Denton Farm Park Train Ride Puts Christ Back In Christmas

By Jill Doss-Raines
The Dispatch

Source: The-Dispatch.com

Denton FarmPark has been known as the home for steam engines and antique farm equipment during the Southeastern Old Threshers Reunion, bluegrass music festivals and Mule Days for many years.

But this year, the FarmPark is adding a holiday event that will emphasize Christ’s birth during the Advent season, occurring each Friday and Saturday night beginning Nov. 28 and ending Dec. 19. The Country Christmas Train celebration not only will feature the secular aspects of Christmas with lights, decorations, carolers, a train ride and visit from Santa but also a short movie about the Christmas story and a live nativity.

Participants will be able to sing their favorite carols at the church on the FarmPark grounds, hear the story of the song “Silent Night,” give their wish list to Santa, warm up with hot chocolate and cookies and more. Food and heritage crafts will be available for purchase as well.

“The main reason we are doing this is my dad had a dream about a train going around and then showing a movie about Jesus,” said Karen Miller, co-manager of the Denton FarmPark, referring to her father, Brown Loflin. Loflin is a founder of the Southeastern Old Threshers Reunion and the FarmPark.

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Also, visit: http://www.countrychristmastrain.com/

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Spruce Pine reaps tourism gains from Blue Ridge Parkway

Source: Asheville Citizen-Times

The owners of the Orchard at Altapass took North Carolina to court when the state proposed acquiring 200 acres of the apple orchard to create the Blue Ridge Parkway in the 1930s.

The owners at the time ran a wholesale apple business and did not see the benefit of having the scenic road come through the middle of their land, said the orchard’s current owner Bill Carson.

“They knew it was inevitable that it was going to go through, but they argued that it would cause more damage than good,” he said. “I don’t know if they ever thought the traffic would be much up there.”

More than 70 years later, the parkway has not destroyed the orchard. In fact, said Carson, it may be the thing that saved it.

Although apple growing in the region has declined, the orchard’s location on the Mitchell-McDowell county line on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Carson’s transformation of the orchard into a place to experience local culture and history, has helped the Historic Orchard at Altapass become a stop for 60,000 parkway visitors each year, about half of which Carson estimates are nonlocal travelers.

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Country Night in Selma, NC

 Come hear the best country music from today and yesterday and comedy that will keep you laughing in your seat! E

ach week, Country Tonight offers a featured band that performs some of your favorite country songs. With a little family comedy added to the show, you have the ingredients for a night of fun! Show time: Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:45pm.

 It is a downhome traditional country show. Very rustic, very “down home.” It reminds many people of old time get togethers of yesteryear. Nothing fancy here. Humble building from the outside. Rustic interior with chuch pews.

No flash and no glamour! One grand old opry star who played here (George Hamilton IV) said “It is like the Grand Old Opry” when it started. This isn’t the Myrtle Beach and Branson shows of today; its the Branson and Nashville shows of an earlier time. Many find that it really has a charm all its own!

Visit: http://www.countrytonightmusicshow.com

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Tarheel BBQ Chamionship in Shelby, NC!

 Friday November 6th
$10 Taster’s Choice 6:30 until

Saturday November 7th|
$1.00 Gate Admission
 - Car & Cycle Show
 - Crafts, Stage Entertainment
 - New Larger Kidz Zone
 - Dine-in & Carry-out BBQ Meals
 - Kids menu at Dine-in
 - New! Express BBQ Drive-thru

Friday: Tell the World band (7-8:30 pm); Karaoke (9:00 pm with registration at 8:30) Saturday on Main Stage: Joyful Hands sign language (10:15 am); KT & Aaron band (11:30-1:00 pm);
Tell the World band (1:15-2:45 pm) Saturday on Performing Arts Stage: Log Cabin String Band (11:00 am); Comedian Keith Nanney (12 noon); Saddle Pals (1:00 pm); Academy of Performing Arts (1:30 pm); Country music with Meghan Morehead (2:00 pm) For a full schedule, visit: http://www.hoghappnin.com/2009schedule.htm

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Scotland Neck, NC – Small Town Character

In 1722 a colony of Scotch Highlanders led by Lord Nairn settled in the “neck” of the Roanoke River. The name Scotland Neck first described the small communities that clustered around this original settlement. Nearly 150 years later, a progressive citizen named John Hyman adopted the name for the town he was to establish in this thriving area of commerce. Scotland Neck was officially incorporated in 1867 and work began creating the spacious avenues and tree-lined median of the north and southbound lanes of Main Street.

Today this historic median is festooned with glorious crepe myrtles that bloom each summer, a sight that welcomes thousands of visitors to Scotland Neck’s annual Crepe Myrtle Festival in August. Live music, craftspeople with their wares, food and drink entertain the visitors, guests and home folks who fill our streets. However, this festival is just one highlight in a town that values civic involvement.

Kiwanis, Lions, Junior Order, Masons and other civic groups take pride in annual projects that add value to the community. These clubs are joined by Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Catholic churches working together to broaden Scotland Neck’s base of support, attracting people of all backgrounds and denominations to the community.

For more information, visit: http://www.townofscotlandneck.com

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29th Annual NC Oyster Festival – “A Success!”

Source: http://capefearbusiness.com

Ocean Isle Beach, NC  –  The 29th Annual North Carolina Oyster Festival was held October 17 & 18, 2009 on Ocean Isle Beach.  The event boosted a total of 35,000 festival attendees over the 2 day event.  The NC Oyster Festival, a 2 day festival which included over 120 authentic arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, roasted oysters, local nonprofits, a children’s area, live entertainment, Oyster Stew Cook-Off, NC Oyster Shucking Championships, Road Race, and new to 2009 – a Shag Dancing Contest!  “There was something for everyone at this year’s event!” said Megan Masser, Events Director. 

The event is kicked off with a 5K, 10K, and 1 Mile Fun Run starting at the OIB Community Center.  1st Place overall winner of the 5K race was Connor Flater of High Point, NC and 1st Place in the 10K was Wylie Penegar of Lancaster, SC.  Top winners received prizes from Try Sports of Wilmington.  Saturday evening the exciting North Carolina Oyster Shucking Championships was held!  The winner of the Professional Division will attend the 2010 National Oyster Shucking Championship held in Maryland.  This year’s professional division included seven of the area’s best oyster shuckers, the overall champion was Lisa Bellamy.  In the amateur division, five people competed and the winner was Barry Ervin.

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Oriental, NC – “The Friendliest Town”

Source: Sailblogs.com

Satya Robinson
10/23/2009, Oriental City North Carolina

We arrived in the most magical place called Oriental City, North Carolina, anchored in quiet bay in front of the busiest gathering of local elders with hearts so big, we just bathed in its wonder for 2 days.
After a great sleep, an early morning fishing expedition with Bryn and Dylan that fetched a 14 and 17 inch speckled trout, which Phil later filleted and we had for dinner, we returned to find that Phil had moved the boat to a 48 hour free dock and we were front and centre of the heart of Oriental City and all the love it offered.

We were greeted and served up abundant offerings including rides(to grocery stores) by people( Dick, Terry and Pappi) either at the Tiki Bar, just stopping in their cars or walking by. Four fishing pros(Fred, Bill, John and a friendly man that worked at the fishery next to us that saw the children on a floating dock attempting to master “The Pancake Throw”)offered lessons on how to throw (wow it is really an art)a newly acquired bait net and dinner for all at the Tiki Bar.

By late afternoon , I surrendered to any attempts of leaving the dock and exploring with Chantelle as originally planned. We sat on the dock and listened to fellow sailors life stories from musicians , teachers, retired oil employees, lifelong livers on the water to entrepreneurs and more.

Dylan was in his element at the bar diving into the spirits of all the diverse and adventurous souls, capturing their hearts with is genuine curiousity about life. Cheryl, a high school English teacher, gave him her facebook address , commenting that she does not even allow her students on her FB, and wanted to be friends with him.

Chantelle enjoyed a girly manicure at a local spa, practiced bait net throwing and mastered a ring toss (at the Tiki Bar) wrapping a ring around a hook on a tree with the help of the secret tip from a local veteran .
Phil visited marinas, consignment shops and hardware stores for various goodies and I took a quiet bike ride along the waterfront and breathed in spirit of the land, creatures, trees and community.

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Plymouth, NC – Mayberry on the Roanoke River

Stroll Plymouth, NC’s Water Street along the riverfront  and in just four short blocks you’ll discover the top-rated Port ‘O Plymouth history/Civil War museum, The Roanoke River Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, a wildlife museum that offers a hands-on experience about local and exotic animals, a riverfront boardwalk and the Rail Switch Nature Trail. Browse waterfront antique shops and unique eateries along the way.

Outdoor adventures include fishing and fishing tournaments, fantastic bear, deer and small game hunting, unique paddling and river platform camping experiences and great birding opportunities. With its rich history, Plymouth is a great place for research, too. 

Established in 1787, Plymouth is older than Washington County. For 70 years prior to Plymouth’s founding, generations of the Rhodes family had been planters in the area. Arthur Rhodes founded what was to become Plymouth from land he acquired through inheritance, gift deeds and purchases. This collection of property became his plantation and was called Brick House. From that property he sectioned off one hundred acres, subdividing them into 172 lots, which he would sell. These lots were the beginnings of Plymouth. He sold 16 lots.

Rhodes ended his enterprise in 1790 and he and his wife sold the remaining lots, except for two or three kept for themselves, to nine trustees for 860 pounds. The trustees installed posts to mark streets and planted trees. In 1807, Plymouth became the first incorporated town in the newly–formed Washington County.

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Edenton aims to draw tourists with new businesses

Source: HamptonRoads.com

The Virginian-Pilot
© October 18, 2009

By Connie Sage,  Correspondent

EDENTON, N.C.

With a 12 percent jobless rate, this tourism-dependent community of 5,000 has been hit hard by the recession.

But entrepreneurs are hoping that more than a half-dozen new or planned restaurants, inns and a yacht club will lure guests to historic Edenton.

A new bed and breakfast had its coming-out party last week. Another inn is to open by December. Two oyster bars and grills are to be in business by November. Another eatery had its grand opening earlier this month. There’s a new bistro at the local country club. And a local chef expects to start serving dinner before Christmas.

Paul Waff has leased space for an oyster bar and grill in a new three-story building at his Wharf Landing condominium community. Wharf Landing overlooks the juncture of the Chowan River and the Albemarle Sound at the Chowan River Bridge.

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Top 5 Reasons To Live In Clayton, NC

Finding a good home in the best of the North Carolina’s small towns might seem a daunting task, if only because there are so many good, small communities out there with beautiful landscapes and top notch living arrangements. Towns like Clayton, North Carolina are just such perfect towns and offer what every good family raising destination should, good quality living with a small town atmosphere and wonderful neighbors. The reasons to consider Clayton when deciding where to move in the Raleigh area are growing, but I’m going to give you just five.

Only a few short miles from Raleigh and the industrial and educational centers of the state, Clayton is a town that has recently begun to look mighty good to the hundreds of thousands living in the area. With so many high paying jobs in the Research Triangle, it’s only natural that the average household income in the area is a fairly decent wage and that the quality of life is so high.

Home to an ever growing Chamber of Commerce and the recently built Research Training Zone, a joint venture with the county and NC State University, Clayton is quickly turning from small town to developing landscape. Because of the beauty and untouched nature of the surrounding area though, developers are taking special care to maintain the charm of the small town.

Sitting in the heart of North Carolina’s biggest Educational sector, Clayton is in perfect striking distance of any number of major Universities; schools like Duke, NC State, and UNC at Chapel Hill. The location also makes its developing public school system a top notch program, quickly growing and developing.

As with any small town area rapidly growing, the housing costs are sure to rise, but at the moment it’s as good a time as any to hit the housing market and pick up one of any number of homes at a cost well below the national averages in a soon to be much larger market.

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Visit The Town of Clayton, NC

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