Winter 2012
A Wintertime Cookhouse
An Icon of Wilson service
Your new favorite holiday recipes
Table of Contents 4
Cooking in Kenly
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‘Celebrate’ the Holiday Season
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One DC couple’s retirement home in Kenly comes with two complete kitchens
A Wilson native and successful caterer shares some recipes for entertaining this season.
12 72 years old and
strong as ever
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The St. Timothy’s Bake Sale and Lunch still draws a crowd for great food.
About Town See who was out and about at the 8th Annual Whirligig Festival.
On the cover
The Wilson Christmas Parade marches down Nash Street in front of Wilson Hardware circa early 1960s. Cover photo courtesy of The Wilson County Public Library
Holiday Gift Guide
Get a jump on some of the best Wilson has to offer in our 2012 Gift Guide
Wilson Woman Icon
Martha Walson sits down to talk about her life and answers our Icon survey.
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A Wilson Christmas
Look at some of the traditions we associate with the season and a preview of one the folks downtown hopes will stay
Doing It Her Way
Spring Arbor’s Barbara Jefferson serves every dish up with love.
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____________________ Contributors Writers: Janelle Clevinger, Debbi Covington, Bradley Hearn Art: Gérard Lange | Graphic Design Janelle Clevinger | Photography Bradley Hearn | Photography Paul Nurnberg | Photography Gray Whitley | Photography
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Dr. Nadine Skinner and Certied Physician Assistant Alesha Akins provide that level of care every day - from infants to the elderly, we’re here to treat your entire family. Providing Excellence. One Patient at a Time.
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Cooking it up in Kenly
Scottie Banks shows off the features of the cook house’s rotisserie, which includes a heated spit rod for even cooking.
Indoor/Outdoor kitchens work for new Wilsonians by Janelle Clevinger
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When Scottie and Martha Banks decided to build their retirement home in Wilson after living in the Washington, D.C. area all their lives, they knew the house would feature a large kitchen. But one kitchen wasn’t enough for Scottie. He needed a second one. Outside. Located in Kenly, the Banks’ 3,500 square-foot house was finished in September of 2010 and by the summer of 2012, an outdoor cook house had been added to their dream home. “We wanted the cook house to be a part of the main house so we used the same design elements,” said Scottie.
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“We pulled the look together by using same roofing materials, the same roof line as the house, building with the same brick, and the same outdoor fans we used on the back porch.” Even the gates on either end of the cook house were custom built to match the gates used in the yard’s massive fence. Scottie had gates installed in order to keep Daphney, their one-anda-half-year-old Standard Poodle, from wandering into the cookhouse, and to keep others from potentially burning themselves on the turkey fryer which tends to stay hot for a very long time
after using it. Scottie, and Wilson contractor Bobby Cunningham of Cunningham Construction Company, selected marine lumber for use in the cook house because of its weather resistance. It was painted to match the trim on the house. The floor is covered with outdoor tile which is similar to indoor bathroom tile but is textured so that it doesn’t become slippery when it gets wet. The cook house itself features, on one side, the turkey fryer, which can also steam crabs, a single gas burner and a gas grill with built in rotisserie, all powWILSON WOMAN
Scottie and Martha Banks stand in the kitchen of their custom-built, 3,500 square foot house in Kenly. The kitchen was designed around the “kitchen triangle rule,” which means that the cooking surface, sink and refrigerator are no further than four or five feet from one another.
ered by gas. The cook house’s other side boasts copious amounts of storage and a charcoal grill with an attached smoker unit. “Scottie picked all this out,” Martha said with a smile. “I had nothing to do with it.” Martha did, however, request that the tank that holds the gas used by the cook house and the main house be buried beside the house. “I call it ‘The Ugly Submarine,” she said, referring to all the gas tanks. Scottie made sure his cook house was loaded with all the latest gadgets. The metal rod that skewers the poultry being cooked in the rotisserie is heated, assuring that the meat is cooked evenly. A small, metal box can be filled with scented chips so that meat takes on a hickory or mequite flavor that is often missing in gas grilling. Scottie has a fondness for rotisserie chicken, but his desire for a built-in rotisserie unit wasn’t only fueled by his love of the cooked poultry. “What drove me to do my own rotisserie cooking was that a store-bought bird already cooked costs $6, but I can rotisserie my own for $3,” he said. The inclusion of a turkey fryer in the cookhouse was based on two things: the delicious results and demand. “When we lived in D.C. and my family found out that I fried turkeys, I was doing four or five turkeys on Thanksgiving morning,” he said. Scottie’s newest addition to the cook house is the combination grill and smoker. The larger unit is a typical covered grill, but a smaller unit to its right can be used for additional grill space or filled with wood
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and serve as indirect heat for smoking meat in the larger grill. He has a “chimney” that allows him to start charcoal for the grill without using lighter fluid or other chemicals. A couple sheets of newspaper are stuffed into the bottom of the “chimney” with charcoal above it. After burning the newspaper, the charcoals heat up in the chimney and are ready to be poured into the grill after only a few minutes. Wanting to keep his outdoor area as chemical-free as possible, Scottie looked up organic bug sprays on the Internet and discovered a concoction of tobacco juice, dish soap and antiseptic mouthwash which he now sprays on his lawn. “It keeps the bugs away and people have commented on how fresh the lawn smells,” Martha laughed. Indoor cooking The indoor kitchen is Scottie’s pride and joy. The main living area design, which features the kitchen, was driven by Scottie’s family. “I have a large family and they always gather in the kitchen,” Scottie said. “In our last house the rooms were all separated with everyone in different ‘pockets.’ We wanted the main living areas together in the back of the house.” The huge cooking area looks out over the living room, a casual sitting area and the wide open backyard. Granite countertops frame nearly the entire kitchen, only surrendering to appliances, a pantry and
some storage. The countertops were constructed at different levels, the shortest one being perfect for Martha’s five foot height. A large island in the kitchen’s center is where Scottie does most of the food handling and holds one of the three water faucet in the kitchen. Another full-size sink is where dishes are washed, and an accessory called a “pot filler” round out the water sources. “Bobby told me that I just had to have a pot filler, but I’d never heard of one” Scottie said. “But it’s really not about filling a pot. It’s about not having to walk over to a sink when you need just a little more water in that pot.” Designed around the “kitchen triangle rule,” the cooking surface, sink and refrigerator are no further than four or five feet from one another. The Banks’ stove is flanked by two ovens – one is a conventional oven and the other a convection oven. Scottie prefers using the convection oven when cooking cookies and breads. An ENERGY STAR Home ENERGY STAR appliances, designed to save money and resources, are commonplace in homes these days, but you rarely find an entire house with an Energy Star rating. Rated by the federal government’s Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR certified new homes are designed and built to deliver energy efficiency savings of up to 30 percent when compared
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The crawl space under the Banks’ house is so tightly sealed that it remains the same temperature as the home’s intererior. The ground is completely covered in plastic and the space contains lighting and electrical outlets, and receives the same heat and air conditioning as the house.
to typical new homes. The Banks’ new home, as with all other homes with the ENERGY STAR label, underwent a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet strict requirements set by the EPA. “When our home was inspected, it ranked two to three points above what ENERGY STAR rating guys thought they would be,” Scottie said. According to Cunningham, who has been building ENERGY STAR homes for about 10 years now, the Banks’ home runs 25 percent better energywise than a typical house the same size. “There is real payback in ENERGY STAR homes,” Cunningham said. “All the initial expenses put into an ENERGY STAR home will be made up for in three years.”
The Banks’ home was one of the first homes in Wilson County with a sealed crawl space under the house. This means that the space under the house is so tightly sealed that it remains the same temperature as the house, as heating and air conditioning are pumped into that area as well. “This house is SO tight that you have to bring in outside air,” Cunningham said. “Most homes get air from opening doors and leakage from the outside, but that’s not the case with this house. And because of that, they have a dehumidifier in the crawl space that keeps humidity rates the same year-round.” The crawl space “floor” is completely covered in plastic, lighting and electrical outlets for workers and the temperature
remains consistent no matter the season. “Workers love to work underneath this house,” Scottie said with a chuckle. The move to Wilson Both Scottie and Martha are retired federal employees, Scottie first with the Internal Revenue Service and then with federal aid in the Department
of Education, and Martha with General Services Administration. Neither Scottie nor Martha had friends or relatives here, so why choose Wilson as their retirement spot? Scottie and Martha looked for land in Smithfield and Raleigh where Scottie had family members, and they also looked in New Bern and Washington, NC.
HILTON’S MEN’S & LADIES SHOPPE
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The cook house features gas-run cookers and a burner on the right and storage and a charcoal grill on the left. Outdoor tile, textured to reduce slipping when wet, was used for the cook house floor and tempered, smoke-tinted, framed glass was inserted overhead after a wind storm nearly destroyed the ceiling fans.
“We knew that when we retired we wanted to be able to live the lifestyle we were accustomed to but couldn’t do that in the D.C. area,” said Martha. “While driving from another city, we stopped in Rocky Mount for gas and decided to move there, but couldn’t find a lot we wanted to build on.” “I think Wilson kind of chose us,” Martha added. “Finding the lot was a fluke and everything else just fell into place.” Martha said that the building experience in Wilson was wonderful. “It’s just been great,” she said. “Everybody, and I mean everybody, has been wonderful and very forthcoming with information. I expected something bad to happen, but nothing ever did.” Scottie agrees wholeheartedly. “Coming out of the city, we were used to contracts,” Scottie said. “Here, you do things on a handshake. We just weren’t used to that. And so many people looked out for us and kept us out of trouble when it came to changes in the house plans. They went ahead took care of things when they came up.” While Scottie’s passion is cooking, Martha is an avid seamstress and enjoys making quilts. She also loves to garden and is a member of the Wilson County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. The Banks’ home includes a large room for Martha’s sewing, guest rooms, a walkup bar in the living room and an exercise room. Knowing that this might serve as home to her mother and that this would be the last home they lived in, Martha and Scottie designed the house with wide hallways and wide door frames, sized for use by wheelchairs and walkers. “We won’t be moving again and because we knew we’d need them as we got older and our mothers got older, we added certain conveniences like a backup generator, the house being one story, and all hallways and bathrooms built to Americans with Disabilities Act specifications,” Martha said. “The Banks’ home is completely custombuilt from the ground up,” said Cunningham. “The plans were drawn for them, customized for their lifestyle. They knew what they wanted and told me what they wanted and we just had a meeting of the minds, resulting in very few changes being made to the house.” WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
Martha and Scottie Banks’ cook house in Kenly, as seen from their back porch, was built to mirror the look of the house by using matching brick, columns and roof line.
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‘Celebrate’ the Holiday Season Debbi Covington, renowned chef, caterer and Wilson native, shows you how
Wilson native Debbi Covington’s new cookbook“Celebrate Everything!” can be purchased locally at Barrett’s Printing on Goldsboro Street or online at both www.cateringbydebbicovington. com and Amazon.com.
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A native of Willson and graduate of Fike High School and Atlantic Christian College (and former employee of The Wilson Times), Debbi Covington is a chef, caterer and food columnist living in Beaufort, SC. She is the author of the cookbook, “Dining Under the Carolina Moon,” and also writes the food column, “Everyday Gourmet” in the Beaufort newspaper, Lowcountry Weekly. Her new book, “Celebrate Everything! Delicious Menus for Festive Gatherings and Easy Entertaining,” combines 182 recipes from her career as a caterer and author, as well as her childhood growing up in Wilson. Debbi has been featured as a “Master of Entertaining” in Southern Living magazine and her recipes have been published in multiple cookbooks including Southern Living’s “Best Kept Secrets of the South’s Best Cooks” and “The Best of The Best of South Carolina.” She has been voted “Best Caterer” by the readers of the Beaufort Gazette and The Island News. Debbi has a passion for cuisine and delights in creating seasonal and locally inspired menus. “Celebrate Everything!” can be purchased locally at Barrett’s Printing on Goldsboro Street or online at both www. cateringbydebbicovington.com and Amazon.com. WILSON WOMAN
The following recipes by Debbi Covington and photographs by Paul Nurnberg are excerpted from the book ‘Celebrate Everything!’ and are reprinted here courtesy of Debbi Covington and Lydia Inglett Ltd. Publishing.
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Pancetta and Chive Stuffed Mushrooms Flavorful pancetta is Italian bacon that is cured with salt and spices.
Deck the Halls Tree Trimming Party This year, why don’t you invite the gang over for a tree timing party?! It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season! An added bonus is that when guests attend your party they expect to find a house that’s not quite ready for Christmas and you get a bunch of decorating help! -DC
Ingredients
Preparation
1 (16-ounce) package whole fresh mushrooms 4 ounces pancetta 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives Paprika
Wash mushrooms and remove stems; drain on paper towels. Dice pancetta into small cubes. Cook pancetta in frying pan until crispy; drain on paper towels. In a small bowl, combine pancetta with cream cheese and chives. Fill mushroom caps with cream cheese mixture. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet; sprinkle with paprika. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Serves 6.
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Jalapeño-Pimento Cheese Pinwheels
You can prepare the pinwheels up to one day in advance. Prepare as directed but do not bake. Cover and refrigerate the unbaked pinwheels for up to 24 hours. I keep a jar of diced jalapeño peppers in the refrigerator. They’re perfect for this recipe.
Ingredients
Preparation
1 (17.3 - ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 (4 - ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained 3 to 4 tablespoons diced jalapeño peppers 1 egg, beaten
Thaw puff pastry in the refrigerator. Preheat over to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, toss cheese with pimentos and diced jalapeños until well combined. Unfold 1 pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle evenly with half of the cheese mixture. Roll up like a jelly roll. Repeat with remaining pastry sheet and cheese mixture. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut each pastry roll crosswise into 10 slices. Place the slices, cut-side up, onto two lightly greased baking sheets. Brush the slices with beaten egg. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown. Makes 20.
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Turkey Crunch Great way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
Ingredients
Preparation
4 cups diced cooked turkey 4 hard boiled eggs, roughly chopped 1 cup celery, diced 1/3 cup chopped onion 1 (4-ounce) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed 2 (10.75-ounce) cans cream of chicken soup 1 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted 1 (8-ounce) package chow mein noodles
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine turkey with eggs, celery, onion, mushrooms, water chestnuts and peas. Blend soup and mayonnaise together and mix with other ingredients. Stir in toasted almonds. Place in a greased casserole dish and sprinkle with chow mien noodles. Bake in preheated over for 30 minutes. Serves 8.
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Covington Christmas Party Mix The secret ingredient in my party mix is the lemon juice! Make your own version of party mix with these seasonings and use 12 cups of your favorite snack stuff!
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
Ingredients
Preparation
1 stick butter, melted 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 3 teaspoons seasoned salt 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 cups corn cereal 2 cups rice cereal 1 cup wheat cereal 2 cups pretzels 2 cups small bagel chips 1 cup cheese-flavored mini crackers 1 cup pecan halves 1 cup mixed nuts
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a small bowl, combine butter and Worcestershire sauce with seasonings and lemon juice. Place remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Pour butter mixture over snack mix, toss lightly to coat well. Spread party mix evenly on two baking sheets. Bake until ingredients are completely dry, stirring every 20 minutes. Serves 12 to 15.
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72-years-old and stronger than ever The women of the annual St. Timothy’s Bake Sale and Lunch are here to make your Thanksgiving quick and easy
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The St. Timothy’s annual Bake Sale and Lunch is back for its 72nd year, and its many volunteers are hoping to draw the attention of working women who might enjoy some help with Thanksgiving dinner. On Nov. 20, just a two days before Thanksgiving, patrons will be lined up at the door when the sale opens for business at 11:30 a.m. They’ll be loading up on homemade cakes and pies, cookies and casseroles and a St. Timothy’s favorite — cocktail-size cheese biscuits. But before that big day, the public has the opportunity to reserve a number of frozen or refrigerated items ahead of the rush. For the third year in a row, bake sale workers will be offering an order-ahead service with a specific menu. Working women can order early and pick up their purchases — made by church volunteers — in the church parking lot on the way home from work. Some of the frozen items on the order-ahead list include local sweet potato casserole, broccoli and cheese casserole and fresh local collards. These items can be stored in the freezer until later in the week for the big meal.
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One of the mainstays of the annual bake sale is the chicken salad, and it can be purchased in advance or at the bake sale that day. In years past, volunteers make roughly 430 pounds of chicken salad for the sale, using 220 chickens, 90 pounds of celery and 18 gallons of a special, secret recipe mayonnaise. Some of the prep work is outsourced for this big chicken salad undertaking, including the chopped celery and some of the cooked and chopped chicken. A few select women who know the secret recipe will gather to mix up the mayonnaise for the chicken salad, and on the Sunday before the sale, an assembly line will form in St. Timothy’s kitchen to make the famous chicken salad. If you want a taste of the chicken salad, plan to eat lunch at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church on Nov. 20. Lunch offerings include a chicken salad sandwich, orange tomato soup or Episcopal vegetable soup along with the traditional dessert — “St. Timothy’s Famous Butterscotch Pie.” Before or even after lunch, you can do some shopping at the bake sale. Bus boys will be available to help take food to the car or to help
customers shop. Many shoppers come for a cake or pie for Thanksgiving dinner so they won’t have to make a dessert themselves. This year they will also be purchasing ginger-orange cranberry sauce (recipe featured on page 13). One of this year’s other orderahead items is chocolate chess pie. James said volunteers went through a testing process to come up with a consistent recipe to give cooks who would be baking it, alerting them to a particular brand of pie crust and chocolate, for instance. Yes, the bake sale is a lot of work, but it’s worth it to these women, who are able to distribute around $6,000 through this project each year. Over the years, the money has been given to a number of local organizations including the Salvation Army, Hope Station, Wesley Shelter, the St. Timothy’s Soup Kitchen, Carriage House, Home-Delivered Meals and S.P.O.T. And not only do the women provide a service for the community, but they also enjoy themselves — all 60 or 70 of them who cook and coordinate to make this project a reality. WILSON WOMAN
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St. Timothy’s Sweet Potato Casserole
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Ginger Orange Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
Preparation
Ingredients
Preparation
3 cups fresh, local sweet potatoes baked 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 stick margarine, melted 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Mash sweet potatoes. Add sugar, eggs, salt, margarine, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Put in shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Mix topping. Spread over sweet potatoes. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 6.
16 ounces fresh cranberries, picked over and rinsed 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger Finely grated zest from 1 orange
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the berries pop open, about 15-20 minutes. A longer cooking time makes the sauce thicker or more jelled. Remove from heat. Skim foam off the surface with a metal spoon and discard or after mixture has cooled, sir it in. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate, covered, up to three months.
Topping: 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup plain flour 1/3 stick margarine, melted 1 cup chopped pecans (optional- we do not use)
Thanksgiving Bake Sale The St. Timothy’s annual Bake Sale and Lunch is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 20, starting at 11:30 a.m. in Anderson Hall at the church, which is located on the corner of Green and Goldsboro streets in downtown Wilson. If you’d like to order ahead, visit www.StTimothysWilson.org. Forms are also available in the church office. Join them for lunch, starting at 11:30, and enjoy soup, a sandwich and “St. Timothy’s Famous Butterscotch Pie.”
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2839 Daisy Lane • 206-0619 The line outside St. Timothy’s for the extremely popular annual bake sale and lunch is typically stretched around the block before the doors open. WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
(Located inside Ross McDaniel Salon)
M-F 10-5:30 - SAT BY APPT. WINTER 2012
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About Town
The 8th Annual Whirligig Festival
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photography by Gray Whitley
Over the weekend of November 4-5, Wilson celebrated the 8th Annual Whirligig Festival, an award-winning event that draws tens of thousands of people to downtown for a variety of food, music, arts and crafts, contests, children’s activities, demonstrations, parades and an overall joyous celebration of Wilson’s unique works of art and culture. The festival, named after local artist Vollis Simpson’s renowned pieces of folk art, also served as an opportunity for the public to stop by the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Project Repair & Conservation Headquarters on Douglas Street, where they could see these monumental pieces in the process of restoration for the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Project.
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www.stuartwalstoninc.com
417 W. Nash Street, Wilson, NC 252-243-4940 Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-5:30pm
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
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Custom Made Doesn’t Cost Extra ... It’s Just Worth More! Custom Designed by Anderson Bass
Shoppes at Brentwood • 237-7166 www.churchwells.com Monday-Friday 10-5:30
See what’s available in Wilson stores this holiday season and all year round with our newest Holiday Gift Guide... (Starts on Page 18)
Hope’s Furniture WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
4315 Raleigh Rd. Parkway (Hwy. 264 W. near I-95) (252) 399-4839 • (252) 205-0121 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. WINTER 2012
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Needlepoint and Hook Pillows Fine Print Stationery has a wonderful assortment of needlepoint and hook pillows for Christmas or anytime of the year. Fine Print offers unique gifts, invitations and custom-printed napkins for any occasion.
Fine Print Stationery, 252-206-0619
Trips/Vacations
Looking for the perfect gift? Let Creative Travel by Design do the shopping for you and wrap up a trip! Travel gift certificates are available, so stop by the office at The Shoppes at Brentwood to learn more. It could be the most exotic gift you’ve ever given.
Creative Travel by Design — Teresa Summerlin 252-281-1899
Cinda B Bags
Gift Cards for Play Date
A gift certificate from Play Date makes a great present not only for Christmas, but any time of the year. The safe, secure and professional environment at Play Date allows Mom and Dad a few hours of time alone for shopping, relaxing or social events. This holiday season, give the gift of time.
Play Date, 252-399-7559 18
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Creations by Culbreth is already a downtown Wilson tradition come Christmas time. Stop by the Tarboro Street store and find a great selection of Cinda B handbags, totes, travel bags, baby bags and accessories, the perfect gift for that person on your list. Practical and versatile, yet classy and chic, Cinda B bags are all custom-designed using the latest durable, poly/nylon fabrics and fashion-forward color schemes, patterns and silhouettes. All Cinda B bags are made in the USA. Creations by Culbreth is already getting into the “season of giving” by giving all its customers 20% off all gift items.
Creations by Culbreth, 252-237-8284 WILSON WOMAN
Tacori Diamond Engagement Ring and Band
Put a smile on your special someone’s face this holiday season with an antique-style platinum and diamond engagement ring and wedding band by Tacori.
Vaughan’s Jewelers, 252-243-5707
Hand-Painted Three Wise Men (17”)
Christmas has arrived at Stuart Walston, Inc.! Visit them for all of the best holiday decorations to deck your halls. They have ornaments, Annalees, holiday figurines and much more for your home or the home of anyone on your list! $295 / set of three
Stuart Walston, Inc., 252-243-4940
Little Pine Key Chest
Stuart Walston, Inc. is the place for all of your home decorating needs. From fabric to furniture to artwork and accessories, they can help you spruce up your home for the holidays or find the perfect gift to place under the tree. Accented with bamboo and scrolled bracket feet, this Little Pine Key Chest can be dressed up for the holidays or any time of year. $2,125
Stuart Walston, Inc., 252-243-4940 WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
Holiday Invitational Art Show and Sale
The Wilson holiday season truly commences when the annual, eagerly anticipated Holiday Invitational Art Show & Sale begins! November 16 through December 21 all of the Arts Council of Wilson’s galleries and The Gallery Shop will be overflowing with original works of art from over fifty local and regional artists. You’ll be delighted to discover finds such as our unique jewelry, colorful paintings, drawings, stunning photographs, scarves, pottery, fused and blown glass, ceramics, Christmas decorations and more. Let us help you shop for unique, one-of-a-kind works of art for everyone on your gift list!
Arts Council of Wilson 252-291-4329 WINTER 2012
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Gracie’s Village Shops
Located just out of town on NC 58, Gracie’s Village Shops is the one-stop destination for all anything you may need this season. From furniture, accessories, clothing, candles, jewelry and art to toys and other gifts for children, Gracie’s can help you finish shopping for each person on your list.
Gracie’s Village Shops, 252-991-2463
Winking Santa Ornament
All holiday decor is 25% off at Creations by Culbreth, the “Go To Christmas Guy” in Wilson. This Old World Christmas Winking Santa Ornament is part of a whole array of holiday decorations and gift ideas. Whether decorating your own home for the season or taking on your long shopping list, Creations by Culbreth is a mandatory stop each year for any of your holiday needs.
Creations by Culbreth, 252-237-8284
M. Bagwell Collection
It’s Christmas time in downtown Wilson. A wide variety of Christmas ornaments like those from the M. Bagwell Collection are available at ReCollections at Wilson Hardware located at 114-116 East Nash Street in Historic Downtown Wilson! ReCollections is full of gift ideas this season, from ornaments to jewelry, art, furniture, dolls and antiques just to name a few.
ReCollections at Wilson Hardware, 252-243-3174
Sugar and Spice Elf
This Sugar and Spice Elf by Mark Roberts is just one of a whole line of Mark Roberts Fairies and Elves available at Creations by Culbreth. Saving 20% off your purchase this season will bring some holiday joy to you, in addtion to the lucky person you’re shopping for. Visit the store at 222 Tarboro Street or visit TheGoToChristmasGuy.com for more great gift ideas from Culbreth.
Creations by Culbreth, 252-237-8284
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Seasonal Apparel
This outfit from Hilton’s Men’s and Ladies Fine Clothing is the perfect addition to your ensemble for Christmas parties, holiday shopping or other social gatherings. Hilton’s also offers a great variety of Patagonia, Peter Millar and Southern Tide apparel. Join Hilton’s for their annual Christmas open house on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 1-5 p.m. Free wrapping and delivery for all gifts. Let the folks at Hilton’s be your elves this year!
Hilton’s Men’s and Ladies Fine Clothing, 252-243-7003
Christmas Delight Elf
The Annalee Elves have arrived and are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Hanging from a chandelier or standing quietly on a mantle, these posable elves are sure to be a hit with young and old alike. Whether you’re starting a new tradition or are an annual collector, The Nook has the whole 2012 collection for you to choose from, including Santas, elves, mice and other animals. For more photos, check out The Nook on Facebook.
The Nook, 252-243-2503
Vera Bradley Bags James Grey & Co.
If you have a wedding or hostess gift to buy, there’s no better selection than at James Grey and Company, located at 206 Tarboro Street in Downtown Wilson. In addition to antique and vintage finds, you’ll find Beatriz Ball metalware, colorful Hen House Linens, and a selection of Vietri tableware, glasses and tableware. Owners Steve and Leta Williams will help you make the perfect choice. They’ll even gift wrap it and provide free local delivery too!
James Grey & Co., 252-991-5267 WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
The new patterns and styles of Vera Bradley bags have arrived at The Nook! The new Dogwood (shown above on The Miller Bag) and English Rose patterns are destined to be your new favorite but shop the large selection of retired patterns and styles at The Nook at 50% off! The Miller Bag, with it’s six roomy pockets, one outside pocket and zip-top closure is one overnight tote you won’t want to do without. Get a jump on your holiday shopping and stop in The Nook early. From November 8th through 18th, The Miller Bag will be on sale $68 (normally $85). So what are you waiting for?
The Nook, 252-243-2503 WINTER 2012
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Flex-ABeds
The perfect night’s sleep is just a quick trip away. No matter your age or lifestyle, the line of Flex-A-Beds at Family Medical Supply will give you or someone you love a “dream” adjustable bed for life.
Family Medical Supply, 252-265-9827
Monogrammed Necklace
Give her the perfect Christmas gift this year and keep her looking elegant all year round with monogrammed necklace from Churchwell’s Jewelers. Available in gold-plated or sterling silver, in 10 KT or 14 KT, you’ll see the sparkle in her eyes when she opens that box to find this beautiful, personalized gift on Christmas morning. Starting at $181
Cross Necklaces
Custom made by Anderson Bass, Churchwell’s co-owner and in-house custom designer, these beautiful diamond-encrusted cross necklaces will make a lasting impression any time of year. These special pieces are just a few of the unique treasures you can find at Churchwell’s. Whether it’s a Christmas gift, or you’ve got your mind on an upcoming birthday or anniversary, Churchwell’s is the place you want to stop by first for beauty, quality and originality.
Churchwell’s Jewelers, 252-237-7166
Churchwell’s Jewelers, 252-237-7166
Bruno Electra-Ride™ Elite Stairlifts
This season, give the gift of total accessibility to your elderly or handicapped loved ones with the Bruno Electra-Ride Elite Straight Rail Stairlift System. The economically-priced, full-featured system is battery powered and offers a seat belt and two remote radio call-send controls for maximum convenience. More unique than any other gift, an Elite Stairlift System allows them to enjoy the home they love.
Family Medical Supply, 252-265-9827 22
WINTER 2012
WILSON WOMAN
Customized Family Platter
Just like they do all year round, Sweet Martha’s Whimsy offers an array of beautiful custom-painted pottery this season. Family platters with your choice of colors, prints of your kids made into critters, ornaments, wedding plates, birth announcements and more.
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WINTER 2012
Wilson Woman's Magazine Ad Ad size: 7.5" x 5"
23
Martha Walston
by Bradley Hearn
The former city councilwoman, member of the N.C. Medical Board and icon of service and civic duty sits down to answer our survey
L
Looking over the rows of plaques, framed certificates and designations that line the walls of her Kenan Street home, Martha Walston’s resumé is truly staggering. At 90 years old, her sweet and mild countenance belies a keen intelligence, moral fortitude and determined spirit that guided her to a purposeful life of service to Wilson, to North Carolina and, inevitably, led to groundbreaking positions that benefitted both. A three-term city councilwoman for the City of Wilson, president of the Alumni Association of UNC-Greensboro, member of the Board of Trustees at both UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State, the Board of Directors of the N.C. Physicians Health Program, president of the PTA in Wilson County, regional director of the American Field Services international exchange program, holder of practically every position in the Wilson Chamber of Commerce — as well
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as numerous committees and councils along the way — her list of titles and accolades is almost endless. “I was just raised to know that I wasn’t better than anyone else,” says Walston. “I wanted to give back.” While all of her service along the way was important to her, many would point to her appointment as the first public member of the North Carolina Medical Board as her most monumental in regards to its lasting impact.
EARLY SERVICE
In the early 1940s, Walston was a young woman full of conviction, filled with a passion for education and an inherent duty to serve others. From the start, she was destined to make an impact. During World War II, she gave up a beloved teaching job in Rocky Mount to return home,
where she took an office job (“a man’s job”) at Export Leaf Tobacco Co. in downtown Wilson. Incidentally, she was the first woman in Wilson to work in the office of one of the big tobacco factories. While holding down the full-time job, she and several of her friends endured the extensive training required to serve as volunteer nurses for the American Red Cross. She spent her evenings volunteering at the hospital. It was this medical training that she was “doubly grateful for” when, years later, her daughter was born with spina bifida, a deformity of the spine. “That was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to face,” she says. Many years were spent in and out of doctor’s offices and specialty hospitals in different parts of the country. But ultimately, she says, it was the most rewarding thing she’s ever done. WILSON WOMAN
The second installment of 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 eight-question survey. For this issue, we asked Martha Walston, former three-term Wilson city councilwoman and the first non-physician member of the North Carolina Medical Board.
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 ? Walston: Our life’s biggest struggle has been raising a handicapped child. But it’s also been the most satisfying and rewarding challenge we’ve ever faced. I say “we” because it truly takes a village. We had a great deal of support. From our church, our community, everyone.
2) What has been your proudest moment?
Perseverance. And not to be discouraged if things don’t go right. Even if you fail, you just keep on trying.
4) Who has been the most inspirational figure to you? Why? I have had so many inspirational figures in my life. My parents, first of all. I’d say some of the doctors I worked with on the NC Medical Board. Some ministers have been very inspiring. And I’ve had some absolutely wonderful professors too — I’m all about education.
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
6) What do you value most in the world?
7) What is the biggest problem facing Wilson moving forward?
3) What advice would you give a young woman starting her professional life?
SERVING WILSON
Compassion. Also the ability to forgive.
Family, love, and God.
The accomplishment of our three children.
But Walston stayed active in the community and ultimately ran for Wilson City Council in the 1970s. Back then, the council appointed the mayor from its own ranks and in her first year, she was actually chosen by the council for the job, which would have made her the first female mayor of Wilson. Not ever motivated by personal pride, she turned the honor down. “I just thought I could be more useful as a councilwoman,” she said, although she did serve as
5) What do you consider the most important virtues a woman must possess?
I think one of the biggest problems in the whole state, and the whole nation, is educating people. You can’t get a job if you’re not educated.
8) What is your biggest hope for the future of Wilson? One of my biggest hopes right now is for the success of the Whirligig Park. I hope that it achieves all they hope for, helps the economy and brings people to Wilson. I feel like it’s a good step forward.
mayor pro tem at meetings when the mayor was out of town.
PRACTICING MEDICINE
Not long after an unsuccessful bid for the N.C. Legislature, she received at call from then Gov. Jim Hunt. He told her that he wanted a public member of the North Carolina Medical Board and asked if she would consider it. “I was leery, I have to admit,” she said. She didn’t know much about medicine, she
admits, but through the circumstances of raising her daughter, she knew doctors and what it was like from the perspective of a patient. “The first meeting I had, I could tell they were very leery of me.” Naturally so. The Medical Board had been existence since before the Civil War and had never had a member who wasn’t a physician. In their eyes, letting an outsider into the decision-
Continued on page 26 WINTER 2012
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making process of the medical world had the potential to undermine their whole profession. Her first “meeting” was actually three full days of grueling meetings, and at the end of the first day, she felt the rest of the apprehensive board fix their gaze on her to gauge her reaction. Rather than shrink under the scrutiny, Walston was decided to end the uneasy vibe, summoned her steely resolve and fixed her gaze right back across the table. “I looked right back at them and said, ‘Look, I don’t want to do anything that I’m not qualified to do. I just think there is room for outside input.’” And with that simple declaration, the board breathed a sigh of relief and any tension in the room completely dissipated and was never felt again. Walston ended up serving two, three-year terms on the board and thought that would be it. But after one term removed from it, she was unexpectedly appointed again and ultimately served two more terms. Today, she can’t speak more highly of her 12 years serving on the Medical Board. Her time there saw major overhauls in the way practicing physicians are disciplined and how patients are educated about their own medical professionals. “It’s the most rewarding service I’ve ever done, because I was actually ac-
Walston, third from left, poses with other volunteer nurses during World War II. The women were trained by the American Red Cross and many went on to take up nursing as a career after the war.
complishing great things,” she said. “And the people I was able to serve with were some of the most interesting and intelligent people I’ve ever met.” In 1987, the North Carolina Medical Society presented her with The John Huske Anderson Award for her contributions which “had a positive impact on the medical profession and public health.” Today, Walston can look back at her accomplishments with both humility and pride.
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But she also looks back with gratitude at the opportunities she was given. “There have been a few bumps in the road, but I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve done.” You’ll never know exactly how things will turn out, she says, but the important thing is to keep going and continue pushing for the things you believe in. You may have a greater impact than you intended. “If you don’t try something, you’ll never know.”
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About Town
photography by the Wilson Chamber of Commerce
Wilson Chamber of Commerce Business EXPO
O
On Thursday, September 13, more than 50 businesses stationed vendor booths that lined most of the Wilson Mall for the annual Wilson Chamber of Commerce Business EXPO. Some businesses had eye-catching displays, others had prizes and many gave business memorabilia, pamphlets and brochures in an effort to showcase their services. The EXPO offered businesses the chance to network with each other as well as with potential customers. The event provides businesses with the opportunity to expose the company to hundreds of people in one day. The Business EXPO is one of the events the Wilson Chamber of Commerce hosts each year in an effort to support its members and the business community in Wilson. The night before the event, the Chamber hosted at preview party at the mall.
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252-243-4197 EXT, 225 warricd@nationwide.com
Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Columbus, OH. Not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual companies and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company. Nationwide, Nationwide Insurance, the Nationwide framemark, Nationwide is On Your Side and Join the Nationwide are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Š2012 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. NPF-0501M (7/12)
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
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Brentwood Christmas Tree Though there are countless Wilson holiday traditions, both new and old, personal and public, there are some that the citizens of Wilson County count on with as much faith as visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve...
A Banker’s Holiday
For nearly 20 years “A Banker’s Holiday” has been the premiere kickoff to the holiday season. Also serving as the primary fundraiser for the Arts Council of Wilson, the “longest running holiday party” in town is sponsored by the participating banks and is held on both floors of the Arts Council of Wilson and a 40-foot by 120-foot tent outside in the Pavilion. The event used to be more of a street party, according to Barry Page, executive director of the Arts Council, where the downtown banks used their spaces and people just walked through the street to each party. But as the banks began to move out of town and, as Page notes, “to be more effective, have better security and be more responsible to our community,” they decided to consolidate the event into one space. Like previous years, A Banker’s Holiday (held on Friday, December 7 this year) will feature a huge food spread provided by four local caterers: Jac’s Grill, Quince, Kitty Meares Catering and Jeremy Law of Soco Farm and Food. In addition, there will again by two bands: Rubberband in the Pavilion and Brad Shackelford, Bill Myers & Friends inside the Arts Council. 28
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The 30-foot tall Christmas tree in the parking lot of The Shoppes at Brentwood has, for decades, signaled to the people (and shoppers) of Wilson that it’s time for the holiday season to begin — particularly the retail side. Traditionally one of the first Christmas items to go up, the landmark tree is usually erected a week or two before Thanksgiving.
Santa’s Workshop A relatively new tradition, Santa’s Workshop is part of Deans Farm Market’s seasonal hayrides and is open every Saturday from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. from November 24 through December 22. Kids. For the past three years, Wilson kids have loved hearing a story from Santa, making a Christmas craft, getting their picture taken alongside the biggest “live” Christmas tree in Wilson and visiting Santa’s animals in his barn. WILSON WOMAN
Wilson Jaycees Christmas Parade Though the route changes slightly from year to year, and it even took place on Monday evening from 2001 to 2005, The Wilson Jaycees Christmas Parade is one of the few Wilson events that many local residents have experienced literally their entire lives. The Wilson Jaycees chapter began in 1940 and their annual parade wasn’t too far behind. With the participation and collaboration of so many schools, civic groups and organizations both in front and behind the scenes, it’s a massive undertaking for many in town. “For us, it’s a year long event,” said Ginger Huff, president of the Jaycees and chair of the Christmas Parade. “As soon as this one ends, we are getting the permits for next year’s. It takes a lot of coordination and planning all year.”
Light Up Wilson 2012 will be the 48th annual lighting of the downtown Christmas tree in front of the Wilson County Courthouse. To many citizens, this official ceremony and its symbolic lighting — organized by the City of Wilson — is the beating heart of the holiday season and serves as a gathering spot and jumping off point for downtown shopping from the beginning of December. This year, the ceremony will have at least four different school choruses singing making it the biggest group of singers Light Up Wilson has seen in many years.
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A Downtown Christmas
In what Historic Downtown Wilson hopes to be the future of Wilson’s Christmas traditions, several of Wilson’s past events are being combined into a one large weekend celebration for 2012 called “A Downtown Christmas.” Nighttime shopping, carriage rides, a 15-foot snow globe and caroling are just some of the plans surrounding the event which aims to kick off the season in downtown Wilson. For the past several years, the WDDC-sponsored Festive Fridays took place over
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three different weekends. But this year’s single event — Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 — will coincide with both Light Up Wilson and the Wilson Jaycees Christmas Parade. “We wanted to have one big holiday weekend kickoff,” said Susan Kellum, WDDC downtown marketing and communications coordinator. “We’re looking to have a really festive Christmas weekend.” A Downtown Christmas will be from 5-9 p.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, at which time downtown businesses will be open and other activities planned. On Friday, Light up Wilson will commence at the Wilson County Courthouse with Mayor Rose lighting the annual tree. The lighting will be followed by elementary school children singing carols and holiday music.
On Saturday, after the parade, Santa will take to the Courthouse steps to meet with children and hear their Christmas wishes. This will be the first year that Santa has been downtown, after being at the Wilson Mall for many years. But bringing Santa back downtown is just one aspect that Kellum and others hope recalls Christmases of Wilson past. For another planned activity throughout the weekend, each downtown business will participate in a window display contest, hopefully full of lights and Christmas spirit. “We wanted to recreate the Christmas of your childhood. We want Wilson to be lit up and recreate a time when downtown Wilson was upbeat and vibrant, which it is well on its way to becoming again,” said Kellum.
Don’t forget your gift cards this holiday season!
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Eating well at Spring Arbor Self taught kitchen master Barbara Jefferson does it her own way For Barbara Jefferson, cooking is more about a feeling than memorizing recipes. It’s an instinct she’s possessed since she was eight years old and began teaching herself the art in order to prepare meals for her five siblings after her mother passed away. And it’s an instinct that continues today as the dietary manager of Spring Arbor of Wilson, where she oversees a cooking staff of six and each meal for the rest of Spring Arbor’s staff and its 61 residents. It doesn’t mean that she’s a complete renegade in the kitchen, however. The flavors are often her own, but Jefferson is a professional and does adhere to the mandated nutritional guidelines set forth by the corporate nutritionist for the company. “But when it comes down to it,” she laughs, “all the residents want is just the good, real Southern cooking.” She has to be mindful, however, of just how much of that rich cooking she can give them. Naturally, with a clientele of almost entirely elderly people, there are going to be a slew of dietary restrictions. Many need to be tweaked in a separate pan for diabetics or other health concerns. But it’s that “tweaking” that she’s good at. She’s been doing it for so long, it’s practically second nature. Although her father was “an amazing cook,” and taught her many things, Jefferson took over taking care of her five siblings in the kitchen at a very young age. Her father even made a little step stool, so her short arms could reach the cabinets. She’s always loved it, though, and considered the ability a blessing. By 1989, Jefferson took a job as a housekeeper at another Wilson retirement home. One month into the job, one of the staff cooks called in sick and the
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frantic administrator asked Jefferson if she knew her way around the kitchen. Though apprehensive and a little nervous, she gave it a try. She did such as good job that, little by little, she filled in more frequently, learned the tricks of the trade along the way, and was eventually asked to head the kitchen full time. It’s been 23 years since then — 13 years at Spring Arbor — and she hasn’t slowed down. “Rain, sleet or snow, I’m here,” she said. Even when there’s inclement weather, she says, she’ll have to pack up her children and spend the night at Spring Arbor. “I have to make sure someone is here to cook for the people. They need to be fed.” And the people love it. Even the relatives of Spring Arbor’s residents that come in to eat look forward to the meals. Around holiday time, she’s bombarded with orders from friends and Spring Arbor coworkers for her famous chicken salad, greens and other Southern staples. It’s no surprise, then, that her culinary prowess has spread beyond the walls of Spring Arbor. Over the years, she’s had more and more requests for private catering jobs. It’s something she does for friends and family at the moment — weddings or parties here and there — but it’s something that she thinks is worth looking into. For now, though, her heart and hands serve the 61 residents of Spring Arbor of Wilson. After all these years, she still cooks more with feeling than she does with recipes. And that feeling comes through in every meal she prepares. “I just love it. Love cooking, love to see the smiles on their faces when they enjoy their meal.” That “love” she says, is what she puts into each recipe. “That’s the main ingredient right there.”
Barbara Jefferson, front, oversees fellow cooks Anita Wilkins and Michelle Willingham in the kitchen at Spring Arbor of Wilson.
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Monday-Friday 11am-3pm
Soup With Santa
Friday, Nov. 30th • 5pm - 9pm For The Tree Lighting & Saturday, Dec. 1st • 5pm - 9pm After the Parade 126 S. Tarboro Street Historic Downtown Wilson 252-237-7701
WILSON WOMAN
Holiday Open House
C
Candied Sweet Potatoes
With the levels of many of the spices all dependent on the taste of the person preparing it, this recipe is a perfect example of Jefferson’s “tinker and taste” cooking method. The original recipe calls for water instead of orange juice, but she swears by the flavor the juice brings to it.
Ingredients
Preparation
2-3 pounds of sweet potatoes 5 ounces brown sugar 2 1/2 cups orange juice 1 1/4 ounce butter or margarine 1/4 teaspoon salt Desired amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice Mini Marshmallows (optional)
Peel potatoes and dice to desired size. Mix orange juice, brown sugar, butter and salt together over heat. Then, add desired amounts of nutmeg, cinnamon and all spice. While heating for 25-30 minutes, continually add flour to add to create thickness while cooking. Pour thick mixture over potatoes in a pan and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately one hour or until tender. If you decide to use marshmallows, add to the top of the potatoes near the end of baking, so they will brown and melt but not burn.
M
2801 Ward Blvd., Wilson, NC 27896
Kick off your holiday at our Open House! Bring the family for an afternoon of shopping, refreshments, and lots of fun!
Molasses Pudding
Ingredients
Preparation
1 cup butter (or margarine) 1 cup sugar 1 cup molasses 2 cups flour 1 cup boiling water 1 teaspoon nutmeg 3 eggs 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon all spice 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon cloves
Cream butter, sugar, molasses and eggs in a pan. The, add flour, soda and spices. Beat well and add the cup of boiling water. Beat until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees until done.
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
Sunday, November 18 1-5 pm
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Original receipts must be presented by 5:00 pm on November 18 at the designated location to qualify for the Gift Certificate Rebate program. Photocopies of receipts will not be accepted. Receipts will not split. Receipts will be stamped and returned to the customer. Gift certificate rebate limited to one person per event. Gift Certificate Rebate is available to shoppers 18 years or older with a photo ID. Store name and date of purchase must appear on receipt. Receipts from Food Lion and ABC Store do not qualify. Store credit or gift certificates do not qualify.
Spend $125 and receive a
Gift Certificate to Shoppes at Brentwood as our way of spreading holiday cheer! See stores for details.
‘Family Friendly’ things to do this holiday season As the chaos of the holiday season consumes us, and our focus turns toward decorations, gifts, shopping, entertaining and time off of work, it’s important to remember that this season is also a great time to slow down and reflect on the year behind as well as the year ahead. And also, participate in some family activities that are good for family members of all ages. Write a Christmas letter to a soldier Show your appreciation for (and teach your child to appreciate) our service men and women overseas by writing a Christmas letter. A fun, rewarding project for the whole family — it could even turn into a pen pal. www.mailforheroes.com/ letterstosoldiers.org/ ‘Step Into the Past’ As part of their “Stepping Into the Past” Saturday series, featuring a variety of vendors and demonstrators, the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly will hold events on two Saturdays (11/24 and 12/01) called “Tis’ the Season,” featuring old time crafts and gifts. 919-284-3431 http://www.tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org Take a Hike Hold firm to your New Year’s resolutions for once and get the family outside immediately with a fun hike. In 2011, a campaign organized by state parks nationwide aimed at rejuvenating healthy minds and bodies, began an annual program that encouraged the public to take a hike on January 1. Celebrate the first hours of 2013 by visiting any of N.C.’s beautiful state parks. http://ncparks.gov/Visit/main.php 34
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Volunteer or Give to the Salvation Army Instead of simply dropping change in the buckets outside the grocery store, volunteer your time and money by helping the Salvation of Wilson County this holiday season. During 2011, the Army provided assistance to more than 2,500 individuals, including over 700 children who received toys by way of the Army’s Angel Tree program and the toy store. Additionally, over 500 families received food for Christmas dinner. 252-243-2696 http://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org/commands/wilson It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Inspired by the classic Frank Capra film It’s a Wonderful Life, this holdiay favorite will have you in the mood for family and remind you of what the season is all about. The “play” is performed like a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of the audience at The Boykin Center. The actors perform the few dozen various roles and create the special sound effects. Don’t miss this old fashioned, one-of-akind show. Runs Nov. 29 - Dec. 2. All seats $10. 252-236-7266 www.playhouseofwilson.com. WILSON WOMAN
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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.