Palmer Prevention Red Ribbon
Kick-off Dinner successful
by Mary Largent
On October 23rd. Palmer
Prevention had their sixth annual
Red Ribbon Kick-off
Luncheon at the Southeastern
North Carolina Agricultural
Center and Farmers Market
Gov Mike Easley was the
keynote speaker for the event.
Gov. Easley praised the county
for its efforts to fight dnig abuse.
"It's easy to sit around and talk
about doing something, but you
are doing it here," said
Gov Easley.
He praised the efforts of the
police and sheriff's department in
working together to combat this
problem. "The worse thing that
lias ever happened to this county
is drugs and poker machines." He
went on to say how drugs and
gambling has destroyed many
lionies and families.
Palmer Prevention is a non-profit
drug and alcohol abuse counseling
agency . Tom Norton is executive
director of Palmer
Prevention. He has worked closely
for the past twenty years w ith
Easley . Norton worked as head of
counseling with the center in
Brunsw ick County when Easley
was district attorney there.
Norton said Ik w ould like to see
more involvement from the community
in this effort to fight
drugs.
One person. Screaming Eagle.
(James Locklear-Brooks),
Artist/Writer, showed his concern
in this effort by donating
one of his beautiful paintings and
a hand made quilt to be auctioned
to raise monies for Palmer
There is a story behind the quilt
that I would like to share with my
readers
From the beginning. Screaming
Eagle made an effort to count
every stitch.. .and at ten stitches
an inch, the final stitch count
came to approximately 380,400.
After quilting the front to the
back piece, he added the quilt ties
in the center of the blue squares,
and then added the finishing
touch..the embroidered "arrow"
stitch around the outer blue border.Every
piece, every color liad
its place.
THE HISTORY OF THE
LEGACY OF THE QUIL T
Eariy in the year 2001, myself
and several other artists were presented
with a project to do some
work for the National Aids Quilt.
Several other artists were
presently working on a quilt in
honor of the Underground
Railroad as quilts were used by
many who were part of the
Underground Railroad as road
maps, and accordingly, many of
the patterns on the underground
quilts pointed to safe houses,
food. etc..for escaping slaves.
After studying most of the material
presented in regards to
Underground quilts. I remembered
many of the quilts my
grandmother Leanna Locklear
Brooks had made for us children
and thought it would be a great
idea to possibly make a Native
quilt in honor ofiNational Native
American Month in 2002 1 sal
down and did a\migh draft ol
what 1 thought 1 waihetjand then
designed several color^thumbnail"
sketches 1 already knew
what color patterns I wanted as
all the colors in the quilt mear
different things to various
Native people. 1 believe colors
as used in Native belief car
affect how we feel and can affeci
us mcntallv and emotionally. )
wanted something strong and full
of energy and life. 1 first chose
the color red. as it is the coloi
associated with the South in
Native belief and also the way
the Ancestors travel when they
walk on to the Spirit World So
the red was to honor them, as
without them, nothing would be
as it is now with my people. I felt
the red needed something which
would represent a sound backing,
so yellow was the choice, as it
represented the Sun and
Enlightenment, as I would need
plenty of it if I was to make the
quilt in the Right way Yellow
also represents the East and the
miracle of new birth , so the quilt
would be bom. I chose the blues
as this is the color of the
Heavens.an offering to the
Creator in return for blessing
what was about to be bom.
Finally. I chose Black. as I need
to have something strong to keep
the focus on the energy within.
Black is the opposite of
light, without black there can be
no light. Black absoibs and is the
color representing mysten and
protection .so black to protect
what was within .a good border
Artist: James Locklear-Brooks
(Screaming Eagle)
Enrolled member Lumbee Tribe
of N.C. Age: 39years old. D.o.b.
1/23/196-1.
Ancestry: Father: Jackson
Locklear-Brooks. Mother:
Delphia Elizabeth FreemanBrooks;
Grandparents:Chief
Willie & I.eanna LocklearBrooks
and John "Jack"
Freeman and Venus MooreFreeman,
Great Grandparents:
Duckery and Callie Brooks and
John David and Lovedy B.
Locklear.
Date "Legacy" quilt was born:
Jan 2002
Finished: Nov. 2002..
The casual person w ould look at
the quilt and say how colorful it
is. As Screaming Eagle said.
"What would the Heavens be
w ithout stars ' , so four stars are
placed within the quilt. The red
forms a hoop of many hoops
around the lodges (tepees), which
were used because they are universally
recognized as traditional
housing. A thunderbird soars out
from each comer, although somewhat
abstract, they are there.
Four comers , and the Red Road.
And there is a Center of blue
.reminding us where we all must
go for true meaning and understanding
Screaming Eagle said he had "no
idea where the quilt would go,
but knew it would Find its place .1
was overjoyed when it was
showcased for National Native
American Month last November
in Albion. PA."
"After receiving a fiver containing
information about Palmer
Drug Prevention. 1 knew the quilt
had to go there."
Screaming Eagle had hoped that
his" quilt of legacy" would find a
home somewhere within the
Lumbec Tribe "As that is where
1 was gifted with the knowledge
of w ho and what I am So. the
quilt is a legacy of sorts. I hope
w homever makes the quilt a permanent
home w ill love and cherish
it as much as I cherished the
time 1 spent thinking of my
"Granny" Leanna's beautiful
Lumbee quilts."
iA photo of the "Legacy"quilt auctioned off during the Palmer
Prevention Red Ribbon Kick Off Luncheon held recently to raise
funds for drug prevention.
Lumbee Tribal Government
building homes in Hoke County
by Alex Baker,
LTG Public Relations Director
Peggy and Sherwood
Lockiear.Jr.. always dreamed of
building their own house. With
four boys, ages 3 to 14, things
were tight in their 2 bedroom
12X 65 trailer. They had tried to
add on but were told by the loan
agency that they would have to
brick underpin the trailer before
they could receive a loan.
The Tribe will begin to accept
applications for the
Homeownership Program,
Monday November 17 until
Friday, January 30,2004. This
program provides housing opportunities
for qualified Lumbee
families and is designed to afford
Limbec families with the option
to purchase decent, safe, and sanitary
housing. The home buyer in
return must fulfill obligations to
make monthly installments based
on income, to pay for the cost of
utilities and provide all maintenance
on the home.
The Lumbee Housing Program
will also accept applications for
the Rehabilitation Program starting
November 17. This program
can offer assistance to repair or
replace existing substandard
housing conditions. while
addressing fire, health and safety
hazards for qualified, lowincome
Lumbee households.
Currently the housing program
has 971 rehabilitation applications
and is able to bid 20-30
homes a month, meaning approximately
$225,000 to $450,000
issued back into four county ter
ritoiy by means of services, while
serving approximately 300 applicants
the past year.
The Lumbee Tribal Council has
also approved and opened the ]
Down Payment Assistance com- ]
ponent of the housing program. ,
The program started accepting
applications from low-to-moder- ,
ate income Lumbee families on
Friday, October 17. The Tribal
Office will continue to accept
applications from enrolled members
who are interested in the
opportunity to receive up to
$10,000 in down payment assistance
for the purchase of decent,!
safe and sanitary housing, on a
one-time basis. Applications for
the down payment program will
also be accepted until Friday,
January 30, 2004.
The fourth and final component
of the Lumbee Housing Program
is the Emergency Housing
Program. The emergency program
is designed to offer remedial
assistance to save and protect
lives, salvage property and minimize
the effects of the emergency
and the destruction of basic infrastructure.
The cost of the needed
repairs must not exceed $5,000.
The Tribal Office accepts emergency
applications daily,
Monday thru Friday, from 8 a.m.
until 5:00 p.m. and the program
currently has 871 applications on
file. The program is able to bid
approximately 25 homes a
month.
The mission of the Lumbee
Housing Program is to provide
opportunities for affordable .
decent, safe and sanitary housing
options for Lumbee families in
the tribal designated service area
or territory of Hoke,
Cumberland, Robeson and
Scotland counties. Please call 1800-659-6585
or 910-521-1341
to obtain further information on
the Lumbee Housing Program.
In Memory of Peggy Revels
March 22, 1952-Nov. 5, 2002
God looked around His garden and He found an empty place. He then
looked down upon this earth and saw Peggy's tired face. He put His
arms around her and lifted her to rest. God's garden must be beautiful.
He always takes the best. He knew Peggy was suffering. He knew
she was in pain. He knew she would never get well on earth again. He
saw the road was getting rough and the hills were hard to climb, so He
closed Peggy's weary eyelids and whispered. "Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose-you, but you didn't go alone, for part of us
went with you. tlx: day God called you home.
We miss you
Mother and the Family.
Barbara Bullard instructs a Staff Development Wellness class with
teachers at Purnell Swett. The class will improve the the body by'
strengthening the lower hack and the abs. The class meets on,
Wednesday. All participants are really enjoying the class.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
RELATIVE TO APPLI- I
CATION BY THE TOWN OF
PEMBROKE FOR FUNDING '
UNDER THE HOUSING AND <
COMMUNITY DEVELOP- <
MENT ACT OF 1974, AS '
AMENDED *
Notice is hereby given that the c
Pembroke Town Council will *
conduct a public hearing on J
November 17. 2003. at 7:00 p.m., '
at the Pembroke Town Hall. 203 '
W.Third Street, Pembroke, NC, <
relative to the intention of the '
Town to apply for FY2004 *
CDBG Economic Development '
funding under Title I of the s
Housing and Community {
Development Act. V
The purpose of the public hearing
is to obtain the views and pro-<
posals of the citizens of the Town v
of Pembroke with regard to the
determination of priorities for
economic development grant.
All citizens arc requested and
encouraged to attend the public
hearing and make comments and
suggestions. If additional information
is needed, please contact
the Town Manager's Office.
Formal written complaints or
comments concerning the application
process that are submitted
to the Town Manager's Office
will be responded to within ten
working days by the Pembroke
Tow n Council.
Free Health
Screening
The Pembroke Housing
Authority, in partnership with
Robeson County Partnership for
Community Health, will sponsor
a Free Health Screening Day,
Southeastern Regional Medical
Centers' Community Health
Services provides screens, programs
and events for prevention
and health promotion targeting
the medically under-served population
within the county. The
screening is scheduled for Friday,
November 14, 2003. from 10:00
a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the
Maynor Manor Community
Building. The Health Screening
Day will include
cholesterol/HDL. blood sugar,
blood pressure checks and othei
health infonnatioa
If you have any questions, contact
us at (910) 521-1030 (voice]
or 800-545-1833 ext. 761 (TDD)
Holiday Bake Sale
rhe Untied methodist women of
Chestnut Street United Methodist
Ihurch will have a Holiday Bake
sale on November 15, 2003 from
5 a.m. until 12 noon. Cakes, pies,
:ookies. candy and pastries will
)e on sale. Proceeds from the sale
vill go to the Building Fund.
JMW Activities and the Vereen
loom at Wesley Pines. The
:hurch is located on the comer of
Sast Eighth and Chestnut Streets
n Lumberton. For more informa- ,
ion, vou may contact the church
tt 738-3304."
This painting by James Locklear-Brooks was also auctioned off at
the fund raising luncheon. I
3RMC's18th Festival of Trees
seeks sponsors to "Deck the Halls"
"There are several opportunities 1
for business individual sponsorship
for the 2003 Festival of
Trees," said Ann McLean,
Festival coordinator and director
of marketing at Southeastern
Regional Medical Center. "For
only $200, a benefactor can
become a 'Secret Santa.' We
group these smaller gifts together
in order to sponsor one of the 25
beautifully decorated trees on
display at the holiday event."
Festival of Trees, the annual holiday
benefit for Hospice of
Robeson, SRMC's program of
care for terminally ill patients
and their families, will lack off
its 18th celebration on Sunday,
Dec.7. For the third year running,
the Festival will be held in the
Osterneck Auditorium at 102 N.
Chestnut St. directly across the
street form the Robeson County
Public Library.
"We believe we have found a
home for the Festival at the
Osterneck Auditorium.
Library Director Bob Fisher and
the Friends of the Library have
been so supportive and enthusiastic
about hosting our annual
event." McLean said.
"It is important that our community
realize that Hospice of
Robeson is the only non-profit in
the county." McLean said. "The
continued support we have
received from the community
over the past 18 years speaks
highly regarding the quality of
the program. Director Miriam
Edwards and her staff are to be
commended for the work they do
everyday to maintain this quality
and to touch the lives of so many
families in our area," she added.
The festival also benefits Camp
Care, a weekend camp held in
May, for children who have suffered
a loss through death.
This continuing support for
Hospice is exemplified by two
local companies-Cape Fear
Construction and S.Preston
Douglas & Associates-that have
sponsored trees since the first
Festival was held in 1986.
McLean also welcomes two new
sponsors this year: Dr. and Mrs.
Bruce Whitman who arc sponsoring
the SRMC Emergency Team
tree to be decorated by the
Emergency Services staff and
placed in the emergency lobby
after the Festival. Jerry Johnson
Chevrolet has also signed on as a
new sponsor for 2003.
In addition to the decorated tree
display, a Santa's Shop will be
filled with hand-made crafts and
baked goodies, according to
Anne Crain, Hospice volunteer
coordinator.
"We will offer the Southern
Supreme fruit cakes and the
Moravian sugar cakes again this
year." she said. Also, a cafe scrv
ing hot and cold beverages and '
sweet treats will be open for
Festival visitors. A decorated and
lighted eight-foot garland w ill be
raffled ofT at the end of the
Festival.
Three decorators-Town and
Country Garden Club, Petal
Pushers Garden Club and Judy
Driscoll-have been supporters
since the very first holiday event.
Decorators that are joining for
the first time this year are The
Meadows, a nursing home in
Bladcnboro. and Debbie Webb of
Lumberton Medical Clinic, who
is decorating a special patriotic
tree.
Other 2003 sponsors include
Triangle Ice. Forms & Supply,
Lumberton Radiological
Associates. T.R. Driscoll. BB&T,
Barnes Paving. Kiwanis of
Robesoa Smith Advertising &
Associates, The Robins &
Morton Group. Southeastern
Cardiology, Ramsaur & McLean,
McDonald's-Kenli Enterprises.
K.C. Desai-Horizon P T and
Lumberton Obstetrics and
Gynecology. PA
Decorators, in addition to those I
mentioned above, are: First
Presbyterian Weekday School,
Flowers by Billy. Shoeheel
Gardeners. Mother Earth
Creations. Parkton Women's
Club. Southeastern Cardiology ;
staff. Scotty Thompson.
Greenbrier Rest Home. First 1
Baptist Early Childhood
Ministry. Southeastern Lifestyle
Center. Erica Daw n Florist. Plant
& Pray Garden Club. Niff-T
Homemakcrs. Robeson County
Extension Homemakcrs. John's
Restaurant. Southeastern
Academy. Pembroke s
Homemakcrs. Mary Meadows, \
Lumberton Garden Club. Camp |
Care Kids. Kandy Kinlaw. and
SRMC Community Health J
Sen ices.
McLean is also seeking volunteer .
pianists to play during the event, 3
Sunday-Tuesday . Dec 7-9.
School groups, day care centers
and nursing homes planning to
attend should call ahead to schedule
their visits.
For more information about
sponsoring or attending the 18th
annual Festival Of Trees, call
McLean at 671-5577.
HM.
>
?"*1 I
Deductible may
applyno
HMO's.
r
DIABETIC PATIENTS!!
&
RESPIRATORY PATIENTS
If you have Medicare or Private Insurance,
you may be eligible to receive your
DIABETIC & RESPIRATORY SUPPLIES
AT NO COST TO YOU!!!
For more information call
DIABETIC SUPPLY PROGRAM
TOLL FREE
1 - 888-466-2678
1 -888-4NO-COST
* (No HMO patients, please)