A number of festivities are planned to celebrate Earth Day 2012 in Briar Chapel this year!

OnApril 21st, 2012, Briar Chapel will be hosting a 5K race at 9am to benefit The Abundance Foundation, which will be followed by a kids' fun run. Featuring a brand-new course this year, the 4th Annual Briar Chapel 5K has something for everyone. Whether you are a serious competitor, spectator, or just want to come out for a fun run or walk, I hope you will make plans to attend this annual event. You can even bring your running buddy this year -- that's right, dogs and strollers are welcome!

During and after the race, there will be music, local food, massages and more! Advanced registration is $20, or $25 on race day, and includes a locally-made organic cotton t-shirt, goodie bag and a Fullsteam beer ticket you can be redeemed at the afternoon's event. Awards will be given for the top 3 male and female finishers. The course is USATF-certified (pending).

The Earth Day Celebration continues in the afternoon from 3-5pm with hands-ondemos and exhibitions from local businesses and organizations, artists andathletes, food and drink artisans, and Chatham County's first ever Food TruckRodeo! The food trucks already confirmed are Chirba Chirba, PiePushers, Parlour, Will & Pop's, Fullsteam Brewery, and Carolina Brewery. Similar to the recent Pepper Festival, therewill also be bubbles, hoopers and face painting for the young and young atheart.

At dusk (from 5-7pm) there will be some short films shown from BriarChapel’s sustainability PSA contest, as well as a screening ofWall-E on the lawn. The event is free, but the more you support the food & beer trucks, the more you support TheAbundance Foundation. Bring your hungry friends and family!

There are 11 weeks until the race - plenty of time to get ready! If you need a little help, I suggest you check out the Couch-to-5K program.

Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 00:24:58 -0500
From: Gene Galin
Subject: Last Week’s Hottest Chatham Online Bulletin Board Topics

1. Liberal Progressive Pittsboro NC Town Council Denies Children’s Christian Academy  (Read 8800 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24900.0.html

2. Who is this woman ripping down signs for Haw River Christian School in Pittsboro  (Read 7764 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24985.0.html

3. Team Pittsboro: Another Randolph Voller scam to get credit for others’ efforts  (Read 6543 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,23786.0.html

4. Pittsboro General Store Cafe status?  (Read 3444 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25016.0.html

5. Preston’s plans for 7,000 acres in Chatham  (Read 3300 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25029.0.html

6. N&O – Artsy Pittsboro cafe closes  (Read 2393 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25035.0.html

7. 70 Pittsboro businesses butt heads with 4 anti-business town officials  (Read 2210 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24993.0.html

8. Mayor responds to Christian School concerns  (Read 1195 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25033.0.html

9. Stop Using Voller as a Scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in Pittsboro  (Read 1107 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25082.0.html

10. Don’t be afraid of change! Do it for the children  (Read 829 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25018.0.html

11. Chatham County Schools budget survey  (Read 828 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25104.0.html

12. Mayors Randy Voller & Charles Johnson want to raise your taxes  (Read 785 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25081.0.html

13. New Park on Big Woods Road  (Read 741 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25048.0.html

14. Whinning  (Read 685 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24981.0.html

15. Should tax cheats be able to govern in Chatham County?  (Read 650 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25058.0.html

16. NC Main Street Program supports the new downtown Pittsboro school project  (Read 417 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25092.0.html

17. Once again Ms. Black speaks out  (Read 273 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25076.0.html

18. Joe Hackney Announces Retirement  (Read 252 times)  at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25097.0.html

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Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2012 14:48:27 -0500
From: Gregory Stafford
Subject: I wish to add my voice to those supporting the HRCA

As an owner of commercial real estate I wish to add my voice to those supporting the HRCA. Actually, on second thought, I will change positions from merely supporting to openly begging the Board to approve the school. Pittsboro is in dire condition and anything that will bring folks here is a great idea.

Greg

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Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 09:45:02 -0500
From: Wanda Crawley
Subject: Blood Drive

Silk Hope Farm Heritage Park Community Center  Blood Drive is scheduled for Friday, February 3, 2012~~2:30 – 7:00 PM. Join us at the Silk Hope Community Center for your life saving experience. Together, we can help save a life!

Silk Hope Farm Heritage Park
4221 Silk Hope Road
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 663-0331

Check out our website: www.silkhopenc.org

Find us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Silk-Hope-Farm-Heritage-Park/166924676666233?ref=ts

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:51:13 -0500
From: Cathy Holt
Subject: Pittsboro

Hi Bob,

Welcome to Pittsboro.

I am sorry that a few unconscious people on the Chatlist have made you uncomfortable about your choice to move here.

I moved here 20 years ago alone, and I have never felt so embraced by a community. We are a warm and welcoming, creative and eclectic group!

People that have written these hurtful and negative posts on the chatlist are not bad people…. I think that they are a just folks that are unaware of any other way to vent the pain in their lives. Unfortunately the way they choose to vent it is ineffective.

When you put someone on the defensive, their ears close down and they can’t hear you. When are we all going to understand that!

If we go into negotiations over things with well being for all as our goal, we won’t have to raise our blood pressure or our voices to be heard.

You’ll find more people in Chatham County on that path then most places that I have been. They just don’t bother responding to the unskilled communicators on the Chatlist that dilute their message with any attacks.
Hope you find that you love it here as I do. A team of wild horses couldn’t drag me away ……

Cathy Holt

www.cathyholtyoga.com

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:18:46 -0500 (EST)
From: rita587
Subject: Things will work out they always do!

I have been seeing so much dissension going on this chatlist that I had to share a quotation that we all should heed.  I hope that whatever the outcome of the situation of opening the school is we should just accept and then we all have to move on.  I am sure things will work out in the end what is best for the children. 

There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly behooves any of us
To talk about the rest of us.

Edward Wallis Hoch (1849 – 1925)

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:47:41 -0800 (PST)
From: Betty Black
Subject: Non-Pittsboro Citizens Speaking out . .

Like it or not, many of the folks that have shown their concerns on the Chatlist regarding the approval of Christian School- do not live within the voting boundries of Pittsboro. But many of us call Pittsboro our home.  Our mailing address is Pittsboro and that is where we go to shop. Many of us own businesses there.  And like it or not, many of us non residents know more about what goes on there than the “city limit” residents.
 
So you don’t like it that we voice our opinions about how the approval of the school is being handled by the town board? That’s tough.
 
And for those of you who think that I might have a child or children of school age or that I am in some way connected with the proposed school-  it is not true. Just speaking out against what appears to me (and many others) that the application for the school is being bamboozled by fans of the City Tap. They follow a well worn path. Eat, drink and be wary.
 
Folks, worry from others about the future of the City Tap is behind this whole probable veto of the application for the school.  I have no doubts that the City Tap will win out. They won out on the loud “music?”  problem a while back.  Mayor Voller also stood by the City Tap- allowing that he was an amature musician himself-
 
Get yor fiddle out Mr. Mayor, start practicing yor Victory tune! How About “The Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous– Made Pittsboro Drunk”?
 
Betty Black

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:15:44 -0500
From: Joy Hewett
Subject: sad for Pittsboro General Store

It is sad to see the demise of the current General Store and I can only hope it will come back in another incarnation soon–it has been a store at a different location, a grocery/eatery over the years, and this restaurant under different owners–so we can hope the front at least could come back in business somehow.

I have fond memories of drinking coffee in the window watching autumn leaves and people passing, have had several birthday lunches, enjoyed music, story telling, films before they moved to Faerrington, burrito bashes and even luncheon dates to grade school work there! I’ve enjoyed their beet salad, chicken salad and a host of soups and sandwiches. Trilogy’s Christmas singalong has been an annual favorite there.

It has been the hub of the downtown community and I do hope it isn’t really gone for good!

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:49:27 -0800 (PST)
From: CAROL RIGSBEE <
Subject: Bottle water

I read with interest the comments on bottle water and just wanted to say that it’s not Chatham Co. well water it is all well water.
 
My father-in-love was the most healthy person I knew.  I once heard his doctor tell him (who was also a good friend and golfing buddy) that he had the body of a thirty year old.  I’m telling you this because the one and only time I every saw him not well was when he had a kidney stone.  My in-loves moved from Durham City out to Durham County and also to well water and with in no time was so bad off and in pain that my mother-in-love called us to come help her.  It turned out to be a kidney stone and his doctor gave him a prescription to take care of the problem, which it did.  He never had another kidney stone.  I think that drinking bottle water is a better idea, all we need in life is another pill to take.
 
I feel for those who have had a kidney stone because I know it must have been very painful, because that was the only time I watch my father-in-love crawling on the floor.

Carol Rigsbee
To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to weep, a time to laugh,
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

A child of God, would you like to
know him? Just ask me! John 3:16

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:59:35 -0500
From: momopom
Subject: re:”Voller blinked”

When I read a letter on the chatlist like this one it makes me sick at heart the way human beings can treat each other. No matter what Voller has or has not done, is there any chance that you could write a dispassionate accurate account stating why you are upset?

This type of abuse does not convince me that Voller is a bad guy -  only that you enjoy putting people down..

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Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:49:36 -0500
From: Geoffrey Neal
Subject: pecha kucha pittsboro annouoncement

Pecha Kucha Pittsboro coming soon!!

Come join us for an evening of fast-paced presentations and lively conversation. PKN Pittsboro will stage our 9th event at The Eddy Pub in lovely Saxapahaw on Tuesday March 6th.

We are actively looking for presenters for the event. Ideas for topics are due Friday 2/17. Have something you feel 6 minutes and 40 seconds worth of passion about? Sign up! Details may be found at:

 http://theabundancefoundation.org/events/pecha-kucha

Questions? Email us directly at pknpbo@gmail.com.

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:25:29 -0500
From: Gene
Subject: Last Week’s Hottest Chatham Online Bulletin Board Topics

1. Liberal Progressive Pittsboro NC Town Council Denies Childrens Christian Academy (Read 7665 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24900.0.html

2. Educator joins Beer Parlor to Block Children’s’ School In Pittsboro (Read 7133 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,23749.0.html

3. Who is this woman ripping down signs for Haw River Christian School in Pittsboro (Read 5031 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24985.0.html

4. Preston’s plans for 7,000 acres in Chatham (Read 2284 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25029.0.html

5. Pittsboro General Store Cafe status?  (Read 2067 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25016.0.html

6. 70 Pittsboro businesses butt heads with 4 anti-business town officials  (Read 1640 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24993.0.html

7. CJ – Time to put Chatham County government on a diet  (Read 1557 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,19219.0.html

8. New Thread to discuss picture ID for voters  (Read 1440 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24746.0.html

9. N&O – Artsy Pittsboro cafe closes  (Read 1366 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,25035.0.html

10. Great Update on the Small Business Incubator!  (Read 992 times) at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,24800.0.html

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:57:31 -0500
From: Tom Glendinning
Subject: Haw River Christian Academy

I want to raise two points about the proposed school in Pittsboro and add some comments.

The area or market served will be the county, not the town, and areas outside Chatham also, just as all the businesses in town.

The neighbors of the Academy are businesses, not residents.

I am familiar with quasi-judicial processes, sitting on the county planning board and attending BOC meetings for forty years.  The rules are no hurdle or blockage for such a use.  The process may change the use, as in CUP or SUP in a lacking set of rules.  The exception may be that there is a prejudice against a religious or Christian establishment.  A liberal agenda is supposed to include all law abiding religions, beliefs, practices. Or is that too American?

To protect the community from “certain uses which could have detrimental effects.”  Such as a school?  Yes, we have too much education in Pittsboro and Chatham.  Lord knows what the peons will do when they are educated. 

Traffic has no bearing on the issue.  At one time, everyone who had a PO box or mailed postal items went to the post office across the street.  Further, Piggly Wiggly occupied the building proposed for the new school.  There was never a traffic jam or too much traffic when these two businesses were on West Salisbury Street.  My memory recalls much more than one hundred cars going to those locations each day.  Why should cars from fifty parents dropping off students cause a problem?

The school would use 100% of the building.  The parking lot is large enough.  The property is privately owned and taxes are paid on it.  Why not consider the preference of the owner in the consideration of the issue instead of hiding it behind legal and planning jargon?  I do appreciate Mayor Voller’s explanation of the process.  Now, if the newly elected board will only approve a substantial improvement to our community, the argument can be put to bed.

Tom Glendinning

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:11:08 -0800 (PST)
From: Tina Meeks
Subject: Our Last Day…

Our last day of operation was January 31st. Thank you everyone who supported us and allowed us to serve them over the last two years. You have made our adventure worth it!
 
If you have an un-redeemed gift certificate, please mail it to PO Box 110, Siler City NC 27344 and we’ll issue you a full or partial refund. Don’t forget to include your full name and mailing address.
 
Cheers,
Shot of Spro Mobile Espresso
(919) 663-5796
info@shotofspro.com
www.shotofspro.com

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:37:14 -0500
From: Marianna Spence
Subject: Love Shouldn’t Hurt

Family Violence & Rape Crisis Services is hosting its 4th annual Love Shouldn’t Hurt Open House [Party]. Please come enjoy tasty treats, drinks, and wonderful music by Marie Vanderbeck & Rusty Luthe, and Corn and the Colonels.

Friday, Feb. 10
4 – 7 p.m.
200 East Street, Pittsboro

Hope to see you there!

Marianna Spence
Development Coordinator
Family Violence&  Rape Crisis Services
919.542.5445
www.fvrc.org

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:26:29 -0500 (EST)
From: Doug Lorie
Subject: General Store Passages

I was taking a hiatus from teaching and had just injured my shoulder while working as a punch-list carpenter. I was in a familiar place emotionally, feeling at a dead end about my options for work. That was precisely the time when Mimi Sharpe asked me to be a guest chef at The General Store. Two weeks later we had negotiated my temp position into a full time job. If there ever existed a thing like serendipity or synchronicity or the unviverse giving you something that was wanted or needed….for me that job was it.

Having lived in New Mexico and having fallen in love with a certain Green Chile Burrito, I knew that it was the first thing I wanted on the menu. The 2nd thing was a Middle Eastern Platter. It dind’t take long for all of my favorite vegetarian dishes to make it onto the menu, Pesto Pasta, Foccacia Pizza, Palak Paneer and J erk Tempeh. The folks who bought The G eneral Store from Mimi, Richard McGough and Becket Royce, became such amazing bosses.. While their personal savings were being depleted they allowed me to have the most satisfying work experience of me life. T he kitchen back then was configured in such a way that I could see my customers and connect with them while I was cooking. I could never be one of those chefs cloistered away in the hot confines of a kitchen that was totally disconected from the people coming in  to eat.  It was very hard, deadline rich and physical work, but I als o played like a kid spoofing MacDonald’s by counting every Green Chile Burrito I made and sold. Richard and B ecket went way beyond the call of duty by taking over for me in the kitchen while I took two separate trips to Peru and India. I will forever be grateful to them for the ways they sacrificed for me.  This job remains for me the best job of my life.

Vance and Joyce took the business to another level , constructing a performance theater , building a state-of-the art kitchen and providing space for local artists. I charge someone to tell me which 2 square inches of space in The G eneral Store C afe  were not being used to help artists sell their work.

I don’t know how anyone makes a profit in the restaurant business or keeps from getting totally burnt out. The hours are gruelling and  the overhead is huge. I often think that the only sure money makers are fast food stores. But with any of those places you have to sell your soul and merge all semblance of personal identity into the collective identity of the franchise. T he General Store Cafe was…and I am sad using the past tense…a brilliant magnet for community. I am happy to have had a small part in being able to give something to Pittsboro and  facilitating a bit of  that community experience. Among the wonderful things that Joyce and Vance sold over the years….their soul wasn’t one of them.

Doug Lorie

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:29:31 -0500
From: Farmer Dell
Subject: Voller Blinked

Like a kid caught doing something wrong, Randy Voller has been embarrased. Of course, rather than admit that he was wrong, Randy pulls his usual routine and comes out with a bunch of excuses in a bloated diatribe trying to explain why he believes that he didn’t do anything wrong.

We have seen this behaviour repeatedly. According to Randy nothing wrong is ever his fault.

The school has followed the guidelines and gone through the process, but Randy and three of his town board members continue to throw up roadblocks. Voller picks and chooses which bits of information he wishes to consider.  On the YouTube video at http://youtu.be/V9PQ6_eq38g, he “plays dumb” to many of the questions that are raised. But in fact, many of these had already been addressed, formally & informally.  

Randy’s perception is also a little skewed when it comes to the businesses supporting the new school. As someone else has noted “Randy Voller has been an extreme obstructionist. To an outsider not familiar with the details, it would be hard to pick up on. But he’s outright lying (or being deliberately misleading) on some fine points.  One example was in today’s paper where he questioned the support of the 70 business owners and said it “may” be overinflated by being closer to 23. He has the full complete list. He just covered his butt with the “may” word when those close to the matter know the truth. At the last council meeting, there were several other things that he questioned where it had been addressed and he had the information he needed. The downtown businesses have a pretty good handle on factors that effect them. They have navigated the waters of this economy and survived. So when you have a mayor that is not a downtown business owner come in and obstruct the process in favor of the very small minority, that raises some serious question marks in my mind.”

In an online notice from the mayor, Randy Voller refers to those in disagreement with his viewpoint as “warlords” and “incensed mobs.” He generally doesn’t handle dissent well.

Yes, in this situation there is a process to follow and concerns to be addressed. This all probably would have gone more smoothly if the drama queen of a mayor didn’t overstep his bounds.

Maybe the best thing for Randy to do now is to step aside and let the adults handle this. They will call on him if they need for him to participate in a tie breaking vote.

Dale

BTW, apparently Randy’s next scheduled performance will be at the Pittsboro town hall on February 6th. That evening’s performace will be a Comedy of Errors featuring the clown prince of Pittsboro.

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: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:14:50 -0500
From: Rita Marley-McKenzie
Subject: Many Thanks

In my five years working in foster care, I encountered many generous souls in this county. I want to send out many thanks to everyone who has helped a foster child in some way. Several churches in the area have helped foster youth moving into their first homes with household, cleaning, and toiletry supplies. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

There are a few people/agencies/companies I want to thank by name:

Lee Pollard with Computer Therapy, Inc. — Lee has donated many computers over the past five years for teens and young adults who were in foster care. Because of this computer donation program, these youth were able to excel in high school and college. If you have upgraded and do not need your old computer or laptop, please consider donating to this wonderful program. Lee also accepts keyboards, speakers, monitors, etc.. www.computer-therapy.com

Beth and Mark Morton with House of Israel/Kid’s Warehouse — Beth and Mark, I don’t know what we would have done without you. They receive donated furniture and household items and give them away for free to families in need. They have helped several of our former foster youth furnish their first homes. They even delivered and set up an entire apartment for a young lady early this month. If you are remodeling or just need to move out a piece or two of furniture, please give Beth a call at 542-6159. They also need bed and bath linens, kitchen supplies and more. Beth can provide a list of what items are needed the most at any given time. I know they need gas cards and monetary donations to offset the cost of delivering items, too. HOI/Kid’s Warehouse is a non-profit agency.

Kathy Hotelling with Cinderella’s Closet — Last year, for the first time ever, young ladies in foster care were able to feel like princesses. With the help of fairy godmothers, they picked out a special dress, shoes, jewelry, and purse for prom all at no cost. This was made possible by a team of people and church members from First Baptist Church in Pittsboro in conjunction with another group in Orange County. This year, the event will be held at Evergreen Church on 15-501 due to its central location for both Orange and Chatham youth. Donations of prom dresses, shoes, jewelry, and purses are greatly needed. Contact Kathy directly at kathyhotelling@gmail.com for drop off locations. (For those in Siler City who would like to contribute, you can drop off items at my store at 222 E Raleigh St. 919-663-4769)

Finally, I want to thank the members of the Chatham Transition Team (WIA, VR, CCT!, Teen Court, LINKS, CCS/OCS, ASCET, JobLink) for helping to organize monthly life skills workshops for teens. Each month on the 3rd Wednesday from 6-8pm, all teens ages 13-20 are invited to a life skills workshop on various topics with guest speakers from our community. Group location alternates monthly from Siler City to Pittsboro. To all of our past speakers, my deepest appreciation goes out to you. If you are interested in being a speaker or have youth who could benefit from attending these workshops, please contact Gwen Overturf with Chatham County Together! at 919-542-5155.

Thank you again to everyone I have worked with over these past years. You have truly made a difference in the lives of youth and given them a bright and hopeful future. You truly are beautiful angels.

Rita Marley-McKenzie

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:10 -0500
From: Bynum FrontPorch
Subject: Bingo in Bynum!

Mark your calendars – Bynum Front Porch Bingo is Back Saturday Feb 4th – 7pm.

Bynum Front Porch is bringing bingo again, once a month, first Saturdays through April! Join the fun on the first Saturday of every month (coming up this February 4th at 7 pm) for BFP Bingo. Win prizes or cash with our 50/50 games. Each game is $1 for 3 cards and you can play as many $1 cards as you wish. There will be 5 prize games (each prize worth at least $10), then a 50/50 game. This game costs $5 and the winner takes half the pot (hence 50/50). We’ll follow with 5 more prize games and a final 50/50 game to end the night and wrap things up at around 9 pm.

This is a great opportunity to gather with your friends and neighbors and get into some bingo action. Please tell your friends to come over and join in the evening activity. It’ll be huge fun and you’ll help support the programs, operation and educational grants that Bynum Front Porch ( www.bynumfrontporch.org) provides. See you on the first Saturday, each month for Bingo.

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Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:21:59 -0500
From: Cherie Ernest
Subject: Major disaster – General Store Closing

The General Store has been part of my and my family’s life for so many years! Just the Saturday before they closed, we had a wonderful meal, promising each other to try each others orders next time around.  I had commented on how superior the all the components of my Mediterranean platter had been.

Best wishes to the Vances.  I hope you know (I’m sure you’ve heard!) how much you and your staff and the ambiance has meant to us diehard fans all through the time you’ve tried so hard to meet the various needs of the customers and friends.  I had to laugh – with a wince – at the phrase in the News and Observer that quoted someone as calling it “that communist place.”  In the sense of “community,” it certainly has been.

Cherie Ernest

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