Greensboro Daily Photo

First Citizens Bank Done.... Almost

Those of you who follow Greensboro Daily Photo know that we're following the progress of the First Citizens Bank building (here). This soon-to-be Irving Park Bank has been under construction for over a year. When we first started watching the progress, we weren't even sure what side of the building would have the main entrance, Huntington Road or Northwood Street. As it turns out, the entrance is on Northwood, facing Anton's Restaurant and Baskins Robins. At one time, a reader suggested that the top might be a bell or clock tower. As seen above, neither is the case. 

First Citizens will be a four-story, full-service branch off of Battleground- 30,900 square feet of banking services. Lately, we've been in Facebook mode where people post photos of oldies and ask you if you remember. Well, this photo reminds of of the tv show Green Acres. Imagine Lisa going into the bank to return her jewels to the safety deposit box while Oliver waited outside for her, in his suit, on a tractor. Do you remember?

MUSEP @ Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

MUSEP with friends means fabulous summer fun. Local sponsors and the City of Greensboro bring music to the community each Sunday. The venues are mostly public parks and they are always free. Yesterday's concert was held in the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park off of Old Battleground Avenue& New Garden Road. The evening was one of country music with first, Katelyn Marks and then, Lisa Dames. It was as if Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline were in the park with us. The above photo was not our best at capturing yesterday's tremendous crowd. However, it captures the spirit of our city's great parks.

To the left, you see the 27' tall statue of Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War hero and our city's namesake. In front of Greene is one of our giant oak trees; they sure help keep the green in Greensboro! The statue and the mighty oak dwarf the people en route to their seats. At the military park, being surrounded by trees enhances the acoustics and the seating area is great- plenty of shade and a gradual slope down to the musicians. The park should host more concerts.

Next Sunday at 6:30, the Greensboro Concert Band will play at Latham Park- a city park off of Wendover at Bessemer. There are four more concerts and then the concerts, and summer, come to a screeching halt!

Happy Monday, folks!

St. Pius X- Catholic Church on North Elm Street

Today, we feature a photo of St Pius X.* Founded in 1960 and renovated in 2010, St. Pius is not only beautiful, it is full of art and history and the craftsmanship is fabulous. The original sanctuary seated about 350 people and this new one seats 1,100. The new sanctuary is 55 feet high and it has stained glass windows that are over 100 years old.**  

For the renovation, as feasible, local venders, materials and resources were used. Items that were brought in from elsewhere often came with great symbolism. The windows were salvaged from a midwest church that closed. Statuary from a church that closed in Pittsburgh, PA is now housed here. Outside, one of the cornerstones was brought  by a member from Riese, Italy, the hometown of St. Pius X. Another cornerstone is from their sister parrish in Mañazo, Peru. The goal of the renovation was not simply to make the church larger, but also to "create an environment for the encounter with Christ."

Featuring St. Pius this week is especially appropriate because it is located at Brown Town and Irving Park, the part of Greensboro we featured for ABC Wednesday this week. If you are Catholic, you owe it to yourself to visit this church. If you are not Catholic and interested, call the church office. 

*click here to see a photo taken during the renovation process.

** see short videoclip of sanctuary here.

Kids Path

Today, we are featuring another rainbow. The above mural adorns the wall of the children's activity room on the main floor of Kids Path. Kids Path was founded by Hospice and Pallative Care in Greensboro as a place to care for seriously ill and grieving children. They provide supportive services for children and their families, helping them cope with illness and loss. The facility, open since 2001, is located at 2504 Summit Avenue. On the outside and inside alike, the atmosphere is soothing and visually appealing. 

Artists Hannah Mathis and Mike Gaydon painted the above mural and it is even more beautiful in person that in this photo. The more you look at it, the more details you see. Exactly four months ago, GDP reader Nita Fleming asked if we would feature the above mural. Nita, thank you so much for making us aware of, not only this beautiful artwork, but also this community resource that provides such an important service for our community.

The rainbow is a spectrum of light that connects earth to the heavens, not unlike the work of the very dedicated staff at Kids Path. 

Flying through Rainbows

Earlier this week, Greensboro was blessed with a rainbow. By the time we had our camera in position to photograph it, little light was left. However, by that time, an airplane appeared overhead. (We were close to the airport). We loved seeing the airplane fly past the rainbow. From the ground, we could see what looked like the airplane going past the rainbow; however, from a plane, you can't have the sensation that you are passing through a rainbow.

Last Friday, Moscow Daily Photo posted a rainbow and referenced a rainbow view from the Netherlands. It would be so fun if you can link your photo of a rainbow to our photo and, then, someone can link to your picture.  Let us know if you link and we'll let MDP know that we've linked to them! Pass the rainbow on.

While we'd love to see another rainbow in Greensboro today, we'd like even more to see rain. Happy Friday folks. What does the sky look like above your head?

Do You Have a Farm-acy?

Very near Kirkwood and Irving Park, right beside this busy segment of Battleground Avenue, someone is growing vegetables on a little plot of land. The sign is such a cute way to drive home the point that if you watch what food you put into your body and make good food choices, you will likely decrease the amount of medicine that you will have to take. 

Home gardening has been on the rise in the USA over the last several years. According to the National Garden Association, in 2009, 43 million households planned to grow some of their own food and that number has been increasing by 15-30% annually.*  Some of these urban gardens are owned privately and others are shared by community members. Another option is for church and civic groups to grow gardens and donate the produce to people in need.

Yet another trend is to have edible landscaping. With this option, plants are chosen, not only for the fact that the yield something edible, but also for their attractiveness. What a healthy, economical option! If you are local and really interested in edible landscaping, you can drive to the Edible Landscaping nursery, about three and a half hours north of Greensboro. The ride through the mountains of Virginia (between Staunton and Charlottesville) is beautiful and when you get there you can visit their orchard and see what the plants would look like in your yard.

Let's all make an effort to plant something edible. Maybe we can all find one of these signs to alert passers-by to the farm-acy in our yard-en of eat-ing! A virtual "honk" if you support the above gardener's efforts!

*reference.

B is for Brown Town

Today is ABC Wednesday and "B" is for "Brown Town."  The Brown Town neighborhood is located at North Elm at Cone Boulevard and backs up to Kirkwood and Irving Park.*  This part of town is called Brown Town because it was developed by the Brown Corporation- in the 1950's. Recently, there was momentum for Brown Town to pursue a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay (NCO) designation. ** The purpose of an NCO is to ensure that a neighborhood maintains its unique characteristics and that structures built are compatible with the character of the neighborhood. While the designation is less restrictive than "historic district" , NCO's can help build a sense of communty in a neighborhood. This drive was partly due to the controversy over what would be (torn down and) built at the northwest corner of Cornwalis & Elm. Now that the former structure has been removed and the new one is in place, the momentum for the overlay seems to be diminished.

Did you know that, unless there is some designation that affects zoning, the city doesn't determine or outline the boundaries of a neighborhood. Some properties are clearly in a given neighborhood and others are more ambiguous. 

The above house, located at 2304 Danbury Road, is a real gem and the recent landscaping and renovations give it real curb appeal (see before here). It has a more modern look than many of the houses in the neighborhood. It is one of the few houses in Brown Town that isn't hidden by mature bushes and trees and, therefore, it is easy to photograph. Follow our ABC Neighborhoods series here. We're hoping that O. Henry Magazine or the News & Record or Our State Magazine will research and write about Brown Town. As a matter of fact, we still need to settle the issue of whether this house on Danbury is in Brown Town or Browntown!

*see map here.

** see information and data collected for Brown Town's possible NCO here &  here.

Elements Gallery & Summer Fun

Summer is a time for parents and children to spend time together and to enjoy their slightly-less hectic schedules. Sometimes, children are having more fun; other times, parents are more engaged an activity. At best, fun is being had by all. In the above photo, the parents are enjoying an event at Elements Gallery on Elm Street. Their children are waiting patiently outside, playing video games on their cell phone. The give and take of our summer schedules is what makes good memories for all.

Elements Gallery is like so many of the businesses cropping up on Elm Street with people coming to create a collective of mini-businesses. Elements Gallery is a collection of talented, local artists selling their artwork, pottery, and hand-crafted jewelry. In other businesses, people sell their skills, wares, artwork, products or vintage finds.  From nationally to locally, the trend seems to be for everyone to become his/her own independent contractor. While there is safety in numbers, nothing beats having your "own" business.  What are your special talents?

Name that Vegetable.....

Can you name this vegetable? This is one of our favorites and it grows well in our back yard. It likes the hot, sunny weather in Greensboro. Above, you see the hibiscus-like flower as well as the pods that are beginning to form. Have you guessed what vegetable this is yet?

Well......it is okra, a flowering plant in the mallow family. Okra is related to cotton and cocoa. It is a popular health food that is high in fiber, vitamin C and oxidants. This year, we planted the reddish/purple variety, instead of the green pods. We were shocked that, when you steam it, the reddish/purple pods turn green. The whole plant is beautiful. The broad leaves are large and attractive. It is nice to plants that are both attractive and edible! Happy Monday, folks. Thank you for reading and let us know how your garden is growing. Let us know if you have suggestions for our edible landscaping adventure.

Gate City Baptist

Hilltop Road forms the northeast border of the Adams Farm neighborhood. Located on Hilltop Road is Gate City Baptist Church. Greensboro is known as the Gate City from the days when we had so many trains coming through Greensboro; it was as if we were the gateway to the world. Likely, we could fill a year of Sundays with Gate City "somethings" around town.*  As for today, we're featuring the one and only Gate City Baptist Church in Greensboro. 

Gate City Baptist Church is a large, dynamic church with an active congregation. Today's photo is a companion posting to Wednesday's featuring of a home in Adams Farm.

*A great article on the Gate City phenomenon here.

Top's Cleaners

We've got another photo from Battleground Avenue. Today, we see Top's Cleaners. This dry cleaning business doesn't appear to have anything written about it online. However, it has the look of one of those businesses on Battleground Avenue back from the early years and the facade of the building reminds us of the pre-fab looking architecture from the 1960's.

If you notice, the lot is surrounded by Dutch barns- a style of storage building that is quite popular in Greensboro. Next time we need to get something dry cleaned, we're going to try out Top's. Hopefully, they will live up to their name.

Stop back tomorrow. On Sundays we feature something religious or spiritual. As feasible, we will feature something on Sunday that is found in the neighborhood we shared on Wednesday; which means, tomorrow we will share something from Adams Farm!

Maple & Crepe Myrtle

The crepe myrtle bushes (right) are in full bloom now. They are beautiful, unless you park under one during a rain- in which case, you will find yourself picking little crumbs of flower parts out of every nook and cranny of your vehicle. Some crepe myrtle, or lagerstroemia, are deciduous and others are evergreen. The summer-autumn flowers are long lasting and you can find just about every color variety, except for blue. The genius is named after a Swedish merchant. 

This North Battleground scene is noteworthy because, to the left, you can see that the maple tree has already started changing color and it is only the middle of July. This early color change is probably due to the stress plants are undergoing in the heat wave with irregular access to water.

If you peek in the space between the tree and bush, in the grassy field, you can see where Laddie and Duke's Family Grille and Pub used to be. This Greensboro institution was raised a few years ago. Nothing of the building remains.

At GDP, are still in the habit of featuring sky shots on Fridays even thought we don't usually participate in Skywatch Friday any more. Happy Friday, dear readers. Here's to that beautiful slice of the sky hovering above in your neck of the woods!

Farm Bureau Insurance

The Farm Bureau movement was started in 1911, by John Barron, a Cornell graduate. For over 100 years, farm bureaus have served the purpose of providing not only financial support but also advise for rural families. Some farm bureaus are independent of the original American Farm Bureau Federation.

The above business, located at 2800 Battleground Avenue, is part of a North Carolina non profit organization that started in 1953 and originally headquartered in Greensboro. Their mission is to provide affordable insurance to farmers, to advocate for their members, and to provide educational services to their members.* Today, the agency also serves non-farmers and they are the largest property and domestic insurance agency in North Carolina and they hold an A rating (reference). 

The no-frills building on the east side of Battleground Avenue looks sturdy and inviting. We'll have to go see what the inside looks like sometime. Or, if you do business there, take a minute and let us know.

 

* read more here.

A is for Adams Farm

Today starts a new round of ABC Wednesday (Round 11) and a faithful reader has convinced us to feature A-Z neighborhoods of Greensboro.

Well, surprise.... "A" is for "Adams Farm." Adams Farm is a 728-acre, planned community between Wendover Avenue and High Point Road, near Jamestown. The community has many amenities, including a pool with an active swim team, a tennis club, a 17 acre pond, and five miles of walking trails. Adams Farm was developed in the late 1980's- early 1990's with houses still being added late in the 1990's. Naming consultants were brought in to help name the 20- plus neighborhoods and the streets within the given neighborhoods to help forge their identities- Country Walk, Autumn Woods, Revere's Run (as in Paul), Cedar Valley to name a few . When orignially built, neighborhoods had slightly different characteristics (brick veneer, hardy plank, combination; apartment complexes; higher-end/first homes), but with equal access to amenities. As they move into their their decade, variability has increased somewhat in neighborhoods as people paint their homes in colors different from the original neutral palate, as landscaping matures, and other features are added. However, the community has an active homeowner's association and sense of community remains strong.

 The houses in the above photo are located in Poplar Hill Court, on the Hilltop Road side of Adams Farm.

Delta Airlines @ PTI in GSO

Here we see a McDonnell-Douglas 88, the last variant of the MD-80 series. This Delta Airlines plane is parked at Lindley Field in Greensboro (GSO). Likely, this 155 seater is headed to Atlanta, Delta's main hub. Since Northwest Airlines and Delta merged, we see a lot more of the latter in Greensboro and the "old redtails" have been repainted. US Air transports the most people to and from Greensboro and Delta is second in passengers carried.

In the background, on the top right, you can see TIMCO Aviation Services peeking out from behind the jetway. They have a 600,000 square foot aircraft maintenance facility in Greensboro. TIMCO, established in 1990, is headquartered in Greensboro. Along with TIMCO and FedEx, DELTA, USAirways and all of the other carriers provide great resources for Greensboro. 

This photo reminds us of Delta's old advertising campaign. "We love to fly and it shows." 

Bike Riding on Highway 150

Bicycling has become quite popular in Greensboro. With the addition of the trail and greenway systems as well as getting more bicycle lanes- such as the one on Spring Garden Street near UNCG- our community is becoming more bike-friendly.

In the above photo, these four cyclists were traveling along Highway 150 in Summerfield. They were doing a great job of being conscious of the motor vehicle traffic around them and were considerate of cars, even though they are equally entitled to be on the road. From the looks of the matching outfits, likely, this quartet rides together often. When you are on a bike, there is safety in numbers. We hope they had a great ride.

As we ease into the work week, we wish you a happy Monday and to quote Sergeant Esterhaus from Hill Street Blues (1980's), "Hey, let's be careful out there." 

Victory Baptist Church

Victory Baptist is an independent Baptist Church at 810 Meadowood Street, just down the road from Costco at Wendover. We couldn't find out much about the church as it doesn't have a website. However, according to Wikipedia, independent Baptist churches generally adhere to conservative Baptist beliefs. They are independent from the authority of denominations. Less than 15% of those who consider themselves Baptists are independent (reference).

Victory Baptist's marquee slogan this week is thought provoking, "Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words." 

We feature something spiritual every Sunday. If you are interested, see our other entries here. Also, please know that many people search our Sunday data base. For places that have websites, we link back. This is a great opportunity for those who are seeking to find you-- a great opportunity to bring in new members. We encourage you to not only have a website for your church, synagogue, temple, house, hall, etc. but also to provide a description of your beliefs as well as a short history. Sometimes it is necessary......... to use words.

Emilio Rojas-- Artist in Residence

Emilio Rojas is an artist in residence this month at the Elsewhere Artist Collaborative on Elm Street. Rojas, originally from Mexico City, comes to Greensboro via Vancouver. Rojas is an interdisciplinary artist who works a lot as a performer, photographer and videographer. The day we met Emilio, we were drawn to his work through the film he has compiled on Patricia Allison-- an environmentalist very involved in sustainable agriculture and permaculture. (You can see the film about Patricia Allison being shown against a backdrop of hardback books on the little table to Emelio's right in the above photo).

The project he is currently working on while in Greensboro involves exploring issues of racism and homophobia through a surreal narrative film. He hopes to collaborate with local community members, especially those who are socially active or personally affected by civil rights issues and issues of marginalized populations. If you are interested in meeting Emelio or helping him with his research, contact him through Elsewhere this month. He will present his work while in Greensboro at the August First Friday (8/3). 

Widening Highway 220

This is the view of the point where the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway comes to a screeching halt.... for now. Once the widening of Highway 220 is complete, the greenway will extend under 220 to the north of the old railroad bed, just north of Summerfield Elementary School. It will continue on NC Highway 150 West. For now, the best a trail-user can do is to turn around and enjoy the greenway in the opposite direction. When we were on the greenway (on the Fourth of July), this location was a birdseye view of the current construction process. We were enjoying a federal holiday; the construction workers were working tirelessly to meet completion deadlines.

With protected watershed areas nearby, this project has been a complicated one. Great care is being taken to ensure that the lakes are impacted minimally. Greensboro, while known for being green, doesn't have large lakes and is without a major river.*  We value every drop of water that we DO have. If you are local and want to take a drive the weekend, head up North Battleground on Highway 220. You just might not recognize it! Happy Friday, dear readers.

*read about the Haw River here and the tiny Deep River doesn't have a Wiki site (yet).

Ode to Joy

This photo was taken during MUSEP at Guilford College last Sunday. Dougherty's organic installation of sticks twisted into a maze of little rooms creates hours of endless summer fun for children and adults alike. You need to see it to believe it. The mountain of sticks looks different from every angle (see a different view here and here). These girls were running in and out squealing in great delight. Today's title, "Ode to Joy" seemed so appropriate for the moment. 

Ode to Joy, is a lyrical verse written by German author/scholar Friedrich Schiller in 1785. He wrote it to celebrate the brotherhood and unity of all mankind- inspired by a friendship he held dear.* We know Ode to Joy best as the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, completed in 1824 and used for many purposes since then. The girls, blurry from being in motion and playing tag, remind us that nothing matters more than friendship and the love of family and friends. We hope that your summer, whether you are in Greensboro or beyond, is nothing short of an ode to joy!

*reference.

Z is for Zoo

Today, Round 10 of ABC Wednesday (one of our favorite memes)  comes to a peacock-screeching halt with Z is for Zoo. People around the world who "play" will be posting their favorite "Z" photos. We're sharing the not-so-original "z" is for "zoo." * Actually, this photo wasn't taken at the zoo in Asheboro (also a worthy cause) but at the zoo/animal discovery portion of Greensboro's Natural Science Center. Roaming peacocks evoke memories of the Old South and they are a fun addition to the grounds of the Natural Science Center. In Hinduism, peacocks represent benevolence, patience, kindness, compassion and knowledge (Wiki).  If you are lucky, one of these regal, terrestrial feeders will give you a private tour of the gounds. 

Greensboro's science center has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Currently, it is undergoing yet another growth spurt. It just keeps getting better and better and the zoo portion of the facility is included in the price of a general admission ticket! Everything from a Wallaby Walkthrough to tamandulas, giant tortises, maned wolves and giant anteater to tigers are waiting for you to admire (zoo info here). By 2013, we'll have a SciQuarium with yet more animals. 

 

*see GDP's  A-Y ABC Wednesday posts here. This round, we  featured worthy causes/non-profits. Next week, we will start Round 11 with ABC neighborhoods of Greensboro. Previously, we have featured ABC people and ABC streets of Greensboro. By the way, we're hoping someone will create a new neighborhood that starts with a "Z" or, we'll have to get really creative for our "Z" neighborhood. ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz..................

Walkerfest 2012 (Year II)

Walkerfest 2012 was fabulously fun this past Saturday (Year II). The annual neighborhood event is a combination music and arts and crafts festival intended to build community in the Walker Avenue/Elam area, seen in the photo above. Unfortunately, temperatures were over 100 degrees and the sun was relentless. In the above photo, you see an attendee walking through a water sprayer to cool off. 

The music was "live, original, and local" and many of the crafters looked like people we'd seen selling at other Indie events in the area- great wares. We were there mid-day. Hopefully it got busier later in the afternoon when all of the familes participating in the city swim meet had a break between morning and afternoon swim sessions. However, we're not sure it ever really cooled off.

It would be nice if every neighborhood had an annual festival. It is a great way to get out and meet new people. We can't wait to pick up the latest edition of the Lindley Park Gazette to read about the highlights of Walkerfest, from the locals' perspective.

MUSEP 2012- Guilford College

Once the Fourth of July has passed and MUSEP at Guilford College has come and gone, summer begins to feel as if it is waning. Today, locals braved the 100+ degree heat to enjoy the MUSEP Concert at Guilford College on Founder's Lawn. The Eastern Music Festival's Young Artists were enjoyed by all. The young guest conductor of the orchestra yesterday evening, Demondrae Thurman, was a euphonium player from Alabama.  We heard everything from Moon River to Star Wars to Stars and Stripes to a medley of pieces from West Side Story from the two orchestras that played.

Patrick Dougherty's installation, which we affectionately named Stickhenge, is still in place over a year later serving as a backdrop to the event. With all of its entrance and exit arches, this larger-than-life assemblage of twigs keeps children entertained while their parents enjoyed the  music. Fun was had by all, AND FOR FREE, at this MUSEP concert. There are seven remaining MUSEP concerts. If you haven't been to one, clear your calendar on an upcoming Sunday evening. You won't be disappointed; especially if you bring a picnic basket full of food and a few friends to enjoy the concerts with you.

 

 

 

JESUS Bumper Sticker

We were behind this truck recently at a stop light.*  The entire time, we were thinking: 1) the driver attends UNC; 2) she drives a Ford truck; 3) she is a Christian; 4) she is from Minnesota (license plate cropped out of photo); 5) she must be a good driver because the truck has no sign of a bump or scratch- no easy task in a college town. That yellow lettering stuck with us for a while: Are you following JESUS this close? We even found ourselves talking to the bumper sticker, "wait..... we're not that close to your truck." Later that day, back in town on Battleground Avenue, we saw a Volvo with a vanity plate advertising a local community: OAKRIDGE.

The back of a vehicle makes a very effective place to advertise/proselytize. What does the back of your vehicle say about you? You know people are watching!  Since we photograph something related to religion every Sunday, this bumper sticker is having an even greater impact than the truck-driving, Carolina gal (from Minnesota) ever imagined.

Summer is a fun time to look for bumperstickers and vanity tags, especially if you are on vacation and have restless children in the car.

 

* (OK, we cheated a little and slipped out of Guilford County for an afternoon).

 

First Friday Fun

July is well under way. Above is a scene at Elements Gallery, 526 South Elm Street, taken at last night's First Friday celebration. Greensboro has some great artists, visual and performing alike, and Elements Gallery is a co-op of about 45 artists. They all work together to keep this gallery dynamic and stocked with colorful items..

Last night, Vance Archer was playing fiddle. He also sells painted blocks of wood in the gallery. (Unfortunately, we didn't get the name of the guitar player). At last night's event, people enjoyed seeing the paintings, jewelry, pottery and other items offered for sale.  During First Friday, Elements Gallery serves light appetizers and beverages, as do many of the galleries.

If you missed First Friday downtown, today, you can head to the festivities in the Lindley Park neighborhood. They will be celebrating from 12-8pm at the corner of Walker and Elam Avenues.

Fun & Patriotism Continue.........

As a non-religious holiday, the Fourth of July is one that most Americans celebrate. For one day a year, most of us don red, white, and blue and do something to celebrate being an American. The mohawk above is an example of an exuberant patriot. The photo was taken downtown on Elm Street at Festival Park (last year, actually).

Just when Greensboro has had time to catch its breath from Fun Fourth, today is First Friday which means downtown will come alive with people, yet again. Today's First Friday will be one of the busiest of the year with all of the special events being offered this evening. Read about some of the options here. From the musical 1776 at the Carolina Theatre to Elsewhere's surry rides to shopping the indie market, dining, and entertainment in-between, you will not be disappointed if you head to town. We haven't put our red, white, and blue clothes away; we just may wear them again today! Hope to see you there.

FOURTH = Friends, Fellowship, Food, Fun.......... Fireworks

This year, we watched the fireworks spring to life sitting at the edge of the railroad tracks that parallel Spring Garden Street. We were close enough to the Coliseum to enjoy the show, yet far enough away to avoid the traffic jam at the end of the night. The group that chose the same location was quiet and friendly. One young man shared his truck bed with a family that did not bring chairs. When an especially bright firework would explode, its reflection on the railroad tracks was fabulous.

In Greensboro, the weather was lovely today. All the festive events in the Piedmont area were spared rain, as well as triple digit weather. However, Wednesday is a hard day for a holiday, as, not many people are in the position to take a five day weekend. For those of us still in town, this Friday is First Friday- a great way to continue your July festivities. 

Y is for Y...... (Formerly known as YMCA)

Knowing that ABC Wednesday would trump a Fourth of July photo, we have been posting Fourth of July photos this past week. Plus, we should have one for you tomorrow. However, TODAY, we're bringing you a photo of the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, located at 1101 East Market Street. The Hayes-Taylor Y is the oldest Y building in the city, dating back to 1939. The facility was built with 50 thousand dollars donated by Ceasar Cone and $50 thousand raised in the community, to match his contribution.*

As you can see from the red building to the left, the Y is landlocked. It needs to expand, but NCA&T University is all around the facility. The Hayes-Taylor has just cleared a zoning hurdle for opening a facility down the road at Barber Park.  In addition to a larger building, they want to expand services, including adding athletic fields, increase parking, and double capacity for people working out. 

The next hurdle for the new Y facility would be to secure 7 million in funding, which, if you think about it, is a nano-drop-in-the-bucket when you consider The Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering & Gateway Gardens projects cost over 64 million dollars. At any rate, even without a one-man benefactor like Ceasar Cone, Greensboro will find a way to get this new Y built. As a community, we're like that. We find a way to realize our dreams.  Today is Wednesday and Y is for the Hayes-Taylor YMCA, the Y in our 2012 series on A-Z worthy causes and noteworthy issues of Greensboro.

*reference.

Fireworks on the Eve of July 4th

It is that time of year when the ubiquitous, school-bus yellow ACME FIREWORKS tents are set up in parking lots at the big box stores. Some places have banned fireworks this year-- like Colorado due the dry conditions and fires raging out of control; however, in Greensboro, fireworks are permitted and seem to be selling well. As a matter of fact, the Fourth of July is the one day of the year that North Carolina allows fireworks. Festive public displays are planned for Greensboro and High Point tomorrow night. Get ready for sparklers sizzling, pops, booms, and flashes of color lighting up the sky. Greensboro does a great job with the Fun Fourth Festival and High Point has the Uncle Sam Jam, making the holiday fun for those of us who are still in town. Also, Wet and Wild Water Park will have a fireworks show.

So, if you think you are the ONLY person not at the beach, head out for one of these events and you will realize that the community is far from empty. Finally, if you decide to launch a fireworks display on your own lawn, please follow safety guidelines.

Gaggle of Geese

As seen in the sign above, this photo was taken on 220 South-- North Battleground Avenue. While the scene looks serene, almost rural, if you look down the road on the left-- beyond the cars, you can see the blue sign of Wal-Mart. This is actually a pretty busy road and the Canada geese own this strip of Battleground. They raise their goslings here, teach them to forage in the parking lots, and to cross over to the swampy area for water. The geese seem pretty happy here. Fortunately, we were able to stop our car and wait them to clear the road-- incident free. 

Likely, you know that the term of venery for a flock of geese not in flight is a gaggle. However, did you know that, in flight, they can be called a skein?* However, we don't think you'll have to refer to these geese as a skein any time soon. They seem more than content to walk from point A to point B. Happy Monday, dear readers and, if you are on Battleground North, be careful, the goslings are geese now and the aggregated gaggle has no fear of cars. And no french fries, please. They are as bad for the geese as they are for humans.

* reference.

Clifton Road Baptist Church

Clifton Road Baptist Church, located at 3815 Clifton Road, is in the part of town where Pomona Cotton Mill used to be, as were Dillard Paper Company and Van Lindley's terra cotta tile factory.

This side of town has undergone radical change. Wendover Avenue now cuts through the community. The mill is long gone and the paper company is very different. However, the community still has a few mill houses and people still look forward to coming here to worship. This photo is the back parking lot of Clifton Road Baptist The parking lot is filled with special parking spaces, reserved for visitors. Also remaining are a couple of iron crosses painted white. They look like a member welded them together.... oh so long ago.

It is so fun to explore the nooks and crannies of Greensboro. Happy Sunday, folks.