In this Chapel Hill Insider Issue…

⛅Chapel Hill Local Weather- High 58^o and Partly Cloudy

📰Education at the Forefront: Community Meets with Mo Green at The Gathering Place

🏀March Madness Excitement Peaks as NC State, UNC, and Duke Secure Sweet 16 Spots

📰Chapel Hill to Host Prestigious U.S. Amateur Local Golf Qualifying Event in 2024

📰Amid Interim Chancellor's Controversy, UNC Chapel Hill Vows Fair Chancellor Search

🎷Local Artist Spotlight: Heidi Radtke Releases 'Convergence': A New Era of Musical Storytelling

📢 We Want to Spotlight Local Businesses! Want Your Business to Be in Focus? Apply Here!

🍵Win a $25 Starbucks e-Gift Card! Share, Like & Win!

🗓️Upcoming Events

🍃Just For Fun: Our Monday Morning Prayer for You

Education at the Forefront: Community Meets with Mo Green at The Gathering Place

The Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Council is organizing a special event at The Gathering Place to enhance community involvement and voter awareness. This gathering aims to introduce parents and students to Mo Green, a candidate for the role of North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. The event, set to be held this Wednesday, March 27th at 4 p.m. at The Gathering Place, located at 104 Mill Run Dr, Chapel Hill, NC, is designed as an opportunity for the community to directly interact with Green, posing questions and discussing the crucial issues impacting local schools and the overarching state educational policies.

While facilitating this event, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro PTA Council emphasizes its neutrality stance, making it clear that it does not endorse any candidates for public office. This stance is a crucial aspect of the event's intent, ensuring that the focus remains on empowering voters and families with knowledge and insights, without swaying their opinions. This initiative is a reflection of the PTA Council's dedication to promoting an informed electorate ahead of the critical November 2024 election, highlighting the importance of open dialogue and community engagement in the educational landscape.

March Madness Excitement Peaks as NC State, UNC, and Duke Secure Sweet 16 Spots

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Duke University have all advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. UNC's victory over Michigan State highlighted their unbeaten record against Coach Tom Izzo, while NC State's overtime win against Oakland showcased their determination and skill. Duke solidified their advancement with a commanding win over James Madison.

The upcoming Sweet 16 matchups are set to deliver more exhilarating basketball, with games scheduled in Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit. Fans across the country, especially in North Carolina, eagerly anticipate these matchups, ready to support their teams as they vie for a spot in the Elite Eight and beyond. The games will be broadcast on CBS and TBS, starting at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday, ensuring fans won't miss a moment of the action.

Chapel Hill to Host Prestigious U.S. Amateur Local Golf Qualifying Event in 2024

Chapel Hill, NC, will be in the spotlight as it is set to host a key local qualifying round for the 2024 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship, an announcement from the United States Golf Association (USGA) has confirmed. This prestigious event, part of a wider selection of 43 local qualifying sites across 31 states, as well as venues in Mexico and Canada, will be held at the Finley Golf Club on June 24, 2024. Golfers hoping to compete in the local qualifiers can mark their calendars for March 27, when entries officially open, with a closing date set for May 29.

In a notable change from previous years, the USGA has revised the qualifying format for the U.S. Amateur Championship. Competitors will now navigate through two rounds of play rather than the traditional single 36-hole qualifier. This adjustment aligns with the qualifying procedures of the U.S. Open, featuring separate stages for Local and Final qualifying, with the latter set to unfold from July 17 to August at 19 different locations across 15 states.

The U.S. Amateur Championship itself is scheduled to take place at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, from August 12 to 18, 2024. The introduction of Chapel Hill's Finley Golf Club as a local qualifying site adds to the diverse range of venues selected for this year's championship, highlighting the USGA's commitment to showcasing golf's competitive spirit across various iconic and challenging courses.

Amid Interim Chancellor's Controversy, UNC Chapel Hill Vows Fair Chancellor Search

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has embarked on a mission to find its next permanent chancellor following the departure of Kevin Guskiewicz to Michigan State University. The search is being overseen by a 13-member committee formed to scout for suitable candidates. The committee's initiation was marked by a meeting at the UNC School of Government, spotlighting the importance of this endeavor amid the interim appointment of Lee Roberts, a figure with significant political connections. The search, promising to be fair and thorough, is under the watchful eye of UNC System President Peter Hans and involves a newly adopted selection process that grants substantial influence to Hans and the Board of Governors.

The process aims to find a leader with a profound dedication to UNC-Chapel Hill's public mission, embodying qualities of honesty, integrity, and a vision that balances respect for tradition with the ambition to forge the university's future. This leader is expected to be someone who values the institution's legacy while driving forward its contribution to public higher education. Amidst speculation about the fairness of the search, particularly regarding Roberts' potential permanent appointment, the process is set to be comprehensive, involving stakeholder listening sessions and an external search firm to ensure a wide and diverse candidate pool. The goal is to conclude the search by the end of 2024, providing ample time for the interim chancellor to demonstrate his capabilities in the role.

Heidi Radtke Releases 'Convergence': A New Era of Musical Storytelling

Dr. Heidi Radtke, a lecturer of saxophone, made her debut in the music world with the album "Convergence," released on March 1 through Navona Records. This album marks a significant milestone in Radtke's career, showcasing her dedication to the saxophone and its versatile sound. "Convergence" is an exploration of musical boundaries, featuring compositions by eight living composers, including works specifically written for Radtke. The album aims to bridge the gap between different musical traditions and the unique capabilities of the saxophone, particularly in combination with fixed media.

The album's journey begins with reinterpretations of classical pieces and spans to include field recordings and compositions based on sounds recorded on a cell phone, emphasizing the saxophone's narrative power. The concluding piece, "Convergence" by Sang Mi Ahn, encapsulates the essence of the album—a dialogue between the saxophone and electronic sounds, creating a harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements.

Radtke's inspiration for this album stemmed from her first solo faculty recital at UNC in the spring of 2023. The selection of pieces for that performance—and ultimately for the album—reflects her artistic vision and personal connection to the music. Among the compositions, "Breonna Taylor (How Many More?)" stands out to Radtke, offering a poignant tribute through a blend of jazz quartet music and field recordings, echoing the memory of Breonna Taylor.

The recording of "Convergence" was supported by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Music Faculty Advancement and Research Program, culminating in sessions at the Moeser Auditorium. The process involved Radtke recording her saxophone parts to accompany pre-recorded tracks, a method that allowed for creative freedom and precise control over the final sound.

Through "Convergence," Radtke aims to offer listeners an immersive experience, blending entertainment with a deeper emotional and intellectual engagement. The album invites audiences to explore new perspectives and appreciate the saxophone's expansive expressive range.

Click on the album cover below to listen to Convergence on Spotify.

Chapel Hill Insider's Social Buzz Campaign: Share, Like & Win a Coffee on Us!

Join our exciting Share, Like & Win Campaign and stand a chance to win a $25 Starbucks e-gift card! Here's how you can be a part of it:

1. SHARE our newsletter with your friends, colleagues, and family in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and nearby areas. For every new subscriber who joins the Chapel Hill Insider via your referral link, you'll earn points.

2. LIKE our Facebook page, tag your friends, and invite them to like our page and explore our newsletter.

The campaign wraps up on April 1st, at which point we'll count up all the points to determine the winner.. Let's work together to get the word out!

Experience an unforgettable dining event featuring five specially curated courses paired with exquisite wines for $80 per person. Michael Maller from Orsini Wines will take guests on an educational journey, exploring unique grape varieties and winemaking methods. The menu includes delights such as Takoyaki, Fried Pizza, and Grilled Lamb, complemented by rare wines like Furmint, Harslevelu, Juhfark, and Blaufransch. Reserve your seat through Open Table for a night of culinary discovery and wine learning.

Sip and Support at Tandem

• Remember, all month long, $5 from every order of Tandem's "Afternoon Calls" specialty cocktail will also go right back to McDougle Elementary School. Thank you for the support, Tandem!

Chapel Hill Bird Club Meeting: Tom Driscoll - Birds &Wildlife of Kenya and Uganda

• Monday, March 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at Binkley Baptist Church

• Click here for more information.

Meet the Candidate Event @ The Gathering Place

The Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools PTA Council is spearheading an event at The Gathering Place to foster a dialogue between the community and Mo Green, a hopeful for the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. By providing a neutral platform for interaction ahead of the November 2024 election, the PTA Council underscores its commitment to informed community engagement and education advocacy. The event is planned for Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 4 p.m.

Preschoolers in Nature at North Carolina Botanical Garden

Meet Local Authors At FlyLeaf Books

Flyleaf Books is hosting an event on March 26, 2024, featuring Margot Livesey, where she will discuss her new novel, "The Road from Belhaven." The book, set in late-nineteenth-century Scotland, tells the story of Lizzie Craig, a young woman with the ability to see into the future. The narrative explores Lizzie's coming-of-age, marked by love, loss, and the quest for redemption, showcasing Livesey's skill in blending the tangible world with the ethereal mysteries of the human experience. Click here to buy tickets online at Flyleaf Books.

Cat’s Cradle

New Monthly Comedy Showcase