Hospice Honors Volunteers

UHS Hospice honored the tremendous service of the more than 100 volunteers who help them with their loving support to families of the terminally ill in our community. The luncheon April 27th was open to the public.

Volunteers Arrive At The Hospice

It is tough to lose a loved one suddenly, but it is more traumatic dealing with death that is imminent. The goal of Hospice is to show there are options to help live the final days with dignity and as free of pain as possible. Helping the dying and their families and making their lives brighter takes the most incredible love and dedication. This is what Hospice does.

Kathy Burden and Becky Hoggard With A Portion Of The Great Food

The volunteers honored at the luncheon were, Bonita Lewis for 10 years of Volunteer Service, Loretta Whitehurst for 10 years of Volunteer Service and Brenda Hoggard, winner of the 2004 Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

Bonita Lewis and Brenda Hoggard are presented their awards by Tra Perry (center).

One of the other purposes of the luncheon was to give special recognition to the many businesses, organizations, local groups and churches who provide outstanding support to this worthy organization in a variety of ways.

The Luncheon Sprawled All Over The Grounds

There was a special Remembrance of Joyce Miller for her dedicated service with two Hospice Volunteer groups, the Murfreesboro Lions Auxiliary and the Meherrin Baptist Church Women's Association.

Scouts Help Hospice Bring Joy

If you are interested in learning more about hospice and how you can help, call Tra Perry, Volunteer Coordinator at (252) 332-3392 or email her - hospice@asllabs.net

Jennifer Askew Greets Visitors To The Hospice Office In Ahoskie

If you are member of a group which could join in this worthy effort, please call also. You will never be sorry you helped.

Free Health Screenings - May 11th

Bertie Memorial Hospital has announced that it will conduct Free Health Screenings..

The public is invited, no appointment necessary; Wednesday, May 11th, from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the Cashie Medical Center (inside Bertie Memorial Hospital, 1403 S. King Street, Windsor).

These free screenings will include: blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings, depression, bladder control, memory, osteoporosis and memory.

For more information, call 794-6775 or email Angela Perez at APerez@PCMH.COM

Tonight's “Farmers Appreciation Banquet” a Great Success

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was the featured speaker at the 14th Annual “Farmers Appreciation Banquet” sponsored by the Windsor / Bertie Chamber Of Commerce held tonight at the Heritage House Restaurant in Windsor.

Steve Troxler, North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture
and Chamber Director Patrick Demofonte

The Farmers Appreciation Banquet is a way for the chamber membership to give thanks for the economic impact that the farming and agricultural industry makes on Bertie County. Larry Norris, President of the Chamber of Commerce, opened the Banquet with a welcome to the farmers present. The invocation was led by Windsor Mayor Bob Spivey after comments by Chamber Director Patrick Demofonte.

Speaker's table with Steve Wishall, Patrick Demofonte, Andy Lee, Steve Troxler and Bob Spivey

Steve Wishall introducing the keynote speaker, Steve Troxler

Speaker Steve Troxler is our new Commissioner of Agriculture and he spoke with enthusiasm about his life as a farmer and how that life had prepared him for his new role. Troxler is a graduate of N.C. State with a Bachelor of Science Degree in conservation, with a concentration in environmental studies. Mr. Troxler has served as a "century member" and Director of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina. Steve Troxler has spent his entire life around agriculture, including creating a farm business from scratch and making it a success. He talked about his experiences with produce stands and selling to produce markets to add value to his farm products. Adding value is something he feels all farmers must focus on to succeed in the current environment.

Steve Troxler, North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture

Steve addressed the issues of tobacco farmers and the reality that tobacco is going to a free market. That is expected to reduce the number of tobacco farmers, under one analysis, by up to 2/3 of the current farmers. The cash infusion to allow adjustment to this new reality is critical for farmers to manage the trasition smoothly.

Steve covered a great number of other issues, addressing re-organization of the Agriculture department, the heavy responsiblity of the department for non agricultural consumer responsibilities, the aging of North Carolina's farmers, the lack of understanding of Agriculture by most of the legislature (including many rural representatives) and new product opportunities in such areas as renewable fuels.

The Banquet had a great turnout

During the question and answer session the first question asked was abouth Phase 2 money. The answer was that the courts will make the decision, but that Steve felt the judges would like to find a way to do it if they can do so lawfully.

Another question that elicited interest was the question of how Steve defined the difference between a family farm and a farm busines. After first explaining the reality that many corporate farms were still a family farm, he commented on the governments current definition of small, medium and large family farms. He said that their definition was so confused that on the farm he had owned, with the exact same acreage, he had at different times been a "small", "medium" AND "large" family farm. He understood how people on farms could feel the government did not understand them or their problems!

Larry Norris, Steve Wishall, Patrick Demofonte present "thank you" to Steve Troxler

Andy Lee closed the meeting and thanked all the farmers for everything they do for Bertie County.

Coming Home

By Greg Moore - Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - Wall Street Journal (Opinion Journal)

It may take my wife and children a long time to realize that while I look the same, I am not the same person who said goodbye to them many months ago. I will never be the same again--thankfully so.

Each day now I am acutely aware of what makes me happy, and what it is I do that makes other people happy. Walking point through the volatile streets in Iraq helped me see this much more clearly, and I will make every effort to preserve that awareness for the rest of my days.

When I look through my photo album I think about the men I served with, and learned to count on, who are no longer by my side. The men who had their bodies pierced by the hatred of terrorists, men who left their last breaths in a place far away. Great men doing a job that allows this noble country the freedoms it deserves.

Incredible article. Thank God for the men and women who keep us safe.

[Don't forget Armed Forces Day on May 21st. The Bertie County Arts Council is sponsoring a "Salute to Soldiers" celebration that day. Watch here for more details, or call Bertie County Arts Council, (252) 794-9402, or email them.]

Elizabeth Stevenson Ives Lectures

The Historic Hope Foundation presented the 9th Annual Elizabeth Stevenson Ives Lectures today. This year's event in the Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center at the Historic Hope Plantation in Windsor, North Carolina focused on "Plantation Landscape and Memory".

Historic Hope Plantation

Highlight of the day was the presentation of the Larue Mooring Evans Award to this years winners, Mack and Clara Bell by representatives from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.

Stan Little, Reid Thomas, John Wood, Clara Bell, Mack Bell and Scott Power

Mack and Clara's names are engraved on the permanent Evans Award.

The permanent Evans Award Trophy

Speakers at the event included:

Vanessa Patrick, Architectural Historian, NC Dept of Transportation, "Reconstructing the Landscape at Carter's Grove Plantation"

John Michael Vlach, Professor of Folklore, George Washington University, "The Creation of Plantation Landscapes: From 17th-Century Virginia to 19th-Century Liberia"

Emily Herring Wilson, Writer, Winston-Salem, NC, "Elizabeth Lawrence: Landscape, Memory, and Imagination"


Attendence was excellent for this years event

Attendees enjoyed a lunch in the Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center facilities.

Lunch was a special time to visit with friends in the community

A special tour of the historic site grounds showed off the beautiful spring colors.


Spring is a special time at Hope Plantation

For information on Historic Hope, please contact Glenn Perkins or call (252) 794-3140.


Refreshments at Historic Hope Plantation

Paddle For The Border - April 30th

The annual "Paddle For The Border" event has been enlarged this year in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Dismal Swamp Canal. Paddle the historic waterway from Chesapeake, VA, to South Mills, NC, in the 2nd annual PADDLE FOR THE BORDER on April 30, 2005. Deadline to register for the event has been moved up to April 8th, so you need to act now if you would like to attend.

"Paddle For The Border" participants in last year's event

This event between two states will be hosted by the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center and Dismal Swamp State Natural Area, South Mills, NC; the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk, VA; and the City of Chesapeake Parks & Recreation Department, Chesapeake, VA;

Approximately 150 boats (canoes/kayaks) will participate on a first-come basis from the launch point at the Great Dismal Swamp boat launch in Chesapeake, VA, paddling 7.5 miles to the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center in South Mills, NC. Lunch for all participants will be provided at the Welcome Center by the Great Dismal Swamp Coalition following conclusion of the event.

Legislators and media representatives from both states have been invited to ride this beautiful waterway aboard the pilot boats.

All boats must be pre-registered. A Registration Fee of $30.00 per person (add $5 after deadline) will cover all costs, including an event T-shirt and hat, lunch and shuttle service. The Registration Package download will be available at the following websites: dismalswamp.com and cityofchesapeake.net. You may also contact the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center at (252) 771-8333 or the City of Chesapeake, Parks and Recreation Department (757) 382-6411.