Dare Society

Poll: Southerners OK with federal help, even more OK with help for jobs

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:01:00 +0000

A new poll shows that people in the section of the country that has historically been more interested in states' sovereignty wishes the federal government would do more about job losses and the economy.

The Winthrop Poll of 866 respondents in 11 Southern states found the economy was the top concern of four in 10 - the same share of people who said they were concerned about losing their job, according to the AP.

Overall, the economy was the biggest worry for 39 percent of the Southerners, followed by health care and unemployment at 12 percent each. Meanwhile, 38 percent said they were somewhat concerned or very concerned about possibly losing their jobs during the next year. ...
The poll found abundant finger-pointing for the economic mess as nearly three-quarters of the respondents said banks and financial institutions took unnecessary risks and shouldered a "good amount" or "great deal" of the blame. The same percentage blamed economic problems on consumers for taking on too much debt and big businesses for poor management decisions.
Getting out of the nation's financial mess is something the government should take the lead on, the poll respondents overwhelmingly said.

Nearly 72 percent said they favored new government programs to create jobs. Meanwhile, 63 percent said the federal government needs to give aid to states in serious financial trouble. Those positions were strongest among Democrats and independents, while Republicans were narrowly opposed.

Nonetheless, nearly 58 percent of the Southerners polled said the current federal stimulus efforts were making things worse or having no effect. ...
The Winthrop Poll also found a sizable number of people who weren't decided on a national health care overhaul, the nation's biggest ongoing political and policy debate. Southerners were asked if they'd call on their federal legislators to vote for or against the legislation. Just under a third said they would encourage a vote for the bill and 42 percent said they'd encourage a vote against it. ...
The Winthrop Poll involved randomly dialed land and cellular telephone interviews with 886 people 18 and older in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The interviews were conducted between Oct. 24 and Nov. 7. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.

The Parkway at 75: Asheville almost didn't get route

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:13:00 +0000

The Citizen-Times is doing a series on the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This first article looks at how Asheville -- the unofficial capital of Western N.C. -- almost didn't get a route to the scenic drive.

"It is hard to imagine Asheville without the Blue Ridge Parkway.

"For most visitors and locals, it seems as though the 469-mile road has always wound through the mountains of Western North Carolina, providing stunning views and access to miles of hiking. ...

"It was a very real possibility that the Blue Ridge Parkway could have bypassed much of Western North Carolina, dipping into the state and passing through Blowing Rock and Linville before heading into Tennessee and terminating at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"It was the hard lobbying of Asheville's tourism boosters, including the chamber of commerce and the newspaper, the Asheville Citizen, state highway officials and well-connected politicians that persuaded federal officials to choose the high-mountain route through Asheville and points west before ending in the Smokies. ...

"As the Blue Ridge Parkway prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2010, it is important to remember that the parkway was not always a done deal, said Dan Brown, former superintendent of the parkway and president of Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Inc., the organization heading up anniversary activities. ..."

WRAL explores the 'Devil's Tramping Ground'

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:52:00 +0000

I've noted before my childhood love of North Carolina's wild and varied ghost stories and general spookiness. One of my favorites has always been the "Devil's Tramping Ground" in Chatham County.

A couple of years ago I described it as the place where "Old Beelzebub himself apparently does his nightly planning here by walking in a circle. (A circle that never disappears!!!)"

My friend Chris took some video of the place back then; now WRAL has joined in with its "Tar Heel Traveler" series.

Quick hits: Avetts to close out MerleFest and 'Mockingbird' actress dies in Highlands

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Avett Brothers to close out MerleFest
The Avett Brothers announced via email last night that their only North Carolina performance of the first six months of 2010 (they're doing a New Year's Eve show in Asheville, of course) will be as the closing act of MerleFest on May 2nd (at around 3:30 p.m.)

"We have attended MerleFest, as fans and as performers, since 1994," says the Avetts. "There is not a finer or more welcoming music festival in the country. Those who make their way to Wilkes Community College for the event this year will find, as they would any year, a sincere and friendly place where the music is as colorful and beautiful as the North Carolina countryside that leads them there. MerleFest offers four days of absolute quality for the music-loving family. For us, in terms of performance, it is very much like coming home."

'To Kill a Mockinbird' actress dies in Highlands "Actress Collin Wilcox-Paxton, who portrayed the false accuser in the movie classic 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' died of brain cancer just months after the diagnosis. She was 74," according to the AP.

"Her husband, Scott Paxton, confirmed Thursday that she died Oct. 14 in Highlands in the southwest part of the state. No funeral was held. Instead, the family held a service before her death.

" 'It's pretty special being at your own memorial,' said her husband of more than 30 years.

"She was diagnosed Aug. 11 with three brain tumors, he said.

"The actress played Mayella Ewell in the movie based on Harper Lee's Pulitzer-winning novel. Her role as the young white woman who accuses a black man of beating and raping her in her home was brief but memorable. ...

"Her roles in the 1990s included television series and movies that were filmed near her hometown in the North Carolina mountains. They included 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,' which director Clint Eastwood filmed in Savannah, Ga., and the inspirational TV series 'Christy,' about a teacher in the early 1900s in remote Appalachia. ..."

UK mayor to dig for Lost Colony roots

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:29:00 +0000

From the North Devon (UK) Gazette ...

THE search for links between Bideford and the earliest American settlers will take the town's Mayor, Cllr Andy Powell, to North Carolina next month.

Mr Powell is planning to join high profile archaeologist Professor Mark Horton, one of the team from the television series Coast, and a small group of Americans on a series of exploratory digs on the outer banks region of North Carolina. ...

Aim of the North Carolina project is to establish whether Bidefordians were among the founding fathers of America.

It is believed some could have been among the Lost Colonists who landed on Roanoke Island in the 1580s- more than 30 years before the Pilgrim Fathers set sail from Plymouth.

The 117 men, women and children disappeared, but it is hoped to establish that they did not perish, but moved on to live with the local native American tribes to become the first permanent settlers of the continent.

In collaboration with an American research group, next month's test digs will examine areas where artefacts have been discovered, including what appear to be Elizabethan bricks - known to have been used as ballast in the ships of colonists - pieces of pottery and even parts of what could be an Elizabethan ship. ...

Through genealogy and modern DNA testing it is also hoped to establish links between people from Bideford and families in America that can be traced back to this era.

After publication of a list of the Lost Colonists' names earlier this year, Barnstaple businessman Philip Milton became the first local person to have his DNA tested.

Although several matches were found with Americans, genealogical research has not yet been able to take these as far back in time as the Lost Colony.

Five other families whose names might fit with the list had now also come forward, said Mr Powell. DNA test kits had been sent for from a laboratory in Texas, which would also test them.

ECU to open dental clinics in Ahoskie, EC and Sylva

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:25:00 +0000

East Carolina's somewhat controversial dental school is slated to open in 2011. Until then, the university will place dental clinics in three locations in the state in order to increase access to dental care in North Carolina.

The three locations will be in Elizabeth City, Ahoskie and Sylva, according to reports.

North Carolina's ratio of dentists to the population is below the national average. Four counties don't have dentists at all, and dentists in five more counties are close to retirement.

Appropriate: NASCAR Hall's first class has N.C. feel

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:51:00 +0000

It only makes sense that NASCAR's intitial Hall of Fame class would have a decidedly North Carolina feel to it.

After 60 years of racing, months of speculation and a final, spirited discussion among voters, the five men named Wednesday as the first inductees into the NASCAR Hall of Fame – Bill France Sr., Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Jr. and Junior Johnson – came as no surprise [said the Charlotte Observer].
The sport's founding father and his son (the Frances), the sport's all-time winningest driver and seven-time champion (Petty), another seven-time champion (Earnhardt) and one of the most successful driver/owners ever (Johnson) will be inducted into the new uptown Hall of Fame on May 23, 2010.

Petty is the pride of Randleman and Randolph County; a statue of Earnhardt stands sentinel over Kannapolis; and Johnson ran 'shine in the N.C. hills before running to greatness in the sport.

The building that will house the hall is owned by the city of Charlotte and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
The $195 million hall will feature a theater, NASCAR memorabilia and interactive exhibits. The city is paying for most of the building construction through a hotel/motel tax. The rest of the funding comes from bank loans backed by sponsorships and sales of commemorative bricks.
It is scheduled to open in May.

Fore more, check out these Observer profiles:

-Petty

-Earnhardt

-Johnson

(For some enjoyable reading -- and fantastic reporting -- check out Tom Wolfe's profile on Johnson from the 1965 issue of Esquire.)

N.C.-originated Carlyle to close

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:46:00 +0000

The signs are up at Carlyle & Co., the jewelry store chain that started in Greensboro in the 1920s: its days are numbered.

The restructuring firm that owns Carlyle & Co. Jewelers will close all 34 of the high-end stores in 10 states, including three in the Triad [says the News & Record].
The move will end an enterprise that had its beginning with a single store in Greensboro in 1922 .

Employees of what was once a family-operated chain with more than $100 million in annual sales said they had seen the end coming after the onset of the recession.

This is a sad thing to see. My sister once worked at a Carlyle in Greenville and still has fond memories of it. I bought my wife's engagement ring there; we'll have to find somewhere else to get it cleaned from now on, I reckon. We've even become friends with folks who work there.

And while I always hated the fact that this company sponsored an all-sports trophy between UNC and Duke (choosing to leave out N.C. State, Wake Forest and other N.C. schools and/or believing that people actually care about such a thing), I am still sad to see this most North Carolina of companies close.

Quick hits: Map of waterfalls & Charleston market to get face lift

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:42:00 +0000

New map is out on Western N.C. waterfalls
"Larry Odoski had become adept at answering outdoors questions.

"As the proprietor of Outdoor Paths, a map and guidebook shop in Black Mountain for several years before closing last year, Odoski answered constant questions, such as 'What's the name of that mountain?' 'How do I get to the Blue Ridge Parkway?' and 'Where can I go hiking?'

" But by far the most popular question was: 'Where are the waterfalls?'" says the Asheville Citizen-Times.

“ 'People were always asking where they could find waterfalls and which was the closest waterfall,' Odoski said. 'That's why a lot of people come to Western North Carolina — to see the waterfalls. I just listened to what people wanted and decided to make a map for them.'

" The result — about a year in the making — is the 'Waterfalls of North Carolina' map, produced by Odoski's Outdoors Paths Publishing company. The 26-by-28-inch topographic map shows the location of 301 waterfalls on one side of the map, which is printed on waterproof, tear-proof paper. ..."

Historic Charleston market to get upgrades, repairs
"Charleston's open air City Market, one of the most popular visitor attractions in South Carolina, is getting a $5 million face-lift, city officials said Tuesday," according to the AP.

"Millions of visitors come to the market each year to buy everything from sweetgrass baskets and local art to jewelry and regional foods.

" 'Few visitors to Charleston would consider a visit to Charleston complete if they don't come to the City Market,' said Mayor Joseph Riley. 'We want to make sure our local citizens see this as a personal treasure for them as well.'

"Work begins in January on repairing roofs, painting, repointing brick, adding signs and other upgrades to the existing market buildings which date to the early 1800s and were last improved more than 35 years ago. ..."

Report: N.C. top place in America to build data center

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Rick Smith over at The Skinny reports that the state of North Carolina is the place in the United States for a company to locate a new data center, says a new report from consulting firm Tishman Technologies.

The New York company notes that the U.S. is the second best country in the global market for data centers due to a variety of factors. Iceland is ranked first.
North Carolina is ranked first ahead of Tennessee.

“There is an overwhelming shift in the business world today to build data centers in the most economically efficient locations in the world because the means and technology to do so exist now more than ever before, and the economic pressures to keep operating costs contained are formidable,” said Ronald Bowman, Jr., author of “The Green Guide to Power: Thinking Outside the Grid” and “Business Continuity Planning: A Strategic Implementation Guide,” the guy who wrote the report.

Iceland ranked first due to low energy costs and free cooling, while America ranked second because of low energy costs, favorable labor and fiber optics.

The rest of the top 10:

3. China
4. Latvia
5. India
6. Russia
7. Canada
8. Japan
9. New Zealand
10. United Arab Emirates

More worry that BofA may leave the Queen City

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:31:00 +0000

It was alluded to before that with the loss of Ken Lewis as CEO, Charlotte-based Bank of America may just pick up and leave in the not-so-distant future. The Charlotte Observer today has a more in-depth look at how this concern is being viewed in Charlotte.

"Some bank insiders worry that the new commander might be less committed to keeping the base here. They fear that the corporate offices could be uprooted to New York or Boston or another city, perhaps because the new CEO wants to make a dramatic statement of change - or because the person simply doesn't want to live here," says the paper.

"Charlotte and state leaders say they're determined to keep the hometown bank in its hometown, especially after losing Wachovia's headquarters last year. Gov. Bev Perdue has been talking with bank officials, shareholders and community leaders about the bank's future since Lewis announced two weeks ago that he plans to retire by year's end, Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said."

According to the Observer, BofA employs some 15,000 people in Charlotte, not counting a number of smaller businesses. The bank is, in short, "the sole reason that Charlotte can still claim to be the country's No. 2 banking center, a title that has defined it for years."

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt, a Charlotte Democrat and member of the House Financial Services Committee, said he hasn't heard anything about Bank of America leaving beyond the concerns of local city leaders - worries he attributed to insecurities from the Queen City.

He said the concerns might say more about Charlotte than about Bank of America.

"It's a reflection of how we sometimes view ourselves as a city - the poor little Southern victim," he said. "We forget the advantages Charlotte has. ... We just have to get over the victim mentality."

For most of this decade, Charlotte has worried that the bank would move to New York, the home to most of its big-bank peers. In 1998, the concern was over a switch to the West Coast, when the bank - then called NationsBank - bought BankAmerica in San Francisco.
...
Some experts said that a new Bank of America CEO might want to move the headquarters to make a statement - perhaps to signal that the bank is shutting the door on a troubled year and a half. Or the new leader might want to signal that the bank is not just a consumer bank, but a bona fide Wall Street firm, especially after its Jan. 1 purchase of Merrill Lynch.
...
On Tuesday night, The Wall Street Journal reported that the bank had hired search firm Russell Reynolds Associates Inc. to assist in the CEO search - which could be a signal that the new leader is more likely to come from outside the bank.

Did 'Southerness' save lives on Sully's plane?

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:59:00 +0000

The Charlotte Observer has an interesting piece about Flight 1549, the plane that skidded into the Hudson River but was originally bound for the Queen City.

Apparently passengers on board recall a sense of calm during the terrifying moments. The reason? The fact that a bunch (100 of the 150 or so) of people on the plane were from the South.

"While there were sporadic acts of ugliness in the chaos after the splashdown - at least two passengers said their seat-cushion floatation devices were snatched by others - an inbred politeness seemed to be at work, says William Prochnau, author of 'Miracle on the Hudson: The Survivors of Flight 1549.'

" 'There's something to that,' says Prochnau, who assembled the stories of 118 of the 150 passengers for the book co-written by his wife, Laura Parker. Prochnau said in researching the book, they learned that whenever someone felt a rising sense of panic, others in the group settled them genteelly and guided them through the ordeal. About 100 of the passengers were from the South," says the Observer.

Even when the ferries pulled up to the bobbing fuselage to pluck passengers from wings and rafts, there was a cry of "women and children first," a gesture some female passengers later considered an arcane courtesy, Prochnau says.

"Certainly children first and those who needed assistance," Theresa Leahy, a Bank of America executive aboard the flight, says in the book.

"I appreciate the humanity that's happening there, that people are putting someone else ahead of themselves. But in an evacuation situation where time could be lost or other things could happen? ... You have to do the thing that's most efficient."

Other tales in the book include how the cabin filled with a putrid smell of burned geese and fuel after the impact and how a cacophony of prayers broke out - Christian, Muslim, Jewish - during the descent.

Mike Kollmansberger, an evangelical Christian from Lexington, S.C., says in the book he was certain they would all perish, but he was at peace: "I'm going to hit this water and go see the lord Jesus in 15 seconds."

Lori Lightner of Tega Cay, S.C., recalled thinking before the crash that her husband should collect double on the life insurance because she was on a work trip for Belk's. "Maybe it's a strange thing to do, thinking about your insurance when you are dying, but I'm a practical person."

What do you think? Is there something to this theory?

Western N.C.: Let the explosion of fall colors begin

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:25:00 +0000

"Leaf hunting and viewing will consume travelers, tourists and native North Carolinians alike over the next few weeks as colors in the high forests reach an exhilarating peak," says the Asheville Citizen-Times. "It is anybody's guess where the leaves will change first or fall last but conventional wisdom says the higher the elevation, the later the color change."

The paper goes on to recommend 10 "spectacular vistas" from which one can "experience the remarkable hues of changing maple, ash, oak and more," starting with the highest elevations and making their way down ... down ... down.

These images are my own. Click through to the article for more.

Blowing Rock

Hayesville

Chimey Rock Village

The 'Wolfpack State' is the sixth most popular

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:10:00 +0000

North Carolina is one good-looking state, according to a new poll.

The Triangle Business Journal reports that North Carolina tied with Arizona and Washington as the sixth most popular states in the nation when it comes to where people want to live, according to a Harris Interactive poll.

“The most popular states and cities where large numbers of people would like to live tend to attract tourists and business,” according to a Harris news release. “They are places where people like to take vacations and where companies like to have their offices and factories.”

It apparently helps to have a coastline. California was No. 1 for the sixth year in a row, with Florida and Hawaii next in line followed by Texas and Colorado.

"Despite North Carolina’s popularity, no cities within the state made the list of cities people would most like to live in or near. Among cities, New York City took the top spot in the poll, followed by Denver and San Francisco," said the TBJ.

Fall Destinations: Leaves, Scots and seafood

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Great Smokies a Top 10 Fall Destination

"The Great Smoky Mountains are a breathtaking sight, especially in fall when the mountain foliage turns to radiant shades of crimson, orange, and purple," says ShermansTravel.

"Nestled between North Carolina and Tennessee, the most-visited National Park in the United States is home to 100 species of trees with an awesome display of turning leaves.

"Peak fall colors are predicted for mid-October through early November; the most memorable foliage coming courtesy of sugar maples, scarlet oaks, sweetgums, red maples, and hickories."

Laurinburg brings Scottish heritage back

"Rona Wilkie stood in the shade playing a Scottish tune on her fiddle as a crowd gathered around on the grounds of Centre Presbyterian Church in Maxton Thursday afternoon.

"Wilkie, a native of Oban, Scotland, gave the locals a sample of the music she will perform this weekend during the Scotland County Highland Games in Laurinburg," says the Fayetteville Observer.

"Wilkie, a student at the University of Edinburgh, is a Gaelic singer and fiddler. She was selected to perform at the inaugural Scotland County Highland Games on the grounds of the John Blue Home and Historical Complex. ..."

A site for seafood

"After you’ve filled up with shrimp, crab, fish and other treats at this year’s N.C. Seafood Festival be sure to take home some tips for cooking up dishes of your own.

"The award-winning Cooking with the Chefs tent is back for a second year with chefs from Raleigh and the coast demonstrating their preparation of dishes featuring locally harvested seafood. Experts will also be on hand to share recipes and resources you can use to do the same at home," says the Jacksonville Daily News.

"A joint effort with the Carteret Catch program, the festival’s newest event is designed to promote and educate the public about local seafood while also entertaining them with the talents of area chefs. Joining the line-up this year is 18 Seaboard’s Jason Smith, who is known for buying local. ..."

The end of the road in sight for the great BofA-Charlotte relationship?

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Bank of America has been synonymous with Charlotte for so long that the word that CEO Ken Lewis is stepping down sent shockwaves through the Carolinas as people began to face the reality that that bank-city relationship may be in the final days.

"The decision means the end of Lewis' four-decade career and raises questions about whether the company can continue its tradition of hiring its leader from within," says the Charlotte Observer. "The move also spurs concerns about whether the bank will maintain its Charlotte headquarters, which has become more entrenched under Lewis."

Like BB&T and Wachovia, Bank of America has historically been a North Carolina bank, going through the names of North Carolina National Bank (NCNB), NationsBank and then Bank of America. (Full disclosure: My father retired from working more than 30 years with Bank of America.) The thought that Lewis' departure could mean a fracture between the bank and the Queen City -- and thus the state -- is disheartening.

In Charlotte, stacked with bank employees, retirees and investors, Lewis' departure was embraced by some who said he had become a distraction for the bank. They noted declining morale after the bank cut thousands of jobs in the Merrill deal. They also criticized Lewis' failure to line up a successor.
Others said the bank was losing an important figure.

"Ken is a great leader," former Bank of America chief financial officer Marc Oken said. "He has accomplished a lot over time as CEO. I have nothing but admiration for what he has done for the company." ...

(Image from http://www.zillyphoto.com/Clients/NCNB%20Bank%20brochure.htm)

Avett Brothers' new album drops [industry term] today

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:47:00 +0000

We're big fans of the Avett Brothers here. And I, for one, am extremely excited about their new album, "I and Love and You," which is released today. (Heard it via NPR's site; it's very good. The one complaint: no song with a North Carolina-centric title. Oh well.)

"It's their first album on Columbia Records and was produced by Rick Rubin, co-chairman of the label and producer for artists from Johnny Cash to Jay-Z to Metallica," says the Charlotte Observer. "On pre-orders alone, 'I and Love and You' hit the top 50 on Amazon.com.

"It's possible, of course, that this week turns out to be as good as it gets. The record could tumble down the charts, the part-time fans could wander off, and before long the Avetts could slide back down the hill they've spent all these years climbing.

"It's also possible, of course, that the opposite could happen.

"On major labels like Columbia - home of Dylan and Springsteen, Celine Dion and Beyonce - records routinely sell in the hundreds of thousands, and the top artists sell millions.

" 'We are at the table now,' says Dolph Ramseur, the band's manager. 'We're at the point where, if the general public likes the record ... well, things could happen that we can barely imagine.' "

The boys played Letterman last night. Unfortunately, their local affiliate in the Charlotte area cut away. Those of us in Raleigh got to see/hear the entire title track. (You can see it here also.)

The Charlotte Observer has done a very good job of tracking the band over the past week or so, so no need to re-hash here.

Update: As of 4p.m., "I and Love and You" is up to No. 22 on the Amazon chart.

Quick hits: Tupelo Honey plans second joint, and the American chestnut makes a comeback

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Tupelo Honey plans second Asheville restaurant
"Tupelo Honey Café plans to open a second Asheville location by early next year," says the Citizen-Times.

"The popular downtown eatery will open a larger restaurant in the former Stir Fry Café building at 1829 Hendersonville Road in south Asheville by mid January or early February, owner Steve Frabitore said.

"The original restaurant at 12 College St. will remain, he said.

" 'You will walk in and immediately recognize that it’s Tupelo Honey Café,' Frabitore said of the new site. ..."

Altered chestnut trees succeed
"In stands of tiny trees in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia blooms the hope of restoring a mighty giant, as scientists try to bring back the American chestnut from near extinction.

"Five hundred blight-resistant American chestnut saplings are thriving a year after they were planted in three national forests, a milestone in the long-term effort to re-establish the tree in its native habitat," says the N&O. "Reviving the chestnut, decimated by a fungus, would reverse one of the worst ecological disasters in the nation's history, reviving a major source of food and lumber that forest animals and humans have missed for more than a century.

"The cutting-edge genetic research that offers the promise of a blight-resistant hybrid could, if successful, also be used to stop the damage to U.S. forests by other exotic pests, such as bark beetles, the woolly adelgid and Dutch elm disease.

" 'If it works, there is a long line of similar ecological problems that are waiting for similar kinds of solutions,' said Ron Sederoff, a professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at N.C. State. 'There are 100 different threatened trees in our American forest, and each one has a disease or a pest that potentially could do as much damage as the blight did to the American chestnut.' ..."

Irish road bowling comes to the mountains

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Heck, I've just gotten used to Cornhole being the game du jour, and now comes word from the N.C. mountains that there may be a new game on which to latch: Irish road bowling.

"Irish road bowling is a sport best played on winding country roads, with lots of hills," says the Citizen-Times.

" 'Of course, Western North Carolina has quite a bit of those,' said Justin Hunter, one of the founders of the newly formed Asheville Irish Road Bowling Association. 'Plus it's an outdoor sport and relaxed, which fits the personality of the area.'"

Road bowling is an old sport, dating back about 350 years. It was originally played by Irish soldiers. A road bowler hurls a 28-ounce cannonball, called a bowl or a bullet, roughly the size of a tennis ball, toward a designated finish line between 1-1.5 miles away. Unlike conventional bowling, there are no pins to knock down. The bowler who takes the fewest tosses to reach the finish line wins. ...
Hunter grew up in West Virginia, home to one of the sport's three major associations in the United States; Hunter's father co-founded the association in Ireland, W.Va., in 1995. When Hunter moved to Asheville, he brought road bowling with him, and in March, the association had its first meeting.
About 15 people regularly play matches here, usually on a stretch of Grandview Road near the Buncombe-Madison county line. On a Sunday afternoon in early September, the road bowlers gathered there for a match. ...

You're on alert, Cornhole.

(Photo from Steve Dixon, Citizen-Times)

What if East Carolina really WAS a state?

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:50:00 +0000

It was hard not to chuckle at this Onion article last week. (Note: This is a sarcastic -- as in NOT REAL -- publication.)

At a press conference Monday, Jaguars quarterback and East Carolina University alum David Garrard indicated through certain statements to reporters that "East Carolina" is one of the 50 United States. "I can say without hesitation that it is definitely my favorite of all the Carolinas," said the former ECU Pirate, who, when pressed, identified the imaginary commonwealth's capital as Greenville and its state bird as the red-necked grebe.

Garrard is "quoted" as saying that he feels pride in crossing the border between North and East Carolina and that Barrack Obama carried the fictional E.C. in the last presidential election, proving that it is a progressive state.

I thought about this for a second: what if E.C. really was its own state? Of course, this has been tried before, to no success, way out west. Oh, and no one really even remembers that.

Quick hits: Carnival to cruise out of Charleston all year long, and state park attendance has jumped in '09

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Cruises to sail all year from Charleston
"South Carolina's tourism ship came in Thursday with the announcement that Carnival Cruise Line ships will sail from Charleston year-round, resulting in millions for the state and local economies," says the AP.

"Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corp., announced it will homeport its 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in Charleston beginning next May. The ship will make five-, six and seven-day voyages from South Carolina to the Bahamas and Key West, Fla.

" 'It's like a fantasy come true,' said state Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, who said the decision will mean $70million in direct spending yearly for the Charleston economy. ..."

Note: This why N.C. should work harder and faster on a deep(er)-water port.

State Park attendance up in N.C.

"Attendance at North Carolina’s state parks has jumped significantly during 2009, with a third of the state parks and state recreation areas reporting visitation up at least 20 percent, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation," said a DENR press release.

"Through August – the latest reporting period – the state parks recorded 10.6 million visitors, up 14 percent from a year ago and surpassing visitation during the same eight-month period of 2007, which was a record year for state parks visitation. The report includes 35 state parks and state recreation areas along with Weymouth Woods State Nature Preserve.

" 'Citizens in North Carolina traditionally have turned to state parks for affordable family recreation during difficult economic times, and these attendance numbers reflect that,' said Lewis Ledford, state parks director. 'Despite tight budgets and reduced staffs, the state parks have worked extra hard to maintain the facilities and the visitor experience so people can relax and enjoy the outdoors this year.' ..."

Lake Lure to honor Swayze

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:31:00 +0000

Twenty-years later, fans of the movie "Dirty Dancing" still make a pilgrimage to the mountain town of Lake Lure to re-live their favorite moments. Lake Lure is, to many, synonymous to the movie.

So it only makes sense that the town and community will hold a service in honor of the late actor Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer earlier this week.

The event is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Firefly Cove development, where scenes from the film “Dirty Dancing” were shot more than 20 years ago. Swayze, who starred in the movie, died Monday of pancreatic cancer [according to the Citizen-Times]. ...
“We've had a lot of calls coming in to the community. That's why this was put together,” said Michelle Whitaker, communications manager with the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority. ...
Besides paying tribute to Swayze, the event will help promote awareness of pancreatic cancer, Whitaker said.
Speakers will include Rev. Everette Chapman, who was pastor at Fairfield Mountain Chapel in Lake Lure when the movie was made, and Peggy Keys, who's active in the Pancreatic Action Network.
Whitaker advises people who attend to bring flashlights instead of candles. Parking is somewhat limited at Firefly Cove, she said.
The iconic movie reached classic status and became part of the fabric of Lake Lure, where a great deal of the movie was filmed and where the stars stayed during the filming. ...

New N.C. quarter on the way ... in a short 7 years

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:19:00 +0000

According to the Associated Press last week, a new series of quarters -- celebrating our national parks -- will soon be on the way, beginning next year.

The quarters "will be minted based on the dates the parks or historic sites were established and start with Arkansas' Hot Springs National Park, founded in 1832.

North Carolina's quarter will celebrate the Blue Ridge Parkway, which was established in 1936.

The others to come out next year include:

Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, 1872

California, Yosemite National Park, 1890

Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park, 1893

Oregon, Mt. Hood National Forest, 1893

Beaufort to host Nat'l. Estuaries Day

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:16:00 +0000

From the Jacksonville Daily News ...

The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, in partnership with the North Carolina Maritime Museum, will host a National Estuaries Day and National Public Lands Day celebration on Sept. 26 in Beaufort.

Outdoor interactive education displays and an indoor showing of the “Waters of Life” film will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Maritime Museum. Event details can be found at www .nccoast alreserve .net.

The day’s activities will begin with a clean-up of the Rachel Carson Reserve, the complex of islands located just across Taylor’s Creek from downtown Beaufort. ...

USS North Carolina will showcase the 'original'

noreply@blogger.com (M. Lail) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:20:00 +0000

We mentioned back in June the terrific gangway plank of an old USS North Carolina. (You can view the gangway at the Museum of History in Raleigh.) Well, turns out there's a terrific painting of another old USS North Carolina. (At least, I don't think it's the same one.) And you can view this rare painting on the 'newer' USS North Carolina, which is moored in Wilmington.

This spring, the battleship bought an original 1827 watercolor-and-ink-on-paper portrayal of the USS North Carolina – a ship-of-the-line that sailed before the Civil War – using funds raised by its non-profit support group, the Friends of the Battleship [says the Star-News].
The 182-year-old painting is a little too delicate for frequent showings, said Kim Sincox, museum services director for the battleship. Still, a high-color photo reproduction should soon be hanging in the memorial’s lobby area. Visitors will be able to see it on the way to the ship’s gangplank. ...
The painting is by Nicholas Cammillieri (1798-1856), one of the best-known maritime artists of the 1800s. Cammillieri, a native of Malta, painted a number of Royal Navy ships, but also executed paintings of the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) and USS Constellation which are now in the U.S. Naval Academy’s collection.
An inscription, in gold lettering, on the bottom of the painting notes that it depicts an actual incident: On Dec. 28, 1826, the North Carolina weathered a gale near the island of Zembra, off the coast of the North African nation of Tunis. The storm split the North Carolina’s jib sail into pieces, fouling much of the rest of the three-masted ship’s sails as well. ...
With 74 cannons, the North Carolina was the equivalent of a battleship of its day, intended for a place in a battle line in a major naval engagement – hence, ship-of-the-line. Built in 1820 at Philadelphia. it was more than 196 feet long, with a displacement of 2,633 tons and a crew of 820.
The North Carolina sailed from Hampton Roads, Va., to Gibraltar in 1825 to become the flaghip of Commodore John Rodgers, commander of the U.S. Mediterranean fleet. The Mediterranean was then a hot spot for the new navy; in 1815, the United States had fought a war with the Barbary pirates of North Africa, who were preying on U.S. merchant ships.
During that voyage, the North Carolina became the first American line-of-battle ship to cross the Atlantic. ...

(Image from the Star-News)