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WILMINGTONLast fall, as Randy Evans of Walking Tall Wilmington was setting up morning breakfast with some of his unsheltered friends at the downtown Riverwalk Visitors Information Center also referred to as the gazebo Jamie Lee Curtis stopped by for a chat. She was in town filming Halloween Kills, and mentioned walking by the gazebo every morning, and seeing him share a meal with others.

She took a picture with Evans and posted it to her social media, writing Food is love. Friendship is love. . . Just one human being, feeding another. Perfect.

The post generated a lot of traction. It helped Walking Tall fund more meals and highlighted downtown Wilmingtons Riverwalk.

Fast forward one year later, and the gazebo, located at the foot of Market and Water streets, is now wrapped in fencing as it undergoes $300,000 in renovations from the City of Wilmington.

On Sept. 14 deputy city manager Thom Moton presented plans to council to raze half of the 80s-era visitors center, leaving only the bathroom portion, to open up the viewshed of the Cape Fear River. Also installed will be new light fixtures that cure blind spots and shadows, plus cameras to be manned by either the Wilmington Police Department or Wilmington Downtown Inc. ambassadors, or a combination of both.

Security has become a hot topic among downtown visitors, citizens and business owners when talking about the gazebo. According to the city, police have received complaints at least once a month for illicit behaviors taking place in the vicinity.

However, not every encounter results in a report or a call to 911, according to the citys spokesperson, Jennifer Dandron. WPD and New Hanover County Sheriffs Office have a joint downtown taskforce, so sometimes officers will already be in the area when an issue arises and are able to de-escalate the situation without generating a report or resulting in an arrest/citation.

Between October 2019 and 2020, police have cited 19 charges near the center, consisting of larceny, damage to personal property, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure, among other activities. It cant be confirmed all charges are directly associated with the gazebo, according to an email chain between police planner Barry Coburn and Dylan Lee, who works in communications in the city managers office.

Dont know if all of these involve the homeless exactly, plus this is within the general area of the shelter [so] it is difficult to say all occurred precisely at the shelter, Coburn wrote.

Public urination is one, Evans confirmed during an interview. The gazebo gave me access to the unsheltered community; it was the primer to gain their trust and hear their stories. But if someone is breaking the law, its a hard stop.

Evans started Walking Tall in 2015. One day he showed up to the gazebo with donuts and coffee after seeing displaced people congregating there. He struck up a conversation and then showed back up the next day and the next and every day since.

Evans already had experience working with people in extreme poverty from his stint at the Hope Center a day center located in the bottom of a church on 5th Avenue, which has since shuttered.

Related: The Hope Center looks to build self-worth among Wilmingtons unsheltered population and it needs your help

The Hope Center helped unsheltered people by providing them lockers during the day, so their personal items didnt have to be carried around. It employed people as hammock makers for $15 an hour and helped them build rsums. It was a place 150 unsheltered community members met to eat together, get haircuts, and safely socialize.

I used to say, I want to work myself out of a job, Evans detailed, but now I know Im not going to eradicate poverty. Im just not on any level. No one is. Its been with us since the beginning of time. Now, my goal is to meet these people where they are in life, and show them dignity and try to help them in a holistic way.

Evans nonprofit goes beyond sharing meals; it provides supplies, like blankets, jackets, clothing, toiletries, and now showers from a newly gifted mobile shower unit. During Covid-19 he upped the meals that he and volunteers make out of a church kitchen before delivering downtown. He used to provide breakfasts and lunches three days a week but since March has been doing five. He also provided masks, sanitizer and helped install hand-washing stations downtown in the spring, amid the initial rise in numbers from novel coronavirus.

I did an event with NC Vote Now and got a lot of people registered, he said of the recent election. On voting day, we drove people to the polls.

A pastor for Jordans Chapel United Methodist Church in Burgaw, Evans will be serving Thanksgiving dinner at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church. He also hosts a weekly feast gathering at St. Pauls on Saturday a church service Evans started specifically for unsheltered individuals in poverty.

Since the gazebo has been barricaded for renovations, Evans has moved his breakfasts and lunches not even a quarter mile up the Riverwalk, in front of the federal building steps on Water Street. He alternates days and sets up at 3rd near the Chestnut Street library.

Evans found out about the gazebos renovations when Wilmington Downtown Inc.s interim chair, Dane Scalise, called to let him know the city was correcting structural issues.

Dane told me they were just fixing the railing, and the city didnt want me to think they were spiting me, Evans said.

PCD reached out to Scalise about who from the city asked him to call Evans, but Scalise did not respond.

I actually agreed that, yes, structural changes should be made, especially with the railing, Evans continued. I thought to myself, OK, that should take about a week.

A few days later when Walking Tall went to host its normal morning breakfast, volunteers called Evans saying the gazebo was wrapped in fencing and tabletops were being removed.

Thats when I realized this was going to be a longer project, Evans recalled.

The project is slated for completion in spring of 2022.

Evans phoned councilmembers Kevin Spears and Clifford Barnett to express his concerns.

Barnett asked Moton during the September presentation if the city could look at alternative ways to handle challenging behaviors at the gazebo. What are the odds of having a social worker down there to help assuage those behaviors? he questioned.

Moton responded he was looking at funds the city managers office allocates to civic groups to properly address the needs. And we believe some of that could fund social workers and street outreach, Moton added.

Spears went one step further. Are we looking to partner with nonprofits to help people who are disruptive to visitors?

Walking Tall Ministries and Continuum of Care through the Cape Fear Council of Government task force, Moton responded, the latter of which Moton serves on the board.

It came as news to Evans, who said he had never met with anyone about a potential partnership.

I told Kevin, The gazebo is an area where we can do the most good, Evans recalled. If you tear this down, the people are going to go somewhere else and we are going to follow them. So are you going to keep tearing down places across the city wherever we are? Or do you want to create a space to do the most good?

In the presentation, Moton specified a need to rectify the gazebo as a place of loitering.

As a team, when we look at whats happening at the businesses, and we focus on behaviors that matter about socio-economic statuses of people at the Riverfront, we do believe there are certain conditions that create an ecosystem that attracts that behavior: places to congregate and sit for extended periods of time, he said. [The visitors center] was intended to be transactional. It instead becomes a place of encampment.

Its the 800-pound gorilla in the room, councilmember Charlie Rivenbark said during the presentations question-and-answer portion.

He compared Wilmingtons riverfront to beach cities that struggle with attracting tourism.

I dont think they would allow in their city what we allow, Rivenbark said, like the pictures Mr. Shackleford sent us of someone passed out on a sidewalk. Were struggling to get our tourism back up, and you see people spending money at restaurants, but then someones passed out we cant have that. And I dont know what the solution is. I just know theres a problem. That has to be addressed along with everything else.

Almost directly in front of the visitors center is Michaels on the Waterfront. The new restaurant opened in the midst of Covid-19 and has seen an upswing in clientele since the first phase of the visitors center renovation began.

The construction on the gazebo has had a positive effect on Michaels, owner Michael Lavigna said. We have seen a rise in walk-in traffic, as people have been more willing to linger near Water Street and the front of our restaurant because of the fence.

The high-profile area of the Riverwalk has been through its fair share of general wear and tear over three decades. Originally constructed in the mid-80s, the center has served as a welcoming spot for tourists and locals, with restrooms, tables and seating available for public use.

Moton told council during the presentation the visitors center had reached functional obsolescence.

It was built when the Wilmington population tipped 55,000; today, its reached 123,000. The gazebos increased use, and the numerous storms and environmental impacts the river has had on the structure, has taken its toll.

Its time to incorporate design principals that strengthen the sense of safety and provide more security, Moton explained on Sept. 14.

In addition to installing cameras and lighting, the new structure will be painted to match the historic district, and include improved landscaping and pedestrian art and/or historic signage. Moton floated the idea of gates being installed to close off the center at night, as a means to keep people from sleeping there.

Its not lost on me the amount of people who have complained about us being at the gazebo, Evans clarified. Ive received those complaints, too Ive also received threats from downtown business owners for doing what I do. But what gets me is the language of calling these people a public safety matter.

Evans is referring to another part of Motons presentation, where he noted, Residents and business owners are saying, I dont want to call the police again I want you, the city, to do something about these recurring public safety complaints.

Its not illegal to be poor, Evans said. Words create worlds. We have power to affect people, and using terms like public safety issue when describing a group of people can project to some that being in poverty is a crime. That seems to be the projection to my community.

Its a tough spot for the city to be in: to balance the needs of the Riverwalk as a structure, which in turn helps drive tourism; to keep citizens safe; to keep business owners happy; and to keep in mind the aftereffects all these decisions have in this case on the unsheltered community.

This balancing act isnt lost on the city, either. Dandron responded on Motons and the citys behalf that no one is in violation of the law for having little to no income or a home. She also explained that was not the message the city was trying to convey.

The city would like to make clear it is not a crime to be unhoused or spend time on the Riverwalk, she wrote in an email, and no laws prevent someone from being in a public space due to housing status. However, there are ordinances relating to blocking sidewalks, littering, and obeying park hours, in addition to laws against criminal behaviors.

Evans agrees anyone breaking the law should be held accountable, but he also thinks the issues with the displaced community go beyond unlawfulness. He interprets perception and tourism as seemingly more concerning.

The city doesnt want this to be perceived as having riff-raff downtown, Evans said. Yet, you can go downtown after the bars let out any weekend night and see public urination, too.

According to Evans, city leaders asked to meet with him via Zoom a few weeks after Motons presentation, after he spoke with councilmembers Spears and Barnett. In the meeting, the officials reapproached the idea of opening another day center. While Evans isnt opposed to a day center, he is opposed to one with pre-entry stipulations.

People often call me the pastor of last resort because I create space for people who have been banned everywhere else, he said. Id want the same from a day center: an opportunity to help everyone, no matter what.

Evans runs Walking Tall on private donations only and grants that dont come from any government funding. He didnt apply for funds provided by the CARES Act in the midst of the pandemic because he doesnt agree with high barriers that sometimes come with federal money (i.e. required drug testing or refusing help to folks who have violent felonies).

The problem with these grants is, you tend to have vacuums where youre sucking people in, throwing them around, spitting them out and sucking them in again, Evans said.

He pointed to the debacle with Hurricane Florence as an event that shook his faith, specifically with local shelters. Many people he drove to shelters ahead of the storm were denied entry because they didnt have an ID. Evans took matters into his own hands and put up 35 people in his home.

In 2019 N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein recognized Evans efforts with the Dogwood Award, given to community leaders who vow to keep people safe, happy and healthy.

When Hurricane Dorian rolled around, Evans said he was impressed with how New Hanover County learned from the previous storm and accepted the homeless community in the shelters.

They tried to be better about lowering those barriers, he said. And it was great. I give them credit where its due. I dont want barriers; I want boundaries meaning we have a mutual understanding with the people we serve. Im open to partnerships but only with the right people.

Even as city leaders continued bringing up the idea of opening another day center and who to work with of whom Evans suggested Vigilant Hope, Med North and Physicians Alliance Evans said he remains weary. Mainly, he points to having spent years building trust with a community of people who dont easily open themselves to more vulnerability.

We cant look at a day center as a means to an end, Evans said. Poverty isnt going away. We need to incorporate these people into the community. They have dreams and aspirations. Theyre more than addiction and mental illness. Our goals at Walking Tall are to create space and access to feel loved and cared for and not alone, to build self-respect. Identity is who you are; dignity is what youre worth. How can you create worth if you dont know who you are? We create ways for people to learn who they are and discover their worth. And thats more than a can of high-sodium soup or busted up garbanzo beans that have been in someones pantry for five years. Thats more than hand-me-down pants and a handful of change.

Moton noted in his presentation it takes more than just a city to address these issues none of which are quick fixes. The needs are pretty substantial, he said. Homelessness equals mental health, social services, housing. Its more than the city its everyone coming together.

It appears Moton is moving forward on that concept. In an email to the mayor and councilmembers on Nov. 18, he informed them the Tri-County Continuum of Care, which makes up an alliance of service providers, local government agencies and other public interests, created a new governance system to serve the unsheltered population. The continuum provides around $1 million in federal, state, and local funds for emergency services and housing to those in need. He also noted he wanted to obtain data to better understand this population in Wilmington.

Councilmember Rivenbark asked to be kept abreast of Motons progress in a response. Too many times the meetings take place and all the boxes get checked, and it doesnt translate to relief or problem-solving on the street level, he wrote. I think some sort of day/night care program should be at the top of their to-do list.

Evans suggests the best way for city council and all politicians, for that matter to understand this community is to actually reach out and ask what they need. To stop assuming.

They can start with, What do you like about Wilmington and what keeps you here? he said. Or, How can you contribute to make it better?

The approach can be as simple as sharing a meal and conversation, much like Evans did for the first time at the gazebo years ago.

The Riverwalk is supposed to be for everyone, so they have said, Evans noted. Well, right now, it doesnt feel welcoming to my community.

Have ideas, tips, comments and/or grumbles? Email Shea Carver at shea@localdailymedia.com

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Deep Dive: Riverwalk renovations highlight need to address downtown unsheltered population - Port City Daily

WAUSAU, Wis. (WAOW) -- The gazebo at Big Bull Falls Park is a place some without a house call home. It's built on pillars that mean more than you may know.

"Amian was one of the best dudes I think we have ever known," Roberta told me as she pointed to his name, written on a pillar of the gazebo.

"Then there's Richie," she said. "He's the one that went brain dead in my lap."

Roberta has found a family in those who gather at the gazebo, "they were my brothers, my family, my dad." It made their deaths that much more difficult for her.

As we head into the winter, falling temperatures mean she may have to grieve for yet another family member.

Sandi Kelch works to keep that from happening.

"I have very generous friends," she puts it modestly.

In 2019, Sandi began by assessing needs in the community: coats, boots, hand-warmers. Then, she asked her Facebook friends to donate what they could.

With a click, her posts became a platform, snowballing into the Marathon County Community Outreach Task Force. It's a crowd-sourcing Facebook Group with an administrative board at the wheel.

The group now has over 800 members with a common mission; to support and assist the most vulnerable members of our community.

"I have family members that if it wasn't for us and our family being around, they would be on the street," said Administrative Board Member Curt Deininger.

"Nobody wants to stay outside longer than ten minutes, now imagine if you had to stay outside your entire life," explained Member Kaytee Hietpas. "What do you need to survive these elements?"

That's the question they ask vulnerable people like Roberta, when they go out in the community every Friday.

Standing in 30 degree weather, Roberta told me, "this ain't nothing, wait till February, January when it is negative 30 with 40 mph winds. What keeps us warm is what that group gives us."

The ongoing pandemic has closed a lot of places people like Roberta use to stay warm during the day.

Luckily, the task force may soon have a new alternative.

Someone recently donated a coach bus to the group. They hope to have it running and warm somewhere in Wausau this winter. Though donations are still needed to make that happen.

Read more from the original source:
New group looks to help the most vulnerable in Marathon County - WAOW

Samaria Rice posted a loving Facebook message on Sunday honoring the life of her 12-year-old son, who was shot and killed six years ago by a police officer in Cleveland who mistook his toy gun for a real one.

How I Honor my Son and his Siblings on this day, she wrote. This is so difficult but they keep me going.

In a thoughtfulstatement, Rice wrote that it never gets easy.

As we honor Tamir Rice on his 6th death anniversary. I wanted to show how pain is turned into power, she shared.By loving my children and grandchildren unconditionally. By sharing pictures of the gazebo located in Chicago now at The Arts Bank.

Under this gazebo which was located in Cleveland, Ohio on Nov. 22, 2014, is where my son was assassinated by law enforcement, Rice posted. This is my forever lasting memory of my son, Tamir.

Read More: NFL player releases book about fathers bonding with daughters

Chicago artist Theaster Gates acquired the gazebo in which the young Tamir Rice was shot and killed and had it installed at his Stony Island Arts Bank in 2019.

Gates has said that he ultimately hopes to return the gazebo to the city of Cleveland.

We recognize that because of the history of violent acts against young black males in cities by the police, this gazebo is a national memorial, a national testament,saidGates at the opening of the reconstructed gazebo in June. Its a national call.

Read More: Black Native American descendants fight for recognition

His provocative work was noted by the mother still in mourning.

Thanks to my great friend Theaster Gates and the Rebuild Foundation for always supporting us and understanding our needs unconditionally,wrote Rice. In solidarity, for Tamir Rices 6 anniversary you can donate $6.00 for six years gone too soon to the Tamir Rice Foundation. All proceeds will go to the Tamir Rice Foundation so we can continue to build our Afro-Centric Cultural Center to honor Tamir and support youth in Cleveland.

The painful sixth-year anniversary of Rices shooting death was compounded by the news that 17-year-old Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse was released on $2 million bail Saturday after funds were raised by conservative figures, including Mike Lindell of MyPillow and former child actor Ricky Schroeder.

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Tamir Rices mother pays tribute to son on 6th anniversary of death - TheGrio

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) Several restaurants in Lexington put up tents or expanded existing tents on Friday to try to keep customers while following new orders to stop seating people indoors.

Some people have asked how a tent is different than sitting inside? Rita Kraynak, a manager at Coles 735 Main in Lexington says the restaurants gazebo, which has always been a part of the restaurant, is now semi-enclosed.

The top of our gazebo is actually open. It is enclosed so rain isnt there, but we do have a little roof and overlay on that, Kraynak says.

She also says the tent curtains in the gazebo are unzipped halfway, allowing air to flow.

Kraynak says the restaurant put up its tent in July, unknowingly preparing for the new mandate handed down by the governor this week.

That was probably the best thing that we could have done for us, Kraynak says. Really, people had requested that more than they had inside previous to the shutdown again.

The tent is completely open on one side.

The tent and gazebo both have heaters.

There is a little bit of a draft at your ankles, but I think for what its worth, if youre willing to come out and dine out, it really is quite a cozy environment, Kraynak says. Maybe, just bring an extra jacket or something.

John Corn, out to dinner with his wife Friday night, says he feels safe and appreciates all the effort restaurants have made. He urges everyone to give their support.

Weve been through this once, Corn says. Well make it through again, and wish them all the best of luck.

Kraynak says the restaurant, and others, will need all the support they can get, especially with colder weather around the corner.

Were all in it together, Kraynak says. We will all get through it together.

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How are tents different from indoor seating? One restaurant explains - ABC 36 News - WTVQ

Discussion surrounding whether the 310-unit Laurel Park neighborhood will receive permission to be constructed in the East Fairfax Magisterial District continued during a Tuesday discussion amongst town officials and developers.

Earlier this month, the Town Council delayed voting on a rezoning request that would permit the construction of 135 single-family detached units and 175 attached dwelling units on a 60-acre lot off Laurel Street just south of the High Point subdivision. The matter was sent to a committee consisting of town officials for discussions regarding the developments parking and impact on the school system and traffic.

Stephen Plescow, one of the developers, noted that while the project has been in the works for over a year, the Nov. 24 committee meeting marked the first time it was informally discussed with the Town Council. During a presentation, Plescow specifically wanted to address issues broached earlier this month surrounding traffic, parking, schools and whether the project is generally appropriate for the town.

Regarding the latter, Plescow noted the towns comprehensive plan specifically states that the land should be used for a neo-traditional residential neighborhood. While the comprehensive plan allows for up to 24 homes per acre at the site, he explained that the developers desired something smaller in scale that is compatible with High Point.

Plescow noted that High Point homes have sold out and the proposal would help meet market demands as there is a lack of new housing in Culpeper.

For people that want to move into the area and also people that live here, and particularly people at High Point that want to move up, this provides an opportunity of more housingMove into a house that you can afford, build up your equity as your family grows, move up and buy a bigger house. We think Laurel Park is a great opportunity for people to do that, he said.

Plescow said market data shows that supply is drying up in Culpeper as both inventory and the amount of days homes stay on the market have decreased 70% over the last year. Additionally, he noted that active listings have decrease by 33%.

Why is this important? If theres a lack of supply and theres a huge demand, its going to drive prices upSo we need some more housing product to help balance out the market, he said.

While the development would help balance the market, Plescow said it would also generate notable income for the town. For example, sewer, water and electric service fees would amount to $6 million in town revenue. Additionally, he said the development would create a property tax base generating $650,000-plus annually in town and county real estate tax revenue.

The developers would also fund about $1.2 million worth of improvements at the intersection of Laurel Street and Orange Road, including the addition of left turn lanes entering and exiting Laurel Street. Other improvements, Plescow said, would help finish Laurel by widening the road while adding curb, gutter and storm drainage improvements.

Having learned from High Point parking issues, Plescow said the proposed development would have marked parking spaces on just one side of the street. About 200 parking spaces have been added to plans since earlier this month for a total of 1,466, which doubles the amount required by town ordinances. This means there would 4.7 parking spaces per house. Assuming nobody parks in garages, there would be 3.3 parking spaces per house.

During a public hearing earlier this month, some speakers said the developers should contribute to the community in more ways than just building homes. Plescow noted that the developers are offering a $46,500 donation to the Culpeper Police Department. Another $250,000 would be used to provide recreational opportunities in the neighborhood including open playfields, gazebos and walking trails. There would also be a large park on the propertys eastern edge and a series of smaller pocket parks.

In response to concerns that the development would overcrowd schools, Plescow said data from Loudon and Fauquier counties was used to estimate that the neighborhood would generate about 200 students. They would attend Peral Sample Elementary School, Floyd T. Binns Middle School and Eastern View High School.

At the end of Plescows presentation, council member Jamie Clancey expressed concerns regarding those estimates and said the town needs better statistics on how the neighborhood would impact schools. Other council members present agreed that more time is needed to further discuss the matter.

Plescow said the developers do not want to rush the project and are open to suggestions and ideas leading to the best possible outcome.

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Developers of proposed 310-home neighborhood address recently posed issues - Inside NoVA

Samaria Rice published a heartfelt Facebook post to mark the six-year anniversary of her son Tamir Rice's death.

On November 22, 2014, 12-year-old Tamir was shot twice by a white police officer, Timothy Loehmann, while playing with a plastic pellet gun by a recreation center in Cleveland, Ohio. The child died hours later.

In honor of her late son, Samaria founded The Tamir Rice Foundation in 2016 to provide children with "after-school programs in arts and culture," according to the foundation's website.

"As we honor Tamir Rice on his 6th death anniversary, I wanted to show how pain is turned into power: By loving my children and grandchildren unconditionally," Samaria wrote on Facebook on Sunday. She asked for $6 donations to the foundation "so we can continue to build our Afro-Centric Cultural Center to honor Tamir and support youth in Cleveland."

The Afro-Centric Cultural Center is the foundation's core initiative, serving as an "enriching space to keep children safe from unjust harm."

Samaria also shared photos of a gazebo, where she said Tamir "was assassinated by law enforcement."

"This is my forever lasting memory of my son Tamir," she wrote. "Thanks to my great friend Theaster Gates and the Rebuild Foundation for always supporting us and understanding our needs unconditionally. "

Gates, an artist, obtained the gazebo and stored it at his Stony Island Arts Bank museum in Chicago, Illinois, according to The Grio.

"Caring for this gazebo felt like my duty as a Black man," Gates told The Guardian last year.

Samaria has spoken openly about her personal journey mourning her son's death and told USA Today in June that "it's an empty feeling of loss when you don't have your puzzle complete."

"People ask me all the time, 'How are you standing up?'" she told the outlet. "I'm telling them I do know that it's through the grace of God."

Tamir's death sparked nationwide outrage as widely shared video footage of the shooting showed Loehmann shot the child within seconds of arriving at the scene.

After a weekslong trial, a grand jury in December 2015 did not charge Loehmann and his partner Frank Garmback for their actions that resulted in his death. In 2016, Tamir's family was given a $6 million settlement from the city in a federal lawsuit. A year later, Loehmann was terminated from the Cleveland Police Department for reasons unrelated to the shooting.

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Samaria Rice writes heartfelt post to honor her son Tamir - Insider - INSIDER

Pictured here are several trees from a previous years Community Night of Giving. (Leeanna Wilbur photo)

RANGELEY The Rangeley Rotary Club will be hosting its annual Community Night of Giving in a new way, bringing the Rangeley area community together in a safe and engaging way.

Since 2009, the Rotary Club has held a holiday fundraiser. First called the Festival of Trees, then dubbed the Community Night of Giving, this event raises funds for community members who may need a helping hand. This includes families who need help with school clothes or Christmas presents for their children, seniors who need heating assistance, cancer patients who could use some help with food and lodging when theyre receiving treatment, and others who need a hand.

This year the challenge was creating a safe, fun way to celebrate the holidays in the face of COVID-19.

Wednesday, Nov. 25, the Miracle Tree will be placed at the Gazebo at Haley Pond. This tree will represent hope for the community with the end of 2020 and the new light of 2021, according to Leeanna Wilbur.

Every day for 12 days, beginning Saturday, Nov. 28, a new tree will be placed outdoors in Rangeley. The trees are decorated by local businesses and represent the Twelve Days of Christmas. A clue will be posted on Facebook and shared with students at the Rangeley Lakes Regional School, encouraging families to get out walking or driving to search for the trees. The last tree will be revealed on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Saturday, Dec. 12, a drawing will be held, raffling off the Twelve Days of Christmas trees. Tickets are $25 each, and 100% of the funds raised will be put into the Rotarys community fund. In addition, for $500, a class at RLRS may be sponsored; each child in the class will get an entry in the drawing for a tree of their choice.

In previous years, the trees were inside and businesses could add items to the trees such as gift cards, goodie baskets or products. However, to keep things COVID safe, the trees will all be outdoors. Businesses can attach laminated notes to their trees with any items that may be included, and the winner of each tree will take the tree, the stand and any items attached to the tree.

Classes may be sponsored multiple times, and folks can collaborate to sponsor a class.

Leeanna Wilbur reported Thursday, Nov. 18, that they had raised $7,400 and seven classes had been sponsored, before the event had even started.

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The Twelve Days of Christmas with Rangeley - The Original Irregular

As part of the Trees Are Life initiative in conjunction with the Town of Warwick Shade Tree Commissioner and the Warwick Valley Gardeners, the Village of Warwick Department of Public Works along with the Shade Tree Commissioner, Robert Scheuermann is thrilled to announce that several trees have been planted in the Village of Warwick.

Although Arbor Day celebrations did not formally occur this year, the Village continues its important tree planting as part of its Tree City activities. The Village has been an active participant in the Tree City Program for 36 years.

The following trees have been planted recently in the Village of Warwick: four Hornbeam Trees in the Stanley-Deming Park Gazebo and five Gold Rush, Dawn Redwood Trees at the Roger Metzger Arboretum.

In the upcoming weeks the following trees will be planted: two Red Point Maple Trees on Park Ave., a Flowering Cherry Tree on 10-12 Main St. and a Yellowwood Tree at the Hallowed Ground located at the corner of Galloway Rd. and Forester Ave.

A crew from the Village of Warwick Dept. of Public Works plant one of several trees as part of the Trees Are Life initiative in conjunction with the Shade Tree Commissions in the Village and Town & the Warwick Valley Gardeners.

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'Trees Are Life': Trees Planted in Village of Warwick - wvdispatch.com

POMPEY, N.Y. In 1978, Bob Manikheim and his wife, Joyce, were living in a development in Fayetteville.

It seemed like the houses were just two feet apart, he joked. We wanted more space.

He found it.

He bought two acres of property out on Cazenovia Road in Pompey and then, through what Manikheim calls happenstance, he acquired eight more contiguous lots around it for a grand total of 60 acres.

He called the land there rough and bad and likened it to a swamp with many dead trees.

But he was more than up to the task, joking that the work allowed to relieve stress on the weekends.

It took a long time to coral all the water and open it up, he said.

He dug several crystal-clear ponds, built a gazebo, and planted hundreds of new spruce trees.

His family gathered around him, occupying three homes on his property. He called it his family compound.

But things change.

In 2008, and some family moving on, he wanted to build a new home there. One that was quiet and private and took advantage of the beautiful countryside.

His new three-bedroom, three-bathroom house is at the end of a 2,000-foot driveway.

It is not really a driveway, he joked. It is a street!

Manikheim modestly says the home was meant to be functional and to look pretty good.

The home was built to be open and easy to move around in. He says he and his wife can live easily on just the ground floor.

The floor plan is open, and the home has high ceilings and many windows.

We went overboard with windows, he said, adding that there was no sense to do all this work outdoors and not enjoy it.

The kitchen is a special favorite for him.

He enjoys having breakfast in the dining area and looking out at the wildlife, like deer, raccoon, foxes and every bird you can think of.

Everyday someone new walks by, he said.

The kitchen, great room, with its many windows and beautiful gas fireplace, and master bedroom all have access to the deck which runs the entire length of the front of the house.

The property is an outdoors lovers paradise.

It feels like you are in the country there, Manikheim said. You think you are someplace else when you visit.

Hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, and ATV riding are all possible there.

The swimmers pond has been stocked with bass, has its own private beach, and is grated for both young and more experienced swimmers. A pond house with a bathroom, sink and refrigerator is where his children had parties while growing up.

A wildlife pond is stocked with minnows, which attract birds like blue heron and are used to feed the bass in the other pond.

After all these years there, he feels the property is too much for someone his age.

Manikheim says it is bittersweet to leave the property after all the work he has done there.

Anyone moving in will have the knowledge of knowing we did things right.

He and his wife plan to remain in the area and help their children with the new breweries they are opening, Seneca Street Brewery and Erie Canal Brewing Company.

(NOTE: Manikheim is selling the home and the entire 39 acres for one price but is willing to sell the house and just 13 acres for a lower price.)

For more information about this property, please contact realtors Sophia Sorrentino Benjamin, of Weichert Realtors of the Bollinger Group, or Allen Olmsted, of Canaan Realty. Their information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 8417 Cazenovia Road, Manlius, N.Y. 13104

Price: $1,100,000 (This price is for the house and all 39 acres. The owners will sell the house and 13 acres the home is on for $965,000. The mortgage figure is for 39-acre option.)

Size: 4,723 square feet

Acreage: 39 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $3,714 (based on this weeks national average rate of 3.01 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $21,447 (Based on assessed value of $529,400)

Built: 2008

School District: Fayetteville-Manlius

Kitchen: The kitchen is really big and really open. It features plenty natural all hickory cabinets, oak flooring and granite counter and splashboard. It has a large island, two ovens, a six-burner stove with griddle and a large refrigerator. Bob and Joyce Manikheim enjoy breakfast in the dining area surrounded by windows which looks out onto the gazebo and gardens. They watch the wildlife from there.

Living areas: The home was built to be open and functional. Visitors arrive in the large front foyer which has built-in display shelves, recessed and decorative lighting and two large closets. The living room has high cathedral ceilings and a large stone fireplace with gas logs. The large floor-to-ceiling windows let in tons of natural light and has views of the Mickey Mouse pond and waterfall. There is a den/office which could be made into a fourth bedroom. A downstairs living area has a second stone gas fireplace and built-in bookshelves. It is mainly used as a Television room. It has radiant heated floors. There is a convenient laundry room.

Master bedroom: The master bedroom has all oak flooring and recessed lighting. It has a huge walk-in closet with built-in shelves and center island dresser. It has many windows and access to the deck. There three bedrooms in the house.

Master bathroom: The master bath has two sinks and granite counters. There is a small hair and makeup studio for Joyce. The tile floor has radiant heat in it. The very large shower unit has extra jets. The two other full bathrooms have bathtubs.

Outdoors: The home is located on 39 acres of property set well off the road. Visitors arrive at a 2,000-foot driveway. Manikheim has done over 38 years of landscaping there, including grooming trails, opening fields, planting spruce trees, and digging several ponds. There are hiking and cross-country ski trails. The Swimming Pond is stocked with bass and has its own beach. It was grated for young and old swimmers. It is about 13 feet deep at its deepest point. The children would have parties there with a cute pond house there with air-conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, and bathroom. The area is private and has security lighting. The property also includes two metal pole barns and a three-bay attached garage. A breezeway to the garage is heated and has air-conditioning.

Location: The owner likes to say that the property is like a trip to the country but centrally located. It is two miles from the village of Manlius, four miles to Fayetteville and 13 to Syracuse. Owner says he is a half-mile away from bank, shopping, food, and Urgent Care.

Agent: Sophia Sorrentino Benjamin

Weichert Realtors, The Bollinger Group

Address: 7137 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, N.Y. 13066

Phone: (315) 657-4466

Email: sophia@thebollingergroup.net

Agent: Allen Olmsted

Canaan Realty

Address: 8645 East Seneca Turnpike, Manlius, N.Y. 13104

Phone: (315) 682-4500

Email: Allen@nyland.forsale

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

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House of the Week: Set on 39 acres, custom-built Pompey home is like a visit to the country - syracuse.com

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A new holiday experience is coming to Redding.

The Garden of Lights opens the day after Thanksgiving at Turtle Bay's McConnell Botanical Gardens with the promise of a million colorful lights strung from shrubs and trees, glimmering in the night.

"It's a walking experience where you go through each section. You look at the lights and enjoy them, and slowly move as a group," said Seth McGaha, spokesman for Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

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"It's thrilling for kids and adults alike to walk through and see all the animations and the music. It's a really great experience," McGaha said.

An employee night Thursday offered a peek of what the public will be able to see from Nov. 27 to Dec. 27.

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Visitors will entera holiday village where food and campfires are situatedbefore they take aone-way path that meanders through 10 acres of festive lights.

The highlights are a Candy Cane Causeway with a scent of peppermint in the air and nearly 200 feet of light tunnels. There's also an illuminated gazebo with a bench where people were taking holiday photos duringThursday's rehearsal.

The Garden of Lights at Turtle Bays McConnell Arboretum debuts Nov. 27, the Friday after Thanksgiving. For tickets, go to Reddinggardenoflights.org. Redding Record Searchlight

McGaha said masks are required when people enter but are optional the rest of the way in the garden for household groups, who are also asked to socially distance.

The Garden of Lights is locatedon the north side of the Sundial Bridge at 844 Sundial Bridge Drive.

For out-of-towners, the nearby Sheraton Redding Hotel is offering overnight packages.

McGaha recommends guests buy tickets online at Redding Garden of Lightsto receive a $5 discount. Children up to 5 years old are free and there's various prices for adults with discounts for Turtle Bay members.

Two people walk through an illuminated tunnel in the Garden of Lights at Turtle Bay's McConnell Botanical Gardens during employee night on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020.(Photo: Mike Chapman/Record Searchlight)

More: #ReddingTurkeyTrot 2020 goes virtual: What you need to know

Mike Chapman is a reporter and photographerfor the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif. His newspaper career spans Yreka andEureka in Northern California and Bellingham, Wash. Follow him onTwitter@mikechapman_RS.Subscribe today!

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Redding Garden of Lights a sparkling show of holiday colors, sounds: What you need to know - Record Searchlight