Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / June 18, 2008, edition 1 / Page 1
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482-4418 Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Edenton's first B&B to close after 26 years m From art to dry wall, Bill Hoffman teaches it all bi / Town going green? By John Rothchild Contributing Writer The Edenton Green Ener gy Fair made a timely debut oil hit $135 a barrel two weeks later. Cy Rich, who’s turned a pasture into a solar farm and keeps up with state and national energy trends, says we’ll have fond memories of today’s utility bills in five years, when they’ll be twice as high or higher. Are our city and county prepared for this? . Where does Edenton stand on the green scale? We may have missed out on the library addition and the new police station — they’re already built, and not to LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is mandatory for public buildings in some states, not yet in North Car olina. Using a car analogy, LEED puts you in a Prius or Saturn Two-Mode, as op ppsed to a Hummer H2. To be fair, the recent proj ects came off the drawing board before the latest fuel price lift-off, with the U.S. not yet on full guzzler alert. Now we’re alerted, so what about the upgrade at the high school? "At this point," says school board member Gil Burroughs, “we’re talking to an architectural firm. “An energy-efficient de sign costs more to build, but gives us huge savings long term. We ought to do it, look beyond the short term. The school system has an obliga tion to«et an example for the community. The board, then the county commission, will have to decide.” ♦ ♦ ♦ Meanwhile, nobody’s put ting money into energy rehab before the school’s renovated. “Everything’s on hold,” says Burroughs. Same story at Chowan County headquarters on King Street, the ex-hotel dec orated with room air condi tioners — some looking hag gard; a few, historic. ; “We plan to relocate in two years,” says new Coun ty Manager Peter Rascoe. , Why waste cash on empty rooms? Since Town Hall on Broad Street isn’t going anywhere, City Manager. Anne-Marie Knighton wants to put it through an energy audit. In spired by the recent Green Fair, Knighton said: “we’ve already turned off the chan deliers, and we’re checking out ceiling fans. If we ask our customers to take ac tion, so should we.” Changing light bulbs, cleaning furnaces — does this small stuff really make a difference? Orville Mason is the right person to ask. A journeyman electrician (in Michigan), convenience store owner (in West Virgin ia), Mason retired to Eden ton, then quickly unretired — “too much time on my See GREENING, Page A2 ► 006 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved GRAIN BIN COLLAPSES AT C.A. PERRY AND SON ■"1 -ti-" 0^U,:ul;y mmtirxaaaSt Vernon Fueston One large grain bin full of wheat collapsed at C.A. Perry and Son in Hobbsville Monday morning. No one was hurt in the accident. The collapse happened about 11:45. As the first bin collapsed, it apparently tore open a second. By Vernon Fueston Contributing Writer With a record $1.2 million scholarship bounty to send them on their way, members of this year’s graduating class of Edenton’s John A. Holmes High School gath ered one last time before commencing their journeys onto new careers. Friday’s skies were cloud less but hazy with smoke from nearby forest and agri cultural fires. Debris from a windstorm that scattered tree limbs and sections of the nearby Hicks Field fence had to be cleared before ceremonies could take place in the stadium, but everything went off as scheduled. More than 1,300 spectators attended the ceremony with 100-plus standing along the fence line after the stands were filled. Eighty-one percent of the school’s 121 graduates will be attending college, 45 per cent of them at four-year institutions. Seven will be enlisting in the military. Valedictorian Kallie By rum told her classmates that graduation would launch them into a sea of troubles, but that ships were not built for the safety of harbors. Justin Falls/The Daily Advance Left, sisters Alexis Johnson, 7, and right, Kiaira Beasley, 12, look up at their newly graduated sister Sentoria Johnson, 17, after the commencement ceremony at Holmes Friday night. ..Addressing the students was state senator Edward W. Jones, who reminded the graduates that, in the words of Rev. T. D. Jakes, “Success is intentional.” Gregory Downing won a Gates Millennium Scholar ship valued at up to $80,000 while Chess. Chesson re ceived an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Kallie Byrum and Gregory Downing were the recipients of North Carolina Teaching Fellowships. Richard Charlton, Ta neesha Cartel and Javonte Brown received four-year Army ROTC scholarships and a $36,000 scholarship to Arizona State University went to Justin Stone. Anthony Adams received a scholarship to Chowan University. ’ Three students received football scholarships to North Carolina Wesleyan College. They were Jesse Southerland, Cameron Mizell and Timaine Moore. The board of education awarded $20,000 scholar ships to Phillip Davis, Kelsey Lichtenwalner and Jesse Southerland. Krystal Roberts received a scholar ship to Elizabeth City State University. Chowan Arts Council renovations complete New show to open Friday at 5:30 p.m. By Rebecca Bunch Staff Writer Warm colors — includ ing a rich, creamy gold wall — will greet visitors to the newly renovated Chowan Arts Council Gallery Fri day evening for the opening reception of “The People’s Choice” exhibit. According to its Executive Director Brenda Russell, the nonprofit arts organization spent $3,900 to repaint the structure with the county paying for all the paint. The last time work was done on the building was in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 when repairs cost more than $5,000, Rus sell said. The exhibit will showcase the work of three area art ists whose work was cho sen by visitors to the CAC’s Christmas exhibit. They are Katherine Was* sink of Elizabeth City, Le anne Clayton, who calls Ber tie County home, and John Becker of Edenton. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome. The fresh look is intended to better showcase the work of area artists and craft speople, Russell said. “ We . deliberately chose neutral tones in the colors we selected,” Russell said, “to give the gallery a more open, friendly feeling. We want this to be a place where people enjoy coming and bringing along family and friends.” Russell was assisted in the selection process by Lisa Hallahan, whom she praised for doing an out standing job. She said she was particu larly proud of the children’s room, which has been paint ed aqua, and the space in the gallery that will now be dedicated specifically to pottery. Also new to the gallery will be a small cafe-style area where visitors to the gallery can sit and drink a cup of coffee as they enjoy the artwork. Russell credited the Jack Onufrak preps the CAC gallery floor for painting. Vernon F: s uanery nenovauon Committee with laying the groundwork for the project. “My sincere thanks go out to the members of the com mittee, Debbie Boyle, Fra ser Kelly and Pam Hughes,” she said. “They deserve the credit for getting the ball rolling on this.” Special music for the Fri day night opening will be provided by members of the Renaissance Consort group from Perquimans County. The group performs record er music and is a favorite here during the holiday sea i son. “We’re also going to have great desserts and finger foods,” Russell said. “I’m just so excited,” she added. “I can’t wait for peo ple to come and see what’s been accomplished.” Russell said the project could not have been com pleted without the gener ous financial and personal support of volunteers who gave their time to help with painting and other chores. “We have been so blessed See CAC, Page A2 > Realty tax may ■ ;j increase ■■' ■ ifj 1.5 cents . i Finance committee | continues to look ( for possible cuts j County budget j approved after no j; public comment j By Earline White i-i Managing Editor | Resident Bill Schultz is willing to cut his trash pick up to once a week, if that means not having to raise his property taxes. Rich Halbert doesn’t un derstand why the town would buy into an $11 million public safety center if it meant hav ing to raise residents’ taxes. Mark Reilly wants to make sure that the tax revenue is being spent wisely, consider ing his property tax doubled following last year’s tax reas sessment. The Edenton Town Coun cil considered capping the property tax increase to 1.5 cents as opposed to three cents after a small group of residents argued any type of increase would be fiscally ir responsible. The council is expected to vote on the budget Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m. In the interim The reduction to 1.5 cents would come after the finance committee recommended in creasing the solid waste fees, increasing cemetery lot fees and by adding additional funds to the tax base from three annexations (118 acres of land at Queens Landing, 47 acres at Beechwood and 1.7 acres at Wharf Landing). The committee proposed to increase solid waste fee by at least $1, increase cemetery lots from $500 to $650. In the interim, the town’s finance committee is con tinuing its review of the bud get to perhaps find the other 1.5 cents. Town Manager Anne Ma rie Knighton welcomes pub lic comment on-the tax in crease. She can be reached at 482-7352. In the county After hearing no com ments from residents about the proposed budget, the county commissioners voted to approve the 2008/2009 bud get, which did not include a property tax increase. The county property tax rate remains at 56 cents. Rascoe takes helm i County attorney/special proj ects manager Peter Rascoe was sworn in as the new ! Chowan County Manager Monday night by commis sioner chair Ralph Cole.
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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June 18, 2008, edition 1
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