Industries for the
Blind gets new buses
for its youth programs
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind
(1FB) dedicated two new buses that will let
more students who are blind and visually
impaired use its services on Thursday, Feb
25.
The new buses
will transport stu
dents to Tracy 'sUtfte
Red Schoolhouse.
The schoolhouse is
part of IFB's A
Brighter Path
Foundation and hous
es Student
Enrichment
Experience (SEE)
after school and sum
mer programs for
youth who are blind
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Each bus seats up to 14 students and will
let the program provide transportation for
its young participants. The funding for the
buses was provided by Miracles in Sight,
the second largest eye bank in the country.
Miracles in Sight Executive Director Dean
Vavra said that it will let more students
take advantage of the SEE programs.
"There's plenty of seats available in
this schoolhouse, just not enough buses to
get the kids there," said Vavra. "That is
changing today."
Among the speakers at last week's
event was Shareff Stewart, a junior at
Reynolds High School who is blind. He
was among eight students who took part in
the program when it began in 2007. He
said it was a week filled with activities like
arts and crafts, life skills and learning
abotlt each other. The program has grown
and the red schoolhouse was built to house
it in 2012.
Stewart is now a technology assistant
at the Little Red School house, teaching
computer skills to others, like how to
browse the Internet. He said the buses will
help his students get to his class.
"I really love supporting these kids
because of the support IFB gave me," he
said.
Stewart thanked the teachers at .SEE
for helping students "see the world in their
own way." He said he's learned many
things from the program like doing laundry
and cooking.
"I enjoy being blind, every day is an
adventure," said Stewart, who plans to go
to college and eventually become a teacher
for the visually impaired.
Students in the blind or visually
unpaired program at Sherwood Forest
damantom ottan/1
l_.li.UK.llUU J OUVUU
?I ed the event, enjoy
ing some time in
Ithe Little Red
Schoolhouse before
taking one of the
new buses back to
Sherwood. Among
the students who
are also regulars in
the SEE program,
was Elisha
Simmons. The
fourth grader, who
' is blind, played the
piano in a class
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IUUIU iU U1C MtlKJOl
house after the bus dedication. He said he
was glad that the buses will help kids like
him get to SEE. He said the program was
fun and he'd recommend it to any children
who are blind or visually impaired.
"1 like seeing the people here and going
to places and going to cooking and playing
on the playground," said Elisha.
Jenny Viars, the youth program manag
er for A Brighter Path, said that the buses
will solve transportation problems that
have prevented some students from com
ing to SEE programs.
"We're able to provide minimal trans
portation for a very small group of kids;
having these buses is going to allow us to
expand," she said.
SEE has an after school program three
days a week and a three week summer
camp that includes learning things like
cooking, yoga, music, computers, bmille
and independent living skills. There are
also field trips, which the buses will be
used for, like planned outings to the
Winston-Salem Symphony and the Twin
City Stage for a Wizard of Oz perform
ance, where students will use wireless
headphones to listen to live descriptions of
what's happening on the stage. All SEE
programs are free and are funded by dona
tions and grants. For more information
about SEE, or to register a child in the pro
gram, contact Viars at 336- 245-5669 or
email jvairs@wsifb.com.
Stewart
Vavra
Photos by Todd Lock
The new buses, parked outside of Tracy's Little Red
Schoolhouse, are a new way to transport students who are
blind or visually impaired to the programs there.
E lis ha Simmons plays the piano with Zaire Jegede at Tracy's Little Red
Schoolhouse.
?mi I Bill Hlllil
I
Carter G. Woodson School is now
enrolling for the 2016-2017 school year.
\ *
^ here is no tee to attend this wonderful school where ALL children
kre welcomed and given the tools they need to succeed. We offer
small class sizes K-12, free bus transportation and award winning
sports and music programs. At Carter G. Woodson School we help all
of our children to excel and get into a post- secondary experience or
a college. Our high school students study abroad and thrive in our
caring, structured environment. We believe in respectfully partnering
with parents for their child's success.
Carter G. Woodson School is enrolling NOW, and tuition free. To
fill out an application for elementary, middle or high school classes,
School tours are given on every Thursday. Please call 336-723-6838
for more information. It's not too late in your family's educational
journey for you to give your child the chance to succeed and to have
a great school year. At Carter G. Woodson every child is respected
and expected to learn, to grow, and to be the best that he or she can
be. We look forward to hearing from you at 336-723-6838.
Submitted
The former site of Vulcan Materials near Reynolds Park Rd. will be the home of
Quarry Park, which is expected to include several picnic areas and an
amphitheater.
^ 'W ? 4 4
City otticials break
ground for new park
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
The former Vulcan quarry just off
Reynolds Park Rd. took a giant step
toward the future last Friday when a
groundbreaking ceremony was held for
phase one of the new Quarry Park.
According to city leaders, the finished
product will include an amphitheater, a
disc golf course, and several picnic shel
ters. The park will also include additions to
the greenway connector system that will
provide citizens' in the Waughtown area
access to the William R. Anderson Jr.
Recreation Center located at 2450
Reynolds Park Rd.
Phase one of the project will cost the
city $5 million, which is part of $30.85
million parks and recreation bond that was
approved by voters in 2014. The first phase
is expected to include the construction of
parking areas and bathrooms.
Vulcam Materials, a company that used
to obtain rock for construction at the site,
ceased operation in die early 1980 and the
city took over the 228-acre site in 1997.
Since the early 1990s the quarry has
been' filling with water. Although not many
citizens have seen the site, those who have
f
? / '
believe the crystal blue water surrounded
by steep jagged cliffs and rocks would
make the perfect location for a parte.
Winston-Salem resident Allison Joyner
said as a child she and a few friends would
make trips through the woods just to get a
glimpse at the natural wonder.
"It's really hard to believe something
like that is right here in Winston-Salem,"
she said. "I can't wait to see it when
everything is done."
City council member James Taylor said
it is time to unveil the picturesque scene,
not only to those in the community, but to
the world.
"This is one of the best kept secrets in
our community," Taylor said. "As a native
of Winston-Salem, it means a lot to me to
be able to unlock this hidden treasure for
the citizens."
The first phase of construction is
expected to be completed by early 2017.
Phase two will include recreation areas and
an amphitheater, but the city does not yet
have funds in place for those projects.
Director of Parks and Recreation Tim
Grant said the site of the future park is a
jewel that city officials plan to turn into a
diamond.
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