The 2011 US Figure Skating Championships are going to be held at the Greensboro Coliseum and that's already led to work for some local agencies:
Annese Public Relations of Winston-Salem is handling the PR for the championships.
ESPN has been running a series of sports related Make-a-Wish pieces and last night's piece featured Lewisville native Chris Paul hanging out with a kid who had a fight with cancer (luckily it's now in remission) and the two of them shot hoops at Paul's alma mater, West Forsyth HS, which also happens to be my kids' school. It's a nice piece (see video below) and helps boost the respect that Paul continues to earn:
Want some evidence that people are p-o'd at the ownership of the Winston-Salem Dash, a venerable Carolina League franchise that's been an integral part of Winston-Salem summers for decades? Just check out this story about the Dash having the best season they've had in years on the field yet only averaging 600-700 butts in seats per game. Even with the new stadium I'm wondering how realistic it is to expect an average of 4,000 fans per game which is what the powers that be say is necessary for the financing of the stadium to work.
The following thoughts aren't mine, they were emailed to me by fellow Lewisville-ian Dwight and I thought they were well worth sharing (with his permission):
This is in reference to your comments about the downtown baseball stadium. As a couple of Lewisville residents, aren’t we glad to be distanced (albeit only a few yards) from those dodos in Winston-Salem.
I have recently enjoyed watching the College Baseball World Series on ESPN and was very interested in the commentator’s take on the new TD Ameritrade Park soon to replace Rosenblatt Field as the site of the College World Series. As you would expect, they said, “It’s going to be a beautiful facility”, but mostly they bemoaned the loss of a very special landmark.
Well, does that sound familiar? We (and yes, I include us among the dodos because Forsyth County residents have a stake in this fiasco as well) had a very special landmark in Ernie Shore Field but now it is gone.
All this prompted me to google Omaha, Nebraska for info on the financing of their new baseball facility. I have to admit that I am not the sleuth that I would like to be, but I did learn that their new facility is expected to cost $120 Million and will have a capacity of 25,000 and TD Ameritrade is paying $20 M for naming rights. The remainder (I think) will be financed by public bonds administered by a special Commission. WOW! Why didn’t we think of that? We have the successful WSFC Utilities Commission and the unsuccessful Tanglewood Park Authority as guides. In my opinion, The Utility Commission was successful because it functioned as an independent Commission staffed with competent people (only recently have they seen revenue decline because local municipalities have been using solid waste fees to fund their recycling efforts). The Tanglewood Park Authority was never successful because it was never “independent” of elected officials.
So where are we?
Omaha gets a new 25000 capacity stadium.
We get a 5000 capacity stadium.
Omaha pays $120M minus $20M. ($4000 per seat)
We pay $42M (and rising). ($8000 per seat and rising)
Omaha owns their stadium when completed.
We have to wait 25 years for a deed (good luck Jon, I won’t be around then).
Omaha will have a watchdog if they appoint competent people to the Commission.
We have Billy Prim.
Jon, I have chosen to send this comment to you via e-mail because it is somewhat critical of elected officials and I do not feel comfortable using your site for my agenda.
You have my permission to post this comment on your sit or not as you choose. As always, thank you for an interesting (and provocative) site.
Dwight
We seem to have gone directly from severe drought last year directly to over saturation here in the Triad. We had some wicked storms in Lewisville last night, but apparently it was even worse just a few miles south in Clemmons. In fact they had to shut down Tanglewood Park for the day today in order to clean up.
As for our humble abode, the rain meant I didn't have to water my newly seeded lawn, but it also pointed out that I need to clean our gutters…badly.
My friends, if you manage to make it through this weekend in Winston-Salem without gaining, like, 20 pounds, you're made of better stuff than me. To wit:
Edible Evenings weekend being hosted by Smitty's Notes this weekend. Here's a description from Smitty's email:
"So, in the spirit of Smitty's Notes, which has developed a tradition of networking and gathering people for dinner and see what cooks up has teamed with The Stocked Pot Cooking School to host three cooking events for friends with Chef Don McMillian and Andrew McMillian. That's right! You get to cook your own gourmet meal.
On two nights – Friday, June 12th and Saturday, June 13th at 6:30 p.m. Chef Don has put together a great menu and Andrew has selected the perfect wines, all that is missing is you. Sign up today and join the fun, all proceeds go to The Meals On Wheels program right here in the Triad.
Chef Don will demonstrate recipes from one of his most popular classes, International Chicken dishes, as you will prepare and enjoy, Chicken Saltimboca, Risotto with wild mushrooms and Eggplant and Peaches flamed in Brandy will complete the meal, Andrew has chosen the perfect wine to compliment our evening's offerings. Cost is $49.00 per person. Class is limited to 30 students. Proceeds will be donated to Meals on Wheels. Sign up today
That's not all! On Saturday, June 13th there is a Chef and Child Lunch class. Chef Don teaches Chef and Child classes every summer in North Carolina counties. Eager minds quickly pick up cooking techniques when it is taught with fun. Nutritious foods is the real reason for educating our offspring’s in the art of cooking. This hands-on class covers lunch favorites that are sure to please every young palate. Check out this menu, Easy Bake Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Fresh Fruit Carvings, Fruit Juice spritzers, Oatmeal cookies. Yes the students will prepare, and EAT the meal. Cost is $29.00 per person. Class is limited to 20 students. Proceeds will be donated to Meals on Wheels. Sign up today
What with all the biking that's done on the roads around Lewisville and Clemmons it should come as no surprise that Tanglewood hosted a triathlon this weekend that maxed out in participants in its very first year. Apparently the 36 North Sprint Triathlon did just that, and a local blogger and his wife did quite well in it.
The Utopia Salon and Day Spa in Clemmons claims that one of its chairs helps women get pregnant simply by them sitting in it. While that might be a positive marketing spin for some people, I can tell you that as long as I have anything to say about it my daughter will never pass through their doors. Nor, for that matter, will my wife.
Fellas, keep this in mind when you're desparately seeking that perfect last minute gift certificate for your significant other's birthday that you completely forgot about. It could end up being the gift that keeps on giving.
Fitch gives Forsyth County a 'AAA' rating:
The county's 'AAA' GO rating reflects its strong finances and management, increased economic diversification, moderately low debt, and healthy income levels.
Continued expansion of biotechnology, health care, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities is producing a diversified economy that can absorb decreases in manufacturing employment.
Projected population and assessed valuation growth are expected to maintain a manageable debt burden, in spite of infrastructure demands attributable to population growth.Located in the Piedmont region in central North Carolina, Forsyth County is one of the state's major commercial and industrial centers.
Ah, love. It causes people to do the wildest things, like getting hitched on the 50 yard line of your alma mater. I loved this article in the Journal.
Leigh Ellen Joyce and Derek Spencer are getting married at their second home — the football field at West Forsyth High School.
As students at West, both spent a lot of time on the field. Spencer, who graduated in 1996, wore No. 6 playing cornerback and receiver for the football team…
"It's kind of like home out here," Joyce said the other day as she and Spencer sat in the bleachers talking about their plan to stand in the middle of the 50-yard line when they get married later this month. About 300 guests will be seated on the field behind them.
(If it rains, the plan is to move the ceremony to the Joyces' church — Fairview Moravian.)
Befuddled 