U.S. Army Phtxo
Cal Cunningham, center, accepts the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award at the
Pentagon in June for his service in Iraq. It is the Army's highest honor for leadership.
Another native of Winston
wants to replace Sen. Burr
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Another Democrat from Winston-Salem
has joined the 2010 U.S. Senate race.
Cal Cunningham, a litigation attorney at
Kilpatrick Stockton who now lives in
Lexington, announced his candidacy last
week. Other prominent Democrats running
include Ken Lewis, a city native who now
lives in the Triangle area, and
Secretary of State Elaine
Marshall. All want the chance to
try to unseat U.S. Sen. Richard
Burr, a Republican who has called
Winston-Salem home for many
years.; \ -? * -
' Really, it's not in my nature
to sit on the sidelines while North
Carolina and our country are fac
ing the challenges that we're fac
ing." Cunningham said of his
motivation to seek office. "...
i ve looicea at trie guy wnose got
the job now, Richard Burr. This is a guy who
voted straight down the line to drive our coun
try into the ditch ... I know we can do better."
Lewis has openly criticized Cunningham,
who had declined earlier requests from sup
porters to run for the seat, chastising him for
not being up for the challenge sooner. In fact.
Cunningham had announced that he would not
enter the race.
"Was the mission not important 26 days
ago? Were the Wall Street investment bankers,
health insurance lobby, and special interests i'n
Washington not an important enough mission
for you to take on 26 days ago?" Lewis asks
in a statement .
But Cunningham, a captain in the US Army
Reserves Judge Advocate General's Corps,
said he thought long and hard before making a
bid for the seat.
"I have weighed this campaign against
what will be a tremendous sacrifice on the part
of our family," said the married father of two
who has spent more than 900 days abroad
serving in Iraq. "Some time ago, I decided the
likelihood of success outweighed the sacri
Lewis
fices."
Cunningham served one term as a repre
sentative of the 23rd Senate in the North
Carolina General Assembly, beginning in
2000, and says he is ready for the fierce com
petition the campaign will likely bring, espe
cially here in Winston-Salem, where he is one
of three candidates with local ties.
"1 have lived my life fully dedicated to
public service," said the 36-year-old. "...I
know I can run a campaign based on
energy and based on new ideas, and I
will welcome folks from our commu
nity ... and I'll work hard to earn their,
respect."
Creating jobs and focusing on
green solutions to current energy con
cerns are among Cunningham's chief
objectives.
"I'm very interested and con
cerned about alternative energy and
the opportunities that that provides
for our state economy" he said.
. .1 m going to make my top priority
getting jobs going again."
Though he is a latecomer to the race, as
some of his opponents have been campaigning
for months. Cunningham is confident his story
will resonate with voters.
"1 can argue a series of life experiences that
are perhaps unique," said the UNC-Chapel
Hill alumnus. "1 will put my credentials out
there afffl lePfoffTs ask their tougTTquesffons ."
State Rep. Larry Womble was on hand for
a private reception held in Cunningham's
honor at the law offices of Comerford and Britt
on Tuesday evening.
Womble. a longtime representative of the 71st
District, served with Cunningham during his
stint in the NC House.
Womble says he is supporting all
Democrats, though he has yet to throw his
weight behind a specific candidate.
"My first obligation is to support
Democratic candidates," said Womble, who
added that he is friends with Cunningham.
Lewis and Marshall. "Whichever one wins,
that's the one I'm going to support."
News
Clips
( Ow/iiUd from stuff, ? <""/
submitted h ports
Generous donors provide
gifts for BBBS
Big Brothers Big Sisters is
preparing to deliver more than
170 Christmas gifts to local
families that were donated by
area businesses, organizations
and individuals. Groups who
| collected gifts include Wake
Forest University students
and staff; parishioners at
Clemmons Presbyterian
Church; GMA employees;
and student members of the
West Forsyth Anchor Club.
All gifts will be delivered in
the days leading up to
Christmas.
"We are extremely grate
ful to everyone who so gener
| ously donated toys, clothes
and even furniture for our
families. Nothing quite com
pares to seeing the joy on
their faces when we make the
[ deliveries," said Amy Mack.
President/CEO Big Brothers
Big Sisters.
Joines named to
Innovation Council
Gov. Bev Perdue has
appointed Winston-Salem
Mayor Allen Joines to the
North Carolina Innovation
Council. The commission has
authority to assist in devising
methods to identify, promote,
and recruit potential enterpris
es and individuals to bring to
North Carolina to augment
innovation clusters and eco
nomic growth throughout the
state. The board has between
twenty-six and thirty-five
members, each serving a lim
ited term. The governor
appoints all members.
Joines is also a member of
the North Carolina Economic
Development Board.
Leader chosen for new
YMCA branch
Jennifer Rackley has
been named executive direc
tor of the Robinhood Road
Family YMCA, which is slat
ed to open in January.
Rackley has spent 15
years
working
for
YMCAs
i n
Virginia,
New
York,
New
Jersey
and
North
Carolina.
Rackley
She joined the YMCA of
Northwest North Carolina
association in 2006 as execu
tive director of the Davie
Family YMCA. She was sub
sequently promoted to dis
trict executive and. most
recently, vice president of
operations. >
As executive director of
the Robinhood Road Family
YMCA, her responsibilities
include overseeing all branch
operations, including pro
gramming, membership, staff
and board development,
community relationship
development and the annual
Partner with Youth cam
paign.
"I'm very excited about
the opportunity to lead this
new branch in serving such a
dynamic and vibrant part of
our community," she
says. "I'm looking forward to
working with (a) staff that
will provide the community
with great customer service
and high quality programs."
The new Robinhood
Road Family YMCA will be
in the former Peak Fitness
facility near the intersection
of Peace Haven Road.
WFUBMC now offering
H1N1 vaccine
Wake Forest University
Baptist Medical Center's pri
mary care clinics are offering
the H1N1 vaccine to estab
lished patients over the age of
6 months, through the normal
patient appointment process.
People who do not have an
established relationship with
a primary care provider may
call Health On-Call (800
446-2255) for assistance in
finding a physician practice.
Also, some vaccine is avail
able through the Forsyth
County Health Department,
which has announced upcom
ing flu vaccination clinics.
Also, some Wake Forest
Baptist specialty clinics and
services also have vaccine
for their patients, who may
call those clinics for an
appointment.
When the vaccine was in
shortage, health officials
were recommending that
only specific risk groups
receive the vaccine.
However, the vaccine - the
injectable and intranasal
FluMist - is now widely
available and is being offered
to anyone 6 months or older,
unless the person has a med
ical reason for not receiving
it.
WSSU alumni make history at A&T
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Wilson Jones and James
Spinks were among the 800
students to receive degrees at
North Carolina A&T State
University's Annual Fall
Commencement on Dec. 14.
They are the first students
to graduate from the institu
tion's newly-formed meteorol
ogy program. Jones and
Spinks, who are best friends,
received their undergraduate
degrees in applied math from
Winston-Salem State
University.
Their meteorology curricu
lum included thermodynam
ics, weather prediction and
topical meteorology.
Jones, a native of
Asheboro, conducted his thesis
research on "Climatology of
African Easterly Wave over
North Africa," while Spinks,
who hails from Wintofof
focused on "The Generation,
Maintenance and Propagation
of the pre-Helene African
Easterly Wave and Mesoscale
Convective System over
Africa: A Numerical Study and
Analysis of the Environment."'
Wilson Jones
They both presented their
research at the NOAA EPP
Forum at Howard University,
where Spinks won third place
for his presentation. Spinks
conducted an internship this
summer in Boulder, Colo.,
working at the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration for Earth
James Spinks
System Research Laboratory
(ESRL). Jones interned at the
National Climatic Data Center
(NCDC) in Asheville.
They both want to become
research meteorologists and
earn Ph.D. degrees through
A&T's Energy and
Environment Program.
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H.
Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every
Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 617
Pi. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101. Periodicals
postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. Annual subscription price
is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
BestHealth.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
In partnership tilth MedCost
January 2010 Events
Events are held at BestHealth in Hanes Mall or other locations, as noted.
V = registration required. Visit bestheatth.com or call 336-71 3-BEST (2378) to register.
For BestHealth membership Information, call 338-71 3-BEST or visit our web site.
5 TUE ? Massage Therapy
6 p.m. Learn the benefits of massage
therapy in this hands-on class led by
WFUBMC licensed massage therapist
Jennifer Barker. -Dress comfortably
and bring a pillow and blanket to class.
Fee: $5 per person. For BestHealth
members only.^f
7 THU - Bring Back the Broiler
6 to 7:30 p.m. Let Cbef Barry Moody
show you how to make deliciously
healthy 15-minute meals using the
oven broiler. Recipes and samples
provided. IT
1 1 MON - H1N1 Flu and
Inappropriate Antibiotic
Use: How do they
relate?
1 1 a.m. Antibiotics don't work for colds
or flu. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not virus
es. Inappropriate use of antibiotics has
caused an increase in drug-resistant bac
teria. Join Michelle Wallis of WFUBMC
Infectious Diseases and program manag
er for North Carolina Taking Antibiotic
Resistance Seriously (NCTars) to learn
more about antibiotic resistance and
appropriate antibiotic use.'^^
I MON - Beginner's Running
Clinic: Train for your
first 5K
6:30 p.m. Join Fleet Feet Sports to learn
more about No Boundaries, their 5K
training program for beginners that
starts January 30. If you're inactive or
minimally active, but eager to get in
shape, this program is for you. Dr. Jeff
Katula, WFU Assistant Professor of
Health and Exercise Science,
will also share strategies on
\ how to make meaningful
^ life changes to keep
? * you motivated.^*
12 TUE - Become a Student
Volunteer
3 p.m. If your teen is interested in
volunteering in a hospital setting, join
Meredith Phillips, manager of student
development in the WFUBMC dept.
of volunteer services, to learn the various
volunteer programs for high school and
college students.^"
. i. j1 " i. "i ??ii'i'i ?' 1
12 TUE - H1N1 Flu and
Inappropriate
Antibiotic Use:
How do they relate?
6 p.m. See Jan. 11 for description,
13 WED - Weight Loss Surgery
Information Session
5:30 to 7 p.m. Join WFUBMC sur
geons Dr. "Fuzz" Fernandez and Dr.
Stephen McNatt to hear about the
process for weight loss surgery evalua
tion, the risks and benefits of surgery,
and the nutritional needs, exercise com
mitment, and follow-up expectations.
Pre-registration is recommended but
not required. Will be held again Wed.,
Jan. 27, at 5:30 p.m.
14 THU - Zumba*
6 p.m. Join BestHealth certified group
fitness and Zumba insttuctor Courtney
Jackson as ^w^SeisBates a high
intensity, hilff^yJM.nTCss system like
no other. D?ss comfortably and wear
supportive shoes to participate.
15 FRI - California Fresh
Home Appetit
2 to 3:30 p.m. Join Julie as she prepares
some of the heart healthy items featured
on the California Fresh
Home Appetit menu.
Recipes and samples
provided.
Are You Ready to
QUIT Tobacco?
Course dates:
January 6, 13, 20, 27
February 3 and 10
12 to 1 p.m.
Join BestHealth as we kick off a
6-week Freedom from Smoking*
program taught by a certified
smoking cessation facilitator from
Wake Forest University Baptist
Medical Center. You'll get valuable
smoking cessation resources and
hear from a nutritionist and fitness
expert to help guide you in your
journey to becoming smoke free.
Fee: $50 per person. Space is limited.
To register, call 336-7 13-BEST
(2378). Held at BestHealth.
9 To register, visit besthealth.com anytime, or call 336-71 3-BEST (2378)
between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
Screening appointments must be made by phone.
Unless otherwise stated, BestHeatth programs we lor adults ; no children under age 12, please.
Wake Forest University Baptist
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