Building along Highway 220 South
Growing small business in Randolph
Historical novel first for Randleman writer
Pete Beeman sculpture highlights "green" energy
Why dogs are superior
Historical novel first for Randleman writer
by Donna Roach February/March 2006April Parker, Randleman's newest novelist, muses that her interest in writing started in childhood. Parker remembers her mother watching her at play and saying, " ' You have such an imagination. You should write for children. ' " As she grew-up, Parker says her parents continued to encourage her to write.
Originally from Mt. Airy in Surry County, Parker, the daughter of a Methodist minister moved to Randleman when her father took an appointment with a local congregation. Her family lived in Randleman during her college years at High Point University, where she majored in elementary education.
After graduation, Parker taught for seven years in public schools before taking her current position at a private school in Greensboro. She also began pursuing her writing dream via coursework from the Institute of Children's Literature and experiencing "lots of rejection" as she submitted non-fiction and fairy-tale stories to various magazines.
A flash of inspiration came one fall around Halloween when she started the five-year journey to her first novel: "Watching the Innocent: A tale from the Andover Witch Trials". 
Parker struggled at first to decide what the plot would be and whether to write the work as fantasy fiction or as historical fiction. When asked if she thought readership of historical fiction is on the increase, she responded," Historical fiction has always been there as a favorite category."
Once Parker decided on the genre she spent six months researching and two years writing and working through the novel's current form. "My writing is historically correct and I try to base everything on research," she says. However, that does not mean historical fiction has to be boring. Parker believes readers of this young adult novel will find "adventure, romance and a good charming story."
Parker has already begun her second novel inspired by pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. The feminist side of historical fiction appeals to her, "I am not necessarily a feminist, but identify with their point of view." This new work of fiction is at least two years away from publication.
"Watching the Innocent" may be purchased locally at Daniel's Read-A-Lot. Books may also be purchased online directly from on demand publisher, Trafford Publishing.
(Note: Photos of April Parker and the cover of "Watching the Innocent" were provided by Trafford Publishing Company.)
Growing small business in Randolph
by Donna Roach February 2006Randolph Community College Small Business Center is part of the SBCN (Small Business Center Network) which is composed of 58 centers throughout the state. Their purpose is to foster the growth and success of small businesses by providing courses via continuing education and seminars, business counseling and a library of professional resources.
Recently I spoke with Business Development Specialist Lonnie Hamm who estimated that in 2005 the Small Business Center at Randolph Community College (RCC) had worked with more than 25 startups that created 57 new jobs. Demographically, it is the 40+ worker, responding to shutdowns and layoffs, who is looking to start a business. Inevitably there are questions to be asked and choices to be made in developing a successful business.
Some businesses need more nurturing than others do. According to Hamm, such businesses are "undercapitalized with inexperienced owners who would benefit from onsite consulting or accounting." That's why RCC Small Business Center was involved with the Randolph Program for the Rural Carolinas in requesting a study last year to determine if a business incubator would benefit the community.
After several research options were considered by the groups involved, Hamm suggested that various MBA programs, including those at Wake Forest, Duke, Pfeiffer, Carolina, and UNCG be contacted to see if one of them would be interested in participating in the market and research project. The first to respond was Dr. Sheldon Balbirer of the Bryan School of Business at UNC-Greensboro.
The study was just part of the initial steps in creating an incubator. The idea is still in committee stage. Normally incubators are non-profits and often organized under the leadership of a county or municipality. Ultimately it should become a self-sustaining entity. (For more information on business incubators, click on the Resource Center of the National Business Incubator Association at www.nbia.org.)
Lonnie Hamm says it's a way to "create home grown jobs." According to the statistics he has seen, 85% of the companies that graduate from incubators move their firms within 25 miles of the incubator. He also emphasizes that leadership is a key, along with the coordination of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation. (Visit www.rcedc.com)
"I can't say enough about Bonnie Renfro," says Hamm. Ms. Renfro is the President of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation.
"The EDC supports business incubators as a tool in economic development," states Renfro. "We have participated in the feasibility study and are evaluating a role that would help the incubator get started." Renfro continues, "Victor and Lonnie are continuing to pursue the incubator and sharing the message with numerous groups and stakeholders." (Note: Victor Dau is the Small Business Center Director.)
Renfro confirms that a mixed-use incubator is the proposal.
Pete Beeman sculpture highlights "green" energy
courtesy of North Carolina Zoo February 2006
ASHEBORO, N.C.-Some sculptures at the North Carolina Zoo are designed to invoke thought and introspection. Some benefit the sight-impaired by helping them identify the animals through their sense of touch; some are there simply to delight the visitor. The latest piece, now installed at the zoo, is designed to teach visitors about "green" energy.
Titled "Spalanzani's Generator," the sculpture is a large-scale, participatory, kinetic sculpture by Pete Beeman, a Portland, Ore., artist with expertise in engineering and art. The sculpture focuses on and is designed for a strong visual impact. Two alternative energy sources, a solar panel and three bicycles, link the sculpture to "green" technology and the sustainable use of resources, thereby supporting the zoo's conservation focus.
Three stationary bicycles (small, medium and large) that can be "ridden" by visitors, send power to the sculpture, enabling it to move. The sculpture is designed to engage visitors in learning about alternative energy in a way that is fun and interactive. Visitors can turn the sculpture's solar panel to "track" the sun and either increase or slow down the movement of the 4-bar mechanism of the sculpture. The materials and methods used in the sculpture were designed to meet the needs of visitor accessibility, public safety and long-term durability.
The name of Beeman's sculpture, Spalanzani's Generator, comes from an opera by Jacque Offenbach, "The Tales of Hoffmann," in which the hero is duped by a mad scientist/inventor named Spalanzani into falling in love with a robot woman. Beeman sees his sculpture as one of Spalanzani's mad inventions. Beeman was selected for this $75,000 commission by a panel of five: N.C. Zoo Chief of Staff and Environmental Management Systems Coordinator Mary Joan Pugh; Zoo Curator of Education Joy Hamlin; Zoo Curator of Design Ellen Greer; Jim Hirschfield, professor of sculpture, UNC-Chapel Hill; and sculptor Dempsy Calhoun from Mocksville.
The sculpture commission was made possible by a gift to the North Carolina Zoological Society by an Eastern North Carolina couple who wishes to remain anonymous. The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources.
Why dogs are superior
Reflectionsby Bob Roach January 2006
The dog. Man’s best friend. Great stories and poems have been written about these noble beasts. Men have gone to court to defend the integrity of their canine companions when they have been falsely accused or maligned. And rightly so. What other animal, other than possibly the horse, has contributed as much to mankind? From Border Collies and Australian Shepherds herding sheep, goats, and whatever else that may need corralling; to German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers rescuing men, women, and children in hostile environments, searching for explosives and drugs, assisting the blind, deaf, and disabled; to the everyday household pet providing protection and companionship to its owner. The ever faithful dog wants nothing more than to please his master.
But why is the dog superior to most other creatures? The best reason I’ve heard comes from a story my grandpa once told me. He was a farmer and hunter and lived most of his life in Southern Alamance County near Snow Camp, North Carolina. I don’t recall any real farming other than an occasional crop of corn and the only hunting I remember him doing was used as an excuse to take his hounds and stay out all night. While my grandpa was never known for being a great farmer, he was an expert at evaluating animals, especially horses, mules, and hunting dogs. He could look at an animal’s teeth and tell you its age. This was always amazing to me. As a child growing up in the fifties, a visit to my grandparents was a weekly Sunday ritual. We would arrive sometime before noon while my grandmother was at church. This was usually a good time to talk to grandpa and ask him questions. He was constantly trading dogs with the other farmers in the area. It was rumored he had painted spots on an inferior Bird Dog and then traded it back to the original owner. One Sunday after hearing about his latest acquisition, I asked him why dogs are so special. While not being a particularly religious man, he told me this story which is based on Genesis 2-19.
(Genesis 2-19 Out of the ground the Lord formed every beast, every fowl and brought them to Adam to see what Adam would call them and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof……)
On the day the Lord decided to create all the animals and birds he set up a production line under a large tree in the Garden of Eden. He gathered up the materials he would need to make all the different species. There were large and small containers holding Reason, Understanding, Gentleness, Strength, Intelligence, Beauty and all the other attributes of creatures great and small. The Lord placed himself at the beginning of the production line with Adam at the other end ready with a name for each animal. The work proceeded at a leisurely pace with the smallest cold natured creatures made first. As the animals were created Adam called out their names. “This is a Salamander and there’s a Lizard and here comes the Alligator” Adam yelled as the animals whizzed by. Then came the insects, there were Ants, Beetles and Spiders. When each new bug crawled or flew by, Adam became more and more confused. As he called out the name of the Mosquito he asked the Lord “what good will this thing do? The Lord just smiled at Adam and went on with his work.
As more animals were created, each was an improvement over the one before. For this one he would add a dash of strength, for another he would throw in an extra helping of reason, and to the fowl of the air he gave the freedom of flight. There were Gerbils, Field Mice, Rabbits and Squirrels. It was such a sight to see! As the day wore on, the Lord’s sense of humor came into play resulting in the Giraffe, Zebra and Kangaroo. There were Goats, Sheep, and Cattle. Near the end of the day only a few animals were left to be completed. One was a small furry creature which hummed or purred when you rubbed it. Adam called it “Cat”. Then down the line came a large, strong, handsome beast. It was large enough for Adam to sit upon its back and he named it “Horse”. Finally the last animal to emerge was a lot smaller than the horse but just as noble and beautiful. It had a long tail that went back and forth, large adoring brown eyes, and a tongue that licked Adam’s face as he knelt down and patted its head. “Lord, why is this one so much different from the others?” asked Adam. The Lord replied “ Each creature I made today was better than the previous one. This was the last one and it is perfect. I also had several ingredients left over. There was extra Intelligence, Reason, Loyalty, Bravery, and Sweetness and I didn’t want to waste them. I thought man would need a good friend. What are you going to name the greatest of my creatures?” Adam thought for a moment and said. “This one’s name will be Dog, which is God spelled backward.” That is why dogs are superior to other creatures and why they are considered to be man’s best friend.
Building along Highway 220 South
by Donna Roach January 2006Leaving Greensboro, NC to head to Grandma's house in South Carolina was an adventure taken at least once every season, every year. All we had to do was head south on Highway 220. Perhaps that's why Randolph County always held an appeal to me even as a child. It was the first identifiable (via road signs) landmass we came to as we left Guilford County and the last leg of an exhausting ride home.
Eight years ago I came to Randolph County to work. Six years ago we made it our home when we contracted to build a one-level abode. (Baby boomers should not build two story houses if they plan to retire in them.) We jokingly refer to it as our "turn of the century home". No longer a phrase to describe Victorian age structures, we have moved into the 21st century.
In a way the house is symbolic of the change taking place in Randolph. Brick by brick a new county is trying to emerge. It is a laborious process. The foundation takes time and for a while it appears as if nothing is really happening. But as the frame goes up, there will be a hubbub of excitement and hope, followed again by a period of slow steady progress, not visible to the casual observer.
In the future, Highway 220 South will lose its identity to Interstate 73. The signs are literally there. It will also share its new status with Interstate 74, which the locals will associate with Highway 311 for many years to come.
There will be periods of struggle and rest, agreement and conflict, yearning for the past and hope for the future. In essence there will be life. There will be work and play. RandolphObserver.com will focus on both work and leisure in and around Randolph County.
We look forward to hearing from you.