A great event, no lie

There’s been a lot of reference to crowd size lately on the national stage.

The latest trend describing gatherings is to use the expanding hand method. Extending one’s hands, positioning both approximately six inches apart, defines a small crowd by one man’s standing. Moving the hands further apart signifies a larger crowd.

If I were to use this method to define the crowd in downtown Williamston last Friday evening, my hands would be outstretched as far as anatomy allowed.

Williamston came alive last Friday night with outstretched arms welcoming young, old and toddlers. Sidewalks overflowed. The Small Shop on Main was packed. The Main Street Stage featured The Legacy, a Motown band that time travelled the crowd back to the Motor City for a supreme evening.

Williamston Marketing Coordinator LaShonda Cartwright and Town Planning and Zoning Administrator Andrew Brownfield played an important role in the event. The two drafted the town’s food ordinance bringing culinary adventures to town.

It was an appetizer for this week’s annual Carolina Stampede Music Festival. We should bring those hands together for a round of applause for Brownfield and Cartwright.

The only thing missing were the muscle cars once blaring Motown tunes up and down Woodward Ave. on the way to Ted’s Drive-in. I speak from 1970’s Woodward Avenue experience.

Speaking of muscle, a tiny disgruntled group of Facebook residents tried to flex theirs and dampen the joy, spirit and enjoyment of Friday evening.

The small minded people immediately took to Facebook criticizing the event, bragging about how much support they have. However, all that support has mustered $300 on their gofundme initiatives.

Sound familiar?

People shouldn’t be surprised this is happening locally. Daily we hear we are “Nation in Decline” from

a known liar, who has gotten a disappointing National Media pass for almost a decade.

Obviously, being able to lie and get away with it has trickled down.

Small town gatherings, around music, food and folding chairs have been an American tradition since the English settlers brought bluegrass to our shores. Now, however, the lyrics have changed.

If you’re not playing tunes of the disgruntled, those who would rather tear down instead of building up, they flex their muscles, threaten lawsuits and continue to tarnish the good work of others.

I received calls about the negative postings over the weekend from residents who were dismayed anyone would attack such an enjoyable event. The shops and restaurants that remained opened benefitted financially from the crowd helping the local economy.

Which brings us back to the national stage.

If you don’t like the attacks made on Facebook directed at Cartwright and the town, think about the upcoming election.

Friday night’s crowd knows exactly how enjoyable the events were. Facebook fabrications cannot distort that for those in attendance. However, just like those hands on the national stage, where lies are flying, Facebook locals were spewing lies about Friday night’s event.

How could this happen you ask? Take a look at the political signs dotting lawns. Unfortunately his lies don’t matter.