On a "need to know basis" - YOU need to know!

I know that not everyone in Tarboro reads the Daily Southerner, so I just have to share this recent article with you (click to read):

 COUNCIL GIVES ITSELF 33% RAISE 

What is happening here?  I'm stunned. I try not to see our town officials as the stereotypical "Good ol' Boys " who make decisions based on how it benefits each of them personally rather than how it benefits the town's people, but come on, it's getting hard for me to make excuses for them.  Shame on you, our town needs so much and you guys give yourselves a raise?  How much time each month do any of you actually spend being a town councilman?  How much time do any of you spend talking to the constituents in your wards?  Are you really in touch with what the residents want or need?

Ok, I know, I'm just a lady who doesn't know much about how towns operate nor about the "important" work our town council members do, but I do know that we need some drastic changes around here.  Our town needs leadership with a genuine concern for the citizens who live here and with an innovative outlook for the future of our town.  Is that what we have?

Hmmm, let's see... $700 each, times 8 councilmen is $5600, times 12 months in a year is $67,000.   It's not a huge amount of money, but imagine if every year that $67,000 went to something that made our town a better place to live.  I don't mean spend it in the standard government overspending way with over-priced "improvements" like $44.800 for a new website or even $10,000 as the town's share of a $40,000 mural for the Veteran's Museum. I mean find ways of putting the money into the town in a way that it creates more money.  For example: by helping small businesses get started so they can give a few people jobs.  I keep thinking about Selma, NC and how the town officials there offered "free rent" of retail space for one year to anyone who would open and antiques or arts store.  Which resulted in over 1.5 million dollars of private money spent on the purchase and renovation of buildings.  That $5600 each month could cover the rent of at least eight new shops downtown.  Good way to attract visitors to our town.  Would our councilmen be willing to "donate" a year's salary to the cause of improving our town? 

I ask this question because we , the Grassroots of Tarboro,  invest a lot of our time promoting our town in an attempt to improve the quality of life for Tarboro residents.  We also invest money out of our own pockets. We know that the efforts we put forth now will benefit everyone in the future. If we can do it, they can do it.

If money in their pockets today is more important than Tarboro's tomorrow, then so be it. 

We should thank them for making that clear to us.

In 2009 FOUR council seats come up for re-election.

Each seat represents a specific ward (neighborhood) in Tarboro.

Only someone who lives in the ward can run for the council seat in that ward.

Only people who live in the ward can vote for the council representative for that ward.

There are a total of 8 wards and 8 elected council representatives.

Do you know which ward you live in?

Do you know who is your councilman?

Do you know someone in your ward who would make a good council representative?

In 2009, FOUR council seats come up for relection.  Four of eight.

If you think that nothing can be done to make things better in Tarboro, think again.

Tarboro has the best...

Let's have some fun and promote our town, too. The Rocky Mount Telegram is running a contest to determine THE BEST IN THE AREA for a wide variety of categories. 

Follow this LINK or go to www.RockyMountTelegram.com and click on the box that says "And the Winner is", then simply fill in the blanks with the names of your favorites and submit. It's easy!

I can't and won't tell you who to vote for, but think of the attention Tarboro will get if many of the BESTS in Edgecombe County can be found right here in our beautiful home town.

The deadline for entries is Friday, August 8th at 5pm and only one entry per person.

Too bad there isn't a category for BEST local website.

Stupid questions about ElectriCities?

Ok, this may be "stupid question time", but bear with me.  Every now and then in my exploration of the vast world outside of the box, I find myself wondering about things that seem very simple on the surface, but probably have deep complicated layers of which I am unaware.

In regards to ElectriCities,  I have a few questions and would appreciate someone breaking down the answers into layman's terms so that I (and everyone else) can easily understand.  Educate me, please.

ElectriCities is not our power provider, is it?

What exactly does ElectriCities do for the member towns?

Does Tarboro have to belong to ElectriCities?

Do all towns belong to similar organizations?

Are there any other organizations that Tarboro could belong to that would serve the same purpose as ElectriCities?

Some rural areas form Electric Cooperatives, is that a viable option for small towns as well?

It has been suggested that many of the people with "high-ranking" positions in ElectriCities enjoy the benefits of VERY high salaries.  With the rate increases, have any salaries been cut to assist in reducing overall operating costs of ElectriCities?

What part of our electric bill goes to cover the cost of our membership in ElectriCities?

In our town with a notable segment of the population living at a level that could be considered "economically disadvantaged", what are our town officials (the representatives of the people) doing to protect the quality of life from deteriorating due to the increase in cost of necessities?  Are they even seeking possible solutions?

These may seem like very simple, perhaps even stupid questions to some of you who are more knowledgeable about such things, but by answering my questions here, I don't doubt that you'll be providing answers to many people who would like to know but don't ask.

It's not easy being GREEN!

It may not be easy being GREEN, but many good things in life are not easy.

With the rising cost of gasoline, the concerns over global warming, and our electric bills set to increase by 13.2% as of August 1st, we would be stupid if we didn't explore some "green" alternatives.

Once again I'm asking everyone, including our town officials to think outside of the box.  The way your Daddy and your Grand-Daddy did it may not be able to carry us into a vibrant future.

By seeking to become a town that explores, and utilizes green alternatives, we would not only be seeking out ways to improve the long-range quality of life for Tarboro citizens, but we would be creating a "selling point" for new residents in our town; an excellent way for Tarboro to stand head and shoulders above other small towns and be perhaps be recognized for excellence in innovative leadership.

I'm certainly not an expert on the subject of "going green", but I'm pretty good at research and always willing to learn.  Here are some resources that I've discovered and will share with you:

NC GREENPOWER -  NC GreenPower is an independent, nonprofit organization established to improve North Carolina’s environment through voluntary contributions toward renewable energy.

North Carolina Green Building Technology Database - find projects in the State of North Carolina that have implemented specific green building techniques, strategies, or technologies.

Sustainable North Carolina - helping organizations explore and implement practices that improve efficiency, reduce risk, enhance reputation and increase profitability while enhancing our state’s communities and natural systems.

Green At Work Today - portal for tracking environmental news.

Southern Energy Management -  provides high performance energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial clients.  From our offices in the Triangle and Charlotte, NC, we service all of NC and parts of SC and VA. 

Green This Town -  Blog with a steady green stream of ideas and innovation to help you help your community become environmentally friendly.

NC Project Green - In fall of 1998, North Carolina Executive Order 156 was issued, challenging state government to set an example of environmental stewardship. ( Time to refresh their enthusiasm?)

Treehugger.com - An information clearinghouse and forum for all things GREEN.

NC Dept of Environment & Natural Resources - the lead stewardship agency for the preservation and protection of North Carolina's outstanding natural resources.

Tarboro has recently earned recognition as the #3 Most Fit Community in North Carolina.  We will hold that recognition until 2011.  During that time, we should be making the most of this favorable status and build on it.  Being healthy and living a healthy lifestyle is becoming more and more important to the kinds of new residents we are hoping to attract.  Let's take that healthy "vision" one step further and promote not just the health of the people, but the health of the town as well.  Go GREEN!

Is Tarboro a Progressive Town?

Recently the Clockwork Cabaret  brought Steampunk entertainment from the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area to downtown Tarboro.  In an interview following their visit the darling Davenport sisters, Emmett and Klaude,  talked about how receptive the people of Tarboro were to the unfamiliar neo-victorian genre.  The performing duo along with their costumed friends and fans had a wonderful time in our pretty historic town and were pleased by the "progressive attitude and welcoming acceptance" they had experienced during they brief stay.

Are we progressive?  What is a Progressive?

Once again, I headed off to find clear definition and deeper understanding and in my quest found the following contest winners who were asked to answer that very question: "What is a progressive?"

Carol S., Amherst, MA - (The Winner):

A progressive is someone who understands that it is the people of our country who make it great, and unless we take care of the people first, we'll never be successful in maintaining our greatness. Taking care of the people means providing healthcare for everyone. It means keeping the environment clean, safe and preserved. It means great schools and great jobs. It means improving the lives of families, rather than lining the pockets of big business, or big politicians. It means taking care of each other here, and around the world. We're all in this together.

Louis L., Sunnyvale, CA - (Runner Up):

A Progressive believes that a better life is possible for everyone. They know that when we make room at the table for everyone, we are all enriched. Progressives actively pursue new, more effective solutions to the problems we face as a people. Status quo is not a given; it is a challenge to do better.

Julie P., Hastings, NY - (Runner Up):

A progressive is someone who believes in the common good—in a fair shake for every person—and is willing to fight for it.

Cassandra B., Garden City, MI:

A progressive is someone who, instead of reaching backward for a nonexistent, idyllic past, works tirelessly toward bettering the future. A progressive recognizes that we are a product of our historical moment and that in order to escape the fate of repeating the same mistakes of the past we must continually reach forward, expand our ideas and break down the barriers that keep us apart.

Jean M., Richmond, CA:

A progressive is someone who cares about others as much as themselves. They are interested in making all of society a better place. They are not afraid to do the right thing because it benefits society as a whole, rather than doing something for selfish reasons. They realize that we are indeed our brother's keeper.

Craig S., Fort Collins, CO:

A progressive is a person who thinks the best is yet to come. Rather than yearning for 'the good old days' a progressive realizes that the best days are still ahead if we are willing to give up old ways that lead to failure and to take up new ways that lead to mutual success.

William W., Canada, MI:

A progressive is someone who understands that personal wellbeing cannot be separated from the wellbeing of society, and that we are all better and stronger when we work together for the common good. From the air and water that we all depend on, to the education of our neighbors' children, a progressive understands that none is immune from the effects of community underachievement. Today's progressive understands that the individual is most effective when all in society function highly.

After reading those explanations, I can honestly and clearly say, "Yes, Tarboro is progressive".  At least, the Grassroots of Tarboro is progressive and as more and more local people join us in our efforts to improve things  for all Tarboro citizens, we as a town will become MORE progressive.

Whenever anyone asks me to talk about what is good in Tarboro, I have to talk about the people.  Yes, we have some who live in the past and fear change, some who are they themselves comfortable and see no need to aid in ways that will provide comfort for their neighbors, but they are just a small percentage.  It takes all kinds to make an interesting community and Tarboro has all kinds. The majority of people in Tarboro understand community and without knowing that there is a word for it, they are progressive. They operate from a sense of pride for what we have and with sense of hope for what we will have.  They understand working together for the greater good. They understand that we, as a community, have the ability to create the greatness of the place in which we live.  What's good about Tarboro?  Once again, the answer is "We're here".  Our people are our biggest asset.  It is through the vision, energy, resourcefulness, and determination of the people that Tarboro is becoming recognized as one of the best places to live in North Carolina.

As the town leaders put forth their official efforts to attract new residents to retire here, I'm hoping that our UNofficial efforts will attract a  "target audience" that includes artists, craftspeople, teachers, dancers, writers, free-thinkers, designers, entrepreneurs, activists, environmentalists, recyclers,  gardeners, green-builders, school reformers, and progressive thinkers in all shapes and sizes.  If someone is looking for a place to call home that has all that they want or need (in a progressive manner), Tarboro can be that.  It is ripe for change and hungry for positive influence.  Want to make a difference? Want to help make a good town great?  Come to Tarboro.