Lineups announced for Christmas Jam

You have to hand it to Western North Carolina: it has two of the better and longer-running concert events in America. A lot of people know of Wilkesboro's MerleFest, but perhaps equally impressive is Warren Haynes' annual Christmas Jam in Asheville.

Haynes has mentioned of late that he really wanted to step up the talent for this year's Jam, which will take place Dec. 12-13 at the Asheville Civic Center.

Um, I think he did.

"The Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt and Steve Earle are among the acts playing at this year's Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, event organizers announced," says the Citizen-Times.

But that's not all.

"Also booked are Joan Osborne, Johnny Winter, J.J. Grey, the Del McCoury Band, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Ruthie Foster, a Michael Franti acoustic show featuring Jay Bowman, Col. Bruce Hampton, Robert Kearns, Kevn Kinney, Eric Krasno and Mickey Raphael. More performers will be announced."

The Jam is a two-night affair this year, with an "invitation-only pre-jam on Dec. 11 at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue."

It is Asheville's single-biggest entertainment event of the year and has raised more than $650,000 for Habitat for Humanity, which works to build affordable housing.

“Warren promised that this year's jam would be the biggest yet, and it looks pretty good to me,” said Rick Rice, announcer at Asheville's Rock 104 radio station. “I think there are three or four acts there that could be headliners.”

Get your eat on in MC

One of North Carolina's best-known festivals (and my personal favorite) takes place this weekend: the North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City.

This is the 21st year of the seafood festival.

"The festival kicks off tonight with the start of musical performances and other entertainment and continues Saturday and Sunday with entertainment on several stages, children's activities, rides, arts and crafts vendors, Coastal Yesterday and Today exhibits and lots of seafood," says the Jacksonville Daily News.

"The main event is the shrimp, crab, fish and other seafood served up Saturday and Sunday by the school groups, churches, scout troops and civic clubs that line the waterfront streets. ...

"The Seafood Festival was started with a six-point mission that includes promotion of the seafood industry and boosting tourism in the non-summer months. Hotels, restaurants and shops benefit as visitors make their way to Carteret County for the event, said Carteret County Tourism Director Carol Lohr, who also helped start the event.

" 'It has grown to be the second largest festival in the state and it is definitely the largest economic factor in the fall in this area,' she said. ..."

Quick hits: Bele Chere and ECU's dental share

Asheville prepares for its biggest party
"Bele Chere, Asheville’s big downtown street party happening this weekend, has always been a game of numbers," writes the Asheville Citizen-Times.

"For Asheville’s festival coordinator Melissa Porter, the number might be 375,000. That’s the estimated number of Bele Chere visits expected over the weekend, starting at lunchtime today, and running through Sunday night.

"Or the number could be four — the average hours of sleep she’ll get each night this weekend. But she’s ready for it. 'This is my 10th Bele Chere and my third as director,' she said. 'Every year is different.' ..."

ECU dental school nets $25 million
"East Carolina University would receive $25 million to build a dental school under a budget deal reached late Wednesday night," writes the Greenville Daily Reflector.

"That amount, if approved by the full General Assembly, would 'certainly get us moving and get us the money we need to move ahead,' said Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the ECU dental school.

"As of Thursday night, the Legislature had yet to produce copies of the budget accord. Lead negotiators reached an agreement late Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. Copies of the bill were being drafted Thursday, with votes on it possibly coming this weekend, said Bill Holmes, a spokesman for House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange. ..."

Hollerin' Contest is one of a kind

In hindsight, I pretty much grew up in the epicenter of North Carolina's festival hotbed. Once a year, within just a few miles of my house, the following events took place: Mule Days in Benson; Farmer's Day in Coats; Denim Days in Erwin; and the Gen. Lee Celebration in Dunn. (That one's named for General WILLIAM C. Lee, the founder of the U.S. Army's paratrooper division and namesake of Lee Hall at North Carolina State University.)

But not too far away is the granddaddy of them all. The markers say it all: "Third Saturday in June." Yes, Spivey's Corner's National Hollerin' Contest is a snapshot of North Carolina heritage and Americana. Sadly, I've never actually made it to one. (Have you?)

This article from the Dunn Daily Record shows the impact the contest has had:

"The first Hollerin' Contest in 1969 attracted international media attention from as far afield as Japan, largely due to a press release from Mr. [Ermon] Godwin being sent out on the Associated Press wire. The first winner and runner-up appeared on the 'Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson in New York.

"Other highlights include the second event in which Slowpoke the possum, entered by its owner from Alabama who read about the contest in Sports Illustrated, won the Possum Relay. Slowpoke was to be Gov. Bob Scott's annual Thanksgiving possum dinner, but after a public outcry was returned by Wildlife officers to Raven Rock State Park. ...

"Mr. Godwin spearheaded an application in 1978 to host the 1984 Olympics that ultimately took place in Los Angeles, despite assurances by Mr. Godwin that a backyard pool could handle the swimming events. ...

"In 1982, Mr. Godwin offered Spivey's Corner up to host the Super Bowl. The proposal included the construction of a Holler-day Inn and a Hollerdome. Although he was turned down, the scheme netted the community airtime during the Super Bowl half-time show on NBC in 1983. The slot lasted 37 seconds, in a year when advertisers were charged $400,000 for 30 seconds - which would cost $2.6 million today.

"The early '80s saw President Ronald Reagan decline an offer to judge the Hollerin' Contest (he replied though, wishing Mr. Godwin and the other 48 residents of Spivey's Corner well). ...

"Now the event coordinator is Wayne Edwards and in true Ermon Godwin-promotional style he said he hopes President George Bush will attend the event, if not this year, then next.

"I believe the president would enjoy it," Mr. Edwards told the paper. "Spivey's Corner is a quiet place where we still celebrate life, liberty and the American way. Hell, he could bring the whole crowd. We're getting a helicopter pad. If he can't make it this year, he could come the next."

Barbecue battle hits the legislature

This one has been discussed ad nauseum, so I'll just link to this article and leave it at that. (After all, we all know eastern 'cue is the best! Ahem. Sorry. Couldn't control myself.)

"There is food, and then there is 'cue. One sustains life, the other is more important, at least according to Tar Heels.

"So, imagine the angst caused by a bill to name the Lexington Barbecue Festival the official state food festival," wrote the Greensboro News & Record.

Quick hits: Lottery down, Bele Chere downsizing

State's lottery revenues down
"One year after the North Carolina Education Lottery launched, revenue is 26 percent below projections," says WRAL.com.

"The state began selling its first scratch-off tickets a year ago Friday. To date, the lottery has brought in $885 million, less than three-quarters of the $1.2 billion state lawmakers expected in the lottery's first year.

"Lottery officials continue to adjust the available games to try to bring in more revenue. A $5 NASCAR-themed game that was unveiled Tuesday offers a top prize of $100,000 and gives players a chance to win NASCAR-licensed merchandise or a trip to a NASCAR race. ..."

Bele Chere scales down
"The Southeast’s largest free street festival soon could be not so large or so regional," writes the Asheville Citizen-Times.

"This year’s Bele Chere, which will run July 27-29, will likely have a smaller budget and will use more local artists, food and music.

"The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to act on recommendations from the Bele Chere board of directors that include using a greater percentage of bands from Western North Carolina, making vending booths cheaper for local artists and starting a local microbrewery booth. ..."

Ayden's festival to be the 'official' collards festival

There are several festivals in North Carolina honoring collard greens, but it looks like Ayden's might become the "official" one.

"North Carolina already has three official state festivals: the Hertford County Watermelon Festival, the Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival and Folkmoot USA in Waynesville as the official international festival," says the Asheville Citizen-Times.

"The N.C. Apple Festival in Hendersonville could make a similar move [as Ayden]. The festival occurs every Labor Day weekend and is now in its 61st year. But no one knows whether it’s recognized as an official festival." It should be noted that "[n]ot all festivals are rushing toward state recognition.

"The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will probably not seek official state designation for its Ramp It Up Festival, which starts March 31 to coincide with the start of the trout season, said Phil Werz, festival spokesman."

The article talks about the economic impact of festivals in the state. Asheville's Bele Chere brought in about $12 million and 167,000 people to the mountains in 2005. The N.C. Apple Festival impacts Henderson County with more than $25 million.

"Ayden Collard Festival organizers said they hoped visitors would do more than just visit the town, which is a suburb of Greenville, N.C.

" 'We’re hoping if we get people coming from all over the place, maybe they’ll want to live here,' said Joe Echel, the festival’s vendor committee chairman. 'It’s a nice place for people to live and start a business.' ..."

Quick hits: I've got some good news, and some bad news ...

Some items found while scanning the web today ...

Seafood festival wins regional award
"The North Carolina Seafood Festival [pictured] held annually in Morehead City has been recognized for the designs that covered posters and T-shirts during its 20th anniversary," according to a news release.

"The North Carolina/South Carolina Association of Festivals and Events awarded the Seafood Festival first place in T-shirt design and second place in poster design for last year's event.

" 'We are truly grateful to receive these coveted awards and many thanks to our poster and T-shirt artist, Anna B. Cordes,' said Seafood Festival Executive Director Stephanie McIntyre. ..."

N.C. tops nation in farm losses
"North Carolina may soon have to decide between progress and loss of a way of life," according to the Dunn Daily Record.

"For the past two years, the state has won a title it may not want to keep - Tops in Farm Loss. North Carolina lost 1,000 farms in 2005, tying Florida and Tennessee for first place in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2004 it wasn't even a tie; with a loss of 3,000 farms, North Carolina lost hands down.

"Director of Public Affairs for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Conservation Services Brian Long said the title is one the state would like to lose, and soon.

" 'North Carolina had 54,000 farms in 2002 and at the end of 2005 we were down to 48,000,' he said. 'That is a 6,000 farm loss over a period of just six years and we've got to take steps now to stop it. It's been one of Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler's main priorities in recent years.' ..."

Quick hits: Patriots, primaries, poets, postal honors and Pikeville chocolate

Greene statue planned for Greensboro bicentennial
"One of the city's leading givers has a new gift in store: a downtown statue of Greensboro's namesake," according to the Greensboro News & Record.

"The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation will provide a larger-than-life statue of Revolutionary War Gen. Nathanael Greene as part of the city's bicentennial celebration next year.

" 'I've been saying for 20 years that we need a statue of General Greene downtown,' said Jim Melvin, president of the foundation. ..."

Senator wants N.C. among early primaries
"North Carolina is a national leader in banking and boasts a large military presence, among other attributes, so why shouldn't the state be among the first to help choose candidates for president?

"N.C. Sen. Andrew Brock doesn't see why not," according to the Salisbury Post. "He introduced a bill in the General Assembly on Wednesday that would move the state's presidential primaries from May to the first Tuesday in February.

" 'We would be the largest state with a presidential primary that early and we would instantly become a major player' on the national stage, Brock said Wednesday. ...

"Brock said moving North Carolina's primaries near those in South Carolina, which plans a Democratic primary Jan. 29 and a Republican primary Feb. 2, will make the Carolinas, and their combined 23 electoral votes, a force with which candidates will have to reckon. ..."

Shuler introduces bill to expand Sandbeurg property
"The Carl Sandburg historic site in Flat Rock is closer to a proposed expansion that would protect its view from encroaching suburban growth, add more parking and add a visitor's center," according to the Hendersonville Times-News.

"Western North Carolina freshman U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler introduced a House bill Thursday to allow the site to expand its borders by 115 acres. The bill is Shuler's, a Democrat from Waynesville, first piece of legislation as a lawmaker.

"The bill has bipartisan support in both chambers. It's the companion to a bill introduced last week by Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

"The famous poet's home (shown) and 264-acre site is about three miles from Hendersonville in Flat Rock, two growing communities popular with retirees. Officials want to expand by 115 acres to protect the site's scenic views from development, something Shuler's predecessor, eight-term Rep. Charles Taylor, blocked. ..."

Jazz great puts her stamp on Elizabeth City
"It was a day of firsts in Elizabeth City on Thursday," according to the Daily Advance.

"For the first time, U.S. postal officials unveiled a commemorative stamp in Elizabeth City, at the K.E. White Center. The event itself was organized by the city's first black postmaster, Kesha L. Holifield. And the portrait on the new stamp everyone came to see was that of Ella Fitzgerald, the 'first lady of song.' ...

"Holifield, who took over as postmaster in June, said one reason she wanted to celebrate the new stamp here is that Fitzgerald was born nearby — in Newport News, Va. Another reason was Holifield's desire to raise the profile of the post office in the community. ..."

Pikeville Chocolate Festival coming up
"The town of Pikeville will be holding a chocolate festival, 'Life is Sweet,' on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Charles B. Aycock High School to raise money for the Relay for Life," according to the Goldsboro News-Argus.

"For a $5 admission, people can enjoy all of the sweet treats, which include any cookies, cakes or pies, entered for the festival.

"Others can bring in their own entries free of charge. Organizers ask that anyone bringing in an entry bring in two identical treats to the event. One will be savored by the judges and the other will be sold during a silent auction later in the day. ..."