Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs


Communities far and wide have been battling the sign debate for years. I can see why some cities feel the need to limit sign size. Of course, Las Vegas would be one WITHOUT a sign ordinance. In Winston-Salem, however, the need is here. Have you ever driven down Stratford Road or Peters Creek Parkway? There's no way you can say it's attractive. So, city officials are working on an ordinance that will limit sign size, height and electronics, to name a few.

That was our story today. So we found a restaurant owner along Stratford Road to see what she thought of this proposal on the table. Dori Mulyami, owner of Sakura Japanese Restaurant was more than willing to oblige. She had no qualms telling us that her sign was one of the things that brings customers in. She explained why she thought the new ordinance would be a bad thing. If folks driving along can't see your sign until they're right in front of your building, it's too late and they'll either slam on the brakes to get in or worse, pass by without stopping.

I think city planners are in a tough position here. I can see the advantages of bringing signs down and making them smaller. Cary has a sign ordinance that is a little too strict for what they're trying to accomplish here. On the other hand, being too lax will only mean big, tall, ugly signs will pop up all over the place.

So, no matter what side of the ordinance fence you sit on, it's no question something needs to be done with some of the signs. And while they're at it, let's get rid of all those telephone and electric poles and lines that screw up our beautiful live shots.

Little Did I Know

I never realized I actually had people coming to my little site to check on it daily. Call it humble, call it stupidity, call it whatever you like. I just didn't know. Until today when I made a rare visit to the main studio in High Point. My good friend Danny Spillane asked when I was going to update my blog. Well, Danny I didn't know you cared. But thank you for jarring my mind back into reality and gettin' my ass to work.

May has been one of those months with ratings, youngin's getting out of school, and the old excuse, "I've got other things going on." So, I'll see if I can scramble my brain out of the doldrums and review some of the more interesting things that happened over the last few weeks.

And, thanks again Danny and the other two of you out there checking in on my little blog, I'll do better, I promise.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Vote for Wine


Today we did a preview story on the wine vote in Yadkin County. On the ballot Tuesday will be a vote for legalizing the sale of wine in the county. Funny, because the county now depends on vineyards for some of the economy. I don't have any predictions on how the vote will turn out but our friends at RagApple Lassie are hoping for the best.

I took this shot of Brent through the viewfinder as we prepared for the liveshot in the vineyard.

Everything was sent back to the station via Live 4. Our home away from home.

These are pictures of the little grape buds. These tiny buds are about the size of a pin head. But soon, they'll be the best pinot gris wine this side of Pilot Mountain.

Speaking of Pilot Mountain...

That's Pilot Mountain off in the distance.