"Bald Eagles Thrive in Wisconsin"

On a recent Saturday afternoon the Wisconsin River served as the backdrop for a majestic group of American Bald Eagles. The tree covered bluffs and the flowing rivers provide an ideal habitat for the Bald Eagles that make Prairie du Sac and Sauk City Wisconsin their Winter homes.  The adult American Bald Eagle's distinctive white head and tail along with its six to eight foot wingspan make it difficult to mistake for other large birds of prey. Young Eagles, on the other hand, are darker and only gradually gain the distinctive markings we have all come to immediately recognize.

The Prairie du Sac area has become a must for eagle watchers from all over the United States and the World. The Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, for its part, has been a  voice for these magnificent creatures for over twenty six years. From establishing conservation easements to lobbying local and state government for increased protections, the organization has become an integral part of the surrounding communities and the larger conservation movement. Each year since the passage of the Endangered Species Act and the ban of DDT bald eagle populations have been on the rise. DDT is a powerful insecticide which accidentally affectedeagles and other birds by causing their eggs to have thin shells that broke. This kept the birds from hatching. In 1973 there were only 108 occupied eagle territories in Wisconsin. In 2010, there were 1,150 breeding pairs! This is in no small part thanks to the efforts of the FBEC and the dedicated volunteers like Ed that spends his Saturday mornings guiding tours and answering questions from the endless stream of eagle watchers that make their way to Prairie duSac.

Eagles were abundant throughout Wisconsin until 1800 when immigrants settled the state. Habitat disturbance, destruction, and shooting caused their numbers to drop until laws were enacted like the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916, the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, the 1972 listing of eagles as endangered in Wisconsin, and the ban of DDT. Today, wildlife biologists, scientists, and volunteers continue to work to teach people about protecting eagles and their nesting sites. About half of the eagle population nests on land that people privately own. DNR staff have developed educational materials to help people learn about eagle nest protection. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources works with loggers and builders to protect nests on properties where people want to build homes and businesses, or harvest trees. They also help trappers, farmers, power companies, hunters, school children learn more about eagles.

Across from Cenex Station on Water St. in Prairie duSac you will find the FBEC Overlook.  Here you can get out of your car and use the spotting scopes to see the eagles perched on Eagle Island or soaring overhead. At Veteran's Park eagles maybe seen gliding above the tall cottonwoods, flying, or fishing in the river. Here you are asked to stay in your car in order not to disturb the eagles since they will not tolerate noise or close human contact. Regular Saturday morning bus tours are scheduled throughout the Winter months. The bus departs at 10:00 o'clock from the Cedar Berry In on Phillips Blvd and tickets are $5.00 per person.

This article would not have been possible without the assistance of the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. These guardians of the American Bald Eagle and its precious habitat are working to preserve these magnificent creatures for future generations and their descendents.  

"The Back Roads of Wisconsin and Iowa"

 

On a recent November morning I pointed the truck in the general direction of Prairie Du Chien Wisconsin and points beyond. Once you pass Platteville and Lancaster, the scene becomes increasingly rural. The pace of life in Bloomington and the half dozen similar small towns that dot the interstate takes you back to another time and place. Although the economy and the ravages of time have left their scars, all has not been lost. Kids still go to school and neighbors stop to say hello to one and another.

Prairie Du Chien is probably best known as the home of Cabela's, the world's largest outdoor retailer. The eve of hunting season brings throngs of shoppers from Wisconsin and Iowa to Prairie Du Chien. The annual pilgrimage is almost a rite of passage: passed down from father to son in many area families. Hardy folks in these parts know that it's best to prepare before the onset of winter, which only makes sense if you've spent the Winter months in this part of the country. It's not uncommon to find yourself shoveling the driveway in the early hours of the morning before leaving for another days work.

Crossing into the State of Iowa (over the mighty Mississippi) is special when the seasons are changing and before the snow begins to fall. The rolling hills of rural Iowa can have a calming effect on frayed nerves, which come with the stress of everyday life. The occasional deer darting across the road will definitely bring a quick end to that peaceful feeling. All being said, they were here long before we arrived on the scene.

The villages that make up this bucolic part of Iowa are much like a lot of those in the upper Midwest. Having misplaced the address of my friend who had recently moved to Farmersburg, I ducked into the local bar and grill. The waitress did not recognize the name I gave her, but did not hesitate to ask one of the patrons who also did not know. She did, however, later seek out the local post office employee: who immediately provided me with directions to my friends home. We can all learn a valuable lesson from this simple act of kindness by two strangers. These folks still hold fast to values that most of us thought had been relegated to days gone by.

Too often we rush through life at breakneck speed without taking the time to slow down and appreciate the good things around us. Time for family and friends is at such a premium these days that we lose touch with the people and places we care about. When we finally decide to slow down the pace: time has blown by and we are left with only regrets. The next time someone is spouting about values ask them when was the last time they took the time to visit with an old friend for a couple of hours.

Progressive Roots Run Deep In Wisconsin And Iowa

 

The progressive tradition in Wisconsin and Iowa is a long and storied one. The patron saint of progressives in Wisconsin is "Fighting" Bob La Follette, who still inspires legions of admirers and political aspirants. "Fighting Bob" dinners are still held annually in Wisconsin's progressive enclaves. Iowa's Senator Tom Harkin has been a champion of the disabled and a fighter for progressive causes throughout his career. Both have contributed mightily to the rich progressive tradition that working families have passed down from one generation to the next.

On a recent Autumn afternoon in Dubuque Iowa: the progressive and family values Wisconsin and Iowa have become known for were on full display. The occasion was a campaign rally and speech by President Barrack Obama, which attracted throngs of supporters to the old Mississippi port city.  

My good friend Bruce Kraus and I made our way from Wisconsin along with his two grand children Michael and Morgan from Dubuque. Bruce and I had attended a couple of the "Recall Walker Rallies" earlier in the year, which had attracted sixty thousand and forty thousand respectively. Those events provided me with a clear picture that the progressive spirit was alive and well. Meanwhile the kids seemed almost as excited to attend their first campaign rally as we were. It promised to be an exciting day in Dubuque.

The crowd was indeed a reflection of real world, ever day working Americans from all walks of life. The gentleman ahead of us in line was a railroad worker who was concerned that his pension would disappear under a Romney administration. One of the campaign volunteers shared that his wife, a special needs teacher, would have her job eliminated under Romney's proposed budget. These were not paid actors in a campaign ad or another automated call on my answering machine. These were real folks sharing real concerns.
 

John Mellencamp set the perfect mood with a hit list that included Jack & Dianne along with Pink Houses. The ten song set painted a picture of hard times, redemption and hope for the working class. We were all primed for the main event.

With the obligatory introduction out of the way, a smiling Barrack Obama bounded on the stage to wild cheers from the assembled crowd. I could only think of how far I had come: from a humble beginning in Portugal to actually seeing the President of the United States in person. Looking around, I could see young families, veterans and senior citizens hanging on every word. That's exactly why I take every vote as seriously as I do. To many people gave their lives in defense of my right to vote and live free in this land of opportunity.

Wisconsin and Iowa voters will join their fellow Americans on Tuesday to elect our President for the next four years. The choice they make in the voting booth or at the kitchen table will set America's direction for years to come, which makes voting all the more imperative....

North Carolina's Amtrak Piedmont Leads The Way

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s state-owned Amtrak Piedmont train service was number one in the nation in growth within the Amtrak system during fiscal year 2012. “It’s very satisfying to know that more North Carolinians are using train travel as an option,” said NCDOT Rail Division Director Anthony Fuller. “It is equally gratifying to know that our state grew faster in fiscal year 2012 than any other service in the Amtrak system.”

The Piedmont route, which serves the Raleigh to Charlotte rail corridor, carried nearly 163,000 riders in the 12 months through Sept. 30. That amounts to a 16 percent ridership increase from fiscal year 2011. The Piedmont makes two round trips between Raleigh and Charlotte each day, and serves seven other North Carolina cities- Cary, Durham, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point, Salisbury and Kannapolis. The state-supported Carolinian also makes one round trip each day serving the same locations.

"Lenovo and Deere-Hitachi Expand In North Carolina"

North Carolina's economy continues to show signs of recovery as established employers ramp up production. Computer giant Lenovo and heavy equipment manufacturer Deere-Hitachi are among the latest companies to announce expansions in North Carolina.

Lenovo, the world’s second-largest personal computer vendor, recently announced the company will build a U.S. personal computer manufacturing line in Whitsett, near Greensboro. As part of the expansion, Lenovo will create 115 new manufacturing jobs where workers will build both Think-branded notebook and desktop PCs for sale to domestic business, government and education customers, as well as consumers.

The new U.S. PC manufacturing line currently is under construction and will open in early 2013. It will reside within Lenovo’s recently expanded, 240,000-square-foot U.S. distribution center in Whitsett. Hiring for the manufacturing and related positions will begin later this year. The U.S. manufacturing line will be capable of turning out some of Lenovo’s newest and most innovative products, such as the recently announced ThinkCentre M92p Tiny Desktop and ThinkPad Tablet 2. Lenovo believes that having a manufacturing component in the U.S. can provide the capability to deliver products to customers more quickly and reliably in many situations, while offering an even broader and more valuable set of PC-related services.

“Lenovo is establishing a U.S. manufacturing base because we believe in the long-term strength of the American PC market and our own growth opportunities here,” said Yuanqing Yang, chairman and CEO, Lenovo. “As Lenovo expands globally, we are establishing even deeper roots in each major market. In addition to localized sales and marketing teams, in our major countries we are establishing an even stronger manufacturing footprint, investing in R&D and ensuring that we hire top local talent. This global reach with local excellence helps us become even faster, more innovative and more responsive to our customers around the world.”

Lenovo’s U.S. headquarters is located in Research Triangle Park. The company employs more than 2,000 people in North Carolina. Lenovo is a $30 billion personal technology company serving customers in more than 160 countries. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smart phones.

Deere-Hitachi also announced plans to expand their Kernersville facility. The company plans to create at least 340 jobs by the end of 2016, and invest more than $97 million in its Forsyth County facility. These announcements defy a trend that has seen manufacturing jobs migrate overseas for more than two decades. “Companies like Deere-Hitachi recognize that North Carolina is a great place to thrive because of our top-notch business climate, incredibly well-trained workforce, and central location with access to customers and transportation channels,” said Gov. Perdue. “When the company was ready to expand, North Carolina was the perfect choice.”

Deere-Hitachi is a 50/50 joint venture between John Deere located in Moline, Ill. and Hitachi Construction Machinery Corporation in Tokyo, Japan. The company was established in 1988 to provide both Hitachi and Deere brand excavators to the Americans. As part of Gov. Perdue’s most recent visit to Japan, she met with executives at Hitachi to discuss its current presence in North Carolina and opportunities for it to grow.

“This investment will have a significant positive impact on the State of North Carolina, providing additional employment opportunities for Deere-Hitachi as well as many of our North Carolina-based suppliers,” noted, Al Seeba, Chairman and CEO of Deere-Hitachi. “Deere-Hitachi has been manufacturing in the state since 1988, and we are pleased to partner with state and local officials to help make our vision a reality.”

 

 

"North Carolina Film Production

 Exceeds 2011 Record"

35 Productions to date account for $300 million in spending,

16,000 job opportunities created

Film productions in North Carolina have eclipsed 2011's record setting numbers for in-state spending.

The North Carolina Film Office has received notification from more than 35 productions in regards to filming in the Tar Heel State this year. The projects are expected to have a direct in-state spend of more than $300 million while creating 15,000-plus job opportunities, including more than 3,300 well-paying crew positions for the state's skilled film professional workforce.

"My top priority is creating jobs and the enhanced film credit has created record spending by production companies in this state and resulted in thousands of jobs," said Gov. Bev Purdue. "It's great to see this industry thriving again in North Carolina and we must continue to build on this momentum by creating even more of an economic impact," the Governor added.

Production has taken place or is scheduled to take place in 30 of the state's 100 counties so far this year with highlights including "Iron Man 3," Safe Haven," "We're The Millers," "The Warren Files (The Conjuring)," "The Occult," Jessabelle" and the independent features "You Are Here" and "Writers." Television production has also increased with cameras rolling on the second season of the award winning season of "Homeland" and two new series, "Banshee" and Revolution," as well as the most recent season of "The Bachelorette." National commercials for Under Armour, ESPN, and Mountain Dew have also been shot in the state.

Much of the success of North Carolina's film industry over the past two years is a result of bi-partisan legislation to enhance the state's film tax incentive that was championed by Gov. Purdue and approved by the General Assembly in 2010. Under the incentive, productions receive a 25 percent refundable tax credit based on their direct in-state spending on goods, services and labor. Productions must spend at least $250,000, and the credit is given to the productions only after they have completed their spending and have been audited by the state's Department of Revenue.

"We have one of the smartest incentives in the nation, and when combined with our talented crew base and diverse locations, it makes our state ideal for filmmakers," said North Carolina Film Office director Aaron Syrett."

Beyond the $300 million in direct spending, additional spending and job creation have taken place on numerous lower budget projects and commercials whose cost didn't meet the state's minimum requirement for the tax incentive.

Established in 1980, the North Carolina is part of the state's Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development within the Department of Commerce. Its primary  responsibilities are to recruit productions to the state by marketing the many assets-including the film incentive, crew base, infrastructure, and locations statewide-North Carolina has to offer. In addition, the film office assists productions with permitting and other logistics and works hand-in-hand with regional film commissions in the Wilmington, Research Triangle, Piedmont Triad, Charlotte and Western regions of the state.

"North Carolina Lighthouses

Reveal Maritime History"

Lighthouses are a fascinating feature of the North Carolina coast. Visitors can find a unique lighthouse about every 40 miles along the picturesque shore of North Carolina. In more than two centuries of history, North Carolina lighthouses have endured untold adventure. They have been moved, demolished and reincarnated. From the Civil War to high winds and relentless erosion, each of these beacons has its own unique story to tell.

 Currituck Beach Lighthouse

North Carolina's northernmost lighthouse lies about 30 miles south of Virginia's Cape Henry Light Station.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, located in the Corolla community, was built on the same basic model as the towers at Bodie Island, Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras, but Currituck sports a distinctive redbrick facade. Its approximately 1 million bricks were left unpainted to help the seafarers distinguish it from its neighbors.

Completed in 1875, the 158-foot Currituck Beach Lighthouse was the last of the brick lighthouses constructed on the North Carolina coast. It's one of the only eight lighthouses in the nation using its historic first-order Fresnel lens, which casts a beam that's visible for about 19 miles. From Easter to Thanksgiving, visitors can climb 241 steps to the top of the Currituck lighthouse, which has been lovingly restored.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse has had its troubles. Disagreements over the location delayed its initial construction for over 10 years. Construction finally began in 1847, but the structure was leaning toward the ocean even before it was completed, and within two years, one side had dropped one foot lower than the other. Attempts to prop it up failed, and a new, a 90-foot brick tower was built in 1859. More misfortune befell the Bodie Island Lighthouse in 1861 when Confederate troops slipped into the lighthouse and blew it up to keep it from Union ships. After the war, another tower was built, this one on the model of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Shortly after it 1872 opening, a flock of geese flew into the 150-foot-tall structure and damaged the beacon's lens.

The light's latest setback stemmed from structural problems discovered during a major restoration and a lack of funds to fix them. Work has resumed and by spring 2013 the lighthouse will be open to visitors who want to climb its 214 steps. The newly restored first order Fresnel lens will burn bright again on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The 208-foot Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the American Coast. Located in Buxton, this tower is made of 1.2 million bricks that were hauled to the site by oxen. Its walls are 14 feet thick at the base. The lighthouse presides over the Diamond Shoals, projecting light 20 miles into the Atlantic and warning travelers away from this dangerous area known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic."

There have been three different lighthouses at Cape Hatteras, the first was erected in 1803. Today's lighthouse was begun in 1869 and was once so threatened by erosion that in 1936 a steel skeleton tower in nearby Buxton Woods replaced it. The erosion was reversed in 1950 and the brick lighthouse was reactivated.

In the summer of 1999, the National Park Service moved the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse 2,900 feet from its original location. It still rests there today on a new concrete foundation just 1,600 feet from the shoreline, the distance it stood from the sea when it was completed in 1870. From mid-April through mid-October, visitors can climb the 248 iron spiral stairs to the top.

Although the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is probably the most famous, the Carolina coast is dotted with these beacons from another era. Many are now under the care of the National Park Service and can be visited during the summer months until October. For more information on these and other Carolina attractions go to www.visitnc.com.