Living Here 2021

NewLife Christian Academy in RockyMount, NC is aprivate Christian School that opened in 2012 and offers classes from Pre-School through High School.

The purpose of NewLife Christian Academy is to partner with the parents and the Church by providing aquality education for students thatisfullyintegrated with God’sWord and Christian principles.

Whychoose NewLife Christian Academy?

Because yourchilddeservesnot onlyagood education, butaloving and nurturing environment where their faith can growalongside their academics. Give your child agood foundation through NewLifeChristian Academy.For NewLife's teachers, this is not just ajob –it’saministry! Their teachers are committed to loving your child and bonding with them through the teaching process. The staffdoes what theydobecause

theyfeelaspecial calling to work in aprivate Christian institution where theycan talk freely about faith issues with their students.

NewLife Christian Academy uses the ABeka Curriculum for grades Pre-K-12. The God givenministry of Christian schools is to lead young peopletoChrist and trainthem in the Bible, Christian character,language, and traditional subject matter

Today’sstudents needtobetaught the accumulated wisdom of the past from God’spoint of viewand trained in the waytheyshould go (Prov. 22:6). This lays afirm foundation from which to evaluate the present and make proper decisions for the future.

–Proverbs 22:6

ABekaBookmaterials are developed with well established philosophical and research foundations, providing an excellent educational program that is unashamedly Christian and traditional.You can gotoABeka.com to learn more about this curriculum.

New Life Christian Academy

812 Instrument Drive Rocky Mount (252)443-6560 www.newlifeacademyrm.com

NewLife Christian Academy is Founded on Christian Principles “Let the little childrencome to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.”—Mark10:14

NewLife Christian Academy is not just aschool -it’saministry.The staffimitates Jesusbywelcoming all students in the community to our school and introducing them to Jesus through our Christ centered curriculum. Everything NewLifeChristian Academy doesisinresponse to our staff’sunderstanding of the Bible and upholding Christian principles.

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

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

Over themoonatClair de Lune

Clair de Lune is an upscale women’sboutique owned by mother and daughter,Jerri Blanton and Amanda Smith. Amanda has been fascinated with fashion from ayoung age and began working retail at 16 years old followed by degrees in both fashion and business from Meredith College. The two knew that with Amanda’s extensive experience in the fashion industry combined with Jerri’sknowledge of the latest trends and love of people that it was time they brought Clair de Lune to Rocky Mount.

Amanda and Jerri hand pick every item in CDL to create abalance of trendy pieces, basics, and classics from local and international brands. CDL offers awide variety of cloth-

ing and jewelry,shoes, handbags & even home accessories so that every customer can find something wonderful. Overall, Clair de Lune’sultimate goal is to help every customer find the perfect piece and to feel their best no matter the occasion. Our mission is to love and serve our clients and community not only by being a fun place to shop, but also making your instore or online experience personal and memorable.

“Wehavecreated aspace where mothers, daughters and grandmothers can all shop together.We provide both sophisticated and contemporary pieces to make you feel your best while offering the best customer service possible” -Amanda

Pictured above are the ladies of CDL, from lef t: Marisa Pridgen, Amanda Smith, Jerri Blanton &Kim Polensky

Pictured belowismotherand daughter: Amanda &Jerri

Looking for alamp? Towel Town has acomplete selection of beautiful ways to brighten your home. Plus we will help you design your lamp, repair an old favorite or spruce it up with anew shade.

EVENT center

Like most public venues across the country, the Rocky Mount Event Center was forced to shut down operations in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the return of activity to the event center earlier this year brought a hopeful, cautious return to a semblance of normalcy to downtown Rocky Mount.

“On Valentine’s Day weekend, after getting clearance and presenting our reopening plan to the city manager, we were able to safely reopen for sporting events and we were one of the first venues of our size in the state to do so,” said David Joyner, general manager of the event center. “Since restrictions began to ease, we were able to begin booking small events and small catering events and reopened for our first real sporting event, a

The Rocky Mount Event Center features eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, locker rooms, 17 climbing walls, an aerial ropes course, banquet and breakout rooms, an arcade center and concession areas.

youth volleyball tournament that brought in 140 teams on Feb. 12.”

In addition to the volleyball tournament that marked the center's reopening in February, the center also was able to safely host a dance competition at the same time as one of the sporting events in different areas of the building.

“The restaurants and hotels in the area are ecstatic that we’re able to do these events again,” Joyner said. “These events always have a big economic impact.”

The 165,000-square-foot, $48-million event center opened in October 2018, and it immediately started attracting functions, bringing in $1.2 million in revenue during its first year of operation.

The facility features eight basketball courts,

16 volleyball courts, locker rooms, 17 climbing walls and an aerial ropes course. It also has banquet and breakout rooms, an arcade center and concession areas.

“The Rocky Mount Event Center is a crucial central component of ... Rocky Mount’s longterm strategy to redevelop and reinvent downtown Rocky Mount,” Joyner said. “Our team’s focus is to make our facility a soughtafter state-wide destination that provides a unique and excellent experience for sports, entertainment and corporate and social events."

Joyner said as safety restrictions were eased a bit, the facility became the scene of limited-size conferences and meetings.

Joyner said he and the management team also began allowing the use of the Game Day

Will Robillard, left, chases Harlem Globetrotter Lucius 'Turbo' Winston in an attempt to steal the ball on Nov. 4, 2018, during the Globetrotters' performance at the Rocky Mount Event Center.

Adventure and Arcade area — except for the foam ball pit — by limited numbers of people on a reservation-only basis.

That setup includes 20 arcade games, 19 climbing walls, a ropes course with 12 different obstacles, an area where one can redeem prizes, four different party rooms, four foosball tables, two pool tables and cornhole games.

“We have just about anything you can think of,” said Jajuan Mabry, the event center’s box office and family entertainment center manager.

Joyner said the facility was opened to tours by limited numbers of officials, event holders and tournament directors, both from inside and outside the state.

“They think it’s one of the most impressive facilities in the state,” he said. “They’re extremely shocked that a community our size has a facility this nice — and they all talk about the versatility of the facility.”

Many of the center's employees had to be furloughed during the pandemic until the

facility could reopen.

“Except for the management team and a few hourly staff members, most of our staff had to be furloughed during that time," Joyner said. "During that shutdown period, our management team focused intently on the aggressive marketing and selling of our venue to position us for strong reopening.

“Our strategy was that we knew we had to be ready for whenever we were able to reopen. We’re booked for almost every weekend from now through the summer for sports.”

Before the coronavirus disrupted life around the world, the event center played host to basketball and volleyball tournaments that attracted hundreds of visitors and dozens of teams to the area.

"Our organization, Teammate Basketball, has been fortunate enough to bring youth basketball tournaments to the Rocky Mount Event Center,” said Blake Thompson, Teammate Basketball owner. “(It) is a perfect setting for tournaments like ours.”

Troy Helton, director of Ethos Volleyball Club, organized a two-day tournament in 2019, with 98 teams and more than 1,500 spectators coming to the Rocky Mount area.

“We were really impressed with the management, staff and venue,” Helton said. “The facility is first-class and kept in immaculate condition. The staff was super helpful and kept the parents and players happy all weekend.”

In bringing back the larger events, Joyner said they have had to learn new processes and safety procedures to continue to comply with COVID restrictions. Part of this is participating in training through Count On Me NC, “a public health initiative that empowers visitors, guests and businesses to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19,” according to the Count On Me NC website.

Despite the lack of activity during the shutdown, employees were still hard at work to expand what the event center has to offer, including the achievement of a new

KultureCity verification.

“This is an extensive sensory inclusivity training that taught us how we can be more sensitive to the needs of all of our guests, from those with autism to people who struggle with PTSD and anyone with a sensoryinclusive need,” Joyner said. “We have quiet rooms in our facility and kits with things such as headphones. We want to be accessible to a diverse group of people who have a diversity of needs.”

Over 40 staff members received the KultureCity training, and it will continue to be a mandatory part of training for all new employees. Joyner said that so far, the response from the community has been very positive.

“I’ve gotten messages on LinkedIn and emails from people saying they have loved ones with autism or have autism — and they’re so excited that we’ve taken this step,” he said. "It was really eye opening for me just how it was for so many people.”

With the facility now at nearly normal operations and a full slate of events and tournaments booked, Joyner said he and his staff are optimistic about the future of the facility.

“One interesting result of COVID is that businesses have had to innovate and adapt — and there are things that we’ve learned and are doing differently that we wouldn’t have thought to do before,” Joyner said. “With the new certifications and safety measures and everything, it’s given us an opportunity to build an even stronger relationship with our local and state tourism partners.

“That’s something that I’ve been really proud of and our community should be proud of, that the Edgecombe, Nash and even Wilson tourism offices, we’ve all met together, and they all work together and use our facility as an anchor. It gives us the chance to be strategic and unified in marketing and deciding our plans to make sure it benefits each county.”

George Collins plays a video game with his daughters Hope and Faith at Game Day Adventure & Arcade inside the Rocky Mount Event Center.

Players compete in the AAU Rocky Mount Grand Prix volleyball tournament at the Rocky Mount Event Center.

The college was officially chartered by the State of North Carolina on Oct. 25, 1956.

The first yearbook, North Carolina Wesleyan, was published in 1962 with a very moving dedication to the city of Rocky Mount.

“The students of North Carolina Wesleyan College dedicate this, the first annual to you — the citizens of Rocky Mount. In the words of Bishop Paul N. Garber, you have dreamed the dreams and seen the visions. Now, we trust, you are beginning to see the material

NCWC

substance of those dreams. As our campus develops into a living reality, we, the students, offer our gratitude for the confidence in us which you have shown. Your belief in democracy and tolerance extended to everyone has become a goal for us to uphold while we organize and function in our different capacities. The tradition of persevering in the face of seemingly unsurmountable obstacles and always retaining faith in the future and honest effort has been a stimulus

for the students and faculty of our college to exert themselves to their fullest to fulfill your dream and vision.”

Almost sixty-five years later, those sentiments still hold true. N.C. Wesleyan College will celebrate its 65th year with its annual Founders’ Day. The 65th Founding Anniversary Celebration will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Minges Auditorium of The Dunn Center. Dr. A. Hope Williams, president of North Carolina Independent Colleges and

As N.C. Wesleyan College approaches its 65th year in October, there are a lot of great accomplishments to reflect on.

N.C. Wesleyan College won first place in the 2020 Exercise is Medicine On Campus Mascot Challenge video contest.

Universities, will be the featured speaker. The public is invited to attend.

Over the past year, there have been many exciting developments happening at N.C. Wesleyan. One of which is the development of an agreement with the ActOne Group, a global workforce solutions leader based in California with operations in North Carolina, to provide extensive career development services for current students and alumni. Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and chief executive officer of the ActOne Group, is a native of Tarboro and N.C. Wesleyan board member.

At no cost to the college, ActOne’s team of professionals will work alongside N.C. Wesleyan’s career services department to enhance internships, career development, and job placement for Wesleyan students and graduates. The college will allocate office

space to the ActOne team so they can fully connect with staff and provide students with hands-on career guidance and advice.

This partnership will provide students with access to a fully-dedicated team of staffing professionals, career counselors, talent advisors and trainers on campus. In addition, ActOne will work with area organizations to meet their talent acquisition goals.

To help enhance personal and professional development, ActOne will provide N.C. Wesleyan students with college-to-career transition classes, career preparation, career building workshops and global awareness opportunities. In addition, ActOne will provide access to an online library of training courses, skill assessments, and tutorials that will benefit all students, regardless of their career path.

Students will work with the ActOne team of talent advisors and counselors to develop leadership skills and gain insight into a variety of professions. As an added benefit to N.C. Wesleyan students, ActOne will provide two to four internships per year, allowing students to gain experience in customer service, recruiting, front office systems and database management.

In order to assist business professionals who are interested in developing specific skills to improve their resume, increasing their income, transitioning to a new industry or obtaining a promotion, the College has created three new professional development certificate programs. The certificate courses — Human Resource Management, Executive Leadership and Healthcare Administration — are 100 percent online with multiple start dates. Students can finish in as little as four to

N.C. Wesleyan College was chartered by the State of North Carolina on Oct. 25, 1956.

six months and these certificates can count toward a degree.

Capitalizing on the new infrastructure on campus, N.C. Wesleyan hosted the first, second and third rounds of the 2021 NCAA DIII men's and women's national championship. The championship was held in the newly minted Indoor Sports and Education Facility (ISEF) and the Slick Family Tennis Center at the Vernon T. Bradley Jr. Tennis Complex.

The Bishop men and women had recently captured the 2021 USA South Championship in the same venue, with the men earning their 12th straight title and the women earning their third straight championship. The men’s and women’s tennis teams completed historic seasons with the men ranked 9th and women ranked 39th nationally.

The NCAA tournament regionals came

to N.C. Wesleyan for the first time in college history, due in large part to the addition of the ISEF to the tennis complex. The new facility features four indoor tennis courts in addition to a bevy of additional features including squash courts, sports performance facilities, exercise science classrooms and space for expansion. The entire facility now features the availability of 16 total courts, which was a key component of landing the tournament.

In addition, the new Indoor Sports & Education Facility was chosen this past June by Broadwell Air Domes to be featured with them in a national television show, “World’s Greatest.” Broadwell Air Domes, the engineering and production company of N.C. Wesleyan’s dome, was selected and able to pick a recent project to be included in the episode. On June 16, Cam Cameron, chief

sales officer and CEO, alongside colleague and brother, Austin Cameron, vice president for chief global strategy, flew to North Carolina for the filming. The episode is set to air this coming fall.

Throughout its history, N.C. Wesleyan College has seen substantial growth. The college continues to build upon its academic offerings, infrastructure and community relations. Now with 32 majors, 31 minors, two graduate programs, three certificate programs and 10 satellite locations, N.C. Wesleyan provides students with opportunities to make meaningful connections and learn through innovative teaching approaches. The distinctive Wesleyan experience equips graduates to make a positive impact on the world.

N.C. Wesleyan College hosted the first three rounds of the 2021 NCAA DIII men's and women's national championships in the new Vernon T. Bradley Jr. Tennis Complex.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the college has made meaningful progress in the last year and a half.

In 2020, ECC launched a new program in Agribusiness Technology to strengthen the local agriculture community.

The new Ophthalmic Medical Personnel program received initial accreditation from its international accrediting body. Ophthalmic Medical Personnel is the first evening program

ECC

in health sciences at ECC.

Nursing and BLET programs earned continuing accreditation. Practical Nursing was ranked No. 5 in the state after receiving a perfect score by a national nursing advocacy organization.

Also in 2020, ECC was the only community college in the nation to participate in a celebration of Space Grant’s 30th anniversary in Washington, D.C. The invitation was

extended because of students’ success with the High Altitude Balloon Team competition and the achievements balloon team members attained through SkillsUSA.

This forward momentum has continued in 2021. Practical Nursing was ranked No. 4 in the state after receiving a perfect score by Nursing Schools Almanac. Since the program’s inception in 2011, 100 percent of first-time test takers have passed the National Council

Whether students want to improve job skills, transfer to a four-year institution or complete a credential and enter the workforce, Edgecombe Community College provides the edge to help students succeed.

Students in Edgecombe Community College’s Agribusiness Technology animal care class learn how to care for a baby goat.

Licensure Examination-Practical Nursing.

Medical Assisting graduates also passed on their first try the national exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant, resulting in a 100 percent pass rate for the class.

For two years in a row, ECC has been designated a Military Friendly College by Intelligent.com, a resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning. Intelligent.com conferred the designation on only 49 colleges nationwide.

In April, ECC President Greg McLeod was one of 22 college presidents worldwide selected to receive a Paragon Award for New Presidents, presented by Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for students attending two-year schools. More than 500 college presidents were eligible to receive the award.

Paragon Awards are given to new college presidents who have shown strong support of student success by recognizing academic achievement, leadership and service among high-achieving students at their college.

ECC recently signed an agreement with N.C. A&T State University that will enable ECC Agribusiness Technology graduates to transfer into N.C. A&T’s bachelor’s degree program in

agriculture education.

Edgecombe Community College has continued to safely and effectively serve students throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an effort to help students and their families recover from the pandemic, ECC has created a new scholarship program called the Edgecombe Pledge. Beginning this fall semester and extending through the Spring 2023 semester, this unique initiative will fund in-state tuition and fees for all qualifying students.

The Edgecombe Pledge is for all degreeseeking students, full time and part time. Part-time students who take just one class are eligible to receive free tuition and fees.

Continuing education students who are enrolled in short-term workforce training programs leading to a state- or industryrecognized credential also qualify for the Edgecombe Pledge.

“We are so excited about this initiative and hope it provides the assistance and encouragement for everyone who is interested in or needs to pursue an educational or workforce training credential,” McLeod said.

Also this fall, ECC will launch a new degree program in Emergency Medical Sciences. The North Carolina Office of EMS is requiring all community college paramedic programs to develop an associate degree pathway for paramedic training. ECC is expanding its existing paramedic program to meet this requirement.

The college’s current paramedic program prepares students to become certified paramedics. Additional clinical hours will not be required for students in the new pathway. Rather, the added courses will be in general education, such as English and math, leading to a degree.

Fall semester classes began Aug. 19 at ECC. Learn more at edgecombe.edu, or call 252618-6526.

Edgecombe Community College nursing student Workinesh Nugussa practices inserting a nasogastric tube in a patient simulator.

Edgecombe Community College students and staff, from left, Emilee Moore, Rebecca Stamilio-Ehret, Trey Cherry, Emily Brake, Garrett Parker, Harry Snell and college President Greg McLeod participated in Space Grant’s 30th anniversary celebration in Washington, D.C.

Located at 522 North Old Carriage Road in Rocky Mount, the two-year college was founded in 1967. The campus has an opendoor admissions policy and approximately 12,000 people participate in its programs annually.

Nash Community College is situated on 111 acres midway between Nashville and Rocky Mount, less than one mile from the

NCC

intersection of U.S. 64 and Interstate 95. While the primary service area is Nash County, the convenient location attracts students from the surrounding counties of Edgecombe, Franklin, Wake, Wilson and Halifax.

Modern facilities include the Continuing Education and Public Services Building, Advanced Manufacturing Building, Cosmetology Building, Science and

Technology Building, the Business and Industry Center and a five-star rated Child Development Center.

A recent study by EMSI found that in fiscal year 2020, there was $86 million total added income in Nash County resulting from Nash Community College’s operational, student and alumni input. This breaks down to a $22 million impact from operational spending,

Nash Community College continues to make a significant impact on students, workforce development and as an economic engine in Nash County.

Instructor Shilo Lawrence works with students at Nash Community College.

$62 million alumni impact and $2 million student spending impact.

Additionally, the college served 4,427 credit students, 5,493 non-credit students, and employed 397 team members during the same year. Total tuition revenue was $2.7 million and employee payroll and benefits totaled $18.9 million.

EMSI also concluded the return on Nash County’s investment in Nash Community College for the year was $30 for every $1 it funded at NCC.

Over the summer, NCC received the outstanding news that the college’s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) was reaffirmed without conditions following an in-depth review. NCC was found in compliance with all of the SACSCOC standards and requirements.

As part of NCC’s reaccreditation process and Quality Enhancement Plan, NCC established a Success Network that reflects our commitment to enhancing institutional quality by focusing on student learning and success.

Students who began fall semester classes on Aug. 16 can expect increased support services such as academic advising, tutoring and free clinical counseling.

The Success Network assists students by assigning them to success coaches for mentorship and guidance throughout their college career and connecting them to tutoring services and resources based on their individual needs

Nash Community College offers academic programs leading to a degree, diploma or certificate. Included are two-year technical and college transfer programs that give students the knowledge and expertise required for challenging careers and successful transfer to four-year institutions. Vocational, occupational, business and industry-related

programs are offered that prepare students for jobs and provide a skilled workforce for the area.

Additionally, the college offers Adult Education, High School Equivalency and Adult High School to meet the diverse needs of the

For more information, visit nashcc.edu or submit an interest form at nashcc.edu/info. To schedule a campus tour, call 252-4518300 or email admissions@nashcc.edu.

citizenry in Nash County and the surrounding area.

Members of Nash Community College’s High Altitude Balloon Team, ‘The Nashtronauts,’ successfully completed a balloon launch and payload recovery in May at the campus to complete a six-month-long, open-ended engineering project.

McKenzie Barbee takes notes during a parasitology class at Nash Community College.

MRS. GEORGE’S pies

It’s a curious thing how certain foods can make us feel warm and fuzzy inside.

For instance, the chicken soup your mom would give you as a child when you were sick or the ice cream you’d have on a hot summer day while playing with friends. Food can make us nostalgic for a happier time, a simpler time.

Lucille George, better known as “Mrs. George,” was the owner of The Carolina Cafe from 1942-87. While her delicious homecooked meals were a staple of the Rocky Mount food scene, her peanut butter pie is what made her an icon.

George’s nephew, Matt Kannan, and his wife, Brandy, were eager to help revitalize Rocky Mount. Brandy Kannan, a stay-athome mom, said she wanted to contribute to the community in the midst of rebuilding and rebranding itself as a social and economic

region in eastern North Carolina.

“Our hope is that this venture will bring positivity and nostalgia to the people of Rocky Mount who she loved so much,” she said. “We believe Rocky Mount is a great city because its people are great and we want to be a small part of its strong economic resurgence.”

Brandy Kannan spent several months perfecting the “secret” recipe. While she and Matt are withholding the identity of the person who gave up the recipe, they did recruit 30 taste-testers to help refine the pie. All testers were original Mrs. George customers, so their opinions were make or break for Brandy.

“It took a long time to get the recipe just right, but with the help of our taste-testers, we were able to recreate it to a T,” she said.

“We are Mrs. George’s Pies and our mission is simple — to preserve, protect and celebrate

the legacy of our dear Aunt Lucille George, or as many in the community knew her, ‘Mrs. George.’

“We may be biased, but it is our belief that if Rocky Mount had a taste that it would be Mrs. George’s World Famous Peanut Butter Pie. And if we could only pick one icon of this great city, we think that Mrs. George would sit at the pinnacle. We hope to honor her and make her proud in everything that we do.”

Books and Beans Coffee Shop at the Rocky Mount Mills recently welcomed Mrs. George’s Pies into its cafe in a special pie-cutting ceremony. Single slices of pie and whole pies are now part of the Books and Beans menu.

Orders for whole pies also can be placed at www.mrsgeorgepies.com.

It took a long time to get the recipe just right, but with the help of our taste-testers, we were able to recreate it to a T.

Rocky Mount Area Chamber President and CEO David Farris, Matt and Brandy Kannan and Mayor Sandy Roberson, from left, stand together during a ceremonial pie cutting for Mrs. George’s Pies at Books and Beans.

- Brandy Kannan

PEACEmakers

Like many organizations, Peacemakers of Rocky Mount pivoted its well-laid plans when the coronavirus pandemic struck last year.

The nonprofit had just moved into its new South Rocky Mount facility a month earlier, nearly doubling their space and facing the need for extensive renovations. Located at 2221 West Raleigh Blvd., the building was formerly South Village Nursing Home.

“When we said we had great expectations for how God was going to use this new location to advance His kingdom in South Rocky Mount, we had no idea those plans would begin with a pandemic,” Peacemakers Executive Director Jesse Lewis said. “Being a Christian community

development organization serving a lowincome neighborhood, it was only fitting that our plans shift as the needs of the area increased.”

Peacemakers’ programming supports community members in the areas of education, job preparation and community events to help empower people with knowledge that leads to successful, sustainable lives.

“The governor’s executive order prevented us from opening at full capacity, so we did all we could do to support parents and students virtually in their new normal with children learning from home,” Lewis said. “We shared daily read-aloud videos, parenting workshops

and exercise videos on our social media platforms.”

Online parent support groups launched with teachers and mental health professionals as facilitators. Morning one-on-one tutoring began for elementary school students needing extra support and Peacemakers continued providing tutoring for its existing After School Program participants.

“Children being out of school unexpectedly created a significant financial strain for a number of families,” Lewis said. “Being the hands and feet of Jesus means that we respond where we are needed. So Peacemakers prepared weekly food boxes for

Freedom School student Lyric Bibbs raises her arms and sings the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus during the Harambee morning motivation at Peacemakers of Rocky Mount.

more than 70 Williford Elementary families in need.”

The organization also continues its annual Freedom School in the summer. The sevenweek, full-time enrichment program helps young students fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem and generates more positive attitudes toward learning.

Traditionally, many students start the academic year with achievement levels lower than they were at the beginning of summer break. This is especially true for disadvantaged students. The COVID-19 pandemic not only hampered their learning, but due to closures, many of these students also have lost access to services that were offered by schools.

At Freedom School, students participate in high-quality STEM clubs providing an in-depth learning experience in their area of interest. The scholars engage in a wide variety of learning experiences, including the exploration of career paths, learning about higher education and participating in community service and social action projects.

“The biggest change to Freedom School in 2020 was that we had to move to two half-day sessions instead of having the same scholars all day as we normally do,” Lewis said. “However, in the end, it was more than worth it. Our scholars still improved their average reading scores by one full grade level over seven weeks last summer.”

On average, scholars who attend Freedom School will raise their reading levels 14 months or higher, Lewis said.

“We will need to work even more efficiently this summer to ensure students are up to grade level by the fall semester,” he said.

While continuing to follow guidelines

from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Freedom School made adjustments to its usual curriculum.

Whether virtually or in small groups, scholars still will have opportunities to engage in a wide variety of learning experiences, including interacting with professional guests representing various career paths, visiting museums and science centers, touring college campuses and participating in community service and social projects, as safety guidelines allow.

“We as a community must take ownership of our children’s education and not put it solely on teachers,” Lewis said. “It’s up to all of us to ensure our children succeed.”

A few strategies have helped Peacemakers staff pull off the tremendous task of supporting their community during the pandemic.

First, they made safety a priority. CDC safety protocols like social distancing, maskwearing and extra cleaning is in place. The enrollment application process includes COVID testing.

“We also hired people from our neighborhood as instructional leaders and neighbors who could be here to encourage students, assist with scheduling and Bible study,” Williams said.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see the great progress the students are making,” Williams said. “This would not have been possible without the strong collaboration with Nash County Public Schools. They have worked very closely with us to help the students stay on top of their studies.”

“We saw early on that we had to address more than the academic needs. When children do not go to school each day, they also miss

out on vital support services,” Williams said. “We stepped in to cover those needs as well.”

Peacemakers has access to a mental health counselor and a speech therapist onsite.

“The lack of intervention programs meant that we needed to provide cognitive and behavioral therapy in order to make the best of their academic experience,” Williams said.

The nonprofit staff and children agree that they have turned difficult circumstances into an opportunity in more ways than they ever could have imagined.

“Helping our neighbors by equipping them with the skills they need to move forward despite adversity and to persevere through challenges is exactly what we do,” Lewis said. “That has always been our mission. To show people there is a way. We can only hope we have done that through the pandemic.”

In addition to the educational programs for young scholars, Peacemakers has also continued its Hometown Hires program, a holistic job training and employment program that helps move families out of generational poverty despite barriers like criminal backgrounds, racial inequality and history of drug abuse, domestic violence and homelessness.

Additionally, through a partnership with Nash Community College, Peacemakers offers a large selection of adult education and job readiness courses and partners with local companies to help neighborhood residents find employment.

To learn more about Peacemakers or to schedule a tour of the facility, call 252-2125044.

Students work on computers at Peacemakers of Rocky Mount.

Freedom School student Tameia Alford laughs while working on a phonics worksheet with volunteer tutor Alex Stanley at Peacemakers of Rocky Mount.

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.

UNITED way

The pandemic greatly affected most nonprofit organizations in North Carolina.

With the disruption of programs and services, many organizations feared they would be unable to continue to care for the needs of the populations they serve. However, the United Way Tar River Region worked diligently to “unite people and resources to build a stronger community.”

“COVID-19 has created challenges for many businesses and organizations, and United Way Tar River Region has not been immune to this,” United Way Executive

In response to the pandemic, the United Way Tar River Region addressed the challenges for children, families and individuals by launching the COVID-19 Relief Fund. United Way has been working with nonprofit partners to address urgent needs in feeding, housing, individual/family stability, child care and youth, senior and special populations.

Through an efficient and accountable grants process, United Way COVID-19 Relief Fund poured in over $168,550 into 50

community programs which has positively impacted over 30,758 children and families. The fund has supported homeless shelter/ feeding pantries, financial/rent assistance domestic violence shelter/programming, child care programs, remote learning support and senior citizen meal programs.

As with many nonprofit groups nationwide, fundraising efforts were hindered by the pandemic. The normally fruitful United Way Tar River Region Community Campaign faced a shortfall in its annual fundraising goal. United Way officials adopted new and innovative

Director Ginny Mohrbutter said.

A volunteer hands a food box to United Way Executive Director Ginny Mohrbutter on Sept. 20, 2020, outside the United Way Tar River Region headquarters on Sunset Avenue in Rocky Mount.

ideas were implemented to connect with workplace giving campaigns and donors.

“United Way’s Community Campaign funding is the life blood for our organization doing such good work in our community,” Mohrbutter said. “For a nonprofit like United Way, it is not about profit, it is about people. In our case, it is about utilizing donations to help people through vital, local programs that touch all quality-of-life issues. It is about children having educational programs, fragile citizens having housing and food, and people having access to health programs and medications to keep them well.”

The economic fallout of COVID-19 impacted low-wage Americans the hardest, along with people of color and those lacking a college degree. To survive this unprecedented time, people have had to borrow money from friends or gotten food from a food bank. Many adults who lost a job due to the virus are still unemployed.

People in need are encouraged to call

2-1-1 for assistance and resources related to the coronavirus. The NC 2-1-1 program is an information and referral service where families and individuals can obtain free and confidential information on health and human service resources within their community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The United Way Tar River Region provides funding and support to bring 2-1-1 to Edgecombe and Nash counties.

“NC 2-1-1 is an important resource every day for families in our community who may experience a crisis such as food insecurity or unemployment. During times like this with the COVID-19 crisis, we are proud 2-1-1 is here to help,” Mohrbutter said.

Mohrbutter said the staff at the United Way Tar River Region thank the thousands of donors, as well as the extensive network of volunteers and nonprofit partners who believe in the power of positive change through United Way.

“Even in such a challenging time, (donor) support has helped United Way have tremendous impact in our community. Contributions crossed many sectors and helped thousands of individuals and families during this tumultuous time,” Mohrbutter said.

United Way Tar River Region board Chairman Jonathan Boone echoed that sentiment.

“Although responding to COVID-19 has proven challenging and has negatively impacted our annual fundraising campaign, our community has proven over and over again that we have the capacity to work together in times of need to help our friends and neighbors,” he said. “With that said, I am confident that working together we can find a way to sustain the work of the United Way Tar River Region and many local United Way community partners that are on the front lines working to help our community weather the impact of this pandemic.”

For a nonprofit like United Way, it is not about profit, it is about people.

- Ginny MohrButter, united Way executive director

“

Executive Director Ginny Mohrbutter launches confetti during the kickoff of the United Way Tar River Region’s 2020 fundraising campaign at Davenport Honda in Rocky Mount.

DEPC

However, COVID-19 has made fulfilling that mission challenging.

The pandemic has forced partnership staff and clients to adapt the way they live, work and play. Executive Director Henrietta Zalkind said the theme for 2020 was “moving forward” no matter the obstacles that stood in their way.

Zalkind said she has been determined

to adapt, persevere and continue to build resilience to move forward individually and as a community dedicated to equity.

In order to continue to support the communities it serves, the Down East Partnership for Children developed new programs and revamped current ones to practice social distancing.

The Incredible Years Parenting Program

is a 16-week program that fosters healthy development in young children by strengthening parenting skills and promoting children’s academic, social and emotional skills. To continue to support parents during this time, the series has been offered virtually.

Although not in a face-to-face setting, meal gift cards and gas cards and play incentive pick-ups are still awarded to participants. In

The Down East Partnership for Children since its inception has “committed to launching every child as a healthy, lifelong learner by the end of the third grade.”

Jennifer Hammett laughs with her sons Ryan, left, and Kyle as they read ‘The Treasure of Pirate Island’ during National Summer Learning Day at the Down East Partnership for Children’s Discovery Park.

this setting, parents learn how to promote positive social and emotional behaviors in their pre-school age child and learn how to establish predictable household rules and routines. While physically isolated, it is a great opportunity to connect with other families.

For children under the age of 5, the Kaleidoscope Play and Learn groups, designed for families who want to learn fun ideas for hands-on learning, nurture their child’s positive social skills and increase their family’s healthy lifestyle habits, went virtual. Circle of Parents, a support group for families of children with special needs, is also held virtually each week.

When thousands of schools along with numerous day care centers closed as a result of the pandemic, millions of families around the country struggled to make their lives work. Parents and their children were suddenly home together, all day, every day, but the expectation of working from home while monitoring their child’s virtual learning has proven to be for some, nightmarish.

The Down East Partnership for Children recognized this issue and continues to support families. When many child-care facilities reopened, providers are on the frontline providing essential services for families who are working.

The partnership continues to support Head Start and public schools where each follow special health and safety guidelines.

Down East Partnership for Children clients

also have received the benefits of the USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program in partnership with Ripe Revival Market, L&M, Wards Produce and Greenville Produce to distribute boxes of fresh produce to the community.

Through this program, thousands of boxes of fresh food were delivered to churches, the Rocky Mount Housing Authority, summer feeding sites, F.I.T. families (Families Involved Together) and all six F.E.E.D. child-care centers who used the produce on menus and

distributed food to staff and parents.

Zalkind continues to encourage clients to reach out to their elected representative and those running for office and tell their stories of how the pandemic has impacted them, their families, their businesses and employees, making their needs known so policy makers can take action to address them.

This school year has been like no other and has served to reinforce the fact that healthy kids are the result of healthy, supportive families.

“Thank you so much to our early educators who continue to be on the front life providing essential services for families,” Zalkind said.

Although there are still several challenging in months ahead, Zalkind encourages families during this school year to “build something positive into your day every day, remember your social connections, set aside time to understand what is developmentally appropriate for your child’s learning, educate yourself about remote learning and as always, continue to reach out to Down East Partnership for help when needed.”

“We’ve been through many disasters together — none that have lasted this long, but we’ve always rebuilt better and stronger,” Zalkind said. “I’m confident we can do this again if we continue to work together.”

Jeiquan Jackson plants a cabbage plant in the Down East Partnership for Children community garden at Discovery Park.

Melanie Wallace reads 'The Jacket I Wear in the Snow' to her daughters Sadie, left, and Clara during National Summer Learning Day at the Down East Partnership for Children's Discovery Park.

RED OAK kennels

For pet owners, being able to leave their four-legged babies with someone they trust is a priority.

That is why one local small business has been so successful. Opened a few years ago as a brand new boarding facility for dogs, Red Oak Country Kennels is trusted by pet owners in Nash County and beyond.

When life events changed the course of owner Greta Small’s goals, she decided to sell the business in hopes that it would continue to operate under new ownership.

Local residents Brian Lamberson and Cindy Stancavish stepped up to the challenge.

“I was a client of Red Oak Country

Kennels,” Stancavish said. “When I heard they closed, I was so upset. Greta was phenomenal at taking care of all the pets she kept. Like other pet owners, I was left wondering where I would be able to take my dog where he would be happy, have plenty of space and I would feel comfortable and confident knowing he was getting the love, care and attention he deserves. After finding out that Greta was selling, it just made sense.”

At Red Oak Country Kennels, pets have been spoiled in a comfortable, climatecontrolled facility with individual indoor and outdoor runs, spacious outdoor play areas, no limits on the amount of outside time and an

indoor exercise area during bad weather.

Lamberson and Stancavish re-opened the kennel for business in May, just in time for the Memorial Day holiday.

Small is committed to helping the new owners through the re-opening and will remain active in the business during the transition. Stancavish says the business will pick up right where it left off.

“We have a love for animals and for helping people and we are ready to put our entrepreneurial experience to work,” Stancavish said. “It takes a lot of trust for someone to leave their pet, a member of their family, in the care of someone else. It

Cindy Stancavish stands with her dog Boone outside the kennels at Red Oak Country Kennels.

honors and humbles me that someone will have that trust in us. I have no doubt that pets will be happy with us. The love and personal attention are what will make the difference.”

Taking care of pets is something the new owners have been doing for many years.

“I have always loved animals and volunteering in pet adoption and rescue has always been my way of helping animals,” Stancavish said.

She is actively involved with Nash County Animal Friends, Promoting Animal Welfare and photographing homeless pets at the Nash County Animal Shelter for adoption and rescue.

“It will be business as usual at the kennels,” she said. “We want people to receive the same great service and care that they have come to love and expect.”

All breeds are welcome and each dog run has its own isolated outdoor space accessible through a dog door. The facility also has a dedicated space for boarding smaller dogs.

In addition to the overnight boarding the kennel is known for, the new owners will be adding day boarding for dogs.

“This is different from doggie day care,” Stancavish said. “With our day boarding, dogs will not participate in group play, but they will have their own space where they can enjoy being indoors and outdoors with lots of attention.

“We really look forward to continuing the

business that Greta built where dogs enjoy a safe, fun environment while away from home,” she said. “We want to continue to provide pet families peace of mind while they are away from one another.”

For more information or to make reservations, call or text 252-373-1104, email redoakcountrykennels@gmail.com or find Red Oak Country Kennels on Facebook.

Red Oak Country Kennels re-opened under new ownership on May 26.

PRINCEVILLE history

What Kelsi Dew said stunned her mother into silence.

“I’m moving back.”

While those three words seem so simple, Kelsi said them with such conviction that Karen Dew was floored.

Kelsi grew up in the small town of Tarboro, in the heart of Edgecombe County, and she swore she would never return when she left in 2017 to attend Appalachian State University.

“That’s why she chose App, because it was the furthest she could go without going out of state,” Karen said.

Boone offered Kelsi everything her hometown could not — space, time to grow, a freshness that comes from a place where no one knows who she is or what her parents do or which house in the neighborhood is hers.

So why was she coming back?

Kelsi couldn’t help herself. Like kinetic attraction between two magnets, everything in her life was pulling her back. But it wasn’t nostalgia.

It was history. She moved to Greenville to earn her master’s degree in history and then accepted a job as a historical outreach coordinator in Princeville, the town that straddles the Tar River with her birthplace.

Her interest started in a cultural anthropology course at Appalachian State despite Kelsi not knowing what anthropology meant before enrolling in school. One course led to another until Kelsi was so deeply invested in the history and anthropology departments, that she knew she had found her life’s calling. History consumed her.

There, in a course on African American history, Kelsi’s lifelong disdain for her hometown began to melt away. The passion for history started when Kelsi really learned about her hometown for the first time. When she really learned about the twin towns that represented each of her parents: her father in Princeville and her mother in Tarboro.

“There was just all of these connections of ‘Holy crap, I live in a place that is so interesting, and now I want to learn about it,’” Kelsi said. “I lived there for 18 years and had no idea about all of these things that absolutely makes this place wonderful.”

Princeville is the oldest town incorporated by African Americans in the United States. After being established by formerly enslaved peoples after the Civil War, the majority-

Kelsi Dew poses for a portrait outside the old history museum and the new mobile history museum.

Black town has fought through social and economic difficulties relating to race disparity. Princeville has survived through slavery, the Reconstruction period, the Jim Crow South, systemic racism and government negligence — and decades of tumultuous floods.

Between the years of 1800 and 1958 the Tar River, which splits Tarboro and Princeville, flooded the town seven times. A levee built in 1965 to regulate water levels failed in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd. The town was submerged for days, and homes were destroyed.

Kelsi can still feel her fear of the rising waters during the hurricane. She can still see the signs of water damage on the walls in her father’s home. It’s a permanent reminder of what they lived — and survived — through.

Life is defined by how many times a person’s house has been flooded. People know well the stress of evacuation, the hardship of displacement, the disappointment of waiting for FEMA, and the destruction of everything they had. From Floyd to Matthew in 2017 to Florence in 2018 to Dorian in 2019, residents barely began rebuilding before another

devastating flood arrived.

But in that classroom in Boone, Kelsi learned about Mayos Crossroads, the region where her maternal grandparents owned a farm. She learned about her home, the cemeteries she visited as a child, the cemetery she would go to on her first date with her now-partner, James Goldberg. She learned about Princeville’s resilience. Not the flood disasters.

Why didn’t she know about this? she wondered.

The simple answer is the element that gives life, but is often so intimately associated with devastation in Edgecombe County: water.

Because of the decades of floods, Princeville rarely can preserve its rich history.

“We are now collecting data, research and artifacts that represent the town of Princeville,”

Kelsi Dew and her partner, James Goldberg, pose for a portrait in her late father’s home that they now live in together.

Kelsi Dew feeds her chickens in her backyard of what used to be her father’s home.

Kelsi said. “Because of persistent flooding, there are a lot of artifacts and items that are lost, by no fault other than flooding.”

When Kelsi moved back home, she made a commitment to preserving and protecting history. Even when her father, a lifelong resident of Princeville, grew sicker with complications of hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver in 2017, Kelsi moved in to care for him while continuing her research on Princeville’s history.

Goldberg says Kelsi thrives in her historian work because she sees objects differently.

“Look what I found,” Kelsi will say with the giddy excitement of a child finding a new toy. Goldberg will look it over, squint, but settle with responding back, “It looks like a piece of rust.”

He doesn’t see what she sees. A conversation with Kelsi will prove to Goldberg just how wrong he is, when Kelsi shows artifacts more than 100 years old, relaying the life history of the previous owner.

A headstone shows Kelsi the wealth of a person, a brick shows skilled labor, coins and metalwork and pottery paints a picture that Kelsi interprets. She learns from the objects, then she shares that with residents — and

eventually, she hopes to share it with the nation through a permanent museum that hosts exhibits of objects she is discovering now.

“The information that Kelsi has so diligently collected, and continues to collect, will serve a very instrumental purpose as we continue to move forward wanting to share about the town of Princeville —not just locally, but across the state, across the nation,” Princeville Town Manager Glenda Knight said.

Kelsi’s research is her greatest commitment. She knows the town like the back of her hand, even a casual drive around the county consists of Kelsi identifying every property passed and a quick history lesson. Kelsi calls Edgecombe County a gem, and to her, it is a treasure.

“Her energy is exactly what the town needs as it relates to building a community back bigger, better and bolder,” Knight said. “Just to know she is that passionate about the town of Princeville is very special.”

From never returning to never leaving, Kelsi’s relationship with her hometown has been tumultuous — much like the history of the town. But Kelsi feels the strength of the town, and the love from her fellow residents

who are determined to stay there despite the flooding. The misconceptions about the town — the rumors that Princeville is lessthan, and the associations with drugs and high-unemployment that give Princeville such negative connotations — only fuel Kelsi to prove them wrong.

“She’s able to show the history and preserve it, and it tells a story of who was here and how they got here,” Goldberg said. “It’s a great community that’s being reborn now.”

Princeville is historical, mysterious, gutted and resilient, often nearly all at once. But that’s what drives Kelsi to the greatest lengths — because Princeville has always been that way. The people have always been that way.

“These people have held the community down consistently for 135 years,” Kelsi said. “You have this multi-layering of reasoning of why this community shouldn’t exist but it does. And it exists because of the people, and working with what you have, and being happy with what you have. I’m just happy to be a small part of it.”

Her energy is exactly what the town needs as it relates to building a community back bigger, better and bolder.

- Glenda KniGht, Princeville toWn ManaGer

“

Kelsi Dew stands in front of the slight flooding of the Tar River to show an image on James Goldberg’s phone of the same spot that captured when the flooding was almost to the bottom of the bridge.

The future CSX intermodal facility is scheduled to be complete sometime in September.

Carolinas Gateway Partnership Vice President Oppie Jordan said that the project that has been taking shape across U.S. 301 from N.C. Wesleyan College has prompted inquiries to the downtown Rocky Mountbased recruiter of businesses and industries from other prospects.

Jordan also said Rocky Mount is an emerging market that is being identified by site consultants and companies and that there is a lot of activity and excitement.

“It’s unbelievable,” Jordan said.

The CSX facility, which is called the Carolina Connector, is going to be a place

CSX

for freight trains to arrive, with the freight to be off-loaded onto other trains or trucks for distribution.

Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson said he is thrilled with anticipation that the “longawaited thing is now becoming real.”

“And seeing the impact that it is having in terms of the number of inquiries for economic development in the city of Rocky Mount is just beyond exciting,” Roberson said.

Additionally, Roberson, who is on the Carolinas Gateway Partnership executive committee, said he believes if there could be a securing of commitment from every single business that has inquired about the area in the past 12 months, then there would be roughly $9 billion of capital on the ground and

the creation of something like 15,000 jobs.

“Now, we know not all of those are going to close, but we’re hot right now. And I think the intermodal is something that we have to acknowledge has brought us to the dance,” Roberson said.

Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Farris said it’s “thrilling” that the intermodal facility is nearly ready.

“It puts goosebumps on top of goosebumps to see things like the intermodal up and ready to open,” he said. “You know it’s going to happen, just like with the DMV relocation from Raleigh to Rocky Mount.

“These are things that we have nobody else in the state is going to have today, tomorrow

The CSX Carolina Connector intermodal facility along U.S. 301 is scheduled for completion in September.

or anytime soon,” Farris said.

Of the future CSX intermodal, Farris also said, “The volume of business going through there is going to be incredible — and what it does for us is just going to be hard to comprehend until you see it. It’s going to be nothing short of amazing.”

Farris also emphasized his belief in there being three great teams of recruiters matched with public and private support — Carolinas Gateway Partnership, whose president and CEO is Norris Tolson; Nash County Economic Development, whose director is Andy Hagy; and the Rocky Mount Area Chamber, whose economic development director is Alan Matthews.

City Councilman Lige Daughtridge said the intermodal facility is going to be a “gamechanger for Rocky Mount and our region.”

“It’s certainly going to help with employment. It’s going to attract businesses to our area,” he said.

Daughtridge also said he believes the intermodal is going to be a vital point of distribution up and down the East Coast and

a gateway a bit to the west.

“And I think it’s a phenomenal opportunity for our area and also to attract new businesses — and help existing businesses,” Daughtridge said.

Don Williams, president of Lewis Advertising and a past chairman of the Carolinas Gateway Partnership board, said, “Rocky Mount has always been a city on the rise. It’s going to rise more quickly now than it has in recent years.

“And I think you’re going to see people have a much more positive attitude about the Twin Counties and about relocating here,” Williams said.

Gov. Roy Cooper and scores of other VIPs and residents gathered in April 2019 on the lawn of the N.C. Wesleyan campus for a dirt-turning ceremony signaling the start of construction of the CSX facility.

The facility is just on the Edgecombe County side of the Nash County-Edgecombe County line.

Jordan said that workers from Ireland were delayed in coming to install the cranes at the

site of the future intermodal due to safety restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Farris made clear that he and his fellow officials and leaders are nowhere near content in terms of recruiting future businesses and industries.

“We’re just getting started,” he said. “We’re working on some projects right now as hard as we can.”

It’s a phenomenal opportunity for our area and also to attract new businesses — and help existing businesses.

- liGe dauGhtridGe, city councilMan

Cranes tower above the construction site of the CSX Carolina Connector intermodal facility along U.S. 301.

PRIME smokehouse

The

& Beyond recently relocated to a much larger space at the Rocky Mount Mills after having been downtown along East Thomas Street since 2013.

The Prime Smokehouse is on the bottom floor of the main brick building of the Rocky Mount Mills, adjacent to the building’s lobby, on the south side of the Tar River.

Ed Wiley III, 61, and his wife, Yalem Kiros, 58, own the restaurant.

Wiley said that the location downtown was closed roughly a month before the new

location began serving customers.

“I did a sneaky opening,” he said with a smile. “I didn’t tell anybody because I didn’t want to be overwhelmed. And I knew we would be overwhelmed.

“I didn’t put it out to the universe. I didn’t even do a Facebook post. We’re not on the radio with it,” he said.

Wiley made clear the thinking was, “We’re just going to open it and let word of mouth sort of just create a trickle that would allow me to be able to take and train staff, to hire staff on a steady basis and to be able to get

the rhythm of the restaurant.”

“You always need to establish the rhythm of a new place because if you open it when you’re trying to figure out all these moving pieces, then it will crash and burn,” he said.

Wiley said that rhythm is getting better.

As for how business has been so far, Wiley said, “It has been incredible. And I’m glad it hasn’t been any more incredible than it has been right now because there were a lot of pieces to this puzzle.”

Wiley said one piece of the puzzle that was filled is offering complimentary valet parking.

Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue

Ed Wiley III and Yalem Kiros stand outside the entrance to The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond at the Rocky Mount Mills.

The service is in place to reduce the distance of a customer’s walk to the restaurant due to there being a limited number of parking spaces immediately close to the main building of the Rocky Mount Mills.

As for the restaurant’s appearance, he said the feedback has been amazing.

“I mean, people didn’t really expect this when they walked in,” he said.

He said customers who have dined at The Prime Smokehouse in the past have known the establishment is going to be clean and serve good food.

Wiley said customers upon entering the new location are commenting along the lines of, “Oh my God, that’s in Rocky Mount.”

He credited his wife for the design of the interior of the relocated restaurant, including choosing the art to be placed on display and having every chair custom made.

“I mean, she has an amazing eye, amazing taste,” he said.

Kiros is originally from Ethiopia in eastern Africa. She grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, also in eastern Africa, and has lived in different parts

of the world.

Kiros said some of her upbringing in Africa affected how the interior of the relocated restaurant looks.

“That is a beautiful sunset color in Africa, on the African savanna,” she said in reference to that continent’s tropical grassland with

year-round warm temperatures.

In further commenting about her feelings about how the inside of the relocated restaurant looks, Kiros said, “It’s the image that expresses my, I suppose my inner self, which, I think, is like a beautiful sunset or sunrise.”

The interior of the relocated restaurant

Co-owner Yalem Kiros shows a mural that in part pays tribute to her husband and restaurant co-owner Ed Wiley III’s late father and jazz musician Ed Wiley Jr., left, and Ed Wiley’s 87-year-old mother, Maye Wiley, at The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond.

Kim and Larry Drexler dine at The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond at the Rocky Mount Mills.

also is decorated with art Kiros had at home after collecting the pieces over time.

“When I see an art piece that speaks to my heart, I insist that we should get it,” she said.

Additionally, the appearance of the interior of the relocated restaurant is a tribute to the father of Kiros’ husband and restaurant coowner Ed Wiley III. That is because a likeness of Wiley’s father, the late jazz musician Ed Wiley Jr., is shown on a mural.

The mural also includes the likeness of Ed Wiley III’s mother, Maye Wiley, who is 87.

Ed Wiley Jr., who was from Houston, participated in the Chitlin Circuit network of venues frequented by Black musicians when racial segregation codes were in place in the Deep South.

Ed Wiley Jr. during the days prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not believe he could trust eating anywhere where he had to go via the back door to receive service. As a result, Ed Wiley Jr. became a cook for his bandmates while on the road and Ed Wiley III learned from his father how to cook.

The mural also includes the likenesses

of the late jazz musician Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, whom the international airport in New Orleans is named for, and the late jazz musician Thelonious Monk, who was born in Rocky Mount.

Wiley said that presently, The Prime Smokehouse has 25 employees, but he needs about 20 more employees.

Wiley emphasized his belief that this is a great place to work and that he is putting out the word he is seeking servers and kitchen staffers.

“I think that people will really love working in this environment,” Wiley said, noting the restaurant has a large smoker and a spacious kitchen. “I mean, they could hold a dance in my walk-in refrigerator.”

Customer Rita Wade said she loves the restaurant’s new location.

“I’m so proud of Yalem,” Wade said. “She has worked so hard and she’s part of our women’s networking group — and so we know her very well.”

More specifically about the relocated restaurant, Wade said, “I just think that it has

the right vibe. It is fun and not what you would expect in Rocky Mount. Ultimately, I believe that these sorts of great spaces bring people together. So, it’s just a wonderful place.”

Another recent patron, Kay Courtney said, “I think it’s beautiful. I think it’s very good for the city, I really do.”

“I just think we need it,” Courtney said. “There’s really nowhere, really, that compares with this in Rocky Mount at all.”

John Lane and his wife, Christine, recently dined at the restaurant for the first time at the new location.

John Lane said the food and service were always good at the previous location.

“But everything is better,” John Lane said. “The location is better. The food is better. Everything is better. A-plus.”

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant also can be reached by phone at 252-972-7770.

Beverly Ringler prepares margarita flights at The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond at the Rocky Mount Mills.

Patricia Caceres holds a plate of seafood gumbo ready to be served at The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond at the Rocky Mount Mills.

ROCKY MOUNT mills

Along the falls of the Tar River, Rocky Mount Mills provides a great opportunity for people looking to make unforgettable memories.

The restored 82-acre cotton mill complex has brought together residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment amenities for thousands of people to enjoy. The campus is a restored cotton mill showcasing a bold approach to historic preservation that honors the past while also breathing new life into the space.

Throughout the year, the Mills hosts a variety of activities from charity events to live music. Meeting and convention spaces are also plentiful for the business minded

individual.

The Power House is a versatile event space ideal for weddings, receptions, conferences and meetings. It is a spacious multi-level indoor event space with an attached openair terrace. Outdoor courtyards with riverfront views can also be found.

Rocky Mount Mills doesn’t only offer breweries, live music and good times. For those who choose to enjoy a scenic view of the Tar River, living at the Mills is the perfect place to call home. The Lofts at Rocky Mount Mills offer a blend of historic and urban living. Units are available to rent with one, two or three bedrooms.

The Mill Village, located next to Rocky

Mount Mills and along the Tar River, are homes that range in size from one to three bedrooms. They are maintained by Rocky Mount Mills and each home has its own unique character. The village is perfect for everyone. Residents can take a walk on the greenway, stop by the Farmers Market on a Saturday or grill out with friends.

For those who seek temporary accommodations, River and Twine is a great place to relax and enjoy the banks of the Tar River. The resort consists of 20 tiny houses available for nightly and extended rentals. River and Twine is one of 12 tiny house hotels in the country and is available for nightly rental and bookings. It is the first resort to feature 20

tiny houses built specifically for the site.

Five breweries help keep the nightlife alive at the Mills:Mystic Brewing, Hopfly, Koi Pond, Rocky Mount Brewery and Tarboro Brewing Company’s TBC West.

Although the Mills is home to several local breweries, it’s still family-friendly.

“Kids will find big open green spaces for throwing a ball or Frisbee as well as a slack line and ninja warrior rope course near River & Twine, a wiffle ball field near Tipsy Tomato, Ga-Ga Pit and ping pong at TBC West, corn hole at Koi Pond and a hidden arcade at Tipsy Tomato,” Rocky Mount Mills Development

Manager Evan Covington Chavez said. “Parents can enjoy the outdoor beer garden, outdoor patios and seating at our restaurants while also keeping an eye on their little ones.”

Recent visitor Gregory Stephenson said, “Very unique place. Great selection of foods and drinks.”

Out-of-town visitor Jason Lavrenz said the Mills was a “great area and amazing concept with the incubator breweries. I loved being able to walk around and try several local microbrews in the same place. I’ll definitely be back the next time I’m in the area!”

As for the future of the campus, Chavez

said she is looking forward to what’s ahead.

“We are excited about the recent addition of Prime Smokehouse and are exploring other opportunities for growth,” she said.

The Prime Smokehouse joins a growing list of eateries at the Mills that also includes the Tap@1918, Tipsy Tomato, TBC West and the Books and Beans coffee shop.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of the Tar River, embrace the history of the mills, have your share of craft beer and chow down on amazing food, give Rocky Mount Mills a chance to check all of your boxes.

“

TARBORO

Tarboro is the ninth-oldest town in the state and served the area as an important colonial river port and thriving trade center until the Civil War.

Although it is generally agreed that the area around Tarboro was settled by 1733, Edward Mosley's map of that year shows only Tuscarora Indians in the area. In early days, the area was widely known as "Tawboro,” a name attributed to "Taw,” the Indian word for "river of health.”

Tarrburg, as the town was called on maps of 1770-75, was chartered Nov. 30, 1760, as Tarborough by the General Assembly. In

September of the same year, Joseph and Ester Howell deeded 150 acres of their property to the Rev. James Moir, Lawrence Toole, a merchant, Capts. Aquilla Sugg and Elisha Battle and Benjamin Hart for five shillings and one peppercorn.

As commissioners, these men were to lay out a town with lots of not more than onehalf acre and streets not wider than 80 feet, with 12 lots and a 50-acre "common" set aside for public use. Lots were to be sold for two pounds, with the proceeds to be turned over to the Howells; however, full payment was not received for all of the 109 lots sold,

and some were not sold for the 40 shillings price.

Tarboro officially became the Edgecombe County seat in 1764 and the General Assembly met there once in 1787 and again in 1987. President George Washington is known to have slept in Tarboro during a visit on his 1791 Southern tour.

Nowadays, Tarboro has slightly less than 11,000 residents and is governed by a mayor and council and a town staff that manages the day-to-day operations.

Candace Bailey Owens and her late husband, Ambrose Lloyd Owens Jr., came to

Motorists drive down Main Street in downtown Tarboro.

Tarboro to settle down and raise a family in 1968 and never left.

“Oh, we’d talk about some place we thought we’d want to go,” Candace said, mentioning Edenton and New Bern, among others. “But we never left. We knew we could never leave Tarboro ... would never leave Tarboro.”

Then, just as now, Candace says the people make Tarboro a welcoming and warm place.

“The old-timers says it’s a welcoming community, but the newcomers have a tendency to call it cliquish,” Owens said. Still, it’s hard for someone to walk downtown or along Main Street and not be greeted multiple times.

It’s the same story in the cafes and coffee shops, as people are warm and friendly and welcoming.

Today, Tarboro is the home of Edgecombe Community College, which opened as an extension unit of Wilson County Technical Institute in 1967 and in 1968, held its first classes. In 1987, the college was renamed Edgecombe Community College and has since expanded its campus size.

In January 2016, ECC opened a 45,000-square-foot Biotechnology and Medical Simulation Center on its Rocky Mount campus and the 23,000-square-foot Center

for Innovation on the Tarboro campus. In 2018, Deborah Lamm retired as president of ECC, eventually being replaced by Gregory McLeod, ECC’s fifth president and its first black president.

Back in 1937, another significant occurrence took place when, on Jan. 7, construction commenced on 32 miles of electric lines from the Town of Tarboro to Hassell, and on April 17, 1937, the cooperative threw its first switch to energize the homes of 82 cooperative members.

This historical event made EdgecombeMartin County EMC the oldest rural electric cooperative in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the nation.

Tarboro is home to a 45-square-block historic district and a vibrant downtown historic district with multiple home-owned businesses.

As Mayor Joe Pitt has noted on multiple occasions, the people are what make Tarboro special. They are opening and welcoming, whether at one of the community’s many festivals, the July 4 fireworks, the Christmas Parade, a Tarboro High School Vikings school activity or the newest activity in town, the Tarboro River Bandits collegiate league baseball team.

A customer checks out a vendor’s display at the Tarboro Market under the portico of the Tarboro Brewing Co. on Main Street.

New Year’s Eve revelers dance during the New Year’s Ball Drop in downtown Tarboro.

The annual Happening on the Common cultural arts festival is held in May on the Town Common in Tarboro.

Liquid Pleasure performs during a Downtown Live concert at Courthouse Square in Tarboro.

NASHVILLE

Years before Nashville, Tenn., emerged, the Town of Nashville, North Carolina, claimed the name and took its place as the county seat of the newly-formed Nash County.

Construction began on the new county’s first courthouse in 1777 and the Town of Nashville grew up around it. By 1780, the town was named Nashville to honor General Francis Nash, who was killed during the Revolutionary War.

Eventually, 12 other towns in the United States would be named Nashville, but Nashville Mayor Brenda Brown said her town

earned the title most honestly.

“Nash County and Nashville are the only one of his namesakes that General Nash ever actually visited,” Brown said.

Since those early years, the town, rooted in such a rich past, has emerged as a traditional community with strong family values and an eye toward progress. Now billed as the “original Nashville,” the town features a rare collection of Queen Anne and Victorian style homes, a quaint and thriving downtown and multiple amenities that lie within walking distance. It is also known as one of the safest

municipalities in the area.

Though the town limits only encompass about 4.14 square miles and the town’s population is roughly 5,600, the Town of Nashville offers its own police force, fire station, library and active cultural and recreational programs in addition to all the county offices and resources that are located in the town.

Brown, who has been mayor sinde 2019, is enthusiastic about the town. She grew up just outside the town limits and many of her early memories are tied to the place where

A mural greets motorists as they enter downtown Nashville.

she worked and played in her youth.

“Nashville was a great town to grow up in,” Brown said. “It is so family-oriented and has high expectations of its citizens. Almost everyone knew one another when I grew up, so we couldn’t get away with anything.”

Brown said Nashville still has that same vibe. She has been a resident of the town for 20 years and ran for mayor because of her love for Nashville, she said.

“When you drive through Nashville, it still has great appeal,” she said. “It still has that same family-friendly feeling. When I get up early in the morning to walk my dog, there are other people up walking the streets at 5:30 a.m. People feel safe here.”

Poised on the edge of U.S. 64 and within an easy commute to Raleigh, the town was and still is poised for growth. Though it has featured a railway and sawmill and building supply company since the early days, it now is also the home of Braswell Family Farms, which is the second-largest franchisee of Eggland’s Best Eggs in the United States. It is actively recruiting other industries in its own business park.

The town has also gained other businesses over the past 20 years or so while its growth rate has been 130 percent.

“When I was a child, we didn’t have any fast food restaurants,” Brown said.

Now, multiple restaurant chains have invested in the small town because of its prime location. But most of these new

businesses have sprung up on either side of the traditional downtown tract, leaving that area with its small-town charm and easy walkability. The traditional downtown area is quickly attracting niche eateries and stores that offer their own personal appeal.

Though the latest census showed that the Town of Nashville is the fastest growing town in Nash County this century, Brown said town leaders are committed to balancing that small-town charm with progressive innovation. The town’s website proclaims, “It is our desire to make sure Nashville remains ‘A Great Place to Live, Work, and Play.’”

The town’s active Chamber of Commerce supports this notion with activities and events typically held throughout nonCOVID-19 years. The town is well-known for its annual Blooming Festival traditionally held on Mother’s Day weekend. The event, which has spanned two decades, features vendors, live music in the street, parades, carnival rides and the “Mother of the Year Award.” The Nashville Chamber of Commerce also traditionally sponsors a Children’s Christmas Parade in downtown Nashville each year.

Brown said the town welcomes visitors and new residents.

“I think people will feel at home here,” she said. “Our citizens embrace newcomers. You would feel like you belong.”

Since those early years, the town, rooted in such a rich past, has emerged as a traditional community with strong family values and an eye toward progress.

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The annual Blooming Festival is traditionally held on Mother’s Day weekend in Nashville.

The Town of Nashville was named in honor of Gen. Francis Nash, who was killed during the Revolutionary War.

Downtown Nashville features a variety of small shops, restaurants, county government facilities and other businesses.

CITY parks

The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department offers essential services to people in the community who are in pursuit of leisure, entertainment and recreation.

The city’s athletics division offers yearround youth and adult athletic leagues and sporting events. Pre-COVID, there were approximately 40,000 participants and over 100,000 spectators in attendance at athletic facilities.

The Rocky Mount Recreation Services

division operates two community centers. Both centers are open to the public and are easily available to be booked for anyone interested.

The South Rocky Mount Community Center is located at 719 Recreation Drive and the Booker T. Washington Community Center is at 747 Pennsylvania Ave.

The South Rocky Mount Community Center features a full-length indoor basketball court, outdoor basketball courts, splash pad, playground, football field and baseball field.

The center also offers two banquet rooms available to rent. The rooms are perfect for social events such family reunions, wedding receptions and many others.

The Booker T. Washington Community Center offers activities for people without athletic pursuits. The center is equipped with a computer lab with internet access and the latest version of Microsoft. There are also two banquet rooms available for rental.

Rocky Mount manages a variety of parks

People jog down one of the trails at Battle Park.

and trails for the entire community to enjoy. The 7.1-mile City Trail System links several parks, when combined cover nearly 300 acres of parkland. The trail system begins in Sunset Park, follows the Tar River through Battle Park, crosses the river at StithTalbert Park, travels into Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Park and ends at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.

The Tar River Paddle Trail comprises 10 canoe and kayak locations that connect over 55 miles of the Tar River and Stoney Creek.

Sunset Park is probably one of the most popular attractions in the city’s Parks and Recreation park system. It features basketball and tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, boat ramp access to the Tar River, an 18-hole disc gold course, baseball/softball

field, skateboard park, four picnic shelters and playground and a concession stand.

The Amusement Center at Sunset Park is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. The center includes a historic miniature train, antique carousel, spray park and bug kiddie ride. Admission to the Amusement Center is $5 per person while children 4 and under are admitted free.

Best Friend’s Dog Park is also part of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation. It’s an off-leash recreation and park setting for people and their pooches to enjoy. Best Friend’s Dog Park consists of nine acres divided into three fenced areas: one for small dogs and two for large dogs. The park is open from dawn to dusk except for scheduled maintenance.

The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of events for the community.

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Antwain Dunston shoots the eight ball into the corner pocket during a game of pool in the South Rocky Mount Community Center.

Speaking of the dog park, local resident Amber Hunter said, “It has a nice small dog, big dog and agility park. It is a great place to go if your pups need some interaction with other dogs or if you don’t have a large backyard. My dog gets so excited when he hears “do you want to go to the park?”

Park patron Samantha Green echoed Hunter and said, “The park is huge and allows for your dogs to really stretch out and just run. I love that this park has an obstacle course that the dogs can have a blast at from jumping through hoops and bars and climbing. This park has water fountains and little kiddie pools. Overall, this is a simple yet excellent dog park.”

The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of events for the community. The community can expect to enjoy lawn chair movie series, festivals, live theater performances, yoga, art classes and gallery exhibits.

The department caters to those who want to participate in athletics, those who want to socialize, hang out with dogs or learn a new skill. Its mission is to “advance the quality of life by providing positive, inclusive experiences through people, parks and programs.

LJ White splashes through the water in the spray park at Sunset Park.

Over the last year, Nash UNC has continued to provide superior quality healthcare during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic while also adding new services that our community needs. As chairman of the Nash UNC Board of Commissioners, I am pleased to review many of those new services, accomplishments, and improvements with you.

As the COVID-19 pandemic reached its peak in our community, Nash UNC was prepared and responded quickly under the leadership of the board, executive team, and a COVID-19 Task Force that included physicians, staff and departmental leaders. This team guided our organization during one of the most challenging times to face our hospital and community. We continued to provide needed medical care in a safe and clean environment for our patients, community, and staff, and also developed new services to help address the pandemic. Nash UNC developed a state-of-the-art COVID unit and opened an outpatient COVID infusion clinic that administers monoclonal antibody treatments to COVID patients to reduce their risk of hospitalization.

We also focused on a community COVID-19 vaccination program to ensure an equitable and accessible rollout of the vaccine in our area. Nash UNC’s mobile vaccine team administered more than 3,000 vaccines at community events, area businesses, faith-based organizations, and the walk-in clinic at Nash Day Hospital. Including our staff vaccination clinic and community clinic at Eastern North Carolina Medical Group, more than 17,000 vaccines have been administered. We remain committed to vaccine education and equitable vaccination opportunities for our entire community.

Though we were faced with a challenging year, we also made strides in expanding health services. By working with UNC Health and our community, we added new providers to expand service offerings in cardiology, ENT, orthopedics, general surgery, urology, infectious disease, and more. These new providers have made our area their home and are enjoying being involved in our community.

New partnerships expanded the services we are able to offer our community. The Nash Breast Care Center and OIC Family Medical Center teamed up to offer 3D mammography services at the Specialty Care Center in the Rocky Mount Event Center. A new partnership

with Rocky Mount Urology allows us to provide care to our growing urological patient population. Our general surgery practice has grown from two providers to five, and UNC Orthopedics at Nash moved into an expanded space with on-site orthopedic physical therapy.

Thanks to the Nash UNC Health Care Foundation, we expanded our community paramedic program and developed an inpatient food pantry to address social determinants of health, such as access to home medical care and proper nutrition. The Foundation raised more than $230,000 to support programs that improve health outcomes and access to healthcare in our community.

This past year, we received national quality of care recognitions. The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit organization that collects and reports hospital performance data each year, gave Nash UNC an A rating for both the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 reporting periods. We also received national recognition for our heart and stroke care.

We provided 14 scholarships for nursing students at Nash and Edgecombe community colleges, as part of our Nurse Scholars program. As community events ramped back up, we provided health education, vaccines, and employee volunteers to support.

We could not have accomplished this much during such a challenging year without the dedication of our staff and medical providers. I am excited to continue working together with our community to continue improving how we meet your healthcare needs in a safe, accessible, and high quality manner.

Sincerely,

John A. Barker, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Nash UNC Health Care