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Q&A with Scott Nurkin, muralist
Here's an interview with Scott Nurkin who's painting a mural of Blind Boy Fuller on the side of the old Belk building in downtown Wadesboro as part of his statewide mural project focused on N.C. musicians. He's also completed several murals, unrelated to the musician...
Who will lead?
The author, David Smith, is Mt. Gilead town manager. We are a community in flux with so much opportunity. We show up to the meetings, we get involved, we talk about being different and being proactive and yet when there is talk of bold change, of the moments of real...
Field Notes: A long winter’s nap
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. I spent much of the past week on the frozen tundra of northern Indiana, attending my father-in law's funeral. It was a sad occasion, made all the more so by...
Field Notes: On field notes
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. If you have ever tried Googling my writing, you are probably aware that the term "Field Notes" is not unique to my weekly column. It is, in fact, the name...
Field Notes: Shipwrecks and mystery pumpkins
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. On Christmas Eve morning, I was walking along the shore of Mountain Island Lake with my dog, Millie, when we came across an odd sight, a hollowed-out pumpkin...
‘Mt. Gilead must be bold and unafraid’
(The author, David Smith, is Mt. Gilead’s new manager. He writes a weekly column for the Speckled Paw Times.) Mt. Gilead has a great opportunity to creatively innovate new ways of public engagement and service delivery if it chooses to do so. It is becoming...
Field Notes: ’Tis the (Naugahyde) season!
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. A couple of months ago, I related the story of how I fashioned a Halloween costume from Naugahyde, a synthetic “leather” manufactured by a company in my...
Field Notes: Merry Christmas! You’re fired.
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. Last week, the CEO of online mortgage company Better.com made headlines, and not in a good way, by firing 900 employees on a Zoom call. My initial thought was,...
‘Everyone, rich or poor, deserves a shelter for the soul,’ by Sambo Mockbee, or ‘Good enough is not an option!’ by David Smith
(The author, David Smith, is Mt. Gilead’s new manager. He’s agreed to write columns periodically in the Speckled Paw Times.) Over the past few weeks, I have heard the phrase “It’s good enough” on multiple occasions. Sadly, I heard this comment from a number of folks...
Field Notes: Starting a deep compost garden
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. I read an article over the weekend that suggested the fixins for a typical Thanksgiving dinner cost 15 percent more this year than last. For most of us, that...
Town manager: What I’ve seen, heard and thought
(The author, David Smith, is Mt. Gilead’s new manager. He’s agreed to write columns periodically in the Speckled Paw Times.) The past three weeks: I’m getting acclimated to the rhythm of this new position as town manager. I feel that I’ve been able to be in Mt...
Field Notes: All corn is Indian corn
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. There's a good chance that when your family gathered around the table on Thanksgiving, one of the dishes set in front of you was corn. Corn is arguably the most...