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April 12, 2017Kevin Benefield

The Cardinal Hotel

When it opened its doors in April 1929, the Reynolds Building was the tallest skyscraper in the South, and Winston-Salem the largest city between Washington D.C. and Atlanta. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company constructed the twenty-two-story Art Deco stunner as its headquarters, heralding the success of the company, which had introduced the incredibly popular Prince Albert pipe tobacco and Camel cigarettes earlier in the century. The building became a beloved local landmark, as well as the inspiration for New Yorks Empire State Building.

But gradual changes in attitudes toward smoking and the subsequent downsizing of the company led R.J. Reynolds to put the iconic building on the block in 2009. Without a buyer willing to gamble on such a behemoth during the recession, it stood vacant for years. In 2015, a year after the tower was named to the National Register of Historic Places, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants announced it would repurpose it as a boutique hotel. In April 2016, on the eighty-seventh anniversary of the Reynoldss opening, the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (thecardinalhotel.com) welcomed its first guests.

This evolution is only the most recent example of Winston-Salems tobacco-to-tourism trend. A number of local attractions, from Reynolda to Graylyn, trace their beginnings to the makers of some of Americas top tobacco products. But none illustrate this on quite so grand a scale as the Cardinal.

Jay Sinclair

Named after North Carolinas state bird, the hotel occupies the buildings first six floors. Interior spacesfrom the sleek, modern guest rooms to the rec room outfitted with a bowling alley, basketball court, and adult-sized spiral slidewould be unrecognizable to the Reynolds execs who once worked there, but the grand elevator lobby maintains its original splendor. Marble floors and walls, gleaming brass and nickel elevator doors, and a ceiling studded with gilded tobacco leaves evoke the buildings glorious past.

Kimpton contributes its own nods to yesteryear in notable design elements and artwork. The living room, where guests gather for complimentary coffee and tea in the mornings and local wines in the afternoon, features a framed likeness of a longleaf pine (the state tree) rendered in matchsticks. Portraits of city namesake Colonel Joseph Winston and R.J. Reynolds are woven into the mezzanine carpets.

Off the lobby, Reynoldss wife, Katharine, is remembered in an eponymous French brasserie, which includes a polished dining room, lively bar, and large terrace. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant offers a mix of traditional brasserie items and Southern standardscroissants and biscuits, baked escargot and fried chicken.

Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Learn more about Katharine and the Reynolds family on a visit to Reynolda (reynoldahouse.org), the thousand-acre family estate and working farm a few miles northwest of downtown Winston-Salem. Completed in 1917, the sprawling bungalow, along with the carefully designed grounds and agricultural village, was Katharines passion. In addition to working with an architect to create the residence and dozens of support buildingsbarns, silos, schools, a post officeshe introduced new agricultural methods and livestock breeds, such as Jersey cattle, to local farmers.

Jay Sinclair

The estate remained in the family until 1964, when the furnished house and nineteen acres became part of a nonprofit institution dedicated to the arts and education. In 1967, that institution opened the home as the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Celebrating the estates centennial anniversary this year (as well as the museums fiftieth), Reynolda showcases a large collection of American art from 1755 to the present, plus the homes original furniture and the familys vintage clothing. The surrounding farm and support buildings now serve as boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.

Across the street from Reynolda stands another grand estate, Graylyn (graylyn.com), the former home of Bowman Gray Sr. Once president and chairman of the board of R.J. Reynolds, Gray was responsible for the construction of the Reynolds Building. He and his wife, Nathalie, followed the Reynolds family to the countryside on the outskirts of town, purchasing eighty-seven acres of land on which to build a great manor house in the Norman Revival style. Completed in 1932, the home remained in the family for only fourteen years before a widowed Mrs. Gray and her sons donated it to Wake Forest Universitys medical school, which ran a psychiatric hospital on the grounds.

Art-o-Mat

Today, the university operates a hotel and conference center on the site and welcomes both daytime and overnight guests. Not to be missed is a butler-led tour of the property, which showcases an impressive range of European design styles and architectural elements, from the Georgian living room to the Italian Renaissance sunroom to the library featuring circa 1680 Louis XIV paneling from Paris. (Call ahead to reserve a time.) Another great way to experience Graylyn is the monthly Tour Pour Du Jour, which pairs a Sunday afternoon tour with a reception featuring the estates select house wines and cheeses.

Just up the road from Graylyn looms yet another former home of an industrial titan, the English manorstyle residence of James G. Hanes, president and chairmanof the board of Hanes Hosiery Mills Company. Though Hanes doesnt have ties to the citys tobacco heyday, his old estate currently does: Now the SoutheasternCenter for Contemporary Art (SECCA) (secca.org), it is hosting an exhibition this spring that explores cigarette machines turned art dispensers. Art-o-mats weredeveloped twenty years ago by Winston-Salem artist Clark Whittington, who stocked the first such machine with small black-and-white photos mounted on blocks and installed it at local restaurant Penny University Cafe. So popular was this un-usual piece of conceptual art, the restaurants owner asked if she could keep it. Whittington agreed and began working with other artists to create pieces for the vending machine. Today, the original Art-o-mat resides at Marys Gourmet Diner(the successor to Penny University), and more than 130 others have been installed at galleries, shops, and restaurants across the United States and Europe.

SECCAs retrospective will showcase a host of the machines and the miniature works of art they dispense. Its a wholly fitting end to your exploration of Winston-Salem, a city whose smoky past continues to burn bright.

Winston-Salems willingness to embrace new challenges is nothing new. It dates back to 1766, when Moravians founded Salem, North Carolina. The Moravians, a Protestant denomination whose members fled to America to escape persecution in what is today the Czech Republic, were known fortheir hard work, love of music, and devotion to church and community.

Today, 109 of the historical settlements buildings have been restored or reconstructed. Fifteen of the structures are operated by Old Salem Museums and Gardens, where dozens of craftspeople and re-enactors bring the village to life. Watch shoemakers, tailors, potters, and gunsmiths ply their tradesas they would have two centuries ago. Stroll the numerous gardens showcasing heirloom plants and traditional horticultural practices (such as removing weeds by hand rather than using herbicides). Plan on lunch at the Tavern in Old Salem, which serves traditional favorites such as chicken pie and syllabub, a whipped dessert featuring white wine or sherry and fresh fruit.

A number of shops offer Moravian products made on-site. Pick up handmade baskets and paper ornaments at the book and gift shop. And stock up on sugar cake and cookies at the bakery.

Before leaving Old Salem, pay a visit to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA). The institution displays one the nations finestcollections of Southern furniture, ceramics, textiles, and other objects from the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries. oldsalem.org

Tags: Kevin Benefield, North Carolina, Southbound, travel, Winston-Salem

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Weekend Getaway: Winston-Salem, North Carolina - Atlanta Magazine

Soak up the sun, recline with a book, watch the kids playing in the backyarddecks, gazebos, and porches make perfect perches for these and a number of other warm season activities. If you are thinking of replacing a decaying deck or aging porchor adding one on to your homenow is the time to plan and schedule.

As with any construction or renovation project, your dream outdoor space needs to be designed with both your budget and your expectations in mind.

Decks

To renovate an existing deck that has seen better days, a contractor like Chris Healy of Shoreline Deck Company in Guilford will start by doing a thorough evaluation of the existing deck framing.

If you are replacing a rotting and splintering natural wood deck with maintenance-free man-made composite materials like Trex or Azek, you want to make sure the framing below will hold up to these heavier products to protect your investment.

"If the existing deck framing is in good shape, it costs little to bring that framing up to code," said Healy, "which includes checking how the posts are attached to the footings, the installation of joist hangers if there aren't any, and making sure the ledger board is properly attached to the house. Bringing the existing framing up to code can cost as little as a $100 in extra hardware."

The deck surfacing material is also something to consider carefully and discuss with your contractor. While a natural product like wood, according to Healy, is the lightest material to put over the deck framing, wood has weathering and maintenance characteristics that durable man-made materials do not.

Besides issues of durability and care, the design and over-all look of your deck should be discussed. While many homeowners will have heard about such popular decking products at Trex and Azek, someone building a high-end deck might lean toward what are termed "enhanced composites" or "high-end composites." These decking materials give the homeowner a bigger range of color and hue choices to more closely simulate the look of natural wood species and give a superior look to the surface grain.

Three- and Four-Season Rooms

A similar approach applies to adding a three or four season room to your home, or a stand-alone outbuilding like a gazebo.

"First we determine the homeowner's budget," said Jason Digiandomenico, production manager at Building Concepts in Branford, "and we ask the customer if they see themselves using the room addition for three seasons or year-round."

Prices will vary when building a three-season room verses four-season, and Digiandomenico noted that many people who end up building a three-season porch or porch enclosure end up wanting to upgrade to a four-season solarium, sunroom, loggia, or conservatory. The structure options that Building Concepts provides allow for later upgrades.

The four-season room also becomes a logical choice if you want to maximize its use to justify the expense of adding the room in the first place. Four-season rooms can also be designed to function as porches in the summer, while becoming energy-efficient, cozy, heated enclosures during the coldest of the winter months.

Roof lines also need to be considered when adding a porch or four season room, so that the architectural lines of the room addition are in keeping with the existing house.

The choice of building materials vary too, according to Digiandomenico. When a customer prefers a glass ceiling for a sunroom, various materials can be used including aluminum, vinyl, wood, or a combination of those materials to provide structural support for a glass roof while also addressing the homeowner's aesthetics and maintenance concerns.

If you are thinking of yard enhancement other than decks and sunrooms, companies like Carefree Small Buildings of Clinton specialize in providing such yard enhancements as picnic tables, gazebos, swings, gliders, pool cabanas, gazebos, pergolas, and playhouses.

Most of Carefree's buildings are manufactured on a custom built basis and homeowners are able to create exactly what they want rather than be forced to live with look-alike cookie cutter structures. Carefree offers onsite construction or they will build your desired structure offsite in its warehouse, and then truck the finished product to your yard for quickest install.

Expanding in Stages

When it comes to balancing budget and desire, it's advisable to discuss building your dream outdoor oasis in stagesa new deck this year, a pergola next year, a sunroom the year after that. Based upon your annual budget, a larger backyard oasis can be planned and constructed in stages until your ideal yardscape is realized.

Think about what you want and expect from your outdoor spaces and discuss them fully with the contractors you solicit for estimates.

After you settle on your design, are happy with the price, and sign the construction contract, let your dream yardscape be shaped into reality. Then kick back and enjoy years of fun and relaxation.

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Decks, Pergolas, Gazebos, and Porches - Zip06.com

Have a green thumb? As a gardener, you know that when you buy a house, youre also buying a garden. And for some garden lovers, the outdoor area can be just as important as whats inside. Here are 10 things to consider putting on your home-buying wish list if you love to garden.

1. Not-just-for-looks landscaping. Sometimes well-meaning homeowners update the landscaping to boost curb appeal for a sale, without realizing that the plants they put in are far too close together for long-term growth or are inappropriate for the climate. Be sure any new landscaping was done thoughtfully and wasnt overcrowded just to look good for staging purposes.

2. Ample sun, fertile soil. Aim to visit the homes on your short list at several points during the day to get a feel for how the sun reaches each part of the yard. You can also use your GPS to check the orientation of the house and get a better sense of how the sun moves across the property. If there is already a flourishing garden on-site, this is a good sign that the yard gets adequate sun and has rich soil.

3. Garden shed. A sturdy shed with room to store tools and supplies makes a practical addition to any garden. Look for a shed that is in good condition, is large enough to store all your tools and equipment, and has a door that latches to keep out curious pets and kids.

4. Potting area. A shed may be used as a potting area, but sometimes its easier to work out in the open. Look for a sheltered outdoor area with room for a work surface. Does it have easy-to-maintain flooring and an outdoor faucet within reach?

5. Healthy trees. Mature trees are a wonderful feature, improving air quality and providing shade to the yard. But sick trees, or those that have been neglected or improperly pruned, can be costly to treat (and may even need to be removed). Be sure any trees on the property are healthy and have been regularly maintained by an arborist.

6. Well-maintained hardscaping. Retaining walls, patios, decks, fences, water features, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces basically any permanent feature that is a part of the homes landscape should be inspected to ensure that theyre in good condition. These features form the backbone of the landscape, so you should also like the design!

RELATED: Fire Pits to Enjoy Your Landscape Longer

7. Greenhouse or conservatory. Whether its an elaborate conservatory attached to the house or a basic greenhouse in the garden, some kind of protection for young and overwintering plants can be a big boon to a serious gardener. Look for a free-standing greenhouse (or room to add one) if you plan to use the space to cultivate a large number of seedlings each spring. However, even a small sunroom can provide a handy spot for starting seeds and sheltering sensitive potted plants in winter.

8. Working irrigation system. A good irrigation system can save you time and usually uses less water than watering by hand. If the home you are considering has an irrigation system, be sure to give it a thorough test. Just because its there doesnt mean it works!

9. Critter-proof fencing. If the current owners have fencing around their garden, thats a pretty good sign that critters are a problem. Of course, if youre moving to an area where wild animals are prevalent, youll be thankful to have the fencing already installed! See what you can find out from the owners about the types of animals spotted around the property and what methods seem to help keep the critters away from tender plants.

10. A place to enjoy a good view of your handiwork. Whether its a spacious porch or an outdoor dining room, a comfortable area to kick back and relax is the ultimate retreat after a hard days work in the garden.

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The Avid Gardener's House Hunting Checklist - Fox News

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Around the world and home again The view out the windows of a beautiful sunroom that overlook the mountains and the land farmed by his ancestors and, to the north, the Pocahontas County Country Club must be a bit of heaven for a West Virginia boy who loves to golf and returned home in his retirement. Thats where Jack Gay and his wife, Ellie, are these days. The road to retirement has been a long and serendipitous journey for this couple. Jack was born in Buckeye in 1937, a son of Lewis and Marguerite Gay. He graduated from Marlinton High School, received his Bachelors in Animal Science from WVU and his Masters from the University of Kentucky. From there he planned to enlist in the military because he was tired of school. Out of the blue, he said he got a call from his advisor asking if he would be interested in teaching for a year at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. The college need-ed someone to teach animal science while its usual teacher was on sabbatical. Jack agreed to the one year, short term contract, and it was there that he met Ellie Gibson, who was a senior at Berea that year. The two became engaged, and married in 1962. Again, out of the blue, Jack received a call asking him to be involved in a 2,500 acre experimental station project at Auburn University in Alabama, and the couple began their married life there. It was a good fit, Jack said. He was raised on a farm, had a degree in animal science, and Ellie was raised on a tobacco farm in Ohio. Ellie taught first grade in Alabama that year, and in the fall of 1963, Jack was asked, out of the blue to be a part of a new program, implemented by WVU, which would provide teachers to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In their early and mid-20s, Jack and Ellie stepped up, and Jack became a teacher at Bukalasa College in Uganda. It was so natural, Ellie said. We loved the people, and they loved us. It was quite an opportunity to see the world. Jack said there was a lot of optimism there at the time a different and very peaceful climate. One of Ellies hobbies in, and prior to, retirement is birdwatching.

ELLIEGAYBIRDWATCHING in Panama. She said it is the couples passion for birds that keeps them traveling. Ellies goal is to see every bird in the world.

JACKGAYPLAYING golf in Jamaica. Jack got interested in the game while working in Uganda. Now that hes retired, he volunteers at the Pocahontas County Country Club.

JACKGAY WITHhis Real Deal Brazil recycled-tarp hat just right for a puttering farmer and Ellie with a book about her favorite hobby, Sumi-e, Japanese Brush Painting. Puttering and painting are just two of many activities that keep this couple busy in retirement.

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Enjoying ~ and staying active in ~ retirement - Pocahontas Times

Phillip Makselan, PNJ.com/HOMES 9:44 a.m. CT April 6, 2017

5058 High Pointe Drive, front view. (Photo: Phillip Makselan/PNJ/HOMES)Buy Photo

A large, well manicured lawn welcomes you to this updated, two story traditional brick home in the Marcus Pointe community. The four bedroom, three bath home boasts over 2,436-square feet with an open kitchen, spacious living area with an adjoining dining space. Additionally, a sunroom offers an additional 240-square feet of living or entertaining space. This home is just right for a family wanting a warm & traditional home feel, says Realtor Pam Heinold. Upon entering the home, the foyer welcomes you with a soaring ceiling and leads into the comfortable and elegant living space. The living area features a fireplace and is open to both the kitchen and the spacious dining area, allowing family and friends at large gatherings to interact seamlessly from space to space. Throughout the home youll find the walls freshly painted in neutral tones, oak hardwood flooring, and updated light fixtures. The kitchen is very inviting with lots of hardwood cabinets and storage space, new granite countertops, a granite sideboard with extra storage underneath, a stone backsplash, a new oil rubbed bronze goose-neck faucet with a pullout spray, oil rubbed bronze light fixtures and hardware, a new garbage disposal, black appliances, a new built in microwave, a window over the sink, and a pantry, says Heinold. One bedroom and a bath are located on the first floor, along with a den/office/game room that could easily be used as a bedroom if desired. Three bedrooms, including the master suite, two baths and a laundry room are located upstairs. The master suite includes a spacious bedroom with a view, a large walk-in closet and a private spa-like bath. The master bath features a double vanity area with a makeup station, abundant cabinet storage and a glass enclosed shower. Two French doors lead to the first floor sunroom where homeowners will enjoy morning coffee, dinner or hosting friends and family. The space overlooks the rear lawn and keeps you close to nature. The large privacy fenced backyard is perfect for children to play, pets to roam, for gardening or a pool, notes Heinold. In addition to the fabulous living space and lawn area, the home includes a side-entry two car garage with a work bench, making it a great space to work on projects. This quiet, friendly neighborhood is convenient to shopping centers, schools, medical facilities and is only minutes from the interstate.

HOME OF THE WEEK

5058 High Pointe Drive, Pensacola, FL

List price: $295,000

Approximate square feet: 2,436, plus asunroom

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 3 full

Built: 1991

Listing Agent Pam Heinold Main Street Properties, Inc. Office: 850-912-4123 Cell: 850-232-2332 e-mail: Pam@PamHeinold.com

Online: http://www.mainstreetproperty.com

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Home of the Week April 8: Traditional, Updated Home In Marcus Pointe - Pensacola News Journal

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Senior Connections is a monthly section of the Greene County Daily World which runs on the fourth Friday of each month, meant to feature elderly members and related events of the entire community. This month, it will run on Friday, April 28.

Ive decided to try something a little different with my contribution this time around.

In addition to writing for the world, I also photograph weddings, portraits and commercial images, as I studied photography at Indiana University in Bloomington.

So, Im intersted in finding out more about the roots of my new community, (Im a transplant Pennyslvania native--I moved here just two years ago!), and I am reaching out to you, the readers--to tell me yours.

Do you have an old photo of a well-known landmark or business in Greene County you would like to share? If you have a some-what lengthy story to accompany it, I will be happy to help you tell it!

Maybe it was at the now ghostly Linton drive-in or the old ice cream shop on Main Street; perhaps you have an old prom photo of you and your friends from the past or maybe you arent quite old enough, but know of someone else who has an interesting tale to tell.

If you are open to sharing your memory, please send me an email via kslavengcdw@outlook.com or call the office and ask for Kelly.

If you are a regular reader, you probably also know I love animals. Maybe you have had a dog or cat for a long time--Im interested in how having a pet at an old age or living alone might enrich ones life? I know how enriching my own has been residing with an exotic bird and yorkshire terrier, and Im 23.

I want to help you tell your story--the only stipulation being that it come from a senior, of course.

Some of my favorite memories when living with my grandmother are simply sitting in her sunroom and reminiscing over a few cups of coffee--its never too late to share.

One of my favorite authors and role models J.K. Rowling once said, Youth can not know how age thinks and feels, but old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young.

Kelly is a Staff Writer for the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by telephone at (812) 847-4487, or she can also be reached via email at kslavenGCDW@outlook.com.

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Seniors: Do you have a story to tell? - Greene County Daily World (blog)

Sloss House

Sloss House, pictured in 1944. Students can be seen in period clothing standing around the building.

Sloss House, pictured in Spring of 2017. Gerdin can be seen in the background.

Built in 1883, with an addition in 1903, the Sloss House has not changed a lot in the past hundred years. Sidewalks have been paved, a sign added and decorations are hung in the window.

The original tenant was Charles E. Bessey, who lived there for two years. It was next occupied in 1925by Thomas Sloss, who was the superintendent of buildings. Throughout his tenure, he renovated the house, extending the porch, adding a garage, study, bath and sunroom. Thomas Sloss was the father of Margaret Sloss, who was the first female to graduate with a doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1938.

Margaret Sloss was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1901. She served many roles on campus, including technician in veterinary pathology, associate professor, professor and professor emeritus. She also authored multiple publications on topics such as women in veterinary medicine, a biography over Charles Stange, and she even wrote (and later revised) a textbook called Veterinary Clinical Parasitology. She was awarded numerous awards for her work not only on campus but also for women as a whole.

Margaret died in 1979 and is buried in the Iowa State Cemetery.

Today, the Sloss House is home to the Margaret Sloss Womens Center. The Margaret Sloss Womens Center at Iowa State University is committed to the development of a campus community that promotes gender equity and social justice. Through a feminist lens, the center advocates for individuals and groups; provides support, referrals, community and programming; and maintains a safe space.

The Margaret Sloss Womens Center hosts programs and events for all genders, including the Vagina Monologues, International National Womens Day and the Womyn of Colour Retreat.

For suggestions for further publications of Throwback Thursday, email ian.steenhoek@iowastatedaily.com.

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Throwback Thursday: Sloss House - Iowa State Daily

The younger sister of a classmate of mine shares the most beautiful photos of her yard and gardens this year. Ive marveled at the pinks and purples and the other spring hues her camera captures and which she posts on social media. Jean Durand is indeed a gardener extraordinaire. I got to see her older sister, Jo, at a couple of our more recent class reunions and she looks as young as her younger sister. Maybe gardening and good genes run in the family.

I have other classmates with beautiful gardens and it seems everyone is eager to share the earths bounty as the vernal equinox rolls around whether its on social media or a bouquet of hand-picked daffodils delivered directly to your door. Whatever the case, this is a great time of the year to stroll through your neighborhood to view up close and personal the fruits of your neighbors handiwork or to take a leisurely Sunday afternoon tour via bicycle or car to enjoy whats growing at any of the city parks and gardens which are lovely this time of year.

My appreciation for gardening came from a lady who loved to sit right down on the ground as she planted whatever the new annual or perennial it was that had struck her fancy. Sometimes she would exit her kitchen door with a glass of sweet tea in one hand and a hand shovel in the other. It was a long time ago that I remember her carrying out this springtime ritual but its as clear to me as if it were yesterday. She always had room each spring for a few new annuals in addition to the things that were already coming up and her favorites were the old plants the four oclocks, pansies, foxgloves, sweet peas, and bachelors buttons. And she did very little to make them grow except to water them. I remember it all so well because I sat at her feet as she drank sweet tea and smiled on her handiwork. I remember it so well because she was my mama.

I must have been a fairly accepting little kid because I never questioned why anyone would name a plant after the time of day. Nor did I wonder or even ask if real foxes wore gloves. I took her word as all little ones do and I watched year after year as Mama made things grow. When I married and first planted flowers of my own I learned the hard way that it took a bit more knowledge about growing things than a garden spade and a glass of tea. I labored year after year before I finally realized that the missing ingredient in my gardening recipe was a little more love and a little less intent because all things grow with love.

The same is true for our actions and our words and it takes a long time to learn this life-gardening lesson as well. Ive lived 70 springs now and Im here to say that we never ever quit learning if our ears and our hearts are open to the good things around us. Tom T. Hall once sang a song about old dogs and children and watermelon wine and Ill never forget it. But, I think he left something out of that song title that might have made it mean even more to the rest of the people who also loved his old song flowers and anything else that grows. Theres nothing like the enjoyment that comes from the labors of your hands coupled with the good things from above like sunshine and rain and the warmth of Gods good earth.

Lots of people tend to buy flowers these days. You can go to just about any big box store and when you enter youll be hit in the face by bouquets of roses and carnations and each one of them as perfect as the day they were born. What I recall with so much child-like delight were the half-wilted flowers I picked from a neighbors yard on the way to school and presented to my teacher. It wasnt really stealing anything if you were doing something good with them. And I remember the apples and pears all of the neighborhood kids picked from trees that werent their own. They tasted, perhaps, better than anything our moms ever brought home from the corner store. And here I am in my 70th spring and not quite spry enough to steal from the neighbors fruit trees but I still find my heart welling up with joy at the mere mention of the season. Summer, winter and fall all have their good points but spring for me is just like Monday. Lots of folks are ill-content as Monday morning dawns but to me its always been a day of hope and starting over. A chance to do the week all over again and maybe this time to get it right. And so it is with spring.

Just as my classmates little sister is in awe of the flowers blooming in her own springtime garden, so am I all amazed as I sit each day in my sunroom chair and watch as ever so slowly each bud high in the ancient trees outside my windows opens up to let escape a glorious green leaf that will last all spring and summer and far into the fall. But its spring thats at the heart of it all and its spring that makes my old hometown so colorful. Slow down this season and look all around you and count the blessings of spring name them one by one. Count the many blessings of spring and see what God has done.

Carpe Diem!

Contact Rita Thurman Barnes at ritathurman barnes@swbell.net.

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Forgotten Bartlesville | Sweet tea and tale of 70 springs - Examiner Enterprise

News of crime and punishment across Fairfax County this week:

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING TYSONS HIT-AND-RUN: Virginia State Police are seeking information from the public regarding a felony hit-and-run crash that occurred March 21 at 11 a.m. on Interstate 495 near Tysons, just north of the Dulles Toll Road.

A 2013 Nissan Sentra was traveling south on I-495 when a blue Jeep Cherokee suddenly changed from the right-center lane to the left-center lane and struck the Nissan, state police said. The Jeeps driver refused to stop and headed west on the Dulles Toll Road, authorities said.

Rescue personnel transported the Nissans driver, a 58-year-old Alexandria man, and his passenger, a 52-year-old Silver Spring woman, to Inova Fairfax Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspects vehicle is likely to have damage to the drivers side.

UNATTENDED KITCHEN POT CAUSES GREASE FIRE AT VIENNA RESTAURANT: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded March 22 at 5:34 p.m. to a fire at East Chateau, a Chinese restaurant located at 146 Maple Ave., W., in Vienna.

The fire first was reported by personnel from Fire Station 2 in Vienna, who saw smoke coming from the building when returning from a medical incident in the area. Crews found heavy fire in the ceiling of the kitchen area.

Officials requested a second alarm, which brought about 60 firefighters to the scene.

According to fire investigators, the fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant. The fire was accidental in nature and was the result of a grease fire from an unattended pot on the stove. Officials estimate the blaze caused about $175,000 worth of damage.

TEENS FACING CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY FIRING BB GUN AT VEHICLE: Fairfax County police officers responded March 24 at 4 a.m. to a report of a car that had possibly been shot at with a BB gun near Leesburg Pike and Middleton Ridge Road in the Vienna/Great Falls area.

Officers checked the area and located a car that matched the description of the suspect vehicle. According to police, five teenage boys inside the car allegedly fired a BB gun at the victims car. Charges are pending. The victim was not injured, police said.

McLEAN HOME BURGLARIZED: A homeowner living in the 1400 block of Kirby Road in McLean told Fairfax County police on March 17 at 2:52 p.m. that someone had broken into the home and stolen miscellaneous items. Police do not have any information about the suspect.

UNATTENDED SPACE HEATER SPARKS VIENNA HOUSE FIRE: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded March 22 at 5:27 a.m. to a reported house fire in the 9800 block of Bridleridge Court in the Vienna area.

Units arrived and found that the large, two-story, single-family home had significant fire showing from a one-story sun room above the garage. In addition, crews reported the fire already had extended into the first and second floors and attic of the main house.

Crews worked aggressively on the interior and exterior of the home to contain the fire and limit it to the areas that were ablaze when they arrived, fire officials said.

There were two occupants at home when the fire was discovered. One occupant discovered the fire after hearing something fall down in the sunroom and seeing smoke coming from underneath the sunroom door.

A neighbor initially called 911 and reported smoke coming from the house. The homes occupants called 911 shortly thereafter to report their house was on fire and that everyone had safely evacuated.

There was one smoke alarm located in the hallway of the home, which did not alert the occupants to the fire because it had been disabled, officials said.

Investigators determined that the fire originated in the sunroom. The blaze was accidental in nature and caused by an unattended space heater that ignited combustible materials, officials said. The fire caused about $176,250 worth of damage, they said.

The fire displaced two adult occupants, who accepted Red Cross assistance. Rescue personnel transported the occupants to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and also took a firefighter to a hospital for evaluation.

PURSE STOLEN DURING VEHICLE BREAK-IN: A local woman told Vienna police that while she was in the Vienna Post Office, 200 Lawyers Road, N.W., on March 17 at 5 p.m., an unknown person smashed the passenger-side window of her vehicle and stole her purse.

ROCK THROWN AT VEHICLE PARKED AT VIENNA HOTEL: A local resident on March 18 at 2:19 a.m. observed a man throw a rock at a vehicle that was parked in the lot at Vienna Wolf Trap Hotel, 430 Maple Ave., W., Vienna police said.

Vienna police officers located the man, but the vehicle owner was undecided as to whether he would pursue charges, police said.

DISASTER-RESPONSE TRAINING OFFERED: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a training program administered by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department that prepares residents to help themselves, their families and neighbors in case of a disaster in their community.

Through CERT, residents can learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic disaster-response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and medical operations in disasters.

The next available CERT class will begin April 24 at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy. There are two sessions each week on Mondays and Wednesdays that run until May 17. The class is 28 hours long overall, plus the final practical exercise.

CERT training is free of charge and the county will provide basic gear. To participate in CERT training at any level, residents must be at least 16 years old and either be a Fairfax County resident or work in the county.

For more information, see the Web site at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/cert/cert.htm.

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Fairfax Public-Safety Notes, 3/30/17 edition - Inside NoVA

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$1.5 Million Homes in Washington State, Kentucky and Georgia - New York Times