MONDAY
TURN UP THE HEAT: Hospital has new treatment to fight cancer. 1C
September 14, 2009 125th year No. 257
BEHIND BARS: Motorist runs over toddler celebrating birthday. 3A
www.hpe.com High Point, N.C.
OPENING DUD: Panthers stumble, bumble against Eagles. 1D
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New businesses battle recession BY PAM HAYNES ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – While the doors of small businesses across the country are closing in the wake of a recession, there may be benefits to opening a business in today’s economic conditions, according to some new business owners. Loans are hard to secure and using personal investments may be dangerous in uncertain times, but some ambitious individuals have found that working for themselves, selecting employees from a large talent pool of unemployed candidates and filling the void of other businesses that have closed may be worth the risk of starting a business now.
That’s the risk Joe Hubay took after the doors of Perkinson’s Jewelers, his former employer once located on N. Main Street, closed on July 11. “In our industry, there aren’t a lot of jobs available as store managers,” said Hubay, who worked in the jewelry industry for 20 years. “I could move, but how am I going to sell my house in this economy?” Like other Triad workers who have been laid off but have little hope of finding employment in the area, Hubay decided to open his own business so he could employ himself and continue to serve customers he had met at Perkinson’s. Hubay said it took some time to find a bank that would give him
the loan he was looking for, and he also invested some personal capital into the business. He’s currently remodeling the site at 800 N. Main St. himself and plans to open Oct. 1. Robin LeBorgne faced a similar situation after being laid off twice in the last two years from staffing positions in the Triad. “Staffing relies heavily on the industries that have been involved in closings and layoffs,” LeBorgne said. “I wanted to be able to pursue something without the worry of working for someone else and wondering if that job might end.” To combat the situation, she opened a pet-sitting business last month called Great ’N Small that targets the Greensboro, High
WHO’S NEWS
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Dr. Chad Haldeman-Englert joined the faculty of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center as an assistant professor. HaldemanEnglert’s clinical interests include pediatric and adult genetics and genetic disorders.
PAM HAYNES | HPE
Joe Hubay poses in front of his new business, High Point Jewelers. After losing his job with the closing of Perkinson’s Jewelers, Hubay decided to open his own business. Point and Kernersville area. “It’s been evident for several years the pet industry is phenomenal,” she said. “People still love their pets.” For owners Thomas York, Arnold Phillips and Tyrone Phillips, staffing the new Phillips Brothers Funeral Home, opening next month at 1810 Brockett St. in High Point, has been simple so far because of the large number of applicants. “We’ve had several people come to us seek-
ing a job,” York said. “We do have a good selection of employees right now.” Hubay said the change in the economy has brought obstacles for him and other potential business owners, but sometimes those obstacles make small businesses strong. “People fear change, but change is not a bad thing,” he said. “If change hadn’t happened to me, this wouldn’t have come along.”
INSIDE
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phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617
AT IT AGAIN: Thomasville students build structure for community garden. 1B
Return from the ashes
OBITUARIES
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Clarence Blackwell, 38 John Hamrick, 67 Donnie Lindsay Jeanette McMahan Lois Smith, 88 William West, 70 Obituaries, 2B
Church to break ground three years after fire Inside...
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Congregation members say fire made them stronger. 2A
WEATHER
– BY PAM HAYNES ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
ARCHDALE – The smoke finally will clear for a local church after its sanctuary burned down more than three years ago. Cloverdale Church of the Living God will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new facility on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at its future location on 2508 Surrett Drive. Ten acres of land have been purchased to build a 10,000-squarefoot facility for about $1 million to replace the sanctuary that burned down on March 31, 2006. More buildings will follow in a second phase of construction that carries the same price tag. Church members and members of the community are invited to the event, which will be held to “of-
DON DAVIS JR. | HPE
David Perry, senior pastor of Cloverdale Church of the Living God, looks at a Bible that survived a fire which destroyed the church in 2006. fer prayer and dedication to God,” according to David Perry, senior pastor. “Because the church was so long-standing in its present location, I felt it worthy to acknowledge God’s provision for us to move to this new property,” he said. The church was established in 1957 in High Point. The original sanctuary was located at 1919 S. Elm St. before faulty electrical wiring caused the 2006 fire. A child-care facility, administration office and worship services were then moved to the church’s
fellowship hall, which continues to operate on S. Elm Street, until a new facility is completed. Perry said the new sanctuary will house the child-care facility, Sunday school classrooms and worship services. Another sanctuary will be built in phase two of the construction, with the former sanctuary becoming a fellowship hall when the project is complete. He said the church will consider selling the property on S. Elm Street to clear the debt from the reconstruction projects, which
will cost more than the church’s fire insurance coverage. “We are still trying to raise the money,” he said. “We are within $265,000 of being debt free. We’ve had between $50,000 and $100,000 donated to us from the community in materials and labor.” “It’s invigorating,” he said about seeing a new sanctuary come to fruition. “I’m renewed in strength and look forward to the privilege of this opportunity.” phaynes@hpe.com | 888-3617
Brooks returns to bring new life to NCSF Before you read...
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Last in a two-part series on the struggles of the N.C. Shakespeare Festival. BY VICKI KNOPFLER ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
HIGH POINT – A face familiar to those with long memories is back at the Shakespeare Festival. Stuart Brooks, co-founder with Mark Woods of the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival in 1977, is back as a development as-
sociate w i t h t h e goal of raising money. H i s return AILING ARTS is serendipiThe Shakespeare tous, Festival and the s a i d tough economy b o t h ■■■ Brooks a n d Pedro Silva, managing director. Since leaving the festival in 1979, Brooks has been
in Madison, Wisc., where he worked primarily as a director and producer for drama companies. He was producing director for Madison Repertory Theatre in the 1980s. Most recently he sold insurance. Brooks’ last year was a strange one, he said, and he began thinking of his High Point days. He called Silva to chat, and Silva filled Brooks in on the progress of Spirit Center, the festival’s new office, production and education facility near the intersection of W. Ward Avenue and W. Green Drive.
SERIES BREAKOUTS
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SUNDAY: Sluggish economy forces Shakespeare Festival cutbacks TODAY: Company founder returns in hopes of raising funds
The two found common interests and goals. “The festival has never had a development person before, and it matched what I said I want to do,” Brooks said. “I still have my fundraising chops. It’s been 30 years, and I just jumped right back in.”
YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR NEWSPAPER.
Silva would like to both expand activities at Spirit Center and take the festival into Winston-Salem. Spirit Center now is equipped for year-round functions such as additional education programs and the creation
BROOKS, 2A
Sunshine High 87, Low 62
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