Greensboro Daily Photo

National Night Out

National Night Out is held throughout the United States on the first Tuesday of August. The purpose is for police officers to build community with residents and for neighbors to get to know each other. The initiative started in 1984, which makes this year the 35th year of the event. People sit on their front porches with the lights on, children play outside, and officers stop by to meet and interface with residents. 

The above photo shows the Lindley Park neighborhood as people began to arrive for the gathering in the park-- beside the pool and in front of the recreation center. People of all ages seemed to be enjoying themselves and the rain managed to hold off until later in the evening. Did you have an opportunity to participate in an event? If not, consider spearheading one next year. You never know, you just may start a tradition that will last for decades. And, if it is in front of your house, you won't even have to drive anywhere to enjoy the evening.

Tiny is the New BIG

Tucked into an unassuming lot at 4120 Causey Street in the Pamona neighborhood of west Greensboro are six tiny homes, A-F. This is the first tiny house community that the City of Greensboro has approved. In the era of large suburban homes, this little community reminds us that, at the end of the day, all we really need to live is a roof over our head, a place to fix warm meal, a way to get in out of the elements, and a place to sleep. As shared on their website (tinyhousesgreensboro.com), each has a living area, a kitchen with full sized appliances, one bedroom, and a bathroom. Five of the homes are 288 square feet and one is only 180 square feet.

The tiniest of the houses is the one on the right. It has the word "Weaver" on the door, because it was built by students at Weaver Academy, a Guilford County School. Students raised the money for the material, designed the home, and built it in one semester. What a great way for students to learn the engineering process, perform community service, and oversee a project from conceptualization to completion. Residents are excited because these houses represent a means of ensuring they not only have an affordable housing option, but one that is permanent. The thriving, community garden at the front of the lot that reminds us that while housing security is important, quality of life is made even better when there is a sense of community.

The City Daily Photo theme for August is black. The black trailer reminds us that there needs to be a way to get each home from the sight where it is built to here. See more theme day photos from around the world, here.

 

Tanger Center, Elm Street Side

 

Blink and the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts is up, at least great progress has been made. The above photo features the Elm Street side of the building, which has this magical feature where the reflection off of the building across the street almost looks like an ancient script. They could project some interesting projects, movies, sayings, etc. onto the side of the building.

This 85 million dollar 3,000 seat facility is scheduled to open in the spring. Do you have your tickets? Season ticket sales have been brisk. This will be a wonderful facility for Greensboro. Somebody appears to be interested as their Facebook page already has over 6,000 "likes" and the building isn't even complete. Stop by 300 North Elm Street and check out the progress, or check back here and we'll post more photos as progress is made.

Preservation Greensboro: Tour of Lindley Park

Preservation Greensboro offers free walking tours of historic neighborhoods in Greensboro. The above photo features the starting point for the tour of Lindley Park. On these tours, a docent gives a brief introduction to the history of the neighborhood, sharing its significance, lore, and most interesting points, and then commences to walking and talking. Homes with historical and or architectural significance are pointed out.

The Wednesday night tour drew almost fifty people, most of whom were not from Lindley Park. Many participants had been on one of the tours before. Standing on the bench on the right was Rebecca who did an excellent job of bringing the history of Lindley Park to life for the group. Learn more about Preservation Greensboro and their upcoming neighborhood tour schedule, here.

Recycling Glass

Sadly, as of July 1st, the City of Greensboro no longer accepts glass in the residential recycling containers. However, they have established drop off sites for bottles and jars at various points throughout Greensboro. The above photo features the bins in at the edge of the parking lot at the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library. As long as you have a vehicle, the process is super simple. You just drive up and place your bottles in the bin. The biggest challenge is dropping the glass in the bottom of an empty bin without breaking it!

By far, the bins are filled with wine bottles and beer bottles, mixed in with a few jelly jars. Let's just say, Greensboro residents consume a lot of wine and beer. Of course it wouldn't be cost effective for wineries in France or California to refill wine bottles, but surely, breweries in Greensboro could have a deposit/recycling system that would keep beer bottles out of the rubbish bins. Growlers could have paper labels and uniform sizes so they could be returned anywhere. Come on Greensboro, we can figure this out. In the meantime, if you have a neighbor who has transportation issues, please offer to take their bottles and jars to a designated recycling spot.

Mr. Rogers would approve of this idea!

MUSEP Jazz Evening at Guilford College

MUSEP has been providing free summer music concerts around Greensboro for forty years. Yesterday's concert was held at Guilford College. Due to the heat, attendance was down. However, those who attended were well protected by all the mature trees on the campus. The Piedmont Triad Jazz Orchestra played two sets of great music for the crowd.

Next Sunday's concert will be at Country Park from 6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. The lineup includes "Low Key" a Classic Rock to Pop group and "Sam Frazier and the Side Effects " with their Songwriter/Americana Sound. If you are in town, like music, and can arrange transportation, this is a must-attend event.

International Civil Rights Museum

The International Civil Rights Museum, located at 134 South Elm Street, was founded in 2010.   The first Woolworth opened in 1879, and the Greensboro Woolworth in 1929. The Greensboro sit-ins took place there in 1960, when four NCA&T college students weren't going to take no for an answer with respect to their being able to order from the lunch counter. 

In the above photo, the museum looks quiet and empty. However, during special events, the building is packed. It gets over 70,000 visitors annually. Greensboro played an important role in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's. It is important that this history be remembered. If you have never visited the museum, you owe it to yourself to do so.  Happy Monday!

Oh, Playgrounds!

Over the past several years, Greensboro has been getting more public space, including play spaces. LeBauer Park is one example. There is so much to do there: Fountains, ping pong, climbing spaces, and more. Gateway Gardens is another public space that families adore.

The above photo is one of the playground spaces at the Greensboro Arboretum, on the West Market Street side of the park. The equipment is plastic with no sharp edges and the mulch bed is thick. This playground is part of the 17 acre space that you can use for walking and picnicking. It is open daily and is free! If you like parks, try it out this weekend.

Color Maze on the Lazy Days of Summer

The Greensboro Science Center just keeps getting better and better. With every renovation and tax dollar spent, they add features that help connect the community to science, flora, and fauna. They have permanent and temporary exhibits for people of all ages. the above photo features the color maze, an exhibit that combines the science of light and color. By the time you leave the exhibit, you have a better understanding of issues like color blindness and bioluminescence. The exhibit is included with the price of general admission. If you join, you will always have something to do, especially in the summer. Light up a friend's day and arrange to meet them under the lightbulb! (Did you notice the color of the dots is in rainbow order)?

Greensboro Community Carousel Quarter

In honor of their 100 year anniversary, the Rotary Club of Greensboro is building a carousel between the Greensboro Science Center and Country Park. The area is enclosed, making it possible for children to ride year round. The above photo features the lead horse with the Rotary symbol alongside a flamingo. As we peeked in, it seemed that no two animals were exactly alike. There is everything from a ladybug to a shark. Imagine a child setting a goal to ride every single animal on the carousel.

In addition to the Rotary Club, several very generous businesses and individuals have donated to this project. At the property, you can see a sign of all the donors. Truly, this project is for the community, by the community. The Battleground Park District, The Greensboro Science Center, and Greensboro, just keep getting better and better. The Carousel will be such a joyful addition to the community. 

Greensboro Science Center

The Greensboro Science Center, located on Lawndale Drive, just keeps getting better and better. The aquarium exhibit has expanded and provides so many different displays of ocean animals. From penguins to a giant octopus to everything in between, the aquarium is a fabulous experience. There are also many other science and animal displays. It is easy to spend an afternoon at the center- especially in summertime.

If you are looking for a gift for a friend or family member, consider a membership to the Science Center. For less than $40, you can purchase a gift that will last all year long. The membership for the local center also gets you a discount to many science centers and zoos throughout the United States. Keep cool and see the many cool exhibits. See more from the Greensboro Science Center throughout the week on GDP. Happy Tuesday!

The State of Things

Frank Stasio hosts his National Public Radio show, "The State of Things" for WUNC once a month from Greensboro. The live show is on air on Tuesdays, broadcasted from the 3rd floor space at Triad Stage. Attendance is free, as long as you send in your ticket request and space permitting. The venue is intimate and the cafe seating adds to the charm.

One of the topics addressed on yesterday's show was housing insecurity in Greensboro. In the above photo, Stasio (left) is photographed with Richard Barron, a city reporter for the Greensboro newspaper, The News and Record. They discussed the situation that over 26 thousand people in Greensboro pay more than 30% of their income on rent. When this much of the household income goes to rent, tenants are considered to be rent burdened. Also, there are over ten thousand people in Greensboro waiting for low cost housing. Greensboro has a mere 3-4% housing vacancy, with much of that availability on higher-end properties. 

Attending "The State of Things"  is yet another great way to stay informed about issues, meet people in Greensboro,  and do something fun, for FREE, in Greensboro! Frank is taking some time off this summer, so the next time he broadcasts from Greensboro is Tuesday, August 20th. Bookmark this link, if you are interested in attending later this summer.

 

Pallet Gardening as seen at Ciener Botanical Garden

The people of Greensboro are getting increasingly conscious about sustainable living, and so are our neighbors in surrounding counties. The above photo features a planter made out of shipping pallets, those wooden structures that used to be just about impossible to get rid of. The above planter is on site at Ciener Botanical Garden in nearby Kernersville (Forsyth County). Some garden cloth is stapled to the pallets, creating a trough-like bottom that can be filled with soil and then plants. The technique makes it easy to garden vertically and would be conducive to planting climbing plants like squash, cucumbers, and beans. 

If you are doing any creative gardening, creative recycling, or a combination of the two, let us know and we'll try to get by to photograph your efforts. Pallet containers are great for community gardens where produce is grown to share with the local community. If you have time during the week, head over to Ciener Botanical Garden to see its seven lovely, well-appointed acres. To be sure, you will leave with ideas for your own yard. 

Zoo City Pickers

The Zoo City Pickers is a bluegrass band that played at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street this past weekend. Children danced, families ate fried donuts and other treats, and people shopped for produce and plants, as the sound of the Zoo City Pickers traveled throughout the venue. The band with its four members hail from Asheboro, Randolph County. Barbara Bartos plays the five string banjo, Bernie Bartos, the upright bass, PBob Coble, the harmonica, and Terry Lawrence guitar and mandolin.

If you think it is a sound you will like, The Zoo City Pickers will be playing at the Curb Market again in June. The main way to keep up with them is through Facebook. They don't appear to have a website. And regardless of what special events are or aren't at the Farmers Market, it is always a special place to visit. 

Greensboro Bound Literary Festival

These puppets in the window of Scuppernong Books are there reminding us that the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival begins tomorrow. This second annual event is sure to have something for everybody. The opening event will be a reception, a presentation about an interactive art project and a film screening at the Weatherspoon Art Museum at the corner of Spring Garden and Tate Streets.

There are so many great offerings. To name a few, author Wiley Cash will speak, There will be a response to Hillbilly Elegy. There will be a session on contemporary Muslim writing, spoken word, and a concert by Ani Defranco with Rhiannon Giddens. We predict that some of these events may grow so large in the future that they will be held in the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. This is a fabulous, diverse event for the Gate City! You owe it to yourself to attend at least one session. While all events are free and open to the public, many have already distributed all of the tickets.

To learn more about the festival and to see the schedule, see, here and  here.

Farmers Curb Market

The above photo was taken at the Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street. Those jams and jellies from Cornerstone Garlic Farm are not only beautiful to look at, they are fabulous to taste. And, oh, they have fantastic names, like Caramel Apple Cider, Jalapeño Garlic, and Watermelon. The warmth of the spring sun shining through them really catches your eye from across the room. The lady in the purple jacket sells plants and moss and has great prices. The birdhouses in the back of the photo are at the stand where local honey is sold, harvested by bees at Guilford College.

If you can, visit one of our local farmers markets this weekend. The experience isn't just about getting great produce, food, and other products. It is also about supporting local people and developing special relationships with them. Whether you are on the list to get duck eggs from Lindley Park, George's special salsa from the Sandy Ridge market, or some garlic powder from Cornerstone at the curb market on Yanceyville, the farmers, cooks, and vendors will get to know you, look forward to seeing you, and even reserve things for you. It is so easy to become a a regular customer.

Speaking of regulars, thank you for being a regular, right here on Greensboro Daily Photo!

Campus Faith Groups

For some college students, religious organizations play a very important role. Other students may go their whole college years without visiting the office of a campus faith group. The UNCG faith groups are housed in the northeast corner of the Walker Avenue Parking Deck. Yellow banners name the religious groups  served by the Smith Campus Ministries Center on Stirling Street. There are Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, and Wesley-Luther Campus groups. Muslim students are served by the UNCG Muslim Students Association. 

The above photo features the lines for the food trucks yesterday, during UNCG's International Festival. Many people may not have noticed where these religious offices are housed. However, outreach is important to these groups and, they make every effort to serve the needs of all students who seek their services. Especially as students enter the last few weeks before final exams, it is important that students know how to reach out and find spiritual support. In some cases, students will also need mental health support and the religious offices know how to help them find that additional level of care.

Happy Sunday!

Lincoln Financial Group

The Lincoln Financial Group building has changed owners and names more than once, but it continues to be the iconic skyscraper of downtown Greensboro. The gothic revival style architecture of the taller building, built in 1990. fits in with the older, Jefferson Standard building that dates to 1922. It is hard to believe that they have a 68-year age difference. This mighty fortress at the corner of Elm and Market Streets is built from marble, terra cotta, and marble. Julian Price, president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance, paid in full for his company's headquarters, because he didn't believe in carrying debt. Do you know of any business executives today who espouse the same philosophy?

The orientation of this photo is from the parking lot behind the Grasshopper's baseball stadium. You can tell from the trees that it is early spring. 

Paper Furniture

Can you guess what this is? It is a to-scale sculptural installation of a room full of furniture made out of heavyweight drawing paper. North Carolina artist, Sara Farrington, who lives in Creedmoor, made it in 2018. Called "Model Home, " it is part of a the 45th annual Art-on-Paper exhibit at the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

The Weatherspoon, located at the corner of Tate and Spring Garden streets on UNCGs campus, brings so much thought-provoking art to Greensboro. Sara's furniture is tied in to the notion of domestic perfection and what society expects of adults, goals Sara sees as unattainable. If you want to see this piece and more fantastic artwork, head to the Weatherspoon. Since the entrance is free, as is parking if you get a hang-tag from the museum entrance, there is every reason to give the museum a try. Please note that they are currently redesigning the lighting in the first-floor galleries and so only the upstairs galleries are open. As comfortable as it looks, just don't try to sit out the furniture.

Wesley Memorial UMC

Yesterday was Pancake Day for the Kiwanis Club of High Point. Each year, the Kiwanians hold the event at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. This giant church is located at the corner of Westchester and Chestnut Drive in High Point. The elaborate architecture and the stone construction looks as much like a European building as one here in North Carolina. Wesley Memorial UMC began in a different High Point location, before the Civil War in 1856, with a congregation of 17, four of whom were African American.

It was a beautiful day for the event and, as it turns out, the family walking in was volunteering  for the event. Hats off to the mom who was able to get her four boys up and out on a Saturday morning to help with a community event. From the size of the crowd and the amount of pancakes and sausage being consumed, every indication is that the event was a huge success!

Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse

Today, the Reenactment of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse continues. The morning will start with the troops down by the river for a worship service on the day of the big battle. Today is the 237th anniversary of the battle that happened on March 15, 1781.

We must confess that we took this photo eight years ago; however, it evokes such a beautiful of a father and son praying together it is worth featuring it again. The young boy would be about twenty years old now.  This scene was taking place in the part of Country Park that is behind the Greensboro Science Center, off Lawndale Drive.  If you get a chance, head to the park and experience this event. Happy Sunday.

GCS Choice Showcase

Last night, Guilford County Schools held their annual choice showcase. Students and families went to learn about the many programs offered by the school district. Students always have the opportunity to attend their attendance zone school; however, some students want a program that is centered around a certain topic, like health and life sciences, world language, aviation, preforming arts, visual arts, etc. In Guilford County, there is something for everybody at every grade level.

It can be really hard to know which program is best for a student. Visiting the schools is a good place to start. Students need to be genuinely interested in the topic of the school. Students also need to be prepared to meet students from all over the district, and not necessarily go to school with neighborhood friends. The programs offered by the district are outstanding, especially if a student really wants to be there. 

The above photo features the Kindergarten experience zone. Children could practice getting on and off the bus, standing in a cafeteria line, eating cafeteria food, talking to classroom teachers, getting experience with hands-on activities, and more. If you are interested in one of the programs of choice, be mindful of the timeline for school visits and getting paperwork in on time. May your child have the best school year ever- every year!

Tree of Life

The term "Tree of Life" is mentioned in Genesis, important scripture to Christians and Jews alike. In Genesis, chapter 2, verse 9, the scripture says, "After the fall of man, "lest he put forth his hand, and take also the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."  For Christians, the term "tree of life" also appears in the Bible in Proverbs, Revelation; for Jews, it the term appears in Esdras and Maccabees. The term appears worldwide in folklore and in mythologies. The concept is so beautiful.

The above "tree of life" does not have a religious affiliation; it is a counseling center located on Lendew Street in Greensboro. However, it is an oasis surrounded by multiple-story medical facilities,  just off of Green Valley Road. When the tree in the front yard blooms within the month, indeed, it will look like a lush garden full of life.

Happy Sunday and may your week go well, even though we are all getting up an hour earlier!

Fire Fighters from Station 21

For those of you who follow Greensboro Daily Photo regularly, the above firemen are four of the eight who were eating breakfast at Jakes on Sunday. These are the public servants  who offered to show the elementary school student around the fire truck. It was so heartwarming to see these men take time with children. Perhaps the two boys who got a mini-lesson on fire fighting and the inner workings of the firetruck will want to become fire fighters. If you see a fire fighter, consider thanking them for all they do for the community. Every time they enter a burning building, they put their lives at risk to try to save others. Their job is not easy. Perhaps positive interaction with the public, during calm times, is a good way to balance all of the stress when they are called out for an emergency.

Have a great Tuesday!

 

Caleb and the Firemen of Station 21

Caleb, a local Guilford County elementary student, and his family had just ordered breakfast at Jake's Diner on North Battleground Avenue when they noticed two crews of firemen were eating there, too. People had been taking photos of the eight firefighters and their two trucks, from Fire Station #21,  parked outside. (Fire Station #21 is located just up the road from Jake's on Horse Pen Creek Road). Caleb's mom brought him over to the table where the firemen were seated, explained that Caleb was blind and he just wanted to have a chance to talk to them. After a couple minutes of great conversation, one of the firefighters asked Caleb if he would like to sit in their firetruck. Caleb's face lit up at the opportunity.

Before you knew it, Caleb was in the driver's seat, getting a quick lesson on the inner workings of a firetruck. He asked very detailed questions and the firemen were patient in answering them. After several minutes, Caleb's mom reminded him that their breakfast was probably served and there was another young boy waiting to get a chance to sit in the firetruck. We don't know if the firemen got a chance to finish their breakfast, but we sure do know that they were so kind to these young children. Community service with children, dear readers, is part of what firefighters do when they aren't putting out fires. Experiences like this are another an example of what makes Greensboro is such a great city.

Keeping the Green in Greensboro Beautiful

This photo is from the October 7th Art in the Arboretum event. Greensboro Beautiful volunteers are putting a wristband on a person attending the event. Last year, Greensboro Beautiful celebrated its 50th year as a non-profit organization working to conserve and enhance the ecology and beauty of Greensboro (reference and more information, here). They partner with the City of Greensboro to coordinate and implement events like Art in the Arboretum.

We are featuring this older photo because Greensboro Daily Photo is part of the international group, City Daily Photo. The theme for March is "green." The green shirts above on volunteers at Greensboro Beautiful in the city of Greensboro,  really hit home with the green theme! As Greensboro Beautiful enters its second 50th year, let's hope it thrives over the next 50 years and may their 100 year celebration is 2068  be GIANT and GREEN!

Visit here, to see other green-themed photos from around the world.

First Christian Church at the Corner Market

The First Christian Church, also known as Disciples of Christ, sets up at the Corner Market in Lindley Park. They sell baked goods with proceeds going to help those in need. They support the Green for Greens Program. The church, located at 1900 West Market Street, believes in community involvement. Some of the initiatives they are involved in include: the Glenn Haven Community Center; One Step Further Food Pantry; Cone Elementary School; Salvage Garden; and more. One of their mottos is Serve. Help. Reach. Feed. Connect. 

Today's successful churches do so much to stay relevant and involved. Some of the best ministering happens beyond the sanctuary. Saturday, the First Christian Church members at the farmer's market were hard at work. Hopefully, the day was a good one for them- in spite of the bone-chilling rain.

Bike Patrol in #DGSO

It is becoming increasingly popular to see police patrolling on bicycles in Downtown Greensboro, or #DGSO. In the above photo, two policemen are heading east on McGee Street, about to cross over Elm Street. This part of town is known as Hamburger Square and, while Elm/Market is technically the point where the city spits north/south, east/west, Hamburger Square is equally famous for being a point of much activity downtown, especially during festivals.

The bikes are a convenient way to get from Point A to Point B, or around Point C, quickly, especially during times of high foot and vehicle traffic. Another great benefit of the bike patrol is that it gives officers a chance to stop and interact, positively, with community. Unless they are in pursuit of something urgent, they are encouraged to take time to build community with people along the way. According to the city's website, the Greensboro Police Department has 673 sworn law enforcement officers. According to a 2014 article in the News & Record, 70 officers have been trained to ride bicycles on patrol.

Bonfire at the Psychedelic Art Exhibit

Last week, UNCG's College of Visual and Performing Arts hosted a psychedelic art exhibit inspired by the artwork of the 1960s and the Grateful Dead. It was installed at UNCG's Project Space at 219 West Lewis Street, beside the Forge. Curators Emily Edwards and Lisa Goble thought of so many great details to help build community. In addition to two floors of artwork, they brought UNCG's mobile art truck, provided snacks at the closing reception, and  hosted a big bonfire.

The fire pit, with psychedelic flames, burned furiously, but controlled, just outside in the lot beside the gallery. Art lovers sat around, talking about the counter-culture art exhibit, munching on fire-pit snacks like roasted peppers and popcorn, and giggling about period-relevant topics like the best tie-dye designs and what it meant to be a "square." It is amazing what today's young adults know about a movement that happened nearly 60 years ago. If you were there, likely you were "feeling groovy!" What a great event for the Greensboro community.

Let There Be Light on Friendly Avenue

On Tuesday night, there was an issue with a circuit and abut 700 homes and businesses along Friendly Avenue at Friendly Center, and over to Westover Terrace were without power for a few hours. However, during the day this week, in the same area, the sun was shining and and the sky was glorious.

This is the time of year, especially when temperatures drop, that everyone needs a backup plan if their house is without power. Do you have a care kit handy? Flashlights charged? A way to extend the charge of your cell phone? A place to stay if it gets too cold in your house? Especially, in winter, it is important to have a "Plan B." As beautiful as Elam Avenue looks in the above photo, it is hard to believe that people in the area were scrambling to make it through the power outage this week. Oh, winter!

Music Academy of North Carolina

On any weekday afternoon, parking in front of the Music Academy of North Carolina is at a premium. Families are picking up and dropping off students for lessons at 1327 Beaman Place, just up from the Tiny Greenhouse and across the street from Bulldog Printing. The Music Academy caters to almost everyone's musical interest and needs. They even have a commercial recording studio on site. Over the past 37 years, the academy has grown from three instructors and twenty students to thirty-five instructors and over 1,000 students. They have a diverse faculty and offer a wide range of lessons.

Dr. Ivan Battle founded the academy in 1982 when he was only 25 years old. Ivan, as he was known to most, died in 1995, after a very courageous with A.I.D.S. In a mere 39 years on earth, he left a lasting legacy of high quality music instruction that continues to thrive today. Research shows the benefits of early exposure to music in brain development. Ivan knew the benefits of early exposure to music and would be so pleased with the success of his academy. 

Happy Saturday! Seek out some live music!

Stay Vocal!

Alex Eaves recently visited Reconsidered Goods and had a pop up stand of his t-shirts. He makes them from used shirts. In some cases, he stamps his message, "Reuse because the planet can't be recycled" in English or Spanish, right over an existing message. He is keeping these t-shirts out of landfills and is getting his message across. 

Alex will return to Greensboro in March, around Earth Day, to do workshops and help others learn to implement  earth-friendly practices. Alex's company is called "Stay Vocal" because he wants to remind people that change comes through hard work and educating people. Stay tuned, we will let you know once plans for the March Earth Day events are solidified. In the meantime, let us know if you are doing anything in Greensboro to help us keep the Green in Greensboro!

Treecutting & Snow Storm Preparation

In the above photo, utility workers are trimming back trees near Elam and Spring Garden Street. During the winter, when the leaves are down, it is really easy to see which branches are at risk of pulling down power lines. Greensboro has some really beautiful, mature trees, but, when power lines are involved, the power lines win.

With the threat of snow in Greensboro this weekend, everybody is thinking about what they can do to shore up their houses and to be ready if the power goes out. Those with well water need to plan ahead for supplying their home with water, because wells need electricity to pump water; no electricity, no water. According to the City of Greensboro's website, about 25% of the residents in Guilford County rely on well water. 

Happy Tuesday. You know how challenging snow can be in the South. Are you prepared?

Merry Christmas 2018 from Waving Santa at Friendly Center

Merry Christmas! The waving Santa at Friendly Center is iconic! The grand sentry of Christmas present greets shoppers along Friendly Avenue. In spite of being almost sixty years old with parts that may not be replacable, Santa continues to wave twenty-four hours a day during the Advent season.

For those who celebrate Christmas with family in Cone Hospital today, be sure to thank the workers, many of whom are from the Jewish community, volunteering to work so that their Christian friends can celebrate with family. Greensboro is a community that celebrates together, even when we don't celebrate the same holidays. Let the waving Santa remind us all to love one another and believe in each other. Merry Christmas!

Piedmont Triad International Airport- So Much Happening

Over the last few years, the Piedmont Triad International Airport has undergone renovations, added flights, seats, and even art. Possibly, the above decorative ceiling was installed in celebration of Spirit Airlines. In September of this year, Spirit Airlines starting flying from Greensboro to Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. Greensboro is the 66th airport that the low-cost, budget carrier has started to use. Spirit is growing; PTIA is growing, too. According to PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker, "seats scheduled for January 2019 were up 23 percent from January 2018."  6,500 of the 20,000 seats are coming from the added Sprint flights; however, Sprint only accounts for one-third of the increase.*  This growth is great news for the Triad area, making it decreasingly necessary for the people of Greensboro to drive to Charlotte or Raleigh to catch a flight.

On your next flight out of PTIA, take time to look at the artwork; not only these ribbons, but also a pair of the fiberglass bluejeans, a life-sized mosaic horse, and more!

* Reference and additional information, here.

The Greensboro of Yesteryear

This photo of the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville looks like it could have been taken in 1874 when the market first opened. Shoppers are crossing the footbridge as the market (on the left) was closing. The farmers market is a place, not only to purchase great produce, but also to meet and interact with other people interested in supporting local businesses and eating nutritious food.

With the monochrome finish of the photo, the woman in the beautiful, long, white coat looks like she could be straight out of a Russian novel. Let's pretend she is the smart, cheerful, funloving Natalya Rostova in Tolstoy's novel, "War and Peace."  Natalya may well be the only Russian heroine who is still smiling after a thousand pages!*

Cone Mills was founded in 1895, about 21 years after the above farmers market. Can't you just imagine a wealthy woman out ƒor a stroll on an overcast morning in November, in that very part of town? While the new structures in Greensboro are lovely, it is always fun to seek out views that haven't changed much over the last century.

See you tomorrow, or as they say in Russian, "До завтра."

*reference and more examples of famous heroines in Russian novels, here.

Gibsonville Garden Railroad

On the first Saturday of the month from 9am until noon, from April to December, the Gibsonville Garden Railroad comes alive. This little community that straddles Guilford and Alamance Counties has train aficionados who set up tracks and guide model trains through the park, while small children and adults alike watch with great joy.

According to their community website, the railroad garden on Main Street was founded in 1996 by Bobby Summers, a retired Freight Conductor on the Southern Railroad.* The 2,200 feet of covers a lot of North Carolina including Blowing Rock, Pilot Mountain, and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

On November 16th, from 5:30 to 8:30, Gibsonville will host their annual "Lighting of the Green" and weather permitting, the trains should be moving around the track. The antique store across the street will serve free pintos and cornbread and many groups will be singing. If you want to experience a great community event, take the 15 mile drive east of Greensboro and let the festivities begin.

*reference and more information, here.

Lotus Center on Lawndale Drive

Lotus Center is a facility with healthcare professionals who practice holistic medicine on Lawndale Drive near Target. According to their website,* the center houses a pharmacy of over 500 herbs and 200 prepared pills and tinctures. In the front yard, you will notice a tree that was likely uprooted during Hurricane Michael. 

If you notice, these professionals, who are grounded in natural, earth-friendly practices, have taken the tree and are sawing the wood in three inch planks that are about 2 1/2 feet by 7 feet. The wood looks like oak. It is solid, beautiful, with a nice grain. It will be interesting to try to find out what they are going to do with the wood. Whoever is cutting it is doing a fabulous job. The cuts look perfectly level.

*reference, here.

Triad Pride Performing Arts

Triad Pride Performing Arts had a booth set up on Sunday at the Pride event downtown. Triad Pride got its start in 1998 as a men's chorus and has been growing steadily since then. In 2016, the Triad Pride Men's Chorus added a sister organization, the Triad Pride Women's Chorus with an initial membership of 21 women. Today, the group is more inclusive, allowing membership to anyone who can sing the alto or soprano part and, in 2017, the non-profit changed its name to Triad Pride Performing Arts, acknowledging that other groups may want to affiliate in the future. According to their website, the organization's mission is to "entertain, enlighten, and enrich, while promoting equality and social justice for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity–fostering pride, understanding, and acceptance."*

They accept new singers in January and August; so, if you are interested in singing with them start practicing now. January is only three months away! They operate out of the Greensboro Cultural Center. Try to get by a concert if you can. They are very good!

* reference and more information, here.

Replacements, LTD Pride 2018

Replacements, Ltd. of Greensboro is known for more than its dishes and crystal. Replacements, just off of I-40 & 85 east of Greensboro, is known not only for replacing that broken piece of china and selling great Christmas ornaments, they are also known for having an inclusive work environment. To the owners of Replacements, partners are partners, regardless of how one identifies and whom one loves. They also have a canine-friendly work environment.

Today, Greensboro's Pride Parade was held downtown on South Elm Street. Not only was it an opportunity to take pride to the streets, the streets were lined with businesses and resources that are inclusive, respecting the rights of all individuals and couples. In the above photo, a young man hands out Replacements' complimentary rainbow buttons, with a smile. His proud mother beams with pride watching her son interacting with everyone who walked by.