Greensboro Daily Photo

Farmers Market: Tomato Season, For Sure

The farmers markets around Greensboro as just so much fun, we had to post another photo today. Tomatoes are in season and tables and tables of tomatoes can be found. From heirloom to more contemporary varieties, they cost about $2 a pound. There is no excuse to buy hothouse tomatoes when these homegrown varieties are brought to you straight from the field. Watermelons and peaches are still available, too. All weekend long, at the farmers market on Sandy Ridge, people are coming and going stocking up on fresh produce.

Remember, take time to talk to the farmers and vendors. You may even find out that you have mutual friends. North Carolina ranks 7th nationally in tomato production, with around 3,000 acres dedicated to tomatoes in our state. Hendersonville, NC actually holds an annual tomato festival. It is a lot different, however, than the one in Buñol, Spain. For a little humor today, if you don't know about "La Tomatina" click here and learn about this unique holiday. It is not too late to get tickets!

Chef Chris Scalici at the Greensboro Farmers Market

Earlier this summer, Chef Chris Scalici was doing some demonstration cooking at the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street. Chris is a personal chef, affiliated with Artistic Cuisine Culinary Creations, Custom Catering Service. Chris does great demonstrations and cooks up great food when he is at the farmers market. The events are a win/win. Chris gets more visibility for his catering service and shoppers get to learn about eating local and the concept of market to table food.

While the farmers market is open today beginning at 7am, from 9:00 - noon, the BLT Challenge and Tomato Celebration Day will be held. If you are looking for something to do this morning and like the idea of shopping local, grab some produce bags for shopping and head out to the farmers market. While Chef Chris might not be there, you will not regret spending time with all of the great people, vendors and shoppers alike. If you have been in Greensboro for a will, you will just probably see people you know. Happy Saturday, hope to see you there!

Gate City Pharmacy

The photo is a little blurry, but it captures the spirit of a visit to Greensboro's locally-owned, hometown pharmacy. They facility may be smaller than the large, chain pharmacies; however, all aisles lead to the best service and advice around. This is Gate City Pharmacy, located in Friendly Shopping Center. Here, you can get not only pills, but also compounded medications, advice about natural supplements and products, and plenty of educational support. Gate City opened in Friendly Center in 1967, and for 51 years, they've been building a loyal customer base. The staff will call and remind you it is time to refill your prescription, call to wish you a happy birthday, and work hard to ensure that you get the best price possible.

Even if you don't need medicine, you just might need something they have on the counter, from light compression socks for traveling, or a pack of good-old-fashioned candy. In this digital era when it can be hard to get personalized service, it is nice to support a local business that takes customer service seriously. 

Dogs of Greensboro

Humans of Greensboro love their dogs. The above photo features a great dane who was the hit of the Corner Market (corner of Elam & Waker) in Lindley Park last Saturday morning. The owners, and canine as well, were very accommodating as people right and left approached to pet the dog. Pet, pet, question, question. and so went show and tell with this lovely dog. 

Great Danes are a German bread of dog. They are also known as the German mastiff. They are calm and friendly. If you like dogs, but don't have one, visit any public space in Greensboro on the weekends and you will easily get an opportunity to pet a canine. Pet adoptions are also an opportunity to get to know some dogs that need love even more than the ones with owners. Remember to ask permission first. Not all dogs are as stranger friendly as the above gentle giant.

Apples at Gateway Gardens

These apples at Gateway Gardens are a big hit with children and adults alike. Children love to run around them and hide inside them. Openings on the sides allow for children to play inside, while those slits keep water from accumulating and make it possible for parents to see inside. Children feel like they are hidden to the world, yet they are in plain sight.

Greensboro's free city parks and gardens contribute so much to the opportunities for children to explore outdoors and interact with nature. As Greensboro Beautiful points out on their website, this LEED-certified silver project is an eleven acres interactive garden and horticultural oasis. It is their biggest project in their 50-year history. And, as Greensboro saw on Sunday afternoon, it is the perfect venue for a concert. While planning for the garden began in 1999, Gateway Gardens opened to the public in 2011. For the past seven years, the plantings have become established, the visitor center has opened, and the grounds just keep getting better and better. Here is their website, if you want to keep up with events and to learn more about the venue.

Gate City Divas

The Gate City Divas were one of two groups that performed at last night's MUSEP Concert, held at Gateway Gardens in East Greensboro. This talented group had as many as 18 people on stage, playing instruments, singing lead and back up. The resulting sound is bluesy and full; the lead singers' voices are raspy and pitch-perfect. The group members come from all walks of life; the core group of eight female vocalists play multiple instruments. Many perform with the local group, Ladies Auxiliary and most are singer/songwriters. The bass player even plays with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. The audience was highly complimentary of the keyboard player (Kristy Jackson). Several people commented on how cohesive the Divas' sound was given the diversity of their backgrounds, not only in music, but also in life experience.

If you haven't been out to a MUSEP concert this year, check your Sunday afternoon calendar. They continue into August. Not only do you get to hear great music, you get to experience an array of Greensboro's great city parks... for free! Each concert costs the city $3,000; so if you have a few extra dollars or want to bring a tax-deductible check, they do pass around a donation bucket.

Read more about the individual divas on their website, here.

First Responders

First responders are often under-appreciated, that is until the community needs them for an emergency. The above photo features the Greensboro Fire Station #21,  located on Horse Pen Creek Road, between the Montessori School and Kernodle Middle. This station has been open since 2006 and has overseen many changes to the area, including the current widening of Horse Pen Creek. 

The photo was taken on July 4th, when firefighters were busy testing their equipment, including the ladder, used to reach the higher floors of buildings. Hopefully, they were not called out later that evening when people were letting off fireworks in nearby neighborhoods. If you are a first responder, thank you for all you do to keep the people of Greensboro safe.

Have a great weekend, everyone and remember, tonight is First Friday downtown and tomorrow will be the rescheduled fireworks. To be sure, Greensboro's fire fighters don't need to be reminded, as they will already be on high alert!

60th Year of Greensboro's City Swim Meet

Today is the kick off day for City Meet, the 60th year of the grande finale event of Greensboro's Community Swim Association. The event is held at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) and is free and open to the public. With over 2,000 swimmers, competing over three days, from all the swim clubs in Greensboro, the event will be fun, lively, and crowded. All children are able to compete during this event. While Day 1 of the three day event is for the less competitive swimmers, it gives all swimmers a chance to participate in this community-building event. Day 2 & 3 are for the swimmers trying to break records, become golden swimmers (first in all of their individual events), and for swim clubs trying to capture the win.

Above all, summer swim with CSA of Greensboro is a time to build community and make great summer memories. There will be a parade with teams decked out in their respective colors, with swimmers and coaches taking their team's theme to new extremes. The Friendly Frogs will be in pink and green with their favorite amphibian featured prominently. The Hamilton Lakes Hornets will be buzzing up a storm. Lake Jeanette Lightning will be bolting through the pool. (You get the picture). Stop by if you can and experience some good ole Greensboro tradition. Here's to another 60 years of City Meet!

Happy Juneteenth 2018!

June 19th is a very important day in the United States. June 19th, 1865, was the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation was at last delivered in Galveston, Texas by Union Army Major General Granger. While slavery had been abolished in the United States in 1863, in the pre-telephone/internet era of the 1800s, it took over two years for word to make it all the way to Texas. Juneteenth is observed in some way in 45 of the 50 US States. The holiday reminds America, when we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, not all people living in this country in the mid-19th century were free. 

In the above photo, the two African American women, walking along South Elm Street in their lovely dresses, are free to come and go as they please, and on their own terms. A few blocks north of where these women are walking, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum will host a Juneteenth event, called the Color of Commerce: A Celebration of Black Owned Businesses in the Triad. The event is free and open to the public, but you are encouraged to get tickets, here, in case there is a crowd that exceeds seating capacity. The event will help aspiring, new, and established business owners take their business to the next level. It will be held on June 25th from 6-8pm. Happy Juneteenth!

 

Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit

Today's Sacred Sunday shot is of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit on Yanceville Street, just south of Lee's Chapel Road. The church is small and humble, but they are doing great things. Just beyond the church is a community garden with raised beds that are thriving. Next Saturday (June 23rd) from 12-3pm, they will offer free health screenings. You can get blood pressure and blood sugar screening and some other services. 

Today, faith groups are playing a major role is seeing that congregants, and other community members in need, take important steps towards staying healthy. Screenings and good produce are two such examples. You are also encouraged to nurture your spiritual self while at it. Happy Sunday! Happy healthy!

Bur-Mil Marlins Host Friendly Frogs

One of Greensboro's great summer traditions is the dual swim meets. Twenty three teams with over 2,000 swimmers participate in the Community Swim Associations summer meets. For five weeks of summer, children ages 5 to 18 will spend hours practicing and competing. Parents will help with snacks, judging, scoring, looking after kids and anything else needed to make the experience memorable for all involved.

Last night, the Bur-Mil Marlins hosted the Friendly Frogs at their pool at Owl's Roost. Swimmers were working hard as were parents. A Swim-for-Cancer bake sale was underway. Siblings sat around the pool playing games, talking, and getting a little cell phone time. The Marlins are one of the newest teams in the community swim program. They placed 6th overall last year and the Friendly Frogs were 4th. Both teams were giving it their all last night. The best aspect of CSA is that all team members have the opportunity to participate, not just the elite swimmers. Go Marlins! Go Frogs!

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)

Today is the last day of May and, throughout the state, public school students on traditional calendars have started their end of course exams. The above photo was taken at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) on May 16th when the teachers marched in Raleigh. Even thought this is GREENSBORO Daily Photo, we are reminded that the public schools are all governed by the NCDPI. The above photo was taken on the back lawn behind the building, showing the artwork on the building.

If  you see a public school child around town this week, wish them all the best on these exams. If you have one in your house, help them eat well and get a good night's sleep. If students are well rested and fed, they will likely be more alert and able to focus. Remind them of what is engraved on the NCDPI building, "You are a child you are suitable to be awed" and add, "you are a child, we are in awe of you." Happy Thursday and happy end to the school year!

Greensboro Astronomy Club

One of the best ways to hook students on science is to expose them to it early. In the above photo, members of the Greensboro Astronomy Club are showing the curious, young and old alike, about a world that is not always visible with the naked eye. They were set up in Price Park at Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch Public Library during Greensboro's recent Earth Day event.

The Greensboro Astronomy Club meets at the Greensboro Science Center. Monthly, a group of kindred spirits gathers to observe and discuss astronomical events. Members are very generous in sharing equipment and expertise. Their next meeting will be Friday, May 18th at 7:30pm at the Greensboro Science Center on Lawndale. If life from the earth to infinity and beyond, this may well be the perfect group for you.

Mt. Zion Church

Mt. Zion Church on Alamance Church Road is known for its community involvement. In additional to typical church outreach, they sponsor events that engage the whole community. As an example, they have held faith-based healthcare summits. Most recently, last Tuesday, they opened their doors to the Guilford County Schools. Superintendent Contreras assembled  school personnel to execute an outreach plan to go into neighborhoods affected by last Sunday's tornado. Teachers, staff, and administrators got on  activity busses to go into neighborhoods to see what needed as they recovered from the tornado. They also explained about school re-openings and the return of transportation services.

Communities heal fastest when there is group and individual involvement. Mt. Zion does their fair share, and then some. Since 1900, this church has worked very hard to develop long-lasting relationship with the community. In 1936, the church was destroyed by a tornado. While they were spared during this week's tornado, it is fitting that Mt. Zion was there to help the community during this very trying time.

 

The Corner Market in Lindley Park

The Corner Market, located at the corner of Walker Avenue and Elam in Lindley Park celebrated its 4th anniversary last Saturday. The market started with the vision of Stephen Johnson, an urban farmer who has a garden on Elam, less than a block from the market. He and another farmer, Mike Faucette and meat vendor Bobby Coltrane approached the owner of Sticks and Stones, Neil Reitzel, about using the space. Reitzel was already purchasing ingredients from these guys. The market has grown to where it is at capacity almost every Saturday. Kathy Newsom does an amazing job of coordinating vendors.*

The goal of the corner market is to feed people while building community, keeping people as close to their food source as possible. On most Saturdays, the following items are available: Meat, eggs, cheese, seafood and poultry; fresh produce; prepared foods; baked goods; and, items made by local artisans. While everyone hopes to sell their goods, and many have visions of expanding their product line, all of the vendors enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors and catching up on neighborhood news. 

Increasingly, Greensboro's options for shopping farmers markets is expanding and, especially on Saturday mornings, it is a great tradition to have with family or friends, or even alone. When you shop at a farmers market, you are never actually alone. Surely you need something fresh and local to eat today or to stock in your pantry. Happy Saturday!

*Reference and more information about the Corner Market, here.

Guilford Park Presbyterian

Yesterday was a big day for Greensboro churches with regard to outreach and visibility in the community. The First Baptist Church and the First Lutheran Church both held yard sales which had people filtering in and out of their buildings all day long.  

The above photo features Guilford Park Presbyterian Church at the Earth Day celebration at Kathleen Clay Edwards Library off of Hobbs and Guilford College Road, behind Jefferson Elementary School. Guilford Park Presbyterian had a recycling game at the event and participants could win prizes. People had an opportunity to learn about recycling and get to know church members without feeling the pressure of becoming involved with the church, unless, of course, that's what they wanted to do.

Guilford Park Presbyterian is located on Fernwood Drive in Kirkwood, near the Target on Lawndale. However, yesterday, they were also located in the 98-acre Price Park that was teeming with children and adults alike, who were learning how to care for and celebrate the planet earth. Regardless of one's religious beliefs, stewardship of the earth is something that can unite humans worldwide.

Elm Street at Dusk with the Greensboro City Police

In street photography, sometimes you have to snap a photo under very difficult conditions. Today's very poor quality photo captures a very positive event. A Greensboro City Policeman challenged a middle schooler to doing push ups. Both were talking and enjoying the challenge as other officers looked on.

On the downtown beat in Greensboro, the police do what they can to interact positively with people in the community. They strive to build positive relationships and enjoy interacting in positive ways. While their job is to patrol downtown to protect people and property, enforce laws, and act on wrong-doings, they like for people to see their human, humane and benevolent side. So, walking along Elm Street, on a Friday night, when someone says, "Now there is an Instagram moment," it is hard to resist snapping a photo, even if the light is low and the shutter speed is not fast enough to keep the photo from blurring. At least the image is sharp enough to have captured a positive moment in time, one that this young gentleman will probably remember for a very long time.

(For the record, the policeman won).

Grumman LLVs and the U.S. Postal Service

The above photo features one of the Grumman Long Life Vehicles (LLV) in the U.S. postal fleet, serving the Greensboro area. The U.S. Postal Service has over 100,000 of these vehicles, that were in production between 1987-1994. They are custom built for mail delivery, with the driver's seat on the right, the sides are flat so that they can get close to the curb. The front wheel axle is smaller that the rear to help with maneuverability. The LLVs were made to be in use for 20 years, but in 2009, the post office extended their usage to 30 years. While they are wearing out, replacing the entire fleet would cost over 4 billion dollars. A new prototype is in the works and some of the LLVs have been replaced by mini-vans.  

Greensboro carriers often meet up at places like Sheetz for their lunch breaks, and it is not uncommon for as many as four trucks to be parked together while the carriers grab a quick lunch. Sometimes diligent citizens call and report these meet ups, only to be reassured that carriers have permission to assemble during lunch breaks.  These LLVs weren't exactly built with comfort in mind and, driving them can be a pretty solitary job. A little fellowship over a hot dog or two may actually help provide much needed rest and relaxation. If today's weather turns bad as predicted, remember, regardless of weather, the mail carriers will deliver!

* reference and more about the quirky LLV, here.

Closet at Backpack Beginnings

Backpack Beginnings serves so many students in the Guilford County Schools. In addition to programs for providing food, school supplies, and hygiene products, Backpack Beginnings also maintains a clothing pantry. The clothing pantry, photographed above, provides clothing for all age groups from infants to high school. In anticipation of spring, as you are going through closets, if you have any gently used clothing that your children have outgrown, especially tennis shoes and light jackets, consider donating them to the Clothing Pantry for this very worthy cause.

If you have questions, you can email clothingpantry@backpackbeginnings.org. It is also quite possible that the social worker at the public school near you can help with donations. Often, school social workers are the contact person to help school children in need. The above photo was taken on a quiet Saturday. Weekdays are a different story when volunteers are sorting and hanging donations at their warehouse off Wendover Avenue.

 

Press Play Recording Studio

Press Play is a studio that helps clients podcast, engineer, and broadcast.  They help clients by offering studio time, consulting, and stretegies to distribute media globally. Located is the Cultural Arts on Davie Street, Press Play is a reasonably priced place to go for mentoring and recording.*

At the above studio, you can book podcast studio rental time online, a 15 minute studio tour or a 30 minute meeting. The studio is located right across the hallway form Cafe Europa where you could head for a meal time after your studio session. It is amazing how easy it is to establish a media presence these days. Greensboro is lucky to have this resource. That photo and seating area sets the tone for the positive energy of the employees that will become readily apparent when you step through the door.

 

* reference and more information, here.

Interactive Resource Center

The Interactive Resource Center- Greensboro Day Center (IRC)  is Greensboro's go-to place for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Here, people with an insecure home situation can take a shower, do laundry,use a computer,  even have a surface mail address. The IRC also helps with medical and mental health care, with employment and more. Many of the staff members have had personal or family experiences with homelessness and understand the importance of being treated with dignity, having someone to talk to, and being offered a cup of coffee. For the time guests are at the IRC, they have a brief respite from their big life struggles.

The IRC is located on East Washington Street, a block east of the J. Gaylon Douglass Depot. According to the IRC's website, 900 people in Greensboro are homeless, 200 people a day come to the IRC for help, and they have helped over 11,000 people since opening in 2009. The above photo shows a sitting area to the left of the entrance, just above one of Greensboro's murals. Taken across the street from the entrance, the photo shows a person resting before heading back out on the street. If you are looking for a place to donate time and resorces, IRC provides an invaluable community service for Greensboro. You can be guaranteed that every bottle of shampoo you give, every dollar you donate or every hour of time you contribute will help make a difference in somebody's quality of life. 

O'Henry Magazine Features Greensboro Daily Photo

Greensboro Daily Photo is honored to be featured in the current edition of O'Henry Magazine (February, 2018, p. 31). After nine years of being a largely-anonymous, amateur, street photographer, I was contacted for an interview by Maria Johnson. Maria is a freelance journalist who writes regularly for O'Henry Magazine. In the above photo, I (on the left wearing pink) am shown on location photographing Toni Shaw for GDP's January 30th post. 

The article is wonderful on so many levels. First, Maria Johnson needs to be commended for her superb journalism. In a couple of hours, she asked great questions and made astute observations, capturing so many aspects of our community blog- indeed a "labor of love." Maria's casual, chatty, personable demeanor, instantly puts her interviewees at ease. Second, Maria had the great idea to follow me on a photo shoot, thereby giving recognition to a local professional photographer, Toni Shaw, who is deserving of an article in her own right.  Finally, O'Henry Magazine is to be applauded for publishing such a high quality magazine about our great city. 

No interview for O'Henry Magazine would be complete without an O'Henry ending. William Sydney Porter (aka O'Henry), born in Greensboro in 1862, was known for endings with a twist. At the end of the  interview about Greensboro Daily Photo, Maria was surprised with a request to be featured on GDP. Stop back tomorrow to learn a little more about her. In the meantime, if you are local, we hope you have a chance to read the article.

The Annual Guilford County Schools Choice Showcase

Guilford County Schools held their Schools Showcase this past Saturday. The showcase, held at the Coliseum in the event space, gives families an opportunity to explore school options. Children always have the right to attend their attendance zone school; however, Greensboro has 45 choice schools with 54 programs. While all schools teach the core basics (language arts, math, science, and social studies), the choice schools are themed, and focus on everything from S.T.E.M. to performing and visual arts to foreign language. 

The above photo shows the booth for the Spanish Immersion Program, which is houses at David D. Jones Elementary School, in the Warnersville neighborhood just south of town. Students in the Spanish Immersion Program learn their core content areas in Spanish. Imagine arriving to Kindergarten on Day 1 and not hearing your teacher speak a word of English. Imagine five year olds, after 180 days of school not even realizing that their teacher speaks English. Yet, through their fabulous teaching techniques, students learn to read and perform math problems in Spanish, often before they can do so in English.

The families of Greensboro, High Point, and the rest of Guilford County are lucky to have access to so many fabulous special programs. While there is a lottery system, the programs are free for the families using them.

Food Pantry at Backpack Beginnings

The "Impact Wall" of Backpack Beginnings was recently featured on Greensboro Daily Photo (here). Today's feature in the sorting table for the food pantry portion of the facility. Office Manager Michele Alvarino is explaining how a person stands in the foreground, selects donated food from a central palate, determines the expiration date on each can of food and slides them down on a given color strip. The color indicates type of food (vegetable, starch, protein, etc.) and remaining shelf life. The person in the background position, where Michele is standing, then puts the item on the appropriate shelf. Yet another person will pack a box of about 35 pounds of food, from a variety of categories, to send to schools with food pantries. About 200 volunteers regularly drive food to and from schools.

In 2014, the Food Research and Action Center, ranked Greensboro and High Point as Number 1 for people who had difficulties in securing food.* Hopefully, with programs like Backpack Beginnings, the situation is improving. 

As many people have a day off today, celebrating the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, let us all remember that the day is intended to be one of community service. If you are looking for a way to help, consider holding a food drive, through any of your networks of friends and associates, and donate what you get to Backpack Beginnings. Access their website, here, or call 336-709- 9649 to arrange to drop off food. Finally, remember the words of Booker T. Washington, "The happiest people are those who do the most for others."  While Booker T. Washington died 14 years before Dr. King was born, they shared the common goal of uplifting and empowering African Americans and they would have loved each other. May we do our part to continue the work of these great humanitarians.

* reference.

Backpack Beginnings

Backpack Beginnings is a non-profit organization serving families with children in the Guilford County Schools. It was started in 2010 by Parker White, with the program serving one school and 50 children. Today, Backpack Beginnings serves 5,000 children and is growing, given the growing food insecurity in Guilford County. In the above photo, Michele Alvarino, office manager of the 9,000 square foot facility on Radiance Drive, is explaining the program, standing at the impact wall at the entrance.

Today, Backpack Beginnings has four programs. 1) The Food Bag Program serves 1,400 students in 32 elementary schools. Each child receives a bag of food to take home for the weekend. The bags contain two each of a protein, cereal, juice, milk, and fruit; 2) The Food Pantry Program serves 26 middle and high schools, distributing 9-10 thousand pounds of food a month; 3) The Comfort Backpack Program provides abused, neglected, homeless, refugee, and foster children a one-time backpack filled with personal hygiene, school supplies, and other miscellaneous items; finally, 4) The Clothing Pantry Program provides clothing for children from newborns to high school students. 

The all volunteer organization has eleven regular volunteers who work in the warehouse; 200 delivery volunteers who take the food to the schools; and scores of community volunteers. There is always a need for more food and volunteers. To learn more about Backpack Beginnings or how to help, visit their website, here. 

Super Moon

Yesterday, we had a super moon, the full moon coincidee with its being at its closest point to the earth during its orbit. While this week's super moon was the largest for  2018, we will have an almost super moon on January 31st. Since it will be the second full moon in the month, it will be a blue, super moon. To add to it, there will be a total lunar eclipse that night in most of North America. Since a totally eclipsed moon usually looks red, it will be a red, blue, eclipsed almost-super moon. *  Surely, on the 31st, somebody in Greensboro can arrange a moon watching event. Any suggestions on the best vantage point to moon watch in Greensboro, with low light pollution?  

The above photo was taken last night at a private residence in Greensboro. In her book, The Bright Hour, Greensboro author Nina Riggs references an Emerson quote about a special first hour of morning and its effect on the body and soul ( reference ). There is a similar effect at that sapphire blue hour at twilight, when we must let go of the day and are reminded that the moon controls more than the tides. If you are interested in astronomical events and skywatching, consider joining the Greensboro Astronomy Club.

* reference and great information, here and here.

Happy New Year 2018

 
Happy New Year 2018!

Members of the City Daily Photo community are asked to post their "best" photo of the previous year on January 1st.  The photo we selected for this year was one taken at the National Folk Festival as it closed out the 3rd and final year in Greensboro. The photo resonates with us because it shows three facets of downtown. In the foreground, a young boy plays alone, seemingly unaware that a monumental event for Greensboro is drawing to a close. Whitney Houston said it best, "I believe the children are our future teach them well and let them lead the way." 

The middle layer of the photo features the hustle and bustle of people making food selections at the folk festival's diverse assortment of food trucks. It takes people having things to do, feeling safe, and enjoying each other's company to make a city livable.  In the background is Greensboro's skyline, with the iconic Lincoln Financial Building giving a nod of approval at a downtown that has, once again, become a vibrant destination for its residents. A robust business community provides the financial structure to make special events possible.

Here is a GDP memory from each month from 2017; posts that proved especially popular with readers and that showcase the people, places, and events in our great city. Let's all work together to make 2018 a great year for Greensboro. We look forward to continuing to share a photo a day with you!

January: Triad North Carolina Women's March

February: Greensboro Grub & City 616

March: Howard Coble Intermodal Transport Center

April: NCCJ

May: Julian Price Home

June: Hunter Elementary

July: Happy 70th Wrangler

August: Eclipsed Eclipse

September: GCS Teacher of the Year

October: President Trump Came to Greensboro

November: Veterans Day

December: Shaw Photography Group . 

 

 

Triad Goodwill and Charitable Giving

Triad Goodwill, also known as Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, has been serving Guilford and surrounding counties since 1963.  Goodwill focuses on programs to get people meaningfully employed. According to their website, 85% of the money earned in their stores goes to providing career development services and work opportunities for people in the community. As of yesterday, they had 35 local job openings.

Goodwill Industries dates back to 1902, when it was founded by Edgar J. Helms in Boston, MA. Helms was a Methodist minister who was known as a social innovator. He collected items in wealthier neighborhoods of Boston and hired and trained the poor to repair the goods. These repair skills were very valued in an era when everything from ink pens to clothing to umbrellas was repaired and mended as needed. In today's society where it is usually easier and cheaper to purchase a new replacement than to get something repaired, Goodwill focuses more on job skills and work opportunities. Helms' commitment to giving people "hope, dignity and independence"*  remains as relevant today as it was 115 years ago.

The above photo features the donation center at the Goodwill on North Battleground Avenue. Lines are starting to form and bins are filling as people rush to make final charitable donations for 2017. Two days remain to contribute and get a tax receipt for this year. If you are looking for ways to donate, above and beyond household goods, here is a list of Greensboro non-profits and charities.

*Quote and timeline, here.

United States Army Reserve Center

The United States Army Reserve Center, located on Knox Road, just east of Greensboro, opened on May 19th 2017. The 85 thousand square foot, $16 million dollar facility was built this past spring on 15.5 acres. It is a consolidation of facilities in Greensboro and Winston Salem. The facility houses five units and over 600 soldiers. Throughout the United States, there are nearly 200,000 U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers, an Active Duty Army of nearly half a million and 341, 589 members of the National Guard, making the total strength of the U.S. Army of over a million soldiers.*

The McCleansville training facility has up-to-date technology and plenty of space for soldiers to receive training in logistics as well as in combat support hospital medical training. The site also offers storage and plenty of parking for military vehicles used in maneuvers. We're not sure if they give tours, and can't find any updates, as most available information was published before the facility opened. However, when you drive by, you will see a nice facility and, especially on weekends when soldiers are coming and going, you see your tax dollars hard at work. 

*reference and more information, here.

Salvation Army Prayer Line of Greensboro

As seen in the above photo, Greensboro's Salvation Army has a prayer line. This sign is located at the Salvation Army Family Store on East Gate City Boulevard- across from the Kotis property that was formerly Brooks Lumber. If you look on the telephone pole, you can see that I-40 and I-85, the two interstates that go through Greensboro, are not too far from the sign in the above photo.

The photo was taken yesterday when the air was crisp and cool, the sun was shining, and the sky was cloudless and blue. It was lovely. The sign reminds us all that if you feel alone, you can call and someone will reach out to you. This service is especially important at this time of the year when people can feel (and be) so alone. If you asked someone to pray for you, what would you want them to say? Even if you don't speak these words out loud, just thinking them can help clear one's mine. Thank you Salvation Army for all you do for the community. Support services are greatly needed.

PRAY4ME 51555.

Community Theatre of Greensboro: Mitchel Sommers Directs 23rd Wizard of Oz

Yesterday afternoon was the closing show for the 23rd annual production of the Wizard of Oz. Mitchel Sommers, featured above, who is celebrating his 25th year with Community Theatre of Greensboro (CTG), has directed the Wizard of Oz for all the 23 years it has been staged. Performances are held at The Carolina Theatre and, each year, they seems to get better and better. The costumes, lighting, set design, special effects, singing and acting are just about perfect. Areal moves add extra excitement to the show. (The Wicked Witch even bikes through the air)! Having a live orchestra is icing on the cake. So much of this perfection, we owe to the hard work of the director. 

The "one yellow brick at a time" slogan is tied in with the fundraising campaign. Out of a 1.2 million dollar note to purchase the former Broach Theatre on South Elm Street for CTG, donors have contributed about a million. However, CTG could use a few more people to purchase "bricks" (plaques).  The engraved plaques are on permanent public display at CTG's theater, renamed The Starr Theatre, on Elm Street. While some productions are staged at the Starr, with a cast of nearly 70, plus a fan base that has grown over 23 years, even the 1,075-seat-capacity Carolina Theatre fills quickly for Wizard of Oz productions. From the dedicated actors and their families, volunteers, audience, production staff, orchestra members, community donors, Carolina Theatre staff, and EVERYONE involved in the Wizard of Oz, you are proof positive of the magic that happens when a community works together. To all of you, especially Mr. Sommers, we applaud you virtually. See you next year!

Pleached Hornbeam Walk at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden

Today's photo was taken at the Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden on Main Street in Kernersville, about 12 miles west of Greensboro in the next county over. The promenade is actually a walkway, known as the Pleached Hornbeam Walk, installed in 2008 and sponsored by Fidelity Bank. It is hard to tell from this photo but the tree branches are entwined onto wire, growing more two dimensionally than three. Hence, the term "pleached." The hornbeam tree is actually in the birch family with "horn" referring to the hardness of the wood, and "beam", the Old English word for tree (German, baum). The elongated arrangement, seen above,  forms a lovely wall and it is as if you are surrounded by nature, even though the living wall is only one layer of trees.

Walking and sitting in silent meditation there was extremely peaceful yesterday. Although the winds were strong, taking photos was enjoyable, as pods and drying plants are glorious this time of year. The wind made photography challenging, but rewarding. On Sundays, we try to post something spiritual, inspirational, and reflective. Most everyone appreciates the spiritual aspect of walking in solitude, without the distractions of our hurried, technology driven world. If you need a respite, consider Ciener Garden.

 

Children's Museum: Inside

The Greensboro Children's Museum has undergone so many changes over the last few years and it continues to serve the community well. A couple of weeks ago, we featured the new outdoor playground and talked about the Schoolhouse Garden. Today, we're sharing the entrance. As you can see, the ticket counter is located on the right. To the right, you also see families about to enjoy this engaging museum.

Straight ahead, is a display of some iconic items for children: Monopoly money, a box of animal crackers, a Pokemon card, a comic book, a tootsie pop wrapper, and more. If you are looking for something to do with children today, or over the Thanksgiving holiday, It will be open every day but Thanksgiving. They not only have activities for little children, the offer events for teens. For example, the day after Thanksgiving, they will feature a cooking class for teens. Check out their schedule, here; or, better yet, stop by and see for yourself.

Boomerang Bookshop: Nomad

The Boomerang Bookshop Nomad is on site for at Corner Farmer's Market in Lindley Park on Saturdays. The mobile bookmobile is also in Glenwood on Thursdays.  YES! Weekly referred to it as the "food truck of books." Diarra Crkt Leggett and his wife Elizabeth own and operate the mobile bookshop. Leggett is not new to books. He has sold books locally for nearly 16 years and worked as a library assistant in Kernersville. He comes by his passion for books honestly as his mother was a librarian in Winston-Salem for thirty years. In the YES! Weekly article about Leggett and his mobile bookshop, Leggett speaks of how happy it makes him when a customer finds the exact book they were looking for.*

In this era when social media is making anything longer than 140 characters something we mark as tl;dr ('too long; didn't read'), it is nice to learn of a mobile book store, offering new and used books, and opportunities to buy, sell, and trade, right there alongside the produce stand at the farmer's market. Even if you don't think you want a book, go meet Leggett and start talking literature. Likely, after searching his well culled inventory, you will find something you just have to read. Leggett is living the 21st century American dream. He has his own business, he is not tied down to brick and mortar, and when he goes to work, he is doing something he loves. It doesn't get better than that.                                    

*for reference and for more information, read Ian Mcdowell's article, here.

Daas Mural

The public art scene has blossomed in Greensboro over the last two years, especially the addition of murals. The above mural was painted on the Bellemeade Street Parking Deck on North Elm Street on August 17, 2017. The 80-foot mural is one of two on the parking deck. The mural and the block party held to watch Daas paint this past summer is brought to us courtesy of City Arts and the Greensboro Participatory Budgeting Program.*

The bright strip of color with part of a face looking at northbound drivers reminds us to drive carefully. When the photo is compressed with a zoom lens and the foliage of trees is cut out, the resulting geometric shapes give Greensboro a big-city, urban feel. Do you like the look of all the murals? Do you have a favorite?

* reference and more information, here.

Greensboro Childrens Museum

If you haven't been to the Greensboro Children's Museum lately, you owe it to yourself to find some special children in your life and take them there. The space has had quite a facelift. The museum first opened on May 15, 1999, over 18 years ago. The space has evolved beautifully to keep up with the times. While it has always had educational, interactive, and hands-on exhibits indoors, the have greatly expanded their outdoor offerings. They now have a half-acre learning garden, teaching children about growing vegetables and sustainability through the Edible Schoolyard. The museum has incorporated interactive STEM activities, and now has an outdoor playground- partially visible on the right. If you notice, the climbing structure is almost as tall as the building. Children navigate around flexible rope and most don't hesitate to climb to the top. The view must be amazing.

The 37,000 square foot facility is an award-winning museum, recognized for providing children with opportunities for creative exploration of the natural and material world. With the time change and the gray evenings of winter approaching, we especially cherish days like last Friday, when the sky was bright, warm, and glorious. To appreciate the change in aesthetic, here is the GCM post we wrote in 2009. 

Cheerful Book Exchange

Does your neighborhood have a book exchange? The above home, located at the corner of Camden Road and West Greenway has one! They have hollowed out a grandfather clock case and filled it with books. The elaborate container, on a raised slab and with tin roof is one of the most elaborate you will see in Greensboro. Those books are protected in all seasons. It would be fun to monitor what books come and go. This container is likely stocked with some very interesting books. Sunset Hills has a very active neighborhood association and residents are generous when it comes to initiatives that help build community. For example, around Thanksgiving, the streets here will fill with light-balls that are hurled high into the mature trees. At night, they fill the sky with colorful light. People come from miles around to see the display.

This in a neighborhood where people know each other by name. It would be in character for residents to leave books in the box that they know their neighbors would enjoy reading. The display of perennials and landscaping help the book box stand out. Do you ever take advantage of one of these little community initiatives? If you stop by this box, consider leaving dropping off a book you know others will enjoy. Today is Friday, a perfect day to start a new book!

Lake Higgins

This past Sunday, we had a chance to be at Lake Higgins when it opened. By about 7:45, 5 vehicles had lined up at Hamburg Mill Road, waiting for the gate to be unlocked. When the gate opened, precisely at 8:00 am, cars rushed to secure a boat to be able to get started fishing. As you can see from the above photo, the fog was dense. That didn't stop the fishermen who wanted to get out and scour the lake so that they will be ready for this Saturday's annual Fall Bass Tournament. They had their boats filled and motors attached and were well underway, just as the fog was trying to life.

Lake Higgins received a grand of just under $38,000 dollars from the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund to provide an accessible boat launch and to repair sidewalks. Parks and Recreation in Greensboro is working hard to be as adaptive and inclusive as possible in their facilities.

As for the bass tournament, same-day registration (October 21st) will begin promptly at 6:00 am, the tournament starts at 7:00 am and weigh-in is at 3:00 pm. Some of the anglers know this 226-acre municipal reservoir by heart and have their special spot picked out for fishing already. Three participants will leave with trophies and cash prizes. As always with fishing, the best combination of skill, luck, and cooperation by fish will affect the outcome of the tournament Fun will be had by all. We hope to see you there.

Community Theatre of Greensboro at South Elm St

Community Theatre of Greensboro (CTG) worked hard for many years to have their own space. They are now in the above building at 520 South Elm Street. Today's photo features not only the beautiful theatre, but also the dynamic energy of a Saturday afternoon on Elm Street. A man and his daughters walk by CTG as two workers from the City of Greensboro prepare to remove two of the hanging baskets. Those baskets have been carefully cared for all summer long, but it is time to remove them before the cold weather sets in.

CTG brings great theatre to Greensboro and helps people young and old live their dream of acting and and performing. Founded in 1949, it is the oldest arts organization in Guilford County. They have recently cast the 23rd annual The Wizard of Oz, which 10,000 people will flock to see in November. Most immediately, however, they are preparing for the performances of "A Night at the Wax Museum" which opens next week on Friday the 13th. If you haven't been to a production in the new building, you owe it to yourself to attend something soon! Exciting things are happening in the 500 block of South Elm Street. Exciting things are happening behind those red, double doors!

Live Music Adds So Much

Greensboro is so lucky to have many talented musicians. With all of our institutions of higher education, musicians have an opportunity to hone their talent, here in Greensboro. Also, there are plenty of venues for musicians to share their talent.  The above photo features musicians performing at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market at the Market Music Makers Event on the Lindsay Street Lawn. Every Saturday from 8:00 - 11:00 am, you can enjoy this free showcase of local musicians. If you like live music, we encourage you to tip generously. Dropping money in the tip bucket is the single best way to express your gratitude.

This year, at the National Folk Festival, the Bucket Brigade collected all but $1,341 of their $77,000 goal. That money will help bring even more live music to the Triad, when Greensboro hosts the National Folk Festival next September. In the meantime, if you get to the Farmers Market tomorrow morning, enjoy the live music while you shop for fresh produce. If the above group is playing and you can get their names, please let us know. We enjoyed watching them, but left without getting their names.