Greensboro Daily Photo

Vanity Tag: 1VIOLIN

Today, we have a little fun with a vanity tag. In the state of North Carolina, a vanity tag, or personalized plate, costs $30 above the other fees. It is really fun to see what people put on their vehicle tags. They say if people can't figure out the message in a few seconds, it just might not be a good investment. You have up to a combination of eight letters, numbers, spaces, and special characters to get your message across. We're betting the above person plays the violin, and plays it well. Likely, they tote it in their hatchback and, with a four-wheel drive, may do some mountain driving. We're betting they are passionate about music.

Here is a link to the DMV.  You should be able to search and see if the name or saying you want is available. Be careful though. If it is not an official site (and it may LOOK official),  you will be taken to an outside site that is probably not secure. Do you have a vanity tag? What does it say? Would you consider one? What would it say? Honk if you like violin music!

Happy Tuesday!

Meet Wayne, USPS Mail Carrier Extraordinaire

Today, we're featuring Wayne, mail carrier for the United States Postal Service. Wayne is from Caswell County, North Carolina, lives in Eden, and commutes to Greensboro to work.  Every day, he gathers the mail and walks his route, delivering mail along Elm Street and in the downtown area.  If you live in the 27401 zip code, surely you know Wayne. 

One weekend, we were in Just Be, asking Lisa, an employee, what we could photograph for Greensboro Daily Photo. She had several great ideas, yet for almost all of them, we were able to say "Already featured.". She thought and thought, her face lit up and she asked, "Have you featured our mail carrier, Wayne?".  Lisa told us the story of one day several women were on their lunch break in the store, Wayne walked in and in unison a chorus of voices said "Hi, Wayne".  When you have a mail carrier as personable as Wayne, it stands to reason that many are on a first name basis with him.

When we asked Wayne what he liked most about his route, without missing a beat, he responded, "The people, and seeing them smile." It can take so little to bring joy into the lives of others. Even if a bill is being delivered, it is impossible to be in a bad mood when you see someone with a warm smile who greets you with a few positive words. So thank you, Wayne, for bringing joy to 27401. Thank you "Just Be" (352 South Elm Street) for being not just a place to buy "gifts with stories to tell", but for suggesting we feature Wayne.

Happy Monday!

Friedens Tiny Chapel

If you read Greensboro Daily Photo last Sunday, you saw the post on Frieden Lutheran Church, located on Frieden Church Road in the eastern end of Guilford County. The congregation has owned the property and has had a church there since 1775. The church started out as one made out of hand-hewn logs and then built a brick church in 1879. The church burned in 1939, and another was built in its place. In the background, you can see the latest iteration of Frieden Lutheran (see also, HERE). 

The Wagoners, church members, used the logs from the original church for a smokehouse. When they dismantled the smokehouse, they gave the logs from the original church back to the church. In 1961, church member Roland Summers recruited the young adult Sunday school members to use the timbers to help build a tiny chapel that was a replica of the original church from the 1700s. You can see the tiny hand-hewn log chapel in the foreground. Inside are pews and an altar from the past. This is a church that takes its documentation seriously. You can learn more by going to the article we referenced. Also, we highly recommend your keeping records of any organizations with which you are affiliated.

Happy Sunday!

 

*Reference and more  history of the church can be found HERE.

Charles Dabney, Foreign Cars Italia

Today's photo features Charles Dabney who is a sales consultant at Foreign Cars Italia. Charles was raised in Charleston, West Virginia. He earned an undergraduate degree at West Virginia State University, where he was an athlete and majored in marketing. Upon gradation, his father encouraged him to work for the power company- for the job security. Charles started in that career, but soon saw opportunity in car sales. Since that transition, and a few years in Atlanta, he has found his home in Greensboro and professional home at Foreign Cars Italia. We met Charles at The Continental Club the other night, where he enjoys socializing. 

He was at the Continental Club on the evening the Piedmont Old Time Society (POTS) was playing music. We had a great conversation surrounded by Trina Olson's paintings and great music by the old time musicians. We have a feeling the Continental Club at 816 South Elm Street is the kind of place to meet interesting people, hear good music, and see good art. We look forward to more conversations with Charles Dabney, and who knows, some day we may need a new car.

Happy Saturday! 

 

 

Piedmont Old Time Society Thursday Jam at The Continental Club

The Continental Club, located at 816 South Elm Street bills itself as "a cool, international social club, for disruptors and innovators." It is located in the building that years ago housed The Farmers' Exchange Store, a precursor to Southern States, where farmers would go to get grain, fertilizer, and other needs for farming. It is the white building on the southwest corner of Elm Street and Gate City Boulevard, the one with DAILY BREAD FLOUR on the back. 

Last night, The Continental Club hosted the open jam of the Piedmont Old Time Society (POTS), where acoustic fiddle and banjo music reigns supreme. POTS had previously held their jams at the Green Bean, but once that venue was no longer available, the group was on hiatus. When they learned the Continental Club would host the jam, they had eighteen people on the first night, playing well into the night. The lighting is absolutely beautiful at the Continental Club once your eyes adjust. However, it is a challenge to get crisp, color-balanced photos. The music sounded great last night. Hopefully, the Continental Club/Piedmont Old Time Society relationship will continue for a very long time and they will have all of their first and third Thursday jams there. The club is currently hosting an art exhibit by Trina Olson; the owner seems very supportive of visual and performing arts.

Happy Friday! May you find lots of great things to do in Greensboro this weekend.

Choice Showcase at Guilford County Schools

Last night the School Choice Showcase was held at the Greensboro Coliseum. Guilford County offers in-demand and innovative programs. Examples of choices include, performing and visual arts schools, Spanish immersion, engineering, and health and life science. The above photo features the booth of the Middle College at UNCG last night. Their theme is health and life sciences. It is not unusual for the popular programs to get 500 applications for 50 slots. . Here is a list of the choice schools and programs. At the moment, there are fifty one, with plans to create more. The application window started on January 13th and will close on February 20th. Some of the programs require interviews; others are strictly lottery based. Acceptance will be determined on April 21st. 

It cannot be stressed enough, if you have student who is interested in a choice school program, have them get their application in on or before the deadline and have them do their homework. Usually, students can tell when visiting a school if they can imagine attending the school. Choice schools are great for students who want a special focus. Attendance zone/neighborhood schools are best for students who want the traditional school experience. Students who attend choice schools can participate in sports and extracurriculars in their home school; however, if they want the thrill of walking down the hall on a Monday morning after winning a big game over the weekend, a traditional school is best. These decisions can be exciting and difficult at the same time. Guilford County Schools is known nationally for their schools of choice. Some of the program make it possible for high school students to graduate with up to two years of college credit!

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy Candlemas!

Home of the Future Publix on Mill Street; For Now, Christina's World

This is the lot on Mill Street where the new Publix Grocery Store will be located. We publish photos from Mill Street a lot because something about the way the afternoon sun hits this area, it is so beautiful. If we did a 180º turn, you would see Wendover Avenue. But for now, until the new Publix is built in 2024, this is one of our happy open-space places to catch a view of natural grasses meeting the sky.  Something about the scene reminds us of  "Christina's World," painted by Andrew Wyeth. We can just imagine someone horizontally positioned in the foreground with McKay's Books on the horizon, as opposed to a farmhouse. If you want a glimpse of what the new Publix will look like, see HERE. It will be a three-level grocery store. Do we have any existing grocery stores in Greensboro on more than one level? We can't think of one at the moment. If you can, let us know. In the meantime, a couple of our readers were asking about the location of this store, so we used that as an excuse to run back and get a photo. If you know anyone at McKay's Books, let them know they've lost an "O" and for now, it is McKay's B OKS!

Well, January has slipped away with no snow or freezing rain. What will February bring? Happy February 1st!

 

Winter Trees

Today's photo comes from our adventure exploring the eastern end of the county; the place where you are on a country road exploring and not sure if you are in Whitsett, Gibsonville, or even across the Alamance County line into Elon. The outbuilding above is one of about nine on a property at the corner of Frieden Church Road and Sweeetgum Road. Every one of the outbuildings is old, but has signs of being loved. Above, you see a cross and an American flag. In one, there are life-size pigs, maybe made of plaster or plastic. Beside another, there is a vintage truck. The two bedroom one bath house, built in 1930, is on 9.3 acres of property. This family has a little slice of paradise. As land gets sold off around them, we hope they hold on and keep all of their mature trees. One of our regular, long-time readers commented how much she likes trees in winter. We do, too!  These trees, in their dormant state and towering over the outbuilding with the hand-hewn logs, are breathtaking. The winter, low to the horizon sun, adds so much to the shading of the trees.

Happy Tuesday! Are you ready for February tomorrow?