Wendell News Outlet

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Wendell Police Department, in conjunction with other Wake County law enforcement agencies will sponsor a town-wide drug abuse prevention event named Operation Medicine Drop on October 30, 2010. This event specifically targets individuals who have expired, old, or unused prescription medications in their homes in Wendell. The event involves the voluntary turn-in of old or unneeded pharmaceutical drugs at Wendell Fire Department, located at 2960 Wendell Boulevard, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The police department hopes this event will help reduce a significant amount of controlled pharmaceuticals that could be diverted to an escalating illicit market. More importantly, the police department hopes to use the event to educate the public on the dangers of pharmaceutical drug abuse, accidental poisonings, as well as responsible handling, security and destruction of prescription medications.

To find out more, visit http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/SafeKids/sk_OperationMedicineDrop.asp

In order to be eligible for state and federal disaster assistance funds, the Town of Wendell was required to develop a Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2004. Under federal law, to continue receiving funds the plan must be updated every five years. While the 2004 plan was contracted to Withers & Ravenel, the 2009 plan was developed in house in an effort to reduce costs.

As part of the five-year update, it is suggested that a yearly briefing be given. The 2009 plan was adopted by resolution on October 26, 2009 and certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on January 13, 2010.

Since the 2009 plan was adopted by FEMA, two events have been reported that had, or could have had, an impact on the Town of Wendell – a snow/ice event in January and Hurricane Earl in early September. Several action items from the Hazard Mitigation were utilized as these events approached.

Several action items listed in the plan continue with, or without, an impending event. Some of those include things such as informing the public of construction requirements in hazard areas, making flood maps available to the public, enforcing subdivision standards for development in flood hazard areas, and requiring burial of power lines for new developments.

The Wendell Police Department will host a second information exchange with downtown businesses and concerned citizens on October 18 in the Wendell Courtroom. The meeting is scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The Town of Wendell is continuing its economic development efforts with its recent hire of the town’s first Economic Development Coordinator.

The Town contracted with Holland Consulting and Allison Platt in 2008 to assist in its commitment to economic development throughout the Wendell area.  As recommended, the town has taken another step toward reaching its goal by hiring a part-time Economic Development Coordinator, Maggie O’Neill.

Ms. O’Neill will begin work with the Town on November 1, 2010. She currently serves as Vice President of Membership for the North Carolina Downtown Development Association and has served as the Director of Wake Forest’s Downtown Revitalization Corporation. Ms. O’Neill has experience in grant management, budgeting, fundraising, the Small Town Main Street Program, and organizing downtown special events. We look forward to working with Ms. O’Neill in pursuit of the town’s economic development endeavors.

Eastern Wake CRIMESTOPPERS is offering $200 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect (s) involved in the damage to property that occurred in the Wendell’s Downtown Business District. If you have information or know anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest, please call 366-2746 (CRIME).

Chad Ray, owner of Olde Heritage Builders, (http://www.OldeHeritage.com), a Raleigh-area green home builder, has announced a partnership with Duke Children's Hospital to build the Green Miracle Home in Wakefield Meadows in Zebulon. Olde Heritage will partner with other local companies, vendors and trade partners to have as many of the services and items donated to construct the Green Miracle Home. All of the profit from the sale of the home will benefit the Duke Children's Hospital through the MIX 101.5 Radiothon for Duke Children's Hospital.

If you would like to join the building team on the Green Miracle Home or if you are interested in buying, please contact Chad Ray through his website: http://www.oldeheritage.com/contact-us.php.

The home is open to the public as a part of this year’s Parade of Homes. This is the last weekend for the 2010 tour. The Green Miracle Home will be open October 15-17 from Noon to 5:00 pm.

Siemens Energy, Inc., the world’s leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas, has announced plans to establish a new Research and Development center at its facility in Wendell.  Siemens Energy will use this R&D center to work on smart grid technology.

The announcement will result in the creation of 139 new jobs with an average salary of $88,883 and an investment of at least $2.9 million by the end of 2014.

Wake County Commission Chairman Tony Gurley said, “In today’s economic environment, new job creation is exciting news, but this announcement is especially exciting for Wake County as our area is emerging as a hub for sustainable energy and smart grid technologies.”

Mayor Harold Broadwell of Wendell remarked, “Today’s announcement is great news for the people of Wendell, and we are excited that Siemens has chosen to expand in our community. Clearly, these are the types of jobs we want for our citizens.  Through the years, Siemens has been a great corporate citizen, and we look forward to a continued relationship with the company.” 

Apart from the much discussed environmental advantages, Siemens Smart Grid technology brings clear-cut benefits for all stakeholders along the energy conversion chain.  As the world’s only integrated energy Infrastructure company covering the entire energy conversion chain, Siemens delivers products, solutions, and services that meet the challenges of the changing energy landscape.

For more information on Siemens Energy, including employment opportunities, visit http://www.energy.siemens.com.

     

Wendell United Methodist Church will hold its third annual Feed Your Neighbor 5K on Sunday, October 17 at 4 p.m. The start and finish lines will be at the church on Main Street. All proceeds from registrations and sponsorships will support the Wendell United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

The Wendell Parks and Recreation Department had a great week of youth games and adult programs. The majority of the fall baseball and softball teams concluded their fall season this week. The 8-9 Lizard Lick Towing team has one game remaining in Zebulon on Monday night. In the adult co-ed softball league, the regular season concluded and the brackets were set for the single elimination tournament to be held on Tuesday, October 19 beginning at 6:30 pm with #1 vs #4, followed by a 7:30 pm game featuring #2 vs #3 and then the Championship at 8:30. The following are the final tournament seeds; #1 Seed, RTS/Brookshire Homes; #2 Seed, Rebels; #3 Seed, Northside Community; and #4 Seed Rangers.

The Wendell Community Center was a busy place as they continued with the Expressions of Worship Dance and Acro classes. The doors really began to open as over 360 registrants have signed up to participate in the Youth Basketball program for boys ages 5-17 and girls ages 5-15.

The Adult Church League regular season games were played on Monday and Thursday nights in the gym and next Monday will be the final day of regular season games for that program. A single elimination tournament will follow with games beginning on Thursday, October 21. Final seeding for this program has yet to be completed and will be settled after next Monday’s games.

This week Parks & Rec staff delivered more than 3,000 surveys for the Comprehensive Recreation, Parks and Open Space Plan to Wendell Middle School and to East Wake High School. Each school was gracious enough to assist with completing the surveys so that the department can gather data to assist with the development of the Comprehensive Recreation, Parks and Open Space Plan by the East Carolina Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. The surveys were scheduled to be picked up on Friday.

Parks & Recreation is getting ready to kick off an exciting season of Youth Basketball. Youth basketball drafts will begin Saturday, October 23. The following times are set for the drafts: 8:30 am, 9-10 boys; 11 am, 11-12 boys; and 1:30 pm, 13-14 boys. The remaining drafts will be held the week of October 25. Participants will be notified by email of their draft times.

Barefoot & Young Insurance 15, Shirley’s Electrical Service 9

Vardy Chiropractic 10, MAD Sports Designs 9

MAD Sports Designs 13, Shirley’s Electrical Service 7

Barefoot & Young Insurance 5, Vardy Chiropractic 4

Fetching Post 12, Wendell Amusement Center 1

Lizard Lick Towing 12, Wendell Amusement Center 10

H&M Financial Group 7, Knightdale #2  0

Home Team Sports 4, Knightdale #1  2

Carpet Barn 6, American Legion Post #148  4

Carpet Barn 11, Knightdale 5

Youngsville 8, Samaritan Ambulance Service 7

Northside Community Church 11, Rangers 3

RTS/Brookshire Homes 18, Rebels 11

RTS/Brookshire Homes 17, Rangers 0

Rebels 11, Northside Community Church 1

East Wake High School Women’s Tennis had one player to advance to regional play.  April Williford won two of her three matches at the Greater Neuse River Conference Tournament this week.  She defeated Deidre Lewis of South East Raleigh High School in her first match by scores of 6-0, 6-0.  April lost her second match to Elizabeth Carter of Smithfield-Selma High by scores of 6-1, 6-3.  To qualify for regionals, April had to play her way in by defeating Clayton’s Joy Guha 7-5, 6-2.  This is the second year in a row that East Wake has sent someone to the regional tournament.  Regionals begin Friday, October 22 at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville.   East Wake’s Lady Warriors are coached by Parks and Recreation’s Kelley Connolly.

Parks & Recreation’s Outside Programs Coordinator Kelley Connolly has been selected as the Greater Neuse Conference Tennis Coach of the Year for 2010. Kelley coaches the Lady Warrior Tennis Team at East Wake High School.

“This is a well deserved honor,” said Parks & Recreation Director Brinkley Wagstaff. “Kelley has worked hard with her girls and put a lot of time and effort into their season.”

Coach of the Year honors is voted on by the conference tennis coaches.

ITEM 13. CHAMBER EVENTS

November 6 there will be a ribbon cutting at The Little Bakery & Café on Main Street at 11 a.m. Also that day from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Wits End will hold its holiday open house.

November 9 is the Wendell Chamber Annual Banquet. The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Wendell Community Center. Call the chamber office for reservations.

Patrick Patelos of the Little Bakery on Main Street is showing his art work in the Wendell Chamber board room during October.

The Wendell Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Wendell Woman’s Club at the corner of West Third and Cypress Streets. October 30 will be the season’s closing date for the farmer’s market.

Wendell t-shirts and hoodies are available from the chamber. T-shirts are $15 and hoodies (with zipper) are $30.

ITEM 14. WEEK OF OCTOBER 11 MEETINGS ATTENDED

Wed. 10/13 Wake County Manager’s Mtg.

Thurs 10/14 Engineer Mtg. RBEG

Mon. 10/18 Electronic Assessment

Tues 10/19 Special Called Mtg.

Wed. 10/20 Affordable Housing Comm.

ITEM 16. UPCOMING EVENTS

DATE TIME EVENT LOCATION

10/18 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

10/19 4:00 Brd. Mtg. Pro Forma @ Town Hall

10/25 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/08 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall

11/15 7:00 p.m. Planning Board Meeting @ Town Hall

11/22 7:00 p.m. Board of Commissioners Meeting @ Town Hall