TABLE OF
CONTENTS

THE GRAPEVINE '07

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION

06/29/07
When speaking with someone recently about our lack of rain, he jokingly commented that it used to mean that you weren't paying the preacher enough. If that's the case, what does it mean when your steeple gets hit by lightening when it finally does rain? That's the question that could be on the minds of members of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church might ask as it happened to them during the violent storm Wednesday afternoon. Though the fire department was called into action, it appeared that the only damage was possibly to the roof and that there may be some leaks. A blue tarp covered part of the steeple on Thursday.

Town employees could see a little more in their paycheck once the new budget goes into effect. A recent study by a consultant on behalf of the town found that many of the salaries were not competitive in our area. The increases, some of which will be over twenty percent, will be phased in over two years, as the budget allows. Tax revenues from the properties at The Settings will help cover the increased salary expense. The town council also approved adding vision care to the employees' health care packages.

The town is currently under voluntary water conservation (Stage 0) and is asking citizens to try to reduce usage by ten percent until we get significant rainfall.

Chuck Moseley has officially retired as Community Affairs Director for the town. Though, you'll probably be seeing more of him than ever. Though he will possibly increase his golf course time a bit, he still plans to be active in the community and will continue to put on bluegrass shows, direct plays for Old Colony Players, and other things to benefit the town. This Saturday and Sunday, as a product of his years of experience organizing the Waldensian Festival, he'll be in Longview, helping them celebrate their centennial.

Next Wednesday is, of course, July 4th, which means a day-long celebration at the Trail of Faith and evening fireworks on the football field behind the Old Rock School.

05/08/07
The Valdese Youth Council, which now includes thirteen members, presented at last night's Town Council meeting. It's latest projects were a bit less successful than earlier efforts, but competing events elsewhere in the area took away some of the potential attendees. Early in March, the Youth Council hosted a movie night in the Old Rock School auditorium. The second event, which took place on March 30th, was a concert featuring two local bands. The council is now focusing its efforts on creating some smoke-free areas in the town.

In case you've been away or out of touch, there is some tension between some local residents and the town and Valdese Merchants Association regarding the location of the Family Friday Night Concerts. Some residents, particularly those who live close to the Main Street parking lot, would like to see the concerts moved--preferably to the football field behind the Old Rock School. The VMA contends that this is not feasible and addressed the Town Council with its position. Speaking on behalf of the VMA, Dr. Paula Reynolds noted that the concerts typically run from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. and that the parking lot is empty by 9:15 p.m. The stage has been redirected so as to not face homes and that access to the ATM machine is no longer blocked. They added that locating the concerts at the football field would have an adverse effect on the businesses on Main Street who (according to Dr. Reynolds) get as much as 60% of their summer revenues from customers at the Friday night concerts. Other issues with the football field location include: parking conflicts when events are occurring at the Old Rock School, the stage would have to be removed each week to allow for little league games during the weekend, and the noise would interfere with production of the Outdoor Drama.

Don't forget to vote "Yes" on the bond referendum today. As mentioned before, the bonds will be issued and a "yes" vote will enable the town to secure the funds at a lower interest rate. You are not voting whether or not to issue the bonds, only to allow the town to pursue the USDA as a low-interest lending source.

04/20/07
You've heard the old saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction," and it's certainly been true in Valdese this past year. This is the first year in some time that I haven't done an April Fool's Day headline on the front page. The main reason is because I just didn't have time. But, if you think about it, how could I have outdone what has actually happened in Valdese recently. Any one of the following headlines could have been an April Fool's Day article: Valdese Lands Six-Hundred Homesite Development, The State Installs New Crosswalk Signals and Traffic Lights, Valdese Weavers Expands Into Old Carolina Mills Building. All of these recent events have been big (and unexpected) news in our little community.

For reasons unknown to me, Old Colony Players had to cancel it's production of "Strangers on a Train." I am assuming that there was a problem getting people to audition, but can't be certain. The board recently released it's tentative 2008 schedule, which includes: "Dearly Departed" (Dinner Theater), "Godspell," "Wedding From Hell" (Dinner Theater), "From This Day Forward," "Charlotte's Web," and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." I have not posted these on the OCP page since the dates are not set and the schedule is still subject to change.

East Burke High School had to be evacuated yesterday due to a bomb threat. The threat was found to be a hoax and comes just days after the Virginia Tech crisis.

Family Friday Night Concerts are scheduled to return soon and some area residents are not happy. The News Herald has received letters to the editor from citizens who live near the Wachovia parking lot requesting that the town consider moving the concerts to the football field. Sandy Walker, who lives above her store, Dolls and Designs by Sandy is among those who would like to see the concerts, and the crowds and noise that come with them, moved. A schedule of the concerts and an update on their location status will be posted soon.

03/07/07
A month or so ago, I ran across a video of the Waldensian Festival on YouTube. Now, it appears that someone has posted the Unsolved Mysteries episodes that covered the Rhonda Hinson murder from 1981. I never saw the original airing, but some parts, beyond the interviews, were actually filmed in Valdese. There's even an appearance by our own Police Chief, John Suttle (then of the NC SBI.) Here's Part One and Part Two. The episode apparently aired in 1989.

The town will be getting a new attraction of sorts as the recently formed Public Art Commission has found a piece of outdoor sculpture that the town will be purchasing. The piece, entitled "The Three Graces," consists of three metal "spires" aligned in a triangular formation, extending vertically. The pieces are brass, copper, and aluminum and are twelve, thirteen, and fourteen feet in height. I'm not sure which piece is which height. The Waldensian Presbyterian Church has agreed to allow the piece to be erected on its property, just east of Centennial Park, close to Main Street. The sculpture will cost $9,000 plus about $3,000 for shipping and installation. Funding is provided by a grant and by money set aside annually by the town for public art.

The town will be extending it's water line beyond the top of Mineral Springs Mountain, to the county line. This will add thirty-nine homes and will complete a loop for the water system. The county also anticipates purchasing an additional five million gallons per month from the town.

The new traffic lights and crosswalks are expected to be finished in a month or two. The crosswalks will be pushbutton activated. The wooden poles and lines will come down at all intersections except for Eldred Street and at Mr. Roberts. The project cost in excess of $1 million and was paid for by the state.

The following is from the Old Rock School concerning a Scrapbooking Convention at the School on May 18th: The Town of Valdese is hosting the first annual Scrappin' at the Rock scrapbooking convention at the Old Rock School. This scrappin' party will be filled with demonstrations, classes and a huge crop room to crop til you drop! Cropping begins Friday May 18th from 6:00pm - midnight. Snacks, Goody bags, and Door Prizes from Hobby Lobby are included, along with a Creative Memories class for "Share Cards" with Michelle Teffeteller. Classes continue on Saturday May 19th with Stampin' Up demonstrator Wendy Martin. Learn to make Greeting Cards, a Tin Memory Purse, a Bright and Cheerful Spring 5X5 Memory Book, and an adorable 6X6 Desk Calendar. Michelle will return with Scrapbooking 101 and Story Book Creator. Xyron and Cricut/Cuddlebug products will be demonstrated by Michaels Arts and Crafts of Hickory. The day ends with a give away of a Cricut machine, tool kit and 2 packs of papers thanks to Provo Craft and Michaels. The deadline for registering is May 1st. Please calll 828-879-2129 for a registration form or drop by the Old Rock School.

02/17/07
Last week, The Settings at Lake Rhodhiss held its grand opening for the sales office on Main Street (located beside Dolls and Designs. A bit of misinformation and perhaps miscommunication has led to some misunderstandings about the project. The News Herald quoted Town Manager, Jeff Morse, as saying that the development would bring in $250 million in tax revenue over the next twelve years. The way it should have read was that the development would create a tax base of approximately $250 million assuming 560 homes with an average property value of about $500,000. The annual tax revenue from a fully developed Settings would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.18 million at a 42¢ per $100 value tax rate.

Also of note at the grand opening was the presence of State Senator Jim Jacumin. He made headlines by proclaiming that the development was going to raise property values for all of Valdese. Stating that he might even have to try to change the state constitution, Senator Jacumin created a panic that led to numerous calls to town hall by concerned citizens. According to Mr. Morse, the property tax office bases property valuations on a neighborhood concept. All properties within The Settings will be valued based on the features and amenities of that neighborhood. Any properties outside The Settings, even those adjacent to the development, will be valued just like they have always been. It will not cause their property values to increase.

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The following is included in this posting as a service to Mr. Don Barker, who is publishing a book on the Colonial Theater. He is looking for anyone with information or images of the theater. If you have something you wish to contribute, e-mail me and I will forward his contact information to you.

Any Photographs sent will be scanned and return via registered USPS. Remarks/Memories are appreciated. SEND TO; Publishers, 304 3rd St S.E., Conover, NC 28613.

TITLE: BIG TIME FOR A DIME, A History of Silver Screens in the Catawba Valley.

The story really begins in Valdese, with the forming of the Colonial Theaters Inc. Group, Vern Benfield, Pons and all the others. This history spans theaters, from Maiden NC-thru Newton, Conover, Hickory, Hildebran, Valdese, Drexel, Morganton, and over to Caldwell county, Granite Falls, Sawmills, Whitnel, Lenior (city), on to Alexander County, with 6 theaters in Taylorsville.; comprising over 80 named movie house, their histories and owners, WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, within the valley. This history includes Opera houses, Drive Ins, Air Domes, Theaters, etc etc.

The history began in 1889 with the building of the Elliott Opera House in Hickory, and spans the ownership by Colonial Theaters, and Kenneth Benfield Theaters, Inc. of his theaters. This undertaking has been an effort of over 2 years in the searching/interviews/ A real appreciation is given to the Kenneth Benfield family for information and photographs provided in this project.; All while this began in a smoke filled motel room in Valdese, with the forming of the Colonial Theaters Group, which lead to much bigger prizes, such as The Rivoli in Hickory, The Hickory Drive In, The grand Canova theater in Conover, and the beautiful Carolina in Hickory, and many others.

BIG TIME FOR A DIME is written by Don Barker of Conover, and edited/published by: Goosepenpress.com, Nathan Moehlmann, BA. MA. also of Conover. Slated for publish: Mar-Apr -- 2007.

02/05/07
When following a search on Valdese, I came across a video someone had posted on YouTube from last year's Waldensian Festival weekend. It's a father and his children hitting all of the tourist attractions and maybe a family reunion. I don't know if it will remain available, but the link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHEFDlt8qAM.

The fountain at Centennial Park has a decidedly ice blue coloring to match its iced over look (courtesy of sub-freezing temperatures at night.) I don't know whether the tinted water is an illusion, a practical joke, or has some logical reason behind it, but it looks pretty nice. I'll try to get a picture next time I'm in town.

The Settings at Lake Rhodhiss is wrapping up work on its office on Main Street (in the building formerly occupied by Valdese Auction Gallery.) The opening is scheduled for February 12th.

Speaking of The Settings. Since the land for the development has been annexed into the Town of Valdese, the Triple Community Fire Department will lose the tax revenue for covering that area. The town will have to contract with the TCFD for two years (at the rate of the lost tax revenue) until it can build its own fire substation close to the development. About 1,300 acres of land was annexed for The Settings at Lake Rhodhiss.

Local battery manufacturer, SAFT, was awarded a $31 million contract to manufacture batteries for the United States Military. The batteries are used in Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes.

Information on the end of grade testing for the 2005-06 school year is now available at: www.ncreportcards.org. Select the county and school year you wish to view and you can get a snapshot of each school's performance along with statistics on the school such as: computers per child, highly qualified teachers, and teachers per student.