Wilson Woman, Fall 2012

Fall 2012

Dr. JoAnne Woodard sits down to tell her story as the first selection in the Wilson Woman Icon Series.

Fall Decor Made Easy

Your Five ‘Favorite’ Wilson Dishes

Tailgate fashion laid out for you

Table of Contents 4

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Fall into it

Getting your home’s decor ready for a new season is all about the little thing

About Town

See who was out and about at a recent 1st Friday on the Lawn.

Female farmers

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Theresa Mathis is an enthusiastic fixture of downtown events and community service

This isn’t your ordinary pumpkin pie. Branch out this 24

fall with this very simple recipe

Fall Football Fashion Ready. Set. Tailgate! All your fall fashion picks laid out for 26

you.

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“The Ultimate Dining Experience”

Eastern NC festivals

The educator sits down to answer our survey and im part wisdom Have a fall, y’all! Before Whirligig gets here, check out some of these other great NC festivals.

Meet two sisters who found themselves on either side of the agriculture industry.

12 Pumpkin Pie 2.0

Wilson Icon: Dr. JoAnne Woodard

On the cover

Dr. JoAnne Woodard relaxes in her office at Sallie B. Howard School for Arts and Education. photo by Gérard Lange

I am Wilson

Things to do this fall

Some things to do with the family after you dig those sweaters out of the closet

5 Favorite Wilson dishes

You voted. We took pictures.

Our Facebook friends told us where they like to eat in Wilson.

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WILSON WOMAN

2001 Downing Street, Wilson, NC 27893 www.wilsontimes.com

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____________________ Contributors Writers: Mary-Peyton Amburn, Janelle Clevinger, Bradley Hearn Art: GĂŠrard Lange | Graphic Design Anna Batts | Photography Janelle Clevinger | Photography Bradley Hearn | Photography Gray Whitley | Photography

____________________

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Falling for fall

Add a touch of fall by simply adding an autumn-themed or colored throw and pillow to a room.

Story and photos by Janelle Clevinger

‘There are several ways that you can give your home or office that “fall feel” to usher in the season of cooler temperatures, falling leaves and pumpkins in the field.’

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The temperatures outside at the moment are not an indication of what is to come, but autumn will soon be here.

There are several ways that you can give your home or office that “fall feel” to usher in the season

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of cooler temperatures, falling leaves and pumpkins in the field.

You’d be surprised how doing a few little things can make it feel like fall,” said Carolyn Atkinson, owner of John’s Gifts and Reproductions in Rocky Mount.

“And it doesn’t take a lot of money to do it.”

Atkinson, who owns her store on Winstead Avenue with her husband John and co-manages it with their son Scott, says that adding decorative elements like pillows and throws in fall

colors can give your home the gentle nudge it needs to cross over in the new season.

“You can add reds, yellows and oranges and they don’t have to be the dull shades,” Atkinson said.

“They can be the brighter

WILSON WOMAN

A wreath featuring autumn leaves and other outdoor elements can warmly greet visitors on the outside of your home or bring the season indoors with placement on an interior door or wall.

hues in those colors if you’d like.”

Another simple addition would be a fall centerpiece featuring artificial outdoor elements such as gourds, acorns and fall leaves. Autumn wreaths using those same elements can be used on doors both inside and outside of the home.

Runners with fall colors and patterns can be added to tables for a simple yet noticeable change to your décor.

However, not every decorative element in the home needs to be changed out for fall. Not only is that time-

consuming, but financially unfeasible.

“With the economy like it is today, at lot of people are trying to get something they can use all year,” Atkinson said.

“Like artwork, for example.

If you do change it out for the seasons, it’s probably going to be inexpensive art.”

Atkinson encourages using artificial greenery, flowers and agricultural elements (like gourds and seasonal flowers) so that your decorating items can be used from year to year, keeping your costs down.

One decorating tip for au-

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tumn isn’t even something you can see and uses a different sense entirely.

“One simple way to give your home the feeling of autumn is to use fall fragrance in the house,” Atkinson said.

“Pumpkin and pumpkin spice scents, for example, can make it seem like fall.”

“People have come in the store lately and remarked that it’s been so hot outside that they wanted to come here because they knew I’d have it looking and smelling like fall in here,” Atkinson laughed. “It seems to help cool them off.”

Atkinson said that they are gearing up for both fall and winter sales.

“Once children get back in school, people are ready for something different and have a little time to shop,” she said.

“But we know that not everyone has a lot of money to spend,” continued Atkinson, “so we try to do as much as possible for as little money as possible.

Our goal is to give our customers an expensive look without spending a lot of money.”

Using artificial autumn elements in a centerpiece brings the look of the season into your home and can be used from year to year.

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About Town

1st Fridays on the Lawn

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photography by Gray Whitley

The first Friday of each month, more and more Wilson citizens are finding themselves downtown on the lawn of the Wilson County Library for a free community concert, family entertainment and educational opportunities. Using music and festivities to bring a diverse community together, 1st Fridays on the Lawn offers the Wilson community an evening together to relax, enjoy and get to know each other a little better. On July 6th, downtown Wilson was treated to the R&B stylings of Nowhere But Up!, along with a Kids Zone with a water slide and bounce house, and intermission entertainment by ProMusic Conservatory and Dance Studio B.

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All in the Family

Mary Wilks, right, her sister, Sue Leggett, and Sue’s children stand in a peanut field along N.C. 58 where Sue and her husband farm for a living.

Two local sisters find themselves rooted in agriculture, an industry with a growing female workforce and voice...

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Though they grew up in a family with no direct generational connection to the agriculture industry — as is traditionally the case — sisters Mary Thurman Wilks and Sue Thurman Leggett both found themselves drawn to the time-honored Eastern North Carolina trade of agriculture, albeit on slightly different sides.

Sue Leggett and her husband own both Strawberry City in Nashville and Airport U-Pick near the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport, while also farming hundreds of acres of tobacco, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, peanuts, cotton, soy beans and strawberries under the moniker Leggett Farming Partnership.

Wilks, on the other hand, founded her own crop consulting business, Carolina Precision Consulting, Inc., in which she travels around the state scouting fields and advising farmers

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on farming practices and how to best battle insects, disease and other farming variables.

The interest in agriculture started at a young age for both women. They became active in the 4-H club in their pre-teen years, showing horses, livestock and, ultimately, competing in gardening competitions as well. Leggett will freely admit that she may have, in fact, initially been interested in it because her big sister had been doing it for several years by the time she came of age.

Wilks, four years older, eventually went on to N.C. State. And as is the case with most college freshman, she was torn about what she wanted to pursue academically. She focused on biology her first year until a fortuitous run-in with a farmer friend at a 4-H show led to a summer internship scouting cotton fields. From there, she was hooked, ultimately earning a bachelor’s

degree in agronomy, a master’s in crop science and starting her business in 1996.

“I liked being outside,” said Wilks. “But my main motivation was to help people. It helps the crop and helps them to be better at farming.”

Through her company, Wilks also assists farmers with organic and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certifications.

Leggett also found herself studying agronomy at N.C. State but opted for a concentration in soil science. She later took a job at the food supplier Tortillas San Antonio in Nashville for several years before she and her husband began leasing land to grow their own crops and, ultimately, start the two produce markets. She has been on the farm ever since.

Naturally, the sisters’ professional paths are intertwined, and they see a fair amount of one another.

WILSON WOMAN

“She’s our primary crop consultant,” said Leggett. “She’s really one of the most highly-qualified professionals in what she does, with a lot of technical experience and knowledge.”

Though it’s also indicative of a trend across the board in many modern industries, Wilks admits to encountering more and more females in agriculture.

Leggett agrees and adds that many of the females she sees nowadays work directly in the public relations aspect of the business, not just the fields and markets of years past. “I definitely think that there are a lot of females that have taken the responsibility of informing the public about agriculture,” said Leggett.

It’s a welcome sight in an industry that always needs to maintain its relevance in the public eye.

Relaying the role of agriculture in the broader economic context of the region and the country, she thinks, is more vital than ever — based on the fact that most people are now three and four generations removed from the traditional family farm of yesteryear.

People have lost touch with the importance of where their food comes from, she believes. It’s a mindset she is trying to instill in her own children and it’s one reason that she and her husband chose to set up Strawberry City and U-Pick the way they did: where customers and families can either participate directly in harvesting their produce or interact directly with the farmer that did.

Whatever their path that led them to the farm, Sue Leggett and Mary Wilks are now rooted in agriculture — growing, teaching and advising this generation and the next on farming and the importance where their food comes from.

Mary Wilks inspects a tobacco field near Bailey.

Below, some of the products, including stawberry jelly and syrup, offered at Strawberry City on N.C. 58 in Nashville.

Photos courtesy of Sue Leggett and Mary Wilks.

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What’s in Season?

What's in Season?

You can use this guide to choose the freshest, best tasting Carolina and Vegetable Availability produce North obtainable when Fruit visiting either of the Wilson You can use this guide to choose the freshest, best tasting produce obtainable!

County farmers roadside markets local grower.

Insist on buyingmarkets, locally grown food in grocery stores, restaurants,or in the work place and schools,

Or- buy direct from a local grower at a farmers market, pick-your-own or roadside farm market.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Apples APPLES BEANS, GREEN Beans, Green BEANS, BUTTER Beans, Butter BLUEBERRIES Blueberries BroccoliBROCCOLI Cabbage CABBAGE CANTALOUPES Cantaloupes CORN Corn CUCUMBERS Cucumbers EggplantEGGPLANT Grapes GRAPES LEAFY GREENS Leafy Greens Okra OKRA Peaches PEACHES Peanuts PEANUTS PEAS, FIELD Peas, Field Pecans PECANS Peppers,PEPPERS, GreenGREEN POTATOES, Potatoes, WhiteWHITE POTATOES, Potatoes, SweetSWEET PUMPKINS Pumpkins Squash SQUASH STRAWBERRIES Strawberries TOMATOES Tomatoes WATERMELON Watermelon For directories and about more information aboutvisit NC produce, visit www.ncdamarkets.org.

For directories and more information NC produce, www.ncdamarkets.org.

Graphic courtesy of North Carolina Department of Agriculture

Agriculture is NC's # 1 industry. When you see the Goodness Grows in North Carolina Agriculture is NC’s #1onindustry.

When locally,toyou logo food products, youyou are buy contributing the are economic growth of North Carolina and to our farmers. contributing to the economic growth of North Carolina, our local

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Wilson farmers and the rich agricultural history they preserve.

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fall 2012

WILSON WOMAN

Wilson Farmers Markets

Find fresh produce this fall at either of our local Wilson Farmers Markets

• The Wilson Farmers Market will be open every Saturday, 7:30 a.m. – noon, through September at the Wilson Fairgrounds, 2331 US Hwy 301 South.

• The Downtown Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 207 W. Green St. through September.

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Not your ordinary pumpkin pie Though the start of the pumpkin harvest is less than a month away, most people wait until late November to truly take advantage of its culinary benefits. The pumpkin pie will always be considered a Thanksgiving staple, but you have ample time this fall to mix things up with a simple recipe that will no doubt still be popular when your November turkey comes along.

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If you’re like me, you have a set menu for Thanksgiving and very seldom change it.

I make the same vegetables (corn, butter beans, field peas and mashed potatoes), the same sweet potato casserole and the same cranberry congealed salad that mama always made for us. We also must have crescent

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rolls at my son’s request. I’ve experimented with dressing the last several years but have settled on a favorite recipe, although my children still want me to also make Stove Top stuffing for them. I do it because that means Reggie and I get more leftovers of the homemade stuff.

I also make pumpkin pie for dessert.

by Lisa Boykin Batts photo by Anna Batts

It’s a simple recipe from the pumpkin can. Nothing hard about it. My family loves it with whipped cream on top.

We’ve actually eaten it for breakfast on Thanksgiving morning. We’re stuffed after supper, so why not enjoy it while we’re hungry? In other words, we love this pie.

So why change things? Well, why WILSON WOMAN

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Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie

not? I’ve always wanted to put a different spin on my pumpkin pie, so a couple of years ago, I experimented with Pillsbury’s very simple Streusel-Topped Pumpkin Pie. I basically followed the recipe, except I divided the topping between the bottom of the pie and the top, and I used a graham cracker crust instead of a traditional pie crust.

The pie is delicious. The nutty topping and the graham cracker crust add a delicious twist to the pie. The topping is also very pretty, and makes you think a pecan pie is underneath!

If you’re up to something new on your menu this fall, (something different but not radical!) give this pie a try.

It doesn’t even have to be Thanksgiving.

After all, you are trying new things.

Ingredients 1 graham cracker pie crust (can probably fill the two-extra serving size because I had extra with the regular size) Filling: 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin (no pumpkin pie mix) 1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk (1 1/2 cups) 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon salt Streusel: 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Preparation Heat oven to 425 degrees.

In large bowl, mix filling ingredients until well blended. Pour into pie crust.

Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; bake 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix streusel ingredients.

Sprinkle streusel over pumpkin filling.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Adapted from Pillsbury

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With so much else on your plate, our style expert picks this season’s winners...

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By Mary-Peyton Amburn

As the summer draws to a close and the chaos of a new school year routine consumes every ounce of our day, we must stop and ponder the true meaning of August: the beginning of football season.

It’s the time when fans and students — young and old, male and female — come together to cheer on their alma mater, their team and their classmates.

It is the one thing that my house completely revolves around for a full four months. Our weekends are consumed by home games, our television is set to ESPN and Fantasy Football somehow becomes a real life sport. We eat, sleep and breathe football.

Football is no doubt regarded as a man’s sport, but those men would be completely lost without women’s contribution. And by “contribution” I mean the tailgate — indeed, the most important part of the sport.

So, let’s be honest. While my husband is prepping for the game with talk of players and statistics, I am making the important decision of which pair of shoes looks best

Sweet Martha’s Whimsy 252-234-2787 14

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with my outfit.

Never mind the fact that I began this decision on Monday of that week!

But I do have other preparations for the game as well: Which game day recipes I am going to pull out to impress this week? How am I going to transBelle & Co. port the food?

How I am going 252-291-8869 to serve it when we get the tent set up?

Impressing men with finger foods is truly an art. My mom has always taught me that a good party is in the presentation, so I like to treat our family tailgates the same.

I love to visit Sweet Martha’s Whimsy on Airport Boulevard for all of my presentation needs. Owner Tammi Barnes will customize anything you might need. From painted cake carriers to embroidered totes, she brings a whole new meaning to school spirit. She makes it so incredibly easy to stick to my mom’s party standards.

Now back to that outfit.

A few quick, strategic stops through The Shoppes at Brentwood will have you covered, literally from head to toe, with spirit and style on game day.

I simply love Belle & Co. and their amazing selection of

WILSON WOMAN

designers. Owner Steadman Lanier is so helpful in pulling beautiful game day outfits. By mixing comfort and style, I can show my college pride while still looking cute.

This Jade tunic just shouts “Go Pirates,” while the black skinny jeans are a great basic to pair back to anything.

Finish it off with a fabulous Hobo Hilton’s International 252-243-7003 clutch and a cute (and comfortable!) pair of Toms ballet flats and eyes will be shifting from the field and straight to you.

We all know that football weather is always unpredictable. Therefore, autumn in the South is all about layering.

Hilton’s Men’s and Women’s Fine Clothing has quite a wide selection for any occasion, but I love this red vest.

You can wear your closet basics and throw this on for an instant upgrade! It will look great with a new pair of slacks or denim and a cute ballet flat.

And we certainly cannot go without accessorizing with beautiful jewelry. I love this custom-made butterfly necklace by Julia Newton Jewelry. The round-faceted, golden citrine and an oval cabochon amethyst add the perfect balance to any outfit, but especially for ECU game day.

Not a member of the Pirate Nation? No problem! They can customize your piece with any stone you would like.

The more creative you request the better.

So there you have it. A complete summary of what goes through my mind leading up to a home game: fashion and food. My two greatest passions all rolled into one.

It all sounds so feminine and predicable, I know. But I quickly shift. You should see me at Julia Newton Jewelry kick-off. Game on!

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Dr. JoAnne Woodard The executive director of the Sallie B. Howard School for the Arts & Education sits down to answer questions on her life’s journey and what she hope’s for Wilson’s future.

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Dr. JoAnne Woodard has always had a soft spot for children. Seeing a child neglected or wounded in any way produces a strong, visceral reaction that is impossible for her to shake.

It is both a sensitivity and a passion that has shaped her personal and professional life and led her to where she is today: the co-founder and executive director of the only charter school in Wilson County and one of the first in the state of North Carolina.

As a teenager at Darden High School in the 1960s, she saw a speaker on career day who introduced themselves as a “child psychologist.” Though she had no idea what that meant, it had “child” in the title, so she instinctively

fall 2012

by Bradley Hearn knew that is what she wanted to pursue.

After undergraduate studies at Bennett College in Greensboro, a masters degree and Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Michigan, her early professional life led her on a serpentine path to different areas around the country, including time in New York working as a researcher for The Children’s Television Workshop and Sesame Street.

BACK HOME In 1986, after a brief stint in California, she found herself, along with her three children, back in Wilson to regroup and assess her next career move. In the meantime, she worked as

a child psychologist in group homes and other organizations, providing counseling and behavior plans.

Through her own children’s experiences in Wilson, she became disheartened at what she perceived as injustices in the educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.

“I started to realize that poor children weren’t getting a fair shake in the deal,” she said. “And I was deeply hurt by it.”

She knew she had to do something about it, but at the time, had no answers.

“Something in my body and spirit was

Continued on page 18 WILSON WOMAN

The first installment in an ongoing feature, the Wilson Woman Icon Series seeks to glean words of wisdom and guidance from accomplished and well-regarded women in the Wilson community through our standard seven question survey. For this first issue, we asked Dr. JoAnne Woodard, the executive director of the Sallie B. Howard School for the Arts and Education, the only charter school in Wilson County and one of the first in North Carolina.

1) What has been your l i f e ’s b i g g e s t s t r u g g l e ?

Dr. Woodard: Becoming too passionate about injustice against people. Too many times I feel frustrated and helpless.

2) What has been your proudest moment?

Everytime I see Sallie B. Howard students showing their greatness and accomplishing more than anyone thought they could – those are my proudest moments.

3) What advice would you give a young woman starting her professional life?

Always follow your passion even if it doesn’t always pay a lot of money. It will lead you to your purpose. When you function in your purpose you will enjoy a quality of life – satisfying, fulfilling, with many moments of joy, peace, and happiness - that money cannot buy.

4) Who has been the most inspirational figure to you? Why? Sallie B. Howard. She has remained true to her life’s purpose for her entire life – educating children to believe they can be more than they think they can become.

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5) What do you consider the most important virtues a woman must possess?

Its not different for women or men: compassionate, risktaker for what you believe in, unafraid to express ideas, kind, hard worker.

6) What do you value most in the world?

My conscious connection to the Creator is what energizes me to wake up every day willing to take on the challenges of each day because I know I am not alone on this life’s journey. Without the knowledge of God present and alive in my spirit, I wouldn’t be who I am or as effective in what I do.

7) What is the biggest problem facing Wilson moving forward? And what is your biggest hope for the future of Wilson?

Closing the educational achievement gap between low income and middle income students. Educational and income disparity leads to increased crime and lowers the quality of life for all citizens. My hope is that our community leaders and educators will work together to close the achievement gap.

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Woodard meets with three students in her office at Sallie B. Howard. Her office is adorned with artwork made by students at the school.

screaming at me,” she said.

Seeking solace and guidance in prayer, she resigned herself to the belief that the answer would come in due time.

During this time, she also became acquainted with Sallie B. Howard, a legendary Wilson-area educator, through St. John A.M.E. Zion Church on Pender Street. “She really took me under her wing and clued me in,” said Woodard.

In the summer of 1989, she took a wild leap of faith and decided to put on an educational summer camp for area children who had no other opportunities outside of school. With no money, no staff and basically no plan, she advertised for the Youth Enrichment Program of Wilson, envisioning that maybe 50-75 kids would show up. “I just wanted to gather the children and provide a rich experience for them,” she said.

“To let them know that they weren’t alone and had advocates.”

The need was greater than she imagined, however, as 400 children were dropped off downtown at the Pender Street church on that first day. After some frantic scrambling for supplies, meals and facilities, the program began to take shape. And so it went for six weeks in the summer of 1989, as every day found Woodard trying to structure the day’s events.

She was pushed even further out on a limb when she was forced to quit her job in order to keep the camp running. She had no plan other than the fact that she knew she was doing something right and trusted that the rest would work out.

And on the camp’s last day, it did, as she received a call from Barton College offering her a position as a psychology professor — a position she held for the next eight years while slowing building the summer program with each passing year.

“It honestly was just following His plan. The trick is to just line up with that plan and let it take over.”

The subsequent success of the Youth Enrichment Program eventually earned it local funding and donations — allowing her to have a larger and larger staff and supplies — as well as statewide attention, particularly by those who helped draft the legislation in 1997 to approve publicly-funded charter schools in N.C. Woodard was approached about the possibility of applying for a charter, and she seized the opportunity. “I really had no doubt we’d get this,” she said, believing that this too was simply the next step in the unfolding plan.

THE ARTS & EDUCATION Woodard’s vision for the school has always been to “cultivate the power of education,” she says.

The new school was created based on the concept of “multiple intelligences,” a philosophy she became aware of under Howard’s tutelage, in

which every child has particular strengths and areas in which they can learn and excel.

One of her primary objectives was for the school to become a safe haven for students that might not necessarily test well in the standardized reading and math exams. Hence, the “arts and education” in the school’s title.

She wanted the school to create a pathway for success that might not have otherwise been there. “It’s for kids that would have struggled elsewhere. So many of them would get cut out because they don’t fit within the traditional bounds.”

Part and parcel to those philosophies is an emphasis on international education through the staffing of international teachers and participation in study abroad programs. Woodard recently led a trip to India and is working on an upcoming trip to Alaska (while obviously not “abroad” in the technical sense of the word, it is inherently just as important to students who have never even left the state, she says).

“We’re here to prepare our students to be global citizens of the 21st century. To be appreciative and respectful of all the differences we all have.”

With over 800 students at Sallie B. Howard, Woodard is truly living out her vision — the vision she has cultivated through a lifetime of academic study, a heart dedicated to children, a philanthropic apprenticeship under Sallie B. Howard, and now, as co-founder of the only charter school in Wilson County, where she aims to mold every young mind for a better tomorrow in both Wilson and the world.

Woodard dances with some of the host families while leading a recent study abroad trip to India. She says creating global citizens who respect and appreciate each other’s differences is a major focus for her as an educator.

18

fall 2012

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Other Fall Festivals in Eastern NC NC Seafood Festival (Morehead City, NC) The 26th annual event is one of the biggest festivals on the East Coast. Everything from a boat show and golf tournament to rides, games, food and fireworks over the water make this festival a Carolina tradition.

Admission is free. October 5-7 www.ncseafoodfestival.org Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down (Rocky Mount) This year will mark the 5th year of the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down. It is an official North Carolina State Barbecue Championship, and is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition. It’s sponsored by the Rocky Mount Parks & Recreation Special Events Division. October 12-13 www.bbqthrowdown.net Winterville Watermelon Festival (Winterville, NC) Join in this grand Eastern NC tradition in Winterville, where all three days are packed full of concerts, contests, food, games and, of course, plenty of watermelon. 2012 features the band Montgomery Gentry and a Winterville Idol talent contest. August 23-25 http://www.watermelonfest.com/ 20

fall 2012

Wilson-area residents have no excuse for not attending our very own awardingwinning Whirligig Festival this year. But if your festive spirit makes you want to take in multiple festival weekends this fall, here a few great (and close!) ones to try...

Mumfest (New Bern, NC) Now in its 32nd year, Mumfest 2012 promises a grand fall weekend of family fun - something for everyone in beautiful, historic downtown New Bern.

October 13-14 www.mumfest.com Muscadine Festival (Kenansville, NC) North Carolina is the home of our nation’s first cultivated grape.Today, the unique flavor of the Muscadine grape is sought by wine lovers, and makes some of the best jams, jellies, and grape hull pie. Join Duplin County in celebrating the heritage of the NC state fruit, the Muscadine Grape.September 29 www.muscadineharvestfestival.com Benson Mule Days (Benson, NC) This festival, which draws 60-70,000 people, is filled with family fun and activities for everyone young and old. The weekend is packed with rodeos, a mule pulling contest, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, bluegrass shows and more. September 20-23 http://www.bensonmuledays.com/ WILSON WOMAN

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‘The Stage Lady’

V

Theresa Mathis

Volunteer. Community organizer. Downtown liaison. Festival coordinator. Mentor.

Advisor. Proud mother.

All of these titles and more could be applied to Theresa Mathis, a tireless fixture on the downtown scene and the organizer and unsung hero behind many events that Wilson citizens know and love. In fact, some just refer to her as “the stage lady,” because when a music stage is erected for events like 1st Fridays on the Lawn and the Whirligig Festival, she is often the one making sure it gets done.

A native of Washington D.C., Mathis worked in student affairs at Radford University in Viginia before a similar position with Barton College ultimately brought her to Wilson in 2002.

And it was through this job — endlessly searching for events and links to weave the college students into the fabric of the community — that she says she really got to know the city of Wilson.

And it’s ultimately how she received a job offer for the role she still currently inhabits: specialist for the Human Relations Office.

Along with organizing many events each month, Mathis also serves as the advisor for

22

fall 2012

by Bradley Hearn

the Wilson Youth Council, which facilitates volunteering and community service among teenagers.

“It’s basically the same skill set,” she said, referring to the switch from college to high school students. “They just require a lot more permission slips.”

Not coincidentally, the Wilson Youth Council has won a state-level award every year for the past five years — all five years Mathis has served as its advisor.

Though social camaraderie among area teens is an important aspect of the organization, Mathis says that its primary focus is that of volunteerism and community service.

“We have a great time doing it, but it’s still all about community service at the end of the day. Watching a student grow from a freshman to a senior is an amazing process,” she said.

“By volunteering in their own community, they learn such valuable lessons that they always reflect back on. That’s why you do it, right there.”

And speaking of volunteering, Mathis is currently entering her seventh year as a volunteer at the multiple award-winning Whirligig

One of her countless roles, Mathis prepares the stage and tables on the Wilson County Library lawn for 1st Fridays on the Lawn.

Festival and the third year as the festival’s coordinator (also an unpaid position).

The enthusiasm and charitable spirit she embodies and, consequently, inspires in others, can be traced back to her own mother.

“My mother had such a strong sense of ‘giving back,’” she said. “And there was always something to do or someone to help in D.C.” Her mother’s spirit is something she has since instilled in her own children, whom she refers to as her “pit crew,” as they spent their entire childhoods helping her set up events by loading a car, setting up tables or anything else their busy mother might need.

Mathis loves to run into alumni of the Wilson Youth Council, as they always reflect fondly on their time spent giving back and how it has shaped their current outlook. It’s the great reward for Mathis for all the effort and love she puts in. And it just adds more fuel to her fire.

Whether it’s a festival, event or a new class of impressionable teenagers coming of age, the “stage lady” is right there, making sure that each event runs smoothly and resonates with both those served and those doing the serving.

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‘Family Friendly’ things to do this Fall

Believe it or not, the dog days of late summer will soon give way to cooler breezes, chillier nights, digging old sweaters from the drawer and, ultimately, finding the perfect Halloween costume. The arrival of autumn weather also marks a return of certain fall traditions in Wilson. Here are a few you may not have tried recently.

Educational Hayrides at Deans Farm Market From September 29 through November 3, Deans Farm Market offers its popular annual hayrides around its 100acre strawberry and vegetable fields. During the week, schools and day care centers can take field trips to the farm, where they will be treated to the educational ride, as well as the pumpkin patch, cotton maze, animal barn and more.

On Saturdays, bring the whole family — each hayride includes a free pumpkin! You’ll also find plenty of pumpkins, gourdes, mums and other goods in the farm’s market shop. www.deansfarmmarket.com/ 252-237-0967 Silver Lake Fire Department Haunted Hayride Support the Silver Lake Fire Department’s fundraiser and take a spooky ride through the haunted field on NC 58 by Silver Lake. The Hayride begins the first weekend in October and runs each weekend until Halloween.

Rides will begin 30 minutes after dark and continue until they run out of riders. For more information, visit the department’s website or call.

252-237-2780 http://silverlakehauntedhayride.com Wilson County Fair “Barrells of fun for everyone,” the Wilson County Fair runs again in Wilson from September 18-23. With plenty 24

SPRING 2012

Each hayride at Deans Farm Market comes with a free pumpkin for the kids.

of food, rides, agriculture and entertainment, the fair is always a welcome fall tradition. www.wilsoncountyfair.org WILSON WOMAN

Hayrides - Sept. 29th-Nov 3rd Includes free pumpkin, goody bag, visit to the cotton maze and animal barn!

School groups & reservations during the week & from 10-4 on Saturdays for families.

Free Popcorn and Face Painting every Saturday during Hayride Season!

Fall Festival, Sept. 29 - 11-2

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PUMPKINS, MUMS, FALL DECORATIONS AND FRESH PRODUCE AVAILABLE! Now taking reservations for Santa’s Workshop in December!

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Five Favorite Wilson Dishes The Wilson Times Facebook friends share their favorite meals around town...

We asked you to nominate your favorite Wilson dishes — a request rife with futility and controversy from the outset. Amazing as all five of these establishments and their signature dishes are, this is by no means a exhaustive list. It can’t be. It’s merely one (the first of many, hopefully) whose advocates spoke the loudest and most often. Wilson County is home to a rich culinary tradition and scores of renowned restaurants, joints, cafes, drive-thrus, dives and landmarks — all of which have earned their rabid followings. So let the debate begin...

Jac’s Grill

Sugar Plum Shoppe

The Beefmastor Inn

Jac’s Grill was the one restaurant where its fans couldn’t decide on a particular dish. From the Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna, to the Shrimp and Grits, Salmon Oscar, the steaks or amazing and unique appetizers, chef Dujhardin Domingues and owner Jesse Clayton are determined to give their fans an experience they won’t forget.

Among their many delicious homemade baked offerings, the chicken salad sandwich was a resounding favorite for many Wilsonians — as it has been for many years. Their box lunches, which include chips, a deviled egg, and one of many homemade desserts, keep customers coming back for either take-out or to cater their next event.

Needing no introduction or even a specific menu item, the simple exclamation of “Beefmastor!” brings to mind the only meal the legendary steakhouse offers: ribeye, baked potato, salad bar and steamed onion. It’s a meal they’ve perfected so well, people come from all over the East Coast to experience the small, one-room landmark.

It even draws acclaim and sprawling profiles from such publications as Our State for its simple, universal appeal. But for anyone who has been there, all you need to say is “Beefmastor” and they know exactly what you’re raving about.

2341 Madison Dr. 252-291-9199

117 Nash St. 252-291-6750

Parkers BBQ Whether between a bun or on a plate surrounded by delicious staples like cole slaw, fried chicken, potatoes, brunswick stew and corn sticks, the barbecue at Parkers has been a Wilson favorite (and favorite of many Hwy. 301 motorists) since the Parker brothers built the local landmark over 60 years ago. That’s high praise

2514 US Highway 301 252-237-0972 26

SPRING 2012

2656 US Highway 301 S. 252-237-7343

coming from a region where BBQ loyalties rival only religious affiliations in their fervor, unbridled enthusiasm and spontaneous debates.

~Bradley Hearn WILSON WOMAN

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Pup’s Steakhouse No longer the new kid on the Wilson steakhouse scene, Pup’s has quickly cultivated a loyal following for their Certified Angus Beef® (the only steakhouse in the area that offers it) and other seafood and seasonal offerings from chef Daniel Bass. On Friday and Saturday nights, indulge in some one-of-a-kind prime rib — it’s the overwhelming crowd favorite.

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THEATRE AT BARTON

Join us in 2012-2013

Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre

Souvenir September 26-29

Theatre at Barton and “Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy” present Souvenir, a musical comedy by Stephen Temperley Featuring: Broadway comedienne Lisa Jolley

WhOdunnit?

April 11-14 Theatre at Barton presents Whodunnit, the Musical Ed Dixon’s outrageous farcical sendoff of the classic 1930’s murder mystery

5

Women Dress Wearing The Same

November 8-11 Theatre at Barton presents Five Women Wearing The Same Dress Alan Ball’s over-the-top, bridesmaid comedy

Tickets at the door or online at www.barton.edu/theatre. For additional information, contact Adam Twiss, director of Theatre at Barton, at 252-399-6484 or email: ajtwiss@barton.edu.