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PERQUIMANS COUNTY LIBRARY
514 S CHURCH ST
HERTFORD NC 27944-1225
E EK LY
PHS honors Class of 2020, A6-B1
"News from Next Door”
NEWS
Steinburg: Stay-at-home Order Should
End Soon — A2
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020
OPINION
Columnists, Newspaper gives Opinions
on Stay-at-home Order, COVID-19 — A4
KIDS’ CORNER
Earth Day is the Theme of this Week’s
Page — B2
$1.00
CHURCH
Gospel that Harms, Hurts then Heals
— B4
Country Doctor Retires After 35 Years of Service
Dr. Neal Denunzio's known for
house calls, dry humor
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
Maybe the rest of the nation is
transfixed by the latest develop
ments arising from the corona
virus, but in Perquimans County
- folks want to know more about
how their neighbors are doing
with the latest tidbit being the big
news about Dr. Neil Denunzio’s re
tirement.
“He’s a funny guy,” said Ashlea
White Davis of Hertford who has
known the good doctor for 35
years. “Dry humor and he’s quick
with a joke with many of his pa
tients. A compassionate man, he is
a caring doctor who strives to fig
ure out problems. Truly thankful
for his care and friendship.”
Under Denunzio’s care, Mary
White lived to a ripe old age.
“My mother, Mary, who taught
many, many students over the
years, was a patient of Dr. Denun-
zio,” said Glenn White, also a pa
tient of Dr. Denunzio. “He always
took the time to see her for any ail
ment she might have had. I credit
him for helping to keep her stay
active over the last several years
of the 104 years she lived. He
brought his whole family to her
100th birthday celebration we had
for her at Piney Woods Friends
Meeting.”
Like mother like son, White
trusts this doctor with a proven
track record.
“When I came back to Perqui
mans County after having lived
in Fayetteville for many years, Dr.
Denunzio was the natural choice
of a doctor for me,” he said.
See DOCTOR, A3
SUBMITTED PHOTO
After 35 years
serving patients
in Perquimans
County, Dr.
Neil Denunzio
is retiring.
Thank you for
your care and
service to the
community.
ARHS Gives
Update on
COVID-19
Cases
BY STAFF REPORTS
ELIZABETH CITY - Albemarle
Regional Health Services reports
that as of Monday, there are 4,816
lab confirmed positive cases of
COVID-19 in North Carolina. Lab
confirmed positive COVID-19 cas
es across the Albemarle Regional
Health Services (ARHS) region
include:
■ Perquimans Comity - 4 lab
confirmed cases — 2 active and 2
recovered
■ Pasquotank County - 15 lab
confirmed cases — 7 active and 8
recovered
■ Camden County - 0 cases
■ Chowan County - 3 lab con
firmed cases — 2 active and 1 re
covered
■ Currituck County-3 lab con
firmed cases — 2 active and 1 re
covered
■ Bertie County - 12 lab con
firmed cases — 1 active, 10 recov
ered, and 1 death
■ Gates County - 4 lab con
firmed cases — 0 active and 4 re
covered
■ Hertford County - 4 lab con
firmed cases — 1 active, 2 recov
ered, and 1 death
Cases identified as recovered
means individuals have had no
fever for at least 72 hours without
the use of medicine that reduces
fever, have been without symp
toms for at least seven days, and
other symptoms have improved.
ARHS will continue to update the
338-WELL line with active and re
covered cases.
As Tarheels begin the third
week of the Stay at Home order it
is imperative that folks continue
to practice preventive and safety
measures that will help prevent
the spread of the COVID -19. These
precautions include:
■ Avoid close contact with peo-
See COVID-19, A3
EDITOR’S NOTE
Due to technical difficulties, a
story about Hertford Town Council’s
Monday meeting will appear in
next week’s Perquimans Weekly.
Like many municipal governments,
council is using technology to keep
connected during the coronavirus
pandemic. Council meetings are
conducted via Zoom, a teleconfer
ence application.
6
89076 47144
2
Vol. 86, No. 16
@2020 Perquimans Weekly
All Rights Reserved
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
No, that’s not the “White Rabbit” from Jefferson Airplane nor the one from “Alice in Wonderland”
but is instead the Trix’ cereal Rabbit’s more successful/better looking brother, the Easter Bunny.
This traveling rabbit brought joy to children near and far as he crisscrossed Perquimans County.
Traveling Easter Bunny visits
Thank-you Easter Bunny!
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
Easter Bunny visited Perqui
mans County to help boost the
spirits of children who weren’t
able to attend egg hunts at
church on Sunday because of
the coronavirus and social dis
tancing measures.
“I decided to do this because
in a time of need, the commu
nity needed something to bring
joy to them. I wanted to give
back to the community and
have something they would re
member in spite of our current
national circumstance,” said
the Easter Bunny, aka Darius
White.
Easter Bunny hopped to
places near and far including
Winfall, downtown Hertford,
Stokes Street, Meads Mobile
Home Park, Wynne Fork Court,
Snug Harbor, Holiday Island,
New Hope, Woodville, Chapa-
noke, Cottonwood and then
hippety-hoppety back to Win-
Pierce Plants PQ County’s Future Farmers
Instructor named NC Farm
Bureau’s Teacher of the Year
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
Perquimans Central School
teacher Stacey Pierce has been
named N.C. Farm Bureau’s 2020
Ag in the Classroom Teacher of
the Year.
“Yes, I was very surprised to
win this award,” she said. “My
first thought was ‘Wow! I was
picked for teacher of the year out
of all the wonderful teachers in
North Carolina! I am truly hum
bled and blessed!’”
Pierce’s approach to integrat
ing agricultural concepts into
Easter Bunny’s posse includes the driver, Elbert Sawyer, Sheila
Glasscock riding shotgun, and beside the Easter Bunny is
Kelsey Anderson - all staff at Perquimans Middle School. Be
epic if the Jeep’s stereo was playing, “Ice, Ice Baby” as they
cruised through the county, "Rollin’ In my 5.0 with the rag-top
down so my hair can blow...”
fall.
“The Easter Bunny brings
excitement to kids. However,
this Easter Bunny was special.
This Easter Bunny brought joy
to everyone no matter the age
in such a difficult time as this,”
said the rabbit.
Pirates’s Class of 2014, this
proud native son of Perquim
ans County works as the health
and physical education teacher,
See BUNNY, A3
classroom curriculum was judged
to be the most effective among
her peers, according to informa
tion provided by Farm Bureau.
Pierce has hosted numerous ag
science events at school and won
several Going Local classroom
grants.
“Agriculture is an important
part of everyone’s life,” said N.C.
Farm Bureau President Shawn
Harding. “Clothing, food, fuel,
housing, medicine, and much
more are rooted on the farm. Ag
ricultural issues can support the
teaching of many academic disci
plines. Stacey is a shining exam
ple of a teacher who truly cares
about the students and what they
See PIERCE, A3
Round-up
Rabbits
& Easter
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
A round-up of all things Perqui
mans County-
Gold star to Mayor Earnell
Brown and PNC Bank! At the
request of a Hertford citizen
needing access to PNG’s down-
j town bank, Brown reached out
| to the bank executives to ask
them to please reopen. Bank’s
services are needed, especially
for seniors with limited transpor-
> tation. Mayor reports that PNC
reopened their drive-up windows
on Monday!
Hours:
M-F, 10-2 p.m. (April 13-17).
M-F, 10-5 p.m. (April 20-until).
You must call for an appt, to go
inside.
Monday’s storm was wild - Per
Albemarle Electric, there were
nearly 500 customers without
power - most in the southern end
of the county. Winds blowing be
tween 50 mph and 6 mph blasted
through the region. Rain gauge
says .37 inches.
White caps in the Sound, so not
a good time to be sailing or kaya
king (joke). During what could be
called the storm surge, the Town
docks by Hertford Bay Marina
See LAYTON, A3
PHOTO BY MARTHA BORDERS
Easter Bunny or Trix the Rabbit
from the cereal box?
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Congrats goes
to Perquimans
Central School’s
Stacey Pierce
who has been
named NC
Farm Bureau's
Agriculture in
the Classroom’s
Teacher of the
Year.