Communities Connect Through Good Business, Willing Volunteers and Loving Hearts

Businesses Connecting Hearts

The connection between Chapel Hill and Burma refugees continues to strengthen as local businesses and organizations help make life better for this oppressed group of people, known as the Karen. For more than 50 years, conflict between Burma’s repressive ruling military regime, political opponents and ethnic groups has displaced 3.5 million-plus Karen. In the absence of political progress, there is much we can do to help these and other ethnic groups in Burma.

For example, Vacuum Cleaner Hospital recently donated four vacuum cleaners to Burma refugee families who relocated to the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area, offering further proof that Burma refugees can count on their surrounding community to help them adjust to their new home and life.

Ten middle-school aged children from Burma spent the past year studying together at Chapel Hill High School, learning not only about life in the United States, but also about how they can use art to express their emotions and experiences. The North Carolina Art Therapy Institute, a Durham-based non-profit, offered these children—who once suffered under the hands of Burmese oppressors—an opportunity to express themselves through art in ways they are unable to using words.

The students’ art will be displayed in a show titled “Journeys to a Different Landscape,” now on exhibit at University Mall through June 14 in the former Avenues’ space across from the Print Shop. The North Carolina Art Therapy Institute hosted an opening reception for this exhibit June 7. Learn more about this endearing cause here.

Volunteers Connecting Donations

Just as the Burma refugees need giving hearts and helping hands, so do scores of other charitable foundations. In addition to sponsoring New Resident Solutions “Equinomics” page, Turning Point Gallery’s co-owner Jerri Meldrum volunteers her time to clean stalls and groom rescued horses. She will also help coordinate an Equine Exchange Sept. 3-7. You can participate by checking your barns or your friends’ barns for equine items you no longer need and can donate to the cause. Clean, gently used tack of all types—bridles, blankets, saddles, shoes, boots, books, hats, helmets and more—are needed for this event. Contact Jerri at jerrie@harmonyfineart.com for more information.

Find additional sources of “equinomics” on Triangle TRACKS’ horseback riding page.

Citizens Connecting Art

Chapel Hill/Carrboro’s 2ndFriday ArtWalk, now in its 9th year, features numerous expressions of art displayed by more than 20 participating galleries. During this month’s celebration on June 12 from 6 to 9 p.m., Turning Point Gallery and Tyndall Galleries will display works of fine art and animation. Benjamin Vineyards and Winery will offer wine tastings in each gallery and wine by the glass at their center court kiosk. There will even be a strolling musician and complimentary flowers for the ladies on hand. Learn more about the 2ndFriday ArtWalk here.

Turning Point Gallery’s June show, “East Meets West,” will display 10 new original paintings from Amsterdam’s Chinese painter Wilfred, who blends realism with abstract art. Wilfred learned traditional Chinese painting from his father as a child growing up in China. Later, he traveled the world exploring new ideas for his acrylic paintings, and now he resides and works in Amsterdam. His paintings on display at Turning Point Gallery will feature peaceful landscapes, sophisticated florals, unique boat scenes and majestic cityscapes. Come enjoy the seamless blend of cultures and subjects Wilfred shares through his work. The show begins June 9 and runs through the end of the month. Learn more here.

Chapel Hill and the surrounding community warmly received University Mall’s Scrapel Hill Art competition this past spring, which features works by local artists created of recycled and non-recyclable materials. The art will remain on display through June 30 at University Mall. Learn more here.

Consumers Connecting Businesses

Business success stories are hard to come by during troubling economic times, but Chapel Hill’s Carolina Closets Plus found a way to increase sales by 50 percent.

“Our sales to the Raleigh market have increased over 50 percent due to our new showroom opening at 5215 Capital Boulevard,” says owner Mike Hoffer. “Our customers have commented on how convenient it is to have two showrooms to choose from. Some of our Raleigh customers will use the Chapel Hill showroom because they work over here, and some of our Chapel Hill customers will use the Raleigh showroom. It’s really been a great fit for our service area.”

Carolina Closets Plus features fully designed closets in both locations as well as a full showroom of home technology products from America In Home, which Hoffer owns with partner Bruce Bullings. “It’s a unique concept because we’ve combined a lot of the things that a new homeowner, or a homeowner that’s remodeling, needs. We can offer everything from the network wiring to the Beam central vacuum system to the complete home audio package to the security system—in addition to a complete storage solution.”

Carolina Closets Plus also connects the surrounding community through local swimming groups. Hoffer, head of all North Carolina swimming officials, says there has been a spike in the number of swimmers here due to last summer’s Olympic games. “We have over 7,500 swimmers, coaches and volunteers in North Carolina,” Hoffer says. “That’s a huge number of people that interested in one of the best forms of lifelong exercise there is.” Learn more here.

Social Networks Connecting Parents

Triangle TRACKS links to nearly 2,000 resources for local children, from art lessons to youth sports to birthday party venues. Beyond the site’s resourceful links, Triangle TRACKS also connects parents. Blog posts, Twitter Tweets and email messages keep visitors and members up to date on the latest local events for kids and news about trends, books, performing arts offerings, children’s movies, museum exhibits and more. Log on to www.triangletracks.com to make connections that will enrich and improve life for your kids.

Keep connecting with us each month to stay up to date on how our community is working to make life better for new residents of Chapel Hill—whether they hail from Burma, or the county next door.

Local Businesses Rise to Meet Web 2.0 Standards

In our information-crazed society, we turn the Internet for 99.9 percent of what we’re looking for. But read-only websites don’t cut it anymore. The Web 2.0 movement has elevated expectations for websites that are up-to-date, quick, interactive and attractive. Anything less is a click away from backtracking to whatever browser the visitor came from.

Beyond Blogs

Blogs are a no-brainer. Most companies run their own or contribute to a community blog (like this one) that helps promote their products and/or services. Social networking websites take blogging a leap forward, however, and make up a large part of the Web 2.0 movement. These online communities consist of Internet users who share common interests, such as hobbies, professions or politics. Many businesses are launching social networks in addition to — or in place of — their main websites to churn up dialogue about their products and/or services, and to facilitate broadcast messaging to those who have joined their site.

Other businesses are starting up as a result of starting out as a social network. Triangle TRACKS (an acronym for Tools, Resources and Activities for Carolina Kids) is a social network for Triangle parents that also links to 1,800-plus resources for local kids. Owner Elizabeth Shugg launched it in April 2008 as a way to share information with other parents about resources for kids, but it has turned into an attractive advertising venue for local businesses targeting parents of school-aged children. Shugg recently launched Charlotte TRACKS, and hopes to experience the same success with Charlotte parents.

Extras = Essential

Carolina Closets Plus, located in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, will soon introduce a live video feed from their website at www.carolinaclosetsplus.com that will show the company’s production shop in action. “This will allow our customers to actually watch as their job is being manufactured,” says Carolina Closets Plus Owner and Co-founder Mike Hoffer.

Business owners like Hoffer believe offering customers and Internet users cutting-edge technology like this will help brand, differentiate and verify the uniqueness of their company’s products and services. This, in turn, gives them an edge over their competition.

“I got this idea from a friend of mine in Atlanta, who owns one of the premiere closet companies in that market,” Hoffer says. “It’s a great way to show off more of the differences that an installation from Carolina Closets Plus makes. There are a lot of organization companies out there, but none of them can offer the detail perfection that anchors our business philosophy and mission statement.”

Durham-based Bikas Building of North Carolinas LLC just finished building Details in Chapel Hill, one of only two official Alessi dealers in North Carolina. Alessi makes exclusive and innovative Italian kitchen products, distributes a paperless catalog via its website.

Meanwhile, Crossroads European, an independent automobile repair shop that has served Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill for 18 years, simplifies its business practices by offering an “e-appointment” feature that allows customers to log on and make their appointment via the Internet — no phone call necessary. Crossroads European has a loyal and specific customer-base thanks to offering full service, tools and equipment specific to Volkswagon, Audi, BMW and Mercedes vehicles.

Only Online

Thousands of companies now run completely via the Internet. Flickering Creations, a niche retailer offering a complete line of candlelight centerpieces, decor, gifts, aromatherapy, holiday and special occasion items, and other candle products, uses Yahoo! Small Businesses services, such as the “e-commerce” feature to facilitate online shopping. Businesses who operate totally online make product photography a top priority, since customers rely on the validity of a product’s photo and description to determine their purchase.

Photography is extremely important for art galleries as well, which use the Internet to create online galleries of the art and artists they feature. Turning Point Gallery in Chapel Hill displays a list of 35 artists in alphabetical order and categorizes their art by medium to simplify navigation for visitors. Galleries can also link to online artist reviews right on their website to instantaneously verify an artist’s experience and reputation. Artist Eduardo Lapetina of Chapel Hill recently received a glowing review by the Durham Herald Sun’s Blue Greenberg for his April show at Turning Point Gallery. Lapetina will introduce more new work May 9 at the FedEx Global Education Center at UNC Chapel Hill.

Turning Point Gallery uses various blogs to promote shows and artist, and the gallery is currently showing works collectively titled “A touch of Santé Fe,” featuring art by Reita Newkirk and Alice Griffin. Friends and lifelong artists, Newkirk and Griffen have combined their unique talents and backgrounds to produce collaborative paintings that exalt the natural world and one of its most glorious creatures: the horse.

Conventional Wisdom

Large conventions, such as the April 3-5, 2009 Southern Ideal Home Show in Raleigh, still serve as a highly effective way for businesses to reach out to potential customers. Carolina Closets Plus and Vacuum Cleaner Hospital of Chapel Hill were both at the Southern Ideal Home Show. Vacuum Cleaner Hospital Owner Tom Proctor displayed the Hide-a-Hose vacuum central vacuum product that he says created quite a buzz—literally. “Business from the show has been steady,” he says. “Customers were amazed at how quickly the hose disappears.”

Smart business leaders realize it takes a combination of online and in-person interaction with the surrounding community, and Chapel Hill’s business environment is no exception. New residents of Chapel Hill can use blogs, like this one, to make Internet connections they can also drive to. In this way, the Internet is bringing communities like ours even closer.

Chapel Hill Artists and Businesses Mix, Mingle and Entertain

By Elizabeth Shugg

Scrapel Hill Art Masterpieces Unveiled April 1

After months of seeking scraps of recyclable trash and artistic inspiration in unusual places, artists competing in Chapel Hill’s inaugural Scrapel Hill Art contest are ready to unveil their creations. The installations are complete—thanks to some help from Pete Bikas of Bikas Building of North Carolinas LLC—and now these unique works of art made from recycled and non-recyclable materials are on view for the public at University Mall. The art will also headline the 2nd Friday ArtWalk on April 10 at 6 p.m.

The Scrapel Hill Art Gala is scheduled for April 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the mall’s Special Event Centre. Organizers are requesting a $25 donation to cover the live music planned for the evening, as well as food and beverages from Spice Street. Vote on your favorite piece for just $1, and receive a voucher good for discount offers from participating University Mall stores. Proceeds from the votes and ticket sales will benefit the ArtsCenter and the Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce’s Green Plus sustainable community initiative.

Check out 16 Scrapel Hill Art’s 16 artists at http://scrapelhillart.com. Chatham County emerging artist Holly Felice is one of them. Her mixed media art incorporates wood, metal, clay, glass or “whatever material tells the best story,” she says. Holly’s Scrapel Hill Art project reflects her dual passions for art and the environment. “I love working with scrap, wondering what it can be,” she says. “It’s inspiring rather than intimidating, because I can experiment without fear of wasting some expensive art material.” (See photo of Holly to the right.)

In conjunction with Scrapel Hill Art, University Mall has invited the Scrap Exchange to host their One Bag Workshop to be held in the mall's Special Event Centre on Saturday, April 11, from 2 until 3 p.m. Space is available for up to 30 children and the event is free. Visit the mall’s customer service center or call (919) 967-6934 to reserve a spot for your child. Learn more about this event and other local activities for children on the Triangle TRACKS calendar at http://www.triangletracks.com.

Turning Point Gallery connects with the mall’s Scrapel Hill Arts project beyond sharing its location. The gallery regularly features artists who use recycled or reclaimed materials, like Michael Mertes. His “In Stone Time” collection includes gorgeous, distinctive clocks made with small pieces of scrap stone and reclaimed wood from remodeled churches, old houses or trees that have been struck by lightening. The unique stories behind the materials in the clocks are a part of their intrigue and beauty.

Turning Point Gallery artist Sarah Coppola of Indigo Arts also uses scrap glass for her clay and glass jewelry. Each unique pendant or pair of earrings contains glass that has been melted down from items such as old beads, broken bottles or scrap glass from a stained glass studio. Sarah adds texture in the clay on each piece with objects such as napkin rings and kitchen utensils. Blending different types of glass with different textures produces exclusive, wearable art.

Local Businesses on Display at the Southern Ideal Home Show April 3-5

Chapel Hill’s Central Vacuum Experts, a division of Vacuum Cleaner Hospital, will celebrate its 14th year of participating in the Southern Ideal Home Show at the N.C. State Fairgrounds April 3-5. Stop by booths 2621 and 2613 in the Exposition Center to see the company’s debut of Hide-a-Hose, a central vacuum hose stored in the wall. Customers demanded it and Central Vacuum Experts delivered by becoming a Hide-a-Hose dealer. Homeowners who may have been reluctant to install a central vacuum in the past because of its 30-foot hose will find Hide-a-Hose easier to use than any other vacuum. Just pull enough out of the wall inlet to reach the area you want to vacuum, then, when you’re done, the hose is literally sucked back into the pipe located in the wall.

Central Vacuum Experts will also display the Vac Pan, a toe-kick-operated dustpan, which is growing in popularity among homeowners who have installed a central vacuum. The company also installs MD central vacuums, which are known for their quietness and made here in the USA.

Chapel Hill’s Carolina Closets Plus and American In Home Owner Mike Hoffer will display a dynamic booth at the Southern Ideal Home Show for visitors to explore. Hoffer says many of his customers who are moving into new homes or remodeling the homes they currently live in are looking for the most efficient use of their space. “Its even more important in these economic times to really utilize your space properly,” he says.

A recent survey by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals found that almost 40 percent of people surveyed plan to either remodel or build a master bedroom closet, garage, home office, pantry or laundry room this year, due in part to consumers wanting to enhance their home’s value and increase its competitive edge on the market.

Carolina Closets Plus has been installing closets, home offices and garage systems longer than anyone in the Triangle. “We're seeing a real need for quality, well designed office space because people don’t want to buy something at a furniture store or discount store that really doesn’t fit their needs.” Hoffer says.

Good Envy

Competition can lead to envy. But sometimes, envy can be a good thing. Durham-based Bikas Building of North Carolinas LLC has completed the Massage Envy at Oberlin Court in Raleigh, the third location for R&R Clinics, LLC, which is owned by Keith and Sandy Rogers. It opens April 10 and joins locations in Apex and Cary.

If you’re contemplating commercial construction, give owner Pete Bikas a call. He’ll be happy to provide you with a quote for your medical, dental, business, retail or restaurant space. Architectural, engineering and design services are also available. Visit http://www.bikasbuilding.com to learn more.

Deep Entertainment

Chapel Hill never lacks entertainment, and Deep Dish Theater Company is often the source of it. “Flash Fiction,” a series of short stories, will premiere at Deep Dish Theater Friday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 or a non-perishable food item, with proceeds benefitting the Inter-faith Council’s Food Bank, which is headquartered in Carrboro.

“Flash Fiction” will be curated by Dr. David Carr, who will join Deep Dish actors in reading a variety of stories linked by their brevity. Other participating actors include Margaret Jemison, who appeared in the Deep Dish production of “State of the Union,” and Ashley Quinones, from last year’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s “The Clean House.”

“On one level, these evenings are an exploration of story-telling, and in the pieces that David has collected, the story is boiled down to its most essential components,” says Deep Dish Artistic Director Paul Frellick. “It should be a fun and fascinating event.”

Learn more at www.deepdishtheater.org. Tickets will be available at the door only.
That sums it up for April but check back next month for another generous helping of community connections from your friends at New Resident Solutions of Chapel Hill.

Simple Pleasures Rule in Chapel Hill

Local Business Solutions Come to the Economic Rescue

Vacuum Cleaner Hospital, Carolina Closets Plus, Bikas Building of North Carolina LLC, Scrapel Hill Art of University Mall, Turning Point Gallery and Triangle TRACKS bolster low consumer confidence with local connections and solutions.

By Elizabeth Shugg

Consumer confidence dropped to 25 in February—its lowest level in more than 41 years. A survey from The Conference Board research consortium in New York confirmed the drop. Just to put that in perspective, consumer confidence was at 100 in 1985!

When you consider household wealth shrank by $5.6 trillion from the end of 2007 until the third quarter of 2008 (source: Wall Street Journal), it’s clear many consumers lack confidence in the economy because they lack money to put in it! The recession impacts what we buy, how we spend our money and where we shop. Prudence rules.

The Silver Lining

The silver lining for consumers during an economic recession is that simple pleasures and investing in local businesses rule. Clean and comfortable surroundings, home cooking, home theaters and video games offer ways to cut costs but maintain happiness. A Jan. 31, 2009, New York Times article titled, “Recession Can Change a Way of Life,” reports that “in today’s recession, we can also expect to turn to less expensive activities—and maybe to keep those habits for years. They may take the form of greater interest in free content on the Internet and the simple pleasures of a daily walk, instead of expensive vacations and N.B.A. box seats.”

Consumers are also limiting expenditures to repairs whenever possible, instead of buying new. That’s why repair companies made Associated Content’s list of businesses that could actually make money during the recession.

Chapel Hill’s business community has weathered economic downturns in the past and understands how consumers feel. Local businesses offering repair services, such as Vacuum Cleaner Hospital in Chapel Hill (rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau) helps keep homes clean and comfortable for less with vacuum tune-ups and replacement parts.

“Our service manager has over 18 years experience and he takes great pride in restoring your vacuum to its original factory fresh condition,” says Owner Tom Proctor. “Most repairs are under $60 and can lengthen the life of your vacuum by several years.”

Spending $60 on a vacuum repair is much more appealing than spending $360 on a brand new one. But, if your vacuum is beyond repair, Vacuum Cleaner Hospital also offers great prices on quality products “you can hand down to your children 15 years from now,” Proctor says. “In these tight economic times, you can't afford to buy a cheaply made vacuum only to have it break in a year or two.” At the rate our economy is going, that might be something your children will greatly need—and appreciate! Visit www.vacuumhospital.com to view the company’s product line, which includes quality cleaning supplies.

Art offers another way to enjoy life’s simple pleasures during a down economy. Scrapel Hill Art is a project started by University Mall and the Town of Chapel Hill Public Arts. Next month, the Scrapel Hill Art Contest and Exhibition at University Mall opens and will feature works created with recycled and non-recyclable materials. Visit http://scrapelhillart.com to read about the individual artists and their community connections. Scrapel Hill Arts will also soon be a major part of the 2ndFriday Artwalk.

Turning Point Gallery is sharing its connection to art and artists with the community as well. Artist Maeve Harris and gallery owner Jerri Meldrum are actively involved in horse rescue projects, and Turning Point Gallery has a significant national reach as one of the country’s top horse art galleries. Turning Point Gallery’s artists don’t limit their community outreach to horses. Artist Simon Bull is working with the gallery to present a joint fundraising program in support of local dog rescue projects.

All Work and Plenty of Play

Carolina Closets Plus of Chapel Hill recently completed a custom design for a combined kids play and work space. The work-from-home trend continues and may expand during the recession, as laid-off employees look for new sources of income or take contracting positions they can manage from home. Carolina Closets Plus’ unique design makes keeping an eye on the kids while getting a little work done effortless and fun for everyone involved. Check it out, and contact Carolina Closets Plus to design your home office/play space today.

Stress Relief

Recessions create stress. Stress weakens health. That’s why many consumers are willing to pay for products and services that reduce stress during tough economic times. A deep massage from a company like Massage Envy in Apex and Raleigh, which were both built by Chapel Hill’s Bikas Building of North Carolina, LLC, goes a long way toward lowering stress and therefore preventing mental and physical ailments.

Fun is another great stress reliever. Children may not understand the recession, but they do feel the impact of stressed parents and fewer FUN funds. Triangle TRACKS, a local parent resource site and social network, links to 1,800-plus resources for children, from museums and schools to camps and parks. Free is the name of the game during tough economic times and Triangle TRACKS offers some great ideas for a FREE, FUN time at this link.

Stay positive and cherish the simple pleasures in your life during this difficult economic time. Local businesses and resources are available to make life easier as we respond to this recession the way Americans always do: by bouncing back!

Art Uplifts Us During Difficult Times

By Elizabeth Shugg

A new year offers the promise of new dreams—whether professional, spiritual or emotional. But our nation’s economic woes have squelched the means to make many of those dreams come true—for now.

Don’t despair. Look to your community’s creative resources to lift and renew your spirits. There are plenty throughout Chapel Hill and surrounding areas that continue to offer inspiration.

University Mall’s Scrapel Hill Art contest, scheduled for April 2 through June 28, will feature works of art created by 15 carefully chosen artists who will use recycled and non-recyclable materials to celebrate and inspire imagination and creativity within our community. A steering committee represented by public arts officials, waste management, recycling businesses, art gallery and independent artists chose the artists who will compete in this juried, inaugural contest.

Turning Point Gallery in Chapel Hill will showcase the work of experienced potter Sylvia Coppola during the 2nd Friday ArtWalk Feb. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Feb. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. Coppola, a potter of 32 years, is known for incorporating her love of texture from weaving and basket making into the art of pottery. She will demonstrate handbuilding Feb. 13 and wheel throwing Feb. 14. Turning Point Gallery will also offer a free mini pot created by Coppola for every $100 of her pottery purchased.

Another of Turning Point Gallery’s featured artists, painter Maeve Harris, was recently featured in New Homes and Ideas magazine, which included words of wisdom from Turning Point Gallery owner Jerri Meldrum about selecting art for a home.

Aspiring young artists can journey into creative expression via art lessons and camps located throughout the Triangle. Visit Triangle TRACKS’ Art and Music link for an exhaustive list of instructors and programs. While you’re there, check out Triangle TRACKS’ newest addition: a group of TRACKers who will blog regularly about subjects such as education, youth sports, trends, family dining and health.

Check back next month for ways you, as a new resident of Chapel Hill, can make connections throughout your community.

KEEPING HOLIDAY MAGIC AND LOCAL BUSINESSES ALIVE

By Elizabeth Shugg

No matter how hard we plan for the perfect holiday home, party, dinner or gift list, chaos often rears its complicated head. We say yes to one more responsibility than we have time for, add a few more gifts to our list, and pencil in one more party. We find ourselves thinking back to our childhood and longing for that magical, responsibility-free holiday experience. How did it slip away so quickly?

The truth is, we can experience holiday magic again through a child’s eyes. The Triangle hosts a wide range of holiday events you can do with your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or family friends. Visit Triangle TRACKS and click on the “Calendar” page to access a list of holiday events planned for the area. Take a break from the shopping, baking and volunteering to help shape memories your children will cherish for the rest of their lives.

You can also create holiday magic for a child who won’t experience it without your assistance. Even during tough economic times, communities answer the call to help our brothers and sisters in need in various ways during the holiday season. From the Salvation Army’s comforting collection bell, to coat drives and grocery bags filled with holiday foods you can purchase and then donate, there are many ways to make this special time of year a little brighter for those in need.

A new local organization, Dream-2-Reality, collects “Dream Tree” holiday gifts for at-risk children and hopes to help make their dreams come true year-round, since need doesn’t end during the holiday season. Visit the Triangle TRACKS Charity page for a list of local charities you can contribute your time or treasure to.

Bright Horse Farm & Art Studio in Pittsboro is still accepting applications for half-day and full-day winter break camps being held Dec. 22-Jan. 2. Because Bright Horse Farm & Art Studio offers all-weather facilities for year-round experiences indoors and out, campers are able to enjoy the horses and take art lessons during the winter months. Call Kim at (919) 929-1568 to reserve your child’s seat.

Recreationally speaking, several Chapel Hill swimmers under the age of 18 attended the Junior National Swimming Championships at the University of Texas Aquatics Center in Austin, Texas Dec. 10-14, which showcases the fastest youth swimmers in the country. “The time standards are extremely fast,” says Mike Hoffer, owner of Chapel Hill-based Carolina Closets Plus who also volunteers as a local referee and sponsors the New Resident Solutions swimming page.

Chapel Hill girls attending the meet were Carly Smith, Zoe Gan and Dania Marinshaw. Luke Hoffer represented the Chapel Hill boys. All of these swimmers attend Chapel Hill High or East Chapel Hill High and come from two of the local year-round swimming teams: North Carolina Aquatic Club and Duke Aquatics. You can view the meet results at this link.

For more information about year round swimming in Chapel Hill, visit the teams’ websites:
North Carolina Aquatic Club
Chapel Hill YMCA
Duke Aquatics

LOCAL BUSINESSES PERSIST

Carolina Closets Plus recently introduced new “soft close” hinges from the Blum Blumotion Hinge System for all doors. These hinges are typically used on high-end kitchen cabinets. "This is just another way for us to show our mission of detail perfection for our customers,” Owner Mike Hoffer says. “We’re making this a standard feature on all installations because it makes the job turn out just that much better. The best part is that it doesn't cost anything extra."

A soft close feature slowly closes your door when it approaches the cabinet frame. It operates hydraulically so there is no slamming sound when the door shuts. You can see how these hinges operate in the Chapel Hill or North Raleigh showroom. “This new hinge is fabulous! It really makes a difference. It works much better than the little bumpers that always fall off of the cabinets,” says Beth, a Chapel Hill resident.

Our country’s current economic troubles haven’t prevented several new businesses from opening in the Triangle. Bikas Building of North Carolina, LLC recently completed construction of a new Massage Envy in Apex’s Beaver Creek Commons. Pete Bikas and his team also started construction on a Raleigh Massage Envy in mid-December, and should finish it by the end of February. Bikas Building of North Carolina, LLC worked on projects for University Mall, The Family Doctor and Durham Pediatrics in December. Give Pete a call at (919) 493-9452 if you need to update or improve your commercial space.

Speaking of University Mall, the management there recently selected 16 artists to participate in the 2009 Scrapel Hill Art contest. These artists have until Jan. 15 to present their proposals, which must outline how they will create 2D or 3D works made from clean scrap and non-recyclable materials. Three top place winners will be announced during a gala ceremony April 23, 2009, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

And speaking of Massage Envy, a massage is just what you’ll need as you wind down your holiday shopping, then pick it up again in January when everything goes on sale! One great gift idea—whether you’re shopping for this year or next—is Mieles' New Upright vacuum cleaner, available at Vacuum Cleaner Hospital in Chapel Hill. Miele’s new upright features excellent suction control, an attachment hose that stretches for easy reach, a 38-inch cord and seamless transition from bare floors to carpet. The body swivels so the vacuum can reach any angle. Come by the store to check out Vacuum Cleaner Hospital’s special introductory pricing on the Miele upright, and be sure to ask about the FJM canister bag special while you’re there!

Holiday cheer-turned-chaos doesn’t stop the traditions we uphold, the parties we attend, and the time we cherish with family and friends. New Resident Solutions’ member businesses wish you a holiday season and 2009 filled with memory-making experiences and friendships. Be sure to visit us again next month for a fresh edition of 2009 community-connecting news.

PLUG IN TO CHAPEL HILL TECHNOLOGY AND HOLIDAY CONNECTIONS

By Elizabeth Shugg

Modern Medical Marvels

Next time you step into a medical clinic, lab or wellness center, look around. New technology surrounds you. Patient files link instantaneously to international databases, digital X-rays facilitate immediate diagnoses, and 3D optical imaging enables meticulous views of coronary arteries and other small spaces.

Spas are in on the action, too. Many offer Wi-Fi access; relaxation rooms with images, lighting and sounds that encourage sleep; Swedish, deep tissue and hot rock massages; and new treatment options like biofeedback technology, hydrotherapy and light therapy.
Sounds great, but these modern medical marvels don’t pop up overnight. They require experienced builders who possess the technological know-how to upfit existing space or build new facilities that accommodate complex data systems, high-tech machines, green technology and efficient people-flow patterns.

Durham-based Bikas Building of North Carolina, LLC is no stranger to this work. In recent months, Pete Bikas and his team completed four X-ray room projects for Duke Medicine and urgent care facilities requiring the conversion of ‘wet’ X-ray units to digital, which also necessitated new electrical systems, cabinets, floors and paint.

At Wake Orthopaedics in Cary, Bikas installed an overhead beam system to support an X-ray machine trolley. Lead walls, a new electrical system, new flooring and fresh paint were once again on the to-do list. Bikas and his team also enlarged a room to accommodate a new X-ray machine at the Raleigh Wake Orthopaedics office on New Bern Avenue. With every X-ray project, lead walls must be installed for X-ray containment.
The list goes on. Harps Mill Medical, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Wake Forest Medical, Atrium OB/GYN in Raleigh, Massage Envy in Durham, Cary, Raleigh and Apex, and other Triangle businesses continue to choose Bikas for medically oriented, technological upfits and new construction. Another reason to choose Bikas Building of North Carolina, LLC: the company uses low VOC products (Volitable Organic Compounds), which keep the air clean and fresh.

“Overall the most challenging aspect of work is the occupied remodel,” Bikas says. “We have to make sure that dust does not fly, noise is kept to a minimum, and the project is coordinated and on time.” Bikas Building of North Carolina’s focus on those “little” details are obviously making a big impression.

Scouting Community Impact
Camping made a big impression on Chapel Hill Cub Scouts this fall. During the weekend of Oct. 3-5, Pack 820 camped at Singletary Lake near Elizabethtown. Cubmaster Tom Proctor, who owns Vacuum Cleaner Hospital in Chapel Hill, says more than 65 cubs, parents and siblings attended and participated in activities such as canoeing, swimming, a nature hike, and a presentation from the camp ranger about the history of Singletary Lake’s plants and animals. Everyone enjoyed skits, singing around the campfire and, of course, S’mores!

Pack 820 will also participate in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. Each scout will carry his own decorated flag in the parade. For more information, visit www.pack820.org or contact Tom Proctor at (919) 942-6522.

Speaking of Christmas …
Chapel Hill’s Deep Dish Theater will present “The Christmas Letters” Dec. 6-14, a one-woman play adapted from the Lee Smith novella. Barbara Bates Smith, who performed her adaptation of Lee Smith's "On Agate Hill," at Deep Dish in May, returns to perform in this beloved holiday story told through a series of family letters. Enjoy musical accompaniment from Jeff Sebens on hammer dulcimer. Each performance will be followed by a talk with Barbara Smith and Jeff Sebens.

Lee Smith will attend the Dec. 12 performance and chat with the audience afterwards. She will also autograph copies of her books in the Deep Dish lobby, which include the New York Times bestseller “The Last Girls,” the ever-popular “Fair and Tender Ladies,” “Oral History” and three collections of short stories.

For tickets or additional information, call Deep Dish Theater at (919) 968-1515 or visit www.deepdishtheater.org. Learn more about Barbara Bates Smith at www.barbarabatessmith.com.

There are plenty of holiday activities scheduled for Chapel Hill children, too. The Museum of Life and Science’s newest traveling exhibit, Holiday Springs and Sprockets, consists of innovative mechanical artwork from New York-based artist and sculptor Steve Gerberich.

Gerberich set up the Santa and His Flying Reindeer exhibit in a University Mall windowscape will be featured in the 2ndfriday ArtWalk on Dec. 12 along with the annual Wild Horses windowscape at Turning Point Gallery and the Festival of Trees, an annual University Mall charity event that supports The Arc of Orange County.

Gerberich’s Holiday Springs and Sprockets is on view at the Museum of Life and Science through Jan. 5. Click here to access a special admission discount from Triangle TRACKS, a local parent resource and social networking website linking to 1,800 Triangle resources for children. While you’re there, check out the Triangle TRACKS calendar for additional holiday events scheduled for children in the area.

We’ll have more next month, so check back for the latest information on how you, as a new resident of Chapel Hill, can stay connected to your community.