ROSE BUDDIES TRADITION TO CONTINUE

ROSE BUDDIES TRADITION TO CONTINUE
(ELIZABETH CITY, NC, March 12, 2008) – As the spring boating season approaches, the longstanding tradition of welcoming boaters to the Elizabeth City waterfront will continue.

The Rose Buddies receptions – celebrating their 25th anniversary this year – will be coordinated by the only remaining Rose Buddy Dave Thomas. The Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will provide administrative assistance for the program.

After the death last fall of Rose Buddies cofounder Fred Fearing, the future of the program was uncertain.

"Certainly Fred Fearing will be missed. But his years of hospitality, hours of daily dock visits (even if we didn’t have a party), established a tradition too valuable to lose," Thomas said. "The Harbor of Hospitality will continue to be that...just because that’s what we are...here to welcome transiting boaters with a hand of friendship and welcome and to provide help as needed. Fred would have had it no other way."

Fred Fearing and Joe Kramer, who died in 1985, created the Rose Buddies in 1983 to welcome transient boaters during the spring and fall seasons who took advantage of the city’s 48-hour free dockage.

They served beer, wine and snacks at Mariners' Wharf, and soon the volunteer-driven program became internationally known in the boating community.

As an avid supporter of boater amenities, Mayor Steve Atkinson believes the Rose Buddies epitomize what Elizabeth City is all about.

"We are the Harbor of Hospitality," Atkinson said.

Fearing was often seen throughout the day driving his golf cart, donated by Willard Scott of Today Show fame, inviting boaters to the afternoon reception.

Keeping with tradition, the receptions will be held when at least five newly arriving boats tie up at the waterfront. Grouper’s Restaurant has agreed to host the parties on its deck. The gatherings will begin at 4:30 p.m.

"We are just waiting for the boats," said Susan Hartley, the ECACVB Rose Buddies liaison.

For travel information and suggested itineraries, call the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or 252-335-5330 or go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com.
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"Organic" Greenlight Fire Ant Control - Google Search - An organic method of fire ant control that really works!

Contact: Tom M. Campbell, Extension Agent, Agriculture
Phone: 252-338-3954
E-mail: thomas_campbell@ncsu.edu

For those who want the option, this is one tested method of organically certified fire ant control. We have to rotate insecticide active ingredients thrown at all insect pests to avoid them building resistance.

In the northeastern counties I've only seen this product in Taylor's Do It Yourself Hardware in Moyock in Currituck County. I bought one container.

I prefer dry bait fire ant control chemicals because there is no need to haul water to each mound and bait treatment is fast and convenient.

I've also seen an organic dry bait used by Elizabeth City Housing Authority which is fine silica (sand). I'm sorry, but I don't recall the name. Perhaps a key word search of "silica fire ant bait" would yield it.

Fire ants are out again, and may be swarming into the air in their winged stage soon for the first time this season. One mound typically swarms 3-8 times each spring, summer, and fall. That is why it is wrong to let even ONE fire ant mound go untreated in your vicinity. Educate your neighbors and share your bait control products with them if necessary.

Google Search: Greenlight Fire Ant Control

Daily Advance Article: Dismal Swamp State Park set to open

Dismal Swamp State Park set to open
Facility includes $2M visitor center, 16 miles of walking trails

By JOHN HENDERSON
Daily Advance - Staff Writer

Thursday, March 13, 2008

SOUTH MILLS — Area residents will soon be exploring the same terrain George Washington did in the 1700s when the nation's first president first visited what would later become known as the Great Dismal Swamp.

The new Dismal Swamp State Park in Camden County featuring 16 miles of biking and hiking trails and a new visitors center is slated to open to the public next week.

Located next to Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center on the west side of U.S. Highway 17 near the Virginia line, the park will officially open on Friday, March 21.

Behind the $2 million visitors center is a 14,344-acre swath of conservation land slated to become North Carolina's 32nd state public park.

To access it, pedestrians need to cross over the Dismal Swamp Canal via a new $1.2 million, 80-foot-long pedestrian floating bridge. The new bridge will open up 16 miles of trails that were created years ago but not accessible to the public.

Park Superintendent Joy Greenwood said the public trails are being developed on what were once logging roads. She said no motorized vehicles or all-terrain vehicles will be allowed on them.

"You can do mountain biking or hiking," she said during a sneak peak of the park for Camden and other local officials Wednesday. "It will be a pedestrian-and-bicycle access bridge access."

She said the trails are very easy to walk on.

"They are flat, fairly wide," she said. "We've had 18-wheelers drive down them."

The new 5,600-square-foot visitor center includes an exhibit hall system of boardwalks, deck, and gazebos.

Greenwood said the public could learn a lot about nature and the nation's history by visiting the new center.

"George Washington was one of the first people that came through this park and was looking into this whole area," she said. "You think about how far back that goes in our nation's history."

A 300-foot boardwalk extends out from the back of the new visitor center. With the help of a grant, state officials hope to extend it an additional 2,000 feet.

Camden County Manager Randell Woodruff was among those who toured the new site on Wednesday. He said the park could generate sorely needed economic development for Camden. He envisions that hotels and businesses might want to locate close to the new attraction.

"Probably some businesses will be popping up that will be running canoes, kayaks, and things like that," he said.

The property for the new park was acquired by the state in 1974 with the help of The Nature Conservancy and was managed as a state natural area without public access until 2007, when the General Assembly authorized it as Dismal Swamp State Park.

It is adjacent to the 111,000-acre Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The new park supports a large variety of migratory, neo-tropical birds and a significant number of butterflies. The land is rich in natural resources, including native strands of Atlantic white cedar and populations of black bear, bobcat, and deer.

"We see lot of whitetail deer and black bears. I've seen as many as five different black bears in one day," Greenwood said.

The visitor center features museum-quality exhibits, a classroom, reception area, and teaching auditorium designed for environmental education programming. Community meetings will also be held in the building. In fact, the Camden boards of commissioners and education were scheduled to hold a joint session in the building today.

Penny Leary-Smith, director of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, said her facility would benefit by having the new park next door.

"We'll enhance each other," she said. "It will just be a great benefit to everybody."

Click here to see article. Click here to see pictures.

Boogie with BC Friday Night (March 14) at The City Wine Sellar

Boogie with BC Friday Night (March 14) at The City Wine Sellar
Host: Debbie Malenfant
Location: City Wine Sellar
102 Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 US
When: Friday, March 14, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Phone: 252-335-1163

Keep rocking in March with live music with BC at The City Wine Sellar. BC will keep your toes tapping with rock, reggae, blues, folk, and a few unique originals. You can usually hear BC playing with his band, The Dreadnecks, at such Outer Banks venues as The Brewing Station, Port O' Call, Chili Peppers and The Beach Bread Company. BC offers a CD of his band's tunes for only $10.00

BC will play from 7-10 pm. Regular deli menu items served from 6-9 pm. Non-smoking inside venue. Smoking allowed in outside cafe.

RSVP nice, but not necessary.

Check out other upcoming events at www.citywine.blogspot.com. Call 252-335-1163 for more informaton.

March Specials

Check out the latest styles, color & cuts
@
STILL WATERS SALON & SPA
104 West Main Street
Elizabeth City

252-338-1011

Pat and Viviana

Just came back from an exciting & extensive hair cutting workshop this past weekend at the Wella studio in none other than the Rockefeller center New York City!

Continued education is our total commitment to you

Are you up to the challenge of a new do?

Why not, change is good

March specials:

1. Japanese Hair Straightening -- $350.00 (reg$400.00+)
2. Semi-Permanent Eyelash Extensions -- $150.00 (reg$200.00+)

Call today or just stop in and ask what else is new or take the challenge to book the new you and get ready for spring.

P.S. Don’t forget about our new military discount program

Southgate Mall Events and Specials Update

Come Join the Easter Bunny and Friends • March 15 at 11:00 am
- Bobby the clown appears at 10:30 am

Have your child's picture taken with the Easter Bunny!

Photo schedule and prices are available at:
http://www.southgatemallec.com/easter_prices.htm


Sales and Specials: (click coupons to see a bigger view of them)

<--Maurices Blue Bucks!

Belk Lancome Spring Gift!-->

Southgate Mall
Elizabeth City, NC
252-338-2848
www.southgatemallec.com

2008 NASF Carolina “Open” Body Building and Figure Championships

Click on the flyer to see it better. For more information, contact the Fitness Warehouse at (252) 331-2850.

The 5 Most Romantic Cities - Wine Tasting

Posted By:: The Pines at Elizabeth City
Hosted By:: BISTRO Restaurant at The Pines at Elizabeth City e-mail
When:: Friday Mar 28, 2008at 7:00 pm
Where:: The Pines Golf and Country Club
1525 North Road Street Elizabeth City, NC 27909 View Map

5 course meal with wines in accompanyment. $35.00 per person.Reservations and PRE-PAYMENT are required to guarantee your seat. 48 hr. cancellation policy is in effect. RSVP Phone: 252-335-7029