Greenville Magazine by Cooke NC

Greenville LIFE in the EAST

Greenvillians take steps into the new normal delivered by COVID-19 INSIDE:

EATING OUT, VOTING, GOING TO THE DENTIST, GETTING A HAIRCUT AND THE ECONOMY.

SUMMER 2020

whda_washington_nc

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contents Publisher Robin L. Quillon Editor Bobby Burns Contributing writers Bob Garner and Karen Eckert Photographers Deborah Griffin Regional Advertising Director Craig Springer

Advertising representatives Tom Little, Christina Ruotolo, & Rubie Smith Creative services director Jessica Harris Creative services Lora Jernigan

4 6

WHAT’S NEXT FOR

EATING OUT

WHAT’S NEXT FOR

THE ELECTION

10 12

WHAT’S NEXT FOR

THE DENTIST

WHAT’S NEXT FOR

A HAIRCUT

Layout design Jasmine Blount Greenville: Life in the East is a publication of The Daily Reflector and Adams Publishing Group ENC. Contents may not

WHAT’S NEXT FOR

ECONOMY

be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

FROM THE EDITOR

Greenville LIFE in the EAST

Greenvillians take steps into the new normal delivered by COVID-19 INSIDE:

EATING OUT, VOTING, GOING TO THE DENTIST, GETTING A HAIRCUT AND THE ECONOMY.

SUMMER 2020

COVID-19 shut down Greenville, except for a few places like the Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Lowe’s and Walmart. The closures left us wondering what Life in the East would be about, and would we be able to publish a magazine at all. It left us wondering, jeez, what’s next? That question, along with a gradual reopening, gave us our theme. In this summer’s edition, folks around Greenville affected by the pandemic tell us what’s next for them, what the new normal will be like. From a dentist to a hairstylist to the staff at a favorite downtown eatery, they give us a look at how we might be able to live through the virus. Of course a lot remains to be seen, but with these first steps, hopefully we are on the path to recovery.

Summer 2020

Greenville: Life In The East

— Bobby Burns

EATING

Disposable menus, masks and six feet of distance the new norm for dining in By Bob Garner

Deborah Griffin

hico’s Mexican Restaurant has been in business next to ECU’s campus for 38 years. But as co-owner Mike Horton said the downtown favorite has never been through anything remotely like the restrictions placed on the business by COVID-19. After being totally closed for six weeks, Chico’s partially opened for take-out orders on April 29. The restaurant has always done a significant portion of its annual business on and following Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, which has evolved in the U.S. as the main commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage. “We wanted to get partially reopened in time to be prepared for what we expected would be an enormous Cinco de Mayo takeout rush, and we weren’t disappointed,” said Horton. “Ever since then, the ‘to-go’ end of things has been continuing to sizzle around here, and we now expect the reopened dinein business to strain us to our new, temporary 50 percent capacity. “Take-out is one thing, but the availability

Wait staff were required to wear masks as Chicos opened to the public for the first time in two months, just one of the many steps they are implementing to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

of Margaritas, Sangria and other drinks along with a meal is an important part of the total experience here for many customers, and we’re anxious to see that resume within the applicable space limitations.” During Phase 2, which began May 22 and will continue until June 26, groups will have to be spaced at least six feet apart in restaurant dining rooms, bar areas and on the front porch patio. Horton added that groups such as the Greenville City Council and the North Carolina Restaurant Association are helping them try to win approval for additional outside seating in the restaurant’s parking area. One idea still under exploration is for Chico’s and the adjacent Jimmy John’s self-service sandwich shop to equally share a certain number of tables in the joint parking lot on Cotanche Street, which is not being used at all at present due to surrounding construction. If the idea works out, the two restaurants would be responsible for maintaining the parking area during the interim arrangement. One immediate concern would be the need to secure the tables against damage or theft. Customers will find all Chico’s servers and other employees

Greenville: Life In The East

Summer 2020

wearing masks. While masks are not required for restaurant customers, they are encouraged by state authorities during the time that patrons arrive and wait for seating, as well as during the ordering process. “Each morning when we first open, I’ll continue taking the temperature of each employee with a non-contact thermometer, just as I’ve been doing during our May take-out-only period,” said Horton. “We’ll also be doing a lot of extra sanitizing and disinfecting of door handles, rest room areas, point-of-sale computer terminals, payment areas and the like,” he added. Horton said he’s ordered 5,000 disposable paper menus and that each customer will be asked whether he or she actually needs a menu. “So many of our customers already know exactly what they want when they arrive,” he said, “and if they don’t, it’s possible menus can be shared.” Horton said customers can also expect to find hand sanitizer conveniently placed all around the restaurant for the use of employees and customers. “It will take us a few days to adjust to this new reality, but I’m confident we’ll all be creative and efficient in figuring it out as we go along,” Horton said.

Chicos opened Friday, May 22, at 5 p.m. and is following several social distancing measures to keep patrons as safe as possible from the spread of COVID-19.

Chicos manager Dustin Lilley keeps an eye on the door to explain to patrons steps they are taking to help contain the spread of COVID-19. Things such as disposable menus, masks, and hand sanitizer are just a few of the precautions, they, and other restaurants are taking.

THE

No excuse to skip voting in North Carolina By Karen Eckert

lections officials are working to make in-person voting safe when the next election comes up in November, but voting by mail is already an option in North Carolina for voters who don’t want the risk, no excuses required. North Carolina is one of 28 states, along with the District of Columbia, to offer “no-excuse absentee voting,” according to vote.org. The North Carolina State Board of Elections explains “noexcuse” this way: “No special circumstance or reason is needed to receive and vote a mail-in absentee ballot.” That rule has been in effect since the late 1990s, Pitt County Elections Director Dave Davis said. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, this method of casting a ballot can be an option for anyone who does not feel comfortable or safe going in person to a polling place, Davis said. The first step for someone who is interested in voting by absentee ballot is to fill out a 2020 State Ballot Request Form. The form is available at www.pittcountync.gov/163/ elections. Printed copies of the 2020 State Ballot Request Form also are available at the Board of Elections office at the Pitt County Office Complex, 1717 W. Fifth St. A box with the request forms in it has been set up outside the building so that visitors do not have to make personal contact with employees, Davis said. Other items are available for pick up and drop off as well, including voter registration forms, according to Davis. The ballots themselves are not available, yet, he said. They cannot be mailed to voters until 60 days prior to the election. One Stop Early Voting, scheduled to take place from Oct. 15-31, is another option for voters.

The sites are referred to as “one-stop” because they allow people, in addition to voting, to participate in same-day voter registration and make updates to their registration, such as address changes. Davis said that plans are in the works for the early voting sites to comply with safety recommendations and mandates. Planning also is underway to implement safety precautions at the county’s 40 precinct polling place for people who choose to vote on Election Day, Davis said. Davis said he is in the process of acquiring square footage information from each site to plan for spacing of voting booths. Physical distancing of booths, no sharing of pens and wiping down voting booths are examples of precautions election officials and volunteers plan to take at the in-person voting sites. Davis said that he expects election workers to learn lessons from North Carolina 11th Congressional District’s primary election scheduled for June 23. With the fall election still six months away, Davis said he is taking a pro-active approach to getting sites ready in Pitt County, but is aware that many changes can take place in the months ahead. Some folks are going to want to have face to face interaction. Some will want to keep their distance. Others will want to vote early, he said. “We’re here to serve the public, so whatever makes them most comfortable is what we’ll be ready to do,” Davis said. For further information visit https://www.ncsbe. gov/Voting-Options/Absentee-Voting or https://www. pittcountync.gov/163/Elections.

Greenville: Life In The East

Summer 2020

Registered voters who would like to cast a ballot by mail in the November election may download a request form at www.pittcountync.gov/163/ elections.

Congratulations We are so proud of you. May god continue to bless and prosper you on your journey. We love you!

Summer 2020

Greenville: Life In The East

Georgia Brown REALTOR®/BROKER

252-402-7027 dikgabrown@gmail.com

2019 Centurion Producer

Elite Properties

211 East Arlington Boulevard Greenville, North Carolina 27858

Mobile 252-531-1872 Kunny Tahaia Brothers Broker, Realtor®

Office 252-215-0015 Fax 866-291-4913 Century21.com KunnyBrothers.com Elite Properties

Elite Properties The Realty GRI

Each Office independently Owned and Operated

Producer 2003-2019

Multi-Million Dollar Club

Downtown Washington • 162 W Main St., Washington, NC

Shawn Grazier Elite Properties REALTOR

Group

Elite Properties

Sherry Howell Broker/REALTOR®

Cell - 531-2010

shrrywll@gmail.com

252-695-5655 Shawngrazier@jaderealtyco.com

Elite Properties The Realty

700 South Memorial Drive Greenville, NC 27834

Elite Properties

Group

1420 East Arlington Blvd. Suite B Greenville, NC 27858 252-355-7800 Elite Properties

Prime Properties

Ida Lynn Stox 714-5099

Elite Properties

www.idalynnstox.com ida@idalynnstox.com

© 2019 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Afiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity

Greenville: Life In The East

Summer 2020

Brenda Evans

Diane Edwards ABR, CSSS, GREEN, SRES

BROKER

Multi-million Dollar Producer Former WBCBR Realtor® of the Year Coldwell Banker Sterling, Diamond and President’s Circle

252-945-5400 brendahevans@gmail.com

mobile: (252) 945-0981

WASHINGTON AREA

GREENVILLE AREA

239 W Main Street Washington, NC 27889

610-D Old Tar Village Road Winterville, NC 28590

(252) 975-8010

(252) 321-5200

Elite Properties The Realty

Group

THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY Downtown Washington • 162 W Main St., Washington, NC PRICE RE DUCTIO THAT SHINES LIKE NO OTHER N v

Great Listings 416 NW Railroad St Robersonville, NC

GERRI’S HISTORIC GEM REALTOR® GRI, SRES

2 BD / 1 BA / 1,076 sq.ft. MLS# 100191575

Great 2 bedroom home for first time buyers or great investment property. Home sits on large lot close to major highway, grocery stores and restaurants. $34,950

747 W 2nd St Washington, NC

103 S Main St Bath, NC

“Waterfront and Luxury Home Marketing” $169,900 $499,000

Elite Properties 422 Pansy Dr Blounts Creek, NC 1.73 ac.

MLS# 100213724

MLS# 70033319

Swindell Store & Lofts overlooks Bath Creek & located in the heart of Historic Bath, NC. Built in 1905 as a General Store, the 7000 sf building was renovated & updated in 2007 by Weinstein Friedlein Architects to suit Mixed Use or Live/Work arrangements. Two high-ceiling loft apartments provide for flexible contemporary living above historic retail & office spaces.

MLS# 100186007

Have your cake and eat it too on this private waterfront lot. Build your dream home with no flood insurance due to high elevation and enjoy water sport activities on your personal waterfront beach. No HOA dues, no deed restrictions. Private community road.

This darling turn of the century beauty offers all the amazing details and character that you could ask for in the beautiful Historic District of Little Washington. Gorgeous hardwood floors, a cool, updated kitchen, 3 BR, 3BA and wonderful tall ceilings. A special bonus and a rarity is having an additional lot included with the home. This gives you plenty of room for gardening, parking, or even building. Come sit on the great front porch, speak to the neighbors, wave from the swing and enjoy Southern Style living.

$80,000

Listed By:

mobile: (252) 945-3030 gail.kenefick@coastalrivers.com

mobile: (252) 945-1582 gerri.mckinley@coastalrivers.com

mobile: (252) 341-3552 noria.namaz@coastalrivers.com

Gail Kenefick

Noria Namaz

Gerri McKinley

For a complete list of properties, please visit our website, coastalrivers.com

WASHINGTON AREA

fb.com/CBCRR

239 W Main Street Washington, NC 27889

(252) 975-8010

GREENVILLE AREA

610-D Old Tar Village Road Winterville, NC 28590

(252) 321-5200

Elite Properties

THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY PRICE RE DUCTIO THAT SHINES LIKE NO OTHER N v

Great Listings GERRI’S HISTORIC GEM 747 W 2nd St Washington, NC

103 S Main St Bath, NC

Listed By:

mobile: (252) 945-3030 gail.kenefick@coastalrivers.com

MLS# 100191575

422 Pansy Dr Blounts Creek, NC 1.73 ac.

MLS# 100213724

Gail Kenefick

2 BD / 1 BA / 1,076 sq.ft.

$169,900

$499,000 MLS# 70033319

416 NW Railroad St Robersonville, NC Great 2 bedroom home for first time buyers or great investment property. Home sits on large lot close to major highway, grocery stores and restaurants. $34,950

MLS# 100186007

Listed By:

Gerri McKinley mobile: (252) 945-1582 gerri.mckinley@coastalrivers.com

$80,000

Listed By:

Noria Namaz mobile: (252) 341-3552 noria.namaz@coastalrivers.com

For a complete list of properties, please visit our website, coastalrivers.com fb.com/CBCRR

Summer 2020

Greenville: Life In The East

Registered dental assistant Robin Hodge wears a mask and shield as she cleans a patient’s teeth at the Hardee and Jordan dental practice. The shield is a new thing for the practice since social distancing protocol began.

one are the days of leafing through a copy of “People” or “Field & Stream” while waiting their turn at the

dentist’s office. At least that’s the case at the familycentered dental practice of Doctors Andrew B. Jordan and Donald L. Hardee on Commerce Street in Greenville. “For the time being we’re going to be without magazines,” Jordan said in a recent telephone interview. Clearing the waiting room of magazines and wiping down door handles, counters and pens are only a few steps that the dental practice has been taking to eliminate the spread of COVID-19, Jordan said. Precautionary measures in the waiting room carry over into the exam rooms as well. “The overwhelming majority of the standard procedures that all dental offices use to disinfect their rooms (and) to sterilize instruments every single day between every single patient — all of those things are sufficient to control COVID-19. “It’s not as if this virus is outside the capabilities of our normal procedures, but, obviously, we have taken additional steps because it is something new and something a little different. We want to not only keep it off our surfaces, but keep it from going from person to person,” Jordan said. The dental practice of Jordan and Hardee

THE

Practices maintained safety before the virus, but added precautions are now in place By Karen Eckert

has now resumed a full schedule of services following a six-week shutdown that lasted from mid-March until early May, Jordan said. During the shutdown, dental offices stopped seeing patients for what was considered nonessential treatment, including tooth cleaning, he said. Eliminating appointments for nonessential treatments was a way of limiting the number of people in the building and was a recommendation of the American Dental Association, he said. “We take our cues from the ADA and the North Carolina State Dental Board,” Jordan said. During the shutdown dentists were still allowed to treat patients with certain conditions, such as toothaches and broken teeth, he said. Recently the N.C. State Dental Board gave the go-ahead to dentists to resume a full schedule of services, he said. But with the shutdown now lifted, precautionary measures continue. The hygiene department, which has been back in action since May 5, has stopped using equipment that creates a lot of aerosols, Jordan said. One example is the Cavitron, a dental tool that sprays water to

Greenville: Life In The East

Deborah Griffin

remove tartar from teeth and puts a lot of droplets in the air, he said. Instead, the hygienists are relying on hand instruments only in order to keep the aerosol to an absolute minimum, Jordan said. Other precautions are being taken as well, he said. “Once the patient comes into the building, we’re taking their temperature, recording that into their medical history and … doing everything we can to make sure we are only seeing people who are healthy and appear to be in good condition,” Jordan said. Another precaution taken by the dental staff is the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Jordan said that the guidelines a dental practice normally follows are typically sufficient against just about any type of micro-organism, but some offices are taking extra precautions, such as wearing the N95 masks. Those are hard to come by, unfortunately, Jordan said. The ADA has recommended that dental practices use the best level of PPE that they have available because of the supply shortages all over the world, Jordan said. The staff at Jordan and Hardee’s

Summer 2020

Elite Properties

1131978 -Black 9/10/07 135:23 0:00

CALL DUTY

211 East Arlington Blvd. Greenville, NC

Elite Properties

Sat. 9-1pm

252-215-0015

Sunday

Elite Properties Elite Properties Eddie Williams 916-6403

Falene Little 258-0788

Family owned and operated since 2001. OPEN SUNDAY 2-4 CR

OPEN SUNDAY 2-4

Townhomes

Manchester

172,900

Vancroft

169,900

Unique Home

187,500

Elite Properties Spacious Living $139,500

VANRACK’S NEWEST UNIQUE SUBDIVISIONS. Choose from homes under construction. Model Unit A-2 Vancroft. Dir: Hwy 11 S. turn on Thomas Langston, Lf on Belfair & Lf on E. Vancroft Circle. Hostess: Elaine 902-6771.

CONVENIENT TO WINTERVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT. Choose from one of our homes all ready under construction. Dir: Hwy11 S. turn on Forlines Rd., on the left across from South Central High. Hostess: Carol 531-7799. MLS# 74098

ONE OF VANRACK’S UNIQUE SUBDIVISIONS. Choose from homes under construction or lots & plans. Dir: Located adjacent to Sterling Trace on Thomas Langston Rd. Hostess: Pat 531-8188. MLS# 73393

2431 KATHLEEN DR. 3BR/2BA, stone fp & foyer, 4 WICs, cathedral in master & GR. Dir: Hwy 33E, Rt on Portertown Rd., Lf on Eastern Pines, Lf on Kathleen Dr. Hostess: Elena 347-2975. MLS# 80270

2105 EATON CT. 3BR/2BA Living room w/fp and dining combo. Home warranty by seller. Dir: Greenville Blvd. to Memorial Dr. Rt on Thomas Langston Rd., Lf on Shallow, Rt on Eaton. Hostess: Falene 258-0788. MLS# 77766

OPEN SUNDAY 2-4

FEATURE

Move-in Condition 93,000 Beth McAlduff, dental assistant, gets her temperature Investment 83,900 checked by Wendy Pope, also a dental assistant. They FEATURE are demonstrating how they screen patients coming into FEATURE Hardee and Jordan dental offices. $

603A SPRING FOREST RD 2BR/2BA located adjacent to the medical district. Dir: Take Arlington Blvd. W., Lf onto Dickinson Ave., Rt on Spring Forest Rd. Hostess: Jennifer 327-3297. MLS# 75851

300 A&B LAKE RD duplex 2BR/1.5BA on lg lot overlooking lake. Dir: Take Arlington, Lf on Dickinson Ave., turn onto Dansy Dr., Lf on Ellsworth Dr., Rt on Lake Rd. Hostess: Pam 413-8697. MLS# 80287

Townhouse

Beautiful Landscaping $96,900

Cul-de-sac

270,000

Energy Efficient $435,000

Elite Properties

541 SNOW HILL ST remodeled 3BR/1BA w/new kitchen countertops, stove & hood. Master BR w/WIC. Dir: Take Hwy 11 S. To Ayden, turn Lf on 3rd St., Lf on Snow Hill St. Hostess: Kunny 531-1872. MLS# 80513

4BR/2.5BA home features formal living room and dining room and a bonus room. Call Kunny 531-1872. MLS# 76172

4BR/3.5BAs in additon to office & gym. Master bath w/steam shower. Kitchen has cherry cabinets. Approx .58 acre lot. Call Kunny 531-1872. MLS# 76425

FEATURE

60,000

Elite Properties

Extra Parking 112,500 Brick Home 229,900 First Time Buyer 79,900 practice do not wear the N95 masks,Ranch but129,900 use Level 3 surgical masks that provide three layers of protection, he said. FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE “It’s probably the best thing you can get just after an N95 in our world anyway,” he said. Elite Mobile Home 139,900 Custom Design 428,000 Beautifully Landscaped 365,000 Bethel 70,000 Country Charm Properties 127,900 4BR/3.5BA. Gourmet The dental staff also wears face shields and glasses, hekitchen. said. Marble entry foyer & raised patio w/gazebo. Call Ida Lynn 714-5099. MLS# 75438 For dentistry in the long-term, Jordan said he thinks that there FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE will be a big focus on control of aerosols and the control of air quality in dental offices. Winterville 144,499 Cul-de-sac 379,000 Like New 124,900 No City Taxes 129,900 Traditional Home 178,900 To view all our listings, visit our website 3BR/2BA onwill large lot. Cathedral Jordan predicts that dental offices be looking at how ceilings, formal dining, gas logs, laundry room. A must see! Call www.century21eliteproperties.com Pam 413-8697. MLS# 80674 to cut down or even eliminate what is being put into the air INVESTMENT INVESTMENT INVESTMENT INVESTMENT INVESTMENT because that is where the main risk lies. He said his practice has already been approached about Acreage 750,000 Investment 60,000 Investment 40,000 Investment 60,000 Investor’s Delight 69,000 2 BEDROOM, 1 BATH home 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH home 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH purchasing suction units that are unlike what his office has now. features greatroom/den, kitchen with nice greatroom. Rented. w/greatroom, kitchen combo. & dining. Vinyl siding. Call Great cash flow. Call Eddie Nicely landscaped, rented. Call Eddie 916-6403. MLS# 80428 Eddie 916-6403. MLS# 80425 916-6403. MLS# 80426 These are free-standing units that hover above a patient’s FEATURE TOP PRODUCER FEATURE FEATURE LocatedFEATURE in the heart of eastern North Carolina, face and head area and, like a vacuum cleaner, just suck up any Farmville offers historic and new residential communities, Pam Cherry air or droplets, which is a lot more effective than a hand-held enthusiasm for the Arts, a vibrant Main Street, Custom Home 197,500 Palm Harbor Home 89,900 Better Than New 184,500 Snow Hill 90,650 suction device, he said. 413-8697 a four-school campus and is conveniently located He said he also thinks that dental offices are going to be for a variety of commercial and industrial opportunities. looking at air purification systems for entire offices. Some of these products have existed for a long time, but have Previously named a finalist in the All-America City not been considered essential, Jordan said. competition, Farmville preserves its past while “But I think, now, a lot of people are going to start rethinking enthusiastically pursuing its future. that,” he said. $

JUST LIKE NEW! 3BR/2BA features greatroom, kitchen combo. Vinyl siding & nice landscaped yard. Call Eddie 916-6403. MLS# 77754

2BR/1.5BA townhouse features ceramic tile countertops, gas logs, skylight in bathroom & private patio. Close to medical district. Call Pam 413-8697. MLS# 80290

COZY 3BR/2BA on large curved lot w/extra parking pad, storage building & 2 patio areas. All this for a great price! Call Ida Lynn 714-5099. MLS#80365

APPROX. .82 ACRE CORNER LOT 4BR’s w/WIC’s, each BR adjoins a bath. Huge bonus room. Downstairs MBR w/whirlpool, huge double vanity. Call Elaine 902-6771. MLS #80289

4BR/2BA. Pool & hot tub. Garage w/3 bays & upstairs is unfinished, can be an apt. 12x16 detached storage w/elec & phone. 10x16 shed. Call Pat 531-8188. MLS# 76759

3BR/2.5BA formal living w/fireplace. Lg breakfast nook, formal dining. Hardwood in foyer, hall, dining & kitchen. Fenced backyard & sprinkler system. Call Audrey 414-0067. MLS# 77647

3BR/2BA w/built-in bookcases. Nicely landscaped approx. 1 acre lot w/centipede. Pool, playhouse for children. Call Ken Rakestraw 902-8923. MLS# 75573

NO CITY TAXES! 3BR/2BA split floor plan. Formal dining room w/Pergo flooring. Gas log fp in greatroom. 2 storage buildings and lg fenced backyard. Call Elaine 902-6771. MLS# 76707

4BR/2.5BA Approx. .54 acre lot. Features hardwood floors, gas logs, granite countertops, laundry room and walk-in attic. Screened back porch and double attached garage. Call Kunny 531-1872. MLS#74154

APPROX. 11.26 ACRES of cleared land at intersection of Hwy 264 & Mozingo Rd. Also has road frontage on Stantonsburg Rd. General industrial, light commercial use. Call Keith 215-0015. #74708

2 HOUSES ON SAME PARCEL, each 2 bedroom, 1 bath with cash flow. Both rented. Call Eddie 916-6403. MLS# 80427

Broker, Realtor, CRS

RECENTLY REMODELED 3BR/2.5BA. New replacement windows, baths, paint, carpet, vinyl & tile. Corner lot w/2 driveways plus a room with outdoor kicthen adjoining patio. Call Ida Lynn 714-5099. MLS# 77769

Ida Lynn Stox 714-5099

Keith Vandiford 714-7126

Linny Worlledge Frankie Atkinson 215-0015 717-7799

Merilu Davis 215-0015

Elena Simpson 347-2975

Julie Piantanida 215-0015

Kenny Little 814-8181

Kunny Brothers 531-1872

Elaine Taylor 902-6771

3BR/1.5BA situated on approx. 1 acre lot. Greatroom, dining area, kitchen & 2 car garage. Call Kunny 531-1872. MLS# 77442

3BR/2BA features separate kitchen, lg master downstairs, living room. 4th room w/ washer/dryer hook-up & could be used as office. Call Falene 258-0788. MLS# 80407

NICE 3BR/1BA home in good condition. Approx. 1800 sqft. Landscaped yard, attached double carport, outside storage and concrete drive. Call Pam 413-8697. MLS# 80187

3BR/2BA. Ranch with a fenced in backyard , single car garage, new paint, walk in closet, fireplace, spacious kitchen. Call Kunny 531-1872. MLS# 77686

3BR/2.5BA Large family room open to kitchen. Master w/WIC & master BA w/separate shower. Call Jennifer 327-2297. MLS# 74277

Kevin Staton 258-5304

Ken Edwards 531-4247

Ken Rakestraw 902-8923

Susan Baker 902-9878

3BR/3BA. Greatroom w/fp, kitchen w/work island & breakfast area. Lg backyard w/fence. Room for garden & shed included. Call Carol 531-7799. MLS# 76965

Pat Terry 531-8188

Shirley Smith 413-7884

3BR/2.5BA w/hardwood floors downstairs. Formal living, dining & greatroom. MB w/Jacuzzi tub & separate shower. Call Jennifer 327-3297. MLS# 76009

Eddie Williams Audrey Accomando 916-6403 414-0067

Pam Cherry 413-8697

Marguerite Hart 717-0068

Joe Lyles 268-2334

Jennifer Tanner 327-3297

G.W. Harris 717-3132

Carol Young 531-7799

Selling Greenville & Pitt County... One Dream At A Time! Exclusive Listing Agency for Vanrack, Inc. www.vanrackinc.com

chris@eastcarolinainsurance.net

www.farmville-nc.com Summer 2020

Greenville: Life In The East

Great Clips at University Commons opened its doors for the first time in two months Saturday, May 23. They asked that all their clients wear a mask and all stylists were required to wear one. Brandon Bell gets carefully clipped around his mask.

A designated “Hair Traffic Controller” helps maintain crowd control and proper social distancing practices

Appointment systems, sanitizing will help clippers work through backlog By Bob Garner

Deborah Griffin

No matter how anyone feels about which type businesses are included or excluded from Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan, glee over the inclusion of beauty salons and barbershops — even at 50 percent capacity — is practically universal. James Cummings, owner of 22 Great Clips franchises in eastern North Carolina, including the Greenville location on South Evans Street, also owns franchises in Tennessee which have already reopened. “All the stylists and other workers at our Tennessee locations were a little nervous about the new guidelines and procedures, but it all went very well,” said Cummings. “The customers were amazingly cheerful and appreciative to see us open again, and the tips were huge.” Great Clips locations routinely have an online appointment and check-in app and welcome unannounced walk-in customers as well. Cummings says his own arrival system will be modified with the addition

of a full-time receptionist — at least for the next several weeks. The new worker will fully explain changes and help patrons make an appointment. Customers will then be able to wait for their date and time, move to a nearby location as the appointed hour nears and receive a call or text 15 minutes before it’s time for them to actually enter the shop. “We won’t have chairs in the waiting area, although we might conceivably have one or two persons standing very briefly out front,” Cummings said. Stylists will be required to wear masks, and disposable masks will be available for customers, although they aren’t mandatory. Since stylists cannot properly cut hair while wearing gloves, they will thoroughly wash their hands after each haircut. What normally function as shampooing basins will be converted to hand washing stations in Cummings’ franchises. “Ninety-five percent of our business is simple cuts,” Cummings said, “so we’re temporarily eliminating shampoos, hair styling and beard trims, at least until we can work our way through the backlog of folks who need haircuts.” The owner of Matt Holder Hairdressing on Greenville’s Jarvis Street has a mostly female clientele, although he does cut and style men’s hair, too. Holder says he’ll impose no limit on services, despite the available space being cut in half by social

Greenville: Life In The East

Summer 2020

distancing requirements. “I suspect most of my customers will still be a little on the cautious side until they get a feel for how things are going,” he said. “Normally, the final blow-drying is sort of the icing on the cake at the hairdresser’s, but some may decide to forego that for a while until they sort of redefine their own concept of personal space.” Both Cummings and Holder sounded confident about sanitation procedures in their shops. Both pointed out that anyone certified as a cosmetologist in North Carolina has already undergone 1,500 hours of training in keeping their clippers, scissors, combs and brushes, chairs, working spaces and themselves properly washed and sanitized. Randy Hodges owns Hair Works, a one-man barber shop on Charles Boulevard in Greenville. “I’m really tickled to be officially reopened, because I was coming close to going broke,” he said. “I was blessed because a volunteer community service group that included some of my customers gave me a sizeable contribution to help me keep going,” he added. “I work almost totally by appointment, so I don’t have the problem of a waiting room where people are too close together,” Hodges said. “I’m up to speed on all the masking, social distancing and sanitizing guidelines, and I’m looking forward not only to cutting hair but being able to talk and joke with my friends. Isn’t that partly what barber shops are for?”

Summer 2020

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Greenville: Life In The East

ECONOMY

Lifestyle changes could have lingering effect By Karen Eckert

hat’s next for the global economy remains to be seen, but trends leave one economist cautiously optimistic. Haiyong Liu, professor and chair of the Department of Economics in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University, said the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are “unprecedented” and “shocking.” “All of a sudden, we actually are experiencing maybe one of the biggest stress tests to our way of life and our way of living and our economy,” Liu said during a May 18 webinar sponsored by the ECU Alumni Association. Liu said the downward turn has been unique in its timing because it came on the heels of long-term economic growth after the recession of 2008-09. One of the areas hardest hit has been employment. Over a recent six-week period, the United States experienced a surge in initial unemployment claims, Liu said, with a peak occurring in mid-March. Providing perspective, Liu compared the 30 million unemployment claims related to COVID-19 job losses to the claims made during the recession of 2008-09 when the largest jump was only 800,000. “It is mind boggling how large the scale is in terms of the hit on the labor market,” he said. Nations had to pause their economies to control the virus, forcing drastic lifestyle changes. People have changed their mobility patterns, he said. As of April, more than a hundred countries around the globe had implemented some level of travel restrictions. Lack of travelers and grounded flights, among other factors, have contributed to the plunge in crude oil prices, he said. Crude oil prices are very important to the growth of the economy, he said. Mobility trend research for places like restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, theme parks, museums, libraries and movie

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Summer 2020

theaters, were showing a decrease of 30 percent across the nation and 22 percent across North Carolina as of May 9. More Americans are now working from home. However, the trend is not evenly distributed among income groups, Liu said People with higher incomes are more able to work from home than people in the lower salary levels, who can’t work from home or have to stay home and are unable to work. This uneven distribution will have an important implication in terms of long-term recovery, Liu said. Another crucial lifestyle change for Americans is the way they shop. Overall U.S. retail sales plunged a record 16.4 percent in April, Liu said. Liu described the plunge as unprecedented, with some sectors, such as clothing and electronics, being hit more than others. “We have never seen retail numbers so bad,” he said, although he noted that online retail sales had surged by 8.4 percent. Early estimates by economists seem to reveal that the worst hit on the economy will be in the second quarter of 2020, Liu said. Even amid the hits on the economy, there have been a few bright spots so far, Liu said. For example, it has been reported that apartment rents have continued to be paid with the help of tax refunds that people have been receiving. The rapid extension of unemployment benefits on top of regular unemployment claims is also a help, he said. The fact that online shopping is up is another bright spot. Liu said he agrees with experts who say that without a vaccine for

Haiyong Liu, professor and chair of the Department of Economics in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University

COVID-19 there won’t be a 100 percent economic recovery. “March and April were devastating, but May seems to be flattening,” according to Liu. The ECU Alumni Association plans to make the webinar available at piratealumni.com\ digitalresources. For more information, call 252328-6072.

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