TONIGHT - Tuesday May 27, 7:00pm - Enjoy a delightful evening of "Jazz, Blues and More" with Shelley Higgins and Tony Godwin (for the whole family)!

Tony Godwin and vocalist Shelley Higgins bring the intimacy of the duo setting to a broad repertoire that is accessible yet extraordinary... you'll hear tunes from the Beatles, Cole Porter, Ernestine Anderson, Dizzy Gillespie, India Arie, Bonnie Raitt, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norah Jones, and more. The sound is sensual, elegant, bluesy and funky, sometimes intense, always engaging... just two musicians, a lot of music to listen to. Come and enjoy with the whole family!

Help Us Save Pittsboro’s treasured Holly Tree - it desperately needs Your Help!

Possibly the oldest, or second oldest Holly Tree in the
Nation is slowly dying in downtown Pittsboro !

Old trees, old gardens and, indeed, old things are wonderful. By their very nature, they have withstood the test of time. They have proven their resilience to the ravages of age and often take on a picturesque beauty as a result. Karle Wilson Baker recognized this beauty and asked that she too would grow lovely, growing old. In her poem, "Let Me Grow Lovely," featured in last weeks' newsletter, she recognizes the beauty and grandeur of an old tree who has weathered the test of time, she mentions, "there is a healing in old trees."

Perhaps you feel this healing nature of the old American holly tree, Ilex Opaca, that stands majestically across from the General Store Cafe, despite the hardscape around it. You can see it as you drive into the parking lot, and feel it closely when you walk under it on the way to the Café’.

Now this old and grand tree, which has graced the center of Pittsboro for so many decades, and may be the oldest Holly tree in the nation, is in desperate need of some healing itself. For years its root system has been smothered by asphalt, struggling to provide the water and nutrients that its branches need to live. That struggle has not been successful; the top of the tree is dead.

But the lower branches are alive, and the trunk appears sound, apparently unaffected by decay or insects that typically invade declining trees. And what a trunk it is—thicker than the second-largest American holly in the entire US, according to American Forests’ Register of Big Trees, which can be viewed at www.americanforests.com.

American Forests’ North Carolina Field Representative and Consulting Arborist, Guy Meilleur has inspected the tree and recommends the following steps be taken to preserve this valuable asset to our community:

1. Carefully lift out the paving material from the parking space from the space closest to the trunk. Replace with good soil and 4-6" of woodchip mulch. This space then could be converted to a sitting area.

2. Remove competing turfgrass from area between sidewalk and curb. Convert it to a raised bed of wildflowers. Use species associated with American holly with the hope that they will form a symbiotic relationship.

3. Drill 6" holes in pavement in the area under the branch tips. Fill holes with compost and structural soil which will provide for the tree’s aeration and nutrition requirements and be compacted enough to hold up to traffic.

4. Remove dead branches.

Can this old tree be saved? Only in the years to come will we know if our efforts to reverse its decline are successful. But given the tree’s size, location, and contribution to the community and its history, the work to save it is very worthwhile. Let this Holly Tree grow lovelier growing old. Donations to save our oldest Holly Tree are being accepted by the General Store Cafe. Please send donations for the Holly Tree to "Holly Tree Rescue" c/o General Store Café, PO BOX 1651, Pittsboro, NC

Tuesday, May 27- Shelley Higgins and Tony Godwin (Jazz, Blues and More) 7:00-9:00pm

Shelley Higgins has been performing and recording as a singer, lyricist and vocal arranger for many years. Here in North Carolina, collaborating with guitarist Tony Godwin, she is enjoying "freedom in the groove"...no concept, no stylistic bag, just great songs from great songwriters. Tony Godwin has a pure, fundamental, yet evolved guitar approach. His work with vocalist Shelley Higgins brings the intimacy of the duo setting to a broad repertoire that is accessible yet extraordinary. The sound is sensual, elegant, bluesy and funky, sometimes intense .. Always engaging...just two musicians, a lot of music to listen to...come and enjoy!

Wednesday, May 28- Salsa Dancing 8 PM - Dinner at 6PM

Dinner starts at 6:00 pm, Dance lessons begin at 8 pm. Learn to dance Salsa with Guillermo H. Escobar and Melissa Stansbury

Thursday, May 29th - Botsford, Link, Sawyer & Hoard (Jazz) 8:00-10:00pm (and Chess Night!)

Beverly Botsford on percussion, Robbie Link on bass, Scott Sawyer on guitar,and Mahlon Hoard on sax.

Friday, May 30 - Outliers (Hack Swing Band) 8:00pm-10:00pm

The Outliers began as data points on a normal-distribution bell curve plot. They have grown in to the hottest hacker swing group in Carrboro and Pittsboro, NC. Occasionally they perform in towns with names that don't end in -boro, but rarely. They are, after all, outliers: Lewis Cauble, percussion, including, occasionally, the pizza box (Papa John's, medium) Tony Galfano, mandolin, violin. Badda-bing, badda-twang. Fred Levine, bass. Statistician by day, statistic by night with The Outliers Dave Loomis, guitar, vocals, stage patter. Bobby Schopler, harmonica, vocals, eye candy.

Outliers' outliers (honored guests): Branavan Ganesan, tablas. Fresh from the subcontinent, where he studied under Ravi Shankar's longtime tabla player. Cyril Lance, lead guitar. Certified virtuoso. Says so right in Billboard magazine and Mary Johnson-singer-songwriter, sitting in as guest singer.

Saturday, May 31 - Julie Loyd (Singer/Songwriter) 8:00pm- 10:00pm

"Loyd left Charlottesville, Virginia at 17 for the bright lights of New York City more than three years ago and, since then, she has settled in the rocky landscape of western North Carolina with many others like her, a self-proclaimed "folk-dork." Citing Jonatha Brooke and Dar Williams as her main influences, Loyd agrees that her style and voice also closely resemble the more popular works of Ani DiFranco. In performance, Loyd displays a knack for emphasizing the meaning underlying each song with subtle inflection in rhythm and charming undulations with her body -- another utilized instrument. She paints powerful and gutsy literate canvases, full of strength, independence, anger, fierceness, connection, wholeness and doubt. As a soloist, Loyd commands even the tiniest venue. Her tone is precise, and her jerky dance-kicks reveal a wealthy resource of energy, even as her choruses rehash the tried and true themes of folk (frustrated love, small towns, etc) -- Athena Schindelheim C-Ville Weekly

C.A.R.E Orphan(s) of the Week

The Chatham Animal Rescue & Education (C.A.R.E), is an all volunteer, non-profit humane society that promotes respect and understanding for all animals, acts as a community resource for animal issues, and provides quality care for rescued animals in a foster home network. For more information, please visit www.chathamanimalrescue.org or call 542-5757.

Meet... Fauna

This female manx mix has a luxurious medium length tortoiseshell coat and is a little less than 2 years old. She is a perfect cat, according to her foster mom. Fauna has a wonderful temperament - so sweet and gentle, she is the poster child for lap kitties. If she could lie in your lap forever, she would, and if you stop petting her while she's there, she will try to lick your nose! Fauna loves human company, following her foster mom around the house, checking out what's going on. Fauna walks on a leash outside, and plays well with her other feline foster siblings. Fauna is current on all vaccinations, spayed and FeLV/FIV negative. For adoption, contact Chatham Animal Rescue & Education at www.chathamanimalrescue.org or call 542-5757.

Chatham Shelter Spotlight (on behalf of the Chatham County Animal Shelter)
Featuring... Candy

CANDY is a beautiful female chocolate brown labrador retriever mix. A little over 1 year old, Candy is expected to be 80-90 lbs when she reaches her full adult size. To say she is a sweet dog would be an understatement. She has so much enthusiasm for people that it was hard to contain her for this picture. She just wanted to lick you to death! Candy is an active girl and would need lots of exercise and attention. Come visit Candy at the Chatham County Animal Shelter, or call 542-7203.