How you can share your story or list your services/programming in the Durham SkywriterHow you can get involved with “Durham’s online community paper”
[each topic is in a colored box] Readership of the Durham Skywriter has doubled in the past couple of months, and I’m starting to get more questions about submitting information and scoring interviews. This month’s cover story will answer these questions, and in fact, I will go through the Durham Skywriter page by page, explaining various ways you can play a part/get involved. I’ll let the article run for the next couple of months for our new readers. COVER STORY The cover story can be about anything of interest to local folks. The goal is to share useful information, find solutions, and to promote the positive. Past stories have covered local police/community relations, some of the lesser-known Durham County Library services and programs, and “El-cheapo handy hints” (a seasonal favorite). I welcome all story ideas and will always take them into consideration. I look forward to learning new things, hearing about upcoming developments, and getting caught up in local history. Forward your story ideas to durhamskywriter@yahoo.com, call 919-809-9682, or send a tweet to @durhamskywriter.
The “Word” page contains news from local nonprofits and city / county / state government, including descriptions of new programs and opportunities for individuals and organizations. Upcoming classes/seminars given by the American Red Cross (on University Dr) and Durham Tech’s Small Business Center are listed every month. If you represent a Durham-area nonprofit or a governmental agency/department, contact me with info that you’d like to see listed on the Word page. There’s no cost for listing your program or services.
Young people get a behind-the- scenes look at the world of work. All kinds of workers from the public and private sectors and entrepreneurs are featured. When given permission, I also shoot a short video showing the interviewee at work.
Positive ministories, latest social- media goings-on, most recent episode(s) of the City of Durham’s “City Hall This Week,” and links to “Read All About It” (book of the month) and “Now Hear This” (CD of the month). Send in your announcements, and let me know if you have recently published a book or released a CD (or digital album).
Fun for kids—crafts, science, optical illusions, jokes, riddles, and games. If I use a riddle or joke you send in, you can win a prize! I welcome story ideas from organizations that cater to young people, including the Boy and Girl Scouts.
This page contains articles describing opportunities and offering tips and information for students and the people (parents and educators) trying to help them reach their potential in school. Sometimes, I also list online college courses that are offered to lifelong learners free of charge. If you can help our young people with education-based programming or services, get in contact with me.
This page has information designed to help promote good health, including news from the Durham County Department of Public Health and local agencies such as the Community Health Coalition. A big blue “Health events” button links to a page that lists support group and other health-related meetings.
The SeniorScope page has information for the 50+ crowd, plus news from the Durham Center for Senior Life, Durham Parks and Recreation’s Mature Adult department, and the Levin JCC (Jewish Community Center).
This page is for people who love to work outdoors in the garden and those who also want to increase their curb appeal. I also try to encourage individuals and families wanting to try their hand at growing their own food by writing about area community gardens. Sarah P Duke Gardens workshops are also listed; some are free and some are not. I would love to hear from people/nonprofit reps who can provide tips for beginners and folks who are new to the area.
On the Praise page, I list faith-based programming, meetings, and workshops; and also run announcements from local churches, temples, and mosques/masjids. Much of the information given encourages collaboration with like-minded people and nonprofits that want to tackle some of the social problems that challenge some of our neighborhoods.
This is where you can find law-related information, plus all kinds of information on voting and local politics, activism, and home/community safety. Legal aid programs that are offered by North Carolina Central University and Duke University are promoted during the academic school year.
Here’s where you can find information on local sports programs for children, teens, and adults. Much, but not all, of the programming that’s listed is from Durham Parks and Recreation. When readers click on the big green “Great Outdoors” button, they are shown free events offered at four local state parks: Eno River, Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, William B Umstead. Skywatching sessions held by the Morehead Planetarium and also NC State University and North Carolina Central University (during the school year) are also listed.
Get step-by-step instructions on how to do all sorts of things such as creating a resumé, wrapping your trees to stop bug infestations, starting a community watch program, and more. If you would like to share instructions that readers can use to improve their lives, I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s Go! is the calendar of events page—from festivals to gallery openings to area workshops, community campfires, food truck rodeos, and much, much more. This is by far the longest and most-viewed page in the Durham Skywriter.
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The Durham Skywriter is published and uploaded monthly.
For more information, call patricia A murray at 919-809-9682 or write to durhamskywriter@yahoo.com.
Authors/publishers can send books for review, and artists/managers can send CDs for review to: patricia A murray, 1910 Capps St, Durham NC 27707, USA
©2018 patricia A murray. All rights reserved.
For more information, call patricia A murray at 919-809-9682 or write to durhamskywriter@yahoo.com.
Authors/publishers can send books for review, and artists/managers can send CDs for review to: patricia A murray, 1910 Capps St, Durham NC 27707, USA
©2018 patricia A murray. All rights reserved.
Visit my sister site, djpiddipat.weebly.com, for information on DJ Piddipat, my music service.
Visit my other sister site, piddipatcrafts.com, for information on Piddipat Crafts, my toy- and game-making venture.