Greensboro's Most Decadent Chocolate Desserts

Are you getting ready for Valentine's Day? If you don't have a significant other with whom to celebrate with, do you love chocolate? Well, The News & Record has compiled a wonderful list of desserts and the restaurants that offer them... including prices!

Click the link below to view Greensboro's Finest Chocolate Desserts!

The Most Decadent Chocolate Desserts Greensboro Has to Offer

7 Reasons to Buy Your Own Home

1. Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.

2. Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 6.5 percent each year from 1972 through 2005, and increased 88.5 percent over the last 10 years, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing.

3. Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.

4. Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax.

5. Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase.

6. Freedom. The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and benefit from your investment for as long as you own the home.

7. Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity.

Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the “Buy vs. Rent” calculator at www.GinnieMae.gov.

F.W. Woolworth Co.

As many of you know, the F.W. Woolworth building that sits in downtown Greensboro is the site of an important and historic nonviolent civil rights protest. Greensboro has long awaited the opening of what is now known as the International Civil Rights Museum. If you have ever been to the Smithsonian, you have likely passed by a portion of that infamous lunch counter where the four young men sat in protest.


Remembering the Greensboro Four


Four freshmen from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical College sat down and sparked a movement.

On February 1, 1960, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Jibreel Khazan, and David Richmond sat at the segregated lunch counter at Woolworth's in Greensboro. The students knew the counter did not serve African Americans. But they sat down anyway, following through on a plan they discussed for months.

Despite protests and a strong police presence, the students diligently returned to the counter in the following days, each time gaining more supporters to their cause. Five days later, more than 1,000 people packed the store.

Similar protests were held in Winston-Salem, Durham, Charlotte, Raleigh, Fayetteville, High Point, and throughout the South in solidarity with the Greensboro students.

F.W. Woolworths became desegregated on July 26, 1960.

The Greensboro Four, as they are now called, were honored at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, which opened this week. Gov. Bev Perdue and US Senator Kay Hagan were among those celebrating the grand opening.

The museum is an archival center and teaching facility devoted to the international struggle for civil and human rights. The museum celebrates the nonviolent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins that served as a catalyst in the civil rights movement.

Click http://www.sitins.com/ to learn more about the Greensboro Sit-ins.




Source: David Young

2nd ANNUAL BRUNSWICK STEW COOK-OFF

BRUNSWICK STEW COOKOFF RESCHEDULED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER



Shallotte, NC – The Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled the Brunswick Stew Cook-Off that was to be held this Saturday, January 30. The new scheduled date for the Brunswick Stew Cook-Off will be February 6th 10-4pm at Rourk Woods in Shallotte (same location). Due to the current weather forecast for Saturday, the committee determined it was the only option for the event. “We were hoping to have the event this weekend, but with the projected weather forecast, it is going to prevent us from having the Brunswick Stew Cook-off. We cannot ask for the community to come out to an event in this type of weather” said Cathy Altman, President of the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce.

But what a great way to kickoff Super Bowl weekend! The Brunswick Stew Cook-off is perfect for the entire family and will feature Brunswick stew tastings, a kid’s area, a beer garden, live music by Jaded Mayberry, local crafters, super bowl party giveaway, food vendors and much more! Admission to the event is FREE; however, you must purchase tasting tickets to try the delicious stews. Tasting tickets are $5.00 for 6 delicious tastings. There are four contestant categories: Restaurants, Media, Nonprofits, and Individuals. Event attendees will be able to vote on their favorite stew for the People’s Choice Award 11:00am until 2:00pm, but you can taste until all the stew is gone! An official judging panel will take place from 10:00am until 11:00am that will include D.A. Rex Gore, Sheriff John Ingram, Reporter Casey Roman, Writer Jo Ann Mathews, and 103.7 Morning Show Host Bryan Keith. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each category, and the overall top stew contestant. The event will kick-off with music from 103.7 The Bone, and then live music will be performed by local band Jaded Mayberry from 12:00pm until 4:00pm. Kids will enjoy a bounce house, clown and complementary cotton candy! For ages 21 and over, a beer garden will be located next to the clubhouse. Enjoy other delicious foods such as barbeque, ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, chicken, and much more. The event will also include a local vendor section with fresh produce and North Carolina crafts, including baskets, pottery, jewelry, pet accessories, soaps, candles and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a super bowl party giveaway including the use of a 50” tv to watch the big game, catered food, cooler full of goodies, NFL Jersey signed by Mark Rypien, beer from Budweiser, and other items that will make your super bowl party the best in the county!

Visitors to the event can find free parking inside the Rourk Woods Development. Rourk Woods is located at 4700 Sugarberry Drive, Shallotte, NC. Directions from Wilmington: Follow 17 South for approximately 28 miles, Turn left on 17 Business/Main Street, Turn left onto 179/Village Road, Rourk Woods is a little over a mile on the right. Directions from Myrtle Beach: Follow 17 North into North Carolina, Turn right onto 17 Business, Turn right on Sellers Street, Turn right on 179/Village Road, Rourk Woods is on the right.

No outside food or drink, no pets, shirt/shoes are required. Event sponsors: Rourk Woods, Shallotte TDA, R.A. Jeffreys Distribution Company of Wilmington, 103.7 The Bone, Brunswick Beacon, South Brunswick Magazine, ATMC and WECT. For more information call 910-754-6644. *Please note that details are subject to change.

5 Common Mistakes Made By First Time Home Buyers

1. They don’t ask enough questions of their lender and end up missing out on the best deal.

2. They don’t act quickly enough to make a decision and someone else buys the house.

3. They don’t find the right agent who’s willing to help them through the homebuying process.

4. They don’t do enough to make their offer look appealing to a seller.

5. They don’t think about resale before they buy. The average first-time buyer only stays in a home for four years