Anticipation, pride for
Justice-elect Morgan's
swearing-in next week
BY CASH MICHAELS
FOR THE CHRONICLE
Thanks to a statement from out
going Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, it is
now known that GOP legislative leaders
were indeed planning to add two more
seats to the North Carolina Supreme Court
so that McCrory could appoint two more
Republicans to offset Superior Court
Judge Mike Morgan's stunning 350,000
vote election win, giving Democrats the
4-3 majority.
On January 4th the investiture of
N.C. Associate Justice Michael Rivers
Morgan will take place at 2 p.m. in the
Law and Justice Building Courtroom at 2
East Morgan Street in Downtown
Raleigh.
"I feel tremendously wonderful
about it," the new justice-elect, 60, said
days after his triumph. "The voters of
North Carolina have given me a resound
ing victory and are allowing me to serve
the state at the highest level of the North
Carolina Supreme Court. So I'm very
pleased, very proud and very humbled at
this opportunity."
Justice Morgan will become the
fifth African-American to serve on the
state's High Court in its history, following
Chief Justice Henry Frye, and associate
justices G. K. Butterfield, Patricia
Timmons-Goodson, James Wynn Jr., and
Cheri Beasley.
"We have been friends since my
appointment [to the bench] in March of
2005," Orange County Superior Court
Judge Carl Fox said of his colleague.
"Mike is an experienced trial judge who
has previously served on both the district
and superior trial court benches for
[over]25 years."
"He is a fair, hard working and a con
scientious judge with a wealth of experi
ence. Mike has held court around our
state. ..[and] he has also taught other
judges through the N.C. Conference of
Superior Court Judges and The National
Judicial College in Reno, Nevada,." Judge
Fox added.
?i
State Rep. Evelyn Terry [D-Forsyth]
expressed the boundless pride that many
in the African-American community have
in Judge Morgan's Supreme Court elec
tion, and tremendous faith in his ability to
serve in the interest of all North
Carolinians.
"It's difficult for me to express verbal
ly that it just means such a great deal to
me, and certainly, I hope to the people I
represent in District 71 ...whose interests
in equal justice are very keen."
"So I'm just hopeful because of Judge
Morgan's qualifications, his character, his
ability, his humanness.. .all of those things
that characterize a fine legal mind," Rep.
Terry added.
"He'll bring a breath of fresh air."
A native of Cherry Point, N.C., Mike
Morgan is the oldest of five children. He
graduated from New Bern public schools.
Morgan received his B.A. in both History
and Sociology from Duke University in
1976. He earned his Juris Doctor degree
with honors from North Carolina Central
University in 1979. From 1983 to 1989,
Morgan was an assistant state Attorney
General in the N.C. Dept of Justice. From
1989 to 1994, he served as a NC adminis
trative law judge; from 1994 to 2004 a
district court judge; and from 2005 to the
present a Wake County superior court
judge.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Dan Blue
[D-Wake] said, "I am very encouraged to
see Judge Mike Morgan join our state's
Supreme Court.
"His dedication to impartiality and
respect for the law is unparalleled. It is
crucial for us to have diversity on the
bench, and Judge Morgan's win is an
important step to broader representation in
the court that more accurately reflects
North Carolinians."
Sen. Blue concluded, "I have no doubt
that he will bring the kind of balance that
is needed to ensure that the judicial sys
tem is operating in accordance with the
democratic process." .
Morgan
I l
Community Briefs
Old Salem's incoming president begins his
tenure in the Historic Tavern Museum
Frank Vagnone named the new {Resident of Old
Salem Museums & Gardens on Nov. 18, will start
full-time on March, 1. Vagnone is working with cur
rent Old Salem president Ragan Folan and Old
Salem Chief Operating Officer Anthony Slater dur
ing a transition period. One of Vagnone's signature
projects is a series of events he calls, "One-night
Stand." He spends overnights in historic house
museums and heritage sites, using them as they were
originally intended, and then writes about how these
fragile places can have meaning in current 21st-cen
tury lives. He brought his One Night Stand experi
ence to Old Salem on Dec. 1 in the historic Tavern
Museum. Vagnone is an internationally renowned
thinker, writer and consultant in the fields of historic
preservation and museums.
New Wall Street Journal ranks WSSU as No.
8 HBCU in nation
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is the
No. 8 Historically Black College and University
(HBCU) in the nation, and the top in North Carolina,
according to rankings released this week by The Wall
Street Journal. WSSU also is the second highest
ranked public HBCU. The top 10 list, pulled from
The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education
College's inaugural college rankings, analyzes insti
tutions based on four areas: Resources (student
teacher ratio, finance per student, research papers per
faculty); Engagement (accredited programs, student
engagement, student recommendations, interaction
with students and teachers); Outcomes (graduation
rate, graduate salary, academic reputation);
Environment (student, faculty and staff diversity,
student inclusion). The rankings are based on federal
higher education data and surveys of 100,000 college
students. The full list can be viewed at
http://www.wsj.com/articles/top-historically-black
colleges-and-universities-1479747552.
Applications being accepted for City of
Winston-Salem University
The city is accepting applications for the next
class of "City of Winston-Salem University," to be
held for 12 weeks starting Feb. 2, 2017. City of
Winston-Salem University gives citizens a better
understanding of city government, including the
responsibilities of various city departments and the
city's role in the community. Classes meet Thursday
evenings for three hours. Topics will include city
governance and finance, sanitation, utilities opera
tions, streets and transportation, public safety, plan
ning and economic development, housing and recre
ation. Class size is limited to 20 participants.
Applications will be evaluated based on the reason
for participating, leadership potential, diversity and
residency (city residents receive first priority, then
Forsyth County residents). City of Winston-Salem
University is free; however, participants have the
option of earning continuing education credit
through Winston-Salem State University for a nomi
nal fee of $25. Applications must be received by 5
p.m. Dec. 30 and are available at the Marketing &
Communications Department in City Hall, 101 N.
Main St. Suite 336, or by calling CityLink 311. The
application is also posted online at
www.CityofWS.org/CWSU and can be printed and
mailed in, or filled out and submitted online. For
more information, call CityLink'311.
NC AgVentures offers grant opportunity to
support family farms
NC AgVentures, a NC Cooperative Extension
program provides grants to NC farmers for new and
innovative agricultural project ideas that will
increase farm profits. The program will award
ah average of $5,000 to $10,000. The program,
which is supported by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund
Commission, will award a minimum of 20 grants to
agriculturally dependent farm families in the follow
ing counties; Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Rockingham,
Yadkin, Guilford, Martin, Wilson, Pitt, Edgecombe,
Nash, Sampson, Lenoir, Duplin, Wayne, Harnett,
Greene, Johnston counties. The application deadline
is Jan. 5,2017. An application workshop for produc
ers interested in learning more about the grant award
and application process is scheduled for Forsyth
County at the Forsyth Cooperative Extension
Offices, 1450 Fairchild Road. The workshop will be
held on Dec. 5 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. For additional
information, or to obtain an application contact your
local Cooperative Extension office. Applications can
also be downloaded to your computer from
wwwncagventures.org.
Community Calendar
Every day - Volunteers needed
for Reading Parties
The Augustine Literacy Project,
Read .Write .Spell (READWS) is
looking for volunteers for its Reading
Parties. The program needs youthful,
energetic people who are willing to
lead students in party games created
for maximum learning and enjoy
ment. Reading Party is a free parent
oriented seminar that will teach sim
ple and effective multisensory strate
gies to parents and their children in a
fun, laid-back atmosphere. After a
short training, volunteers will help 2
8 hours per month, mostly nights and
weekends. For more information or to
sign up to volunteer, contact Tonya
Nealon at 336-723-4391 ext. 1507 or
Tonya@readws.org.
Dec. 29 - Kwanzaa Ujamaa
Celebration
The Winston-Salem Urban
League will present the annual city
wide Kwanzaa celebration on
Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. The cele
bration will be held at Carl Russell
Recreation Center, 3521 Carver
Road. The celebration will focus on
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
focusing on one of the seven princi
ples of Kwanzaa. The Ujamaa day is
sponsored by Carl Russell Recreation
Center. The program is family orient
ed including African drumming,
music, service recognitions, inspira
tional messages, food and fellowship.
Dawn's Travel and More is the hon
oree. The event is free and open to the
public. For more information, call
336-727-2580.
Dec. 29 - 22nd Kwanzaa
Celebration
CARY - The Ujima Group, Inc.,
will host the 22nd Kwanzaa
Celebration at the Cary Arts Center,
101 Dry Avenue, downtown Cary,
NC on Thursday, Dec. 29 from 11
a.m. - 5 p.m. The theme for the cele
bration is "It's a New Dawn; It's a
New Day." There will be a perform
ance by The Elegba from the Yoruba
cosmology. The celebration will dis
play the tradition of a procession of
the elders and the Harambee Circle.
The celebration will have fun and
activities for young and old.
Information about directions can be
retrieved from The Cary Arts Center
at 919-469-4069. For more informa
tion, contact Lester Thomas at 919
380-7020 or email
lesterthomas845@yahoo.com.
Dec. 29 - "Peter and the Wolf'
Peppercorn Theatre's "Peter and
the Wolf' will be Dec. 29,11 a.m., 1
p.m. and 3 p.m. in the James A. Gray
Jr. Auditorium, Old Salem Visitor
Center. This classic story is retold
through music and dance in a collab
oration between Music Carolina
(Carolina Chamber Symphony
Players), Helen Simoneau Danse and
Peppercorn Theatre. Appropriate for
all ages. Tickets: $8 - Child, $12 -
Adult, $35 - Family Pack
Dec. 30 - Kwanzaa Nia
Celebration
The Winston-Salem Urban
League will present the annual city
wide Kwanzaa celebration on Friday,
Dec."30 at 6 p.m. The celebration will
be held at Grace Presbyterian Church,
3901 Carver School Road. The cele
bration will focus on Nia (Purpose)
focusing on one of the seven princi
ples of Kwanzaa. The Nia day is
sponsored by Grace Presbyterian
Church. The program is family ori
ented including African drumming,
music, service recognitions, inspira
tional messages, food and fellowship.
The event is fiee and open to the pub
lic. For more information, call 336
722-4399 or 767-7530.
Dec. 31 - Kwanzaa Kuumba
Celebration
The Winston-Salem Urban
League will present the annual city
wide Kwanzaa celebration on
Saturday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. The cele
bration will be held at Arts Council
Theatre, 610 Coliseum Drive. The
celebration will focus on Kuumba
(Creativity) focusing on one of the
seven principles of Kwanzaa. The
Kuumba day is sponsored by NC
Black Repertory Theatre Company
and Forsyth County Public Library.
The program is family oriented
including African drumming, music,
service recognitions, inspirational
messages, food and fellowship. The
event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 336-703
2953.
Dec. 31 - New Year's Concert
Winston-Salem Symphony will
hold a New Year's Eve concert with
singer, violinist and banjo player
Rhiannon Giddens performing a
night of bluegrass, folk and jazz on
Saturday, Dec. 31. The concert will
be held at Reynolds Auditorium, 301
N. Hawthorne Road, at 8 p.m. The
concert will include songs from
Shuffle Along such as "Waterboy,"
"La Vie en Rose," "Maple Leaf Rag"
under the baton of Maestro Robert
Moody. Tickets range from $20 -
$67, and are available in advance by
calling the Symphony Box Office at
336-464-0145 or at
WSsymphony.org.
Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve cele
bration
The Winston-Salem Fairgrounds
and Bowl Northside have teamed up
for the second consecutive year for a
New Year's Eve celebration on
Saturday, Dec. 31. For $20 people
can skate at the Fairgrounds Annex
from 8-10 p.m. and then head on over
to Bowl Northside for Laser Bowl
from 10 p.m. - 1 am. Party Favors
(hats, beads, noisemakers) are includ
ed in the Bowling Laser Party.
Tickets for the combined event can be
purchased at www.ticketmaster.com
(search Winston-Salem Fairgrounds)
or at the Fairgrounds Annex Box
Office at 414 Deacon Blvd. in
Winston-Salem. Tickets may be pur
chased the night of the events but
they are subject to availability. All
guests must present ticket at Bowling
Lanes, otherwise pricing is regular
price for both venues. Northside
Lanes is the only smoke free and
alcohol free bowling center in
Forsyth County.
Dec. 31 - Noon Year's Eve
The Children's Museum will have
a Noon Years Eve Celebration, Dec.
31,10 a.m.
It's a Kids' Countodown to Noon
Year's Eve. Families can create sound
shakers in the Art Studio beginning at
10 a.m.. At 11:40 a.m., the group will
gather together for fun songs, silly
activities and a storytime, ending
with a countdown to the noon year!
Dec. 31, March 24 & 25 - Hops
Conference
The South Atlantic Hops
Conference, Crowne Plaze Resort
One Resort Drive, Asheville NC, will
be held on March 24 and 25.
Registration can be completed by
Saturday, Dec. 31. Registration for
Friday and Saturday can be purchased
separately. The cost for both days is
$127.59, with prices increasing to
$50 after registration deadline. The
conference organized by N.C. State
University, Virginia Tech, Virginia
State University, four regional hop
growers and a malt maker will focus
on educating, enlightening and
engaging growers, brewers and other
interested parties about the South
Atlantic hops industry. The topics dis
cussed will focus on hop cone chem
istry, brewers' opinions of local hops,
regional research results, up and com
ing varieties and experiences with
hop harvesters. There will be a
tradeshow and poster session; lunch
will be included. For more informa
tion, orisit
https://www.eventbrite.eom/e/2017
south-atlantic-hops-conference-tick
ets-26084925715.
Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa Imani
Celebration
The Winston-Salem Urban
League will present the annual city
wide Kwanzaa celebration on
Sunday, Jan. 1 at 2 p.m. The celebra
tion will be held at Qld Salem
Museums & Gardens, 900 Old Salem
Road. The celebration will focus on
Imani (Faith) focusing on one of the
seven principles of Kwanzaa. The
Imani day is sponsored by Greater
Vision Dance Company and St.
Philips Heritage Center. The program
is family oriented including African
drumming, music, service recogni
tions, inspirational messages, food
and fellowship. Warren and Geoijean
Moore, Owners of Irie Rhythms
Restaurant is the honoree. The event
is free and open to the public. For
more information, call 336-703-2953.
Now - Jan. I - Festival of
Lights
Tangle wood Park, 4061
Clemmons Rd, Clemmons NC, will
celebrate the 25th anniversary
Festival of Lights now - Sunday, Jan.
I nightly from 6 pan. - 11 p.m. The
park will have brand new light dis
plays along with the return of
S'moresville at the Gift Village clos
ing each night at 10 pjn. The gift vil
lage will also have concessions, Mr.
and Mrs. Claus and performers. For
more information, about tickets,
events and staying at Tangle wood visit
http://www.forsyth .cc/Parks/Tanglew
ood/fol or call 336-703-6481.
Jan. 2 - Emancipation
Association Program
The Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach, pas
tor of Morning Star Missionary
Baptist Church, will address the
annual Emancipation Association
Program on Monday, Jan. 2,2017, at
II a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church,
1075 Shalimar Drive in Winston
Salem. The Rev. Dr. John Mendez is
host pastor. Jannette Piggott will pre
side. This program marks the 154th
anniversary of the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation.
Jan. 5 - "In Pursuit Of Justice"
screening
Winston-Salem filmmakers
Gregg Jamback and Jamie Huss of
Swiftwater Media invite the public to
a special evening that includes a
work-in-progress screening of their
film, "In Pursuit Of Justice," 7 pjn.,
Thursday, Jan. 5, at HanesBrands
Theatre in downtown Winston
Salem. Admission is free. For years
See Comm. Cat on B7