2020-09 September Member Meeting

  • Pittsboro cancelled October First Sunday
  • PBA is planning Holly Days – stay tuned for how it will look in the current environment. As always we’ll be coordinating with Mainstreet Pittsboro and the town of Pittsboro. If you’d like to contribute ideas or dollars, email PBA.

The October MEMBERSHIP MEETING will be Wednesday, October 14th at 9 am – on Zoom

Chris Kennedy, Pittsboro Town Manager

Michael Fiocco introduced the new Pittsboro town manager, Chris Kennedy.

Chris is a 10th generation North Carolinian, his family wandered around from Moore City to Robbins, Gilford, and Greensboro. He grew up in Welcome along with at least one other town in rural NC.

Chris received a bachelors in Fine Arts and Econ from Davidson College in 2010. He earned a Masters of Public Administration and a Masters of City/Urban Community and Regional Planning, both in 2012 at Auburn in Alabama. He worked in his field at Southern Pines for almost 8 years, constantly expanding his responsibilities and experiences. And now out of the 40-50 candidates, he’s Pittsboro’s town manager.

Chris believes in Creating Place. Your town is what you make it. He wants to make it the best.

He’s on the board of Mainstreet Pittsboro. He was invited to tour any of the PBA members places, specifically Carolina Tiger Rescue and the Chatham County Museum.

With two weeks on the job, everything in his inbox has an exclamation point, so with what he knows now, his initial priorities are: 1. hire the new police chief, town clerk, and town engineer, (he needs the people to get the following work done) 2. Sewer capacity and Water quality, 3. UDO and town hall development, along with everything else!

The construction of the circle is continuing with utility work.

Eagles Gas station is back under construction after a minor delay. The information Chris has says it will be open mid-October!

From the membership…

  • Michael Fiocco said the Welcome Center’s mural is complete with a tiger, rabbit, chicken, and other County icons. Go take a look, take a picture, and post it! It should be open mid-October.
  • Julia from Chatham Park said Debbie Andleton has semi-retired and so Julia will be attending for Chatham Park. There will be a Parade of Homes in the Vineyards. Tuesday, Sept 22nd will be the kickoff, with judging on the 24th. Oct 3rd will be the Big Event. The Vineyards is on the east end of Thompson Street in Pittsboro.
  • Betsy Elbogin from Perch Co-Working said the co-working spaces are open at 102 Hillsboro Street in Pittsboro! The offices are rented, but there are desks available. Work there 1/2 a day free to try it out.
  • Steve Mallory from Adcock Real Estate Services said they’re opening a new office in Pittsboro!
  • Maria Parker-Lewis said the new steakhouse restaurant will be at Chatham Mill and they are trying open mid-October. They have purchased the Forest Hall business. They have plans to use it as a music venue as well as a celebration venue.
  • Pam Fulk from Carolina Tiger Rescue said despite COVID their virtual 5K went very well and was very well attended! Next up is Pet Tabbies, Not Tigers to promote no large carnivores as pets. So dress up your pet!
  • Jacques Dufour from French Connections said this year is their 20th Year Anniversary! Come by and say congratulations.
  • Melissa Crane from Chatham Magazine said the Dec/Jan issue will be Chatham Works and spotlight small businesses and the people who work there and made them successful. The annual Relocation Guide will be out in November-if you have advertisements, get them to her.
  • Ann Fitts at Chatham County EDC hosted our Zoom meeting this time. She said to check with them about government programs during this time of COVID. Since Alyssa has left the EDC, they asked Creative Economic Consulting to help look for a new President.
  • Karen Tiede is the PBA website designer and manager. If you tell her about events and changes on your social media, she’ll link to them. Thank you Karen!
  • The Chatham Historical Museum is planning on opening at the beginning of October. If you need a private tour or one of our books, please email Cindy Schmidt at Museum@chathamhistory.org
  • Scott Dunham from Tar Heel Getaways says the travel business is taking a big hit from COVID. The ships are not sailing, but other trips are happening so give him a call.
Posted in Newsletter.