September 2010
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“Question of the Week: One of our stories in this week’s paper is about...”
– Garner teens have many volunteering options
August 2010
19 posts
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Help the Boy Scouts, show off your spelling skills...
Here are some weekend events in or around Garner…
Boy Scout barbecue fundraiser on Friday: Troop 391 will host a barbecue fundraiser at Garner United Methodist Church (201 Methodist Drive) from 4 to 8 p.m. A barbecue plate dinner is $8, and includes pork barbecue with baked beans, slaw, hushpuppies and sweet tea. Pork barbecue by the pound is $8; Southern Brunswick Stew is $8 for one...
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“Question of the Week: What advice do you have for students starting school...”
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Spelling bee at Crabtree Valley Mall this Saturday
Local students will have the chance this Saturday to show off their spelling skills and possibly secure a spot in the Macy’s Spelling Bee Finals in New York City.
Macy’s is holding its fifth annual Spelling Bee competition in 29 store locations across the country, including Crabtree Valley Mall (4325 Glenwood Ave in Raleigh) on Saturday, Aug. 28. Each winner will receive an all-expenses-paid...
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Friday Family Flicks, camping, White Deer Dash,...
It’s a busy weekend in Garner that includes an outdoor movie, camping, a road race, and a free concert — all at Lake Benson Park.
On Friday night, pull up a blanket or chair to the grassy slope in front of the main stage and enjoy the family-friendly flick “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” The movie begins at 8:30 p.m. and is free. Refreshments will be for sale.
More...
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“Question of the Week: What high school sport will you be following this fall and...”
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2010-11 dates for Garner's Cans for a Cure
Vandora Springs Elementary art teacher Jim Hunt has released the dates that the school will be collecting cans. The ongoing fundraiser benefits Relay for Life:
(All Saturdays)
Sept. 11, 2010
Oct. 9, 2010
Nov. 13, 2010
Dec. 11, 2010
Jan. 8, 2011
Feb. 12, 2011
March 12, 2011
April 9, 2011
May 14, 2011
June 11, 2011
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Recount
Did North Carolina really lose the most men of any state during the Civil War?
Josh Howard, a research historian with the Office of Archives and History in Raleigh, doesn’t think so. Hoping to get a more accurate count, he’s reviewing the records of each North Carolinian who served in the four-year battle, the Greensboro News & Record reports.
The article is on our radar because...
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Carver wins big in St. Louis!
Thanks to Operations Manager Pam Edmondson for the following post…
Gambling is almost always a losing proposition, but this lucky lady from Garner was one of the few exceptions.
Betty Carver of Garner loves her dad — and playing slot machines. Her dad is Thomas Rufty from Scotland Neck, and for his birthday and Father’s Day gifts, Betty decided to take him to see the St. Louis Cardinals...
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Paddle the ponds at Historic Yates Mill this...
Historic Yates Mill (4620 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh) continues its family-friendly recreational offerings with “Paddle the Ponds” this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. After basic instructions, participants can explore the pond by canoe. Prior canoeing and swimming experience is helpful, but not required. Canoes, paddles and life-jackets will be provided.
Pre-registration is required....
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“Question of the Week: At yesterday’s Plug in the Future conference,...”
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N.C. tax-free weekend, Garner Grows Garden Party,...
It signals the “beginning of the end” of summer with its reminder of the traditional school year starting: the Sales Tax Holiday.
Certain items (PDF) will enjoy a tax hiatus beginning 12:01 a.m. Friday and ending 11:59 p.m. Sunday. If you plan to do some shopping this weekend, check out N&O reporter Sue Stock’s tips on bargain hunting.
“With a little planning and...
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“Question of the Week: What’s up with Shark Week? Do you watch it? Is it...”
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From Madison, N.C. to Madison Avenue? Garner ad...
Jeff Bowman said his popularity in the Mad Men Casting Call contest means more than just a shot at gracing the small screen — it’s given him a chance to test the power of social media.
Jeff, a Garner resident, received some attention when the picture he submitted for the competition landed him among the top contestants, with Twitter and Facebook facilitating votes from family,...
July 2010
26 posts
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Baseball tryouts and a birthday bash this weekend
Here’s an event you won’t have to find a sitter for: Right Time Kids (1411 Aversboro Road) is having its birthday celebration this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. They’ll even serve cake. The drop-in child care center has several locations in the Triangle; Garner’s is marking its one-year anniversary.
More info: 919.665.2696
Also on Saturday, the Cleveland Wildcats 10U baseball...
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Another local on 'Jeopardy!'
Remember Andy Srinivasan? He was featured in The Garner Citizen after his four-day winning streak on “Jeopardy!” and later, when he competed in the Tournament of Champions.
Another Triangle brain, N&O journalist Pam Nelson, was a contestant on the popular game show. (We enjoy Pam’s blog, Triangle Grammar Guide, where she writes about grammar and journalism.) She detailed...
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Lizard Lick Towing & Recovery team at Wake County...
Ron Shirley could be called the King of the Southern Simile. During our conversation, phrases like “as country as cornflakes” and “like a bee on a honey-dipped hamburger” flow from his mouth like … um … like mud off a happy pig.
Sorry, it was the best I could do.
Ron (pictured above with wife and fellow crew member Amy) exercises his flair for metaphor—and conflict resolution – on...
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“Question of the Week: What do you think is the most important issue facing...”
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Ask Renewabelle: Does My Thermostat Go To Eleven? →
From Garner blogger Jessica Commins, AKA renewabelle:
WE’RE MELTING!!!! Seriously, though… The heat’s seeping into our homes like butter into toast and our cooling costs are on our mind. Can we do better?
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Happy birthday to us
If you caught Executive Editor Barry Moore’s letter in this week’s issue of The Garner Citizen, you know we’re celebrating a little milestone this week: our third birthday.
To be precise, the first issue of The Garner Citizen came out (officially) on July 24, 2007.
We took time out yesterday to celebrate at The Raleigh Times Bar. Don’t let Colby’s face fool you...
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Broomball playoff at Polar Ice House, Triangle...
Here’s something you don’t see every day: Broomball. What is it, you ask? Like hockey, it’s played on an ice rink with six players to a team — but instead of traditional sticks and a puck, they use broom-like sticks and a small ball.
See it in action in this YouTube clip:
If your interest is piqued, you’re in luck — the Polar Ice House of Garner (103...
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An auspicious start for Chris Edwards
I first met Chris Edwards in July of 2007, when The Garner Citizen was preparing to launch its first issue. Chris was an ECU communications major home for the summer, just 19 but with years of experience as a sports announcer under his belt.
In high school he was the “Voice of the Trojans,” announcing basketball and baseball games for Garner. He spent his summers announcing for American...
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“Question of the Week: What was your most memorable vacation? We’ll choose...”
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Don't throw away those old Nikes, glasses, or...
Here are some useful internet resources for recycling uncommon items, courtesy of The Week:
1. Recycle your old Nike sneakers so they can be turned into Nike Grind material and used for “running tracks, basketball courts and other athletic surfaces” (!!). Visit for nikereuseashoe.com for drop-off locations.
2. Updating your eye wear? Donate your old glasses through...
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Blue Knights honor Nicholas Weis
Last year we told readers about 9-year-old Nicholas Weis of Mebane, N.C., who made a generous $100 donation to Ole Time Barbecue after its donation jar was stolen. The jar was collecting money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation; young Nicholas was involved in his own several-year battle with brain tumors.
Ole Time owner Jerry Hart, who had first met Nicholas during a Ride for Kids...
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Summer Concert Series, mock archaeological dig,...
Garner’s free Summer Concert Series continues this weekend as Carolina Sonshine, an acoustic music group that performs old-time country, bluegrass and gospel music, rocks Lake Benson Park on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Guests are invited to bring a picnic, a blanket or lawn chairs. Concessions will be available and a variety of local entertainers will perform during the preshow.
More...
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Check out this bionic cat (we're not kitten)
Veterinarian Sarah Lash has an interesting article in this week’s issue about pet prostheses.
The common “socket prosthetics” are not without problems, she explains. In this method,
[t]he stump of the limb is placed inside the prosthetic, and everything is held up with straps. Owners often find these cumbersome, and pets are likely to chew on the apparatus.
The new...
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Share the road, already
Have you noticed? Garner has installed “Share the Road” signs on West Garner Road, Hammond Road, Old Stage Road, Timber Drive, Ten-Ten Road, Hwy 50, White Oak Road, East Garner Road and Jones Sausage Road.
It’s the first step to becoming more bicycle-friendly, the town said in a news release (PDF).
The project cost approximately $2,200, which was paid for with funds from...
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Clever title goes here
The web has a memory like an elephant.
Last Thursday we took pictures at the Music on Main concert in downtown Garner, as The Fantastic Shakers performed, and I was pleased to be able to upload pictures to our website that very evening.
One of the many steps between taking pictures and getting a slideshow on our website is creating a headline for the post. I thought I was being clever with...
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Garner Big Lots cuts the ribbon, Sovereign King...
Garner will be celebrating a couple of grand openings this weekend.
Big Lots (1515 Garner Station Blvd., North-South Station) will hold its grand opening Friday at 9 a.m. Though the discount retailer has been opened for about a week, town officials, company execs and community members will give it an official Garner welcome tomorrow morning. Big Lots’ district manager, Kevin Harrington, will...
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Question of the Week: Who'd you like to see Garner...
Question of the Week:
High school sports fans, would you like to see Garner take on Cary? (The sports editor of the Cary News would; check out carynews.com/2010/07/07/19036/five-games-id-like-to-see.html.) Other teams you'd like to see Garner play? Old rivalries revived, football or otherwise?
Answer here or at facebook.com/garnercitizen. We'll choose some answers to publish in next week's issue.
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Green Garner: Local Sustainable Stormwater Project →
Did you know that we have a great example of a stormwater best practice right here in Garner?
Built with a grant from the NC Cooperative Extension, Creech Road Elementary School completed their wetland cell project over spring break in 2003.
The project involved the creation of a number…
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WatchCouldn’t catch the fireworks Saturday at Lake Benson Park? Here’s a video clip from Garner resident Jessica Commins.
Check out The Garner Citizen’s slideshow here.
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Garner gets love from match.com
We love interaction on Twitter, whether it’s from readers, local businesses or other media folks, but this recent tweet is a favorite. @match, the Twitter account of the massive online dating site match.com, tweeted on Tuesday:
Congratulations Charles & Nicolia! Couple weds as part of True North’s marriage lesson @garnercitizen http://ow.ly/24WCE
The couple, as mentioned in the...
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Fireworks in Garner, SPCA Independence Day...
It’s a 16-year tradition that draws about 20,000 people: the Independence Day celebration at Lake Benson Park. Here are the details:
Date: Saturday, July 3
Location: Lake Benson Park (921 Buffaloe Road)
Gates: Open at 5 p.m.
Parking: Lake Benson Park and Bryan Farm (1832 New Bethel Church Road). A shuttle will be available to transport attendees to Lake Benson Park from Bryan Farm...
June 2010
26 posts
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ConAgra: Trying to change the shape of a sweet...
The Week ran an interesting item about ConAgra recently: The company has built a plant dedicated solely to the sweet potato. The Delhi, La. facility will make sweet potato fries and the like. “There’s just one problem,” The Week notes:
The sweet potato’s knobby, irregular shape doesn’t play nicely with highly standardized manufacturing gear. That’s why ConAgra’s scientists are...