Archive for category People
From Davie County Farms to Your Supper Table ~ Another Option? “CSA”
Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, People, Things To Do, Top Stories on June 10, 2013
Enjoy garden fresh produce all season long
People with their own vegetable gardens understand the delicious “snap” and outstanding flavor of fresh picked produce.
It’s called “Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – and it links local residents to local farmers, eliminating “the middleman” and increasing the benefits to both the farmer and your family.Subscribing to shares of a local CSA farm make it easy to treat your family to those fresh-picked flavors and wholesome nutrition of days gone by.
There are two CSA farms right here in Davie County
In a CSA program, a farmer grows food for a group of local residents (called “shareholders” or “subscribers”) who commit at the beginning of each year to purchase part of that farm’s crop. The shareholders thus directly support a local farm and receive a low-cost weekly supply of fresh, high-quality produce. The farmers receive an initial cash investment to finance their operation and a higher percentage of each crop dollar because of direct delivery. Both parties jointly share the benefits and risks.
Have Fun, Save Money & Live Longer
Visit one of the two Davie County farmer’s markets regularly, and add a CSA subscription to your table from one of the two farms listed below. CSA subscriptions also make great gifts. They will be delivered each week during the harvest season which generally runs from May through about September.
Calahaln Farm
Calahaln Farm, located at 510 Calahaln Road, Mocksville is a family run farm owned and operated by David, Gloria and Kim Anderson. They Andersons have been farming the same land for generations and began offering CSA subscriptions in 2009. The Calahaln family are generally at the farm from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday.
Galliher Farm ~ USDA Certified Organic
Galliher Farm, located at 183 Garwood Road, Mocksville is a family run farm owned and operated by Michel and Renee Galliher. Michael and Renee are both form families who have been farming for generations and have been offering CSA subscriptions since 2008. In addition to their CSA operation, Galliher Farm is also a US Department of Agriculture Certified Organic operation.
Participating in a CSA is a great way to develop a relationship with a local farmer and to guarantee that fresh, local produce will find its way to your kitchen each week. CSAs often offer products not found in a supermarket, giving shareholders a chance to try new foods.
CSA Farms ~ Advantages for farmers:
- Farmers get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
- Farmers receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow
- Farmers have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
- CSA Farms ~ Advantages for consumers:
Consumers eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits - Consumers get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
- Consumers get to visit the farm where their food is grown
- Consumers get maximum nutritional value of fresh picked produce
- Consumers find that kids typically favor food from “their” farm – even veggies they’ve never been known to eat
- Consumers develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown
CSA Farms ~ Advantages for the Environment:
- The minimal transportation required to transport food locally is a significant reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.
- CSA farmers produce their food with fewer pesticides or inorganic fertilizers, so they are as natural as possible, limiting their impact on the environment. The Galiher farm is indeed certified organic.
It’s not too late to enjoy garden fresh produce this year. Simply contact one or both of the Davie County CSA farms.
Resources:
Calahaln Farm
Galliher Farm
Boyles Furniture and Rugs ~ Grand Opening This Weekend!
Posted by admin in Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Davie County Economic Development, People, Things To Do, Top Stories on May 24, 2013
A Grand Re-Opening of the longtime Boyles Furniture and Rugs location at 182 Farmington Rd., directly off of Interstate 40 in Mocksville is underway.
The parking lot was packed with overflow parking on the lawn for the first night of the grand opening on Friday evening, May 23 with live music, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments from Nobles. The grand opening continues throughout this Memorial Day weekend.
Bringing Furniture Jobs Back to NC
Mark Bannon, President of the new Boyles Brand Holdings company says, “We’re hiring back the very people who lost their jobs when this industry faltered, we are helping to put North Carolina back to work.”
After winding down their 13-store chain in early 2011, the 60-year old brand has been revived through the formation of a joint venture between the Boyles Furniture & Rugs brand owners and a group of furniture industry veterans. Mr. Bannon states, “Our team has worked hard to develop a new retail business model that we feel will be very well received by our loyal Boyles customers.” Following the Mocksville, NC store launch, plans are in place for opening of another newly-purchased store in Connecticut, with additional retail locations in the works.
Poised for Growth
“Along with the lease and renovation of 50,000 square feet of retail space in Mocksville, NC and the purchase of a retail facility in central Connecticut, we’ve opened two new corporate offices, hired over 25 former and new employees, and we’re in the process of hiring many additional employees” says Bannon, who continued to remark on the warm reception Boyles has received since his group’s investment, “We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response from our customers, employees, and the industry as a whole. We encourage our customers to check our website, http://www.Boyles.com, on a regular basis or “like” us on Facebook to keep up to date on all that we have going on.”
The new Boyles retail concept, being rolled out in Mocksville, is centered around three main ingredients; a 5,000 square foot, high-end Boutique shopping experience; an additional 35,000 square feet of mid- to high-end special order product and in stock goods available for immediate delivery; and 10,000 square feet of opportunity buys and closeouts of quality furniture at up to 80% off of suggested retail price, which changes on a daily basis.
New Store Layout is a Win-Win
Chad Hendricks, Executive Vice-President of Sales, explains, “This new layout is truly a win for the customer because in the past we only offered one shopping experience in our stores. Now we are able to offer sales on a daily basis, with truckloads of amazingly discounted furniture, while still serving our design clients through a broad selection of special order and showroom furniture along with the largest rug and mattress galleries we’ve ever had. We invite everyone to come and celebrate this great American comeback story with us this weekend.”
Daniel Boone Family Festival May 4th Will Dish up Food, Fun, Music and a Heapin’ Helpin’ of History
Posted by admin in Davie County Chamber of Commerce, People, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 30, 2013
Free Community Event! 10 AM to 9 PM
On May 4, Historic Davie will host the Daniel Boone Family Festival in Historic Downtown Mocksville. Featuring craftsmen, merchants, educational tours, historic re-enactors, food vendors, and live music, there’s something for everyone at the all-day event which kicks off at 10 AM.
The festival originated as a way to celebrate the wedding anniversary of Daniel and Rebecca Boone, and for its first two iterations it was held in August (the couple married on August 14, 1756). But the summer heat made for a long day so Historic Davie moved the celebration to May.
Retrace the Steps of Daniel Boone, the Revolutionary War, Historic Homes and More!
Daniel Boone spent nearly 25 years in the Yadkin Valley area, and two of the three tours revolve around landmarks associated with the Boone clan. The big attraction for Boone buffs are the tours that run at 10:15 AM, 12:30 PM, and again at 2:15 PM. Tours are $5 and are provided by bus or van.
Tours include stops at historic Joppa Cemetery, where Daniel’s parents Squire and Sarah Boone and his brother Israel are buried (Israel’s grave is the oldest in the cemetery); the Boone Tract at Bear Creek, a 640-acre parcel of land granted to Squire Boone in 1753 and later sold to his son Daniel; the Daniel Boone Marker in Farmington; and nearby Pudding Ridge, where General Cornwallis crossed Dutchman Creek in pursuit of Nathanael Greene (Cornwallis named the area for the thick mud in the area his troops had to march through).
Another tour departing at 11:45 AM also visits Joppa Cemetery, Bear Creek, and the Boone Tract in addition to tours of the Jesse A. Clement House (built in 1828) and Historic Center Arbor, constructed as a site for “camp meetings” during the Third Great Awakening in 1876.
The last tour, which departs at 1:15 PM, takes visitors to the River Park at the Bull Hole, Veach’s Muster Ground, Revolutionary War hero Richmond Pearson‘s grave site, and the Historic Zachary Holt House and Village Museum of Cooleemee, both of which have exhibits centered around the area’s once-booming textile industry.
Rounding out the historic flavor of the festival will be the presence of Fort Dobbs re-enactors (Fort Dobbs was the site of a battle between settlers and Cherokee warriors in 1760.)
Music all day at Junker’s Mill Outdoor Theater – capped off by The Sleeping Booty Band at 6 PM
Music fans will want to head over to Junker’s Mill Outdoor Theatre to check out the Christian Rock of Caleb’s Bridge at noon, the rockin’ country sounds of Tony Bailey at 2:30 PM, and the funkalicious sounds of The Sleeping Booty Band at 6:00 PM. All of the performances are free of charge, but those wishing to enjoy an “adult beverage” will have to purchase a wristband for $5.00.
Vendor Applications and Additional Information
To learn more about the amenities and activities that will be on hand, head over to the official Daniel Boone Family Festival and Spring Auction web site, or call Tami Langdon at 336-909-2263 (you can also call the Davie County Chamber of Commerce at 336-751-3304. If you’d like to participate as a vendor, you can download a vendor application here.
Creating Jobs in Davie County Once Again ~ Boyles Furniture and Rugs Grand Re-Opening
Posted by admin in Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Davie County Economic Development, People, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 26, 2013
Boyles Furniture & Rugs is creating jobs in Davie County North Carolina once again. A Grand Re-Opening of the longtime Boyles location at 182 Farmington Rd. in Mocksville, NC, centrally located in North Carolina directly off of Interstate 40, is scheduled for May 23.
Mark Bannon, President of the new Boyles Brand Holdings company says, “We’re hiring back the very people who lost their jobs when this industry faltered, we are helping to put North Carolina back to work.”
After winding down their 13-store chain in early 2011, the 60-year old brand has been revived through the formation of a joint venture between the Boyles Furniture & Rugs brand owners and a group of furniture industry veterans.
Driving the jobs in this story are millions of dollars in private money currently being invested in the region by the new Boyles owners. Mr. Bannon states, “We believe the economy in this area is poised for rapid growth and there is a need to satisfy the unmet demand for quality mid- to high-end furniture offered at a value. Our team has worked hard to develop a new retail business model that we feel will be very well received by our loyal Boyles customers.” Following the Mocksville, NC store launch, plans are in place for opening of another newly-purchased store in Connecticut, with additional retail locations being actively explored.
“Along with the lease and renovation of 50,000 square feet of retail space in Mocksville, NC and the purchase of a retail facility in central Connecticut, we’ve opened two new corporate offices, hired over 25 former and new employees, and we’re in the process of hiring many additional employees ahead of the Grand Openings of the Mocksville and Connecticut stores,” says Bannon, who continued to remark on the warm reception Boyles has received since his group’s investment, “We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response from our customers, employees, and the industry as a whole. We encourage our customers to check our website, http://www.Boyles.com, on a regular basis or “like” us on Facebook to keep up to date on all that we have going on.”
The new Boyles retail concept, being rolled out in Mocksville, is centered around three main ingredients; a 5,000 square foot, high-end Boutique shopping experience; an additional 35,000 square feet of mid- to high-end special order product and in stock goods available for immediate delivery; and 10,000 square feet of opportunity buys and closeouts of quality furniture at up to 80% off of suggested retail price, which changes on a daily basis.
Grand Opening May 23
Chad Hendricks, Executive Vice-President of Sales, explains, “This new layout is truly a win for the customer because in the past we only offered one shopping experience in our stores. Now we are able to offer sales on a daily basis, with truckloads of amazingly discounted furniture, while still serving our design clients through a broad selection of special order and showroom furniture along with the largest rug and mattress galleries we’ve ever had. We invite everyone in North Carolina and the surrounding states to come and celebrate this great American comeback story with us on May 23.”
Wake Forest Baptist Health—West Campus Opens in August
Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Featured Buildings and Sites, People, Top Stories on April 22, 2013
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will open the first of two buildings on its West Campus in August, bringing the world-class services of one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers to Davie County.
The four-story, 60,000 square foot building—visible from Interstate 40 at exit 180 in the Town of Bermuda Run —will house physician offices, physical therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and a pharmacy.
Orthopaedics will be the primary specialty service offered at the West Campus along with cardiology, ophthalmology and neurology. The research conducted by Wake Forest Baptist indicates that these services are needed by residents to enable them to have more convenient access to quality healthcare.
One of the four floors will be devoted to orthopaedics. Wake Forest Baptist physicians will provide diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical services for patients with knee, shoulder, hip and hand problems, as well as conditions related to sports medicine and podiatry. Having physical therapy in the building will add convenience for patients.
For the first time, a cardiologist will have an office in Davie County. In addition to the cardiologist, cardiac rehabilitation will be available in the building.
Also, an ophthalmologist and neurologist will have offices in the building. Our eye physician provides complete eye exams without a referral.
In October, Medical Plaza 2 will open, completing the first phase of the West Campus. Medical Plaza 2 is a 101,000 square foot building that will offer 24/7 emergency services, outpatient surgery and diagnostic imaging. Medical Plaza 2 will have a full service laboratory, pre-operative assessment clinic, diagnostic cardiology and neurology.
Diagnostic services including imaging, lab, cardiology and neurology, as well as physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation services are available to any patients with a physician’s order.
With the $100 million investment and approximately 175 jobs, Wake Forest Baptist Health will be a catalyst for the economic growth of Davie County.
For more information, visit http://www.wakehealth.edu/west-campus/
Davie County in the Spotlight – Ashley Furniture Breaks Ground on 1,040,000 SF Addition
Posted by admin in Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Davie County Economic Development, Featured Buildings and Sites, People, Top Stories on April 18, 2013
On Wednesday, April 17, 2013, Ashley Furniture broke ground in Davie County, NC on what will eventually be the largest furniture manufacturing and distribution center in the world. Part of a 5 year, $500 million investment strategy, the Davie County site sits on 668 acres in Advance, NC that will home to 3.8 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution space when completed.
Governor Pat McCrory recounts his first meeting with Ron Wanek, founder of Ashley Furniture and welcomes Ashley Furniture to North Carolina.
Dr. Qubein congratulates Davie County on a big WIN and celebrates American ingenuity and the American free enterprise system.
Davie County Economic Development Commission president Terry Bralley speaks about NC Governor McCrory’s mission to improve the state government’s customer service and about what it takes to bring manufacturing jobs back to North Carolina. Mr. Bralley also thanks the Wanek family and Ashley Furniture for selecting Davie County as the site for the largest furniture manufacturing and distribution facility in the world. Finally, Mr. Bralley thanks the RJR Tobacco Company for donating 360 acres in Advance, NC to make the Ashley Furniture expansion into North Carolina possible.
Ashley attorney Bill Coslo talks about his 50 years of experience with the Wanek family and congratulates Ron and Joyce Wanek on 52 years of marriage, Mr. Coslo recounts his experience with NC Governor Pat McCrory and with the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary John E. Skvarla. Mr. Coslo thanks the Golden Leaf Foundation and the North Carolina Rural Center for helping makethis groundbreaking a reality. Mr. Coslo also thanked RJR for creating a legacy in Davie County with their donation of 360 acres to the Davie County Economic Development Commission for this project. Mr. Coslo thanked Al Bolton of the Piedmont Triad Partnership, Duke Energy, and NC Representative Julia Howard and NC Senator Andrew Brock and the NC Department of Transportation.
Ron Wanek, founder of Ashley Furniture gives final remarks and the official groundbreaking ceremony is conducted.
Davie County in the Spotlight
- http://triad.news14.com/content/top_stories/693087/ashley-furniture-breaks-ground-on-distribution-center-in-advance
- http://www.journalnow.com/business/business_news/local/article_fa1ac1fc-a7d2-11e2-bf96-0019bb30f31a.html
- http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2013/04/17/ashley-furniture-breaks-ground-on.html
- http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/562233-Ashley_Furniture_breaks_ground_on_big_N_C_plant_expansion.php
- http://www.wral.com/ashley-furniture-plans-groundbreaking-at-nc-site/12348716/
- http://www.news-record.com/news/business/1036046-92/ashley-furniture-plans-april-17
- http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/Ashley-Furniture-Gets-OK-for-Phase-2-of-80M-NC-Complex-202352831.html
- http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/561831-Ashley_plans_big_addition_to_N_C_plant.php
- http://myfox8.com/2013/04/09/ashley-furniture-plans-april-17-groundbreaking-on-davie-co-site/
- http://www.journalnow.com/business/business_news/local/article_2cb74c84-a12f-11e2-9a21-001a4bcf6878.html
JOBS ~ Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wednesday to Clear the Way for Hundreds of Additional Jobs in Davie County
Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Featured Buildings and Sites, People, Top Stories on April 15, 2013
DAVIE COUNTY ASHLEY FURNITURE PLANT WILL BE THE LARGEST FURNITURE MANUFACTURING/DISTRIBUTION PLANT IN NORTH AMERICA!
It was nearly a year ago that Wisconsin-based Ashley Furniture announced that Davie County would be the new home for what would be the company’s largest facility, and eventually, the largest furniture manufacturing and distribution center in the United States with 3.8 million square feet of building space. But the highly anticipated project, slated to bring at least 550 new jobs to the area, had been stuck almost in a state of limbo because of environmental issues created by a 4 acre patch of standing water at the 668 acre site on which the $80-million facility will be built.
Thankfully, those issues were largely resolved on March 28th of this year when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) gave Ashley a temporary permit to build on or near four acres it had deemed as “wetlands,” a finding that contradicted the conclusions of third-party experts hired by Ashley to do an environmental evaluation before purchasing the land.
An invitation-only groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 5 PM on Wednesday, April 17 in celebration of clearing this significant hurdle, one that could have delayed construction for many more months or even years. Governor Pat McCrory will be in attendance along with other state and local dignitaries and business leaders.
While Ashley Furniture chairman Ron Wanek is understandably frustrated by the delays, he is still excited about the acquisition of the land for the company’s flagship facility. “This has to be the most perfect site I have ever seen,” Wanek said in a February, 2013 interview with Furniture Today. ”With all the sites we have that we have outgrown [in the past], this was a dream.”
The US Army Corps of Engineers permit clears the way for the construction of a a 1,040,000 square foot distribution center on Baltimore Road in Advance, NC which will be part of a complex that will eventually comprise 3.8 million square feet of building space dedicated to the company’s manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution divisions.
Ashley Furniture’s decision to make the Davie County facility the linchpin of its operations was just one of several wins for the county over the last 18 months. Carolina Precision Plastics announced in March of last year that it would invest $5.3 million in the creation of a manufacturing facility that would lead to 140 new jobs with an average wage of $39,183 (the county average was $28,808 at the time of the announcement). Pro Refrigeration, Inc. said it will be creating an East Coast production facility in Mocksville that will entail a $4.9 million investment and the need for yet another 85 jobs. Adding to the bright outlook is the slated completion of the $100,00,000 Wake Forest Baptist-West Campus, bringing high-tech professionals and top-flight health care to Davie County.
A key player in helping match companies in search of new opportunities with critical infrastructure and land-related resources is the Davie County Economic Development Commission. Visit the Davie County EDC web site to learn what Davie County has to offer for businesses of all sizes in one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing counties.
From Davie to Denmark: Manufacturer Makes History with Groundbreaking Export from Cooleemee Mill
Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Featured Buildings and Sites, People, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 10, 2013
Replacing a church organ usually isn’t a momentous event unless you’re a scriptwriter trying to cobble together an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. The key word in that statement, however, is “usually.” Case in point: Tom Lewtak, of Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders, a Cooleemee-based company that is currently putting the finishing touches on the first American-made pipe organ ever to grace the sanctuary of a Danish church.
Tom Lewtak’s four year journey to Cooleemee
A native of Poland and a graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Lewtak was serving as church organist at St. Joseph’s Church in Camillus, New York when the priest decided to replace the electronic organ with a traditional pipe organ. When Lewtak was shown the replacement he would be playing, he saw that not only was it the wrong size for the church, but also that it had many parts that needed to be replaced.
The story might have ended with a simple case of buyer’s remorse on the priest’s part, but Lewtak had another idea: he’d use the skills he learned while minoring in organ building in Katowice to salvage all the usable parts and build a new organ more suited to the dimensions of St. Joseph’s. Helping him would be his brother Paul, an architect and interior designer who would create the façade, or outer casing, for the organ.
It was the start of a four-year journey that took Lewtak from New York to Denmark to Norway and back to New York — and eventually Cooleemee.
Organ Pipe Voicing
Though Lewtak had studied organ building, it was a far cry from actually crafting the pipes, each of which produces a unique timbre and sound (Mozart called the pipe organ the “king of instruments“). So he took a year’s sabbatical and traveled to Denmark, where he apprenticed at the world-renowned organ builder Carsten Lund Organ Builders in Copenhagen. He learned the art of “voicing” pipes — hammering and shaping them to create their distinct tones and sounds — from Mogens Pedersen, who for over 20 years was the chief voicer of Frobenius Organ Builders, responsible for the largest church organ in Denmark.
A Very Big Deal
Lewtak returned to Camillus and completed the organ for St. Joseph’s, and by 2006 had given up his organist position to become a full-time organ builder (Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders had been incorporated five years earlier in 2001). It was in Camillus that Tom built an organ for First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, NC that caught the eye of the leaders of Østerhåb Kirke (church) in Horsens, Denmark. They were so impressed that they commissioned the Lewtaks to build an organ for its new church, a minimalist marvel of concrete and stone with fantastic acoustics. Given the fact that Denmark is home to the world’s most famed and respected organ builders, the selection of Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders for the project is, to put it mildly, a very big deal.
And now it’s a very big deal for Davie County. Though Tom had lived in the Empire State since arriving in the U.S. in 1993 with his wife Jola (a fellow organist he met while studying at the Academy of Music), the appeal of North Carolina’s warmer climate and business-friendly environment led them to contemplate moving here — a decision that was cemented when Jola landed a position at a church in Clemmons.
Recital at Cooleemee Mill
The Lewtaks acquired a log cabin home in Mocksville and built a workshop for Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders. But the workspace proved to be insufficient for the Østerhåb Kirke project, and Tom is now completing his work at the Cooleemee Mill, a cotton mill that employed nearly 2,000 workers until its closure in 1969.
A recent organ recital gave visitors a chance not only to hear the organ ( the finishing touches have yet to be completed), but also tour the Lewtaks’ work area and the Mill itself, which is being considered for renovation as a multi-purpose facility featuring shops, restaurants, light industrial work spaces, and apartments.
To learn more about the Østerhåb Kirke project and the Lewtaks’ other creations, visit the Lewtak Pipe Organ Builders Web site
Organ Recital & Shop Presentation at Historic Textile Mill in Cooleemee
Posted by admin in People, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 5, 2013
Lewtak Pipe Organ Being Built in Historic Textile Mill in Cooleemee NC.
On Saturday, April 16th at the mill in Cooleemee, Dr. Timothy Olsen, Kenan Professor of Organ, U of NC School of the Arts will performing on the new LEWTAK handmade pipe organ destined for the Osterhab Kirke (Church) in Denmark. The public is invited.
The organ was designed, engineered and built by hand over the last 18 months, with construction over the last 12 months by Tom Lewtak occurring inside the historic textile mill in Cooleemee. The recital is a free community event.
Saturday, April 6th at 1 pm
Stokes County Yarn Company, 314 Main Street
COOLEEMEE, NC 27014
Tom Lewtak was educated as an organist, having two master’s degrees in Organ Performance. His inspiration to become an organbuilder came at the age of 16 when he viewed building process of the monumental organ at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Gdansk (Danzig), Poland, by the German firm of Hillebrand.
Later, he took organ building and design during his five years at the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. The following years took him to Denmark and Norway, where he apprenticed with Carsten Lund Organ Builders of Copenhagen. He acquired his voicing skills from Mogens Pedersen, a man who for over twenty years was the chief voicer of the legendary Frobenius Organ Builders.
Tom’s organ building knowledge is not just theoretical, but came from first-hand experience with one of the best organ builders in Europe. He is responsible for tonal design, pipe scaling, voicing, windchest and action design. It is his artistic vision that emerges through the sound of our organs.
” Shabby Chic” ~ Unleash Your Inner Artist and Support Local Families!
Posted by admin in People, Things To Do, Top Stories on April 2, 2013
Davie County Arts Council and Habitat for Humanity’s unique collaboration will raise art awareness and provide affordable housing
Everyone loves a two-for-one deal, and that’s precisely what the Davie County Arts Council and Davie County Habitat for Humanity have teamed up to create. The Shabby Chic Exhibit and Auction will raise funds for affordable housing while simultaneously giving folks the chance to discover their inner artist — or at least have fun trying.
Aspiring artists may “select” art supplies now through April 30
Between now and April 30, artists, craftsmen, and designers (or those who aspire to one of those titles) can visit Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore at 1035 Yadkinville road and pick up one or more items worth up $50 for free to use as the basis for a piece of art, craft, accessory, or…well, you name it.
Once you’ve let your creative juices flow and have transformed an everyday item into an objet d’art, drop off your masterpiece at the Brock Peforming Arts Center (“the Brock”) at 622 North Main Street in Mocksville on either Tuesday, May 28 or Wednesday, May 29.
Submissions will be exhibited througout June and July at the Brock, followed by a Grand Auction on stage in the Brock’s theater on August 10 starting at 6:00 P.M. All proceeds will go toward the building of a Habitat for Humanity home.
A few rules to keep in mind
There are a few rules you’ll need to follow. Participants must sign an Artist Agreement stating they’ll use any items taken to create a work of art or craft, and if unable to do so will return the items (or pay the listed cash value). Any painted projects must be completely dry when submitted, and it’s up to you take your creation to the Brock on one of the appropriate days. If a submission isn’t sold at auction, it will be taken to the ReStore and placed on sale there.
Besides being a great way to fulfill the Davie County Arts Council’s mission of connecting the community to the arts and helping Habitat for Humanity give a local family much-needed shelter, there’s also an extra benefit for those wannabe Starcks and Tiffanys out there: all submissions will be considered an “in kind” donation for tax purposes, with the dollar amount assigned by the artist.
More Details… and a little inspiration
For more details on how to participate, contact Sidniee Suggs of the Davie Arts Council at 336-751-3112 Tiffany Rycroft at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 336-753-1438 (you can also download an informational flyer and Artist Agreement here). And if you need a little inspiration, check out the slideshow of submissions from a similar event held in Baton Rouge back in 2010.
Now, get out to the ReStore today and find your treasure!
State of Davie County 2013: Proud of Past Successes, Eager to Reach New Heights
Posted by admin in Davie County Economic Development, Davie County Schools, People, Top Stories on March 25, 2013
On Friday, March 22, more than 125 business and community leaders met at the WinMock at Kinderton in Bermuda Run for the “State of Davie” conference hosted by The Business Journal and sponsored by Century Link, Energy United and Novant Health, to discuss Davie County’s recent accomplishments in spurring economic growth in the county and the challenges it faces in the coming years.
Headlining the event were panelists Terry Bralley, president of the Davie County Economic Development Commission; Dr. Darrin Hartness, superintendent of Davie County Schools; Dr. Ken Rethmeier, mayor of Bermuda Run; and Lynn Rumley, mayor of Cooleemee.
Justin Catanoso, current Director of Journalism at Wake Forest University and former executive editor of The Business Journal, moderated a discussion that not only touched upon the county’s successes in bringing in new businesses to the region, but also on the challenges it faces in continuing Davie County’s transition from an outlying “bedroom community” to a jobs destination that attracts industry and young professionals.
The takeaway? The county is undeniably on the right track — but continued success relies on coordinating efforts between leaders in education, industry, technology, and government.
Davie County becoming a destination for careers, education and quality of life
While North Carolina as a whole has seen only mild economic growth in the past 18 months, Davie County has been a hotbed of new business infusion. In April of last year, Ashley Furniture announced it was investing $80 million in a distribution and manufacturing operation in Advance that will lead to the eventual creation of 550 jobs, making it the company’s largest operation in the world. Making good on its word, Ashley began shipping product just seven months later in November, 2012.
Carolina Precision Plastics said in March, 2012, that it would invest $5.3 million in the creation of a manufacturing facility that would lead to 140 new jobs with an average wage of $39,183 (the county average was $28,808 at the time of the announcement).
Pro Refrigeration, Inc. said it will be creating an East Coast production facility in Mocksville that will entail a $4.9 million investment and the need for yet another 85 jobs. Adding to the bright outlook is the slated completion of Novant Health’s Clemmons Medical Center and Wake Forest Baptist-West Campus, bringing high-tech professionals and top-flight health care to the region.
What’s the secret to Davie County’s success? It’s a confluence of high-quality K-12 education, a business-friendly environment, excellent healthcare, and a close-knit community that provides the advantages offered by urban centers with the quality of life people expect when they decide to live in a low-density, non-urban setting.
As moderator Justin Catanoso pointed out during the presentation, these business and civic leaders are “changing the dynamic” from folks seeing Davie County as a “bedroom community” to viewing it as “a destination for careers as well.”
Davie County Schools among the best in North Carolina
An undeniable linchpin of this appeal is the high marks that Davie County schools are racking up. According to Dr. Hartness, Davie County now ranks in the top ten percent of North Carolina’s 115 school districts in math and reading, ranking third in English and math among eight-grade student scores and fourth and fifth for first-year algebra and English students respectively in high school. That’s the sort of thing that makes the county appealing not only to new residents, but to new businesses as well. Jim VanderGiessen Jr, CEO of Pro Refrigeration, said that his decision was based on more than just economic factors. “I have a board of directors that I report to and that I’m accountable to, and they were saying, ‘Why not Alabama? Why not Arkansas?’,” he said. “And the big thing is that this is a community we want to be a part of and are going to be a part of, and we factored that in to our decision.”
Existing building stock and public/private partnerships key to continued success
Still, a good school district doesn’t necessarily equal a good business environment, and that’s where the Davie County Economic Development Commission comes into the picture. Bralley pointed out that “ninety-five percent of what I deal with is companies looking or an existing building, and [for Pro Refrigeration] we had the right building — but we also had the right community.” The coming issue, says Bralley, is the shrinking number of existing spaces, which is why Davie County is working to empower the private sector to build new facilities by partnering with them. City and county officials work to find ways to pay for upfront infrastructure expenses such as road, water, and sewer, while private sector industry picks up the tab for the actual construction — and the jobs that are created create personal wealth and spur on the local economy for even more growth
Cooleemee – Davie County’s smallest town filled with vision and community spirit
The notion of using existing but unused buildings is a model that Cooleemee mayor Lynn Rumley finds appealing. She’s pushing for a $60 to $80 million redevelopment of former textile plant Erwin Mills, based largely upon the success of a similar mixed-used facility in Saxapahaw. “Since the financial meltdown, people have re-evaluated, taken a second look at their lives, and don’t necessarily want a huge house,” said Rumly. “I think they want to live in a somewhat different way. They don’t want to be uncomfortable or poor — nobody does — but I think that they want to live in an actual community. I think they want to live amidst nature.” And while Cooleemee isn’t exactly in the heart of commerce, Rumley said that will be less of an impediment as technology progress. “Of course there’s always going to be people who want to live in the city, and that’s fine. But they say that in the next 25 years half the people will be working at home.”
Town of Bermuda Run building a foundation for a bright future
What is even more impressive about Davie County’s recent achievements is that they’ve come in spite of the fact that demographic shifts have not been working in its favor: in short, the county has been gradually growing older on average. But Dr. Ken Rethmeier, mayor of Bermuda Run, said that a strategy which combines manufacturing, technology, health-care, and learning sectors can create a highly attractive environment for both employers and workers to move to the area and change that trend. “We’re building the foundation upon which we can create those opportunities for new jobs to continue to migrate into the county,” said Rethmeier. “[These] will stimulate the thinking of young people to say, ‘Why do I want to move away when I can make a big difference right where I am today?’”
This double-pronged strategy of drawing newcomers to the region while enticing homegrown professionals to stay (or at least return) home certainly makes sense — and if past success is any indicator, it’s one that appears to already be paying dividends.
Video of the panel discussion is available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYlvWl0ZuCo
This Weekend ~ Final Performances of Award-Winning Musical Comedy at the Brock!
Posted by admin in People, Things To Do, Top Stories on March 20, 2013
Davie County Arts Council presents “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” ~ final performances this weekend with shows at 7:30 PM on Friday and Saturday, March 22nd and 23rd, and a matinee performance at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 23rd at the Brock Performing Arts Center in Mocksville. Seats are available for all 3 performances. Tickets can be ordered throught the Box Office (336) 751-3000.
2013 Season Opener This Weekend
The Davie County Arts Council’s Brock Players have kicked off their 2013 season with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Winner of two Tony awards, this unique musical comedy has been produced not only all across America, but also in far-flung locales like Melbourne, Australia and the Philippines since its 2005 Broadway debut.
While it’s hard to imagine a setting more staid than a middle-school word competition, Putnam County Spelling Bee is anything but J-E-J-U-NE (simple; naive; unsophisticated). Acclaimed Broadway lyricist and composer William Finn and writer Rachel Sheinkin use the traditional spelling bee as a lens to focus on the hopes, worries, dreams, and A-N-G-S-T (a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity) of the six adolescent competitors through a series of revealing flashbacks. But even though some of the stories tug a bit at the heartstrings, a steady stream of jokes and the fast-paced plot keep things from becoming C-I-M-M-E-R-I-A-N (very dark or gloomy).
Put on Your Spelling Bee Outfit
What makes Putnam County Spelling Bee a particularly special event for theatergoers is its use of audience participation: this play doesn’t just break the “fourth wall,” it deconstructs it and tosses it out the window. Audience members are addressed as if they were in attendance at the bee itself, with characters referring to people in the crowd as family members and one actor roaming the aisles selling snacks. The real treat, though, is the inclusion of several members of onstage as contestants. Don’t bother brushing up too much on your E-T-Y-M-O-L-O-G-Y (the study of the origins and development of words), though — the show must goes on, after all, which means the words audience members are given increase pretty rapidly in difficulty.
Call the Brock Performing Arts Center Box Office at 336-751-3000 or visit the Davie County Arts Center Web site for more details and to purchase tickets.
Resources:
Davie County Arts Council
Free Health Screenings & More ~ Come out to the Annual Health Expo
Posted by admin in People, Things To Do, Top Stories on March 18, 2013
Free Health Screenings and More – Free Community Event
The Davie County Chamber of Commerce and the Davie Family YMCA are pleased to present the For Your Health Expo 2013 on Tuesday, March 19th at the Davie Family YMCA on Cemetery Street. For Your Health Expo runs from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and is free to the public. This annual community event brings vendors of healthy lifestyle products and services together under one roof to offer Davie County residents a convenient one-stop healthy lifestyle information experience.
With healthcare costs on the rise and interest in personal wellbeing at an all time high, For Your Health Expo provides Davie County residents with a great opportunity to take positive steps toward improving their health. Sponsored by both Wake Forest Baptist Health – Davie Hospital and Forsyth Medical Center, the For Your Health Expo offers access to important information as well as direct interaction with several medical service providers. Several free health screenings will be offered including body composition analysis, posture, balance and gait. glucose, foot screenings more.
Health and Healthy Lifestyle Providers
Also participating are Advance Chiropractic & Health Center, Allegacy Federal Credit Union, BB&T, Bermuda Commons, Blue Moon Benefits Group, Davidson Co Community College, Davie County Chamber of Commerce, Davie County Senior Services, Davie Family YMCA, Davie Medical Equipment, Galliher Farm, LLC, Home Instead Senior Care, Hospice & Palliative Care Center, Just Relax Health & Wellness, Le Bleu Bottled Water, Marlin Chiropractic Center, Medical Associates of Davie, Serv Pro of Davie & Yadkin Counties, Skinny Wheels Bike Shop, State Farm – Bandy Agency, Subway, Triad Air Awareness, Twin City Youth Soccer Association.
For Your Health
For Your Health is a collaborative effort of the Davie Family YMCA and the Davie County Chamber of Commerce to connect our health and wellness businesses directly with our community in an environment that promotes complete health in spirit, mind and body. “It was established as a community service event but it also provides an opportunity for both of our organizations to serve our members and further the missions of both the Y and the Davie Chamber.” Said Carolyn McManamy, President of the Davie County Chamber of Commerce.
“The Y is committed to healthy living for the entire family. We’re excited to partner with the Davie Chamber to provide resources for the community to learn about wellness options,” shared Chris Comer, Executive Director of the Davie Family YMCA. “The first step in any wellness journey is knowledge, and the For Your Health Expo is a great place to gather information about making healthy choices for your whole family.”
Save the Date
For your health and do it for the health of your family, head to the Davie Family YMCA on Tuesday, March 19th. For more information contact the Davie County Chamber of Commerce at 751-3304 or the Davie Family Y at 751-9622.
About the Davie County Chamber of Commerce
For over 40 years, the Davie County Chamber of Commerce has served the business community as the catalyst of business growth and economic development. We believe in working together to promote a strong and vibrant business community throughout all of Davie County.
As the countywide Chamber, we represent businesses from Cooleemee to Advance, Mocksville to Bermuda Run and all points in between. Our office is located at 135 S Salisbury Street in Mocksville where you will also find the Davie County Visitor Center and Davie County Economic Development Commission office.
About the Davie Family YMCA
The Davie Family YMCA, located near downtown Mocksville, has served the community for more than 20 years, and offers a wide range of programs for the whole family including swim lessons, licensed before- and after-school care, and youth sports. The Y includes a comprehensive Wellness Center with on-duty staff, group exercise programs, and SilverSneakers® classes.
We are dedicated to social responsibility with efforts such as the Literacy Initiative, a completely free program that helps adults in our community learn to read and provides ESL tutoring. Learn more at www.davieymca.org and on Facebook.com/DavieFamilyYMCA.
Award-Winning Musical Comedy Opens This Friday at the Brock!
Posted by admin in People, Things To Do, Top Stories on March 13, 2013
Davie County Arts Council presents “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” ~ Show opens this Friday, March 15th with a 7:30 PM performance at the Brock Performing Arts Center in Mocksville. Seats are available for all 6 performances. Tickets can be ordered throught the Box Office (336) 751-3000.
2013 Season Opener This Weekend
The Davie County Arts Council’s Brock Players are kicking off their 2013 season with six performances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Winner of two Tony awards, this unique musical comedy has been produced not only all across America, but also in far-flung locales like Melbourne, Australia and the Philippines since its 2005 Broadway debut.
While it’s hard to imagine a setting more staid than a middle-school word competition, Putnam County Spelling Bee is anything but J-E-J-U-NE (simple; naive; unsophisticated). Acclaimed Broadway lyricist and composer William Finn and writer Rachel Sheinkin use the traditional spelling bee as a lens to focus on the hopes, worries, dreams, and A-N-G-S-T (a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity) of the six adolescent competitors through a series of revealing flashbacks. But even though some of the stories tug a bit at the heartstrings, a steady stream of jokes and the fast-paced plot keep things from becoming C-I-M-M-E-R-I-A-N (very dark or gloomy).
Put on Your Spelling Bee Outfit
What makes Putnam County Spelling Bee a particularly special event for theatergoers is its use of audience participation: this play doesn’t just break the “fourth wall,” it deconstructs it and tosses it out the window. Audience members are addressed as if they were in attendance at the bee itself, with characters referring to people in the crowd as family members and one actor roaming the aisles selling snacks. The real treat, though, is the inclusion of several members of onstage as contestants. Don’t bother brushing up too much on your E-T-Y-M-O-L-O-G-Y (the study of the origins and development of words), though — the show must goes on, after all, which means the words audience members are given increase pretty rapidly in difficulty.
Tickets Available Now!
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opens Friday, March 15th with a 7:30 PM performance at the Brock Performing Arts Center in Mocksville, with three other evening performances on March 16th, 22nd, and 23rd. Matinee performances will be held on March 17th and March 24th at 3:00 PM. Admission is $15 for adults and $13 for students and seniors. Call the Brock Performing Arts Center Box Office at 336-751-3000 or visit the Davie County Arts Center Web site for more details and to purchase tickets.
Resources:
Davie County Arts Council
Shamrock Bar-B-Que Event This Weekend in Cooleemee
Posted by admin in People, Things To Do, Top Stories on March 11, 2013
On Saturday, March 16, Cooleemee will host a community Bar-B-Que starting at noon on the Zachary House grounds at 131 Church Street in Cooleemee.
No one is claiming that Carolina’s BBQ tradition came from Ireland, but it is definitely a local favorite. No better can be found this month than at the Shamrock Bar-B-Que event in Cooleemee.
Start your St. Patrick’s Day celebration a little early ~ wear something green and come to the Zachary House Grounds at 131 Church Street in Cooleemee. Wind permitting, there will be a kite flying contest at 1 pm (bring your own or buy one there).
Grill Master Walter Ferrell will once again stay up the night before roasting and smoking Boston Butts. Last year, in a short hour and a half, all the meat was gone. More is being ordered for this year.
Support all 3 Heritage Museums in Davie County
Proceeds from all that eating go to keep Cooleemee’s three heritage museums open. In a town of less than a thousand souls, this history-minded town operates the Textile Heritage Center Museum, the Mill House Museum and also has the claim for North Carolina’s smallest museum, the Fire Fighters Museum.
“These museums are memorials to our ancestors, witnesses to their story and testaments to their way of life,” says Tony Steele who is president of the Cooleemee Historical Association. “We have also made them into living legacy classrooms for our local school children,” he added.
For $2.50 one can purchase a BBQ sandwich. For $6 a BBQ plate is available with slaw, hush puppies and a drink. You can order a whole Boston Butt for $30 if you call (336) 284-6040 before 5 pm on Wednesday, March 13th.
Cooleemee’s museums are visited by over four thousand people each year, drawing a wide range of visitors from Maine to Florida to California. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am until 4 pm. To schedule a group tour please call at least two weeks in advance.
Photo Caption: At Cooleemee’s Mill House Museum visitors are taken back to the early 1930s life of a mill hand’s family. Although one could “keep time” by the mill whistle’s blasts, mill workers had enough weekly pay to afford pocket watches and clocks. Authentic local artifacts make up 97% of the items displayed inside the 1903-built mill house. Photo by K.C. Smith
Resources:
Cooleemee, NC
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Davie Chamber Events- Take a Trip Tuesdays - Carolina Raptor Center - 06/18/2013[…]
- Friday Night Thunder plus! Motorcycle Points Race #6 - 06/21/2013[…]
- Peachtree Farmers Market - 06/21/2013[…]
- Open Mike Night - 06/21/2013[…]
- Farmington Farmers Market - 06/22/2013[…]
- Quick 8 Pro Mods @ Farmington - 06/22/2013[…]
- Sangria Summer @ Misty Creek - 06/22/2013[…]
- Music Night @ Misty Creek - 06/22/2013[…]
- Davie High War Eagles v. West Rowan Falcons Alumni Football Game - 06/22/2013[…]
- DC Networks - 06/25/2013[…]
- Wrap Party to Benefit Special Olympics of Davie County - 06/26/2013[…]
- Peachtree Farmers Market - 06/28/2013[…]
- Friday Night Thunder plus! Motorcycle Points Race - 06/28/2013[…]
- Sultry Summer Sunset Musical Flight @ Raylen Vineyards - 06/28/2013[…]
- Farmington Farmers Market - 06/29/2013[…]
- Sangria Summer @ Misty Creek - 06/29/2013[…]
- Mocksville Cruise In - 07/01/2013[…]
- Annual Lawnmower Parade - 07/04/2013[…]
- Fireworks In The Park - 07/04/2013[…]
- 14th Annual PAPA Antique Tractor and Engine Show - 07/05/2013[…]
- Take a Trip Tuesdays - Carolina Raptor Center - 06/18/2013
Economic Development App
Use your Android bar code reader to install the Davie County Economic Development Commission Android App on your Android phone. Apple iPhone/Ipad version coming soon!
