Spring 2015
Veronica Brown-Pigford We spend some time with one of Wilson County Schools’ finest
Featured blogs
Area professionals offer tips and advice
Peaceful retreat
Take a walk with us through a gorgeous Japanese garden
Local and loving it Vivian Howard opens up her home and kitchen to our readers
amaryllis
Wilson Woman is a quarterly lifestyle magazine featuring information on food, home, fashion, beauty and the amazing local women who call Wilson home.
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Edward Jones Financial Advisor Crystal Hardee gives us a few smart financial moves women can make. Pg. 9.
DAVID BRAY Fringe Salon’s go-to guy tells us how to choose the right hairstyle to best flatter our features. Pg. 25.
CONNIE RHEM
of Wilson Medical Center offers tips and suggestions for healthy eating. Pg. 14.
WINDE JACKSON Lou Reda’s amazing bartender serves up one of their signature cocktails just for us. Pg. 5.
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On the cover We sit down with Veronica Brown-Pigford, one of Wilson County School’s award winning educators. Photo by Gérard Lange.
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Local and Loving it Vivian Howard, from the popular restaurant Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, welcomes us into her home and tells us all about her life, family, and her hit show.
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Veronica Brown-Pigford sits down with Wilson Woman and tells us a little about what inspires her
Experience the serenity an exotic garden can provide as we tour one of Wilson’s best
Class is in Session
Peaceful Retreat
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Remembering Bonnie A look back at the life and work of Bonnie Christensen, author and illustrator of children’s literature
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The Women of Waterfowl
30 About Town
Move over, boys! See See what’s been how one group of happening all around local women is add- Wilson ing a feminine touch to a sport dominated by men.
spring 2015 | wilsonwoman.com
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How do you shake off the “winter blues” and get ready for spring? I clean my house from top to bottom, go through clothing and toys and take what we don’t need to Goodwill. ~ Jessica Godwin I change up my haircolor and give myself some bright highlights. It makes me feel ready for the warmer weather! ~ Casie Kesner I change out my comforters and pillows. New bedding for a new season! ~ Tara Godwin Look for the next ‘Wilson Woman Wants to Know...’ question on
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Blackberry cardamom syrup Puree 1 pint fresh blackberries in a blender. Add simple syrup to create pourable consistency. Add in 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom and blend until combined. Place fine mesh strainer over a bowl and push blended mixture through strainer using a spatula to remove seeds and pulp. Reserved mixture in bowl is what will be used in your cocktail.
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class is in
Session Written by Jennifer Strickland Photographs by Gérard Lange
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Veronica Brown-Pigford is one busy lady. She’s a full-time mom, wife, teacher, and even a cheerleading coach. Spend just a few minutes with her, and you will be exhausted! As we sit down for our interview in the quiet teachers’ lounge at Toisnot Middle School, she says, “I’m too busy to get in here very often. It’s pretty nice in here!”
While she might not get to spend a lot of time in the teachers’ lounge, she does spend her fair share of time at school and working on school-related activities. “I am here. I am always here,” she laughs. Brown-Pigford grew up in Wayne County and has three sisters. “Two of my sisters are older, and one of them is younger. We are all pretty close, and since one of my sisters just moved back from out of state, now we all live close to each other again,” she says. Her childhood wasn’t the most ideal, and she and her siblings were faced with many challenges very early in life. “My mother wasn’t in the home when we were growing up, and my father passed away when we were young,” she says. “After my father passed, I began to cling to my teachers, especially my third grade teacher. I think that was when I decided that teaching was something I really wanted to do. My teachers were there for me in a way no one else could be, and I appreciated them for that.” Brown-Pigford made her way through elementary and middle school and went on to graduate from Goldsboro High School in 1998 before continuing on to college at Wayne Community College. “I graduated from there with my associates degree in Criminal Justice, but I knew that wasn’t really what I wanted to do,” she says. From there, she went on to attend East Carolina University, where she ultimately graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with a concentration in Adapted Curriculum. The road to college graduation wasn’t free from challenges. “While I was trying to go to school, I was also busy being a mom.” Her son, My’Quan Gooding, is now 17 and getting ready to graduate from Fike High School. “I had to be there for him and be a mom to him as best I could while also trying to better myself and get my education.” Being a full-time mom and student wasn’t easy. “I had a lot to balance. But I know that he’s proud of me and that he noticed what I was doing,” she says. While in elementary school, Brown-Pigford’s son was asked to write a paper on someone he admired. “He wrote his paper about me and everything I had
done to make his life better. That let me know that he understood that while it wasn’t easy, I was only trying to do what was best for the both of us,” she says. When she decided to go back to school to pursue her dream of teaching, Brown-Pigford wasn’t sure what kind of teaching career she wanted. It wasn’t until she took a job working as a developmental technician at a residential facility in Goldsboro that she knew special education was where she wanted to be. The job gave her a chance to work with mentally and developmentally challenged adults. “I made a connection with the people I worked with. I knew they were capable of so much more than anyone knew and I wanted to help them show it,” she says. Upon graduation from ECU, BrownPigford found a job as an exceptional children’s teacher with Wilson County Schools and hasn’t slowed down since. Most days, you can find her in her classroom working with her students,
The ceremony was also videotaped and a copy of the video was given to the family of every award recipient. She also created Club Unify, another first of its kind at the school. The club works on increasing disability awareness within the school as well as off campus. Club Unify has over 500 members, each of whom have made a pledge to be more supportive and involved with exceptional children. The members of the club have the opportunity to use their elective period as a time to support exceptional children with their academic activities or help them train for the Special Olympics. All of the hard work and dedication to her students hasn’t gone unnoticed. The administration at school and within the school system has taken notice too. Brown-Pigford was nominated for and named Toisnot Middle School’s Teacher of the Year for the 2013-2014 school year and received an even greater honor the following year. She was nominated for and named Educator of the Year for the 2014-2015 school year by the Wilson Committee for Persons with Disabilities. “Having these awards and the recognition hasn’t changed the way I do my job, but it does let me know that my hard work means something to someone other than me and my students,” she says. When she’s not focusing on her students or fulfilling one of her many rolls at school, you can find Brown-Pigford spending time with her son, a talented basketball player who dreams of joining the NBA, and with her husband. She’s still enjoying the newlywed phase of her marriage. She and her husband were married in 2014 and will celebrate their one-year anniversary in just a few short months. While she doesn’t have much free time outside of school, Brown-Pigford makes sure that her dedication to her students is very apparent in everything she does. “I don’t think that people truly realize how much I love my job,” she says. “Everyone tells me what an impact I have made in the lives of these children, but what matters more to me is the impact they have made on my life. I have been touched in some way by each and every student I work with.”
“You have to love children to do this job, or you will not make it in this business.” many of whom are autistic. “Autistic children are just as capable of functioning in daily life as anyone else, but it is my job to make sure they have the knowledge to know how,” she says. “You have to love children to do this job, or you will not make it in this business.” Her day doesn’t end when the school bell rings, though. She’s also the cheerleading coach at the school. “I have 14 girls on my squad that I am responsible for. I have to make sure they know what they’re doing and that they’re safe,” she says. She’s also a leadership chairman and a homebound teaching instructor. “If kids are sent home for medical issues or behavioral problems, I can go to their home and help them with their work so they don’t fall behind.” Brown-Pigford has also introduced many things in her short time at Toisnot Middle School. She started the first Exceptional Children Awards Program and invited the whole school to attend.
spring 2015 | wilsonwoman.com
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Smart financial moves for women By Crystal Hardee
On March 8, we observe International Women’s Day, a celebration of women’s economic, political and social achievements. Yet women everywhere still face challenges — and here in the United States, one of their biggest challenges may be to gain the resources they need to enjoy a comfortable retirement. So, if you’re a woman, what steps should you take to make progress toward this goal? Your first move should be to recognize some of the potential barriers to attaining your financial freedom. First of all, a “wage gap” between women and men still exists: The median earnings of fulltime female workers are 77% of the median earnings of full-time male workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Also, women drop out of the workforce for an average of 12 years to care for young children or aging parents, according to the Older Women’s League, a research and advocacy group — and this time away from the workforce results in women receiving lower pensions or accumulating much less money in their employer-sponsored retirement plans. To give yourself the opportunity to enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle, consider these suggestions: Boost your retirement plan contributions. Each year, put in as much as you can afford to your traditional or Roth IRA. A traditional IRA grows on a tax-deferred
basis, while a Roth IRA can grow tax free provided you meet certain conditions. Also, take advantage of your employersponsored, tax-deferred retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b). At the very least, contribute as much to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. And every year, if your salary increases, try to boost your contributions to your retirement plan. Consider growth investments. Some evidence suggests that women may be more conservative investors than men — in other words, women may tend to take fewer risks and pursue “safer” investments. But to help build the resources you will need for a comfortable retirement, consider growth-oriented vehicles in your IRA, 401(k) and other investment accounts. Talk to your spouse about Social Security. If your spouse starts collecting Social Security at 62 (the earliest age of eligibility), the monthly benefits will be reduced, perhaps by as much as 25%. This reduction could affect you if you ever become a widow, because once you reach your own “full” retirement age (which will likely be 66 or 67), you may qualify for survivor benefits of 100% of what your deceased spouse had been receiving — and if that amount was reduced, that’s what you’ll get. Talk to your spouse about this issue well before it’s time to receive
Our Guest Financial Blogger for this issue is Crystal Hardee, a financial advisor with Edward Jones.
Social Security. (You may also want to talk to a financial advisor for help in coordinating survivor benefits with your own Social Security retirement benefits.) Evaluate your need for life insurance benefits. Once their children are grown, some couples drop their life insurance. Yet, the death benefit from a life insurance policy can go a long way toward helping ensure your financial security. Again, talk to your spouse about whether to maintain life insurance, and for how much. International Women’s Day is a great occasion for commemorating women’s accomplishments. And by making the right moves, you can eventually celebrate your own achievement of attaining the financial security you deserve.
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retreat
When Gerard and Amanda Lange purchased their home near Lake Wilson six and half years ago the backyard had no landscaping whatsoever, except for a dozen mature pine and sweet gum trees with a lone Japanese maple.
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Now the property boasts a carefully crafted Japanese garden complete with two teahouses, stone lanterns, imported cast iron bells, as well as traditional gates and fountains. Transformation of the property has involved a great deal of effort, but that is part of what having a Japanese garden is about in the first place. Largely influenced by his maternal grandfather’s collection of art from Japan, Gerard always wanted to create a Japanese garden. “Perhaps I’m also fulfilling my childhood dreams of having Mr. Miyagi’s backyard,” he joked. The couple originally planned on landscaping the area in a county French style more closely matching the suburban neighborhood. But, after some initial plantings Amanda encouraged Gerard to follow his dream. All work in the garden has been done by the couple
themselves with little outside contracting. This includes one of the two teahouses that Gerard built mostly on his own with some help from his wife and children. The building is constructed from a great deal of reclaimed lumber. “In Japanese ideology, nothing goes to waste,” he shared. “So I wanted to create something beautiful from other people’s discarded materials.” He is quite proud of a beam atop the front wall that was salvaged from the Smith warehouse in downtown Wilson that was razed in 2007. “I feel like this connects the garden to the history of the city.” Many other elements of the garden are also made from reclaimed materials. There are two different styles of covered gates, traditional to Japanese gardens, that both feature recycled lumber. Also, there are stepping-stones throughout the garden made from repurposed pieces of broken concrete. Gerard also loves to make use of transplanted plants. On the west side of the property there are several large forsythia that began as cuttings collected in Johnston County. There are also mature boxwoods tucked here and there that came
Japanese gardens create a miniature idealized landscape – a “perfect” escape from the outside world. from Craigslist postings. “In Japan the most impressive gardens are centuries old,” Gerard commented. “In order to invoke a greater sense of age, I try to add mature plants whenever I can get them.” Other transplants include aucuba, various types of holly and bead ferns, all collected from the wild. The couple also takes cuttings from their own plants, propagating new ones. Strolling through the garden it is hard to imagine the property
without any landscaping whatsoever. In addition to the collected plants there are numerous ones from nursery stock. Throughout the garden there are now six different species of Japanese maple, and several Yoshino cherry trees. These produce pale pink blooms in early spring, a color repeated in some
flowering almond shrubs. Likewise the yellow of the forsythia becomes echoed by several plantings of Carolina jasmine and again by large bushes with yellowgreen variegated leaves. Plants of such a great variety are tucked in everywhere. Golden abroviate, yuletide camellia, deodar cypress, various kinds of ferns, hellebore, hydrangea, junipers, pussy willow and quince all mingle with each other, nested in neat little groupings. Occasionally one can also see bonsai, miniature trees, in imported ceramic pots. Also hard to believe is that the property began as a level lot, as it now features several hills crafted from, “countless loads of dirt,” that Amanda shaped by hand. “Those hills greatly contributed to carpal tunnel in my
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Stepping into the garden is like leaving the outside world behind you. wrists,” she shared. “But, I loved every minute of it.” Being outside and reconnecting with nature is a major part of gardening in Asia. This idea began in China, making its way to Japan through Korea. It is a kind of gardening that requires daily maintenance. “It’s less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle,” Amanda shared, also acknowledging the great meditative benefits of working outside. “There is something very rejuvenating in having direct contact with the earth.” The garden is one that intentionally does not have any wide sweeping views. “It is more about creating little tableaus,” Gerard said. “A visitor should stroll through, stopping often to look at each grouping individually.” Overall, the goal of a Japanese garden is to create a miniature idealized landscape – a “perfect” escape from the outside world. “Although, it’s far
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from perfect,” Gerard commented. “There is a long way yet to go.” This spring the couple is planning on adding several kinds of bamboo fences. Traditional gardens often feature a variety of these so the different patterns of each form a complex visual arrangement. They also help isolate the individual tableaus creating areas of emphasis. Another feature planned for completion in the coming months is a dry rock garden. The Japanese name for this is karesansui, but many people recognize these by the more common name of zen garden. Gerard began excavating in the fall, but the cold weather put a halt to his progress. He does not mind working
in the winter – and does so several times a week despite the weather – but, in true Japanese spirit Gerard is meticulously transplanting every shovel full of grass to other parts of the yard. “I just don’t want anything to go to waste,” he shared. Even though the couple agrees that a lot of work remains, stepping into the garden is like leaving the outside world behind you. In Japan some of the most picturesque gardens are actually found right in the middle of bustling urban areas. The couple likes the contradiction that something as exotic as a traditional Japanese garden can exist right in their own backyard.
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50 is the new 20! By Connie Rhem That’s my story, and unfortunately, I’m sticking to it. My body has caught up to the fact that I’m 50. My brain still says, “You can do it, Connie. You can do today everything you did at 20.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. When I was 20, I ate whatever I wanted to and played tennis and softball. My body took all the lunging, stopping and starting, diving and sliding like a champ! Today, not so much. All the sweets in the world were mine for the choosing. And I chose them. A lot. Never gained weight. My childhood set me up for success. My mom cooked three healthy meals a day. We always sat down together as a family to eat. And mom only rarely let us eat sweets. On a rare Friday, she’d buy a six-pack of soda. Each child could have two. Mine were gone Friday night. And Mom would often find me behind a chair in the living room eating flavored drink mix out of the packet. As directed, I had added sugar. Water was unnecessary, in
my opinion. But I rebelled in adulthood. I’ve made poor choices. Put an apple and ice cream in front of me. Ice cream it is. Thank you very much. “Do you want to go for a walk?” you might ask. “It’s cold. It’s hot. I’m tired. It’s dark. Can’t find my tennis shoes.” My brain is still an athlete. My body is too. My brain knows the good choices. My body tells me I need to make them. Weight’s been a struggle for years. I gained it. Lost it. Found it with some of its friends. So this is what I propose: join me on my trek. Ages 5 to 100. Let’s make one good choice twice a month. I’ve already cut out my one soft drink a day during the week and replace the soda with water. And I’m focusing more on carrying my phone with me to track my steps. Baby steps. Hey, babies get where they’re going. They hold on to stuff and
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Our Guest Health Blogger for this issue is Connie Rhem, Assistant Director of Communications at Wilson Medical Center. fall a lot. But they get there, and we will, too. So who’s with me? I look forward to getting your letters about your journeys to success. Please email me at connie. rhem@wilmed.org. Come on! We can do this!
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From rural country living, to big city life and back again, Vivian Howard is glad to be back to her down-home roots and raising her children in the same county where she grew up. spring 2015 | wilsonwoman.com
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Written by Jennifer Strickland Photographs by Gérard Lange Down a quiet two lane road just outside of Deep Run, N.C. is the home of Vivian Howard, owner and head chef of Chef and the Farmer Restaurant in Kinston, N.C., and her family: husband Ben Knight, an artist and business partner, and three-year-old twins Florence and Theodore, or Flo and Theo for short. The very modern farmhouse, designed by architect Ann Clark from Chicago, is set back off the road and offers beautiful views of the farmland and river that surrounds it. Growing up in Lenoir county, Howard couldn’t wait to leave. Leave behind the small town life, farming, and everything she had grown up with. She wanted to spread her wings and make her mark on the world and living in a rural town in eastern North Carolina just wasn’t the way to do it. At the age of 14, she did just that. She left her small hometown and
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went off to boarding school. It was during her years in boarding school that she discovered her love of travel. She spent time in Greece and Italy among other places before returning to North Carolina to attend college. As a student at NC State University, Howard was an English major but her sights were set on becoming a travel writer or television news journalist. During her time in college, she was a volunteer at WRAL TV in Raleigh and she also landed an internship at CBS News in New York. She was able to travel some more and spent a semester studying in Buenos Ares, Argentina, where she had an unfortunate accident. “I was hit by a car my first week there. I was unconscious for 48 hours, and when I woke up, I had a really difficult time.” As hard as it was, Howard forced herself to stay in Argentina and finish her semester and then she returned to North Carolina.
After graduation, Howard decided that she missed the hustle and bustle that New York had offered during her internship at NBC News, so she packed up and moved back. “I just assumed it would be simple to find a job,” says Howard. “I mean, it was New York!” It wasn’t as easy as she thought, though. After arriving in New York she searched all over for a job and even wrote letters to the Food Network, which was just getting started, and Zagat to see if she could be an editorial contributor for them. “Not surprisingly, I never heard back,” she says. Howard finally found a job working with Grey Worldwide, an advertising firm, working on the national account for Pantene products. “I was happy to have a job but I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do,” she says. “So, after a long 18 months, I quit.” Next came a string of odd jobs
including cocktail waitressing and dog walking. Eventually she landed a job as a server at Voyage. The now closed restaurant is where she met her husband and business partner, Ben. After her time at Voyage, she went on to work as an intern in the kitchen at wd~50. “I guess you could say that is how I got my start. Working at that job taught me the fundamentals of cooking and the techniques I should use,” says Howard. While working at wd~50, Howard and Knight started a small catering business and made soup out of their apartment in Harlem. “We cooked the soup in our tiny kitchen and then cooled it down in our bathtub!” They had clients all over the city and would spend their nights delivering soup after working all day in the restaurant. It didn’t take long before the desire to open their own restaurant really started to consume the both of them. Howard
and Knight started thinking of business plans and restaurant ideas and even began looking for locations to open their dream business. All was going well until Howard’s parents found out what they were up to. Howard’s parents are small town farmers and couldn’t imagine having a daughter who lived her life in a big city. “My mom was really starting to freak out. She knew if we opened a restaurant in New York that we would use that opportunity to put our roots down there, and she just couldn’t stand the idea,” says Howard. “So, my mom and dad did what they thought best and offered us an opportunity to realize our dream -- with their help -- but only if we did it here, in eastern North Carolina.” Going against what she had always said she wouldn’t do, Howard packed up her life in New York and moved back to eastern North Carolina with then
boyfriend Ben, in tow. In 2006, Howard and Knight opened their first restaurant, Chef and the Farmer, in downtown Kinston. In keeping with her farming roots, Howard wanted to have the menu of the restaurant be dependent on what foods were readily available right around her. “Growing up we always ate what was in season. If corn was in season, we had corn at almost every meal,” she says. “If it was butterbeans, you better get used to eating butterbeans!” Most of the ingredients used in the restaurant, about 70%, come from a 60-mile radius. “Some people think you can change your menu only four times a year and consider yourself seasonal. In North Carolina, that’s not possible. What is growing well this week may not be available next week,” she says. At Chef and the Farmer, the menu is determined each week. “We look at what spring 2015 | wilsonwoman.com
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our farmers have to offer and we base our menu off of that. It’s also important for people to understand that you can be creative with just a few ingredients. If collards is what we have to work with, we can prepare them in many different ways. We can fry them, sautee them, or make them into a slaw. There are many different ways to cook ingredients and that allows us to keep our menu from being repetitive,” she says. Howard is currently writing a cookbook that is due out in October 2016. It will be called ‘Deep Run Roots’ and will be a compilation of recipes and storytelling. “There are 26 chapters planned, each focused on a different ingredient. I will have a story about each ingredient, as it relates back to me as well as 6 to 12 recipes for each ingredient,” says Howard. In early 2012, Chef and the Farmer suffered a devastating setback. A fire completely destroyed the kitchen and forced the restaurant to close for several months. “It was a hard time for us not only as business owners, but as employees as well. We were used to working in the
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restaurant every day. We didn’t know how we were going to keep going,” says Howard. Fortunately for Howard and Knight, their insurance company stepped in and helped them begin the rebuilding process and, thanks to an extra policy they purchased, provided them with the necessary funds to pay their employees while the restaurant was rebuilt. “When the fire happened, and we were forced to redo everything, we took the time to make some changes to the kitchen and dining room that made the restaurant better fit the concept of what we wanted it to be.” While they were in the process of trying to reopen the
restaurant, Howard and Knight were also making plans to open a second restaurant, The Boiler Room Oyster Bar. The Boiler Room is, as their website touts: a fresh perspective on an Eastern Carolina Style Oyster Bar. The restaurant offers a menu of burgers, appetizers and of course, oysters. In following Chef and the Farmer, the restaurant uses mostly local ingredients in their preparation. The fire and remodel of Chef and the Farmer and the design and opening of The Boiler Room were documented on Howard’s reality show, “A Chef’s Life”, that airs on PBS. It premiered in September 2013 and is currently in its second season. The concept for the show was something that Howard and longtime friend Cynthia, began talking about in 2010. “We believed in the show from the beginning, but we had no idea that anyone else would!” Currently, the show has over 52,000 fans on Facebook and over 5,100 followers on Twitter. “It’s crazy to me to think that there are that many people out there that want to watch a show about my life,” she says. The show was also awarded the prestigious Peabody Award in 2013. Howard is also quite the star of Facebook herself. She currently has almost 5,000 friends on her personal Facebook page. “Facebook cuts you off at 5,000 friends so I need to figure out what I’m going to do!” Never fear, trusty assistant Holley Pearce will take care of it. Pearce and Howard met when Pearce and her boyfriend relocated to North Carolina for his work. She began eating at the restaurant and befriended Howard’s husband before ultimately being hired to assist Howard with her growing career. “Vivian is great to work with. She’s so easy going and down to earth and I just love her,” says Pearce. Undoubtedly, many others feel the same way. While she spends a lot of time talking with guests at the restaurant when she’s there, there is still time for working on new dishes and menu development as well. “There are a lot of days that I’m working in the kitchen at the restaurant, well before it opens,” says Howard. Fortunately, the staff at Chef and the Farmer is top notch and can handle almost anything Howard and Knight throw at them. “We love our staff. They’re great people and they mean a great deal to us. We couldn’t do what we do without their help.” No truer words have been spoken. All it takes is a drive past the crowded restaurant on any given night to know that Howard and Knight have done something right!
Butterbean & Shrimp Ingredients 2 cups cooked butterbeans or field peas 1 cup poached small shrimp 1/2 medium red onion (about 1/2 cup), sliced thinly with the grain 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 cup minced celery 3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley 1 tablespoon chopped mint 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons salt pinch of chili flakes
dressing
hot bacon vinaigrette Ingredients 1/2 cup bacon slices, cut into 1/2� pieces 1/2 cup diced red or yellow bell peppers 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar 2 teaspoons honey nice pinch of salt and black pepper
Directions Combine the onion, red wine vinegar, water and honey. Let this hang out while you get the other ingredients ready. Once everything is chopped and minced, stir it all together in a bowl and let it marinade a minimum of 30 minutes or up to overnight.
Directions In a medium skillet, render the bacon until just crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on a paper towel. Add the bell pepper and garlic to the pan with the bacon fat. Bring that to a little simmer and add the remaining ingredients. Heat through and serve warm.
Final Preparations Portion the salad into bowls and spoon a little of the vinaigrette around the butterbeans or peas. You can use as much or as little vinaigrette as you like depending on your tastes. Sprinkle the whole thing with the crispy bacon and serve.
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remembering
BONNIE
Written by Lisa Boykin Batts Photograph by Gray Whitley Bonnie Christensen moved to Wilson in 2008 to have plenty of space to work in a community that appreciates artists. Wilson and so many others lost the children’s author and illustrator when she died of ovarian cancer Jan. 12 at age 63. During her time in Wilson, Christensen worked in her 1920s bungalow in a downtown neighborhood, she met many people, got involved in the art scene here and became a big supporter of the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. Christensen learned about Wilson thanks to her good friend and fellow artist Burk Uzzle, who moved here in 2007. Christensen decided to leave her job teaching at St. Michael’s College
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in Vermont and bought a house near Uzzle’s first home here. “In Wilson, my mother was able to live and work in a spacious and beautiful bungalow, surrounded by warm and lively people, with inspiring sights just a few turns down the road,” said her daughter, Emily Herder. “She of course loved Vollis’ work but also was delighted by the cotton that would dust the side of the road and the old tobacco sheds. The greatest part for her, though, was the sense of community. She could spend her day working, and then always find a friend or 10 to get together with. “I remember speaking with her once when she had first returned from a house-hunting visit to Wilson,” Herder said. “She would speak briefly about the beautiful and affordable houses (very
exciting for anyone, but especially for one who worked from home), but her real focus was on the amazing people she had met, and how much it meant to her to feel that, as a newcomer, she was welcomed with such immediate and sincere warmth and acceptance.”
The artist Christensen’s early career was not in illustrating but the theater. She wrote plays and worked with Joe Papp’s Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival, the Screen Actors Guild and Paramount Pictures. But after her daughter was born, she moved to another career writing and illustrating children’s books. In 1992, she had her first book deal with “Edible Alphabet.” The picture book
is filled with her wood engraving prints illustrating each letter of the alphabet. Many books have been added to her credit since then, including “Pompeii,” which was written by Mary Pope Osborne of “Magic Tree House” fame. Christensen illustrated the book with frescoes reminiscent of those found in the ruins of Pompeii. She tied the illustration technique of each book to its subject matter. She also wrote and illustrated a number biographies, including the most-acclaimed “Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People” and “Nellie Bly: America’s Star Reporter.” Andy Warhol, Django Reinhardt and Elvis Presley were other subjects. “Django” was her first book to list the author’s home as Wilson. In an interview with The Wilson Times in 2009, she said biographies do well because teachers use them in classrooms. Not all of her books are for young children. “In My Grandmother’s House” is a collection of essays by award-winning authors, including Christensen, who tell about their grandmothers. Christensen, who compiled and illustrated the book, tells in exquisite detail the touching story
of the wonderful summers she spent at her grandmother’s house. In the story, Christensen also shares something she and her grandmother had in common: both had breast cancer.
The mother and friend Herder said her mother’s way of life was inspiring. “She was relentlessly positive — but somehow also very sarcastic — and was always thinking of ways to brighten someone else’s day.” She told Herder just recently that she had checked off everything on her bucket list. “I think that’s a testament to how she lived her life,” Herder said. “She always had energy and excitement to tackle the next project, fly to her next destination, and express her feelings to her friends and family, and certainly knew how to enjoy herself along the way.” Christensen seemed to end up in a good place at the end of her life. “When people ask me how it was, having my mother living in N.C. during the last year of her life, I tell them that — my own selfish thoughts aside — I
wouldn’t have wished her anywhere else, that her friends took turns driving her to chemotherapy treatments, would leave healthy foods on her doorstep, fix up the yard and anything else that needed tending,” Herder said. “I will always hold the people of Wilson in a special place in my heart, for all they did for my mother and me.”
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Choosing your most flattering hairstyle By David Bray One of my favorite quotes is by CoCo Chanel, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” Truer words have never been spoken, because a new look can be life changing for a woman. Your face shape, hair texture, styling requirements, lifestyle, and maintenance are all important factors to consider when wanting a new hairstyle or look. Communication is the key, find a stylist that will take the time to listen to your wants and needs. Also, bringing a picture of a desired style to your consultation or appointment is always a great idea. An experienced stylist should be able to take a look at a photo and immediately know if your face shape and hair texture are a good match for this hairstyle. Remember the goal of a new hairstyle or look is to make you feel beautiful! Listed below are the face shapes and the hairstyles I find work best with each
shape. Round – Long layered straight or wavy look will look great on you. Side swept bangs are recommended on this face shape. Avoid blunt bangs or bobs, you need to elongate. Square – Soft, wavy, romantic curls look great on you. Avoid straight chin length hair as this will only draw attention to your jawline. Oval – You are the lucky one because any style will look great on you! Heart or Triangle – Long, wavy, or curly styles look great on you. Long side swept bangs look will soften the jawline and give you some balance. Long – Short to shoulder length wide bobs, curly styles, and blunt bangs will look great on you. Avoid long hair. These are just a few simple guidelines, but remember to always consult your stylist
Our Guest Beauty Blogger for this issue is David Bray, of Fringe Salon in Wilson. because together you can create a whole new you! Don’t forget color and highlights can also enhance any new hairstyle, but there is maintenance involved.
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the women of
WATERFOWL
Why are a group of Wilson’s businesswomen producing a hunting event that is typically viewed as a predominately male industry, and who are these women? While they weren’t hunters before this venture, they are now well versed in the lifestyle and traditions that hunting enthusiasts embrace. The event, Gold Leaf Waterfowlers Outdoor Expo, was an idea that three friends (local Wilson hunters, Ryan Beamon, Mikie Taylor and Glenn Issette) had dreamed about for several years. These guys know the outdoor industry inside and out, but felt like the waterfowl hunting aspect was being overlooked. They knew what they wanted but lacked the resources and know-how to produce an event of this scale. So a marriage of sorts was made between the “Hunting Guys” and “Marketing Girls” and the rest is
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history. Dubbed the “Waterfowlers Expo” for short, the event will take place at the Wilson County Fairgrounds on April 10-12, 2015. This wildly anticipated event will provide a fun, entertaining, and educational experience for hunting, outdoor, and gun enthusiasts alike. During the event, attendees can test and purchase the latest waterfowl hunting and outdoor merchandise from leading national manufactures and local businesses. There will also be family-fun activities such as; Dock Dogs, a dog jumping competition where dogs of all breeds sail through the air and into a fabricated pond, complete with a Splash Zone for the kids, special guest appearances by Jep Robertson of the A&E hit TV Show “Duck Dynasty”, 250 exhibitors, local favorite eats, and a concert featuring national country
artists Joe Diffie and Josh Thompson live on-stage, Saturday between 7-11 p.m. So who are these Wilson Women? Tonia Miller, CEO, of Veer Right Management Group, Inc., (VRMG, Inc.) co-owners and producers of the Gold Leaf Waterfowlers Outdoor Expo, has lived in Wilson for more than 14 years. She owned, and has since sold, Miller Music Center and currently owns Carolina Cheese Company, Digital Ad Signage, EsteemCreations, and VRMG, Inc. In 2010 Tonia was awarded Wilson’s Small Business Leader of the Year Award from the Chamber of Commerce. How does she manage it all? “I surround myself with highly skilled and motivated people who inspire and push me. They take on a challenge and turn it into an opportunity. I love “DREAMERS,” it’s what’s made our great country what it is
today” says Tonia. Tonia has been a huge asset in our community with the relationships she has had with this great town. Tonia describes her VRMG marketing and production team: Krystal Martin, VP of operations; Janna Parham, marketing director; Amber Miller, director of client relations and herself as an effective core of professionals. “They keep me grounded. As an entrepreneur, I can sometimes get ahead of myself with new projects and ventures. My team keeps the wheels attached and rolling in the right direction.” Krystal has over 20 years experience at growing trade shows from the ground up. She is a master at streamlining operations, reducing operating costs, and creating greater profitability while providing quality services to our clients. “Krystal has been pivotal in working with our national sponsors and helping us make this the safest event possible,” says Tonia Amber graduated with honors from Coppin State University with a criminal justice degree. Little did she know that her passion would take her in another direction. She began helping her family at trade shows right out of college and never left. “Amber has worked hand in hand with
our exhibitors making sure they have all they need for a successful show. She has grown and cultivated these relationships that have turned into valuable partnerships. She has definitely found her passion and is a chip off the ol’ block!” Tonia said. And then there’s Janna. “I LOVE JANNA!” Tonia screamed. “She is the best marketing director I could ever ask for.” Janna is Tonia’s right hand woman. Janna was recently awarded one of the top 20 marketing and event professionals under the age of 30 in the industry at Expo Expo. “She’s energetic, has great marketing and logistical insights and knows how to promote an event. “Have you seen our website, Facebook page or our flyers around town? That’s Janna!” says Tonia. She also works directly on the logistics with VRMG president, Rod Miller. Both Janna Parham and Amber Miller recently achieved their CTSM (Certified Trade Show Marketer) designations. Their
graduation ceremony coming up in March at the trade show industry event EXHIBITORlive, will set the bar even higher, as they will be promoted as the two youngest recipients of the prestigious certification. Tickets for the Expo can be purchased in advance for only $8 each for all three days. Children 13 and under are admitted free with accompanied adult. Concert tickets are only $25 in advance (Children 3 and under admitted free), a great deal for the opportunity to see two national artists as well as local opening acts. For more information about the show, please visit the event’s website at www.waterfowlersexpo. com where you can also purchase your advance tickets. Contributed Article
Tea Party with Snow White
Jingle Bell Run
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SPRING 2014
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