issue
01 priceless
the painters create your roost masterpiece
ZOO ZEAL - DINOSAURS ROAR BACK TO LIFE | ANNE BROWNLEE HOBGOOD | FEATURE - TRIAD FOOT CENTER
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table of
CONTENTS 5 6 10 12 14 16
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PUBLISHER’S LETTER
COVER STORY
Create Your Masterpiece at The Painters Roost
ASK THE EXPERT Your Feet
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Christopher Woods
DAILY DEVOTION
Left Road or Right Road?
FRIENDLY FACES
18 20 24 26 28
BUSINESS BUZZ
Triad Foot Care - What Your Feet May Say About Your Health
COMMUNITY CHARACTER Ann Brownlee Hobgood
ZOO ZEAL
Dinosaurs Roar Back to Life at NC Zoo
CITIZEN JOURNALISM A Trip Down Memory Lane
DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON Why I love my job….A Conversation with Anne K. Morris, M.Ed., M.C.R.P, AICP Burlington Downtown Executive Director
12 20
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Publisher’s Letter
W Dear Neighbor,
elcome to the first issue of Burlington Magazine. We are happy to bring you a positive, upbeat community magazine that celebrates the city where we live and work. Our goal is to make this magazine better each month, adding more positive, upbeat hyper-local content. With this in mind, we are open to any suggestions, constructive criticism and/or ideas that will make this magazine a “must read.” Sherry (my wife of 21 years, business partner, best friend and soul mate) and I have been publishing magazines together since 1993. For the last three years, we’ve been publishing Asheboro Magazine, Archdale & Trinity Magazine and WS Arts Magazine (an arts-focused magazine for the city of Winston-Salem). We felt it was time to add our positive, upbeat, hyper-local magazine concept to another community. We’ve looked at many communities including Sanford, Clemmons, Salisbury, and even Rockingham County over the past few months. However, we felt it made sense to publish our next magazine a little closer to home; although we live in Asheboro, we’ve always considered Burlington our home away from home. We chose The Painters Roost to be on the cover of this month’s magazine because we love the arts and the idea of a business that makes it so accessible to the masses. Plus, Anita O’Donnell (the owner) is one of the kindest, warmest, most genuine people you will ever meet. If you have not been to The Painters Roost it is a perfect place to let your inner Vincent Van Gogh run wild and it is fun for the whole family. Burlington resident and artist Ann Brownlee Hobgood is our community character for our premiere issue. If you have not had the opportunity to meet Ann, you should find the time. Not only is she a stellar human being and a really nice lady, she is a tremendously talented artist who creates beautifully whimsical sculptures and pieces of art out of what many would consider trash. Amazing is the only word that comes to mind. As the magazine grows, so will the content. We will share some of the relevant content we publish in our other magazines, but our goal is to make Burlington Magazine as unique as the community. For this reason (and many others) we have asked local, long-time resident Melody McBride to join our team as Publisher. From next month forward, it will be her letters that you read here. If you are an aspiring writer, we encourage you to submit article ideas and articles. The best way for us to keep the magazine’s content relevant is to get it from the community. If you’ve ever wanted to be published, this is a great opportunity. Please e-mail Melody (melody@burlingtonmagnc.com) any ideas, events or content you would like considered for publication. Finally, we want you to know that publishing is our passion. This is a family business and we feel fortunate to be able to earn a living doing something we love. We aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination and, undoubtedly you will find mistakes if you look hard enough. But, know that we genuinely endeavor to deliver a magazine that is worthy of the city of Burlington and of the time you take to read it. Enjoy!
PUBLISHER Melody McBride
melody@burlingtonmagnc.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER David A. Johnson
dave@burlingtonmagnc.com
EDITOR Sherry B. Johnson
sherry@burlingtonmagnc.com
CONTRIBUTORS Tom Gillespie Rev. Peter Panagore Brenda Simpson Jones Anne K. Morris, M.Ed., M.C.R.P, AICP Dr. Richard Sikora
COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY Melody McBride
Flashbacks by Red ADDRESS
PO Box 1369 Asheboro, NC 27204 Phone. 336-698-3889
facebook.com/burlingtonmagazine
www.burlingtonmagnc.com Burlington Magazine is published monthly by Asheboro and More Marketing, Inc. Any reproduction or duplication of any part thereof must be done with the written permission of the Publisher. All information included herein is correct to the best of our knowledge as of the publication date. Corrections should be forwarded to the Publisher at the address above. Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within Burlington Magazine are not endorsed or recommended by the Publisher. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies.
Dave Johnson
Founder & Assoc. Publisher burlingtonmagnc.com
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Create Your Masterpiece at The Painters Roost
A
Story by Sherry Johnson • Photos by Melody McBride
nita O’Donnell lives in Julian, North Carolina with her husband Sean. She grew up in the construction business. Her Dad and brother, and now her son are all in construction. Most recently she worked for eight years as a Project Manager for a large company building restaurants all over the country. In March 2010, she was laid off when projects began to get canceled due to the economic slump occurring all over the country. She searched for months, but couldn’t find another managerial job in construction, and she started to think maybe it was time to switch careers. Her husband, Sean, wanted her to open an Interstate Battery franchise. He owns Shred-It in Burlington, and it made sense to locate Anita’s new business there as well. She looked into the franchise option, and she even went to Texas and attended the whole presentation, but it just didn’t feel like the right thing for her. She came up with the idea of having a consignment shop, and started looking at existing businesses that might be for sale. Her daughter-in-law, Jana Richardson, introduced her to the concept of creating a painting in a two hour art class. Anita has always been crafty, and has collected and refinished
furniture for years. “I love the hunt.” She researched several franchise opportunities with different painting companies, but she really wanted the freedom to do what she wanted in her shop and not be dictated to by a corporate entity. She found the space she now occupies when she was considering opening the consignment shop. She wanted a good, safe location and once she saw it, she never really considered any other options after she toured the space. It was a good location in an up and coming area of Burlington, and that was that. She spent several months renovating the space – tearing up carpet and VCT and painting the floor with seven layers of paint and apoxy. The Painters Roost became a reality in March, 2013. “I will never be a Picasso, but I love what I’m doing now.” She had the concept and the space, now she needed artists. When she was asking about local artists, and who might know someone who would be interested in working with her, Betty Tyler’s name kept coming up, so she contacted Betty to see if she would supply her with a few names. Betty has taught art classes in the area for years. She paints life-size portraits for people and is an amazing artist. She loved the concept that Anita was offering, and immediately signed on to be one of her artists. Betty introduced Anita to Patrice Baldwin, who is their fastest artist. If Anita has an idea for a new painting, she mentions it to Patrice and she can whip up something in a couple of hours! Her favorite medium is acrylic
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paint. Linda Wagoner has worked at the hospital and with Hospice in the past. She has done a little bit of everything and has always had an interest in art. She continues to take art classes, including classes from Betty Tyler, while working at The Painters Roost. “I feel fortunate to have these artists here working with me. We are like a family – I feel like I’ve known them all my life.” You can sign up individually, or if you have six or more in your group, you can sign up for a private class and chose anything that they offer to paint, or even come up with your own creation. She had a Girl Scout troop in one afternoon and they had requested owls, so her resident artists created an owl template that they could paint. Its great fun for a group outing, birthday party, bridal shower, girl’s night out, couples night, youth groups, and church groups. Even professional artists have sat through her classes and loved it! There is a calendar published each month with the painting classes being offered each day, and they also offer an Open Class night, which means you can choose any of the paintings they have on display to paint that night. In order to plan ahead for the classes, you have to call the shop, go on the website or message her through Facebook to register prior to taking the class. Everything you need to complete the painting is provided for you – paints, brushes, and canvas. Adults can bring a bottle of wine or beer to share while they work on their masterpiece. Many people arrive stressed and rushed from their busy day, and once they have settled in and started painting, Anita loves seeing them relax and start to enjoy themselves. They get to spend a couple of hours de-stressing while creating something they will be proud to hang in their home, or give
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as a gift. Anita also offers a “Paint Your Pet” class. Send her an image of your pet and the artists will pre-draw the image on a canvas. When you arrive, all you have to do is paint the picture. It’s a wonderful way to personalize the experience and create memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to canvases, she also offers a class in glass painting – you can choose your wine glass to paint. The first
of these classes was offered on June 27th and more will be posted on Facebook and her calendar as they are scheduled. “I never realized how stressful and demanding my job in construction was. I never received “happy” calls before, now I get calls from people who are excited and happy at what they have created.” The Painters Roost can handle up to 50 people at a time, split between the two classrooms and can have two different groups going at the same time. They recently hosted a bridal shower where the bride came up with the idea for the painting, and then everyone put their own colors and style to the painting. “It puts your personality in what you paint. It’s so much fun and everyone is proud to take home their painting at the end of the evening.” In addition to the painting classes, Anita has The Roost, which is a shop inside The Painters Roost that houses her refinished and repainted furniture, and several pieces by local artists. She works on the furniture when the studio is not busy, and if a piece needs repair; her husband built her a shop at home to work on the pieces before moving them to the studio for finishing. By popular demand, she is going to begin offering furniture painting classes soon using chalk paints. She is an authorized dealer of American Paint Company chalk paints. You would be amazed at all the things you can do with an old piece of furniture without having to strip the finish. You can give it new life through paint. Check out her website at www.thepaintersroost.com or call her at 336-395-8782 for more information or to schedule your session. Whether you are a novice, or an accomplished artist, book your next art class at The Painters Roost and take home a masterpiece of your own! n burlingtonmagnc.com
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WHAT YOUR FEET MAY SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH
I
f you’re wondering about how to improve your body’s performance when it comes to getting into shape for spring, try looking at your feet. That’s right; your feet may be the very things that are holding you back from better health!
A study by the American Podiatric Medical
Association reported that a staggering 72% of Americans say that foot pain is preventing them from exercising. These foot issues are a big setback for those looking to lose weight and improve their overall health. Increased amounts of weight and stress placed on the feet lead to a host of problems. Even an extra 20 pounds of weight can significantly increase your chance of developing conditions like tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis, and problems in the arch of the foot. Foot
pain,
numbness,
tingling
or
discoloration of the foot or ankle should never be ignored. These symptoms may be a sign of a more serious health problem, such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease. Swelling in the foot and ankle, called edema, is also abnormal and could be a sign of congestive heart failure.
Being able to exercise comfortably and regularly is the key to weight loss and better overall health. People don’t realize how much pressure is put on their feet when exercising! The podiatrists at Triad Foot Center recommend regular foot exams for those looking to improve their health. If foot ailments are related to a more serious or generalized health problem, a podiatrist can consult with primary physicians and specialists for the best treatment options. Once any serious foot conditions have been addressed, including solutions like custom orthotics, patients can enjoy a more active lifestyle with less pain. Visit Triad Foot Center for your foot exam today and get back on track! n
ask tHe eXPert Your feet
Triad Foot Center is the leading foot health provider in the Piedmont Triad, with six Board Certified podiatric surgeons on staff at three convenient locations. The practice proudly offers the latest non-invasive technology, including FDA approved EPAT and laser foot treatment. Visit us at www.triadfoot.com or call us at your nearest Triad Foot Center location.
Asheboro • Burlington • Greensboro (336) 308-4733
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
christopher Woods
salvation army Boys & Girls club of alamance county’s 2012 and 2013 local Youth of the Year Winner
W
ho knew when Christopher Woods walked in the door at the age of 6, twelve years later he would represent The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in the Nationally Acclaimed, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s, Youth of the Year Program. He was The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Alamance County’s 2012 and 2013 local Youth of the Year Winner. Chris was the first person in history to place in the top 5 two years in a row for the State of North Carolina. Christopher Woods, who is a 2012 graduate of Cummings High School, is currently attending Davidson University. He attended the club daily for 7 years and volunteered throughout high school. Chris is an outstanding young man and a true club kid. Sherri Henderson, Executive Director of The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, fondly reflects back on the years Chris attended. “Chris, CJ, was always such a good kid. He never got into trouble and was a straight A student. I remember Chris helping older kids with their homework. He was a very mild mannered child and enjoyed playing in the gym and gamesroom. When it came to nominate a Youth of the Year for 2012, Chris was at the top of our list to interview. After talking with Chris and seeing how much he had matured and excelled academically, 4.5 GPA, he was truly our best candidate the 2012 National Youth of the Year Program. In his own words, “The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club provides youth a central facility where they are able to develop the physical, social, and educational skills that are necessary for life. The SABGC is the place where I first learned about hard work and responsibility. The Boys and Girls Club is where I began my athletic career. The instruction and support that I received at the club set the stage for the academic success that I have today. With both of my parents working, the club became an essential part of my childhood. The club echoed the morals and values that I received at home and provided the structure and stability that was fundamental for me growing up. The Staff members treated each of the youth as their own child. I received a sense of comfort knowing that I am still able to go to any staff member to talk and they will take the time to listen. To me, the Boys and Girls Club represents a place of hope, a place of help, and provides a sense of home”. The Boys & Girls Club serves youth from ages 5 to 18. They operate year round. The Club is located at 807 Stockard Street in Burlington, NC. They have been serving youth for more than 50 years. Currently they serve more than 300 members a year. Contact information: (336) 226-4462 www.sabgcalamance. org . For additional information like them on facebook – The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Alamance County. n
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DAILY DEVOTION
By Rev. Peter Panagore
Left Road or Right Road?
Reverend Peter Baldwin Panagore of DailyDevotions.org, is a native of Massachusetts, graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree in Divinity from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and with a B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. St. John’s High School of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, an Xaverian Brothers sponsored school, provided him with his preparatory school education. In 2003, he was recruited to apply for the position of Pastor of the First Radio Parish Church of America (DailyDevotions.org). FRPCA is America’s oldest continuous religious broadcast, founded 1926, and now reaching 1.5 million listeners, viewers and readers a week on T V, radio and internet, including American Forces Radio Network. From 1999-2006 Reverend Panagore was a staff writer at Homiletics, the leading and cutting-edge nationwide worship preparation journal for mainline clergy. Homiletics has published more than a hundred of his sermons. He has also published short stories in anthologies, most notably, Chicken Soup for the Veteran’s Soul, by New York Times Best Selling editor Jack Canfield. Two Minutes for God was released by Touchstone/Fireside an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in early December of 2007 and landed immediately on the Maine Best Seller list.
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H
ere is an ancient tale told once again. Long ago in a land far away, an old and virtuous monk leaned on his young student as they walked along a dusty road. They stopped when they reached a fork in the road, with one branch leading to the right and the other leading to the left. "Let us rest here," said the old monk, "and sit up upon this large rock between the roads to rest and meditate." They sat. They rested. They closed their eyes and prayed in silent meditation. Sometime later, their quiet was interrupted by the sound of earthpounding feet and the arrival of a woman, running. Her face was streaked with tears, and droplets of blood speckled her lips. Her clothes were torn. Her eyes were filled with fear. She stopped a moment to decide which way to run, and picked the right-hand
road. Glancing once at the monks who watched her in silence, she ran on. Seven minutes later, a man ran down the road and upon seeing the monks, shouted threateningly at them, "Which way did the woman go? WHICH WAY DID THE WOMAN GO?" The old monk said, "She took the left hand road," and pointed with his finger. The man ran as fast as he could down the wrong road. The young monk stood and said to the old monk in an accusing voice, "Master, you lied!" "Of course," said the old monk. "That is virtue." Let's Pray: Dear God, let me never confuse honesty with virtue, or truth with compassion. Amen. Here's a Thought: What is virtue? n
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FRIENDLY FACES
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BUSINESS BUZZ
What Your Feet May Say About Your Health
S
UMMER IS FINALLY HERE, AND THERE’S NO BETTER TIME TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OVERALL HEALTH. IF YOU’RE WONDERING ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BODY’S PERFORMANCE, TRY LOOKING AT YOUR FEET. THAT’S RIGHT; YOUR FEET MAY BE THE VERY THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING YOU BACK FROM BETTER HEALTH! THE HIGHLY-TRAINED AND SKILLED SPECIALISTS AT TRIAD FOOT CENTER ARE THE TRIAD’S LEADERS IN A WHOLE–BODY APPROACH TO TOTAL FOOT AND ANKLE CARE. THEIR TEAM OF SIX BOARD-CERTIFIED PODIATRISTS ARE AMONG THE MOST RESPECTED PRACTITIONERS AND INNOVATORS IN THEIR FIELD, AND THEY ARE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE TRIAD.
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A study by the American Podiatric Medical Association reported that a staggering 72% of Americans say that foot pain is preventing them from exercising. Increased amounts of weight and stress placed on the feet lead to a host of problems. Even an extra 20 pounds of weight can significantly increase your chance of developing conditions like tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis, and problems in the arch of the foot. Luckily, there are advances in technology at Triad Foot Center that can effectively treat conditions such as plantar fasciitis. A treatment called Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) relieves plantar fasciitis by using unique acoustic pressure waves that are sent through the foot with a special applicator. No needles or anesthesia is needed. Waves reaching the foot stimulate cell metabolism, increase nutrient delivery, and enhance blood flow by causing new blood vessel formation. This process greatly accelerates healing of the inflamed plantar fascia muscle. EPAT treatments are non-invasive, quick and effective. Less serious problems such as toenail fungus are still unsightly, especially in the summertime when feet are on display. New technology is available at Triad Foot Center, an FDA approved laser procedure called
Q-Clear Laser System. This nonpainful treatment kills pathogens that cause toenail fungus through high intensity pulses of light that penetrate the nail. After this non-invasive procedure, patients can resume normal activity immediately. Up until recently, people suffering with painful bunions were simply unable to be on their feet for longer periods of time, their health suffering due to their sedentary lifestyle. Thanks to Triad Foot Center’s team of podiatrists, foot patients no longer to have to choose between comfort and good health. A new advanced surgical procedure reduces downtime and improves the post-surgical appearance of the foot, cutting recovery time in half and greatly reducing post-surgical discomfort. Triad Foot Center patients include children! Parents are encouraged to have their children’s feet examined as soon as they start walking. Growth plate injuries, gait abnormalities and other conditions can be addressed early, giving them a better chance to succeed with physical activities. Education is a big part of treatment at Triad Foot Center. All doctors regularly blog on the practice’s website, triadfoot. com, and discuss common foot conditions and treatment options. They also answer frequently asked questions at the office, publishing their thoughts on the blog and sharing through social media. The podiatrists believe in educating their patients about healthy feet and preventing conditions from getting out of control by early detection and treatment. Once any serious foot conditions have been addressed, including solutions like custom orthotics, patients can enjoy a more active lifestyle with less pain. Dr. Hyatt, Dr. Regal and Dr. Egerton welcome you to our Burlington office. Triad Foot Center also has offices in Greensboro and Asheboro. Visit Triad Foot Center for your foot exam today and get back on track! Visit their website at www.triadfoot.com for more information and to request an appointment or call the Burlington office at (336) 4415644. n burlingtonmagnc.com
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COMMUNITY CHARACTER
Ann Brownlee Hobgood - One Man’s Junk is Another Woman’s Treasure By Sherry Johnson
A
nn Brownlee Hobgood grew up in Winston-Salem. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in studio art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and for many years owned a yarn
shop in the Chapel Hill area. She designed needlepoint patterns by hand and sold them
to supplement the income from her store. Her patterns were purchased by both Neiman Marcus and Better Homes & Gardens in the past. In 1999, she bought an abandoned house in the Glencoe Mill Village in Burlington from Preservation North Carolina, who purchased the entire property in 1997. The site had been abandoned since 1954, and all the mill homes were in severe disrepair and decay. Today, all but two of the original 32 homes have been renovated and restored to their former state. Several new homes have also been built under strict historical guidelines
on
vacant
lots
where homes once stood. The mill itself is being renovated a section at a time and once the property is finished, local preservationists dream of a museum village where visitors can learn about textiles' influence in the postwar South. Many Southerners have ancestors who worked in the textile industry, and Glencoe's authenticity and its location close to major transportation links will enhance its popularity as a destination.
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Ann purchased her home, rebuilding and refurbishing it under the strict covenants set forth by Preservation North Carolina. There were several outbuildings on the property as well, which she has brought back from the brink of fallen ruin and put to good use. An old outhouse for the property has even been turned into a wonderful potting shed! She started creating art with her finds in 2006 and she has made 100s of pieces of art, in all shapes and sizes since that time. Her first piece, a self-portrait was very well received in Chapel Hill. Ann uses a lot of sentimental items to tell a story with her art. She’s been a junker all her life, but I’ve never seen a more neat and orderly workroom – every single button, screw, tile and yardstick is properly labeled and in its place. While renovating her home in Glencoe, Ann found the most amazing “junk” in her yard, and all over the 105-acre property that had been abandoned. She built a beautiful fireplace surround from discarded pottery and glass shards she found in 100 year old trash piles. In her front yard she has a wonderful bottle tree, which holds many small bottles that she dug up in the yard. Using a metal detector she also discovered many interesting pieces of old cars or bikes, and many odd things that work well for her recycled art. “You can find the coolest stuff in the ground if you are looking.” On her workbench she has many ongoing projects in various stages, as the whim strikes her or as she waits for items to set, she keeps “tweaking” them until they are finished. She gets her items from many different places: thrift stores, Hospice Flea Market, the ReStore, and Good Samaritan Thrift, and local junk yards. One day an elderly man was driving by while she was in the yard. He was on his way to the recycling center to sell a load of scrap metal. After looking over the load, she purchased the entire lot from him. He now goes through the “junk” and sorts it according to what he thinks she might like and brings it to her before he heads to the recycling center. Ann’s work can be seen downtown in the 3rd floor Gallery at The Treasure House on Main Street in Burlington, and the Fine Art Carolina Gallery in Mebane. She has been contacted by a gallery in Greenville, SC who would like to carry her art, after the owner saw her work in Mebane. The Burlington Downtown Corporation recently purchased 2 large outdoor pieces to display somewhere downtown: a man reading the Times-News sitting on a park bench next to a woman and burlingtonmagnc.com
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a guy holding an antique flag. One of my favorite pieces the Greensboro Chapter of the NRHS, and the Burlington of Ann’s hangs on the wall in her “gallery” at home and is Woman’s Club. C&C Painting and Sandblasting (Robbie actually not for sale. She has created a map of the United Carter and crew) donated their services to repaint the States using each state’s license plate, cut into the shape of exterior of the caboose with paint supplied free by Sherwin the state and fitted together (see page 4 Table of Contents). Williams of Burlington. The Burlington Public Works In February 2006, the Burlington City Council approved Department installed electricity and the ramp. a proposal made by Ann to renovate the Depot caboose In October, Ann will participate in the 4th annual Alamance and to create a railroad museum. She spent 1-1/2 years Studio Tour sponsored by the Alamance Artisans Guild cleaning, scraping, sanding, painting, repairing, replacing, and the Alamance County Arts Council. Forty-nine artists lettering, labeling, acquiring, and researching to accomplish from all over Alamance County are participating during the this. The exterior has been repainted red and lettered as weekend of October 12 & 13th. You will be able to take a it was when it was manufactured. The interior floor, walls, guided tour through Ann’s restored Glencoe Mill home, and and rails have been completely cleaned, sanded, repainted, see her workroom where she creates the wonderful pieces and re-stenciled. Broken windows have been replaced and that delight her fans. Oh, and you can purchase a piece or seats were repaired. The museum’s life-sized trainmen two to take care of some early Christmas shopping. cook stove complete with kitchen equipment, conductor’s Although 68 years young, Ann would like to either renovate desk with N&W paperwork, and lockers outfitted with train another house if she finds the right one, or build one from gear were assembled to represent life on a caboose and the ground up, preferably near a lake. Ann has two children. railway history as it relates to the founding of Company Her daughter attended the School of Arts in Winston-Salem, Shops.
where she studied ballet and then attended the college for
Funding for the restoration was provided from Ann’s Drama. Her son is a graphic artist, does videography for personal resources, a Heritage Grant from the National Kickstarter programs, and performs comedy improv. I’m Railway Historical Society that she applied for and received, thinking talent runs in the family. n
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History of the Site Developed by the Holt family on a picturesque site along the Haw River, Glencoe is one of the state’s most significant early textile mills and mill villages. James and William Holt, sons of textile pioneer E.M. Holt, built Glencoe Mills, Inc. in 1880, and it would become one of the last water-powered mills developed by the Holts. The mill closed in 1954, and over time residents vacated the village homes. In 1979, Glencoe was listed on the National Register of Historic Places; it was described by the National Park Service as “a nationally significant site representative of the Southern textile mill village and its role in the industrialization of the American South.� The NPS has also considered listing Glencoe as a National Historic Landmark, the highest historical designation in the United States. burlingtonmagnc.com
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ZOO ZEAL
Dinosaurs Roar Back to Life at NC Zoo
Story & photos by Tom Gillespie N.C. Zoo staff
T
hey're baaaack! The most successful temporary exhibit ever at the North Carolina Zoo roars back bigger and better for a second season when "Dinosaurs" returns to the park Easter weekend through Oct. 31. As part of this limited-engagement outdoor exhibit, visitors will encounter dinosaurs representing species that once roamed North America throughout the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods-from gargantuan herbivores, to savage predators. Through the magic of futuristic technology, these mammoth, life-like animatronic creatures will offer a fullblown dino-reality experience to zoo visitors as they travel back in time along a lush, winding pathway with ancient plants, where a new experience lurks at every turn. Each dinosaur is built on a steel frame and meticulously equipped with
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textured, intricately painted rubber skin, bold colors and theatrical touches that make it seem real. Realistic movements include grasping hands, menacing claws and gnashing teeth. Real dinosaurs, of course, became extinct ages ago, but each of the 15 life-like (and most, life-sized) dinosaurs offer best-guess snapshots of those prehistoric animals based on the most up-to-date research. State-of-the-art electronics power each dinosaur to control the movements and sounds. The realistic movements are produced by a pneumatic-piston system that enables the dinosaurs to move smoothly and precisely. A whole new cast of creatures has been chosen for this year's experience and promises to be bigger, bolder and better. Among the featured species will be Giganotosaurus--all 43 feet of it--which will take the place of last year's Tyrannosaurus Rex. “Giga” is actually believed to have been larger than the T-Rex, with a massive skull more than six feet long. Other new species for 2013 will include
Acrocanthosaurus, a large carnivorous dinosaur whose name means "high spined lizard;" Amargasaurus, featuring elongated pairs of spines running from the base of the head down to the base of the neck; Citipati, an emu-sized creature with a distinct toothless head crest and protofeathers. Others include Edmontonia, one of the last known living dinosaurs; Parasaurolophus, a massive duckbilled dinosaur with a distinct elongated crest that has been shown to function as a resonating chamber, possibly for sending low, deep, sub-sonic sounds to herd members miles away. And returning is the always-popular Triceratops, easily one of the most well known and recognizable dinosaurs with its three distinct horns on its face. Others include Coelophysis, Deltadromeus, Parasaurolophus, Styracosaurus and Quetzalcoatlus (the most requested when asked of Zoo visitors what new dinosaur they most wanted to see this year). During their trek back in time, visitors will additionally be able to explore a paleontologist's tent and get the latest scoop on fossil sites in North Carolina. At the end of the excursion, they can dig around in fossil pits for an ancient relic to take home or climb aboard a yellow jeep for a family photo.
These giant mechanical dinosaurs were designed and built to scale by Texas-based Billings Productions, North America’s largest maker of lifesize animatronic dinosaurs for zoos, museums and theme parks. Their creations include 50 different species-from Allosaurus to Tyrannosaurus rex. Their clients have included zoos in Houston, Cincinnati and Detroit as well as Dinovotion in France and Misaki Park in Japan. The company, founded in 2003, is one of only a few enterprises in the world that produce large, life-size animatronic dinosaurs for traveling and permanent exhibits and is the only American company that specializes in
creating animatronic creatures that can withstand the outdoor elements. "Kids really connect with the dinosaurs," said Tom O'Konowitz, marketing assistant at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where the exhibit had a record-breaking run. "They tend to already know a lot about the different species when they get to the zoo. You can see how excited they get when they're up close with these huge creatures right in front of them." So, whether you’re a youngster with a passion for paleontology or an oldster with just a passing fancy for prehistoric critters, “Dinosaurs 2013” is a "can’t-miss" attraction this year at the N.C. Zoo. n burlingtonmagnc.com
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CITIZEN JOURNALISM
A Trip Down Memory Lane
A
By Brenda Simpson Jones
fter reading Richard Campbell’s remembrance of Dairy Queen, it made me think of some memories of my own. I don’t remember Dairy Queen, that must have been before I moved here to East Burlington with my parents and sister back in the late 60’s. We moved into a quiet neighborhood near the Fairchild Airport. I began attending Glenhope School and being the new kid, tried to make new friends. It took a while, seemed to me then that city kids weren’t as friendly as country kids. But as in all things, after a time I had a few friends to walk to school with, and the most fun for me was riding my bike on paved streets. Every weekend you could hear the planes humming at the airport. Not real planes, but model planes that the old guys would bring out and fly, much to the enjoyment of us kids. East Burlington was different then. We knew all our neighbors and if someone was sick, there was sure to be a neighbor bringing food to help out. One old lady that lived across from us would always come and sit on our porch during storms. She was scared to death of them, and was amazed at my Mom, who loved to sit and listen to the thunder and watch the lightning light up the dark sky. When I got married later on in life, this same lady sewed the pleats in my drapes, all the time saying how young people should know how to sew. My dad worked in a mill, and since I knew how hard he worked and money was tight, sometimes I would mow yards on the weekend for my own spending money. I didn’t make much, $1.50 for most yards, and if I got $2.00, wow, I’d feel rich for sure. It was hard, hot work, but for my reward and my treat to myself, I’d rinse the sweat off, walk or hop
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on my bike and head to the new Park Theatre, which opened up next to where Dave’s Discount Furniture is now. They boasted the most comfortable seats and a huge screen. At this time, most families like ours only had small black and white televisions, and no air conditioning. To walk into that cool theatre on a hot day, and have enough money for popcorn and a drink was truly heaven to me. I’d always go on a Saturday afternoon by myself. I preferred this because most of my friends were talkers, and I couldn’t bear that while watching a movie. I always sat on the left side, not sure why and get lost in the big screen. I heard Simon and Garfunkel for the first time while watching “The Graduate”. I still love to hear them to this day. At that time, my ambition was to be an astronaut, much to the dismay of my girlfriends who were planning on being teachers or nurses, so I also loved space movies, and was very intrigued when I saw the “Planet of Apes”. Lordy me, I pondered on the ending of that movie for days. During this time, other than town, about the only department store was Rose’s at Cum-Park Plaza. It used to be in town but I barely remember that. I remember my favorite thing about Rose’s was the smell of hot peanuts and fresh popped corn when you first walked in. It was almost as good as walking into a theatre, to my mind. I’d usually get a small bag of Spanish peanuts, and munch on
them while trailing behind my mama, and she had to be the fastest walking woman on the earth. Which made it difficult to keep up, but I managed. Another place I remember is Burger King. What a joy to my friends and me. If we had a slumber party, we could walk to Burger King and get a whopper for 50 cents. I thought that was the biggest burger I’d ever laid my eyes on, and I had a friend who could eat two of them!! Unbelievable! She was a cheerleader and must have really needed the energy. At Pizza Inn, we never had enough money for pizza, but we would go in the dark, cool restaurant on a hot day and order a glass of iced tea. We felt really sophisticated sitting in a booth with a candle glowing in our faces while we discussed all the important issues of the day, like what shoes would look good with a skirt we were planning on wearing to school the next day. I still live in East Burlington, and many of the neighbors I remember have passed on or in a few cases, are in nursing homes. But I will never forget them as they helped shape my life. A few are still here, but the neighborhood is changing. We have Hispanic neighbors who are very friendly, and their children are riding bikes and having fun just as I used to on these same streets. The neighborhood lives on, and hopefully these kids will have happy memories to look back on one day too. n burlingtonmagnc.com
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WHY I LOVE MY JOB….A CONVERSATION WITH ANNE K. MORRIS, M.ED., M.C.R.P, AICP BURLINGTON DOWNTOWN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
H
i. I’m Anne and I love my job. How many people can say that? Why do I love it? It’s simple, my job is to help people make their dreams come true. And I get to see it unfold before my eyes. What could be better?! So, what do I do? I am the Executive Director of the Burlington Downtown Corporation (BDC). I get to do a little bit of everything, and it turns out my eclectic background has come in handy. At the BDC, we are home base for everyone who is working to make Downtown Burlington a great destination. If you came to our first 4th Friday event in May, you know what I am talking about. There was something new in the air, a sense of excitement, of fun, of expectation. A kind of magic is unfolding down here that is hard to explain. I could go on and on with facts and figures that describe what is happening, but you can see those for yourself by visiting, www.burlingtondowntown.com.
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It wasn’t always this way. Downtown Burlington has been through as many ups and downs as any traditional downtown working to reinvent itself since the 1970s, when the department stores fled to the suburbs. When I rolled into town, the summer of 2009, I definitely saw a community ready for an upswing. Despite the many empty storefronts, I was taken by the sense of optimism I felt from city officials, from my board members, and from downtown retailers. At that time, the Company Shops Market was entering its final phase of fund-raising. While it was clear there was much work to do and it wasn’t going to be easy, everyone I met exuded such a can-do, will-happen attitude, I felt like this was the perfect place to get to work. When I first arrived, some were not as sure. I regularly heard and still hear, “my, you have a big job ahead of you!” And, “you’re so young to have this job!” (bless you, by the way, bless you!) My formal education and previous work
prepared me well for the many challenges faced in my role here. Every day is different, and from one project to the next I am called to draw on knowledge and experience in many fields, including historic preservation, urban planning, business marketing, economic development, financial management, real estate development, education and psychology to name just a few. However, I have found that the key ingredients needed to do well in this “big job” are not anything learned in school….they are patience, a relentless drive to move things forward (yes you can have both), a willingness to not only hear, but to seek out, other opinions, and unfailingly positive attitude. Now, after four years of hard work, of building relationships, working with community partners on projects like new streetscapes, planters, and banners; public art, parking improvements, creation of a grant program and broad-ranging marketing efforts, Downtown is starting to shine! If you haven’t visited in a while, I invite you to take advantage of one of our 4th Friday events, held the fourth Friday of each month May through September. These are turning into a great opportunity to hear live local bands. Our June event features nine bands located through-out downtown. Its also a great opportunity to visit our growing family of shops and restaurants. Love browsing through antiques, looking for vintage treasures? You can make your way from one end of downtown to the other. Downtown is a great place to find a gift for that special someone, whether you are looking for locally-made handcrafted items or the latest fashions. Looking for your next meal? You can start from scratch, sourcing fresh produce at our Saturday farmer’s market, or go right to the chocolate filled croissants (my favorite), a cheese dog, or pizza with the chewiest crispest crust around. Those who know me, know I love sparkle! Maybe that’s why I love my job… so many great places to buy pretty things! From fine jewelry, vintage bling, or the latest designers, Downtown Burlington is the place to be, not just for incredible selection, but also for great prices. If you are used to shopping in larger cities, you will definitely love Burlington! I am now spoiled by the high quality and reasonable prices offered by our many downtown retailers. So you’ve figured it out…of course I love this job, it involves shopping! I love what is happening downtown so much, I decided to open my own vintage booth at one of our fabulous downtown businesses (you know, ‘cause I need something to keep me busy in my spare time!). The truth is, awesome shopping aside, this is the work I set out to do fourteen years ago when I went (back) to graduate school. You remember that little game we were taught in Sunday School? The one where you thread your fingers together and say, “here is the church,” press up your index fingers and say, “here is the steeple,” flip your hands over, waggle your fingers and say, “open the doors, here’s all the people”? Well that’s the best metaphor I can think of for downtown.
It’s the people. We are downtown. It has been so rewarding to get to know this great community of people. From the moment someone walks in my door and says, “I’ve got this idea for a business,” to when not three years later, they say, “you won’t believe it, I’ve got people coming from hundreds of miles away…they are waiting for me when I open my doors in the morning!” Believe me, it doesn’t get any better than that (I am starting to tear up over here!). And to know, these are people who have lived here their entire lives, who support little league teams, who employ other local people, and support other local businesses….THIS is why I love my job. If I know that my advice helped them in some small way, has given them encouragement when days looked bleak (and some have), and get to celebrate with them when they hold their grand opening and their first and second anniversary sales…this is the very best part of my job. I grew up in an older neighborhood near downtown. I love downtowns. They are authentic, true places that help tell the story of who you are as a community. There is a reason that company executives, when considering a new business location, pay special attention to a community’s downtown. They can quickly get the answer to important questions that will impact their business’s reputation: Do the citizens have pride in their community? Do they have a unique identity they work together to foster? Do they support locally owned businesses? Do t h e y understand that
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investing in downtown is the smartest way to grow the local tax base and economy? Will my new, young workers want to move here? These questions can be answered quickly, with a short visit and web research. That’s why we have worked hard on improving “the front door” to the business locations we are working to promote. It’s why we established a grant program to help create, “21st century workplaces,” and why we pay so much attention to downtown’s website and social media presence. To get a good sense of the image of downtown we want people to discover, check out www. wearedowntown.tumblr.com, www.burlingtondowntown. com, and www.4thfridaysdowntown.com as well as our Facebook page. So, “What’s next?” you might ask (and believe me, people do!). We are busy, busy this summer. It is definitely an exciting time to be downtown. We are hiring for a new team member, making sure 4th Fridays are tons of fun, and helping match new businesses to properties! If you’ve been following along with us this Spring and have participated in our community meetings and brainstorms, you will know the name Roger Brooks. We invited him to speak to the community in March and continued to follow up on his theme of branding downtown and continuing our work in creating a great destination. The BDC has engaged Roger Brooks to lead us in a downtown branding process that will kick-off with a community assessment in August. We are just now starting to form a community Brand Development Committee (yes, a BDC!) to help guide the process. Branding is a concept that gets bandied around quite a bit. Usually, the first thought is of a logo, color scheme or catch phrase. These things may result from a branding process, but what we will be working on is defining what is unique about Downtown Burlington and what projects we should work together on that will best represent who we are as a place to work, shop, eat, live, and visit. A downtown brand provides a basis for future economic development efforts. With all sectors working together, we help each other achieve success more quickly. Stay tuned if you are interested in playing a part! Our work with Bizzell Designs continues on a pedestrian way-finding system. A way-what? Wayfinding is a cohesively designed system of signage that points to specific destinations throughout downtown, including parking. The final design will not only reinforce the selected brand direction, but will help market downtown, guide a fun walking tour that features local history and help you find those great shops you’ve been hunting! As we move into Fall, there will be lots more exciting things to tell you about. Topics like more housing downtown, new restaurants, microbreweries, more public art, and more opportunities for small businesses continue to be hot topics of conversation. I hope that if you don’t already love Downtown Burlington, you will get to know us soon. We are a community worth knowing. Talk to you soon! n
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Ribbon cutting for Elon's Downtown Center for Community Engagement, 2013.
The grand opening of Sara-Anne Photography...she was the winner of our Next Great Place business plan contest in April 2012.
Jeff Wilkins, Anne Morris, Sara-Anne Caudle and Robin Showerman at the grand opening of Sara-Anne Photography.
Join Us for Two Great Events
July 19th & 20th
2013
July 19, 2013 5-K RUN
First Baptist Church 133 N. Church St. Asheboro, NC
July 20, 2013
Cycling: 25 Miles 40 Miles • 67 Miles
Registration $25.00 If Cycling on Saturday Then Entry for 5-K is only $5. Pre-registration ends July 9. Walking is free, just make a donation.
Registration $35 Pre-registration ends July 9 (under 12 Free w/ riding adult)
5-K begins at 7PM sharp. Registration and Packet pickup begins at 5:45 pm. Early Packet Pickup is Available on Friday, July 19th.
Ride begins at 8AM sharp. Registration and Packet pickup begins at 6:45 am. Early Packet Pickup is Available on Friday, July 19th.
Join Us For Two Great Events!!
Register by June 1st to receive a Dri-Tech t-shirt. After June 1 will be cotton t-shirts.
Regardless of your level of cycling this is your ride. Safest Cycling Event in North Carolina
Traffic safety at intersections • SAG Support for ALL routes Stocked Rest Stops Every 10-15 Miles • A/C Dining Area Great Lunch • Door Prizes • Showers Available • Awards
info@operationredsleigh.com • 336-318-5412
www.operationredsleigh.com
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