The Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County is seeking volunteers for the agency’s fall volunteer training.

The training, which will begin Sept. 9, teaches skills to assist victims of domestic violence as hotline advocates, child-care providers, court advocates and community educators.
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Special Events

Artist Grants — Durham Arts Council is distributing applications for 2008-09 Emerging Artists Grants. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15. www.durhamarts.org

Artists’ Salon — Aug. 22, 6:30-9pm in The ArtsCenter’s West End Gallery. Topic is “Internet Resources for Creative Portfolios.” RSVP at 245-2335 or arts@co.orange.nc.us
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The local music scene looks after its own. So for our mutual friend Cy Rawls, recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and lacking insurance, money is being raised by Cat’s Cradle and Local 506 with a series of benefit shows. On Saturday, Aug. 16 at 9 p.m., Local 506 will host the WXY-Cy! Dance Party with current and former WXYC DJs spinning tunes. The show is free, so show up and send some good vibrations or some donated cash, or both! The next night, Sunday, Aug. 17, Cat’s Cradle hosts the “Cy Rawls Has a Posse” benefit show with bands Polvo, Cantwell Gomez & Jordan, Double Negative, Fin Fang Foom and Magic Babies. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $15. And on Friday, Aug. 29, Cat’s Cradle hosts “Cy Rawls Has a Posse (Part II)” with Superchunk, The Rosebuds and Birds of Avalon at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. So help out and spread some good vibrations!

Special Events

Artist Grants — Durham Arts Council is distributing applications for 2008-2009 Emerging Artists Grants. An information session will take place from 6-7:30pm Aug. 7 at the Chapel Hill Public Library conference room. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15. www.durhamarts.org

Cedar Grove Bluegrass Festival — free festival on Sept. 27. Musical performances and refreshments. Northern Human Services Center (located on Highway 86 North) in Cedar Grove, from noon to 6pm. Gates will open at 10am. Rain or shine, bring your chairs and blankets. 245-2660. http://www.co.orange.nc.us/RecParks/music_festivals.asp
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The dates for the Paperhand Puppet Intervention show “I am an Insect” were reported incorrectly in last week’s MILL. The correct dates are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Aug. 8 to Sept. 7 at the Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill and then at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and 13. All shows begin at 7, with a different pre-show each night. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for kids 12 and under and free for children two and younger. Tickets for Forest Theatre shows are only available on location. Tickets for the Museum of Art shows are available at www.ncartmuseum.org.

It’s that time again — put on some walking shoes and get the right side of your brain warmed up for some inspiration! The 2ndFriday Artwalk is a monthly stroll and celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. Galleries, museums and businesses will throw open their doors to the artistically inclined to see works by artists in all mediums.
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This year’s Back to School Bash wants to fill the book bags of over 100 less-fortunate kindergarten through 12th grade students with school supplies — and they’re going to need help.

The bash is planned for Aug. 9 from 12:30p.m. to 6:30p.m. at the Chapel Hill Faith Tabernacle at 800 Rogers Rd.
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Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools teachers Robin McMahon and Kathleen Rhodes recently traveled to Belgium for the National French Teachers Conference.

McMahon, a teacher at Smith Middle School, and her Belgian Exchange colleague, Jean-Claude Labeye presented a session on creating successful exchange programs.
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The Carrboro Recreation and Parks 208 Fall Softball Standings are as follows.

1. 300 East Main Street 3-0
2. Cliff’s Meat Market/T-Roy’s Towing 3-0
3. Ghost Riders 3-0
4. Cozart-Seagroves 2-1
5. Armadillo Grill 1-2
6. Bread & Butter 0-1
7. Fearrington 1-2
8. Pink Floyd 1-2
9. Sluggers of Catan 0-3
10. Toof Haus 0-3
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Carrboro’s Community Radio, WCOM 103.5 FM, will host a program from 9 a.m. until noon on Monday entitled “Carrboro talks about race.” The program will start a dialog about race relations in Carrboro and will discuss potential problems and solutions. Listeners are welcome to visit the station or call in at 929-9601. For more information, visit www.communityradio.coop or email Audrey Layden at counselorscafe@nc.rr.com.

Chatham County Parks and Recreation Department won a $500,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to build a multi-purpose county park in the northeastern part of the county. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners matched the funds.

The 66-acre park will be off Big Woods Road. Construction will probably start in 2009 and finish in spring of 2010.
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The UNC American Indian Center will host “a Welcome Extravaganza” for the Carolina American Indian Community and Friends on the lawn of Abernethy Hall, at South Columbia and Cameron at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 21. The public is invited.

Live music by Willie Lowery, Rebekah Revels, native students and a drum group is scheduled, along with intertribal dancing in full regalia. Various student groups and university offices will present information. For more information, contact Brandi Brooks at 843-4189 or brandi_brooks@unc.edu.

The Hoop Path Tribe of Carrboro will host a free hoop jam on World Hoop Day (August 8, for those not in the hoop loop) at the Carrboro Town Commons from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free hoops will be given to early birds under 12! Community hoops will be made available for adults and kids to use. The event is family-friendly, fun and the Community-Hoop-Jam season finale.

Carrboro High School is accepting applications for the positions of head and assistant trainers. Candidates must be NATA certified. Please contact CHS athletic director April Ross at 918-2200 ext 25023 for details and an application.

On the first Tuesday of every month, area bicyclists gather in the evening to cruise together for Cruiser Tuesday. In the words of organizer and handlebar DJ Matt Lee, “We bike-splice advocacy, arts and a lost flair for the street party.” The mass of mellow, “funky-formal” costumed riders takes off from Johnny’s on West Main at about 7:30 and cruises the streets and campus as a reminder that riding bicycles is simply fun. Tuesday was the third anniversary of the event. To learn more, see the website at cruisertuesday.blogspot.com or show up next month! More »