Downtown Greenway

The official ribbon cutting of the first completed section is March 24, 2010. Check it out!! http://downtowngreenway.org/home/

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

Winter Weather Advice!

As you know, we're about to be hit with some very bad weather so I thought I would pass along this advice so that you are sure to be prepared.

Many folks west of us that have been hit by this storm are struggling in the cold without power. We could experience the same problems. The weather is forecast to dip down in the teens which can really make things worse. Here's a short list of things to do before we get hit...

• Disconnect outside water hoses and shut off water to outside faucets.
• Find and tag the main water shut off in your house in case of freezing pipes. When they thaw, broken pipes can lead to a huge mess.
• Keep garage doors closed to reduce draft in the home.
• Remove snow build up from awnings and roof.
• Close all storm windows and apply plastic film to older leaky windows.
• Disconnect your electrical appliances if there is a power outage. When power is restored, surges are likely to damage them.
• If power goes out, do not use a non-indoor approved heating devices and keep your generator outside where there is plenty of ventilation.
Two more important tips...
• Please do not go out into the weather if you can help it or drive the roads before they are safe again.
• Bring our furry friends inside. It's going to get very cold this weekend.
I hope you and your family have a safe weekend without problems!

Looking for a house to Rent in Greensboro, NC? What about a Rent to Own??

A lot of real estate agents run away screaming from people who are looking to rent homes. And, to be candid with you, I don't blame them. Many people don't understand how real estate agents make their living and typically they are paid nothing for helping renters. That means they are putting in a lot of time and effort, taking time from other clients, etc. without any hope of receiving compensation. But, sometimes a person has no other option but to rent. If you need a place to rent or know someone that does, check out this house. It is in a fabulous neighborhood- and I mean fabulous. Do you know what else is fabulous? We will even consider a RENT TO OWN situation!! It is the best of both worlds!! Email me if you have any questions!

Southern Lights Returning this Spring!

Southern Lights Bistro will reopen this spring.

When the restaurant closed last year, co-owner John Drees bid farewell to the old location, confident he would reopen the restaurant that had retained a loyal following for almost 25 years. Today, Drees is a happy man.

"I'm excited. We've made a turn," says Drees.

After months of speculation, and the possibility of a change in the restaurant's name, Drees announced today that he will definitely reopen Southern Lights Bistro at 415 Lawndale Drive, the former home of Roosters Gourmet Market & Gifts.

He says the menu will feature daily fish and chicken items in addition to lots of old favorites