Newspapers / Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.) / Sept. 22, 2022, edition 1 / Page 3
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THE BERTIE LEDGER-ADVANCE,THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,2022 .A3 From Page One BOOK Continued from A1 the Armchair TVaveler Series at the library. “The series is a six-week pro gram held every Monday night with speakers of local interest. The theme this year is Edenton Bay Highlights,” said Daniels. “We also were presented a statewide award-winning Harry Potter Ex travaganza for three years. There are many great children and teen programs we sponsor and pro mote.” And while Daniels’ splits her time between Bertie and Chowan counties,, her love of Bertie Corm- ty is most apparent. “I grew up on the Cashie River on a farm. I only left Bertie Coimty long enough to get an education. I have lived within sight, and then actually on, the river since 1976. I adore the Chowan River,” said Daniels, adding. “It, along with my Christian faith, family and friends feeds my soul. “I went to nursing school when I was 17 and have loved it ever since. I am an RN with CEN [board certified Emergency Dept. Nurse). ,7 CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Lucy Daniels with her late husband, Don Upchurch. I spent my career in acute care nursing, supervising and teaching my cardiac care Heart Smart class I developed,” said Daniels. She also served as a nurse liai son for EMS as a Mobile Intensive Care Nurse and as an EMT for four counties for 25 years which involved teaching, quality assur ance and active ride ^ongs. And while these vocations and avocations have in ways meld ed together — each supporting the other, the milestone Daniels is most proud of is the book she co-authored with her late hus band, local radio broadcast icon Donald Upchurch. ‘In Pursuit of Dorothie, The Lost Colony Ship’ propels the reader along riverbeds flowing into the Soimd and through the waves of challenges the Colonists faced in order to survive. And while it highlights a histo ry of struggles, the book outlines decades of research completed by Upchurch. “Don truly spent 20 years re searching and interviewing per sons who knew about the 40 foot ship in Bennetts Creek. He read a vast collection of English history as told by the sailors, explorers and navigators. He gave many pre sentations, both locally and to his torians and scientists in Raleigh,” said Daniels. “One historian told Don, the copper bottomed ship was not invented in the 1500’s. Don said, ‘yes it was, because Sir Walter Raleigh invented it and his ships were used to come to Amer ica.” Upchurch’s penchant for re search and Ids numerous audio recordings and handwritten pen ciled notes enabled Daniels to write the book and fulfill her late husband’s mission of having the book published. Today, the book proudly graces the book rack in a small gallery room at the Bertie Arts Council Gallery in Wmdsor. And just as the art on the walls of the gallery tran scend visitors to other places, the pages of ‘Dorothie’ guide the read er on a journey of historic lore. The 98-page read is “a compel ling narrative where the reader is drawn into the mystery and held through the final paragraph, where the author expresses grat itude to the reader.” wrote librar ian Sarah Davis, adding, “The gratitude should come from the reader to the authors, Daniels and Upchurch.” Daniels had penned short sto ries before, but had never faced a project of this magnitude. De ciphering 20 years of audio notes was a monumental task in itself. Add the pencil notes and magru- tude becomes daunting. “I spent three years adding my own research and arranging the story in chronological order, elim inating about 30,000 of Ids words to tell a straight history-based sto ry without radio proper repetitive conversation,” explained Daniels, who explains it best in the book’s dedication page. “Don and I met as private pilots and members of the Civil Air Pa trol,” she continued. “We shared a love of flying, history and eastern North Carolina’s amazing water ways and geogTEqrhy. It is with the utmost joy that I dedicate this epic story of adventure to my husband, Don.” ‘In Pursuit of Dorothie, The Lost Colony Ship’ is available at the Bertie Coimty Arts Council at 124 South King St in Wmdsor and from amazon.com. John Foley can be reached via email atjfoley@apgenc.com. TEST Continued from A1 of seven schools met or exceed ed their academic growth stan dards; our graduation rate in creased over rune points to 92.3 percent; and grade level profi ciency increased over 12 points.” Currently, the state uses a let ter grading system that passed the Legislature in 2014. School Districts are required to use the 80/20 accoimtability model. And while this is the state standard, school administrators, state officials and educators have been voicing a need for updating and changing the current system. “School districts in North Car olina continue to be graded on an accountability system that places a high emphasis on proficiency (80 percent) and too low of an emphasis on school growth (20 percent). like most schools and districts in the state, especially in eastern North Carolina, Bertie County Schools is stiU recover ing from learning loss due to the negative impact of Covid,” said Smallwood. National statistics show COVID has caused massive staff shortages, high levels of absen teeism, mental health issues and behavioral issues. And, while the halls of schools across the coun try appear to be back to normal, most are still in recovery mode. “This was noted by the N.C. Department of Public Instruc tion (NCDPI) Statewide Learning Loss Impact Analysis that was conducted in Spring 2022. As superintendent, I disagree with the notion that our schools are low-performing, said Smallwood in response to the report. “That is a state designation and not one that we believe in or one will live up to at the local level. As I walk through the buildings and witness the great things that are happening in the classrooms, I have not witnessed a low-per forming child.” Smallwood acknowledges there is work to be done, as does newly appointed Bertie High School Principal Jonathan Matthews, who took over the positions at the beginning of the school year. Wlule the letters on paper did not reflect the progress the district, staff and students have made over the past year, the sta tistics presented by Director of Testing Jacqueline Perry-Higgs, Ed.D. did. “Within the Bertie School Dis trict the four Year graduation rate increased from 83.1 per cent in 2021 to 92.3 percent in 2022. Grade Level Proficiency in creased from 24 percent in 2021 to 36.1 percent in 2022,” she said. “No schools in the district re ceived an F grade. Most schools are not far from the next level performance grade. Our growth indicates that we are on a tra jectory to attain the next level. And we will do that,” said Per ry-Higgs. “We recognize that there is much work to do so that our kids can continue to grow and expe rience positive academic out comes,” said Smallwood. “How ever, as the study from NCPI indicated, that will take time. “So, benchmarks have been set, and we will work diligently towards meeting those bench marks this year and subsequent years,” he continued. “We are proud of the academic growth that students made during the 21-22 school year, having been the first full year students were in school to receive face to face instruction after the pandemic hit.” Currently, North Carolina Su perintendent of Pubhc Instruc tion Catherine Truitt is echoing the voices of educators saying the system needs to change. Tru itt is preparing to present a new school accountability model this Legislative Session. “Right now, an 80/20 mod el that spits out a letter grade doesn’t do the job. So, we will be bringing forward to the General Assembly and, hopefully, even tually to your desk. Governor, a new school accountability model this long session. So, stay tuned for more to come,” said Truitt at a meeting last week. “Hopefully, the state will soon recognize the importance of plac ing more emphasis on growth. I appreciate all the efforts that State Superintendent Truitt & her team at DPI are doing & for ex ploring a different accountability model with additional academic indicators that more fairly recog nizes student achievement,” said Smallwood. “Meanwhile in Bertie, we al ways work on Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing to ensure our students have positive social, emotional, and academic out comes,” the Superintendent said in closing. John Foley can be reached via email atjfoley@apgenc.com. ASKEWVILLE Continued from A1 means a lot.” Thus year more than 150 people gathered at the Askewville Community Building with a chance to listen to the homegrown talents of Steadfast Quartet and R.T. Johnson. People gathered with lawn chairs, grabbed a hot dog and set back to er\joy the music. Bryant said she was pleased with the day, which included vendors both in side the community build ing and outside the facility. Bounce houses and train rides were also available for those younger people in at tendance. “I was very pleased with how things went,” Bryant said. “Everyone seemed to be eryoying themselves, which was our goal. “One little girl told me ‘I THADD WHITE/GROUP EDITOR Vonda’s Beaded Treasures was among the vendors at Saturday’s special day in Askewville. love Askewville Day’ and I hope everyone in the com munity feels the same way.” Bryant said she appreci ated those who made the day possible. “Thank you to everyone who participated in any way,” she said. “Also, a very special thanks to Steadfast Quartet and R.T. Johnson for always providing us with great entertainment.” The mayor also said plans are already under way for next year’s event. “We look forward to see ing everyone again next year on Sept. 16, 2023,” she said. Thadd White can be reached via email at twhite@apgenc. com. 300 Continued from A1 Windsor. The theme of the event is Bertie County Past, Present and Future. * The committee is inviting OUT&ABOUT Continued from A2 Everyone is invited to participate or come out and watch the parade. Following the parade there wiQ be food trucks, vendors, fellowship and a DJ at Liv- ermon Park. For more information or to register con tact Jackie White at 919452-1981. Homecoming Parade will be located on Gravnille St. in Windsor. Martin Community Players Presents WILLIAMSTON - The Martin Community Players Jr’s. Present the children’s perfor mance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 at the Mar tin County Auditorium. Tickets are $5. For more information contact Andy Weaver at 252-661-0609. vendors, food truck opera tors, crafters and artisans to participate in this once in a lifetime celebration. Scarborough is also invit ing officials from neighbor ing towns and communities within the county to partici pate in the event. For more information and participation guidelines contact Clerk to the County Board of Commissioners LaShonda Cartwright at 253-794-6110. John Foley can be reached via email at jfo- ley@apgene.com Tuesday, September 27 through Saturday, October 1, 2022 AMERICAN LEGION FAIRGROUNDS us 17 Business (1317 West Queen Street), Edenton, North Carolina Take exit 224 off US 17 and North about two miles to the Fairgrounds. OPENING TIMES: TUES - fRI: 4PM, SAT: 11AM CLOSING TIMES: TUES - FRI: 11 PM, SAT: MIDNIGHT OLD FAUORITES Car Loard Night Dreamland Amusements Mechanical Bull (extra charge) LED Railroad Senior Citizen Fun Day Gospel Night Wee & Uttle Miss Pageant Miss Pageant Diaper Derby Market Hog Showmanship Show^ NEW FOR 2022 High Flying Pages Lew-E's Comedy Circus Woody’s Barn Yard Racers Junior Fair Board Program Chicken Day Pig Day Agricuiture Day Farm Day Rodeo Day Farmer For A Day Fun Games & Activities TUESDAY CAR LOAD NiGHT Gate & Ride passes for up to i people for $60 per car WEDNESDAY 8th grade School Students & Under admitted FREE with paying adult THURSDAY SENIORS age 60 or older admitted FREE SATURDAY MILITARY DISCOUNT - Active Duty Only 1/2 Price for all Family Members 36” and taller, $10 armbands - must show ID The Martin County Auditorium is located at 1260 Godwin Ave. in Williamston. Oct.-2 MCPJr’s. Presents WILLIAMSTON - The Martin Community Players Jr’s. Present the children’s perfor mance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid mat inee at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 2 at the Martin County Auditorium. Tickets are $5. For more information contact Andy Weaver at 252-661-0609. Oct. 7 Fundraiser planned GREENVILLE - NC Stop Human Traffick ing will host BBQ, Bluegrass & Brew at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 7 at the Bam on Saint Andrews. For more information about tlie event, to buy tickets, visit www.ncstophumantraf- ficking.org/2022-bbq-bluegrass-brew. X r‘ - / J . A FRIDF^y - No Discounts ADVANCE 2022 ADVAN PRICES ETS r 36” taller (Advance pneriKesnot Include midway rides) Advance armband tickets fer unlimited rides for $17 Advance armband does not Include entrance GATE TICK ICES r 36” taller include midway rides) Get Your TICKETS ONLINE 2022 I, GATE^ll PRICE^V A (Gate pit f r'kniK.ir, r'minSi, Gate price armband tickets for Chowan County unlimited rides for $20 Regional Fair Gate armband does not include entrance Check out our weto sit© at * iifWw.CliowanFair.com E-Mail: lnfo(s>chowanfair.com • Buy your tickets ONUNE at www.ChowanFalr.coml For moro Information • Safe and Secure Phone - 252-482-4057 • Purchase Advance Tickets and Regular Priced Tickets • Show your confirmation QR Code at the Fair Entrance Purchase advance tickets at Select • Enjoy the EXPRESS UNE at the Entrance Gatel DUCk Thru StOreS (Starting Aug 1). The BEST entertainment value in Northeastern North Carolina!
Bertie Ledger-Advance (Windsor, N.C.)
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