January 3, 2011

There were 3 posts published on January 3, 2011 (this is page 1 of 1).

Highlights of 2010: Parks board

Lions Park Playground Dedication

This year marked the start of my second term on Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Advisory Board (a.k.a. PRGAB). Service on this board has led to an amazing set of friendships and a greater understanding for all our Parks department does.

It has been challenging but rewarding work. The board meets every month, and each member is also expected to serve on one or more committees. My committee of choice is to act as liason to Mordecai Historic Park, which is a mile away from our home.
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Southern Culture’s Rick Miller interviewed

Here’s a great interview of Southern Culture on the Skids (a.k.a. “SCOTS”) frontman Rick Miller.

I love reading Miller explain how SCOTS is forging its own way in the music industry. You can tell by watching them play that Miller and the band truly love what they do – and that makes a SCOTS show such a blast.

Southern Culture On The Skids – guitarist Rick Miller, bassist Mary Huff and drummer Dave Hartman, plus recent recruit Tim Barnes on second guitar – is a North Carolina institution, Tarheel rock ‘n’ roll ambassadors determined to preach the gospel as espoused in that none-too-subtle, ever-evocative moniker. Put another way, their goddam reputation precedes them, and folks coming out to a SCOTS show aren’t there because they want to furrow their brows and ponder the deep metaphysics of life itself (well, unless you’re talking some esoteric Duane Eddy, Dick Dale or Tony Joe White musical reference; then you’re welcome to go deep). No, they’re there to shake their asses, and maybe toss a few chunks of fried chicken back and forth like crispy brown frisbees.

via BLURTING WITH… Rick Miller of Southern Culture On The Skids on Blurt Online.

City council considers smoking ban in parks

The Raleigh City Council is considering a recommendation from the Parks board to ban smoking in city parks. Ray Martin of the News and Observer wrote a story about it that ran today.

My quote:

Mark Turner, vice chairman of the board who presided over that meeting, said littering was the board’s chief concern.

“We don’t have the resources to clean up all the cigarettes,” Turner said. “If people can’t be responsible, this has to take effect.

“I think there’s also a big health benefit of the ban, but I’m the kind of guy who does not like making health decisions for other people.”

Considering the circumstances I’m pleased with the interview. Ray caught me literally minutes before we walked out of the house for our New Year’s trip. I was racing around to find last minute items as I talked with him. I’m surprised I sounded somewhat coherent.

One thing I would like to point out is that for this issue it was about litter for me. Other board members might have different concerns but for me it was litter. Ray writes that “littering is the board’s chief concern,” but I don’t know that to be the case. I was only speaking for myself and I tried to make that clear.

Since the story ran today I’ve spoken with News14 Carolina and WPTF. We’ll see how those turn out.