Partnership group to meet

CHAPEL HILL -- The Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership Executive Committee will meet at 4 p.m. today in the partnership office, 308 West Rosemary St., Suite 202. Limited parking is available along the side of the building; ample parking is available in Lot 5 at the corner of Rosemary and Church streets.

The full Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Morehead Planetarium, 250 East Franklin St.

Those planning to attend should use the west side UNC Visitors Center entrance. Parking is available in the Wallace Deck on Rosemary Street, at on-street meters and in visitor spots in the Morehead parking lot.

Downtown panel to meet

CHAPEL HILL -- Friends of the Downtown will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Franklin Hotel.

The Friends of the Downtown hold monthly meetings featuring speakers, door prizes from downtown businesses, and lively updates and discussions on downtown issues. Meetings of the Friends of the Downtown are free and open to the public.

Networking event planned

CHAPEL HILL -- Business Before Hours, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce's monthly morning networking event, will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday. It is being hosted and sponsored by Four Eleven West, located at 411 West Franklin St.

AT&T Advertising and Publishing is the event's co-sponsor. No registration is required, and the event is free for Chamber members.

Parking is available in metered spots on Franklin Street and in Town of Chapel Hill Parking Lot 3, next to Four Eleven West. Parking meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and metered spaces are 25 cents per every 15 minutes. Paid parking in Lot 3 is enforced 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is 50 cents for every 30 minutes.

Contact Whitney Murphy at 357-9980 or wmurphy@carolinachamber.org if you have questions.

Wine tasting to raise funds

CHAPEL HILL -- Join the Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro Class of 2009 and community members for wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres, accompanied by a silent auction, to benefit the client assistance fund of the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County, from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at The Siena Hotel.

Grapes for Good is a Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2009 Small Miracles Event. Registration is required, and can be done online at www.CarolinaChamber.org/SmallMiracles. Admission is $20 per person.

Contact Meg Branson at 357-9977 or mbranson@carolinachamber.org for questions.

Business Expo set for Monday

CHAPEL HILL -- The Orange County Economic Development Commission has partnered with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce to present the sixth annual Orange County Business Expo at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday.

The Expo is designed to encourage businesses to network and establish new relationships with each other and with the public.

The Sheraton, located at 1 Europa Drive, will host an "Expo Connection" networking event from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.orangebusinessexpo.com or contact Yvonne Scarlett at the Orange County Economic Development Commission at yscarlett@co.orange.nc.us or (919) 245-2325.

Registration is required for exhibitors, and the cost is $100 per table. No registration is required for attendees, and the event is free and open to the public.

Contact Yvonne Scarlett at the Orange County Economic Development Commission, 245-2325, or yscarlett@co.orange.nc.us with questions.

Spa to celebrate 5th birthday

PITTSBORO -- Aria Skin & Laser Spa will celebrate five years in business from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. There will be door prizes for all who attend, heavy hors d'oeuvres, discounts on products, services and packages available only at this event.

Radiesse and Botox reps will answer questions and staff will be on hand to discuss permanent makeup, laser treatments and plastic surgery procedures. Laser demonstrations for age spots, hair removal, spider veins, acne and skin tightening will be available.

Aria is now open seven days per week offering facials, massage, microdermabrasion, waxing, spray tanning, epidermal leveling, laser tattoo removal, age spot removal, skin correcting peels, acupuncture, IPL, Botox, dermal fillers, Latisse, permanent makeup, mineral makeup, medical grade skin care products and more.

Heroes will be honored Dec. 11

CHAPEL HILL -- Join the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce for an evening of celebration as it recognizes this year's community heroes to benefit the Chamber's community development partner, the Foundation for a Sustainable Community, from 7 to 11 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel.

The evening will include an auction, live music by the Flabbergasters, appetizers and awards for the community's police, firefighter and EMT of the year, as well as the volunteer and citizen of the year. Attire is festive cocktail, and the event is open to the public.

Registration is required. Tickets are $50 for an individual or $90 for couples, and $165 for couples plus an overnight Sheraton stay.

Register online at www.carolinachamber.org/events or contact Whitney Murphy at wmurphy@carolinachamber.org or 357-9980.

Wine Nights are returning

CHAPEL HILL -- Saturday Wine Nights are back in Chapel Hill. Weathervane at A Southern Season will host Saturday Wine Nights every Saturday starting at 7 p.m. Four wines will be paired with four small plates.

Tickets are $20 (includes tax & gratuity). Reservations and walk-ins welcome!

A Southern Season is located on South Estes Drive in University Mall.

Chamber names board nominees

CHAPEL HILL -- The Board Development Committee of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce has named its nominees to join the Chamber's Board of Directors. The following business and community leaders are being nominated for three-year terms to begin on Jan. 1:

- John Anderson, senior vice president, Wachovia Bank.

- Chris Barnes, vice president, First Citizen's Bank.

- Pam Herndon, State Farm.

- Ken Kernodle, customer relations manager, Duke Energy.

- Laura Kiley, president, Kiley and Associates.

- Briggs Wesche, general manager, A Southern Season.

- Jerry Whortan, executive director, YMCA.

Also joining the board through appointment or special election are Kyle Clements, Bank of America; Todd Peterson, UNC Hospitals; Ben Quinn, Action Coach; and Lee Shearer, American Real Estate and Appraisal Company.

The committee also nominated Joanne Fiore of AICPA to serve as chairwoman, Marc Pons of Chapel Hill Tire and Car Care Center to serve as vice chairman and Pat Phelan of Edward Jones to serve as treasurer for the 2010 year.

For information about how you can be considered for service on the Chamber's Board of Directors contact Aaron Nelson at anelson@carolinachamber.org or 967-7077.