Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 22, 2020, edition 1 / Page 2
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A2 THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22,2020 PURCHASES Continued from Al were made. “Improved communica tion was one of my top pri ority campaign objectives,” Brown writes in the memo dated Jan. 6. “Hence, one of my first accomplishments after election, with then Mayor (Horace) Reid’s ap proval, was to set up my office to receive citizens, potential new residents and businesses, as to con duct effective meetings in a professional inspiring environment that encour ages positive dialogue with all and to aspire our youth, through example, that they too can achieve their high est potential.” List provided by Town Hall includes purchases of a desk, conference table, television, TV mount, file cabinet, bookcase, pencil drawer, carpet floor mat, dry erase board, printer, paper shredder, etc. Biggest purchases were the Bowery Hill Execu tive desk for $456 (price includes tax and shipping) and a 42-inch wooden con ference table for $227. , Photos provided by Town Hall of the mayor’s office show that prior to the purchases, this work place was a very simple, Spartan place filled with the bare essentials - a desk, a trio of 70s’ era chairs, a MIK Continued from Al both King’s words with themes from R&B singer Marvin Gaye’s 1971 tut, “What’s Going On.” Gaye wrote the song after his brother returned from Vietnam to a nation that was divided and filled with overtones of unrest; dealing with the same is sues then as now. Perhaps because “What’s Going on” is such a great song, maybe the lyrics are worth revisiting particular ly as Leigh used the song’s refrain throughout her-in- spiring speech. Father, father We don’t need to esca late You see, war is not the answer For only love can con quer hate You know we’ve got to find a way To bring some lovin’ here today Picket lines and picket signs Don’t punish me with brutality Talk to me, so you can see Oh, what’s going on What’s going on Yeah, what’s going on Ah, what’s going on Mother, mother, every body thinks we’re wrong Oh, but who are they to judge us Simply because our hair is long Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way To bring some under standing here today Now try getting that song out of your head today, but back to task at hand - Leigh’s speech. “It appears there is a growing level of hatred and growing division P Tme ERQUIMANS A ^WE E K LY (USPS428-080) Vol. 88 No. 4 Published Each Wednesday A publication of Adams Publishing Group Established 1934 111 W. Market St., Hertford, NC 27944 Robin L. Quillon Publisher Miles Layton Editor Bev Alexander. Advertising Representative Phone 252426-5728 ■ Fax 252-4264625 Email: perquimansweekly@ncweeklies.com Subscription Rate Home delivery. $35 per year POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Perquimans Weekly, Hertford, NC 27944 bookshelf - space reminis cent of a junior grade army officer’s staff office when serving in a far flung the ater of operations. Photos show that after the furniture and other items were purchased, the new office is more in line with modern standards - professional wooden desk complimented by technol ogy - imagine an assistant dean’s office at a small state university. Brown’s list was sub mitted Nov. 14 and the purchases from Walmart, and Amazon were made in early December before she took the oath of office Dec. 9. After being purchased, a majority of the items weren’t shipped until a few days or weeks later. Perspective is need ed to provide context to these purchases and Brown’s memo that echoes what she said to council during a back and forth- dialogue she was having with Councilmen Frank Norman and Quen tin Jackson, who first brought the matter to the public’s attention during the Jan. 6 work session. Brown defeated Jack- son’s bid for mayor in the Nov. 5 municipal election. Subsequently, there had been some question as to whether Brown would be able to take the oath as mayor and Jerry Mimlitsch along with Ashley Hodges PHOTO BY MILES LAYTON Perquimans NAACP President Fred Yates presents Leigh with a plaque on behalf of the NAACP that pays tribute to her service to the community. among us, however we cel ebrate the life and legacy of man who said, ‘O God, help us to walk together, pray together, and live to gether until that day when all God’s children, black, white, red and yellow will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the kingdom of our Lord,”’ said Leigh, who is also pre siding elder and a pastor in the Albemarle Annual Conference of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District. “Are we gathered to day because Mayor Yates asked us?” she continued. “Are we gathered togeth er just because it is the right thing to do? Or are we gathered together to reach beyond the basics, step out of faith and strive would be able to take their oaths as new council mem bers. Soon after the election, Jackson sought an injunc tion to halt the new council from being sworn-in so as to have more time to ad dress his issues from No vember’s municipal elec tion when he lost his bid for mayor. However, a Wake Coun ty Court dismissed Jack- son’s attempts to overturn the election, so the mayor and new councilmen were sworn-in Dec. 6. During this contentious time period, Brown submit ted a lis t of items on Nov. 14 for purchase to Town Man ager Pam Hurdle, accord ing to the mayor’s memo. Jackson, who was then serving as mayor pro-tem, tried to block the purchase. Mayor Reid intervened and approved the requisition of the furniture and office ac cessories. During council’s Jan. 6 work session, Jackson objected to the purchases because they were not ap proved by council, but by the mayor who he said is not a member of council, but the presiding officer who can only vote in the case of a tie. The exchange between Brown and Jackson came on the heels of heated dis cussions about the town’s travel policy as it related to Jackson’s taxpayer funded for excellence without excuse by asking God to help us to suirender his great love that covers all sins and makes us into a clean container in which he dwells in love?” Quoting King, Leigh said, “There comes a time when a man must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because con B.A.B.Y. Continued from Al The class takes away the stigma of ‘I don’t know ev erything 1 and provides the mother an opportunity to be able to make more in formed decisions based on the resources and up-to- date knowledge provided in the B.A.B.Y. classes - ba sically another avenue of support for the mother and infant.” Wanda Stallings, Health Educator at Albemarle Re gional Health Services, ex plained why this program is life changing for new mothers. “Starting a new baby’s life with an informed moth er and community sup ports in place are vitalfor the mother and child, and can help to determine that Child’s health and educa tional success.” Sarah Williams, CPSSP Program Coordinator, add ed, “It has been a commu- nity effort over the years to provide this program for mothers. Albemarle Regional Health Services and our staff facilitate the classes, and are support ed in their endeavor by trip to attend a conference in San Antonio in Novem ber. Norman said the pur chase of furniture and other items circumvented council’s authority. “Anything spent out of the council budget, re quires council consent,” he said. Citing the town’s charter, Brown said because the expenditure was under a $2,000, a budget amend ment seeking council’s ap proval was not required. “This is all above board,” she said. During the council meet ing and as part of the Jan. 6 memo, Brown elaborated her reasons for buying the furniture and office sup plies. “After my successful election Nov. 5, I learned that I could refurnish the Mayor’s office. Mayor Reid was also given the opportu nity to refurnish his office, but chose not to,” Brown wrote in her memo. “Per sonally, this was very im portant because my work environment is conducive to my productivity, and pre sentation communicates credibility...The items were paid for from the council budget, which I am a mem ber and it was not a cost overrun.” Miles Layton can be reached at mlayton@ ncweeklies.com science tells him it is right.” Leigh urged her listen ers to strive to “do what is right.” “This world is not our home. We are just passing through, however, while we are passing through, let us be containers of love,” she said. “Let us work to gether, walk together and not get weary in doing what is right.” Albemarle Pregnancy Re source Center and Medical Clinic, Chowan Safe Kids, Triple P (Positive Parent ing Program), and Vidant Chowan Pediatrics. Fund ed by Smart Start Funds and a grant from the Vidant Chowan Hospital Founda tion, the mothers are able to receive needed items for their baby, as well as a car seat that is installed by Chowan Safe Kids upon graduation.” Here are some of the comments from mothers who have taken the class over the years: “Loved the selected top ics geared towards specif ic needs of pregnant/new moms and enjoyed meet ing conununity healthcare professionals (Pediatrician and Health Department) and haring time to ask can did questions in a wann, in viting atmosphere.” “I liked the resources that were provided and the explanations and examples given to ensure knowledge and safety to our babies.” “I liked haring open dis cussions with other women going through pregnancy who understand my con cerns and can help me understand better what to LAYTON Continued from Al referred to as baseball’s first big-money free agent. He was a member of five World Series championship teams. In other news, there’s no denying Hertford’s mayor’s office needed new furniture. Yes, for various reasons, it is a news story. Long sigh... However, Mayor Ear- nell Brown is correct - a clean, well-organized office conveys a strong message for citizens, travelers, per haps children seeking a role model, that public affairs are in order. On a related note, knock on wood, it appears that while recent council meet ings have tended to last longer than congressional debates, the personalities appear to be more respect ful of each other and deco rum is being observed. On that note, the record for the longest individu al speech goes to South Carolina’s J. Strom Thur mond who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, so Hertford Town Council meetings could be worse. In other matters, Bridget Jernigan reached out to the newspaper to promote the KEYS program and the upcoming Perquimans’ First Responders Ball that will be held March 28. Sponsored by the Per quimans County Sheriffs Department, this will be a first class event at the Albe marle Plantation - a roaring 20’s theme. There are 200 tickets are available. All of the profits are being donated to KEYS, Keeping Every Youth Safe. Founded in the spring of 2018, the program serves the same purpose as Safe Schools does in Elizabeth City. The group raises money to provide school safety needs. Last spring, the group completed a $1,500 project for the grammar school of haring windows covered in 3M safety film. As to the upcoming ball, the group hopes to raise enough money at this event to purchase a metal detec tor for the middle school and to cross off some other items that are in an urgent need status. Congratulations to HPD Chief Brown who recent ly completed the Chiefs Course at the North Caroli na Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. Also, congratulations Of ficer Downing who recently completed the 40-hour Use of Force Training offered through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Salemburg. Downing reviewed state law, com pleted Verbal Judo, wrote numerous reports and spent time on a simulator expect.” “I’d say that the Labor Class was my favorite class. It helped me to obtain some knowledge of what to ex pect as far as your pain management options, such as epidural or natural. You can’t fully prepare your self for what you will go through, but knowing the physical changes and steps of labor makes me feel much more comfortable and knowledgeable about what to expect.” “The class was by far the best experience a new mom could hope for. It left me with plenty of tips and resources that I will contin ue to use as my baby devel ops.” To register for B.A.B.Y. class, contact Sherlton Broadnax or Sarah Wil- 2 Minzies Creek v Sanitary District Monthly meeting will be held on SATURDAY JANUARY 25,2020 AT 10:00am The Meeting Will Be Held at 139 Treasure Lane, Hertford which provided him dees calation training with real world application. Future stories the Perquimans Weekly will be pursuing include one about Perquimans’ Pirate Claribel Ordaz-Rios, who I’m told has a pretty amazing story. Per our church feature, the newspaper has reached out Piney Woods Friends Meeting church so as to j learn more about Quakers,, who’ve had a big influence in Perquimans County. Point of this series is to introduce, maybe reintro duce, these communities , of faith, perhaps get more folks in the pews. And plans are afoot to do a story about HPD Officer Castellanos and his K9 named Diesel. Lastly, here’s this nug get that the newspaper received from Ed Sanford, president of the Perquim ans Arts League, who said , there was a great reception Jan. 16 evening for our first show of 2020, “History & Heritage”. Exhibit runs until Feb. 26. The featured artist is ! the multi-talented Nora Crouch. The quality of the work in the show is outstanding. The subject matter is very appropriate because there are many vintage buildings in the area that offer artists the opportunity to explore the presentation of architec ture from many different perspectives. Of course, Nora creatively offered both paintings and pho tography in her featured work. Nora is currently , a featured artist at the Clubhouse at Albemarle Plantation, and she is exhibiting work at the an nual Nansemond Suffolk Academy show, which starts next week. Wow, how does she do it all! Sanford’s email said the exhibit’s reception was especially satisfy ing because he had the pleasure of meeting some veiy interesting people. He had a good conversation with Tim and Kim Brinn, both of whom are involved in projects to document the history of the town in conjunction with the current effort to rejuve nate Hertford. Sanford met Thomas Waller is a newcomer to the area from New Orleans. He is a design professional, and he has volunteered to help us plan the design for our new gallery. And Sanford met Eliza- ; beth Jones, who has deep roots in Hertford and has recently moved here from Charleston South Carolina; She is currently restoring J an historic home here in ) Hertford that has been in ’ her family for several gener ations. Miles Layton can b^ reached at mlayton® ncweeklies.com 4 lianas at 252482-3035. We also offer other parenting classes and information about available resource^ for cluldren up to age five.) 208 S. Broad St. Edenton Taylortheater.com • (252) 368-1595 Now Showing DOLITTLE (Rated PG) RICHARD JEWELL Last showing on 23rd (Rated R) Starting January 24 1917 ■ 7pm shows EVERY NIGHT Matinees Friday-Sunday We can’t wait to watch with you!
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