:45pm; learn the origin stories of the great superheroes; call to register. • Financial Aid and Scholarships—Jan 24, 6:30–8pm; learn about college costs, financial aid, and how to determine eligibility. • Write On! (teens)—Tues, Jan 29, 7–8:30pm; creative-writing group; call to register.

Í STANFORD L WARREN BRANCH, 1201 Fayetteville St, 919-560-0270 hourS: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 9am– 9pm; Wednesdays 9am–6pm; Fridays 2–6pm; Saturdays 9:30am–6pm.

• Anime Club (teens)—Wed, Jan 2, 4–5pm; talk about your favorite manga, anime, and graphic novels. • National Harlem Globetrotter Day, NCCU Style—Mon, Jan 7, 4–5pm; call to register. • Garden Club—Tues, Jan 8, 4–5pm; plant your own library garden. • Rags to Riches Theatre—Tues, Jan 15, 10:30– 11:30am; see a production of The Frog Prince.

• Game Day—Tues, Jan 29, 4–5pm; play games and have a snack. • Early Dismissal from School Movie—Wed, Jan 30, 2–4:30pm.

DuRHAM PARKs & RecReAtiOn Now that DPR’s “Play More” newspaper is available online at http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/prd/Pages/Home.aspx, I decided not to list the classes and meetings—however, I will continue to list the special events. Call the DPR office at 919-560-4355 and ask about the Play More card, which allows you to save money on classes and afterschool programs! Play More card prices: $20/individual, $35/two people, $10/teen.

Í BETHESDA PARK, 1814 Stage Rd, 919-560-4355 x27210 (Adventure Programs)

• High Ropes Discovery Days (age 7+)—Sat, Jan 19, 11am–noon (course #10195); 12:30–1:30pm (course #10196); 2–3pm (course #10197); $8, $7 with Play More card.

Í EDISON JOHNSON, 500 W Murray Ave, 919-560-4270

• Wellness and Fitness Fun-Fitness Week (all ages)—Sun, Jan 6, 1–6pm; Mon–Thur, Jan 7–10, 8:30am–9pm; Fri, Jan 11, 8:30am–8pm; and Sat, Jan 12, 8:30am–6pm; learn what DPR has to offer by visiting the center and trying various sports and activities; free (course #9875). • Ujamaa (ages 13–17)—Mon, Wed, and Thur, Jan 7–24, 4–6pm; learn about leadership, teamwork, and the importance of the community; free (course #9878).

Í HOLTON CAREER AND RESOURCE CENTER, 401 N Driver St, 919-354-2750

• Open Rec (ages 6–17)—Mon–Thur 6–8pm; homework help, videogames, and billiards; free (course #9928).


LET’S GO!Í MORREENE ROAD RECREATION CENTER, 1100 Morreene Rd, 919-560-4405

• Caving Exploration (age 9+)—Sat, Jan 19, 7am– 10pm; explore caves in eastern Tennessee (you’ll get muddy, so take a change of clothing); $48, $43.25 with Play More Card (course #10214).

Í WALLTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, 1300 E Club Blvd, 919-560-4296

• Wellness and Fitness Fun-Fitness Week (all ages)—Sun, Jan 6, 1–6pm; Mon–Thur, Jan 7–10, 8:30am–9pm; Fri, Jan 11, 8:30am–8pm; and Sat, Jan 12, 8:30am–6pm; learn what DPR has to offer by visiting the center and trying various sports and activities; free (course #9731). • Strike a Pose (ages 5–12)—Thur, Jan 17–Feb 21, 5:45–6:30pm; learn about the world of modeling; free (course #9797). • Open Gym: Teacher Workday (ages 13–17)— Fri, Jan 18, 11am–2pm and 4–6pm play some pickup basketball; free (course #9563).

Í WD HILL RECREATION CENTER, 1308 Fayetteville St, 919-560-4292

• Wellness and Fitness Fun-Fitness Week (all ages)—Mon–Sat, Jan 7–12, 8:30am–8pm; learn what DPR has to offer by visiting the center and trying various sports and activities; free (course #10035). • Slide into Fitness (age 16+)—Tues, Jan 8–May 28, 6:15–7:15pm; cardio-based line dance work- out; $4, #3.50 with Play More card (course 10013). • HYPE (Hayti Youth for Progress and Enrich- ment) (boys ages 13–17)—Fri, Jan 11–May 31, 6–8pm; develop leadership and learn about the community; free (course #10007). • Martin Luther King Jr Celebration (all ages)— Sat, Jan 12, 2–4pm; watch a film, join the community discussion about Dr King’s legacy, see art exhibits, and share a snack with friends from the neighborhood.

• Farmers’ Market (age 55+)—Thur, Jan 3 and 17, 11am–noon; take your own bag and pick up some fruits and vegetables; free (course #8538). • Open Gym for Teens (ages 13–17)—Sundays 1–4pm, Mondays and Wednesdays 8–9pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays 6–9pm; free (course #9539).

Í IR HOLMES SR RECREATION CENTER AT CAMPUS HILLS, 2000 S Alston Ave, 919-560-4444; Aquatic Center 919-560-4781

• Wellness and Fitness Fun-Fitness Week (all ages)—Sun, Jan 6, 1–6pm; Mon–Fri, Jan 7–11, 6am–9pm; and Sat, Jan 12, 8am–6pm; learn what DPR has to offer by visiting the center and trying various sports and activities; free (course #9900). • Arctic Blast (ages 2–6)—Wed, Jan 9, 10:15– 11:15am; snow-themed crafts, songs, and snacks; $1.50, $1.25 with Play More card (course #9901) • Open Forum—Thur, Jan 10, 7–8pm; share your opinions and concerns about your park as a way to improve services and facilities. • Safe Sitter (ages 11–13)—Fri, Jan 18, 9am–5pm; learn what it takes to be a good babysitter: safety skills, game ideas, business skills, and behavior management; $12, $10.75 with Play More card (course #9967). • Pirate Party Cardboard Boat Race (age 6+)— Sat, Jan 26, 5:30–7pm—make a boat out of cardboard, duct tape, and waterproof paint and race it in the pool. Each boat must a captain and co-captain (one adult and one child); $6, $5 with Play More card (course #9717).

Í LYON PARK, 1309 Halley St, 919-560-4288

• Night Flight (ages 13–17)—Fri, Jan 4–May 31, 6–10pm; pickup basketball games; free (course #10016).


LET’S GO! • Fun Day (ages 5–12)—Fri, Jan 18, 7:30am–6pm; sports, games, art & crafts, and fun; $26, $23.50 with Play More card.

Í WEAVER STREET RECREATION CENTER, 3000 E Weaver St, 919-560-4294

• Open Rec (ages 6–17)—Mon–Thur 6–8pm; homework help, videogames, and billiards; free (course #9928). • Boys II Men (ages 13–18)—Wed, Jan 2–May 29, 6–7pm; sports, conversation, and field trips; free (course #9933). • Girl Talk (ages 13–18)—Thur, Jan 3–May 30, 6–7pm; conversation, style, and fashion; free (course #9934). • Zumba (age 18+)—Sat, Jan 12–May 25, 1–2pm; work out to Latin and international music; $4, $3.50 with Play More card (course #9889).

Í WESTOVER PARK, 1900 Maryland Ave

• Community Campfire—Fri, Jan 18, 7–8pm; make s’mores around the campfire with friends; free.

Í WEST POINT ON THE ENO, 5101 N Roxboro Rd, 919-560-4405 contact: Christopher Shepard, [email protected]

• Crochet Hot Pad/Washcloth Sampler (age 8+) —Sat, Jan 12, 10am–3pm; learn how to crochet; $20, $18 with Play More card (course #9723). • Discovering Deer (age 5+)—Jan 12, 3–5pm; learn about deer while hiking in the park; $1, free with Play More card (course #10163). • Soap Making (age 11+)—Sun, Jan 13, 1–5pm; make your own soap and experiment with fragrant oils and herbs; call to register; $24, $21.50 with Play More card (course #9671). • Portrait Photography: Film and Digital (age 12+)—Sat, Jan 19, 10am–noon; take your camera and learn how to get the most out of it when

photographing people; $6, $5 with Play More card (course #9665). • Lake Michie by Moonlight (age 18+)—Fri, Jan 25, 7–9pm; take a nighttime boat ride; use your own or borrow one from the City; $6, $5 with Play More card (course #10168).

tHe gReAt OutDOORs

Í Eno River State Park, 6101 Cole Mill Rd, 919-383-1686, ncparks.gov/Visit/main.php; email address: [email protected]

• Fews Ford Historic Homes Hike—Saturday, Jan 5, 11am; a park ranger will lead a 1-1/2-mile roundtrip hike to see two historic home sites at Fews Ford. It’s free; call to reserve your spot and get directions. • Birdwatching (age 12+)—Saturday, Jan 19, 9am; explore the park and see how many species you can identify. It’s free; call to reserve your spot. • Owls of the Eno—Jan 19, 1pm; learn about the courtship habits of the three types of owls that are common to the area. It’s free; call to register. • Trail Workday: Occoneechee Mountain— Friday, Jan 25, 11am; a park ranger will lead a team of volunteers in making improvements to the Occoneechee Loop Trail. Call for more details.

Í Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, 280 State Park Rd, Apex, 919-362-0586, ncparks.gov/Visit/main.php; email address: [email protected]:

• Astronomy Viewing Session—Saturday, Jan 12, 6–8pm; take a celestial tour of the constella- tions with a Morehead Planetarium educator. It’s free. • Bald Eagle Count—Sunday, Jan 13, 7am; help with the latest New Hope Audubon Society’s quarterly eagle count, which should last 1-1/2 hour. Sign up by contacting Ranger Steve McMurray at 919-362-0586 xt219 or steve.


LET’S GO!Í Plan to be Discovering Deer, or at least the evi- dence of them, while taking a hike through West Point on the Eno Park (5101 N Roxboro Rd) on Saturday, January 12, 3–5pm. The cost is $1, free with Play More card (course #10163).

Í The Morehead Planetarium sponsors free Sky- watcher Sessions (you can call 919-962-1236 for directions and day-of if weather conditions cause you to wonder if the session will be can- celled):

• Jordan Lake’s Ebenezer Church Recreation Area—Saturday, Jan 12, 6–8pm; see Mars, the Moon, and Jupiter.

Í Enjoy s’mores with friends at Durham Parks and Recreation’s next Community Campfire at Westover Park (1900 Maryland Ave) on Friday, January 18, 7–8pm. It’s free!

Í Take a boatride and enjoy Lake Michie by Moon- light on Friday, January 25, 7–9pm, in the Lake Michie Recreation Area off N Roxboro Rd. You can use your own boat or kayak and borrow one from the City. The cost is $6, $5 with Play More card. Contact Chris Shepard at 919-560-4405 or [email protected] to register.

Í Learn how to identify trees by their bark, twigs, and shapes by joining the Bare but Beauti- ful hike through Indian Trail Park (1701 Albany St on Saturday, January 26, noon–2pm. The cost is $1, free with Play More card (course #10164).

HeALtH

Í A local research group, FHI 360, will be conduct- ing a series of focus groups and one-on-one

[email protected]. Meet at the Poplar Point Campground at the beach. It’s free.

Í Sarah P Duke Gardens, 426 Anderson St, 919-684-3698, hr.duke.edu/dukegardens; garden- ing workshops are held in the Doris Duke Center; call 919-668-1707 or 1708 to reserve your spot:

• Maximizing Fruit Production— Saturday, Jan 12, 9am–noon; learn about pruning, fertil- izing, and minimizing disease in apples, grapes, pears, peaches, figs, and berry plants; $30, $25 for Friends; call to register. • Beekeeping for Beginners—Jan 12 and 19, 9am–noon; learn about the equipment you’ll need to start and how to select bees; $40, $30 for Friends. • Introduction to Home Orchard Production— Sunday, Jan 13, 2–4pm; learn about soil preparation, planting, and pest management for fruit trees and vines. • Mushroom Logs—Saturday, Feb 2, 10am–noon; take home a small log that you can grow shitake mushrooms on; $30, $25 for Friends. • Walk on the Wild Side—Thursday, Feb 7, 11am–noon; take a tour of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants; $7, $5 for Friends.

Í William B Umstead State Park, 8801 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, 919-571-4170, ncparks.gov/Visit/main.php; email address: [email protected]:

• Run with a Ranger—Tuesday, Jan 8, 10am; join a park ranger for a 5-mile run along the park’s trail and gravel roads. Meet at the Bike and Bridle Trailhead. It’s free; call to reserve your spot. • Park Wildlife— Thursday, Jan 24, 4pm; a park ranger will give a free talk about the animals that inhabit the park. Meet at the Visitor Center. It’s free.


LET’S GO! interviews to take a look at how black men in Durham view and use health care. The agency is seeking participants for this study. To be eligible, each candidate should be a black man, age 25 to 64, and an English-speaker who’s born in the USA and currently living in Durham. Each participant will receive $40, plus a parking voucher if needed. Contact Emily Namey at 919-544-7040 x11206 or [email protected] for more info.

Í Free, confidential HIV tests are administered at the Lincoln Community Health Center (1301 Fay- etteville St) on Mondays, 5–7:30pm, in the Spe- cialty Clinic. They use OraQuick, an oral mouth swab, and results are available in 30 minutes. No appointment is necessary; send email to durham [email protected] for more info.

Í The next Chemotherapy Orientation Class will be held on Thursday, January 3, 10–11am, in the Duke Cancer Center (20 Duke Medicine Circle, Duke Hospital South), room 0N01. Get your questions answered about treatment and side effects. Family members are welcome; call 919- 684-4497 or send email to cancersupport@duke. edu for more info. (Additional classes will be held on January 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, and 31.)

Í The next Look Good, Feel Better session for female cancer survivors will be held on Monday, January 7, 5:30–7:30pm, in Durham Regional Hos- pital’s North Conference Room (3643 N Roxboro Rd). Get a free cosmetics kit and learn coping and beauty techniques as a way to enhance your appearance while being treated for cancer. It’s free; call 919-470-7168 to register.

Í A special workshop, Save Your Voice—Save Your Career has been designed for people who have to talk nearly all day as part of their jobs. Teachers, clergy, salespeople, telemarket- ers, and others who use their voices a lot are

encouraged to attend the workshop at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd) on January 7, 6:30– 8pm. It’s free; call 919-416-DUKE to register.

Í Lots of folks join the Heart & Sole Mall Walkers Club and walk at their leisure in Northgate Mall (1058 W Club Blvd) anytime between 7am and 9pm Monday through Saturday and between 9am and 6pm on Sundays. Stop by the Food Gallery at 8:30am on Tuesday, January 8 for the free monthly breakfast and free CPR training session before starting your morning walk. Call 919-286-4400 for more info.

Í Watch a free screening of the award-winning documentary “How to Survive a Plague” on Wednes- day, January 9, 6:30pm, at the Casbah (1007 W Main St). Following the film will be an active discussion led by local members of RESULTS about the fight to end HIV/AIDS. (RESULTS is a grassroots organization that works toward creating the political will to solve the problems that lead to poverty.) Visit facebook.com/triangleresults or triangleresults.org for more info.

Í Learn about new developments and products for the gluten-free market at a workshop, Options for a Gluten-Free Diet, on January 9, 6:30–8pm, at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd). People dealing with celiac disease should definitely go to this workshop. It’s free; call 919-416-DUKE to register.

Í Learn how to lower your blood pressure by making lifestyle and diet changes, and taking certain medications by attending a seminar, Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer, at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd) on Thursday, January 10, 6:30–8pm. It’s free; call 919-416-DUKE to register.


LET’S GO!Í An Alzheimer’s Patient/Caregiver Sup- port Group meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 10:30am–noon, at Grey Stone Baptist Church (2601 Hillsborough Rd). Contact Lisa Gwyther at 919-660-7510 or [email protected] for more info.

Í Learn about the causes and treatment of cataracts at Eye Health Talk: Cataracts, which will be given on Tuesday, January 22, 5:30–7pm, at the Duke Eye Center (2351 Erwin Rd). It’s free; call 888-ASK-DUKE for more info. (Another workshop will be given on December 20.)

Í A workshop on How to Shop and Cook with Congestive Heart Failure will be given on Janu- ary 22, 6:30–8pm, at the Teer House (4019 N Rox- boro Rd). Watch a cooking demo and taste healthy foods that you might have overlooked. The cost is $5; call 888-ASK-DUKE to register.

Í Start your walking routine by joining Heels in Motion, the mall-walkers at Southpoint Mall (6910 Fayetteville Rd). The Streets at Southpoint opens for Heels in Motion members Monday–Sat- urday at 7am (and closes at 9pm) and Sunday at 10am (closes at 7pm). Stop in at the Food Court on Wednesday, January 23, 8am for the free breakfast and health talk before starting your morning walk. Call 919-572-6450 for more info; sign up at any time at the Welcome Center on the ground floor. They keep a notebook on the desk where you can keep track of your mileage every day.

Í Learn about time-outs, token economy reward systems, and special time parenting strategies at Strategies for Parents: Helping Your Child with ADHD to Improve Behavior, a seminar that will be held on Monday, January 28, 6:30–

Í The next Stroke Support Group meeting will be held on Monday, January 14, 1–2:30pm, in Durham Regional Hospital’s Private Dining Room C (3643 N Roxboro Rd). Family members and caregivers are welcome.

Í The next Speech and Communication Group for Parkinson’s Disease meeting will be held on January 14, 3–4pm, at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd). Learn speech strategies and practice communication skills. Caregivers are encouraged to attend. It’s free; call 919-416- DUKE to register.

Í Learn about anticoagulant treatments at a seminar, Clotting, Collards, and Coumadin—What Do They Have in Common?, which will be given at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd) on Janu- ary 14, 6:30–8pm. It’s free; call 919-416-DUKE to register.

Í Get tips on controlling your eating habits by creating good shopping lists, becoming aware of “mindless eating” habits, and discussing quantity/batch cooking and freezing at the Adult Diabetes Support Group: Practical Tips for Healthy Eating with Diabetes on Tuesday, January 15, 6–7pm, at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd). It’s free; call 919-416-DUKE to register.

Í Cancer patients are invited to attend Time with the Oncology Nutritionist: How to Eat Heal- thier in the New Year on Wednesday, January 16, 2–3pm, in the Duke Cancer Center (20 Duke Medicine Circle, Duke Hospital South), Skills LabRoom 0N10. Family members can also attend this free seminar; call 919-684-4497 or send email to [email protected] for more info. (Additional seminars will be held on January 17, 11am–noon; and January 23, 2–3pm.)


LET’S GO! 8pm, at the Teer House (4019 N Roxboro Rd). It’s free; call 919-416-DUKE to register.

Í The next Daughters Concerned for Aging Relatives Support Group meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 30, noon–1pm, in the Duke Clinic Bldg (formerly Duke Hospital South) (in Room 3512 in the Blue Zone, 3rd floor). You can park in Parking Deck I on Trent Dr; call Bobbi G Matchar at 919-660-7510 for more info.

Í Lions’ Club Eye Screenings will be performed by Duke doctors in the Eye Center of the Kroger at 1802 North Pointe Dr on January 30, 2–6pm. Drop in for a free vision screening and glaucoma test.

Í An Alzheimer’s Patient/Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held on Thursday, Janu- ary 31, 6:30pm, in the Duke Clinic Bldg (formerly Duke Hospital South), Medical Center Board Room, 1170B Yellow Zone, 1st floor, You can park in Parking Deck I on Trent Dr; call Bobbi G Matchar or Cornelia Poer at 919-660-7510 for more info.

MUSEUMS • GALLERIES • eXHiBits

Í Center for Documentary Studies, 1317 W Pettigrew St, 919-660-3663, http://cds.aas.duke.edu gaLLery hourS: Monday–Thursday 9am–7pm, Fridays 9am–5pm, Saturdays 11am–4pm, and Sundays 1–5pm; free admission:

A new exhibit, The Restraints: Open and Hidden, is an enlargement of one of Gordon Parks’ photo- journalistic pieces for Life magazine. He visits a family in the rural South and shows some of the

results of segregation. The Restraints will be on display through March 2 in the Lyndhurst Gallery.

Í Museum of Life and Science, 433 Murray Ave, 919-220-5429, www.ncmls.org hourS: Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm and Sundays noon–5pm; aDmiSSion: $14 for adults; $11 for seniors (age 65+) and active military (with proper ID); $10 for kids ages 3 to 12; and free for kids age 2 and under. Nonschool group rate is $8 each for 10 or more. Wednesday is free day after 1pm (individuals only; ID required):

You can experience the Nano: traveling mini- exhibition through February 23. Have fun learning about and playing with this much-smaller-than- meets-the-eye technology. Learn about the everyday objects that are already being made with this new technology and what we might expect for the future. This exhibit is in both English and Spanish.

See how seatbelts and booster seats save lives by watching crash test videos in slow motion in the Investigate Health! exhibit. See the effect of a car crash on a crash dummy in a simulated car interior Tuesday through Saturday between 11:30am and 2:30 pm.

Í North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E Edenton St, Raleigh, 919-807-7900, http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/ muSeum hourS: Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm, Sundays noon–5pm; free admission:

The 12th annual African American Cultural Cele- bration will be held on Saturday, January 26, 10:30am–4:30pm. This year’s theme is “Defining Freedom,” which refers to the Emancipation Proclamation, the document that was signed 150 years ago to free the slaves. Here are some notable highlights:


LET’S GO!Í The Scrap Exchange, 923 Franklin St, Bay 1 (behind the Golden Belt complex), 919-688-6960, http://scrapexchange.org hourS: Monday–Wednesday 11am–5pm, Thursdays and Fridays 11am–9pm, Saturdays 10am–5pm, and Sundays noon–5pm:

Dan-o Parrish’s pop-art on cardboard exhibit, “Living Wage” will be on display in The Green Gal- lery through January 12.

Cody Tyler’s multimedia exhibit, “Versions,” will then open with an artist’s reception on Friday, January 18 and will be on display through Febru- ary 9.

Í Through This Lens, 303 E Chapel Hill St, 919-687-0250, http://throughthislens.com hourS: Tuesday–Friday 10:30am–5:30pm, Saturdays 10:30am–4pm; free admission:

Arnold Zann and Margo Taussig Pinkerton’s photo exhibit, “The Yin and Yang of the Outer Banks,” will be on display from January 18 through March 9.

Í Paintings by North Carolina–based artist Omar Abbas will be on display at Mercury Studio (407-A N Mangum St) January 7–11, 9am–5pm. Abbas’s paintings often cause the viewer to rethink concepts of identity and isolation. Call 919-381-6306 for more info.

THEATER • FILM • DANCE • RADIO • TELEVISION

Í WNCU/90.7fm, North Carolina Central University; listen online at wncu.org:

Be sure to listen to Radio Skywriter on Sun-

Celebrating music and dance—Cyrus Art Produc- tions with its Middle Passage dance program; Stanley Baird, who will play the music of North Carolina jazz composers; Winifred Garrett, princi- pal harpist for the Fayetteville Symphony Orches- tra; singer Mary Williams; and singer-actress April C Turner.

Celebrating history, drama, and film—Dante James, who will be showing his short film The Doll; author and black feminist activist Alexis Gumbs, who will discuss her Pauli Murray project; and Yolanda Rabun, who will sing excerpts from Howard Craft’s one-act play, “Nina Simone … What More Can I Say?

Celebrating literature and the spoken word—writer- poet Zelda Lockhart, with members of the North Carolina Writers Network; Carl Kenney and Michele Bowen, who will discuss literature in African- American churches; and members of the North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers.

Celebrate arts and crafts traditions—hatmaker Betty Williams, basketmaker Kisha Rawlinson, wire artist Jonathan Daniel, the Ebony Raleigh Area Group Stitchers, the African American Quilt Circle, and master dollmaker Marilyn Griffin.

Celebrating food and health—Chef Kabui who will bridge the gap between African and African- American cuisine; food historian Michael Twitty; Rhonda Muhammad, who will put on a cooking demonstration; and acupuncturist Kessonga Giscombe.

Learn all about state historic sites, museums and organizations across North Carolina. The African American Cultural Celebration is made possible by the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, the Raleigh Arts Commission, the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, United Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.


LET’S GO! days, 6:30–7pm). Durham Skywriter publisher Pat Murray and her guests talk about community issues and let you know what’s happening in the Bull City (and beyond). Don’t forget your pen and paper—we might have just the information you need! If you miss the broadcast, you can go to wncu.org the Tuesday following the air date for at least a week and listen to the podcast—or, type “Radio Skywriter” or “WNCU” in the search field of iTunes to listen to or down- load our three most recent shows.

TV Skywriter, a live, streaming online interview/ variety show, will air right after Radio Skywriter on Sundays at 7pm. You can watch it by going to the Durham Skywriter channel on Youtube (go to www.youtube.com, type “durhamskywriter” on the search field, and click on the channel); or watch from the Durham Skywriter’s Google+ page (go to www.gplus.to/durhamskywriter).

Í The Durham Children’s Choir and Duke Memo- rial United Methodist Choir will team up to present the popular opera Amahl and the Night Visitors at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church (504 W Chapel Hill St) January 10–12. In the story, Amahl, a poor boy who lives with his mother, sees an usually bright star in the eastern sky. Later that night, they are visited by three kings who are on their way to see the newly born Christ child. Showtimes are 7:30pm on Thursday and Friday and 3pm on Saturday. Tickets are $10, $5 for children and seniors; call 919-489-1451 for more info.

Í Send us information on your special events— these are free listings!

READ ALLABOUT IT!

Durham/Triangle/Triad–area authors: Send us your latest book and information if you want to be featured in the Skywriter.

Painter/illustrator Pamela George and calligrapher Walter Brown teamed up to create this beautifully done, colorful book for children learning the alphabet. Each letter is represented by an outdoor scene that shows the diversity of plant and animal life in North Carolina. The scenes are so colorful, you’ll want to frame each page and hang them on your wall. A North Carolina Alphabet Poster is also available, but only from Carolina Wren Press.

(available from the publisher Carolina Wren Press, http://carolinawrenpress.org, or from amazon.com)

Pamela George and Walter Brown / “The North Carolina

Alphabet”

NOW HEAR THIS!

Durham/Triangle/Triad–area artists: Send us your latest CD and information if you’d like to be featured in the Skywriter!

Singer-songwriter Greg Humphreys is on the verge of moving to New York City at the end of the month. Listen-ing to this CD is a delight. The music is alternatively jazzy, folky, and soulful, but it’s always intimate and unassum-ing. On some songs Humphreys accompanies himself on acoustic guitar; on other tunes he’s joined by Eric Hirsh, Peter Kimosh, Stephen Coffman, Gibb Droll, Aaron Oliva, and Eric Fritsch. The songs are sweet, well written, and toe-tappingly fun to listen to.

Greg Humphreys / “People You May Know”

(available at amazon.com, emusic.com, iTunes; visit the website at www.greghumphreys.net)

Guest spotlight

The Durham Skywriter 1910 Capps Street Durham, North Carolina [email protected] 919-809-YOU2 (9682)

Send us your poems, cartoons, commentary, photos, artwork, etc if you’d like to be in our “Guest spotlight.”Keep it positive, and keep in mind that we can’t return what you send us (so don’t send your only copy).

— Quenittie moore

The

City

of M

edici

ne

In this great city there’s a beautiful chapel of Duke’s West Campus Middle

There is a mixture of beauty in Duke GardensOf flowers growing in riddles.

Duke Medical Center is the world’s best.With specialists from many fields,

Who meet the public with smiling faces,To each individual they will yield.

To the needs of patients they show concern,In a powerful, professional way.

Responding with a pleasant attitude,Throughout the patients’ stay.

It’s an honor to live in such an eligible city,Where a medical staff does whatever it takes,

To cure the pain that causes the problemAs the City of Medicine waits.