What's the first book you fell in love with? For C&P's Sam Cohen, it was “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman. As she tells it, when she was young, she read the story so many times, so enthusiastically, that she ended up damaging the book's spine. 

March is National Reading Month. We've pulled together a guide for how to find free books in your area. (Photo by Andrew Valdivia via Unsplash)

Holding onto that kind of enthusiasm for reading can be tough, especially as the years go by.  Discovering that there are numerous free resources for finding a good book has to be one of the best (and easiest) ways to reclaim that joy. Sam rounded up a list of resources outlining where you can get free books online and in person. You can read the full article here. 

Some highlights include libraries (public and the Little Free Library variety), local book swaps, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and plenty more.

After you've taken a second to let me know the first book you remember falling in love with by sending an email to info@cardinalpine.com, you can dive into the rest of the newsletter. Here's what we're looking at today:

It's hump day again. Hope you're well, NC.

Photo courtesy of The Go To Greensboro via Instagram.

It’s a tale as old as time: You make a reservation to visit one of the many vibrant hubs for arts, culture, or cuisine that line Elm Street in downtown Greensboro, but you arrive late to your destination because there was no available parking nearby.

Greensboro’s city leaders have heard the pleas of its citizenry: Enter the Hopper Trolley, a free public transportation service that travels along Elm Street between Fisher Avenue and Carolyn Coleman Way, making stops approximately every block.

A pilot program funded through June 2024 by the federal American Rescue Plan and the Participatory Budgeting Greensboro program, the Hopper runs from noon to midnight on Thursdays through Saturdays, and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays, with trolleys arriving every seven minutes.

Check out a few of the places you can easily travel to and from while utilizing the Hopper Trolley by clicking here.

More NC life:

IVF patient Hannah Johnson speaks at a press conference last week urging protections for fertility treatments. Next to her, left to right: Jillian Riley, director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic; NC Attorney General Josh Stein; and US Rep. Deborah Ross.

A new must-read at Cardinal & Pine dives into a group of North Carolina mothers and doctors who are warning that any restrictions on the IVF process would mean fewer moms having babies in North Carolina.

C&P's Michael McElroy reports on Hannah Johnson, who pursued in vitro fertilization after learning that she and her husband wouldn't be able to have children naturally. Over the course of her IVF treatments, Johnson had several successful embryo transfers, and several miscarriages. 

Two years ago, she gave birth to stillborn twins.

Then, last August, “I got to hold my miracle baby,” she said.

“His name is Ellis.”

Johnson laid out these details at a press conference last week alongside state Attorney General Josh Stein and two other women who’d had children through IVF. The group urged the Republican-controlled legislature to protect IVF treatments in North Carolina.

One in five couples face infertility issues in the United States, and IVF has helped millions of them have babies they likely would have been unable to have on their own. But since multiple embryos are produced in the process, the extras are either frozen for future use, donated, or if the couple doesn’t want any more children, destroyed.

Restrictions would have a devastating effect on IVF overall, the women said. 

Click here to read the full story.

More NC news:

Green Hill Cemetery is a not-so-hidden gem tucked into Greensboro’s park system. It’s also home to 700 different types of trees.

Just north of downtown Greensboro, running along North Buffalo Creek, is a string of parks where residents can enjoy any number of recreational activities. From hiking in the T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Natural Area and serving shots at the Latham Park Tennis Center to shooting hoops at the Lake Daniel Park Basketball Court and taking a dip at the Friendly Park Swim and Tennis Club, be sure to explore this oasis of green space.

 More info here. 

Cadbury Bunny Tryouts Schedule (Via @cadburyusa on Instagram)

A bunny from North Carolina is officially in the “Final Fur” of the 2024 Cadbury Bunny Tryouts. Sheldon, a rabbit adopted by Sophie Peterson of Jacksonville, has already made it through several rounds of the competition.

So far, Sheldon has made it through the “Round of Thirty-Cute,” “Creme 16” and “Eggcellent 8.”

What's next for Sheldon? The "Final Fur," and hopefully, after that, the "Championship Match" followed by the crown. 

Want to vote for Sheldon and show your NC pride? Click here to learn more.

Thanks for being such a loyal reader of our newsletter. As we look to grow our community in North Carolina, we could use your help.

Let your friends & family know about Cardinal & Pine by sharing your referral link below!

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. Cardinal & Pine is happily free to read for everyone. Your financial support means a lot to us. Donate here.

Send us your feedback and news tips to info@cardinalpine.com