Millie Perry Wins Rotary Scholarship

The Windsor Rotary Club has awarded it's latest scholarship to Millicent Perry, in recognition of her outstanding efforts and personal accomplishments. Bob Taylor read some of the comments in Ms. Perry's letters of recommendation and it became clear she was a very deserving winner. Bob made the announcement at Thursday's meeting, and presented Millie with a Rotary cup during the cermony.

Bob Taylor Presents Cup To Millie Perry

Millie's parents, Bob and Sandra Hoggard were present for the announcement, and were beaming at the honor their daughter had won.

Sandra Hoggard, Millie Perry and Rob Hoggard

Congratulations to them all. And thanks to the Rotary Club for their continuing support of our local students.

Material Wealth In Bertie County

Tonight was the reception for the exhibit opening of "Material Wealth In Bertie County; 1753-1819". As people arrived, the late afternoon sun made Hope Plantation look its best.

Hope House

The reception was held at Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center, Historic Hope Plantation. There were snacks, drink, and good company in abundance. Glen Perkins was on hand to explain the exhibits, with much additional information that helped to bring the exhibits alive.

Glen Perkins Explains The Estate Records

The exhibits are based on the inventory of assets for those who died, the traditional process for handling estates in that time. Hope Plantation has put together samples of the kind of items listed on the estate inventories, so the items listed can be more easily visualized.

Wealth Of Bertie

The exhibit looks at the changing values of material goods over nearly 75 years. It will be on view at the Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center through October 2005. Drop by and see what's going on at Hope and the Roanoke-Chowan Heritage Center. For further info, please contact: Glenn Perkins, Curator, Historic Hope Foundation, Inc., (252) 794-3140.

Discount Jewelry Sale - July 12th

A discount jewelry sale will be held in the front lobby of Bertie Memorial Hospital in Windsor on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 from 7 AM to 5 PM.

Sterling silver, real gold, precious, and semi-precious stones will be featured in a wide variety of necklaces, rings, slides, bracelets and much more. Prices range from $10 and up. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Bertie Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

For more information, call (252) 794-6653 or email Angela Perez, Marketing/Community Relations Coordinator at Bertie Memorial Hospital.

A Sunday School Lesson

Story by Bob Fringer

Some time ago I had the pleasure of teaching a group of young teenagers during our church’s Sunday school period. Typical of youth at that age, they were open, challenging, vibrant and full of life. They were willing to discuss and provide answers to any of life’s perplexing problems.

To make the class interesting and meaningful, I tried to relate Christian values and principles to everyday living situations. We had some great and enlightening discussions. The teenagers were fully engaged while they expressed their views and concerns. I learned as much as they did during our time together.

On one particular Sunday, I proposed a theoretical question, which, I thought, would allow them to express their thoughts about a meaningful Christian life. I asked them what they would do if they were told that they would have only 48 hours to live.

Their responses were touching. One member said that she would spend her remaining time with her family. Another added that she would include her friends with her family. And another said that he would spend some of his time helping others who were in need. At this point in the discussion I smugly thought that I had done well teaching them Christian values. However, the discussion went quickly downhill when the next member of our group replied that, “he would try to get as much sex as he could get before he died.”

Needless to say, his response broke up the other members of the class. Apparently, this young man was known to be a wee bit obsessed by sex because his female classmates began to tease him about his collections of playboy magazines and Victoria’s secrets catalogs. I vainly tried to steer the discussion back to a more serious level of conversation but it soon became apparent that I had failed miserably in my attempt.

A few minutes later the class time was over for the day, but not soon enough for me. I had received my humbling for the day. There is nothing like a teenager to bring you down from your lofty perch.

Young ladies be aware! That young man continues in his quest!!!. You have been warned.

PETA - Hates People And Animals Too

The headline of the Bertie Ledger-Advance for this week says, "Bertie cuts ties with PETA". The easy story behind this headline is the fact that two PETA activists were caught killing animals in a cruel fashion and illegally disposing of them. Bertie County is running away from the bad publicity from this incident by canceling the business relationship.

A harder story is finding out what this organization is really all about. That turns out to simply require a little research. Anyone who was not enamored of this groups extremist views would have severed the relationship years ago.

PETA is an organization that has delighted in harrassing people for such normal things as killing animals for food. Unless you have a hidden agenda to force Bertie County residents to become vegetarians (PETA's agenda) there is no reason to do business with PETA.

Two major articles on this story add insight to this organization not addressed in the Ledger story. Though PETA had promised to find homes for these animals, they really never had any intention of doing so.

Better Dead Than Fed, PETA Says
by Debra J. Saunders - June 23rd, 2005 - San Francisco Chronicle

According to veterinarian Patrick Proctor, the PETA people told North Carolina shelters they would try to find the dogs and cats homes. He handed over two adoptable kittens and their mother, only to learn later that they had died, without a chance to find a home, in the PETA van. "This is ethical?" Proctor railed over the phone. "I don't really think so."

The most telling quote from Debra Saunder's article is from PETA leader Ingird Newkirk:

Newkirk also told the New Yorker the world would be a better place without people. She explained why she had herself sterilized: "I am opposed to having children. Having a purebred human baby is like having a purebred dog; it's nothing but vanity, human vanity."

Numbers published in the article indicate that the SPCA finds homes for well over 60% of the animals they take in while PETA only finds homes for less than 15%. PETA is killing millions of animals needlessly every year without seriously trying to find them homes. The huge $20 million budget for this organization is spent not on caring for animals, but on organizing for left wing political causes. The animal rights issue is just a front. These numbers have been public knowledge for some time.

The second major insight is that PETA still does not believe it did anything criminal.

PETA President Denounces Dumping, Defends Accused Workers
by SUE LINDSEY - June 23, 2005 - WAVY Channel 10 (Portsmouth, VA)

Dumping the bodies of dead dogs and cats in the garbage is wrong, but the president of Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said Friday that animal cruelty charges against two employees won't stick.

For years the joke has been that PETA does not love animals so much as it hates humans. Bertie County should do business with groups that care more about both people and animals in the future.

Windsor Arts Day Camp

Today was the final event of the Windsor Arts Day Camp. It concluded with an outing at Livermon Park, and a cookout provided by event co-sponsor Sprint. The children helped to landscape the park while they were there.

Parents Watch As Kids Scatter All Over The Park To Explore And Look At The Animals

The children have been meeting all week at the Windsor Community Center for painting, woodburning, stained glass, building bird houses, making candles, creating kaleidascopes and learning various crafts.

Making Kaleidascopes, Hallie Corbette, Bethany Daniels, Carson Stevens, Hayden Thompson, Anne Gray Thompson, Margarette Jeanette and Walker Jeanette

Sprint personnel did not just sponsor the luncheon at the park, they worked hard to cook it and make sure everyone had a good time.

Charlotte Underwood, Gene Lewis, Bill Chilton and Cathy Wilson Of Sprint Prepare The Hot Dogs

The kids came running from all over the park to get the food. It was great fun.

Lunch At Livermon Park

The Arts Council and Sprint made this a great event.

Battle Off Nags Head

The WW II Battle Off Nags Head, of April 14th, 1942 was the subject of a great evening presentation last night in the Panel Room of the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse. The Panel Room is upstairs above the famous and historical courtroom.

A Truly Historical Setting

Jim W. Bunch, diver, historian, and author of the books Diving the U-85 and A Shadow in the Sea was the guest speaker. The evening was sponsored by the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library with a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council.



Jim Bunch Was An Excellent Speaker

Mr. Bunch , an Eastern North Carolina native who now lives in Kill Devil Hills, presented a startling lecture and powerpoint presentation of historical and underwater photographs on the history of the German U-85, his over 500 dives to its wreck, his remarkable recovery of the famous German Navy Enigma decoding machine from inside the wreck, and the artifact’s ongoing restoration at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras.



The Crowd Arrived Early. It Was Packed By The Time It Started

Some of the photographs published by Mr. Bunch are credited to Edenton’s own underwater photographer, Michael A. deCamp.



The Speech Was Supported By Some Great Photos

The U-85, one of several German U-Boats sunk in battle just off the North Carolina coast during WWII, lies in 100 feet of water only thirteen miles directly off Nags Head. Part of the signficance of the U-85, certainly one reason for its ongoing interest, is that it was the first Nazi submarine sunk by an American ship, the Destroyer Roper.

Roper Crew Marks Their Success

As we left the presentation, we walked down to the end of the park in front of the famous courthouse and watched the sunset over Edenton's Bay. It was a truly great evening all around.



Edenton Sunset Completes The Evening

This summer night’s presentation was free to the public. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Rosalie Miller, S-P Librarian (252) 482-4112 or Peter Rascoe, E-C Special Projects (252) 482-8431.

Windsor Rotary Club Golf Tournatment

Tonight was the victory banquet for the Windsor Rotary Club Annual Golf Tournatment held at the Cashie River County Club. The team that won was not the only group that was having a great time. The food was great and everyone enjoyed seeing their friends.

The Riley Thompson Team won the event. The team is pictured below.

Sid Copeland, Riley Thompson, Andy Lee And Earl Harrell Are This Year's Champions

Andy Lee from the team asked that everyone from the Rotary Club know, "We had a wonderful time .... and we like winning too!"

Woman Survives Skin Cancer

... But Warns Against Exposure to Sun

By Angela Perez - June 3rd, 2005

When Janet Capehart was told by her doctor that she had skin cancer, she was shocked. “I had this little tiny dry patch on my cheek for about six months,” said Capehart, a pediatric asthma nurse for Bertie Memorial Hospital in Windsor. “I really didn’t think much of it except that I was aggravated that it wouldn’t go away.”

Capehart, a native of Bertie County, said that she did begin to get a little worried when the spot began to bleed just the tiniest bit when she dried her skin with a towel after washing her face. At that point, she decided it was time to visit a dermatologist.

Her physician informed her that she had basal cell carcinoma, one of the most common of all types of skin cancers and one of the most curable. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that a total of 800,000 cases are diagnosed each year. Although the doctor chastised Capehart for waiting for so long to have the spot examined, he explained that the basal cell had not spread or grown too deeply into her skin to cause cosmetic disfigurement or spread to her nerves her eyes . The procedure to have it removed took only 45 minutes and was performed in the doctor’s office.

Capehart now has a very faint, almost unnoticeable one-inch scar on her left cheek about 2 inches below her eye that reminds her every day to pay close attention to changes on her skin. She now uses sunscreen whenever she goes outside and goes to her doctor for follow-up visits every six months. The possibility of recurrence or the development of new tumors is a definite possibility, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Janet Capehart's Scar Is Barely Noticeable.

“I was lucky this time,” she said. “The doctor told me that if I had waited six more months, the results could have been significantly worse.” And while basal cell carcinomas rarely cause death, melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, causes more than 7,300 deaths in America each year.

Capehart said that her doctor told her of a 32-year old female patient who was dying from melanoma probably caused from too much exposure in a tanning bed. “He told me that she had not paid attention to the symptoms and warned me that even though I didn’t have this type of skin cancer, I must always pay attention to changes on my skin,” she said.

What are the symptoms of basal cell carcinoma?

The five most typical characteristics, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, are:
-Open Sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts and remains open for three or more weeks. A persistent, non-healing sore is a very common sign of an early basal cell carcinoma.
-A Reddish Patch or irritated area, frequently occurring on the chest, shoulders, arms, or legs. Sometimes the patch crusts. It may also itch or hurt. At other times, it persists with no noticeable discomfort.
-A Shiny Bump or nodule, that is pearly or translucent and is often pink, red, or white. The bump can also be tan, black, or brown, especially in dark-haired people, and can be confused with a mole.
-A Pink Growth with a slightly elevated rolled border and a crusted indentation in the center. As the growth slowly enlarges, tiny blood vessels may develop on the surface.
-A Scar-like Area which is white, yellow or waxy, and often has poorly defined borders. The skin itself appears shiny and taut. Although a less frequent sign, it can indicate the presence of an aggressive tumor.

Anyone displaying these symptoms should see a physician immediately.

“I asked my doctor how could I have gotten this,” said Capehart, a middle-aged mother of three. “I’m never in the sun.” Her physician told her that the causes are primarily attributed to long-term exposure to sun and typically occur on the body parts that are most frequently exposed -- the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back. At the highest risk are those with fair skin, light hair, and blue, green, or gray eyes. Her doctor also informed her that the cancer could be the result of sun-damage caused from childhood or early adulthood or even daily exposure over time.

Capehart said that while she is fair-skinned, she never thought that the kind of exposure that comes with simply going to work and driving in her car would add up to skin cancer. “I now tell my daughter, who is a true-blue sun worshipper, to stop laying out and protect her skin. I hope my experience teachers her the dangers of sun exposure.”

On Saturday, June 11, free skin cancer screenings will be held at Cashie Medical Center (located inside of Bertie Memorial Hospital) from 9 a.m. to noon. No appointments are necessary. For more information, call 794-6775.

Angela Perez
Bertie Memorial Hospital
Marketing/Community Relations Coordinator

Dr. J. Fred Saunders - Featured Artist

The Bertie County Arts Council held an open house this evening featuring the work of Dr. J. Fred Saunders of Aulander. The event was held at the Arts Council Gallery in Windsor, NC.

The Event Has Just Started And The Crowd Starts To Grow

Dr. Saunders is this months featured artist for the Bertie County Arts Council.

Fred Saunders With His Beautiful Painting "Quiet Place"

These monthly shows are free and open to the public and are well attended. One reason is the good food that is always served.

The Arts Council Always Provides Great Food

Local art patrons have discovered that the quality of the art is always high and the prices are attractive.

Nancy Joyner, Peggy Brinkley, Jacqueline Perry and Tra Perry Talk About Which Art To Buy

For more information on the Bertie County Arts Council please call (252) 794 - 9402 or email the council at bertiearts@earthlink.net

Landscaping Day at Windsor United - June 18th

The Windsor United Methodist Church and the Catholic Community of Windsor will join together at the Windsor United Methodist Church, 408 S. Queen St., in Windsor, N.C., for a Landscaping Day, on Saturday, June 18th, 2005, beginning at 7:30 AM.

Everyone is invited to join in and get to know the Methodist and Catholic families. This will be a day of sprucing up the church on the outside. Various skill levels are needed so most everyone should be able to find something that they are able to do.

The event will finish with a cook-out at noon. Even those not able to work are invited to bring a side dish and join the fellowship for lunch. This will be a great opportunity to celebrate accomplishments and for both communities to get to know each other better.

For more information, you may e-mail the Windsor United Methodist Church at windsorumc@copper.net, or call (252) 794-3785.