TABLE OF
CONTENTS

THE GRAPEVINE '02

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION

08/31/02
Happy Labor Day! Sorry, I've not posted lately, I was on vacation for just over a week and just got back. I'm asking around to find out what's been happening while I was away.

I have noticed the size of the signs displayed by Citizens for a Drug-Free Valdese are getting larger as the election nears. Next Tuesday will decide the issue (barring a Florida-like fiasco. Remember, there are other items on the ballot as well, including a number of primaries for state-level candidates. Try to get out and vote.

I was sad to learn that Pearl  who I knew from Myra's Catering, passed away. I don't think she ever worked up front, but was much loved by her co-workers in the catering department. I'm not sure if she financially had to work, but she really seemed to enjoy her job and was a delight to talk with whenever I visited the restaurant.

Valdese will soon be getting a website devoted exclusively to tourism, www.valdese.org. I reserved the name about a year ago, and now they want to put it to use. It will feature details on all the major town tourist attractions and contact information.

If you run into Chuck Moseley, ask him how he enjoyed Montana (he went with me and my cousin.) Also ask him about the grizzly bear, unless you don't have time for a story. I think we took a few years off his age, though the grueling drive there and back might have put a few years on all of us (coming non-stop from South Dakota was 1,650 miles.)

Finally, if anyone e-mailed me and I haven't responded, please forgive me. I returned to find 1600+ e-mail messages and haven't sorted through them all. 99% are spam so I may be a bit careless when deleting them. If you e-mailed me and I don't respond in the next day or so, try again. I may have deleted your message accidentally.

08/15/02
This year's Festival was likely the most well-received in quite some time. The weather was moderate for this time of year and the density of crafts vendors seemed to be higher than usual. I heard a lot of good comments about the event, with the only criticisms being aimed at the new logos for the t-shirts and the actual color selection for the t-shirts. I've added some pictures from the Festival, but don't have the race pictures yet, nor the results. Jeff Morse just got back from Raleigh and hasn't had a chance to print out the results. I hope to get them this weekend.

Our local Christian band, Seven Miles (formerly Encomium) is currently on a seventeen city tour with other bands, headlined by "Newsong." For a list of the cities and states they'll be playing in, click here.

On the subject of music, if anyone has heard of a band called Hickory Grove, please let me know. I've had someone from Winston-Salem e-mail me, inquiring whether the band has a CD for sale.  The band apparently played at Belle Chere in Asheville, a few weeks ago.

We've reformatted the Town's official web site: www.ci.valdese.nc.us. Most of the information is still the same for the time being, but the various departments are making changes.

I'm working on getting some more information from Puddle Ducks for a listing. Next on the list is Aqua Pets. Check back soon for a more informative listing.

08/03/02
If you live in Valdese, you've probably received a letter from Citizens For A Drug Free Valdese in the mail encouraging you to vote against the sale of alcoholic beverages in Valdese on the September ballot. While I can agree with their arguments on alcohol-related fatalities, I'm not comfortable with their alluding to the events of last September as a reason to vote against the measure. The attack on New York and Washington was a plotted scheme dedicated to the murder of thousands of people. Though I don't condone drinking and driving, I think the overwhelming majority of people who drink and drive do not have first-degree murder on their minds. Whatever your position on the issue, remember to mark your calendar for September 10th. There are other items on the ballot that you'll be voting on as well.

The countdown has begun toward the 27th annual Waldensian Festival, next Saturday. Also on that day, East Burke has its first scrimmage at Kings Mountain at 6:00 p.m. Seems like the summer just flew by, especially for students, who return August 7th.

I lost all the Discussion board posts when HCI had to do some work on their server, but the board is now running again. Feel free to post your comments or feelings on local issues, but be civil.

07/29/02
I went to my first Hickory Crawdads game last night. It's an interesting experience I'd encourage anyone to try at least once. There are a lot of corny crowd-participation activities but for $7 to sit on the fifth row, first-base line it's a better deal than most movies. We got some real excitement about halfway through when a broken bat sailed over our heads and landed in an empty section of seats. Some lucky fan got a unique souvenir.

The crowd for Friday's downtown activities seemed a little thinner than usual. It may be that people are getting in last minute vacations before the kids head back to school. Still, Main Street was alive with activity.

I've been told that Earl, of the East End Barber Shop, will be retiring after what seems like an eternity there. I can remember getting my hair cut there as a young child and he'd give me a stick of Juicy Fruit afterwards. He is the last of the "Clyde and Earl" tandem to retire, but the shop will remain open with new barbers.

There's hope that Valdese may be getting some Federal money from a provision in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) agreement. It seems that communities that lose jobs to Canada or Mexico as a result of the agreement may be compensated by the federal government for losses. It's possible this will be discussed or announced at next Monday's Town Council meeting.

It's not too late to get in on the Old Colony Players golf tournament. Contact Knolan Benfield at 874-0176 or ocp@hci.net for details.

07/26/02
Be ready to get a new t-shirt at this year's Festival because the front design is going to change. Instead of the logo-look from recent years, Historic Valdese Foundation is going with a stylized Festival scene as was done several years ago. The look is kind of busy and has pictures of an ice-cream cone, saxophone, hot-air balloon, among other festival-related images. It's likely that the t-shirts will also see some new colors, as well.

I'm wrapping up the new issue of The Valdese News. I decided to wait a bit so it would come closer to the Festival and I could mention some of the exciting activities planned for the big event.

The Town will be restoring the Meytre Grist Mill to working order. This will create an additional tourist attraction. Also, it's planned to actually create corn meal, though FDA regulations would not allow it to be sold for human consumption. Strictly livestock feed or novelty gifts. A "club" will be organized that will maintain the Mill and provide tours or show it in operation. My suggestions for a club name: "The Grinders" or "The Millers." If you have any suggestions or would like to be a part, please e-mail me at rostan@valdese.com.

07/22/02
I finally got the Town Survey working again so anyone who tried, but was unable to complete one in the past few weeks, please try it now.

I forgot to mention in the last post that From This Day Forward had begun performances at the outdoor amphitheater. The shows are only on Friday and Saturday nights this year, since Sundays were not drawing very large crowds in the past. Also, since the show runs past 10:00 p.m., people having to get up for work on Monday morning was probably considered. The crowd on opening night looked to be fairly good with about thirty to forty cars; a crowd of sixty or so, assuming about 1½ people per car.

Last Thursday marked the first of the One Act plays at the Amphitheater. These plays: "By The Time The Cock Crows," by Fred Cranford, and "The Misadventures of Tom Sawyer" are being presented in association with Old Colony Players. Mr. Cranford's play is (if I understand correctly) about Frankie Silver of "They Won't Hang A Woman" fame.

The election date has been set on State primaries and, locally, the beer and wine referendum. The date is Tuesday, September 10th, ironically one day before the one-year anniversary of the terrorist strikes on New York City and Washington D.C. A billboard near Childrens' Park has been rented by the Citizens for a Drug-Free Valdese organization, encouraging citizens to vote against the issue. On a related note, the nearby community of Rhodhiss voted it down nearly 2:1.

A weather update for all you who don't live in Valdese. It's hot! It hasn't rained! I know our community and county are "dry" but this is ridiculous. It's sad how we can stand on our porch and watch a storm travel down the river, one mile north, ignoring us completely.

07/14/02
Sorry about the downtime. Things have gotten a bit hectic with the upcoming Festival. Also, there's been some problems with my account at HCI, which is why the Town Survey isn't currently working. I hope to get it back running ASAP and will let you know when it's fixed.

Hope everyone had a happy Independence Day and was able to see the impressive fireworks display at the Old Rock School. For a while, it looked like Mother Nature might spoil the fun, but the storm threat passed and it was actually a pretty good night for the show.

I have been told by Town Hall and Public Works that the Town recycling program will NOT be ending. They decided it was a valuable service and the cost wasn't significant enough to have a major impact on the budget. Personally, I'm glad to see it stay.

Can you imagine a July day that was sunny and almost no one was swimming? That's how it was Friday when temperatures dipped into the low seventies. It was a welcome change from the sweltering heat we've been experiencing around here lately. Still not much to talk about on the rain front, however. We're lucky to be so close to the Catawba River.

Speaking of Friday, downtown was once again packed with concert-goers at the Family Friday Night Concert and car-showers at the now-regular gathering in the Myra's and Rock Drug Store parking lots. Add in the foot traffic of people just out for a walk and the cruisers heading up and down Main Street and we're getting close to Festival crowds, well almost. I even saw some guys having what looked like a tailgate cookout on the hill across the street from Jack B Quick. Friday is really becoming quite an event and Valdese is starting to look like a clean bash on Fraternity Row.

I'm messing around with the header for this site (the top bar) trying to find a look I like. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail me.

07/03/02
There's another new new business coming to Valdese, but currently little is know about it. It appears a pet supply store is opening in the building adjacent to Grace Jewelers that previously housed a temporary staffing agency. The new business will have aquariums (and fish, I assume) in addition to other items for pets. As far as I know, they will not be selling cats and dogs, but I'll let you know if this is incorrect.

The Valdese High School class of 1972 is looking for teachers who are able to attend the reunion in August. Here is a message from Reunion Coordinator, Gail Sewell:

As of today, the fireworks are still a go. Unless there's a last-minute decision to drop the show, plan on being in the area of the Old Rock School football field by 9:30 p.m. on Thursday evening.

Look for your next issue of The Valdese Newsletter to arrive soon. Not on the mailing list? Click here to subscribe

06/29/02
Get out your Viagra, former Republican presidential candidate and Kansas senator Robert Dole is coming to Morganton to stump for his wife, Elizabeth, who is running for the senate position being vacated by Jesse Helms. He will be appearing at the Shoney's restaurant on South Sterling Street, on Monday from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

The weekly Family Friday Night concert and Myra's now regular cruise-in drew a huge crowd to downtown Valdese. Businesses (retailers) would do well to remain open during this time as there are a lot of people going for an evening walk down Main Street who just might stop in to browse.

Wondering who won the Winery's bocce tournament? Well, the team of T.R. Robinson, Jeff King, Joe Temple, and Rob Bliss came from the losers bracket (it was double elimination) to defeat the team of Dennis Barus, Tim Barus, Tracie Jeffries, and Dan Boggs. The Winery wishes to express its thanks to Table Rock Springwater for its contribution of bottled water.

I was reading the Town Manager's budget message in the minutes from the last Town Council meeting and was surprised to learn that the town had plans to connect the road from the wastewater treatment plant to McGalliard Falls with a "greenway" like the one found in Morganton. The plans, however, have been shelved with other projects like the skateboard park until the financial crisis is settled.

06/25/02
Not one, but two new businesses are planning to come to Valdese. The first, as reported last post, is Butch's Barbeque, into the old Hardee's Building. The restaurant will be open seven days a week and I believe will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The second business is a retailer named "Puddle Ducks" which will sell children's clothing. It is moving into the old Downtown Cafe building which was earlier thought to be getting an A.G. Edwards financial services business.

Looks like the July 4th fireworks might not be lighting up the sky this year. If the dry conditions don't improve, the Town is seriously considering canceling the show. Fears of a fire much like the town faced in 1985 and the enormous fire that's about to level a town in Arizona likely weigh heavily in their decision.

The Valdese High School, class of 1972, is holding its 30th reunion this year during Festival weekend, August 10th and 11th. The reunion is titled "The Amazing Adventure...Thirty Years In The Making."  If you graduated with or were a member of the Class of 72 for most of your school years and have not received a registration packet, please call Gail Williams Sewell at (828) 659-1917 or email her at sewellmg@hotmail.com with your mailing address. Also if anyone has an address on the following classmates, please let Gail know: Gail Capps, Marilyn Culley Oxentine, Kathy Fox, Kenneth Hardin, Steve Pons, Phyliss Rasnick Bennett, Lynn Smith, Janie Stacey, Kenneth Tolbert and Barbara Travisson Cook. The early-bird registration deadline is Friday, July 12th. The final registration deadline is Friday, July 26th.

06/21/02
Valdese welcomes in Summer with a slight break in the weather and cooler temperatures, good news for all those planning to attend tonight's Family Friday Night Concert.

The mystery of what will become of the old Hardee's building has been solved. Mr. Fulenweider of Morganton (a friend of Town Manager, Jeff Morse) will be opening a "Butch's Barbeque." This will be similar in format to the Uptown BBQ restaurant located near Lowe's and Wal-Mart in Morganton. The Morganton restaurant will be renamed "Butch's" as well. The Town Council will address the issue of providing rent subsidy for six months at its meeting this coming Monday.

Speaking of the Town Council, also on Monday's agenda is the finalization of the budget for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. I hope to attend and let you know what the final cuts will be. While a tax increase doesn't look likely this year, if the Governor withholds money again next year, one will likely come with the next budget.

It's too late to join the action, but bocce fans are invited to come out to the Waldensian Heritage Wines winery tomorrow, starting at 8:00 a.m. for the Winery's third annual bocce tournament.

06/16/02
Our favorite "lighthouse" on Faet Street has once again jumped into the holiday spirit with  red, white, and blue lights decorating every corner of their lot.

I've sent out issue one of "The Valdese Newsletter," a newsletter that covers most of what's discussed on this site. If you didn't get a copy and want one, just e-mail me at rostan@valdese.com and I'll add you to the list. It's not really formatted for printing and requires you to be able to view HTML files in your e-mail program. If you want to advertise your business in the left column of the newsletter, let me know.

Has anyone else noticed (a rhetorical question) that the Lowes Foods shopping center doesn't turn on its parking lot lights at night? I don't know if this is to save money or if they're simply broken, but it's kind of dangerous. That's probably also one reason you see far few cars there at night than at Food Lion.

The Hickory Daily Record is reporting that Hickory is highly likely to be getting a team in the NBA's developmental league (the XBA.) Games will be played at Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory High School, and Lenoir Rhyne College. Other area teams will be in Charlotte, Wilmington, and Columbia, SC. The lineups will not be set until early this week, but there is a chance that former East Burke standout and Davidson College starter, Martin Ides might be drafted. The newspaper is holding a contest to name the team (by Wednesday.) Tickets will be $5 - $8 and season passes (12 games) will cost $50.

06/10/02
There was a pretty good turnout for last week's Family Friday Night Concert. An added bonus was a raffle held for a prize donated by one of the Town's merchants. Last week it was a piece of jewelry donated by Grace Jewelers.

Here's a few more details on the two employees, Heidi Watson and Victor Nogales, who were injured at SAFT. The reports say that they were exposed to sulfur dixode and suffered chemical burns. The accident is now blamed on a fault valve. As a precaution, the plant was evacuated. The two should be able to return to work in the next few days.

Just a reminder that the Farmers' Market is now open on Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. until Noon and Fridays from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the town parking lot on Faet Street.

I'm moving ahead with the e-mail newsletter so anyone who answered that they'd like to receive it will be getting the first issue in the next few days. I'm working out some layout problems and adding a little content right now. It will be in HTML so your e-mail program will have to be able to view these files.

06/04/02
The third annual Waldensian Heritage Wines Boccie Tournament will take place on Saturday, June 22nd. As of this posting, there was room for five more four-person teams. The event begins at 8:00 a.m. and runs until a winner is crowned.  To enter, contact Tom Garrou by e-mailing tomgarrou@envinks.com or by calling the Winery at (828) 879-3202. The tournament is double-elimination and the entry fee for a team of four is $40. First and second place trophies will be awarded and cheese and soutisso and, of course, wine, will be served.

The Heritage Center is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. except on Saturday, when it stays open until 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, it's open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. I'll create a separate page for the place when I get details on the craftspeople.

Myra's celebrates a quarter century this August. The Earps are thinking of a way of marking the anniversary. I suggested 25¢ burgers, but I don't think they'd survive financially through a promotion like that. They should be settling on something soon so check back for details. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sort of car show and of course they'll do something up for the Festival.

Some of the cuts the Town is going to have to make to balance its budget may hurt a bit, but please be understanding. No one at Town Hall is responsible for the situation (blame Raleigh) and be assured they are doing everything they can to minimize the impact on citizens.

Responses to the Town Survey continue to trickle in and I'll address some of the comments here, without using the person's name.

• I can only post job listings if those offering the job let me know about the opening.
• Hardee's is still on the site until a new business moves in, though it is identified as closed.
• The Obituaries are hard for me to keep up since I get most of the listings from the News Herald's web site and it isn't updated with each newspaper release. Even then, I miss people who were born in Valdese, but have moved.
• I'm still considering the e-mail newsletter since most people in the survey favor the idea.
• Most people miss the downtown retail environment like when we had Roses, Sav-A-Center, Belk, etc... I've thought of approaching Belk to see if they do mini-stores anymore.
• A movie theater also interests many people with tickets about half price of first-run films. Most people seem to indicate an interest in second run classics.
• There's a genuine affection for our community (except for speeding tickets) and everyone seems to want to keep it small and close-knit.

Overall, I've been happy with the responses. Keep them coming!

05/30/02
A big weekend is coming up. Tomorrow, OCP premiers "The Hobbit" at the outdoor amphitheater, but before that we have the grand opening of the Farmer's Market in the Town parking lot on Faet Street and the Family Friday Night concert featuring "The Echoes of Hickory" and "The Jay Stone Singers."

On Saturday, OCP will have a second showing of "The Hobbit" but in the morning, Fun Fishing at McGalliard Falls takes place, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Sponsored by the American Legion Post #234, the tournament is for ages 14 and under and 55 and older. The competition lasts until noon at which time a cookout of hotdogs and fish will be held.

I found out what the new building at the Winery is to become. It's where the catered dinners will be held and will have a nice deck with a scenic view over a field and the vineyard adjacent to the winery.

Mr. Jacumin's Heritage building is now open and craftspeople have set up shop. I'm not yet sure of the hours or which craftspeople are there, but I'll find out soon. Meanwhile, the Trail's Board of Directors, along with Chuck Moseley are off to Pennsylvania tomorrow to get some ideas on marketing the town and historical attractions.

05/27/02
As has widely been reported, Burke County as a whole voted down the school bond referendum. Only four precincts were in favor with Lovelady 4 being the only Valdese precinct showing support. The primary reason for voting down the issue was the fear of another property tax increase required to pay back the bonds.

Don't miss OCP's presentation of "The Hobbit," the prequel to "Lord of the Rings," this weekend in the outdoor amphitheater on Church Street. It's rare to have a non "From This Day Forward" play in the amphitheater and the weather doesn't look to be as humid as it is during drama season.

What's next in line for the old Downtown Cafe building? Well it doesn't appear to be another restaurant. Word is that A.G. Edwards is looking to set up an office in the building--taking out all the kitchen supplies. They apparently wanted a storefront so using something like the upstairs of Jim Jacumin's building wouldn't work.

I also noticed a "house" being constructed adjacent to the Winery. It looks almost like it might be some sort of eating area for larger catered parties at the winery, or perhaps even a gift shop. I'll let you know when I find out more.

The Waldensian Museum has a meeting in two weeks to plan its future expansion. It's also adding a part time docent who will work with the computers to compile geneological and historical information.

05/20/02
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the big $25 million school bond vote. that aims to fund a new high school and middle school. It seems the primary question isn't so much whether we need the new schools, but how the county will be able to pay off the bonds in the future.

Weather has been a topic of interest in Valdese lately with temperatures dropping near the freezing mark on recent evenings. This is highly unusual for mid-late May and there's even a slight chance of seeing some snow flurries if we get some precipitation or if it blows down from the mountains. Is a cool summer on the way? Don't count on it.

In the midst of all this cool weather, the swimming pool reopens today. Wonder how busy it will be in sixty degree weather?

The Taco Bell/KFC in the old Hardee's location is still being pursued but no plans have been announced.

Old Colony Players has scheduled a golf tournament for August 9th, the day before the Festival. I have asked Phil Brendel (who told me of the event) if this date is correct, given everything else going on that day, and await his response.

Speaking of OCP, the cast for "From This Day Forward" has been set. Scott Woodard will be directing.

05/17/02
For anyone who shops at Food Lion and has an MVP card, I encourage you to register your card in the Lion Shop & Share program at the Food Lion website. By doing so, a small portion of your grocery purchase will be donated to the local charity of your choice (you choose during the registration process.) You can change your charity each quarter if you wish. So far, only two Valdese based organizations (Heritage Middle School and Burke Xtreme Cheerleading.) Some county organizations are listed under Morganton, eg. Burke County Friends for Animals. You can register your card by clicking here. If that link doesn't work, go to www.foodlion.com and click on the Lion Shop & Share link. If your favorite non-profit is not listed, there are instructions on how to add them on the site.

If anyone out there has a knack for horror stories, Old Colony Players is holding a competition for the best "Haunted Amphitheater" story. Submit a story that reads fifteen minutes long with a $5 entry fee to OCP by September 1st. The winner's story will be performed (or read) this October and will earn a $100 prize. Submit your story and entry fee to: Theater of Horrors, c/o Old Colony Players, P.O. Box 112, Valdese, NC  28690. Also include your name, age, address, phone, and e-mail address.

We're doing a major overhaul on the official town site, www.ci.valdese.nc.us with a new layout, interface, and some more content. The changes are posted yet, but look for them in the near future. We're trying to avoid any duplication with this site.

Don't miss the Family Friday Night Concert tonight. Hopefully the weather (rain) will hold off and allow for a good show.

05/14/02
The Town Council meeting once again addressed the issue of alcohol sales in Valdese. Taking place in the Fire Department's fire bay adjacent to Town Hall, the meeting drew approximately fifty people, mostly to try to sway one more Councilperson to the "against" position. Speakers again made their cases to the Council, but the vote held exactly as before, 3-2 for the vote. Before officially casting ballots, most of the Council members explained why they were voting for or   against the measure. Those voting for the vote (Chip Black, Susan Stevenson, and Granville Morrow) essentially felt that it was their duty to allow the people of Valdese to decide whether to allow alcohol sales in the city limits. By voting against the ballot item, they felt they would be denying those people their freedom of choice. This item was first on the agenda and concluded at approximately 8:45 p.m., one hour and forty-five minutes after the meeting began.

I need some help finding a location for a non-profit organization called Family, Infant and Preschool Program (FIPP.) They approached me looking to set-up a location in the Valdese area and have a limited budget. Ideally, they need for the space to be donated as a tax deductible charitable contribution, but if absolutely necessary, a small rent agreement might be possible or covering the utilities. The organization works individually with children and families and has group activities to promote learning and family development. They need about 1,000 square feet of space with outside or inside space for recreation. If you have space or know of someone or an organization who does, please let me know. They need something before the end of June if at all possible.

I spoke with Steve Morrow last evening at the Council meeting about them taking the "bubble" off the swimming pool. He said it took something like six hours for all the air to come out. When the cover is rolled up, it is about the size of a Chrysler minivan and weighs three tons. I think he said they had 35 IMPACT workers helping them take it down. Swimming resumes next Monday.

05/02/02
Due to a previously scheduled meeting, I was unable to attend the tourism meeting at the Old Rock School. I regret missing it, especially after the "teasers" dropped at the previous meeting. I will be talking with some local officials who attended to get a summary of what the students found. Check back soon for details.

I have learned that Cindy Oxentine has closed her coffee shop / massage therapy business. I knew that she had temporarily closed back at Christmas to help out at Myra's Little Italy. It now seems that the decision is permanent. No word on whether a new business will be moving in, but the building is large enough to support one of those antique stores the town keeps trying to bring in.

I've also been told that Mr. Jacumin is hoping for a May opening of his Heritage building on Main Street. I don't know if the upstairs has been rented yet, but have heard that he has several exhibitors lined up for the ground floor. You may recall, he was hoping to lure a professional, such as a doctor to rent the entire top floor and wasn't keen on the idea of having multiple users. We'll let you know if there is a ribbon cutting in the near future.

There's a lot going on this weekend around here. There's a Jewelry Show at the Old Rock School on Friday and Saturday, the Drexel Fair runs through this weekend in Drexel, and on Monday, the annual May Day Biathlon is being held in Morganton. The weather is supposed to be cool so if you aren't doing yardwork or completing your "honey-do" list, there are a lot of options for you. And if it rains, check out Spiderman at the theater in Morganton.

The town really seems to think a small theater, probably showing older movies or new ones near the end of their run, would work and they'd support it at about $3 a ticket. This makes me wonder, would you like to see a drive-in theater, perhaps behind the East End Barber shop (the old Martinat Mill lot?) Would this add a nostalgic touch to our historic town? Would you bring your family? E-mail me and let me know what you think.

Finally, I've had a "hot streak" of people filling out the Town Survey and I really appreciate your insight. There have been some very interesting responses and suggestions. All of which will remain anonymous, as promised.

04/26/02
Former town Finance Director, Jerry LaMaster, stopped by Town Hall on Thursday, on a short vacation back in America. If you remember, he left last year to work for a company in Saudi Arabia. I was a big disappointed, he hardly had any tan! Must be working too hard. He said that it wasn't that bad where he was, in terms of anti-American violence and that he merely followed the Embassy's alerts and changed his driving patterns regularly. Mr. LaMaster was also the victim of mock blame for leaving the town in its current budget crisis, with comparisons to former governor Jim Hunt being applied.

There isn't much I can say as to why the Downtown Cafe closed. To be honest, I had never eaten there, but have heard the same comments made by many people: items on the menu weren't available much of the time and the service was spotty. I can't substantiate these claims, but quite a few people have expressed them. I do know that I would drive down Main Street around dinner time on many nights and rarely see anyone in the restaurant. If someone else makes a go of it in that building, I'd kind of like to see them try a buffet-only restaurant with a full-line buffet. I guess it's a cafeteria, but if run properly they it can be successful and there isn't anything like it in the area. We really do need a sit-down, family restaurant serving something besides Italian food.

I'll mention this again, closer to the actual date, but a Tourism Report will be presented by the ASU students in the Walker College of Business on May 2nd at the Old Rock School. The report will be based on their own analysis of the town and comments made in meetings with residents and officials. If you have an opinion (and don't we all,) try to attend and let your voice be heard.

FYI - Morganton will be getting a McGuffy's restaurant this summer. This is the type of restaurant Valdese could probably use, but would never land due to our small size. If there are any entrepreneurs looking to start a similar style restaurant, though, contact Town Hall or e-mail me.

04/20/02
Drivers beware, the speed traps are out in force. While I doubt this is a means of offsetting the state's withholding of funds from the town, the blue and white are everywhere you look. Actually, I guess it's more to monitor the new 35 mph speed limits. Last Friday, I spotted three different checks within thirty minutes. The first was at the bottom of Lovelady, near the wastewater plant; the second was on Highway 70, near Food Lion, and the third was near those apartments where Pine Burr meets Mineral Springs Mountain Road. It must be boring sitting there waiting around for someone to speed.

Chuck Moseley and I met Friday with a man from Lexington, NC. He commented on how beautiful the town was (we were standing on Main Street at the time.) Chuck and I noted that we happened to be in a good spot and that not every view was as nice. Chuck made the comment, "We see the trash."

I mention this not to criticize our town and know perfectly well what Chuck meant. He was speaking literally, not figuratively. There is literally a lot of trash piling up along the road sides and on the sidewalks. There are a number of trash cans along Main Street, but somehow we end up with McDonalds cups and chips bags littering our community. If I'm walking, I try to pick up anything that won't cut me, doesn't smell, and won't likely pass along a disease and place it in a can. I encourage everyone to do just a little in an effort to clean up our town because every little bit does help.

I'd like to put out the call for anyone who has some old pictures of Valdese of landmarks like the Alamagordo, the Rat Hole, and other buildings that are no longer around. I need to scan these in to use for the Valdeseopoly board game.

A final note for all visitors who don't live in the area: we need rain!

04/10/02
About this time every year, Laurel Road can look absolutely fantastic. There are a wide variety of colors played out among the trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants that draw comparison to our mountains in the fall. Unfortunately, for some of us, that means pollen. I feel your pain and hope for an occasional rain to keep it down.

I forgot to mention that the town's official holiday decorators (the now-famous house on Faet Street) did an Easter display this year. Though it was nowhere near as elaborate as the Christmas and Halloween displays, it was nice. I don't recall seeing one in previous years, and if they keep adding holidays, drive by on July 4th and see if it's red, white, and blue.

I noticed that Express Personnel Services has closed. According to a friend of mine in the same business, Valdese is a tough market. Sara Lee is the main employer of temps and they've locked in with the Hiring Link in Morganton.

Tomorrow morning, there will be a tourism meeting with town leaders and business people and a group from Appalachian State to discuss the town's strength's and weaknesses and future opportunities for growth in tourism. I'm supportive but a little skeptical. Our tourism is unlike that in many of the similar tourist spots that I can think of. We currently don't have enough retailers that would attract tourist shopping (some, but not many) and we have no place for them to stay. If you consider Blowing Rock; Helen, Georgia; Old Salem, etc... there are attractions beyond the tourist sites. It's almost as if we're putting the cart before the horse. It's difficult enough for our downtown to attract local shoppers and, as much as I like the Guigous and Major Electric, tourists just aren't going to come to Valdese, see the sites, and buy a dishwasher on the way home.

And money is basically what tourism is all about. It's nice to be noticed and visited, but that's what makes grandparents happy. In the business world, we need those tourists to come here and leave their money with us. In addition to souvenirs, The Trail of Faith makes a small amount on each ticket sale and some souvenirs, the Winery gives free tours and makes a little on wine sales, and the Waldensian Museum relies basically on donations. But what about downtown? Some groups may stay for a meal at one of our fast food restaurants or perhaps Myra's Little Italy (if they come on Friday, Saturday, or have it reserved.) But most downtown merchants are left out of the action, and this is where the spending could really add up.

Think about what the average tourist might spend at those previous three attractions, $30? Maybe, if they visit the Trail and buy a t-shirt, get a bottle of wine at the Winery, and leave $10 in the donation box at the Museum. $30 could be one doll at Dolls and Designs or one picture at Expressions. But until downtown can become an attractive stop on a tour, it will likely be ignored. Mr. Jacumin's "Heritage Center" (I think that's the name) is a step in the right direction by adding a tourist attraction to Main Street, but it seems to be having trouble getting off the ground.

I don't presume to have any answers, only opinions, and hopefully this meeting will raise some of these issues. If not, we run the danger of simply staying the course and never really growing as a destination. It seems as though the town is placing all its bets on tourism. I only wish we would put half as much effort into recruiting new (non-textile) industries into our vacant buildings.

Now get out and enjoy that beautiful Spring weather! And visit downtown, while you're at it.

04/04/02
I hope no one actually believed the April Fools cover story on the home page. I tried to make it believable but outrageous enough to not be believable. All I need is for Larry Johnson to call me saying people are calling town hall out of concern.

Hope you had a happy and "eggciting" Easter holiday.

A new skateboard ordinance is going into effect that will restrict skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades from some of the public areas in the town's business district. I haven't read it thoroughly, but I think it primarily focuses on the businesses along Main Street. The planned skate park is on hold because of the budget problems.

On the subject of traffic control, I'm sure you've all seen the "Your Speed" trailer parked on Laurel Road, Mineral Springs Mountain Road, and Highway 70. It's to reinforce the new speed limits which many people I have spoken with don't particularly like. Primary gripes are with Mineral Springs Mountain Road where it is a ride-your-brakes situation to maintain 35 mph going down the hill. There have also been a number of license / registration checks on area roads. I took my bike down to the wastewater plant to ride off-road and saw a number of cars pulled into the parking lot for violations. Even I got "busted." My safety inspection had expired the previous day (March 31st.) Fortunately there is a grace period.

Tonight, Old Colony Players premiers "The Secret Garden" at the Old Rock School. It runs through the weekend. Also, next week, the Valdese Rotary Club hosts it's annual golf tournament. For details, contact Bruce Bingham at 879-9143.