Images Kinston-Lenoir County, NC: 2009

2009 | IMAGESKINSTON.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES TM

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OF KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA

DRAMA QUEENS AND KINGS Local theater scene applauds new venues

WHAT’S FOR BREAKFAST? Two restaurants boast generations of customers

Smile, Mother Nature Park, urban walkways add to riverfront charm

SPONSORED BY THE KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CHANGE Your World

Distance education offerings to meet our students’ busy lifestyles

UNIQUE PROGRAM OFFERINGS Agricultural Biotechnology

Day, evening and weekend offerings Dedicated administration, faculty and staff

Aviation Management and Career Pilot Technology Automotive Customizing

State-of-the-art classrooms, labs and equipment

Automotive Management

Leader in economic development Court Reporting and Captioning JobLink Career Centers Progressive LCC Foundation providing scholarships and financial assistance opportunities One of the oldest athletic programs in the community college system offering men’s basketball and baseball, and women’s basketball and volleyball – 2008 Lancer Baseball Team placed second in the nation at the NJCAA World Series Heritage Place – A genealogy museum, only one of its kind in eastern North Carolina

Culinary Global Logistics Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology Horticulture Industrial Engineering Polysomnography Water Resources Management

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LENOIR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS We celebrate our progress, which is a direct result of the hard work of our staff and students. However, that celebration cannot overshadow the work that is yet to be done.

Guaranteeing that every child is successful in his or her quest for an exceptional education is a great challenge. And, I’m assured that we have a professional staff of teachers, administrators and support staff that will make this happen. We, as a school system, remain committed to preparing all students to be competitive and productive citizens in a global economy.

My vision and commitment to educating our students also involves the support of our community. Schools and communities that work together help their community to be a better place to live and work. It is imperative that our students see the relationship of business, industry and education.

We welcome your support and invite you to become a part of our team, working to make Lenoir County Public Schools the number one school system in North Carolina.

Terry L. Cline, Ed.D.

W W W. L E N O I R . K12 . N C .U S LENOIR COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUICK FACTS Total schools: 20 Elementary 10, Middle 4, High 4, Alternative 2 Total Enrollment: 9,666 students Elementary 4,306, Middle 2,209, High 3,045 Ethnic Makeup: American Indian .1%, Asian .6%, Hispanic 7%, Black 49%, White 42%, Multi Racial 1.3% Exceptional Children: 14% Total Employees: 1,512 Budget: Per Pupil Expenditures (2007-2008) $7,102 Auxiliary Services: School Buses Operated 150, Students Transported Daily 7,963, Breakfasts Served Daily 2,818, Lunches Served Daily 6,256 2008 Graduates: Graduates 557, Scholarships $2.2 million New Schools: Bond referendum passed in 2006 will fund $69.7 million towards the construction of three new schools and school facility improvements.

Lenoir County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, creed, marital status, age or disability in its programs, activities, or employment practices. The Public Information Officer is the Title IX Compliance Officer and can be reached at 2017 West Vernon Ave., Kinston, NC 28504, telephone number, 252-527-1109.

LENOIR COUNTY ’S PREMIER WATERFRONT COMMUNITY

The Townhomes at Frenchman’s Creek Call Robert today to schedule your showing appointment for The Townhomes at Frenchman’s Creek!

• Outstanding water views • Wonderful one- and two-story open floor plans • Walking trail to The Shops at Frenchman’s Creek

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• Convenient access to all services, yet nestled in a private, natural setting • For full details, visit www.TownhomesAtFrenchmansCreek.com

ERA MONTAGUE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

REALTORS® Serving Lenoir, Wayne, Pitt and Greene Counties Buying or selling a home?

For outstanding service with your real estate needs, call the awardwinning ERA team today!

Robert W. Montague, Jr. Broker/President (252) 521-2115

Deborah D. Hood Broker (252) 521-7755

Carol D. Tyndall GRI, CRS, CREA (252) 559-0778

Debbie Brassine Broker (252) 559-1918

Craig Mills Broker (252) 268-2124

The Grady Team John & Kristy, Brokers (252) 521-3000

Laurie Jones Broker (252) 559-0782

Teresa Heath Broker (252) 521-5662

101 N. Herritage St. Kinston, NC 28501 (252) 526-0401 Toll-free: (877) 777-3632 www.eramontague.com

2009 EDITION | VOLUME 2 TM

OF KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA

CO NTE NT S

KINSTON BUSINESS

F E AT U R E S

16 Keep ’Em Coming

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WHAT’S FOR BREAKFAST? Christopher’s restaurant and Lovick’s Café have been feeding folks in this city for generations.

12 SMILE, MOTHER NATURE The Neuse River provides scenic views that leave a signature mark on the community.

27 IT TAKES A VILLAGE There’s an educational building boom in Lenoir County these days.

29 THIS IS BASEBALL COUNTRY Kinston’s love affair with baseball has continued for a century.

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Officials have secured 3,300 new jobs and more than $1 billion in capital investment in the last 18 months.

18 Biz Briefs 20 Chamber Report 21 Economic Profile

D E PA R TM E NT S 6 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Kinston and Lenoir County’s culture

22 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Kinston and Lenoir County

31 Health & Wellness 35 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

DRAMA QUEENS AND KINGS With a host of new venues, the local theater scene expands its audience.

ON THE COVER Photo by Ian Curcio Sunset on the Neuse River

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This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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Let Us Build Your Dream!

Perry Jones, General Contractor

Quality Integrity Credibility

An Award-Winning Builder www.ameribuilt.net • (252) 775-1511

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What’s More lists, links and tips for fo or newcomers n

OF KINSTON-LENOIR CO. SENIOR EDITOR ANITA WADHWANI COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SARAH B. GILLIAM ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHEILA BURKE, HOLLIE DEESE, JOE MORRIS, BETSY WILLIAMS DATABASE PROJECT MANAGER YANCEY TURTURICE DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER SUZI M CGRUDER SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN M CCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER, JESSE KNISH PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA HOOVER, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, ERICA HINES, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER, CANDICE SWEET WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITORS/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS, BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

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WEB SITE EXTRA

MOVING PICTURES VIDEO 1 INSIDE LOOK Join us on a virtual tour of Kinston-Lenoir through the lenses of our award-winning photographers at imageskinston.com.

VIDEO 2 DIGGING FOR HISTORY Archeologists search for the final resting place of the state’s first governor.

Find out more at imageskinston.com.

VIDEO 3 BIG DADDY TRAIN Take a virtual ride on the Big Daddy Train at imageskinston.com.

PLUS SEARCH OUR ARCHIVES Browse past content by section or search for specific articles by subject.

INSTANT LINKS Read the entire magazine online using our ActiveMagazine™ technology and link instantly to community businesses and services.

EVEN MORE Read full-length versions of the magazine’s articles; find related stories; or read new content exclusive to the Web. Look for the See More Online reference in this issue.

A GREAT PLACE TO GARDEN Hundreds of fantastic plants love it here and reward gardeners’ efforts many times over. Find out more at imageskinston.com.

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Images of Kinston-Lenoir County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce 301 N. Queen St. • Kinston, NC 28502 Phone: (252) 527-1131 • Fax: (252) 527-1914 E-mail: info@kinstonchamber.com www.kinstonchamber.com VISIT IMAGES OF KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESKINSTON.COM ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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Member Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce

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BARBECUE: A SIMPLE SOUTHERN PLEASURE One of the simple pleasures of Southern dining is the down-home barbecue experience. Pork is the meat of choice in eastern North Carolina.

Find out more at imageskinston.com.

A B O U T T H I S M AG A Z I N E Images of Kinston-Lenoir County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Kinston-Lenoir tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”

– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

jnlcom.com

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Almanac

A Shipload of Artifacts The CSS Neuse is one of only two Confederate ironclad ships that survived the Civil War – and today it’s in Kinston.

The ship was one of 22 ironclads commissioned by the Confederate Navy. When Union troops occupied Kinston in 1865 and burned the CSS Neuse, the vessel sank in the Neuse River but was ultimately raised in 1963.

Much of the hull is still intact, and nearly 15,000 artifacts were recovered from the ship.

A local shipbuilder is constructing a full-scale replica of the original – called the Neuse II.

Hail to the Hall One of the oldest homes in Lenoir County now attracts a keen eye.

Harmony Hall was constructed in 1772. Richard Caswell, a hero of the American Revolution and North Carolina’s first constitutional governor, once owned the home. Today, Harmony Hall serves as headquarters for the Lenoir County Historical Association.

In the mid-1980s, the Association began a restoration of the mansion, complete with authentic 18th-century furnishings. The plantation grounds also house several old buildings that add to the overall historic atmosphere.

Pigging Out Have you eaten a Pig in a Puppy sandwich lately?

The dish is actually barbecued pork served on a hush puppy bun, and it can only be found at King’s Restaurant in Kinston. The eatery has been in operation since 1936, and its barbecue recipes have remained the same over the decades.

Besides the walk-in restaurant, King’s has a thriving Internet sales business that is affectionately called the Carolina Oink Express. It was born in the mid-1990s in response to a customer’s request, and today King’s Restaurant barbecue products are shipped all over the country – and beyond.

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Fast Facts

Ahh, the Good Life, North Carolina-Style Every fall, the KinstonLenoir County Chamber of Commerce sponsors an expo called “Living the Good Life in Eastern North Carolina.”

The event features a variety of exhibitors, demonstrations and mini-workshops designed to showcase healthy living.

Co-sponsor Lenoir Memorial Hospital offers a variety of health-related information, while the Culinary Arts Department of Lenoir Community College hosts a Chefs of Eastern North Carolina Culinary Challenge.

All activities occur at the Waller Building on the Lenoir Community College campus.

Q Kinston Drag Strip is a 1/4-mile, International Hot Rod Associationsanctioned drag strip that opened in 1960.

Q Harmony Hall is the restored home of North Carolina’s first constitutional governor and is open for tours.

Q The city is home to the Kinston Indians, the Class A franchise of the Cleveland Indians.

Welcom Welcome to our City What’s new new? For starters, there’s the Kinston-Lenoir County Visitors Kinston-L and Informa Information Center.

The center opened in cen September 2007 at the Sept site of a former weigh station located on the st U.S. U Highway 70 corridor along the c Blue-Gray Scenic Byway.

B The Th land was purchased

by Lenoir County after closed the weigh the state st station, and a modern station building was constructed thanks to a $400,000 grant Carolina from the North N Department of o Transportation.

The center is located on battlefield where the Battle of Kinston property wher during the Civil War. took place dur center at (252) 522-0004.

Contact the ce

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Q Besides Kinston, the incorporated cities in Lenoir County are LaGrange and Pink Hill.

Q The only planetarium in eastern North Carolina is in Kinston – the Neuseway Planetarium, Health and Science Museum.

The planetarium and museum are located in the Neuseway Nature Park, which also offers opportunities for bird watching.

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Now Showing in Our Video Gallery

Sit back and enjoy a preview of Kinston-Lenoir County amenities.

Explore its stunning landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtown, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Kinston-Lenoir County is rated L for Livability.

imageskinston.com

Almanac

Booked Solid Check it out: Neuse Regional Library has expanded.

The popular library that serves Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties underwent an expansion beginning in 2006, and the project was completed in June 2008. A formal dedication occurred in October 2008.

The project included the elimination of the library’s courtyard area, followed by a building expansion to provide more space for the auditorium, children’s library, circulation department and the adult reference section. A new computer lab was also installed.

That’s Hot Sound the sirens: Caswell No. 1 Fire Station Museum on Queen Street has a lot of exhibits.

The museum on South Queen Street is housed in an original fire station constructed in 1895, and it remains the oldest municipal building in Lenoir County. It is filled with artifacts and images related to firefighting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

On display is a 1922 American LaFrance pumper as well as a portion of Kinston’s initial fire alarm box system, which is still operational. Also on exhibit is an array of local fire hydrants and early firefighting gear.

Kinston | At A Glance

SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Kinston at imageskinston.com, courtesy of our awardwinning photographers.

POPULATION (2006 ESTIMATE) Kinston: 22,729 Lenoir County: 56,761

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce 301 N. Queen St. P.O. Box 157 Kinston, NC 28502 Phone: (252) 527-1131 Fax: (252) 527-1914 www.kinstonchamber.com

us

BEGINNINGS The community of Kingston was established in 1759 and named for King George III of England. The “g” was dropped from the name in 1794 after the American Revolution. Kinston was incorporated in 1826.

Ne

LOCATION Kinston-Lenoir County is in east-central North Carolina, about 75 miles east of the Raleigh state capital. Kinston is the county seat of Lenoir County.

258 11 70

LaGrange Kinston

L EN OI R 58 258

Pink Hill

Kinston-Lenoir

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Christopher’s restaurant serves up hearty breakfasts with a side of the latest local gossip each morning.

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What’s for

Breakfast?

TWO KINSTON RESTAURANTS ARE DISHING UP MORE THAN JUST HEARTY, HOME-COOKING STORY BY SHEILA BURKE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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f you want to know what’s really going on in Kinston, sidle up to the counter of Christopher’s restaurant or wander on over to Lovick’s Café for breakfast. These two downtown eateries have been feeding folks in this city for generations.

People like Kelly Albritton say they’re known for more than just scrambled eggs and bacon or biscuits and gravy.

“It’s the place to be,” says Albritton, a local businessman who has breakfast at Christopher’s three days a week. “You’ve got to have your ear to the ground on local politics and what’s going on, and you’ll find it here.” The food and the service, he adds, are also quite good.

Christopher’s has been operated by four generations of the same family for the past 70 years.

It’s known as a hub for local lawyers and judges, but it also serves a diverse crowd of young and old patrons.

“We feed people from all walks of life,” says restaurant owner Chris Maroules Jr. “Everybody you can imagine comes to Christopher’s.”

Because every member of the staff has been at Christopher’s for at least 10 KINSTO N

years, the waitresses know who likes their eggs poached and who likes them sunny side up.

Christopher’s has several dishes on the menu to please regular customers (although not for everyone’s taste) including pork brains and eggs. But traditional breakfast fare, such as waffles, French toast, bacon and eggs are also on the menu. The fried chicken is also very popular.

Christopher’s serves 600 people for breakfast on any given Saturday, Maroules says. The restaurant strives to have great food and friendly service that is reasonably priced.

They live by the same motto over at Lovick’s Café . Milton Lovick opened the restaurant in 1941. Back then, it seated 12 people. Today, it can seat 150 on a busy shift.

Lenoir Community College listed Lovick’s Café as one of the top places to eat lunch in Kinston. And it summed up its rave review in two words – “dough burger.”

The signature menu item was created

by Milton Lovick and a friend as a way to stretch hamburger meat during the

Great Depression. It’s a mix of hamburger, flour, onions, salt and pepper that is fried and served on white bread. Patrons even eat it for breakfast.

“That’s what they line up for,” says Steve Lovick, the grandson of Milton Lovick. “They start buying them at 5 o’clock in the morning.” That’s a busy hour at Lovick’s, which stops serving food after lunch.

Steve Lovick and his sister, Susan Turner, run the restaurant now. But their father, 78-year-old Mac Lovick, still stops by.

Like Christopher’s, regular customers at Lovick’s Café are also used to seeing the same members of the staff year after year in this unpretentious diner that once made up one of only five businesses on now-busy Herritage Street.

“You can probably come in here three out of five days at the same time, and you’re going to see the same people – a lot of regulars,” Mike Lovick says.

Generations of families have been some of those regulars. “The old people come in and tell me about how they used to come in when they were little,” he adds. “I like to listen to those stories.”

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Smile,

Mother Nature

KINSTON ADDS NATURE PARK AND URBAN WALKWAYS ALONG RIVERBANK

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STORY BY SHEILA BURKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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inston strives to capitalize on one of its greatest assets: the Neuse River. City and community leaders have big plans for this river, which runs through the core of Kinston.

A revived interest in the Neuse River, along with new attractions within the 26-acre Neuseway Nature Park that surrounds it, have boosted the number of visitors to the park each year to 80,000.

“It’s probably been used more in the last two years than it’s been used in the last 20,” Tommy Pressley, a former co-chair of Kinston Waterfront-Now! says of the river. The Kinston Waterfront-Now! project is part of a special task force developed with the goal of creating a thriving waterfront that boosts tourism, recreational activities, business and real estate interests.

Though the task force has big plans for the future, the river and the park have a lot to offer right now.

Families can enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, biking, picnicking and canoeing. There’s even a rock-climbing wall at the Neuseway Nature Center. The park has added a planetarium and a science and health museum in the last few years that are very popular with kids.

A children’s train started riding young passengers through the park in 2008. The train – called the Big Daddy Express – can carry 36 children around 1,200 feet of track.

Visitors can spend the night along the banks of the river at a full-service campground complete with hot showers, fire rings, picnic tables and hook-ups for recreational vehicles.

They can borrow a canoe at no cost. The park has 10 canoes on hand to lend to visitors.

Some of the largest catfish in eastern North Carolina are caught on the Neuse River. And where there’s catfish, there are catfish tournaments. The parks Loaner Rod and Reel program allows visitors to borrow fishing rods, reels and tackle for fishing in the ponds.

“It’s a wonderful place,” Bill Ellis, director of the Kinston/ Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department, says of the Neuseway Nature Park. “It’s a fun place to go, and it’s about a day’s worth of entertainment.”

The Neuseway Nature Center features a saltwater touch-

A dragonfly hovers over a flower outside the Exchange Nature Center at the Neuseway Nature Park.

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tank that gives visitors an opportunity to see and feel sea urchins, scallops, crabs, tunicates and skates.

The nature center also features exhibits of plants and animals indigenous to North Carolina that include flying squirrels, snakes, talking birds and bobcats.

Along the Neuse River at the Lenoir Memorial Hospital Health & Science Museum, kids can crawl into an underground tunnel that at various stages replicates a human blood vessel, the inside of a mouth, a stomach and intestines. The museum even has a giant Operation game.

The 52-seat planetarium was added in 2002.

There are a lot of hopes for the future of development along the river, says Pressley, who co-chaired the project to make better use of the Neuse River. The first step, he says, was showcasing it as an asset of Kinston.

“In the last couple of years, I think we’ve done a tremendous job in just exposing what we have.”

Children and adults alike can enjoy a ride on the Big Daddy Express. Below: The koi pond greets visitors in front of the Exchange Nature Center. Below right: The saltwater touch-pond inside the Exchange Nature Center is designed for small hands to handle sea creatures.

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Parks Director Bill Ellis is a force of nature, helping lead the transformation of Kinston’s riverfront.

The Man Behind the Curtain PARKS DIRECTOR REVIVES RIVER

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s head of the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department, Bill Ellis does a lot more than run the local park system.

He’s credited as being the major force behind the revival of the Neuse River. Nobody did more work than Ellis to bring in more visitors in the last two years to the Neuse River than there had been in 20, says local businessman Tommy Pressley, who was co-chair of a committee to develop a thriving waterfront. Pressley says Ellis oversaw the big job of thinning out trees and shrubs – just so more people could see the river.

Ellis, who has been with the parks and recreation department for 28 years, downplays his role and credits his staff.

“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to work with some great people in the rec department that care about others more than they do themselves,” says Ellis, who was named Kinston’s Citizen of the Year in 2007.

The 51-year-old still has a lot of responsibilities.

One of them is maintaining a big cultural tradition in Kinston: baseball. His department has the daunting task of overseeing 200 youth baseball and softball teams. The parks and recreation department also runs the youth ball tournaments in Kinston, which is big business for the city, attracting tens of thousands of young people and their families from across the country each year.

Ellis, who is married and proudly says he has a son who just started Marine flight school, believes he is lucky to have a great job.

“If you can’t enjoy letting people play in your parks, you can’t enjoy anything,” he says.

– Sheila Burke

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Business

Keep’Em

Com ng LARGE-SCALE ANNOUNCEMENTS HIGHLIGHT AREA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS STORY BY JOE MORRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

The North Carolina Global TransPark is catching the eye of major manufacturers. Spirit AeroSystems will invest more than $570 million in the park over the next six years, and other companies are expected to follow.

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usiness leaders, economic development figures and elected officials in Kinston and Lenoir County can be forgiven if they’re a little tired of press conferences these days. But with nine major announcements that resulted in around 3,300 new jobs and more than $1 billion in capital investment during the last 18 months, they’re generating a lot of attention.

“What we’ve got on the ground speaks well, and speaks loudly, of our community,” says Mark Pope, executive director of the Lenoir County Economic Development Department. “It’s all about relationships, and we’ve got a lot of great folks pulling together here to make things happen.”

Some of the companies announcing plans to expand or relocate in the area include Sanderson Farms Inc., which will invest $126.5 million in Lenoir County, creating 1,600 jobs. The company will build its 10th chicken-processing plant in the county and hopes to have its operation up and running by August 2009, according to Bob Billingsley, director of development and engineering.

Another company, Premiere Trailer Inc., a subsidiary of Double D Trailers, will expand into Lenoir County, taking over a vacant, 40,000-square-foot facility to manufacture high-end aluminum equestrian trailers. The Premiere project means an initial investment of around $500,000 and will create 55 new jobs in its first phase.

Reliance Industries USA announced in late June 2008 that it would open its first North American manufacturing facility in the county. Reliance will invest $215 million in its plant, which will create 204 jobs within its first five years.

The facility will manufacture a resin used in the production of plastic containers and specialty polyester yarns.

The pace is just as speedy at the North Carolina Global TransPark, a 2,400-acre industrial and airport site near Kinston. The park’s proximity to the state’s many military bases, as well as to ports, highways and rail lines, is getting it noticed by major manufacturers such as Spirit AeroSystems, which will

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invest more than $570.5 million in a manufacturing plant in the park, and create 1,031 jobs over the next six years.

Spirit had been eyeing several sites before settling on Lenoir County, says Debbie Gann, vice president of corporate communications and public affairs.

“Spirit chose Lenoir County for a variety of reasons,” Gann says, “including access to a runway and nearby port, a growing labor force, an excellent technical training system and economic incentives. The GTP and local KinstonLenoir County folks were extremely easy to work with and that always leaves a

great impression as well.”

With the Spirit project well in hand, TransPark officials are working on the next round of goals, both in terms of landing new business and expanding the park itself.

“We have a sustained strategic plan as our guide, and it’s working,” says Darlene Waddell, executive director of the North Carolina Global TransPark Authority. “This is an economic development project that has an airport, a 33,000-square-foot education and training center, a foreign trade zone designation and a lot of land.”

Kinston is attracting the attention of major companies, says Mark Pope, executive director of the Lenoir County Economic Development Department.

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Business | Biz Briefs

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

TALKING HIS WAY HOME After years of commuting from Kinston, Al Rachide, owner of Pink Hill Pharmacy, finally moved to the community last year and has cut his morning commute from driving 30 minutes to walking six. His end-of-the-day return home, however, is quite a bit longer.

“Some evenings it takes me three hours to get home,” he says. “I pass by my customers’ homes, and they all want to talk with me.”

But it’s that sense of community and small-town atmosphere that Rachide loves so much. His is the only locally owned and operated pharmacy in the Park Hill area, and he prides himself on being able to provide total customer care – even a comfy couch for townspeople to relax on and “borrow the air conditioning.”

“We make the time and make the effort to talk and give the customers all the time they need,” Rachide says. “We are never in a hurry.”

Students benefit from the discipline taught at King Tiger Tae Kwon Do.

A PASSION FOR MARTIAL ARTISTRY It’s hard to believe that Thomas Alphin was only 13 years old when he opened his business. Sure, he had help from his family, but it was his desire and ambition that propelled King Tiger Tae Kwon Do forward.

“His parents helped with finances and planning, but he did all the business stuff and classes himself,” says Christina Alphin, Thomas’ wife and business partner.

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At the school, students ranging in age from 3 to 84 benefit from the activity and discipline that define Tae Kwon Do. “It’s never too late to start,” Christina Alphin says.

In addition to the physical benefits, students gain cultural understanding and self-confidence.

Now 29, Thomas Alphin recently won the 2008 Small Business of the Year Award from the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce.

CASTING FOR KNOWLEDGE Local hunters, fishers, campers and sportsmen of all types know that when they need to get some new gear, the place to go is Neuse Sport Shop.

“The business opened in 1953 and since that time we’ve served the sportsmen of eastern North Carolina,” says Russell Rhodes, president.

The secret to the business’ success is the knowledge of the more than 60 staff members, who try out all the equipment and pass on their know-how to customers. Three times each year, the staff at the sports shop go deep-water fishing together.

“If you are trying to sell to someone who is going deep-water fishing for mahi mahi and the staff has just come back, they have that first-hand knowledge,” Rhodes says.

The store opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. during the week, 11 p.m. on weekends, providing help when people need it most.

WELL-SUITED FOR SUCCESS When Gaynell Koonce found out the uniform shop where she worked was closing, she realized there would be no KINSTO N

Julia Smith is owner of Kidz R Us Child Care Center.

place for local medical professionals to purchase their work gear.

So the Kinston native took matters into her own hands and opened Knot Just Uniforms, now in its fifth year of business.

“I have always loved working with people,” Koonce says. “I love my clients and the personal relationships I develop with them. If you have a problem we will try to solve it.”

She keeps her loyal clients in mind when she orders products. She knows their sizes and preferences and places orders to fit their needs.

And when the start of each month rolls around, expect the place to be hopping, thanks to her First Tuesday of the Month sale, which offers customers a chance to get extra discounts on their purchases.

“Customers come in and draw a discount card,” says Koonce, whose store was named the 2008 MicroEnterprise Business of the Year. “We call it the luck of the draw and they get that amount off their purchase for that day. People really look forward to the first Tuesday.”

A LOVE FOR THE CHILDREN When it comes to deciding on a child care center, parents can never be too cautious. At Kidz R Us Child Care Center, owner Julia Smith helps put parents’ concerns at ease.

“We have the children at heart,” says Smith, who earned the 2008 Minority Business of the Year Award. “It’s not about us. This is not a baby-sitting job.

We believe the children learn through play and they can grow with us from infants right up until the time they go to school. It’s the formative years when they get to learn the basics.”

And with more than 12 years in the business, Smith knows what it takes to teach children. Not only does Smith form connections with the children, she also bonds with mom and dad.

“They become family,” she says.

“When they leave their children here, they know they are in good hands.”

– Hollie Deese KINSTO N

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Business | Chamber Report

A Working Relationship CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WORKS HARD TO STRENGTHEN AREA BUSINESSES

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at www.kinstonchamber.com.

Members also have access to several effective marketing strategies at a minimal charge reserved for members only.

All of these programs have the common goal of strengthening businesses and,

in turn, an overall sense of community.

“I think what is really important is that the community knows that the chamber is here, day in and day out, looking out for them,” Sylvester says.

– Hollie Deese

TODD BENNETT

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hen people move to a new community, they know they can count on the local chamber of commerce to help them find a variety of restaurants, dry cleaners or even the best route to avoid local road construction work.

So it should come as no surprise that the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce does all this and serves as cheerleader, facilitator and information central for new and expanding businesses in Lenoir County.

“The chamber’s responsibility is twofold,” says Laura Lee Sylvester, president of the chamber. “One is to its members and helping them find the resources they need to be able to expand business. The other is to be the biggest ambassador for Kinston-Lenoir County.

People come to the chamber because they know what a chamber does.”

The chamber offers various programs throughout the year, assisting members to grow their business. They promote commerce, trade and cooperative relationships among their members and the wider community “We realize how wonderfully poised this county is to succeed in so many different ways, and we want to make sure all residents, members, visitors and tourists recognize that as well,” Sylvester says.

One popular program is the monthly Business Before and After Hours event, which brings members together to network and exchange referrals.

“We are always encouraging members to do business with other members,” Sylvester says. “We all know that relationship-building is key, and the chamber has many opportunities for members to experience networking to the fullest.”

Another benefit of chamber membership is a 24/7 referral system through the online membership directory. Members can post sale merchandise, special services and open job positions free of charge – all on the chamber’s Web site

Chamber of commerce members gather at the grand opening of Kinston Nissan. Members say the mutual support helps their businesses succeed.

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Business | Economic Profile

KINSTON BUSINESS CLIMATE Since 2005 the Lenoir County Economic Development Department has announced 3,683 new local jobs and more than $1 billion in new investments. Whether its new companies or expanding current businesses, Lenoir County is definitely “on the way�.

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS Lenoir Co. (2007) Labor Force 28,651 Employment 27,173

DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES Atlanta, 449 miles Baltimore, 343 miles Boston, 766 miles Charlotte, 208 miles

TRANSPORTATION Airports Kinston Regional Jetport 522-4929 Raleigh-Durham International Airport 919-840-0175

Unemployment percentage 5.2%

ACCRA COST OF LIVING

N.C. Eastern Region (2007) Labor Force 453,088

(Fourth Quarter 2006, 100% Composite Index)

Employment 430,747

Burlington, 94.5

Unemployment percentage 4.9%

Gastonia, 87.7

Asheville, 101.2 Charlotte, 92.7 Durham, 90.4

Chicago, 899 miles New York, 541 miles Norfolk, Va., 164 miles

MORE ONLINE

Philadelphia, 441 miles Pittsburgh, 533 miles

imageskinston.com

Raleigh, 81 miles Richmond, Va., 198 miles Washington, 305 miles Wilmington, Del., 101 miles

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company

Product/Service

Caswell Center

Services for the mentally disabled

1,634

Lenoir County Public Schools

Education

1,310

Lenoir Memorial Hospital

Health care

1,200

Electrolux Home Products

Dishwashers

885

MasterBrand Cabinets Inc.

Kitchen and bath cabinets

635

Associated Materials Inc.

Vinyl windows

609

Smithfield Foods Plant

Ham processing

550

Lenoir Community College

Education

520

Vernon Park Mall

Retail sales

500

Lenox China

Fine china

432

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No. of Employees

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Portfolio

K-Tribe Draws Loyal Fan Base KINSTON’S HOMETOWN BALL TEAM CONTINUES ITS IMPRESSIVE WINNING RECORD

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he Kinston Indians, a Class A Carolina League team known locally as K-Tribe, enjoys success on the field and at the turnstiles.

“The last 10 years have been remarkable,” says general manager Shari Massengill. “We’ve won league championships in 2004 and 2006, our division in 2007, and 2008 has proven to be a great season.”

With a farm team of the Cleveland Indians, Kinston is the smallest city to host a minor league professional baseball team, Massengill says. “Cleveland has always sent us the right players and a great coaching staff, and it has resulted in winning teams.”

That winning way has led to a supportive fan base, with annual attendance topping 115,000 in the 4,100-seat Grainger Stadium. While the Thursday-throughSaturday games draw the largest crowds, Massengill and her staff are busy planning special events to bring fans to the park other days of the week.

“We have half-price church nights about six nights a year,” she says. “And it’s a great way for companies to have an employee outing. They can come here, pay one price and get great entertainment and food.”

Entertainment can range from the immensely popular Star Wars night – where characters like Chewbacca and Princess Leia pose with fans for photographs – to the ever-popular fireworks.

“The biggest attendance comes when we have fireworks after the games, usually seven to eight nights a season,” Massengill says.

It doesn’t take a trip to the bank to enjoy a game at Grainger Stadium.

Tickets begin at just $4 for general admission, and the typical ballpark food fare of hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza and snacks are reasonably priced.

The classic ballpark, built by the city in 1949, underwent extensive renovations in 2002. Expanded seating behind the outfield is now in discussion.

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No. 45 Frank Herrmann throws a pitch during a game at Grainger Field.

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Generations of the Hill family have grown sweet potatoes, cabbage and lettuce on Tull Hill Farm.

t a time when family-owned farms are on the wane and thousands of acres are being lost to development, Tull Hill Farm is bucking the trend.

“My dad started this farm in about 1939 as a young tenant farmer, and today we farm a total of 5,000 acres,” says Jimmy Hill, president of the familyowned business named after the founder and incorporated in 1972.

And when fewer than 30 percent of family farms pass from the first to the second generation, Tull Hill Farm is breaking another mold – a third generation is now involved in the operation, with two of Jimmy’s nephews partnering with Jimmy and his brother, Rob. The farm, which employs about 120 during peak season, produces a mix of tobacco and sweet potatoes, cotton, corn, soybeans, fresh market lettuce and cabbage.

Regulars at KFC restaurants might be eating cabbage grown on the Tull Hill Farm. “All of our cabbage and some of our lettuce is grown for processing, where it is sold to a company that processes it into shredded, fresh-cut or ready-made salads. Those are sold to restaurants,” says Hill, a North Carolina State alum with degrees in animal husbandry and agricultural economics.

Successful farmers are educated risktakers. “The opportunities are there because we are in a situation right now where there is a high demand for agricultural commodities,” Hill says.

“If you can produce efficiently, there’s a world of opportunity. But the risks are greater because the cost of input is greater. The cost of producing an acre of corn or soybeans has skyrocketed.

And then there’s the weather. You just have to keep hanging in there and have faith.”

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aswell Developmental Center has been empowering its residents for almost 100 years.

Established in 1911 as North Carolina’s first residential facility to serve people with mental retardation, the center is Lenoir County’s largest employer, with more than 1,600 employees serving 415 residents from 38 counties.

An agency of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services in the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, the center is situated on 300 acres and is comprised of more than 100 buildings.

“We have everything an individual needs to have a comfortable existence,” says Sherri Scharf, the center’s media and development specialist. “The center holds contracts with several local businesses that provide paid work opportunities for Caswell individuals.

We also have areas on campus that provide arts and crafts classes, music therapy and sensory stimulation activities.”

Caswell Developmental Center provides around-the-clock care using an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including physical therapists, pharmacists and nutritionists. Psychological counseling and creative expressions are also provided for individual needs.

“We’re really a city within a city,” says Scharf.

Individuals are not placed at the center for life, and Caswell is not seen as a place to shelter people with mental retardation. Rather, individuals are admitted for a specific length of time to acquire services that will allow them to return home, where the center continues to support them.

The center’s $70 million payroll is comprised of trained health-care professionals from 16 eastern counties.

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Portfolio

An Architectural Journey ith five National Register districts and more than two dozen individual listings, a drive through Lenoir County will take you on an architectural journey by way of stately homes and charming neighborhoods.

The stories of these historic structures are as interesting as the architecture.

Among some houses that should not be missed is the A.C. Davis House, built circa 1887 at 131 East Railroad Street in LaGrange. Featuring Queen Anne Victorian architecture, it is the only surviving building of the A.C. Davis Military Academy, which closed in 1889 following a meningitis epidemic.

There is Cedar Dell, built between 1810 and 1820. The home was remodeled in 1880 with Victorian accents. Located in the Falling Creek vicinity, it was purchased in 1876 by W.F. Kennedy, who was among Lenoir County’s largest landowners. The house and 1,200 acres were deeded by the childless Kennedy and wife Emily Hardee to the trustees of the Thomasville Baptist Orphanage, with the stipulation that it not be used for any other purpose.

Vernon Hall, built in 1914, is now a bed-and-breakfast owned by Ward and Linda McConnell. The neo-classical revival, located at 117 West Capitola Avenue, is perched on the crest of a small rise known as The Hill.

Harvey C. Hines House, a 1925 Tudor revival home located just behind Vernon Hall at 1118 North Queen Street, features decorative copper work sporting a Coca-Cola motif – a design request of Hines, who owned the Coca-Cola franchise in Lenoir County. North Carolina native and Hollywood star Ava Gardner was a favored guest.

Then there is Harmony Hall, the only 18th century home in downtown Kinston. The home at 109 East King Street is now owned by the Lenoir County Historical Association and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

– Stories by Betsy Williams

PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

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Cedar Dell sports Victorian details.

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Education Elementary education is receiving a big boost in Kinston, with an investment of nearly $70 million.

It Takes a Village ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED

T

here’s an educational building boom going on in Lenoir County these days.

In keeping with the community’s goal of having a state-of-the-art, technologically advanced school system, voters approved a $69.7 million school construction bond in May 2006.

The money is going to build three new schools in the county and renovate four others. The new buildings – two elementary schools and one that will serve kids from kindergarten through eighth grade – will replace older schools.

First-rate library and media centers will be a hallmark of the new and renovated schools.

“Everything will be state-of-the-art

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technology and will be a big plus for those schools,” Lidia Guzman, public information officer for the district, says of the new construction.

The district, which has about 9,600 students, prides itself on its innovative approaches to problems in the schools.

In late 2007, district superintendent Terry Cline sent invitations to 200 local churches to attend a faith-based educational summit. Cline asked church leaders to partner with the schools by volunteering their time to help tutor and mentor students and help the schools meet other needs. Kinston Mayor Buddy Rich and other officials attended the event, which was widely viewed as a success. Mentoring programs have already

developed as a result of the summit.

Another pride of the school system has been its success with an initiative that targets C-students – kids who typically get lost in mix. The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program keeps those middle-of-the-road students from falling through the cracks.

After four years of the program, the Lenoir County School District graduated its first AVID class in 2008. The 22 graduates appear to have excelled in the program. Many are now entering college, some landing academic scholarships, Guzman says. School officials hope to assist more students through the program in the coming years.

Strong early childhood and pre-K programs are a staple of the school system, as well as initiatives that keep parents actively involved in their children’s academic lives. Project Lead the Way, another success story in Lenoir’s school system, introduces students to the world of engineering, where they can build their own projects.

The close ties the system has to the community sets it apart from other districts, Guzman says. The business community and the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce, in particular, have a strong relationship with the district.

“It’s that partnership and relationship that is one great aspect of our school district,” Guzman says. “We are working hand-in-hand with our entire community.”

– Sheila Burke I M AG E S K I N S T O N . C O M

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Sports & Recreation

This Is Baseball Country BASEBALL, HOT DOGS, APPLE PIE AND KINSTON

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or more than a century, this small town has had a big love affair with baseball. For youth baseball, Kinston is king.

It would be an understatement to say that kids here like to play ball.

The Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department manages 200 baseball and softball teams made up of local boys and girls from the ages of 5 to 18. And girls’ softball is every bit as popular as boys’ baseball. Girls’ fastpitch softball attracts a growing fan base each year.

“People just love baseball in Kinston and always have,” says Bill Ellis, director of the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department. “They’ll smell the chalk on the baseball field and go crazy.”

But it’s not just local kids who play here. The city hosts tournaments that attract youth from all over the nation.

“We’ve held world tournaments here where we’ve had kids come from Hawaii and California,” Ellis says.

The city hosts about 28 tournaments every summer for youth ages 8 to 18.

The girls, Ellis says, actually bring more of their family members to the tournaments than the boys.

In total, the tournaments bring anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 people into Kinston every year. Ellis says the direct financial impact alone is about $2.5 million annually.

Kinston began hosting the tournaments about 15 years ago. Officials saw it as a way to attract more people to the city and give local kids the opportunity to participate in state and national tournaments without having to travel.

The city, with its long ties to baseball, was a natural place for the tournaments.

Professional baseball came to Kinston at the turn of the 20th century. And it’s still here. As the hometown of the minor league Kinston Indians, the city is currently the smallest professional

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baseball market in the United States.

The Kinston Indians is a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team, which is affectionately known as the K-Tribe, is part of the Carolina League, the oldest professional minor league in the U.S. The Indians play in Grainger Stadium, which is owned by the city of Kinston and maintained by

the Kinston/Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department. The historic Grainger Stadium seats 4,100 and originally opened in 1949. The kids use the stadium to play in the tournaments.

“We’re one of the few towns that actually own a stadium,” Ellis says. “That helped us get a lot of tournaments.”

– Sheila Burke

The city’s love affair with baseball is attracting a new generation to the sport.

I M AG E S K I N S T O N . C O M

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TODD BENNETT

Health & Wellness

The Lenoir Memorial Foundation has raised millions in support of Lenoir Memorial Hospital.

Meeting the Hospital’s Needs FOUNDATION WORKS TO PROVIDE FACILITY WITH EQUIPMENT, SERVICES FOR GROWTH

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or more than a century, Lenoir Memorial Hospital has been providing quality health care to the area’s residents. Along the way, the Lenoir Memorial Foundation was created to make sure the hospital is even more successful in its mission.

The foundation was established in 1986 to help streamline gift-giving efforts to the hospital. It helps those who wish to make a special gift in honor or in memory of a friend or family member, or to make a gift that’s designated to a specific area of the hospital or equipment purchase.

The foundation also stages several annual events to keep the hospital’s profile elevated in the community, along with raising funds for ongoing needs the facility has. All told, the foundation’s always a busy place to be, says Brenda Canup, director.

“The foundation began through the philanthropic support of community leaders and contributions from a citi-

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zenry interested in promoting quality health care within our community,” Canup says. “From its onset, the mission of the foundation has been to provide financial support to Lenoir Memorial Hospital, a challenge that has remained unchanged for the past 20 years.”

Keeping a steady stream of contributions coming in is more vital than ever with the cost of health-care technology and related expenses continuing to rise, Canup adds.

“Contributions are the lifeblood of the foundation,” she says. “Donations are critical to improving technologies and services to better meet our community’s health-care needs. Support is vitally important as Lenoir Memorial Hospital continues to manage the rising costs of health care, budget for declining reimbursements, fill the gap for the underinsured, upgrade technologies for diagnoses and treatment, and meet increased demands for quality health-

care staffing.”

To that end, the foundation kicked things up a notch during the hospital’s 100th anniversary in 2006, working to raise nearly $1 million for a new MRI machine.

“That capital campaign continues, as funds are always in demand for the newest and most advanced technology,” Canup says. “Plans for a new critical care unit will also present a new challenge for the foundation’s fundraising.”

In 2007, Canup received the Pinnacle Achievement Award, an honor for professional women from the Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce.

“It was a sincere honor for me to receive it,” Canup says. “I’ve spent almost 40 years working in public service here in Lenoir County. I’m proud to be a part of Kinston and Lenoir County, and I look forward to being able to continue working towards improving the quality of life within our community.” – Joe Morris I M AG E S K I N S T O N . C O M

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TODD BENNETT

Arts & Culture

An art exhibit at the Community Council for the Arts in Kinston

Drama Queens and Kings THE LOCAL THEATER SCENE IS GETTING MORE ATTENTION AND BIGGER AUDIENCES

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hen Mitch Butts came to teach English at Lenoir Community College five years ago, he was more than a little surprised to find that the auditorium had not seen a dramatic production in nearly seven years.

So he drew upon his own life experiences to develop a program for drama, arts and music.

“It makes our school stand out among other schools in North Carolina,” says Butts, a former professional film and television actor.

A new dramatic group, the PlayMakers, perform seven main plays a year under the direction of Butts, who now focuses solely on the drama department. Butts also has plans to add two Shakespeare performances to that busy roster, as well as start a Just4Kidz touring company, Poetry-N-Motion, and an outdoor drama focusing on the Civil War in North Carolina.

“It makes for a better school, a better community and good interaction between kids and faculty,” Butts says.

The college isn’t the only place to take

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in a cultural event. The Community Council for the Arts contains 30,000 square feet of gallery space. It has a spectacular permanent model train exhibit and offers art classes for adults and children at a nominal charge.

The diversity of events keeps people coming through the doors. One week you can take in a high-energy AfricanAmerican dance ensemble; the next, you can stroll through an exhibit of delicate land scapes by local painter Mary Page Whitley.

Listed on the National Historic Register, the Grainger-Hill Performing Arts Center is one of the last remaining examples of Greek Classical Revival architecture in North Carolina. Its annual OnStage series showcases a variety of musical acts, from tribute performances to a piano-and-ballad night.

And at the Kinston-Lenoir Performing Arts Center on the Kinston High School campus, a variety of performances are shown each year.

“Any community that has an arts offering is a richer and deeper community,” Butts says.

– Hollie Deese

The Arts in Lenoir County DIVERSITY MARKS COUNTY ARTS SCENE

LENOIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLAYMAKERS www.lenoircc.edu/nsite/ PerformingArts/playmakers.htm Waller Building Auditorium, 231 Highway 58 S., (252) 527-6223 COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS www.kinstoncca.com 400 N. Queen St., (252) 527-2517 GRAINGER-HILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER www.ghpac.com 300 Park Ave., (252) 523-8011 KINSTON-LENOIR COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER www.lenoir.k12.nc.us/khs/pac/pac.htm 2601 N. Queen St., (252) 527-8067

I M AG E S K I N S T O N . C O M

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FREE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET FITNESS CENTER & POOL MEETING AREA FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 1156 Hill Farm Rd. Kinston, NC 28504 (252) 559-6588 www.holidayinnexpress/kinston

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i m ag e s k i n s t o n . c o m

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ki n sto n

Community Profile

KINSTON SNAPSHOT Eleven parks are scattered around Kinston and Lenoir County, with opportunities for tennis, aerobics, arts and crafts, summer day-camps, baseball and line dancing. With 250 days of sunshine per year, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.

GOLF COURSES Barnet Park Disc Golf Course 523-7053 Bill Fay Park Par 3 Golf Course 939-3356 Falling Creek Golf Course 522-1828

Higher Education East Carolina University 238-6640 (undergraduate), 328-6012 (graduate) Lenoir Community College 527-6223

CLIMATE

MORE ONLINE imageskinston.com More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

Kinston Country Club, 523-2197

62.6 F

Cutter Creek, 747-1234

Average temperature

EDUCATION

47.8 in.

Early Childhood Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties, 939-1200

Average rainfall

Board of Education 527-1109

Average relative humidity

Lenoir County Public Schools 527-1109

NUMBERS TO KNOW

Private Schools Arendell Parrott Academy 522-4222

For all emergencies, dial 911 Kinston Public Safety 939-3220

POPULATION

Bethel Christian Academy 522-4636

Lenoir County Health Department, 526-4200

Children’s Village Academy 939-1958

Lenoir County Rescue Squad 522-7895

Kinston 2000, 23,729 2006 estimate, 22,729

Kinston Charter Academy 522-0210

Lenoir County Sheriff’s Department, 559-6100

73.7% N.C. Highway Patrol (800) 441-6127 State Bureau of Investigations 756-4755

Lenoir County 2000, 59,648 2006 estimate, 57,662 THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

The area code for Kinston is 252 .

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Community Profile HISTORIC SITES/ MUSEUMS Caswell Center Museum and Visitors Center 208-3780

The News & Observer (919) 829-4500 www.newsobserver.com

UTILITIES City of Kinston 939-3282

ENCToday, www.enctoday.com

Deep Run Water Corporation 568-3006

LOCATION

Caswell Center No. 1 Fire Station Museum, 522-4676

Town of LaGrange 566-3186

Civil War Site: Will King Memorial – 1st Battle of Kinston

North Lenoir Water Corporation 527-8352

Community Council for the Arts, 527-2517

Piedmont Natural Gas 634-1651

CSS Neuse State Historic Site 522-2091

Progress Energy Carolinas Inc. (910) 346-1453

MEDICAL FACILITY

CSS Neuse II, 527-0442

Tri-County Electric Membership Corp., (919) 735-2611

Lenoir Memorial Hospital 522-7846

MEDIA

LIBRARY

Newspapers Kinston Free Press 527-3191 www.kinston.com

Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library 527-7066

Harmony Hall, 522-0421 Heritage Place, 527-6223 Kinston-Lenoir County Visitor’s & Information Center 522-0004 Neuseway Planetarium, Nature Center and Health & Science Museum, 939-3302 Wilbur A. Tyndall Tractor Museum, 568-3261

Kinston Press 527-6120 www.kinstonpress.com

Located in eastern North Carolina, Kinston-Lenoir County is 75 miles east of the state’s capital, Raleigh, and 75 miles west of Morehead City.

La Grange Library 566-3722 Pink Hill Library 568-3631

LENOIR COUNTY

We carry over 600,000 custom, imprinted promotional items & serve over 400 customers throughout the United States.

Customer Appreciation Items • Golf & Sports Promotions Wedding/Party Invitations & Gifts • School Uniforms Employee Incentives & Gifts • Corporate Event Ideas

(252) 526-9862 • www.coastal-connections.com

Career Planning, Training & Placement Services P.O. Box 188 Kinston, NC 28502 (252) 527-7320 Fax: (252) 527-2109 www.lenoircc.edu

“Celebrating 10 years serving the Kinston Community” CHECKING • SAVINGS • CDS • MORTGAGE • EQUITY LOANS

Security, Fire Alarms, Access Control & CCTV 2006 N. Queen St. • Kinston, NC 28503 (252) 939-9500 • Fax: (252) 523-6464 www.depsnet.com

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Margaret Williams – Branch Manager 1101 W. Vernon Ave. • Kinston, NC (252) 939-3900 • Fax: (252) 939-3888 WWW.THELITTLEBANK.COM

Member

FDIC

KINSTO N

Ad Index 4 AM ER I B U I LT CO N S TR U C TIO N CO M PA N Y L LC C 3 C A SW E L L D E V E LO P M E N TA L C E N T E R 3 6 COA S TA L CO N N EC TI O N S M A R K E TI N G I N C .

3 5 CO M M IT T E E 1 0 0

3 0 KINSTON-LENOIR CONVENTION & V I S ITO R S B U R E AU C 2 LENOIR COM M U NIT Y COLLEG E 3 6 L E N O I R CO U N T Y J O B LI N K C E NTER 1 L E N O I R CO U N T Y P U B LI C S C H O O L S

1 9 CO N WAY & CO M PA N Y FI N A N C I A L S E RV I C E S I N C .

C 4 L E N O I R M E M O R I A L H OS P ITA L

23 CUTTER CREEK

2 8 P E R RY M A N AG E M E N T I N C .

3 6 D OW N E A S T P ROT EC TI O N SYS T E M S

2 8 P R I D E O F K I N S TO N

24 ECO N O LO D G E

3 2 R E A LO D I S CO U N T D R U G S TO R E S I N C .

2 E R A M O N TAG U E & A S S O C I AT E S I N C .

3 4 H O LI DAY I N N E X P R E S S H OTEL & S U ITE S 2 5 K I N S TO N M E D I C A L S P EC I A LI S TS

3 2 M I L L S I N T E R N ATI O N A L I N C .

3 0 R I C H A R D T. C A R LY L E D DS 2 8 S TAT E FA R M I N S U R A N C E 3 4 S U D D E N LI N K 3 6 T H E LIT T L E BA N K 2 6 V E R N O N PA R K M A L L

Relationships

The heart and soul of Caswell Developmental Center.

“Inspired by the relationships between the people who live and work at Caswell, an abandoned well was transformed into a beautiful mural through a collaboration between our residents and the Kinston Community Council for the Arts.�

Come join our team 2415 W. Vernon Ave. | Kinston, NC 28504 www.caswellcenter.org | (252) 208-4221