Signature Show Debut - September 14 – the best of the best! 

The Watercolor Society of North Carolina presents  a Signature Show at the Bank of the Arts that will debut during the New Bern ARTWALK , Friday, September 14, 5 – 8 p.m. The work on exhibit is the best of the best, representing artist’s work that has been  judged and recognized for its high quality of work at a minimum of three WSNC shows.  Of the 300+ members, only a third have made the cut so this is truly an exhibit of excellent work ranging from abstract contemporary to realistic street scenes by many names well-known  by Craven Arts Council & Gallery members….Jeff Jakub, Janet Dixon, Karen Van Kamper, Cora Mae Pipkin, Dixie Leibert and many, many more. 

An added bonus…you may be the lucky winner of an original by a presenting artist. The purchase of a $30 ticket allows the ticket holder attendance at a October 6 reception…tickets will be drawn and the lucky ones receive an 8” x 10” original work of art. This fundraiser benefits the Watercolor Society.  The show continues through October 30.

ARTWALK promises a grand evening...begin with the Bank of the Arts exhibit and continue  the enjoyment visiting the many other downtown galleries, shops and top off the evening with a delicious meal in one of the many excellent restaurants. 

 Susan Moffat Thomas

 

 

 

MUMFEST Street Entertainment...Meet and Greet Willy the Hillbilly!

Willy the Hillbilly

In addition to Chaz the Magician, Gary Shelton, Steve Wille, the Silver Drummer Girl, Alex Clark and other street entertainers, Willy the Hillbilly will join us at MUMFEST. He’ll be on site for the two days, compliments of the Pepsi Minges Bottling Group along with a Pepsi Sampling bus and several inflatable’s.

In the 1960’s, the Mountain Dew bottles were green with red and white labels including a picture of a hillbilly character shooting at a revenuer as the trespasser runs out of an outhouse. Mountain Dew was advertised as “zero proof moonshine” and the saying “It’ll tickle yore innards!”. It the early 1970’s a different marketing agency replaced the label for a more modern look. Thirty seven years later, Willy is back on a new drink called Throwback, this time with the cork of the Mountain Dew jug shooting through his hat, making a hole.

Festival-goers will now have the fun of meeting Willy the Hillbilly in person, shaking his hand  and posing with him for photo ops!

For those old enough to remember the 1960’s and would enjoy jogging their memory with a 1966 Willy the Hillbilly commercial, go to  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnxXwc9HZc8

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

Richard Dobbs Spaight...a followup to the September 6 blog

Grave plate inside sepulcher

As a person who loves history and reading biographies of famous people who made a difference that improved the lives of the general public, I am always amazed at the important role New Bern and New Bernians played when North Carolina was a colony, in the founding of this nation and its important on-going role in our country’s history.  I suppose I’m particularly impressed having grown up in Michigan, which became a part of the U.S. in 1787 as a Northwest Territory, finally admitted as a state in 1837 and settled in large part by immigrants who came to the United States during the Great Migration between 1850 and 1900.

In moving to New Bern, I was very impressed to learn the gravesite of a signer of the constitution who played a major role in our country’s founding as a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and to the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788, and the first native born Governor of the state of North Carolina (serving for three terms) was located just outside the city limits on Madam Moore’s Lane. My thoughts then and now  are…how cool is that? How many cities can claim such a honor? 

Being appointed to serve on the County’s Bicentennial of the Constitution Committee in 1987 provided the opportunity for me to pull people together (Commissioners, Swiss Bear Board members and other community minded people) to make improvements to the gravesite and be accessible to the public, an accomplishment I took great pride in.

After I wrote the blog (published on September 6th, the day Richard Dobbs Spaight died in 1802 at the age of 44 from wounds inflicted in a duel) I drove to the site to take a few pictures and was dismayed to see weeds in the drive way, inside the sepulcher and a heavy layer of mold on the grave plate….the site  looked forlorn, sad and abandoned.

It seems to me, a County and City that prides itself on its history, reconstructed Tryon Palace with its emphasis on this period of time as the first colonial and state capital, worked for years to develop tourism as an industry, an industry key to the revitalization of our downtown focusing on our historic attractions and the preservation of our historic assets including historic cemeteries, that this site would be at the top of the list of historic attractions. But for some reason, an enigma to me, this  historic cemetery in which a signer of the constitution is buried, is long forgotten.

In closing and in tribute to this founding father, I would like to share with our readers the epitaph on General Spaight’s tomb…that is no longer legible. How sad is that?

      Here are deposited the remains of

GEN. RICHARD DOBBS SPAIGHT

      who departed this life on the 6^th of September, 1802

Aged 44 years

He is gone, lamented by the good and revered by the brave.

He is gone, loaded with the honors of his country and the benedictions of his friends.

    So sleeps the brave who sink to rest

    By all their country’s wishes blest.

    When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,

    Returns to deck his hollowed mold;

    So there shall find a sweeter sod,

    Than Fancy feet have ever trod.

    By fairy hands his knell is rung

    By forms unseen his dirge is sung,

    There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,

    To bless the turf that wraps his clay.

    And Freedom shall awhile repair,

    And dwell a weeping hermit there.

Tell us what you think!

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

Run for the MUM's...a festival favorite!

The 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk sponsored by New Bern Parks & Recreation Department, is a featured festival favorite. This venue continues to grow in the number of registrations every year offering awards in various age groups.  Beginning and ending in Union Point Park in the early morning on Sunday, the flat course goes throughout New Bern’s scenic historic district.

The 5K begins at 7:30 a.m., the Fun Walk at 7:35 a.m. Awards are presented to the overall 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place male/female runners in each age group.

Early registration is $20, $25 the day of the race. Pre-registered runners and walkers receive a T-Shirt.

For more information, email Trevor Freitas at freitast@newbern-nc.org 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Richard Dobbs Spaight Gravesite Improvements

Gravesite and sepulcher of Richard Dobbs Spaight

The article in the Sun Journal on the duel that ended Richard Dobbs Spaight’s life on September 6, 1802, brought to mind the Spaight Gravesite Improvement Project I initiated as a part of the Richard Dobbs Spaight Committee established by the Craven County Commissioners in 1987 to plan activities and events in celebration of the Bicentennial of the Constitution in 1989. Locally, the Committee was initiated by Gertrude Carraway to honor and promote recognition of New Bern’s famous patriot and signer of the constitution.

Myself and a number of others were appointed to serve on the Committee, chaired by Tom Ward. Each member was asked to initiate and organize a project or event as a sub-committee for the celebration that would be held throughout 1989 culminating on November 21, the 200^th Anniversary of our state’s ratification.

The project I chose was to make improvements to the Richard Dobbs Spaight gravesite, located on private property on Madam Moore’s Lane, erect a historic marker and make this historic site accessible to the public. Like every project we undertake, it took the time, talent and contributions of many to come to fruition.

Harold Talton, Swiss Bear’s Chairman and I met with Ms. Hughrena MacDonald owner of the property (historically called  Clermont*) and discussed our interest in improving the deteriorating grave site and sepulcher, erecting a historic marker and finding a way to make it accessible to the public. Ms. MacDonald was very supportive, on the condition we could find a way to make the site accessible to the public which would not compromise her privacy.

Charlie Potter, a Swiss Bear Board member and Chairman of the County Commissioners, with the Board of Commissioner’s support, agreed the County would develop the site and maintain it into perpetuity. Dick Smith, Smith Design Group, provided a landscape plan with an entry point into the grave site from the road. Improvements included installing a culvert in the drainage ditch adjacent to Madam Moore’s Lane, construction of a road into the site and putting a bench near the grave site. Neuse Memorial donated the cost of the repair work needed within the sepulcher which included repair to the ledger and marble chips on the interior space to eliminate weed problems. The grant I received from the Kellenberger Historical Foundation paid for the state marker to erect near the site to clearly identify this very significant cemetery  and pay tribute to a New Bernian who was a Revolutionary War patriot, a delegate to the Federal Constitution Convention of 1787 and the North Carolina Ratification Convention of 1788. Richard Dobbs Spaight also had the distinction of being the first native-born Governor of the state of North Carolina, serving for three terms.

At the Dedication Ceremony, August 23, 1989 the ceremony opened and closed with a USNC Color Guard, speeches by dignitaries, the New Bern Police Department honored Richard Dobbs Spaight with a 21 gun salute and the marker was unveiled. 

It was an outstanding occasion and a project I take great pride in. New Bern’s historic role in the founding and development of our country including having a signer of the constitution’s gravesite in Craven County is quite impressive. The opportunity to initiate and coordinate the restoration of this historic gravesite and making it available to the public was another example of people working together for the greater good of the community.

*On this property known as Clermont, a colonial brick mansion was constructed for Col. William Wilson in 1735 whose daughter married Richard Spaight.  The mansion was demolished during the Civil War. The MacDonald family owned the property for many years that bequeathed to Tryon Palace and the state by Hughrena MacDonald when she passed away several years ago.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

MUMFEST 2012....biggest and best

As the days fly by and we move closer and closer to MUMFEST weekend, Danielle and I are very appreciative of the City, sponsor’s and volunteers' support. Needless to say, there is a long list of “to do’s” with deadlines that seem impossible to make, however we meet the challenge and get everything completed on time…sometimes, much to our amazement!

SeaFair 228' mega yacht

The on-going calls from businesses wanting to participate is welcomed as we always look for new venues to keep it fresh, along with old favorites. New this year is SeaFair, the 228 foot mega yacht. Docked at the New Bern Grand Marina, this exceptional venue will attract people near and far. Race car fans can get revved up with the Indy Tour featuring the Detroit Chevrolet Grand Prix of Belle Isle Indy show car. On Sunday, the NC Songwriter’s Co-op's stage (in the area between the Sudan Temple and County Administration building) showcases talented songwriters in Eastern NC.    



Artist painting en plein air

To promote the many talented artists in this area, ARTZONE will be located on the 300 block of Pollock Street with artists painting en plein air on the sidewalks and in the galleries. It offers an opportunity for artists to showcase their work, talk with festival-goers about their art and serve as ambassadors to encourage visitors to return and enjoy downtown’s beauty and  “sense of place” at a later date.

The Crystal Coast Lady Cruises will provide one and a half hour cruises on Lookout Lady, a 49 passenger Eco-Tour vessel leaving from Union Point Parks docks and the Crystal Coast Lady, a 75’ super cruiser with narrated tours from the New Bern Grand Marina Dock F… a nice opportunity to take a break from the hubbub and excitement on the streets and enjoy relaxing leisurely cruises on the Neuse and Trent River.

Stand up paddle boarding
photo courtesy of Stand Up Outfitters

The decision to expand the Boat Show to include Outdoor Life & Recreation is coming together. Big Kahuna Pools Spas & More is providing a 12’ x 24’ pool (located in the area behind the Union Point restrooms) for demos on stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing, an addition we are happy to have as a part of this new venue.

Chaz the Magician at Mumfest

Additional roving street entertainment, adding color to the street…Willie the Hillbilly Mountain Dew mascot and the possibility of having the Chick-fil-A Cow playing a set of drums and dancing and mingling with kids of all ages.

There’s no doubt, MUMFEST 2012 promises to be the best yet and we are working as hard as we can to live up to that promise.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Mumfest 2011

Labor Day...paying tribute to the American worker

Although many of us view Labor Day as the holiday that signals the end of summer, the last day of the year when we can fashionably wear white, and is the beginning of the football season, it seems appropriate to know our country has dedicated one day a year day to pay tribute to the American worker. Labor Day, a national holiday, celebrates labor and the working men who have over the history of this country, added materially to our high standard of living and our nation having the greatest production the world has ever known.

In tribute to those social and economic achievements, it is believed Mathew Mcguire, a machinist who served as Secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York proposed the holiday, first celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882.  Initially, recognition of the contribution made by working men was through municipal ordinances that led to bill’s being introduced in numerous states. As its popularity grew, in 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

Although the character of observing Labor Day in cities across the country has changed over the years from parades, speeches and festivities, the American worker through this national holiday receives wide recognition in the news, on the radio and television as creators of much of the nations’ strength, freedom and leadership, as well they should.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director