Featuring adult students in Forsyth Technical Community College's Basic Skill and High School Completion Programs. Name: Mary Ann Edington Age: 48 FTCC Program: Adult Basic Skills Highest grade completed before coming to FTCC: None Last School Attended: Never attended school Family: 2 sons Employer: Unemployed Reason for returning to school: Learn to read and count Why dropped out: No programs were avail able for her Forty years ago, if you had a learning disability or a mental handicap, there were no schools that wanted you. Mary Ann Edington knows this well. When the other seven year-old in her Chester, neighborhood went to first grade, she had to stay home. She never saw the inside of a class room until she was 46. Her first classroom was at the East Winston Library in a FTCC Adult Basic Skill class. She had heard about it on the radio after she moved to Winston-Salem with her mother, who now lives in Pellcare Nursing Home. Mary Ann wanted to learn. "I really didn't know what I wanted to learn, just that I wanted to. I had always wanted to read and count, "said Ms. Edington with a smile. And that is just what she started to do. After two years of hard work, she can read and write her name and count to ten. This may seem like a small accomplishment to many, but she had to fight with her mental disability. That makes it very difficult to learn and remember facts. - Ms. Edington has led a full life. She raised two sons, keeps her own house, cooks for herself, tends her own gar den and is a faithful member of the Cleveland Avenue Christian Church. Faye Hamilton, the FTCC instructor at the Library, has seen a remarkable change in Ms. Edington since she started coming to classes. "We had to work on self-esteem at the begin ning. She really believed that she didn't know anything, even though she had been taking care of herself and her family for years," said Ms. Hamilton, "the first thing that we had to do was teaching her that she was smart enough to learn." "We asked her how she knew what to get at the grocery store, and she said that she knew what the things looked like that she needed, "Ms. Hamilton continued. "When she realized that was a kind of reading, it kind of made her believe in herself." Ms. Edington missed her first chance at school, which makes her value her second chance that much more. "She is a faithful member of the class, " said Ms. Hamilton. Even with her mental disability, she is accepted by the other classmates who range in age from20's to over 80, some who have also never gotten the chance to go to school until they came to the East Winston Library. Laws have changed in 40 years and now everybody has the opportunity to continue their education or to get one for the first time. Thanks to the East Winston Library and Forsyth Tech., that education is right around the corner for many East Winston residents. Top Teens Of America Induct New Members The Winston-Salem Chapter of Top Teens of America recently inducted new members. Member ship in Top Teens is granted to teen agers who possess a sincere interest in the purposes of the organization and exhibit a potential for growth through Top Teen activities. Previous members of TTA after graduation, who desire to continue association with the organization and assist with the accomplishments of chapter goals, may serve as senior counselors. Senior Counselor Charlita Cardwell was the induction speaker at the ceremony. She addressed the issue of peer pressure. She advised the teens to set goals, study hard, and not be influenced by their peers. Cardwell is a graduate of Bish op McGuinness High School and is a sophomore at Wake Forest Uni versity. New teens inducted were: Dennis Chisholm Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Chisholm Sr.; Tamara Evans, daughter of Doris Evans; Lonnie Alphonso Harris Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Harris Sr.; Kellie Hash, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Letcher Hash II; Kevin Earl Henderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby E. Henderson; Latoya Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hughes; Kevin Kindle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harace Kindle; Correy Love, son of Gloria Love; Shawn Anthony Tanner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Auther Tanner; Ralph Wall III, son of Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Wall Jr.; Jarrett Matthew York, son of Dr. and Mrs. Johnnie York. Top Teensj>rograms are super vised by Top of Distinction Inc. The local teen directors are La verne Herriott and Gail Lindsay. Wilma Wheeler is president of Top Ladies of Distinction. Pictured ( I . to r.) are: (seated) Kevin Henderson , Kelli Hash , Tamara Evans , Latoya Hughes , Kevin Kindle ; (standing) Ralph Wall HI, Shawn Tanner , Corey Love , Dennis Chisholm, Jarrett York. TRIAD PEST CONTROL offers its customized Pest Control Service I and II Termite Control Marilyn Gilliam ? Odorless Chemicals ? Certified Radon Testers ? One time. Monthly or 9u*rterly Service ? Money Back Guarantee I ? Senior Citizen Discount 1535 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive t 788-3020 1 -800-TRIAD-99 N.C. Llc.#PW967 , , N.C. Watts M 1 - ^ CHURCH CALENDAR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 8 a.m. ? St Stephen's Episcopal Church on 810 N. Highland Ave. scheduled a bizaar from 8a.m. to 4 p.m. The bizaar includes Christ mas items, flea market, raffle, country store and food. Contact Mrs. Gertrude Murchison, 767-4635 for details. 8:30 a.m. ?? Goler Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church's first annual Walk-A-Thon to benefit its building fund will begin on the church grounds. The public is invited to make pledges or donations. For more information call 724-941 1 . 10 a.m. ? The members of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1119 NE 18th St, will sponsor a Church Family Fun Day. There will be games, prizes, balloons, a Rock- A-Thon, food galore and drinks. Come out and join the fun. The public is invited. The Rev. J.C. Parks is pastor. For mote information, call Wanda Davis at 724-0417, or J 896-0779. 4 p.m. ? The St. Mark's Group of Mt. Zion Baptist Church invites all citywide youth choirs for a two-day assembly at the church. Dr. Serenus Chum Sr. is pastor. For more information call Gettis Tor rance at 722-2741 or 727-2085. | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 9 pan* ? The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem will feature the Rev. Elizabeth Kerman as its guest Speaker at the l) a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Her topic will be "Our Community: Not for Ourselves Alone." pjn. ? Mt. Calvary Holiness Church of God Inc. invites you to |p|ts annual Men's and Women's Day 1 1 a.m. and 3 p.m. ser Jp|bi. The men will lead the 11 a.m. service, with Elder Robert ^IppKJiid, associate minister of Bethlehem Holiness Church of God as the speaker. The women wild lead the 3 p.m. service, with flpi Elder Paul Sherard and the congregation of Kimberly Park Church of God Inc. as guests. Dinner will be served after . The church is located at 1 BP" Teen Announces Career Plans At least one African-American East Forsyth High School student is not letting grass grow under her feet to make a career decision. Monique Wiggins wants to be a physical therapist. Wiggins attrib uted her grandmother, Lillian Lodge, as being the positive role model who inspired her to help peo ple. Her course load includes com puter applications, algebra II, chem istry, Latin III, English and world history. She is also involved in sev eral extra curricular activities, including the Senior Girls Club and the Senior Deans Council. Wiggins is the daughter of Brandon and Deborah McKenzie of Winston-Salem. Monique Wiggins) >? "I Johnson C. Smith University Alumni Association To Meet The Winston-Salem Chapter of the Johnson C. Smith University Alumni Association is being reacti vated. The Alumni Association will meet on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 pjn. at the Holiday Inn North on University Parkway. Minnie Maxwell, director of Alumni Affairs at Johnson C. Smith University, will meet with all Smith women and men for this organiza tional meeting. For further information, contact Amos W. Harper Jr. at 722-1244 or (919) 370-8282. Local Convenience And Unmatched Experience. We Give You Both. ? -j Jtg** ' . "T here's no better place in the world than Southeastern Eye Center for your cataract surgery. I tell everyone about my surgery. Euerythtng was wonder ful arid everyone is very nice. I couldn't ask to be treated any better. " Wuille B. Vine Tcachey, NC The doctors from Southeastern Eye Center have performed over 40,000 cataract with lens implant surgeries. That's experience! You can even choose to have your preliminary and follow-up visits done close to your own home. That's convenience ! If you or someone you love needs cataract surgery, call Southeastern Eye Center. Because when it comes to your eyes, there is no substitute for experience f Trust Your Eyes To Experience. o Southeastern Efye Genter. Central Carolina Surgical Eye Associates. P A /XW2 Battleground Ave.. Greensboro. NC 27410 Medicare A**U*aMeiil Accepted / 37 Regional Office* / For the office nearest you call I 800-632-0428 C. Richard Bpes. MD John D Matthews. MD Donald J Berlin. MI) Marr A Ralston. MD Karl 0 Stoneclphcr MD For your convenience, you may be seen by the doctors from Southeastern Bye Center at Wlna ton -Salem, KernersriUe , Lexington and Tadkinrllle.