WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM ‘Baby chasers’ The Triangle changing retirement patterns By Joanne Cleaver RIBUNE CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS TTHE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE Culture, climate and cost of living are great, but cute is the tip- ping factor. North Carolina is the new top destination for the VOLUME 21 NO. 18 WEEK OF OCTOBER 13, 2019 $1.00 nearly and newly retired, according to a spate of new research. And these retirees are following their grandkids. Here’s how the silver lining to the North Carolina tech boom plays out for many families: Rogers Herr Middle Millennials land in North Carolina for jobs and the reasonable cost of living, and are soon followed by their own parents – typi- School defeats Githens cally younger baby boomers – who want to settle close to the Middle to win the next generation. The economic implications don’t follow the precedents set by Jordan Falcon Bowl. elder-dominated states like Florida and Arizona, say researchers and local business leaders. Arriving with home equity, substan- tial retirement savings and plenty of energy and ambition for work, young retirees expect to fully engage with their new com- munities, instead of segregating themselves in over-55 sub- developments. Please see CHASERS/2A Lead Former testing critics at NC warm to child health centers bill By Greg Barnes By Rose Hoban N.C. HEALTH NEWS N.C. HEALTH NEWS North Carolina licensed Dale Wiggins thinks it’s child care centers will now time. Actually, he thinks it’s have to test for lead in COURTESY past due. their tap water. The N.C. Durham Parks & Recreation employees protest at a press conference. Wiggins, a retired business- Commission for Public man, is the head of the Gra- Health has adopted a rule ham County Board of requiring the testing after Commissioners, which re- research by Durham-based cently sent a resolution of RTI International found DPR employees file support for expanding the that 1 in 6 taps for drink- state’s Medicaid program to ing or cooking water at the legislative leaders and Gov. centers it tested exceeded Roy Cooper. The unanimous federal standards for lead. grievance over resolution, signed by four Even low levels of lead Republicans and one Demo- exposure to children can crat, throws local support be- damage their nervous sys- hind House Bill 655, which tems and cause learning working conditions recently passed through the disabilities, stunted General Assembly’s House growth, hearing loss, low By Maria Magher ployees want taken to address lich said. Health Committee and The union began looking IQ and impaired formation CORRESPONDENT the problem. awaits a vote on the House and function of blood The chief concern in the into the problems at DPR after DURHAM – Durham Parks floor. cells. An estimated letter is the lack of a formal a complaint brought to them The bill would use the Af- 230,000 children attend and Recreation employees grievance process for employ- by Kellie McLean, a recreation have filed a formal complaint fordable Care Act to extend nearly 4,600 licensed child ees when they are improperly specialist in the school-aged the Medicaid program to pro- care centers across North through the North Carolina evaluated or disciplined. care unit who works with spe- Public Service Workers Union vide health insurance cover- Carolina. “This is a big win Sarah Vukelich, a DPR recrea- cial needs teens ages 13 to 21. age to many low-income for young children in our about hostile working con- tion specialist and a steward McLean said she filed a com- ditions that have led to high workers who currently don’t state,” Vikki Crouse, health for the union, said the union plaint in January 2018 over qualify for the program. program associate at NC turnover rates and a shortage has been working on this what she believed was a of staff, which they also be- You can’t get much further Child, said in a news re- problem on behalf of workers wrongful evaluation. She said west in North Carolina than lease. “One of the simplest lieve is putting children in throughout the city for several she included evidence contra- after school and summer Graham County, two-thirds things we can do to pro- years now, but issues at DPR dicting information in the of which is made up of the mote children’s healthy camp programs at risk. brought the issue to a head re- evaluation. In response, Union representatives and Nantahala National Forest. brain development is to cently, prompting the press McLean said her manager There are about 8,700 res- make sure their drinking DPR employees held a press conference and letter. began acting more hostile to- conference last week in front idents, with a median house- water is free from lead.” s “As a union, we’ve been cal- ward her, giving her more hold income of $37,748, The rule will require li- of City Hall to announce their ling for the city to implement tasks, setting deadlines and concerns, and 17 employees according to the N.C. Depart- censed centers to conduct a fair grievance process, and then putting obstacles in the ment of Commerce. lead tests on all taps used signed a letter that was deliv- we’ve been very specific about way, and even yelling at her in ered to City Manager Tom “We’ve got people here that for drinking and food that, and we’ve been calling the middle of meetings. literally can’t afford to be preparation every three Bonfield outlining those con- for that for a long time,” Vuke- cerns and the actions that em- Please see DPR/2A sick; they’re living from pay- years. Lead must be re- check to paycheck,” Wiggins moved if it is found to ex- said in a recent phone con- ceed the federal standard versation. “If a parent gets of 15 parts per billion. sick, loses a couple of weeks Because no level of lead work, you know, they could exposure is good for chil- potentially lose a car and dren, state officials urge lose a home. You know, so that the centers take pre- there’s a sense of urgency, at cautionary measures to re- Louisburg farm celebrates least in their lives.” move lead whenever it is In a scathing letter sent to detected in their taps. The Senate leader Phil Berger, R- child care centers will have Eden, Wiggins explains why a year to get their water 1 millionth donation his board told their local rep- tested. The testing will be resentative Kevin Corbin, R- free the first year because By Maria Magher Franklin, to vote for the bill. the N.C. Department of CORRESPONDENT “You know Senator Berger Health and Human Serv- for some people who have After seven years off the ices has secured a federal good paying jobs and good football field and on the farm- grant to cover the costs. health insurance it is easy to ing field instead, former NFL Additional grant funding say that those without insur- lineman Jason Brown and his may become available in ance just need to go to work wife, Tay, celebrated a huge the future, according to isn’t it?” he wrote. “The real- milestone in their unexpected the news release from NC ity is in places like Graham ministry. The couple’s First Child and RTI Inter- County those people are Fruits Farm gave away its 1 national. working.” millionth pound of food to The release says low-cost When asked about Wiggins’ local people in need last week. ways centers can eliminate letter, Berger’s press aide Pat The farm celebrated its fifth lead include replacing an Ryan responded: “Everybody harvest at the annual Harvest old faucet with one that is entitled to express their Festival, where the couple does not contain lead, fix- opinions on matters before broke that 1 million mark in its ing clogged water pipes, the state legislature, and Sen- donations. “We made a prom- installing and maintaining COURTESY ator Berger appreciates the ise to God that whatever He a certified water filter on Jason and Tay Brown and six of their eight children. thoughtful feedback Mr. Wig- blessed us with, we would give the tap, and installing and gins provided in his letter. the first fruits back to the 100,000 pounds of sweet pota- is not sustainable. He says the maintaining a water foun- Feedback is always wel- people who need it,” Brown toes and 10,000 pounds of cu- farm receives some donations, tain or bottle filling station come.” said of his original vision for cumbers to groups like the but he puts a lot of his own with a certified water filter. The feedback from com- the farm, which is what in- Interfaith Food Shuttle and the money into the ministry to do RTI International, an in- missioners, business leaders, spired the name. “When we Food Bank of Eastern North corporate events or public dependent nonprofit re- economic development ex- saw the initial need from the Carolina. The farm gave away speaking engagements. “We’ve search organization, tested perts and other conserva- community and just how fast its entire harvest the second had to be creative and try to do 86 child care centers in tives across the state is that our sweet potatoes were being year, as well, and has given as much as we could on a four Piedmont counties they’re reaching a conclusion absorbed by the local food away the majority of its har- shoestring budget,” he said.