North Carolina strawberry growers expect second wave of crop

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RALEIGH – It has been about a month since most areas of North Carolina saw their last freeze, and for local strawberry growers and eaters that means the second wave of strawberries is almost here.

“This has been an unusual strawberry season in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Thanks to a warm February, many growers were picking at least two weeks ahead of schedule. Then the state had freezing temperatures in March, which put production on hold. It takes 30 days or more for a blossom to turn into a berry. Now that we are past the last freeze, more strawberries are about ready for picking, and consumers should expect a strong crop through the end of May.”

Picking will begin in Eastern North Carolina and the Piedmont over the next two weeks. Western North Carolina growers should be ready for picking May 1. The peak of the N.C. strawberry season is traditionally Mother’s Day weekend, but locally grown berries should still be available into Memorial Day, said Dexter Hill, marketing specialist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

To celebrate the season, the department and N.C. Strawberry Association will hold three Strawberry Day events at the state-operated farmers markets in Colfax, Charlotte and Raleigh in May. The first event is at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh on May 4. The celebration includes a strawberry recipe contest, ice cream samples and a visit by Suzy Strawberry. On May 5, the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market in Colfax will host its Strawberry Day, which also includes a recipe contest, ice cream samples and visit by Suzy Strawberry. On May 12, visitors to the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market can enjoy free strawberry ice cream samples. All three events will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

North Carolina is the fourth-largest producer of strawberries in the nation, and the crop generated more than $23 million in farm income in 2015. More information about the strawberry industry is available at www.ncstrawberry.com. Consumers interested in finding a you-pick strawberry farm near them can go to www.ncfarmfresh.com.

News 04/19/17

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ACC and Member Institutions to Host Future NCAA Championships

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Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Courtesy: theacc.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – The NCAA announced today host sites for preliminary rounds and finals of its predetermined championships in Divisions I, II and III to be held from 2017-18 through 2021-22. Right after the news was declared, gamblers rushed to get their pointsbet signup bonus so they could wager on their favourite teams.

The ACC and the Greensboro Coliseum have been selected as hosts for the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Regional and the 2020 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First- and Second-Rounds.

“We’re pleased to be hosting future rounds of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in partnership with the Greensboro Coliseum which is a terrific facility that provides excellent hospitality to participating teams, schools and fans,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “It’s great not only to have NCAA Championships back in the state of North Carolina, but to have so many of our institutions and venues within our footprint awarded sites for future years.”

The 2020 NCAA Men’s Basketball First- and Second-Rounds will mark the 14th time the Greensboro Coliseum has hosted NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament action. The 2019 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional will be the fifth NCAA women’s regional in Greensboro Coliseum history.

The women’s regional championships will be played on either Friday/Sunday or Saturday/Monday from March 29 through April 1, 2019. The men’s first- and second-rounds will be played Friday, March 20 and Sunday, March 22, 2020.

The ACC and the Coliseum previously hosted an NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional Championship in 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2015. The Coliseum has also served as a major venue for the sport at the conference tournament level, having hosted 17 of the last 18 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournaments.

The ACC and the Coliseum have hosted 13 previous NCAA Men’s Tournament postseason events, beginning with the 1974 Final Four, won by NC State following victories over UCLA, 80-77, (two overtimes) and Marquette, 76-64. The ACC and the Coliseum most recently hosted the second- and third-rounds in 2012.

Along with NCAA men’s and women’s basketball events hosted by the ACC, 26 additional NCAA Regional and Championship events will be hosted by ACC member institutions.

See the complete list below.

Future D1 NCAA Championship Sites Hosted by the ACC or its Member Institutions

Men’s Basketball:

March 28 & 29, 2019 – Regionals hosted by Louisville in Louisville

March 20 & 22, 2020 – First/Second Rounds hosted by ACC in Greensboro

March 19 & 21, 2021 – First/Second Rounds hosted by NC State in Raleigh

Women’s Basketball:

March 19-April 1, 2019 – Regional hosted by ACC in Greensboro

Men’s Golf:

May 12-15, 2019 – Regional hosted by Louisville in Louisville

May 17-20, 2020 – Regional hosted by Clemson in Salem, S.C.

Men’s Lacrosse:

May 22-23, 2021 – Quarterfinal hosted by Notre Dame in Notre Dame

Men’s Swimming and Diving:

March 23-26, 2022 – Championships hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta

Women’s Swimming and Diving:

March 17-20, 2021 – Championships hosted by NC State and Greensboro Sports Commission in Greensboro

March 16-19, 2022 – Championships hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta

Wrestling:

March 21-23, 2019 – Championships hosted by Pittsburgh and SportsPITTSBURGH in Pittsburgh

Cross Country:

Nov. 9, 2018 – Regional hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee

Nov. 15, 2019 – Regional hosted by Virginia in Charlottesville

Nov. 13, 2020 – Regional hosted by Boston College in Boston

Nov. 13, 2020 – Regional hosted by Louisville in Louisville

Nov. 13, 2020 – Regional hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee

Nov. 12, 2021 – Regional hosted by Boston College in Boston

Nov. 20, 2021 – Championships hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee

Field Hockey:

Nov. 16-18, 2018 – Championship hosted by Louisville in Louisville

Nov. 22-24, 2019 – Championship hosted by Wake Forest in Winston-Salem

Women’s Golf:

May 11-13, 2020 – Regional hosted by Notre Dame in Notre Dame

May 11-13, 2020 – Regional hosted by NC State in Raleigh

May 10-12, 2021 – Regional hosted by Louisville in Louisville

May 9-11, 2022 – Regional hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee

Fencing:

March 24-27, 2022 – Championships hosted by Notre Dame in Notre Dame

Rifle:

March 11-12, 2022 – Championships hosted by NC State in Raleigh

Gymnastics:

April 4, 2020 – Regionals hosted by NC State in Raleigh

April 2, 2022 – Regionals hosted by NC State in Raleigh

@theACC

Allen to Play Senior Season at Duke

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April 18, 2017

Courtesy: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Grayson Allen will play his senior season at Duke University in 2017-18, he and head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Tuesday.

Allen averaged 14.5 points and a team-high 3.5 assists in 34 games for Duke in 2016-17. He was named to the All-ACC Tournament second team after averaging 11.5 points and shooting 8-of-16 (.500) from outside the arc as the Blue Devils became the first team to win four games in as many days to capture the championship. He was 5-of-6 from deep as part of an 18-point, five-assist night in Duke’s semifinal win over No. 6 North Carolina.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native also earned his third consecutive All-ACC Academic Team honor in 2017, making him just the ninth Duke player to earn that award at least three times.

“The last few weeks have provided the opportunity for a lot of reflection and prayer,” Allen said. “I’m a firm believer that when something feels right, you go with it. The chance to play with next year’s team just felt right. I’m completely focused on helping Coach K and our staff lead this team to a special season. I love being a Duke student, and continuing to be part of the university culture is something I don’t take for granted.”

For his career, Allen owns averages of 13.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 105 games. He is a career .435 shooter from the floor and .386 from outside the arc, while his career .830 free throw percentage ranks seventh in program history (min. 200 FTM).

Allen will enter the 2017-18 season as the leading active scorer in the ACC with 1,424 total points, a figure that ranks 33rd on Duke’s career chart.

As a sophomore in 2016, Allen became just the sixth Duke player to garner All-America and Academic All-America honors in the same season. He was a finalist for numerous national awards after averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest; he was also just the ninth player to lead the Blue Devils in both scoring and assists in the same season. Allen’s +17.2-point scoring increase from his freshman to sophomore years was the highest in ACC history.

Allen was a spark off the bench in the 2015 national title game, helping lead Duke to its fifth NCAA crown with 16 points and invaluable energy off the bench in the Blue Devils’ win over Wisconsin.

#GoDuke

United Way of Vance County Announces Fifth Annual Tour de Vance

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United Way of Vance County is proud to announce its FIFTH annual Tour de Vance! What is Tour de Vance? Its a bike ride, family fun, and a chance to help your community. Here’s the full story:

FOUR INCREDIBLE RIDES!

Saturday – April 22, 2017

Vance-Granville Community College

200 Community College Road – Henderson, NC 27536

Start Time: 8:30 a.m. for Party Ride! (10mi), 20mi, 31-62mi rides

Route closes at 2:30 p.m. – choose the ride that best suits your ability.

GET THE FAMILY ROLLING! Participate in our Party Ride – specifically for youth, families and beginners! This is a 10 mile route that is absolutely enjoyable!

READY TO TAKE ON MORE? Sign up for our 20 mile ride – this one is designed for those ready to take on more than 10 miles and is a very “do-able” distance.

SEASONED RIDERS – We have a two rides designed for you! Choose between a 31 mile and 62 mile ride. Thirty-one mile riders will take a circular route through Forest and Farmland. Sixty-two mile riders will take the “Kerr Lake Look” – which includes and out-and-back spur past Nutbush Creek State Recreation Area and a turn around at Kerr Lake’s Bullocksville State Recreation Area.

All 20, 31 and 62 mile riders will be treated to lunch a bar-b-que lunch from Nunnery-Freeman!

Register online at app.RaceReach.com/r/tour-de-vance before 11:59 p.m., Saturday, April 15, 2016 for a shirt. Afterwards (shirts will not be included), register on line until 5:00 p.m. Thursday, April 21, or on-site, beginning at 7:30 a.m. day of race.

Cost: Off-campus rides: 20- $20.00, 30- and 60 mile $40.00; 10 mile $10.00 ea. or $30.00 for 4 riders in the same family.

Proceeds benefit the United We Read – United We Succeed Reading Initiative Program of United Way of Vance County!

For more information: e-mail: tourdevance@gmail.com

252-492-8392, United Way – Wendy Meyer-Goodwin

SAFETY FIRST! ANSI HELMET REQUIRED. WEAR BRIGHT CLOTHING, PREFERABLY YELLOW. NO EARPHONES.

IN EVENT OF SIGNIFICANTLY INCLEMENT WEATHER, EVENT WILL BE CANCELED, WITH NO REFUNDS.

Home and Garden Show 04/18/17

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Park Fees at Kerr Lake

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A WIZS TownTalk listener (11 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. M-F) recently submitted a written topic request via wizs.com/towntalk about the fees to enter the parks on Kerr Lake.  On this topic, WIZS can address those fees for parks in North Carolina.

As Bryce P. Fleming, park superintendent at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area explains, “Park fees are set system wide for the N.C. State Park System, and state parks have needed to increase revenues over the last few years.”

Park fees may include things like entrance fees, facility rental fees, permit fees and more.  Fleming wrote in an email to WIZS News, “I do not see the entrance fees being reduced at Kerr Lake.  However, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation did introduce the discount for active military and veterans this year.”  Fleming said the division “also instituted dynamic pricing for campsites in the last year.  It offers lower pricing for campsites during the week when they typically have a lower occupancy rate.”

According to the information provided by Fleming, the entrance/parking fees are charged on weekends only starting in April then seven days per week from Memorial Day through Labor Day before going back to weekends only in September.  The entrance/parking fees are:

$7 per car on weekends – $5 per car for Seniors 62 and over and for active military and veterans.

$6 per car on weekdays – $4 per car for seniors 62 and over and for active military and veterans.

There is no entrance/parking fee October – March.

Also, visitors can obtain a season pass for $60 that permits entry April through September at Kerr Lake, Falls Lake and Jordan Lake.  Fleming said the season pass can be used also for the “Hammocks Beach State Park ferry, a one hour boat rental at parks where that is offered and a swim pass at parks where there is a fee for swimming.  There is no additional fee to swim at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area other than the entrance fee.”

When asked about using proceeds from vending and food trucks as an alternative way to raise money and reduce fees, Fleming said, “N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation has considered food trucks as a way to generate some revenue and provide an additional service that some of our customers may enjoy.  We now have the ability to issue a permit to food vendors to operate in parks.  We have not been approached by food vendors yet at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area.”

 

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 04/18/17

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Town Talk 04/18/17

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News 04/18/17

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