By Valarie Schwartz
As has become a Fourth of July tradition, last Saturday included a trip out to Bolin Brook Farm in the Calvander community, where the Earnhardt family has for many years hosted a blueberry pancake breakfast for friends and neighbors.
The mood seemed more subdued than previous years, as is only natural given that this was the first breakfast without our beloved host, John Earnhardt, who died last October, and perennial ukulele-plucking minstrel, Roland Giduz, as well as longtime farming neighbors, Lewis and Everett Cheek of Lemola Dairy and Everett Blackwood, whom Jean Earnhardt referred to as “the sage of Calvander.â€
Still, the oak-canopied tables were filled with old friends catching up and others making new friends, as is the case each year during the four hours of arrivals and departures at the base of the spring that feeds Bolin Creek.
This was my latest arrival to the breakfast, following another community event, Le Tour de Carrboro Four on the Fourth race. My running days are behind me, but most of my volunteer efforts these days go to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, which is one of four local nonprofits, along with Arc of Orange County, El Centro Latino and Optimist Club of Chapel Hill, that have been named 2009 Community Partners of the Cardinal Track Club that promotes running and fitness by putting on races throughout the year.
Earning the partnership means supplying volunteers for the races.
So, arriving at McDougle Middle School at 7:20 a.m. wondering what my duties would be, I was surprised to find (a record-breaking attendance of) 590 registrants for the 8 a.m. start!
Things moved quickly. Upon check-in, it was determined that I would be among those deposited at intersections along the 4-mile run route to direct the runners and block cars from proceeding along their path. Within minutes, I was standing at the corner of Carol and James streets with instructions to stay there until the last participant and patrol car behind the last participant had passed — twice.
Before the runners arrived, a woman and her dog came and stood on the corner across from the spot where I waited for the pace car to arrive. She was waiting to cheer on her husband, who was running in the race, as she too would have been had she not been eight months pregnant. She was Erica Collis, a Health/PE teacher at McDougle Middle School, who gamely cheered on all the runners, congratulating them for making healthy choices, as she surely does with her students. She said that she loves her job so much, she had found it very difficult to make the decision to take time off from teaching after her baby arrives.
“I told the kids that I’d attend their games with my baby in one hand and shake the spirit jug with my other hand — and that I wouldn’t mix up my hands and shake the baby,†she said, laughing. “Some of my students said, ‘Oh no, Coach, you don’t want to shake your baby!’ I let them know that I knew that,†and was impressed that they knew too.
After the racers headed on down Carol Street to Hillsborough Road, we waited for the fastest runners to return back down James Street from West Main Street. Brock Baker, the recent UNC graduate who not only won but set a new record for the race (20:01.68), flew past first, almost forcing the pace car — a police car — to speed down the residential streets.
Billy Austin, a Carrboro policeman who fills his days during the school year as the resource officer at McDougle Middle School, pulled up and joined me at my post, sharing positive stories about his job and the cheering teacher across the street from us. He pointed out another teacher from the school who was running and also a parent, calling encouragement out to both.
Later, Collis shared what a difference Austin’s job makes for the students.
“Having law enforcement officers there a on a daily basis helps them understand that police officers are there to help us,†Collis said. “I’ve been very impressed with his reactions during times when someone with less control or respect with young people might overreact. When the kids get amped up, he’s able to bring them down and serve as a soothing influence, de-escalating any tension there might be. It’s neat to see it in action, because with those hormones, sometimes it’s the exact calming presence that they need.“
The race, followed by the blueberry pancake breakfast, served to remind of the many flavors that combine to create Carrboro community — a taste we can all savor.
Contact Valarie Schwartz at 923-3746 or valariekays@mac.com