North Carolina's diverse landscape and climate make it a top 10 state for wine production. We have 7 AVAs, American Viticultural Areas, or areas with distinct climate, soil, and elevation. I’m visiting all of them, and I started in the Yadkin Valley because that’s where I was born. From the mountains to the coast, there’s a vineyard experience for anyone.
Anna and I send our deepest condolences to the Busch family during this incredibly difficult time. Kyle was not just a talented and record-setting driver; he was also a kind person. His loss will be felt throughout the entire NASCAR community and well beyond. May his memory be a blessing.
May is North Carolina Wine Month, and Josh and I are celebrating the growers, producers, and consumers who contribute to our state’s long-standing wine and grape agricultural industry and support rural tourism year-round.
Edenton is gearing up for America 250, and I enjoyed spending time where NC’s revolutionary history runs deep. Make sure to stop by the Edenton Tea Room to hear about the Edenton Tea Party and the women who started it all!
Lake Lure is back!
It took local, state, and federal governments working alongside local residents to get the job done. I am excited that folks will have the chance to rediscover this unforgettable place this summer.
It is an honor to highlight the work of North Carolina’s 77,000 state employees during Public Service Recognition Week. Our state is stronger because of the work you do. It’s an honor to be your colleague.
Teachers go above and beyond to shape the next generation. They show up for our students, and we have a responsibility to show up for them. Thank you to every teacher across North Carolina.
Small businesses are the backbone of rural tourism and the health of communities like Thomasville. I enjoyed an afternoon of exploring downtown, shopping at Thomasville Emporium, and having lunch at JJ’s Side Street Deli!
Local Reentry Councils are collaborations of organizations that assist people who are formerly incarcerated transition back into their communities. The Wake County LRC recently held its Resource Fair to further connect community partners and get people reentry services they need.
I also got to hear an awe-inspiring performance by the Burke Singers from Winston-Salem State University. I am touched by the community support for this art piece and the women this piece represents.
Stitching Stories Reimagined, a mosaic art piece inspired by a quilt made by incarcerated women during COVID-19, is now on display at Dix Park. At its opening, I got to meet some of the women who created the original quilt and visit with the artists behind the interpretation.
Stitching Stories Reimagined, a mosaic wall at Dix Park, is inspired by a quilt made by women who were incarcerated during COVID-19. It signifies women who are incarcerated and their individual struggles. I encourage everyone to see this piece and reflect on each woman’s story.
I visited Piedmont CRV, which offers women mental health and substance use treatment, along with life skills and job readiness training. I spoke to women staying there who said they felt cared for by the staff and had renewed hope for their futures.
Judges can send people to NC’s Confinement in Response to Violation (CRV) centers for up to 90 days when they commit technical violations of the terms of their probation, parole, or post-release supervision. NC has two CRVs-one for men and one for women.
Davidson Correctional Center in Lexington is one of NCDAC’s designated reentry facilities. Warden Jerry Laws and his staff support extensive programming on site, including an art class that I visited taught by a very talented man who is incarcerated at Davidson Correctional.
It has an agriculture program led by an instructor from Davidson Community College in which incarcerated men learn how to grow food not only in the ground, but also through hydroponics and aquaponics, which I learned is when you use fish waste to fertilize plants grown in water.