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LOCAL BRIEFS: Pardee teammate, Monarch festival, Safelight's 40th birthday, postcard party

ICU nurse Jamie Kilpatrick was honored as Pardee's Teammate of the Month. [CONTRIBUTED]

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 2, 2024

Kilpatrick honored as Pardee Teammate of the Month

Jamie Kilpatrick, a registered nurse who looks after intensive care patients in the hospital where she was born, has been named the newest Teammate of the Month, UNC Health Pardee announced.

Among her many responsibilities in caring for patients, Kilpatrick closely monitors patients’ vitals, administers high-risk medications and works closely with many interdisciplinary team members to optimize outcomes for the patient and their families.

Jamie’s relationship with Pardee has come full circle as she now cares for patients in the same hospital she was born. She said one of her favorite parts of her job is when she’s afforded the opportunity to train newly graduated nurses in the ICU.

“These nurses have come in with a strong knowledge base, eagerness and resilience when faced with challenging circumstances,” she says. “They have impacted me countless times with questions that have allowed me to see things from new perspectives, and pushed me to expand my knowledge base.”

She adds that it’s rewarding to see them grow into their own and impact the lives of so many people in the community. Colleagues describe Jamie as a true advocate for her patients and an exceptional nurse, sharing that she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure her patients receive excellent care. 

The Teammate of the Month award is given to a Pardee employee who positively contributes to achieving the organization’s mission, vision and goals. The award is given to a person selected by a committee of their peers and recognized for going above and beyond their regular duties to support patients, customers, peers, the organization and its community.

State Park hosts  Mountain Monarch Festival

SAPPHIRE— Gorges State Park in Transylvania County will host the third annual Mountain Monarch Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 28, at the park visitor center.

The festival celebrates the monarch butterfly during its migration and brings attention to the species’ declining numbers.

The park lies along the monarchs’ migratory route. The butterflies can be seen in late September each year flying over the park, heading south to the high-elevation fir forests in central-southern Mexico’s Volcanic Belt, where they overwinter until early spring.

The festival will offer educational programs and exhibits featuring the monarch butterfly, including monarch-themed children’s crafts, food trucks, a live photo board, face painting by Color Me Happy, local art for sale and a Monarch Migration Passport to lead families through monarch-themed activities.

Featured speaker Joyce Pearsall, a conservation specialist with Monarch Watch and a master gardener, will speak about “The World of Monarch Butterflies.” Other speaker topics include “Monarch Life Cycle and Tagging,” by Brian Bockhahn, education specialist for North Carolina State Parks, and “Butterfly Gardening,” by Bryan Thompkins, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Monarch butterflies have two sets of deep orange and black wings and a wingspan of 3-4 inches. Male monarchs have two black spots in the center of their hind wings.

The migratory subspecies of the monarch was recently added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “red list” of the most threatened species on Earth. Those who wish to help monarchs return to healthy population levels can plant locally native milkweed in their yards and support efforts to reduce pesticide use.

The Mountain Monarch Festival is sponsored by Friends of Gorges State Park and organized in partnership with Monarch Watch, the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, the Transylvania County Library, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Transylvania County 4-H, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina Aquariums, and The Land and Sky Chapter and the Oconee Bell Chapter of the Native Plant Society.

The event, activities and programs are free and open to the public. Registration, which is required, is available until 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/gorges-state-park/events/monarch-fest-2024/registration. Registration will close once the park reaches capacity so register early. The event will be held rain or shine. For event details, visit https://www.friendsofgorges.org/mountainmonarchfestival

Progressive Alliance postcard party focuyses on education

The public is invited to join the Progressive Alliance of Henderson County at our next Postcard Party and Social Time on Friday, September 20 from 4:30 - 5:30 at Oklawaha Brewery, 147 First Avenue E. This is a monthly opportunity for like-minded individuals to mingle and write postcards to elected officials and others on current legislative topics and concerns of participants. 

On September 20, our focus will be public education in North Carolina. We invite concerned citizens, area educators and students, as well as public school officials to join us in writing postcards to legislators advocating for full support of public education. Representatives of Public School Strong and other champions of our public schools will be on hand to share information.

All who plan to attend are encouraged to bring friends and family. While there is no charge to attend the Postcard Party, donations for postage costs are always welcome.

The Progressive Alliance of Henderson County compassionately advocates for justice, dignity, inclusion and sustainable, healthy communities for all. Through activities such as postcard parties, rallies and silent vigils, and active support of local organizations and movements, PAHC strives to connect residents of Henderson County and vicinity through grassroots civic engagement, education, outreach and volunteerism. For more information, see the website at www.progressiveallianceofhendersoncounty.com.

Safelight invites everyone to 40th birthday party