UNCG’s Spartan Open Pantry needs summer food donations

Posted on Jun 07, 2016 by David Arneke

Spartan Open Pantry logoThe Spartan Open Pantry needs food donations this summer to help offset lower contributions from the UNCG community while the university isn’t in session. The pantry provides food to UNCG students and staff who need assistance.

Donations can be dropped off during the day Monday through Friday at the lobby of the Associated Campus Ministries building at the corner of Stirling Street and Walker Avenue on campus.

“From assistance for students who need a little help at the end of the month, to homeless students and families who depend on the pantry for complete support, the SOP assists our neighbors who need a hand,” the program’s website says.

Items that are consistently needed include:

  • Canned fruit;
  • Peanut butter;
  • Jelly;
  • Pasta sauce and noodles;
  • And canned tuna, canned chicken, other canned meats.

The pantry also can receive fresh produce. The organizers ask that no green beans or corn be donated.

The Spartan Open Pantry is overseen by Wesley-Luther, the campus ministry of the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.If you have questions or need further information, contact Emily Saine of Wesley-Luther. It is part of a larger program of care at UNCG, coordinated by the Dean of Students Office.

Our thanks to Carol Taylor of College Place UMC for spreading the word about this.

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Primaries on Tuesday for Congress and N.C. Supreme Court

Posted on Jun 06, 2016 by David Arneke

"Your Vote Counts" graphicRemember: College Hill is now in District 13 for the U.S. House of Representatives. Both parties have primaries for that seat tomorrow, June 7 (polling location).

Also, there’s a very important primary for the N.C. Supreme Court (details here).

In the 13th District, there are five Democrats and 17 Republicans running for their parties’ nominations to run in the fall. Here are their websites, with a slogan or representative quote (please note that grammatical mistakes, etc., are copied verbatim from websites).

If you don’t care to look at all the websites, do read the quotes below. Many are quite remarkable.

  • Adam Coker (D) 
    Filmmaker, photographer, businessman
    “Reviving the American Dream”
  • Bruce Davis (D) 
    Child care center owner, former Guilford County commissioner
    “I served our country and community as a marine, county commissioner, philanthropist and businessman. Now I am ready to serve you in Washington.”
  • Mazie Ferguson (D) 
    Attorney, Former pastor
    “Mazie Ferguson has worked all her adult life to make life better for working families. An activist for the rights of poor and working families, she has served as a teacher, pastor and theologian while playing an active role in many labor disputes.”
  • Kevin Griffin (D) 
    Businessman, living-wage activist
    “I’m something new. I’m not a politician trying to work my way up the ladder.  I’ve never held a political office before.  What I am is a new opportunity. A new voice, with new ideas and approaches to solving our problems.”
  • Bob Isner (D) 
    Real estate developer, civil engineer
    “I am running for the United States congress in the newly formed 13th district as a moderate, pragmatic voice for our future.”
  • Dan Barrett (R) 
    Davie County commissioner, attorney
    “Repeal Obama Care. Create jobs. Keep America Safe.”
  • John Blust (R)
    State representative, attorney
    “A Courageous Conservative Willing to Take a Stand”
  • Andrew Brock (R) 
    State senator
    “Join my crusade in the fight to change Washington DC!”
  • Ted Budd (R) 
    Gun range owner, agricultural investor
    “Fiscal responsibility. Protect freedom. Help families thrive. Take on establishment.”
  • Kay Daly (R) 
    Political consultant, former congressional aide
    “Kay Daly is the only NC-13 candidate who endorsed Cruz for President, publicly opposed the election of Boehner & Ryan as Speaker, and is less PC than Trump!”
  • Kathy Feather (R) 
    Hospital lactation consultant, former librarian
    “A refreshing voice for the people”
  • Chad Gant (R)
     Recent law school graduate
    “Christian, Conservative, American”
  • Hank Henning (R) 
    Guilford County commissioner, account manager
    “The Conservative With Grit”
  • Julia Howard (R) 
    State representative, Realtor, appraiser
    “As President Obama continues to push a radical agenda that undermines our civil liberties and takes our economy in the wrong direction, me and my Republican colleagues are working harder than ever to stop him.” 
  • Matt McCall (R) 
    Iredell County register of deeds, Iredell County GOP chair, ex-insurance agent
    “In Congress, McCall will fight every day to move our country in the right direction and be accountable to you, by reducing out of control government spending, paying off our national debt and fighting for conservative values.”
  • Vernon Robinson (R)
    Ex-Winston-Salem City Council member
    “Have you ever felt the adrenaline rush of firing a fully-automatic submachine gun? Perhaps your trigger-finger is itching to fire one again? Either way, you’re in luck! Vernon Robinson, conservative candidate in NC’s new 13th district, is hosting another Machine Gun Social fundraiser, and you and your friends are invited.”
  • George Rouco (R) 
     Attorney, ex-CIA agent, ex-businessman
    “Integrity, Leadership, Service”
  • Farren K. Shoaf (R) 
     Real estate broker, auctioneer, radio station owner
    “A citizen, not a politician”
  • Jim Snyder (R) 
     Davidson County criminal defense lawyer
    Apparently does not have a campaign website.
  • David Thompson (R)
    As far as I can tell, his website doesn’t give an occupation (but he’s not the former basketball player).
    “Elect a local that cares about the past, present and future of his hometown”
    (Note: His hometown is Mooresville.)
  • Jason Walser (R) 
    Executive director, Central N.C. Land Trust
    “No More DO NOTHING CONGRESS. Let’s Get to Work!”
  • Harry Warren (R) 
    State representative, businessman
    “Our country is in trouble. Years of unprincipled leadership by elite circles of establishment politicians from both political parties has finally positioned our magnificent country at the very brink of financial, systemic and moral collapse.”

 

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Many summer events and an election coming up in June

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David Arneke

June 2016 calendar with events listed by dayOnce we get beyond the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, we’ll begin a new month with a remarkable number of events in the neighborhood and nearby. These in particular are worth being aware of:

  • Saturday June 4, the annual June Jubilee, an event for Greensboro’s three historic districts, will be held in Fisher Park.
  • Sunday June 5, Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park begins its season with a concert on the lawn at Blandwood. It’s the only MUSEP event near College Hill this year.
  • Tuesday June 5, the primary election for U.S. Congress and one seat on the N.C. Supreme Court. College Hill, aka Precinct 44, is now in U.S. House District 13. Click here for the helpful voter guide from Common Cause.
  • Big things happening at the Weatherspoon: Sunday June 12 is the final day for the DeKooning exhibit, the Summer Solstice party is Friday June 24, and a pair of Matisse exhibits open on Saturday June 25 (details on one here and the other here).

For details, see the Calendar page.

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Block captains needed for revival of Neighborhood Watch

Posted on May 05, 2016 by David Arneke

Neighborhood Watch logoThe College Hill Neighborhood Watch is being brought back to life. Please join us in making the Neighborhood Watch a valuable contributor to the neighborhood’s quality of life once again.

Our first step is to recruit and organize block captains throughout the neighborhood. If you’re willing to take a more active role in maintaining the safety of our neighborhood, you’ll find the time and effort required are minor, and the benefit to your neighbors will be great. This is what we ask of block captains:

— Take the initiative to report any suspicious activity you see. Report it to the police if it’s an immediate problem; contact me if it’s a non-immediate problem.

— Encourage your neighbors to sign up for the College Hill Nextdoor listserv to receive public safety information directly from the police and the Neighborhood Watch.

— Ask your neighbors to tell you about any non-immediate suspicious activity, public safety problems or concerns they have (and to call 911 for any immediate concerns). And then you contact me so we can work with the police or property owners to resolve them.

I don’t foresee that we’ll be holding regular meetings, so there’s no time commitment of that sort.

We’re seeking block captains for each block of the neighborhood, plus McIver Square, Wafco Mill and the Wafco townhouses. Please let me know by Monday May 9 if you’re willing to invest the small amount of time and effort needed to help maintain the safety of College Hill. And if you have any questions or need any further information, please contact me.

Thanks.

David Arneke (click here for email)

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State and federal tax credits for restoring historic properties: Information available online from the city’s recent workshop

Posted on Apr 27, 2016 by David Arneke

Neighborhood photo overlaid with a section of the state rehab codeInformation is now available online from the regional workshop on state tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic properties held earlier this month.

Click here for information (PDF) from the State Historic Preservation Office on the new state tax credits and the National Register of Historic Places.

Click here for information (PDF) from Carl Kessler, owner of Historic Workshop Inc. of Southern Pines, on North Carolina’s rehabilitation building code, historic structures and the state building code and the complete text of the current North Carolina Rehabilitation Code, which went in to effect in 2015.

Related information online:

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Come see 808 Walker Avenue at an open house on Sunday

Posted on Apr 22, 2016 by David Arneke
Street view of 808 Walker Avenue

The Orlo Epps House, 808 Walker Avenue

The wonderful Orlo Epps House at 808 Walker will be have an open house Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a great opportunity to see one of College Hill’s most impressive houses before it’s sold and, we hope, restored to its former glory. If you know anyone who is interested in a spectacular historic restoration opportunity, bring them along.

Click here for the listing on Zillow.

Click here for the earlier note on the house.

 

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College Place UMC to host movie night, big band concert

Posted on Apr 22, 2016 by David Arneke

College Place UMC Movie Night: 4/29/16, 6 p.m., Minions

Burt Massengale Big Band @ College Place UMC: Monday 5/2/16, 7:30 p.m.

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Biographers Cline and Covington at Jackson Library on April 21

Posted on Apr 15, 2016 by David Arneke

Flyer for Cline & Covington on leadership at Jackson Library, Thursday April 21, 4 p.m.Ned Cline has written biographies of Joseph Bryan and other major figures in Greensboro and North Carolina. He is a member of the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame and served as a renowned political reporter and later managing editor of the News & Record.

Howard Covington has written biographies of Terry Sanford and Henry Frye, among others.  As a reporter, he was a member of The Charlotte Observer team that won the Pulitzer Prize for a series on brown-lung disease among textile workers. He also served as executive city editor of the News and Record

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Now for sale: The grand Orlo Epps House (808 Walker Avenue)

Posted on Apr 09, 2016 by David Arneke

Street vie of 808 Walker Avenue

One of College Hill’s most notable houses is now on the market. The Orlo Epps House is a grand Queen Anne at 808 Walker Avenue with projecting bay windows, gables, dormers and a corner balcony and turret (click here for the Zillow listing). The prospect of the Epps house being restored and becoming a single-family home again, or even an owner-occupied home with an apartment or two, would be a major step for the preservation of College Hill and of Walker Avenue, already one of the best preserved streets in the neighborhood.

Front window in living roomThe home was divided up into several apartments decades ago, yet many of its most distinctive features are intact. Prominent among them:

  • An inglenook, a room-within-a-room with a fireplace just inside the entrance;
  • A large front window in the living room bordered with colored glass and topped with a triangular pediment;
  • The front porch’s scalloped latticework and oversized finials;
  • The original stone steps in front;
  • And many original doors, doorknobs and fixtures.

The house is huge for College Hill — 3,668 square feet — and it needs an immense amount of work. It’s being sold as is.

The house is a significant piece of College Hill history. Orlo Epps came to Greensboro in 1890 and quickly became one of the city’s major architects. In 1891 he and partner C.M. Hackett designed the Foust Building on the campus of what is now UNCG. He built 808 Walker for his own family in 1895. While designing a number of prominent Greensboro buildings in the 1890s, Epps also served as professor of physics, mechanics, and applied mathematics at the new North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race, now N.C. A&T. Around 1900 he moved to Washington.

Epps apparently would feel right at home in the political climate of today’s College Hill. In his hometown of Oneonta, New York, he had been a leader of the local Socialist Party — which raises the question of how he ended up in the Greensboro of the 1890s — and advocated for such advanced notions as women’s suffrage and the direct election of senators. He also wrote a book with the provocative title Economic Liberty vs. The Warfare of Wealth (256-page PDF version here; also available as a free Barnes & Noble Nook e-book).

View of the street from the front porch

Posted in Historic Preservation, Real Estate, Walker Avenue | Tagged | 2 Comments

Minutes from February CHNA meeting

Posted on Apr 04, 2016 by Clara Kelly

Good morning!

Here are the minutes from the CHNA February 22 meeting, approved at the March meeting.   CHNA February 2016 Minutes

 

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