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October 26, 2005

At the mall

Steve & Barry's opened up this week in the old Goody's shop at Oak Hollow Mall. I've been amazed by their rapid expansion in the last few years. This is the third community in the last three years that I've been in where S&B came in and snapped up an anchor space being vacated by a more traditional department store.

My experience with old Steve & Barry goes back a decade or so when I was a college freshman. They had a shop in West Lafayette, Ind. where I did my first three semesters of college. If my memory serves me well, it was more of a traditional college bookstore and clothing shop. But over here I see that there isn't even a shop at Purdue anymore. Anwyay, it was interesting the first time I set foot in one of their new, large stores that carry like 5,461 different college logos.

I'm not sure who buys all that college apparel. But it's nice to know that I can run to the mall and pick up an IUPUI sweatshirt -- I went there for a few classes in high school -- if I want. And it's only $9.99 ...

Posted by Jonathan Jones at October 26, 2005 3:41 PM

Comments

Well you should have SAID you were a Boilermaker from the beginning! That makes me see you in a whole new light!

And btw, Grier Sucks-- The Schools in High Point SUCK--the Board of Ed. SUCK and the "Choice" Plan SUCKS!!!!!!!

Hail! Hail!

Posted by: Purdue Pete at October 27, 2005 10:54 AM

Hail to the Old Gold and Black!

Nice to know there are a few other Boilers around here Pete, although I'm not sure I qualify anymore. I did end up graduating from another institution. I'm still a die-hard Purdue sports fan though and haven't quite gotten over Gene Keady's retirement...

You might appreciate this. I had a reference to Harry's Chocolate Shop slogan in the original post. Then did a google search and realized some of the things that pop up with that phrase are a little less than wholesome.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at October 27, 2005 11:10 AM

I know Harry's very well...a fine establishment and you could say that happenings there were, well...a little less than wholesome as well!

You say you attended IUPUI in High School? What High School did you attend? Wouldn't it be nice to allow the kids in High Point a similar opportunity instead of creating havoc with a lottery?

Posted by: Purdue Pete at October 27, 2005 11:46 AM

Pete, I'm a graduate of Zionsville Community High School.

And if you know Indiana school systems then you know comparing with those here is like apples and oranges. Overall, education quality in North Carolina is much higher. We also don't have townships here and they really affect how the schools in the midwest are governed. Sometimes it's better, many times it's worse. I will give you that at least there is stability in that most townships only have one high school, so you're guaranteed to get what you get -- good or bad. (Maybe that should be "bad or worse")

But you won't find me giving my opinion on the lottery (at least the school one. I'm happy to talk about Powerball or MegaMillions). Sorry about that.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at October 27, 2005 12:29 PM

Oops. I didn't answer the IUPUI question. I did take classes there, during my senior year. I took an intro engineering course, 'cause that's what I thought I wanted to do when I was 17, and a German class.

It certainly wasn't with the blessing of the high school. They were not happy that I was leaving in the middle of the day to go down to Indianapolis. But under Indiana law they had to release me if I was enrolled at a college to take a course that the high school didn't offer. I don't remember how I discovered that obscure law, but I was pretty happy when I did.

My motives were not pure, either. Basically I hated high school and had crammed all my requirements in during my first three years so I could graduate at the end of my junior year. But my parents refused to sign the waiver form and not yet being 18 there wasn't much I could do. That's when I figured out I could take classes at IUPUI and get out of school at 10:30 every morning. The college classes were only two days a week. I went to work at a nursery the other three days.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at October 27, 2005 1:00 PM

The schools I attended in Indiana were fabulous--and still are. I'm shocked that you make the comment that the quality of education in NC is better. That's a JOKE! It's definitely for the best that you don't comment on the High Point Crap Plan because it's obvious you haven't been here long enough to understand the backward educational system. I'd take a school in the Hoosier state ANYDAY over ANY school in North Carolina and Guilford County in particular--Good thing you're NOT the education reporter!

Let me fill you in on some info: The schools in NC SUCK! Now if you're talking colleges and universities, that's a whole different ballgame.

You should've stayed at Purdue so you'd know what a quality education is all about! It's NOT here in High Point!!!

Oh, by the way, I noticed two school board members smashed into phone poles on Southwest School Road this afternoon! I hope they're okay so they don't miss the meeting tonite!

Hail, Hail

Posted by: Purdue Pete at October 27, 2005 2:49 PM

Pete, I'm glad the Hoosier state served you well. I cannot say that it did the same for me or my cohort.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at October 27, 2005 3:37 PM

Been out of town for a few days.

Does this Dave & Barry's have anything in honor of Middle Colleges, say with an 8 digit number across the chest?

By the way Jonathan, in catching up on some reading I see you had an article in the paper that referenced a new housing development that had been approved. I think this was in last Saturday's paper. I believe you mentioned it would add about 25 - 30 students to the Andrews district???? Would you like to restate that comment? I don't believe there is an Andrews district.

Posted by: Buckmtn at October 27, 2005 4:17 PM

Welcome back Buck

That's what the planners said in their report, that it would add that many kids to Andrews. You can see it for yourself:

http://www.high-point.net/plan/z0525.pdf

Scroll down to the second page. It's about halfway down.

"The residential development would add an estimated 71 students to Montlieu Elementary, Welborn Middle and Andrews High schools." That's the exact wording of what was in the story. It probably should've been sourced to the planning department at the end of the sentence, but that should've been clear in the story since the info before and after was attributed to city planners.

Thanks for sending me that info last week too, I appreciate it.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at October 27, 2005 4:25 PM

Thanks Jonathan, that's what I remember reading. If this same development said Southwest district I'm sure Dot and Susan would have been attempting to shut this developer down.

Speaking of North High Point's favorite two cartoon characters there has apparently been WITCH trials going on the past few days that rivals what occured in Salem, MA centuries ago. Why I think there are witches hanging from poles over by SW Middle School. They are almost as scary as the actual models with protoplasm.

Posted by: Bcukmtn at October 27, 2005 9:10 PM

Hey I spelled my name "backurds". That's what happens when I'm typing and watching the game at the same time.

Posted by: Buckmtn at October 27, 2005 9:12 PM

Buck,

You can be honest. Are you possibly "functionally" illiterate? Were you a GCS grad? If so my apologies but I hear you can get one hell of a book deal if you spill your guts about the truth in High Point!

Posted by: Walden at October 27, 2005 10:33 PM

No, I'm more of a dysfunctional illiterate. Actually I did attend one of the same institutions of higher learning as our beloved Aunt Dottie.

I attended shortly before the 1st Gulf War and it turns out she attended just before the Spanish American War. This is at the same school where it turns out Kris Cooke publicly lied about 1 year ago.

Need another hint? According the the N&R, Erkel Bowles is going to be sworn-in there.

Posted by: Buckmtn at October 28, 2005 9:21 AM

Jonathon,

Who cares about Oak Hollow mall on this site. Nobody in North HP or Jamestown cares what happens South of Oak Hollow Lake. We would create our own municipality if given the opportunity. I quit HP!

By the way, here's some info on a candidate that would truely represent our views in Jamestown and "outside of Greensboro" but never HP!
Democrats.

Posted by Tim Brown District 6 candidate.(10/25)

A reply to a nasty blog by Emerywood's correspondent Doug Clark

He called Steve a 'mystery man'? I had breakfast with
the 'mystery man' this morning!!!

Believe me, I have followed Steve's record of public service for years, and
it is no mystery why he has served us so long and so well in public office.

Steve Wood is solid, true-blue, through and through
for me and you, the common people. Not the
high falutin blueboods----and certainly not the
liberal media types

My guess----Doug Clark..is miffed that the voters have
elected Mr. Wood, to the NC House eight times,
over the editorial animadversions of the journeyman journalist.

Fact of the matter, Doug, you don't exactly hold the voters in very high
esteem, do you? I guess that is a collateral element of the media/elite
arrogance..." we know what is best for you more than you know for yourselves."

You were right about Mr. Wood being "plenty smart" though.

Plenty smart not to do an editorial interview with the NR
or the Enterprise. Those glowing editorial endorsements
of the incumbent are pro forma and knee-jerk.

Plenty smart to be an advocate for 'real school choice'
while serving in the Legislature, not some 'school chance'
lottery imposed by the GCS on High Point.

Plenty smart for opposing 'merger' of the High Point school
system in 1992. Rep. Wood reminded us all then, and now,
that it was penny wise and pound foolish for a city to give
up its own school system.

Plenty smart to be the first Republican Chairman of the House Education
Committee in over 100 years.

Plenty smart to use that post to support tuition tax credits,
vouchers, and lead the way to establishing charter schools
in North Carolina.

In fact, Phoenix Academy here in High Point is part of the legislative
legacy of Rep. Wood's leadership in education
for our state and our area. Mr. Wood is widely recognized as
the 'father of charter schools in North Carolina' by school
reformers.

Plenty smart to achieve one of the most conservative
voting records in the NC House during the last 25 years.

His awards and recognitions during his 16 years in the House ----the
longest term of service ever by any High Pointer-----include "Taxpayers Best
Friend", "Friend of the Family", and "Guardian of Small Business", to list just a
few.

Mr. Clark's column included some derogatory remarks about Steve
by fellow Republicans. Mr. Wood's Republican credentials
stack up pretty well, I think.

President Bush appointed Steve to the Selective
Service Commission in 2001, a post in which he continues to serve.

Steve is a former vice-chairman of the Guilford County Republican party.

Governor Jim Martin, GOP Governor, honored Steve by
awarding him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest
civilian award presented by the Governor of North Carolina.

He was named Republican of the Year in North Carolina
in 2004 by the US House GOP Congressional Campaign Committee.

But Steve respects the fact that there are good people in
both the Republican and Democrat parties----as well as
Unaffiliated and third parties.

Plenty smart was Steve Wood when he garnered bi-partisan
support to be elected Speaker Pro Tem of the NC House
when the rest of the Republicans were fighting among
themselves.

The Mayor's race is non-partisan. Steve's record shows he knows how to work
within our two-party system to lead a
taxpayer-friendly,
citizen-centered City Hall, for all of us, Republicans and
Democrats, North and South High Point.

Steve's roots are 'deep' in High Point. A former professor at John Wesley
College, he moved here in l978, with his new wife, Starr. Their daughter is
an honor graduate of High Point University. (Just ask Dr. Corey about her
academic credentials!!)

A man of great faith, Dr. Wood is a former pastor of one of our city's
historic churches, Deep River Friends Meeting.

Steve's experience and leadership for us in the State House
would serve us well here in City Hall.

You've heard the old phrase, 'you can't fight City Hall'.
We won't have to fight City Hall with Steve Wood as our Mayor. He will be
there fighting in City Hall for us!!

We, the voters of High Point, will be plenty smart
if we go the polls ----either during early voting or on
election day, Tuesday, November 8----and elect Steve Wood
as our next Mayor of High Point. And, that's no
mystery, man!

Posted by: North of 311 at October 28, 2005 6:26 PM

Well North there's two reasons you'll get mall updates here: the first is that it is in "North High Point" even if it's at the far edge. The second is the editors here say it's part of my beat, so you'll get it for that reason too.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at October 31, 2005 11:15 AM

Buck,

Actually, attendance zones still exist for Andrews, Central and Southwest. They needed to keep them so that students who moved into the area could be placed. Remember, the High Point plan only affects freshmen and sophomores at this point. So if a junior or senior moved to the area, the school system had to have a way to assign them to a school.

Next year those lines would only be in effect for seniors. The year after that there would be no individual attendance lines for the three schools. They would share one large attendance zone and all students would be assigned via the lottery rather than based on where they live.

So yes Buck, there is an Andrews district. For now.

Posted by: jennifer fernandez at October 31, 2005 1:02 PM

Jennifer,

After the "lines" mysteriously disappear, what will they do for kids that want to play sports at their "zoned" school but go to a High School Option? I believe they will still have to refer to these old "zones". OR do you think they will have to come up with some new policy for those kids that opt for one of these "options"?? This is starting to get very confusing.

Posted by: Pete at October 31, 2005 4:05 PM

Jennifer,
there seems to be so much pleasure in your quote.

Posted by: jennyuloveit at October 31, 2005 9:27 PM

Pete,

You're right, I hadn't thought about that. Maybe they'll have to keep lines indefinitely for that purpose.

Posted by: jennifer fernandez at November 1, 2005 11:39 AM

Jennifer, thank you for pointing this out to me about how attendance zones are still in place. So if my family moved to our place in the mountains next May and moved back on the 1st of August to our place in High Point, would our daughter then be in the Southwest district? It sounds like it to me.

Posted by: Buckmtn at November 1, 2005 8:26 PM

Buck,

What grade is your daughter in? If she would be in the 9th, 10th or 11th grade next year, then she would be placed in the lottery. If she would be a senior that year, then wherever you buy your house would determine her placement.

Remember, they're phasing this in a year at a time. Next year would be year three, so only freshmen through juniors would be affected by the lottery. Seniors would still be assigned the old way.

Posted by: jennifer fernandez at November 2, 2005 11:20 AM

Jennifer, OK I understand now. I was just talking in "what if's" since we own homes in 2 different counties.

Our daughter will be in the 10th grade next year and in her 2nd year of private school in the backyard of HP Central.

Since I have told you this much I am sure that your editor will be tracking my family down based on his most recent blog strand.

In case you are curious, with our daughter removed from the Guilford County School System I still monitor would is going on since it is the largest institution in the county to waste my tax dollars.

Plus I can ask questions on behalf of other parents/teachers who are afraid of reprisals against either them or worse yet their children, by these highly paid adminsistrative professionals and elected officials that you cover.

It's a hobby of mine to have a string of e-mails from the BOE denying paper shortages in September and October and then an admission of, well you know........

Posted by: Buckmtn at November 2, 2005 11:36 AM

Okay. Back to the store. I visited there this weekend. I wasn't impressed. I was actually very disappointed that so FEW schools were represented. It looked more like Old Navy than a sports or college apparel story.

One major complaint. No UNCG logos anywhere. They had UNC-Wilmington and NC A&T and even High Point, but not UNCG.

I'm guessing that has more to do with UNCG's stingy licensing agreements than Steve and Barry's though.

Posted by: truth at November 4, 2005 4:48 PM