Fountain Express

Huffman, of Smithfield, formed the Bluegrass Cutups in the 1960s, and in their various lineups, they have toured all over the U.S. and Europe. The band specializes in original songs and interpretations of bluegrass standards.

Huffman, who plays rhythm guitar and sings tenor lead, is joined in the current Cutups by Travis Johnson, lead guitar, vocals; Daniel Casey, banjo, vocals; Mike Rose, mandolin; and Ray Bridgers, bass. Former members include Wayne Benson, Hershel Sizemore, and Al Batten.

Huffman has released three CDs: Almost Level (2000), One More Time (2002), and Old Blue (2004) -- always available at R.A. Fountain.

Showtime is 7:30; general admission is $7.

Hear the Bluegrass Cutups do a couple of numbers:
"Listening to the Rain" (2.7 MB)
and
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (2.6 MB)

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The long run of bluegrass kicks off on Thursday night with Fountain General Store's twice-monthly Bluegrass Jam, hosted by Greenville picker Jack Wrzesinski.

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On Saturday night, the Triangle-based bluegrass trio Untravelled Road makes its Fountain debut. Consisting of Rex Williams, lead guitar, vocals; Jeff Aebi, mandolin, harmony; and Judy Hagwood, bass, the band performs classic bluegrass and originals composed by Williams.

Aebi, a mandolin instructor, has performed in Fountain with Haywire and Big Medicine, and he said he's looking forward to bringing his own band back to town: "It's a wonderful venue. I wish we had a place like this in the Triangle."

Untravelled Road's February 25 concert begins at 7:30. General admission is $5.

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Sunday's Free-at-3:00 this week features the Christian bluegrass gospel duo of Joyfull Praise. From Selma, Jeanette Holland and Paula Perritte perform a variety of classic Southern bluegrass gospel tunes to a pre-recorded track. They have recently released their first CD, When Angels Sing, which will be available at their February 26 concert. Click here for a photo of Joyfull Praise performing at R.A. Fountain.

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R.A. Fountain, General Store and Internet Cafe, is located in historic downtown Fountain, at the intersection of US 258 and NC 222. Its family atmosphere is smoke- and alcohol-free.

Reserved seats are available for all shows at an additional charge. Prices are always posted on our up-coming events page. For further information, phone 252-749-3228.

Miriam Lewis Named Outstanding Pork Producer in NC
Somehow, Miriam Lewis finds the time.

To tend a hog farm with nearly 7,000 "residents."

To sponsor 4H students in lamb-raising competitions at county and state fairs.

To take care of the the rest of a 500-acre site on Lewis Farm Road that also produces cattle, tobacco, corn, soy beans, peanuts, and hay.

To maintain a family that includes three teenagers.

And, to bring to Fountain General Store a weekly supply of fresh-baked cheese straws, coconut and pecan pies, and coffee cakes.

Last week, the 46-year-old Farmville farmer also was named Outstanding Pork Producer in North Carolina in a ceremony that was part of the NC Pork Conference held in Greenville. Lewis, a 1981 NC State graduate, sells her hogs under contract to Premium Standard Farm in Clinton.

She takes great pride in producing top quality hogs. "It's really a challenge to raise a healthy pig," she told Paul Dunn of the Greenville Daily Reflector (Feb 16, 2006: A9). "I don't want my pigs to look ragged. I want them to be perfect."

"I'm not sure how she does it all," said Fountain General Store proprietor Alex Albright, "but every week she brings us the goods. If she'd write a book on time management, it would be a best-seller."

In order to sell her home-baked products in a public store, Lewis was required to have her home kitchen inspected by a state agriculture agent.

She generally delivers her goodies on Thursdays, before the first show of the weekend. "That's the day when all our baked goods are freshest," said Albright, who also picks up banana bread, pumpkin walnut bread, and fresh-baked wheat and sunflower loaves on Wednesday evenings from the Upper Crust bakery in Greenville.

Agriculture department approval for food service is very different from health department approval, added Albright. "We can't really prepare anything on site until we deal with the health department, but having folks like Miriam and Gary Thompson provide us with fresh, locally made snacks allows us to offer good quality foods, with no preservatives, at reasonable prices."

Thompson, like Lewis, had his Greenville kitchen inspected so he could continue selling his Blue Ribbon jams and jellies and his chocolate hazelnut cheesecakes in Fountain. "Gary had to go to a 3-day school to get approval for selling his canned goods," Albright said. "We still have some of his products from the 2005 batches he entered in the Pitt County and North Carolina fairs, but we're starting to run out of some of them, too. We sent our last jar of pickled okra to Utah last week."

Fountain General Store has long-range plans of constructing a short-order restaurant in the back part of the Smith-Yelverton building, which is next door. "In the meantime," Albright said, "we're a good spot for desserts, with the fresh baked goods and homemade ice cream and milkshakes. Just be sure to get your supper before you come to Fountain."

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Ice Cream's Back
After a three-week hiatus, Jones Fruit Farm's ice cream is back in Fountain.

In previous years, the Greene County farm has produced ice cream only on a seasonal basis, primarily as an outlet for their fruits grown on site. But their homemade ice cream has proved so popular in Fountain that Ashley Jones has agreed to produce on a year-round basis.

"Ashley ran into a busy spell in January," Albright said, "and then he had some difficulties with getting his mix, and then some of his fruit spoiled. But we've got it all back in order now. We can't guarantee we'll always have all the flavors they make, but we're back in the rotation to keep pretty well supplied."

On hand now: peach, strawberry, banana, vanilla, and chocolate. The peach and strawberry are made with fruits grown on site.

"And they all make excellent milkshakes," Albright added.

What You're Reading:
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