CHOWAN^T ALD 482-4418 ^ 2017 to an end - Bl > ^ paves way for Taylor Theatre’s second act Teachers win grants Albemarle Electric Membership Corpora tion Bright Ideas grants totaling $12,897.44 were recently awarded to 17 area educators. The grants fund classroom projects that, otherwise, would lack funding. Six educators in Chowan County benefited from the grants.—A8 MILES LAYTON AND REBECCA BUNCH Cooke Communications Good news abounds this week in Chowan County because the Taylor Theatre gets a second act and the Chowan County Commis sion approved employee holiday bonuses. Charlie Creighton re ported late Tuesday that the ink is dry on the deal to pur chase the theater building from the Montanaro Family NC Properties. Before this edition heads to the press moments from now, here is “long-story short” version of how the theater came to be under local ownership. Creighton along with Samuel Dixon and Larry Sellers spearheaded recent efforts to save the theater. Creighton said purchase contracts were signed late last week and approved Tuesday. The investment group had to raise more than $450,000 to purchase the theater building and make repairs. More on this breaking news in the next edition of the Chowan Herald. In related news, Town Council voiced support dur ing its Nov. 27 work session for leasing the digital projec tion equipment in its care to Ryan and Belinda Respass, who will be operating the town’s movie theater once it reopens. The proposal is now be ing sent to the full council for additional discussion and a vote that could come as soon as its Tuesday (Dec. 12) monthly meeting. In a Nov. 22 memo to council members, Town Manager Anne-Marie Knigh ton recommended that they approve the proposed lease agreement. “It appears the purchase of the Taylor Theater build ing is imminent,” she said. “We have met with the pro posed operators, Ryan and Belinda Respass. They are an impressive young couple who worked for the past three operators. They know the movie business and have been trained by Cardinal, the company we (the Town, with the community’s mon ey) purchased the equip ment from. We recommend you approve the equipment lease to Ryan and Belinda.” The plan was introduced at the council meeting by Councilman Steve Biggs, who heads the administra tive committee. He recom mended that it be forward ed to the full council for its consideration. In response to a question from Biggs, Councilman Sambo Dixon confirmed that the group of investors purchasing the movie the ater now had the necessary funds for the deal to be fi nalized. “It’s in the bank,” Dixon said. “The community saw See TAYLOR, 3A Art reflects nature All THE WHOS In WHOVILLE PROBABLY WISHED THEY LIVED IN EDENTON From his waterfront studio in Edenton, Frank Miglorie has a firsthand view of the beauty of nature — and that view is reflected in the pieces he creates at Sound Shore Pottery. — B4 Volunteer honored Pansy Elliott, a volunteer of over 50 years, was honored by the Edenton Historical Commission on Nov. 28 as its Volunteer of the Year. The recogni tion came during the EHC’s annual Christ mas Party held at the Penelope Barker House. — B5 PHOTO BY KIP SHAW Students from D.F. Walker and White Oak elementary schools performed Christmas classics during Friday’s tree lighting ceremony to open the holiday season Tree lighting ceremony draws big crowd Opry achieves goal The Rocky Hock Opry Christmas Shows presented Friday and Saturday night, Dec. 1-2, at the Perquimans County High School in Hertford drew large crowds both evenings, according to Steve Evans, who acts as emcee and performs in the shows. — B6 BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer Anyone who attended Friday night’s annual Christ mas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Edenton couldn’t help but leave with some Christmas spirit. The sounds of holiday music filled the air courtesy of students from White Oak and D.F. Walker elementary schools who performed a variety of favorites includ ing “Jingle Bell Rocky,” “The Holly and the Ivy, and others. They performed to- See CEREMONY, 5A PHOTO BY REBECCA BUNCH Santa is the man on-the-go this holiday season. Hundreds of kids took time to ask him on Friday for toys ranging from a Red Ryder BB Gun - you’ll shoot your eye out - to more modern things like an XBox 1. Christmas trees inspire holiday spirit Like us on Facebook at /THECHOWANHERALD '89076' '44813' 0 BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer Vonna O’Neill, who cre ates the eye-catching dis plays in the glass case at the entry to the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library, credits a bit of divine inspiration with her latest creation — 12 beautifully Christmas trees in Colonial Park on the downtown Edenton water- front just waiting for pass- See TREES, 4A Vonna O’Neill is the mastermind behind the decorated Christmas trees in Colonial Park. SUBMITTED PHOTO Boys and Girls Club seeks donations BY REBECCA BUNCH Staff Writer Those heading a capi tal campaign to raise $1.5 million on behalf of the ( local Boys and Girls Club are currently accepting donations to help the club renovate space at the old D.F. Walker School in Edenton. Barring unfore seen circumstances they hope to occupy the space in 2018. “We have raised about $975,000 toward our goal,” said Elizabeth Mitchell, who serves as executive director of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Albemarle with locations in Edenton and Elizabeth City. At present they are working to secure funds for a matching grant for $100,000 in funds contrib uted by Dr. John Phillips, a native of Edenton and a childhood friend of Mayor Roland Vaughan, who serves as chairman of the club’s board of directors. The grant is administered by Phillips’ daughter, Jill Swisher of Raleigh. The club has until March to raise the matching funds. See DONATIONS, 3A Holiday planning schedule From staff reports Come join in the fun as the Christ mas season is ush ered in with floats, boats, horses and holiday cheer at this Saturday morning’s annual Edenton- Chowan Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. This year’s theme will be “Christmas By the Sound.” The parade will line up beginning at 9 a.m. in the Eden ton Village Shopping Center (where CVS is located) on North Broad Street and travel down Broad Street to end at Wa ter Street. Join Santa follow ing the parade at the See SCHEDULE, 3A ©2009 The Chowan Herald All Rights Reserved

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