Inside High Point - January 2023

INSIDE HIGH POINT

EMPLOYEES SERVE COMMUNITY WITH MLK DAY OF SERVICE

JANUARY 2023

CITY OF HIGH POINT

MLK DAY OF SERVICE

HUMAN RELATIONS CONTINUES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

This month, the Human Relations Division hosted and participated in three different kinds of service activities. On Friday, Jan. 13, the City hosted its first annual MLK Day of Service in partnership with HPU, bringing together more than 30 employees to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Employee teams worked on two projects: a garden clean-up at the Triad World Relief Community Garden, and a roadside clean-up along MLK Jr. Drive, led by Keep High Point Beautiful. After their highly productive morning shifts, both teams came together to share a lunch, with pizza, snacks, and donuts served by our City leadership team.

In the week following the City's service day, the Human Relations Commission honored one of the City's most remarkable servants, Rev. Robert Williams, longtime pastor of Williams Memorial CME Church, with the Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Nominated by Bernita Sims, Rev. Williams was selected unanimously by the Commission to recognize his significant contribution to promoting understanding, respect, equity, and goodwill among all residents. As Humanitarian of the Year, Rev. Williams took part in the MLK Day parade and the YMCA's Black & White Ball and, finally, was presented with the award at the Jan. 17 City Council meeting.

Barely a week later, Human Relations staff, along with High Point Police and volunteers with the Guilford County CoC, also participated in the Point-in-Time Count, a national late-night and early-morning event to count the number of persons experiencing homelessness on Jan. 25 and 26.

6 Inside High Point HUMAN

RELATIONS

This month, the High Point Public Library began its new monthly sensory story time filled with crafts, songs, stories and other activities designed to support neurodivergent patrons better.

High Point Library Children’s Division became a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) in 2022, a designation awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to organizations that complete training and certification to better understand and welcome autistic or sensory-sensitive guests and their families.

A natural progression for the Children’s Division after completing the IBCCES certification was to begin offering programs focused on our neurodivergent patrons.

“This program is so important because our mission is to serve everyone in our community with quality materials and programs. Becoming a Certified Autism Center™ helps us to create understanding and acceptance for our neurodivergent patrons,” said Sarah Nareau, Librarian II for Children’s Services at High Point Library.

www.highpointnc.gov 7

LIBRARY LAUNCHES NEW STORYTIME PROGRAM

HIGH POINT MUSEUM

HISTORICAL SOCIETY SERIES FEEDS THE HUNGRY

The High Point Museum had a great turnout for High Point Historical Society Presents: Guilford County’s Grocery Store History. The High Point Historical Society Monthly Program Series took place on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

January’s topic was "Guilford County’s Grocery Store History” by David Gwynn, librarian, urbanist and retail historian at UNCG. As the creator of Groceteria.com, one of the first and largest websites devoted to supermarket history, Gwynn spoke on the history of grocery stores in Guilford County.

Born and raised in Greensboro, Gwynn worked various jobs in Myrtle Beach, Charlotte and San Francisco before returning to his hometown. His time in California allowed him to learn web design in 1997. When he returned to Greensboro, he put that knowledge to use working for the University Libraries of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Gwynn is the university’s Digitization Coordinator and Associate Professor. He uses his proximity to the city’s historical documents to further his research on Guilford County’s varied and intriguing grocery store history.

Along with the program, the Historical Society partnered with local grocery stores to sponsor a food drive to benefit D-Up. With every canned food donation, attendees received a raffle ticket to win local grocery store gift cards. Sponsors for the food drive include Food Lion, Harris Teeter and The Fresh Market, all of whom graciously donated gift cards for the raffle. About 30 people participated, and the museum donated a tub load of canned food to D-Up.

8 Inside High Point

MUSEUM CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY

MONTH WITH FOUR PROGRAMS

The High Point Museum will host four programs in February 2023 to celebrate Black History Month. All programs will be held in the museum's lecture gallery at 1859 E. Lexington Ave.

A viewing of the documentary "The Unlocking the Door of Opportunity" will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1 – 3 p.m. The film tells the story of North Carolina's Rosenwald Schools and why the Jim Crow era made them necessary. It was produced by Longleaf Productions and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and Truist.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m., visitors are invited to watch Diane Faison perform her one-person drama "The Spirit of Harriet Tubman." This inspiring performance recounts the life of abolitionist and Underground Railroad worker Harriet Tubman while exploring the importance she holds to this day. This event is presented by the High Point Museum in partnership with Yalik's African American Art & Cultural Movement.

The High Point Historical Society will present "The History of CUCC in High Point" on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. Angela Roberson, pastor of Congregational United Church of Christ (CUCC), will take visitors on a journey from Main Street to Fairview Street to Gordon Street as CUCC has made significant contributions to the City of High Point.

Finally, on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m., there is a program for The Montford Marines of High Point. More than 20,000 African Americans trained in segregated facilities between 1942 and 1949 at Montford Point, N.C., and became the first African Americans to serve in the United States Marine Corps. Join us as we recognize, remember and honor the Montford Point Marines of High Point and their legacy. This program is presented by Yalik's African American Art & Cultural Movement in partnership with the High Point Museum & The National Montford Point Marine Association NC Triad Triangle Chapter 38. All events are FREE and open to the public.

www.highpointnc.gov 9

STAFF DEVELOP PROCEDURE FOR NEW CDL REQUIREMENTS

In February of 2022, the requirements to obtain a Commercial Drivers License were radically changed, and the City of High Point had to determine the best way to support our staff receiving the CDL Permit and License.

Thankfully, Sarah Beth McAvoy accepted the challenge to determine a path forward. Through extensive research, trial and error and teamwork, the public services department has developed a standard operation procedure (SOP) for the department. This SOP takes employees through the steps to achieve their CDL Permit through to receiving their License.

The following individuals have achieved this accomplishment within the past six months.

Residuals:

Larry Morrison – Class B Permit

Tristan Sutton – Class A Permit

Skye Fausnet – Class A Permit

W/S Mains:

Tyler Snide – Class A Permit

Karon Hunter – Class A Permit

Ellis Ader – Class A Permit

Brandon Cameron – Class A Permit

Jonah Handy – Class A Permit

Bryan Hagee – Class A Permit

Stormwater:

Scott Carpenter – Class A Permit

Street Maintenance:

Edwin Harris – Class B Permit

David Lawon – Class B Permit

Justin Childress – Class B Permit

Jesse Cardwell – Class B Permit

Chris Gay – Class B Permit

Victor Miranda – Class B Permit

Jeff Mazzei – Class B Permit

Damian Gomez – Class A Permit

Abrey Reid – Class B Permit

Jeff Sturdivant – Class A License

Landfill:

Keith Samuel Barefoot – Tanker

Endorsement

10 Inside High Point

PUBLIC SERVICES

LANDFILL RECEIVES NEW EQUIPMENT

The Kersey Valley Landfill has received two substantial pieces of equipment to help us better operate and serve our customers.

The first is an an off-road dump truck, and the other is a 120,000-pound compactor.

These additions will help the landfill meet permit requirements, achieve compaction needs and increase efficiency with hauling soil cover materials, all while extending the landfill’s useful life.

12 Inside High Point

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING GETS AN UPGRADE

Through a grant awarded by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service, Guilford County Community Environmental Programs, Environmental Services and the Material Recovery Facility are making a positive change in electronics recycling within the City.

The infrastructure funded by the grant will allow the High Point MRF to be a remote electronics shipping location in Guilford County. While this will not change the availability of the service for residents, it will make a big difference in the effort it takes to ensure that electronics are properly recycled. In addition, this will allow for a reduction in staff time, mileage, emissions and turnaround time on the back-end processing of electronics that are getting recycled.

The MRF is very excited to be a part of this effort and installed everything this week in preparation for this program adjustment. Residents are still welcome to drop off all electronics (anything with a plug) at the MRF at 5875 Riverdale Drive, MondayThursday from 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or the electronics drop-off trailer at 3001 Ingleside Drive, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m.4 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

KEEP HIGH POINT BEAUTIFUL HOSTS DAY OF SERVICE AND CELEBRATES 35 YEARS

On Monday, Jan. 16, Keep High Point Beautiful had 30 volunteers remove 30 bags of litter from the neighborhood behind Hickory Chapel Wesleyan Church on East MLK Drive. HPU students and staff, along with family and friends, the KHPB board and its Youth Advisory Council members were in attendance. Thank you to Hickory Chapel Wesleyan Church for hosting the event!

On Jan. 17, Keep High Point Beautiful was honored at the City Council meeting for our 35 years of service to High Point. The organization was able to honor leaders from the past and is excited for what the future holds as we continue our mission.

CHP PROMOTIONS & NEW HIRES

CONGRATULATIONS:

ANDY BECK - Motor Equipment Operator II To Landfill Equipment Operator

NENA WILSON - Assistant Community Development Director To Community Development Director

DENNIS SALGADO - Park Ranger II To Chief Park Ranger

WELCOME:

YESENIA HUTCHINS - Paralegal

SANDRA KEENEY - City Clerk

JAYMES CHAVIS - Firefighter

CAMERON HOLCOMB - Firefighter

MARK SPRY - Firefighter

RICHARD SUNKEL - Firefighter

BRETT WATTS - Firefighter

DYLAN WEISNER - Police Officer, Master I

KATIE COLLINS - Library Assistant

PAUL KINN - Parks & Rec Tennis Professional

STEVEN WATSON - Parks & Rec Groundskeeper I

DANNY BITTLE - Transit Operator I

RAYMOND DURELLI - Water Plant Operator I

JOHN LAWSON - Water Plant Operator I

DANA RUTH - Water/Sewer Civil Engineer II

Brought to you by: City of High Point Communications and Public Engagement Department High Point, N.C. 27260 336.883.3288 Noelle.Miller@HighPointNC.gov

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Inside High Point - January 2023