Living Here 2022

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

ANNUAL UPDATE from BOARD

CHAIRMAN, BILL LEHNES

July, 2022 – As chairman of the Nash UNC Health Care Board of Commissioners, I’m pleased to share several updates and accomplishments our hospital has made this past year.

At Nash UNC, we have renewed our focus on improving the health and wellbeing of our community by providing high quality care and an exceptional patient experience. As part of our refocusing efforts, we identified four core values that center the entire organization: Trust in Compassion, Above & Beyond, Committed to Connections, and Service Leadership.

These core values drive our team to be successful, and others are taking notice. Business North Carolina named Nash UNC as one of the top 25 hospitals in NC, the only one in our region to make the list. We also received national recognitions for our heart, stroke, physical therapy, and maternity care, and remain an American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway to Excellence Program. We also achieved reaccreditation from The Joint Commission (TJC), an important designation that reassures our community that the care we provide meets, and often exceeds, TJC’s rigorous standards.

We recently announced compensation adjustments for 84% of our staff as part of the board’s commitment to biannual market review to ensure we are offering competitive pay. We recruited top physicians to expand our general surgery and urology programs, and launched the Nash Development Institute to provide additional support, training, and development for our leaders.

We also developed new processes and programs to enhance our care offerings and improve the patient experience. The most cutting edge version of the da Vinci® Xi Surgical System was added to our robotic-assisted surgery program, and an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program was implemented to help improve the patient’s post-op recovery. Thanks to a new paramedic team nurse model, the emergency department can treat more patients with the assistance of paramedics, who work in conjunction with our physicians, nurses and other teammates. The laboratory also upgraded equipment with new tests that help diagnose medical events, such as heart attacks and sepsis, more quickly.

As part of our strategic plan, we developed and expanded several programs to improve the health of our patients beyond our four walls. Through the support of generous donors to the Nash UNC Health Care Foundation, we expanded our Community Paramedic Program and Inpatient Food Pantry to reduce unnecessary patient readmissions to the hospital. Our community paramedics follow-up with high-risk patients after hospitalization to make sure they have the resources and tools to stay healthy at home. The food pantry provides patients

struggling with food insecurity with disease-specific food boxes and community food resources upon discharge.

Nash UNC remains active in our community by providing COVID vaccines (both on-campus and via mobile clinics), offering health education, and giving back through hundreds of employee volunteer service hours. Our Employee Giving Campaign raised more than $87,000 that will directly support the health and wellbeing of our community through our Foundation and the United Way Tar River Region.

Our achievements throughout the year resulted in a significant increase in our patient experience scores. We are proud of the strides we have made in this area, and thank our patients for providing feedback so that we can continue to improve.

As we look to the future, we are in the midst of a new strategic planning process that will guide our approach to ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our community for years to come. None of this would be possible without our compassionate and dedicated team working to improve the health of our entire community.

Sincerely,

Bill Lehnes, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Nash UNC Health Care

YearsinBusiness 3022 Sunset Avenue (Englewood Square Shopping Center) Rocky Mount 446-9383 M-Fri 9:30-5:00; Sat 9:30-4:00

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.

Rocky Mount Mills

By Paige Walston-Minshew

Along the falls of the Tar River is Rocky Mount Mills, a restored 28-acre cotton mill complex that brings together residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment amenities for thousands of people to enjoy.

The Mills hosts a variety of activities from charity runs to live music. Rocky Mount Mills offers exceptional meeting and convention spaces. The Power House is a versatile event space ideal for weddings, receptions, conferences and meetings and has a spacious, multilevel indoor event space with attached open-air terrace.

There are also several other indoor and outdoor venues at Rocky Mount Mills, including the first- and second-floor main mill lobbies and outdoor venues such as the beer garden and front lawn.

Rocky Mount Mills offers not only breweries, live music and good times, it also offers accommodations. For those who choose to enjoy a serene and scenic view of the Tar River, living at the Mills is the perfect place to call home. Residents are offered the ability to enjoy outside activities as well as good food and entertainment.

For a more laid-back, family-oriented atmosphere with bustling life just around the corner, the Village Homes may be just the place to call home. The Village Homes are located next to Rocky Mount Mills and along the Tar River. These homes are equipped with spacious decks and outdoor patios, high ceilings and architectural details inside. Each home has its own personality and fits

Along the falls of the Tar River is Rocky Mount Mills, a restored 28acre cotton mill complex that brings together residential, commercial, cultural and entertainment amenities for thousands of people to enjoy.

in nicely within the mills community.

The Village Homes range in size from one to three bedrooms and all landscaping is maintained by Rocky Mount Mills. All homes feature charcoal grills, as well as unique backyard games, from bocco to horseshoes.

If you’re after a more urban feel of living with a dash of city life, the luxurious lofts at Rocky Mount Mills make an ideal place to enjoy every day. By living in the lofts, you become part of a community that offers easy

access to local amenities, highways and activities. One-, two- and threebedroom units are available.

Rocky Mount Mills also is home to some of the most popular breweries this side of Interstate 95. Breweries and a distillery help keep the nightlife alive at the mills.

Mythic Brewing, formerly BDD Brewing, was founded by cousins Chazz Oesch, Matthew Nichols and a man simply known as Squatch. Having gotten their start at the mills, they've now expanded with taprooms in Zebulon and Cedar Point. While they typically like to stick to the basics with beer, they also like to experiment with trends and new flavors.

HopFly Brewing Company was launched by Cameron Schultz as a start-up brewery in 2017. The brewery creates beers that are bold and approachable. Schultz has heavily expanded the brewery and recently added a taproom in Charlotte.

Koi Pond Brewing Company opened in 2016 as Rocky Mount’s first craft brewery. The brewery and taproom features an ever-changing variety of unfiltered ales including pale ales and IPAs, stouts, Belgian beers, Saison’s and more. Koi Pond is family- and pet-friendly and offers

wines and non-alcoholic beverages. Customers are invited to bring in food from the restaurant of their choice.

Spaceway Brewery – Founder Briana Brake seeks to not only reinvent simple and full-flavored craft-brewed beer but to create a sense of community through craft brewing education, innovation, activities/ festivals and community ownership.

TBC West – Tarboro Brewing Company tapped its first beer in February 2006 in Tarboro and later opened its second local in the Mills . TBC makes craft beers that are seasonal and spontaneous. In addition to beer, chef-inspired tacos and other dishes. TBC also operates food trucks throughout the area. By creating TBC, founders Stephen and Inez, and Franklin Winslow hoped to increase interest and tourism in Tarboro, therefore bringing more business and helping the community make the community prosperous.

The Mills campus also includes Books and Beans coffee shop, Goat Island Bottle Shop and restaurants Tap@1918 and Topsy Tomato.

Erin Barnes said she thinks the Mills is super chic.

“There are just so many different breweries within the Mills, and a couple of restaurants. My favorite was Tipsy Tomato.

I’ll never forget the first time I tried this pizza,” Barnes said.

Barnes and friends are frequent visitors of Rocky Mount Mills. When asked what’s the best thing about the mills, they emphatically replied, “knowing our fur babies are welcome. Our dogs Mr. Beauregard, Codex and Oswald always have the best time. We love how laid back the atmosphere is — not a bad place to grab beer and delicious food.”

Ever wanted to experience living in a tiny house? Well, now you can at the Mills.

River and Twine, a tiny house hotel, is a collection of 20 tiny houses crafted just for

this idyllic setting by the Tar River. The hotel offers guests unique accommodations in walking distance to the Mills community. Nightly and extended rentals are available at River and Twine. There are also three guest suites located in a renovated 1900s mill house.

River and Twine is a great place to unwind and experience a world away from your own.

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.

Area features wide variety of dining options

By Paige Walston-Minshew

Food probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Rocky Mount.

But the food scene is legendary to residents of Greenville, Zebulon and Wilson, just to name a few. If you’re in the mood for modern American cuisine, hamburgers with a spin, classic pizza, Mexican, food with a Southern flair or a good steak, Rocky Mount is the place to go.

Lou Reda's: An American Table, opened its doors in the fall of 2013. Owner Lou Reda and chef partner and Culinary Director Justin Gaines bring a wealth of experience to the table in order to serve the crowd. An American Table offers comfort food with a modern twist and bourbon-infused cocktails. Fan favorites are the roasted beet salad and crab cakes.

If you want a juicy hamburger loaded with unique flavors, Barley & Burger is the place to go.

For those with a distinguished palate, “The Godfather” burger with fried mozzarella, pepperoni, marinara sauce and fresh basil is a fine choice.

While Rocky Mount native George Southerland is a big fan of burgers, he can't help but love the Southern favorite, pimento cheese. Diners can enjoy their share topped onto waffle fries with

bacon. Southerland said, "the portion size is never enough."

You can’t beat family-owned Moe & D’s Restaurant Grill & Bar if you’re in the mood for either a laid-back atmosphere or a place to grub out on bar food while watching the big game. Michael, Steve and Moe Deloach, all natives of Rocky Mount, can provide any traditional comfort food you can imagine.

The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond has “the best macaroni and cheese in town hands down,” Southerland said.

Lifelong friends Ed Wiley III, his wife Yalem Kiros and Harold Worrell Jr. wanted to create a space where the “food was absolutely delicious, the atmosphere warm and cosmopolitan and the service stellar.”

Thus, The Prime Smokehouse: Barbecue & Beyond was born and is now located at Rocky Mount Mills.

Food enthusiasts from surrounding towns and cities have many diverse, and interesting, choices to satisfy their palates.

If steak and mac-n-cheese is your thing, head to The Prime Smokehouse.

If you want to watch sports and chow down on comfort food, head to Moe & D’s.

Fancy Mexican cuisine? El Tapatio is the place to go.

For the best burgers in the area, head to Barley and Burger.

And for contemporary American cuisine, Lou Reda’s: An American Table is where you want to be.

Local hotels offer home away from home

By Paige Walston-Minshew Photos by William S. Manley

Rocky Mount is an ideal place for travelers to recoup and reenergize after exhaustive journeys on I-95 and U.S. 64.

With hotels lining exits and ranging from 4-star to boutique to tiny house living, travelers have a plethora of choices of lodging in the Rocky Mount area.

Homewood Suits by Hilton, a 4-star hotel, offers a wide range of amenities to satisfy every need with pet-friendly rooms, free breakfast, outdoor pool and fitness center.

Traveler Catrina Vitez said she was particularly pleased with her stay there.

"The front desk and hospitality staff (breakfast staff) were so welcoming and friendly,” she said. “They greeted us, ensured we

had everything we needed, and went out of their way to make sure we had a wonderful experience. The rooms were spotless and roomy. We will definitely be back next time we are driving through. Thank you again for making my family and I feel welcome and part of the Homewood Suite family."

Homewood Suites by Hilton is located just off U.S. 64.

Country Inn & Suites by Raddison, a 3-star hotel, is full of amenities that will ensure your stay is comfortable, including petfriendly rooms, free continental breakfast, a fitness center and indoor pool.

"There is a hot breakfast every morning and it’s good. I would for sure stay again,” traveler Chelsea Allen said. “The staff is so incredibly nice and helpful and even showed my 9-year-old son where the cookies and hot coco were in the lobby when we checked in. I’d honestly say this is one of the best experiences in a hotel I’ve had in a very long time. The rooms are super clean and the bed was so comfortable I almost didn’t wake up on time the next day.”

Tru by Hilton is a boutique-style hotel that offers free breakfast, pool, a fitness center and is also pet-friendly. The hotel is off of U.S. -64 and three miles from Rocky Mount Mills.

Visitor Raeann Stratton said the rooms are "super clean, beds extremely comfortable.”

“It's good quality and definitely better than the small, generic ones you find at most hotels (or) motels,” Stratton said. “We would definitely stay again if we ever find ourselves back in Rocky Mount."

Rocky Mount is an ideal place for travelers to recoup and re-energize after exhaustive journeys on I-95 and U.S. 64.

Sports complex draws thousands to area

By J. Eric Eckard

In the past 16 years, the Rocky Mount Sports Complex has brought more than 1 million visitors to the area, adding more than $115 million to the local economy.

“The sports complex is a great treasure to this area,” said Joel Dunn, Rocky Mount’s parks and recreation director. “It serves as one of the largest parks in our system and allows our citizens to utilize its playgrounds, ball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts and other amenities year round.

“It also serves as a travel and tourism destination, bringing in (more than) 100,000 visitors each year and (more than) $9 million in economic impact to the area each year. Its ability to host various events gives it great flexibility.”

The 143-acre sports complex includes six youth baseball fields, four interchangeable baseball/ softball fields, one championship baseball field, eight soccer/football fields, the football stadium, a professional disc golf course, two outdoor basketball courts, outdoor volleyball courts, two large playgrounds, picnic shelters and a mile-long walking trail.

It is one of the largest sports facilities of its kind on the Eastern Seaboard, and the 5,000-seat football stadium is the home field for Rocky Mount High School. While building a new stadium on campus, N.C. Wesleyan University also played its home football games there.

Built on the site of the city’s former municipal airport, the sports complex was completed in the fall of 2006. It is part of the city’s 7-mile greenway system, which connects numerous city parks: Stith Talbert Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Battle Park, Sunset Park and City Lake.

Since it opened, the complex has hosted more than 350 youth sporting events that include baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, disc golf and

football. About 15,000 teams from 25 different states have visited Rocky Mount for events at the complex.

In addition, numerous special events are held there, including the city’s July 4 fireworks celebration, the Down East Viking Football Classic, the USA South Spring Sports Festival, Tackle The Tar Mud Run, Nash County Relay for Life, Down East Music Festival and Top Gun Summer World Series and Winter World Series events.

In 1998, Elizabeth City State University began its first annual Down East Viking Football Classic against Fayetteville State University. The event lasted all weekend with festivities including a banquet, scholarships, prospective student exposure to Elizabeth City State and a golf challenge, all leading up to a football game on Saturday.

Last year, Fayetteville State University Broncos defeated the Vikings 47-6. This year, Elizabeth City will be playing Livingstone College.

“With this year being the 25th anniversary of the Down East Viking Football Classic and its second return since cancellation as a result of the pandemic, Elizabeth City State University has decided to bring a new event included in the festivities, Friday Night Fan Fest,” said Jessie Nunery, media relations specialist for the city. “In the past, they have done a banquet on Friday night where they celebrate all alumni, student athletes, current students and more.”

This year, a concert also will be held at the Rocky Mount Event Center.

“Every year, attendance for the game

brings lots of revenue for Elizabeth City State University and the City of Rocky Mount in the form of hotel, restaurant and sales tax,” Nunery added.

Dunn said because most of the events at the sports complex are held outdoors, this was one of the first areas to bounce back while dealing with the pandemic.

“Our outdoor parks remained open to the public during the pandemic, and we saw increased participation in areas like disc golf, walking and biking,” Dunn said. “By 2021, we were able to host travel events again in guidance with CDC

recommendations.

“COVID has changed how we operate, and we are excited to continue to provide excellent parks, events, tournaments and activities to our city residents and our out of town guests.”

Earlier this year, opening day ceremonies for Rocky Mount Little League were held at the sports complex. It was the first time since 2017 because of inclement weather and the pandemic.

The city plans to add more lighting on the soccer fields and update the football stadium and track.

In the past 16 years, the Rocky Mount Sports Complex has brought more than 1 million visitors to the area, adding more than $115 million to the local economy.

Downtown facility brings sports, entertainment to area

Story by J. Eric Eckard

Photos by William S. Manley

After the pandemic forced the Rocky Mount Event Center to close for most of 2020, it has recovered dramatically in the past 18 months.

“After being closed for nearly a year like many sports and entertainment venues across the country, we were able to bounce back strong,” said Ashley Pittman, the event center’s marketing manager. “When we reopened on Valentine’s weekend of 2021, we opened with 135 volleyball teams participating in the Washington Birthday Bash, and we kept going every weekend until mid-June.”

And even without the first six months of 2021, the event still generated nearly $8 million for the local economy and attracted almost 53,000 visitors to the area.

That trend doesn’t appear to be slowing down for this year, either.

“As of June 2022, we have hosted 19 major sporting tournaments this tournament season,” Pittman said. “Also, we have hosted three concerts and the N.C. Wesleyan University commencement this year.”

Through the first months of 2022, the 165,000-square-foot event center has brought in almost 52,000 people to the area and boosted the local economy by more than $9 million. Estimates say the 2022 total will reach 70,000 visitors and $12 million in economic stimulus by the end of the year, Pittman said.

The Rocky Mount Event Center, which opened in 2018, can accommodate nearly any sports group looking for a place to compete in Rocky Mount, including basketball, indoor soccer, indoor lacrosse, tumbling, cheerleading, pickleball, taekwondo/ karate, volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics.

But the event center also can accommodate family reunions/gatherings, birthday parties, business meetings, church retreats, weddings, festivals, concerts, conferences, trade shows, consignment sales, vendor setups, weddings and large banquets.

“

The Rocky Mount Event Center is an incredible symbol of innovation and pride for our community and for all eastern North Carolina.

“We have held an exciting number of tournaments since we reopened from COVID last year.” Pittman said. “Following a New Year’s Eve wedding in our ballroom, we then started 2022 on New Year’s Day with the Crown Town volleyball tournament.”

By the end of July, the event center will have hosted nine major volleyball tournaments, nine major basketball tournaments and one major cheerleading tournament. These are multi-day events and on average bring at least 2,000 spectators and hundreds of athletes to downtown Rocky Mount. These sports tourists travel from a wide range of states such as Washington, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Illinois, Florida, Georgia and New York, Pittman said.

In the past, the event center also hosted the Monster X Tour that brought in a monster truck show; the N.C. Agritourism statewide conference; and the N.C. Pilgrimage Conference, which is under the N.C. Conference of The United Methodist Church. This conference had been held in Fayetteville for more than 25 years before moving to Rocky Mount. This conference brought in more than 3,000 youth and their mentors for a three-day event and is scheduled to return for its 2022 conference in November.

“This year, we have hosted three concerts with more

to come in the next few months and more actively being booked for the remainder of this year and for 2023,” Pittman said. “We held our first sold out ticketed concert with The Kings of Southern Soul Show that was done by Nu Planet Entertainment.

“This show included live performances which included Calvin Richardson, Tucka, King George, Lenny Williams, Karen Wolfe, Pokey Bear, TK Soul and Bigg Robb.”

The concert brought in more than 3,000 people to Rocky Mount that filtered to the businesses in downtown. Some of these folks came from Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and across North Carolina, Pittman said.

In addition to a 75,000-square-foot event floor and 15,000-square-foot family entertainment center, the event center also features eight basketball courts, 16 volleyball courts, seating for 4,000, four locker rooms, two banquet rooms, 10 breakout rooms, 300 parking spaces, inhouse catering, three concession stands, an aerial ropes course, 17 climbing walls, arcade games, four party rooms and a Twin County Hall of Fame display.

“We have had numerous organizations to use our Game Day Adventure and Arcade area for their team-building experience, such as Cummins, Edgecombe Early College,

N.C. Association of Chiefs of Police, N.C. Food Gathering Council Gathering, Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce’s Twin Counties Leadership Program and Teach for America, to name just a few.” Pittman said. “Different organizations put their own spin on the usage of our family entertainment center.

“Some use it for just team building, others use it for a social hour where the guests play games, do the climbing walls, corn hole and aerial ropes course.”

And these aren’t one and done events. In May, HER Entertainment brought in R&B

artists for the Mother’s Day Festival. HER Entertainment is expected to return in September with a hip hop concert during the Down East Viking Football Classic weekend. And the group that performed during June’s FaithFest Rocky Mount is scheduled to come back next year.

“Last year in August, we hosted Bridge II Sports Valor Games Southeast 2021,” Pittman said. “This extraordinary event brought heroic disabled military veteran athletes from multiple states who participated in a fun and intense Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

“We are proud to welcome this group of heroes back again this year (in August).”

Also in August, the center will host Reggae Fest 2022.

“The Rocky Mount Event Center is an incredible symbol of innovation and pride for our community and honestly for all eastern North Carolina,” Pittman said. “This venue is a state-of-the-art catalyst for tourism and economic development, as well as now being a proven tool for generating millions of dollars of economic impact.

“The Rocky Mount Event Center is a beautiful family friendly gathering space that contributes to our local economy, bringing thousands of visitors to our area who spend their money on our businesses, large and small, throughout the region.”

Area boasts array of quality golf courses

From Rocky Mount’s private course designed by legendary Donald Ross to the selfproclaimed hidden gem in Tarboro to the offthe-beaten path 9-hole course in Spring Hope, the Twin Counties offers a variety of golf opportunities.

Story & Photos by J. Eric Eckard

From Rocky Mount’s private course designed by legendary Donald Ross to the self-proclaimed hidden gem in Tarboro to the off-the-beaten path 9-hole course in Spring Hope, the Twin Counties offers a variety of golf opportunities.

With six courses from which to choose, the weekend duffer and the low handicapper can find a course that will be sure to satisfy their love of the game that started nearly 500 years ago in Scotland.

Golf courses attract more than 25 million Americans every year. And although two popular golf courses in the area closed in the past decade – Birchwood Country Club in Nashville and Hickory Meadows in Whitakers – there still are more golf courses in the United States than Walmart stores.

The 16,000 or so golf courses in the U.S. account for more than three times the number of Walmarts.

And here are the six courses in the Twin Counties.

Northgreen Country Club, Rocky Mount.

Northgreen opened in 1974, designed by Bob Toski. Toski played professional golf in the 1950s, winning five PGA Tour events before retiring to teach, write, coach, broadcast and design courses.

In addition to two courses in North Carolina, Toski also designed courses in South Carolina and Guam.

Northgreen’s peak was in the 1980s and 1990s when the club hosted the ACC golf tournament for 10 years. Players such as David Duval, Stewart Cink, Davis Love III, Matt Kucher, John Inman and Billy Andrade all played Northgreen during their college days.

James McCumber has owned Northgreen for a couple of decades, and he’s trying to bring it back to its glory days. Barry Rose, the new general manager, started work on the course this summer.

“We’ve got a new superintendent, and we’re doing an overall reconditioning of the course,” Rose said. “The course hasn’t been maintained very well in the past few years, and we’d like to get it to where it’s at least an average golf course to start with.

“In a month from now, I think it will be unrecognizable from what it has been.”

Northgreen plays 7,200 yards from the back tees, and the No. 1 handicap hole is the 423-yard par 4 5th hole.

“But every hole is a great hole at Northgreen,” Rose said.

Belmont Lake Golf Club, Rocky Mount David Johnson designed Belmont, and it opened in 2007. Johnson, who has about three decades of golf course design experience, built a player-friendly course that’s still in outstanding shape.

In 2017, Belmont converted its greens to G-12 Champion Bermuda grass. And the 18-hole, par 72 course was ranked the 11th best course in the state by Golf Advisor and in the Top 100 must play courses by the N.C. Golf Panel. From the tips, Belmont plays 7,095 yards.

With plenty of variety on this course, the most scenic holes are the par-3 3rd, which features a large pond, and No. 18, whose

fairway runs along an 80-acre lake.

Tim Wilke, Belmont’s general manager and head golf pro, said he believes the 456-yard par 4 second hole is the course’s most challenging hole.

“It’s imperative you hit a good tee shot,” Wilke said. “Every shot is difficult on this hole, and there are no easy putts on the green.

“Overall, the course is pretty straight forward. If you hit a good shot, you’ll be rewarded. If you hit a bad shot, you’re in trouble – and you should be.”

Benvenue Country Club, Rocky Mount

Built in 1922 by Donald Ross, Benvenue is a short course compared to today’s standards. The traditional par-72 course plays 6,525 yards from the back tees.

The No. 1 handicap hole can be found on the front – No. 4 – a 547-yard par 5 that features out of bounds down the entire right side of the fairway. Golfers must then navigate through a narrow opening to the

green, which is bordered by three bunkers.

No. 16 also is a challenging hole, and it features a plateau green that sits about four feet above the fairway. It also is flanked with bunkers.

Small, fast greens are the 100-year-old course’s signature feature, and a staple on most Ross designs. Ross, whose most famous course design is the celebrated Pinehurst No. 2, has been called a genius thanks to his routing and strategic bunker placement.

He did little earth moving when building a course, trying to use the natural elements to shape the course. At Benvenue, Ross used the hilly-ish topography as well as lines of pines and now-massive oaks to challenge all levels of golfers.

The Links at Cotton Valley, Tarboro

Cotton Valley was built in 1998, but it wasn’t opened until 2000 thanks to Hurricane Floyd, which wreaked havoc on the Town Counties almost 25 years ago.

Tom Johnson, who has designed courses on three continents, was the architect behind Cotton Valley, a Scottish links style course.

In 2014, a teardrop-shaped pond was added in front of the 18th green to add more challenge to the course’s closing hole.

But the 629-yard, par-5 No. 17 is the most challenging hole, according to owner Moonie Sloan.

“It’s long and treacherous,” she said.

Sloan, who has owned Cotton Valley for more than a decade, calls the course the “best kept secret in Eastern North Carolina.”

“All our greens are undulating, but I can’t tell you anything else,” she said. “I can’t reveal all my secrets.”

Maccripine Country Club, Pinetops

Maccripine was built in 1967 by Leo Green, who designed a couple of golf courses in eastern North Carolina. The 6,301-yard, par-71 features its No. 1 handicap hole – No. 16, a 430-yard par-4.

Maccripine has a reputation of being well-maintained and having a friendly staff.

Mark Hartley owns the course, along with the Farmville Golf and Country Club in Pitt County.

Peachtree Hills Country Club, Spring Hope

Peachtree Hills opened in May 1955, and it features a par-35, 2,758-yard 9-hole golf course. Accuracy is important with approach shots thanks to smallish greens.

The course begins with a string of four

par 4 holes, and holes 5-7 alternate from par 3-4-3. By the time you get to the No. 1 handicap hole – the 8th – you’ve reached the longest hole at 507 yards and only par 5 on the course.

Peachtree Hills also has a reputation of being well-maintained and having a friendly staff. It’s owned by a group of more than three dozen members, and Terri Griffin is the pro shop manager.

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Cycling enthusiasts can find plenty of places to pedal

Story by J. Eric Eckard

Three years ago, the City of Rocky Mount adopted a bike plan designed to not only encourage cycling in the area, but also make streets safer and impact the local economy.

The first set of new bike lanes recently opened on Falls Road and Peachtree Street. And although local motorists will be learning new traffic patterns along those streets, Jessie Nunery said the bike lanes will help improve traffic flow.

“The public is slowly but surely adjusting to the changing traffic patterns on the corridors with added bike lanes,” said Nunery, the city’s media relations specialist. “The positive impact from adding bike lanes onto our roads does not stop with cyclists, as these new road designs force drivers to slow down, improving safety for all road users.”

The new lanes of traffic include a bike lane and buffer lane on the left side of the streets. Vehicle traffic has one lane, and parallel parking still is allowed on the right side of the streets.

The Rocky Mount Bike Plan “addresses how to make the streets safe for Rocky Mount’s youngest and oldest bicyclists, how to improve the bicycle connections between neighborhoods, and how an improved bicycling environment can create a healthier and

more livable community.”

“The City of Rocky Mount will offer residents and visitors a lowstress biking experience through a network of connected and welldesigned greenway trails and bicycle-friendly streets,” the plan said. “People of all ages, abilities and incomes will be able to safely and conveniently bike to where they live, work, play and learn.”

At present, the city’s greenway system allows cyclists access to various parts of Rocky Mount. But with the addition of bike lanes on city streets, cyclists will have more biking opportunities.

The bike plan identified short-term goals to add a 17-mile network of bike lanes, boulevards and complete street retrofits, which include the Falls Road and Peachtree Street changes.

“The city is currently completing work on bike boulevard enhancements along Eastern Avenue, Madison Street and Carolina Avenue,” Nunery said. “A similar project is planned for 2023 along Avondale Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, East Raleigh Boulevard and the Grand/Grace streets corridor.”

Nunery said the state Department of Transportation initiated an update to the "Complete Streets" policy that encourages municipalities to design new streets and retrofit existing streets,

People of all ages, abilities and incomes will be able to safely and conveniently bike to where they live, work, play and learn

with complete street components in mind. A "Complete Street" is a roadway that attempts to accommodate all users, safely and efficiently, whether that means a personal vehicle, bus, bicyclist or pedestrian.

“Simply adding bicycle infrastructure alone does not create a bicycle friendly community,” the bike plan said. “Rather, it takes a comprehensive effort to create a culture around safe biking.”

The city plans broad outreach programs and policy changes to help create that culture as more and more bike lanes and boulevards are added to Rocky Mount’s streets.

The new bike lane projects popping up around the city were all recognized as top priority projects in the Rocky Mount Bike Plan, Nunery added.

More bicycle lanes are expected to be added on Church Street from U.S. 64 to Raleigh Boulevard and the Monk to Mill Trail, which will connect Thelonious Monk Park to the Rocky Mount Mills.

A 2011 survey indicated that the most commonly reported safety issue for cyclists and pedestrians is inadequate infrastructure. North Carolina ranks in the Top 10 most unsafe states in the U.S. based on per capita bicycle fatalities.

The bike plan’s recommendation for the changes revolve around the sentiment that “biking needs to be a safe, convenient

and pleasant form of transportation for the broadest array of people. Aligning with the vision of this plan of creating safe and comfortable bikeways, this low-stress network would be appropriate for people of all ages and abilities.”

Although there had been some confusion before the permanent markings were completed for the new bike and motor vehicle lanes on Falls Road and Peachtree Street, Nunery said he’s already received positive feedback.

“Many citizens that live on both Falls Road and Peachtree Street have contacted the city to thank us for slowing down traffic in their neighborhood,” Nunery said.

Jiu-Jitsu gym teaches something for everyone

Ryan McGee said he heard about the Black Sheep Jiu-Jitsu gym from his wife, and he thought his two children might be interested.

Story & Photos by J. Eric Eckard

After about a month of training in “the gentle art,” both Ryan McGee Jr., 12, and Rayna McGee, 5, are hooked.

“The kids definitely love it,” the elder McGee said.

Black Sheep opened in February with classes in jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling and judo. Since then, Mark Bryant, co-owner of the gym, has added a children’s program in jiujitsu, as well as cardio and yoga classes.

“We offer a variety of martial arts classes and fitness programs to address all levels of fitness and training,” Bryant said.

But students get more out of the classes than just fitness and new physical skill sets, he added.

“You can see big changes in their social skills and coordination,” Bryant said of the 16 younger students he teaches.

The younger McGee said Bryant has taught him plenty of jiu-jitsu techniques, which has led to positive changes.

“My confidence level is higher than ever before,” he said. “The professor is a great guy. Everyone here is nice.”

Bryant, and his partner, Tim Smith, started Black Sheep earlier this year. The two black belts have 26 years of jiu-jitsu training between them, and they say there are big differences in all forms of martial arts. Karate and Kung Fu feature elaborate moves and powerful punches and kicks. Taekwondo employs blocks, kicks and openhanded strikes.

Even judo, which begat modern-day jiu-jitsu, varies in style, Bryant said.

“Judo primarily focuses on throws, while jiu-jitsu focuses on ground fighting,” the 48-year-old Bryant said. “Jiu-jitsu is a grappling martial art, meaning you don't kick or punch.

“You learn how to safely put your opponent on the ground and control their actions once there. Then, you work towards a submission hold.”

Rebecca Johnson also has two children in the youth program – Lilly Johnson, 7, and Walker Johnson, 6.

With a variety of martial arts schools in eastern North Carolina, Black Sheep is expected to offer different disciplines, while staying true to its jiu-jitsu name.

Walker Johnson was the first to join, and when his sister saw how much fun he was having, she decided to start training, too.

“Lilly didn’t want to do it at first,” her mother said. “But then she said it looked like a good time, so she changed her mind.”

Rebecca Johnson, whose husband also trains with Bryant, said her two children are homeschooled, so jiu-jitsu helps them in social settings with other kids.

“Plus Mark is fantastic,” she said. “He’s great with the kids.

“Some of the kids have big personalities, and he always keeps them on track.”

Ryan McGee agreed, adding that you can tell that Bryant knows what he’s doing.

Bryant has been teaching martial arts since 2011 at various schools and gyms in eastern North Carolina. He also has trained in kickboxing and studied Muay Thai, a separate form of kickboxing from Thailand.

“Being a native of Nash County, I want to give back to my community,” Bryant said. “I just want to teach my style of jiu-jitsu that I’ve learned over the past 16 years.”

All skill levels are welcome at Black Sheep Jiu-Jitsu, where “everyone fits in,” Bryant said. Inexperienced students can enroll in a beginners class, where they will learn a series of basic moves over the first

few weeks before they start sparring, or “rolling.”

“We want to teach people self-respect and self-discipline,” Bryant said. “Jiujitsu also teaches them how to deal with negative situations and how to listen to instructions and instructors.

“It’s not just about teaching them how to fight, but when to fight, as well.”

Jiu-jitsu also can be a part of a healthier lifestyle, too. Studies have shown that it can lead to better mental health, weight loss, increased mobility and flexibility and better conditioning.

Former President Teddy Roosevelt was an avid jiu-jitsu practitioner, and he used it to lose 20 pounds before one of his elections, Bryant said.

Smith, a 42-year-old Nash County deputy, is certified to teach Gracie Survival Tactics to first responders. Smith is a former Army cavalry scout, where he also boxed. He’s been helping teach jiu-jitsu for the past few years.

With a variety of martial arts schools in eastern North Carolina, Black Sheep is expected to offer different disciplines, while staying true to its jiu-jitsu name.

Black Sheep offers jiu-jitsu classes five days a week. Chris Duke, a fifth-degree black

belt in Isshinryu karate, teaches kickboxing/ mixed martial arts two or three times a week. Kenyon Whaley, a second-degree black belt in Kodokan judo, teaches a judo class once a month. Michael Rodriguez, who has been wrestling and coaching since high school, teaches an Olympic-style wrestling class once a month. Robin Sellers offers a yoga class, and Kay Sykes oversees a cardio class for students.

“People learn in different ways, and they can pick and choose where they want to be,” Smith said. “With our knowledge and what we can bring to the table, they can find a different atmosphere here.

“We are giving people an opportunity to search for a different environment.”

The youth program has blossomed at Black Sheep, thanks in part to Bryant’s approach to training the younger students. He incorporates games and drills into the training to keep the kids’ attention.

“But all of those games and drills have jiu-jitsu-based movements in them,” Bryant said. “Kids (also) will be taught a bullyproof program, in which we teach a child how to respond appropriately to bullies.

“First, you talk to the bully. Second, you tell the teacher. And third, you defend yourself.”

Imperial Centre puts arts, education on display

Story by Asia Clark Photos by William S. Manley

Each year, the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences has a busy fall season with activities for everyone to enjoy.

But with the opening of a new exhibit in the Children’s Museum and Science Center, two productions and a partnered event, the Imperial Centre will be busier this season.

Beginning Sept. 17, the Children’s Museum and Science Center is opening an exhibit called Zoom into Nano. It is a handson, interactive exhibit where kids will be able to enjoy spinning wheels, zooming into the nanoscale and exploring the use of molecules. The main focus of the exhibition is how scientists create structures and devices too small to see.

This year, the Imperial Centre is set to

stage “Blithe Spirit” by Noel Coward and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson.

“Blithe Spirit” is a comedy that follows a fussy novelist whose wives follow him around. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7. The last performance is at 2 p.m. Oct. 16.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” is a musical that features the “awful” Herdman kids as they perform in their church’s annual Christmas pageant. Auditions for the production are from 6-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 12. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 2. The last performance is at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 .

In between those productions, the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences is hosting a partnered event with the Tar River Arts Collaborative.

The Tar River Arts Collaborative is a

In between those productions, the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences is hosting a partnered event with the Tar River Arts Collaborative.

nonprofit founded by Marilynn Barner Anselmi, Jan Sullivan Volz and Rebecca Watkins. It was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic when artists were hosting virtual art shows. The purpose of the organization is to fulfill the need of connection between fellow artists and art buyers.

As a result, they created Jingle Mingle, an artisan market and art fair where members of the public are given a chance to buy unique gifts for the holiday season. The collaborative pieces included were created by artists across the state.

“Many of the artists involved with TRAC have had shows at the Imperial Centre or

have taught classes in our Art Education building,” said Brooke Edwards, the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences superintendent.

Attendees for the event will be able to mingle, enjoy food, appreciate various art pieces and kids can participate in craft activities. Jingle Mingle will be held Nov. 12 at the Imperial Centre. (start and end times?)

The Imperial Centre is also an event venue and home to a planetarium. For more information on hours, rotating exhibits, and programs, visit imperialcentre.org. The Imperial Centre is located at address.

Western-style ranch provides unique experiences

Story & Photos by Nancy West-Brake

Cowboys and cowgirls, ranch rodeos and traditional Mexican horsemanship: they’re not just found in the movies or out West.

Elm City in Nash County is the home of Cavvietta Quarter Horse & Cattle Company, a 94-acre Equestrian Center and Event Venue.

Cavvietta, whose name is taken from “cavvy,” or a ranch’s herd of horses, is the thriving brainchild of Gracie and Pedro Torres, who live and work at the ranch.

Pedro Torres, a third-generation horseman with a rodeo and wrangling background, is Cavvietta’s resident horse trainer and teaches riding lessons along with his wife.

Gracie Torres, a rider since the age of three, has a passion for mounted shooting, ranch roping and sorting cattle and ran barrel races in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association with the N.C. State

University rodeo team that she helped to start.

Horses brought the couple together, and they married at the ranch in 2017.

“I saw Pedro at Carousel Farms in Raleigh one Tuesday night doing the pickup roping – roping bulls after the bull riders come off,” Gracie said. “I couldn’t see his face, but he was riding the most majestic horse I’d ever seen. I contacted him to ask if he taught roping lessons because I’d been wanting to learn, and it was all a wrap from there.”

The Torres’ mission is to “help others learn and grow in their own stockmanship, horsemanship and sportsmanship via safe and effective communication with their equine partners.”

But behind that goal lies another: to make Cavvietta a place where people can come, have a good time and “get away from the realities of life,” Gracie said.

“There’s always somebody staying here,” Gracie said, although her statement barely hints at the level of activity at Cavvietta, which offers horseback riding lessons, horse and mule shows, horse clinics, a yearly rodeo complete with bull riding and summer camps for boys, girls and women who want to leave the world behind for a while to be cowboys and cowgirls.

While Pedro described the biggest crowd pleaser as the Ranch Rodeo, to be held this year Aug. 20, he said the people’s favorite is the camps, adding that he and Gracie get tremendous satisfaction watching growth in everyone who comes.

The Torres said that the effect on children who come to stay for the “Ranch Academies,” which involve four days and three nights of tent camping along with horse care, swimming, fishing and up-withthe-dawn ranch life, leads to personal self-

Elm City in Nash County is the home of Cavvietta Quarter Horse & Cattle Company, a 94-acre Equestrian Center and Event Venue.

discovery and self-confidence that lasts long afterwards.

Nelson Deans of Greenville, at Cavvietta recently to watch his son, Eason, and wife Sara taking lessons, said his family has been coming there for three years ever since his older son, Holden, came to camp.

“He learned to take care of the horses, rope – the total ranch experience,” Deans said. “He loved it.”

Deans was unstinting in his praise for the Torres and their helpers.

“They’re awesome, great with kids. Knowledgeable, patient and more than willing to help,” Deans said. “It’s good, clean, wholesome fun here.”

Jane Evans of Wilson brought her

granddaughter,

“I love the fact that they get kids to know the horses,” Evans said. “They had her bring the horse from the field, groom her and get to know her before getting on. That horse, Diamond, is blind in one eye, and Bergen learned to walk up to her and talk to her before touching her.”

Cavvietta is home to the only fullscale Charreada in North Carolina, which

“The competition is very strict on tradition and is super-proud of their heritage – as they should be,” Gracie said, adding that Cavvietta is home to the “Charros Caballeros” team, which translates to “gentleman charros,” or Mexican cowboys.

The Charreada features Vaquero horsemanship, described by the Torres as an art form that puts the well-being of the horses first and “ensures an awesome, willing and fine-tuned mount.”

Cavvietta’s 94 acres currently houses 15 riding horses in the “cavvy,” plus additional boarders, with total horse capacity at about 40. The ranch’s herd of Corriente and Longhorn cattle are used for limited breeding, cattle roping and sorting, as are commercial beef cattle for the same ranch events.

Overnight stays for travelers with horses are offered, complete with several on-site air bnb’s. The ranch is also an event venue with indoor space for weddings and parties.

The Cavvietta Quarter Horse & Cattle Company, located at 6131 Town Creek Road in Elm City, has a Facebook page and website, www.cavvietta.com.

Burgen Robertson, for Burgen’s very first experience with horses, including a first lesson.

Gracie describes as a traditional Mexican horse show/rodeo combination judged on finesse, horsemanship and stockmanship.

‘Backyard warriors’ put their mettle to the test

Story by Nancy West-Brake Photos by William S. Manley

The big yellow and black sign at 2550 Church St. in Rocky Mount just says “UBW” and can be easily passed by without exciting curiosity, unless a bit of what’s behind the 21,000-square-foot building comes into view.

From a distance, the oddly shaped wooden structures defy easy definition – that is, unless people are familiar with the TV show, “American Ninja Warrior.” UBW, or Ultimate Backyard

Warrior, designed by former competitor and Nash County native Mike Cook, has contributed some of its original obstacle designs to the show.

UBW is officially classified as a gym and fitness center but is home to a series of indoor and outdoor obstacles, many of which defy the imagination. Its first incarnation was built six years ago in the backyard of Cook’s Red Oak home, which still has about 75 to 100 obstacles.

That was after season 8 of “American Ninja Warrior” aired from filming in 2015, when Cook competed in Atlanta. He said he was faced with a conundrum while trying to find places to film his application video, ending up swinging from trees and walking on logs in Battle Park.

The solution? Build his own course.

UBW, which was promoting competitive events by 2016, got huge exposure during a visit from Jessie Graff, a female star of the “American Ninja Warrior” show. A Facebook video of her climbing rope in Cook’s backyard got 174,000 views in the first 24 hours.

Cook designs and builds the obstacles himself or with friends, changing or adding new ones several times a year, “whenever I think up something new.” UBW currently has about 150 obstacles, about a third of which are outside and another third inside Cook’s sprawling, warehouse-like gym which he said is the largest indoor ninja training facility in

UBW is officially classified as a gym and fitness center but is home to a series of indoor and outdoor obstacles, many of which defy the imagination.

the world. Many of the challenges involve swinging, climbing or just clinging to poles, ropes, netting and a variety of innovative materials in order to complete a course.

Competitions at UBW are usually held twice a year, on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The May 2022 event drew 420 participants from as far away as California, Texas, Indiana and Florida, although the bulk came from North Carolina, which one participant described as a “hot bed” for ninja competitions.

The weekend’s event offered parallel Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 courses, which increased in difficulty, with a final Stage 4 challenge a crane holding a 100foot harnessed rope climb. Stage 2 courses were inside. Stage 3 was a water course, with obstacles hung over a neck deep water trough. Points were awarded for completion of each obstacle and stages were also timed. The top 50 percent of finishers for each stage were allowed to continue to the next, but children were not allowed to compete in stage 4.

The Stage 1 adult course consisted of shrinking steps, a hanging rope, rings, suspended metal cannonballs, a trapeze and wooden teeter-totter steps before

participants hit the halfway obstacle called “the pyramid,” consisting of a suspended stair-like structure that athletes had to propel themselves up and down using a barbell. Next came a warped wall that required climbing using a rope, followed by the “sky hook,” where participants would hang by large rings and fling themselves from hook to hook.

Cook, who offers classes from 4:308 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for beginners and more advanced students of

multiple ages, said it’s all about increasing strength, coordination and confidence.

“People are where they are at now but can be somewhere else next week,” Cook said. “It’s about focusing on weaknesses and turning them into strengths, which carry over into the rest of life.”

He said coaching is important because it “pumps up” both kids and adults.

“If you have someone to push or encourage you, you do better,” Cook said, adding that the classes are designed more

for skill level than age.

Cook, an enthusiastic Christian and member of the Church on the Rise in Rocky Mount, said God told him to use the competition to bring people to Christ. During six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many churches were closed, Cook opened UBW for drive-up services and baptisms in his outdoor obstacle water trough. Sunday morning services are included at UBW competitions, which offer on-site parking for RVs.

This year, UBW’s Labor Day competition will be held off-site at Hope Church in Apex, in order to help raise money for Wounded Warriors. Cook also supports Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit volunteer organization that builds beds for children, by donating utilities and use of a building on the property.

For more information about Ultimate Backyard Warrior, which also offers 24-hour gym access with youth and adult memberships and is open for walk-ins from 4-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11-6 p.m. on Saturday, visit the Facebook page, Ultimate Backyard Warrior.

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since 1990. Originally started as abathtub refinishing business that has evolved into one of the areas premier kitchen and bath remodeling company

Historic Tarboro has hometown feel about it

Story by John H. Walker

Tarboro is one of the oldest communities in the state, having been established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1760.

But it is older than that, having been settled about 1733.

The community, located in a bend of the temperamental Tar River, grew because of the river and was once a thriving trading port supported by flat-bottomed river boats plying the river. It is located about an hour east of Raleigh on US 64 – or Future I-87 – and about two hours from the Outer Banks, Wilmington and Norfolk.

Tarboro – at one time “Tawboro” and “Tarborough” – remains a community tied to agriculture, although agricultural facilities are not nearly so prevalent as they once were.

Today, diversification of industry helps the community through periods when agricultural productivity is limited by forces of nature – or governmental regulations.

Tarboro is home to food processors (Sara Lee Frozen Bakery), produce (Nash Produce) recreational manufacturing (World Cat Boats), automotive parts (Hitachi Astemo), warehousing and logistics (Kanban), cables (LS Cable), reels (Madem-Moorecraft Reels, USA) and more.

For those who make their living from the Earth, there are still the traditional crops of cotton, corn, soybeans, peanuts, tobacco, cattle, poultry, and swine. Additionally, seasonal crops of strawberries and watermelons thrive in the area.

Tarboro offers a variety of reasons for a person to visit and settle.

Foremost is that it has a hometown feel, with plenty of wide porches to sit and relax.

Each fall, the community hosts a weekend when former residents return to visit with one another – “Hometown

Homecoming,” and it’s not necessarily tied to the high school homecoming.

Recreational activities abound in Tarboro – from the local Links at Cotton Valley Golf Course to the brand new pickleball courts, the community offers something for folks of all ages.

There’s swimming at the Community Pool, a soon-to-be-built splash pad, paddling down the Tar River or dropping a line in the Tar down at the “Fishing Hole” in Riverfront Park.

And while fishing for the town’s official fish, the Hickory Shad, is seasonal, when the shad start their annual run from late February to early April each year, it’s some of the finest fishing around.

Baseball? There are summer youth leagues and travel teams that play at the Indian Lake Sports Complex and there are

the Tarboro High Vikings and collegiate Tar River Bandits, who play at Municipal Stadium.

The Bandits, a wooden bat league team offering college players the opportunity to hone their skills, played their first season in 2020 and won league championships in their first two seasons.

Softball? You bet, just check out Indian Lake.

And what about basketball and football?

Tarboro has them both. In fact, Tarboro High Vikings football is synonymous with winning championships – having won the crown eight times, including four out of the last five.

For the history buff, there’s Tarboro’s 45-square-block Historic District, anchored by the Blount-Bridgers House. If reading historical markers is a past-time, you’ll stay busy as there are numerous historical

markers – 18, infact, detailing the history of the town – including President George Washington’s overnight stay in 1791 when he was on his Southern Tour and the Knights of Labor farm-worker movement in the late 1800s.

For the food aficionado, the choice ranges from traditional, Southern style home cooking at Everlean’s Cafe to the fivestar cuisine at On the Square. In-between, there are a wide variety of eateries to help you placate your palate, including Italian, Korean, Chinese, seafood and several fast food outlets.

If you’re looking to shop, Tarboro has you covered as well – from the big box chains to the mom-and-pop clothing store downtown. Shopping districts are located in historic downtown Tarboro as well as along North Main Street and Western Boulevard.

Tarboro is also home to Edgecombe

Community College, with campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County Public Schools and North East Carolina Prep School, a tuition-free public charter school.

Quality health care is also available in Tarboro through a network of local health providers. In addition, ECU Health Vidant Hospital and Cancer Center are located in Tarboro.

Tarboro offers a laid-back style of life and a lower cost of living. Its taxes are the lowest in eastern North Carolina and the growing home market makes it an attractive place for people looking to escape the cost of living and hustle-and-bustle of larger cities.

If you come to Tarboro, chances are you’ll wind up on a front porch, feeling like you’ve come home.

Tarboro is one of the oldest communities in the state, having been established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1760.

Nashville offers small-town charm

Story & Photos by Dave Cruz

When a first-time visitor was asked what he thought of Nashville, N.C., the first thing thing that came to mind was that the people who live there must have a lot pride.

The streets and sidewalks were clean. The stores and offices along West Washington Street, the downtown area’s main street, were occupied, neatly decorated and enticing.

Most of the parking spaces were full on a Thursday afternoon and there were people on the sidewalk walking with purpose like they had somewhere to go but not too busy to smile and pass on a greeting. Although there were big box stores and shopping centers in either direction, downtown Nashville’s stores, restaurants, law firms, accounting offices and banks were still a draw.

Pride is especially on display across the street. Nashville is the county seat of Nash County and the courthouse buildings and county office buildings are impressive and interesting from an architectural perspective. The original portion of the Nash County Courthouse was constructed in 1921 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The grounds are well cared for. There are flowering trees and shrubs

and benches. Also on the grounds are monuments that celebrate democracy, freedom and military service.

Nashville also knows how to welcome its visitors, especially those conducting business. A time-crunched journalist looking for a cool, quiet work space was graciously received by a librarian at the Harold D. Cooley Library and led to a well-appointed study room with morethan-adequate electrical outlets and fast Internet wi-fi.

Time well spent in that place of order, purpose and productivity was followed up by a delicious lunch at the Nashville Exchange Steak House & Cafe, which was a departure from the same-old-sameold, prepared with pride and expediently served with a smile and a free refill of the sweet tea.

Although southern hospitality in many places seems like a relic of a bygone era, it is alive and well in Nashville.

As pride and prosperity go together, the pristine environs of Nashville are great places to reside, work and do business.

The town occupies three square miles. According to the town’s website, the town’s population is an estimated 5,554. In 2020, the population was 4,309. Those statistics bear witness to a town that attracts new residents rather than providing an impetus for flight.

The median income is $56,288 and the average home value is $136,900. The town is known for its historic Victorian-era and Queen-Anne-style homes. The BissetteCooley House and Rose Hill Plantation mansion are also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Nashville Town Manager Randy Lansing said the town is poised for a growth spurt due to the construction of new subdivisions in the town. Zoning certificates were recently issued for the 41-lot Bradford Place subdivision. The Farm II subdivision will consist of 50 lots. Infrastructure construction is underway for the Cardinal Woods subdivision, which will consist of 248 single-family homes.

In addition to being a great place to

live in an ever-growing town with an expanding tax base, Lansing said Nashville is the headquarters of Braswell Family Farms, known for Eggland’s Best Eggs, and a modular housing manufacturer, Clayton Homes, operates a plant in the town.

Lansing called these companies “solid employers.”

“We’re so grateful to have them in our community,” he said.

More recently, the town has added more manufacturing and food processing companies inside the town and on its outskirts. The Crump Group, a Canadian company, makes pet foods and dog treats. Atlantic Natural Foods is a food processing company specializing in plantbased protein. Asterra Labs develops and manufactures pharmaceuticalgrade cannabinoids. ACDi manufactures electronic components used in medical diagnostic equipment.

The Nashville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department has programs for all ages, especially children.

The department runs art programs in several mediums. The town’s police and fire departments also take part in summer camp programs. There are several programs for adults including partner dance and selfdefense.

The town operates two town parks that feature greenway paths, walking tracks, a tennis court, ball fields, soccer and football fields, basketball courts, picnic shelters, an amphitheater and playgrounds. A dog park will soon be completed at the Stoney Creek Environmental Park.

The department also oversees the operation of a popular farmers market, which is held from 3-7 p.m. on Fridays In addition to locally grown produce, the market also features food vendors, fresh seafood and live music performances.

The town’s motto is that Nashville is a “great place to live, work and play.” That’s not empty puffery. It’s a promise that the town’s elected officials, staff, business owners and citizens work on keeping every day.

Model train enthusiasts display intricate exhibit

Story by Lawrence Bivens

Photos by William S. Manley

Since the 1830s, railroads have been a key part of American commerce.

Even in an era of instantaneous digital transactions, they remain vital to moving commodities, consumer products and people. CSX’s Carolina Connector, opened in October 2021 in Rocky Mount, is visible evidence that trains are central to the Twin Counties’ economic future as well its history.

A group of model train hobbyists has captured the essence of how railroads link industries, communities and opportunities. Since 2018, the Golden East Railroad Modelers have built out an array of miniature trains, tracks and assorted conveyances in a more than 5,000-squarefoot space at Golden East Crossing mall.

The group has even put together a multi-modal facility depicting the interplay between rail-, port- and highway-based cargo shipping. Included are miniature replicas of the Carolina Connector, the Helen P. Gay Rocky Mount Historic Train Station and the Rocky Mount rail yards.

“We tried to really tie it in with Rocky Mount,” said Don Ries, a member of the club’s board of directors.

Known as “The Junction,” the model train complex is open to the public every Saturday. At other times, the club’s 50 or so members work to enhance existing displays and create new sections. Tommy Hudson, a semi-retired Tarboro resident who is president of the club, said the attraction welcomed more than 10,600 visitors in its first year. Names in the guest book include

people from New York, Connecticut, California and many other states.

“There’s been visitors from overseas, as well,” Hudson said. “Some are in the area visiting family, and they stop in.”

About one-third of what can be seen at The Junction was formerly housed in Wilson. When that space’s owner decided to retire, the sprawling display needed a new home.

About 18 months later, Sheena Jerman, general manager of Golden East Crossing, got a visit from Alan Matthews, who directs retail economic development for the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Rocky Mount. Matthews had heard the club was looking for space to house its models. Might the mall be willing to host it on an in-kind basis?

“Alan came to me personally about accommodating it,” Jerman said. “We had just gotten news about the CSX hub coming, and I could see how developing the model train site could help the community.”

Jerman quickly received an OK from Hendon Properties, which owned the nearly 580,000-square-foot mall at the time. Executives of the Atlanta-based company shared her excitement about moving the club into the mall, later sending a photographer down to snap pictures of the set-up for distribution in the company newsletter.

The partnership has since been a winwin for both parties — as well as for Rocky Mount.

“We’re in constant communication with them about things we can do,” Jerman said. “We’re always looking at ways we can help the community. There will definitely be more to come.”

Notwithstanding its partnership with Hendon Properties, the Golden East Railroad Modelers nonetheless incur expenses of running The Junction. Supplies, including lumber and electronics, are borne mostly by the members. Utilities and insurance on the space run several hundred dollars a month, according to Ries, who serves as the club’s secretary. Proceeds from a donation box at the entry to The Junction help defer those costs, said Ries, a retired computer industry technician living in Littleton.

“Right now, we’re running between 100 and 120 visitors per week,” he said, “which I think is great in light of the virus.”

Ries said the nonprofit association has enjoyed growth in its membership since moving to Rocky Mount. Its members live

as far away as Raleigh, Durham and Wake Forest.

“We’re one of the largest model railroader clubs on the East Coast,” he said.

Model rail buffs can spend years building their elaborate displays, and the patience required in their intricate work is increasingly at odds with the instantgratification ethos of today’s times.

The Tennessee-based National Model Railroad Association reports 18,000 active members across the country. Through the club’s Facebook page and YouTube videos, news about The Junction has spread among the country’s model train enthusiasts, many of whom have ventured to Rocky Mount to check out the club’s displays, which snake around the room on four distinct rail gauges.

“There are also the train guys,” Ries said of his fellow rail hobbyists around the U.S. “It’s not just the general walk-in public that comes to see us.”

Bird park features waterfowl from around the world

Story by Kesha Williams

It’s not common to spot flamingos in North Carolina unless you are touring the grounds of Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck.

According to founder and director of the park, Mike Lubbock, thousands of birds are awaiting the guests who visit the park Tuesday through Sunday.

Individuals, couples and groups enjoy seeing birds from around the world at this eastern North Carolina bird park. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible and a family friendly environment that welcomes about 65,000 visitors each year.

“It’s the largest bird park in North America, with over 200 species of birds here. To find

the next best selection, you’d have to go to the San Diego Zoo in California. So we are way up there on birds,” Lubbock said. “The thing about this park is we allow picnics in there. We find people are coming for the day and they like to bring their lunch. Some buy food from our cafe and enjoy sitting in our good shaded areas.

“That is the popular aspect of our park.”

During the school year, educational programs are prepared for visiting elementary, middle and high school students who are participating in school field trips. The park's education coordinators collaborate with area teachers or other public groups to prepare hands-on outdoor

activities that enhance information youths might learn during classroom discussions.

Civic and social groups often schedule field trips to see birds they can't find at other zoos in the southeastern region. Pictured scavenger hunts are highly recommended so visitors can be alert for specific birds that are on display at the park. There are also continuing education programs available for adult groups.

Touring the park can occupy at least two hours of a visitor’s time. Guests should arrive before 3 p.m. Advance reservations are required for guided and golf cart tours. Non-motorized wheelchairs are available at the Visitors Center on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park opened in 2006 and remains a favorite spot for first time and returning guests. Guests will enjoy an extraordinary day while winding these outdoor nature trails and aviaries.

Children age two and under are admitted free while admission is charged for everyone older than age 3. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or upon arrival.

Visit Sylvan Heights Bird Park to discover the truth about owls' rotating necks and the reason flamingos often stand on one leg.

To schedule a tour, call 252-826-3186 or email education@shwpark.com.

The park’s website is www.shwpark.com.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park opened in 2006 and remains a favorite spot for first time and returning guests.

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