This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market Wednesday Market

THIS WEEK AT MARKET
Tomorrow, August 1st, is an Anglo Saxon/Pagan holiday called Lammas Day - or Loaf mass. Lammas Day also marks the approximate mid-point of summer.

For ancient Celtic farming communities, the beginning of August marked the beginning of the wheat harvest. Before the harvest, the stores of grain were low and the growth and success of the next crop was always at risk due to factors (like weather) that were out of their hands. Once harvest began, celebrations ensued to mark and rejoice in the harvest and bounty of the new crop of grains which would be harvested and stored for the winter months.

Here in North Carolina, I'm pretty sure that the wheat harvest happens earlier in the summer, but looking back on ancient harvest celebrations can give us a good perspective on the relative agricultural bounty that we enjoy here in Durham all year long. That is not to say that farming is without its hardships. This year, the excessive rain in the early part of the summer has had a negative impact on lots of farmers that sell their wares at the Market. Some farmers told me this week that they are expecting to see a lull in their harvests towards the end of August because they were unable to plant some crops during the rainy period.

This weekend, Durham Farmers' Market vendor, George O'Neal the owner of Lil Farm wrote a great piece about the risks and hardships of farming for the Chapel Hill News. George says, "It takes a real leap of faith to try your hand at all the tasks required to get a tomato from that little seed packet to grow into a plump summer treat on your plate. You have to suspend logic and all well-known business principles to try, over and over, to make a living growing food. All along, you hope that the risk will be out done by the reward".
Read the whole article here. 

On this Lammas Day, let's celebrate the summer harvest, the bounty we enjoy, and the boundless optimism of farmers, and the support system that we have built for our local agricultural system! Oh yes, and the bread! There will be 4 excellent bakers at Market today and many of their breads contain North Carolina grown wheat!

And while you are celebrating, take a minute to pledge to shop at the Durham Farmers' Market (and other favorite Markets), in the annual I Love My Farmers' Market Celebration. This is run by the American Farmland Trust, a national non-profit that works to support farming and save farmland in the US!
To show your love for the Durham Farmers' Market, CLICK HERE

See you at the market!
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow the Market on Facebook and Twitter


Upcoming Events 

Wednesday July 31 - Storytime with Cynthia Raxter, 3:30-5:30. Local story teller Cynthia Raxter will be back to entertain kids of all ages with her stories!

Saturday August 3rd - Kick off of Farmers' Market Week! This Saturday, to celebrate National Farmers' Market week, we invite you to tell the vendors and the world why you shop at the Durham Farmers' Market. We'll have the Wall of Fame for you to write about your favorite things about the Market, there will be roving camera asking people to tell us about their favorite things about the Market. And, we'll be giving out Durham Farmers' Market fans to help you keep cool on these hot summer days!

Wednesday August 7th, 3:30pm - Quick Dinners from the Market Demo - Local blogger and cook Matt Lardie   (greeneatsblog.com) will lead the Quick Dinners Demo on August 7th!

Saturday August 10th, 9am-Noon - National Can it Forward Day Details coming soon!

Wednesday August 14th, 3:30-5pm - Canning Demonstration! Learn how to make and can Salsa with Durham County Extension Agent Nekeira Morrison.

Available Wednesday! 
Fruits: Figs, Summer Apples, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Peaches, Watermelon
Vegetables:  BUTTER BEANS, PURPLE HULL PEAS, Artichokes, Arugula, Beans, Beets, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Cucumbers, Collards, Eggplant,  Garlic, Green Onions, Herbs (including Holy Basil, Cilantro, Stevia, Thyme, Oregano, and Greek Oregano, Marjoram, Dill, Holy Basil, Bergamot, Chammomille, Bay, Lemon Balm), Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Okra, Peppers - Sweet and Hot, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Zucchini
Meats: Beef, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon, Pork
Eggs:
Chicken and Duck  Eggs
Flowers: Celosia, Gomphrena, Tuberrose, Lisiasnthus, Black Eyed Susan, Dahlia, Statice, Lilly, Sunflower, and mixed Bouquets
Specialty Items:  RAW HONEY!, Mustards, Flour, Yellow & White Cornmeal, Grits,  Goat and Cow Milk Cheeses, Baked Goods - Breads, Pastries, & Pies, Preserves, Gluten Free Baked Goods, Fermented Items, Nut Butters, Pasta, Herbal Teas, Herbal Salves,
Crafts:  Wood Crafts, Pottery, Goats Milk Soaps

John Legend to Perform at DPAC Oct 31

Halloween is all treats this year when nine-time Grammy® winner, John Legend makes his much anticipated return to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on October 31, 2013. 

This stop is part of his North American tour, "Made to Love" in support of his upcoming album Love in the Future, which will be released this fall.  Award-winning singer, reality star and talk show host Tamar Braxton, whose album Love and War also drops September 3^rd, has been confirmed as a special guest throughout the tour.

Tickets go on sale August 2 at 10 a.m. online, or at the DPAC Ticket Center at 123 Vivian Street in Durham. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on July 31. J

"I will never forget John Legend's first show at DPAC as part of our grand opening. It was one of those special moments that brought chills to all of us as he started the show by walking into the seating area singing the first song of the show. DPAC is famous for special concerts and special memories and I cannot wait for this next chapter,” said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC.  

John Legend is a nine-time Grammy® Award winning recording artist, critically-acclaimed concert performer, philanthropist/social activist, and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. 

Legend’s debut album, Get Lifted (2004) sold more than three million copies worldwide and earned an astounding eight Grammy® nominations with three wins for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B album. Legend’s follow-up album, Once Again (2006) earned RIAA platinum certification and a Grammy® Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. 

High off the success of his third consecutive Top 10 album, Evolver (2008), Legend embarked on an extensive world tour with an 11 piece band - his largest traveling show to date. Inspired by the monumental 2008 Presidential election, Legend teamed up with The Roots to release the socially conscious album, Wake Up! (2010.) The album was nominated for five Grammy® Awards and won Best R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B song (for “Shine”- an original composition also featured in Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim’s documentary film Waiting for Superman) along with two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Album and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration. 

In 2007, Legend launched the Show Me Campaign, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty around the world. John also sits on the Boards of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America, and the Harlem Village Academies. That same year he received the special Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  

Legend has been honored several times for his activism, including the 2010 BET Humanitarian of the Year award, the 2009 CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change, and the 2009 Africare’s Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award. 

In early 2012, Legend released one of the hottest songs of his career, the RIAA gold-certified hit “Tonight (Best You’ve Ever Had),” which sat atop the Urban AC radio chart for six consecutive weeks. Legend's fifth studio album Love in the Future, with executive producers Kanye West and Dave Tozer will be released September 3.

Learn more about upcoming events in Durham and at DPAC at www.durhameventcalendar.com

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

Tomorrow is the TOMATO TASTING PARTY!
That's right! Every year, on a Saturday in July, we gather up as many varieties of tomatoes as we can find at the Market and chop them up for you to taste, compare, and celebrate!

As I'm sure you have seen by now, tomatoes come in lots of different shapes, sizes and colors. They also have very different flavors and textures - some are sweet and smooth others are acidic and tangy, some are meaty while others are juicy. There is a tomato for everyone out there!

A couple of weeks ago, the Market held a smaller tomato tasting at the Wednesday Market. One couple tasted all of the tomatoes on the table and I over heard them talking about the different flavors. They had a long conversation about how the same variety of tomato had a different flavor from different farms. They were so excited about this and we spent some time talking about about the terroir. Terroir is a term that is often used in wine tastings. It is used to describe the  distinctive flavor characteristics given to wine from a combination of factors, including soil, climate and environment. Different types of soil have different nutrients that the plants take in which do cause subtle changes to the flavors of the tomatoes. Tomorrow is a great opportunity to taste the terroir in the tomatoes available at the Durham Farmers' Market.

This summer has been a tough year for growing tomatoes (and lots of other crops). The heavy rains have meant that some growers have seen their tomato crop come and go in a short period of time. For others, after weeks of watching green tomatoes sit on the vine, their tomatoes are finally starting to ripen and will have lots tomatoes this week. So, we may not have the huge array of different tomato varieties that we've had then in years past. No matter, we'll celebrate what we have and enjoy the hot, summer weather!

Here's the plan for tomorrow's Tomato Tasting Party...
Shane Ingram, chef and owner of Four Square Restaurant,   and his crew will start chopping up tomatoes for sampling around 8:30. All of the tomatoes will be labeled with the variety and the name of the farm where they were grown. Sampling will continue until the tomatoes run out! Shane will be cooking tomato inspired dishes throughout the morning. Once you've tasted all of the tomatoes, take a minute to vote for your favorite tomato variety and put it into the fishbowl. If you are curious where to find your favorite tomato, feel free to ask me or one of the volunteers who are helping out and we'll happily point you in the right direction!

See you at the Market, bright and early!!
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow DFM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram


Upcoming Events
Saturday July 27th, 8:30-Noon ANNUAL TOMATO TASTING!
Chef Shane Ingram from Four Square Restaurant will be hosting - chopping tomatoes and cooking tomato dishes!

Wednesday July 31, 3:30-5:30pm - Kids Story Hour with Storyteller Cynthia Raxter!

Saturday August 3, 10am - Kickoff of National Farmers' Market Week!

Wednesday August 7th, 3:30pm - Quick Dinners from the Market Demo - Matt Lardie of GreenEatsBlog.com

Saturday August 10th, 10am - Chef in the Market - Chef Adam Rose, Il Palio at the Siena

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: FIRST SUMMER APPLES, a few FIGS, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Sun Jewel Melons, Blackberries, Blueberries, Peaches
VEGETABLES: FALL ASPARAGUS (very limited quanitity), BUTTER BEANS, PURPLE HULL PEAS, Amaranth Greens, Arugula, Beans (Green, Yellow and Purple), Beets, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Collards, Cucumbers, Edamame, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Catnip, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sorrel, Parsley), Eggplant, Frisee, Green Onions, Garlic, Gourds, Kale, Lambs Quarter, Lettuce, Long Beans, Okra, Onions, October Beans, Peppers (Bell, Padron, Shishto, Poblano, Jalepeno, Lombardo, Pepperocini, Yummy, and lots more varieties), Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Salad Mix, Sweet Potato Greens, Swiss Chard, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini, and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit
Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES:Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Bedding, House, and Flower Plants.
FLOWERS: Lisianthus, Tuberose, Black Eyed Susan, Gladiolus, Echinacea, Sunflower, Dahlia, Lily, Zinnia, Mixed Bouquets
SPECIALTY ITEMS: RAW HONEY, creamed Honey, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Pastas, Perogies, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Handmade Baskets, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...

Produce availability depends on weather conditions 

Triangle Community Foundation Posts Growth in 2012-2013

One indicator of a healthy community is the amount of charitable giving and funds coming into the community.  By that measure, Durham is doing quite well.

Triangle Community Foundation, a nonprofit fund management company that distributes funds to nonprofits in the community, posted growth in new funds, total gifts, grants and scholarships, and endowment and assets over the past year.

“We’re happy to see so many of our donors and community partners continuing to engage in and support important causes in our community, and we are honored to play a role in this work,” says Lori O’Keefe, president of the Foundation.

New funds expand

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 46 new funds were created at the Foundation, up from 33 the previous year, and they ranged in size from $10,000, the minimum allowed, to an estate gift totaling $2.5 million. New funds totaled $6.5 million, up from $6 million a year earlier, and total gifts, including new funds, totaled $16.8 million up from $16.3 million a year earlier.

“The market has a lot to do with it,” says Jessica Banks Gilmour Aylor, director of development and community partnerships at the Foundation. “Any time we have donors with appreciated assets is the time they will give to charitable organizations.”

Endowment assets grow

As of June 30, endowment assets at the Foundation consisted of over 300 funds totaling $94 million, or nearly 60 percent of all assets, up from $86 million in total endowment assets a year earlier. Overall assets -- including fixed-income and equity investments, as well as pass-through funds that are not invested -- grew to $160 million in the year ended June 30 from $145 million a year earlier.

Scholarships increase

For the 2012-13 school year, the Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $654,000 from 49 different scholarship funds to 145 students, with the largest totaling $60,000 over three years and the average award totaling $4,500.

For the 2013-14 school year, the Foundation already has awarded scholarships totaling $628,000 from 51 different scholarship funds to 115 students, and expects the total to be roughly $670,000. The largest scholarship so far totals $60,000 over three years, and the average award so far totals $5,500.

Grants and gifts grow

The Foundation made $13.8 million in grants in the fiscal year ended June 30, up from $13.2 million a year earlier. Of the total grants, $11.6 million came from donor advised funds, up from $10.7 million a year earlier. Roughly 70 percent of grants from donor advised funds in the most recent fiscal year stayed in the Triangle.

Gifts to the Foundation in the most recent fiscal year totaled $16.9 million, up from $16.3 million a year earlier. Of the total gifts, $12.7 million were given to donor advised funds, up from $8.5 million a year earlier.

Family philanthropy

During the year, the foundation launched a series of five education sessions to talk to fundholders about family philanthropy. The sessions focused on topics such as how to involve family members in the family’s philanthropy, how to get the family’s next generation involved in philanthropy, how to think about creating a family’s philanthropic legacy, and the range of charitable giving options through estate planning. The Foundation plans to offer more education sessions this year, probably two this fall and two next spring.

Donor education

The Foundation sponsored or co-sponsored four sessions for the Triangle Donors Forum. The sessions focused on the impact of funding cuts on nonprofits; capacity-building for nonprofits; homelessness; and collaboration in the sector. The Foundation plans to sponsor four more sessions this year, some of which likely will be tied to new community programs in development.

Triangle Community Foundation is a nonprofit that manages over $160 million in funds established by families, businesses, individuals, and organizations. From these funds, it makes grants to nonprofit organizations and administers a variety of programs for the community’s benefit. The Foundation manages over 790 funds, ranging in size from $10,000 to $7 million, mainly for the benefit of Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties. During the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the Foundation granted more than $13 million to nonprofits, schools and community efforts.

Learn more about all the great things happening in Durham.

Midweek Music Series Coming to American Tobacco

Durham is known for its food, but it is also becoming notable for its music series.

A new music festival will launch on Wednesdays at the American Tobacco Amphitheater from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. The Midweek Music Series will feature local food, bands and brews.

The current lineup includes:

• August 14: The Embers
• August 28: The Breakfast Club (80s Party Band)
• September 4: Abbey Road (Beatles Tribute Band)
• September 25: The Dickens

The Midweek Music Series is sponsored by: Cuban Revolution, Mellow Mushroom, Tyler's Taproom, L'Uva, Harris Beverages, Sweet Water, and American Tobacco

Discover more musical events in Durham at the Durham Event Calendar.

Durham Bulls Announce Pre-Sale of "Bull City Summer”

Normally, fans can't take the great ballpark experience home with them. But now, Durham Bulls fans can have a piece of it. 

The Durham Bulls announced the pre-sale of the limited-edition fine art book Bull City Summer: A Season at the Ballpark and Beyond. Edited by Sam Stephenson and published by Daylight Books, Bull City Summer chronicles the 2013 Durham Bulls season. Featuring photography and essays, Bull City Summer will be a limited edition with 216 pages total and 129 fine art reproductions from nationally acclaimed photographers. Pre-sale orders can be made in the team’s online store and at the Ballpark Corner Store at the DBAP.

Writers involved in the project include Stephenson, Adam Sobsey, Howard L. Craft, and Allan Gurganus, and photographers Alex Harris, Frank Hunter, Kate Joyce, Elizabeth Matheson, Leah Sobsey, Alec Soth, Hank Willis Thomas, Hiroshi Watanabe, and Ivan Weiss.  “The goal of the project,” said Stephenson, “is to converge on the stadium and its surroundings with a team of artists and documentarians and see what we find – stories, images – on the field and behind the scenes over the course of a season. The results will be a portrait of the art and craft and grit of baseball and the community that revolves around it in the ballpark and downtown Durham.” 

Stephenson’s last project, The Jazz Loft Project, won a 2010 ASCAP-Deems Taylor award for its wide-ranging outcomes including a book, exhibition, website and public radio series.  It also is the basis for a documentary film and a theatrical play that are currently in production. A longtime Triangle resident, Stephenson said, “The Jazz Loft Project concerned a building in New York City 1957-1965 obsessively documented by photographer W. Eugene Smith. For a decade it felt like I was living in 1959 New York City. By the end I was ready to live in 2013 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, to document something happening here now, not New York fifty years ago.” Bull City Summer is the inaugural project of Stephenson’s new Rock Fish Stew Institute of Literature and Materials.

Learn more about Durham, NC at www.durham-nc.com.

This Week at the South Durham Farmers' Market

This Week

• Music by Sara Maria Finley on the violin
• Education from Master Gardeners will be available
• Fresh this week: Flowers, peppers, eggplant, peaches, squash, tomatoes, peas, green onions, garlic

Flower Power
As you walk down the market’s thoroughfare this Saturday, it will be hard to miss the brilliant floral arrangements on display perfuming the heavy July air. It might be easy to mistake these bright blooms of summer as nothing more than pretty faces, but they actually provide valuable assistance to our farmers.

When planted next to fruits and vegetables, flowers are often hardworking companion plants that protect and promote their neighbors. Some flowers, like the chrysanthemum, release a chemical into the soil, killing roundworms that attack the root systems of vegetables. Others, such as the sunflower and the zinnia, attract birds and hummingbirds, which are the natural predators of many harmful insects. Yarrow is a particularly helpful flower. It attracts beneficial insects, like the ladybug, and can increase the essential oil production of nearby herbs. Also, its leaves can be turned back into the soil for a natural fertilizer. Incorporating flowers into crops creates a more stable ecosystem, which reduces the need for chemical intervention.  

Flowers are also essential for bees and other pollinator species. All of our fruits, including the fruits we call vegetables, like cucumbers, are the product of fertilized flowers, and bees are our most important pollinators. Every summer squash, tomato, pepper, berry, and peach you see at the market was once just a bud. Decorative flowers in our market bouquets, like the lilies, hydrangeas and zinnias, keep the bees fed once the other blossoms have transformed into fruit. Of course, we have that other flower byproduct, honey, available at market, too.

The power of flowers bestowed on loved ones should also not be underestimated, especially when completely unexpected. (Ladies, the bouquet giving can go both ways.) A simple arrangement can amplify the romance of your dinner table or freshen up your work desk. We hope you will enjoy the florae at market and decide to bring some of nature’s beauty into your home.

 Yes, You Can Eat That
Whether you dislike the idea of cutting down flowers for mere decoration or you are just interested in trying new foods, you might be interested to know that many of our most common flowers, including those at market, are perfectly edible. Moreover, they add color, fragrance and extra nutrients to our cooking.

Already we eat the bloom of several plants such as broccoli, capers and artichokes, but there are so many other options available. In general, most vegetable flowers are safe; however, beware the flowers of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and asparagus. Always make sure to properly identify a flower before consumption, and it is highly recommended that you only eat organically grown flowers.

One of the easiest ways to consume flowers is to dry the petals for use in an herbal, or tisane, tea. Chrysanthemum petals make a sweet, fragrant tea, and you can also use rose, jasmine or chamomile petals. Another simple and beautiful alternative is to make candied petals from roses, daisies or even pansies to garnish a dessert like a famers’ market goat cheesecake.  Whenever using roses, remember to remove the white base of the petal. Here are some other ideas:

• Sprinkle pansy petals over a fresh salad
• Add rose petals to your strawberry preserves
• Sauté the unopened buds of the common daylily with olive oil, salt and pepper
• Batter and fry summer squash blossoms (extra delicious if stuffed with cheese)
• Mix fresh yarrow into your stir-fries

Happy experimenting!

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market Wednesday Market

THIS WEEK AT MARKET
Today, our Discover You Can - Learn Make Share Canning Education Program will be focusing on the luscious, sweet, juicy peach crop that is coming into the Market! Durham County Extension Agent, Nekeidra Morrison will be at Market leading a demonstration of how to make No Sugar Peach Jam! Nekeidra will go through the steps of making the jam from start to finish including a demonstration of how to preserve the jam through a waterbath canning process. The demo will start at 3:30.

This week, I had the chance to talk to Ben Williams from Kalawi Farms (the peach farm that sells at Market), he told me that they are starting to harvest a variety of peach called Windblo, which is a freestone variety. He said that this variety is a favorite among customers because it is rich, juicy and one of the sweetest peaches of the summer. Right now, several freestone peach varieties are coming to the Market, including some white varieties. If you love the taste of summer peaches, now is a good time to start thinking about preserving some to enjoy during the summer months. Freezing, drying, canning, and jamming are good ways to bring back the flavors and feel of summer time during the dreary, chilly winter months!
Information about canning and preserving can be found at FreshPreserving.com

For the next couple of months, the American Farmland Trust, a great national non-profit that works to support farming in the United States, is holding the "I Love My Farmers' Market Annual Celebration". In the past, they have held a contest -- I've spent lots of time asking for your votes and we have gotten lots of votes and recognition for you, our beloved customers! This year, they are holding a celebration instead. They are asking people who love their farmers' markets to go to the website, choose their Market and pledge to spend $10 at the Market. People can pledge daily. The Durham Farmers' Market would love your pledge! To pledge, CLICK HERE

See you at the market!
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
Follow the Market on Facebook and Twitter


Upcoming Events 
Wednesday, July 24 - Canning Demonstration -- County Extention Agent, Nekeidra Morrison will demonstrate the process of making and canning low sugar Peach Jam. Demonstration runs from 3:30 to 5pm. There will be information about canning and packets of pectin to make jam at home available!

Saturday July 27 - Tomato Tasting! 9am - Noon. Chef Shane Ingram from Four Square Restaurant will host the tomato tasting. He and his crew will chop up lots of different varieties of tomatoes for you to sample and they will be cooking all kinds of dishes featuring the tomato! Lots to taste all morning long!

Wednesday July 31 - Storytime with Cynthia Raxter, 3:30-5:30. Local story teller Cynthia Raxter will be back to entertain kids of all ages with her stories!

Wednesday August 7th, 3:30pm - Quick Dinners from the Market Demo - Local blogger and cook Matt Lardie   (greeneatsblog.com) will lead the Quick Dinners Demo on August 7th!

Available Wednesday! 
Fruits:  FIGS, SUMMER APPLES, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Peaches, Watermelon
Vegetables:  PUMPKINS, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, Artichokes, Arugula, Beans, Beets, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Cherry Tomatoes, Corn, Cucumbers, Collards, Eggplant, Frisee, Garlic, Green Onions, Herbs (including Holy Basil, Cilantro, Thyme, Oregano, and Greek Oregano, Marjoram, Dill, Holy Basil, Bergamot, Chammomille, Bay, Lemon Balm), Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Okra, Peppers - Sweet and Hot, Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Radicchio, Radishes, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Zucchini
Meats: Beef, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon, Pork
Eggs:
Chicken and Duck  Eggs
Flowers: Celosia, Tuberrose, Lisiasnthus, Black Eyed Susan, Gomphrena, Dahlia, Statice, Lilly, Calendula, Sunflower, and mixed Bouquets
Plants:  Vegetable and Herb Seedlings, House Plants, Landscaping Plants
Specialty Items:  RAW HONEY!, Mustards, Flour, Yellow & White Cornmeal, Grits,  Goat and Cow Milk Cheeses, Baked Goods - Breads, Pastries, & Pies, Preserves, Gluten Free Baked Goods, Fermented Items, Nut Butters, Pasta, Herbal Teas, Herbal Salves,
Crafts:  Wood Crafts, Pottery, Goats Milk Soaps

Vote for Wool E. Bull for Minor League's Best Mascot

Wool E. Bull shows his love every week to Durham Bulls fans.  Whether it's dancing with energetic elementary schoolers on the field, or shooting t-shirts into the adoring crowd, Wool E. may be the most beloved bull in the Bull City.

Now it's time to return the love and vote for Wool E. Bull as the Minor League's Best Mascot.  Wool E. is up against a celery stick and a hambone, so it's important to show allegiance to most bullish mascot in the league!

There are two ways to vote and each vote enters fans into a sweepstakes contest. Fans can vote on MiLB.com by clicking to vote for a mascot.  Fans can also vote via Twitter by following @MiLB, tweeting the hashtag #MascotMania, and including the @DurhamBulls Twitter handle. Retweets count, too!

The league round will be voted from July 18-August 1 and the championship round will be voted on from August 1- August 8.  Fans can vote as many times as they like on MiLB.com and up to 25 times daily via Twitter. Voting also enters fans a chance to win a subscription to MLB.TV, MiLB.TV, and other prizes. See the Official Rules for details.

Durham Recognized for Performance Management Success

As a result of its efforts to improve transparency, accountability and work measures, the City of Durham has earned top honors and international recognition for its performance management success.

The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has recognized the City for superior performance management efforts with a Certificate of Excellence from the ICMA Center for Performance Measurement™. Durham is among 28 jurisdictions in the United States receiving this highest level of recognition this year and is the only city in North Carolina to be recognized. Last year, the City received a Certificate of Distinction, which is the second-highest honor.

According to City Manager Tom Bonfield, the key award criteria that was met includes the use of performance data in strategic planning; online dashboard reporting system; leadership in networking, benchmarking, and data sharing; and conducting and reporting of satisfaction surveys for both employees and residents.

“The Strategic Plan guides our decision making and resource allocation in a transparent manner,” Bonfield said. “Performance management ultimately aids in cost reduction, program prioritization, and quality improvement. I’m very proud that this organization won this highest recognition this year and I hope Durham residents are pleased that their local government has been recognized for sound leadership and for our demonstrated commitment to provide an excellent and sustainable quality of life for all who call Durham home.”

According to Bonfield, two of the reasons he believes Durham won this year’s top honor is because the organization is providing more frequent reporting of crime and departmental data to Durham residents and is often asked to share its expertise with other cities. In fact, this committed effort to provide transparent data is one of the reasons Durham was asked to participate in the Alliance for Innovation’s Results Management Collaborative, which provided a forum for Durham and eight other cities from across the country, to share information and best practices in performance management and public reporting.

Certificates are awarded at the levels of Achievement, Distinction, and Excellence. The certificate program assesses a local government’s performance management program and encourages analysis of results by comparing to peers and gauging performance over time. “The certificate program recognizes the principles of performance management,” said Wayne Sommer, ICMA’s director of U.S. Programs. “Jurisdictions meeting the qualifications have demonstrated leadership in continuous improvement and community engagement, and they serve as examples for other governments to follow.”

Criteria for the Certificate of Excellence include operational decision-making; sharing of performance measurement knowledge with other local governments through presentations, site visits, and other networking; reporting of performance data to the public through budgets, newsletters, and/or information provided to elected officials; and data-verification efforts to ensure data reliability.

Several City departments played a major role in the performance management process thus far, including Budget and Management Services, Audit Services, and the Technology Solutions Departments along with receiving extensive support from many City employees across the organization.

According to Budget and Management Services Department Director Bertha Johnson, whose department oversees the Strategic Plan and performance management system dashboard, this award recognizes the City’s dedication to transparency and accountability. “We are committed to sharing our performance with the Durham community and being held accountable for the results of our efforts,” Johnson said.

For more information about the City’s Strategic Plan, visit http://www.DurhamNC.gov/StrategicPlan or contact Strategic Initiatives Manager Jay Reinstein by email at Jay.Reinstein@DurhamNC.gov.

About the Budget & Management Services Department

The City of Durham’s Budget and Management Services Department is responsible for preparing, implementing, and monitoring the City’s annual operating budget as well as the five-year revenue/expenditure projections for all City government services. The department also provides operational and organizational studies as identified by the City Council, City Manager's Office, and department staff. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, which the department established and maintains, the department helps to ensure that the City of Durham is a well-managed city by working with City agencies to build and implement performance measurement monitoring and evaluation. The department is also responsible for preparing the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), coordinating the City's process for petition and City-initiated annexations, conducting resident satisfaction surveys, and evaluating departmental achievement of City goals and objectives. For more information, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/as/bms/Pages/Home.aspx.

About the Audit Services Department

The Audit Services Department provides objective and independent assurance and investigative services of departmental transactions for the City of Durham. The Department reports functionally to the Audit Services Oversight Committee (ASOC); an independent committee comprised of City Council members and residents charged with providing oversight responsibilities for the audit function and ensuring internal controls are in place and implemented.  The Department implements a ten engagement annual audit plan approved by the ASOC to carry out its departmental mission. This mission includes the vetting of 300+ pages of data and text for the City-wide Strategic Plan. The Audit Services Department is staffed with 5 FTEs; and each staff member has specific responsibilities to ensure the integrity of the information in the City-wide or Audit Services Departmental Strategic Plans.

About the Technology Solutions Department

The Technology Solutions Department aligns the City’s information technology infrastructure and systems to the business needs of the City’s departments. It designs, implements, and maintains the technology hardware, applications, and programs. Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, Technology Solutions ensures that its services support making Durham a great place to live, work, and play by helping provide a well-managed city and stewardship of the City’s physical assets. For more information, click here.

About ICMA

ICMA advances professional local government worldwide. Its mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and advancing professional management of local government. ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, provides member support; publications, data, and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and professional development to nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other individuals and organizations throughout the world. The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect 185 million individuals living in thousands of communities.

About the Center for Performance Measurement

ICMA’s Center for Performance Measurement is dedicated to helping local governments use performance information to better the lives of the people they serve.  Jurisdictions are assisted with the collection, reporting and analysis of data relating to quality, effectiveness and efficiency of government services. The Center encourages the use of performance information in a positive, continuous-learning environment in order to foster organizational cultures that deliver results that matter.  For more information, please click here. 

Learn more online about Durham, NC.

DPAC’s Fifth Season Sets New Records

DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center continues to blow away the competition with its stellar sold out shows and incomparable events.

DPAC, has just announced key attendance statistics for their just completed fifth season.  The fifth season boasts new records with 65 concerts, comedy, and special events and 11,200 season ticket holders for their signature series, SunTrust Broadway at DPAC.  

DPAC's 2012 / 2013 Season featured 187 performances which drew 371,678 guests and saw 50 total sellouts.  This 2012 / 2013 attendance mark was DPAC second highest ever and 12% better than DPAC's average annual attendance since opening in 2008.  Heading the list of the highest attended shows were Jersey Boys (24 performances at DPAC) and Mary Poppins (8 performances at DPAC).   DPAC begins the 2013-2014 SunTrust Broadway season as one of the top Broadway series in the country, with season ticket sales now at 12,700 and still growing.

Top Five Shows- SunTrust Broadway at DPAC 2012/2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. Jersey Boys 
2. Mary Poppins
3. War Horse
4. Sister Act
5. Anything Goes 

In addition to Broadway blockbusters, DPAC delivered a record high 65 concerts, comedy and special events. Concert sellouts featured Rock acts like Duran Duran and Crosby, Stills and Nash, legends Tony Bennett and B.B. King, blues rocker superstar Bonnie Raitt, renowned jazz artist like Diana Krall, a long list of R & B icons including Al Green, Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight and even a holiday favorite with Mannheim Steamroller.  Plus Comedy and special events also played a decisive role in DPAC's season with Jon Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld posting record setting sellouts as well as special performances by Alton Brown and Theresa Caputo.

Top Fifteen Concert Events - 2012 / 2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. Tony Bennett
2. Duran Duran
3. Crosby, Stills and Nash
4. Diana Krall
5. Gladys Knight
6. Il Divo
7. Kings of the Mic: Featuring LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, De La Soul
8. Al Green
9. Hall and Oates
10. Smokey Robinson
11. B.B. King
12. Jackson Browne
13. NAS with DMX
14. Mannheim Steamroller
15. Bonnie Raitt 

Top Five Comedy Events 2012 / 2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. Jerry Seinfeld
2. Robin Williams
3. Bill Engval/Larry the Cable Guy
4. Jon Stewart
5. Carol Burnett 

Top Five Special Events 2012 / 2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. A Christmas Carol
2. Celtic Woman
3. Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker
4. So You Think You Can Dance
5. Theresa Caputo 

"If anyone still doubted the staying power of DPAC, our fifth season should put those thoughts to rest”, said Bob Klaus, DPAC's General Manager .More than ever fans are telling us that DPAC is their favorite place for live entertainment. Based on over 30,000 guest surveys this past season, 99% of DPAC guests would be likely to recommend DPAC (84% - Extremely likely, 15% - Very likely).  It's the strength of our guest experience and truly great shows that create this unbeatable affinity from Broadway, concert and comedy fans in the region."

National Attendance Rankings

Unquestioned as the center for live entertainment in the Triangle, the combination of high profile Broadway, concert and comedy events has also gained DPAC attention on the national live entertainment scene with two of the nation's top entertainment trade magazines naming DPAC among the most highly attended venues in the country. In their just published July 12^th, mid-year edition, Pollstar Magazine lists DPAC as #3 in ticket sales among reporting theatre venues in America. In previous rankings, DPAC had been among the top five listed U.S. theatres, but in this newest ranking covering the first six months of 2013, DPAC was topped only  by the iconic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and the Coliseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.  

Pollstar National Attendance Rankings - Theaters: (January 1-June 30, 2013)

1. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV - 4,100 Capacity - 309,798
2. Fox Theater, Atlanta GA  - 4,556 Capacity - 198,552
3. DPAC, Durham, NC - 2,712 Capacity – 173,558
4. Broward Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Capacity- 2,700- 163,252dpa
5. Dreyfoos Hall, West Palm Beach, FL- 2,195 Capacity- 153,876

Local and National Awards

DPAC's accolades also run well beyond just attendance statistics. This past season saw the venue win a number of local Reader's Choice Awards.

 The Independent Weekly’s “Best of” winner for Best Theater Venue - 5th Consecutive Year

·     The Herald Sun’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Live Entertainment - 5th Consecutive Year

Separate from these local publication awards, DPAC also recently received its second consecutive Certificate of Excellence ranking from Trip Advisor, the world’s largest travel and destination website.  

Rachel Gragg, Senior Director of Marketing at DPAC, stated, “We're always very proud of the number of guests that have walked through the door since opening almost five years ago and are so humble to be recognized for these awards again this year.  In fact, DPAC staff is all big fans ourselves of the numerous performances of Broadway, comedy and concerts that take the stage night after night. Each day is a new challenge that our team thrives in being a part of.”

Download Video: http://bit.ly/1213videorecap

Download Photos: http://bit.ly/1213photorecap

About DPAC
Since its opening in 2008, DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of the art sound and video. Operated under the direction of Nederlander and Professional Facilities Management (PFM), DPAC has been listed three times as the #1 performing arts organization in the region by the Triangle Business Journal. 

What’s up next? Nine Time Grammy Award winning Sheryl Crow (August 3), “Politically” Incorrect” comedian and host of HBO’s “Real Time,” Bill Maher (August 10), followed by the high octane theatrical experience of Blue Man Group (September 6-8).  Please visit www.DPACnc.com for more information about these and all upcoming events.

Learn more about Durham, NC at www.durham-nc.com.

India.Arie to Perform at DPAC

She's not the average girl from the video, and she's not built like a supermodel, but India.Arie will be coming to Durham this Fall!

Multi-Grammy® winning singer-songwriter India.Arie has announced dates for her highly anticipated Soulbird Presents A SongVersation with India.Arie 2013 North American tour including a stop at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on October 29, 2013. The tour comes in support of India’s acclaimed fifth studio album SongVersation (Soulbird/ Motown Records) which released June 25th, received rave reviews and marks her fifth #1 on the Billboard R&B Album Chart and fifth top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.

“Since her 2009 sellout at DPAC, fans have been asking us over and over again to have her back. The atmosphere at DPAC is perfect for an artist like India.Arie. With DPAC's great views of the stage and state-of-the-art sound, India.Arie makes you feel almost like you are on stage with her; the entire room comes together in a very intimate concert experience,” said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC.

2013 continues to be a very busy year for the multi-Grammy® winning, iconic singer-songwriter.  In addition to prepping for the US tour, India has made a number of recent national television appearances in support of SongVersation on shows including Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, BET Awards and a two-episode special on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

World renowned award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie came onto the national music scene in 2001 with her Motown Records debut ACOUSTIC SOUL. She followed up in 2002 with her sophomore release VOYAGE TO INDIA and then in 2006 released her third album, the more personally expressive TESTIMONY: Vol. 1, LIFE & RELATIONSHIP. TESTIMONY VOL. 2, LOVE AND POLITICS, her fourth studio album, released in 2009. All four releases received critical acclaim and made India a highly respected and noted artist in a very short amount of time. She has sold an impressive 10 million albums worldwide and has received numerous awards and nominations including a staggering 21 Grammy® nominations, 4 Grammy® Awards, 3 NAACP Image awards, as well as awards from BET, Billboard, MTV, VH1, Vogue Fashion, Essence Magazine and others.

In between touring and writing music, India also finds the time to help promote causes close to her heart. She is an avid supporter of female empowerment, and is a US Ambassador for UNICEF. She has performed alongside legendary acts such as Stevie Wonder, Sting, Elton John, Adele, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Bette Midler and Michael McDonald amongst others, written with Stevie Wonder on the title track of his 2005 studio album “A Time For Love,” and has been featured on other various songs including John Mellencamp’s “Peaceful World.” She has performed on such prestigious television specials as The Kennedy Center Honors, The NAACP Awards and The Grammy® Awards and has performed for President Obama, Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama and at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

India recently formed SoulBird, a new lifestyle company with the mission to spread love, healing, peace and joy through the power of words and music.  Started simply as an avenue for India to release music, the company has quickly expanded to include other vehicles for India’s messaging including events, merchandise, apparel, music and book publishing, film and TV and other exciting endeavors.

For more information, please visit www.indiaarie.com and www.soulbird.com.

About DPAC
Since its opening in 2008, DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of-the art sound and video. Listed four times in the top 10 in Pollstar magazine’s annual worldwide theater attendance rankings, DPAC is currently the #5 ranked theater in the U.S.

What is up next at DPAC this summer? SHERYL CROW in her most intimate concert ever in the Triangle (August 3), Politically Incorrect comedian and host of HBO’s Real Time BILL MAHER (August 10), followed by an intimate evening with 6-time Grammy® winner TONI BRAXTON (August 18).

Tickets are on sale now. For more information please visit www.DPACnc.com.

Durham County Library Hosts Film Screening: A Ripple of Hope

The Durham County Library will host a viewing of A Ripple of Hope, a documentary that dramatically retells the events of April 4, 1968, the day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated outside a Memphis hotel room. The screening and discussion will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 22, at the Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street. The event is free and open to the public

The movie retraces the steps of presidential candidate Robert Kennedy as he absorbs the news of the killing and responds with courage and compassion. With digitally-restored news footage and original music by Grammy-Award winning music director John Colby, A Ripple of Hope features interviews with congress members, Kennedy’s campaign staff and reporters. Dr. Katherine Charron of NC State University will introduce the film and lead a discussion afterwards.

Charron is an associate professor of history at NC State. Her areas of interest include women’s history and African American history, especially in the American South. She is the author of Freedom’s Teacher: the Life of Septima Clark.

This program is sponsored by Durham Library Foundation. For more information, contact Joanne Abel at 919-560-0268.

Durham County Library encourages Discovery, connects the Community and leads in Literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit  the library's website.

Learn more about Durham online at www.durham-nc.com.

Durham County Library Hosts Film Screening: One Night in Kernersville

Durham County Library will host filmmaker Rodrigo Dorfman for a screening of his documentary film One Night in Kernersville. Set in the legendary recording studio of Mitch Easter, the film tells the story of musician and band leader John Brown, an associate professor of music at Duke University, who is about to live out his lifelong dream: making a big band jazz recording. The screening will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, at the Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street.

Kernersville was the winner of the Full Frame Jury Award for Best Short and the Best Cinematography Award from the Charlotte Film Festival and has been shown around the world. Following the film, Dorfman will lead a discussion on the relationship between reality and fiction in documentary storytelling. All ages are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Dorfman is an award winning Chilean-American multimedia filmmaker and a Durham resident for the past 25 years. His films have been shown in such prestigious film festivals as Toronto, Telluride, Edinburgh and Full Frame. He has written a number of films with his father, Ariel Dorfman, notably the BBC special “Prisoners of Time,” for which the father-son pair won the 1996 Writer’s Guild of Great Britain award for best television screenplay. Dorfman is currently working on Tommy! The Dreams I Keep Inside Me, a documentary on a sixty year-old man with autism who dreams to sing with a big band.
This program is sponsored by Durham Library Foundation. For more information, contact Joanne Abel at 919-560-0268.

Durham County Library encourages Discovery, connects the Community and leads in Literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit  the library's website.

Discover more unique events in Durham at Durham Event Calendar.

Durham County Library Hosts the Piedmont Laureate

Durham County Library will host award-winning author and 2013 Piedmont Laureate for Children's Literature, John Claude Bemis, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at the East Regional Library, 211 Lick Creek Lane. Bemis will share how Southern folklore, music and magic have inspired his writing, and will offer advice to writers of all ages on how to create engaging and unique stories. Following the talk, students will be invited onstage to act out a musical version of the legend of John Henry.

Bemis is an educator, musician and author of four novels, the most recent of which, The Prince Who Fell from the Sky, was an Amazon Best Book of the Month. A native of Pamlico County, Bemis taught elementary school for 13 years before receiving his Master of Education in Literacy from UNC-Chapel Hill. Bemis’ novels draw inspiration from country and blues music, Southern folklore and his grandfather’s stories of train-hopping around the country. Bemis resides in Hillsborough, N.C., with his wife and daughter.

Piedmont Laureate appearances in Durham County are sponsored by the Durham Arts Council and co-sponsored by Durham County Library. For more information about this event, contact Archie Burke at 919-560-0213.

Durham County Library encourages Discovery, connects the Community and leads in Literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit  the library's website.

Durham Finance Department Earns National Reporting Honor

Thanks to a recent award for outstanding achievement in government reporting, the City of Durham is the only municipality in North Carolina to have received this year’s prestigious Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Popular Annual Financial Reporting.

The Citizens’ Financial Report has been recognized for the ninth consecutive year for outstanding achievement by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). Durham is also the only city in North Carolina that currently holds all three national awards for its Budget document, Comprehensive Annual Finance Report, and the Popular Annual Financial Report from the GFOA.

The Citizens’ Financial Report is an annual publication providing an overview of the City’s financial condition and summary of the City’s progress during the previous fiscal year. This year’s award is for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012.
This national award recognizes the highest standards for preparation of state and local government financial reports. In order to receive this award, the City’s Finance Department had to publish a report whose contents had to conform to program standards of creativity, presentation, understandability, and reader appeal.

“The report is an easy read which is a good indicator of the amount of effort that has gone into preparing it,” said David Boyd, director of the City’s Finance Department. “The aim of the report is to help keep City government transparent and accountable, and I encourage all residents to read the report and visit the City’s Strategic Plan website to learn more about how we’re successfully achieving our goal of being a well-managed city.”

A copy of the Citizens’ Financial Report is on the City’s website. For more information about the City’s Strategic Plan, click here. For more information about the GFOA, click here.

About the Finance Department
Guided by the City’s Strategic Plan, the Finance Department helps to ensure that Durham is a well-managed city that is accountable, transparent, and efficient. The department assists the City Council, City Manager, and City departments with the management of financial resources and activities including debt and cash management, payroll, vendor payment, financial reporting, purchasing, and revenue collection. Finance staff also coordinates risk management activities such as claims administration and employee safety programs. The department is divided into six divisions: the office of the director, accounting services, treasury management, billing and collections, risk management and safety, and purchasing. For more information, click here.

Discover more about Durham by clicking here.

The Hills to Holy Water Music Arts Tour Announces Weekend Schedule for the NC Fresh Catch Labor Day Weekend Music Arts Tour Stop

UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Bring a blanket, a chair and big appetites for The NC Fresh Catch Labor Day Weekend - three full days of entertainment and Fresh NC-ness.  

The event is scheduled to begin at 2 pm, rain or shine, during Labor Day Weekend at The All People’s Grill Outdoor Pavilion on Guess Road in Durham, NC. Ticket pricing is $10 for general admission and $25-$75 for weekend and VIP passes. Ticket information is available at online.  All food and drink items on sale while supplies last.

The 3 day-weekend family event will feature some of the freshest food, music and beer NC has to offer.  Each unique day showcases a different music style and menu.

Saturday is the Latin-Caribbean Seafood Samba, Sunday is Soul Classic Jazz & Blues BBQ and Monday brings it back home with the Funk Rock Labor Day Fish Fry.  Local artists will exhibit their work, as well as local farmers and vendors whose products are sustainably produced. 

Proceeds from this event support N.C. Catch fisheries, local farms, arts and craft breweries and help to raise money for The Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation, Food & Water Watch and Nourish International. For more information, contact Michael Kalna by email or 919-428-0845.

ABOUT THE TOUR:

The Hills to Holy Water Music Arts Tour and NC Fresh Catch is a statewide concert series promoting the richness of North Carolina’s natural and creative resources.  This unique series focuses on creating and strengthening community relationships between local arts and sustainable commerce.  Partners in the Hills to Holy Waters Music Arts series include diverse and dynamic musicians and artisans, local and regional farms, fisheries and craft breweries.  These efforts combine to raise awareness and funds for community charities, ensuring continued growth in sustainable relationships and practices.

More information about fun things to do in Durham can be found on the Durham Event Calendar.

Ho-b RC Park Brings Large-Scale Model Car Racing to Durham

Race over to Northgate Mall to witness the some high-octane, remote control fun in Durham.

Northgate Mall is pleased to announce the opening of Ho-b RC Park, Saturday July 27, 2013 with a FREE GRAND OPENING weekend of racing fun, a one-of-a-kind 20,000 square foot remote control model car racing/recreational facility for ages eight to eighty in Suite 235 next to Sears at Northgate Mall.

”This unique indoor space is truly like no other for enthusiasts and model car hobbyists. There is nothing like this in the Southeast. We are dedicating thousands of square feet to four colossal racing tracks for the public to enjoy whether they own a model racing car or not,” said owner/operator Ivan Maresca.

The Ho-b RC Park features three racing tracks (off-road, on-road, beginner) as well as a full hobby shop with model car accessories and expert repair service. In addition, birthday party rentals will also be on tap for groups of ten or more featuring racing, full service catering and socializing. Corporate events are also available to liven up business occasions with racing fun and full service catering.

After opening weekend, unlimited Ho-b RC Park track access day passes are available for $10 weekdays; $15 weekends. Car rentals are available for 30-60 minutes from $12-$25. Unlimited monthly memberships for $50 per month.

Model car racing classes led by national champion Justin Sweet will also be part of the Park’s activities for both novices and experts to hone their racing skills. Class schedules will be regularly updated online.

Italian-born owner Ivan Maresca opened his model car operation Ho-b Max at Northgate as a kiosk April 2011 then as an in-line store in March 2012 and is a seller of battery-operated, electronic hobby crafts including airplanes, cars, boats, helicopters, rockets, tanks, trains and more for ages 8-80. Ho-b Max has mall locations in Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem and Northgate Mall, Durham. Maresca’s concept for Ho-b RC Park is to bring enthusiasts and newcomers from across the Southeast together for fun, competition—a racing experience they can’t get anywhere else.

This Week at the Durham Farmers' Market

What's New at Market
Even though it hasn't rained in a few days, farmers will be feeling the effects of the excessive rains for quite a while. This week, several farmers told me about what is happening on their farms. A number of farmers said that parts of their farms have been underwater or too wet for weeks. This has meant different things for different farmers. Some have had multiple plantings of crops drown or wash away out of parts of their fields. Others have reported that it has been too wet to do any soil preparation or planting. The wet fields have meant that some farmers are not been able to harvest the crops that are planted, which means that crops (and profits) are rotting in the fields and are being lost. Ben from Fickle Creek Farm told me that he has lost two boots in muddy fields -- they came right off of his feet! I've also heard lots of farmers talking about how the weather has created the conditions to spread plant diseases like tomato blight, which can kill the plant fairly quickly. The excessive rainfall is also causing certain water heavy crops to split in the fields. Melons, tomatoes, blueberries and grapes have all been splitting recently. Needless to say, it has been a difficult summer for farming.

But, there have been a few good things to come out of the unusual weather pattern... Livestock farmers have told me that because of all of the rain, their fields are green, lush and full of grass. The animals are loving it! And, irrigation ponds and streams are as full as can be. So, if the weather pattern changes to dry, there will be a good supply of water to irrigate the crops.

Tomorrow, as part of our Discover You Can, Learn Make Share Canning Education Program, Assistant Market Manager Shanna Bierman will be holding a Canning Demonstration out on the lawn. Shanna will demonstrate how to make small batches of Blueberry Jam! There will be samples to taste, recipes and free packets of pectin to take home so that you can make your own jams! During her demonstration, there will be a raffle for a Discovery Canning Kit and a copy of the Ball Blue Book of Preservation!

If you are interested in canning and preservation, there will be another canning demonstration on Wednesday at 3:30pm. County Extension Agent, Nekeirda Morrison will be demonstrating how to make and can Low-Sugar Peach Jam!

Also, this week, the Durham Farmers' Market learned that we are on the Bull City Bucket List which is a fun way to try new things in Durham. You can sign up, take pictures of yourself at the places on the list and win prizes! The challenge for the Durham Farmers' Market stop: take a picture with your favorite vendor and post it to twitter or instagram using the hashtag #BCBucketList
Have fun!

NEXT WEEK: TOMATO TASTING PARTY!!

See you at the Market, bright and early!!
Erin Kauffman
Market Manager
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Upcoming Events
Wednesday July 17 3:30-6:30 - Master Gardener Volunteers
will be answering gardening questions

Saturday July 20, 10am - Canning Demonstration! Assistant Manager Shanna Bierman will be demonstrating how to make blueberry jam.

Wednesday July 24, 3:30-5pm - Canning Demonstration! County Extension Agent Nekeidra Morrison will demonstrate how to make and can peach jam!

Saturday July 27th, 8:30-Noon ANNUAL TOMATO TASTING!
Chef Shane Ingram from Four Square Restaurant will be hosting - chopping tomatoes and cooking tomato dishes!

Wednesday July 31, 3:30-5:30pm - Kids Story Hour with Storyteller Cynthia Raxter!

Saturday August 3, 10am - Chef in the Market! Christy Quirk from Bull Street Gourmet

Fresh this Week....
FRUITS: FIRST SUMMER APPLES, a few FIGS, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Sun Jewel Melons, Blackberries, Blueberries, Peaches
VEGETABLES: EDAMAME, LONGBEANS, PUMPKINS, SWEET POTATO GREENS, AMARANTH, Asian Greens  Arugula, Beans (Green, Yellow and Purple), Beets, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Collards, Cucumbers, Fresh & Dried Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Catnip, Dill, Mint, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Sorrel, Parsley), Eggplant, Frisee, Green Onions, Garlic, Gourds, Kale, Lambs Quarter, Lettuce, Okra, Onions, October Beans, Peppers (Bell, Padron, Shishto, Poblano, Jalepeno, Lombardo, Pepperocini, Yummy, and lots more varieties), Potatoes, Pea Shoots, Radicchio, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Zucchini, and more
MEATS AND EGGS:  Beef, Bison, Chicken, Duck, Goat/Chevon/Cabrito, Lamb, Pork, Veal, Rabbit
Duck Eggs & Chicken Eggs
CHEESES: Fresh and aged COW and GOAT milk cheeses.
PLANTS: Bedding, House, and Flower Plants.
FLOWERS: Lisianthus, Tuberose, Black Eyed Susan, Gladiolus, Echinacea, Sunflower, Dahlia, Lily, Zinnia,
SPECIALTY ITEMS: RAW HONEY, creamed Honey, Flour, Cornmeal, Grits, Baked Goods including Pies, Breads, Cookies & Pastries, Fermented Foods, Beer, Wine, Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Preserves, Pastas, Perogies, Wool
CRAFTS: Pottery, Jewelry, Handmade Baskets, Woodwork, Photographs, Hand-dyed Clothing and other items, Handmade Clothing, Goats Milk Soaps, Body Butters, Lotions, Yarn, Roving, and much more...

Produce availability depends on weather conditions