The Chrc*
Vol. XXXVII No. 17 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, December 23, 2010
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Library fights misperceptions
of East Winston branch
BY LAY LA J-ARMER
llll CHRONICl I
After nearly a decade of requesting fund
ing from Forsyth County Commissioners to
improve the county's libraries, Forsyth
County Library Director Sylvia Sprinkle
Hamlin is breathing a sigh of relief after
procuring the financial backing that she says
Sprinkle-Hamlin
Keid
the libraries direly
need .
Thanks to a bond
referendum approved
by voters last month,
the library system will
see $40 million in new
construction and reno
vations
"I'm really happy
that it happened."
noted Sprinkle-Hamlin,
who has helmed the
library system since
2000. "It's something
that I felt should've
happened and I'm glad
that the community
agreed
The money will be
used to rebuild or com
pletely renovate the
aging Central Library
on Fifth Street and
branch locations in
both Clcmmons and Kernersville. The bond
will also provide For repairs and improve
ments at other branches, including Carver
School Road. Rural Hall and the
Mallo) Jordan hast Winston Heritage
Center, the branch in the heart of East
Winston.
Sprmkle-Hamlin says it has not been
determined yet how much will be allocated
for each project, hut Kernersville and
Clcmmons branches could get as much as $6
million tor renovation or rebuilding, and the
Central library could get as much as $28 mil
lion. Library officials hope to use rest of the
money lor necessary repairs and improve
ments at other branches, including new ceil
ings. windows and a new elevator at
Mai loy /Jordan, according to the county Web
site. Sprinkle-Hamlin did not know how
much the repairs at Malloy/Jordan will cost.
Sec l.ihrar* on All
WSSU Photo* by Garrett Garm>
Charles Hicks waves to his family after receiving his degree.
Gift of
Education
WSSU hands out pre-Christnuis degrees
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Nearly 5(M) Winston-Salem Slate University graduates walked
across the podium last Friday to receive
their degrees.
A crowd of thousands watched their
shining moments from the stands of the
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial
Coliseum.
Literally making it to graduation day
was more of a challenge for some students
than others.
Graduate Vera Jordan, for example, had
a heart attack in 2(X)5. The 55-year-old said
the experience actually served as motiva
tion to savor life and work hard to achieve
her dreams.
Dr. Jones
Sec WSSl on A?
"77?e rj(aj>/ & fi(oe/ Mi//et
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Businessman s motto: If at first you don 'f succeed , try, try and try again
BY LAY1.A FARMER
THE CHRONICLI
Fifteen years ago, Noel
Miller embarked on a longtime
dream of his: becoming an
entrepreneur.
From the outset. Miller says
he vowed that nothing would
stand in the way of the purpose
that he believes God commis
sioned him to fulfill. Through a
harrowing storm of challenges,
setbacks and heartbreaks. Miller
has stood by his word.
He named his store in Silas
Creek Crossing, "Maximus"
after the character in the 2(XH)
film "Gladiator."
"Maximus was a general
over an army," explained Miller,
41. "He was considered a very
brave man, and I look at myself
as being a very brave man. I've
been through the same trials."
Milled, a native of Kingston,
Jamaica who grew up in Jamaica
Queens, N.Y.. had his share of
brushes with the law as a young
man. In the mid 1990s, while he
was incarcerated. Miller says he
felt called to take his life in a
better direction...
"It was like God was prick
ing my heart and saying. 'I've
? Photo by Lay la Farmer
Noel Miller has overcome many hardships in his quest to own a successful business.
been calling you' ... and I sub
mitted." said Miller, who is also
a reggae artist, i made a vow
(then). I told God it I ever left
that life alone. I wouldn't turn
back."
Miller set his sights on open
ing his own boutique. He started
out small.
"I started in the Ilea market.
with one table and a dream." he
stated "Every thing I had started
from scratch. It was just me and
God "
See Miller on \5
A Giving Tree
Photo h> Todd l uck
Students and teachers in the ESL Academy at Winston-Salem Preparatory
Academy pose with a Christmas tree that they built last week from more than
1 .000 non-perishable food items collected during a school-wide food drive to ben
efit Crisis Control Ministries. See the full story on page Bl.
Kwanzaa events begin Sunday
BY LAM A FARMER
IHI. CHRONK II
Hundreds are expected to
attend citywide events in
observance of Kwanzaa, the
non-religious holiday that
celebrates African American
heritage by observing a dif
ferent principle on each of
the seven days immediately
following Christmas
The history of the cele
bration in Winston-Salem
dates back to 1977, when a
group of families gathered to
observe the holiday together.
Since that time. K^an/aa -
observed around the world
from Dec. 2b- Jan I - has
grown to encompass the
entire community Triad
Cultural Arts has organized
the event since 2007. The
organization has also hosted
Pile Pth*i
.4 young woman lights a kinara at a local Kwanzaa event.
a smattering of other cultur
al events, including, the
annual Triad Juneteenth
Celebration
"I just love it when you
have an opportunity to
express your history and
your culture." TCA Founder
Cheryl Harry said of
kwan/aa. "Our ancestors
See kwan/aa on All)
DON'T
PASS
THE BUCK
BUY LOCAL