Agenda - 08-19-2008 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 1 She also said that she just left the second night of auditions for the summer production 2 of The Music Man, and she said that there have been over 72 people come in for auditions. 3 Space is being rented, again, from Orange High School, because there is no facility. 4 Richard Hicks read a prepared statement: 5 "1 am Richard Hicks, Chair of The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, here tonight with 6 Vice -Chair Beverly Payne -Betts. The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough is a non - profit umbrella .7 organization comprised of groups here tonight, such as the Hillsborough Arts Council and the 8 Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County, as well as groups not here tonight 9 such as the HHC, the Preservation Fund of Hillsborough, and the Hillsborough/Orange County 10 Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough contracts with the 11 town to run the town's tourism program, pertaining visitors' center seven days a week providing 12 visitor services. Hillsborough already can offer the tourist historic sites, natural beauty, and 13 great vibrant and diverse community to our visitors. The Downtown Merchants Association, 14 with whom the AHH collaborates, also strongly supports to movement, with the belief that arts 15 and cultural events contribute the economic well -being of a small town. It is also possible that 16 this new cultural center could be the home for the county heritage center, as our heritage 17 contributes so greatly to our community's cultural vibrancy." 18 Linda Schmitt read a prepared statement: 19 "1 am representing the Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County. The 20 foundation operates the Historical Museum. 21 1 have attended several of your meetings in the past. Each time it seems as though 22 individuals or groups have come before you to ask for funding for their particular project/cause. 23 Our group is different! We are not asking for any money, but rather we ask that you 24 consider the wisest and best use for an existing space owned by Orange County. 25 For the past five years, the museum's main fundraiser has been a musical /dramatic 26 performance. Finding a site for these performances is extremely difficult in this area. Two 27 years we used the Big Barn, which is a very rustic setting. The stage is surrounded by a fence! 28 There is neither stage lighting nor sound equipment and this very site may soon be razed for 29 new development. The other three years we held our fundraiser at Stanback Middle School .... a 30 very nice site but again no proper lighting or sound equipment and limited seating. 31 We have attempted to use the wonderful space at one of our high schools, but 32 principals are very reluctant to schedule outside group events for fear some of their school 33 groups may need the auditoriums. In addition, janitorial staff members are needed at these 34 school sites and they are not willing to work extra evenings. 35 The Historical Foundation believes the wisest and best use for the Whitted Building is to 36 return the current library space to its original intent — an auditorium for public performances. 37 Let us inherit our future!" 38 Margo Pinkerton read a prepared statement: 39 "To the Orange County Board of Commissioners: 40 Regarding the Whiffed Building in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina 41 42 My name is Margo Pinkerton of Hillsborough, North Carolina. I am a freelance 43 photographer who has been involved in the arts community for many decades. Currently, I am 44 President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers 45 (ASMP /NC) and serve on a steering committee for the arts in Orange County. 46 1 have a dream for an Orange County Cultural Center that would provide resources and 47 education for adults and children alike in Northern Orange County as well as the Hillsborough 48 area. This cultural center would have studios for ceramics and pottery, two -and three - 49 dimensional art, photography, jewelry, dance and motion, several galleries, historical 50 information, et cetera.