Garner, N.C. – Triangle East magazine’s new editor, Nancy Pardue, has put together a holiday issue brimming with tips, tricks and recommendations for the holiday season.
“It’s one big celebration in the newest issue of Triangle East, as we rejoice in the delights of Christmas and the promise of a new year,” said Pardue. “I’m glad to have this new beginning with our readers and hope they’ll love our holiday issue.”
In the article “Winter Wonders,” readers will learn how to spruce up their homes by bringing the outdoors indoors with tips from Tony Avent, owner of Plant Delights Nursery. Gardening expert L.A. Jackson also offers tips on extending the life of poinsettias in his Garden Adventurer column.
“Christmas Treasures” offers tips on holiday collectibles such as Department 56 Christmas Villages, Mark Roberts Christmas Fairies, Buyer’s Choice Carolers and more.
To stave off the winter chill, “Get Fired Up” profiles three great fireside-friendly dining establishments and offers secrets on getting that fireside seat.
Two recent college graduates received makeup, hair and fashion makeovers to get them ready for a new year in “New Year, New You.”
“Giving Back in 2009” reports how students at Vandora Springs Elementary in Garner are participating in two charity projects, and provides a guide for plenty of volunteerism opportunities in the local community.
In this issue, readers can also learn about how two Miss Garners are vying for the Miss America crown, what Butterball CEO Keith Shoemaker thinks of the company’s new corporate headquarters, and what Christmas goodies and gifts will tempt shoppers this year.
The December/January issue of Triangle East magazine is available now at more than 100 locations throughout eastern Wake and Johnston counties. Subscriptions may be ordered directly by visiting www.triangleeastmagazine.com or by calling (919) 674-6020.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
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
(NewsUSA) - Advertising is telling the world how great you are, while publicity is having others tell the world how great you are. Companies and organizations that understand the importance of publicity are generally more successful than those who use advertising alone to reach their target audiences.
Newspapers, magazines and radio and television news programs are filled with stories about businesses and organizations. Those who know how to present materials professionally to the right people will get media coverage for free, while those who don’t understand how publicity works have to rely on large advertising budgets to reach their audiences, usually with less impressive results.
“If you can get a news organization to report about your event or praise something you’re doing, you have gained an enormous amount of credibility that simply couldn’t be generated through paid advertising,” said David Forman, a public relations veteran and author of “Publicity Professor,” a workbook that teaches business owners how to get free news coverage.
The first step in reaching out to media professionals is to create an appealing press release. Its main purpose is to get an editor or producer interested in what you have to say or in what you are doing. It should contain enough information, specifics and quotes that a writer can craft a story from it without ever having to call you.
A media alert is another tool for getting press coverage. Its purpose is to give news assignment desks the specifics about an event in a way that entices editors or television news directors to send a reporter or camera crew.
There are dozens of other ways to get news coverage, such as placing feature stories or writing pitch letters offering your expertise in a subject for quotes or on-air interviews.
Forman says you don’t have to hire outside help to get publicity.
“Nobody knows your business like you do,” Forman said. “You simply have to reach the appropriate person with your message, in a format that media professionals expect.”
Using real-world examples, “Publicity Professor” shows you how to give editors and producers exactly what they’re looking for to get your story covered for free.
The guidebook includes easy-to-follow templates of press releases, media alerts, feature stories and pitch letters; suggestions on creating newsworthy special events and awards programs; and resources for contacting local, regional and national media.
For further information on promoting your business, order a copy of “Publicity Professor” by calling toll-free (866) NEWS-400 or by visiting www.publicityprofessor.com.
New search engines that don’t rely on keywords could revolutionize the way that users find information on the Internet.
(NewsUSA) - People now use search engines so often, the word “Google” has become a verb.
Search engines help students find statistics, cooks locate recipes, and politicos spot blog updates. But today’s most popular search engines still have limitations.
Search engines use words. But searching for one word or phrase might not yield every relevant result.
For example, Alexander the Great goes by other names -; Alejandro Magno, Büyük Iskender, Lissandru la Granni. A student typing the name “Alexander the Great” into a search engine might miss the information needed to give her project an “A.”
Instead of word-based search engines, companies want to develop entity-based Internet searches.
An entity-based search engine would recognize Lissandru la Granni as Alexander the Great, even if a surfer didn’t know to search for him under that name.
One Hungarian-based technology company, Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc., has developed an entity-based search engine that will start running in late 2008.
The search engine and integrated online content manager, iGlue, will not only make understanding information on the Internet easier, it will also help the Internet adapt to its users.
iGlue can manage entities, not keywords, that appear in Web content. It can find information about a topic even when Web sites present that topic in different terms.
Today, most Web pages connect through hyperlinks, which connect documents to documents. If a user clicks on a hyperlinked image, he won’t go straight to that picture on another page, but to an entire Web site.
iGlue uses a hyperdata model instead. Words, images and pieces of data can all be used to establish relationships among different information sources. Relationships among people, places and events become clear.
Users will not download iGlue but will access the program on the Web. iGlue will always be available in its newest version.
For more information, visit www.powerofthedream.com. Power of the Dream trades under the symbol PWRV on the OTCBB exchange.
“Lord, Save Us from Your Followers” takes a look into the contentious world of the Christian faith.
(NewsUSA) - Although nine out of ten Americans claim a belief in God, public expression of faith is more conflicting than ever.
Even as discussion of religion floods the media like never before, the rhetoric is divisive and hyper as the 2008 elections loom on the horizon. Fed up with the angry, strident language filling the airwaves that has come to represent the Christian faith; author, director, and follower Dan Merchant set out to explore the collision of faith and culture in America.
“To me, the division of America, this separateness, isn’t getting any of us anywhere,” writes Merchant. “And both sides are making the same mistake - they think the so-called ‘culture war’ is a winnable war. Some think, eventually, one side will win out over the other. I don’t see it that way. I’m concerned that calling it a Culture War presumes a few things, like if it’s a war, there is an enemy. This kind of adversarial posture serves to further entrench us in our own positions. The sad fact is our country is polarized because we like it. It’s much simpler to pretend the world is black and white. An ‘us vs. them’ attitude is simpler than critical self-reflection and allows us to blame the other.”
Merchant’s journey, which actually begins in famine-ravaged Ethiopia, opens a panoramic view of how God’s people are viewed by everyday Americans and the world-at-large. From the man-on-the-street blitz of “Bumpersticker Man” to the controversial and moving “Confession Booth” at Gay Pride Day, Lord, Save Us from Your Followers delves into all the hot-button issues with candor, humor and balance. With exclusive interviews with comedian/senatorial candidate Al Franken, former Sen. Rick Santorum, noted evangelical Tony Campolo, conservative radio host Michael Reagan and others, no stone is left unturned in this engaging, unpredictable and challenging look at the conflict over religion in America.
Dan Merchant is an award-winning television writer/producer, novelist and frequent church attendee. Merchant has been happily married for 20 years and is the father of two teenage boys.
For more information, visit www.lordsaveusthemovie.com.
New church movements are causing the flight of many established clergy and long-standing members.
(NewsUSA) - Over the years, the atmosphere of the church has migrated from a quiet place of worship to that of music and praise.
However, millions of people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies feel their churches have been hijacked by these church-growth movements characterized by loud praise bands, constant PowerPoint presentations and cavernous mega-churches devoid of any personal touches. They are bewildered by the changes and are dropping out after thirty, forty or fifty years in a congregation. Some consider it a crisis.
According to the Barna Group, a company who seeks to use their strengths in partnership with Christian ministries and individuals to be a catalyst in moral and spiritual transformation in the United States, the church as we know it will be gone in 20 years.
A new book called Who Stole My Church? gives pastors and church members hope that they can overcome the obstacles and accept change in the growing church.
In this fictional story, pastor and author Gordon MacDonald uses topical examples and all-too-familiar characters to reassure readers that it is possible to embrace change and to demonstrate how change can actually be a positive influence in their church.
“There are many books on church change. Usually written from the standpoint and the instruction of the change agent, the leader who has the responsibility to bring about something new,” writes MacDonald. “In this book, however, I decided to deal with the subject from the perspective of some of the people who are powerfully affected by change -; the dear people in the pew who have to live with and even support the new ways.”
While he understands the frustrations that come with change, MacDonald believes that finding a way to move gracefully into the twenty-first century is necessary for the church to survive. “Any church that has not turned its face toward the younger generation will simply cease to exist,” he says. “We’re not talking decades - we’re talking just a few years.”
Gordon MacDonald has been a pastor and author for more than forty years. He serves as editor-at-large for Leadership Journal and as a former chairman of World Relief. His most recent books include: The Life God Blesses, Renewing Your Spiritual Passion, Rebuilding Your Broken World, the best-seller Ordering Your Private World and When Men Think Private Thoughts.
For more information, visit www.thomasnelson.com.
GARNER, N.C. – What are the latest floral trends for spring weddings? What types of rings are couples choosing these days? These and other wedding-related questions are answered in the February/March issue of Triangle East Magazine available now.
“We found that spring 2008 wedding flowers will be all about sassy colors that make a statement – with a little bit of bling adding an exclamation mark,” says Kerry Watson Garner, editor of the magazine. “Engagement rings used to be the star of the show, but wedding bands, now lavishly detailed, are giving engagement rings a run for their money.”
TEM’s first annual “Tastes of Triangle East” article highlights the region’s eclectic dining options from wiener schnitzel, sushi, chicken salad sandwiches and dry-aged, bone-in sirloin to pickle chips, buffalo wings, steamed oysters and more. Featured restaurants include Kaze Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, Sunny Side Too Oyster Bar, Edelweiss Bakery & Café, The Pink Teacup, Cleveland Draft House and 1705 Prime.
This issue’s Community Focus centers on the Garner Senior Center, which welcomes 2,000 active adults every day. Between the Tai Chi classes, card games, aerobics and multitude of other offerings, the center buzzes with activity from open until close.
Readers can also discover great treats for Valentine’s Day in the magazine’s Sweet Spot section, featuring raspberry cheesecake fudge from Sweet Carolina Gourmet, truffles from The Chocolate Works & More, and sweet potato sticky buns from The Plain Jane Baking Co.
The February/March issue of Triangle East Magazine is available now at 24 retail locations throughout eastern Wake and Johnston counties, including Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Borders Books and Music in Raleigh. Subscriptions may be ordered directly by visiting www.triangleeastmagazine.com or by calling (919) 674-6020.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
RALEIGH, N.C. - A modern house perched on a steep hillside in Raleigh’s established Laurel Hills neighborhood is featured this month in Architectural Record magazine, one of the profession’s most respected journals.
Raleigh architect Frank Harmon, FAIA, designed the 1800-square-foot house for Lynda Strickland when she relocated here from Washington, D.C. Her property is located within a 150-year-old beech and oak forest above Crabtree Creek.
“We knew we had to raise the house off the ground and let the water flow under it,” Harmon told Architectural Record’s Clifford Pearson, so he propped it on nine wood trusses sitting on concrete columns. “The strategy not only preserved the site’s hydrological patterns,” writes Pearson, “but allowed the architect to build without cutting down any major trees.”
In the article, entitled “Frank Harmon raised the Strickland-Ferris Residence off the ground, then let its roof take flight,” Pearson addresses the innovative “butterfly roof..floating above a band of windows wrapping around the top of the building,” which also helps collect rainwater for irrigating the forest floor.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
RALEIGH, N.C. - In a show of support for conservative military and displomatic historian Mark Moyar, who insists he was denied an interview for a position in the N.C. State University Department of History solely because of his political leanings, Raleigh Metro Magazine editor and publisher Bernie Reeves has posted a letter Moyar recently wrote to a reporter at The Technician, NCSU’s student newspaper, on the Metro website (www.metronc.com). The post is entitled “Campus Radicals Strike Again: The Mark Moyar Story.”
Cambridge University scholar Christopher Andrew alerted Reeves to Moyar’s situation. Moyar, author of Triumph Forsaken (Cambridge University Press, October 2006), a history of the Viet Nam war, received his Ph.D under Andrew’s tutelage. Deeming Moyar ‘the brightest undergraduate he had ever encountered,” Andrew could not understand why his former student was denied even an interview at N.C. State. He had graduated summa cum laude from Harvard, finishing first in the history department. He had published a highly praised history book, completed his Ph.D at Cambridge in record time, and received letters of recommendations from three top historians: Andrew himself, plus Ernest May and Akira Iriye of Harvard. Yet all the universities to which he applied rejected him after a preliminary interview. State wouldn’t even go that far.
Reeves responded to Andrew, a close friend who has worked with Reeves on the annual Raleigh Spy Conference, that he was “not surprised. In my 30 years as an editor and publisher in a community containing three large, prestigious universities, I learned that the liberal arts departments at UNC, State and Duke have closed their doors to teacher applicants who did not toe the [liberal] party line.The result is the destruction of scholarship in the liberal arts and the ascent of sensitivity propaganda masquerading as learning.”
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
ARA) - Short for Web log, a blog is a website where journals and commentary can be posted. The vibrant content found in blogs differentiates them from other websites known for more consistently static information. You can write about just about anything — and curious Internet surfers will eat it up.
Want to give it a shot? Creating a blog has been made simple with tools and software dedicated to the process. Have a look at the services offered at sites including blogger.com, wordpress.com and moveabletype.com.
Since going mainstream, blogging has moved beyond the written word. Photoblogs and videoblogs are just as popular today..
So how do you know what kind of blog to put out there? Visit other blogs to get a sense of what materials can be found on these types of sites and which medium best expresses your topic. And once you get started, be prepared to express your opinions often. Your audience will loose interest if your site doesn’t have new information or is always “under construction.” When your site is constantly being updated, people will return regularly to see what’s new.
You and your blog are off and running but is the world responding? Before you revert to those deep, dark secrets lost in a Web diary, here are tips for building an audience:
* Choose categories and titles that best express your topics.
* Use ”key phrases” in your posts. Search engines will pick up these from your site automatically with built in search engine optimization (SEO) in the software that hosts your blog.
* Find blogs on similar topics and communities.
* Make friends, post comments and build networks.
Lulu Hoeller, Web & Graphics Coordinator at California Design College and author of numerous blogs says “Finding other like-minded bloggers and websites that will trade links with you brings new readership and helps to increase your blog’s SEO”.
One of the major attractions to blogs is the fresh air of honesty readers get. The blog is an avenue for independent free speech and information. That doesn’t mean that all blogs are all factual, although some do a phenomenal job of winning audiences by being genuine. “Web audiences have become savvy to advertising ploys and gimmicks. Direct, honest connections make long term relationships,” says Peter Bill, Interim Academic Director of Web Design & Interactive Media and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics at California Design College.
With the possibility the Web creates to reach people, and that creative notion in the back of your mind, imagine the opportunities awaiting you in the world of blogs. Turn your diary of yesterday into a Web community tomorrow!
To learn more about The Art Institutes, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
