Charm Magazine Summer 2019

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SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER!

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR KIDS ENTERTAINED F I E S TA F U N

FRESHEN UP YOUR BACKYARD MENU P R I M E & R E A DY F O R SOMETHING NEW

Restaurateur adds sandwich shop location TOP SUMMER TRENDS

Add some flair to your summer standards

We’re back!

Charm Night Out returns June 20 See page 2 for details

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Summer 2019

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CONTENTS S u m m e r Fa s h i o n

16

PAGE

STAFF & CONTRIBUTERS

Photography Alan Campbell Sarah Louya Les Atkins

7

8

Cultivate Your Closet

...Now what do I wear?

Look good while protecting your eyes from those harsh rays

12

Advertising Kelly Ayscue Natasha Daniel Lewis Smith Chris Taylor Bryan Wilson

Valerie Briges

Yalem Kiros

Sunglasses Buyers’ Guide

PAGE

Take a break from the burgers and hot dogs this summer to try something this fun & healthy recipe

Editorial Gene Metrick Spencer Carney Jenny White Amelia Harper

6

PAGE

DIY Taco Station

Publisher Kyle Stephens

Summer is Here!

PAGE

2 0 1 9

Design & Layout Becky Wetherington

10

Easily transition from one season to the next

ED I TO R ’ S L ET T ER

S U M M E R

Charm Night Out

14

4

18

R O C K Y M O U N T T E L E G R A M S T A F F

We’re back!

Join us on June 20th at the Rocky Mount Mill Village.

Summer 2019

When the humidity makes the air soupy and the temperatures soar…what’s a girl to do?

Get out her flip-flops and sleeveless tanks of course!

Summer is here and we’re looking forward to lazy days, no school, toes in the sand and poolside conversations. Sure, there’s more sweat than usual. And sometimes high heat index numbers can make you cranky. But most of us look forward to Carolina summers and are prepared to travel from one airconditioned place to another, with as little time as possible outside if there’s not a pool or an ocean nearby.

We hope to see you at the (nicely airconditioned) Charm Night Out event, coming up on June 20. This event was a Rocky Mount Telegram summer staple for many years.

After a brief hiatus the last few years, Charm Night Out is back, better than ever for this summer. We’re holding it at the Telegram’s new home in the Rocky Mount Mill Village.

It’s a great reason for you to grab your best girlfriends and enjoy a night out. There will be food, fun, fashion and shopping with local businesses. Tickets are $5 if purchased in advance at the Telegram office and will be $10 at the door.

Here’s to summer! And Hope to see you at Charm Night Out!

PAGE

Fun for Kids

HAPPY SUMMER!

Photo by Sarah Louya

Charm

Charm

Charm Magazine is published by APG Media Eastern NC, and is a subsidiary of the Rocky Mount Telegram. Contents may not be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

Summer 2019

5

SUMMERTIME IS HERE!

SUNGLASSES BUYERS’ GUIDE

Be sure to come to Charm

Night Out from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 20 at the Rocky

Mount Mills and check out our summer fashion show.

We’ll be featuring styles

from local boutiques and stores. See this summer’s

hottest trends, up close and personal. See you there!

Blue It’s time to get out your flip-flops, your

•

Tie-dye prints

sundresses and favorite t-shirts and shorts.

•

Stripes

Here in our neck-of-the-woods, staying

•

Large floral prints

comfortable in blazing hot temperatures is

•

Cherry prints

the main priority. That means light fabrics,

•

Tropical colors

sleeveless tops, sandals and absolutely NO

•

Anything lavender

PANTYHOSE.

•

Very flowy culotte-style or wide leg trousers

This season, local boutiques and stores are stocked up with top summer trends.

• •

wear sunglasses that block UV

sunshine help makes summer

radiation whenever they head

special. Come summer, many

outdoors in daylight hours. This

people

time

is essential for men, women and children. Sunglasses are

and everything seems a bit more

necessary during the times of

laid back.

day when the sun’s rays are at

Puffy sleeves

•

Black and white plaid or gingham

•

Polka dots (especially black and white

paired

with

Even though people may

their strongest, but wearing them anytime the sun is out can

in summer, the National Eye

protect one’s vision.

Institute says people should

something

yellow)

6

Summer 2019

•

White dresses

•

Naked sandals

Charm

more

take a more relaxed attitude

Matching crop tops with skirt or

•

spend

and

enjoying recreational pursuits

trousers

wardrobe fashionista worthy. Look for these styles in stores this season:

ample

knee and ankle

Pair your summer standards with one or two new pieces to keep your hot-weather

Midi-dresses that hit between

skies

Charm

Sunglasses present a great

defense against UV rays that can cause short- and long-term eye damage, states the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Diseases such as cataracts, cancer and growths on the eye all can result from prolonged exposure to UV rays, which can damage the eye’s surface tissues as well as the cornea and lens.

Prolonged exposure to UV rays also may affect retinal cells.

When purchasing sunglasses to protect the eyes, consumers should consider these important factors.

• Ultimate protection: The American Optometric Association says that sunglasses should offer 100 percent protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Some glasses will simply list a numerical indicator.

In such instances, sunglasses that offer protection against UV 400, which will encompass the wavelengths for both UVA and UVB rays, are best.

• Buy from a reputable retailer. Not all sunglasses live up to their claims. Sunglasses sold at doctors’ offices, department stores and sunglass speciality shops often meet the standards for protection, advises The Vision Council, a trade organization for

Summer 2019

the optical industry.

• Choose tint for activity. Tint will not affect UV protection, but it can make certain activities more enjoyable. Darker lenses may help at the beach, where there is more reflective light.

Orange or yellow lenses increase contrast while driving or fishing.

On cloudy days, amber or rose lenses can help improve contrast. Customers should choose a tint that makes them feel comfortable.

• Polarized lenses help fight glare. Polarized lenses and those with anti-reflective coatings can alleviate glare. Such lenses work by only letting in specific amounts of light at certain angles, which helps to reduce the brightness of that light, says the Discovery Eye Foundation.

• Go big. Bigger frames or wrap-around designs can further block UV light from different angles, particularly the side of the eye.

Consumers should consider various factors when shopping for their next pair of sunglasses. For more eye safety tips for the summer , visit www.aao.org.

7

Investing is about more than money.

C U LT I VA T E Y O U R C L O S E T

Tr a n s i t i o n y o u r

wardrobe

At Edward Jones, we stop to ask you the question: “What’s important to you?” Without that insight and a real understanding of your goals, investing holds little meaning.

Contact your Edward Jones financial advisor for a one-on-one appointment to discuss what’s really important: your goals.

season

to the next sleeves or knit sweaters. When covering up, use a waist-cinching belt or scarf to add structure to the look. · VARY SHOES: While flip-flops and other sandals may be summer staples, have a few People who put a lot of thought into their

environments especially chilly. Leggings can

wardrobes know that one of the challenges

be worn under skirts or dresses and then

presented by the changing seasons is figuring

removed as temperatures rise. long-sleeved shirts at the ready. Simple sleeve

chilly day is to be expected, removing

length can mean the difference between

summertime attire like shorts and sleeveless

comfort and discomfort. Covering shoulders

shirts from consideration.

and/or arms with a lightweight top also can

footwear tends to provide less support than

Such sudden changes can be problematic,

protect against the rays of the sun. Choose

footwear worn during other times of the year.

as not everyone has the room to store multiple

among your most versatile long-sleeved

Transitioning clothing from one season to

seasons' worth of clothing in their closets and

shirts, meaning basic colors that will blend

the next takes a little ingenuity. While it may

drawers. Yet, with a little ingenuity, men and

well with any outfit.

not require a person to keep all of his or her

in hand with warm weather. Keep bright-

· LAYERING: Layering is the key to keeping

colored items you typically wear during other

comfortable no matter the weather. Layering

seasons so they can be paired, if necessary,

enables you to take off layers or put them on

with summer staples. This may include a thick

as needed. Lightweight sweaters or blazers

sweater for cooler nights on the beach or

can be worn over short sleeves or sleeveless

trousers for formal evenings out on the town.

ensembles when temperatures have yet to

· Maxidresses: When shopping, invest

reach their midday highs. Layers also can

in maxidresses. They're easy and cool for

prove invaluable in office settings where

hot days and nights, but they also can be

the air conditioning may make working

refashioned if you wear them with long

8

Summer 2019

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with a maxi-dress. Ballet-style slippers are

spring transitions into summer, the occasional

transitions a little easier.

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· LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS: Keep a few

· BRIGHT COLORS: Bright colors go hand

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other pairs of more traditional shoes at the

out what to wear and when. For example, as

women can make their seasonal wardrobe

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Summer 2019

9

Ya l e m Kiros

Kiros said the community has welcomed the shop with open arms, with groups of women coming in for lunch and tea, people coming in the mornings for coffee and customers walking over for coffee and dessert after lunch at Prime Smokehouse.

“A customer said to me, ‘I never came downtown until your restaurant opened. We love coming to your restaurant now, and I can’t wait to come to your coffee shop,'” she said. “I never knew the city without our restaurant, but those who’ve lived here long enough know what my husband and I have done for this city — and every morning I get up and just say, ‘Wow, I’m just excited to come in to work.'”

She said that she foresees NABS as the hub of the coffee shops on Main Street, and she hopes that soon they’ll be able to do Ethiopian coffee ceremonies and high tea. As the seasons change, they also plan to bring warm drinks such as hot chocolate and apple cider to the menu.

While Kiros originally went to school for nursing, she said that the idea for a coffee shop was always in the back of her mind.

“When I came to Silver Spring (Maryland) in, I want to say ’89, I kept saying to myself I wish we had at least one coffee shop in the downtown,”

is

Prime & Ready Restaurateur adds sandwich shop location

By Spencer Carney

Six years ago in downtown Rocky Mount, a new barbecue restaurant opened just off Main Street.

The Prime Smokehouse quickly grew in popularity, becoming a destination point in the city accessible from the new Event Center or from the train station, which brings customers from New York and Florida and everywhere in between.

Now, six years later, the husband and wife who opened the Smokehouse have started a new venture, one that while only open a few weeks, looks as if it will quickly grow to the popularity of the original restaurant.

Never A Better Sandwich, or NABS for short, is located on Main Street in a renovated building.

The cafe is divided in two sections. On the deli side, husband Ed Wiley makes fresh sandwiches and salads every morning for customers to grab and go and hot sandwiches for those who have a few minutes more on their lunch break.

Wife Yalem Kiros said that while customers enjoy the Smokehouse for lunch, she and Wiley kept getting requests for a faster lunch menu.

10

“People had demands that they wanted lunch in less than 30 minutes, and we were like, well, the whole process takes more than 30 minutes,” she said. “My husband and I thought about it, but we just could not figure out how to make it take less time.”

To avoid compromising quality for speed, the couple decided to open the sandwich shop, designed to be a quick food option for people in the area who wanted a faster lunch. In the few weeks NABS has been open, Kiros said the customers love the easily accessible, good sandwiches made by her husband.

However, what customers will really not want to miss is on the other side of the shop. On the coffee side of the cafe, Yalem Kiros offers freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee, a variety of teas and freshly made pastries such as cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes, fruit tarts and croissants, all made by her husband.

“I try to roast the coffee first thing in the morning. It’s all computerized; you can have a profile for all of your customers, with their coffee orders and everything,” Kiros said. “I never even

Summer 2019

thought about how there’s all this demand for these different kinds of coffee. There’s a large Middle Eastern community in Rocky Mount, and they said they have to go to Raleigh for Turkish coffee. They asked, 'Can you do that?' And I said, 'Absolutely.'”

Born in Ethiopia, Kiros learned about the art of making coffee from her mother. She describes going through that process with her husband.

“Once I got married, I’d roast my coffee, and Ed was so taken by it,” she said. “He’d ask if I’d bring it to him, and I’d say that he has to start drinking the coffee from the aroma. You have to say thank you when I bring it to you to smell the aroma, and part of it is to give me your blessings.

That’s what my mom and everybody did. And then I’d tell him, don’t go anywhere. You have to sit, sit down and enjoy the coffee — no phone, no TV.” She paused to laugh, then said, “I’m relaxed with him now, and I don’t really mind. We’re busy, busy people. But every morning, I don’t leave the house without roasting my coffee.”

Charm

she said. “And now of course, it’s full of them there and everything’s changed — but imagine if I had this shop 28 years ago — so in the back of my mind, it was always there.”

She said that she enjoyed her time as a nurse and that the skills she learned in her program prepared her to be able to do anything but laughed and said she isn’t planning to go back to nursing anytime soon.

“When you have a business, especially one dealing in food, it’s nursing in a different way,” she said. “I love this because I get to see happy people. Too many years, 12-16 hours with someone in pain, and with this we just feed them and they’re happy.

"It’s more delicious, you’re only having a joyful experience with your customers, so I love this.”

Kiros tributes her love of coffee and food to her mother, who helped her father host diplomatic families and catered for the United Nations base in Arabia.

She said that the biggest lesson she’s learned from running both the Smokehouse and NABS is to not take anything for granted.

“I’m just so grateful. As a nurse I always said to myself, wow, I never thought I could explain myself this way — but then with business, wow,

I never knew I could make such an impact,” she said.

In her work with Prime Smokehouse, she said she’s witnessed the incredible life-changing experiences her employees are able to have from working at the restaurant. People who walked to and from work are now driving their own cars and owning their own homes.

“Seeing someone working for you who used to walk home everyday who now has a nice car and a nice home, it makes you think that Rocky Mount is really a place to live because you can do that,” she said. “In New York, you’d still be walking home.”

In the six years that the restaurant has been open, Kiros said she’s watched as employees they hired as dishwashers have become sous chefs. She’s excited to see the impact her coffee house will have.

“Coffee houses have always been around and have always been the bases for great ideas," she said. "When I was in college, my cup of coffee and my books were my everything. I want that to be the future of this coffee shop.”

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Summer 2019

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By Amelia Harper

appealed to me. I decided I wanted to do

to be “A” leader, but never forgetting to love

County is heartfelt. Every day, I am inspired by

something that would make a difference in

and care about the people you lead,” Bridges

our community's genuine care and concern

children’s live as well.”

said.

for our students, and their resilient belief in

However,

serving

as

a

school

superintendent is a new kind of challenge.

Valerie Bridges

“I am aware that being the first female

Bridges said she can succeed in her role

a better tomorrow. Edgecombe County is a

because of the support of members of the

wonderful place to raise a family, engage in the

community.

community and make a positive difference,”

superintendent is a challenge, but I refuse to

“The community support in Edgecombe

Bridges said.

embrace challenges —- I work through and around them. My family raised me to believe that I could do and be anything that I desired.

Therefore, my gender has never been a barrier, but instead I use my gender as a bridge to success regardless of my career choice.”

The biggest challenge, she said, is balancing work and family while still taking time to care for herself. That is hard when a leader cares passionately about the people she leads.

“I believe that a caring person — woman or

E dgecombe County Public Schools

man — can bring a sense of team and a family

superintendent

knowing when to be “THE” leader and when

atmosphere to any organization. When you treat people well and care about them and their individual lives, it makes a difference. I’m a mom, wife, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. Leading the school system means

First woman

to serve that role in the county

V

superintendent

County

College. For several years, she worked as an

for the position. She served as

Public Schools, and I hope not to be the

accountant and an auditor for the state of

associate

in

last,” Bridges said. “This is my sophomore

North Carolina.

Edgecombe County Public Schools for more

year as superintendent. I am proud to serve

than four years before assuming the mantle

our community, excited about the plethora

of leadership.

of community support and hopeful for our

superintendent

Prior to that, she served as an assistant in

Edgecombe

of

Edgecombe

students' bright future.”

She was on a successful career track when a new passion changed her plans.

“I really credit my mother for inspiring me to enter into the field of education,” Bridges

and

Bridges’ passion for students and education

said. “She was a teacher, and I would often

Washington county schools. She has also

is clear. But she did not start her career in

bring my kids to her classroom when I was

worked in Guilford and Wake county public

education.

working. I found myself spending more and

schools as a high school teacher, middle

Bridges earned her bachelor’s degree in

more time in her classroom. My mother would

school assistant principal and elementary

accountancy from the University of North

pique the interest of those students and they

principal.

Carolina-Wilmington and a master’s degree

were enthralled by her. The way she was able

in business administration from Meredith

to help those students learn and develop

“I am excited to be the first female

12

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Summer 2019

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Summer 2019

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ALSO, THIS IS A FULL PAGE- SIZE IS 7.884 X 10

ight Out!

After a brief hiatus, the Rocky

community and the spirit of the

the Rocky Mount Mills,” Davis

and visit. And live -- we have staff

Mount Telegram’s Charm Night

Telegram’s women’s magazine,

said. The Rocky Mount Telegram

people who live here, too.”

Out (CNO) will return this year on

Carolina Charm.

office moved to the Mill Village in

Presenting sponsor is Rocky

“We like to do it because it’s

December. The Telegram office is

Mount Family Medical. Other

a great way to reach out to our

located on the second floor of the

sponsors include Nash UNC

Organizers say there will be

community,” Davis said. “We

main mill building.

Health Care, Osborne Jewelers

shopping with over 20 vendors

support local businesses and

“Charm Night Out will be held

and Gardner’s Barbecue. Food

present, food, a fashion show,

connect them to some of our

in the Power House, and in the

will be provided by Chick-Fil A,

lots of give-aways, raffle items

favorite people – women of all

community areas of the first and

Gardner’s Barbecue and For Your

and more – all meant to offer a

ages from the Twin Counties.”

second floor of the mill building,”

Elegance Catering. Davenport

Davis said.

Autopark is the auto sponsor.

June 20 at the Rocky Mount Mill Village.

great girls’ night out event.

Davis said the event offers a

Telegram staffer Gwen Davis

fun night out for local women

Davis said she loves the Mill

The event will be held from

has been helping to put on the

who can shop, watch a fashion

Village and hopes to introduce

4 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available

Telegram’s Charm Night Out

show and gather and visit with old

many

the

prior to the event for $5 at the

events since the first one. The

and new friends.

community if they haven’t had

Telegram office and online at

local

women

to

event was originally developed to

“We’re excited to show off

the chance to check it out already.

eventbrite.com. At the door,

bring together the women in the

our new neighborhood here in

“It’s a really neat place to work

tickets will be $10.

14

Summer 2019

Charm

1078 Hwy 48 Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Charm

854 Tiffany Blvd. #101 Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Summer 2019

15

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RECIPE

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Juice of 2 limes

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Summer 2019

Charm

Charm

Summer 2019

17

The

Infinite

Po s s i l i t i e s

of a Rocky Mount

Summer B y S pencer C arney

When I was younger, school letting out

access to all of the rides and park features,

might be an interesting jumping off point

for the summer was one of the events I

such as the miniature train ride and the

to see what you can do. You and your kids

always looked forward to. Endless warm

Splash Pad water park.

might be in Rocky Mount all summer, but

days of swimming and reading and

After a day at the pool, relax in the

watching tv, what more could any kid want?

evening at the Imperial Center. The

Inevitably, within about a week I’d

museum is hosting a variety of programs for

For more space-themed activities, it is

be bored out of my mind as heat and

all ages, including a concert series and lawn

worth a visit to the Imperial Center once

thunderstorms kept me inside, and my

chair movie night on the Imperial Center

again. Admission to the Children’s Museum

books and TV shows lost all of their appeal.

lawn. The concerts will be every other

and Science Center also includes admission

My mom was always well-prepared for

Thursday until Sept. 13, from 6-8:30 p.m.,

to all of the public shows in the planetarium

and the schedule of movies is available on

that day. The Cummins Planetarium will

Children in North America will spend, on

from between one to three month’s worth of

parents can look online or ask a teacher for a

have a new laser show every month, in

average, more than 900 hours attending

educational achievement can dissipate during

summer to-do packet.

addition to its regular shows, such as

school in a given year. The average school

prolonged breaks from the classroom. To help

Seasonal Stargazing and a show about

year in the United States lasts 1,016 hours, the

ensure that those hard-earned lessons are not

and day trips can be fun, entertaining and

equivalent of 42 continuous days. According

so easily forgotten, parents can help children

educational all at the same time. Science

to the Organization for Economic Cooperation

remain intellectually engaged in various ways

and Development, many developed countries

over school breaks.

centers, museums and living history locations

out of the dollar-sale bin and masonjars filled with scraps of paper that had paying “jobs” for me that were really just incentivized chores she didn’t want to do.

One way or another, I would’ve made it through the summer, but it was always a lot more fun to see what ideas of things to do she had in store for me that day. If it’s day four and your kids are already bored of lounging around, or if you’re looking for some ways to spend your free time this summer outside of work, keep reading for some ideas for a fun, local, easy, cheap summer.

Summer

thunderstorms

mean

it’s

important to enjoy when it’s sunny. When

18

“

Bring some of the universe to your backyard, or go explore some of the backyard that’s

“

when that day arrived, armed with crafts

in your universe.

the Imperial Center’s website.

that doesn’t mean you can’t still explore everything else that exists in the universe.

Astronauts.

If you don’t want to leave the house, bring some of the universe indoors. A

over school breaks

begin their academic years in September and

• Stick to a schedule. Try to maintain a

star-shaped cookie cutter can be used to

end them in June. Some, like Australia, feature

schedule similar to school, with children

make sandwiches and watermelon stars,

four terms with two-week breaks in between

waking at the same time each day and going

or dip the edges in yellow paint to create a

each term. Others go to school for most of the

to bed at similar hours. This will make it much

galaxy on blue craft paper. Borax, glue and

year — with various holiday breaks in between

easier to get back into a routine when a new

— and then get the bulk of their time off during

school year begins.

water make slime, add some glitter and food coloring to make galaxy slime. If all

the summer.

• Encourage reading. Set aside time for

•

Plan

educational

trips.

Vacations

can bring to life information learned in the classroom, even on family vacations.

• Learn at camp. Many children attend camp for a portion of their school breaks. Look for camps that do not simply babysit children, but

engage

them

through

enrichment

activities.

• Take a class. Children and families can

else fails, break out the crayons and paper

As much time as kids spend in school,

reading each day. All it generally takes is 15

there will be times when they are left to

to 30 minutes of reading per day for kids

to see who can make the craziest looking

their own devices, and during these times it’s

to remember their vocabulary lessons and

alien.

easy for them to forgot classroom lessons.

maintain their fluency and comprehension

Sometimes called “summer learning loss”

skills. Children may enjoy picking their own

or “summer slide,” this forgetfulness sees

books rather than having a required reading

and body. This gives everyone a chance to

many students fail to retain all of their

list.

learn something new and have a great time

Summer

doesn’t

have

to

mean

it feels like a million degrees outside, a great

On June 21, Braswell Memorial Library

boredom, and staying home in Rocky

way to cool off is the pool. Denton Street

will kick off “A Universe of Stories,” their

Mount doesn’t have to mean they stop

pool is only charging $3 per person per visit,

summer reading program for this year.

learning and exploring. Bring some of the

and Sunset Park is offering admission for

If you’ve worn out water balloon fights

universe to your backyard, or go explore

only $5. The payment for the park includes

and make-your-own sundaes, this theme

some of the backyard that’s in your universe.

Summer 2019

How to keep kids engaged

Charm

learn together by exploring new skills. Enroll in something educational and enjoyable, such as a music or dance class, a STEM seminar or something else that engages the mind

together as a family.

lessons over prolonged breaks from school.

• Keep a math book handy. On long car

Studies indicate that students score lower on

trips or rainy days, children can do a few math

Parents and educators can reduce lesson

standardized tests at the end of the summer

problems to keep their skills sharp. This will

loss over school breaks by encouraging

compared to their performance on the same

help keep learning loss to a minimum. Math

families to remain intellectually engaged in

tests at the beginning of summer. Anywhere

workbooks may be available at bookstores, or

any way they can.

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Summer 2019

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Summer 2019

Charm