Sen. Daniel April 21,2011 Newsletter

Burke APRIL 21, 2011

DISTRICT 44

Caldwell APRIL ISSUE #3

Dear Friends,

Sen. Daniel and Sen. NewtonNash/Wilson at the Old Capitol April 12 CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senator Warren T. Daniel Legislative Office Bldg., Room 411 300 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Email: warren.daniel@ncleg.net Phone: 919-715-7823 Fax: 919-754-3265

District Office of Sen. Warren Daniel 348 Harper Avenue NW Lenoir, NC 28645 Email: senwarrendaniel@bellsouth.net Phone: 828-754-9335 Fax 828-754-9335 (Please call before faxing) www.facebook.com

** http://bit.ly/SenDaniel (For pictures, more news, resources)

As I am sure you are aware, last weekend the eastern part of our state was hit hard by tornado activity. At least 20 of our citizens lost their lives, and many people had their homes damaged or destroyed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families. Many of our farmers were also affected through the loss of farm equipment and the scattering of debris across their fields delaying the planting process. Governor Perdue has declared a state of emergency, and volunteers from across the state are responding to offer all types of aid for these areas. One of the initial problems that farmers have experienced, due to state bureaucracy and over-regulation, is the inability to burn non-hazardous storm debris in their fields. In response to this issue, the General Assembly acted promptly on Wednesday to pass legislation (SB268) that suspends burdensome state environmental restrictions regulations for 40 days during this state of emergency so that farmers can clear their fields and get their crops planted. While the Governor did act by signing Executive Order 89, this order did not seriously address or suspend state regulatory impediments to farm cleanup.

This week, I thought that I would deviate from my usual style of newsletter. Since this week leads to Easter Sunday, I wanted to share a few thoughts about the Holy Week that means so much to many people.

For our Jewish friends, this Passover week is a time to remember the deliverance of the Jews from ancient Egypt: the Exodus. Passover is an eight day festival in the Hebrew month Nissan commemorating the calling out by God of the Jews from slavery and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea to escape the pharaoh.

For those of us who are professing Christians, this week is the time we remember the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection is often called the distinguishing tenet that separates Christianity from other religions. Good Friday is a day we remember the sacrificial death of Christ on a cross for the sin of mankind. Because of this, Jesus is often referred to as “the Lamb of God” that came to offer forgiveness.

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DID YOU KNOW? -Edward I, “Longshanks” of Braveheart fame -1250, spent 18 pence for 450 eggs to be gold-leafed and colored. What a deal! That works out to about $.30 today.

-Ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phonecians, and Hindus believed the world began with an enormous egg. Therefore, the egg symbolizes new life.

-In the mid-20th century, it used to take as much as 27 hours to make a marshmallow peep. Today, the time has been reduced to six minutes.

Burke

DISTRICT 44

Caldwell Page 2

APRIL 21, 2011

Religious Easter Facts: That day was a very sad time for the family of Jesus and for his disciples.

Their world had been shattered, and their hopes and dreams of a Messiah were lost. But as scripture teaches, God’s ways are not our ways, and on Sunday morning, those same family members had their grief turn to joy when they saw the risen “Lamb of God”! The idea of resurrection was a foreign concept to the people of that day. In John Chapter 11, Jesus uses the death of a good friend, Lazarus, to teach Mary and Martha what is about to happen to Him in just a short while.

Even for those who do not celebrate it from a religious perspective, Easter is a holiday that celebrates the idea of “new life”. Throughout history, the concept of a new life has included the celebration of new birth, a new start, and the hope for a better future.

I realize that times have been and still are tough during this recession.

However, in 2011 there has been some good news for our district. From January through April, over $1,000,000 in grant monies have been distributed to some medical facilities and business interests in our district.

And just this week a $128,000 grant was provided to Geiger International to build a facility in Burke County. This should create 64 jobs and bring an investment of $3.7 million to the county. These may seem like small steps, but in difficult times, it is good news.

Until next week, I wish you and your families a blessed Easter holiday.

Sincerely,

The first Easter Sunrise Service recorded took place in 1732 in the Moravian congregation at Herrnhut in the Upper Lusatian hills of Saxony. After an all-night prayer vigil, the Single Brethren, the unmarried men, of the community, went to the town graveyard, God's Acre, on the Hill above the town, to sing hymns of praise to the Risen Saviour.The following year, the whole Congregation joined in the service.

Thereafter the "Easter Morning" or "Sunrise Service" spread around the world with the Moravian missionaries. The procession to the graveyard is accompanied by the antiphonal playing of chorales by brass choirs.

Jesus prophesied His death and resurrection: John 2:19-21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.

A PRE-TAX PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

-A Dutchman was explaining the red, white and blue Netherlands flag to an American. “Our flag is symbolic of our taxes. We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bills and blue after we pay them.” The American nodded, “It’s the same in the USA—only we see stars, too!”

-A man walks into a restaurant with his pet alligator under his arm. “Do you serve tax collectors?”, says the man. “Of course,” says the waiter. “Well,” replied the man, “I’ll have a Coke, and my alligator will have a tax collector.”