Look Back ... to a performance by the most famous Romanian violinist, 1949

Jan. 14—Jan. 14, 1949, in The Star: Anniston music lovers enjoyed a treat last night when Georges Enesco, the great Romanian violinist, played for a near-capacity crowd in the Anniston High School auditorium. From the moment he carefully adjusted his bow hairs and struck the first notes of the Vivaldi sonata, until he finished his last encore, the audience was conscious of a compelling musicianship which far transcends mere technical proficiency. Unfortunately, the audience was unable to see the beauty that shines in Mr. Enesco's face as he bent over his violin, but the students who heard him talk in the afternoon and those who met him after the concert were indeed impressed by this lovely, generous man. [Mr. Enesco, who lived from 1881 to 1955, was a child prodigy and is regarded as one of Romania's greatest musicians of all time. He didn't start performing in the U.S. until the 1920s.]

Jan. 14, 1999, in The Star: At least $11 million a year has been kicked out from under Alabama's state park system, money that's been getting used for the past couple of years to renovate and repair all sorts of part facilities. The money has been lost thanks to a judge's ruling overturning a 1996 executive order by Gov. Fob James that's lately been forcing large retailers to pay the state a greater share of sales taxes and keep a smaller processing fee for themselves. Locally, the judge's ruling means Cheaha State Park's Bald Rock Lodge won't get renovated anytime soon — nor will the park's historic cabin network or its water supply.