Greensboro Daily Photo

Music in the Park

We want to share one more day of MUSEP photos with you, as the free concerts on Sunday afternoons are so special and so much appreciated by the families of Greensboro. The above photo gives you an idea of turnout, and this is only a small slice of the crowd, that extends way back into the park. As you can see, people bring their own chairs and set up in groups; some dance, some mostly watch. Everyone has a good time. This past Sunday's concert was at Latham Park. The concert this upcoming Sunday will be at Lindley Park. 

The photo below features Wonderwall, the Beatles tribute group that delighted the crowd with over an hour of non-stop Beatles music. Do you know your Beatles trivia and the origin of their name? Wonderwall Music is the name of an album by former Beatle, George Harrison. It was the first solo album by one of the Beatles. It was also the soundtrack to the movie Wonderwall. The group, Wonderwall, was very well received by Greensboro's MUSEP-attending crowd. It was interesting to see people in their late 60s and children under ten equally enjoying this music from the 1960s. Happy Wednesday and may we all have more joyful music in our life!

MUSEP 2017

Greensboro is so lucky to have the Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP) concerts. They are held each Sunday, all summer long in the many different public parks throughout the city. Each park has its unique character and each band has its unique sound. Most bands are local. Last night, the evening started with the above-photographed Zinc Kings, masters of Piedmont old-time music. The second act to delight the crowd on the lawn was Wonderwall, a Beatles tribute band. Both bands were outstanding. 

MUSEP is quite a community-building event. People from all walks of life and all parts of the city come together to enjoy music outdoors. Many friend and family groups put together elaborate picnics and combine listening to music with socializing over dinner. While last night's event at Latham Park was packed, the photo shows how much fun some of the under five crowd had while listening to music. They were equally enthusiastic when the Beetles tunes were playing. While the photo is a grainy, cell phone photo, it captures the joy we all feel at MUSEP.

Three Sunday concerts remain (Aug. 13 in Lindley Park; Aug. 20 in Country Park; and Aug. 27 in LeBauer Park). See here for times and names of bands.

 

Roundabout in College Hill

Roundabouts, or traffic circles, are looping junctions that are meant to keep traffic moving. The City of Greensboro is trying out one at the corner of Walker Avenue and South Mendenhall Street, in front of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. The circular shape only makes it necessary to stop if you need to yield the right away to someone who has entered the circle first. Some roundabouts are fancy, with statues or fountain in the center. The above intersection in Greensboro is rather small and makeshift; if the roundabout stays, chances are, it will not have much in the middle.

The earliest circular junction known is in the English city of Bath and dates to 1768. The modern day roundabouts opened in Germany in 1899. They started becoming common in the 1960s with England having many and France boasting having half of all roundabouts. As for Greensboro, we're not known for them, but they are becoming more common. Can you think of where some of the other are located in the city? Do you like them. Most people seem to have a strong opinion about them- either loving them or avoiding them. What are your thought? Honk if you love roundabouts!

Five Hearths

We had trouble figuring out how to format this post, so, we're sharing them all in this giant format. They are best appreciated when seen together. These sculptures appear in front of the Jim Melvin Municipal Center downtown on Washington Street. They are a series of five cast glass and concrete works, resembling headstones, located just off the sidewalk. They were created in 2016 by artists Crystal Schenk and Shelby Davis. The sculptures reflect moments of individuals working working together as community, doing things we can all celebrate and be proud of. As people walk to the municipal building, they see this homage to the diversity of Greensboro and how individuals come together to make community.

See the exact explanation in the plaque below. The installation is a gift of the Cemala Foundation. If you are local, we encourage you to head downtown and see them for yourself. As with all good sculpture pieces, seeing them installed in three dimensions is much more impactful than looking at photos. Although, you don't have to squat to get a good look through our photos! Happy Tuesday, dear readers.

Silent Meditation at Church of the Covenant

Every Tuesday at 12:00 noon, Church of the Covenant holds a twenty minute silent meditation. The meditation begins with a facilitator saying a few words and the ringing of Tingsha chimes. Meditation closes in the same way. Last Tuesday, Jim Carmichael (featured above) led the meditation. Jim is a Professor of Library and Information Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is personable, comfortable speaking in front of a group, and masterful at helping people feel welcome. If you are looking for a way to bring a little calmness into your life, these meditation sessions are just what the doctor would order. Meditation will not be held this July 4th, but will resume on July 11th. Church of the Covenant is located on South Mendenhall Street, at the intersection of Walker Avenue.

These meditation opportunities are one of may ways that Church of the Covenant reaches out to the community. They also provide space for the "After Gateway" Program, a non-profit day health program for adults with multiple or severe developmental disabilities. Also, several Greensboro artists have studios in the church facility. To be sure, everyone associated with Church of the Covenant is doing great good things for Greensboro. If you are looking for ways to serve, volunteer, or donate to good causes, contact Church of the Covenant to learn how you can be involved. In the meantime, Jim, and the other people dedicated to attending Tuesday meditations, will welcome you with open arms- and no strings attached. Here is the book Jim read from this past Tuesday.

LimeBike Bicycles: In Motion!

Bicycles are taking UNCG's campus by storm and, yesterday, WXII NEWS was on campus to feature them. LimeBike, UNCG, and the City of Greensboro are working together to make the hi-tech bicycle venture work. There is no kiosk or docking station as the bikes work with a phone app. a 30 minute ride is 50 cents for university students and employees and $1.00 for the general public. The system is accessible and reasonably priced. To pick up or drop off a bike, you just have to know where to pick up and drop off bicycles. When you log on to the app, you can track the bike that is closest to you. Each bike has anti-theft locks and alarms. When you are finished riding, all you have to do is push down the rear wheel lever to lock the bike. The app will provide you with a trip summary and you are no longer responsible for the bike.*

LimeBike is a California startup and UNCG is their first campus. They selected UNCG because of Greensboro's weather and the fact that UNCG is a bike friendly community (reference). If you are interested, you really ought to try one out this summer while there is less traffic. The first ride is free and, even with UNCG's campus expanding, you can get from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes.

Currently, there are 150 bikes on campus and they plan to bring more in the fall. Below, you see two riders being filmed on Spring Garden Street and a closeup of a bike (click on the picture to make it larger). Reference and more information (here).    The July theme for the City Daily Photo community is motion. Rent a LimeBike and MOTION it will be, just like in the photo below.

Wall of Kindness

The Wall of Kindness is located on Bain Street at the 600 block of South Elm Street, downtown Greensboro. The purpose is to have clothing and other items available free for those in need. The Wall of Kindness is one of many  acts of charity popping up around Greensboro. There is a small homeless encampment not too far from here and the 16 cents ministry meets under a bridge, not too far from here. It is a perfect opportunity for someone to stop by and get a pair of shoes for a job interview, a clean t-shirt, or a coat when the weather is cold. Many religious institutions have begun extending their missions beyond their brick and mortar buildings. The idea of helping those in need in a way that it is convenient is a sound one. 

Little places like The Wall of Kindness mean a lot to those who use them. The day we were there, we saw a man stop by and write an inspirational message and leave it in the shoe pouch. On this glorious Sunday, let us all stop and give thanks for what we have and consider how we can help those in need. Somewhere in an old e-mail, we think we have a note from one of the people involved in this initiative. If you know who is maintaining this wall, please let us know. If we find out, we will share.

Happy Sunday!

New Old Mill at Bicentennial Garden

The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden on Hobbs Road, the 7 1/2 acre park, established in 1976, keeps getting better every year. This year, it has added an old mill and pond. The mill shows visitors how meal is ground from grain by the energy generated from water flowing over a wheel. Inside, there is a vintage millstone (see below). What starts out as whole kernels of a grain like corn, gets ground down for use in foods like cornbread.

During the Parisian Promenade, an older gentleman was on site explaining how the mill stone was procured from Wilmington ten years ago and how they found the matching hardware up north. Hopefully, he will document everything he knows about the mill and share it on the park's website. He knows the history and we don't want to lose it. If you are out this weekend, consider stopping to see this lovely facility.  If elementary schools still have fourth grade social studies themed around North Carolina, this would be a fabulous field trip. Actually, everyone in Greensboro should see it. The old mill is located on the North Holden Road side of the park. 

The Sierra Club

The Sierra Club of Greensboro is working diligently to clean up the stream that flows by the Yanceyville Curb Market. In the above photo, you can see a member who was removing garbage last Saturday. Greensboro is part of the Piedmont Plateau Group (PPG)  of the Sierra Club. The PPG Group was founded in 2013, but the organization dates back to 1892 when it was founded by John Muir. They have several events coming up in June and, if you are interested, see here. 

If you are looking for a great way to spend time outside and to make a difference, the Sierra Club is a great place to start. The Sierra Club advocates for exploring, enjoying, and protecting the planet together. It is an organization multiple levels of commitment. You can do something specific like help clean a stream, on an ongoing basis; or, you can find something almost every day to do to help the group impact the environment positively. It is so rewarding to chart the progress of the stream in front of the curb market. It now has more native plantings around it; a path is in process; and they will likely to get a bench to sit and appreciate the improvements of this little stream that is said to originate downtown, from a spring located under the International Civil Rights Museum.

If you see Vance at the Yanceyville Curb Market (photographed below)  ask him about how you can become involved in this very worthy organization.  

Lake Higgins

Lake Higgins, a 226-acre municipal reservoir,  was beautiful and tranquil today. The lake is closed to the public on Mondays and so paddleboat, kayaks, and fishermen had to seek recreation elsewhere. The above photo was taken from the bridge at Carlson Dairy, facing east. While it is over a month until summer, based on the above photo, it's beginning to look a lot like summer in Greensboro. With temperatures like yesterday, in the 80's, beach weather is upon us.

While Lake Higgins is the smallest of Greensboro's three lakes (Higgins, Townsend, Brandt), the fishing is spectacular. The second and fourth Wednesdays, they offer night access to the lake. Mark your calendar for May 24th and head out for an aquatic adventure. If there are teens in your life, Lake Higgins has an Xtreme Teen Adventure Week from July 10- 14th (see more, here).  We hope you have an opportunity to breathe some fresh air and enjoy Greensboro's lakes this summer- maybe even at night!

 

Wheels on the Greenway

Yesterday a familyl-friendly, bike riding event, Wheels on the Greenway. It was held in downtown Greensboro at Morehead Park, at the Baker and Bean/Four Flocks and Larder parking lot. If you haven't been to this multi-restaurant facility, you should stop by and experience this great resource. They were very involved in the bicycling event and very accommodating of participants who parked in their parking lot. They even had golf carts to transport people who needed to get to their cars. All children who attended the bicycling event received a free helmet and t-shirt from Crumbly Roberts. Cycles de Oro was on site doing bike tune ups. Some people brought bikes to donate to Warnersville Recreation Center. Food was provided by Baker and Bean. Multi-purpose events like this provide families with great fun and get children hooded on bicycling early. Children also learned to ride safely and to get to know part of Greensboro's greenway.

The above photo features a one of the many groups pulling up to participate in the ride. The weather was absolutely perfect. Greensboro is lucky to have so many events free and so many people working together to make events memorable.

The Unbridled Joy of Dogs

The above photo was taken at the Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital Dog Park at LeBauer Park. The two retrievers and the Bernese Mountain Dog were having a blast running around in the dog park at LeBauer Park, downtown. The golden retriever's ears show the energy being expended during play. The young girl on the hill was having the best time playing with the dogs. The dogs were well behaved and gentle with her. It is amazing how all of those big dogs were so well socialized. Greensboro is lucky to have such a great resource as LeBauer Park and we are lucky to have so many options for taking our canines to play.

The above dog park is sponsored by Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital, located just a few blocks away at 120 W. Smith Street. Hats off to Dr. John Wehe and his staff. They provide great service in the office for the downtown canines and canines visiting downtown. Dr. Wehe was generous to help with this park. We first learned of him because he is one of the few veterinarians to treat pet rabbits. 

Lets all make an effort to unleash a little unbridled joy more often- with our without canines!

NCCJ

Here we see several NCCJ members at Beth David Synagogue facilitating an interfaith tour earlier this year. Established in 1927 as the National Conference for Christians and Jews, the organization was founded in response to the anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States. In the 1990's the NCCJ expanded their mission and updated their name to the National Conference for Community and Justice. The group is dedicated to bringing diverse people together to address interfaith and social issues for ninety years now. NCCJ aspires to build a community free of bias, bigotry, and racism. Greensboro is lucky to have the organization based here and North Carolina is lucky to be home to NCCJ's "Anytown"  summer camps.

NCCJ has so much planned for this spring and summer and today, they will have a big fundraiser at the Chipotle Restaurant at 1402 Westover Terrace (across from Lucky 32).  If you eat there between the hours of 4-8pm and mention NCCJ, Chipotle will donate 50% of the proceeds back to NCCJ. That arrangement has the potential to be significant. If you want to help teach people to learn to get along regardless of background and beliefs, eat at Chipotle in Midtown and mention NCCJ. Learning to work together is a skill where we adults have room for growth, too. May NCCJ continue to do its fine work for many years to come.

Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Afternoon in the Park

Yesterday was looking a lot like summer at LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro. This urban park was a hub of activity yesterday and people were dressed in cheerful, summer clothing.  Children were playing on playground equipment, one man was practicing golf on a putting green, people were competing in ping pong and fooz-ball. Children were running through a shallow wading pond, friends were talking, dogs were running in the dog park and people were listening to the Kassem Williams Jazz Trio. People from many ethnicities were interacting; even the weather cooperated yesterday. It was sunny and still a little early for the pesky bugs to be attacking. Yesterday was just about perfect in LeBauer Park.

We hope you have a chance to visit and attend an event at LeBauer Park soon. What a great way to end a weekend that, for many, was a holiday, and for some spring break.  We're betting there will be a lot of tired students, employers, and bosses out there today. If you have to call a meeting, try to keep it brief.

Happy Monday! 

J is for Jewish Federation

The Greensboro Jewish Federation building is located at the corner of Friendly Avenue and Dolley Madison Road. The Federation has two constituent agencies, The Jewish Foundation of Greensboro and Jewish Family Services. As stated on their website, the "Federation has been supporting, sustaining and revitalizing Jewish life for nearly a century." They provide many important services to the local Jewish community. Their assistance extends to financial, emotional, physical and spiritual support. Their website alone is a wealth of information related to issues important to the Jewish community. From seeking grants and scholarships for travel to Israel to attending Jewish overnight camps locally, the website of the Greensboro Jewish Federation is a good place to start. The Federation also offers plenty of opportunities to volunteer and provide financial donations to support their efforts.

Since the 1800's, Greensboro's Jewish community has played a leadership role in many facets of life here. Moses and Ceasar Cone arrived in Greensboro, at the end of the 19th century.  The Cone family name became associated with textile industrialism, conservation, and philanthropy. Moses Cone convinced another pair of Jewish brothers, the Sternbergers, to move to Greensboro, in part because of the acceptance he felt by the Greensboro community. Greensboro's early Jewish families, like the above Federation, are at the root of Jewish life in Greensboro.*

Today is ABC Wednesday and J is for Jewish Federation. See our A-I entries, here. See a close-up view of the tree of life/ Star of David decoration on the building's facade, below.

 

*reference and more information, here.    

H is for Heart

This past Saturday,  Allen-Tate Realtors gathered at their office on Green Valley Road to sew for the Scarves 4 Warmth Project. The workday was sponsored by Realtor Kelly Creed. Many of her Allen-Tate colleagues filled their training room to make scarves that will be donated to people in need of a little warmth. The bright, cheerful scarves, often with hearts and crosses sewn on them, send a message that even though you are down on your luck, you can know that an assembly-line of people is behind the scenes supporting you. 

Standing in the back is Bobby Craddock, the project's founder. If you would like to volunteer with the Scarves for Warmth Project or schedule a workshop, email Bobby at scarves4warmthproject@gmail.com. We have the feeling this project is the start of something even bigger. Finally, we'd like to send a big thank you to the Green Valley, Allen-Tate crew. They made some beautiful scarves.

Today is ABC Wednesday and we're sharing "H" is for "Heart" as part of the Round 20 series.

Mountain Biking

The well-maintained trails around Bur-Mil Park are perfect for off-road biking. The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department maintains the trails not only in the city, but also around the watershed lakes. Greensboro Fat Tire Society, our local mountain biking club, also helps keep the trails clean and safe.* The groups try to keep the trails as primitive as possible. They provide rules of etiquette. In 2003, Bicycling Magazine voted the Owl's Roost Trail (above) as the "best urban mountain biking trail" in the country.

The two cyclists above seemed to be enjoying their ride yesterday, and they weren't the only ones. Hiking and bike trails were extremely busy as temperatures soared to 82 degrees; surpassing the 1999 record of 73 degrees. It was perfect spring weather; except, spring is over a month away. North Carolina weather can be unpredictable,  and Greensboro has been known to have ice storms in March.

We hope you had a chance to spend some time outside yesterday. If not, there is always today, and tomorrow, and the next day...

*reference and more information, here.

E is for Elam

Elam Avenue runs through the heart of Lindley Park. The above photo features the Corner Farmers Market at the corner of Elam and Walker Avenue. What started as a small effort has evolved into a weekly farmers market that has been tremendous for community building. Neighbors gather, people jumpstart their dreams by selling produce, soap, baked goods, or anything else that has the potential to transform from a cottage industry into big business. This regional market sells local produce and products from 8:00 am until noon. Noon is about the time the parking lot needs to be used by the adjacent businesses, especially Sticks and Stones.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, E is for Elam. Farmers Markets are starting to pop up all over Greensboro. This one on Elam, however, can't be beat. It is a great way to buy local while getting out to socialize with neighbors.

 

Elm Street Center

 
Elm Street Center, at 203 South Elm Street, has become quite a hub of activity over the last decade. What was once the Ellis Stone Department Store, built in 1949, has become one of downtown Greensboro's premiere event venues. The Regency and Empire Rooms can both accommodate close to 1,000 guests. The rooms are decorated tastefully and are favorites for high school proms, wedding receptions, corporate events, and other special functions.

The above photo features part of the decorations at the street-level, entrance hallway for an event held on January 27th. On the same night, there was also a life-size replica of a camel. We're not sure what event was being held that night, but the decorations created a feeling of being in the Middle East. If you look closely above the door on the left, you can see the Regency Room, and to the right, the "E" for the Empire Room. It is hard to believe that in a little over a month, the building will be gearing up for prom season!

Penguin Time

The temperature in Greensboro was in the 20's last night; not as cold as other parts of North Carolina, but cold enough. The above scene evokes winter: chilly-blue walls and perky penguins. The photo was taken at feeding time at the African penguin exhibit at the Greensboro Science Center. If you love penguins, you can actually sign up for an opportunity to go behind the scenes and watch them be fed. They are an endangered species and the science center helps with conservation efforts.

On the day we visited, several school groups were on site and the penguins captivated them. Seeing the children so engaged in learning reminded us of all the great resources we have in our community. While school groups won't be there today, The Greensboro Science Center is open today from 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. We have found that the earlier you arrive, the more opportunities you will have to see animals being fed. If you are looking for an educational adventure, a place to get in out of the cold, or a place for great photos. Whatever you decide, where ever you are, have a memorable day!

NC A&T Gospel Choir

The North Carolina A&T State University Fellowship Gospel Choir sang their hearts out at the Ronald E. McNair Celebration and Memorial Day this past Friday. McNair was a physicist and NASA astronaut who died on the Space Shuttle Challenger during its 1986 mission. McNair earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics at NC A&T State University. To honor and remember their fellow Aggie, the University always holds an event around the time of the explosion of the Challenger. The community is invited to participate. The above photo was taken at the luncheon held on campus this past Friday.

According to the University's website, the mission of the gospel choir is to "promote and provide a socio-religious organization that embraces the love of gospel music." The gospel choir travels extensively, and frequently performs at NC A&T's official ceremonies. We hope you have an opportunity to hear them live sometime. They are outstanding. In the meantime, you can listen to one of their performances, here. If you look to the right of the choir, on the edge of the photo, you can see a photo of Dr. McNair. If you believe in heaven, you surely believe Dr. McNair is there waiting to greet us when it is our time-- and, just perhaps with a gospel song! Happy Sunday!

School Choice Program in Full Swing

This is the time of the year is when families at all grade levels start thinking about schools. High school students are starting to hear about their post-secondary options. K-12 families are trying to find programs that meet their children's needs. Students always have the option to attend their designated school. However, Guilford County also has a wide variety of themed choices. The above photo features families and educators in the booth of the General Greene Elementary School of Science and Technology. This school, located on Benjamin Parkway, had so much interactive material that students were captivated. Their display had everything from microscopes so science experiments to reptiles. General Greene has a state of the art science lab, many options for digital learning, and educational field trips to reinforce their curriculum. They also have extremely catchy tie-dyed t-shirts (see below). 

Each magnet school, or school of choice, has curricular features and equipment relevant to their theme. If you live in the county and are interested, apply soon. The application process is in full swing and programs fill quickly. For the next three Mondays, potential applicants have the opportunity to tour schools. 

YMCA Bus on South Elm Street

It was a beautiful day in downtown Greensboro today. Being in the mid-50's, the weather was perfect for all of the events related to civil rights and community service, including the parade in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The above Thomas-built bus was parked in front of the International Civil Rights Museum while a group of students was touring the museum. They sounded so energized about their visit. While the museum has struggled financially, when you hear adolescents excited about a field trip and what they are learning, especially when it is historically significant, you know the experience is an important one.

This bus, from one of the YMCA's from the northwest North Carolina region, has a really catchy slogan on the side, "on the road to success." It is beautifully painted and the fact that it was made right down the road in High Point makes it even more special. While the streets look empty in this photo, many of the downtown venues, including the civil rights museum, were busy. Happy Tuesday, today, dear readers. For those who were lucky enough to have yesterday off, it will feel like Monday.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2017

Today is a federal holiday, marking the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King was a proponent of non-violent activism and today is a day when many people honor him by doing something positive for their community. The holiday was signed into law in 1983 under the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The above photo was taken last year in the morning at the International Civil Rights Museum on South Elm Street. The people in the photo were probably gathering to attend the annual breakfast. This year's breakfast will feature Dr. Oscar Dowdell-Underwood as guest speaker. He is the author of Bumblebees Can Fly: Empowering Young Men of Color." It is sponsored by the Human Relations Commission. 

After breakfast this morning, people will gather to prepare for the parade. It will begin at 11:00 am and finish at approximately 2:00 pm. in Southside, a 1.2 mile stretch along Martin Luther King Drive. If you can't attend the parade, hopefully you will have a chance to do something to celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. King. Greensboro's connections to the Civil Rights Movement are many.  Dr. King was scheduled to speak in Greensboro on April 5, 1968, the day after he as was assassinated. 

 

Reconsidered Goods

As you can see by clock, we visited Reconsidered Goods at precisely 4:40 pm. In the above photo, Co-Founder and Director Paige Cox took a break in her busy schedule to tell us about the store. Reconsidered Goods is a non-profit, creative reuse center, modeled after the Scrap Exchange in Durham, NC. Paige partnered with Joseph Edwards and Martha-Hughes-James to found the store, located just behind the Red Collection on Patterson Street at Holden Road.

In the background of the photo, you can see some of the inventory available for purchase. They offer everything from fabric samples and scraps to skeleton keys and vintage snapshots, just waiting to be up-cycled and repurposed. While we were on site, Paige was explaining field trip options for schools. Teachers can bring students and help foster their creativity as well as give them tasks that scaffold the engineering design process. Paige was also helping a furniture maker who came to purchase leather. There were several bolts and they were reasonably priced. Another person was buying boxes of 1,000 piece puzzles. Two workers were pricing and sorting and rolling fabric. Reconsidered Goods is a busy and dynamic place.

The photo below features  the Make & Take area where people, young and old alike, can work for a studio fee of five dollars. There are many free materials in the Make & Take area and other items, like mat board and old photos, can be purchased. Several items are available for under a dollar. Paige is so committed to this venture that she left her full-time position staging and setting merchandise for Anthropologie, where she worked for five years. The idea is a powerful one. Even if you aren't inclined to repurpose things, the store is well worth a visit. They also offer classes. Finally, they gladly accept donations- in case you are looking for something to do with those left-over art supplies like that 1/2 a ball of yarn or partial tube of glue. It is also a great place for students to volunteer and, with a little creativity, earn service learning hours.

 

The Best of 2016

This past year, we at Greensboro Daily Photo have had the opportunity to attend so many wonderful events in Greensboro, meet some great people, and find a year's worth of interesting nooks and crannies to feature. It was really hard to pick a "Best of 2016" photo for the International City Daily Photo Community. Our local readers tend to respond most enthusiastically to posts that tell the stories of Greensboro-- like our recent ones of the Millennium Gate or the O. Henry dog statue. There is so much to love about our city. Over the past year, we enjoyed having the presidential candidates come to town. The opening of LeBauer Park was a very special occasion, too. We finally discovered Charlie and Joan at the Greensboro Grub this past year. This husband-and-wife duo does a tremendous job of fostering a sense of community in Greensboro. Also, we are fortunate to have four distinct seasons here, with each season offering great photo opportunities.

In the end, we decided to share our September 10th photo from the 2016 National Folk Festival.  Having the opportunity to host the National Folk Festival, in downtown Greensboro, was pretty special. The festival was a music-packed weekend of fabulous musical acts, representing ethnicities and musical genres. Attendance in 2016 surpassed the previous year's attendance. The hope is that participation in 2017 will be even greater and that Greensboro will be able to sustain the event after the three nationally-sponsored years.

Regardless of where you live, we thank you for reading this past year and hope you continue reading in 2017. Happy New Year!

 

Air Harbor Airport

The above photo features a small plane at Air Harbor Airport in northwest Greensboro. The Air Harbor Airport, or W88 (its identifier), is located six nautical miles north of downtown Greensboro. It encompasses 36 acres of land at 198 Air Harbor Road. It has 25 feet of an asphalt airstrip and 40 ft. of width of a grass landing strip. Additionally, Air Harbor has several hangars for flight enthusiasts to store their private planes. The airport is open to the public, so, if you are looking for something to do on this warm winter day, the Air Harbor Airport is a fun place to go and get a close up view of aviation.

If you need to get to Atlanta, you will want to fly out of Piedmont Triad International Airport. However, if you want some good, old, Greensboro fun, take a carload of friends or loved ones to Air Harbor and see who is out flying. The people who hang out at the airport love to talk aviation. You will learn a lot!

White Peacock

This white peacock lives at the Greensboro Science Center. He is simply stunning when you can get him to display his tail feathers. He is one of the few animals at the science center who is not caged or captured, per se. He is free to roam around the zoo part in the back of the facility and seems perfectly content to roam among the other creatures who live there. While, he is not particularly aggressive, guests are asked not to try to chase him or to pet him. He does, however, seem to like having his photo taken. 

The Greensboro Science Center, still located on Lawndale Avenue, is a fabulous place to visit any day of the year. If you have guests in town, and are looking for something to do this week, the Greensboro Science Center is a great option. Every year, the center gets bigger and better; and, the white peacock has been there to oversee it all. Since male peacocks have close to 200 tail feathers, let's say he salutes his home with a full 200-feather salute.

Mitzvah

According to the website of the Greensboro Jewish Federation, the "Federation has been supporting, sustaining and revitalizing Jewish life for nearly a century." They help the 13 million Jews around the world by working with local and oversees partners to see what is needed in the community and for families and individuals. The above photo features their van that drives people around town to complete errands who otherwise would not have transportation. Located at 5509 West Friendly Avenue, the local Jewish Family Services/Greensboro Jewish Federation does so much to help in our community. They have senior services, social services, family programming; they provide Jewish overnight camp grants and scholarships, and more. It doesn't matter if you are an immigrant, new to the United States or someone who has been in Greensboro for a very long time, the notion of mitzvah runs deep.

Mitzvah is a multi-faceted word, related to doing good deeds, is not easily reduced to a short definition. Here is a website that explains the idea of mitzvah, and starts by reminding us that the word is mentioned about 300 times in the five books of Moses. One of the biggest acts of mitzvah that will happen in Greensboro this weekend is that more than 100 Jewish volunteers will staff Moses Cone on Christmas Eve and Day, so that Christian families can enjoy the holiday. This year, that is an especially great act of mitzvah as the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins tomorrow, plus tomorrow is the Jewish Sabbath and it is the weekend. The greatest acts of "mitzvah" are deeds that cannot be bought or sold. Honk if you love mitzvah! Better yet, find some good deed to perform.

Tuxedo Trot

If you have some time off between now and the first of the year, and are looking for something to do, the Greensboro Science Center is a great option. The earlier you get there in the day, the more likely you are to see the animals in action. Yesterday, the above colony of penguins got fed at 10:00 am to the delight of the school children who were visiting with their teachers. The two young ladies in the above photo were masterful at making sure that each one of the African penguin got fed. African penguins are an endangered species and the Greensboro Science Center works hard to keep their penguins healthy and multiplying. As a matter of fact, rumor has it, baby penguins are currently in the works.

Here is some general information about the African penguins and how their numbers have declined over the last century. Learning about them may make you want to get involved in the conservation efforts. In May, the science center holds the Tuxedo Trot: A Run for the Penguins. This fundraiser is very popular in Greensboro as so many people here enjoy running as a sport. Finally, watching these flightless birds diving and playing in their tank will make it clear why the movie about emperor penguins is called "Happy Feet." May we all have happy feet at this busy time of year.

Glenwood UMC & the Really, Really Free Market 2016

Glenwood United Methodist Church can be seen in the background of this photo. The foreground features people enjoying the Really, Really Free Market at the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Grove Street. This year Kathy Clark and Liz Seymour worked on the event together and it was even larger than last year. There was a drum group; Reiki was available; and activities were provided for children. This made the initiative and event bigger than just giving and taking items- but, there was plenty of that. There was a genuine sense of community and fellowship throughout the day. As soon as we dropped off clothing, people were trying it on and saying how much they liked the items. It felt so good to know that others could use what we could not. No money changed hands; just smiles.

In researching Glenwood UMC last year, we found records to indicate that this church, located at 1417 Glenwood Avenue, was founded in the late 1800s. Hopefully, the church was involved in this event. It brought a lot of positive publicity for the neighborhood. Happy Sunday, dear readers. Consider hosting a similar event in your neighborhood.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas is a natural gas distributor serving North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. They get their gas primarily from the the Gulf Coast in the United States. The company began operation in 1951 in New York and merged with a North Carolina Company, coming here in 1994. At the beginning of the month, they were acquired by Duke Energy (October 3rd 2016). Between Piedmont's 1 million customers and Duke Energy's 8 million customers, the combined operation is serving about 9 million people. That is a lot of revenue from natural gas and electricity. As seen in the above sign at the facility on Greengate Drive, the cost of natural gas is currently 1.36 per unit. The gated corporate building is tucked between Randalman Road and South Elm-Eugene Street, off Corliss Drive.

Piedmont Natural Gas won a platinum award fitness award from the National Heart Association for the last five years. They earned this designation for their healthy work environment. Let's hope the fit-friendly trend continues now that they are part of an even bigger company. The above pole with the rectangular top, to the right of the company sign, is a solar panel. It looks like the company is energy efficient, too. If you really want to get to know Greensboro, we suggest you explore some of these off-the-beaten-path places. Thanks to ABC Wednesday, which motivates us to explore the A-Zs of our city, we get to see so many interesting businesses, places, people and venues in Greensboro. Today is ABC Wednesday and "P" is for Piedmont (our region between the mountains and the coast) and for Piedmont Natural Gas. If you want to look back on the A-O entries for our 2016 Alphabet series, see, here.

 

Board of Elections

The Guilford County Board of Elections has been busy lately because same-day registration is possible, if you go during an early voting time. And, early voting has begun. You need to go downtown to the Guilford County Courthouse on West Market Street to vote early. Yesterday afternoon, it was taking about an hour to move through the line. On Thursday, additional early voting places will open, which will expand capacity great. It is anticipated that the polls will be busy right up to Tuesday, November 8th (Election Day) when the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. On July 29th, the need for registered voters to have a photo ID was struck down. So, if you are registered, all you need to do is state your name, address, and sign that you are who you say you are. Room 115, The Board of Elections, oversees this process.

The Board of Elections* has many functions. They provide voters with information about voting; provide information about elected officials and about filing fees; oversee the whole election process, monitor and provide results; they also share data, district and precinct maps, and reports. In spite of the calm seen in the above office yesterday, just beyond the office door, the line was wrapped through the hallway and, to be sure, the Board of Elections staff members were hard at work. Workers in the voting room were working tirelessly, without much time to catch their breath. 

We got tickled as we exited the courthouse after voting, the young man behind us was videotaping a selfie to his social media. His broadcast started like this, "I was a Bernie man and Bernie left me, so I had to pick between two [imperfect] candidates..." His broadcast continued all the way down the block. It was heartwarming to see young voter so passionate about the election. If you haven't voted already, now, it is your turn!

*read more about the Board of Elections, here.  

N is for News

This very beautiful and creative bench is located in front of the News and Record Office at East Market Street. It is made of bronze and the sheets of metal represent different iterations of the newspapers in Greensboro over the years: Greensboro Record, News & Record, The Daily Record, Greensboro Daily News, The Greensboro Daily Record, and the Greensboro News and Record. Actual front pages of the newspaper are accurately engraved on the sheets, sight down to the date the event happened in what appears to be a 16-font. There is so much detail. The 7' x 10' x 4' bench was made in 2004 by Jim Gallucci, whose work can be seen all over town; from the airport to his workspace in south Greensboro, and beyond.

In trying to learn about the history of newspapers in Greensboro, we came across a digital collection that UNCG makes available online. It features Greensboro newspapers published between 1826 and 1946- 120 years of news in a format for all to access.*

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our 2016 Alphabet Series, "N" is for News (& Record). We would like to thank our dear friend and faithful reader, Jane Mitchell, for agreeing to pose on the bench. It looks so much better when it is being enjoyed.

*See the digital newspaper collection, here.  See more on News & Record, North Carolina's third largest newspaper, here, and more about Jim Gallucci, here and another view of the benches, here. Click on the thumbnail below to get a better idea of the detail.

Mobile Oasis

The above photo features the Mobile Oasis, a mobile food truck that takes fresh produce into neighborhoods that don't have easy access to fresh produce. This truck is at Warnersville Recreation Center on Doak Street, behind Jones Elementary School, every Wednesday from mid-May to mid-October from 4:00- 6:00 pm. The fruit and vegetables are very beautiful and reasonably priced (see photo below). 

According to the volunteers on-site,  idea started as a community-engagement project by UNCG faculty member Marianne LeGreco. It has grown to a collaborate effort involving the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services, Greensboro Parks and Rec; United Way of Greater Greensboro, Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, East Greensboro Now, UNCG, and the support of the USDA. Students from NC A&T, UNCG, and Guilford College were on site helping yesterday. It is possible to purchase produce here with SNAP/EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), cash, debit, and credit. The Warnersville location is one of four sites for the pop-up produce markets. At the Warnersville location, a volunteer from the nearby Prince of Peace Lutheran Church  brings cooked food samples and recipes of all the nutritious items she has prepared over the last two years. Today's sample was glazed peas and carrots, and the medley was tasty. This truly collaborative effort shows how good things come when people work together and students have an opportunity to learn while serving.

Next week's market (Wed. October 13th) will be the last one for the season. If you know a family in need of food, consider treating them to some great produce at a great price. Click on these tiny thumbnail photos if you want a closer look! We are cooking collards, squash, and okra as we type.

 

National Folk Festival Returns Today

The National Folk Festival has returned to town. This year's festival is number seventy-six, year two out of three for the itinerant festival that began in 1934. The weather is shaping up to be beautiful. Can you believe Greensboro is really fortunate enough to host the festival for three years? Please, please come downtown and support these great performing artists. Here is the link that has all of the background information, schedules, and maps. So many musicians from many different ethnicities and music traditions will perform. The giant puppets (Paperhand Puppet Intervention) from Saxapahaw will be here;  blues, jazz, polka, musicians; dance from Native Americans, Mexican mariachi, old-time.... too much to mention.

Now that we have LeBauer Park as a venue for performing, downtown is even more inviting. There are also "Fabric of Freedom" events to celebrate Greensboro's diversity and cultural history. Vendors of arts and crafts, food trucks, are scattered throughout downtown. Do bring a chair and water bottle if you plan to sit a while. Come do the happy, proud-of-our-city dance with us! If you see someone from out of town, thank them for attending and show them our southern charm.

Y Resurfaces Floor

On Labor Day, when many of us were celebrating a day of rest, the Spears YMCA was taking advantage of a normally-low attendance day to resurface the gym floors. The above worker used this mop and commercial grade wood varnish expertly, gliding back and forth across the dulled surface. Not seen in the photo is the man who was at the edges of the gym making sure that here were no bubbles in the varnish. To the two men who were working on Labor Day, thank you for getting those floors ready for a heavy-use season at the Y. It is easy to forget the people working behind the scenes for us, especially the ones working on holidays.

On any given day, you can see young children playing basketball and volleyball on the Y courts. Daily, the older members are playing pickle ball or participating in an exercise class. There are countless pick-up basketball games, as well as organized teams. If you do not belong to a gym, consider joining one near you; private or non-profit, it doesn't matter- the import part is finding one that meets your personal needs. It is so nice to be part of an exercise community.

On another note, if you want to experience a sense of community tomorrow, head downtown to the National Folk Festival, held in Greensboro for the next three days. The musical talent lineup is amazing. There will be no shortage of (free) things to do in Greensboro this weekend.

Playground at LeBauer Park

When you see people of all age groups and many different ethnicities together and interacting, you know you've stumbled upon a good venue. Such is the case at LeBauer Park. The above photo was taken at the playground at the park. While the view with the giant cement letters, spelling LEBAUER, and the Janet Echleman sculpture "Where We Met," is the view receiving the most publicity, the entire park is extremely photogenic and equally delightful.

Today's photos remind us of the 1950's, back when times were simpler. People are having so much fun interacting with each other; we don't even see anyone in the photos using their cell phone. These photos are proof positive that Carolyn LeBauer's final wish has been granted. It was her dream that assets from her estate be used "for the creation of a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the general population of Greensboro, particularly children and their families."* Mission accomplished!

Today is the First Friday of the first of the "-BER"  months, and there will be lots of people and activities downtown. We hope you have a chance to join in the fun and to spend time in LeBauer Park. Regardless of what you do this weekend, have a safe and happy Labor Day. 

* reference.

Greensboro's Public Libraries

Happy September first. The theme for the City Daily Photo community this month is "libraries." What a great theme. Greensboro has such great public libraries, we could publish a photo a day for a month about our libraries and still not do them justice. Our main library downtown and the seven branch libraries are dynamic and engaging places. The above photo was taken at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch off of Hobbs Road. This branch is located beside the nearly one-hundred acre Price Park.It was getting close to 8pm when we arrived to take a photo, so the above children's section was pretty empty. However, the study rooms had users and the computers were also being put to good use. People were still arriving, as seen in the thumbnail below.

Our libraries offer so many special services for adults and children and  are a wealth of resources. Here is an example of a few upcoming events at Kathleen Clay Edwards in September: 1) learning about plants along North Carolina's roadsides; 2) learning about chimney swifts; 3) a learn to fish session at nearby Lake Higgins; 4) a tiny house tour; 5) a family night hike; 6) a CEU credit opportunity for teachers to learn about using science-based storybooks. Libraries events are free and open to the public. If you haven't been to a library in awhile, you should treat yourself to a visit. To see libraries from around the world, visit the City Daily Photo Theme Day portal, here. There are some beauties. See a couple more shots of Kathleen Clay, below.

Center City Park

Center City Park is a beautiful, busy park. The above photo reflects its high use on weekends in the summer. The temporary all on the right is redirecting pedestrian traffic in the park during improvements and repairs. Grab your family, picnic supplies, hula-hoops and head to town.

This is the last weekend before public school starts for students on the traditional calendar. This is also the last weekend of the M.U.S.E.P. Concert Series, which will be held at LeBauer Park,  half a block northeast from the above scene. It has been a great summer in Greensboro with so much to do for free. Treat yourself to the slower pace of one of our city's public spaces. Here is a link so that you can see all that the city has to offer, including over 100 neighborhood parks.

Happy Saturday.