Hang in there, North Carolina

The beating that North Carolina has taken over the past week due to Hurricane Florence has been downright incredible. But so has the resiliency of this state and her people. This place is flat-out remarkable. If you think we won't come back from this, well, you have another thing coming.

But that's not to say that there won't be challenges. Many of us will need to remember the good to get through the bad. A couple of years ago, we put together a list of reasons to love North Carolina. It is a nice list; however, it honestly barely scratches the surface. Here is that list again. Feel free to add  to it. After all, it never hurts to be reminded of what a wonderful place this is -- and will continue to be.

#westillloveNC

• Barbecue
• Blue Ridge Mountains
• Blue Ridge parkway
• Outer Banks
• Crystal Coast
• Char-Grill
• Asheville
• Avett Brothers
• The Connells
• Red clay
• Red Clay Ramblers
• Cheerwine
• Pepsi
• Grandfather Mountain
• Tweetsie Railroad
• Wine
• Craft beer
• Furniture
• Sherry's Bakery in Dunn
• Our colleges and universities (public and private)
• Our teachers
• Cape Hatteras
• Our State magazine
• Big city downtowns and small town Main Streets
• The suburbs, too!
• Sugar Mountain
• Music festivals
• Waterfalls
• Grey squirrels
• White squirrels
• Cardinals
• Venus fly trap
• The Lost Colony
• The Greensboro Four
• College basketball
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Charlotte Hornets
• Carolina Panthers
• Golf courses
• Blowing Rock
• Tim McLaurin
• Lee Smith
• James Taylor
• Biltmore Estate
• Grove Park Inn
• Wilmington
• Bald Head Island
• N.C. Zoo
• Pine trees
• Dogwoods
• Lake Lure
• New Bern
• Bath
• Blackbeard
• Angus Barn
• Carowinds
• Chimney Rock
• Fairy crosses
• Emeralds
• Brown Mountain Lights
• Chatham County Line
• Ocracoke
• Andy Griffith
• Mount Airy
• Link Wray
• Carl Sandburg
• Michael Jordan
• Ava Gardner
• Cape Lookout
• Krispy Kreme
• David Thompson
• Halifax Resolves
• Bojangles
• Red wolves
• Durham Bulls
• Mount Mitchell
• Lake Matamuskeet
• Pinehurst No. 2
• Brevard
• Charlie Daniels
• Randy Travis
• Earl Scruggs
• Doc Watson
• Thelonius Monk
• John Coltrane
• Jim Hunt
• Hanging Rock
• Yadkin Valley
• National Whitewater Rafting Center
• Pilot Mountain
• Lake Gaston
• Lake Norman
• Kerr Lake 

New Bern flooding photo courtesy of Vox; boat photo courtesy of MPR News.

Where to see Christmas lights

North Carolina has long been known as the "Variety Vacationland." It could also be known as the "Christmas Lights Variety Land." No matter where you are in the state this time of year, there are noteworthy light displays for your enjoyment.

I am biased toward the Meadow Lights because I grew up not far from there and we tend to make an annual pilgrimage with the kids due to its close proximity to Raleigh.  

"Out west," McAdenville, N.C., is actually known as "Christmas Town, U.S.A."  And then there is Biltmore Estate in Asheville, which has established itself as a national draw when it comes to holiday decorating.

What are some other notable Christmas light displays we should all be aware of? VisitNC.com offers some potential places to visit. Among the list are Chetola's Festival of Lights in Blowing Rock, Speedway Lights in Concord, Beary Merry Christmas in New Bern, and much more. 

Images courtesy of Mcadenville-christmastown.com and Biltmore.com.

N.C. icons Pepsi and Cheerwine join together

A frequent Society contributor once lived in D.C. and would order cases of Cheerwine because it was so hard to come by in the nation's capital. Apparently, getting Cheerwine in Raleigh hasn't been easy either.

But no longer.

"A distribution deal with Raleigh-based Pepsi Bottling Ventures will bring Cheerwine to more grocery stores and other retail outlets in the Triangle market, the Carolina Beverage Corp. and Cheerwine Bottling Co. announced Tuesday," says the TBJ.

“PBV has fantastic relationships with local retailers and institutions where we’ve never been available before,” said Jim Leland, Cheerwine’s vice president of sales, “and we’re excited to announce to Cheerwine drinkers that, wherever they see Pepsi, they’ll now likely see us.”

The partnership brings together two soft-drink brands that were created in North Carolina.

“We’re pleased to have the two most iconic brands that are both born in North Carolina – Cheerwine in Salisbury and Pepsi in New Bern – together in our home base, Raleigh,” says Paul Finney, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Pepsi Bottling Ventures.

Raleigh has long been one of Cheerwine’s top markets, said the company, which expects sales to grow substantially with its new Pepsi partnership.

Best place to retire in the South? Why, North Carolina, of course!

Ideal Living has released its list of the top places in the South to retire, and of North Carolina regions stake the claim in two of the top five, including the top one. Nice.

"Based on our reader surveys, we know that the 'lifestyle' is what you desire most," says the site. "Active year-round outdoor activities, small-town flare with big city access, a sense of community, golf, boating, abundant walking trails and more."

Taking readers feedback, Ideal Living ranked the N.C. coast No. 1.

"Consistently ranked in the top 5 US retirement destinations, the North Carolina Coast is home to Wilmington, New Bern, Cape Hatteras, The Albemarle Sound region and more." They recommend "checking out" Waterside at The Point near New Bern, Compass Pointe and River Landing, both in Wilmingon.

Following the N.C. coast were the Florida and South Cackalacky coasts, respectively, then the Tennessee mountains and, finally at No. 5, the North Carolina mountains.

"Rounding out our top 5, the NC Mountains have gained extreme popularity over the past 5 years, primarily for the national attention Asheville, NC has received as a retirement destination. But if you take a step outside of the mainframe, you’ll discover a lot more to explore in quaint mountain villages."

(Coastal photo by Kelly Capps)

Quick hits: PKS plans soundside park and Scottish group proposes special NB tartan

Pine Knoll Shores readies for soundfront park
"The overcast day didn't keep Pine Knoll Shores resident JoAnn Shallcross from seeing the beauty of the surroundings as the town celebrated the start of construction on its new soundfront park.

"Shallcross said a group of egrets can often be found amongst the landscape of the marsh and sound that sits just behind town hall. ...

"Shallcross and other members of the town's Recreation Advisory Committee have helped the town develop plans for Veterans' Park, which will give residents and visitors a way to enjoy the sound in a natural setting," according to the Jacksonville Daily News.

"Plans call for bike parking at Pine Knoll Boulevard, with a path leading from there to an observation deck, or sittum, overlooking the sound on the back side of town hall. From there, a nature trail continues into the maritime forest toward the sound. ..."

Scottish group proposes special tartan to commemorate New Bern's 300th anniversary
"The Scottish Heritage Society of Eastern North Carolina is seeking the city's permission to design and register a special tartan in recognition of New Bern's 300th anniversary in 2010," according to the Sun-Journal.

"Tartans, sometimes referred to as plaids, are woolen cloths woven in patterns of different colors and widths. They are particularly associated with Scottish territory, where many clans adopt their own distinct patterns.

" 'New Bern has a rich heritage of Scots immigrants ... that we feel an official tartan adopted by the city would be a suitable way to recognize that heritage and the city's anniversary,' said Brian Dodds, the vice president of the society. ..."

Move over, Myrtle Beach. Bikers coming to New Bern

Bikers may not be welcome in Myrtle Beach, but the original home of N.C. governors and Pepsi is putting fresh sheets on its proverbial bed.

"After 68 years in Horry County, the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association motorcycle rally is hitting the road," says the (Myrtle Beach) Sun News.

"The association announced Monday it will move its May rally to New Bern, N.C., a town where it said it feels welcome.

"The dealers association, which has sponsored the oldest and shortest of the May events, said it will hold this year's rally May 15 and 16 at the New Bern Fairgrounds.

"Lummus said New Bern has a waterfront, plenty of hotel rooms and history, and Myrtle Beach had made it clear the rallies were no longer wanted. ..."

Quick hits: New Bern's 300th and an Air Force One museum ... in Wilmington?

Celebration of New Bern's 300th expected to boost city

"The chairman of New Bern's 300th anniversary committee says a yearlong celebration of the city 'will help us weather the storm and position us well for economic recovery.'

"Nelson McDaniel, who leads the committee, said the group is eager to have advice from the city and that its members 'will be the best stewards of the trust placed in us,'" according to the New Bern Sun-Journal.

"Part of that job, he said, is being mindful of the struggling economy as plans are made, but understanding that the celebration should be grand enough to have long-term effects.

" 'We are putting together a celebration that ... reflects our history, our values and our current lives ... a celebration that is to have immediate and lasting impacts,' McDaniel told aldermen this week. ..."

Officials endorse Air Force One museum in Port City

"A group of Southeastern North Carolina elected officials Monday afternoon unanimously endorsed a private proposal to build an Air Force One Museum and White House Photo Gallery in Wilmington.

"But that doesn’t mean it’s coming here," says the Star-News. "Other places in North Carolina, including at least one in the Outer Banks, are also hoping to land the proposed museum, where the history of presidential air travel would be preserved alongside a display of decades of White House photographs. Museum planners also hope at least one former presidential bird would serve as the museum’s main attraction.

" 'The question is where it’s going to be,' said Howie Franklin, director of the Brunswick County Airport and a member of the proposed museum’s board of directors. 'It’s going to be somewhere.' ..."

(Rendering from the Star-News online)

$1 million pledged to Tryon Palace

Philanthropist Mariam Cannon Hayes (of Cannon Mills fame) recently bequeathed $1 million to New Bern's historic Tryon Palace, site of the first permanent capitol of colonial North Carolina and home to the royal governor.

Hayes died in August at age 91.

"The Tryon Palace money will help build a $60 million historical education center at the facility, palace Director Kay Williams said," according to the Charlotte Observer.

"The gateway in the new building will be named for Hayes' parents, textile magnate Charles A. Cannon and his wife, Ruth, and will feature information about the family's philanthropy. In the 1930s and 1940s, Ruth Cannon helped start the reconstruction of the palace, which had burned in 1798.

"Williams had discussed a donation with Hayes for several years. Construction on the education center will begin in June, and it should open in April 2010 in time for New Bern's tricentennial.

" 'She agreed the project was valuable and wanted to do something to honor her parents' involvement,' Williams said. 'In a way ... (the bequest) is a fitting memorial to her as well. It's a gift to history in North Carolina, her parents and a gift for education.' ..."

Hayes also pledged $3.5 million to UNC-Charlotte, $1million each to Davidson College and Queens University, $500,000 to the Blowing Rock Community Center and $600,000 for the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord. She also bequeathed, according to the Observer, $200,000 for a scholarship fund at Cannon School, an independent school in Concord. She forgave the debt on the 2005 sale of a Beechcraft Baron airplane to her nephew, William Cannon Jr.

"And she left her Blowing Rock property, worth an estimated $2.2 million, to the Appalachian State University Foundation.

"She gave her Concord home to the Cannon Foundation. The house, valued at $413,170 according to her estate inventory, was built in 1907 and will serve as the foundation's new home, Executive Director Frank Davis said."