Beat the heat and celebrate the last days of summer vacation at Lee County Library!

The Lee County Library will hold a mini-film festival on Wednesday, August 4 and Wednesday, August 11 at 2:30 p.m. Bring a beach blanket or towel and a light snack and enjoy the cool breezes in the library auditorium. The movies are free. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.

We can't advertise the names of the films but we can give you some hints:

Wednesday, August 4: This recently released film features a boy whose father is a god
Wednesday, August 11: This newly released film features the exploits of an anxious young teen boy

For more information, call the library at (919) 718-4665 x 5483

Youth Football Registrations

It's time to register for Youth Football! Boys & Girls Ages 6-8 (Flag) County Fee is $15. Ages 8-10 (Pee Wee) and Ages 11-13 (Midget) County Fee is $25. See flyer for more information or call 775-2107 Ext. 205.

Employment Opportunities

We have updated the Employment Opportunities tab of our Facebook page to reflect 3 new recruitments:

(1) Part-time Administrative Support Assistant - Board of Elections
(2) Tiny Tots Substitute Teacher
(3) Finance Accounting Specialist  
 
For the latest recruitments, and for a conclusive list, become a fan of our Facebook page or bookmark the link below. 
 
Facebook Page
 
Employment Opportunities on County Website
 

Celebrate 50 Years of "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the Lee County Library

In July 1960, Harper Lee's one and only novel was published: To Kill a Mockingbird. Since then, it has been translated into at least 40 languages and has never gone out of print. Come celebrate the half-century mark of this classic novel. Events are free, but seating is limited so registration is a must.

Monday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m.: Watch the film version of "To Kill a Mockingbird" starring Gregory Peck. And do you remember which well-known actor played a cameo role as Boo Radley?

Tuesday, August 17 at 7:00 p.m.: Discussion group for the book. Join your friends and neighbors as we talk about the many layers of "To Kill a Mockingbird." Who is your favorite character?

For more information or to register for either event, call the library at (919) 718-4665 x. 5483

San-Lee Park Trail Guide

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Visit one of our area parks!  We have attached a San-Lee Park Trail Guide as an image in the post.  Also, see link below for a Google Map of area parks.

Google Map: Points of Interest

Lee County Parks and Recreation Fall Sports Registration

Sports Programs that are Offered this Fall:
Youth Football:
Flag Football Boys and Girls ages 6-8 as of Nov. 1, 2010.
               Registration Fee: $15.00 per county resident
                                        $25.00 per non-county resident
Pee Wee Tackle Football Boys and Girls ages 8-10 as of Nov. 1, 2010
               Registration Fee: $25.00 per county resident
                                         $35.00 per non-county resident
Midget Tackle Football Boys and Girls ages 11-13 as of Nov. 1, 2010
               Registration Fee: $25.00 per county resident
                                        $35.00 per non-county resident
Registration Dates:
Saturday July 24th & 31st 9am - 12(noon) at the Bob Hales Center
Mon-Fri July 26-30 8am - 6pm at the Recreation Office

Youth Volleyball:
Girls Volleyball Ages 9-16 as of Dec. 1, 2010
Registration Fee: $20.00 per county resident
                          $30.00 per non-county resident
Registration Dates:
Saturday July 24th & 31st 9am - 12(noon) at the Bob Hales Center
Mon-Fri July 26-30 8am - 6pm at the Recreation Office

Fall Baseball:
Boys ages 9-12 as of May 1, 2011
Registration Fee: $25.00 per county resident
                          $35.00 per non-county resident
Registration Dates:
NOW through Aug. 20,2010
Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm at the Recreation Office

If you would like more information on any of these programs please call 775-2107 ext. 502.

Registering for Volleyball

We are currently accepting registrations for Youth Volleyball ages 9-16. County resident fee is $20. For more information call 775-2107 Ext. 206.

8th Annual Boomer Expo!

When:    Wednesday August 25, 2010; 10:00am - 2:30pm
Where:   Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center; 1801 Nash Street Sanford, NC

See flyer for more details.

New Position Recruitment: Detention Officer

We have listed a new position under the "Employment Opportunities" tab of our Facebook page.  It can also be found via the following link:

Detention Officer

July 19, 2010 Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting Agenda

See the image in this post to review an agenda for the July 19, 2010 Board of Commissioners meeting.  Meeting location is 106 Hillcrest Drive in Sanford.  A direct link has also been provided below.

Link to Agenda

Beginners Quilting Workshop

This is a 2-day session: September 11 and 25, 2010. Participants will make a small quilt (48 X 54) from start to finish and will learn rotary cutting, piecing, applying borders, marking, simple machine quilting and binding. Sewing machine and basic sewing skills are required. A complete supply list will be supplied at registration. Class fee is $65 and includes instruction, fabric and batting. Participants are asked to bring a bag lunch. Drinks will be provided. This class is limited to the first 15 participants that register. Please call 919-775-5624 for more information. Please see flyer for more details.

Cutie Patootie Machine Applique

Come join Sandy Fitzpatrick for a day of machine applique. You will cover fusible applique techniques, peek-a-boo blocks, dimensional pinwheels, and adding texture with chenille. This class will provide you with the skills needed to add fun techniques to any quilt. Two patterns will be provided to each participant and full patterns will be available for purchase. Class fee is $25 for Hearts and Hands ECA Guild members and $45 for non-members. Payment MUST be made in advance and registration deadline is July 16, 2010. This class is sponsored by Hearts and Hands ECA Quilting Guild. Please see attached flyer for more details.

Kiwanis Children's Park "Little Kiwanis"

The Lee County Parks and Recreation Director indicates that Kiwanis Children's Park is nearing completion.  Tape will be taken down in the coming days and people can now access the tennis courts and picnic areas.  Improvements coming include two shade structures and a music feature.  We'll keep you posted as park details change.  For more information, call Lee County Parks and Recreation at 919-775-2107.

Lee County Idol

Kids Cooking Healthy!

Join Sarah Beitzel, Cooperative Extension’s Summer Intern, as she teaches fun nutrition facts and demonstrates how to prepare great healthy snacks for you and your family! Class open to youth ages 8-12. Monday-Wednesday, July 26-28 from 2:00-4:00pm each day. Registration fee is $8 per person and MUST be paid in advance. Click on the flyer to enlarge for more information.  Please contact Sarah Beitzel at 919-775-5624 for more information.

"Back To Basics" Sewing Workshop

Do you have things that need hemming and you don't know how to do it? What about popped-off buttons or tears or rips in your favorite shirt or pants? Join Lee County ECA on July 31, 2010 from 9am - 12pm as they take you "Back To Basics" and teach you how to hem, darn and sew on buttons. Registration fee is $5 and UST be paid in advance.  Click on the flyer for more details.

LCPR Basketball Camp

This camp focuses on FUNdamentals, individual skills, and team play. Camp will be conducted July 20th - 22nd at BT Bullock Gym from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Boys & Girls ages 7-14. Fee is $25 per participant. Registration deadline is July 16th. Please fill out registration form and return to Lee County Parks and Recreation.  For more information call 775-2107 ext. 206 for details.

Final Draft of Smartphone Portal Sign for Review

We are getting closer and closer to launching our Smartphone Portals at different locations throughout the county.  Here is the final draft.  Tell us what you think of its design and information provided.  Its size is 11" x 17".  You can actually test these codes from your computer by scanning them with your phone's free barcode scanner application right here.  However, the codes will be easier to scan in person because they will be larger and more "scanable" with your phone. 

Popular FREE QR Code apps include "Barcode Scanner" for Android phones such as Motorola Droid, HTC, etc.  Newer Blackberry models have a "scan group barcode" preinstalled in Blackberry Messenger.  Other Blackberry models can use apps such as Beetag and ScanLife.  There are tons of Smartphones on the market from the iPhone to Nokias to Motorolas and many in between.  Do a quick Internet search for your phone + a barcode scanner app and you'll likely discover hundreds of app reviews. 

If you have something other than an Android type phone or Blackberry, it may take a minute to find and download a free app, but these codes are catching on quickly in the US.  We'll likely see more and more of this technology used as a form of quick and accurate information.

Tax Bills Arriving Soon

The Lee County Tax Office has proofed and approved the 2010 Lee County tax bills.  We expect the vendor to mail these sometime next week.  Also, we plan to provide a short video clip identifying different sections of the tax bill that are important to review.

Input Needed for Potential "Smartphone Portal" Locations and Uses

We have developed a very brief two-question survey on our potential use of Quick Response (QR) Codes at designated "Smartphone Portals" throughout Sanford and Lee County.  Please take a minute and give us your input.  Thank you for your time.

Survey Link

Aaarrr, matey--Pirate Week is Coming to Lee County Library!

Ahoy, ye scurvy crew! It be pirate week next week at the Lee County Library. On Monday night, July 12, set sail with our family movie, Pirates of the Caribbean at 7 p.m. in the library auditorium. On Wednesday, July 14, Pirate Captain Jim will take the stage at the Lee County Arts and Community Center at 11:00 a.m. All performances are free and open to the public; registration is not required. For more information, call the library at (919) 718-4665 x. 5483. 

For Immediate Release: The Ultimate Mobile Web

Do you have a Blackberry, IPhone, Droid or another smartphone? Have you ever heard of Quick Response (QR) Codes? A QR Code is an image that resembles a barcode at your local grocery store. However, it can store much more data and its uses are endless. Several options exist, but most QR Codes have a URL (web address) stored within the image.


If you have downloaded one of the many free barcode reader apps, or if one comes standard on your smartphone, you can scan a QR Code through this barcode reader and your phone will automatically fetch the embedded URL! The days of searching through layers and layers of a website, or having to enter long URLs into your mobile phone’s browser are coming to an end.

So how can Lee County and the City of Sanford use this technology. Easy. Let’s say you’re at one of the events in Depot Park and are curious as to what is happening next week or next month. Before you leave the park you can walk over to the QR Code sign, take about 15 seconds to open your barcode reader application and scan the code, and you are instantly connected to an event schedule for Depot Park. Another example: you’re out walking along the new Greenway and (1) you come to the Endor Iron Furnace and want to know its history, (2) you want to see a menu for a restaurant without having to search and search or (3) you want to see a how the Greenway will look once all phases are complete, then you can pull out your phone and quickly scan our QR Code for instant information.

Here are some resources for finding a free barcode reader for your specific phone. We have only tried two types of phones thus far.

Droid - Android Market
We have tested “Barcode Scanner” from the Android Market and found it to outperform several other readers and work across all types of QR Codes.

Blackberry
Some Blackberry models have a “Scan a Group Barcode” in Blackberry Messenger. Other options with Blackberry include, Beetag and Neotag. If you find a great app for Blackberry, please let us know.

Others
For Razr, Nokia, Sony Ericson and a few others visit Kaywa Readers and see if your phone is supported. More than likely a quick Google search will illuminate several good barcode readers for your Smartphone.

As anyone can see, a plethora of opportunities exist with QR Codes. This is the future. Imagine yourself sitting at a stoplight one day and scanning a QR Code on the business truck in front of you. You would be instantly connected with the businesses website and could see hours of operation, rates and other information. Some businesses have switched from their company name on a sign to having a QR Code on their building.  Realtors may get use out of these codes and supplement or replace paper flyers on "For Sale" signs.

We are not aware of this technology being used by any other local government in North Carolina, but this will catch on quickly. It’s free to generate a QR Code and it’s free to download a barcode reader app to your smartphone, but having such easy access to information with capitalizing on technology is priceless.

Currently we have two temporary signs in the county. They both are in Depot Park. One links to the Depot Park event calendar. The other is in the water fountain area and links to hours of operation and the seasonal schedule of the fountain. When you are at Depot Park the next time, try our QR Codes there. We’ll have many more signs coming, and I’m sure you’ll see more and more use of these codes in the business sector.

Monthly Library Booksale Postponed until 7/10

Due to the weekend closing for Independence Day Weekend the monthly library booksale has been pushed back one week to Saturday July 10.  It will still be at the Main Library from 2:00 p.m. until 5:30 pm.

Library Hours for Independence Day Weekend

The Library will be closed Saturday July 3, Sunday July 4, and Monday July 5 in observance of Independence Day.

Shiver Me Timbers! Library Presents Pirate Magician Captain Jim!

On Wednesday, July 14 at 11:00 Pirate Captain Jim takes the stage at the Lee County Arts and Community Center. Registration is not required and the performance is free!


For more information, call the library at (919) 718-4665 x. 5483

Library Movie Night Returns July 12 with Pirates of the Caribbean

The next Monday Night Movie is Pirates of the Caribbean, Monday, July 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the main library's auditorium. Registration is not required; however, children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a light snack.

Library's Summer of Free Performances Contines with "Set Sail with Steve Somers”

The Lee County Library presents “Set Sail with Steve Somers” on Wednesday, July 7 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lee County Arts & Community Center. The program will feature stories, puppets, magic, and music. Registration is NOT required and the performance is free!

American Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR

Source = Lee County NC American Red Cross Facebook page:

Link to Lee County NC American Red Cross Facebook Page

Your pet is counting on you...
What will you do when an emergency strikes?


Pre registration and payment REQUIRED.
Call: 919-774-6857 to register.
$40 per individual.
 
Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 1:30pm
Location: Willow Creek Animal Hospital
Street: 1902 Bragg St, Sanford NC
City/Town: Sanford, NC