6 minute read
OUR TOWN
THE USUAL
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–Dan Willey, North American Railcar Operators Association member
Former service motorcars became obsolete when railroads advanced. Nowadays, enthusiasts seek these relics as vehicles for excursions, sometimes using them for journeys as long as 10 days. Raleigh native Dan Willey is one such enthusiast, and it’s led him to explore the beauty of North Carolina along the way, he says. When Willey was first introduced to the pastime by a friend more than a decade ago, he thought to himself, “If I ever retire I’ll have to revisit this hobby.” He retired from IBM in 2011, revisited the hobby, and four years ago purchased his own motorcar. Willey found his Canadian Woodings railcar, of which he’s the fifth owner, and it weighs over 1,500 pounds. It took some work, but after a few years of TLC the car was up and ready to explore. “A lot of these cars are at least 35 years old. They were made to last 10 or 15 years. … Many people don’t modernize it. They want it exactly how it was. I’m more about operating the car. I just want the thing to run properly.” He says the hobby has opened his eyes to undiscovered territory across the state. “There’s so many areas that are untouched by humanity, except for the railroad tracks.” As a member of NARCOA, the North American Railcar Operators Association, Willey has a network of other aficionados. Together, they seek out excursion opportunities; outings on small railroads near and far can bring up to 35 railcars. The trips usually consist of a lunch stop, and sometimes an overnight stay. “The hobby seems a little goofy until you get out into the country and experience the beauty.” –Catherine Currin
OUR TOWN ON DUTY
–Bridget Harrington, executive director, Innovate Raleigh
Bridget Harrington has travelled the world, but it’s Raleigh that she’s chosen to call home. She is now the executive director at Innovate Raleigh, a nonprofit encouraging the city’s entrepreneurial spirit through networking and various other events. “Our mission is to make Raleigh one of the top five innovation hubs in the United States,” she says. For now, she’s the one-woman show, tapping into resources from her board members, as well as new partnerships with Wake County Economic Development and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Among the group’s events are its annual summit of panelists, like chef Cheetie Kumar, with unique breakout sessions about topics from business funding to parking. Future projects are widespread and imaginative, including an in-thehopper urban prototyping workshop. Harrington says events must keep reinventing, in order to connect the creative community and “bring together on and offline.” Innovate Raleigh will also host start-up weekends, including seminars and even the construction of parklets, tiny urban green spaces. Taking these initiatives from cities like San Francisco, California and Boulder, Colorado, Harrington hopes the myriad plans will bridge many diverse parts of the community, and in the process unearth thinkers throughout the area. “Our goal is to connect you the correct resources within the city,” she says. Harrington first came to North Carolina to attend UNCChapel Hill’s School of Media and Journalism. She then launched and eventually sold her own PR firm in New York City before a stint in San Francisco and, finally, moving to Raleigh to be close to family in the state. Among Innovate Raleigh’s accomplishments are the booming HQ Raleigh startup coworking space downtown, and negotiating a direct flight from Raleigh to San Francisco; Harrington’s well-rounded background (she’s also a certified public accountant and speaks fluent Japanese) has matched the job so far. Even more so, the setting is right. Harrington says Raleigh is unlike any other city, and she loves the large-city growth with the twist of Southern hospitality. “The enthusiastic community is something that’s uniquely Raleigh.” –Catherine Currin
OUR TOWN GAME PLAN
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–Chuck Hobgood, President, N.C. Amateur Sports
As president of North Carolina Amateur Sports, Chuck Hobgood works constantly to bring communities together through healthy activity. The nonprofit facilitates the annual Powerade State Games of North Carolina, a festival of sports for all ages, running the gamut from archery to adult lacrosse. After decades of success, there’s also outreach to smaller statewide communities through Cycle North Carolina, a series of cycling routes throughout the state. Last month, NCAS hosted its coastal ride in and around Washington, North Carolina. With 2,000 participants from around the world, the ride sold out. Hobgood, who has been with NCAS since 1988, says the organization hopes these rides can offer an opportunity for active sightseeing, even to local residents. “It’s not a race, it’s a ride. It involves all ages, and we usually have participants from 40 different states and various countries. I’ve lived in North Carolina my entire life, and Cycle N.C. is a chance to showcase our state to people from all over the world.” This year’s Powerade State Games are next month, June 13 - 24. With more than 20 athletic face-offs, these games are eligible for North and South Carolina residents. While some require tryouts, many only require registration: There’s a welcoming spirit in the “amateur” category. Hobgood works in Durham, but finds himself constantly on the go; and he hopes that’s exactly what NCAS provides opportunities for others to do, too. “We get to put events in all types of communities, generating economic impact across the state. We’re creating not only healthier communities, but healthier people in our state.” –Catherine Currin
OUR TOWN SHOP LOCAL
–Jill Rossi, owner and founder, The Devilish Egg
There’s something for everyone at The Devilish Egg, an approachable makerspace of sorts. Founder Jill Rossi, who has a background in furniture and interior design, decided to open her personal work studio on Fairview Road as a semi-public space about a year-and-a-half ago. Now, there art classes and craft workshops for adults, as well as kids’ summer camps with themes like Slime Time (for first - fourth graders) and Media Mania (for fifth - seventh graders). Rossi is the sole instructor for every age, and it’s a role that comes naturally to her, she says: Before she whisked up The Devilish Egg, Rossi taught design at UNC-Greensboro. Rossi says that many people, especially adults, don’t feel creative when they aren’t working in a creative industry. The Devilish Egg is her remedy. “What we want to do is reconnect people with the physical world. Most adults haven’t done art since grade school. I wanted to be able to connect that in an accessible way.” A unique alternative to the classic girls’ night out or date night, you can sign up to create anything from a ceramic mug to a seasonally themed bath bomb. Class prices typically range from $35 - $50 per person, and Rossi hopes the wide array of choices and prices gives everyone an opportunity to create. They’re also BYOB, in case you need a bit of liquid courage to get the creative juices flowing. “We’re hoping to create a little bit of magic when people come in for an hour or two. … People who don’t think they are creative can be creative, and be proud of what they’ve made.” –Catherine Currin
