CARRBORO - "It turned into a nightmare," said Cleveland Fogleman of the evening last November when his downtown auto repair business, F&F Automotive, went up in flames. The whole shop was destroyed.

"I let an employee do some work here on his own," he said. "His bus, a VW Vanigan, caught on fire. He tried to put it out himself instead of calling the Fire Department."

At first Fogleman considered selling his prime location on West Weaver Street. But he only got low-ball offers, one of which he received the day after the fire. He decided to rebuild.

"Not everything was covered by insurance," he said. "Right much is coming out of my pocket."

The town of Carrboro insisted he install a handicapped-accessible bathroom, and that he have a brick facade rather than metal. He hired an architect, Dave Ripperton, to do the work, and Fogelman sings his praises.

Now, nearly a year later, the shop is mostly restored and has been OK'd to reopen for business by the town.

"I'd thought I'd open by the end of September, but it's already October," he said. "I'm not ready. There are loose ends. I don't have any help." He looked around the 4,080 square foot concrete floor. "If I were younger, I could do three times as much."

Fogleman, 68, first opened the shop at his Weaver Street location in 1972. Originally from Durham County, he moved into his Plantation Acres home a year later in 1973. At his shop, he customarily works with two other mechanics. His wife Carol helps with the books and administrative matters. His shop handles six or seven cars at a time.

Although he works on all makes and models, he is particularly fond of Chryslers from a bygone era. He owns a '63 Plymouth Valiant, a two-door hardtop with a push-button transmission that he would like to restore. But he has too much on his plate right now.

He still needs three lifts, but they should be delivered soon. He thinks he will be open and fixing cars when the anniversary of the fire occurs next month.

Executive series empowers women

The Women's Executive Series will hold the third of its series of meetings on Oct. 14 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Governors Club. Breakfast will be served. The Women's Executive Series serves to empower, connect and unite influential local business women. Register online at www.carolinachamber.org/events or call 967-7075.

The series is sponsored by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce.

Burmese refugees find seasonal work

Twenty-one Burmese refugees have joined the seasonal work force during the busy holiday crunch at A Southern Season. These refugees from Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar, were forced to leave their country because of war and/or persecution.

A Southern Season employees Codruta Roberts, human resources manager, and Elanie Cintron, production manager, met with Burmese native Malakee Sadi, who will accompany the new employees to their workplace the first few days to serve as translator and in order to make sure that everything is functional for both the refugees and the employer.

On Sept. 1, the first 12 Burmese employees arrived in Hillsborough for orientation and training to work on the gift production line assembling gift baskets and samplers in the warehouse. Another nine started during September. The plan is to add another 30 in October, and possibly 20 or 30 more in November.

Send business announcements to correspondent Julian Sereno at chnclerk@nando.com