Welcome to "The Pine Needler," your go-to source for all things happening in the Central Pines Region! We're here to keep you in the loop with our bi-monthly updates on upcoming events and regional news. Stay connected with us as we bring you the latest happenings and stories that will surely make your day pine-tastic! | |
- Budget Breakdown Series: Ombudsman Services
- Nominate a Public Servant!
- CPRC Secures Investment to Expand Weatherization Services
- May is Older Americans Month
- Heat Season Warm-Up Workshop
- ADA Website Accessibility Deadline Extended
- Powerful Tools for Caregivers
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- Popular Links & Resources
- Career Opportunities
- Upcoming Events
| Popular Links & Resources | | Budget Breakdown Series - At Capacity: The Future of Ombudsman Services | |
This is the first of three supplemental pieces to my Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Central Pines Regional Council Recommended Budget Message. These supplemental posts allow a deeper dive into three of the most pressing issues facing the organization over the next several years. Each piece will end with recommendations to the Board on how to address the issue over the coming year(s).
- Lee Worsley, CPRC Executive Director
| Demand for Long-Term Care Ombudsmen services in the Central Pines region continues to grow, while federal and state funding has failed to keep pace. Since 2013, the number of licensed long-term care beds in our region has increased by nearly 900, yet current state and federal funding supports only three of the five Ombudsman positions on the Central Pines staff - well below nationally recognized staffing standards. County governments in the Central Pines region have voluntarily filled this gap for more than a decade, but this approach is not sustainable. | To address this issue, a strategy within CPRC's new Strategic Plan is to prioritize aging program funding consideration through regular strategic discussions with county leaders, intensify state and federal advocacy for increased Ombudsman funding, and evaluate limited interim options - including regional funding strategies - while reinforcing that this gap is ultimately a state and federal responsibility. | | |
Nominate a Public Servant to Honor During Public Service Month! | |
May is Public Service Month—a time to recognize the individuals and organizations who go above and beyond to serve our communities. Every day across our region, public servants are making a difference—whether it’s building relationships, delivering essential services, or finding creative solutions to local challenges. We invite you to help us shine a light on those efforts by nominating someone who exemplifies the spirit of public service.
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If you know a local leader, agency, or partner doing meaningful work in your community, take a moment to highlight them and help us celebrate their impact in our region. Selected nominees may be featured in our newsletter and on social media throughout the month of May.
| | | | CPRC Secures Major State Investment to Expand Weatherization Services | Central Pines Regional Council (CPRC) has been awarded $10.7 million in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to lead a regional expansion of the Weatherization Assistance Program through June 2029. As the designated lead agency for Region 3 under the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s statewide strategy, CPRC will coordinate improvements for 912 single-family homes across 13 counties, helping low-income households lower energy costs and improve home safety, comfort, and efficiency through upgrades such as air sealing, attic insulation, and high-efficiency heating systems. | The investment will also reduce waitlists for weatherization services currently managed by local governments and community organizations with limited annual funding, while creating new workforce training and clean energy job opportunities across the region. This award reflects the strong work of CPRC’s Housing Team and the value of regional collaboration in addressing housing affordability, sustainability, and economic opportunity. Read the full press release here: | | May is Older Americans Month! | Every May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month, a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults. | The 2026 theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages taking an active role in managing your own health, advocating for yourself, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence. | Join us in highlighting the importance of evidence-based approaches, self-management, and community partnerships that empower individuals to lead their healthiest lives. | | |
Heat Season Warm-Up Workshop | |
Date: May 6-7
Time: 12:00 - 4:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: FREE
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As temperatures rise and outdoor events fill community calendars, planning for heat safety is becoming more important than ever. A new workshop presented by the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (HIHHIS) will bring together researchers, state and local governments, event organizers, emergency managers, and other partners to share practical strategies for protecting spectators and athletes from extreme heat during outdoor activities. Through presentations and discussions, participants will explore how communities can better prepare for hot-weather events of all sizes.
| For local governments and public employees, heat safety planning helps reduce health risks, improve emergency response, and keep community events running smoothly. For residents, it means safer experiences at outdoor concerts, youth sports games, festivals, and other gatherings. The workshop will also feature interactive exercises to help participants develop ideas they can bring back to their own communities, ensuring everyone can enjoy outdoor events more safely this summer. | | | | ADA Website Accessibility Compliance Timeline Extended | The U.S. Department of Justice has issued an interim rule extending the compliance deadlines for ADA website and mobile app accessibility requirements for state and local governments. Jurisdictions with populations of 50,000 or more now have until April 26, 2027 (previously April 2026), while smaller jurisdictions and special districts have until April 26, 2028 (previously April 2027) to comply. | This extension provides additional time to address resource, staffing, and technology challenges; however, the requirement to ensure accessible digital services remains in place. 3CMA will continue to share resources and best practices to support members in meeting these standards. |
| Powerful Tools for Caregivers | |
Dates: Every Tuesday, May 5 - June 9
Time: 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: FREE
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Central Pines & Powerful Tools are pleased to offer a virtual class beginning May 5, 2026 and meeting each Tuesday through June 9, 2026 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. In just 6 weeks, you'll learn how to:
- Reduce stress
- Change negative self-talk
- Communicate your needs effectively
- And much more!
To register or learn more, contact Jennifer Link at jlink@centralpinesnc.gov or 919-558-9391. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is offered at no fee and class materials will be provided thanks to funding from the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an Iowa State University-owned program delivered locally by Central Pines Area Agency on Aging.
| | | | | Work Local in the Central Pines Region | |
There are so many amazing career opportunities to serve your community and work for local government in the Central Pines Region. Check out the most recent job postings here!
| | | Upcoming Events & Opportunities | | | |
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