Quick hits: N.C. leads nation in copperhead bites, and here comes the drought (again)!

Watch out for that snake!

"North Carolina leads the country in copperhead snake bites, according to Carolinas Poison Center.

"Five venomous snakes call North Carolina home, including copperhead, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback, pygmy, and timber, but it's the copperhead snake that causes the most bites," says NBC 17.

"According to CPC, in 2009, almost 500 snake bites were reported. Of those, 228 were identified as copperhead bites. ..."

13 counties upgraded to moderate drought

"13 counties have received upgraded drought status in the U.S. Drought's Monitor's weekly report, while another eight have escaped abnormally dry status," says the N&O.

"Phil Badgett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, said nine counties were upgraded to moderate drought status. These were Caswell, Pitt, Lenoir, Greene, Granville, Nash, Wayne and Person counties.

"Four counties, he added, were upgraded to severe drought status. These were Hartfield, Halifax, Warren and Northampton counties. ..."

UNCA among best environmental studies programs

The University of North Carolina-Asheville is among the best schools for offering environmental studies undergraduate degree programs, according to The Fiske Guide to Colleges.

"You know environmental college programs have become popular when they earn a special mention in The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011 edition," writes the Mother Nature Network.

Along with UNCA are Colby College (Maine), College of the Atlantic, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder, UC-Davis, Dartmouth, Eckerd College (Fla.), Evergreen State College, Tulane, and the University of Washington.

Here's a shocker: N.C. ACC football teams not expected to do well

The media has made its preseason Atlantic Coast Conference picks, and the Hokies of Virginia Tech are the early favorites.

Not surprisingly, the four N.C. teams are not expected to compete for a division or conference title.*

Here are the preseason picks:

ACC Championship votes:

1. Virginia Tech (50)
2. Florida State (26)
3. Miami (10)
4. Georgia Tech (8)
5. (tie) Boston College and UNC (2)

Atlantic Division

1. Florida State (78)
2. Clemson (16)
3. Boston College (4)
4. NC State
5. Wake Forest
6. Maryland

Coastal Division

1. Virginia Tech (62)
2. Miami (20)
3. Georgia Tech (11)
4. North Carolina (5)
5. Duke
6. Virginia

*In all honesty, the goings-ons and uncertainty at UNC probably prevented the Heels from ranking higher.

Quick hits: 49ers football close to happening, and Daughtry gives some love to a W-S theater

49ers football program needs one more signature

"UNC Charlotte’s first on-campus football stadium is now just a governor’s signature away from becoming a reality," according to reports.

"The N.C. General Assembly passed a bill last week that allows the school to borrow $40 million for the construction of a new 15,000-seat football stadium, field house and practice fields to house the Charlotte 49ers’ new football program, scheduled to start play in fall 2013.

"Gov. Beverly Perdue is expected to sign the bill as early as next week. The school plans to mark the event with a celebration among supporters sometime after Perdue gives final approval. ..."

New Daughtry music video highlights theater

"A refurbished former silent movie theater in North Carolina has a starring role in the newest music video from Daughtry," according to the AP.

"The video for the song 'September' was shot earlier this month at the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The center in Winston-Salem dates to 1929, when it was a silent movie theater. It's now the primary performance venue for the arts school.

"The video premiered online Friday on the music network VEVO. The song is from Daughtry's platinum-selling album, 'Leave This Town.' ..."

MoogFest performers announced

Massive Attack, MGMT and Thievery Corporation are three of the acts confirmed to perform at the inaugural MoogFest Oct. 29-31 in Asheville, according to the Citizen-Times. The event is in honor the late Robert Moog, creator of the eponymous synthesizer.

More than two dozen other acts will also be featured at MoogFest, with shows booked at the city’s three biggest music venues – the Asheville Civic Center arena, Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and The Orange Peel club on Biltmore.

A full schedule is due to be released on on July 27, and tickets will go on sale July 30.

MoogFest is the latest project from AC Entertainment, the creator and producer of the wildly successful Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

The Halloween weekend festival will honor the late Asheville-based music pioneer Robert Moog, creator of the music keyboard synthesizer. Considered the Edision of electronic music, Moog’s synthesizer revolutionized performing. He died at 71 on Aug, 21, 2005.

Moog’s work continues to have an enormous global impact, and not just in music.

Most recently, Asheville Brewing Co. honored the inventor with a specialty craft beer, Moog Filtered Ale, which has been very popular with sales across the country.

Plans also continue for a Moog museum in Asheville, which would house his archives.

(Image from Wikipedia)

Jordan starting to call Charlotte home

"Michael Jordan sightings in Charlotte used to be rare enough that they had a Halley's Comet quality," writes the Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler.

Not anymore. Jordan, who recently bought the Charlotte Bobcats, is making himself more visible and at home in the Queen City.

Jordan has bought a home in uptown Charlotte five minutes from Time Warner Cable Arena and plans to start living there part time in September. He has found several places he likes to hang out in Charlotte - bowling at Strike City in the EpiCentre, schmoozing at Mez restaurant, eating New York-style pizza and watching sports on TV at Selwyn Pub.

"I'm starting to understand my surroundings," Jordan told me in an interview Friday. "I'm moving around. I'm finding out where I like to go in Charlotte to eat and to relax. I want to be part of the community and to interact with the public."

Quick hits: Lumbees need unity, Elkmont doesn't need hikers

N.C. Lumbee chairman: Unity needed

"The Lumbee tribal chairman in North Carolina is calling for unity in the tribe's fight for federal recognition even as some members are trying to unseat him," according to reports.

"The Fayetteville Observer reported that Chairman Purnell Swett called for unity Tuesday during his first State of the Tribe address. Swett didn't refer to federal recognition during his prepared remarks, but saved his comments for the end of the speech.

"He says the tribe is at a critical point in the federal recognition process and must work together. ..."

Hiking discouraged at Elkmont area in Smokies

"Officials at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are discouraging hikers from using the Elkmont trails through the end of August," says the AP.

"They cited the repaving of all connecting roads to the popular trails, and limited parking. Additionally, a clubhouse in the area is being renovated.

"A news release from the park encouraged visitors to take advantage of the other 750-plus miles of trails in the Smokies. ..."

What's the food you must eat in your county?

Our State magazine has published a list of the "must-eat" foods from all 100 North Carolina counties. You can view it here (PDF).

From those counties close to me, I'm ashamed to say I've never had the Apple Pie MmmMarmalade from Mrs. Picky Fanicky's Foods in Erwin (Harnett County). I can boast to enjoying a steak from the Angus Barn (Wake County), 'cue from Kings (Lenoir County) and the ribs from 12 Bones in Asheville (Buncombe). I've also been to the Beaufort Grocery Co. (Carteret County), but have not had the Apple Granny Chicken Sandwich; same with the Magnolia Grill's grits concoction (Durham County).

And one of these days I'm gonna brown bag it to he Beefmastor (Wilson County).

It doesn't get much more North Carolina than this

... unless, of course, there was a way to also infuse it with barbecue.

"A limited edition doughnut brings two North Carolina tastes together: Cheerwine and Krispy Kreme," writes Mouthful. "The Cheerwine-cream filled doughnut will only be available in July.

"The first batch will be delivered tomorrow to Gov. Bev Perdue."

Brunswick Co.: Some very fine eats

The family headed down to the Sunset Beach area for a conference last week. And while I won't go into the details on the horrendous experience at the resort at which we stayed, I do want to sing the praises of the culinary experiences we had.

Our first stop was dinner at the Sugar Shack in Ocean Isle Beach. Man, oh man, this may be one of the best meals we've ever had. We started with crab fritters (with a fantastic lime sauce) and then split a full rack of ribs. We were a bit suspicious when there was no barbecue sauce with the ribs, but our concern was quickly put to rest. These were perhaps the best ribs we've ever eaten. If you attempt to go to the Sugar Shack, be sure to make reservations.

The next night we hit the Giggling Mackerel, also in OIB. Admittedly, it would be hard for any place to follow the Sugar Shack, but the Giggling Mackerel held its own. The food is not as adventurous, but the service was fantastic, the food was brought out quickly (and when you have a 3-year-old and a 19-month-old, you don't want to dilly-dally), and there's plenty of stuff to do before you're seated. The restaurant is located in a fishing center, complete with a seafood market and a very neat nautical-themed store.

Our third night there was spent at Ella's in Calabash. Some may poo-poo Calabash-style seafood for just being fried, but I'm not complaining. Ella's is one of several Calabash institutions, and the food was fantastic.

Oh, and the best part about all these places? They are VERY reasonably priced -- especially for coastal restaurants. For instance, at Ella's, I got the deluxe fried platter -- with shrimp, crab, flounder, oyster and scallops; fries and coleslaw -- for just $15.

(Sugar Shack image from Myspace; Giggling Mackerel photo courtesy of its homepage)

Griffith, Watson and Caesar among newest N.C. Music Hall inductees

The N.C. Music Hall has announced its newest class (Class of '10). These pioneers will be honored in October in Kannapolis as the newest members of the Music Hall.

Among the honorees are Andy Griffith, Doc Watson, Shriley Caesar and Donna Fargo.

The induction ceremony will be held October 7 at the Core Labratory Building on the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis. The N.C. Music Hall opened there in 2009.


N.C. Music Hall Class of 2010
Performing Artists:
Maurice Williams, recording artist, Charlotte
Andy Griffith, gospel recording artist, Mount Airy/Wilmington
Donna Fargo, country recording artist, Mount Airy
Arthur Smith, country composer, performer, producer, Charlotte
George Hamilton IV, country recording artist, Winston-Salem
Doc Watson, country/bluegrass vocalist, musician, Deep Gap/North Wilkesboro
Curly Seckler, bluegrass vocalist and musician, China Grove
Dr. Bill Taylor, jazz pianist, composer, Greenville
Shirley Caesar, gospel recording artist, Durham

Deceased:
Don Gibson, country recording artist and composer, Shelby
Les Brown, Big Band leader, Durham
Oliver (William Oliver Swofford), recording artist, North Wilkesboro

Non-Performing Artists:
Don Schlitz, composer, guitarist and soloist, Durham

Quick hits: Man wins Hollerin' Contest with 'Summertime' rendition, and coastal states study public beach access

N.C. man hollers 'Summertime'

"A North Carolina man who won the National Hollerin' Contest says he almost disqualified himself by going over the four-minute time limit," says the AP.

"The Fayetteville Observer reported that Tony Peacock of Siler City won the 42nd annual contest this past weekend in Spivey's Corner. His hollerin' rendition of the popular Gershwin tune 'Summertime' got him the title.

"Peacock says he had to cut short his last holler because he had only two seconds left.

"The contest is held to benefit the Spivey's Corner Volunteer Fire Department. The winner gets bragging rights and opportunities to perform at events and on television. ..."

Public beach access under assault in many coastal states
"Some Jersey shore beach towns have plenty of ways to keep outsiders off their sand: Limit on-street parking, prohibit food and drink, and have no public bathrooms," says the AP.

"One town literally walls off the public from much of the ocean with a protective stone seawall, and offers virtually no parking for miles along it.

"Beach access has become a long drawn-out court battle in many coastal states. And now in New Jersey, the state Department of Environmental Protection is bowing to complaints from some local governments and private property owners that state access rules are too strict. ...

"Battles over who rules the sand are being fought all over the country. It's not just about unbroken ocean views, either. In New Jersey, tourism is a nearly $40 billion industry and its beaches are a primary draw.

"The U.S. Supreme Court last week ruled that Florida can undertake beach-widening projects without compensating beach-front property owners who lose exclusive access to the water. ...

"In Hawaii, a new law prohibits property owners from using vegetation to block beach access. In North Carolina, state officials are trying to balance competing demands over the use of a popular Outer Banks beach between fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts who want to drive their vehicles on the sand, and environmentalists who want to protect coastal wildlife. ..."

State has plan for oil on the coast

Oil from the BP spill in the Gulf may or may not make its way up to the North Carolina coast. But if it does, state officials are ready.

"North Carolina has a plan for dealing with the possible incursion of the BP Deep Horizons oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico into the state’s coastal waters," says the Washington News.

"That plan may be found on the N.C. Department of Crime Control & Public Safety’s Web page under the heading for the Division of Emergency Management, said department spokesman Ernie Seneca. The department’s Web page may be found at www.nccrimecontrol.org. ...

The plan was developed in the “remote chance some of this oil will make its way up here,” Seneca said in an interview with the Washington Daily News. ...

Meanwhile, the state is preparing to act if oil threatens its waters.

“North Carolina has an oil spill-response plan that defines roles and responsibilities for responding agencies,” Seneca said. “The state of North Carolina is closely monitoring BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. State and federal agencies are coordinating plans to be fully prepared to respond in case the oil reaches our state. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently projecting that there is a remote chance that the oil could reach this far north and threaten North Carolina’s coast.”

North Carolina’s plan makes the Coast Guard the lead agency in charge of oil threatens coastal waters, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the lead agency in charge if oil threatens inland waters. The N.C. Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, which includes the Division of Emergency Management, is the lead state-response agency. The N.C. State Emergency Response Team, headed by the state’s emergency-management director, assists federal agencies, coordinates state preparations and response activities and works with local communities and responders.

Glad to hear that state officials are planning ahead. Hopefully it is unnecessary planning.

Our state's food: The Tar Heel 25

The Raleigh News & Observer has put together a list (and multimedia slideshow) of the "Tar Heel 25," the 25 foods that define our state. You can read about them here.

Here are some of the highlights.

1. Banana pudding at Savor Cafe in Charlotte

2. Picking apples at Skytop Orchard in Flat Rock. "Follow the picking with the essence of apple: a cold cider slushy and a hot cider doughnut."

3. Grits souffle at Magnolia Grill in Durham.

4. North Carolina barbecue (depending on your taste -- smart move, N&O!).

5. Seafood at Catch in Wilmington

6. Beer at Barley's Taproom in Asheville

7. Pork chop sandwich at Snappy Lunch, Mount Airy

8. A high-caffeine soda. "North Carolina has a history of inventing high-caffeine sodas, including Sundrop. From there it was a simple step to the Cherry Lemon Sundrop. It originated at R.O.'s Barbecue in Gastonia (Sundrop, Cheerwine and a slice of lemon), then branched out to What-A-Burger in Mooresville (Sundrop, Fanta cherry soda and a lemon slice). Either way, it's sweet, tart and refreshing on a hot afternoon."

9. R.O.'s slaw/sauce/dip in Gastonia

10. The "little loaves of warm cornbread with honey butter" from Mert's Heart & Soul in Charlotte.

11. Honeysuckle sorbet, Crook's Corner, Chapel Hill

12. Fried chicken from Keaton's Barbecue, Statesville

13. Fried herring from the Cypress Grill, Jamesville

14. Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church barbecue, Charlotte

15. Gaynelle Tillett's fig cake from the Ocracoke Seafood Company, Ocracoke

16. A BLT from the Merritt's Store & Grill in Chapel Hill

17. Price's Chicken Coop, Charlotte

18. The 12-layer cake from Robeson County, with "thin layers of yellow cake separated by a rich chocolate frosting. Before we dig in to the country buffet at Fuller's Old Fashion Bar-B-Q in Lumberton, we always check the dessert table - just to make sure we need to save room."

19. Uncle Scott's Root Beer, Davidson

20. N.C. State University ice cream, Raleigh (on campus or at the N.C. State Fair)

21. Chili Dog from the Roast Grill, Raleigh; Ward's Grill in Whiteville; J.S. Pulliam Barbeque in Winston-Salem

22. Mama Dip's pecan pie, Chapel Hill

23. Warm Moravian sugar cake, Winston-Salem

24. Varnamtown Oyster Roast. "The congregation of the Dixon Chapel United Methodist Church has hosted the event for more than 50 years. The line of people waiting to eat their fill of roasted oysters, hushpuppies and sweet pickles is a testament to the eating experience. To look like a pro, bring your own homemade sauce and roll of paper towels."

25. Salt-and-pepper catfish from Twin Tops Fish Camp in Belmont

Any obvious omissions? Any problems with these on the list?

Introducing your Official State Horse

From the News & Observer:

Buffeted by hurricanes and harassed by centuries of sand fleas, the humble colonial Spanish mustang has been enshrined as North Carolina's official horse.

The state House voted 116-0 Wednesday to embrace the descendents of steeds said to have been marooned on the Outer Banks by 16th century conquistadors. The Senate approved the bill last week, and Gov. Bev Perdue is expected to sign the measure into law.

The measure was herded through the legislature by one of its most powerful members, Senate leader Marc Basnight.

"They are part of our heritage," said Basnight, a Manteo Democrat whose coastal district includes islands where the horses roam wild. "They are a small horse in stature. They are quick. They are relatively tame, when not in season." ...

Quick hits: It's 'cane season, and an official state horse?

It's hurricane season, y'all

"The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season has begun and comes at a time when oil from a spill off the Louisiana coast continues spewing into the Gulf of Mexico," according to the AP.

"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an active season, with as many as 23 named tropical storms.

"An estimated eight to 14 storms could strengthen into hurricanes. Of those storms, three to seven could become major hurricanes. ..."

Senate gives Mustang the OK

"The state Senate has passed a bill naming the Colonial Spanish Mustang the official State Horse of North Carolina.

"Sen. Pro-tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, requested the adoption of the bill in the Senate. The legislation now heads to the House, where it has backing from Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, and Rep. Tim Spear, D-Washington," says the Daily Advance.

"The idea for the designation came from students at Shawboro Elementary School in Currituck County. Basnight’s staff, Owens, Spear and other leaders attended a meeting at Shawboro in January.

"There are currently about 100 wild horses in Corolla and around 120 living in Shackleford Banks in Carteret County. ..."

Cape Hatteras fourth on Dr. Beach's best beaches list

Cape Hatteras came in No. 4 in Dr. Stephen Leatherman (aka, "Dr. Beach)'s annual Best Beach in America list. Leatherman, an N.C. State alum, has made quite the career out of publishing this annual list. Tough gig.

The No. 1 beach in America this year is Coopers Beach, in the N.Y. Hamptons.

"New York has world-class beaches, but I don't think a lot of people in the United States know about them," said Leatherman.

Rounding out the top 10 are Siesta Beach, Fla. (2), Coronado Beach, Calif. (3), Cape Hatteras, N.C. (4), Main Beach, N.Y. (5), Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Honololu (No. 6), Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Mass. (7), Beachwalker Park in Kiawah Island, S.C. (8), and Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii (9), Cape Florida State Park, Fla. (10).

Photo by Kelly Capps

Vote for an N.C. Google doodle

Google is running "Doodle 4 Google" contest, where schoolchildren have submitted artistic renderings of the Google logo. More than 30,000 entries were received down to 40 regional finalists. (According to Google: Voting is open from May 18, 2010 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) to May 25, 2010 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). After May 25th, we will tally up your votes and announce the four national finalists and national winner on May 26, 2010 at an awards ceremony in New York. The national winner's doodle will appear on Google.com on May 27, 2010.)


You can actually go back and see the North Carolina entries, grade by grade. Go here. "Branch Out" is one of the regional finalists.




Here are some samplings of some other Tar Heel State entries.

Charlotte Observer: The spirit of the Mecklenburg Declaration lives on

Andy Polk, a legislative aide to Rep. Sue Myrick, wrote this for the Charlotte Observer yesterday.

For those who may not be familiar with our area's origins, May 20th is a day to learn and reflect on our local history.

Thomas Polk was the first to settle Charlotte in 1755. He traveled to North Carolina in search of a place with large tracts of land to settle, and space to raise a family. He stopped at the intersection of present day Trade and Tryon streets, in uptown Charlotte where he purchased the land and built a home. ...

In 1771, local leaders were able to secure a charter for Queens University - what would have been the first college in the area - only to have the king strip the charter in 1773. Citizens in Mecklenburg, like others across the colonies, began hurting from the crippling taxes and harsh laws imposed by the king. Once loyal subjects, newly identified "Americans" began speaking out publicly against this harsh rule.

By 1775, disputes between American colonists and the British were at a tipping point. Thomas Polk, commander of the Mecklenburg militia, called for a council of local leaders to gather at the Mecklenburg courthouse on May 19, 1775, to discuss grievances against the crown. That same day, news arrived in Charlotte that Americans had been killed by British troops at the previous month's battles at Lexington and Concord.

This news spurred the predominantly Scotch-Irish leaders, who already had a long history of fighting British rule, to move beyond debate to action. That night, local leaders drafted and signed a document called the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, fondly known as the "Meck Dec."

At noon on May 20, 1775, Thomas Polk stood at the Mecklenburg Courthouse and read aloud the declaration to the public: "... the citizens of Mecklenburg County do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother Country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown..." By this act, Mecklenburg declared itself "a free and independent people," more than a year prior to the Declaration of Independence.

Original copies of the Mecklenburg Declaration were lost in a fire in 1800, causing some historians to question the validity of the document, even while many point to sources such as newspaper articles to prove its existence. As a proud descendant of Thomas Polk, I don't need a document to prove the "Meck Dec" existed. The independent spirit of our local forefathers proves its existence.

It is this spirit and our fierce determination for freedom that caused English General Cornwallis to call Charlotte a "hornet's nest" during the Revolutionary War. It is this same spirit that led us to name our streets "Independence Boulevard" and "Freedom Drive," and a school "Independence High." It is this spirit that moved state leaders to put May 20, 1775, on our state flag, and why it remains there today.

We should be proud of our history and independent spirit, teaching it to our children and to newcomers. Only by knowing where we come from can we know who we are and the great things we are capable of accomplishing as a community. ...

Top 10 N.C. Natural Wonders announced

Land for Tomorrow has counted all the votes, and the first-ever top 10 North Carolina Natural Wonders have been announced.

They are:
-Blue Ridge Parkway
-Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout
-Grandfather Mountain
-Great Smoky Mountains
-Lake Mattamuskeet
-Lumber River
-Merchants Millpond State Park
-Mountains to Sea Trail
-New River
-Ocracoke Island

About 1,300 nominations yielded 200 unique potential “Natural Wonders,” which were narrowed to a field of 25 semifinalists by a panel of prominent North Carolinians, said Land for Tomorrow. From those 25, “North Carolina’s Ten Natural Wonders” were determined by popular vote. Over 3,000 individual votes were submitted.