Saturday, February 28, 2009

March Happenings in the Triangle

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March 2009

Put a little 'spring' in your step this March with an affordable visit to the Raleigh area and experience the sights and sounds of numerous festivals, exhibits, cultural performances and more!

Discover many events featuring hot deals and special offers that you can only take advantage of in Raleigh.


CamwardMarch Madness

March Madness in Greater Raleigh encompasses a lot more than basketball; it is a month made for sporting enthusiasts, no matter what team you cheer for! N.C. State University takes to the court for games against ACC rivals Maryland (3/1) and Boston College (3/4), while female athletes from across the country descend on the RBC Center for the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regional Tournament (3/28, 3/30). The Carolina Hurricanes take on NHL rivals the Calgary Flames (3/6), New York Rangers (3/9), New Jersey Devils (3/18), New York Islanders (3/20), Washington Capitals (3/21) and Ottawa Senators (3/25). The Carolina RailHawks don't officially start the soccer season until April, but fans can catch an early match at Cary's WakeMed Soccer Park during the New England “Community Shield” Match (3/14). Lace up those running shoes—downtown Raleigh hosts the St. Patty’s Run Green 8K (3/8), the area's first sustainable "Race without a Trace," and the 27th Annual Run for the Oaks 5K (3/14) attracts more than 900 runners each year. Learn More

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Chitty ChittyPerforming Arts

What does a car that can fly have in common with beach music and literary greats like Tolstoy and Shakespeare? They all are part of Greater Raleigh’s incredible calendar of performing arts this month. Carolina Ballet pays homage to two literary geniuses in Tolstoy and Shakespeare: Masterworks in Motion (2/26-3/1), while Raleigh Little Theatre recreates a classic African-American fable in Wiley and the Hairy Man (3/13-3/29). Love, loss and sacrifice is told by the N.C. Theatre with performances of the Tony-award winning Miss Saigon (3/21-3/29), and Broadway Series South presents family favorite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (3/31-4/5). Pinecone presents the Dan Tyminski Band & Tony Rice Unit (3/11), and the N.C. Symphony takes a journey down the Carolina Coast with a program of early American gospel, blues and beach music - Blue Skies and Golden Sands (3/27-3/29). Learn More

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KitesFestivals

Festivals abound in March with events taking place throughout the Raleigh area. The UniverSoul Circus (3/11-3/15) returns to Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek, while the Woman's Club of Raleigh Spring Antiques Show and Sale (3/13-3/15) offers outdoor accessories, period furniture, folk art and more. Celebrate Persian New Year (3/17) and India Fest (3/28-3/29), both at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Downtown Raleigh turns green celebrating shamrocks, pots of gold and leprechauns at the St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival (3/14), and Cary hopes for wind during the 14th Annual Kite Festival (3/28). Learn more

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PiratesPirates, Parks and Pythons

Are you a buccaneer or a landlubber, a lass or a scallywag? Learn about pirate-speak along with the legacy of infamous rogues of the high seas, from ancient times to the present. Intriguing artifacts, legends and history will bring their ruthless adventures to life at the N.C. Museum of History's special exhibit Knights of the Black Flag (3/6-7/6). This is an interactive exhibit showcasing the largest collection of artifacts ever assembled from Blackbeard's famous ship—the Queen Anne's Revenge. After the exhibit, head over to North Carolina's only 3D IMAX theatre at Marbles Kids Museum and discover the creatures that call the sea their home in films like: Wild Ocean 3D and Under the Sea 3D.

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences brings out giant snakes, tiny turtles and more during the 14th Annual Reptile and Amphibian Day (3/14). This annual event features dozens of exhibits and activities highlighting reptiles and amphibians, many native to North Carolina. Enjoy the first signs of spring on 164 acres of trails, woodlands and open areas at the Museum Park at the N.C. Museum of Art, and explore the people that make up the Raleigh area's history during Portraits of Raleigh: Images of a City and Her People at the Raleigh City Museum
Learn more

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Hometown Discoveries - Wake Forest

In 2009, the Town of Wake Forest turns 100, and this northern Wake County town continues to grow while maintaining its warm, welcoming, small-town character. Wake Forest boasts a vibrant downtown featuring more than 100 businesses, including several restaurants and specialty shops. Mindful of its rich heritage, downtown is also an officially registered historic district. Representative of its academic history, Wake Forest is the home of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern. During the month of March visit Wake Forest for Art After Hours (3/13), Irishfest (3/14), the Winter Farmer's Market (3/21) or the popular Carnival for Kids (3/24-3/29). Learn More

Monday, February 16, 2009

Financial Makeover with Dave Ramsey

Highly recommend that you enlist Dave's help this year and pay off all your debt along with having an emergency fund set aside in the Bank. You will be glad you did!


My Total Money Makeover is a subscription site helping people discover financial peace by walking them through Dave Ramsey's baby step process for dumping debt and building wealth.


High Rock Lake Expansion of Schools and other


A new jail, middle school and high school, together estimated to cost at least $100 million, are necessities the county will need to begin over the next five years, but county commissioners also have an opportunity to expand recreational land for county residents during that time.

Those were some of the main ideas discussed by members of the Davidson County Board of Commissioners at their retreat on Thursday at the Davidson County Economic Development Commission’s office.

In the short term, the county’s jail population spikes up and drops down every day, but over the last couple of years, it has leveled off to about 300 inmates. Yet, the county has its most pressing space needs in the county jail and sheriff’s office. And the commissioners still need to build a high school and middle school in the northern part of the county to ease the crowding at North Davidson High School.

Assistant County Manager Zeb Hanner said the county has about $7 million in its capital reserve fund available for different building projects or large purchases. A capital project summary provided to commissioners by Hanner showed the county has $52 million in capital project costs this year. That includes several sewer projects to schools, which will be financed, and 2005 school construction bond money used to build or plan for the building of several new schools or additions.

Another document prepared by Hanner showed the county’s capital improvement project costs topping $177 million through the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Commissioners delayed any discussion of funding these large projects and said they could be put off further because of the county’s economic situation over the next few years. However, due to the competitiveness in the economy, the county may be able to save money on several smaller projects, such as a new Emergency Medical Services base in the Arcadia area, improvements to the Old Davidson County Court House and a much-needed addition to the Davidson County Senior Center.

Charles Anderson, executive director of Pilot View Inc. (Resource Conservation and Development), spoke with the county board about getting the county government involved in land and water conservation projects. The nonprofit organization helps secure grants and funding for ecological projects in Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties. Anderson said he would like to focus on stabilizing and improving streams, creeks and lakes in the Yadkin River basin within the county.

Anderson said he has helped to secure millions of dollars in creek cleanup, boardwalk and greenway construction and wetland protection funds in other counties and would like to see the county participate in future projects. Anderson said local government participation, usually about 5 percent of a potential grant amount, gives much-needed points when organizations make decisions to award grants. And he can leverage winning grant bids to go after more grant funds through state organizations to turn small projects into big plans.

Commissioner Dr. Max Walser also tickled his peers’ ears with another potential recreational project. As part of Alcoa’s relicensing settlement agreement, provided it is approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the corporation plans on selling a large portion of its land around High Rock Lake to the N.C. Wildlife Commission.

Walser said he’s been told a few parts of that land, which the state will likely turn into game land — including a 169-acre tract on Tuckertown Reservoir in the southern part of the county and additional land totaling more than 200 acres — may become available for the county’s purchase and possibly for a steal, about $300 an acre.

That potential land is just north of Newsome Road along the Tuckertown shore, close to the county’s border with Montgomery County, and it used to be the site of a quarry. Walser said he would set up a time to bring commissioners to tour the property to see if they would be interested in buying it. Walser said there is some private property next to the park which may also be coming up for sale soon, too.

“I’m not here to push it, just to bring it to your attention,” Walser said.

County Planning Director Guy Cornman envisioned the land could be used for hiking and primitive camping.

The county may also consider grounds and lighting improvements to Southmont and Optimist parks over the next several years.

In other news, commissioners:

• Decided against videotaping and broadcasting their regular meetings for now.

• Discussed changing the retirement benefits of new hires. Retired county employees now receive full or partial health insurance coverage depending on their years of employment with the county until they turn 65. But many employers are removing that benefit for new employees because of increased costs. The county pays about $125,000 a year for the health insurance of these retired workers.

• Discussed their continued funding of the Davidson Vision organization but took no action. Commissioners give $100,000 to the group each year but are considering limiting or ending their support of the group.

• On recommendation from County Manager Robert Hyatt, may institute a new sponsorship policy for departments that partner with private and nonprofit organizations for different events or campaigns.

• Decided against re-opening the bait shop at Lake Thom-A-Lex for now.

• By request of Commissioner Billy Joe Kepley, discussed ways the county could support small businesses that may not come to the county for an incentive package like larger corporations. Kepley said he would like to find ways to put custom-made furniture workers back to work in some sort of county-owned facility. Commissioners also discussed giving incentives to retailers but said that would be a risky idea.

• Talked about putting a quarter-cent sales tax referendum on the ballot to pay for specific projects but said now was not the right time for that effort. Hyatt said the state will not let counties tie sales tax increases to certain funds now unless the law changes.

• Discussed the effect that cross-county annexation, both voluntary and involuntary, may have on the county and how the county could protect itself from neighboring municipalities, possibly through legislation or strict zoning ordinances.

• Heard a report from Commissioner Don Truell, who serves as the board’s liaison to the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation. Truell said the county may be asked to allow PART to institute a $5 tag fee for motor vehicle licenses soon because the public transit organization is “going to go in the red this year and run out of money in 2012.” Truell said the county’s current rental car tax may not cover the county’s share of the regional transportation provider.

• Received an update on the former Duracell property that the county is considering for a new jail. County Purchasing Director Dwayne Childress said recent research into the property shows there was contamination in the groundwater on a part of the property north of the possible jail site. However, the county could purchase the site, deed out the contaminated area, and negotiate a clean-up with the property’s owner, The Gillette Co.

• Heard an update on the county’s land use plan. The amendments to the plan will likely be available for commissioners’ approval in April.

Commissioners next meet for their regular meeting on Feb. 24 on the fourth floor of the Davidson County Governmental Center.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

High Rock Lake Home For Sale








Sunday, February 8, 2009

Live on High Rock Lake



Living on the Lake has it's advantages! Bask in the Sun this year and watch Sunsets that Wow you and give you Peace. $325,000.00
Renovated 2007 Nautical Cottage on Abbotts Creek Cove with great views of High Rock Lake. This Freshly renovated home has a great pier with top deck pier that overlooks the bottom pier. You can rock and view great sunsets every day. Our nautical cottage has two spacious suites with 2 full private baths. The updated kitchen has stainless steel appliances and plenty of room for cooking up your favorite family meals.




HighLights




Nearby enjoy the conveniences of major grocery stores, fast food and other restaurants as well as movie rentals, antiques & shopping.▪ There are miles of hiking trails at Morrow Mountain and the Uwharrie National Forest just east of Albemarle.▪ There is furniture shopping in High Point and full retail shopping in Charlotte, Greensboro and Ashboro.▪ Bask in the Sun and Breathe the Lake air while relaxing on the spacious deck overlooking High Rock Lake, the second largest in North Carolina. Enjoy fishing, swimming or boating off the private dock
Contact: JoAnne S. Mercer
336-798-7733 Direct