The Cary Photographic Artists Club( CPA ) was recently invited by the Fellowship House in Cary to develop and offer free basic digital photography classes for its clients with moderate to severe mental illness, as a viable and enjoyable educational program. This invitation, by Stacy Smith, Manager and Clinical Coordinator at Fellowship House, was graciously accepted by CPA as it agreed to offer tutorial services to those clients. Both classroom and outdoor sites have afforded the students a hands-on approach to basic digital photography. As a further assist, CPA has donated four point-and-shoot cameras for use by the students.

CPA’s tutors have found the program to be a satisfying personal experience as well as a viable expression volunteering. Smith also states her clients” … are having great time learning about taking photographs.”

Bobbi Hopp, Cary Photographic Artists President, further remarks that the Fellowship House program is a good example of how effectively a club can meet its social and civic responsibilities with volunteer efforts.

Cary Photographic Artists
Bob Adams, Publicity Chair

Not so green, if you ask him

I visited the new McDonald’s on Kildaire Farm Road and was impressed by the “Green” label it has acquired. I also, however, came up with a few observations of the new place and its designation. First, I notice that there is a bigger accommodation to the drive-through trade. There are now two lanes and order stations, more one-way only entrances, the better to accommodate this trade; an accompanying increased difficulty in parking and crossing these lanes to get inside, and, at least on my first look, not as many “sit down” seats. For a green place, this looks to me like more cars idling in line, using gas and polluting the atmosphere — not really green results.

Second, the famous “free” electric charging station (I only saw one) is obviously not really free; either we pay through our Big Mac price or our taxes. It also seems to be not easy to use. The parking space immediately to the right is a handicap space. I am sure there are other people who will drive these cars. There is a space immediately in front of the station, but it is “cross hatched” off. The normal space to the left is some 10 to 15 feet away. Maybe the cords will be that long.

A bunch of nits, perhaps, and I hope I am wrong about all this. I also hope the designers did the necessary calculations to prove the carbon footprint is really smaller, including that we will eventually have to produce more electricity to charge all those electric cars, and what those trade-offs are, or will be.

Doug Richmond
Cary

Applauding Stop NC Annexation

We would like to thank Cathy Heath of Stop NC Annexation, which is online at www.stopncannexation.com. She has designed and maintained the website and compiled research information for use in fighting forced annexation. She also tracks news reports about annexations, monitors the General Assembly and the League of Municipalities, as well as communicates with supporters of StopNCAnnexation and State legislators regarding Bills to reform forced annexation and with policy groups regarding the arguments against forced annexation. Cathy has had a lot on her plate since 2003 with this effort and we would like to say that her website has been helpful to so many newly annexed citizens across the state, and we appreciate her shared time and talents.

Ted and Julie Perkins
Tryon