Dart to what will inevitably be a sharp rise in the state’s homeless population when the new tally is released next month. For several years, the N.C. homeless population has hovered around 11,000, according to those who work with the homeless. But advocates who completed the latest tally this week said they expect the tough economic climate will have sharply increased the numbers. That’s also borne out by the higher numbers of people seeking assistance of various kinds, from help paying power bills to help putting food on the table. Some shelters have reported seeing 40 percent or more increases in the numbers seeking a place to stay. While getting an updated tally on the homeless helps determine how much aid is needed, the annual census of North Carolina’s homeless also helps provide a better understanding of the factors that lead to homelessness. Although mental health issues and substance abuse account for a significant portion of the homeless, experts say that lack of affordable housing is another leading cause, especially for the homeless with children.- – –
Laurels to the “Books to Grow On” program launched by the Rowan Public Library and sponsored by Smart Start Rowan to encourage more parents to read with their youngsters and help them cultivate a love of books and reading. What better way for parents (or grandparents, guardians or friends) to spend time with children than by reading with them? The family bonding benefits are obvious. So are the educational advantages that follow when young children develop their language skills, learn about the world and branch out to explore new subjects. And here’s an added bonus, according to some reading experts: Make reading with children part of the nightly ritual before bed time, and it will make it easier for them to go to sleep (that’s assuming you’re not reading a Stephen King novel with your pre-kindergartner).
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Dart to overblown fears about a shortage of chicken wings heading into Sunday’s Super Bowl. The National Chicken Council has assured the nation’s wing nuts there’s no shortage, and about 1 billion chicken wings will be consumed over the weekend ó news that should reassure everyone except the chickens. The council also offers this bit of culinary history: Although wings have always been popular for frying, particularly in the South, the “Buffalo wing” phenomenon of wings cooked in hot sauce was born in the North, at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1964. Co-owner Teressa Bellissimo cooked leftover wings in hot sauce as a late-night snack for her son and his friends. They liked them so much that the Bellissimos put them on the menu the next day.