Hanging Rock State Park

HANGING ROCK

STATE PARK

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Escap to the Sauratown Mountains for an amazing outdoor experience a mere thirty minutes north of Winston-Salem! Whether you seek hiking trails or a new adventure, rock climbing, mountain biking, swimming, or camping, Hanging Rock State Park is a destination filled with something for every age to enjoy!

Trails

Research claims a walk among tall, mature trees will reduce your stress and blood pressure, and be bound to improve your mood. Will you choose to follow the trail marker through open forests along Indian Creek Trail, or travel down Cook’s Wall to visit the rock formations of House Rock and Devil’s Chimney? If you are taking particular interest in the flora, pay close attention to the colored symbols on each marker to ensure you make it to your intended destination!

Climbing

Ready to test out your climbing skills? While the activity is free, all climbers seeking the experience of scaling up the 1,455-foot cliff must submit a climbing and rappelling registration form before following the “white diamond” trail marker, 2.20 miles, to Cook’s Wall. With a copy of the registration form in your pocket, it is vital to know that individuals are responsible for personal equipment, and climb at their own risk. Climbing without a rope or harness is discouraged. NC State parks do not install fixed anchors on routes, nor approve the creation of new courses.

Swimming

On days when the body desires cool water, there are two distinct options available at Hanging Rock State Park.

THE LOWER CASCADES: A popular location for visitors and hikers, a short looping trail leads to the highest waterfall. Be wary if accompanied by young or older members of the family who have difficulty walking. The trail ends at a long wooden staircase leading to the base of the waterfall. Despite the spectacular waterfall and rock formations, there are numerous safe areas for toddlers to splash in, or older children to enjoy sliding down the rocks. (Reminder: bring extra water containers to stay hydrated.)

THE LAKE: Arriving at the beach house, the cost of admission is $6 for adults (13 and older), and $4 for children (starting at the age of three). The State provides lifeguards to ensure all swimmers are safe. Visitors will appreciate an extensive beachfront with opportunities to sit shaded by tall, mature trees. Capable swimmers can swim beyond the ropes to enjoy two diving boards, one at each end.

TIP: Open only during the summer months and pending staff availability. HOURS: Monday: 11 AM to 5:45 PM, Tuesday-Sunday: 10 AM to 5:45 PM

Boating

Next door to the swimming area, canoes and rowboats are available for rent. Fees are $7 per hour. HRSP does not allow private boats to enter the park lake.

Camping

Extending a stay among the trees and babbling brooks leads to the possibility of reserving, at least 24-hours in advance, one of the 73 campsites available at the state park. Most sites offer a picnic table and grill, and the amenities of a bathhouse and electricity (through a connection). Upon booking, ask what your specific campsite offers. If you desire housing, consider reserving a vacation cabin, available yearround to accommodate up to six people. Each structure has a living room, dining space, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms.

All summer long, Hanging Rock State Park offers visitors the opportunity to engage in particular activities, from stargazing to cultural performances. Become a friend through social media, and enjoy the great opportunities available!

For additional information, access the park’s website, hanging.rock@ ncparks.gov, to receive details regarding directions, hours, or upcoming special events.

DIY Gifts for “End of Year” Teacher Gifts

BY TABI FALCONE

Teachers are responsible for helping our children learn and grow in this crazy world and are infamously underpaid and often under-appreciated. Onset of Covid-19 and e-learning during quarantine will most assuredly bring about a new appreciation for these superheroes who are doing so much for the future of our country.

Our school year may have ended abruptly but that doesn’t mean we can’t drop off an “end of year” appreciation gift. If you’re looking for something beyond (or in addition to) a gift card, helping your child create a DIY appreciation gift for their teachers will go that extra mile to show your gratitude for all that they do.Teacher Survival Kit

Find a cute Mason jar, preferably wide-mouthed, and then fill it with things that can help teachers relax and unwind. These things can include bath products, such as bath bombs, scented bath salts, face masks, scented lotions, etc. Other good additions are chapstick, chocolate, tea bags, and ibuprofen. When this is all assembled, have your kids write out a few nice notes to put in as well to remind their teacher how much they are appreciated.

Painted Planter

On a simple terra-cotta planter, you can pick up at any home improvement store, first paint the base with black chalkboard paint. Follow the directions for how many coats and priming are needed—this can differ by brand. When the base is dry, pull out your acrylic paints from your craft room and paint a yellow ruler along the top tip of the planter. Write in chalk, “Thanks for helping me grow” on the base, and then let your child transplant a live plant of their choice in the planter, preferably something hard to kill.

Framed Affirmation

Just like all of us, teachers sometimes have hard days and need to be reminded that what they are doing is important. Take a “scrap painting” (one done by a child that you couldn’t bring yourself to get rid of and has been in a stack on top of your fridge collecting dust) and cut it out to be the size of whatever frame you have chosen. For a desk affirmation, 4x6 or 5x7 is a recommended frame-size starting point. Find an affirmation that you feel resonates with the teaching profession and write it on top of your child’s painting, then frame it. Examples of affirmations are: “What I do is important,” “I am making a difference in my students’ lives,” and, “I believe in myself and my life’s work.”

Cookie in a Jar

Create a cookie in a jar by simply adding all the dry ingredients for your favorite cookie recipe into a Mason jar. Put this into a cute mixing bowl with a nice spatula, pot holders, and the recipe for the cookies, including the wet ingredients and cooking instructions. Top it all off with a sign that says, “Thanks for helping me become one smart cookie,” with your child’s signature.

Mini DIY

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to make sure that your child’s teachers know that they are appreciated for all the hard work they put into helping your child reach his or her full potential. If you are short on time, have your child write a note to their teacher about something they really like about them, with an accompanying drawing. Put this in a nice envelope, go ahead and slip a gift card in there and call it a day!

Truliant Names Forsyth County Crosby Scholars Community Partnership - Funds will Community Grant Winners provide college enrollment deposits for high-need students. Financial Pathways of the Piedmont - Funds will be used to support the electronic signature process to serve clients Winston-Salem, N.C. – To provide funds to non-profit more efficiently during the pandemic. Truliant organizations more quickly in the face of operating challenges due to COVID-19, Truliant Federal Credit Union recently announced eight Forsyth County organizations will receive Community Mini Grants. H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem - Funds will cover additional meals for children. HandsOn Northwest NC - Funds will be used to promote The program, now in its twelfth year, provides commuaward winners for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. nity-based nonprofit organizations with $1,000 in grant Hispanic League - Funds will be used to support educafunding to support operating, programmatic or capacitional tools to continue the work of the nonprofit. ty-building needs. This year, operating were added costs IFB Solutions - Funds will support job training and workto its grant focus areas to help organizations impacted by force development for blind and visually impaired residents the coronavirus. who have been furloughed in a manufacturing environment. The credit union shortened its Mini Grant application period to get funds to recipients more quickly. Truliant disbursed a total of $30,000 in award funds in its member communities beginning in late April. “Local organizations large and small are stepping up to fill important gaps in our communities when they need it most,” said Renee Shipko, Community Engagement Manager. “The funds will provide an extra layer of support for those needing help with operating costs or programmatic changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” Senior Services - Funds will provide 166 hot, nutritious meals, shelf-stable meals and frozen meals for older adults who are home-bound.

Winston-Salem Street School - Funds will support operational challenges as a result of COVID-19. Since its inception, the program has awarded over 250 different nonprofit organizations in funding.

Federally insured by NCUA.

Through the program, non-profit organizations in WinstonSalem & Forsyth County will receive a total of $8,000 in grant funds. In 2020, emphasis was placed on organizations that improve communities through community development, economic mobility, financial wellness, and youth and education. Winners from Forsyth County are:

Dero’s

BACON RANCH CHICKEN DIP

1 8oz 8oz 1 cup 1/2 cup INGREDIENTS Back at the Ranch Dip Mix Mix Cream Cheese Sour Cream Cooked Chicken, cubed Shredded Cheese

DIRECTIONS Combine mix with cream cheese and sour cream in small sauce pan over low heat. Stir until warm and throughly combined. Stir in chicken and pour mixture into an oven proof dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and put under broiler just until cheese is melted. TIP: Garnish with crumbled bacon and serve with rustic bread.

WALLPAPER FAQS

Q: How do you measure a room for wallpaper? A: Keep it simple when measuring for wallpaper, width of the walls multiplied by the height will give you square footage. Most wallcovering will cover approximately 25sq feet per single roll which includes repeats up to 20”.

Q: Can I use a grass cloth wallpaper in my bathroom? A: Grass Cloth wallpaper is a natural product, made from grasses. Because of its nature, it is not recommended for areas of high humidity like a bathroom because it can mold and mildew. A small powder bath without a tub/ shower will be fine.

Q: How hard is it to install non pasted wallpaper? A: Wallpaper comes in both pasted and non pasted products. Pre-pasted requires water to activate the paste on the back. Non-pasted Wallpaper requires paste to be applied to the back with either a paint brush or roller. Most professional hangers paste the wallpaper.

Q: Why is wallpaper priced per single roll and packaged in a double roll bolt? A: Wallpaper is priced per single roll unit of measure. Most residential paper is sold in a double roll; however, some manufactures package it in larger bolt sizes from triple rolls to even quads. Single roll is the unit of measure used universally.

Q: Can you paint over existing wallpaper? A: It is not recommended to paint over existing wallpaper. Paint can pool in the seams causing them to show up more. Paint can also cause the wallpaper to bubble up and peel away from the wall in some instances. There are many who will try this and have success but that is not every case.