CATEC Program Receives $30,000 Car Donation

A $30,000 Chrysler 300 Touring car has become a centerpiece of a hands-on learning experience in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) automotive technician training program. The car was recently donated by DaimlerChrysler for CATEC's Automotive Service Technology Program.

CATEC and DaimlerChrysler are part of the Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) partnership. The AYES partnership involves automotive manufacturers, dealers, and selected high schools and technical preparation schools in encouraging young people to consider and be prepared for entry-level careers or advanced studies in automotive technology. Donations like the one from DaimlerChrysler allow for the recruiting and potential placement of specialty trained technicians who are familiar with DaimlerChrysler products.

“Today’s cars are highly technical and it takes intensive training to know how to repair them correctly," explained Darah Bonham, director of CATEC. "Our Automotive Service Technology program opens doors for students to opportunities in this field immediately after high school graduation, whether it is for an entry-level job or advanced studies through a college or manufacturer-provided training."

CATEC’s Automotive Service Technology program spans two years. Students typically complete a paid internship at a local dealership during the summer break between year one and two of the program.

PVCC Receives Grant to Expand Engineering Opportunities

A grant of nearly $500,000 from the National Science Foundation will expand engineering opportunities for students at Piedmont Virginia Community College. The five-year grant begins Sept. 1. It will fund activities designed to increase the number of students enrolled in PVCC’s engineering degree program—the first two years of study toward a baccalaureate degree in the field—and ensure their successful transfer to a four-year school.

PVCC has a guaranteed admission agreement with the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech for PVCC graduates who meet grade point average and certain other requirements. PVCC engineering students also transfer to schools including the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University and James Madison University.

“Engineering careers provide excellent opportunities for our students,” said President Frank Friedman in announcing the award. “Demand is strong and four-year engineering graduates command impressive starting salaries.

Habitat for Humanity and Bank of America Celebrate Partnership Milestone

Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity joined with Habitat for Humanity International and Bank of America recently to celebrate their partnership and the milestone 100th house built under the McColl Habitat Project. Named for former Chairman and CEO Hugh McColl Jr., Bank of America announced in 2001 a commitment to fund the building of 120 Habitat houses in the United States and an additional 100 houses internationally, including one house in Charlottesville.

Due to the ongoing involvement of our local Bank of America in Habitat for many years, the national committee selected the Charlottesville area Bank of America to receive funding to fully sponsor a Habitat home in 2004. The current President Eric Johnson and retired President Russell Bowles have been a key supporter of Habitat throughout their banking careers, and are much to be credited with this success. Chas Forsman, Vice President of Bank of America Mortgage Co. in Charlottesville, headed up the company volunteers.

"This home was completed on Page Street in July of 2005. Not only did Bank of America provide $60,000 for the construction costs, but Bank of America employees volunteered on all phases of building the home, especially on some very cold days the preceding winter," said Kelly Eplee, Director of Development.

"At Bank of America, we truly value the dedication, compassion and will of the volunteers from our company, the Habitat for Humanity staff, and Mr. McColl – whose vision and leadership through the past 20 years has given hundreds of families a place to call home," said Andrew Plepler, president, Bank of America Charitable Foundation. "Building affordable housing in partnership with deserving families is essential to building stronger, more secure families, and in turn securing stronger, healthier communities for the future."

Zona Latina: Central Virginia’s 1st Bilingual TV Show

Since 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that Virginia’s Hispanic population has increased more than 37%. The largest minority group in the country, the Hispanic population is expected to grow more than 1.7 million annually. The South’s Hispanic population is increasing at a rate unmatched by any other region in the United States.

Zona Latina, LLC, a Certified Minority Business Enterprise in the Commonwealth of Virginia will launch its first bilingual television project to address the changing communication needs of our community. The mission of Zona Latina (ZTV) is to produce educational programs that help dispel cultural stereotypes, bridge language and cultural barriers between our English and Spanish speaking communities and provide public service information to improve our community’s quality of life. ZTV celebrates Hispanic influences that continue to shape the cultural landscape of Virginia, the nation and the world.

The magazine format show, captioned in English and Spanish, premiers Saturday, September 16, 2006 at 9AM on ABC-16, via Cable 3 and by satellite on Dish Network. The weekly program re-airs Sundays after 11PM News & 24 at 12:30 AM.

REC Annual Meeting Highlights Benefits of Membership

Members of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) gathered together on Aug. 12 to exercise one of the many privileges of being more than just a customer. Members elected the REC board of directors and received an update on their Cooperative.

The REC Annual Meeting is held each year to provide a general business and financial update to member-owners as well as to give members the opportunity to elect their board of directors whose terms are up for re-election.

“There is a significant difference between Annual Meetings of electric utilities. At one, only investors who own stock have a voice and a vote. Many of these stockholders are not even customers of the utility, and their main interest is the return on their stock investment,” said William Frazier, REC's board chairman. “At an electric cooperative annual meeting, each member-owner has a voice and a vote. Return on investment is simple. Any income received, over and above expenses, is allocated to the member-owners in the same year it is received. There are no outside investor owners. The cooperative is 100% member owned.”

During the business meeting, Kent Farmer, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative CEO and president, gave a brief overview of the Cooperative’s accomplishments for 2005 including: connecting 4,385 new services, generating 2.5 billion kilowatts of electricity, returning $8 million dollars in capital credits and working over 500,000 hours without a lost time accident.

Boar’s Head Inn Announces Construction of State-of-the-Art Meeting Pavilion

Boar’s Head Inn announced recently its plans for the construction of a new $10 million Meeting Pavilion. Upon delivery, the 17,000 square foot building will house elegant meeting and social spaces, complimented with state-of-the art technology.

“We realized that Boar’s Head Inn’s existing ballroom had become inadequate for the resort’s client conferencing needs, as well as for social functions” said Tim Rose, CEO of the University of Virginia Foundation. “This eventually led to the conceptualization of the new Meeting Pavilion.”

Following careful studies and consideration by the University of Virginia Foundation (UVAF) and consulting architects, Glavé & Holmes Associates, the project was approved by the UVAF board in June. UVAF is currently processing the site plan through the county and hopes to be able to break ground early in 2007.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Opens Second Location in Charlottesville

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys opened their second store in Charlottesville with their traditional “tie” cutting ceremony on Thursday morning, August 10. On hand for the event, Mark Nelson of Richmond Fishburne LLP, immediate past-chairman of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce noted, “By opening this new store, you are demonstrating your commitment to our community’s quality of life. This expansion will provide a new workplace for those in the community, a place to recycle clothing and household goods, and the opportunity for shoppers to find hidden treasures."

“We also trust,” Mr. Nelson continued, “that it will increase your capacity to help people with disabilities and disadvantages to overcome barriers to employment.”

With the opening of their new location on 29 North across from Albemarle Square shopping Center, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys will employ over 40 individuals in the Charlottesville region. With 7,200 square feet of retail space, this is their 23rd store in Virginia and the 3rd to open in 2006. There were 75 people in line to shop before the speeches and tie-cutting and over 100 in the first15 minutes after opening.

An important industry in the Charlottesville region, Goodwill does more than just donations and retail, they train people with disabilities, providing a skilled workforce for all kinds of industries and the opportunity for individuals to be self-sufficient.

Embarq Retail Store Grand Opening Features Prizes, Specials

Charlottesville-area residents now have a more convenient Embarq Retail Store when they shop for the latest in residential, high-speed data, video and wireless phone products and services. The Embarq Store is located at 1240 Seminole Trail. The store employs eleven people, with five sales reps on site.

As part of Grand Opening Week a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the store, located next to Pet Supply on the corner of Greenbrier Drive and U.S. 29 North in Charlottesville. The Grand Opening celebration runs from August 7 - 12 and individuals visiting the store can enter to win a number of prizes. Timothy Hulbert, President of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Cathy Train, President of the United Way - Thomas Jefferson Area, who serves as 2006 Chairwoman of the Chamber Board of Directors, were on hand to help celebrate the opening.

Boar’s Head Inn Announces Construction of State-of-the-Art Meeting Pavilion

The Boar’s Head Inn recently announced its plans for the construction of a new $10 million Meeting Pavilion. Upon delivery, the 17,000 square foot building will house elegant meeting and social spaces, complimented with state-of-the art technology.

“We realized that Boar’s Head Inn’s existing ballroom had become inadequate for the resort’s client conferencing needs, as well as for social functions” said Tim Rose, CEO of the University of Virginia Foundation. “This eventually led to the conceptualization of the new Meeting Pavilion.”

Following careful studies and consideration by the University of Virginia Foundation (UVAF) and consulting architects, Glavé & Holmes Associates, the project was approved by the UVAF board in June. UVAF is currently processing the site plan through the county and hopes to be able to break ground early in 2007.