w
C^^istmasf
■
„■
All-Conference athletes
Rage 9
Letters to Santa
■niroughout paper
Sports update
F^ge 10
December 25, 2002
Vol. 71, No. 52 Hertford, North Carolina 27944
P6/C5***********5-DIGIT 27944
■ — PERQUIMANS COUNTY LIBRARY
110 W ACADEMY ST
HERTFORD, NC 27944-1306
lllJl
f Z 335
cfSAiarosra
Perquimans
Weekly
Davenport hauls NC trees
The Christmas tree at the Newbold-White House visi
tor's center is one of the many trees that Steve
Davenport brought across the state from a mountain
Christmas tree farm.
ALICE BREWIN
Many will gather around a
fresh-cut Christmas tree with
our family and friends today.
Children wUl excitedly look
to see what surprises Santa
has left them. Newljrweds wUl
tease each other about then-
tree’s sparse decorations.
Perhaps some retirees wUl
fondly recall each special
ornament and its giver.
Steve Davenport wUl prob
ably recaU the many trips he
has made hauling Christmas
trees from the western part of
the state to the east.
Davenport, a lifelong truck
er, has been transporting
fresh-cut Christmas trees to
the area since 1980.
Davenport calls both
Hertford and his eighteen
wheeler home.
A fuU truckload of trees is
an awesome sight, and a lot of
work. With help from his
three chUdren, Bo, KeUy, and
Kristy, Davenport distributes
his load to several retailers in
the area who specialize in
premium, graded Christmas
trees.
According to Davenport,
his children have all been
helping out “ever since they
were big enough to tote one.”
This is no smaU feat, for it
involves getting up before the
break of day, sometimes
working in very cold condi
tions.
Davenport is quick to point
out that the large chain stores
in the area do not carry his
trees, those trees are the
ungraded variety. Smaller
outlets like Hertford
Hardware and Davenport’s
daughter Kristy provide the
fUet mignon of the Christmas
tree world to those who want
the best.
The ungraded variety,
those trees that don’t qualify
as premium due to shape,
branch fullness and overaU
appearance, are thrown to the
side, destined for sale at some
large, retaU grocery or lum
ber store.
WhUe these trees are capa
ble of spreading Christmas
cheer, some people just want a
better, or perhaps bigger, tree.
Davenport is happy to provide
Hertford with such a tree.
Christmas tree facts
According to the North Carolina Christmas
Tree Association, North Carolina is a top con
tender in both Christmas Tree production and
quality
Some facts about the industry and the Frasier
fir:
• North Carolina is ranked second in the nation
in number of trees harvested and first in nation in
terms of dollars made per tree.
• The NC Frasier fir has been judged Nation’s
best and chosed for the official White House
Christmas tree 8 times (more than any other
species).
• NC Tree Growers produce over 50 million
Fraser Firs each year.
• The Fraser fir was named for John Fraser, a
Scottish botanist who explored the southern
Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina in the
late 1700s.
• The Fraser fir is a pyramid-shaped tree that
reaches a maximum height of 80 feet and a trunk
diameter of 11/2 feet.
• The Fraser fir grows naturally only in the
southern Appalachians, above 3,000 feet. The cool
temperatures and lots of rainfall of the North
Carolina high country are what causes the Fraser
fir to keep its needles throughout the Christmas
season.
Continued on page 14
Main Street brochure
earns state accolades
A brochure produced by the
Hertford Main Street Program
earned accolades from the N.C.
Main Street Program.
.The local promotional piece,
titled “Come Home to Hertford,”
was honored by judges with a
Certificate of Special
Recognition in the Best Printed
Promotion Item category.
Competition categories
reflected the four points of the
Main Street Program: organiza
tion, design, economic restruc
turing, and promotion. Entries
were judged by a panel consist
ing of staff from the state Main
Street program. Division of
Community Assistance’s local
planning program. North
Carolina Arts Council and oth
ers.
“We continue to be excited by
the quality of work taking place
in Main Street communities
across North Carolina,” said
Office of Urban Development
Director Rodney Swink follow
ing the judging. “This year's
award winners set a new stan
dard for excellence and are mod
els for anyone interested in see
ing the very best in downtown
development.”
The need for a brochure was
noted by Hertford Main Street
Manager Belinda Washlesky.
There was no printed material
promoting Hertford, and a coun
ty brochure printed by the
Chamber of Commerce was out
dated and supplies were low.
With a $3,500 Rural Tourism
Development Grant from the
Department of Commerce,
North Carolian Division of
(Tourism, Film, and Sports
Development, the Hertford Main
Street Program took on the
responsibility of creating a tri-
fpld, full color “Come Home to
Hertford” brochure. The grant
required a $1,200 match, which
\yas provided by the Chamber of
Commerce, Historic Hertford
Business Association,
Perquimans County, Antique
Dealers Association of
Perquimans County, Phios
Corporation, and Perquimans
County Restoration Association.
The Town of Hertford kicked
in the last $105, and the Hertford
Main Street Program spent
$4,805 to have 40,000 brochures
printed. Seeing opportunity, the
Chamber paid an extra $560 for
another 10,000 copies.
Main Street Promotions
Committee members Harriette
Woodard and LuAnne
Pendergraft worked with
Washlesky on the project.
Current and historic pho
tographs were collected, staged
and chosen, and the copy was
written. The design firm
Janelli’s was hired to complete
the project.
The next partner involved
was Albemarle Plantation. It
had to be shown that there was
an innovative and creative plan
to distribute the brochure out
side the state of North Carolina.
Albemarle Plantation agreed to
distribute the new brochure at
annual real estate trade shows
across the country. They also
agreed to send the brochure out
in response to thousands of
requests per year that they
receive as a result of these
shows.
The “Come Home to
Hertford” brochure is now avail
able, not only through
Albemarle Plantation, but also
through all North Carolina
Welcome and Visitors Centers,
and 29 Historic Albemarle Tour
sites. In addition, local Visitor
Centers, Chambers of
Commerce, and other business
es carry the brochure, which has
already resulted in increased
tourism and business develop
ment
Santa’s helpers arrive by van, truck, car
Christmas 365
members make
Christmas
merrier for those
in need
SUSAN R. HARRIS
When Santa
sent his elves to
Perquimans
County last
week, there was
no reindeer and
no sleigh. His
helpers arrived
in a caravan of
cars, trucks
and vans, haul
ing more than a
sleighful of
food, toys and
clothing to
those with spe
cial needs this
Christmas.
Santa’s emis
saries were
members of the
Elizabeth City-
based
Christmas 365
Club, a commu-
nity-based
organization
composed of
the staff and
friends of
Walson Funeral
Home, Inc.
Two families
in Perquimans, including James
and Ruth Burke in Winfall, got
visits from club members last
Wednesday evening. The elves
spilled from vehicles, bearing
boxes of gifts — groceries, per
sonal items, clothing and toys —
and making Christmas brighter
for two families with health prob
lems.
The Burkes’ smiles were as
warm as their bungalow as they
welcomed their guests and made
room for three large boxes of
goodies. No one left the spic-and-
span home without receiving a
hug and words of thanks from the
grateful couple.
Then it was off to visit more
families for members of the 365
Club. Before they called it a day,
members had visited 10 families
in Camden, South MiUs, Winfall,
Hertford and Elizabeth City. Club
members spent 17 days collecting
the items distributed. They got as
much as they gave, they said, as
its desire to be a voice and inte
gral part of the communities in
Northeastern North Carolina.
During 2002, 576 families have
received assistance through
Christmas 365 programs.
Members seek to help those in
need, especially those who have
no other resource.
In addition, Christmas 365
awards scholarships to area high
school students.
Those who made the Santa trip
this year were Club President
Elnora McCoy, Vice
President-Treasurer
Miracle Perry, Sgt.-at-Arms
James Hoggard, Edna
Godfrey, Estelle Felton,
Gloria Thomas, Roy Lee
Spence, Audrey Ferebee,
Oscar Etheridge and
Reggie McCoy.
Social services agencies
and community members
assisted the group with
choosing families to visit.
For information on
Christmas 365, its mission
and how you can help, call
335-4584.
Members of the Christmas 365 Club visit James and
Ruth Burke in Winfall, helping Santa to make
Christmas a little merrier for the couple, both of
whom are experiencing health problems. The Burkes
were one of 10 Northeastern North Carolina families
visited by the "elves" last Wednesday evening.
they saw the tears, the laughter
and the thankfulness of the fami
lies they served.
Christmas 365 doesn’t just help
people at Christmas. The group
works 365 days each year with
fund raisers and collection drives
to help those who are displaced,
homeless, hungry, elderly and in
emergencies.
The club has been in existence
for 30 years, but last year changed
its focus and direction because of
Weekend
Weather
Christmas Day
High: 63
Low: 35
Rain/Thunder
Thursday
High:47
Low: 30
Mostly Cloudy
Saturday
High: 44
Low: 32
Partly Cloudy