Welcome to Winston-Salem?

So the Piedmont Triad Research Park lays off staff, including its executive director and marketing director (guess not a whole lot of research is going on right now)...at the same time a baseball team wants more money from Winston-Salem coffers.

Ahh, the irony.

Welcome to Winston-Salem.

E.C. :)

Welcome to Greensboro?

So another 121 workers in this city get pink slips, only days after your city council increased water rates for city residents...simultaneously while"synerG" staff promote a new welcome brochure to the city's rapidly dwindling pool of young professionals.

Ahh, the irony.


Welcome to Greensboro.

E.C. :)

PTI E-fares for 6/10/09

TO ROUND TRIP FROM PTI: Albany $168 See this fare Atlanta $118 See this fare Boston $190 See this fare Chicago $202 See this fare Cleveland $150 See this fare Nashville $150 See this fare Rochester $150 See this fare Syracuse $158 See this fare Washington, DC $150 See this fare Click here for more special fares

Use the links provided in this e-mail or visit the PTI website FlyFromPTI.com and use the Fare Deals links from the PTI web site to see this and other special fare offers when possible. Some airlines will have a special button called, "Special Fares, or Promotional Fares" that will link you to fares not found through the regular booking or search process.

It is important to book a fare early because fares are subject to change and availability and go very quickly. You can also check with your travel agent to assist you with special fares from PTI.

Low Fare information is provided to PTI by individual airlines and is subject to airline conditions. We make our best effort to keep the information current and accurate but we can not guarantee that all fares are available at all times. Listed fares are for one adult, round trip and do not include applicable taxes and fees.

And remember flying from PTI is the best way to keep the air service we have and to attract new service. In other words, we need to use it or we will lose it.

Thanks for flying from PTI

Confirmed: NC is the Land of the Lost

I had this back on May 26 where I grew concerned about the median lighting along I-40 was out in several long stretches during the evening hours. Now, CBS-2 WFMY has the "developing story" over just why this has happened.

The state is broke. Gee, so what else is new.

All that money spent putting the lights up...just for decoration. Sad.

E.C. :)

Knight rules the Day

...yesterday, that is, when the former one-time city council candidate announced his run for mayor of Greensboro. Tony Wilkins has some shots on Knight's presser yesterday. I think the momentum is there for others around town to make strong inroads inside City Hall.

The time is right.

E.C. :)

Stimulus money may fund new tower at PTI

Airport officials at PTI reportedly want to use federal stimulus money to build a new control tower at the Piedmont Triad International Airport.

State Sen. Don Vaughan (D-Guilford) told local freelance journalist/blogger Erik Huey in an interview that PTI brass recently met with the Greensboro area legislator to explore the possibility of tapping some of the $6.1 billion coming into North Carolina from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Sen. Vaughan, who sits on the Select Senate Committee for Economic Recovery, said the current control tower's height is of concern to airport officials because of the lack of a clear vantage point and sight lines toward the airport's new runway and associated taxiways.

"I met with [PTI executive director] Ted Johnson, and also brought in NCDOT Secretary Gene Conti and DOT Board chairman Doug Galyon...we toured the new runway, the new FedEx and HondaJet facilities and I sent a letter on behalf of the airport requesting what stimulus money that could be used for the airport and how it can best be used," Vaughan said. "The height of the [existing] tower is a big concern to airport officials, you can’t see the traffic. It will be a critical need for the airport."

It is uncertain what the timeline would be for constructing a new tower, or if one would be funded using federal stimulus money. Vaughan said his committee is hosting at least 2-3 hearings a week while mulling through various stimulus money requests from municipalities statewide.

PTI E-fares for 6/3/09

TO ROUND TRIP FROM PTI: Albany $166 See this fare Boston $188 See this fare Charlotte $138 See this fare Chicago $202 See this fare Cleveland $140 See this fare Columbus $140 See this fare Dayton $140 See this fare Indianapolis $130 See this fare Knoxville $140 See this fare Milwaukee $186 See this fare Nashville $140 See this fare New York / Newark $119 See this fare Orlando $158 See this fare Pittsburgh $140 See this fare Rochester $150 See this fare St. Louis $176 See this fare Syracuse $156 See this fare Tampa $172 See this fare Washington, DC (Same Day Return) $134 See this fare Washington, DC $186 See this fare Click here for more special fares

Use the links provided in this e-mail or visit the PTI website FlyFromPTI.com and use the Fare Deals links from the PTI web site to see this and other special fare offers when possible. Some airlines will have a special button called, "Special Fares, or Promotional Fares" that will link you to fares not found through the regular booking or search process.

It is important to book a fare early because fares are subject to change and availability and go very quickly. You can also check with your travel agent to assist you with special fares from PTI.

Low Fare information is provided to PTI by individual airlines and is subject to airline conditions. We make our best effort to keep the information current and accurate but we can not guarantee that all fares are available at all times. Listed fares are for one adult, round trip and do not include applicable taxes and fees.

And remember flying from PTI is the best way to keep the air service we have and to attract new service. In other words, we need to use it or we will lose it.

Thanks for flying from PTI

Goldie Wells engages in a little race hustlin'

From today's N&R:

“For a person running for the district, particularly for the predominantly African American district, if the first person who declared is a white fellow, it is a Herculean feat (to win),” said Goldie Wells, who will leave the seat this year. “That person has to be someone who the citizens feel will fight for them and keep them from falling backwards,” Wells said of her potential successor.

Some things are better left unsaid.

E.C. ;)

More candidates come out

Local activist Ben Holder will announce today his intent to run in D-1 against likely opponent T. Dianne Bellamy-Small. A natural decision by Holder. And judging by his recent statements in front of City Council, Holder is a fan of transparency and accountability; something this Council desperately needs. Good move. This one bears watching.

Other names likely for D-1 include a rematch with Luther Falls, who challenged Small two years ago, along with political unknown Daron Sellars.

Meanwhile in D-2, N&R hears the name of Jim Kee, co-chair of Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro, who may challenge Ryan Shell for the D-2 seat. And school board rep Deena Hayes' name is still alive and active out there.

Finally, Mayor Yvonne Johnson formally kicked off her campaign over the past weekend.

yawn...

This is funny:

If re-elected, she will aggressively pursue bringing businesses to Greensboro to get people to work, Johnson told family members and supporters at the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

I'm sorry, but did I miss something? Johnson has a record, and it is dismal. Where has she been? There has been almost no job creation in this city during her tenure...none. I'll betcha a dollar to a Krispy Kreme donut that more businesses have LEFT than have come.

Coverage from N&R and YES! Weekly.

E.C. ;)

PTI to JetAmerica: we WANT you

PTI officials, of course, are interested in this start-up...just one thing though, to PTAA chairman Henry Isaacson: don't open your wallet just yet, puhleese!!!!!!!!

E.C. ;)