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City Of Raleigh Spent $797,895 On “Failed” Website By Edward R. Brown The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - The City of Raleigh has spent a lot of money on its new website, but evidently there are still a lot of kinks to be worked out, based on user comments and statements from at least one Raleigh City Council member, who described the situation as “frustrating.” According to requested public records, the City of Raleigh has paid a total of $797,895 to outside vendors to build the new website, which officially launched last year. This figure does not include internal costs or money spent on city employees in the IT department who have also been working on the project. According to the City of Raleigh, expenses started rolling in for the new website when a Richmond company called Ironworks with offices in Cary was initially paid $289,500 in 2008 to review the old website, conduct polls of the public, and other tasks including an unexplained item labeled “selected design wireframes.” A year later, a large amount of money was then paid to Red Hat, the well known open-source software company that is headquartered in Raleigh. Red Hat was paid three different checks: a $332,600 check in May of 2009, a $160,000 check in November of 2009, and a $15,795 check paid in March of 2010. Red Hat was paid a total of $508,395. According to the city records, Red Hat was paid to install and configure the content management system, migrate content from the old site, create a calendar system, train staff, and other tasks associated with the site. PROBLEMS WITH WEBSITE Despite the large amount of money spent, it is evident that members of the public have not been entirely satisfied with the new website. It should be noted that new site does feature a more modern design and seems to be much more pleasing to the eye than the old website. However, the ability to locate needed information within the website has been lost somewhere in the transition between the old one and the new one, making it harder than it needs to be to find what you’re looking for. This newspaper noticed that unlike the old City of Raleigh website, it’s hard to find press releases issued by the city that are older than a couple of weeks. On the old site, it was relatively easy to find news releases that dated back weeks, months, and even items dating back to earlier in the year. It is not apparent how to find those items on the new site, creating an environment where it harder to access information, not easier. Raleigh City Council member Russ Stephenson first talked with The Raleigh Telegram in the fall of 2010 about problems with the site and the high cost associated with it. Stephenson told the Telegram that he often found it easier to use Google to search and find items on the City of Raleigh website than to use the site’s own search feature. In an interview this week, Stephenson said the site still has that problem.
“It’s still easier to find stuff through Google or a generic search than the [city] site,” said Stephenson. Stephenson said it’s not a huge concern compared to other city issues like water bills or crime or taxes, but that people have told him that the new design is hard to use in order to conduct their “day to day business” with the city. “It’s frustrating,” said Stephenson. “Everyone that has talked to me has said it doesn’t seem to need to be that difficult [to access information].” Stephenson says that the city should have invested more in the design to make it more usable by everyday citizens. “If people can’t access the data, then there’s a level of frustration,” he added. Others in the community have noted the problems with the site ever since it debuted last year. On the community blog NewRaleigh, after a story appeared on the new site, commenters criticized the new design. “At first I didn’t think it was all that bad, but then as a test I decided to look for something I knew used to be there only using mouse clicking,” said one user. “That quickly failed and I resorted to using the search box, which also failed. Indeed it appears they went for ‘pretty’ instead of anything useful.” Other users seemed to have similar experiences and out of 14 comments, only one was entirely positive. Most said they found the new site to be lacking. “Aesthetically speaking, it’s a minor improvement, but I have to give them a grade of F for usability,” said another user on the blog. “I spent five minutes searching for the phone number to a different park and never could find it,” added another person. “I finally ended up using an old phone book I had here at the house.” The City of Raleigh produced an eight minute YouTube video on how to use the new site, but evidently not many people have been able to find that video, as it only has had 275 views since July. “If you need to publish a video to show your visitors how to use your new design, you’ve already failed miserably,” said one commenter on the NewRaleigh site who said he was a web consultant. FUTURE OF THE SITE According to Raleigh City Council member Russ Stephenson, the city staff have recognized that there are issues. He had hoped they would have been corrected by now, but he said they are working on it. “It is a disappointment that it has taken this long,” he said. Stephenson does say he thinks the website has the capability and content management to be much better. “It’s a really fancy machine,” he said. “It’s just not tuned up. It’s out of tune.” The city has meetings set up in the next few weeks to try and improve the usability and Stephenson said he hopes “we’re heading in the right direction.” In terms of $$797,895 price tag, Stephenson said he was told by the city IT department that the cost is below what other large city websites have cost with this level of functionality. “It still seems like a whole lot of money to me,” he said. ::
After 122 Years, Clock From USS Raleigh Shows Up Close To Home
Navy veteran and ship clock collector Jim Dyson of Norfolk, Virginia acquired the USS Raleigh clock around a year ago and has restored the 1892 timepiece to working condition. The USS Raleigh served the US in two wars. Photo: J.Dyson.
By Randall Gregg The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - Many people in Raleigh are familiar with the US Navy ship named USS Raleigh that served during World War II and was hit by a torpedo at Pearl Harbor. However, many people may not be aware that there was an even earlier ship named USS Raleigh that garnered much of the nation’s attention during the Spanish American War. The earlier USS Raleigh was even visited by a standing President of the United States, was the subject of one of the earliest motion picture films taken by Thomas Edison, and later served in World War I. Now, 122 years after the ship’s hull was first laid, it has been discovered that one of the ship’s clocks was saved from
Raleigh To Ban Smoking In City Parks RALEIGH - The City Council of Raleigh voted 6-2 at their January 18th meeting to come up with an ordinance that would ban all tobacco products including cigarettes in city owned parks. Last year, a “smoking in parks” committee recommended unanimously that the council come up with the proposal in the wake of state legislation that allows cities and towns to regulate smoking. The city will officially vote on the proposed ordinance later this year. According to the News & Observer, the By most accounts, the new City of Raleigh website looks much better, but visitors ban would not include Nash and Moore seem to be having problems finding what they need on the new site. These Squares as they are not owned by the city problems exist despite the high pricetag of $797,895 which the city paid to outside but rather are owned by the State of vendors such as IronWorks and Red Hat to create the site. North Carolina.
salvage and is now in the hands of a collector in Virginia who has restored the clock to full working order. USS Raleigh History The hull of the USS Raleigh (C-8) was first laid in December of 1889 at the US Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia which is part of the Norfolk area and continues to be a vital naval base and shipyard even today. The ship was officially launched in 1892. Although not the first steel-hulled ship produced by the US Navy, the USS Raleigh was the first steel-hulled protected cruiser and was a part of a new generation of ships of modern design that appeared after the Civil War that had deck guns and were powered by coal. The ship literally cruised around the Continued on Page 5...
In this painting from the period, the USS Olympia, USS Raleigh, and other ships fire on the Spanish fleet in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.
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Ralph Campbell, NC State Auditor, Passes Away At 64 By R. Gregg, Editor The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - After suffering from lung cancer, former North Carolina State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr. passed away on January 11th at the age of 64 at the Duke Raleigh Hospital. Campbell was the first African-American elected to statewide political office in North Carolina and he served three terms as the state auditor from 1992 to 2004. Campbell’s years of service and dedication to Raleigh and North Carolina led to the decision by state leaders to have Campbell’s body lie in state in the Capitol rotunda on January 14th, an honor rarely bestowed upon citizens who have passed away. North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue commented on Campbell’s dedication to his fellow citizens. “Ralph Campbell lived his life in the service of North Carolina,” said Governor Perdue in a statement issued upon news of his death. “He believed in the fundamental promise of America: Regardless of who we are or where we come from, we share the same hopes and should enjoy the same possibilities. He worked hard to erase economic disparity and establish social justice.” Perdue said that Campbell knew that every minute of life was precious. “I will always remember his favorite quote, reminding us to make the most of every moment,” said the governor. “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.” A lifelong resident of Raleigh, Campbell also served as a Raleigh City Council member from 1985 to 1992. From 1989 to 1991, he served as the Mayor Pro Tempore under then Raleigh Mayor Avery C. Upchurch. “Ralph Campbell, Jr., was a great friend to the City of Raleigh and served as our ambassador to our Sister City Compiegne,” said current Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker in a released statement. “Ralph also worked on many public improvements including the renovation of Murphey School for senior housing.” “Raleigh is honored to have had Ralph be a life-long citizen and statesman,” added the mayor. “We will miss his contributions and humor greatly.” Campbell was born in Raleigh at the hospital on St. Augustine College’s
campus to June and Ralph Campbell Sr., who were prominent civil rights leaders. Campbell later attended school at St. Augustine’s College before joining the US Army Reserves. He later worked for the NC Department of Revenue and the NC Department of Insurance before running for state auditor in 1992. When he was elected, Campbell was the first African American elected to the North Carolina Council of State which includes the Secretary of State, State Auditor, Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer and other positions. At this time, Campbell is still the only African American who has been elected to any of those statewide positions and he has received great praise from political leaders for breaking color barriers in North Carolina. In addition to the lying in state ceremony in the NC State Capitol Building, a memorial ceremony was held for Campbell at the Fletcher Opera Theater of the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. A funeral service was held at the St. Ambrose Episcopal Church on 813 Darby Street and Campbell was laid to rest at the Mt. Hope Cemetery at 10 N. Rogers Lane in Raleigh. ::
Former NC State Auditor Ralph Campbell, Jr.: Campbell was the first African American elected to statewide office in 1992. Photo from NC State Auditor’s Office.
Senator Phil Berger Voted President Of NC Senate By Lois Alley, Political Reporter The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - As Republicans take over control of both houses of the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time since 1870, a new leader has been named Presdient Pro Tempore after a vote by members of the Senate. After the elections in November, it was expected that state Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham County) would fill the role previously occupied by Democrat Marc Basnight and that was officially confirmed on January 26th by Berger’s office. “I am humbled and honored to stand before you today,” said Berger. “This is a historic moment for this body and our state. But this is just a moment -- history will judge us based on the substance of this session -- not this moment.” Berger thanked Basnight and his team for making the transition of leadership go smoothly. “A special thank you to Senator Marc Basnight for the assistance and guidance that he, his chief of staff, Amy Fulk, and the rest of his team provided during the transition process,” said Berger. “Actions speak volumes and Senator Basnight’s are appreciated more than he will ever know.” Berger, who works as an attorney in Eden, North Carolina, has served as a state senator since 2000 and has risen to the top of his party in part due to his ability to rise above partisan politics in North Carolina. Although Berger has strongly defended Republican positions on various subjects, unlike some of his peers in both parties, he has steered clear of inflammatory rhetoric and has not engaged in the kind of mud-slinging that has tainted many politicians. Despite the respect present for Berger, the pressure is on him and others in the GOP now that they have control of
NC Senator Phil Berger.: Berger now leads the NC Senate as President Pro Tempore. Photo by Raleigh Telegram. the legislature. The task at hand is how to solve the $3.5 billion shortfall in the state budget next year. “Policy choices made over the last 20 years deepened the recession in North Carolina,” said Berger. “The result is that our principal order of business this session is to eliminate a $3.7 billion budget deficit.” Berger’s office pointed out that more people are moving to NC but that there are few jobs being created. His office said that from 2000 to 2009, the state’s workforce grew by 330,000 workers but that the number of jobs grew by only 13,806 during that time. ::
Raleigh Telegram Read By Troops At Afghanistan Base By The Raleigh Telegram BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE - When the Raleigh Telegram sent a care package for the holidays to an airman at stationed at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, we included a few copies of The Raleigh Telegram newspaper as well. Stories in those editions included interviews with Special Operations Command generals as they met in Raleigh to discuss Afghanistan and other theaters of operation as well as the posthumous awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller who was stationed out of Fort Bragg. We are very proud and honored to have received photos from personnel at the Bagram Air Force base who read the copies of The Raleigh Telegram there at the base and at the Pat Tillman
Memorial USO Center, which is located at Bagram. The center is named after NFL football player Pat Tillman who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Special thanks go to Lt. Colonel Allen Larkin who was kind enough to help pass around the newspapers and contents of the care package and also to Master Sergeant Mike Ellard, who snapped the pictures for us. The Raleigh Telegram staff and management would like to thank the airmen and soldiers for not only reading our newspaper, but for serving our country and protecting its citizens. The Telegram is planning to send future care packages and if there is an item you would like to contribute, please contact us at the newspaper so that we can include it in our mailings. The newspaper office can be reached at 919760-3110 or raleightelegram@yahoo.com
The Duck & Dumpling (above) will be replaced by a new Thai restaurant.
New Thai Restaurant To Open Downtown By James Smith Special To The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - According to a source who is familiar with the business, a new Thai restaurant will replace the former Duck & Dumpling restaurant on Blount Street which closed down in December. At the time of closing, the Duck & Dumpling was operated by Empire Eats, which is run by local developer and restaurateur Greg Hatem. Hatem’s firm also runs The Raleigh Times bar, Gravy, The Pit, and others in Raleigh. The menu for the new Thai restaurant, which has yet have its name
publicly released, will be developed by the same chef who replaced David Mao, said the source. Ex-Duck & Dumpling chef David Mao left the restaurant last year and started his own restaurant called David’s Dumpling and Noodle Bar near NC State University. A sign on the front of the old Duck & Dumpling restaurant says that all of the gift cards that were issued through the old restaurant will be honored by Empire in the new establishment. When it opens, the new Thai restaurant will be the second in downtown Raleigh. The Thaiphoon Bistro restaurant located on Glenwood Avenue has been popular.
The Carolina Hurricanes have launched a free bus service to the RBC Center.
Lt. Colonel Richard Sposato (left), an F-15E pilot from Pennsylvania, reads the Raleigh Telegram before a mission. At top right, some Air Force personnel take time to read a little about Raleigh in the Pat Tillman USO building at the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. Photos from Master Sgt. Mike Ellard.
‘Canes Debut Big Bus By James Smith Special To The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - If you’re headed to any of the Carolina Hurricanes NHL Hockey home games, you can get a free ride to the RBC Center from the downtown area. The Hurricanes bus rides, which started just this year, are free to all ticket holders who are headed to the games this season. The hard-to-miss buses are decked out in Carolina Hurricanes logos and colors and can carry dozens of passengers, so you don’t have to worry
about gas, parking, or dealing with traffic. The buses leave the downtown areas well ahead of the game times, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. Many of the downtown restaurants and bars have a schedule handy showing when the buses depart the specific areas of downtown Raleigh, so check with your server or bartender to find out when you need to hail the bus. The bus service is also scheduled to run during the NHL All-Star game in Raleigh, although some NHL Fan Fair events are located downtown at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Lt. Colonel Allen Larkins of the Air Force takes advantage of a little down time (below) to read The Raleigh Telegram in Afghanistan. Larkins has served around the world. At the Pat Tillman USO, Master Sgt Mike Ellard, who helped get these great photos, reads the paper with weather expert Capt. William Wood.
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New Bowling Center Opens In Raleigh: Sparians Bowling “Boutique” Shoots For Upscale Market
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The new Sparians bowling center in North Hills Mall offers bowling in an upscale atmosphere, a restaurant, bar, and meeting rooms. Photos: Sparians.com.
By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - A new bowling alley called “Sparians” has recently opened up in the North Hills Mall complex. The 30,000 square foot bowling alley is on the first floor of Park & Market at North Hills, across from Bruegger's Bagel Bakery and the CapTrust Tower. According to the owners, Sparians has 18 bowling lanes surrounded by couches and other comfy seating. For corporate events and private parties, there are two private suites with six lanes for up to 350 people. The bowling lanes feature very modern lighting with jumbo televisions positioned throughout the interior. In addition to bowling, Sparians will feature a full-service restaurant with indoor seating for 170 and outdoor seating for 80, which is the largest outdoor dining area at North Hills. Sparians will also have a full service bar and lounge area with seating for 75 people. Dining areas feature tables with built-in touch screen video units. The owners of Sparians are shooting for the upscale market and want to create a unique atmosphere that is not seen in your typical bowling alley. “Part of our challenge is changing the perception that we are not a bowling alley since we will create an environment unlike anything seen in this area,” said Chris Angel in a released statement. Angel, along with Alan Fluke is one of the two local managing parters at Sparians. “Just like Cirque de Soleil transformed the circus industry, Sparians will breathe life into entertainment and bowling to capture new audiences. The focus of Sparians is on casual bowlers, families, and private
and corporate events, not traditional leagues,” added Angel. The food available at the Sparians Bistro includes everything from appetizers such as chicken wings ($8) to cheese fries ($6) to sandwiches such as the hot Italian hoagie ($8.50) to hamburgers such as the Sparians burger ($7.50). Entrees include pizza (from $14 to $18), baby back ribs ($13), blackened mahi ($14) and chicken tenders ($8.50). Other items available include salads, vegetarian dishes, sliders, gumbo, crabcakes, desserts, and more. Sparians held a grand opening earlier this month and is scheduled to be fully open by the time this newspaper is published. For more information on the new bowling center, visit their website at http://www.sparians.com
The Rathskeller Reopening In Chapel Hill By The Raleigh Telegram CHAPEL HILL - According to the UNC student news organization Reese News, the famous Chapel Hill restaurant that had been a landmark since 1948 is under renovations and under new ownership. The Ramshead Rathskeller will be reopened by UNC alumnus Diane Fountain, a real estate developer from Wilmington. Made famous by its cheesy lasagna dishes, and literally sizzling on the plate gambler steak dishes, the Rathskeller is located off of Franklin Street and is scheduled to open this year, says the student website.
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Experience the great dishes that everyone has been talking about. From the open top pork & shrimp sui mai dumplings (above) to the edamame & mushroom dumplings, you’ll love these unique flavors from experienced Chef David Mao.
USS Raleigh Ship’s Clock Found...
USS Raleigh In Battle In 1898:
Continued from page one...
A Firsthand Account
world including tours to Hong Kong, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, China, California, the Caribbean, Korea, Japan, Egypt, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys, and other locations. During our research, a photo was discovered showing crewmen of the USS Raleigh riding camels with the Great Pyramids of Egypt in the background. However, the USS Raleigh’s place in history was secured when the United States declared war against Spain in 1898 after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba. Although the actual cause of the Maine’s sinking has been debated since it happened, the Spanish American War had begun. As a result, the US fleet was ordered to attack Spanish territories and the USS Raleigh was part of the squadron that sailed into the Philippines to engage the Spanish navy ships located there. The battles between the US Navy and the The USS Raleigh seen while firing its guns at sea. The Raleigh was one of the Spanish forces were largely one-sided. In first modern steel hulled ships to be built after the Civil War. Photo: Jim Dyson. April of 1898, the USS Raleigh, the USS Olympia, and other ships sailed into Manila Harbor in the Philippines and easily destroyed the Spanish fleet in only two hours (see firsthand account story at right.) Led by Admiral George Dewey, the USS Raleigh and the other ships not only engaged the Spanish on water, but blasted targets on land and sent troops ashore. By August of that year, the American forces had captured most of the Philippines and eventually took Manila by force from the Spanish. With its work done in the Pacific, the USS Raleigh continued around the world, eventually returning to the United States in 1899 via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. During its stop in New York in 1899, the ship was heralded for its service in the Spanish American War. While in the Delaware River, the ship received visits from President William McKinley and Secretary of the Navy John Long. In 1899, the ship was also the subject of one of Thomas Edison’s first motion pictures, as he made a short film showing the USS Raleigh at anchor. To view the short film, The ship had masts for lookout and radio purposes, but was powered by coal. visit the Wikipedia entry for the USS Raleigh. Below, the beautiful workings of the ship’s clock. Photo by Jim Dyson. After serving in World War I on patrol and even protecting convoys off the coast of North Carolina from German U-boats, the ship had served for 32 years before it entered the Charleston, SC navy yard and was prepared for being scrapped. SHIP’S CLOCK FOUND Fast forward over 100 years from the time the ship was first launched. Although the USS Raleigh is long gone, a special part of her remains in the loving hands of Virginia ship clock collector Jim Dyson. Dyson said he is not sure where the clock was positioned in the ship. “It was probably in the engine room, but it very well could have been on the bridge,” he said. “If it was inside, those pictures just don't exist.” The USS Raleigh clock is a beautiful time piece and it’s easy to see how someone decided to keep it out of the scrapyard. Dyson also says the clock is very unique. “Somehow the clock survived,” said Dyson. “What's neat about it is that it has the name of the ship engraved on the dial. You're lucky if one out of a hundred has the ship’s name on the dial.” According to Dyson, the clock was manufactured in 1892 by the Chelsea Clock Company near Boston and the company is still in business today. Dyson said that he is an avid ship clock collector and found it with a dealer located in Connecticut, trading two other clocks for AUTOMOTIVE it. Dyson has Looking for friendly auto service? restored the BRAKES - INSPECTIONS - EXHAUST - ENGINES USS Raleigh clock to its WORK - FOREIGN & DOMESTIC original order, using all original parts from that time period. “It's now working great,” he said. “I want all my clocks to work. It works like it did 100 Our expert mechanics can handle service and repairs for yourþ years ago.” Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Volvo, VW,þ Dyson has Mini Cooper, Audi, and Jaguar.þ had a special Call 919.821.5222 to arrange for a free estimate or an appointment.þ 701 Hillsborough St. Across From Char-Grill affinity for the Not far from downtown, located at 2220 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, NCþ In Downtown Raleigh - Call 919-834-9190 www.euromotorsdowntown.comþ ship clocks as he served in the Navy as a pilot of a P-3 antisub airplane on the USS John F. Kennedy and other ships. He also has a clock from the USS Kennedy and worked on the clock that was recovered from the USS Monitor. Based on his dedication and attention in preserving these priceless ships clocks, it appears that the last known Trust Robbie, an expert mechanic, with all of USS Raleigh your car repair and maintenance needs! clock is in very good hands. ::
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EDITOR’S NOTE: What follows is an account written by Jason Vines, who researched this article as a political science undergrad at George Washington University and is reprinted with his permission in edited form. He blogs at hypersyl.com. The account is based on official records and diary of Navy doctor Dudley Carpenter, who was serving onboard the USS Raleigh. Engine trouble on the Raleigh occurred, because a “careless oiler” had damaged the port circulating pump, threatening to delay the Squadron, but the ship’s engineers repaired the pump. Admiral George Dewey’s fleet stormed towards Bolinoin at eight knots. To make itself harder to see in the darkness, the Raleigh extinguished all of its running lights but for a shielded one on its rear, as did the other ships. Thusly prepared, the Squadron moved to commence its assault. As the ships slid into Manila Bay, bright bolts of lightning pierced the shroud of darkness. Spanish forts launched torpedoes at the Americans, all of which the Americans avoided. Soon afterwards, the crews saw flashes on the northern shore, after which a “small black rock,” which was really a Spanish fort, lobbed a shell with a “shrill, curdling whirr” at the Raleigh as it passed. The Raleigh gave its opinion of that with its five-inch guns, firing the introductory American shots of the Battle of Manila Bay. The fort continued its assault, until the USS Boston eliminated its artillery battery. With that peril overcome, the fleet sailed merrily up the Bay. Even though the crew knew a more fierce battle with the Spanish fleet was coming, one would not have known it by observing their behavior, writes Carpenter. He says they could have been going to a “festive occasion, from their jokes and general good spirits.” Below decks on the Raleigh, the crew even danced to an accordion and a guitar. This continued until the dawn of May 1, 1898, which brought the Battle proper in its wake. In the light of early morning, the Americans could see the Spanish ships waiting for them at Cavite. The Americans charged at the Spanish without fear, paying no heed to the Spanish shells that were falling around them but not hitting them. Withholding their response, the American ships drew to within 4,000 yards of the Spanish, at which point the Olympia, leading the American attack, let loose with its eight-inch guns. The firing accelerated from both sides, orchestrating a cacophony of violence with “the whirr of shells” and “the whiz of shrapnel.” The Americans circled around, and in what Carpenter calls “a stirring sight,” they pummeled the Spanish with the eightinch guns of the USS Olympia and the USS Baltimore and the six-inch guns of the Raleigh. Fire started to ravage the Castilla, and the Reina Christina began to sink. Some Spanish torpedo boats, cloaking themselves with the smoke of the burning ships, tried to assail the Americans by surprise, but the Americans forced them to withdraw; the torpedo boats only tried again by going along the shoreline. They did not even get to retreat that time, “as one doubled like a jackknife” after a shell hit it, and its partner fled to the beach and hemorrhaged its crew, who “scampered like scared rabbits over the embankment.” The defeat of the torpedo boats terminated Spanish attempts to sink the American fleet with torpedoes. By that period of the Battle of Manila Bay, the Americans had experienced no significant casualties: only six sailors on the Baltimore had suffered injury. Carpenter writes that at this time, 7:45 AM, the Americans pulled back in order to facilitate a meeting of the fleet commanders and to have breakfast. As the captains were discussing the Battle, “We cheered each other while the bands of the Baltimore and the Olympia played.” Once the meeting and the breakfast concluded, the Americans, fully refreshed after a good rest, rejoined the Battle, with the Baltimore in front. This was when the Americans knew they had achieved victory. The Castilla and the Reina Christina sat under blankets of fire, and the only other Spanish ship in sight was the Don Antonio de Ulloa. Carpenter says the most exciting part of the Battle then took place. The Baltimore approached the shore, and she swept along the whole coast, firing “shot after shot” at Spanish artillery batteries as they revealed themselves, churning up large billows of dust that showed where the Baltimore had directed her fury. The Baltimore then came upon a fort with two water batteries in front of it. The Baltimore rammed the batteries, fiercely pushing away whatever was in her path. With the batteries annihilated, the Olympia, the Boston, and the Raleigh bombarded the Spanish arsenal at Cavite. They also sank the Don Antonio de Ulloa, “which defiantly waved the Spanish flag.” Carpenter gives the crew of the Don Antonio credit by recording they “stood up nobly,” even though their ship went down in 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the Concord stalked a merchantman that attempted to claim English affiliation, but the captain of the Concord “decided that as they were good Spaniards in the morning they had better be so all day.” After allowing the merchantman a little while to reach the shore, and watching that time expire, the Concord’s captain ordered his crew to shell the merchantman, which the Raleigh observed flaming as it passed the crippled merchantman on its way to the city of Manila itself. The Americans thought the city of Manila would wage yet more battle against them, as it had constantly shelled the American fleet before and after breakfast. Manila instead erected the white flag of peace, and promised not to attack unless the Americans fired first, so the Americans anchored nearby, amongst a fleet of sailing vessels. The Battle of Manila Bay was over, and the Americans had won. The ships of the Spanish Navy’s Pacific fleet were lying either in American hands or at the bottom of the Bay. One hundred twenty men perished on the Castilla and fifty-six died on the Reina Christina, and eighty men on the latter ship had wounds. Of the Spanish, Carpenter says they demonstrated admirable courage and possessed excellent weapons, but “they could not shoot straight” with them. During the Battle, only one American died: an engineer on the McCulloch from heat exhaustion. As an assistant surgeon, Carpenter had little to do but rescue four firemen and take them to sickbay. This afforded Carpenter the opportunity to witness almost the entire Battle, during which he contributed to the Reina Christina’s death by shooting it a few times with a six-pounder. He also observed the activities of the normal gunners, such as “Old Rodman,” who would say before firing on the Spanish, “Farewell, vain ship.” NOTE: To read the entire account, visit the following website: http://www.hypersyl.com/ fighting-doctor-battle-manila-bay/
Wake County Pipes & Drums Brings In Chicago Police, Champion Bagpiper By Randall Gregg, Editor, The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - In a few short years, the Wake County Pipes and Drum band has developed a stunning array of talent. Earlier this month, the bagpipe group exhibited not only their own skills but excellent bagpipers from around the world. On Saturday, January 8th, the group held their Fifth Anniversary Concert at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. The sold out show featured literally over a hundred bagpipers, drummers, and dancers on stage. Led by police officer Joe Brady, the bagpipe extravaganza included performances by the NC State University bagpipe band, the Triad Highlanders, and local Irish dancers from around the Triangle area. Special guests included world champion bagpiper John Cairns of Ontario, Canada, who seemingly played with such dexterity that it sounded like he was playing two notes at one time. Other special guests that stole the show included the Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society from the Chicago Police Department. They wowed the crowd with a unique bagpipe version of Elvis’ song “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You.” Of course, the Wake County Bagpipe and Drums also did a great job on stage. A special treat was the combination of bagpipe music with an electric guitar that produced a fun and original sound. At the end of the sold-out show, all of the bagpipers, drummers, and dancers assembled on stage for one massive finale that brought down the house. In addition to playing at an annual concert, the Wake County Pipes And Drums band, which is made up of public safety professionals, play at special functions such as funerals for firemen and police officers, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and other special functions. For more info on the group, visit their site at ncfop88.org/wand.
Above, band members include drummers as well as bagpipe players (above). The concert included music from champion John Cairns of Ontario (below).
Usually, you don’t associate electric guitars with bagpipes, but the Wake Pipes and Drums made the two instruments sound great together (top photo). At bottom, the Wake County Pipes and Drums band played to a sold out crowd during in Raleigh.
NC State University’s student bagpipe band played the first set of music (above).
Irish dancers of all ages from around the Triangle mesmerized the crowd with their footwork in both group and solo dances on stage (above).
Wake County’s Joe Brady welcomes members of the Chicago based Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society, who came all the way down from the Windy City to participate in North Carolina’s largest bagpipe concert event.
AROUNDþ TOWNþ
Famous Comedians Coming To Raleigh Club By The Raleigh Telegram
If you like snow, then you’ve certainly been pleased with the weather this winter in Raleigh. Above, friends take a photo out in front of the NC Capitol building in downtown Raleigh.
Many people were happy to welcome back Annie Nice (above left) and her daughter Roxy (right) as they returned to Raleigh from their stay in Europe in Brussels, Belgium.
RALEIGH - Some well known comedians and TV stars are scheduled to appear at Raleigh’s Charlie Goodnight’s Comedy Club soon. Scheduled to appear in February or March are well known standup comics Bobcat Goldthwait, Tom Papa, Bobby Lee, Greg Proops and Kevin Pollak. Bobcat Goldthwait is well known for his roles in several movies and his loud and outlandish stage personality. Although Kevin Pollak is known for his serious acting roles such as his portrayal of a Navy lawyer in “A Few Good Men,” he’s also an accomplished comedian and well known comedic actor. Tom Papa has appeared on countless TV shows including “The Tonight Show” and is known for his goofy monologues. Comedian Bobby Lee is known for his crazy recurring characters on “MadTV” that appeared on the Fox network. And Greg Proops is known as one of the improvisational comics on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” which appeared on ABC-TV. For more info, visit goodnightscomedy.com. ::
EVENTS: Plays, History And More In Raleigh In February By The Raleigh Telegram RALEIGH - Raleigh has lots of fun coming up in the month of February and March, so there’s something for everyone. Theatre In The Park: The Real Thing Play After a successful run of “A Christmas Carol,” during the holiday season, Theatre In The Park debuts its first production of 2011. “The Real Thing” is a love story that’s a perfect play to watch this time of year. The play has several dates available in February, so check out theatreinthepark.com for more info. Oscar Night In Raleigh
Members of the cast and crew of the Lion King celebrated in Durham on opening night. The run of the show has been a big success at Durham’s DPAC.
Yet another fantastic dish of shrimp at David’s Noodle Bar in Raleigh on Hillsborough Street near NC State campus.
What can be more glamorous than watching the Oscars at the only officially sanctioned Oscar party in Raleigh? The Oscar Night America event will be held on February 27th from 7pm to midnight and will feature silent auctions, food from Angus Barn, and more. For details on tickets, visit the website at theatreinthepark.com.
There will be a series of exhibits and lectures at the NC Museum of History in celebration of Black History Month in February. Most people are not aware of the Wilmington Race Riot in 1898, one of the only armed insurrections in US history that displaced elected officials, burned down African American newspaper offices, and saw acts of violence in the streets. A free lecture will be held on this dark period in NC’s past and its ramifications on our history on Wednesday, February 9th from 12:10pm to 1pm at the museum. For more information on other programs in February, visit their site at: http://ncmuseumofhistory.org Jewish Life in North Carolina
See Norman Rockwell Paintings At the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh, see the original pieces of art from one of America’s best known artists. The nation’s premier illustrator for more than six decades, Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) was the people’s painter, depicting scenes from American life for the covers and pages of the nation’s most prominent publications. Rockwell is most recognized for his illustrations featured on the covers of the Saturday Evening Post from 1916 to 1963. Tickets are $15. For more info, visit www.ncartmuseum.org Lion King Winds Up In The Triangle
If you want to see what is probably the state’s largest collection of antique beer cans and beer steins, stop by the Player’s Retreat Bar near NCSU. They’ve been collecting them since Eisenhower was President.
Then stop by Morgan Imports, the Triangle’s most unique store, for that special gift.
Black History Month: Wilmington Race Riot Lecture
The free exhibit Down Home: Jewish Life in North Carolina is now open at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh, the first city of its statewide tour. The traveling exhibit is part of the first major effort to document and present more than 400 years of Jewish life in North Carolina. For more info, visit http:// ncmuseumofhistory.org
We’d like to thank Taddy the Christmas dog for once again appearing in the Telegram’s holiday special this year, even though he had better things to do, like chase his ducky (above).
Looking for a unique Valentine’s gift?
For those who missed the Lion King in Raleigh, you will be able to see in Durham at the Durham Center For The Performing Arts. Tickets for Disney’s production are still on sale. The Triangle’s most eagerly awaited stage production runs through Sunday, January 30th. For more info, dpacnc.com LOOKING FOR MORE EVENTS? Visit the Raleigh Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau calendar of events and information website at visitraleigh.com. ::
Morgan Imports offers furniture, futons, jewelry, games, beauty products, toys, lamps, bicycles, pottery, unique gifts for all price ranges, greeting cards, candles, and don’t forget our room filled with Dept. 56 miniatures, collectibles, and more. Located across from Brightleaf Square in downtown Durham at 113 S Gregson St, Durham, NC 27701
Call us for more info at (919) 688-1150 or visit us online at www.morganimports.com
2010: Raleigh Telegram Year In Photos All photos by Randall Gregg, The Raleigh Telegram
Luckily, North Carolina’s coast pretty much dodged major hurricanes in 2010. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade was almost cancelled due to city budget cuts, but was saved by a grant from Guinness beer and help from the Raleigh Police Dept.
WRAL reporter Amanda Lamb (right) debuted her new crime novel in 2010.
Despite the tough economy, the fun times and shenanigans at bars and restaurants on busy Glenwood Avenue (above) didn’t stop especially during the holidays like New Year’s.
The fight over the high speed rail system planned for downtown Raleigh came to a head in 2010 as Five Points residents protested the plans. The battle may be over as funding for the project may be hard to find as the price tag goes into the billions.
Local Homes And Triangle Real Estate Listings View details and photos at thinkdinknc.com
Raleigh music in 2010 included Public Enemy and Chuck D (above left).
North Carolina soldiers from the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg helped out with the Haiti earthquake disaster in 2010 (above and left). Meanwhile, in Raleigh, NCSU football fans (right) were happy that the Wolfpack returned to glory with a winning record and post season bowl win over WVU in December .
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