“News from Next Door”
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^ PERQUIMANS COUNTY
Weekly!*
LIBRARY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019
Mayor, councilmen sworn-in
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
A new era has dawned
as Hertford’s new mayor
and two new councilmen
took the oath office at a cer
emonial swearing-in held
Sunday for the public, poli
ticians and family.
The first female mayor in
the town’s history, Earnell
Brown placed her hand on
the Bible as she recited the
oath administered by men
tor and longtime friend Jan
ice Cole, a former District
Court Judge.
Newly elected council-
men Ashley Hodges and
Jerry Mimlitsch were also
sworn-in by Cole.
More than 100 people at
tended the ceremony held
in the courtroom that had a
portrait of Cole dressed in
her judicial robes.
To see a video of Sunday’s
swearing-in ceremony, see
the Perquimans Weekly’s
Facebook page. That video
has been viewed more than
1,100 times and has reached
nearly 1,500 people - first
time the newspaper has
posted a “live” video feed.
Brown’s parents, family
and many friends were in
the audience as she paid
tribute to God for her elec
tion success as she steeled
herself for the work ahead.
“God set me up for this,”
she said. “Never in a mil
lion years has it been my
dream, aspiration or desire
to come to Hertford and run
for office, then be elected
first female mayor of this
town. My feet have still not
touched the ground, but as I
look out over this audience,
I want to say how grateful I
am.”
Brown’s campaign slogan
was “Unity in the Commu
nity-”
“I have two goals,” she
said. “I want to maintain
your trust and respect, and I
want a youth center for our
children - some place safe
that they can go.”
Brown looked over at
Hodges and Mimlitsch and
said, “I think we have a mag
nificent team. We have each
other’s backs and that’s
what it’s all about.”
Hodges thanked
Hertford
Grammar
School student
Allison Manning
won third place
in Perquimans
County Schools
$1.00
PHOTO BY MILES LAYTON
Honorable Janice Cole hold a Bible as she swears in
councilman Ashley Hodges (right) and Jerry Mimlitsch,
and Mayor Earnell Brown on Sunday within a courtroom
inside the county annex building.
Council
calls for
financial
review
Travel policy at issue
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
A new mayor and two
council members were of
ficially sworn-in Monday
during Hertford’s Town
Council meeting.
There had been some
question as to whether Ear
nell Brown would be able to
take the oath as mayor and
Jerry Mimlitsch along with
Ashley Hodges would be
able to take their oaths as
new council members.
Councilman Quentin
Jackson sought an injunc
tion to halt the new council
from being sworn-in so as to
have more time to address
his issues from November’s
municipal election when he
lost his bid for mayor.
However, a Wake Coun
ty Court dismissed Jack-
son’s attempts to overturn
the election, so the mayor
and new councilmen were
sworn-in during Monday’s
marathon meeting that last
ed four hours.
Council approved a
spending moratorium with
plans to review financial
data and ordered a halt to
any travel plans.
Town Manager Pam Hur
dle said spending irregu-
See COUNCIL, A2
Candidates
file for
re-election
BY STAFF REPORTS
Here is the latest update
for candidates have signed
the line to run for office
in Perquimans County as
of Tuesday’s press time.
The filing period continues
through Dec. 20.
Commissioner Kyle
Jones, a Republican, has
filed for re-election as has
Commissioner Joseph
Hoffler, a Democrat.
Democratic Register of
Deeds Jacqueline Frierson
has filed for re-election.
Leary Winslow has filed
for re-election to the Board
of Education.
State Sen. Bob Steinburg,
R-Chowan, and state Rep.
Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan,
filed for their second terms.
See SWORN-IN, A3
PHOTO BY PAM HADDEN
Dozens of colorful ornate floats marched their way through downtown during Saturday’s Christmas parade in Hertford.
Parade embraces holiday spirit
BY STAFF REPORTS
Hertford’s Christmas parade was
a huge hit.
People from across Perquimans
County lined the streets to see floats
ranging from a battleship to one
crafted by the Pirates’ Future Farm
ers of America Club.
And there were fire trucks, an as
sortment of classic cars, a Grinch,
Santa Claus and much, much more.
Huge display surely spurred folks
to embrace the Christmas spirit.
Merry
Christmas
goes Jessica
Murphy and
her 7-month-
old Charlotte
Murray; her
first parade!
For more
parade photos,
including
coverage of the
Winfall parade,
see Page A6.
Grand Illumination lights up Hertford
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
Grand Illuminations was, well, a
grand success.
Friday, Hertford streets and the
big tree were lit up. Songs were sung,
memories made for hundreds people
who attended the annual event that
seeks to inspire and fire-up the Christ
mas spirit - like a Hallmark movie!
“I’ve heard nothing but good
things from so many people who
attended. Everyone loved watching
the children perform,” said Nancy
Lodge, event co-chair.
Event Co-chair Joyce Gurgamts
added, “Between the middle school
band, the high school band, the chil
dren’s dance company, singers Hail-
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Meet Mr. Santa Claus!
ee Williamson and Hertford Baptist
preschoolers, there were scores of
children to entertain us. And, chil
dren bring out the parents. In addi
tion, a favorite teacher, Rodney Ly ¬
ons, sang a couple of songs.”
Lodge said her favorite moment
was when Santa (Pete Owens) ar
rived on a mule-driven wagon (Ran
dy Williams). “Once he was dropped
off, the children followed Santa into
the courthouse to tell him their wish
es for Christmas and receive a gift
from him,” she said.
Last word goes to Gurganus,
who said scores of participants and
entertainers as well as behind-the-
scene volunteers gave the 500-600
attendees a night to remember.
“It was a perfect evening in which
to welcome the Christmas season to
downtown Hertford,” she said.
Staff ranter Miles Layton can be
reached at mlayton@ncweeklies.com
Round-up
Nativity
and Egypt
BY MILES LAYTON
Editor
A round-up of all
things Perquimans
County...
Hertford Baptist
Church hosted its second
annual live Nativity scene
Sunday. Good day to do
it as temperatures were
mild. Featured a live sheep
and donkey. Nativity scene
should inspire and get peo
ple to know more about the
reason for the season.
Courtesy of Heather
Jones Conway, here are
the folks who participat
ed: Paul, Heather, Harlee,
Kaydee and Aaryn Hunt
er, Samantha and Sarah
Jordan, Thad, Tilsyn and
Thomas Woodard, Eliza
beth, Evan and Easton and
Heather Conway, Linda and
Whitney White, Landon,
Colby and Benjamin
Brown, Macon and Nixon
Winslow, Morgan and Macy
Baccus, Ava Miller, Trenton
Reed, John Riddle, Sierra
Bonner, and Ethan Jordan.
In other Christmas news,
those lighted trees by the
water front - this is not
done by the Town. Historic
Hertford originally funded
materials for the trees. A
key organizer, Skip Mat
thews has been helping to
put the trees up along with
Don Keith and Frank
Jacklic also Mike Niver.
Others have helped over
the years. Group needs
some help - some new
recruits/volunteers to make
the waterfront pop!
Speaking of Jaklic, a
member of the Hertford
Rotary Club, he recently
traveled to Aswan, Egypt.
Jaklic and 23 other medi
cal professionals, record
keepers, videographers,
photographers with Rotary
and Alliance leaders led
See NATIVITY, A3
PAL shares county’s best kept secret
BY ED SANFORD
Velvet Sanford, the Per
quimans County Arts League
(PAL) treasurer, overheard
a patron exclaim, “I had no
idea that Hertford had a pub
lic gallery with such wonder
ful art!”
Ironically, PAIls active
members hear comments
like this all too often. Despite
having been in operation
for nearly 25 years, PAL is
unknown to many local res
idents.
A group of interested citi
zens formed the Perquimans
Arts League in 1995, and its
first home was in a corner
of the old library building on
Academy Street.
Subsequently, PAL leased
space in the Hall of Fame
building at 109 N. Church
Street, which remains its cur
rent location.
This venue is both a bless
ing and a curse. While oc
cupying very nice space in
this multi-tenant building, it
does not have a “street front
presence” to make it promi
nent in the Town of Hertford.
PAL is effectively a “word of
mouth” organization where a
friend tells a friend Or its art
ists inform their followers of
See PAL, A3
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Throughout the year, Perquimans Arts League holds seminars and classes to
enable its artists and members to learn new skills and techniques. Regional,
national and international artists lead these learning opportunities.
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