HILLSBOROUGH -- The 31st World Day of Prayer of Hillsborough occurs at noon today at Mt. Zion AME church in Hillsborough. At least 24 churches will be represented.
The World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical celebration of informed prayer. Women, men and children in more than 170 countries and regions will celebrate World Day of Prayer. This year's program was written by women in Cameroon, Africa.
Lunch will be served after the Mt. Zion program, and organizers assured those who need to get back to work that the program will be over in one hour.
"This is open to the public. We love bringing all denominations together to celebrate such a big celebration," World Day of Prayer Director Sue Faulkner said. "I have been a part of this for all 31 years, and each year it continues to grow."
GOP now meets third Mondays
HILLSBOROUGH -- The Orange County Republican Party monthly meeting date and location has changed to the third Monday each month.
This month's meeting will be held at Sunrise Church in Hillsborough from 7-9 p.m. March 15.
Birdhouses on Parade coming
CHAPEL HILL -- Get ready for spring during the ninth annual Birdhouses on Parade at The Carolina Inn. The historic hotel will showcase uniquely crafted birdhouses and feeders by North Carolina artists.
Some of the special events during the event, scheduled from March 21 to April 11, include Happy Hour with a cappella group Tar Heel Voices, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, Easter Brunch, Cinderella Tea with the Triangle Youth Ballet, Egg Decorating, a live raptor exhibit and more.
The event opens on March 21 with a community open house from noon to 4 p.m. Be the first in line to view the birdhouse displays and enjoy light refreshments. The birdhouses will be on display daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For information, call (919) 918-2711.
Ella Baker Tour finishes at UNC
CHAPEL HILL -- The final stop of the Ella Baker Tour will be March 16 at UNC.
The Ella Baker Tour was launched in February 2008 in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, known by its acronym SNCC.
The civil rights organization was founded at Shaw University two months after the Greensboro sit-in at the F.W. Woolworth store in 1960. Shaw will host 50th anniversary events April 15-18. Black leaders who were involved with SNCC included Stokely Carmichael, John Lewis, now a Georgia congressman, and Julian Bond, now the NAACP chairman.
At the UNC event -- at 6 p.m. March 16 at the FedEx Global Education Center's Nelson Mandela Auditorium -- speakers will include Connie Curry, Efia Nwangaza and Theresa El-Amin.
To see more details about the UNC event, visit the web site at http://womenofsnccspeakout.web.unc.edu/ .
The Ella Baker Tour has made stops in North Carolina, Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Virginia and South Carolina. Locally it has visited N.C. State, N.C. Central and Duke universities, Central Piedmont Community College and Hillside High School.
LEGO-palooza set for March 13-14
CHAPEL HILL -- Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will host its sixth annual LEGO-palooza exhibit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 13, and 1-4 p.m. March 14.
The exhibit features dozens of LEGO models and scenes created by members of the North Carolina LEGO Users Group (LUG). In past years, the LUG team has exhibited everything from space stations to castles inspired by the Harry Potter books. Visit Morehead to see this free exhibit, created especially for children 4 and older accompanied by their parents or caregivers.
An eat and meet for UNC leaders
CHAPEL HILL -- Area hospitality leaders will hold a luncheon event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at UNC's Friday Center for UNC campus officials who make decisions and plan meetings and events.
The luncheon is designed to make the officials aware of the wide array and number of diverse hotel and meeting options that are available to host their events in Orange County. The event is part of the "Book Local" effort noting the economic importance of booking meetings and conferences in Orange County's hotels and meeting facilities.
Chapel Hill-Orange County Visitors Bureau sales director Linda Ekeland, together with area hoteliers and chefs, will host the March Meeting Madness event, which includes lunch buffet and prizes; all while decision makers can learn about and network with area meeting facilities. Free shuttle service is available to the Friday Center from in front of Memorial Hall on Cameron Ave from 11:15 am to noon, with returning service from 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Your business card will get you into the luncheon, however, you must RSVP to Tina Fuller at the Visitors Bureau or call (919) 968-2060.
GOP candidates speak Tuesday
HILLSBOROUGH -- Northern Orange Republican Women will have its monthly meeting Tuesday at Bandido's Mexican Restaurant, 122 South Churton St., from 7-9 p.m.
Guest speakers will be candidates Rick Smith, running for N.C. House District 50, and Greg Andrews, running for Orange County commissioner.
All Republicans from all counties are welcome. Click on www.NorthernOrangeRepublicanWomen.com for additional information.
Egg hunt set at Carrboro park
CHAPEL HILL -- Wanted: Skilled Easter egg hunters between the ages of 2 and 10. The Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro and Orange County present the annual Community Egg Hunt on March 27 at Hank Anderson Park in Carrboro. Live entertainment will be provided by local children's band Sand Box, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
More than 10,000 eggs will be hidden, with prizes for numbered and golden eggs. The Egg Hunt begins at 10:30 a.m. sharp. Crafts, games, and a fire safety puppet show by the puppeteers from the Chapel Hill Museum will follow the hunt. Bring baskets and cameras, too, because the Easter Bunny is going to drop by for pictures.
The celebration is free to the public. For more information visit www.townofchapelhill.org/communityevents or contact Chapel Hill Parks Recreation or call (919) 968-2784.
Park's venue for 'Walk for Hunger'
HILLSBOROUGH -- Orange Congregations In Mission is sponsoring its annual "A Walk For Hunger" at 2 p.m. April 25, at Gold Park.
OCIM encourages families to walk for those who struggle with food insecurity.
Because the organization strongly believes in healthy families, it sponsors the walk to provide a time of family fun and exercise.
Donations from the walk will enable the agency to continue to help those in need.
For more information, visit OCIM at 300 Millstone Drive, or call 732-6194 extension 10.
Blue-White game on ESPN April 10
CHAPEL HILL -- UNC will hold its Blue-White Spring Football Game at 3 p.m. April 10, and for the first time in school history, the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Admission to the Blue-White Game is free. Head coach Butch Davis will divide the team into two squads and the Tar Heels will play four 12-minute quarters.
"The Blue-White Game is an excellent opportunity to showcase our football program and we are thrilled ESPN has chosen to telecast our contest," said Davis, who welcomes back 19 starters from last year's team.
In addition to the returning upperclassmen, the game also will feature several young players who will make a significant impact this season."
Tar Heel Town moves to the Bell Tower and inside Kenan Stadium beginning at noon. There will be a pregame autograph session with the players and the head coach, game day and tailgating food offerings, games, football and cheerleading drills for all young Tar Heel fans, live music, Rameses, face painting, Bell Tower climb, poster giveaways, prizes and more.
Free parking will be available in the Bowles Lot, Manning Lot, Williamson Lot (Disability), Craige Deck, Jackson Deck, and Cardinal Deck. Check TarHeelBlue.com for all parking and transportation updates as the day approaches.
