Featured events for the day include:

Chef’s Tasting:with Martin Sreshta of Martin’s Curry Rice in Morrisville

Gingerbread Houses and Cookies: Come see several of Karen Barlow’s houses on display at the market and get inspired about gingerbread decorating at home!
Menu & Raffle: Friends from the 10% Campaign (Pledge to spend 10 percent of your existing food dollars locally) will share a holiday menu featuring local foods from local farms.  Sign up for the campaign and you’ll be eligible to win a gift certificate to Herons Restaurant in the Umstead Hotel and Spa.

Market Offerings: Seasonal produce, local meats, cheeses for your appetizers, apple and pumpkin pies and lots of other dessert options, flowers for your centerpiece and more!

Recipes:The Western Wake, Carrboro, Durham, S. Estes and Eno River markets are promoting their pre-Thanksgiving markets together and created this web site with recipes.

Cary, N.C. – Local artists will bring their hand-crafted works to the Western Wake Farmers’ Market on Sat., Nov., 6, 8 am-1 pm, for the Fall Craft Fair. The craft fair will be held in conjunction with the weekly farmers’ market at Carpenter Village Marketplace, 1225 Morrisville Carpenter Rd., in Cary. The Fall Craft Fair features 52 local artists’ hand-crafted works, including pottery, jewelry, holiday décor and gifts, stoneware, baby and children’s gifts, birdhouses, hand-knitted and felted accessories, glassware, natural soaps and lotions, and much more. All artists live and produce their works within 125 miles of the marketplace.

Herons Chef Scott Crawford will be in the Education Tent with free samples of a delicious soup featuring local autumn flavors.  Friends from the NC 10%Campaign also will be at market to talk about how we can build a local economy by spending just 10% of food dollars locally, and the kids will love free face painting at the market courtesy of LynneSue Fischer.

The Western Wake Farmers Market is now open year-round on Saturdays. Through Nov. 20, the market will be open from 8 am-12 pm (with one extra hour on Nov. 6 for the Craft Fair.) Starting Dec. 4, the market will be open from 9 am-12 pm.

Other November Events:

Nov. 13: Alice Loyd with local sauerkraut samples and know-how, plus Solar Solutions with practical tips on saving money on energy at home.

Nov. 20: Organic, Biodynamic and Sustainable Wines from Sip…a wine store: Come sample and learn about these wines!

Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Market: Shop this special farmers’ market from 3-6 pm for fresh, local ingredients for your Thanksgiving feast!

The farmers’ market features local seasonal produce, along with hormone-free, grass-fed meats, local seafood, cheese, baked goods, coffee, flowers and more.  For additional information on the Farmers Market or Carpenter Village, please contact LG Real Estate.

New for this year, you can access the Parade Homes using a new FREE iPhone application.  Try it out.  I’ve been able to filter and search the upcoming Parade Homes based on price, builder, community, square feet and location.  This application works on iPhones, iPADs and iPod Touches.

Be sure to try to check out the Hero Home this year.  It is part of Operation Coming Home II.  This home was been built with local volunteers who were led by the HBA and the Triangle Real Estate and Construciton Veterans.  It has been specifically constructed for USMC Sgt. Stan Roberts who was injured on his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq.  

Let me know which home is your favorite on the tour….

The Champions Tour visits Cary NC the week of September 20^th – 26^th for the SAS Championship.  The tour, made up of professional golfers over age 50, is enjoying its 10th consecutive year at Prestonwood CC in Cary.

 Top 10 moments in tournament History

 SAS tournament officials, with the help of online voting by fans. are rolling out the top ten moments in tournament history.  The top two moments will be announced during the tournament week.  To vote for your favorite moment, visit the tournament website at www.saschampionship.com. 

 Arnie visits the SAS in 2003

My favorite moment occurred in 2003 when Arnold Palmer participated in the tournament.  Arnold was my childhood golf hero and I am a charter member of Arnie’s Army.  My Mom and Aunt were visiting that year for the tournament and of course followed Arnie around for a number of holes.  After putting out on the 17^th green, Arnie walked by my Mom and Aunt, stopped and said hello and thanked them for their fervent support over the years.  It was a real thrill for my Mom and Aunt and they talk about that moment whenever they get together.

Tony Richmond – 10 year SAS volunteer  

A friend and golfing partner of mine, Tony Richmond, is volunteering for the SAS tournament for the 10^th consecutive year.  Tony and Chet Grohowski teamed up to run the 1^st hole as top marshal and hole captain for the first 5 years.  Unfortunately, Chet died suddenly in 2006, and Tony has continued on as the hole captain in Chet’s memory.  Chet was a very popular senior golfer at Prestonwood Country Club and assistant golf coach for the Green Hope High School Team.  In honor of Chet, the 1^st hole on the Highlands golf course at Prestonwood is designated, “Chet’s Hole”.

 Hole Captain

Tony’s job as hole captain is to supervise up to 5 marshals on the hole and to answer any questions from spectators and golfers.  Each marshal is placed strategically around the hole to watch and help locate golf shots and help keep the crowd quiet.  The 1^st hole is particularly challenging from a marshals’ perspective since there is water on the right, water in front of the green, and out of bounds to the right of the green.  Tony’s advice to his marshals is to be polite and helpful and to let the player make the ultimate decision on balls in the water and out of bounds if there is any doubt.  

 Fred Couples is coming to Cary

 Tony is one of 600 volunteers who contribute their time and energy to help make the SAS a successful tournament.  The SAS is a very popular event with the pros and this year’s field includes six World Golf Hall of Fame members and everyone’s fan favorite, Fred Couples. 

So Come out to Cary and bring your family to Prestonwood Country Club September 24^th – 26^th.   We at LG Real Estate highly recommend the SAS and please drop us a line if you need a couple of tickets.

 Right now, the high for Saturday is only supposed to be 86 degrees – that would be amazing.  Remember to go early – most of the vendors are ready to sell by 8:30am and you can actually see their items before all the crowds arrive. 

Of the 3 streets that are included in the festival, my favorite one is between the center of the Town of Cary and the old elementary school.  This is the street that I go to 1st.  Bring a small purse and remember that most of the vendors are happy to store your things for you at the booth until you are ready to go home.  And, if you want a bit of adult refreshment for a shopping break, you can drop in on the beer garden.  Check out the vendor CD this year to get a preview of the Lazy Daze wares.  See you there!

 The 4^th of July is a very special day at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary NC.  Bring your picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs and enjoy a good old fashion Independence Day celebration.  The doors open at 3:00 PM and all lawn seating and parking is free.

Free Kids Zone

 An added bonus for families is the Free Kids Zone.  The Kids Zone features slides, water tag, and a Lumpy’s Ice Cream eating contest.   The fun zone is open from 3:00 PM -6:00 PM on the grounds of the Booth Amphitheatre.

Booth Amphitheatre

 The Booth Amphitheatre is located in Cary among 14 acres of hardwoods and pines situated next to Symphony Lake.  The highlight of the 4^th of July celebration is the beautiful firework display over the lake accompanied by the North Carolina Symphony. 

LG Real Estate

Several member of our LG Real Estate team have attended this event in past years and enjoyed it immensely. Jen Grinter and family were there last year and in Jen’s words, “We had a Blast”.

May 15 -16  /  May 22-23   /  Noon – 6:00 PM

The annual green home tour is a free, self guided event that gives potential Triangle and Cary home buyers the opportunity to step inside certified green homes.  A green home is one that is designed to be more energy efficient, have safer indoor air, and require less maintenance.

The green home tour showcases more than 30 homes in a wide variety of styles, price ranges, and building features.  You as a a home buyer can talk directly to the builders and see the latest in water conservation features, as well a as other green techniques. 

The green home tour is a joint program sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, Wake, and Chatham Counties.  Tour book pickup locations can be found at TriangleGreenHomeTour.com. 

Please call us at LG Real Estate for a follow up showing of any property on the tour.

GET THE FACTS:

When will the rebates be offered?   Phase I will be over a four-day period during Earth Day weekend – Thursday April 22 through Sunday April 25.

How much will the rebates be?  Rebates will be 15 percent off on Energy-Star rated appliances.  The rebates will be in addition to any store, manufacturer or other discounts being offered.

What appliances qualify?  Qualified Energy Star clothes washers, diswashers, refrigerators, and freezers.

Who is eligible to purchase items?  North Carolina residents who are replacing older clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers are eligible for the rebates on designated Energy Star appliances.  The program is only available to those replacing appliances.  Those purchasing multiple appliances or appliances for commercial properties are not eligible.

Where can I buy the appliances?  The NC Energy Office worked with the NC Retail Merchants Association and expects major retail chains as well as most independent appliance dealers to participate in the rebate program.  You can see the participating merchants at www.energync.net.

Can I receive more than one appliance rebate?  You may receive rebates on more than one appliance, but it must be for different appliances.  For example, you may receive rebates on a refrigerator and clothes washing machine, but not on two refrigerators.

Will there be rebates on any other energy star appliances?  Depending on the funds available, a second phase in June will offer rebates on Energy Star residential gas storage water heaters, tankless gas water heaters, central air conditioners, heat pumps and gas furnaces that replace older items.  These rebates will be mail-ins and can be used with purchase through retailers, contractors or programs offered through utilities.

Where is the money coming from to pay for the rebates?  North Carolina is receiving $8.8 million in federal funds to help homeowners purchase energy efficient appliances. 

See you shopping!

If I had only known 15 years ago when our youngest son Matt requested a fruit dryer for his 14^th birthday how that would change his life.  We had recently moved to the Cary area from CA.  Matt, the youngest of our four sons was the only one to make the move to the foreign country of NC. He came kicking and screaming which is very typical of any rising 8^th grader. 

The Food Channel, Cary High, and UCLA

While getting acclimated to his new life without a plethora of friends on his doorstep, Matt gained a real fondness for the TV Food Channel.  After learning to make beef jerky from his new contraption he started playing with recipes.  We never gave it a lot of thought until we heard about a Thanksgiving meal he fixed for his college roommates at UCLA.  By this time Matt had graduated from Cary High School in 1999 and went on to become an English major and Spanish minor at UCLA.  He was fortunate enough to spend a year at the University of Barcelona and during the summer he went to a culinary school in Spain. 

Eat This Not That!

Moving the clock forward several years Matt is now the co author of the “Eat This Not That” book series.  His real pride and joy is the latest book of the series “Cook This Not That”.  On Sunday April 18th,  Matt will be at the Cary location of Barnes and Noble to discuss his books.  The book signing and discussion will begin at 4pm.  On Wednesday, April 14th at 3am (the only weird time in the country) Matt will be on the Bonnie Hunt show along with David Zinczenko demonstrating several of the recipes. 

James Beard Food Writing Award

A few weeks ago Matt was nominated for the James Beard Food Writing Award.   This is a great honor and is considered the Oscar of food writing.  The nomination was for an article he did for Men’s Health Magazine called “Beauty and the Beast”.  He just arrived back to NYC from a trip to CA to work with Carl’s Jr/Hardees to help them devise a healthier menu.  There is an article about Matt in the April18th edition of the Cary News.

Proud Mom

As his Mom of course I beam with pride but taking that aside he is a wealth of information and if you meet him on Sunday you will be glad you did.

Come celebrate spring at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM) opening day, April 3, 8 am-12 pm, at 1226 Morrisville Carpenter Rd. in Cary.  Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht will celebrate the market’s second season with remarks at 10 am. Chef Ricky Moore of Giorgio restaurant will share samples of his signature dish, Goat Cheese-Lavender Fritter with local honey at the Education Tent.  Shop for spring flowers and seasonal, local foods for your Easter celebration on opening day, and return each weekend for the food and in support of community. The market’s web site, www.WesternWakeFarmersMarket.org, features all the farmers and vendors, plus much more.

The WWFM will be open 34 Saturdays, through November 20, rain or shine, to provide area residents with access to locally grown and crafted foods. Market offerings include seasonal produce, grass-fed meats, North Carolina seafood, eggs, artisan breads and desserts, coffee, flowers, vegetable plants, wine, natural cleaning products, jewelry and more. Gardeners will be able to purchase seedlings, including heirloom varieties, for their gardens at home.

 A growers only/producer’s only market

The Western Wake Farmers’ Market is a grower’s only/producer’s only market, which means all the vendors either grew or hand-crafted their products and have not purchased these goods elsewhere to re-sell them. All vendors are located within 125 miles of the marketplace to ensure access to local, fresh foods.

Seasonal produce available at market is picked at the peak of ripeness for the greatest taste and nutritional benefit, and it has been grown with little to no pesticides. Eggs and meats from grass-fed animals offer much greater nutritional value and significantly less saturated fat than these products sold at grocery stores. Supporting local family farmers also nurtures community and a local economy, while helping the environment. For instance, produce sold at many area grocers has traveled an average of 1,500 miles (and sometimes even across continents), compared to less than 125 miles.

 Featuring a guest educator each week

The market features a guest educator each week and live, family-friendly music. You may sign up for a free e-newsletter, which details what is fresh at market each week, special events and more, through the web site’s Newsletter tab.

We at LG Real Estate highly endorse the Western Wake Farmers’ Market (WWFM).  Lee Ann Crowder from our staff remarks that the variety of food including cheeses, fish, and vegetables is excellent and she enjoys meeting Cary neighbors at the market.