North Carolina Now; North Carolina Now Episode from 05/31/1994

Keeping up with today's changing technology teachers back in school helps me to be more prepared to share technology with my students be more today. And allows me to go back to the classroom and teach other teachers as well as students to shape the nation. Good evening everyone I'm with three Kates Bailey And I'm John Mason thanks so much for joining us. Well later in the program we're going to meet a woman. It is Cathy Stewart and she is with people for the American way. And her organization the story of a group called North Carolina star where college kids teach high school kids all about race relations. It's a wonderful program and a lot of people are involved in it and is doing some really great things across the state.

Something huge. It is also interesting tonight a couple of features. One about teachers learning more about computers these days the kids are learning about computers so fast it doesn't surprise me that teachers are having to go back to school just so they can stay ahead of them a little bit you know. And also we're going to learn how to prepare. Are the chokes. I mean I've never done it. I mean they just it just looks so complicated to me. I like to eat them but I've never prepared them so of course Gretchen is going to show us an easy way in a delicious way to prepare the vegetable. Gretchen's always getting that kitchen information. Yes she is. With everything we're learning about the new information highway it's obvious that high technology is going to play a big role in the everyday operations of businesses throughout our state. But business is not the only place where computer literacy will be a necessity. Reporter Maria Lundberg and producer Maurice Talbert checked out an interesting partnership that's producing widespread benefits to develop your own space. Vicki Williams is a math teacher at Clayton middle school. Over the past 15 years she has perfected her teaching skills. Like many teachers she's extremely proficient in her subject area.

But Vickie Williams knows that these days it takes more to be an effective teacher because everybody now got the Claris Works program icon highlighted good. It's Saturday and Vicki Williams isn't teaching today. She's a student one of several teachers from Johnston County who had gone back to school. They're taking advantage of free computer classes offered by Northern Telecom since 1991. Employees at Northern Telecom have been volunteering their free time to provide computer instruction for teachers in the wake Durham and Johnston counties. Well the art computer seminars really an offshoot of our community relations program which is predicated on something very simple just being a good corporate citizen. I know people are talking a lot about the North Carolina information highway and it is beginning to take shape and it's these fundamental skills for students and teachers and all of us that are going to be necessary to really take advantage of that information highway and what it can provide for teachers like Vicky Williams.

The benefits are obvious. It helps me to be more prepared to share technology with the state as being more today. It allows me to go back to the classroom and teach other teachers as well as status to share information. I think the world's going total technology computers maybe we need that information. So to be able to compete in the future these kids really have to know this to be competitive to get the jobs that they desire. Yes they need to learn that Johnston county's teachers have been very receptive to this opportunity. Assistant Superintendent Tom Williams says it's a chance to make their school system more efficient. It's one thing to have the hardware and the software to get people proficient in using it is another and it's difficult for schools to find the resources to do that. So when Northern Telecom reached out to us and offered us that opportunity it was something that we couldn't resist and we jumped at the opportunity. I'm glad that we we were offered that chance. And the teachers are glad to come back at sadit.

I don't know how to make spreadsheets on how to type documents. Now I have to ask you any other questions. I feel really good about it. We're having a lot more impact. I think we're bringing a lot more value because we stay with them we build relationships we build something a lot more meaningful than simply riding track this Northern Telecom program incorporates technology in the classroom and advances schools into the 21st century. It allows teachers like Vicky Williams to share that wealth of knowledge in a way that will have an enormous impact. This partnership between business and education benefits not only the teachers and students putting this knowledge to use today but the collaboration that will impact our state for years to come when a highly skilled well-prepared workforce ready to meet the challenges of the future these computer seminars are available to any teacher and wake Durham or Johnston counties. There's no cost to the teachers or school systems since the program began. Northern Telecom volunteers have trained about twelve hundred teachers in computer fundamentals and that number will

continue to increase. With plans to begin a similar partnership in Granville County schools programs like this can make a big difference especially in rural counties which may not have access to resources of this caliber. It's definitely a worthwhile investment in the workforce of tomorrow. And now as we promised you Gretchen Lange from well-spring grocery joins us in the kitchen with a spring recipe for flowering bud. Artichokes grow in a variety of shapes and sizes that are simply delicious. When steamed and seasoned in limb and butter they're going to do a show about artichokes and most of us here in the south when we think about artichokes we think of Jerusalem artichokes and these are globe artichokes which is a real different vegetable and one that a lot of people just don't really seem to know what to do with or don't seem real comfortable with. It's a wonderful vegetable and very very easy to prepare. Now a lot of the time when you hear people talk about preparing globe artichokes they'll do them stuff or they'll do them with some kind of Manny's sauce and so on and it sounds very elaborate and I'm

not surprised that a lot of people don't want to attempt that at home. But my favorite way to eat these is just steamed with a simple lemon butter dipping sauce. And that is so easy to do. That's why I'm going to show you how to do today. Now first I want to tell you a little bit about this beautiful vegetable here. It's actually a flower. This is a bud of a member of the Thistle family and you can sort of see that by looking at it does look like a big green flower bud and you can see also it's got these sort of prickly little tips to the leaves if you've ever messed with an artichoke and stuck your finger on one of these you know and I cut one of them open so that you can see the structure of the interior it's really beautiful. And you can see the lovely purple color again sort of reminiscent of the Thistle and the base of these leaves and the heart is the part that's really good to eat. So we'll get to that in just a minute. There are also these little miniature baby artichokes that are so tender that they can be just

cleaned and trimmed and used either whole or just cut into pieces. But you can eat the whole leaf. Sometimes you'll see those to prepare the big artichokes for steaming you just want to break off these sort of ugly looking leaves down at the bottom of the stem here like this breakoff all the ones that look kind of loose and then you want to trim the bottom of the stem. Now I eat the stems so I leave most of it on the artichoke like that. But if you don't like the stem you can just cut that flat. And what you want to do is steam these in a large pot a pot that will hold plenty of water because they're going to take quite a while. Anywhere from about a half an hour for a small artichoke to maybe 45 minutes for a larger one. And the way to check if these are done is to put on a bit of an MIT reach in there and try to pull out one of these middle leaves. Now you see that comes out very easily. Don't try one of these bottom ones try for one in the middle and if it pulls out easily then the artichoke is done. You want to cool

those slightly before you serve them. And while they're cooling you can make a very simple dipping sauce. This is just a mixture of butter and lemon juice. And for each person I use about oh the juice of half a lemon. And anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon full of butter depending on how rich you like it also works great with a good olive oil. You prefer to avoid the butter and some people like a little garlic in there too. Now to eat the artichoke. You're just going to peel these leaves one at a time. Dip them in your sauce and eat the bottom like that. You just bite the bottom right off. And as you get farther and farther into the artichoke you'll see these leaves get smaller and smaller. Until you come to those little purple leaves at the center see the purple appearing there and then under those little purple leaves is what's called the choke. And those are the little sort of hairy fuzzy things in the middle you can see there. Now the hardest The best part you definitely want to get to that but you don't want to eat this choke. So you can just remove it

with a spoon gently like this pulling it all out until you get the heart all cleaned off like that and then you can just dip that right in your dipping sauce. Well it's absolutely delicious. Interesting thing about artichokes they tend to make the things that you eat afterwards taste a little bit sweet. So it's kind of a nice appetizer to have for dinner. They really seem to enhance the flavors of the foods that come afterward. So. Give it a try globe artichokes. They're delicious and really easy. And if you'd like a copy of this recipe send a self-addressed stamped on envelope to recipes P.O. Box 1 4 9 0 RTP NC 2 7 7 0 9. As usual Gretchen has left us hungry. Well in just a moment Mitchell Lewis will bring us up to date on today's statewide news and a little later I'll talk with Kathy stoo it and the topic will be racial tolerance. Stay right there. As.

Good evening. I'm Michel Louis. Here's a review of what's happening across the state. Duke basketball fans are breathing a sigh of relief this evening. Coach K is staying. Mike Krzyzewski is turning down offers to coach in the NBA and will remain as the head basketball coach of the Duke Blue Devils. Just a Husky was being courted by NBA commissioner David Stern to accept the professional coaching job. Coach K announced late last week that he was looking into new coaching opportunities but in an 11 a.m. press conference this morning chefe scheme made it official he's staying at Duke and his 14 seasons at Duke. Cesky has led the Blue Devils to two NCAA championships and seven Final Fours state lawmakers returned from their Memorial Day holiday today with gun legislation on their minds. A House committee has approved a bill that makes it a felony for any person to sell or transfer a handgun to a minor. It's a misdemeanor under current law. Under the

provisions of the bill minors would still be able to use handguns were educational and recreational purposes as long as they're in the presence of an adult. This bill has received the support of the National Rifle Association. It was nice to see the National Rifle Association come in committee meeting today without any opposition to a bill that regulate it hand. Of course you can't deny that fact that regulating hand. And I would say also that this is something that we need in this state. Well not only in this state but in this country also. So it was refreshing to see them coming in on a positive note. But take a shot at our first meeting after such a contentious session. This bill is one of many recommendations from the North Carolina Child Fatality task force which was formed by lawmakers several years ago to address the growing number of child deaths. The measure now goes to the House floor. Fine tuning the state budget is turning out to be a slower than expected process. Senate budget leaders had hoped to approve their version of

the spending plan last week. Then they were trying to bring it to the Senate floor today. But now the Senate's version of the state budget will not be ready until tomorrow. This will allow the staff again to be thoroughly go through it and in and in a fashion that will not be reminiscent of last week when we were working here into midnight on Thursday night. And I think until 10:00 or 11:00 the other night before that lawmakers have about a billion dollars to work with in the short session with demands on the money ranging from teacher and state employee pay raises to funding for the information highway. After the Senate finalizes its spending proposal the House will chime in. Then the two sides must agree on a compromise version. Ballots are being counted this evening to determine the winners from today's runoff elections. The Democratic nomination for the state appeals court judge was the only statewide race for voters to consider. It pitted incumbent Judge Elizabeth McCrossin against Attorney John

Thyssen of Fayetteville. The winner of today's runoff will face Republican Superior Court Judge Mark Martin of Greenville in the November election. Republican voters in the Charlotte area cast their ballots for their choice for the ninth congressional district. Former Charlotte mayor Sue Myrick and State House minority leader David Balmer faced off in that contest and voters bellied up to the polls in Ashburn today for the fourth time in 30 years. The city held a referendum on whether to allow the sale of beer wine and liquor by the drink. The World Health Organization is using the occasion of World No Tobacco Day to announce a startling statistic. The WTO estimates that half of all smokers will be killed by smoking. The United Nations health agency says smokers have a death rate three times higher than non-smoking non-smokers rather at all ages beginning in young adulthood. The world health organization sponsors World No Tobacco Day to urge smokers and chewers to quit construction on the western North Carolina portion of the new Interstate

26 is moving years ahead of its original schedule. The interstate will connect eastern Tennessee with Asheville the Tennessee portion is almost complete and construction is moving quicker than expected on the North Carolina side. A recent infusion of $60 million in North Carolina has helped shape five years off construction. I-26 wasn't supposed to be completed until the year 2006 or later. The faster pace is the result of pressure from an astral based group of business and civic leaders that. Clowns who are scattered all across the state today with light rain falling in the eastern portion of North Carolina is we're in the low to mid 70s in the mountains. Richards reached into the high 70s in the Piedmont. However Charlotte was a bit warmer with a high of 84 temperatures on the coast reached near 90 rather 80. Tonight expect clouds over the entire state with a chance of showers reaching from the Piedmont to the coast. Lows will

dip into the mid 50s in the mountains and mid 60s while the rest of the state tomorrow may be a stormy day for North Carolina. There's a chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms will the entire state. Highs will reach into the mid 70s to low 80s in the West. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s with the Piedmont and the coast. You. See. An apple a day may soon be an expensive habit if area. Apple Growers get their way. The newly formed southeastern Apple marketers Association has decided to demand a minimum price for their apples. The group will find the growers who sell below it. Apple growers from North Carolina South Carolina and Georgia formed the association last night. Dwight GILBERT The group's founder says a similar Association in Michigan increased profits from $30 per ton of apples to $90 per ton. Henderson County growers got about $30 per ton of apples last year. Increased trade with

Asian nations is having dire consequences will the black bear population of the Appalachian Mountains. There is a market in Asia for the Bears gall bladder. The animal's organs are used in medicines in the Orient and can be sold for twelve hundred dollars apiece. The black bears teeth hide and paws can also be sold. The high profit margin is prompting some hunters to trap or hunt the Bears illegally. The stock market was mixed in the first session of the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up one point to close at thirty seven fifty eight point thirty seven decliners lead gainers by about four to three. The standard Poor's 500 index was down nearly a point while the Nasdaq composite index gained two points. Activity in the market was sluggish following the long Memorial Day weekend. Now for some stocks of North Carolina interest. Not to

be too easy to see. You can. See star stands for North Carolina students teach and reach. And under this program college students visit public schools to encourage young people to enter into a dialogue about race relations and more. Our guest tonight is Cathy Stewart. She's executive director of People for the American way in

North Carolina and creator of the star. And thank you so much Kathy for being here. My pleasure. Now in seastar How does this program conceive that sounds extremely interesting but what's the genesis. Well it's really very interesting of several years ago in 1990 the city of Greensboro was planning to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Greensboro sit ins and they asked people for the American way to be involved to do some educational programming. And we started thinking about how do you honor the courage of four college freshmen who had the dedication and commitment to sit down in a segregated lunch counter. Years later we wanted to have young people involved and so we created the idea of a college student speaker Spera and so on one day in February 1990 we put out the call and we asked college students if they would like to come from all over the state to Greensboro to work in the public schools and talk a little bit about what the sit ins meant to Greensborough to the civil rights movement and where where are we today with

race relations. And they said yes and continue to come. Well exactly. So like if you if you offer the opportunity they would just grab it with us. But I mean they have to be trained in order to go in and speak with authority. Absolutely. And in fact that was what we had to start building because on that day as I said it was just a one shot deal where the college students came in and we did do a meeting to train students to talk with them give them materials that at North Carolina and. But it was just for one day. And what we found in site visits on that one day that the positive opportunity when the secondary students met with college students that they weren't that much older than they were but they were hearing some interesting things they were learning some information that they didn't know anything about. And then they were getting a chance to think about some very difficult issues some issues that affect us like what type of issues does insist on address. Discrimination prejudice people talk about experiences in their lives

something things that bother them about people in their class. I mean we've been in classrooms all over the state where you walk in and you see people of color on one side of the room and other people on the other and you feel like that people say well even if we don't look alike that means we have nothing in common. And so what we've tried to do is create an opportunity for people to realize that they have a whole lot more in common if they're willing to communicate with each other. Is this something that was really well-received by educators as you have trouble convincing them that it is beneficial. Well there was no question that when the program started in Greensboro that there was some skepticism at first and you know this sense of what we haven't done anything like this before is this a good idea to have these peer role models potentially come into the classroom. And once it was successful and they saw the potential then we went to work. We started working with school systems developing a curriculum a comprehensive curriculum a training materials because it's very important that before a classroom is ready for a college student the college student must be ready to go in

that classroom. And so we've been working with school systems and by and large teachers and principals and educators are interesting creative opportunities to help young people. Now there was an incident with Caldwell high school where two students were stabbed to. What black students were stabbed by white students. And so the store was able to go in and help mediate the situation. Well is a very interesting situation that that tragedy occurred. And one day we got a call from a guidance counselor at West Caldwell. And she said we've had a tragedy at our school and we need to have some opportunities for the young people to have a chance to heal to be able to talk about their feelings their sense of loss. Would you bring star to our community. Well Caldwell County is a long way from from Raleigh where office is headquartered and we were in our building stages a VNC store program. But how could we deny that request. And so we responded and we went to work with the the dean of students at Orion

college and with the Caldwell community college and went into West Caldwell with those college student volunteers many of whom who were graduates of West Caldwell high school. And it was just remarkable that they had a chance to talk about. What causes this breakdown in human relations this mistrust this distrust. And in fact that opportunity from that opportunity. There were several high school students who participated in that at West Caldwell who then went on to colleges all over the state who are now in seastar volunteers in other communities. Now you have hundreds of students who get involved in this every year and I think it's really commendable that these students are willing to take on such a tremendous responsibility. It really is. In fact since 1990 more than 3000 college students have been trained to be and seastar volunteers. And this year we have been working in 12 different communities and terrific. This is

25 different colleges and universities. And and we've had almost 400 college students in this year alone. And it's going to go even outside of North Carolina. So we'll be hearing more and more about in seastar as it grows and grows. Congratulations on your program and thank you for joining us this evening. Thank you Audrey. Now we'd like to get your response to North Carolina now and your suggestions as well. Simply call our comment line at 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 8 0 8 or write us at P.O. Box 1 4 9 0 0 0 Archie PNC 2 7 7 0 9. You can fax a message to 9 1 9 5 4 9 7 0 4 3. Or try our Internet address. You see TV at AOL period com. Whatever you do please give us a daytime phone number in case we need to reach you. And John one thing I do need to add while insue star is a very popular program. There have been a few problems

with it. Yeah a little bit. The issue is that they deal with are quite controversial some schools are a little reticent to have their kids deal with those issues they don't want. There's a problem 1:9 And there was even a lawsuit in the county but it's it's a very beneficial program and it's growing. It really is growing. Well tomorrow night we're going to take a look at a group that keeps some vintage World War II airplanes up in the air. Right. And also Dick Hatch will be here with a story about coastal management a very beautiful and interesting piece. So we hope you'll join us. Until then I'm Wydra KC's Bailey. That's all for now. I'm John Nance. The entire hard working very hard work. Yes. Night to