Drive honors fallen soldier F^ge4 Chorale sets first county concert Page 4 Tracksters qualify for state meet Rage? P10/C4 .PERQUIMANS COUNTY LIBRARY 110 W ACADEMY ST (HERTFORD, NC 27944-1306 -'■-'J ^ O i"he May 11, 2005 Vol. 73, No. 19 Hertford, North Carolina 27944 Weekly Historic sKe work near end Slip-slidin ERIN RICKERT A nearly yearlong pro ject planned to help pre serve and protect several natural habitats on the acreage surrounding the Newbold-White House is slated for completion in the next few months, officials said Tuesday. Carlton Davenport, the civil engineer behind many of the improvements, said while the majority of the site enhancements are already finished those remaining should be com plete by the end of this summer. Funded by nearly $55,000 from a Clean Water Management Trust Fund Grant awarded to the Perquimans County Restoration Association in 2004, the project has allowed for the completion of several improvements under a shoreline demon stration plan as well as the construction of a pier, man made wetland and nature trail. “The whole project is designed to help improve drainage and protect the site from weather and pol lutants,” Davenport said. Improvements made under the shoreline demon stration plan, completed most recently, were intend ed to help protect shore on the Perquimans River from Continued on page 3 PHOTO BY ERIN RICKERT Raymond Doyen and his father Ray of Doc's Bulkhead Service finish work to a 150-foot long handicap acces sible pier complete with an observation platform near the Newbold-White House. In the background is one of three stone sills constructed to help prevent shore erosion. A manmade wetland is also under construc tion at the site, and a primitive nature trail leading to the riverfront will soon be added. \ 1 ► N.. . -• »(»•'- ■ v“. ' >4 - r* Sewer fix PHOTO BY ERIN RICKERT Members of Wayne Nixon Construction Company of Kenly work to replace 17 feet of damaged sewer line on Grubb Street Wednesday. Over the last two weeks, traffic on Church, West Academy, Hyde Park, Grubb and Edenton Road streets has been one lane as crews replaced 10 sections of deteriorated sewer line as part of a more than $350,000 project started earlier this year to help restore efficiency lost daily as a result of the pipe damage. ERIN RICKERT An instructor at Perquimans County Middle School was recently named the North Carolina Middle School Association Teacher of the Year for the region. Tina Mathis, a sixth grade social studies and language arts teacher, was awarded the honor earlier this year after a colleague nominated her. “It was an honor,” Mathis said of the award Thursday. “It is nice people see all the hard work you do. There are a lot of other dedicated teachers here that could have easily qual ified for the award. It is an honor just to work with them.” Mathis, who has a degree in elementary education from Chowan College and is AIG certified, joined the PCMS teaching staff in 1996 as a math teacher — later moving to her current position. In addition to her nor- 1 - 4 mal teaching duties, Mathis is the chairperson for the sixth grade and works with both the jump- start and after school pro grams. In March Mathis attend ed the NCMSA conference in Greensboro were she was awarded a plaque and a monetary gift as the region I winner. “I have never known anybody to get this award that was not worthy of it,” said Tanya Turner, region I 35 cents PHOTO BY ERIN RICKERT Nearly 25 Perquimans Central School pre-school students and their parents spent the morning in Missing Mill Park Tuesday. The students, who range from one-four years of age, barbecued and enjoyed the new playground equipment during a play group event. Their teacher, Frieda Bonner said it was the first time the group had visited the playground since it was erected in February by members from the area's chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. PCMS teacher honored Mathis named NCMSA Teacher of Year Tina Mathis accepts congratulations on being named the North Carolina Middle School Association Teacher of the Year for the region from school board chairman William Byrum and middle school principal Melvin Hawkins. Mathis is holding her daughter. Artists to showcase talents ate^ ERIN RICKERT It aU began as a private hobby in Maine close to two decades ago to help fill the extra time that comes with retirement — Erik carving local wildlife and Eda hook ing rugs. Since then the Van de Bogarts, now residents of Hertford’s Albemarle Plantation, devote count less hours, of their time sharing their self-taught talents with others. Each week individuals across Perquimans, Camden and Chowan coun ties meet with the retired school teachers either dur ing one of the classes they offer free from their home or gather as members of the clubs the two have start ed: The Albemarle Carver’s Club and The Cardinal Points Rug Hookers. Yet next week, the Van de Bogarts will invite every one interested in carving or rug hooking to an event the two created four years ago. May 19, the fourth annu al Wood and Wool Expo will take place at the Albemarle Plantation Clubhouse There, from 1-4 p.m., the public is invited to stop in at no charge to view wood- carvings, hooked rugs and pillows created by the Van de Bogarts, their students and club members. Raffle tickets to win a large hooked throw pillow as weU as either a carved Pintail bird or a black bass win be available for $5 and all proceeds will benefit Open Door of Perquimans County. In the past, the Van de Bogarts have donated items they have created for the raffle to benefit Open Door, raising close to $2,500 along the way. “We try to give back what we can,” Erik said. “It is a way to help and show non- involved people what we are doing.” Note cards featuring a hooked friendship rug and “inch high” carved shore birds will be available for purchase at the event. Erik will also take specialty Continued on page 3 SUBMITTED PHOTO director for the NCMSA. “I worked with Tina years ago when she was a new teacher. From the very beginning I knew she had potential to be great. The NCMSA award is presented annually to mid dle school teachers who hold positions of leader ship, communicate posi tively with adolescents and contribute to the middle level program in their school and school system. Weekend Weather Thursday High: 83 Low: 61 Mostly Sunny Friday High: 75 Low: 57 Few Showers Saturday High: 75 Low: 61 Few Showers