An Alamance County food manufacturer is relocating its distribution operations from Kernersville to Burlington, a $2.2 million investment that will double its space and relocate about 20 jobs.

Burlington-based Star Food Products recently purchased about 75,000 square feet in the former Konica Minolta Manufacturing building off of Interstate 40/85, near Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport, for about $1.7 million from Biggerstaff and Crawley LLC, according to county real estate records.

Norman Mabry, Star’s president, said the Burlington space will become the new distribution center for the company, which manufactures and distributes food products such as chili, chicken salad and pimento cheese to grocers such as Family Dollar and Food Lion in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Mabry said Star will move out of a 35,000-square-foot distribution space it is leasing on Graves Street in Kernersville at the end of December.

I went to Burlington for the holidays, but I really didn’t observe much about it so I decided instead to write abut TV.  Here are the TV shows I watched:  TOUGH LOVE, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, SCHMAATA, CALIFORNICATION, HOARDERS, JOY BEHAR INTERVIEW WITH LARRY DAVID.
Tough Love is a reality show featuring a matchmaker assisting women who are having difficulty meeting men.   I found something strangely compelling about the matchmaker, a white guy in his late thirties whose use of profanity seemed really unnatural.  Does this mean I found his assessment of the women and their problems particularly adept?  Not exactly.  I mean his advice was ok, but the series of exercises the producers gave these women were really boring.  They had to write on mannequins the characteristics of their ideal men.  They had to speed date a bunch of guys.  Whatever.  These houses they put reality contestants in seem like torture chambers.  Single beds.

Curb Your Enthusiasm.  Larry David is the love of my life, undeniably, even coming before James Franco, and definitely before any real life people.  However, Curb was weird.  There was a lot of cursing and arguing and too much plot.  It is a lot like late season Seinfeld, sort of devouring itself.  Still, Larry David is superfunny.

Josie and the Pussycats.  I read somewhere (Onion AV Club) that this was some sort of crazy good satire of capitalism and the music industry.  While it had its moments, it was actually really boring.

Schmata or Schmaata.  Documentary about the garment industry.  I thought this was going to be insightful but it wasn’t really.  If anything, it made me appreciate that what seem like the good old days (post WW II boom years) were just brief sidesteps in capitalism’s campaign to destroy the worker.  Also there were a lot of shots of various machines that make clothes that were super super awesome.  There was something very cursory feeling about the whole thing.  I felt it was big on personal anecdotes that were supposed to represent a whole historical phase, but I felt like I was missing parts of the picture.
Californication:  David Duchovny.  An old favorite.   This is pretty much just the alternate dream life David Duchovny had and if you were ever an X-file fan and pored through tons of clips and transcripts of his interviews, you probably suspected as much.  He’s an interesting guy, and I appreciate him although sometimes he seems like a frat boy in an intellectual’s trappings.

Hoarders.  Wow.  What a great way to wrap up Thanksgiving.  Rotting food.  Kids crying because their junk is being thrown out.  A sticky thing with dead flies coating it.  Hoarding is a big, telegenic problem in America, and I’m glad I know more about it.
Joy Behar interview with Larry David.  Wow.   Larry David is seriously four hundred times more awkward in person than he is on his improv show.  Still love him.

Foggy Louisville skyline, by Lizzie Morrison http://www.flickr.com/people/lizziemorrison/

What a fantastic question. Every city needs to ask themselves this—some more than others. I wish I could lay claim to posing the question in the first place but instead, it was this insightful fellow. In the post, Your Civic Ambition, Aaron Renn says he would like Louisville, Kentucky to follow through with the 8664 plan. I wasn’t familiar with this citizen-led grassroots initiative until today but it’s now etched in my mind as one of the more powerful community efforts to make cities and developers rethink their often thoughtless plans.

Anyone familiar with the Gardiner Expressway and the regretful waterfront development decisons made by Toronto will want to know about this.

After 4 years of community outcry and the support of over 10,000 citizens, I think Kentucky’s civic aspiration to “86″ this silly plan stands a very good chance of being realized. Even better, it would be replaced with this much smarter plan.

It also gives me great hope for similar efforts in my own city of Burlington.

Next post? Unemployed doesn’t mean uninvolved. I sit on the Steering Committee of Burlington Save Our Waterfront.  I’ll tell you about our civic aspirations and what we’re doing to make them a reality.

2009 Dice Technology & Engineering Career Fair Boston: Event at Marriott Burlington, Burlington, MA

Thursday, December 10

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Marriott Boston Burlington • Rt 128 & 3A (One Mall Road) • Burlington, MA 01803

Admission is FREE

Meet recruiters and hiring managers from these companies: Cambridge Interactive Development Corp., e-Dialog, •Raytheon, Research In Motion, Tufts Health Plan.

Register for this event online by clicking here!

Burlington based Nuxeo, a developer of open source enterprise content management software, has named Cheryl McKinnon Chief Marketing Officer. Cheryl was formerly Director of Program Management at Enterprise 2.0 – Open Text

The promised update for the first half of November’s home and condo sales results in Chittenden County, Vermont.

Continued Fantastic! Home and condo closings through the mls system – UP 73% vs the first half of  November, ‘08.

52 closings vs 30.

And for just condos – up 100%! Now that’s nice to see.  Homes up 49%. Nothing to complain about.  Well, except………

Prices sank again, as first time buyers and the move up buyers they are energizing are crowding the closing table with lower priced homes and condos.  So, the numbers have moved with them – Avg condo sold for $215k vs $264k last year. Homes – $250k vs $283k last November. Expect this trend to continue for some time, and remember not to worry!  Here’s why:

First time buyer credit of $8k, and the cool new $6500 credit for ‘move-up‘ buyers will help to move homes and condos at the $100’s, $200’s and $300’s right through the winter, at a faster pace then we’ve seen for a couple winters at least. That in turn will finally grease the upper ranges to at least get some action, and some sales improvement.  Maybe not all they want on the price scale – but at least something to work with.  What’s it all mean?

Too soon to tell, but………..I see a ‘recovering spring’ on the horizon.  Stable prices, some shortages of the hot prices ranges, developments, neighborhoods – the usual suspects!  A little more competition for the best places, and fewer bargain hunters.  But, my first point………stable prices – no return to a few years ago.  In my book that’s OK. Sustainable real estate is a good thing!

What do you see?

Well folks, the hunt continues. My optimism for finding rewarding employment in Burlington is quickly waning. My dreamy vision of an office in the downtown core within walking distance of my home is now blurred. So I’m expanding my scope to good ol’ Hamilton. A steel town in transition. A place waiting to be reborn. A city that is chock-a-block full of potential. This is the kind of stuff I find ridiculously exciting and want to be a part of.

For some briliant insight into this transition and potential, I recommend reading this excellent article by Trevor Cole.

It doesn’t take much Googling to discover that Hamilton’s got it going on. There’s an edginess to the Hammer that Burlington will likely never have. Not unlike my hometown of Peterborough, Hamilton has that symbiotic  balance of university town + working class + white collar. It’s got hockey and neurological science on the brain. It’s a Timmy’s kinda town but you’re also not hard pressed to find quality fine dining.  The arts scene is alive and kicking with everything from local Stompin’ Tom wannabes to Tom Thomsons of the new Millenium. And best of all, there’s a civic pride that the true Hamiltonians wear on their sleeve.

I plan to spend the next little while poking my nose around this tarnished gem and discover what makes it the city that it is. I came across this excellent blog today and I plan revisit it on a regular basis. These guys speak my language.

Check it: Raise the Hammer

The more I think about it, the more I think Hamilton and I are made for each other. I just need to get to know him a bit better.

I have started a support group in the triad area on http://www.psoriasispatients.com, I hope to see some of you there. Have any questions, feel free to ask. Hope you have a great morning, Misty
http://www.psoriasispatients.com/group.php?group_id=43

Naomi is starting a bellydance company.

Belly Expressions

2061 Pine Street, Burlington, Ontario

Classes will start January 11, 2010.

Schedule:

The video has been removed from youtube, but here is the article:

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/school-29483-shows-sludge.html

Mark it down now !!!  Thursday November 19th 8pm @ The Black Bull Tavern’s Fireside Lounge (1124 Guelph Line).

The Burlington Slam Project will be hosting another event.  Show & sign-up early for the poetry slam or open mic if you’re interested.  Once the sign-up is done we kick things off with our open mic followed by the slam proper.

This month’s feature is Ntare Ali Gault.  He is a slam poet, actor, playwright, and author of the book “The Sun Will Rise: A Memoir of an Urban family”.  He is one of Buffalo’s best and we are privileged to have him.

As usual, we will be asking for $5 donation to cover the costs of our feature and the cash prize for the winner of the poetry slam.

La idea proviene del self-service estadounidense. Al parecer, su impulsor fue Fred Harvey, un comisionista que a finales del S. XIX trabajaba en la línea férrea Chicago- Burlington- Quicy. No obstante, los primeros restaurtantes autoservicio se inaguraron en las estaciones de la línea Archinson-Topeka-Santa Fe, sobre todo 1876, con la idea de ofrecer a los viajeros un servicio de comidas rápido, cómodo y, sobre todo, barato. Tenían el aspecto de un café con algunas modificaciones para facilitar que el consumidor se sirviese; de ahí que en algunos países adoptaran el término “cafetería”. Hay quien asegura que Fred Harvey se inspiró en los “vehículos de restauración”, que, tirados por caballos, vendían pollo frío, huevos duros y bocadillos a los viandantes en las calles de Rhode Island.

The holidays are approaching quickly but it’s not too late to schedule a family portrait session just in time for the holidays.  I have a couple of time slots still available over the next 3 weekends.

Deadline for ordering prints or greeting cards is Monday, December 7th.

For my availability or to book a session contact me at lindsey@ryderphoto.ca or 905-690-7697.

It seems that along with the twists and turns the market has been experiencing over the last 18 months, opportunities for Investers has been realized.
We have been working with a larger number of Buyers entering the Investment market. The adjustment in pricing along with such attractive rates has once again made it possible for the average person to start to aquire a portfolio of solid income producing properties. There are differences that need to be pointed out to the new Investor, financing can be a little more challenging. The building of an Offer may include things that regular residential Offers don’t, a visit to City Hall may be indicated, Zoning Verification Certificates may be needed, etc. We can certainly point you in the right direction when it comes to negotiating your way through this involved process. Call us we have opportunities awaiting.  teamburlingtonrealestate@gmail.com

Maggie DiMasi, the youngest member of one of Vermont’s best-known hockey families, was one of the most recruited high school  athletes in Vermont history.

DiMasi made it official this week when she accepted a full scholarship to play for Northeastern University next year.  Northeastern is ranked No. 9 in the nation currently. 

DiMasi, a defenseman,  amassed about 160 points in goals and assists over her four year high school career — two years at Burlington, one at Lawrence (Mass.) Academy and one at Northwood Prep in Lake Placid, N.Y., where two of her brothers were student-athletes.

It was a tough decision for DiMasi, the 2007 Burlington Free Press “Miss Hockey,” symbolic of the best player in Vermont.  DiMasi had been contacted by just about every one of the three dozen D-I hockey schools.   Northeastern appears to be a perfect fit, she said. 

Ice hockey is the sport of choice at the DiMasi home, which often had a flooded rink in the backyard.  She is the daughter of Nancy and Lou DiMasi, who coached the St. Michael’s College men’s team for 25 years. Her oldest brother, Lou, is a former Free Press “Mr. Hockey” who went on to be a two-time All-American at Norwich University and played professionally in Europe. A second brother, Andy, played at St. Michael’s for four years, while her youngest brother, Ronny, was all-state at BHS and is on the St. Michael’s team this year. Her only sister, Molly, a four-time high school all-state selection, is playing at St. Michael’s as a senior. All five have the distinction of playing in the Vermont-New Hampshire Make-A-Wish All-Star Classic.

For anger management classes in North Carolina visit www.masteringanger.com or call 704-804-0841.

On Opernring.

What kind of a dumb slogan is that? Especially Burlington, ubiquitous as it is in this town.

Don Draper would not approve of this garbage.

-d.

]]> http://andrewgallix.com/2009/11/10/libraries-of-unpublished-unwritten-books/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:53:06 +0000 agallix http://andrewgallix.com/2009/11/10/libraries-of-unpublished-unwritten-books/

Two interesting posts from Chris Flynn’s Fly the Falcon blog:

“Brautigan Week Part 1: Library of Unpublished Books,” 19 October 2009

In 1970 Richard Brautigan released his novel The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966, which featured a library for unpublished books. Whilst an abortion does take place in the book, it is best remembered for the enticing prospect of a library that accepts single copies of books that have just been completed by their authors and that will never in all likelihood be published. The unnamed central character lives in the library with his girlfriend Vida in order to welcome authors at any time of the day or night and give them a chance to lodge their masterpiece.

Sadly Brautigan’s cult faded as the seventies progressed, leading to his eventual spiral into depression, alcohol and ultimately suicide in 1984. The idea of a library for unpublished books persisted though, and was taken up by photographer Todd R. Lockwood in 1990. The Brautigan Library was founded that year in Burlington, Vermont and opened its doors to unpublished manuscripts from around the United States. Much like the original in The Abortion, the library was manned by volunteers and supported by donations. Unlike the fictional library, which was secretly funded by an admiring millionaire, Lockwood’s venture struggled to stay afloat and in 1995 closed its doors. The collection of 325 manuscripts was taken in by the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, where it remains to this day. Lockwood is still the caretaker of the books, although negotiations are under way for the library to be moved to Vancouver, in Southwestern Washington state.

The curator of online repository Brautigan.net, John F. Barber, is working with Clark County Historical Society Museum to have the library moved to a permanent home in the Andrew Carnegie-designed Museum, which ironically bears a striking resemblance to the San Francisco Public Library on which the fictional library in The Abortion is based. Brautigan was born in Tacoma, a short drive away and published many of his early works just across the Columbia River in Portland. Barber has ambitious plans for the library and considering he is probably the nation’s foremost expert and fan of Brautigan, it seems correct that responsibility for it should fall to him.

As well as re-opening the library to unpublished manuscripts, perhaps more appropriately in digital format, Barber is also considering a National Unpublished Writer’s Day and a Brautigan symposium, with scholars and writers the world over descending on Vancouver for a veritable Brautigan-fest. As the San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle once famously said, “There is nothing like Richard Brautigan anywhere. Perhaps, when we are very old, people will write ‘Brautigans’, just as we now write novels. This man has invented a genre, a whole new shot, a thing needed, delightful, and right.”

“Brautigan Week Part Z: Library of Unwritten Books,” 20 October 2009

In continuation of my Richard Brautigan celebration week, today I’m looking at The Library of Unwritten Books, an extension of the Library of Unpublished Books seen on yesterday’s blog post. Two British artists, Caroline Jupp and Sam Brown, decided to take the idea one step further when they formed their library of unwritten books project in 1996. Jupp and Brown spent years recording informal conversations about ideas for books with random people in the street, in parks, at festivals and of course, in libraries. Often working with community groups, the homeless, housebound elderly, children excluded from school and on hospital wards, Jupp and Brown transcribed the recordings and converted the dialogues into pamphlet-style books, which were in turn distributed in specially-designed book boxes to community centres, doctor’s waiting rooms, cafés, Laundromats and galleries.

Currently standing at 761 titles, the collection will eventually be housed at The University of West Sussex Mass Observation Archive. This eclectic organisation was started in the 1930s and holds regular surveys on the opinions of ordinary people concerning such matters as what they fed their dog during wartime or their views on cellphones.

Jupp and Brown believe unwritten books are valid literary forms that deserve to be valued, irrespective of their potential worth as a published manuscript. In one interview a boy of seven confessed to hating fruit despite his parents determination he should eat some daily. He was persuaded to take a box of raisins to school every day, which he would duly bring home uneaten and hide in his toy box. After a year his mother discovered the mountain of raisins and he describes how his brother was jumping up and down gleefully shouting, “Make him eat them all now!” He wanted to recount his story for the library of unwritten books because he was ‘living proof that you can live without fruit!’

Richard Brautigan ended his life 25 years ago in 1984. His body was discovered on October 25th.

Maddie recently came to visit us (her human is my sister-in-law) and since it was a nice day we hung out on the porch for a while getting some shots of this striking cavalier spaniel.  She is the bubbliest and always on the go so getting her to sit still for a few shots was a challenge but patience always pays off.