Rep. Verla Insko to attend White House party

CHAPEL HILL — State Rep. Verla Insko will attend a White House holiday reception on Tuesday that is being held to recognize the work of the White House State Legislators Working Group on Health Care Reform.

The group of about 40 state lawmakers from around the nation plan and initiate state-level activities in support of President Obama’s health care reform efforts. In North Carolina, state legislators held community meetings to discuss health care and met with U.S. Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and their members of Congress to discuss the cost to states of delaying health care reform.

“According to Families USA, insured North Carolina families in 2010 will pay an extra $1,828 a year to help cover the cost of care for the uninsured. That is up $700 from 2005. This year, we saw our Medicaid enrollment increase 12 percent and the cost to the state is millions of dollars more than we projected. The escalating cost of health care is not sustainable,” Insko said in a news release. “We need health care reform now, reform that holds down cost and provides affordable access to all North Carolinians.”

Insko is a retired health program administrator in her seventh term representing Orange County. She is chairwoman of the Health Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. She is also a vice chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee and the Education Subcommittee on Universities.

Task force to aid kids’ health

CHAPEL HILL — Pam Silberman, president and CEO of the N.C. Institute of Medicine, will present the institute’s Adolescent Health Task Force’s 10 priority recommendations for improving adolescent health in North Carolina at the first-ever N.C. Adolescent Health Summit at The Carolina Inn, 210 Pittsboro St., on Tuesday.

The task force’s recommendations complement many of the findings of a recent survey also being released at the summit by Action for Children North Carolina. The survey identifies parent concerns regarding the health of their children. Other scheduled speakers for the day include Howard Lee, executive director, Education Cabinet, N.C. Office of the Governor and co-chairman of the task force; and Steven Cline, deputy state health director, Division of Public Health, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The complete agenda is available at http://www.med.unc.edu/ncmp/n-c-adolescent-health-summit/agenda.

Others expected to attend are Carol Ford, professor of adolescent medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill and co-chairwoman of the North Carolina Metamorphosis Project; Barbara Bradley, president and CEO of Action for Children North Carolina; and Bronwyn Lucas, executive director of Youth Empowered Solutions.

Holiday event open to public

CARRBORO — Christmas Cheer for a Cause at East 54, between Hamilton and Finley Golf Course roads, near Meadowmont and Glen Lennox, is open to the public.

The family friendly holiday celebration benefits the North Carolina Food Bank and Toys For Tots. Participants are asked to bring an unwrapped children’s gift or a nonperishable food item.

Entertainment from North Carolina Boys Choir, the Bouncing Bulldogs Rope Skipping Team, the Deep Magic of Joshua Lozoff, cookie decorating with Il Palio pastry chefs, Savvy Facepainting, a performance from the ArtCenter’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales and more are on the agenda.

The event is free for boys and girls of all ages, and will be held rain, snow or shine.

Fishing lures discussed today

CHAPEL HILL — Page Skelton, creator of the original Cackalacky brand, will be on hand from noon to 4 p.m. today at A Southern Season to discuss the Holiday “giftability” of his latest invention — Booze Bait recycled “cork & cap” fishing lures.

A Southern Season is at 201 S. Estes Drive. For store directions, log onto www.SouthernSeason.com.

To learn more about Booze Bait “cork & cap” fishing lures, log on to www.BoozeBait.com

EmPOWERment to hold party

CHAPEL HILL — EmPOWERment Inc. will hold its annual community watch holiday party from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hargraves Community Center, 216 Roberson St., off Rosemary Street.

This event takes place for the Northside, Pine Knolls, Lloyd Street and Carr Court communities. The holiday event promotes police/community partnerships and neighborhood unity.

Residents from the various neighborhood associations meet regularly for community watch meetings. This holiday event celebrates a year of meetings. The event will be co-sponsored by Little Lady Cleaning Company, Inc. Little Lady will provide boxes of food for the attendees.

There will be a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and lots of toys and gifts for all in attendance.

EmPOWERment, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that promotes affordable housing, community organizing and grassroots economic development. Little Lady Cleaning Company, Inc. is a locally owned and operated commercial cleaning company located in the Midway Business Center.

For more information, contact Deanna Carson at dcarson@empowerment-inc.org or at 967-8779.

Orange DSS needs donations

HILLSBOROUGH — The Orange County Department of Social Services is in need of donations of new toys, books, children’s clothing, and non-perishable food items for the Orange County Toy Chest, sponsored by Social Services in partnership with Toys for Tots and Balloons and Tunes.

The program provides new toys and clothing for low-income, at-risk Orange County children during the holidays and helps to provide food for the family. While any donation is appreciated, there is a critical need for toys, games and clothing for children ages 6-12 and food items.

The third annual Toy Chest is set to open its doors on Monday. During the four-day program, more than 4,000 children are expected to receive toys. Due to the current economic climate, more families than ever are in need of help and support during the holiday season.

To make a monetary donation, contact Donna Hall at Social Services, (919) 245-2800. Checks or toys can be dropped off at either building location, Southern Human Services on 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill or Whitted Human Services at 300 West Tryon St. in Hillsborough. Checks can be mailed to the Orange County Department of Social Services at 300 West Tryon St., P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278. For more information on the program, including additional toy drop-off locations, go to the Web site at http://www.co.orange.nc.us/holidayprogram.

Youths to feed Urban Ministries

CHAPEL HILL — Orange United Methodist Church Youth Group in Chapel Hill, Blue Ribbon Mentor Leadership Program students of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, and Celebration Assembly of God Church Youth Group in Chapel Hill will be coming together to prepare and serve a meal to 250 to 300 needy residents at the Durham Urban Ministries Community Kitchen on Sunday.

These three youth groups have been coming together on the second Sunday in December for many years to both serve a meal and sing Christmas carols to the lift the spirits of the hungry in our community. The leadership for the Blue Ribbon Mentor program formerly brought First Baptist of Chapel Hill youth to the event.