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
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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