Living Here 2019

“They went ABOVE and BEYOND.”

“They cared for my mother as if she were their mother.”

LESTER, patient’s son Nash UNC Health Care

Now more than ever, care and compassion are a vital part of every patient experience at Nash UNC Health Care. Our patients and their families are noticing the improvements we’ve made, and are recommending us more frequently. Should you or your family visit us, expect to see how care has been reimagined at Nash UNC.

RAISING EXPECTATIONS.

The Harrison Family YMCA, better known as “The Y” has a mission “to put Christian principals into practice to improve the quality of life in our communities with programs and services that strengthen the spirit, mind, and body for all.” Our mission is our reason for being, and our cause is our mission in action: a promise to do everything in our power to inspire the common good and make life better for individuals, families and the community.

The Harrison Family YMCA is located on 1000 Independence Drive in Rocky Mount, NC. We are dedicated to building healthy, confident, secure and connected children, families and communities within our three focus areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We’ve made a difference in people’s lives from 1911 when the Rocky Mount, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad YMCA was opened and began offering an overnight dormitory for hot meals and showers to Railroad employees. That difference grew throughout the years that ultimately lead to the opening of our current facility in 2005.

Today we continue to support our members and community by providing needed programs and services. A YMCA membership offers a full wellness area, racquetball courts, basketball courts, two pools, a rock climbing wall, water and group exercise classes, a coach approach program, child watch care, a member referral program, locker rooms with steam rooms, and more. Programming is also offered including Before/After School Care, Summer Day Camp, Youth and Adult Sports, Tots Play Program, Swim Lessons, Racers Competitive Swim Team, Gymnastics, HYPE Competitive Gymnastics Team, Post-Rehab Program, Personal Training, Teens in Training, Couch 2 5K Running Program, Special Needs programs, Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Diabetes Awareness, Enhance Fitness, Kidney Smart Classes, Nutrition Classes, Women on Weights, as well as a variety of family events and activities.

Financial Assistance is available to all who apply and qualify thanks to funds raised by the YMCA’s Annual Campaign. We also offer a variety of volunteer opportunities. Please follow this link to sign up and check out our options: https://harrisonfamilyy.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog

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6

AREA ATTRACTIONS

Enjoy a day trip to one of these unique local facilities 10 BUSINESS ANNIVERSARIES

Longtime companies mark major milestones 14 COMING SOON

Variety of new businesses set to open up shop across area 18 CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS TRADITION

Area spawns more than its share of stand-out athletes 20 CULTURAL EVENTS

Concerts, plays, artistic events and more enrich local life 22 DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

Revitalization of city's central business district continues 26 ECONOMIC EXPANSION

Big-time projects plan major business investments in area 28 JUKEBOX HEROES

Local business refurbishes old-time juke boxes 34 FESTIVALS & FUN

Family-friendly events held throughout the year across area 38 GOLDEN MILE MAKEOVER

Commercial thoroughfare undergoes 21st century makeover 40 HOMEGROWN RESTAURANTS

Along with the usual national chains, try out the area's own eateries 44 HEALTH CARE

Nash UNC Health Care positions itself for the future 46 HOMES AWAY FROM HOME

Area has a wide variety of hotels with more in development 48 MORE THAN MUSIC

Local music teacher provides more than instruction 50 NASH IN BLOOM

Volunteers tend to a vibrant, multi-faceted public arboretum 52 SHOP TIL YOU DROP

Besides the big-box national chain stores, check out these local gems 56 STONEWALL VILLAS New housing development reflects real estate rebound in area 58 RECREATION & FITNESS No shortage of opportunities to get outdoors and have healthy fun 60 WESLEYAN GOING STRONG

Living Here is a publication of the Rocky Mount Telegram and Adams Publishing Group. Contents may not be reproduced without the consent of the publisher.

Enrollment, campus growth booms at local college 62 RIVER & TWINE

Editor Gene Metrick

AREA attractions

Within a short drive from wherever you are in eastern North Carolina, there are three attractions that could serve as answers to questions on the television game show, “Jeopardy.”

Think about it: A collection of domestic and exotic animals that grew into a petting zoo and then a television show …

The oldest museum in the United States dedicated to the history of America’s rural health …

By John H. Walker

The largest collection of exotic and rare waterfowl in the world.

The answers are “What is It’s a Zoo Life in Macclesfield,” “What is The Country Doctor Museum in Bailey” and “What is Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck”?

That’s right. Right here in our own backyard, there are three attractions well worth one’s time, energy and the price of admission to go visit.

It’s a Zoo Life is the newest of the three and sprang up in the back yard of Bobbie Jo Abrams and her family along NC 42 in Macclesfield. If the Abrams name sounds familiar to you, it’s the same family associated with Abrams BBQ

& Seafood and Abrams Amusements, both based out of Tarboro.

It’s a Zoo Life is a USDA-licensed facility that houses more than 85 animals including a zebra, lemur, alpacas, lama, kangaroo, sloth,

The senior citizen of the attractions is the Country Doctor Museum, created in 1967 by a group of women who wanted to build a memorial to and recognize the contributions of the rural physician.

Country Doctor Museum

Tours are available through the three buildings that comprise the museum and exhibits contain medical artifacts from between the late 18th century to the first half of the 20th century.

Over the more than 50 years since its creation, the museum collection has grown to more than 5,000 medical artifacts. In addition, there are many volumes of historic textbooks that have been donated from across the United States.

Over time, the museum has grown to include materials on

It’s a Zoo Life

camel and more. In addition, there’s a coati, also known as a coatimundi, porcupines, a wolf, cockatoo, Patagonian cavy and tortoises as well as many farm animals.

It’s a Zoo Life gives visitors the opportunity to see selected animals in their habitats while accompanied by a trained, knowledgeable staff member. Tours are by appointment only and last about 90 minutes. Admission is $20 for ages 6 and up and $10 for children ages 5 and younger. Children 2 and under are admitted free. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 252-266-7974 or send an email to itsazoolife@yahoo.com.

nursing, drugs and home remedies.

The museum includes a pair of buildings that were once the offices of Dr. Howard Franklin Freeman (1878-1915) and Dr. Cornelius Henry Bradley (1887-1940) and are now set up as an apothecary (a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs) and as a doctor’s office, which also includes a Civil War era display.

Also displayed is furniture, instruments and equipment commonly used by doctors from the period.

The museum is now under the auspices of the Division of Health Sciences at East Carolina University and is managed as part of the History Collections of Laupus Library.

The Country Doctor museum is located at 7089 Peele Road in Bailey. It is open Tuesday-Saturday and tours last 45-60 minutes. Admission is $8 for ages 18-55, $6 for 55 and older and $4 for ages 3-17 and college students with ID.

For more information, call 252-2354165

Sylvan Heights Bird Park

While the history of Sylvan Heights dates to its establishment by Mike and Ali Lubbock in 1981 in the western North Carolina community of Sylva, the facility was relocated to Scotland Neck in 1989 and, in 2006, Sylvan Heights Bird Park was opened and draws more than 55,000 visitors annually.

With the arrival of the Lubbocks from England, they began breeding rare waterfowl from around the world. The importance of the Sylvan Heights Avian Breeding Center cannot be overstated as there are several species that have been brought back from the brink of extinction through the work of Sylvan Heights.

The more than 3,000 birds represent 140 species, and zoos and nature centers around the world have gotten birds because of the work of the Breeding Center, which plays a major role in maintaining captive populations of several endangered waterfowl species.

The Bird Park allows visitors to see the waterfowl in a natural setting, allowing them to enjoy and learn about the birds and waterfowl from around the world without disturbing the important nesting birds at the Breeding Center.

A couple of the success stories from Sylvan Park include the Hawaiian Goose, which was down to 30 birds in 1952. Through the work of the Breeding Center, there are now a few thousand of Hawaii’s state bird and the possibility exists it could be removed from the endangered list.

Another is the Sumatran whitewinged duck, which is down to about 200 worldwide as its habitat is being converted to agricultural use.

Among the rarest of the world’s ducks, Sylvan Heights owns all of the whitewinged ducks in the United States and loans them out to other facilities for breeding.

In addition to the rare birds, there is an enclosed area called “The Landing Zone” where visitors can get up close and personal with parakeets and flamingos.

Sylvan Heights also has an elevated nature walk that gives students on field trips access to a swampy area around a former beaver dam where they can learn more about the area and its wildlife.

Students ages 6 and up have the opportunity to put on rubber boots and explore the area — under guidance, of course.

During exploration of the swampy area, two Cardinal flowers were found, as were orange jewelweed plants. The Cardinal attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, while the jewelweed attracts migrating hummingbirds.

Sylvan Heights is located at 500 Sylvan Heights Park Way, off US 258 just north of Scotland Neck and is open Tuesday-Sunday year-round.

Admission is $11 for ages 13-61, $10 for 62 and up, $8 for ages 3-12 and 2 and under is free. Visitors are advised to allow two hours for a tour and golf carts are available for an additional fee. Group tour rates are also available.

For more information, call 252-8263186.

Founded in 1983 by Dr. Richard Michal, Rocky Mount Family Medical Center is currently owned by Dr. Michal and his partner, Dr. Mark Abel. The practice is not your ordinary family practice. Founded with a desire to serve, Family Medical Center has always looked for ways to improve service. It was the first family practice in Rocky Mount to have an electronic medical records system, and today, patients have access to a full service laboratory as well an accredited radiology department including ultrasounds - all under one roof.

Dr. Michal and Dr. Abel have a strong desire to give back to the community that has helped grow the practice. They do that by supporting and establishing events to include, Relay for Life, the American Heart Walk, Tackle the Tar, Twin Counties Sugar Run, Hero’s Lunch and the Go Red Banquet. The staff and providers pay to “dress down” on Fridays with all money raised being donated to non-profits. “Our patients are more than a chart number. They are part of the FMC family and part of our community. We take our responsibility to the community very seriously,” said Dr. Richard Michal. The practice also supports the community through organizations such as the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and Rotary, and it has received numerous People’s Choice Awards from the Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount Family Medical Center, which began with one provider and four patients, has grown to a twelve provider practice with plans to continue growing and improving services. The next step in this process will be to offer the MDVIP Wellness Program. Physicians who participate in this program are able to provide their patients with a full wellness plan and a closer doctor-patient relationship. Appointments are longer; less hurried, and have less wait time. The patients have 24 hour access to their physicians and receive a comprehensive annual wellness physical that is far beyond what most insurance companies now provide. While this will be an additional service offered by the practice, patients may still use their insurance for routine care.

BEST OVERALL MEDICAL PRACTICE

For more information about RMFMC, visit their website at www.rmfmc.com; call them at (252) 443-3133 or like them on Facebook @ www.Facebook/rmfmc.com. For more information regarding the MDVIP program, call Rocky Mount Family Medical Center and ask for Amanda Bell, Customer Service Manager or talk with Dr. Michal or Dr. Abel.

DOCTOR

CELEBRATING YEARS of SERVICE

By Spencer Carney

It’s been a big year for anniversaries in Rocky Mount, with Bulluck Chevrolet celebrating its 103rd year as a company, Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant celebrating its 100th and Davenport Autopark its 90th.

Don Bulluck Chevrolet was started in 1917 on a vacant lot on Tarboro Street in downtown Rocky Mount. Over the years and through a few locations, the dealership is now in the

hands of its third generation and is located on U.S. 301 with three buildings.

“A lot of people don’t realize that dealerships do so much for the community they’re in,” coowner William Bulluck said. “We’re deep in the community, and we’ve forever been involved in community fundraisers and we sponsor a lot of youth sports.”

Bulluck said that they have 49 employees

and are looking forward to a strong and continued partnership with the Rocky Mount community.

Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant makes products such as diesel and natural gas engines to hybrid and electric platforms, as well as engine systems components, controls and related technologies and continues to develop new products and services.

The company has been in Rocky Mount since 1983 and employs more than 1,800 people at its 1.2-million-square-foot plant. The plant produces engines for semi cabs, pick-up trucks, school and public buses, RVs, fire trucks as well as military vehicles and construction equipment.

“Technological innovation is at the heart of what we do,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO. “Cummins is a global technology leader with a broad portfolio of power solutions. We will continue to innovate to ensure our customers’ success.”

While most independent engine manufacturers no longer exist, Cummins’ leadership credits its longevity to its 100 years of commitment to its mission, vision and values, staying focused on long-term goals and standing up for what is right.

In the past year, Cummins actively maintained its community involvement through volunteering and partnering with educational communities such as community colleges, libraries and public school systems, and helped a United Way campaign raise $533,334.38 after a Cummins Foundation match for the United Way of the Tar River Region. Moving forward, the company aims to further advance engine technology and explore new technologies for future growth.

Started in 1929, Davenport Autopark opened just before the Great Depression hit. They managed to hang on, as they say, because they were determined to serve their customers in Rocky Mount.

Now, four generations later, the company

is still going strong, representing Honda, GMC, and Buick brands.

Davenport places an emphasis on community involvement as well. In the past five years, they have donated over $50,000 to Rocky Mount improvement, awarded a scholarship to a community college student every year, and provide a car for a year to the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

Customers of the dealership are freely enrolled in the Dealership for Life program upon purchase, which grants them a lifetime powertrain guarantee, plus oil changes, car washes, towing, loaner cars and more.

A lot of people don’t realize that dealerships do so much for the community they’re in. We’re deep in the community, and we’ve forever been involved in community fundraisers and we sponsor a lot of youth sports.

- William Bulluck, Co-owner BulluC k Chevrolet

Davenport Autopark

COMING SOON

By William F. West

Rocky Mount seems to be on a roll now with future retail and hotel development.

One immediately visible work site is on the northwest side of the city, off Benvenue Road at the former Peoples National Bank office, which crews are transforming into a Dairy Queen. That will put the restaurant on the northeast side of the Golden East Crossing mall.

Additionally, plans on file at City Hall show Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Panera Bread and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen intend to build on the northeast side of the interchange of Wesleyan Boulevard and Sunset Avenue. That will put the three restaurants on what presently is the grassy part of the interchange by Sam’s Club at the former Tarrytown Mall.

City spokesman Jessie H. Nunery said the local developmental review committee approved the site development plans for

Popeyes on Sept. 17, 2018, for Freddy’s on May 29 and for Panera Bread on June 6. The committee is comprised of officials from a variety of departments and offices.

Meantime, Freddy’s franchise owner Dave Dreiling, in a recent statement through a spokesperson, said, “We’re currently working through the permitting phase in Rocky Mount and hope to start construction in the coming weeks to open by the end of the year.

“It’s always fun when we get to announce that we’re coming to a new area and reach new guests who may not have tried our concept before,” Dreiling said. “We look forward to getting to know and serving the Rocky Mount community.”

Freddy’s serves hot dogs, sandwiches, steakburgers and combo-meals, as well as custards, ice cream and sundaes.

On the northwest side of the city, construction of a future Fairfield Inn is in

progress off Wellspring Drive, just north of the U.S. 64 and Winstead Avenue interchange.

On the southeast side of the interchange, crews have started work on a future Tru by Hilton, while the InterContinental Hotels Group has confirmed intentions to build an avid hotel.

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Farris said he and his team believe the development is part of an ongoing trend for the last couple of years, as people continue to discover Rocky Mount.

Farris also said the greater Rocky Mount area continues to rebound economically from the nationwide downturn of 2007-08.

“And a lot of businesses like Panera Bread and Popeyes and Dairy Queen have looked at it as well,” Farris said. “They’ve done their research on our community and they, like so many others, believe in it.”

Farris also noted Nash County is 15th

highest in visitor spending in North Carolina.

He was referring to the 2017 report on the economic impact of travel in the state, as prepared for VisitNC by the U.S. Travel Association.

“And other hotels are looking at us,” he said. “And with our athletic complex and the event center and all the other business that’s taken place here now, we need more hotels. And that’s surprising to a lot of people. But we need it and we’ve helped with recruiting it.”

He was referring to the Rocky Mount Sports Complex, which is just north of the interchange of U.S. 64 and Church Street, and the Rocky Mount Event Center, which is the new massive indoor multipurpose facility downtown.

Farris has credited Alan Matthews, the Chamber’s economic development director, with being instrumental in working with Freddy’s, Panera Bread and Popeyes.

Carolinas Gateway President and CEO Norris Tolson said he and fellow officials and leaders have been saying there is a real hum of activity in Rocky Mount and said he believes this is going to change the landscape of the city.

“And we believe that it is being driven by a lot of things. One, the Mill project itself is certainly driving a lot of that,” Tolson said in reference to the Rocky Mount Mills development northwest of downtown.

“The Event Center is helping with that, helping drive that activity level,” Tolson said. Tolson also said he believes the industrial development going on is adding to that image of, “Hey, there’s a lot of good stuff going on in Rocky Mount. Maybe it’s time to jump in the

water and get going with it.”

He was referring to Triangle Tire’s plans to open a massive plant at the Kingsboro Megasite in rural Edgecombe County. Close by, but not in the megasite, Corning, a world-leading innovator in material science but mainly known for glass, plans to open a distribution center.

Tolson said he absolutely believes there is going to be retail development around the Kingsboro area and Tarboro.

“We are working really hard now to talk to as many people as we can about commercial activity on the Kingsboro site or adjacent to the Kingsboro site,” Tolson said

Tolson said he believes the bottom line is with the subsequent coming of the beehive of activity from customers and people having business in the Kingsboro area, people are going to need food, gasoline, lodging and services.

“All of that says to me is that you had better get ready to service those needs with amenities that people like that are going to need,” he said.

It’s always fun when we get to announce that we’re coming to a new area and reach new guests who may not have tried our concept before. We look forward to getting to know and serving the Rocky Mount community.

- Dave Dreiling, Freddy’s FranC hise owner

CHAMPIONSHIP sports tradition

In the summer of 2018, after a humid and sweaty football practice, Melik Ward stated a long-term goal for his team.

“We want to win another state championship,” said Ward, a lineman for the Tarboro Vikings. “This is a hungry group and we won’t settle for anything less than a championship.”

Plenty of teams and players dream of making the postseason and going all the way, yet few teams actually pull it off. Tarboro is one of those teams.

A billboard positioned a few miles west of the town boasts about the success of the Vikings football program. Underneath the purple-jersey wearing players is the numeral ‘5’ which denoted the number of state titles the Vikings have accumulated when the sign went up.

It took the Vikings just one season to outgrow the billboard and make Ward a successful future predictor. Now, the billboard has a slash through the ‘5’ and a ‘6’ is written underneath. The Vikings won the second

By Patrick Mason

of their back-to-back Class 1-AA state championships with a convincing 50-10 win over East Surry.

With six championships, including a three-peat in the mid-2000s, the smallschool football program has long been the benchmark of success for fellow area teams.

A number of NFL players can claim Tarboro as their alma mater, including running back Shaun Draughn, who had a six-year career. Current NFL star and All-Pro L.A. Rams running back Todd Gurley is another, who

guided the Vikings to a trio of state titles, while Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis also won state championships with the Vikings.

In the NBA, Tarboro native Montrezl Harrell plays for the Clippers and is entering his fifth season in the league. Harrell, whose Clippers made the playoffs and tested the defendingchampion Golden State Warriors, has a chance to compete for a title of his own this upcoming season with the addition of superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

And while Tarboro gets plenty of attention and adoration as a top-notch, the area sports scene is strong elsewhere as athletics in Rocky Mount have flourished.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Brian Goodwin graduated from Rocky Mount High, and took his high school teams to deep postseason runs. And recently, the Gryphons got over the hump with to back-to-back state football championship appearances with one win in 2015.

Elsewhere, this past high school baseball season featured an all-Rocky Mount championship series between Rocky Mount Academy and Faith Christian in the NCISAA 2-A division. Faith Christian was going for its third consecutive title, which wasn’t realized as Rocky Mount Academy won the best-of-three series for its first championship.

RMA, meanwhile, secured its first-ever girls

state tennis championship in the fall of 2018.

In the spring, Rocky Mount Prep athlete Terence Booth Jr. brought home the Jaguars’ first track title by winning the 110-meter hurdles.

If swimming is more your speed, then stop by the Rocky Mount YMCA, the home pool of a number of state champions. University of Utah swimming recruit and Rocky Mount Academy grad Kayla Miller won her third consecutive 100-yard freestyle title this season, while Nash Central freshman Lance Norris won the 200yard freestyle.

Two years ago, SouthWest Edgecombe swimmer Jack Coltrane won the 100-yard freestyle.

It’s impossible to talk about the local sports scene without mentioning the Rocky Mount High-Northern Nash basketball rivalry where at least twice every year the admissions line snakes out of the home team’s gymnasium and into the parking lot.

Seasoned veterans of these rivalry games know to arrive plenty early to get a seat, making the JV games well-attended as well.

“There’s so many options for good athletics around here,” Northern Nash golfer Chance Puckett said. “Our basketball team was so fun to watch and our football is bouncing back. Baseball has a little ways to go, but there’s nothing easy out here.”

CULTURAL events

As the summer works its way to the end and the heat increases, the fun and interesting activities don’t have to be over.

Both the Imperial Centre and the Dunn Center at N.C. Wesleyan College have several upcoming musical events that will be worth checking into throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall.

Currently at the Imperial Centre is its featured Downtown Live! concert series, featuring a variety of bands on the back lawn. The concerts are free to the public and begin at 6 p.m. Some of the performers include Jim

Pulling from the threads of Soul, Blues, R&B and Americana, Jim Quick and Coastline weave together their own genre of music known as “Swamp Soul.” The band works to show the spirit of traditions created in small southern town and bring it to life as genuinely as possible. Singer Jim Quick and his band Coastline will be in Rocky Mount on August 1.

The Legacy Motown Revue, a tribute band, pays homage to generations of classic bands such as The Drifters, The Coasters, The Jacksons, Earth Wind & Fire, The Temptations and more. The group includes dancers and singers, as well as a six-piece horn band and will appear on Aug. 15.

Carrying the moniker of North Carolina’s Official Ambassadors of Music, The Embers laid the groundwork for what has become known as “Beach Music.” Boasting an expansive collection of albums and single releases, the band will be playing on the Imperial Centre lawn on September 12.

At the Dunn Center, some of the events include The Malpass Brothers, Elisabeth Von

By Spencer Carney

From Goldsboro, comes The Malpass Brothers, a country music duet who actually are brothers. They primarily cover classic country artists such as the Louvin Brothers, Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins but also perform some traditional gospels and their own music. They will perform at the Dunn Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.

Elisabeth Von Trapp is the granddaughter of Maria and Baron Von Trapp, whose story inspired “The Sound of Music.” She has worked to carry on the legacy of the Trapp Family Singers, learning piano and guitar and singing. Her repertoire ranges from Bach to Broadway to Schubert to Sting, and reviews promise an unforgettable performance. She will be on stage at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25.

The 60-minute version of the musical, “Elf the Musical Jr.” is based on the holiday film “Elf.” The show follows Buddy the human elf as he leaves the North Pole to find his birth father to discover that his dad’s on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t believe in Santa. A heartwarming classic, the show will play at the Dunn Center at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21.

Quick and Coastline, The Legacy Motown Revue and The Embers.

Trapp and “Elf the Musical Jr.”

DOWNTOWN development

The term “downtown development” isn’t defined by a single word within the Twin Counties in 2019.

There’s expansion, revitalization, planning, renovating and more that guides downtowns into the current puzzle pieces that will shape the future.

In Rocky Mount, the opening of a 165,000-square-foot Event Center in October 2018 has helped put the city on the regional and national map of amateur athletic tournaments in volleyball and basketball.

The Rocky Mount Event Center also has spurred private-public development of a hotel, parking garage, retail and residential

area that is expected to bring 195 direct jobs through the pre- and post-construction process.

Rocky Mount also is looking to make its downtown area more vibrant with the implementation of the Accelerated Façade Grant Program. The program promotes exterior repair and improvements to downtown buildings in the form of grants up to $5,000.

For people interested in starting their own business downtown, the city of Rocky Mount also offers a Downtown Business Program as well as a Downtown Incentive Grant Program.

A list of available properties can be found

By Jessie H. Nunery

at downtownrockymount.com

Station Square continues to be a hub of downtown activity. The building, located at 301 S. Church St., was named small business of the month by the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce in November 2018 and has since added businesses including Count Your Blessings Furniture and Home Décor, Dynamic Learning, Carryoutcabby. com, Affordable2Insurance and more.

Station Square also provides low-cost, monthly rental and meeting spaces for small businesses and other organizations.

Growth and expansion are not limited to downtown Rocky Mount. Downtown Tarboro

has seen the opening/construction of a local diner, a pizzeria, coffee house and more in recent months. The owners of a downtown favorite, On the Square, added Tarboro Brewing Company in the past few years and have been at the forefront of helping revitalize downtown Tarboro.

While major industries focus on the outskirts of Edgecombe County, it is downtown Tarboro where local, small business seem to be making a home.

Both Nashville and Bailey were selected in early 2019 as two of 24 North Carolina towns to participate

in Downtown Strong, an initiative of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center. The program will provide downtown revitalization expertise to selected incorporated rural communities and set up networking opportunities as they develop downtown plans.

“Downtowns are the heartbeat of rural North Carolina,” said state Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland early in 2019. “Downtown Strong will help small communities regain their economic vibrancy and position them to retain and recruit new businesses, create jobs and spur investment.”

- Anthony M. Copeland, state CommerC e seC retary

Downtowns are the heartbeat of rural North Carolina.

The Area’s Most Affordable, Quality Christian Education

812 Instrument Drive

Rocky Mount, NC 27804 (252) 443-6560 www.newlifeacademyrm.com

New Life Christian Academy in Rocky Mount, NC is a private Christian School that opened in 2012 and offers classes from Pre-School through High School.

The purpose of New Life Christian Academy is to partner with the parents and the Church by providing a quality education for students that is fully integrated with God’s Word and Christian principles.

Why choose New Life Christian Academy?

Because your child deserves not only a good education, but a loving and nurturing environment where their faith can grow alongside their academics. Give your child a good foundation through New Life Christian Academy. For New Life's teachers, this is not just a job – it’s a ministry! Their teachers are committed to loving your child and bonding with them through the teaching process. The staff does what they do because they feel a

special calling to work in a private Christian institution where they can talk freely about faith issues with their students.

New Life Christian Academy uses the A Beka Curriculum for grades Pre-K-12. The God given ministry of Christian schools is to lead young people to Christ and train them in the Bible, Christian character, language, and traditional subject matter.

Today’s students need to be taught the accumulated wisdom of the past from God’s point of view and trained in the way they should go (Prov. 22:6). This lays a firm foundation from which to evaluate the present and make proper decisions for the future.

– Proverbs 22:6

A Beka Book materials are developed with well established philosophical and research foundations, providing an excellent educational program that is unashamedly Christian and traditional. You can go to ABeka.com to learn more about this curriculum.

New Life Christian Academy

812 Instrument Drive Rocky Mount

(252)443-6560

www.newlifeacademyrm.com

New Life Christian Academy is Founded on Christian Principles “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” — Mark 10:14

New Life Christian Academy is not just a school – it’s a mission! The staff imitates Christ by welcoming the children in the community and introducing them to Christ through their quality education program. Everything New Life does is in response to their understanding of the Bible and upholding Christian principles.

NLCA is a fully accredited school where upon graduation our students are ready for a four year university, a two year college, the military, or the work place.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

ECONOMIC expansion

After years and years of battling economic difficulties, Edgecombe County got backto-back-to-back shots in the arm in late 2017 and into mid-2018 with new industry announcements involving more than 1,000 jobs at a minimum.

In December 2017, Gov. Roy Cooper joined with officials of the Carolina Gateways Patnership to announce a pair of new industries — Chinese tire manufacturer Triangle Tire and New York-based manufacturer Corning. The third was more on-again, off-again

as CSX went through a leadership change, switched its operating mindset, went through another leadership change because of a death and modified its operating mindset.

The end result is that a much-anticipated CSX intermodal facility is under construction in Edgecombe County across from N.C. Wesleyan College, and even though its footprint is smaller than once expected, state transportation officials believe it will have an indirect impact of up to 1,300 jobs.

By John H. Walker

July 19, 2016, “the day we got on the map.” as he phrases it, in regard to the Twin Counties being known to site consultants.

“It was the day after we announced the CSX intermodal terminal,” Tolson told Welcome to Tarboro magazine. “Our calls went up 100 percent after we made that announcement. We were on the economic development map.”

At the time of the magazine story, the CSX project was still in limbo, although Tolson said he was convinced CSX would develop the site

Carolina Gateways CEO Norris Tolson calls

sooner rather than later, which they are now doing.

Edgecombe County Manager Eric Evans said he thinks the three announcements bode well for his county and the region.

“They certainly position us to where we can begin to turn the corner,” he said.

The Triangle facility, according to Cooper, represents the single-largest economic investment in rural North Carolina in history. It is the first venture outside China for Triangle, and suppliers are expected to follow and locate in the area, much as with auto plants.

The numbers are mind-boggling.

Triangle represents an investment of more than $800 million, while Corning’s comes in at $86 million. The CSX project, which is expected to impact the entire region, represents an investment of nearly $160 million.

Corning is expected to be operational by the end of the year and projects 111 jobs. The huge facility sits on a 150-acre site alongside U.S. 64 Alternate near its intersection with New Hope Church Road across from what once was Midway Trailer Park. Corning is also building a manufacturing facility in Durham.

Pay at Corning is expected to be in the $35,000 per year range, which is about $3,000 above the Edgecombe County average.

The Triangle Tire project is located between US 64 Alternate and the CSX rail line and, because of heavily forested areas, is more difficult to view.

Triangle is expected to be operational in 2020,

although comments made in the public session of a recent Edgecombe County commissioners meeting indicated that might be, at least at the time, a fluid target.

Triangle will produce both passenger tires as well as commercial tires at the facility, which will be built in two phases.

Construction on the first plant which will make tires for passenger vehicles, is scheduled to get underway soon and be fully operational next year.

The facility is anticipated to create 800 jobs and pay at Triangle is expected to be $56,450 — almost $24,000 more than the Edgecombe County average. An additional 400 jobs are projected at yet-to-be-named associated industries.

CSX is another 2020 — or later — project and even though its footprint is about half — 330 acres versus 715 — of what was originally announced, it is coming.

Just prior to the site groundbreaking, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce President David Farris told the Telegram he is excited about the CSX facility because “it’s going to bring in a lot more industry because of the shipping availability from not only Nash and Edgecombe, but probably a 50- or 60-mile radius, which lifts us all up economically.

“This is going to give us a different kind of boost than a plant coming in with 500 or a thousand or 2,000 employees. This is going to provide opportunities for those plants where it makes sense to come here.”

The facility is anticipated to create 800 jobs and pay at Triangle is expected to be $56,450 — almost $24,000 more than the Edgecombe County average. An additional 400 jobs are projected at yetto-be-named associated industries.

JUKEBOX heroes

Walking through the door, it feels like the universe has gone back in time: pinball machines line one wall, vintage, refurbished jukeboxes line another and hanging up above are dozens of neon signs advertising Wurlitzer Jukeboxes and Margaritaville.

Thorpe Music Co. isn’t just about music, although refurbishing and sometimes rebuilding classic jukeboxes is a large part of what they do. Opened in 1936, the shop has now passed hands onto the third generation.

“My son technically owns it now,” said Jimmy Thorpe, the previous owner. “I just like to come back and work for the fun of it.”

While the primary purpose of the company is to service machines, from vending

machines to slot machines to game machines, their biggest industry is servicing ATMs, with revitalizing jukeboxes as a close second.

“The ATMs are convenient to service because in a lot of places we also go to their locations to service the games, and we can just check the ATMs at the same time,” Thorpe said. “I love working on the jukeboxes though and have some in my office that I just couldn’t let go of.”

There are a variety of jukeboxes available in the music shop, located in the same building as the Mini Putt in Rocky Mount. Thorpe Music Co. rebuilds the machines from the inside out, fixing the wiring, replacing parts and then cleaning up the outside with fresh chrome

By Spencer Carney

and new veneer. The older boxes have entire panels of wood. Most are beautifully decorated, with neon lights, bright colors and some with mosaics.

The jukeboxes play different sized records depending on the years they were produced: in the 30s and 40s, they played 78s, which are the big classic vinyls. From 1952-1986, jukeboxes were made to play smaller records, called 45s. In 1986, the cd jukebox came out and stayed popular until about 2008, at which time entirely electronic jukeboxes were made to download songs and can be accessed through apps on customers’ phones.

“The demand for the electronic ones has really picked up,” said Glenn Cockrell, a service

representative with Thorpe Music Co. “We still do a lot of restoration on the old jukeboxes and want to keep doing that for as long as we can. We really are aware of how the business has really changed and how much we have to adapt.”

Cockrell said that many of their electronic jukeboxes go to places such as restaurants, banks and game centers, while private collectors and other individuals enjoy the vintage boxes for their homes and collections. He added that with vinyl records making a comeback, they’ve seen slightly more interest from younger buyers and hope to see the trend continue.

“For the most part, a lot of the people that we see come in for the classic pinball machines and jukeboxes are older people. A lot of the younger ones didn’t grow up playing on these machines and prefer the ticket games — they just don’t have that same appreciation for the classic games,” Thorpe said. “I think one day they will appreciate them though, how beautiful and unique these machines are, and they’ll understand why so many older people like me still love them.”

I think one day they will appreciate them though, how beautiful and unique these machines are, and they’ll understand why so many older people like me still love them.

- Jimmy Thorpe, thorpe musiC Co.

FESTIVALS and FUN

Twin Counties residents have a variety of festival options stretching across U.S. 64 throughout the year.

For the past 23 years, downtown Nashville has kicked off the fun each May with its annual Blooming Festival. The event brings together area residents for two days of fun that includes live music performances, amusement park

rides and games, food and beverage vendors and more.

The event is sponsored by the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

Another county seat, Tarboro, continues the fun later in May with its one-day Happening on the Common event. Happening on the Common is the second-

By Jessie H. Nunery

longest-running festival in either county and celebrated its 47th year in 2019. Sponsored by local entities including the Town of Tarboro, the event includes arts and crafts and inflatables for children, food and alcohol vendors and live music.

Tarboro’s Town Common was established in 1760 by the legislative act that created the

Downtown Rocky Mount is the place to be during the first weekend in June during the city’s Juneteenth Community Empowerment Festival. The weekend has brought national recording acts including Avant, Dru Hill and Vivian Green to Rocky Mount in recent years.

During the two-day event, students who achieve A/B honor roll status also are honored, local food trucks and vendors are available for purchases and keynote speakers highlight a festival designed around fun while celebrating “Juneteenth,” a holiday that was first celebrated in 1980 in Texas as recognition for the emancipation of slavery.

Rocky Mount also is the home to the annual Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down Festival during the second weekend of October. The

event takes place on the lawn of the Helen P. Gay Rocky Mount Historic Train station and brings in some of the top grillmasters in the state and beyond.

The two-day event, which will celebrate its 12th year in 2019, features live musical acts, food and item vendors, a game and play area for children and a ropes course and information area sponsored by Rocky Mount Public Utilities.

The highlight of the event is the barbecue, chicken and pork tastings, where for a small fee, attendees can sample the food of the contest participants. The winners are awarded

cash

“More than $20,000 was awarded to teams in the 2018 Throw Down,” Rocky Mount Special Events Coordinator Kayla Hillman said. “Our main focus is that people of all ages can come out and have a good time. We hope that everyone will come check out what downtown Rocky Mount has to offer.”

Nash County celebrates its harvest season the first weekend each October with the Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival. The two-day event includes a parade, local vendors, a pumpkin recipe contest, pageants and more.

The event takes place in downtown Spring Hope and will enter its 48th year in 2019.

colonial town of Tarboro.

prizes and trophies throughout different categories recognized by the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

Our main focus is that people of all ages can come out and have a good time. We hope that everyone will come check out what downtown Rocky Mount has to offer.

- Kayla Hillman, roC ky mount speC ial events Coordinator

Able Home Health Care is locally owned and operated in-home health care service employing quality caregivers to assist individuals and families in living dignified independent lifestyles in their own homes.

Proudly serving the clients of Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax and surrounding counties, we provide innovative, high-quality home care services and respite care to our clients.

Since our beginning in 2000, we’ve made our clients a promise, based on our family’s values and commitment to excellence.

GOLDEN MILE makeover

By William F. West

Motorists having to maneuver through the construction work zone on Wesleyan Boulevard from May Drive to Benvenue Road will get relief by the end of the year.

Crews have been working to widen about two miles of the heavily commercial stretch of Wesleyan from four lanes to six lanes and to put in a “superstreet” type of thoroughfare, all at a cost of about $28 million.

“We think we’ll have everything in the final traffic pattern by the end of 2019,” weather permitting, state Transportation Department spokesman Andrew Barksdale said of the progress of the project. “But the final layer of asphalt and pavement markings will probably

be done next spring.”

Barksdale said there will be lane closures for a week here and a week there to complete the last part of the project.

Wesleyan is quite a busy segment between May and Benvenue.

State Transportation Department data shows the average daily traffic count at 34,000 in the area of Stoney Creek and at 36,000 just north of the junction of U.S. 64.

The data shows the count at 23,000 just south of the Wesleyan interchange with Benvenue.

Wesleyan, which is signed as U.S. 301, was opened to traffic in October 1955, originally as

a two-lane bypass of downtown but with an overpass and interchange for Sunset Avenue.

The present Wesleyan Boulevard improvement project began in July 2017, with the contract awarded to PLT Construction of Wilson. The project included replacing the Sunset Avenue overpass with a more modern structure.

As a result of the superstreet design, major changes to Wesleyan are taking place.

Specifically, motorists at the intersection of Sutters Creek Boulevard and at the intersection of Ring Road and Independence Drive no longer will be able to cross Wesleyan or turn left onto Wesleyan.

Instead, motorists will have to turn right to drive to areas of Wesleyan built for U-turns if they want to get to the opposite sides of the intersections of Sutters Creek and Ring and Independence.

The U-turn for southbound traffic is open in the immediate area of 2.75 Cleaners and the Golden Corral restaurant. The U-turn for northbound traffic will be just past the exit for Benvenue.

Proponents of the superstreet design have said the purpose of having such a type of thoroughfare is to keep traffic continually flowing.

State Transportation Division 4 board member Gus Tulloss said the project will be well worth the wait and that Wesleyan will be much safer.

Tulloss emphasized the past data for Wesleyan, which showed there were 233 wrecks, 103 injuries and one fatality on the corridor. The data was for a five-year period leading up to 2015.

“It was just a dangerous, dangerous highway,” Tulloss said.

Tulloss remembered the March 2012 crash in the immediate area of the Golden Corral.

A state trooper was driving a Highway

Patrol car north on Wesleyan when a woman driving a sedan exited the Golden Corral parking lot and pulled out in front of the patrol car. The trooper tried evasive action by moving to the left.

The woman, Maurilia Solis Leon, died at the scene. The trooper, A.S. Samuel, subsequently was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Tulloss emphasized the safety factor is the main point in converting Wesleyan into a superstreet.

“And plus we are looking ahead, not for next year or five years,” he said. “We’re looking ahead for the next 15-20 years.”

Trent Coleman, 48, lives in rural Nash County and owns the Corner Coffee Cafe in downtown Nashville.

Coleman said the traffic situation is not too bad after he turns off U.S. 64 onto southbound Wesleyan to go shop at Sam’s Club.

Coleman said Wesleyan north of U.S. 64, however, is inconvenient, namely when he exits the Cook Out restaurant or from the direction of Sutters Creek Plaza because he cannot hook the left onto Wesleyan.

“That’s kind of a problem,” Coleman said. “There’s a lot of traffic. The wait times for the lights are really bad.”

Overall, he said although he only comes to the Wesleyan corridor once or twice a week, “I’d hate if I had to drive it every day.”

He said he will be glad when the project is complete, noting, “There’s traffic barrels and traffic jams all over the place.”

Barbara Williams, a retiree who is a resident of Wilson County, was quick to express her dislike of the construction work.

“It’s just too much. It’s too confusing,” she said.

Williams said she believes drivers can become quite befuddled in the construction zone if he or she is not familiar with the roads.

“And imagine what it’s doing to seniors like us,” she said. “I used to live over here, so I kind of knew what it was like before they started working on it.”

She said when she began seeing the barrels, the scene was quite a shock to her at first.

“I’ve gotten kind of used to it, but I still don’t like it,” she said.

Tulloss acknowledged he has heard grumbling from local residents about having to deal with the construction work zone.

He was quick to note more than a few business people along Winstead Avenue felt they were inconvenienced earlier this decade.

That was when crews widened Winstead to four lanes from just before the traffic signal at Hunter Hill Road to U.S. 64 and transformed Winstead into a divided six-lane thoroughfare from U.S. 64 to Sunset.

Today, he said of the improved Winstead, “Everybody loves it.”

To see a computer visualization of the Wesleyan Boulevard improvement project, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=WRVU0XjCDjw.

HOMEGROWN restaurants

The Twin Counties may be home to several small towns and communities — but our local restaurant owners and operators think big when it comes to offering savory selections.

Whether you’re looking for a white tablecloth experience or a basket full of wings, the Twin Counties is home to some of the best dining experiences in the state.

Here’s a sampling of some of the area’s eateries, that are sure to get your taste buds humming.

Moe and D’s Restaurant Grill and Bar is located at 123 S. Church Street, connected to the Bel Air Artisan Center. Owned and

operated by Nash County native and basketball great Moe Deloatch, Moe’s offers a menu full of some of the South’s staple meals like country-fried steak, fried fish and fried chicken. Locals love the chicken wings and creative cocktails. Meals are moderately priced and typically ready in a short amount of time.

Deloach shares the restaurant management duties with his family, who he says loves to cook. When he opened the restaurant in 2017 he said he was confident in the future of a downtown restaurant.

“I know basketball is going to come to an

By Jenny White

end one day,” Deloach said. “I want to put myself in a position to come home and have something to do, which is one of the things I thought about. My family loves to cook and this is what we decided to do. Being that downtown area is coming up, we want to help in the development of it.”

The 2,200-square-foot restaurant can seat 46 people and has a bar area in the rear. The restaurant is typically open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday.

Also located downtown is The Prime Smokehouse. Since its opening in 2013, it’s drawn patrons from across the state to

sample the Southern, upscale offerings from owners Ed Wiley and Yalem Kios and longtime business partner, Harold Worrell Jr. Wiley and Kios closed their north Raleigh restaurant to open up shop in the revitalized downtown area and have been a culinary gift to locals and visitors alike since they arrived. Wiley said he learned the best recipes from his father’s catering business while growing up and perfected them over the years with his own catering and restaurant businesses.

“My father fried the best chicken, made the ooziest baked macaroni and cheese, and collard greens and ham hocks to die for,” Wiley said on the restaurant’s website.

His father, who was from Texas, was known for his barbecue.

“The meat would slow-smoke and tease us for half a day before, in my father’s eyes, it had reached the perfect level of smokiness, tenderness and overall deliciousness,” Wiley said.

While the barbecue is the star of the show at Prime Smokehouse, equally worthy of top billing is the sweet potato pie, the macaroni and cheese and the always fresh collard greens.

Prime Smokehouse is located at 207 E. Thomas St.

If you’re over in Edgecombe county, looking for some culinary treats, make sure you stop at Abram’s. In North Carolina it’s the unofficial home of The Cheese Biscuit and Abrams has made many friends over the years with their down home southern cooking.

Gerald Abrams started the family cooking restaurant in 1974. Today the family business has ballooned to a giant catering and entertainment business, but the Abram’s restaurant has stayed true to its roots and concentrates on offering excellent fried chicken, ribs and barbecue.

With locations in Tarboro and Pinetops, we highly suggest you make sure to put one of Abram’s locations on your list — and try the cheese biscuit. It’s worth a trip, just for one.

Also located in Tarboro is On the Square, a small whitecloth table restaurant owned and operated by Tarboro couple Stephen and Inez Ribustello. The restaurant offers American cuisine and has an always changing seasonal menu that keeps up with the plentiful agricultural offerings from the area.

Inez grew up in Tarboro and returned in 2002 with her husband Stephen, after a stint living in New York city. They started a family and opened the restaurant in 2007. In

addition to the locally sourced menu items, On the Square is also a favorite local spot for sushi. Inez is world-renowned for her wine sommelier skills. Rest assured, you’ll find the perfect wine pairing to go with your exquisite and delicious food. We recommend the panseared sea bass or the char-grilled ribeye.

The restaurant is located at 115 E. James Street in Tarboro.

With the burgeoning growth of the Rocky Mount Mills located on Fall Road, visitors and residents can find an ever-expanding array of restaurants to choose from, as well as frequent food truck visitors in the evenings.

Tap@1918 offers a pub-style eatery. Owner Lou Reda said Tap@1918 is meant to be a cool place people can hang out, drink a few beers, eat some burgers and watch sports on the big screen TVs.

“We want you to come here for a drink or cocktail — we have 20 beers on tap and then have some great food to eat.”

whether you’re looking F or a white taBleC loth experienC e or a

Basket Full oF wings, the twin Counties is home to some oF the Best dining experienC es in the state.

The 3,500-square-foot mill house where Tap@1918 is located features seating for 160 people with 56 seats on the porch and 30 on the outside patio.

Also located at the Rocky Mount Mills is Tipsy Tomato and its gourmet, freshly made pizzas via a wood-burning oven, and TBC West where you can get tacos and southwestern fare to go with your craft brews.

Angelo Carlone, owner and chef at Tipsy Tomato, said he loves the family-friendly atmosphere associated with the Rocky Mount Mills, as weekends are filled with people throughout the campus enjoying craft beer and engaging in other activities that the Mills hosts during the year.

“I feel like the community support here at the Mills is through the roof, and it’s only going to grow,” he said. “Eventually, you’re going to see out-of-town consumers come here, so that will allow me to have my product reach people that aren’t from here. That’s going to be

a big deal to get my product out further, and definitely the Mills is on the verge of blowing up.”

Another great spot to enjoy a brew and a hamburger is Westridge Grill, located in the Westridge Shopping Center on Sunset Avenue. This family friendly restaurant and bar has a large outdoor patio, frequently

features live music and has an expansive menu. Offerings range from hamburgers, gourmet salads, chicken salad sandwiches and homemade soups and desserts.

Westridge Shopping Center is also home to Mario’s Pizza, Pitstop Shoppe, which offers fast food and frozen yogurt, Subway, Gardner’s BBQ, Golden Wok and Honey Baked Ham.

HEALTH care

By Jenny White

Having two robust and growing health care facilities in the Twin Counties is a testament to the small-town values and relationships in the Twin Counties.

Vidant Edgecombe Hospital is located in Tarboro and Nash UNC Health Care is located in Rocky Mount.

Local governments, partnerships with Vidant Medical and UNC Hospitals and the local residents that make up the impressive employment pool that staff the two health care centers are the backbone that keep community health a top priority in the Twin Counties.

As many small community health care entities struggle to stay open, Nash UNC Health Care in Nash County not only thrives, but continues to grow.

Jeffrey Batts, chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Nash UNC Health Care, recently wrote in a letter to the editor, published in the Rocky Mount Telegram, that the community can count on their health care system to continue to offer top-notch services.

“Our Board of Commissioners recently approved a strategic plan that defines our organization’s short- and long-term

priorities for fulfilling our community’s health care needs,” Batts wrote. “We are focused on solidifying and building upon our improvements through this strategic plan and remaining well-positioned as the health care environment continues to change.”

Some of the most recent accomplishments and milestones at Nash UNC Health Care include:

• Via a partnership with medical staff, Nash UNC Health Care has implemented new protocols and improved processes have led to significant improvement in quality of care measures. Care measures for sepsis, heart

attack and strokes have improved impressively in recent years, and Nash UNC receives national recognitions for work in those areas.

• The Nash UNC Emergency Department is one of the busiest in the state with almost 70,000 patient visits a year. Nash UNC has instituted a number of new processes to keep patients and their family members comfortable and better informed throughout their time in the Emergency Department. Statistics show a reduced door to provider wait time of an average of 22 minutes — well under the national benchmark of 30 minutes, and much improved from the 60 minutes average just 18 months ago. Patient experience surveys show that Nash UNC’s hard work is making a difference and patients are noticing and commending the changes.

• The Danny Tolbert Comprehensive Cancer Center offers high quality, industry leading cancer diagnosis and treatment plans at a local facility, cutting back on the stress and cost of travelling to the Triangle area for care. Medical staff at the cancer center work in tandem with the worldrenowned UNC Cancer Center, offering Twin Counties patients access to the experience and cutting-edge knowledge and technology other cancer patients travel hundreds of miles to get to.

• Nash UNC Health Care has also added a pediatric emergency department, Women’s Health Center, Special Care Nursery and a cardiac care unit in the last few years as well.

Vidant Edgecombe Hospital offers compassionate care for residents of Tarboro and surrounding communities. The highly trained staff at the acute-care facility represents more than 20 medical specialties, according to hospital officials. The hospital specializes in comprehensive rehabilitation services, cancer care, birthing and outpatient clinics.

The hospital has a long history of community involvement, including health fairs, screenings and annual events like Pink Power and Heart Truth.

Twin Counties residents have learned you don’t have to travel out of town for cutting edge health care. Partnerships with medical schools, researchers and metropolitan facilities in the Triangle area bring the best health care available to our very own neighborhood.

twin Counties residents

have learned you don’t have to travel out oF town F or C utting edge health Care.

HOMES away from HOME

Location and tourism are favorable components of the Twin Counties — and in 2019, the area hotel industry is a hot spot for development.

Whether it’s well-known hotel chains like Hilton unique, tiny houses at the Rocky Mount Mills or a national brand coming to downtown Rocky Mount, people visiting the area will have a wealth of options for years to come.

Travelers from the west might soon have an option in Nashville, where in the first quarter of 2019, interest in developing an 85room hotel at Nash Crossing was reported.

There is opportunity in Nashville as it sits directly within a path of travelers from the west and the I-95 corridor that runs north and South.

Whether it’s the Rocky Mount Sports

By Jessie H. Nunery

Complex, which holds baseball, softball and soccer tournaments more than 30 weekends each year, or the new Rocky Mount Event Center, which has been booming with weekend volleyball, basketball and gymnastics tournaments since its opening in October 2018, out-of-towners need a place to rest their heads in the Twin Counties.

During the past year, a

Homewood Suites

has opened near the U.S. 64 and Interstate 95 interchange, while plans for a Tru Hotel and avid hotel in the same area are in the process of being approved and reviewed.

Five-story hotels aren’t the only types of overnight stays offered. The development of Rocky Mount Mills has lent to the 2019 opening of River & Twine, a collection of 20 tiny-home style loft stays that are unique in size, look and location.

“We’re exceeding expectations,” general manager Ryan Holloman said. “Now people can stay in Rocky Mount, hang out at the Mills and make a weekend out of it.”

A tier-one SpringHill Suites is in the process of approval through the Local Government Commission as developer David Hunt of Hunt Services will help bring the hotel, residential and commercial areas and a parking garage to downtown Rocky Mount. A saying in a well-known baseball movie states, “If you build it, they will come.”

Well, in the Twin Counties, both are ringing true.

A Peace of Mind at Sunset

If you already made “Pre-Arrangements” or have a “Pre-Need” Contract in place with another funeral home: The Laws of North Carolina state that REGARDLESS of the Burial Association you now belong to OR with what funeral home you have an existing Pre-Need Contract, you can have that contract used at the funeral home of YOUR CHOICE and NOT LOSE YOUR BENEFITS. If Sunset Memorial Funeral Home is your choice, we honor ALL Burial Associations AND Pre-Need Contracts from ANY other funeral home.

We’re exceeding expectations. Now people can stay in Rocky Mount, hang out at the Mills and make a weekend out of it.

- Ryan Holloman, general manager, river and twine

MORE than MUSIC

By Spencer Carney

Before every lesson, music teacher Linda Ripke starts with a prayer.

Once the lesson is over, she takes a few minutes to ask about events in the student’s life, writes her notes and a bible verse in the student’s lesson journal, then the student gets a piece of candy and a hug from her, regardless of whether they’re young or old.

For Ripke, her teaching is more than just learning music.

“To me, it’s a ministry,” she said. “I want to be instrumental in people’s lives. I want to teach, but I want to make a difference for them. I want them to be able to say later

that a good strong character trait that was impressed on me was whatever, but I want them to be able to say that they learned it because of me.”

Ripke first began learning music as a child by teaching herself how to play by ear. She later took lessons wanting to learn how to properly play the instruments, and eventually found that her lessons were important for her to be able to teach other people to play music properly. Before teaching, she worked with Aflac insurance.

“The teaching just came around by accident!” she laughed. “A couple of people

asked me to teach them guitar, and so I said ok, and then a lady wanted me to teach piano, and the next thing you know I have people on the waiting list and it really just grew.”

She said that her favorite instruments to teach are the mountain dulcimer, which she finds very soothing and relaxing, and the banjo for its sense of spirit and fun. She also teaches and can play guitar, piano, ukulele, psaltry, Native American flute, harmonica, the hammered dulcimer, mandolin and is trying to learn the cello.

“I just think that she’s a really great teacher,” said Jeff Williams, 58, one of Ripke’s students.

She always talks about how her playing skills have kind of dropped cause she doesn’t have a lot of time to play, since she’s always spending time on her students, but when I’ve heard her play she’s been amazing.”

Williams has been taking guitar lessons with Ripke for three years. He said that he had originally looked at a teacher in Wilson when Ripke was recommended to him; he stopped in to talk to her and asked if he could take lessons, and she said she had a spot open.

“It really just went from there,” he said. “Just the interaction that we have, she’s so well rounded. She’s not only concerned about your progression, or your music and everything, but she’s also concerned about your soul. It’s really Christian based, you as a whole, your spiritual being, your well being and everything, and she focuses on all of that when she teaches.”

Another student Gail Clayton, 71, said that her favorite thing about taking lessons with Ripke was how encouraging she was.

“She would never say that anybody’s too old to learn,” said Clayton. “And if you feel like you’re not doing too well, not making progress, she’s the first one to tell you that it’s not true, that you are making progress.”

Clayton lives in Raleigh, and said that while she enjoyed learning banjo and dulcimer with Ripke, it was hard to fit in the time to travel to Rocky Mount for lessons, and sadly had to find a teacher closer to home.

“I miss her, she’s a good friend now as well as having been my music teacher, and I miss that I don’t see her every week like I did before,” she said. “If I’m passing through then I stop in and speak to her but I’ll always think of her as a good friend and a good prayer partner as well.”

Ava Moore, 14, said she started taking piano lessons with Ripke six and a half years ago.

“I always saw the sign in her driveway when we drove past, and I asked my mom how would you feel about me taking piano lessons?” Moore said. “I like taking lessons with Mrs. Ripke because she always pushes me to try my hardest, and she challenges me and I get to play a lot of the music that I like and hear on the radio.”

While she came about teaching music by accident, Ripke said that her students have made it enjoyable for her.

Ripke said, “My favorite part about teaching music is the people, and the relationship that I have with my students, watching them learn and watching them grow. I’ve had students quit playing music, but come back just to talk to me, and students grow up and come back to see me. I love my students, and want them to know that.”

She’s not only concerned about your progression, or your music and everything, but she’s also concerned about your soul.

- Jeff Williams, student

NASH in BLOOM

One Nash County location perfect for admiring the landscape is the Nash County Arboretum.

Located in front of and around the Nash County Agriculture Center on Eastern Avenue in Nashville, the arboretum is a living mural of the plants and trees found in eastern North Carolina.

Nash County Extension Agent Matt Stevens is the official superintendent of the arboretum, but Nash County Extension Master Gardeners conceptualized it in 2000 and have provided the ideas and manpower to nurture and grow it since then.

“Today there are 11 demonstration gardens in the arboretum and what you can see in each garden changes through the seasons and over the years,” Stevens said.

The demonstration gardens include the Rose Garden, Woodland Garden, Rain

Garden, Pollinator Garden, Terraced Garden, Patriot Garden, 4-H Garden, Screening Garden, Tranquility Garden, Holly Garden and Homestead Garden that’s located behind the Agriculture Center beside a historic log cabin that has been moved to the property.

While the gardens are beautiful to walk through and enjoy, Stevens said they’re also educational. “People in the community can come and see options for their gardens at their homes. If you’ve got a shady spot where you can’t get anything to grow, our Woodland Garden can offer up some ideas. We try to show the community the diversity of plants you can plant in our area that are proven to work well with our climate,” Stevens said.

Self-guided tours are offered every day, sunrise to sunset.

Master Gardener Sue Battle Moore of Rocky Mount says the arboretum is one of her

By Jenny White

favorite places anywhere.

“I see our arboretum as a virtual outdoor museum and classroom featuring ‘mother nature’ at her best,” Moore said. “There is always something in motion in the gardens, whether it be the flitting of busy pollinators, the wafting of floral aromas, something budding or blooming, the forming of new leaves and twigs — and yes, even weeds popping up.”

Master Gardener Linda Tippette said her favorite garden to visit is the Tranquility Garden but she spends most of her time planning and working in the Homestead Project and Garden area.

“I’ve learned a lot from seeing the gardens here at the Arboretum and have applied what I’ve learned to my gardens at home,” she said. “That’s the beauty of the arboretum — you can learn and enjoy at the same time.”

SHOP til you DROP

By Spencer Carney

At first glance, Rocky Mount might seem like everything is obvious: there’s a Walmart, and a mall, a Target, the library and the museum.

It’s not hard to get around, and for residents who’ve lived here for a while it may seem like there are no surprises left in Rocky Mount, at least in terms of shopping.

The following list presented is 10 local gems, places that may be new in town or have been here for years, places that new residents might not know about yet or maybe long-time residents have forgotten. This list is not exhaustive of all of the unique shopping places in Rocky Mount, and readers are encouraged to see what other noteworthy shops they can find.

Bin & Barrel Station Square Records The Bath Place

Next to the Bin & Barrel wine bar is Station Square Records, a music store offering a wide variety of vinyl records. Arranged in categories such as Psychedelic Rock, Chicago Blues and Smooth Jazz, around 100 records are available for purchase. The shop also has dozens of books for sale, ranging from children’s books to adult fiction and nonfiction.

What started as a project to help a family member suffering from eczema quickly turned into a passion for The Bath Place owner Kimberly Thigpen. She learned that shea butter worked well for it and began researching ways to incorporate shea butter into soap. Thigpen now produces a variety of natural products, including lotions, bath bombs and lip balm, in addition to her soaps.

Smith’s Red & White

In 1954, Smith’s grocery began in the corner of a feed and fertilizer store located in the old Dortches School House. Ten years later, the business moved to a new building and expanded to include general merchandise, gas and pork processing. In 1992, a brand new store allowed for 20,000 square feet of space for the business that had become a fullfledged grocery by then. Finally, Smith’s Red & White Restaurant opened in the spring of 2010, serving the same food sold by the store. Walking through the front door feels like a trip back in time. A hanging message board holds posters advertising quail eggs and motorcycles and housekeeping. Lining the wall just inside the door are buckets of candy, everything from old fashioned lemon drops and horehound to bubble gum and saltwater taffy. An electric toy train runs over aisles stocked with traditional grocery store items, in addition to products made for Smith’s Red & White, such as pickles, chow chow and a variety of jams. The biggest specialty of the grocery store, however, is their meats. Whole country hams, barbecue, ribs, hamburger and sausage are cut and made fresh daily; they make over 10,000 pounds of sausage per week and 25,000 pounds per week during the holidays.

All items are made fresh onsite in the Main Street shop and contain no animal products in their ingredients, with the exception of the lip balm which uses beeswax. In addition to her store, Thigpen’s products are available online and in a few other locations, such as the Imperial Center, as well as a few Whole Food grocery stores.

Located off the courtyard at Station Square, the wine bar offers a couple hundred different labels that rotate constantly depending on people’s preferences and the time of year. They host a tasting night every other Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m., serving anywhere from four to five wines by the glass available for purchase at a discount price, as well as offering small share plates such as cheese, flatbreads and charcuterie.

Bin & Barrel also hosts wine dinners four to five times per year. Labels in the store cover many of the major wine regions, including France, Italy, Spain, Argentina and many places in the U.S., in addition to several local North Carolina wines.

For people who would like to try more wines but don’t have the time to attend a tasting or event, Bin & Barrel offers a customizable Wine Club where members can receive their choice assortment on a quarterly basis.

Muttley Crew Patios In Bloom

Big-name pet stores have nothing on this pet place-to-be. Presenting a diverse selection of dog treats, bow ties, bandanas, collars, dog and cat toys, dog food, scoop-your-own treats and dog-friendly birthday cakes, this store has everything a pet could ever want. Four pet-focused bakeries provide the treats; one does the cakes, one does dog-friendly donuts and two make dog-friendly cookies, decorated according to the season. All four bakeries are registered and able to provide nutrition information, including ingredients used and a breakdown of calories, carbohydrates, etc.

The pet store has a self-dog-wash, for people to come in and bathe their dogs, a pet playroom and a toy repair station with squeakers and fluff to repair that favorite toy. Muttley Crew hosts several events throughout the year, including K-9 trick or treating along Westridge Shopping Center and adoption events in partnership with local rescues.

The Gift Shop at the Imperial Centre

While not an independent store, the gift shop at the Imperial Centre should not be overlooked. Stocked with locally made pottery, jewelry, small oil paintings, children’s science activities and Rocky Mount-themed gifts such as cards, coasters and magnets, in addition to Imperial Centre T-shirts. If all of that doesn’t sound interesting enough, the shop also features a 300-year-old weaving loom for visitors to see.

This store is perfect for anyone looking for a unique gift. The store is outdoor oriented, selling patio furniture, oversized flower pots, grills and accessories, garden decorations, birdhouses and flags, and offers a stunning selection of wind chimes.

The Yellow Tulip

Southern Fireflies

Coming up on the celebration of their first year in their new location, Southern Fireflies hosts over 20 local vendors. Some are clothing boutiques, some make goats milk soaps and lotions, chalk painted furniture, jewelry, hemp products, soy candles and antiques, the store makes itself accessible as a one stop shop for gift finding or personal investment.

A clothing store for women of all ages, The Yellow Tulip sells everything from dresses and skirts to jumpsuits and rompers to purses and shoes and jewelry, at an affordable price. The store works to provide unique, attractive pieces that are different than styles typically seen in many department stores, and looks to supply each customer with a pride in their individuality.

Alayna’s Boutique

Attached to Kendall’s Hallmark, Alayna’s Boutique sells gifts such as Pandora beads, Brighton jewelry, Vera Bradley bags and has a section for women’s clothing and shoes. A great option for birthday gifts or Mother’s Day presents, employees can expertly wrap any presents while customers get a card from the other side of the store, Kendall’s Hallmark.

STONEWALL villas

Work has started on a future upscale residential development northwest of downtown — and a real estate broker for the project cites a need for such housing in a tight market in Rocky Mount.

Crews are constructing a street at what is going to be Stonewall Villas. The housing is going to be built to the west and northwest of the upscale River Falls at Stonewall residential area and to the west and southwest of the historic Stonewall Manor.

Real estate broker Michael Allen said Stonewall Villas is going to be a four-phase project with a total of 71 homes, with a minimum of 1,700 square feet and with prices starting at approximately $275,000.

“There’s nothing like this one,” Allen said.

Ingram Construction of Rocky Mount is the developer for the project, which Allen estimates is going to take approximately four to five years to complete.

“It’s all in the Lord’s hands,” Allen said with a smile and a laugh of the finishing time. “He has control of the weather and what happens.”

Allen said an important feature of the development is each home at Stonewall Villas is going to have built-in fire suppression systems, which is going to be a first for a neighborhood in Rocky Mount.

Allen also said a homeowners association is going to be in place to take care of mowing the lawns and maintaining the landscaping, so there is not going to be any worries about the grass and shrubbery.

By William F. West

Allen said another key feature of the future Stonewall Villas is the location.

The development is going to be on the northwest side of the Tar River from the Rocky Mount Mills development, close to many restaurants and stores, just off an expressway-like U.S. 64 and less than 10 minutes southeast of Interstate 95.

“It’s kind of an anchor,” Allen said. “The location is the center of Rocky Mount on the map.”

As for the clientele who would be interested in a home in Stonewall Villas, he said, “We’re hoping it appeals to people that want to come be in the middle of the activity that’s going on in Rocky Mount that don’t want to rent.”

He said Phase I is going to be the scene of 11 lots, with Lot 1 to be the site of a model home to showcase some of the finishes and some of the products to be featured in the homes.

The homes can be built in bungalow or craftsman styles and a prospect can choose between having a one- or two-story residence constructed.

Allen said a prospect is going to be asked to put down a refundable deposit and, if he or she wants to move forward, he or she can meet with Ingram Construction on a plan and a price. Allen said CresCom Bank can offer financing programs.

Allen said a limited number of the residences are going to built as “specs,” that is, speculative homes, with no particular buyer in mind.

Asked why Stonewall Villas is being built, he gave the answer in one word: “Demand.”

Allen, 49, has been in the real estate business since 1996.

Allen said through the years there would be anywhere from 1,100-1,200 houses on the market in Edgecombe and Nash counties.

Allen said by approximately 2015, the number was at approximately 900 and started rapidly decreasing.

He said the reason is demand has increased since the 2007-08 burst of the housing bubble nationwide and the financial collapse on Wall Street.

“So without the new construction to absorb the demand, the inventory just went away,” he said.

Overall, Allen said the demand in the real estate market in the Rocky Mount area now is the best since his father and business partner, Bob Allen, entered the real estate business in the early 1970s.

“Do we see anything that’s going to slow it down? No, not in the near future. With the demand and the growth of our area and the industry looking at our area, housing will remain strong, whether it’s sales or rentals,” Michael Allen said.

At the same time, the son is concerned about the lack of future housing, given civic and economic development officials having said approximately 3,500 people need to be ready to go to work at expanding or future

industries.

Allen said his check of data showed 321 houses on the market in Edgecombe and Nash counties.

Allen said if one removes the extremes in prices, one is left with approximately 220 houses in the affordability range of those securing those future jobs. And he said such a situation is occurring while the rental market is already quite tight.

“We need all the new construction we can get,” he said.

He is particularly concerned because another large business or industrial prospect interested in locating in the Rocky Mount area is going to see a housing shortage.

He made clear he is proud of everything happening and moving forward in terms of economic development in Edgecombe and Nash counties.

“But our industry and the building industry could be a holdup,” he said.

Bob Allen was one of the key investors who developed River Falls at Stonewall. The father sold the site of the future Stonewall Villas to Stephen Ingram of Ingram Construction.

RECREATION and FITNESS

By Jenny White

One of the best things about living in the Twin Counties is the year-round opportunities to be outdoors. Whether you play sports, fish, hike or just like to be outside, our area is teeming with ways for you to get physical and enjoy the great outdoors.

With almost 100 parks in Nash County, there’s a family-friendly area near you — no matter where you are. One of the city’s most popular is Sunset Park, which sits along the Tar River. You’ll find a sand volleyball pit, tennis courts, basketball courts, a skate park and a kid-friendly spray park.

The spray park operates from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day, and even has concessions for

those staying a while. The food options range from popcorn to ice cream and snow cones.

One of the landmarks in Rocky Mount can be found at Sunset park — a gas powered miniature train. The train offers rides to 36 passengers at a time. There’s also a vintage carousel that’s been at the park since the 1950s.

On one recent summer day, mom Vivian Roster had her two children and a few neighborhood friends at the Sunset Park spray park.

“It’s a great way to break up a long day and they all have fun. It keeps my toddler happy and my 6-year old,” Roster said.

Another great Rocky Mount park is Battle Park. While there are no playgrounds or moving rides for the kids, there are winding trails along the Tar River. The park offers a boat landing, three picnic shelters, fishing piers and a gazebo with a view of the Rocky Mount Mills dam. Battle Park is a great place to fish and you’ll see fishermen along the banks of the river throughout the park as well as at the docks spread throughout the meandering park.

Battle Park is part of the 7.2 mile greenway trail through Rocky Mount. Starting at Sunset Park, the trail goes through Battle Park, crossing the river into Stith-Talbert Park and

travels into Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Near South Church Street, a connector trail travels north to the Rocky Mount Sports Complex and Athletic Stadium.

Ennis Park in Red Oak is another favorite recreation site. There are soccer fields, playgrounds, picnic shelters, tennis courts and a great walking path around the park. The walking trail measures .6 miles and is a great place to enjoy a walk outdoors.

If you like a little history with your recreation, Tarboro in Edgecombe County may be the place to start your hike. Designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Tarboro’s National Recreation Trail begins at the BlountBridgers House and provides a leisurely stroll or drive through one of North Carolina's largest and most diverse historic districts. Numerous public and private restorations are found along the two-mile trail with structures representing Colonial, Antebellum and Victorian architectural periods.

Significant historic sites are the Pender Museum, the Town Common, the Cotton Press Complex, Calvary Church and churchyard, and the National Main Street Program facade improvements in historic Downtown Tarboro.

Paddling the Tar River is fun for locals and visitors of all ages. The City of Rocky Mount and Tarboro plan organized paddles

throughout the year, but boat docks are open to the public throughout the park systems in both counties.

Don’t have a canoe? No worries — recreation departments in Edgecombe and Nash County both offer canoes for rent during their organized paddles.

Organized recreation leagues also offer an opportunity for residents to get moving. The Twin Counties is home to many locations for games and tournaments. The Rocky Mount Sports Complex is a major recreation league baseball and soccer site, east of Raleigh. The complex hosts local, state and national tournaments. In the summer, the Rocky Mount Sports Complex is the site of the Top Gun World Series and brings in about $1.5 million in tourist money to Rocky Mount.

The newest recreation site to the Twin Counties is the Rocky Mount Event Center. The 165,000-square-foot space boasts eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, four locker rooms, concessions and a large area for banquet events. The Rocky Mount Event Center has hosted numerous basketball tournaments and gymnastic meets so far.

Looking for a team to play on? The Harrison Family YMCA and city recreation leagues have numerous opportunities for athletes to play throughout the year.

Whether you play sports, fish, hike or just like to be outside, our area is teeming with ways for you to get physical and enjoy the great outdoors.

WESLEYAN going STRONG

By Amelia Harper

Over the past five years, N.C. Wesleyan College has shown amazing growth.

When former president Dewey Clark assumed the helm of the college in 2014, the traditional day student enrollment was 575. Now, college administrators expect to see almost 1,200 students attending school on campus in the fall.

Five years ago, the college was the secondsmallest college in the state. Since then, the college has advanced ten places on that list. It has been the fastest-growing private college in the state for much of that time period.

Clark resigned his position in June, but interim President Evan Duff said he expects that recent changes made to the school’s organizational structure will benefit the school

even more in the future.

“We plan to reallocate resources to programs and services that directly impact and improve the experiences of our students in both our traditional and ASPIRE adult program,” Duff said.

Over the past five year, as the school has grown, new buildings have been added or upgraded. A new dorm has been added to the campus and the cafeteria and bookstore have been completely renovated. Two additional buildings off campus have been donated to the college as well. And plans are in place to make additional improvements to the school’s athletic facilities.

Academic changes have been made as well. Two years ago, the college launched its

first masters level program and has already graduated students from that Master of Criminal Justice degree.

In anticipation of the coming of the new CSX facility and other new industries like Corning and Triangle Tire, which will be making their homes in the Twin Counties within the next two years, a new bachelor’s degree in logistics will be offered at Wesleyan in the fall.

The growth of local business and industry also will mean the need for more highlytrained individuals in the business field.

Wesleyan college has applied with the SACS accreditation board to offer a second master’s degree. Once approved, college leaders expect to launch a Master of Business Administration degree on Jan. 6, 2020. According to a recent

press release from the college, this online program will be the only MBA program offered locally to the Twin Counties.

Based on a recent letter from Duff to alumni of the school, Wesleyan also has other plans for program expansion in mind. The college is considering offering an RN-to-BSN program that will allow registered nurses to obtain their bachelor’s degree. Students who are pursuing a degree in music production and

entertainment arts at the college will soon have more job shadowing opportunities and potential internships. Part of this expansion of that program will involve a partnership with Sony Music that will provide aspiring music producers and songwriters a chance to gain real world experiences in New York City, the letter said.

For more information about N.C. Wesleyan College, go to https://ncwc.edu.

Five years ago, the college was the secondsmallest college in the state. Since then, the college has advanced ten places on that list. It has been the fastestgrowing private college in the state for much of that time period.

RIVER and TWINE

With the renovation of the Rocky Mount Mills came a new installation on the campus: tiny homes.

Developed by Capital Broadcasting, River & Twine’s 20 tiny houses provide an option for people to be able to stay overnight near the new restaurants and breweries and still be able to easily access the rest of Rocky Mount and the nearby highway.

“We were thinking of ways to have overnight accommodations and came up with the concept and really just went with it,” said Bryan Holloman, River & Twine manager. “The tiny houses thing has been really popular and no one’s really done it as a hotel, so we thought we’d just give it a shot.”

Holloman said that in the month they’ve been open, the response has been

overwhelming.

“We have local people, DIY people who want to build their own and are looking at ideas, groups, sporting events, wedding parties, it works well with the powerhouse,” he said. “People are constantly driving through just to see them.”

There are 20 houses available for rent, all named after bodies of water in North Carolina, such as Pamlico, Tar, Scuppernong and Neuse. Pictures of the houses are available at the River & Twine website.

River & Twine also has three guest suites available in a renovated Mill house.

“It’s really just been a great response to the houses,” Holloman said. “We have the ability to expand, but for now we’ll see how the 20 work and go from there.”

By

Spencer Carney