What: Wake County Public Libraries’ annual storytelling festival, now in its 26th year, featuring two days of storytelling.
When and where: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Historic Oak View County Park, 4028 Carya Drive, Raleigh; 1 and 2 p.m. Sunday at Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., downtown Raleigh
Who goes: All ages.
What to know before you go: The festival’s main event is the afternoonlong program at Historic Oak View County Park. It features continuous storytelling on the park’s spacious lawn for five hours.
Willa Brigham, host of the TV show “Smart Start Kids,” which airs on WRAL-TV on Saturday mornings, is the featured teller. But others also will be there to entertain kids of all ages.
For the hearing-impaired, there will be American Sign Language-interpreted stories from noon to 2 p.m. And tellers will offer some special stories for the youngest listeners. So if you’ve got young children in tow, be sure to check the program when you get there to find out where they are.
A hay ride shuttle with more storytelling will take you the short distance from the parking lot to the festival. Food will be sold on site, but feel free to bring a picnic, blankets and chairs to spread out and enjoy the stories. The event is free and open to the public. It will take place rain or shine.
If you can’t make it Saturday, or don’t get enough storytelling then, you can find Brigham performing at Marbles at 1 and 2 p.m. Sunday.
For more information about the storytelling festival, call Wake County Public Libraries at 250-1200 or go to www.wakegov.com/libraries/events/storytelling.
Read More:News & Observer
(ARA) – From Star Wars stamps to Pez dispensers, collectors all over the world scour everything from auctions to antique festivals searching for pieces equal to the “holy grail” in their collectible categories. What drives them? For some, it’s the thrill of the hunt. For others, it’s having the most prized possession in the palm of their hands. For all, however, it’s the camaraderie amongst like collectors looking for that same big find.
For the avid collector or amateur, the world’s most devout — fanatics of Fiesta Dinnerware — share their secrets to building a collection that will make your collecting comrades green with envy.
Determine your goals
There are two goals in collecting: buying what you love and buying what will resell at a higher price. First, determine if you love to collect this item or if you plan to buy, sell or even trade. Then collect accordingly, says Wendy English of Arizona. English is literally “driven” by her love of Fiesta. Vanity plates on both her vehicles are: FIESTA1 and LVDISHES.
Pick your passion
People start collections for as many reasons as there are items to collect — nostalgia, as a means of investment and carrying on a tradition. For Harvey Linn of North Carolina, it’s personal. He ate off of a Fiesta plate (always Cobalt blue) at his grandmother’s house in the mid 1960s. With her passing in 1986, he found that same, now vintage, plate and became a collector of his grandmother’s beloved dinnerware.
Do your homework
If you don’t know much about the category you’re collecting, you might be duped when purchasing a coveted item. Know the value of certain items, how rare they are compared to others and what conditions are acceptable for resale, especially if you plan to sell or trade.
Make friends
What better way to find the latest and greatest information about your collectables than from your peers? Join a club dedicated to your desires. You’ll find everything you want to know about the category and you’ll make friends that share your passion.
Display the prize
Don’t make the mistake of storing items in a cardboard box in the garage. Maintain them by keeping them out where you and others can enjoy them. And what better way to keep inventory of what you have and need? However, be sure to keep fragile and extremely rare items behind glass or in cases to keep them from being broken or soiled.
Display by theme, style or time period
To create an eye-catching display, look for commonalities like color or time period. English collects only vintage pieces and displays them by the place setting in her kitchen. “I have a set in every color, except Sapphire,” she says. While shelving or cabinets are ideal, some collectors designate entire rooms to their collections. “It really depends on the size of your items, and overall collection,” adds English.
Don’t settle
Settling for a specific piece that is less than perfect is a big mistake. For instance, don’t purchase the sugar bowl sans lid — it will surely disappoint. Most collectors buy an item thinking they’ll find the missing lid or accessory, which is rarely the case. Purchase only intact, well-maintained pieces for the best return on investment.
Look for “numbered” items or limited editions
Linn collects for quality, not quantity. “I used to pick up odds and ends,” he says. “Now, I only buy numbered or special edition items.”
Shop “secondary” markets
Linn looks to the Internet, online shopping sites and even blogs for hard-to-find pieces. “I look for items made in a year ending in five or zero,” he says. This year, Fiesta collectors are buzzing about the first of three anniversary collections. Considered an American icon, the brand turns 75 in 2011. “When there is a limited color collection with special back-stamp, it makes the collecting community very happy,” he says. Today, the 75th anniversary mixing bowls are available at retail stores, but next year the item retires and says Linn, “will trickle into secondary markets and become the newest must-have.”
The “Salute to Our Troops” military-appreciation event Saturday in downtown Raleigh will be one of the largest of its kind ever in the state.ON PARADE: The focus of Salute to Our Troops will be a parade up Fayetteville and Salisbury streets that features military equipment and vehicles, including a missile system, armored Humvees and personnel carriers. There will also be hundreds of marchers in units from every branch of the armed services and from bases across the state, as well as bands from Triangle schools and elsewhere.
FOR MILITARY FAMILIES: Parts of the event, including rides, games and a free lunch, are for military families only.
FOR EVERYONE: All attendees can view the parade and check out displays of vehicles, including armored personnel carriers and several NASCAR teams.
START TIMES: A flyover of F-15Es from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will start the parade at 10 a.m. The displays will open to the public at 11:30 a.m.
FIND OUT MORE: More information on Military Appreciation Day is available at www.saluteournctroops.org.
SOURCE:News & Observer
(ARA) - With the onset of spring comes the Easter holiday and the celebration is not complete without the traditional treat-filled basket. For those looking for a unique twist to this holiday ritual, consider customizing the Easter baskets you give your loved ones. Include a variety of trinkets and toys that match your little (and big) ones’ interests to create a fun, personal Easter celebration.
Here are some ideas for every personality type:
The Sports Fan: Spring means one thing to the sports enthusiast: baseball season! Complement the traditional jelly bean and bunny-shaped confections with trading cards and stickers from their favorite team. Throw in a catcher’s mitt and baseball and you will hit a homerun!
The Little Princess: Some girls’ love of the color pink never fades, so bring a smile to the face of your “girliest” girl this Easter with a pink-inspired Easter basket. Costume jewelry, lip gloss and a beaded purse give her the perfect dress accessories. Customize the “basket” further by delivering the items in a pink duffle bag or carry-all, leaving her with a basket she can use year round.
The Practical Joker: The refreshing humor of practical jokes and silly toys never gets old. Consider designing a basket filled with gag gifts and funny items. Clever treats like the Hubba Bubba Cluckers, a wind-up chicken that lays tasty gum eggs, are a great basket centerpiece for that true comedian at heart. Finish the basket with classic “funny” items like a whoopee cushion, slinky, googley eyeglasses and a movie starring your loved one’s favorite comedian.
The Intellectual Game Guru: Sudoku and crossword puzzles keep even the brightest of players on their toes. Keep brainteaser and puzzle fans guessing with a game-inspired Easter basket. Card games and mini board games provide hours of entertainment, particularly if your family is traveling over the Easter holiday or during spring break. Gift the items in a “basket” that can also be used to store the games once the season ends.
The Artist: For the creative one in your family, fill his or her basket with a small sketchbook, watercolors, paint brushes and a music CD. Add some colorful candy, like an assortment of jelly beans, to inspire their inner artist. You might end up with a new work of art for the refrigerator.
The Health Nut: Even the healthiest, most fitness conscious folks don’t want to miss out on the Easter basket tradition. Create a “wellness” basket with active lifestyle items like a jump rope, a training watch, a pedometer or an inflatable Pilates ball to keep your athlete on the move. Substitute traditional sweets with low-calorie alternatives like Extra sugar-free gum, which recently earned the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance for helping to improve dental health.
Apex, N.C. — The voice for the growing arts scene in Apex, the Apex Arts Council, elected members to leadership positions on its Board of Directors at its monthly meeting earlier this week.
Newly elected leaders include Tina Maloch, owner of Art for You! Photography, president; David Menzies, President of Menzies Consulting, vice president; Bob Crowley, senior vice president of Convey Ink, Inc., secretary; Jim Samborsky, vice president of the Controls Group at BFS Industries, treasurer; Tim Telkamp, technology consultant and fine art photographer, member at large; and Rock Kershaw, director of the Apex Performing & Cultural Arts Center, non-voting member at large.
“We have so much planned for 2008 we needed active leadership thoroughly engaged in the community, and we’re thrilled that our Board is full of people who fit the bill,” Maloch, who will begin her second term as AAC President, said.
Plans for the coming year include supporting the grand opening of the Performing & Cultural Arts Center in historic downtown Apex; continuing to expand educational programs and events throughout Apex; and hosting the second annual Salem Street Arts Festival in the Fall.
Board members will develop and carry-out 2008 programs focused on nurturing a supportive atmosphere for arts in Apex on behalf of residents, local government and the growing business community in one of the fastest-growing communities in North Carolina. These programs will include increased public relations and marketing efforts to raise exposure of artists in the community; new member communication tools; and continuing education opportunities for artists.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
EVENTSDUKE GARDENS Floral Designs for Fall with Alice Le Duc, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday. $15. How Does Your Garden Grow, Explore what plants need to survive and grow, decorate your own container and pot a live plant for home. Pre-registration required, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday. $6. Bird Walks with Cynthia Fox. Registration requested, 8 a.m. Nov. 3. Spring Bulbs in a Container, 2-4 p.m. Nov. 6. $20-$30. Tuteurs: Types & Construction, learn what tuteurs are and create one for your garden, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 8. $20-$30. Garden Guild Holiday Crafts Sale, 1-4 p.m. Nov. 10-11. 668-1707 Doris Duke Center, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham.
N.C. BOTANICAL GARDEN Winter Interest in the Landscape by garden writer, designer and photographer Pam Beck, 2 p.m. Nov. 4. N.C. Botanical Garden, U.S. 15-501 Bypass and Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. www.ncbg.unc.edu.
N.C. GARDEN SHARE Online plant swap for Triangle gardeners, www.ncgardenshare.com.
N.C. NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Monthly Triangle-area meetings, First and third Sunday of most months. Call for schedule details, www.ncwildflower.org.
Trees Across Raleigh Fall Planting, Mayor Meeker will speak and all volunteers should wear old clothing and gloves. Please bring planting tools, 8:30 a.m. Nov. 3. 571-7937 Nash Square Downtown Raleigh, 200 W. Hargett St., Raleigh.
NORTH AMERICAN ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY My Improbable Garden with Ellen Horning, 10 a.m. Nov. 17. $5. 781-3291 Totten Center, N.C. Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill.
RALEIGH GARDEN CLUB Monthly meeting, 11 a.m. Nov. 7. Lunch reservation required. 387-0290 N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.
MASTER GARDENERS
DURHAM COUNTY 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 560-0528. Durham County Extension Center, 721 Foster St., Durham. durham.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=extensioncenter.
JOHNSTON COUNTY 989-5380. jcmastergardener@yahoo.com.
LEE COUNTY 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford. 775-5624.
Moore County Master gardeners answer questions, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-noon, (910) 947-3188.
ORANGE COUNTY Advice from the N.C. Botanical Garden: call or stop by on weekdays noon-1 p.m. to speak with garden curator or noon-2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays to speak with a master gardener, 962-0522. N.C. Botanical Garden, U.S. 15-501 Bypass and Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill. www.ncbg.unc.edu.
WAKE COUNTY Plant, pest and weed identification and recommendations, Wake County Extension Center, 4001 Carya Drive, Raleigh. 250-1084.
WILSON County Wilson County Extension Center, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1-3 p.m., 1806 S.W. Goldsboro St., Wilson. (252) 237-0113, wilsonmastergardener@hotmail.com.
GARDEN TOURS
J.C. RAULSTON ARBORETUM Self-guided tours, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 515-3132 J.C. Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh. www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum.
NICHE GARDENS Guided Garden Walk with discussions on fall planting, gardening design and more, 10 a.m. today. 967-0078 Niche Gardens, 1111 Dawson Road, Chapel Hill.
SOURCE:News & Observer
Don’t be Caught Without These!
I’ve spent over 12 years traveling to craft shows, trade shows and other craft-related events. In that time, we’ve faced bad weather, getting lost, more flat tires than I’d like to remember, mechanical problems, displays falling apart and have even had our van stolen at an event in Memphis Tennessee! If you plan on traveling to many craft shows, problems are inevitable. I’ve put together a list of things that can help you be prepared for many of the woes that may come your way.
- Duct Tape
I’ve heard it said that “when the going gets tough, the tough get duct tape!” And I’m a believer in that statement. This stuff is great for many purposes! Duct tape can help hold up displays, signage and even repair a damaged canopy. It’s inexpensive and small enough to bring without a hassle. Keep a few rolls on hand for all those little repair needs that may arise.Cell Phone
It’s no fun having mechanical problems in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar town. A cell phone can help you find assistance if you need it. Not to mention other things like when you are running late, being able to notify show officials and your hotel as to when you will be arriving. It’s also helpful to be a member of an auto club like AAA. After all, you’ll need someone to call on your phone if your vehicle breaks down!
Tools
Screwdrivers, a hammer, scissors, pliers and even a cordless drill can be very handy in unexpected situations. You never know when you’ll need to tighten a leg on a table or drive a stake into the ground at an outdoor event. Keep all you’re tools in an easily accessible place for when you need them.
First Aid Kit
Not only bandages and antiseptics, but things like aspirin and antacids seem like little things until you need them. Believe me, it’s no fun walking booth to booth at a crowded show asking other exhibitors if you can buy an aspirin from them when you have a splitting headache!
List of Important Numbers
Your vehicle license number, the phone number to the show officials, the number to the hotel where you will be staying and the number to your auto insurance carrier are all important numbers to keep in a handy spot. You may be late to a show and need to let officials and your hotel know that you will be arriving late. You may have an accident and need to contact your insurance agent. It’s very helpful to keep these numbers easy to reference ahead of time in the event of an emergency instead of having to find the information in a confused rush.
Whether you have a small problem or a full-blown disaster, it’s likely that the unexpected will happen while traveling. You can help make your trip safer and give yourself peace of mind by being prepared ahead of time!
SOURCE:ArtsandCrafts About.com
Scare Up Excitement with these Simple and Safe Halloween Tips
(ARA) - Halloween is a season that brings jack-o-lanterns to front porches and spiders, super heroes and princesses to the streets. This year add to the ghoulish atmosphere with a few safe and healthy tricks that will make your book of spells the most popular on the block.
Lanterns Lead the ‘Spooky’ Way:
Safety comes first on Halloween when you are welcoming trick-or-treaters to your haunted mansion. Always maintain a well-lit area to prevent accidents and to monitor ghosts and goblins as they approach. Use pumpkin-inspired paper lanterns to do the trick. Have the kids draw jack-o-lanterns on paper lunch bags, cut out the eyes, nose and mouth and add several inches of sand to the bottom of each bag. Place a small votive candle in a glass jar, position on the sand and light for an eerie trick-or-treat experience.
Fright Light:
Whether your costume is scary or sweet, always wear lightweight and lightly colored clothing and remember to carry a flashlight to navigate through the dark night. Try adding a recognizable patch or reflector to a child’s costume to make sure they are easily spotted.
‘Boo’ in Your Basket:
According to the National Confectioners Association (www.CandyUSA.org), 93 percent of children go ”trick-or-treating,” making candy the focus of the door-to-door Halloween ritual. So why not give some special attention to the way you pass out your candy selection? Make your treat bowl the most memorable in the neighborhood and give it a costume of its own. Decorate your treat basket with a witch’s broom and hat or create a ghostly silhouette with a white cloth covering a round table. Costumes are no longer just for kids.
Gummy Mummy:
Choosing which candy to pass out is a tough decision. NCA surveys reveal that kids’ favorite treats are candy and gum. Give trick-or-treaters what they want this year and fill your bowl with Life Savers Halloween Gummies. Kids love them for their adventurous flavors and gummy texture and parents like the lower calorie, fat-free treat option. You can also use gummies to top seasonal cupcakes, cookies and cakes.
Carry in Style:
Making a one-of-a-kind trick-or-treating bag with inexpensive materials is a fun way to involve kids in Halloween preparation. Grab an old pillowcase or bag and let kids decorate it to match their costume or favorite Halloween creature. Adding designs is easy with fabric paints, ribbon and buttons.
Cook before they Collect:
In addition to choosing a guilt-free treat for trick-or-treaters cook a wholesome meal before sending your goblins and ghosts into the night. Serve a Halloween themed meal like grilled cheese sandwiches cut into tombstone shapes with an enchanted forest of broccoli. Add ”Boo” and ”R.I.P” in ketchup to make them smile. Sending your trick-or-treaters out on a full stomach will prevent them from over eating their Halloween goodies.
“Chews” Gum:
After the kids sample their basket treats, suggest they chew gum. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), chewing sugar-free gum, like Eclipse, Orbit or Extra, helps reduce tooth decay. Let the kids indulge a little during the special holiday, but don’t forget the importance of oral hygiene and brushing and flossing your teeth before bed and after every meal. They’ll need those fangs again next year.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) – When it comes to holiday entertaining, don’t overlook the impact of a great cup of coffee. A top-notch cup of America’s favorite beverage can add an unexpected and much appreciated quality touch to a festive gathering.
Our search for the secrets of coffee-making led us to Alan Adler, an engineering lecturer at Stanford University, who has spent the past several years researching the science of coffee brewing. The first thing we learned from Adler was that making great coffee is surprisingly easy. “In fact it takes less time to make a smooth cup than a bitter cup because a shorter process yields a much sweeter cup,” Adler says.
Adler explains: “Over the past several centuries the coffee brewing process has steadily become quicker and better. In the beginning, people boiled the water and coffee together for a half hour. The result was a terribly bitter and acidic sludge. Even the popular home percolators of the 1950s over-extracted the coffee by passing the brew through the grounds several times. An improvement came in the latter part of the 20th century with the drip brewer. Its brew tasted better because it passed hot water through the grounds only one time.”
Adler evaluated brews with laboratory instruments and expert tasters. He found that shortening the brewing time and reducing the brewing temperature resulted in a rich flavor with very low acidity and bitterness. But he also found that dripping water through a bed of grounds was far from optimum. “Although drip brewing is better than percolation, it still takes three to five minutes and uses boiling water,” says Adler. “All of our tasters agreed that the optimum brewing time is about 30 seconds and the optimum brewing temperature is 175 degree F.”
As Adler’s research continued, he found that drip brewers run too hot in the center of the bed and too cool around the sides. His solution was to stir the coffee and the water together for about 10 seconds. To hasten filtering, he applied gentle air pressure which reduced the time to about a half minute.
Adler’s final discovery was that coffee tasted much sweeter when he used a small amount of water to brew espresso-strength coffee, then added hot water to dilute the espresso to American-strength. He explains: “Pushing too much water through the grounds makes the drink more bitter but doesn’t add flavor.”
Although Adler’s work began purely as a research project, it led to an ingenious brewer called the AeroPress. The AeroPress embodies all that he learned in one very simple device. The AeroPress is placed on a mug. Hot water and coffee are stirred together for about 10 seconds. Then gentle air pressure pushes the mix through a micro filter and into the cup. The resulting espresso-strength brew is diluted with hot water to make American coffee or with milk to make a latte. It makes one to four cups in a single pressing.
Laboratory tests found that AeroPress brew has one fifth the acidity of drip brew yet the flavor is richer than drip. With rave reviews appearing online every day, the AeroPress has quickly become the darling of internet coffee lovers. One online retailer reported selling an AeroPress every two minutes after it was reviewed on gizmag.com.
Lewis Singer, manager of Cook’s Junction in Los Altos, Calif. was particularly enthusiastic, “It makes the absolute best cup of coffee I’ve tasted in my entire life,” says Singer. “And it does it in one minute.” Our staff was skeptical and had to try it. To our surprise, everyone in this office agreed with Singer.
To learn more about the secrets of making top quality coffee, visit www.aerobie.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Scare Up Excitement with these Simple and Safe Halloween Tips
ARA) - Halloween is a season that brings jack-o-lanterns to front porches and spiders, super heroes and princesses to the streets. This year add to the ghoulish atmosphere with a few safe and healthy tricks that will make your book of spells the most popular on the block.
Lanterns Lead the ‘Spooky’ Way:
Safety comes first on Halloween when you are welcoming trick-or-treaters to your haunted mansion. Always maintain a well-lit area to prevent accidents and to monitor ghosts and goblins as they approach. Use pumpkin-inspired paper lanterns to do the trick. Have the kids draw jack-o-lanterns on paper lunch bags, cut out the eyes, nose and mouth and add several inches of sand to the bottom of each bag. Place a small votive candle in a glass jar, position on the sand and light for an eerie trick-or-treat experience.
Fright Light:
Whether your costume is scary or sweet, always wear lightweight and lightly colored clothing and remember to carry a flashlight to navigate through the dark night. Try adding a recognizable patch or reflector to a child’s costume to make sure they are easily spotted.
‘Boo’ in Your Basket:
According to the National Confectioners Association (www.CandyUSA.org), 93 percent of children go ”trick-or-treating,” making candy the focus of the door-to-door Halloween ritual. So why not give some special attention to the way you pass out your candy selection? Make your treat bowl the most memorable in the neighborhood and give it a costume of its own. Decorate your treat basket with a witch’s broom and hat or create a ghostly silhouette with a white cloth covering a round table. Costumes are no longer just for kids.
Gummy Mummy:
Choosing which candy to pass out is a tough decision. NCA surveys reveal that kids’ favorite treats are candy and gum. Give trick-or-treaters what they want this year and fill your bowl with Life Savers Halloween Gummies. Kids love them for their adventurous flavors and gummy texture and parents like the lower calorie, fat-free treat option. You can also use gummies to top seasonal cupcakes, cookies and cakes.
Carry in Style:
Making a one-of-a-kind trick-or-treating bag with inexpensive materials is a fun way to involve kids in Halloween preparation. Grab an old pillowcase or bag and let kids decorate it to match their costume or favorite Halloween creature. Adding designs is easy with fabric paints, ribbon and buttons.
Cook before they Collect:
In addition to choosing a guilt-free treat for trick-or-treaters cook a wholesome meal before sending your goblins and ghosts into the night. Serve a Halloween themed meal like grilled cheese sandwiches cut into tombstone shapes with an enchanted forest of broccoli. Add ”Boo” and ”R.I.P” in ketchup to make them smile. Sending your trick-or-treaters out on a full stomach will prevent them from over eating their Halloween goodies.
“Chews” Gum:
After the kids sample their basket treats, suggest they chew gum. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), chewing sugar-free gum, like Eclipse, Orbit or Extra, helps reduce tooth decay. Let the kids indulge a little during the special holiday, but don’t forget the importance of oral hygiene and brushing and flossing your teeth before bed and after every meal. They’ll need those fangs again next year.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
