Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter for May 30

Written by Amber Southerland Polk and edited by the CFCM Board

Email Claytonmarket@earthlink.net with any questions, comments, article contributions or to get your own copy of the newsletter emailed to your inbox weekly. We would love to hear from you!

Produce Spotlight: Smith’s Nursery will bring fresh strawberries, blueberries, squash, zucchini, cabbage, spring onions and cucumbers. Heather also wanted to let us know that they will be bringing some really pretty hydrangeas this Saturday as well.

Educational Tent - Children’s Cooking and Nutrition Demonstration using Local Produce: Debbie Stroud from the NC Cooperative Extension, Johnston County office has a great program scheduled for us this week. She will be showing the children how to make healthy snacks from items found at our market. Tasting the demonstrations will be highly encouraged! Debbie also brings a wealth of knowledge on physical activity that families can do together. So bring your children and your nutrition questions as Debbie helps us build strong, healthy Clayton families!

Special thanks to last week’s educator - Milton “Paw Paw” Parker. For questions about paw paws, or just to say thanks for the entertainment, please email Milton “Paw Paw” Parker at yamman552002@yahoo.com

Local Businessman Rescues Stranded Market volunteers: Recently two CFCM volunteers were gathering the market gear for the following day’s market. This process begins the Friday before as tents, tables and lots more get picked up from storage. When this was done, they discovered that the truck with most of the needed items would not start. Despite numerous efforts that vehicle was dead. The situation looked grim. Then one of the volunteers took off to Lewis Tire & Automotive Repair on Main St., Clayton to find help. Jason Lewis, owner and operator, quickly arranging to leave the station and accompanied the volunteer to the stricken truck. Managing to get the truck moving, he drove it to his garage where he set about searching for the problem. For his efforts, Jason accepted only the heartfelt thanks of the CFCM volunteers, saying he has supported the idea of a Farmer’s Market and is proud to have CFCM operating in downtown Clayton. Thanks you Jason Lewis for demonstrating that Clayton is a great place to live and work!
Lewis Tire & Automotive, 451 E. Main St., Clayton 27520. Phone, 359-9050 email, lewistire@embarqmail.com

Market Produce Recipe of the Week:
SQUASH CASSEROLE

This recipe doubles or triples easily and freezes well so you can enjoy summer’s bounty of squash and then enjoy it again in the winter.

2 pounds yellow squash, sliced 2 eggs. Slightly beaten
1 medium onion 1 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt ½ sharp cheddar cheese
½ teaspoon sugar seasoning salt
3 Tablespoons butter, melted buttered bread crumbs
3 tablespoons flour

Combine squash, onion, salt and sugar and cook in a small amount of water. Drain well; mash and add cheese, eggs, butter, flour. Milk and seasoning salt to taste. If desired, freeze at this point. If not freezing, bake in buttered 1 ½ quart casserole dish for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with crumbs and bake about 10 minutes more.
(from Supper’s at Six by Evva Foltz Hanes. Submitted by Adair Pickard.)

Volunteers: What are you doing this Saturday? Want to volunteer in your community? We are currently looking for volunteers May 30, June 6, and 13.

From our In-Box: “I loved talking to the 'mushroom' man and feel less fussy when buying mushrooms now. I had no idea of all the time, work and patience it takes to grow them. What a great educational idea to have a log with the mushrooms growing in it. Such fun!! Looking forward to coming again.” Mary Ellen Causby

Toad Song Farm Hosts Lavender Workshop: Toad Song Farm is hosting a special lavender workshop on the farm Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30PM. Mary Bevier will be showing attendees how to make lavender wands and lavender baskets, walk through the lavender labyrinth, and afterward, serve some lavender refreshments. It costs $10 per person, which covers all the supplies needed to make a lavender wand, a lavender basket, and refreshments. Toad Song Farm is a beautiful place, and when combined with the relaxing power of lavender, can melt all your troubles away. Please contact Mary at toadsongfarm@earthlink.net to register.

Upcoming Events: The board is so excited to announce upcoming events…
• June 6: Ostrich Canopy, musician.www.ostrichcanopy.com
• June 16: Tracy Wiebeck, musician. www.myspace.com/tracywiebeck
• June 20: Tracy Wiebeck, musician. www.myspace.com/tracywiebeck
• July 4: Bruce Naegelen, musician. www.myspace.com/brucenaegelen
• July 18: John Spencer, musician.

Vendors on 5-30-09:
Crafts:
• Beva Turpin

Baked Goods
• The Cleveland Cake & Coffee Co., Inc.
• Flying Fork Bakehouse

Produce, Plants, etc.
• Riverman’s Mushrooms
• Toad Song Farm
• Smith’s Nursery
• Sunday Morning Farms

Smith Receives "Scene Stealer of the Year" Honor

Bea Smith (left) of Clayton was named The Clayton Center’s 2008-2009 Scene Stealers Volunteer of the Year.

The Scene Stealers are a group of about 70 local residents who work at The Clayton Center during the Palladian Series and Sundays in Clayton shows. The volunteers greet patrons, work as ushers and ticket takers, pass out programs and sell concessions during the shows.

Heidi Stump, executive director, said, “It’s very difficult to choose just one volunteer to recognize each year. All of the Scene Stealers work hard to help us in any way that they can during the Palladian Series. The volunteers make the staff’s jobs easier and are just one of the many reasons why our patrons have such an enjoyable time at The Clayton Center.”

This was Smith’s second year as a Scene Stealers volunteer. She was recognized Sunday, May 17, during the Center’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held at Mulberry on Main restaurant. In addition to receiving an award of her own, Smith’s name will be engraved on the Scene Stealers perpetual plaque that hangs outside of The Clayton Center box office. Lara Perry, volunteer coordinator for The Clayton Center, is pictured with Smith.

From the Flipside

Lunch Specials

Swiss Grill - a ham and swiss melt on Texas toast with tomato artichoke bisque. $5.00

Pizza Special - a white clam sauce will fresh mozzarella, basil and sliced tomatoes. $7.00

Chef Salad - ham, turkey, provolone cheese on a bed of mixed greens. $6.00

Dinner
Pasta of the Day - Meat Lasagna with a side salad and bread.

Veal Parmesan over a bed of farfalle with a rustic marinara

Seafood stuffed salmon filet - a salmon filet stuffed with clams, crab and shrimp and served with basmatic veggie rice and fresh veggies.
________________________________________

Tonight is Open Mic with Tracy Wiebeck hosting

Wednesday is 1/2 price, by the glass, wine night.

Thursday is Karaoke

Friday is Valentino & The Piedmont Sheiks

Saturday is J.B. & Jason

June 6th, from 10:00 am to 6:00pm
9th Annual Millstock: A Celebration of Music & Art

2009 Town Square Concerts Start Tomorrow!

Returning to Clayton to open the Clayton Town Square Concert Series Thursday night will be Liquid Pleasure, which was one of the most talked about performances last year. All concerts begin at 7:00 pm and will end around 9 pm.

Refreshments available at the Town Square will include pizza, hot dogs, beer, wine and soft drinks and homemade ice cream. New this year will be the addition of Italian ice.

The DDA will also be offering Concert Series T-shirts this year for $15, LED Batons for the kids for $5 and the drink koozies for $1. All proceeds go to DDA projects and activities in downtown Clayton.

Although folding chairs and blankets are encouraged for people to sit on, coolers are not allowed.


DOWNTOWN CONCERT DINNER SPECIALS!

Several restaurants and businesses are offering specials on Town Square Concert Series nights - starting this Thursday.

Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street, is offering a chopped steak dinner with baked potato and asparagus for $11.95

The FlipSide, 408 E Second Street, Buy one menu item get one menu item free of equal or lesser value Up to $10.00 off. Please note that you must bring this article with you! So print it out!

Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant, 217 E Main Street offering $1.50 pizza slices; $9.95 whole plain pizza; $4.95 dozen wings and $4.95 daiquari's. Also, horse & carriage rides will be available from the restaurant to the Town Square. (919) 550-7400

UPCOMING CONCERTS

June 18, Abbey Road Live!

July 16, Legends of Beach

August 20, Zydecopious

September 17, Band of Oz


Major sponsors: Town of Clayton, Time Warner Cable, Clayton News Star, Clayton Steakhouse.

Contributing Sponsors: Avent-Permenter Group, Clayton Glass & Mirror, Hometowne Realty, Johnston Memorial & Novo Nordisk

From the Flipside

Lunch Specials
Two (2) Tilapia and two (2) salmon lettuce wraps with fresh veggies and wasabi ranch $7.00

Chipotle BBQ Chicken Pizza $6.00

Mexican Pizza with refried beans, roasted black beans, topped with cheese, pico, lettuce and sour cream. $5.00

Dinner Features
Veal Rollatini over Farfalle with a Carbonara cream marinara.

Mediterranean Chicken: Lightly battered with green olives, shallots, peppers, tomatoes, roasted garlic in a Feta white wine broth over
a bed of basmati rice
________________________________________
Open Mic Tonight

Wednesday is 1/2 price wine by the glass night

Thursday is Karaoke Night

Friday
The Incredible Sandwich is an eclectic quartet hailing from Athens, GA. Their music is a creative, intelligent blend of musical styles such as Latin, jazz, funk and rock, with unexpected educated improvisational jams that take the listener on a surprising musical journey.
www.myspace.com/theincrediblesandwich

June 6th: Millstock: during the day, starting at 10:00am
Mister Mustard
Dread34
Johnny Orr & Southstation
"Cool" John Ferguson
June 6th

SBA Launches New 100-Percent Guarantee ARC Loan Program To Help Struggling Businesses

Beginning on June 15, the Small Business Association (SBA) will start guaranteeing America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) loans.

ARC loans are deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing qualifying debt. ARC loans are interest-free to the borrower, 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA, and have no SBA fees associated with them.


As part of the Recovery Act, the ARC program was created as a no-interest, deferred payment loan to help small businesses that have a history of good performance, but as a result of the tough economy, are struggling to make debt payments.

ARC loans will be disbursed within a period of up to six months and will provide funds to be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debt including:
- mortgages
- term and revolving lines of credit
- capital leases
- credit card obligations
- and notes payable to vendors, suppliers and utilities

Repayment will not begin until 12 months after the final disbursement. Borrowers don’t have to pay interest on ARC loans. After the 12-moth deferral period, borrowers will pay back the loan principal over a period of five years.

ARC loans will be made by commercial lenders, not SBA directly. For more information on ARC loans, visit www.sba.gov

Clayton Youth Theater announces "Once On This Island" Auditions

May 28 @ 6:00 p.m. & May 30 @ 1:00 p.m. at The Clayton Center

The Clayton Youth Theater is pleased to announce auditions for its summer musical, "Once On This Island."

A tale of love, loss, and redemption, "Once On This Island" is a calypso-flavored re-telling of the traditional "Little Mermaid" story. The show revolves around Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl, who falls in love with Daniel, a boy from a wealthy family. The gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred, and death.

Students interested in auditioning must be in the 7th-12th grade during the 2009-2010school year. Class of 2009 high school graduates are also eligible.

Complete audition information can be found at www.claytonyouththeater.com.

Questions can be directed to Nikki Dyke at director@claytonyouththeater.com.

JCC Holds Free Business Seminars in June

The Small Business Center at JCC provides free seminars and counseling to support the development of new small businesses and the growth of existing small businesses. The following free seminars will be held in June:

How to Start Your Own Business
Presented by Jess McLamb, The Roper Group)
Monday 6:00-9:00pm
6/1/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
This workshop will give you an overall understanding of the steps you need to take to make your dream venture a reality.

Performance Management & Coaching
(Presented by Dr. Donna Shumate, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Professional Development, Johnston Community College)
Thursday 6:00pm-9:00pm
6/4/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
How do you set performance expectations? How do you measure performance? How do you give corrective feedback to a low performing employee? What steps do you take once you’ve identified a performance problem? How can you reward employees when there’s no money in the budget? How can you coach staff and motivate your team? These questions and more will be addressed in this series.
Note: Contact Jackie Seare, 209-2595 to register. Pre-registration is required.

Time Management for Champions
Presented by Mike Collins) You are welcome to bring your lunch.
Wednesday 11:00am-2:00pm
6/10/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
Do you have enough time? Would you like to get a grip on where your time goes, how to get more done in the time you have and STILL HAVE TIME FOR YOURSELF!? Attending “Time Management for Champions” can show you how to get the most out of your time. The program can show you how to better handle the tasks, people and stuff in life that effect your time. What would be a perfect workday for you? Can you describe it? The program will include:
• Understanding how much time you really have
• Planning on purpose and planning with a purpose
• Setting and tracking priorities: Are you trying to do too much?
• Timelines and deadlines: How to do three things at once
• What to do in times of crisis and conflict
• How to handle the information avalanche
• Getting it done and having a life.

Managing Compliance and Legal Issues in the Workplace
(Presented by Theresa Murphy and Michele Langley, HR Partner Advantage, Raleigh, NC)
Thursday 6:00pm-9:00pm
6/11/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
This course will address questions such as: What is compliance? How do new supervisors know if they are out of compliance? What legal issues in the workplace should a new supervisor be concerned about? Why is documentation important?
Note: Contact Jackie Seare, 209-2595 to register. Pre-registration is required.

Employment Law for Your Small Business
(Presented by William Joseph Austin, Jr., Ward & Smith, P.A., Attorneys at Law)
Monday 6:00-9:00pm
6/15/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
Do you know the state and federal laws that govern your small business? Join an attorney who is an expert in employment law to learn the laws you need to know about hiring employees for you business. Even if you are just starting out this seminar will help you get off to a knowledgeable start!


Making Performance Appraisals More Effective
(Presented by Dr. Donna Shumate, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Professional Development, Johnston Community College)
Wednesday 1:00-4:00pm
6/17/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
Are you responsible for conducting performance appraisals on those you supervise? Would you like to provide more useful feedback to your employees and create a performance appraisal that can be a plan of growth for your staff? Join this session to learn tips for creating and delivering effective performance appraisals, a process that starts at the date of hire!

Business Success in Tough Times
(Presented by Dan Blankenship, SBTDC, NCSU)
Tuesday 10:00am-12:00pm
6/23/09
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
What are the secrets of business success in an economic downturn? How do business owners stabilize their businesses during tough times and hold their own? Attend this seminar to learn how to prepare for and even grow your business when the economic climate is stormy. Presented jointly by the Small Business Center Network of the North Carolina Community College System and the UNC System’s Small Business & Technology Development Centers. A variety of resources and the opportunity for free business counseling will be made available to seminar participants.

Web to English Translation: Effectively Communicating with Your Web Developer (Presented by Eric Schmieder, Director of Web Services & Online Marketing, Johnston Community College)
Thursday 6/25/09 6:00-9:00pm
Room 1032, Workforce Dev Center, Clayton
Does talking to your web developer leave you questioning whether they learned English in high school? Are you left unsure of whether the language barrier challenges will eliminate any hope of getting the online image you are hoping for? Get familiar with some of the common terms and concepts in the web design industry. Learn where to find answers to become an educated consumer of these services. Explore some of the different types of web sites and marketing approaches used online and how these can be aligned with your business plan.


Rosa S. Andrews
Director of Small Business Center and Occupational Licensure
Business and Industry Department
Johnston Community College
135 Best Wood Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
919-209-2015
919-359-1176 fax
rsandrews@johnstoncc.edu

Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter for May 16

Written by Amber Southerland Polk and edited by the CFCM Board

From the Board:
Please join us in extending a very warm welcome to our newest vendor, Omega Farms. Omega will start this Saturday and bring Ferns, Hosta and Japanese Maple trees.
Produce Spotlight: Fresh cabbage, strawberries and spring onions will be at the market this Saturday from Smith’s Nursery. According to Wikipedia, a spring onion is also called scallion, green onion, or salad onion. Harvested for their taste, they tend to be milder than other onions and may be steamed or set in salads in western cookery and cooked in many Asian recipes. Diced scallions are often used in soup, noodle and seafood dishes, and in sauces in eastern dishes, after removing the bottom quarter-inch or so of the root end.

Vendor Spotlight: Each Saturday when David “The Mushroom Man” McKinney of Riverman’s Mushrooms sets up, he also brings one of his oak logs with real Shiitake Mushrooms growing on it as a demonstration. David says he grows his mushrooms on the bank of the Neuse River because the shade and moisture content make it the perfect environment. He has dried and fresh mushrooms that he keeps cool during the market in a dark refrigerator he made himself.

In addition to his mushrooms, David also grows a type of Elephant Garlic that he has been growing in Johnston County since he went to Wilson Mills High School in 1969. It is called Elephant Garlic because each clove is about 7 times bigger than regular silver skin garlic. It has a milder flavor so you can use it in salads and put it in stews and cooked beans without overpowering the dish.

One of his prized products is seeds he saves from his Texas Hill Country Okra each year. He says the seeds originally come from okra his father planted and they make big okra plants that are the “best tasting okra around.”

Even though David describes himself as “old school” he is way ahead of the game on a lot of things. He proudly states that he has been organic since 1969 and the only thing he sprays on his product is water. One of the reasons he started selling his hand split, red oak charcoal is because of the chemicals in the commercial version. David says they put all kinds of stuff in the industrial charcoal that you do not want to cook into your food. He says try his all natural charcoal for “the best steak you ever had in your life.” David says his favorite part about the Clayton Market is talking to people that come out each Saturday.

Just click Forward: If you know someone who would enjoy receiving The Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter please forward it to them. If you are receiving this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up for your own copy by sending an email to claytonmarket@earthlink.net. We will let you know who and what will be at the market with just one email each week.

Look What I Bought at the Clayton Market! Leslie Hubbard writes in, “I used the red oak charcoal to grill lamb chops a few weeks ago. Perfectly complimented the earthy richness of the lamb. Only way I'll cook it from now on.”
Leslie also offers up this natural charcoal tip for those of us who had rather keep the entire grilling process chemical free and not use lighter fluid: “Use a little piece of fatpine or paraffin & wood chip fire starter stick (found in almost every store's camping section) to start the charcoal. Light one of the starter sticks up with a bic lighter and lay it down in between two pieces of red oak charcoal. Takes only a few minutes for the natural stuff to catch and burn. No lighter fluid required. mmmmmmmmm.”

Are you impressed by something you bought at the Clayton Market? Do you have a favorite recipe using one or more of the products found at the market? Send an email to claytonmarket@earthlink.net and let me know about it. I’ll feature you and your favorite product in an upcoming newsletter.

Local Business Sponsor of the Week: Walden GreenScapes brings earth friendly, organic, “green” landscaping services to the Clayton - Raleigh Area. We provide a range of landscape services from simple ‘mowin’ and blowin’ to total lawn and landscape services. We use only the finest organic fertilizers and weed control products and we would be honored to make your lawn a masterpiece. We serve both commercial and residential properties with the same attention to detail. Walden GreenScapes, LLP provides a variety of services for you so that your lawn will look its best no matter the season. Please contact Walden GreenScapes at (919) 550-1886 or view the attached flyer.

Want to advertise your local business to over 300 Clayton area residents? Email Claytonmarket@earthlink.net to receive the introductory rate. All proceeds will go to support the upkeep of the Clayton Farm and Community Market.

Vendors on 5-16-09:
Crafts:
• Beva Turpin
• Nancy’s Candles

Baked Goods
• The Cleveland Cake & Coffee Co., Inc.
• Flying Fork Bakehouse

Produce, Plants, etc.
• Riverman’s Mushrooms
• Toad Song Farm
• Seasonal Selections
• Smith’s Nursery
• Omega Farms

Presentation for Potential SCORE Counselors May 19

A presentation for potential SCORE counselors is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19 at 6:00 pm at The Clayton Center. The presentation by SCORE representatives is being hosted by the Clayton Downtown Development Association with the intent of establishing a SCORE chapter in Clayton.

If you are a retired executive or entrepreneur willing to volunteer your time as an advisor to small business people, come to the Clayton Center May 19th to learn more about this service organization.

A primary goal of Clayton's Downtown Development Association (DDA) is to help strengthen and expand existing downtown businesses. Leslie Hubbard, Vice-Chair of the DDA's Economic Restructuring Committee said, "One of the most invaluable resources available to the small businessperson in need of general business advice or expertise in a specific area is the volunteer service corps known as SCORE. There are over 400 SCORE chapters in the U.S., but the closest to us is in Raleigh. We would like to see a chapter established here, for the benefit of both Clayton business people and small business people across Johnston County."

The first step, according to DDA Chair, Ed Knight, is to find potential business counselors or mentors living in the area. "The ideal candidates are successful business professionals, retired or currently working, who are willing to volunteer their time to mentor small business owners," said Mr. Knight.

SCORE is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, educating and helping grow small business start-ups and existing businesses. They are a resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA) with more than 10,000 volunteers across the country providing free counseling and low cost workshops to new and existing small to medium sized businesses. Both working and retired executives, with small business and corporate backgrounds volunteer their time and expertise as counselors.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering with SCORE, please contact Bruce Naegelen, Downtown Development Coordinator at (919) 553-1545 or bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org. Also, visit the Raleigh SCORE at www.raleighscore.org.

From the Flipside...

What's next for the Carolina Hurricanes?
We'll find out tonight, when the Canes play at Boston in Game 7 of this series at 8 p.m. We'll be watching....come on down and let's make history together!


Friday night music
The Oatmeal Conspiracy
It's a CD RELEASE PARTY!!!
Yep...the CD is finally ready!!

Saturday
The Rocker's will be back!
Joe Bell & The Stinging Blades
www.myspace.com/joebellandthestingingblades

Millstock: A Celebration of Music & Art Faire
June 6th Music starts at 10:00am.
Arts, music

Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter for May 9

Written by Amber Southerland Polk and edited by the CFCM Board

Produce Spotlight: Fresh asparagus will be at the market this Saturday from Smith’s Nursery. Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. It is a good source of folic acid, potassium, dietary fiber and rutin. Try steaming asparagus for a fresh and fast side item.

Vendor Spotlight: Nancy Chaffin knows a good idea when she sees it. The Angus Barn was having trouble with their candle vendor and after multiple attempts to receive shipments in a timely manor; Nancy decided it would be easier to just make the candles herself. So she started Nancy’s Candles and has been consistently supplying the Angus Barn with quality local candles ever since.

After creating her own style selling to family and friends the next logical step for Nancy, an 11 year Clayton resident, was the Clayton Market. She was one of the first vendors to sign up and comes every Saturday to bring Clayton residents her high quality candles made of all natural palm or soy wax. The candles have a 40 hour burn time and can be customized in different flavors and colors. Nancy can also customize candles with corporate logos or for weddings with the happy couple’s names and wedding date.

Nancy says Lovespell, a Victoria Secret scent, is her best seller at the Clayton Market. Apple, Cotton Candy and the aromatherapy scent, Moonlight also strikes a cord with Clayton Residents. As for Nancy, her favorite candle is White Tea because it is beautiful, floral and soft.

Look What I Bought at the Clayton Market! Ginny Moorehead purchased a bag of dehydrated shiitake mushrooms from David “The Mushroom Man” McKinney of Riverman’s Mushrooms. Ginny says, “They are amazing. I’ve been rehydrating and using them to make every meal delicious. I am hooked.”

Are you impressed by something you have bought at the Clayton Market? Send an email to claytonmarket@earthlink.net and let me know about it. I’ll feature you and your favorite product in an upcoming newsletter.

Volunteers needed: Volunteers are the heart of the Clayton Market. We really need 1 volunteer on May 9 from 10am- 2pm! We also have 2 volunteer slots open for May 16 and 30 and 1 open for May 23. Volunteers are needed from 6am until 2pm, or you can work either the morning (6am-10am) or day (10-2pm) shift. Please send an email to claytonmarket@earthlink.net to sign up.

Call for Strawberry Recipes: It’s Strawberry Season, and with Smith’s Nursery selling fresh strawberries by the flat we were wondering, what are ya’ll doing with all those strawberries? Do you put them in jams, pies, cakes or just eat them on shortcake with Cool Whip? Is this a family recipe handed down through the generations or your own creation from trial and error? Email us at Claytonmarket@earthlink.net and let us know your favorite strawberry recipe and a little of the history behind it. We will feature some of them in the next newsletter for all to enjoy.

Economy Builder: Several of the Clayton Market vendors have hired local folks to staff the market or help with the behind the scenes work back at the farm. Some of these jobs have been created solely because of the increased demand from the Clayton Market. Therefore, by supporting the market you are not only putting fresh, local food on your table, but you are helping put food on the tables of your neighbors as well.

Your Local Business Here: Want to advertise your local business to Clayton residents, but don’t have a large advertising budget? That’s ok, neither do we. However, we do have a 250+ household and growing following of the Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter and would like to offer you the opportunity to be our Newsletter Local Business Sponsor of the Week. For a very low price our newsletter readers could have been reading about your local business in this very spot. Email Claytonmarket@earthlink.net if you would like to take us up on this limited time offer. All proceeds will go to support and upkeep of the Clayton Farm and Community Market.

Clayton NC Main Street Managers

Yesterday and today about 20 Main Street managers from as far as Shelby and Waynesville and as close as Clayton, Smithfield and Benson, gathered for the twice-a-year professional development meeting in Clayton. It's the first time the meeting has been held in Clayton. Mayor Jody McLeod welcomed the group on Thursday at noon at The Clayton Center where the group is meeting. A tour of downtown was conducted yesterday afternoon by Clayton Main Street Manager Bruce Naegelen, followed by a reception at the Morning Glory Inn.

Blues Musician “Cool John” Ferguson to Headline 2009 Millstock Music & Arts Faire on June 6

Noted blues musician “Cool John” Ferguson (left) will headline the 2009 Millstock Music and Arts Faire in downtown Clayton on June 6. The legendary entertainer Taj Mahal says, "Cool John is among the five greatest guitarists I have heard in my career." Ferguson will perform from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm behind the Coffee Mill and Flipside Restaurant on E Second Street. The music schedule:

10:00 am - 11:30 am Mister Mustard

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Dread34

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Johnny Orr & South Station

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Cool John Ferguson

Artists will be situated along South Lombard and parts of E Main Street Downtown businesses and restaurants will be open and on the sidewalks creating an even more festive day.

Some new activities are debuting this year at Millstock:

Chalk It Up Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest – individuals, groups, children, adults, and families are invited to take part in this sidewalk chalk art competition with cash prizes. Sidewalk squares are being sold for $10 each. Chalk will be provided and artwork will be judged by local artist, Dorothy Demboski. Tickets may be purchased at Right Angles Custom Framing and GO Design at 401 E Main Street.

DIY Screened Event Tshirts - Local artist Kirk Adam will also be screening Millstock event t-shirts. Each shirt will be unique, and you can help screen your own shirt!

For more information on the schedule of events and for updates visit www.downtownclayton.org. All proceeds go toward expanding & enhancing Millstock Music & Arts Faire in downtown Clayton.

NC Main Street Managers to Meet in Clayton

Main Street managers from across the state will meet at The Clayton Center May 7-8. About 30 managers, speakers and Main Street staff are expected in town for the meeting, according to Liz Parham, Director of the Office of Urban Development which oversees the statewide Main Street Program. “Typically we meet twice a year for professional development which includes sharing experiences, sessions with experts in other fields that are beneficial to downtown revitalization and growth and to learn about the town we are visiting,” said Ms. Parham.

Clayton has been a Main Street Community since 2006 and Downtown Development Coordinator Bruce Naegelen is glad his colleagues are coming to visit Clayton. “We have a great story, a great downtown and great business people and I’m excited to show them all off!”

Mayor Jody McLeod will greet the group at noon on Thursday, May 7 and Naegelen will provide an overview of Clayton and lead the group on a downtown tour Thursday afternoon.

A reception is planned Thursday evening before members of the group dine at the various restaurants in downtown. They will meet again Friday morning and adjourn around 3 pm.

From the Flipside

Lunch Specials

Athens Veggie Burger: garden burger grilled and topped with feta cheese, artichokes, black olives, with lettuce, tomato and onion.
Your choice of a side. $5.00

Mexcian Pizza: refried beans, chirizo sausage, cheddar cheese, onions, tomatoes; grilled on a flour tortilla then topped with lettuce,
salsa and sour cream. $6.00

Grilled Chili Salmon Salad: mixed greens with carrots, cukes, and croutons, topped with a 4oz. chilied salmon fillet and grilled peppers, onions, tomotoes and your choice of dressing. $7.00

Dinner Features

Flat Iron Steak Stir Fry - tender marinated grilled flat iron steak with peppers, onions, mushrooms, green onions
over a bed of basmati rice.

Crab Stuffed Avacado dipped in tempura and deep fried. Served on a bed of greens with a Cajun remoulade and jalapeno pesto

Friday
Johnny Orr and SouthStation
www.myspace.com/johnnyorrmusic

Saturday
Both
www.myspace.com/boththeband

Coming Soon:
Millstock: A Celebration of Music & Art Faire
June 6th: Music starts at 10:00am.
Arts, crafts, music

Clayton Farm and Community Market Newsletter for May 2

by Amber Polk, CFCM Chair

From the Board: We are very pleased with the diverse vendors at the Clayton Market, but the board is always on the lookout for a few more. Our wish list includes additional produce growers and a local meat producer as well as a wider range of artisans: potters, basket weavers, vegetable canners, jelly makers, quilters, knitters, woodworkers, painters, and cheese makers, etc. If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please email claytonmarket@earthlink.net for vendor and other information.

Vendor Spotlight: I had a whoopee pie from The Cleveland Cake and Coffee Co. last week and it was DELICIOUS! A whoopee pie is a portable cake with icing in the middle so you can eat it and run a farmers market at the same time, or whatever else you happen to be doing that day. Rich and Jen Girard opened up The Cleveland Cake and Coffee Co. at 40/42 in 2005 and opened their second location at Southern Village of Clayton on Hwy 70 about a year ago.

Even though they may seem like newcomers, the Girards have been baking for most of their lives. Jen has a degree in baking and pastry from the Baltimore Culinary Institute, and Rich learned how to bake by picking it up from the old timers at an early age. Rich says, “If you do it well, people appreciate it and thank you.” The Cleveland Cake and Coffee Co.’s best selling item at the Clayton Market is crusty bread. “Crust is the outer shell of the bread,” Rich explains. Once they bake the bread, it slides into special perforated bags that help it breath. The outside will firm up, but the inside will still be fresh and springy. You can also put his fresh bread in the oven at 375 for 10-15 minutes to bring out the crust. Rich says he loves it when people plan their meals around his bread.

Cleveland Cake and Coffee Co has 9 employees, and Rich describes it as a family business that is “about family.” Jen and Rich love what they do and want others to love it too. The Cleveland Cake and Coffee Co. will be at the Clayton Market every Saturday, so come on out and experience a whoopee pie yourself.

Look What I Bought at the Clayton Market! People love the quality local products they buy at the Clayton Market. After buying one “Macintosh Apple” scented candle a week from Nancy’s Candles, Gail Southerland decided to buy an entire case of them last Saturday. Gail explains, “About Thursday my candle burned out. I didn’t want that to happen again…ever. All the apple candles in the grocery store have cinnamon in them, and I don’t like cinnamon in my apples. Nancy knows how to make them just the way I like them.”

Are you impressed by something you have bought at the Clayton Market? Send an email to claytonmarket@earthlink.net and let me know about it. I’ll feature you and your favorite product in an upcoming newsletter.

Call for Musicians: The market is looking for local musicians to play from around 10 or 11am to 1pm. Music must be “family friendly,” and we will allow a tip jar and a table of your cd/materials for sale. (An electrical hook-up is available, if needed.) If you are interested, please email claytonmarket@earthlink.net for more details.

Volunteers needed: 2 volunteers slots are open on May 2, 9 and 16. Volunteers are needed from 6am until 2pm, or you can work either the morning (6am-10am) or day (10-2pm) shift. Please send an email to claytonmarket@earthlink.net for a list of common duties or to sign up. Even if you only have an hour to give from 6-7am or 1-2pm that would be a tremendous help for set up and tear down. Special thanks to Melinda Taylor who worked all day last Saturday and Kent Southerland who volunteered for set up and tear down.

Economy Builder: When you buy local, it has a multiplier effect on the whole community. Instead of giving your money away to a large corporation in another state or country, give it to local vendors who will turn around and spend a lot of the money right here our community. The Hildreth’s of Shamrock’s Buzzy Bees have spent some of their money at Medlin’s Office Supply in Clayton, Ming Moon Chinese Restaurant and Papa’s Pizza both of Four Oaks. Now doesn’t that make that jar of local honey you bought from Shamrock’s Buzzy Bees taste even better?

Vendors on 5-2-09:
Crafts:
· Beva Turpin
· Nancy’s Candles

Baked Goods
· The Cleveland Cake & Coffee Co., Inc.
· Flying Fork Bakehouse

Produce, Plants, etc.
· Riverman’s Mushrooms
· Toad Song Farm
· Seasonal Selections
· Smith’s Nursery

EYE OF THE EAGLE ART GALLERY IN CLAYTON SEEK JEWERLY ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT IN JUNE 2009

The Eye of the Eagle Art at 131 E First Street in downtown Clayton is seeking jewelry artists to exhibit in “All Dressed Up!” During the month of June 2009, the gallery will feature jewelry created by local and nearby artist in the featured artist room. Jewelry will be uniquely displayed on dressed up mannequins, wall hangings and other displays created just for this exhibit.

The deadline for submissions is May 21, 2009. The opening reception for the artists will be June 5, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The mission of The Eye of the Eagle Art is to support the arts, the artists both professional and emerging, and bring the arts alive in the community.
Please contact the Eye of the Eagle Art to obtain an application or get more details about this opportunity. The gallery and art center is located at 131 E 1st Street, Clayton, NC 27520. Gallery Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. You can call 919-585-2461, email website for further information.