Wednesday, March 13,2002
Singie Copies 50$ )
Titanic focus
of Mbrary
exhiMt...... 1-B
reglona! compet!t!on. 12-A
Chap!ains
perform va!uaMo
serv!ce for patients.8-A
Eden ton will be alive with art on the weekend of March 22
as The Chowan Arts Council hosts three talented artists
from around the state — Kim Robertson of Wilmington,
Carol Owen of Pittsboro, and Grace Cathey of Waynesville.
The Arts Council will present the unique works of
Robertson and Owen in an exhibit at the CAC Gallery
beginning March 22. The CAC's executive director, Sue
Clark, says, "1 was drawn to the fresh use of traditional
materials and the innovative combination of mediums
employed by both of these artists. The images and treat
ments of both artists inspired me personally and I wanted to
be able to share their work with people in the northeastern
part of the state."
Kim Robertson works with photographs, transferring
them with a chemical process onto handmade paper. The
images are then watercolored, re-photographed, and further
altered achieving remarkably evocative results. Carol Owen
will exhibit her "Spirit Houses" based on the Thai tradition
of constructing family shrines to ward off evil. The small
houses are multi-media constructions often including old
photographs, letters, handmade papers, and other ephemera.
The Chowan Arts Council will host an opening reception
Caro! Owens w!!! exhibit her Spirit Houses'
Nature inspires the art af Grace Cathey
for these remarkable women March 22 at 5:30 p.m. The
reception is free and open to the public. "We are hoping for
a wonderful turnout to welcome these special guests."
Edenton is expecting another treat with the visit of metal
artist Grace Cathey of Waynesville. She will be here with an
array of sculpture in a garden show on Saturday, March 23.
On display will be swallowtail butterflies, dragonflies,
praying mantises, frogs, turtles, trellises, teapots, tables,
lamps, and much more.
Grace Cathey is a former painter, printmaker, and weaver
that transitioned into metal. Her work has won numerous
awards and was a solo exhibitor for the Museum of Natural
Science in Raleigh. She researches her animals, trying to be
as correct as possible. She draws them first, then places
them on the metal, and cuts them with an air plasma cutter.
The figures are then burnished with an oxyacetylene torch.
The outdoor exhibit featuring garden art and sculpture
See ARTISTS On Page 4-A
Nixon Regional
Principal of Year
Edenton-Chowan Schools'
top administrator for 2001-02
can add another honor to her
list of accomplishments: White
Oak School principal Mary
Nixon has been named the
Northeast Region Wachovia
Principal of the Year.
"Mrs. Nixon exemplifies the
kind of principal anyone could
wish for," said Edenton
Chowan Schools superinten
dent Allan T. Smith. "I'm glad
to see the selection committee
recognized what we in Chowan
County have known for years.
Mary's dedication to the stu
dents, parents and her feilow
educators is without parallel."
Nixon credits White Oak
staff and parents for her suc
cess as a principal.
"I have been blessed through
out many years in education to
be surrounded by supportive
staff and parents," Nixon said.
"Iam honored that our school's
accomplishments are being
recognized through the Prin
cipal of the Year program."
The Wachovia program rec
ognizes public school princi
pals throughout North Ca
rolins. Candidates are judged
on many criteria including the
demonstrated ability to im
prove achievement of all stu
dents from various back
Mary Ntxon
grounds and capabiiity levels.
Nixon competed with ad
ministrators from 17 other
counties in the northeast re
gion in such areas as school
community relations, educa
tional philosophy and prac
tices. improving student
achievement and facilitating
professional growth of her
staff, among other things.
As a regional winner, Nixon
receives $2,000for her personal
use and $2,000 for the use of her
school. The Wachovia Princi
pal of the Year for the state is
chosen from the six regional
winners. To select the Princi
pal of the Year, the state selec
tion team visits the schools of
each of the regional finalists in
March. The state winner is
announced in May.
Permanent marker now rests at Providence burial site
BY HELEN K. OUTLAND
Nta# IVriier
A community came together
Wednesday, Feb. 27 for the un
veiling and dedication of a per
manent historical marker at
Providence Cemetery. It was a
long-awaited moment as Dis
trict Court Judge J. C. Cole
honored those from the past
that rest in peace at Provi
dence. He also honored those
who in more recent years had
struggled and sacrificed to
bring the community of
Chowan County together for a
momentous occasion.
Commissioner Louis Bel
field opened the ceremony, say
ing, "This is a very significant
event for Edenton, North Caro
lina. As Edentonians and resi
dence of Chowan County we
are proud to stand at the site of
the cemetery which is the final
resting place of many free
blacks, slaves, and former
slaves. They are the famous
and the ordinary who struggled
and triumphed to make this
one of the nation's greatest
County Commisisoner James Taytor waits his turn to speak at the ceremony
where a permanent marker at Providence was unveited. (Heten Outiand photo)
towps."
Belficld otiered thanks to
those committees and organi
zation saying, "We are encour
aged and inspired by your cour
age and willingness to serve,
your visionary planning, your
perseverance, and your unity
of purpose in seeing the impor
tant task accomplished. Be
proud of your work, for you
have added to the legacy of our
town and in doing so Edenton
has proved that a town can be
progressive whiie at the same
time preserving, honoring, and
celebrating its past."
Norman Brinkley of Kadesh
A.M.E. Zion Church led those
gathered in the Pledge of Alle
giance before introducing key
note speaker for the dedication
the Honorable J. C. Cole, Dis
trict Court Judge of the 1st Dis
trict. "It is extremely impor
tant that we all respect our his
tory and our traditions." be
gan Judge Cole. "It is impor
tanttopreserveourhistory and
oUr traditions. We are a nation
of communities, a complex net
work of environment, people.
relationships, and traditions
that are shapingour daily lives
and defining who we are. "
Judge Cole went onto remind
those present that their contri
butions help to shape the world
and praised those who had
dedicated themselves to the
cause of preserving Providence
Cemetery and its place in the
defining moment of history.
"This is a wonderful recogni
tion of a community coming
together to understand the
past, and creating a future for
children to understandthecon
tributions of African Ameri
cans to Edenton. Chowan, and
the whoie Albemarle area."
Although many of the Afri
can Americans to whom trib
ute was paid are iong dead,
J udge Cole rem inded everyone
that there are those significant
in the shaping of Edenton and
the country's history and are
deserving of honor as well.
"Edenton you should be proud
of yourself," added Judge Cole.
"This recognition of a history
See MARKER On Page 4-A
Wright is recognized for volunteer spirit
BY HELEN K. OUTLAND
Sta# Writer
Peggy Wright was recently
honored as Volunteer of the
Year for her selfless contribu
tion of time and efforts to the
Barker House. The chairman
of the Edenton Historical Com
mission and Director of the
Department of Social Services,
Ben Rose, presented Wright a
plaque of recognition and ap
preciation.
" Peggy isaleading example
of what comm. Service and
volunteerism is about for the
Edenton Historical Commis
sion," said Rose.
Wright has served the
Chairman Ben Rose congratutates Peggy Wright
Barker House for a long time
and spent as many as three
weekends a month donating
her time.
"Peggy has been at it longer
than Penelope," says Bev
Kirchmier, executive director
for the Barker House. "Peggy
started out as a paid tour guide.
After she retired from that,
then she went on as a paid vol
unteer for weekends.
Wright has worked as a tour
guide for the site for 10 and
one-half years. Her knowledge
of the Barker House is exten
sive. "If there is a problem
Peggy will be here in ten min
utes," says Kirchmier. "She is
a terrific asset."
Ronored yor
John Cutter, executive director of the Chowan
Regiona) Heaith Care Foundation, recognizes outgoing
board members Anne Parrish, !eft, and Thetma Smith.
at the
Barker House
refreshments
Orthodox Church Seminar
7:30 P.M.. Mon. - Tues.-Wed.-Thurs.. March 18-19-20-21, Free to Public
.4
Piease see
neujsstonL/&
2 dtsp^aL/ ads
in this issue/
W *