There is a “which came first…the chicken or the egg” quality to this discussion of a two- story parking lot in the village. Is business in the village down because there aren’t enough parking spaces or, since business is down in the village, why are we spending over 2 million bucks on a two story-parking garage? There’s a thought that the retirees in the area (I’m one of them) think there’s a parking problem if they can’t park at the doorway of the business they’re going to. For several years I was an exhibitor at the Holly Fair, a terrific one-day art and craft fair that draws thousands…lots of thousands of locals. Exhibitors set up in the parking spaces on every street in the village. There are no (NO) village parking spaces available, yet the people come. Where do they park? The village is fortunate that there is a core of businesses that hang in there but some businesses that had been part of this core have recently closed. There has been a long parade of Pinehurst Village business failures. God bless their initial optimism but their failure was not because of parking.
During the last US Open, I ate breakfast every morning and came back hours later to do my banking and I NEVER had a problem parking…right in front of the business I wanted?
No! Within less than a two-minute walk? Everytime! I know the USGA has become an expert at keeping US Open shopping on or immediately next to the course but even the normal overflow did not seriously impact the village.
As Hamlet almost said, “Something is rotten in Pinehurst Village”. I have no idea who owns property in the village. Who might be pushing hard to dedicate citizens’ tax money to a solution in search of a problem. However, I do know that the folks pushing this garage have an Edifice Complex and they would be well advised to remember what happened to Oedipus.
There’s definitely a “who came first: the chicken or the egg?” quality to this discussion. The turnover in restaurants and specialty shops in the village is legendary and much like the old adage about the weather in New England…if you don’t like it, wait five minutes. There is a tiny core of businesses holding on, in the village while a long parade of failures passes by.
During the last U.S. Open I ate breakfast and later in the day did banking everyday downtown. I was amazed at how little impact the Open had on the village. I’m sure the USGA has become an expert at keeping all the shopping on the course, but even the overflow didn’t take up all the parking spaces in the village. For many years I was an artist and did the Blowing Rock art festivals each month from May to October…now that town had a parking problem because there wasn’t a single store vacant. They built a two story-parking garage behind the small downtown park (if Pinehurst wins this argument they should contact Blowing Rock officials about doing it right) that melded perfectly into the hilly landscape. With apologies to Lloyd Benson, “I know Blowing Rock, I consider Blowing Rock a friend…Pinehurst Village, you’re no Blowing Rock”.
Someone in town has an Edifice Complex and it may serve them well to remember what happed to Oedipus.
Dr. Roberson, I'm so glad you've come to the Pinehurst area and I'm looking forward to you bringing us into the 21st century. Just think of it...indoor plumbing, electricity, Facebook and beyond. I’m sure you're young and just want to share what you have learned with us Luddites…the latest food craze (I’m assuming the most recent one, Cuisine of the South Bronx, is over by now) and the current beer and wine sensation (Are they still bottling mead?). You’re right about this area needing an upgrade. After all, we’ve only been attracting one generation after another to the Sandhills since 1895. Sure we’ve got Panera bread but an upgrade could mean a P.F. Chang’s or (be still my heart) a Bass Pro Shop across the street from a Cabela’s.
Perhaps on your next trip to your practice in Southern Pines you could take a few back roads and notice your surroundings. You’ll find spectacular homes that people have built here long before and after 1895. These homes were built by folks who did not have to be brought into any century. They came from all parts of the country, even the world, and they collectively fell in love with the quaintness, the style and the pace of this area. But you go ahead and bring us into the 21st century. Just don’t be surprised if some of us go kicking and screaming.
I think the people who spend all day trying to respond to “Letters to the Editor” at The Pilot should find something else in their lives. You hate/dislike the golf geezers…(Idiot Alert: You moved to the #1 GOLF CAPITAL east of the Mississippi…who did you expect to live here?). Some of you hate/dislike the “golf souvenir” shops, I suppose the last time you were in Paris or Poughkeepsie; you didn’t pick up something to remind you of your trip. Idiot Alert: You moved to the #1 GOLF CAPITAL east of the Mississippi! Those of you who want this store or that store only really want to make this place into the place you left up north…why did you leave there? Maybe the people who came here before you don’t want another northern city in the south. I’m not against Wal-Mart even though its current version would greatly distress Sam Walton (remember those “Made in America” signs on every rack?). Having eaten frequently at the original Bonefish Grille in St. Petersburg, Florida, I was very happy when the Outback corporation (who bought that locally owned restaurant) moved here. HOWEVER, I still eat at Ashton’s, Chef Warren’s, Ten-ya, 195 and dozens of other locally owned great restaurants. And that’s the point that the people who have too much time on their hands have missed. “Shop Small” was instituted by American Express to help out local businesses three years ago. Its growth has been exponential in those three years. The day is wedged in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. IT’S ONE FREAK’N DAY for God’s sake! Lighten up you defenders of the box stores! Get a freak’n life! Local businesses include florists, hardware stores, party stores, specialty clothing stores (please, don’t make me list them all) and if you think this area is nothing but shops selling golf tchotchkes, get off your butt and go to Aberdeen or Southern Pines or Pinehurst and open your eyes...you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Wow, local commisioners standing up to big money to retain the quality of life in their community, After reading this article, I looked out the window but, although it was obvious there were no pigs flying, CNN has just announced that hell has frozen over. Congratualations to the Aberdeen Commisioners. Stand firm...it's not just the life you carve out for yourself...it's the life you leave to your children.
I would like to make a simple request of local democrats...shut up! I know it's inviting to remind the LOSING party of what you have tried to say for two years (which they blugeoned you with although you turned out to be right) we should not be stepping between the gun that the GOP has to its head in terms of ever winning another election and their own suicide by telling them where they went wrong. The bulk of the leadership of the Goofy Old Party has totally misread the electorate. Unfortunately Democratic egos who want to gloat by offering advice, may eventually hoist themselves on their own petards. For those young people who don't understand the term, google: Hamlet/hoist petard. It's not the job of the librals/progressives in this country to grease the slide into power for a scientifically backward, basically racist and ultimately elitist political party. So, as I said...SHUT UP!
Like the Navy Seals who have sold out their honor for money and disclosed tactics and unique weaponry to electronic game manufactures (I could not have made this stuff up}, victorious Democrats in this recent Presidential race (an admittedly infrequent group of people) have decided to tell the Republicans where they went wrong so they won't make the same mistake twice (I could not have made this stuff up}. I feel like one of the three pigs who after losing my house to the "Big Bad Wolf" and moved in with my brother in his brick house is yelling instructions through the front door to the wolf on how to tighten his diaphragm and push the air through his lungs to bring down the brick house while my two pig siblings are telling me to "Shut the Pork Up"!
I would like to use this moment to propose the death penalty for any politician who places a campaign sing INSIDE the circle. We have enough accidents every week to add another attention grabber to the mix. Gimme a break...it's a geezer, twittering, texting populace. Put the sign INSIDE...OFF WITH YOUR HEAD.
When I responded to your article, I was new to the area and to writing to The Pilot, I responded to an article you did about Henry Ford, I took the tone of your column to be that business can do no wrong...I don't agree. I pointed out a few things about Henry and business in general. With the hindsight of reading many of your columns and articles since then, I would have been better to put my pen back in my scabbard...keep up the good work.
Years ago, I worked from my home and had the opportunity to respond to letters in The Pilot. I was lucky to get published on a regular basis and when my right wing friends stopped inviting me to parties, I knew I was scoring points. As time went on, I submitted a letter that responded negatively to a column by Geoff Cutler (at the time I had no idea he was a regular with the paper) about Henry Ford. The next day, Steve Bouser called me and asked if I would consider becoming a “Guest Columnist”. Any “would-be writer” would be thrilled with such an invitation and I was. At The Pilot, I had my picture taken. It appeared next to my letter that weekend and, I have to say, it was one of the better moments of my life. A few days later, I read an editorial in the paper that made my blood boil. When you have time on your hands, that happens a lot. I wrote a brilliant response, I know, I sound like Ralphie in a A Christmas Story talking about his “Theme”, but it was good. Within hours of submitting it, Steve Bouser responded. He thanked me for my letter and then informed me that since my editorial status had risen to “Guest Columnist”, I could only submit a letter every other leap year. In a flash of understanding, I realized that my new title marked the end of my writing career. So, if you want to keep exercising your free speech, revel in your anonymity and don’t let anyone refer to you as a “Guest Columnist”.
peterprints 4 months ago
Pinehurst Proposes Parking Deck for Village
There is a “which came first…the chicken or the egg” quality to this discussion of a two- story parking lot in the village. Is business in the village down because there aren’t enough parking spaces or, since business is down in the village, why are we spending over 2 million bucks on a two story-parking garage? There’s a thought that the retirees in the area (I’m one of them) think there’s a parking problem if they can’t park at the doorway of the business they’re going to. For several years I was an exhibitor at the Holly Fair, a terrific one-day art and craft fair that draws thousands…lots of thousands of locals. Exhibitors set up in the parking spaces on every street in the village. There are no (NO) village parking spaces available, yet the people come. Where do they park? The village is fortunate that there is a core of businesses that hang in there but some businesses that had been part of this core have recently closed. There has been a long parade of Pinehurst Village business failures. God bless their initial optimism but their failure was not because of parking. During the last US Open, I ate breakfast every morning and came back hours later to do my banking and I NEVER had a problem parking…right in front of the business I wanted? No! Within less than a two-minute walk? Everytime! I know the USGA has become an expert at keeping US Open shopping on or immediately next to the course but even the normal overflow did not seriously impact the village. As Hamlet almost said, “Something is rotten in Pinehurst Village”. I have no idea who owns property in the village. Who might be pushing hard to dedicate citizens’ tax money to a solution in search of a problem. However, I do know that the folks pushing this garage have an Edifice Complex and they would be well advised to remember what happened to Oedipus.
peterprints 4 months ago
Pinehurst Officials Propose Parking Deck for Downtown
There’s definitely a “who came first: the chicken or the egg?” quality to this discussion. The turnover in restaurants and specialty shops in the village is legendary and much like the old adage about the weather in New England…if you don’t like it, wait five minutes. There is a tiny core of businesses holding on, in the village while a long parade of failures passes by. During the last U.S. Open I ate breakfast and later in the day did banking everyday downtown. I was amazed at how little impact the Open had on the village. I’m sure the USGA has become an expert at keeping all the shopping on the course, but even the overflow didn’t take up all the parking spaces in the village. For many years I was an artist and did the Blowing Rock art festivals each month from May to October…now that town had a parking problem because there wasn’t a single store vacant. They built a two story-parking garage behind the small downtown park (if Pinehurst wins this argument they should contact Blowing Rock officials about doing it right) that melded perfectly into the hilly landscape. With apologies to Lloyd Benson, “I know Blowing Rock, I consider Blowing Rock a friend…Pinehurst Village, you’re no Blowing Rock”. Someone in town has an Edifice Complex and it may serve them well to remember what happed to Oedipus.
peterprints 4 months ago
Moore Forward Kicks Off Initiative
Dr. Roberson, I'm so glad you've come to the Pinehurst area and I'm looking forward to you bringing us into the 21st century. Just think of it...indoor plumbing, electricity, Facebook and beyond. I’m sure you're young and just want to share what you have learned with us Luddites…the latest food craze (I’m assuming the most recent one, Cuisine of the South Bronx, is over by now) and the current beer and wine sensation (Are they still bottling mead?). You’re right about this area needing an upgrade. After all, we’ve only been attracting one generation after another to the Sandhills since 1895. Sure we’ve got Panera bread but an upgrade could mean a P.F. Chang’s or (be still my heart) a Bass Pro Shop across the street from a Cabela’s.
Perhaps on your next trip to your practice in Southern Pines you could take a few back roads and notice your surroundings. You’ll find spectacular homes that people have built here long before and after 1895. These homes were built by folks who did not have to be brought into any century. They came from all parts of the country, even the world, and they collectively fell in love with the quaintness, the style and the pace of this area. But you go ahead and bring us into the 21st century. Just don’t be surprised if some of us go kicking and screaming.
peterprints 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Locally Owned vs. Shopping Locally
I think the people who spend all day trying to respond to “Letters to the Editor” at The Pilot should find something else in their lives. You hate/dislike the golf geezers…(Idiot Alert: You moved to the #1 GOLF CAPITAL east of the Mississippi…who did you expect to live here?). Some of you hate/dislike the “golf souvenir” shops, I suppose the last time you were in Paris or Poughkeepsie; you didn’t pick up something to remind you of your trip. Idiot Alert: You moved to the #1 GOLF CAPITAL east of the Mississippi! Those of you who want this store or that store only really want to make this place into the place you left up north…why did you leave there? Maybe the people who came here before you don’t want another northern city in the south. I’m not against Wal-Mart even though its current version would greatly distress Sam Walton (remember those “Made in America” signs on every rack?). Having eaten frequently at the original Bonefish Grille in St. Petersburg, Florida, I was very happy when the Outback corporation (who bought that locally owned restaurant) moved here. HOWEVER, I still eat at Ashton’s, Chef Warren’s, Ten-ya, 195 and dozens of other locally owned great restaurants. And that’s the point that the people who have too much time on their hands have missed. “Shop Small” was instituted by American Express to help out local businesses three years ago. Its growth has been exponential in those three years. The day is wedged in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. IT’S ONE FREAK’N DAY for God’s sake! Lighten up you defenders of the box stores! Get a freak’n life! Local businesses include florists, hardware stores, party stores, specialty clothing stores (please, don’t make me list them all) and if you think this area is nothing but shops selling golf tchotchkes, get off your butt and go to Aberdeen or Southern Pines or Pinehurst and open your eyes...you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
peterprints 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Dispute Over Trees Delays Aberdeen Drugstore
Wow, local commisioners standing up to big money to retain the quality of life in their community, After reading this article, I looked out the window but, although it was obvious there were no pigs flying, CNN has just announced that hell has frozen over. Congratualations to the Aberdeen Commisioners. Stand firm...it's not just the life you carve out for yourself...it's the life you leave to your children.
peterprints 6 months ago
Republican Party Must Broaden Its Outlook
I would like to make a simple request of local democrats...shut up! I know it's inviting to remind the LOSING party of what you have tried to say for two years (which they blugeoned you with although you turned out to be right) we should not be stepping between the gun that the GOP has to its head in terms of ever winning another election and their own suicide by telling them where they went wrong. The bulk of the leadership of the Goofy Old Party has totally misread the electorate. Unfortunately Democratic egos who want to gloat by offering advice, may eventually hoist themselves on their own petards. For those young people who don't understand the term, google: Hamlet/hoist petard. It's not the job of the librals/progressives in this country to grease the slide into power for a scientifically backward, basically racist and ultimately elitist political party. So, as I said...SHUT UP!
peterprints 6 months, 2 weeks ago
Republicans Didn't See It Coming
Like the Navy Seals who have sold out their honor for money and disclosed tactics and unique weaponry to electronic game manufactures (I could not have made this stuff up}, victorious Democrats in this recent Presidential race (an admittedly infrequent group of people) have decided to tell the Republicans where they went wrong so they won't make the same mistake twice (I could not have made this stuff up}. I feel like one of the three pigs who after losing my house to the "Big Bad Wolf" and moved in with my brother in his brick house is yelling instructions through the front door to the wolf on how to tighten his diaphragm and push the air through his lungs to bring down the brick house while my two pig siblings are telling me to "Shut the Pork Up"!
peterprints 7 months ago
Traffic Circle Work to Start Monday
I would like to use this moment to propose the death penalty for any politician who places a campaign sing INSIDE the circle. We have enough accidents every week to add another attention grabber to the mix. Gimme a break...it's a geezer, twittering, texting populace. Put the sign INSIDE...OFF WITH YOUR HEAD.
peterprints 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Like to Write Columns? Let Us Hear From You
Geoff,
When I responded to your article, I was new to the area and to writing to The Pilot, I responded to an article you did about Henry Ford, I took the tone of your column to be that business can do no wrong...I don't agree. I pointed out a few things about Henry and business in general. With the hindsight of reading many of your columns and articles since then, I would have been better to put my pen back in my scabbard...keep up the good work.
peterprints 7 months, 2 weeks ago
Like to Write Columns? Let Us Hear From You
Years ago, I worked from my home and had the opportunity to respond to letters in The Pilot. I was lucky to get published on a regular basis and when my right wing friends stopped inviting me to parties, I knew I was scoring points. As time went on, I submitted a letter that responded negatively to a column by Geoff Cutler (at the time I had no idea he was a regular with the paper) about Henry Ford. The next day, Steve Bouser called me and asked if I would consider becoming a “Guest Columnist”. Any “would-be writer” would be thrilled with such an invitation and I was. At The Pilot, I had my picture taken. It appeared next to my letter that weekend and, I have to say, it was one of the better moments of my life. A few days later, I read an editorial in the paper that made my blood boil. When you have time on your hands, that happens a lot. I wrote a brilliant response, I know, I sound like Ralphie in a A Christmas Story talking about his “Theme”, but it was good. Within hours of submitting it, Steve Bouser responded. He thanked me for my letter and then informed me that since my editorial status had risen to “Guest Columnist”, I could only submit a letter every other leap year. In a flash of understanding, I realized that my new title marked the end of my writing career. So, if you want to keep exercising your free speech, revel in your anonymity and don’t let anyone refer to you as a “Guest Columnist”.
by peterprints