See what’s new in Winston Salem baseball

The future home of Winston-Salem’s “minor league baseball team” has started to take shape. A few weeks ago crews started erecting the grandstand and concessions structure.
To check on the baseball stadium progress visit the TruLook Stadium Cam located at the site. And here’s a tip: You can move the cam left or right and also zoom in to any part of the site. All you have to do is create a square with your mouse cursor and BOOM! You are there. To view the Baseball Cam – Click Here.
To find out more about the new stadium and reserving your seat for the First Pitch in the Spring of 2009 visit http://www.baseballdowntown.com.
Just Announced! the Best of Winston Salem
Just announced are the 2008 Smitty’s Notes Best of Winston-Salem awards, the best of what readers of Smitty’s Notes like and appreciate about Winston-Salem.
While many of these winners may seem like no-brainers, a few of them are new on the scene (or maybe I just need to get out more). There are also a few categories missing (IMHO). Like “Best Doughnuts” or “Best Lunch Bargain” or “Best Kids Dining” or “Best Greasy Spoon.” Then again, maybe it’s just me. What do you think?
Gas Prices May Encourage More Walking
If you’re moving into a new neighborhood the ability to walk to destinations might be a determining factor when deciding where to live. Especially when you take into consideration the cost just to drive to the grocery store and back. A new Web site promises to help you figure out how walkable your neighborhood really is by rating how far you have to go on foot to do your errands and have a good time.
The Web site, Walk Score, sizes up the stores, restaurants, schools, parks and other destinations within walking distance of a given property and uses that information to calculate a walkability score between zero and 100.
Walk Score looks at the distance to walkable locations near an address, calculates a score for each location, and combines all of the scores into a single measurement. Walkscore creator, Matt Lerner said research shows that the average person is willing to walk less than a quarter mile to destinations they visit frequently, such as a grocery store.
The left column shows the closest location in each category, but is expandable to show all locations within walking distance. You can compare Walk Scores between neighborhoods to help determine an optimal place to live for your exercise needs.
As you can see above, the 810 W Fourth St condos in downtown Winston-Salem have a Walk Score of 77. But what does that mean? The web site provides this guide to help you interpret the numbers:
90 – 100: Walkers’ Paradise. Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
70 – 90: Very Walkable. It’s possible to get by without owning a car.
50 – 70: Some Walkable Locations. Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
25 – 50: Not Walkable. Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
0 – 25: Driving Only. Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!
Memorial Day
Has Memorial Day just become an extra holiday from work or school? Have we made it more a time to hit the shopping malls or go to the beach or the golf course? Once this was not so.
Years ago, the nation honored its dead on the 30th of May and not on a day conveniently tacked onto the nearest two-day weekend to create a triple holiday. Once this memorial was called “Decoration Day.” It was a day Americans marched in solemn procession in every town and hamlet to lay flowers upon the many graves in their cemeteries.
“What does Memorial Day mean to you?” a little girl was asked.
“That’s the day the pool opens,” she replied.
How fortunate we are that the little girl may go to her pool. The freedom we enjoy was purchased dearly.
Let us remember. Let us put the “memorial” back into Memorial Day. May We Never Forget!
Lock Bumping: Protect Your Home Now
Lock Bumping is defined as “Lock bumping is a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially-crafted bump key. One bump key will work for all locks of the same type.”
http://antibumplocks.com/ offers at least one solution.


