Greensboro Daily Photo

Butterfly Effect 2022

 

The Butterfly Effect is a beautiful arts and crafts venue at 3319 Sandy Ridge Road near the Farmer's Market.  We had the chance to visit in 2020, just before the pandemic shut everything down. This past Saturday, we stopped by to say hello to owner, Helene Avraham-Katz, and of course to shop a little. The shop is as cute as ever and well stocked with items by over 50 vendors. This past Saturday, she held a special event with even more vendors who set up for the day. Featured in the above photo are (from left to right), Yahav, Lisa (with Daisy, a dog she is fostering), Helene, Leah, and Heather. You can tell by the smiles, the shop is a joyous place to be.

Helene has beat pancreatic cancer twice and approaches every day with happiness and optimism. On the right of the counter, you can see the memoir she wrote about her life and journey back to health. The title is "The Butterfly Effect."  Helene is a very open person and after spending a few minutes in her store, you will start to feel like family. You will sense the ripple of energy characteristic of the butterfly effect. Today, we learned that twenty one years ago, Helene and her family immigrated to the USA from South Africa, as opposed to going to Australia because it was easier to bring  dogs into the United States. For Australia, themdogs would have had to quarantine for six months. Australia's loss has been a big gain for Greensboro!

Currently, the store is making T-shirts in support of Ukraine. They are $15 for  regular t-shirts and $18 for wicking shirts. To the right of Heather, you can see the front of the shirts, with the sunflower. On the back, they say "Peace for Ukraine". All profits will be given to the UNICEF Organization to help children in Ukraine. Please support this organization that is centered on building community, locally and internationally.

 

See the 2020 GDP post HERE.

Friendly Avenue Baptist Church Fire Truck Easter Egg Drop

Yesterday was a very special day at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church.....

Children, from toddlers to 5th graders, were invited to hear the Easter story and then participate in the Fire Truck Easter Egg Drop. In the above photo, you see children scrambling to gather Easter eggs filled with treats, just after the eggs had been dropped from a fire truck's bucket ladder extended several stories high. In addition, there were stations all over the church lot with games, activities, and light snacks for the children. Everything was free and family friendly. Every detail was meticulously executed. Participants pre-registered, ensuring sufficient volunteer staff and enough Easter eggs.  By the start of the event yesterday, thousands of eggs were carefully stuffed and sealed with tape- wheel barrels full. Children were given clear empty bags to stuff with plastic eggs. In spite of the cool, breezy weather, fun was had by all. Friendly Avenue is known for having these big, inclusive events that help build memories for children. Yesterday was one of many examples of their efforts to build a sense of community.

If you were wanting to go to church at Friendly Avenue today, Palm Sunday, there is an 8:30 am service; Sunday school is at 9:45am;  and the late service is at 11:00am. Five o-clock in the evening is Kids Praise time; students and adults also have a group gathering at 5:00 pm. For Christians, today, Palm Sunday, commemorates the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed down, marking the path. We're betting today will also be a very special day at Friendly Avenue Baptist.

Happy Sunday!

Lynn Witherspoon

Today, we're featuring the ever enthusiastic and energetic Lynn Witherspoon. Lynn's impressive credentials include working with the National Folk Festival, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the upcoming Greensboro Bound Literary Festival, and the Carolina Blues Festival- to name a few. Lynn is the person who, as she puts it, takes care of all the things that happen in the background at festivals and community events. She ensures that the infrastructure is in place. As an example, with the folk festivals, she determines where the stages will be, how many tents they need, where vendors and food trucks will set up, how many volunteers will be needed and where, how to meet the needs of guest performers and presenters, and more. She learned the art of managing the inner workings of a festival by shadowing the crew of the National Folk Festival. However, Lynn had already amassed a tremendous skill set which includes being organized, loving to work with diverse groups of people, seeing the big picture as well as all of the step-by-step details; not to mention she is extremely computer literate. If you don't recognize Lynn, it is because she prefers working behind the scenes.

One of the many features that makes Lynn the perfect person for playing a leadership role in the operations of a local festival is the fact that she is a local herself. When the decision was made for the 2020 North Carolina Folk Festival to be virtual, with her knowledge of Greensboro, Lynn helped find the perfect locations to film. She selected: The Underground Railroad Tree at Guilford College; The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum; The Old Mill of Guilford; The Carousel at the Science Center of Greensboro; The Civil Rights Museum; Magnolia House; Center City Park; the First National Bank Baseball Field; and Gateway Gardens. While the folk festivals are near and dear to her heart, right now, Lynn is focusing her efforts on the Carolina Blues Festival* and the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival.  The entire Literary Bound Festival will be indoors and all of the details are nicely outlined on the festival's homepage. While the festival is free, through the homepage, you can access a sign up sheet. The organizers want to  have an idea of how many people are planning to attend each presentation and to honor the capacity of the venues. This in-person festival will be held May 19-22, and don't be surprised if you don't see Lynn. Rest assured, she will be working non-stop every step of the way!

The interview was conducted earlier in the week at Common Grounds, a coffee shop on Elam Avenue. 

*The Carolina Blues Festival will be also be held in Greensboro May 21st- 22nd in LeBauer Park.