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Field Notes: Fine-tuning a nonprofit
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. If you have ever attended a workshop on productivity and time management, you've probably seen the exercise where the instructor pulls out a glass jar, fills...
Field Notes: Another confluence of things
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. A random collection of books inhabits a shelf above my home office desk. "Toothpicks & Logos" by John Hesket sits binding-to-binding with "How to Work a...
Field Notes: A confluence of things
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. I suppose it says something about me that most of my favorite short stories have dark, if not horrific, twists. "A&P" by John Updike ends with a grocery...
Field Notes: A legend’s last Christmas
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. The arrival of the Sears Wish Book in the mail was thrilling for any child of the '60s and '70s, but if you lived in rural Ohio where retail options were...
Speckled Paw named a N.C. Small Business of the Year by Business North Carolina
The Speckled Paw was named a N.C. Small Business of the Year at an awards ceremony on Wednesday hosted by Business North Carolina at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The Paw, along with the three other winners (Core Technology, Firsthand Foods and Seaview Crab Co.),...
Field Notes: That’s a big snake!
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. In rural southern Ohio, about two hours south of Columbus, sits one of the most perplexing structures in the Western Hemisphere. Rising from gently sloping...
Field Notes: So many Thanksgivings
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. Marriage complicates the holidays; none more so than Thanksgiving. Christmas you can kinda, sorta turn into two holidays, Christmas Eve with one family and...
Termination letter (since rescinded) for Mt. Gilead’s interim town manager
This letter was sent to interim Town Manager David Smith on Monday, but was rescinded because the action wasn't taken in an open meeting, as required.
Field Notes: Thanksgiving resolutions?
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. When we hear the word "resolutions," most of us think immediately of New Year's. While there is some logic to starting a new year with a fresh set of goals,...
Coalition aims to create ‘A Better Mt. Gilead’
Following is a statement Ben Blake read to the Town Board during the public comments portion of the Nov. 1 meeting: Like many here tonight, I was beyond disappointed to hear about not only another Mt. Gilead Town Manager biting the dust, but in my estimation the BEST...
Field Notes: Remembering the analog classroom
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. The Dukane Corp. of St. Charles, Ill., manufactures a line of plastic and ultrasonic welding devices for diverse markets, from automotive to medical. But, if...
Field Notes: A film ahead of its time
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. In the middle of the summer of 2004, I went with my wife and some friends to see "The Manchurian Candidate" starring Denzel Washington and Liev Schrieber. It...