‘People’s theatre’ now locally owned, operated
Dickens comes to life
Chowan County’s ver
sion of the holiday clas
sic “A Christmas Carol”
has the ability to inspire
the spirit. — B2
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
Thanks to a commitment from the
Chowan County community, Taylor
Theatre will get a second act.
Charlie Creighton said the ink is
dry on the deal to purchase the the
ater building from the Montanaro
Family NC Properties.
See our editorial about Taylor
Theatre on page A6.
Creighton along with Samuel
Dixon and Larty Sellers spear
headed recent efforts to save the
theater. Within a few short weeks,
the investment group raised more
than $610,000 to purchase the the
ater building and make repairs.
Creighton said the purchase con
tracts were signed last week with
the sales price being $330,000. The
remainder—about $280,000 — will
be used for repairs and more. The
theater closed in June after a storm
damaged the building.
“On top of the purchase price,
this extra money will allow the
owner to restore it to its original
glory,” Creighton said.
A local couple — Belinda and
Ryan Respass — will lease the
theater as its new operators. The
Respasses are former long-time
employees of the theater. While
contractors were busy cleaning and
See THEATRE, 3A
SUBMITTED PHOTO
These are some of the folks who made it happen — the rebirth of
Taylor Theatre. A group of local investors stepped up to the plate to
raise $610,000 needed to buy the property and make repairs.
Art for good cause
A recent children’s
art auction has raised
over $4,000 to benefit
the work of the Chow
an Arts Council as well
as the local Boys and
Girls Club. — B4
This week’s pets
Check out this
week’s adorable pets
that are available fol-
adoption from the
Tri-County Animal
Shelter. — B3
PHOTOS BY KIP SHAW
Police
Chief
retires
BY MILES LAYTON AND
REBECCA BUNCH
Cooke Communications
Edenton Police Chfef
Jay Fortenbery has re
tired from police work to
pursue teaching at Eliza
beth City State Univer
sity.
“I will
miss
working
with the
Chief,”
Town
Manager
Anne-
Vets pay tribute
The Christmas
Candlelight
Tour attracted
tourists from
near and far
to Edenton’s
homes on Friday
and Saturday.
Scents, tastes
and memories
were created as
folks traveled
from home to
home. Cookies
made children
smile while their
parents sought
out a warm and
friendly hearth.
Seventy-six years
ago — Dec. 7, 1941
— is a day that lives
in infamy. Thursday
morning, Capt. Mark
Thesier sailed his
ship “Liber-Tea” to the
second bell buoy out
in Albemarle Sound
where American
Legion Post 40 and
the Submarine Vets
Association laid a
wreath in tribute to
those service members
who lost their lives
in the attack on Pearl
Harbor. — B6
Christmas Candlelight Tour ‘very special’
BY REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer
The rainy, cold weather
experienced in the commu
nity over the weekend had a
definite impact on the num
ber of those who braved the
elements to take part in the
annual Candlelight Tourrlo-
cal officials said. Just 1,406
tickets were sold — about
280 less than last year.
But it didn’t dampen the
spirits of those, who did
come.
Mike Ervin, executive
director of the Edenton
Historical Commission that
sponsors the tour each
Christmas, said particularly
noticeable was the drop in
the number of walk-in tick
ets normally sold for the
event.
“Definitely the weather
had an impact because we
had 50 to 75 percent less
walk-ins than we normally
have,” he said. “We nor
mally have in the 400 ticket
sale range. This year we had
only in the 100 range. Sat
urday there were only 46
walk-ins.”
Ervin added that the
stormy weather affected
the transporting of visitors
to the Edenton Bay homes
that formed the foundation
of this year’s tour as well as
creating challenges relating
to the luminary lighting that
is normally put out for visi
tors.
He praised the homeown
ers who opened their homes
for the tour and noted that
they offered gracious wel
comes to all who visited
in spite of the weather and
rainwater tracked inside
their homes.
And those who did come
See TOUR, 2A
Goodwin announces sheriff re-election bid
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©2009 The Chowan Herald
All Rights Reserved
0
BY REBECCA BUNCH
Staff Writer
Chowan County Sheriff
Dwayne Goodwin has an
nounced that he plans to
seek re-election when the
primary filing period opens
on Feb. 12. The filing period
will end Feb. 28.
Goodwin, 48, is now serv
ing his third term as sheriff.
Prior to being elected to his
first term, he had
served as a deputy.
A native of Chowan
County, he has served
a total of about 26
years in the sheriff’s
office. He said he
hoped to be given
the opportunity to GOODWIN
continue serving.
Goodwin said he
felt much had been
accomplished dur
ing his time in office
including the estab
lishment of a highly
successful Kids and
Cops program and
most recently a fo
cus on working with
“If the people will keep the community to ensure se
me, I will be right there,” he curity at local churches.
said.
According to Chowan
County Board of Elections
Director Rebecca Lowe,
other local offices that will
be open for filing in Febru
ary include Chowan County
Clerk of Court currently
held by Mike McArthur as
well as Chowan County
Commission seats held by
Jeff Smith (District 1, Seat
2), John Mitchener (District
2, Seat 2) and Ellis Lawrence
(District 3, Seat 2).
Marie FORTENBERY
Knighton
said. “I am proud of him
for earning his PhD and
securing a professorship
at Elizabeth City State
University. I am happy
he and his wife Mysi will
continue to make then-
home here in Edenton.
They are great people and
I wish them all the best.”
One of Fortenbery’s
officers, Captain Daroy-
all Brown, will serve as
interim chief until a new
police chief can be hired.
Fortenbery’s last day
was Dec. 7 when he pre
sided over a graduation
ceremony from the final
class to earn certificates
from the Citizens Police
Academy.
“I loved the symbol
ism of Chiefs decision
to officially end his law
enforcement career with
graduation ceremony of
Edenton Police Depart
ment Citizens Police
Academy,” Knighton
said. “His last act as chief
was to congratulate and
honor the citizens who
recently completed the
Academy. Chief is fond of
quoting Sir Robert Peele,
a British Prime Minister
who is considered to be
the father of law enforce
ment — the police are the
citizens and the citizens
are the police. He teaches
those principles in the
Academy and worked to
instilled same in the cul
ture of the department.”
Knighton gave high
praise to Fortenbery be
cause he brought many
initiatives to Edenton
such as neighborhood
policing, participation in
regional law enforcement
task forces and “if you
see something, say some
thing” campaign, to name
See CHIEF, 4A
"Corny Join Us As Wo Celebrate
Our Lord's Birth”
ST. PAUL’S, 101 W. GALE ST.
The Rev. J. Malone Gilliam, Rector
St. Paul’s Epii» 'opal Church
invites you to our
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
10 AM ADVENT FOUR
4 PM FAMILY SERVICE
10:30 PM SPECIAL MUSIC
11:00 PM MIDNIGHT SERVICE
NO SERVICE CHRISTMAS DAY