DURHAM -- The city's 'AAA' bond rating for water and sewer utility system revenue bonds has been reaffirmed by Fitch Ratings.
The 'AAA' debt rating, the highest rating a municipality can receive, allows the city to borrow money at the lowest interest rates available, thus saving taxpayer dollars when financing municipal capital projects. The city has approximately $32 million in water and sewer utility system revenue bonds.
Fitch Ratings cited the water and sewer utility system's solid financial performance as well as the sound maintenance of the debt service coverage; the low debt ratio; and the system's demonstrated ability to raise rates to sustain needed operational and capital funding as the rationale behind its decision.
Fitch also cited the vibrant, growing service area; the ample water supply; and the good condition of the city's treatment facilities as additional reasons for awarding the 'AAA' rating and 'Stable' outlook.
Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.
Orienteering clinic scheduled
DURHAM -- Piedmont Wildlife Center, 364 Leigh Farm Road, will host an excursion through the woods at 1 p.m. Sunday to teach basic orienteering skills, such as how to use a map and compass, as well as the ancient techniques of reading the land and developing a sense of direction--without any tools.
Gumby Montgomery, a professional naturalist, will lead the "Lost!" program and teach those who already know how to read a compass new ways to navigate through the woods by aidless navigation. The direction branches grow and the location of moss can give more information about one's location than most people know. Participants will learn that even on a cloudy day when the sun and shadows are not clearly visible, signs in the surrounding landscape can still help a lost person find his or her way home safely.
For more information, visit www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org. Pre-registration is highly recommended for all weekend programs. To reserve a spot on any of Piedmont Wildlife Center's weekend programs, please call (919) 489-0900.
Breast cancer fundraiser set
DURHAM -- Devine's Bar & Grill, 904 W. Main St., will host a Susan G. Komen For the Cure Fundraiser from 6 p.m. Saturday with live music by PM Bulldozer until 2 a.m.
Admission is $5 per person at the door. All proceeds benefit breast cancer research.
Democrats set for Senate forum
DURHAM -- The political action group "Durham for Obama" is hosting a forum for North Carolina Democratic U.S. Senate candidates forum from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on March 15 at St. Joseph's AME Church, 2521 Fayetteville St.
The group describes itself on its Web site -- durhamforobama.org -- as "a volunteer grassroots organization dedicated to local, regional, and global cooperation and progress. Founded in February 2008."
Contact Mark Donovan at mdonovan@heraldsun.com or (919) 419-6655. E-mail items of interest to our readers to news@heraldsun.com.
