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‘Be Irish for a Night’ to support Pilgrims’ Inn

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The 21st annual Pilgrims’ Inn fundraiser, “Be Irish for a Night,” will be 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Anne Parish Life Center, 1696 Bird St., Rock Hill. The event includes a corned beef and cabbage dinner with homemade Irish cornbread and desserts. Wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee also will be available. Entertainment includes Irish dancers, music, live and silent auctions, 50-50 split the pot and door prizes. Tickets are $40 ($30 tax deductible). For tickets and sponsorships, call 803-327-4227.

Special events

▪ The Woman’s Club of Rock Hill Spring Luncheon and Garden Tour will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 18 at the clubhouse, 607 Aiken Ave. Lunch includes a buffet of salads, sandwiches, homemade desserts and drinks. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for ages 10 and younger. For reservations, call 803-328-8888 and leave a message or email Peggy Enright at Enrightp63@gmail.com. Drop-ins welcome. Proceeds support the club’s community activities and upkeep of the house and gardens.

▪ The 35th annual Charlotte Camellia Society flower show and plant sale will be held in Rock Hill 1-5 p.m. March 14-15 at the historic White Home, 258 White St. The event is free and open to the public.

Visitors can see the winners of the society’s annual camellia competition, buy flowers and register for a drawing to win a free camellia.

Camellias are native to Asia but have been part of the Southern landscape since the early 19th century. For more information, call Caroline Dejesus at 704-609-4888.

▪ The choirs of historic St. Paul Halsellville Baptist Church will hold a concert 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday on the campus of Brainerd Institute at Marquis and Lancaster streets in Chester. Hymn choir director Eumon Chisholm Jr. will lead the choirs in a performance in the style of traditional black congregational hymn singing, which began in 17th century America with slaves who brought African rhythms and melodies to the Colonies.

▪ Business Success Extravaganza 2015 will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 24 in Carroll Hall at Winthrop University. National and state speakers will provide learning sessions on social media, search engine optimization for websites, creative marketing, building teamwork, increasing sales, making the most of local networking, and more. Cost is $50 and includes buffet lunch. The event is sponsored by the Small Business Development Center and Winthrop University College of Business. Open to the public. Registration required at winthropregionalsbdc.org.

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Fundraisers

▪ Oakdale Fire Department barbecue will be 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until sold out Saturday at Station No. 1, S.C. 72, Rock Hill. Plates, $8; pounds, $9 and sandwiches, $4. Delivery available for 10 or more plates. For information, call 803-328-0793 or email leon.yard@comporium.com.

▪ A chicken bog and hot dog dinner will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at Lakewood Baptist Church, Mount Gallant Road Rock Hill. Chicken plates are $7 and hot dog plates are $5. There also will be games of horseshoes, cornhole and volleyball.

▪ Adnah United Methodist Church’s annual barbecue sale will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the family life center, Adnah Church Road, Rock Hill. For advance tickets, call the church at 803-328-1618, and on Friday and Saturday call 803-366-2731.

▪ Bethel United Methodist Church will host its soup kitchen at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, 1232 Curtis St., Rock Hill. Open to the community. Donations accepted.

▪ A golf tournament will be held for Children’s Organ Transplant Association in honor of Jordan Diggs, a Chester-area teen who needs a kidney transplant, April 16 at the Chester Golf Club, 770 Old Richburg Road. Tee time is 9 a.m. Early registration deadline is March 27, last date to register is April 6. To register and for information, contact COTA community coordinator Dee Mathis at 803-581-8098, or tdmathis@kymail.com.

Meetings

▪ York Soil and Water Conservation District commissioners will meet 5 p.m. March 19 at the USDA Service Center, 1460 E. Alexander Love Highway, York. Open to the public. For information, contact Barbara O’Connell at 803-684-3137 ext. 101.

▪ The Catawba Council of the South Carolina Silver Haired Legislature will meet 11 a.m. Wednesday in Rock Hill. For location and information, call Wayne Kersey at 803-287-9453.

Clubs

▪ York County Quilt Guild will meet 7 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, 426 Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill. Quilt show judge Jane Hall will share what judges look for in quilt entries and quilting tips. Open to the community.

▪ The Tega Cay Beautification Committee will have a workday 9-11 a.m. Tuesday at the Living Memorial Gardens to trim, clean and weed. New members and workers needed. For information, email or call pcmartin@comporium.net or 803-802-8727 or klinew@comporium.net or 704-287-7432.

▪ The Ballroom Dance Club will meet 7:30-10:20 p.m. March 20 in the Oak Room at Fort Mill Golf Course Club House, 101 Country Club Drive. Dressy casual. No alcohol. Light refreshments are served. Adults of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Guest admission is $15, couples; $7.50, singles. For information, call Bob, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., at 803-329-5764.

▪ Rock Hill Area Shag Club St. Patrick’s Day party will be 8 p.m. March 21 at Celebrations at Ramada Inn. The group will meet at 7 p.m. Dinner provided. Members, $3; guests, $5.

4H

▪ The 4-H/FFA Swine Project Show and Sale will be 10 a.m. March 28 at the Chester Livestock Exchange, 2531 Lancaster Highway. Members will show their hogs after raising them for three months. Awards will be presented for Grand and Reserve Champions, and Average Daily Gain winners.

This is a United Way of York County sponsored project. The Bank of York sponsors Grand and Reserve Champion Prizes, and the York County Farm Bureau awards special prizes to show participants.

The public is encouraged to attend and bid on hogs for sale.

▪ 4-H Youth Development, a part of Clemson Extension Service in York County, is starting a new club for youth interested in learning about dairy goats. Club members will learn about raising and showing dairy goats. Members don’t have to own dairy goats.

Meetings will be 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month beginning April 7 at Bethesda Volunteer Fire Station No 1, 1705 S.C. 324, Rock Hill.

Youth must register and pay 4-H membership. For information, contact Faith Isreal at 803-684-9919 ext. 113 or fisreal@clemson.edu.

Recreation

▪ Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism is offering “Families Exploring Nature” 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday at River Park. The topic is Signs of Spring. Cost is $1 and registration is required at cityofrockhill.com/alloutdoors or by calling 803-817-5122. The April 11 event will be Messy Muddy Fun at River Park.

Classes

▪ Clemson Extension Service will host a one-day Backyard Poultry Workshop at 10 a.m. April 10 at Spartanburg Community College in Spartanburg.

The program is designed for experienced poultry owners and novices. Topics will include getting started, feeding and nutrition, housing (mobile vs. permanent), breed selection (egg vs. meat), reproduction, introduction to disease prevention, and pastured poultry.

Cost is $70 and includes lunch and refreshments and a flash drive containing copies of the presentation, fact sheets. Space is limited. Registration deadline is April 6.

Applications available at any local Clemson Extension office, or register online at: http://bit.ly/18AspVf. For information, contact Chris LeMaster at 864-489-3141 ext. 113 or email clemast@clemson.edu.

Scholarships

▪ The York County Democratic Women’s Council is accepting applications for its second annual Bessie Moody-Lawrence scholarship. The awards will be given to two Democratic young women graduating from high school and going to college. For information, contact the high school guidance counselor or call 803-802-7021. Application deadline is April 1.

Library programs

▪ The York County Library will offer the following free programs in March. For information on programs and services, go to yclibrary.org.

“How to Get Better Sleep,” 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Fort Mill library, with Dr. Richard Schaffer from Infinite Wellness. A light lunch provided and registration is required, Call 803-547-4114 to register.

“At War’s End: South Carolina Families Face the Aftermath,” 2:30-3:30 Saturday, Main Library in Rock Hill (call 803-981-5845 to register) and 10:30-11:30 a.m. March 28 at Lake Wylie library (call 803-831-7774 to register). To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, living historian Colleen Pappas will discuss the effects of the war on women and families in our state and the important events at war’s end that took place in Fort Mill, Cross Keys and Abbeville. Suitable for all ages.

“Coping with Chronic Pain,” 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Main Library, Rock Hill with Dr. Brandan Lee of Greater Family Health Center will discuss pain, chronic pain and degenerative auto-immune diseases like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and multiple sclerosis. Call 803-981-5845 to register.

“Tech Help Drop-In,” 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Main Library, Rock Hill. Get answers to questions about laptops or tablets, email, Internet safety, social media and software. Bring your own laptop, tablet or e-reader or library staff will demonstrate using library-owned equipment on a first-come. Drop in anytime; no registration required.

Tax help

▪ The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program will offer free tax-preparation assistance 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 15 at the Rock Hill City Hall Wellness Center. Volunteers are IRS certified and trained by the S.C. and N.C. departments of revenue. Tax returns are electronically filed.

Bring current year’s tax forms, W-2 and 1099s, information regarding other income, information for all deductions and credits, a copy of last year’s tax return, proof of account for direct deposit of refund (e.g., voided check), Social Security or individual taxpayer identification cards, proof of identification.

▪ Free federal and state tax preparation for low- and moderate-income taxpayers and those 60 and older will be offered 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 9 at the Adult Education Center at the Flexible Learning Center, 1234 Flint St. Ext., Rock Hill.

Bring a copy of last year’s tax return, Social Security card, picture identification and any W-2s, 1099s and other forms showing income or deductions. No appointment needed. Filings completed on a first-come basis.

▪ AARP Tax-Aide Program offers free federal and state income tax preparation 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 14 at the Fort Mill branch of the York County Library in Baxter Village. Clients taken on first-come basis. Last client taken at 3:30 p.m. No age or income limit. Limited appointments can be scheduled at calendly.com/fortmilltaxes. Bring 2014 tax return, picture IDs, Social Security cards for all being claimed, 1099s, 1098s, 1095A forms, W-2s, and any other proof of deductions or income. For information, email FortMillTaxes@gmail.com

Health

▪ Piedmont Medical Center will offer a free seminar on surgical weight loss Thursday. To register call 803-329-1234 ext. 2.

▪ A special enrollment for the Affordable Care Act will be March 15-April 30. Those who missed the Feb. 15 deadline may have another chance to apply. Help will be available 9 a.m.-4 p.m. beginning Monday at North Central Family Medical Center, 1131 Saluda St., Rock Hill.

Volunteers

▪ Agape Hospice will host a volunteer training session, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 31 at 1326 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill. Volunteers provide clerical or administrative office support and visit patients. For information, contact Kay G. Lee at 803-517-2021 or email Kaylee@agapesenior.com.

▪ The Rock Hill Youth Council is looking for youth volunteers who want to give an afternoon of service noon-4 p.m. March 28 as part of Rock Hill’s Youth Service Day. Groups such as school clubs, church youth groups, Scouts and others are invited to participate.

Teams will gather at the Cherry Park Open Shelter at noon for a kick-off celebration with free food, music and free T-shirts. Volunteers will then go to project locations. Groups are responsible for organizing their own service project and should complete an application by March 25. Group application forms are available at cityofrockhill.com/prt or by calling Patti Panetti at 803-329-5625.

▪ The nonprofit Friends of the York County Animal Shelter needs volunteers to help bathe, groom, exercise, socialize, train and provide adoption information for the animals, as well as assist in follow-ups, publicity, marketing and fulfilling other jobs at the shelter. Time and mileage may be tax deductible. Volunteers must be 18 or older; orientation and training are required. For information, call 803-818-6485 or go to the shelter at 713 Justice Blvd., York.

Reunions

▪ Rock Hill High School class of 1960 will host its 55th reunion 3-8 p.m. May 23 at Elks Park with a catered dinner. Reservations are due May 1. For information, call 803-324-9982.

Support groups

▪ Alateen meets 8-9 p.m. Thursdays at Zoar Road Club, 14701 Thomas Road, Charlotte. Meetings are for two age groups: 6-12 and 13 and older. For information, call 803-547-2124 or 704-904-7834.

▪ Al-Anon meets at 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at Serenity Club, 209 Grayson Road, Rock Hill; at noon Tuesdays upstairs at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, 421 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill; at 8 p.m. Mondays at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2955 S.C. 160, Fort Mill; and at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the house beside First Baptist Church, 121 Monroe White St., Fort Mill.

Send Community News items to communitynews@heraldonline.com or to 132 W. Main St., Rock Hill, SC 29730. Deadline for the Thursday column is 5p.m. Monday. Deadline for the Sunday column is 5 p.m. Wednesday.

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Occupancy Tax Revenues in Blowing Rock Increase 5.5 Percent in 2014, Steady …

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Feb. 6, 2015. Occupancy tax revenues in Blowing Rock increased by 5.5 percent in 2014 from the previous year, and returned to pre-recession levels, according to the annual report prepared by the TDA. 2014 was also the fifth consecutive year of gains after revenues fell from their peak in 2007, TDA Board Chair Kent Tarbutton said.

In addition to achieving the forecasted gains in revenue, Tarbutton also cited accomplishments for the year such as the redesign of three web sites, Blowingrock.com, BlueridgeWineFestival.com and BlowingRockWinterfest.com; a major feature in US Airways Magazine; the completion of a survey on visitors’ culinary preferences by East Carolina University; and record participation in September’s Mayview Madness 5K and Kids Fun Run.

The following chart shows annual occupancy tax revenues from 2005 to 2014:

TDA

Tarbutton predicts a similar rise in tourism tax revenues for 2015 in spite of the increasing number of reservations being made on discount web sites such as Expedia and Travelocity, among a growing number of others. “The acquisition fees paid to these intermediaries have become a significant net cost against operating income, as opposed to bookings made directly at the hotel property,” Tarbutton said.

“It cannot be overstated how important it is and how appreciative we are to work with the Blowing Rock Town Council who works hard to accommodate and understand the importance of tourism to our economy. We appreciate the combined efforts of many to maintain a positive focus and direction for the future. The efforts on infrastructure investment planning and in creating a comprehensive 10-year plan make a big difference, and will continue to make Blowing Rock the most attractive place to be in 2015,” Tarbutton said. 

The Blowing Rock TDA is a quasi-local government agency funded through occupancy taxes paid by visitors staying in local lodging establishments. The TDA operates the official Blowing Rock Visitor Center in the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum and promotes the Town through marketing, advertising, public and media relations efforts.

For more information on the 2014 TDA Annual Report, contact Tracy Brown at 295.4636 or tbrown@visitblowingrock.com.

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‘Under the Dome’ resumes filming, despite N.C. film grant controversy

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Under the Dome

“Under the Dome” resumes filming in Wilmington this week.








Lauren K. Ohnesorge
Staff Writer- Triangle Business Journal

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“Under the Dome,” a CBS show in its third season, resumes filming in the Wilmington area this week.

It’s expected to receive up to $5 million of the $10 million allocated for film projects under the new grant program– though the North Carolina Film Commission hasn’t officially released a list of what projects will get the cash.

Grant applications started being doled out in late January, meaning it could still take time for other projects to come on board.

“To have ‘Under the Dome’ back here again is a great thing,” says Johnny Griffin, Wilmington Regional Film Commissioner, adding that the show typically spends between $32 million and $35 million from February pre-production until the August wrap. “It’s a good seven-month run, which is nice to have in this industry.”

Guy Gaster, director of the North Carolina Film Office, says it is expected that the show will continue that spending streak this year.

Cindy Brochure, director of tourism and economic development for the city of Southport, where the “Under the Dome” pilot was filmed, says economic impact is bigger than just production dollars.

“We’re starting to pick up fans of Stephen King and visitors are coming here because of ‘Under the Dome,'” she says, adding that an exhibit at the Southport Museum at Fort Johnston even has an exhibit on the show.

While a spokesperson within Wilmington’s EUE/Screen Gems Studios – where “Under the Dome” is produced – says the office is still “fielding questions” from potential projects, nothing new has signed on.

And, though it’s only March, it’s concerning to Griffin. He just returned from a trade show in Los Angeles where he says he was inundated with the “sorries.”

Lauren Ohnesorge covers information technology and entrepreneurship.



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McCrory requests wind farm buffer off coast

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A recommendation from Gov. Pat McCrory’s administration to keep offshore wind farms at least 24 nautical miles away from the coast would strike a death knell for wind energy here, wind advocates say.

The buffer requested by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is among 195 public comments released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Interior. The federal agency solicited the comments as it reviews which sections of the Atlantic Ocean are suitable for offshore wind development.

If DENR’s proposal were adopted, the wind farm development area would shrink by about half from the currently proposed 480 square miles. The oceanic area has been steadily shrinking with each stage of the review process as the military, shipping industry, fishing interests and tourism concerns chip away at the proposed zone.

“The bottom line is the practical effect of a 24 nautical mile exclusion zone is that North Carolina won’t be developing offshore wind for some time,” said Brian O’Hara, president of the Southeastern Coastal Wind Coalition. “You’re basically pushing everything out to distances and depths that unnecessarily raise cost burdens for the first project.”

In August, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved just a quarter of the 1,900 square miles under consideration last summer.

Most of the public comments released Thursday are from local residents, but some are from local governments, advocacy groups and other organizations. Audubon North Carolina requested avian surveys to better understand migrating and nesting birds. The governments of Brunswick and Oak Island expressed concerns about unknown potential consequences.

The Marine Mammal Commission warned of “significant cumulative impacts on the marine environment” from driving pylons on the ocean floor and erecting 460-foot tall spires with rotating turbines.

The DENR letter surprised wind advocates because Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has long supported offshore wind farms along side of offshore drilling. In January 2013, McCrory wrote to BOEM touting North Carolina’s “world-class wind energy resources” and said offshore wind farms could add as many as 10,000 permanent jobs.

DENR still “fully supports offshore energy development,” according to the agency’s emailed written response to follow-up questions Friday. But any development will have to protect coast and ocean, and address military and navigational concerns, the agency said.

“We have voiced consistent concerns and sought similar protections for both offshore wind and offshore oil and gas development,” DENR said.

The agency also noted that Kitty Hawk officials asked for a 20 nautical mile buffer from their town, and the National Park Service asked for a 33.7 nautical mile buffer from the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

The Feb. 23 letter to BOEM, written by DENR Secretary Donald R. van der Vaart, emphasized environmental concerns and other potential conflicts, and encouraged further studies.

“North Carolina’s coastline is unique compared to other east coast states,” his letter stated.

Murawski: 919-829-8932

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Chiquita Announces Results of Change of Control Tender Offer for its 7.875 …

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (“Chiquita”) and Chiquita Brands L.L.C. (“Chiquita Brands” and together with Chiquita, the “Issuers”) today announced the results of their tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) to purchase for cash any and all of their outstanding $191,250,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “Notes”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof.  The Tender Offer was made to satisfy the requirements of the indenture governing the Notes as a result of a change of control transaction.

The paying agent for the Tender Offer has advised the Issuers that, as of the expiration of the Tender Offer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 4, 2015, a total of $234,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes had been validly tendered and not withdrawn.  All Notes that were validly tendered and not withdrawn have been accepted for payment.

About Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

Chiquita is a leading international marketer and distributor of nutritious, high-quality fresh and value-added food products – from energy-rich bananas, blends of convenient green salads and other fruits to healthy snacking products. Chiquita markets its healthy, fresh products under the Chiquita® and Fresh Express® premium brands and other related trademarks. With annual revenues of more than $3 billion, Chiquita employs approximately 20,000 people and has operations in nearly 70 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.chiquita.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Chiquita, including: the customary risks experienced by global food companies, such as prices for commodity and other inputs, currency exchange rate fluctuations, industry and competitive conditions (all of which may be more unpredictable in light of continuing uncertainty in the global economic environment), government regulations, food safety issues and product recalls affecting Chiquita or the industry, labor relations, burdensome taxes, additional tax assessments in foreign jurisdictions, political instability and terrorism; challenges in implementing the relocation of its corporate headquarters and other North American corporate functions to Charlotte, North Carolina; challenges in its ability to achieve cost savings and other benefits from restructuring and strategic changes; unusual weather events, conditions or crop risks; continued ability to access the capital and credit markets on commercially reasonable terms and comply with the terms of its debt instruments; access to and cost of financing; and the outcome of pending litigation and governmental investigations involving Chiquita, as well as the legal fees and other costs incurred in connection with such items.

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and the Issuers undertake no obligation to update any such statements. Additional information on factors that could influence Chiquita’s financial results is included in its past SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

Media Contact:

Stef Goodsell/Madisen Obeido

Kekst and Company

212-521-4800

SOURCE Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.chiquita.com

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College student in recent car wreck survives train crash

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HALIFAX, N.C. (AP) — When it was time to visit her father for spring break, Alexis Pearce decided to take the train rather than driving.

Three weeks earlier, the 22-year-old Duke University student had been in a serious car accident and she didn’t want to take any chances.

But her choice turned out to be an unnerving one: The Amtrack train she was riding in Monday hit a tractor-trailer stuck on the tracks as it tried to negotiate a difficult left-hand turn in the North Carolina town of Halifax.

The crash injured the conductor and at least 54 of the train’s 212 passengers. Pearce was fortunate and escaped injury.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol says most of the passengers were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The truck driver was not injured.

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Yes! Solar Solutions Partners with Dividend Solar to Offer $0-Down EmpowerLoan

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CARY, N.C., March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Yes! Solar Solutions has partnered with Dividend Solar to offer the $0-down EmpowerLoan™ in North Carolina for the first time. The full-service solar loan includes energy production guarantees, warranty management, hassle-free maintenance and performance monitoring at no additional cost – all with the significant financial upside of solar ownership.  

“We are excited to introduce a $0-down loan financing product to the North Carolina market,” says Stew Miller, [President] of Yes! Solar Solutions. “The EmpowerLoan is the first product on the market that allows qualified homeowners to Go Solar with no money down and save money on their utility bills – most often from day 1.”

Yes! Solar Solutions is the leading solar installation company in North Carolina.  As the first NABCEP Accredited Company on the East Coast, Yes! is a proven, quality-driven source for professional solar installations. The Company has installed hundreds of residential systems throughout North Carolina.  With a wide selection of Tier 1 components in its fleet, Yes! Solar Solutions stands behind the quality of every installation.

“Through our partnership with Yes! Solar Solutions, we are excited to offer an improved financing option, which will help customers save money, reclaim their energy independence and help the environment,” says Eric White, President of Dividend Solar. “We selected Yes! because they share our core values: quality-driven and an obsession with customer satisfaction. Together, we can provide North Carolina Homeowners the absolute best value by going solar.”

Yes! Solar Solutions and Dividend Solar provide maintenance and production guarantees on all systems. In addition, every installed system includes performance monitoring, which enables homeowners to track their daily energy savings at no additional cost, while allowing Dividend Solar to identify any potential system production issues in real-time. With a quick and simple application process that requires no paperwork, the EmpowerLoan reduces the friction of going solar while also providing a full suite of ongoing benefits.

The solar industry in North Carolina has grown rapidly in recent years and currently has the fourth highest installed solar capacity behind only California, Arizona and New Jersey. With low-cost financing now available through the EmpowerLoan, Yes! Solar Solutions is accelerating the adoption of residential solar across North Carolina and offering customers a new, better way to go solar.

About Yes! Solar Solutions  
Based in Cary, NC, Yes! Solar Solutions is proud to offer home and commercial solar energy services from Central and Eastern North Carolina to areas in Virginia and South Carolina. The Company serves Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston Salem and beyond. For more information, visit http://www.yessolarsolutionsnc.com/.

About Dividend Solar 
Headquartered in San Francisco, Dividend Solar is a non-bank lender that offers low-cost, full-service solar loans to homeowners across the U.S.  For more information, visit www.dividendsolar.com.

SOURCE Yes! Solar Solutions

RELATED LINKS
http://www.yessolarsolutionsnc.com

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At least 55 injured as train crashes into truck

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HALIFAX, N.C. — An Amtrak train slammed into a tractor-trailer that got stuck on the tracks while trying to make a difficult left-hand turn Monday. One of the train’s cars toppled and the conductor and at least 54 others were injured.

It was the third serious train crash in less than two months. Two deadly crashes in New York and California in February killed a total of seven people and injured 30.

The oversized flatbed trailer involved in Monday’s crash was transporting a modular building wrapped in blue plastic and jammed with electrical equipment, said Lt. Jeff Gordon, a spokesman for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

One of the troopers escorting the truck from Clayton, N.C., to the Virginia border was trying to help the driver negotiate a difficult left-hand turn across the tracks onto a two-lane highway in the town of Halifax, Gordon said. But the 164-foot tractor-trailer combination, longer than half a football field, couldn’t navigate it, he said.

During the five minutes or so the trooper and driver spent attempting to get the truck turned and off the tracks, there was no indication of an approaching train, Gordon said. When the train appeared, it set off warning flashers and the crossing arms came down as the truck was still straddling the tracks, he said. The train hit the truck shortly afterward, Gordon said.

He said the truck was unable to back off the tracks before the train hit because traffic had backed up on the road behind him.

Eyewitness Leslie Cipriani, who was in a car with a friend at a stop sign, heard the sound of the oncoming train and said she saw the crossing arms hit the tractor-trailer.

“I saw him jump out of the truck when he knew he couldn’t beat it. … I heard the train noise and thought, ‘Oh, my God, it’s going to happen,’” said Cipriani, who shot video of the collision with her cellphone.

State transportation officials said 54 of the injured were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries after Monday’s crash. They said one had more serious injuries. Details were not immediately available. Among the injured was the train’s conductor, Gordon said.

Federal authorities said they believed 62 people were injured. The discrepancy could not be resolved immediately.

Buses were taking about 170 passengers to Richmond, Va., where they could board another train, said state Transportation Department spokesman Mike Charbonneau.

Steve Pearce was waiting in Richmond for his 22-year-old daughter, Alexis, a Duke University student who boarded the train to visit her father for spring break. Alexis had been in a car accident three weeks ago, her father said. She was “screaming and crying” when she called him Monday, and said a man in her train car was taken away on a gurney because he possibly hurt his back when his seat came loose and twisted in the crash.

Federal Railroad Administration spokes-man Michael J. Cole said it appeared that the locomotive and two cars derailed. State transportation officials said one baggage car derailed. The train had one locomotive and seven cars, Cole said. He said the authorized speed for the train is 70 mph, but authorities don’t yet know how fast the train was traveling.

At dusk, several undamaged cars from the train sat on the rails waiting for another engine to arrive and pull them away from the site of the crash, which happened just steps from homes and a Baptist church. Bright lights lit up the scene after nightfall as crews worked to remove the derailed cars and the truck. Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said the goal was to reopen the intersection by midnight.

Gordon identified the owner of the tractor-trailer as Guy M. Turner Inc. of Greensboro. A statement on the company’s website, later removed, said the company’s thoughts and prayers were with anyone who was injured.

Steve Ditmeyer, a former Federal Railroad Administration official who teaches railway management at Michigan State University, looked at the crossing on Google Maps and said the curve of the railroad heading toward the intersection would have made it hard for the engineer to see up ahead, or for the truck driver to see down the track. Furthermore, the tracks don’t cross the road at a 90-degree angle.

“This is also known as a bad geometry crossing,” he said.

The Amtrak train was the Carolinian, which runs between Charlotte, N.C., and New York City each day. It was headed north at the time of the crash.

On Feb. 7 in New York, the driver of an SUV and five train passengers were killed in a collision in Valhalla, about 20 miles north of New York City. That crash happened after the driver of the SUV had stopped on the tracks, between the lowered crossing gates, for reasons still unclear to investigators.

On Feb. 24 in California, the engineer of a Southern commuter train was killed and 30 people were injured when the train struck a heavy pickup truck and trailer that had been abandoned on the tracks in Oxnard, about 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

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Train crashes into tractor-trailer in North Carolina; at least 55 hurt

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HALIFAX, N.C. (AP) – An Amtrak train slammed into a tractor-trailer that got stuck on the tracks while trying to make a difficult left-hand turn Monday. One of the train’s cars toppled and the conductor and at least 54 others were injured.

It was the third serious train crash in less than two months. Two deadly crashes in New York and California in February killed a total of seven people and injured 30.

The oversized flatbed trailer involved in Monday’s crash was transporting a modular building wrapped in blue plastic and jammed with electrical equipment, said Lt. Jeff Gordon, a spokesman for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

One of the troopers escorting the truck from Clayton, North Carolina, to the Virginia border was trying to help the driver negotiate a difficult left-hand turn across the tracks onto a two-lane highway in the town of Halifax, Gordon said. But the 164-foot tractor-trailer combination, longer than half a football field, couldn’t navigate it, he said.

During the five minutes or so the trooper and driver spent attempting to get the truck turned and off the tracks, there was no indication of an approaching train, Gordon said. When the train appeared, it set off warning flashers and the crossing arms came down as the truck was still straddling the tracks, he said. The train hit the truck shortly afterward, Gordon said.

He said the truck was unable to back off the tracks before the train hit because traffic had backed up on the road behind him.

Eyewitness Leslie Cipriani, who was in a car with a friend at a stop sign, heard the sound of the oncoming train and said she saw the crossing arms hit the tractor-trailer.

“I saw him jump out of the truck when he knew he couldn’t beat it. … I heard the train noise and thought, ‘Oh, my God, it’s going to happen,'” said Cipriani, who shot video of the collision with her cellphone.

State transportation officials said 54 of the injured were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries after Monday’s crash. They said one had more serious injuries. Details were not immediately available. Among the injured was the train’s conductor, Gordon said.

Federal authorities said they believed 62 people were injured. The discrepancy could not be resolved immediately.

Buses were taking about 170 passengers to Richmond, Virginia, where they could board another train, said state Transportation Department spokesman Mike Charbonneau.

Steve Pearce was waiting in Richmond for his 22-year-old daughter, Alexis, a Duke University student who boarded the train to visit her father for spring break. Alexis had been in a car accident three weeks ago, her father said. She was “screaming and crying” when she called him Monday, and said a man in her train car was taken away on a gurney because he possibly hurt his back when his seat came loose and twisted in the crash.

Federal Railroad Administration spokesman Michael J. Cole said it appeared that the locomotive and two cars derailed. State transportation officials said one baggage car derailed. The train had one locomotive and seven cars, Cole said. He said the authorized speed for the train is 70 mph, but authorities don’t yet know how fast the train was traveling.

At dusk, several undamaged cars from the train sat on the rails waiting for another engine to arrive and pull them away from the site of the crash, which happened just steps from homes and a Baptist church. Bright lights lit up the scene after nightfall as crews worked to remove the derailed cars and the truck. Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said the goal was to reopen the intersection by midnight.

Gordon identified the owner of the tractor-trailer as Guy M. Turner Inc. of Greensboro. A statement on the company’s website, later removed, said the company’s thoughts and prayers were with anyone who was injured.

Steve Ditmeyer, a former Federal Railroad Administration official who teaches railway management at Michigan State University, looked at the crossing on Google Maps and said the curve of the railroad heading toward the intersection would have made it hard for the engineer to see up ahead, or for the truck driver to see down the track. Furthermore, the tracks don’t cross the road at a 90-degree angle.

“This is also known as a bad geometry crossing,” he said.

The Amtrak train was the Carolinian, which runs between Charlotte, North Carolina, and New York City each day. It was headed north at the time of the crash.

On Feb. 7 in New York, the driver of an SUV and five train passengers were killed in a collision in Valhalla, about 20 miles north of New York City. That crash happened after the driver of the SUV had stopped on the tracks, between the lowered crossing gates, for reasons still unclear to investigators.

On Feb. 24 in California, the engineer of a Southern commuter train was killed and 30 people were injured when the train struck a heavy pickup truck and trailer that had been abandoned on the tracks in Oxnard, about 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Waggoner reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press writers Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, North Carolina; Tom Foreman Jr. in Charlotte, North Carolina; and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.

Martha Waggoner can be reached at http://twitter.com/mjwaggonernc

Emery P. Dalesio can be reached at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio

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