South Guilford County, NC, News and Community Information

Calendar

bwebb — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

FUNDRAISERS

Ongoing

Southern Triad Missions needs new appliances, clothing and household items for families in need. Make checks payable to Southern Triad Missions and mail to P.O. Box 1906, High Point, NC 27261-1906. 888-6091.

New trail encourages children to find creative learning route

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Families at Southside Recreation Center will have a new place to expand their creativity and learn together.

Through United Way and the city of High Point, the community has a new Born Learning Trail.

Nine stations, designated by wooden signs along the center's walkway, lead children and their guardians on a journey of exploring.

"My favorite is watch, learn, stop, play," said Victoria Garrett, Southside activities leader, pointing to a sign in a grassy area next to the walkway.

Hey, let mulch lady have her yard

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

There has been some heated discussion regarding Mary Fontaine's mulch yard (News & Record, July 25), and all I have to say is, "Go, Mary, go!"

Shame, shame and a pox on thee to the neighborhood association for trying to tell this woman what she must do to her yard, which is, by the way, HER yard, which she has bought and paid for.

Fontaine simply made a choice for herself and her yard in this time of drought, $4 a gallon for gas and tremendous upkeep.

Pleasant Garden hall gets more security

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

The next vandal who decides to do his business on Pleasant Garden's property will have to answer to "big brother."

"Apparently people have been using the picnic tables behind the Town Hall as toilets," Mayor Anne Hice said at Tuesday's council meeting.

Vendors with the Farmers Market reported human feces on the picnic tables when they went to set up the market Aug. 2 and Aug. 9, Hice said.

Hice said she contacted the Guilford County Sheriff's Department, and both incidents are being investigated.

Smith High gets grant to promote reading abilities

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Smith High School hopes an initial $636,288 from a Smaller Learning Communities grant will help make students "readers for life."

Smith High is one of 43 schools to receive the U.S. Department of Education grant, which they plan to use to promote reading among students.

The school received the grant July 1.

"I believe all children must be good readers in order to be successful in school and in life," said Principal Noah Rogers. "Our goal with this grant is to make all of our students 'readers for life.'"

Council to close three city streets

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

High Point City Council agreed to abandon three unimproved public rights of way at an Aug. 4 meeting.

Roads that are closed are:

10 feet, between Franklin and Filbert avenues, 100 feet east of Pershing Street;
12 feet, 190 feet west of Woodbury Street, between Franklin and Filbert avenues;
50 feet, 500 feet south of Clish Place, between Brentwood and Garrison streets.

The council also:

* approved annexing 7.36 acres owned by Guilford County Schools at the northwest corner of Triangle Lake Road and Central Avenue.

Church at home in mall

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

HIGH POINT -- "Have church; will travel."

That motto describes the ministry of the Rev. Chris Lockhart and his wife, Tish, since they began church services in a school auditorium Sept. 9, 2006.

Their objective is to reach the rapidly growing north High Point area with a ministry geared to people who won't attend a traditional church.

Even the name, The Crossing, doesn't sound churchy.

The church moved to the Palladium Theatre for Sunday morning services on Easter 2007. What better place to attract unchurched people than a movie theater? Lockhart surmised.

Six years of researching the history of black folk

import — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

With this story, I have reached the milestone of 200 stories.

Six years have passed since my first story, "Getting a first-hand look at the mortuary business," where I simply put into words the fun that I had playing in and around Hoover's Funeral Home as a child. Little did I know in 2002 that people would be interested in learning about a community that few ever found positive words to describe.

Six years later, I am still researching, remembering, recognizing and recording the rich heritage of High Point's early black community, "High Point's Lost Colony."

Pleasant Garden councilman wants remote access to town computer

mgrossman — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:27:03 -0400

Whether an elected official should have home access to Pleasant Garden's files and other town documents led to a heated discussion among council members during Tuesday's meeting.

The debate began after Councilman Bob Wyrick requested passwords and remote access to the town's computer server.

The only people with that access are Sandy Carmany, town administrator and finance officer, and Assistant Clerk Linda Baker.

Monthly event to focus on the needs of pets

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Jamestown businesses have invited special guests to meet and greet residents at the monthly Wednesday Night Live event, 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 27 on Main Street.

Dogs and cats will make an appearance at Wednesday Night Live, formerly known as Sip n Shop, for the event geared to inform residents about the needs of area animal shelters and pet rescue groups.

Grant to help pay for a park

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Jamestown will get a $55,863 grant to help buy land for a park at Guilford and Perry roads.

The matching grant, announced Tuesday, comes from the state Parks and Recreation Authority's North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

Jamestown plans to use the money to help buy 1.5 acres to create Center City Park.

Jamestown is among 10 municipalities in the state that will share $3.6 million in grants.

"We applied for funding, but were not awarded funds in the first round," town planner Matthew Johnson said.

Calendar

bwebb — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

FundRAISERS

Ongoing

The ACES office at Brooks Global Studies is collecting aluminum tabs as a service project for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Mail or bring tabs to Nathalie or Brooke, 1215 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408. 370-8347.

Putt Putt puts fun first

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

When Chris Graney worked in construction in High Point and then at the newly remodeled Putt Putt Golf Course on North Main, he had no idea he would still be here as the general manager in 2008.

When Graney took that first job at Putt Putt, he was a junior at High Point College. He remembers Putt Putt used to be in the old Kmart lot. Today, a North State communications building is in that spot.

Sign marks historic business site

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

All that recent work with heavy equipment to clear and grade the old Wrenn Farm property just east of Flowers Bakery has tipped the old Beards' Hat Shop sign off true vertical in recent weeks. But it is still upright, and still the oldest sign of its kind around Jamestown.

It proclaims under the sign that "William Beard made & sold hats at his well-known shop, established before 1795 and later operated by his son David. Site 1 1/3 mi. N."

Geese are dressed to thrill

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

High Point has the reputation of being the furniture capital of the world. Don't be surprised if the city becomes known as the home of the most stylishly dressed Canada geese, too.

Claire Zeak's geese dress for special occasions such as Easter, Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day and other holidays. They also have rain gear, including boots and umbrellas.

Zeak started dressing the decorative geese in her front yard on Waterview Road about 10 years ago after her friend, Teri Ruschck, gave her two lifelike geese for her birthday.

Ruschck knew Zeak loved to decorate.

Portraits of Confederates his passion

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, may be the "forgotten man" in the annals of history, but he is well remembered by Richard Fields, retired dentist and Pleasant Garden bon vivant.

Fields is devoting his retirement years, at least much of them, to the art of painting portraits of the Confederate high command.

His most recent work, a stunning likeness of Jefferson Davis, hangs in the den of his Pleasant Garden home.

He's the greatest: Champ wins respect

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Members at High Point Country Club will quickly tell you Freddy Young is arguably the most important person at the club's 18-hole golf course at Willow Creek.

He's not the director of golf. Nor is he in charge of the greens. Or the food.

No, Young is in charge of the members -- unofficially, that is.

Officially, he's in charge of the men's locker room. It's a job he has held for 29 years. But it is so much more than a job, both to Young and club members.

Eight churches: Working one for all

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Eight churches that joined forces in mid-June to conduct a successful Vacation Bible School are working together for a community-wide "Back to School Community Day'' Saturday.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in a field between Southside Baptist Church and Motel 6, off Business 85 on the south side of Greensboro.

Design changes concern residents

import — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Design changes to quadplexes in McConnell subdivision worry current residents and homeowners association members.

Jerry Medford and Les Mitchell want to redesign five quadplexes to create units that are all on one level. The building would still be two stories.

McConnell residents said the changes, including an outside staircase, do not meet the standards they were promised when they bought property in the subdivision a few years ago.

Camp teaches Latino youths about environmental issues

mgrossman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Kids learned about the environment during the Latino Family Center of High Point's summer camp at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church July 7-18.

"I get bored at home," said Saul Deras, 11, of High Point, as he sat on the floor behind a checkerboard. "I like hanging out with friends I meet here."

Daniel Alcocer , 10, of High Point, played checkers with Saul. Daniel said he liked playing putt-putt on the field trip the campers took earlier in the day. He didn't even keep score.

"It's fun when we go on field trips," Saul said.

Schools face off at golf tournament

mgrossman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Get ready for the first-ever Southwest High versus Ragsdale High Rivalry Golf Tournament Aug. 29 at the Jamestown Golf Course.

The tournament is organized by the athletics booster clubs of Southwest and Ragsdale high schools.

"This tournament is open to alumni, friends, parents - anyone who would love to get involved and help out their schools," said David Schoepske, a former Ragsdale student and member of the school's booster club.

Golfers can participate in the morning tournament at 8 a.m. or the second round at 1:30 p.m.

Deli giving patrons way to help charities

mgrossman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

For nine weeks, Harrison's Deli in High Point will be holding a fundraiser for charity.

Every Thursday (except Aug. 28) from July 24 until Sept. 18, a local celebrity will try to raise money for his or her charity.

At the end of the nine weeks, the celebrity who received the most contributions will win all the money raised for the charity of his or her choice.

The deli has dropped bottled beer prices to $2 to help the fundraiser.

Harrison's Deli, at 1807 North Main Street, High Point, has been open for one year.

Scoopers head to Charlotte match

mgrossman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Scoopers at Ben & Jerry's at the Palladium know how to fling some ice cream.

They, along with fellow scoopers from the Ben & Jerry's at Friendly Center, showed their stuff Tuesday.

Both stores, owned by Paul Harrison of Winston-Salem, competed to see who would advance to represent the stores at a championship in Charlotte next week .

This will be the group's first time in the championship.

Reunions keep past alive

mgrossman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

Seems as if everyone in my community starts to reflect on old high school days after they hit the magic age of 50.

This reflection is usually brought on by the sudden realization many of your high school classmates and friends are dying; many them are suffering from various health problems that have altered their lives.

The thought of growing old without old friends makes you want to get it on the good foot one more time before they depart this life.

Southside protected from development

mgrossman — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0400

The Southside community will be further protected from commercial development and multifamily homes after the city approved a rezoning and amendment to the landuse map July 21.

The council approved a request that changes 48 acres from medium-density residential to moderate-density residential. Before, land could be developed with eight to 16 units per acre. With the rezoning, only five to eight units will be allowed.

This area of Southside is bounded by Taylor Avenue on the north, Vail Avenue to the south, West Green Drive to the west and South Elm Street to the east.