Rolonda Watts returns
home to promote novel
Actress, producer
is scheduled to
hold book
signing at local
book store today
BYTEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
After years of traveling
the globe, actress, produc
er, and radio and television
talk show host Rolonda
Watts is returning to the
place where it all began
Right here in Winston
Salem.
A graduate of Salem
Academy, a local private
school for teenage girls.
Watts will hold a book
signing for her novel,
. "Destiny Lingers," today,
June 2, at Barnes & Noble.
"It's going to feel great
to be in my hometown,"
she said. "I still have a lot
of family and friends there.
It's going to be yery special
moment for me."
During an interview
with The Chronicle, Watts
noted that she learned a
number of valuable lessons
as a teenager in the Twin
City that helped her
become the success she is
today. She said a number of
teachers, family members,
friends, and others encour
aged her to follow her
dreams.
"I would not be in the
position I am today if it
weren't for the support sys
tem I had growing up,"
said Watts. "The city will
always have a special place
in my heart."
After high school,
Watts Went on to attend
Spellman College in
Atlanta, Ga. where she was
the editor-in-chief of the
school newspaper and
graduated Magna Cum
Laude. In 1981 she earned
a master's degree from
Columbia University
Graduate School of
Journalism. After leaving
Columbia, Watts returned
to N.C. and began her
career as a general assign
ment reporter at WNBC,
where she was nominated
for an Emmy..
Her career Continued to
skyrocket from there.
From 1994 to 1997, she
was the host of the interna
tional syndicated talk show
"Rolonda." On the show.
Watts would help guests
with their problems. She
also used the show as a
platform to help at-risk
teens. Today, Watts is an
on-camera announcer for
Divorce Court.
Although she has had a
stellar career in journalism,
radio and television,
"Destiny Lingers" is Watts'
Fust novel. When asked
why she decided to write a
book, Watts said, "This is a
life-long dream come true.
"Writing has always
been a passion of mine and
i always wanted to become
an author," Watts said.
"It feels great to finally
accomplish a goal I've had
since I was a little girl."
According to Watts,
"Destiny Lingers" will
keep your eyes glued to the
pages and leave you beg
ging for more.
The romance novel
tells the story of an inves
tigative news reporter in
New York City named
Destiny who uncovers
breaking stories every day,
but has yet to uncover the
truth of her own life. That
all changes when she dis
covers that her husband is
cheating on her with her
best friend.
Amid personal tragedy
and shocking deceit,
Destiny decides to return to
her roots in Topsail Island,
N.C. It's there that Destiny
finds herself and begins to
look toward the future,
after she reconnects with a
childhood crush she could
n't be with years before
because of racial barriers
and segregation.
"Destiny Lingers"
received one of the final
endorsements form the late
Dr. Maya Angelou. Watts
said Angelou was mentor
and a mother figure to her
for over 30 years. She said
the endorsement from
"Auntie Maya" is one she
will cherish for the rest of
her life.
"That was just amaz
ing. After reading the
novel, she said she was
upset that it ended," Watts
laughed.
Watts mentioned she is
currently working on a
sequel to "Destiny
Lingers" and other books
as well.
The book signihg will
be held today, Thursday,
June 2, at 7 p.m. at Barnes
and Noble located at 1925
Hampton Inn Court. For
more information on
"Destiny Lingers" and a
list of other book signing
events, visit www.rolon
da.com.
Watts
Vote June 7
John Larson
We need a Councilmember who will:
? negotiate for more resources for the entire
South Ward!
? celebrate our diversity!
? value our concerns to build consensus, not
just push a personal agenda!
? continue a successful work record with
credible business experience!
? fight for us when the next important
zoning, safety, or tax issue arises!
John Larson is the only candidate
who can do all of these.
South Ward
Forward^
Ullililfimik!
k k \
$442 Million Budget
Proposed for 2016-2017
Tin city would make significant
investments in equipment, WHERE THE MONEY
ana personnel mat neve been on hold CdMEC CDflM
since the economic recession, end the l?Ul?lco rnum
city property-tax rate would increase Charges for sendees: $144.3 mMon I
2 cents under the $442 miffion budget Property taxes: $121.2 neKon
for 2016-17 that City Manager Lee Jntergownmwi* $54.1 mifan
Garrity has recommended to Mayor JjJJJJJL sS'5 IHaS
Allen Joines Council. Ch)j| ptniftjeS'0th8f. |25.8
I nO pTOpOSOu DUOQBt SlIOCBtOS Rosorvo* $10 1 fTvftdfl
$326.5 million for operations, $41.5 Licenses & permits: $7.1 mMon
million for debt service and $74 Investment income: $ 1.8 mMon
million for capital improvements. The Total: $442.0 million
property-tax rate would be 58.5 lAf UCDC TUC
cents for every $100 of value. JJ"? Into
The proposed 2-cent increase in MONEY GOES
the property-tax rate, combined with Healthy environment $181.1 miton
growth in sales taxes and the tax Safe & secure community $100.8 miien
base, would allow the city to Debt management $53.9 million
address pent-up needs, Garrity said Service excellence $38.5 miion
in Ms budget message. Duality transportation $34.6 mHon
"The city has reached a critical Livable neighborhoods $18.4 million
point where more investment is Econom,c *** * ^ ,115 n 2?"
needed in our employees, facilities 08 "",on
and equipment to maintain our J
excellent city services, enhance the quality of life in the community and position the
city to be more competitive in attracting jobs and growing economically.'
Garrity noted that tax increases in recent years, with the exception of the bonds
passed in 2014, simply made up for revenue lost through actions of the General
Assembly and did not actually address these needs.
Even with the 2<ant increase, Garrity said, "Based on the current tax ratas of the othar
large cities in North Caroina, Winston-Salem's rate would remain in the nidds of the grwp.'
The City Council's Finance Committee will begin reviewing the budget June 7 and
will hold a public hearing June 9. The City Council is scheduled to hold a public
hearing and vote on the budget on June 20. By state law, the council must adopt a
budget for 2016-2017 by June 30. The budget would take effect July 1.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET:
? Creation of a fourth police patrol district to improve response times in the central
portion of Winston-Salem.
? Targeted pay raises for police officers with 5 to 15 years of service to address
continued attrition of experienced officers.
? $3.54 million in lease payments to replace dozens of aging police cars, fire tracks,
dump trucks, garbage trucks and other public works equipment as wal as
computers and other equipment used by city employees, sH of which have bean
kept in service longer than planned.
? Creation of a four-person drainage craw to work with citizens whose property is
affected by stormwater runoff.
? Creation of two crews to collect litter along roadsides and in city parks.
? No increase in most user fees; a 3 percent increase in sewer rates, a 1.5 percent
increase in water fees and a $2.49 increase in the bimonthly water and sower
base charge.
? $544,270 for downtown improvements, provided by the 9-cent levy racommandad by
the Downtown Winston-Salem Business Improvement District Advisory Commttoe.
. ? Second round of public safety supplemental pay increase on Jan. 1; 3 percent
market pay raise for other city employees; increase in city employee minimum
wage to $10.40 per hour; new 401(e) supplemental retirement plan to improve
employee retention; all employees also eligible for merit-based raises of 1.5 te 3
percent based on performance.
How to Participate...
Copies of the proposed budget ere available for review at public libraries,
all city recreation centers and City Hall, 101 N. Main St. Suite 30. Copies of
the budget are also available online at www.CityofWS.org.
? Finance Committee Budget workshops
June 7 at 3:30 pjn., June 13 at
4:30 p.m., and (if needed) June 14
at 2 p.m., all in City Had, Room 239. |
?
? Finance Committee Public Hearing,
7 p.m. June 9, City Hall Council ^ w
Chamber, Room 230.
? Public Safety Committee review,
6 p.m. June 13, City Hall, Room 239. yB, ?
? City Council Public Hearing, 7 p.m.
June 20, City Hall Council Chamber.
Watch Council and Finance Committee budget meetings Nve on WSTV.
IlA/FlfilJ IN WEIGH IN on the budget. Phone in comments about the
ffClUn 111 budget to the Citizen Feedback Line, 734-1400, or submit
ON THE BUDGET comments through the form on the city web site.
' ' I
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WEEKDAYS 7 AJM.-7 P.M. WEEKENDS 9A JL-630 P.M.
Call 311 op 336-727-8000
cltylink@cityofujs.opg
? ? '? ? \
? Mayor: Aleu Jomes City Council: Vivian H.
Burke, Mayor Pre Tampere, Northeast Wart
Domse 0. Adams. North Ward; Oaa Basse.
A . . *|i. - , | tor 1 n_t ... p w a
oouuiwbsi nw, iwwi v. wnu win
Ward; Maty laight South Want; Jeff .
Marlntnth Min ttnafi 1 Wm|- rWiaim I
nHBCniTwMl( NUtllnBW5l " Itw, UJlt^rWl L.
Montgomery, East Ward; Jamas Taylor, Jr.,
Southeast Ward City Manager: Laa Garrity
FIND US ON DQB