Looking out on the Chowan River, I see another cool, grey, and drizzly day. A steady northeast wind is making the water choppy. It’s been a cool spring and it seems we’ve gotten more rain than usual, although no doubt the farmers are thankful. You might even say it’s been a bit of an English spring, which somehow seems appropriate for the story to follow.
On this day in 1584, which was 439 years ago, British sea captains Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe, guided by Portuguese navigator Simon Fernandes, were sailing across the Atlantic from England in two tall ships financed by Sir Walter Raleigh and his friends. The captains and their crews, including a few, well-educated specialists such as artist John White and scientist Thomas Harriot, were headed for North America to explore and find a suitable spot for an English colony. They left England on April 27 and after stops in the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, they arrived at the Outer Banks, ironically, on July 4, 1584.
How long have people been living around here, i.e., the land around the Albemarle Sound and the major rivers that flow into it— the Chowan and Roanoke?
Artifact
Searching for a credible answer, I read about recent findings of archaeologists across America. Reporting what I’ve learned might make this column a bit “geeky,” but please bear with me; my stories will “heat up” considerably once I get to the time of European exploration. At that point, I’ll be able to draw from first-hand, personal accounts of some transformational events and very human stories that set a very different direction for our locale and for America as a whole.
As posted on Destination Downtown Edenton, Inc Facebook page, “this morning Kim and Annette Ringeisen were honored (virtually) by the NC Main Street Program and were recognized as Destination Downtown Edenton, Inc’s 2020 Main Street Champions. Thank you Kim and Annette for your commitment, involvement, and investment in Downtown Edenton!”
The Edenton Gazette congratulates all the award recipients and organizations that are involved and support the North Carolina Main Street efforts, including our own Destination Downtown Edenton, led by Jennifer Harriss.
You can see all the award recipients and hear of their contributions in the following video posted by the North Carolina Main Street Center.
“There are three keys to economic development success: public-private partnerships that share in the effort and jointly celebrate the successes of projects; economic development strategies that leverage local assets for authentic enhancements and improvements; and local champions that are leading the effort every step of the way,” said Kenny Flowers, Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. “The Main Street program throughout the state, is the epitome of the implementation of these three key components of success.”
“N.C. Commerce and N.C. Main Street have been recognizing Main Street Champions for more than two decades. We know that the success of downtown districts is because of the people behind the effort, and each year, we recognize the visionary individuals that have a strong sense of commitment to their community. They develop projects that improve quality of life, grow cultural and recreational development, renovate historic properties and spur investment and create jobs and businesses,” said Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center.
Thirty-eight Main Street Champions will receive honors for contributions to their Main Street programs and downtown districts last year. Including the 2020 honorees, 804 Champions have been recognized since 2000.
The 2020 North Carolina Main Street Champions are:
Richard & Joyce Lambert – Albemarle
Ron Foulk – Belmont
Casey & Emily Lewis – Burlington
Kay Raynor – Clinton
Chris Abney – Concord
Julie Stanton – Eden
Kim & Annette Ringeisen – Edenton
Paul Robinson – Elizabeth City
Emily Sharpe – Elon
Travis Smith – Forest City
Anne Smith – Fuquay-Varina
Kimber Roche – Goldsboro
Michele Sparks – Hendersonville
Kevin Greer – Hickory (Posthumous)
John McGill – Kings Mountain
Raine Tyndall – Kinston
Chris English – Laurinburg
Jesse Plaster – Lenoir
Emily Causey – Marion
Hugh Sykes – Mooresville
Keri McCann – Morehead City
Sharon Jablonski – Morganton
Ted Ashby – Mount Airy
Catawba County Library Staff – Newton
Doug & Denise Morris – North Wilkesboro
David & Shernita Powell – Oxford
Jeff Garstka & Missy Matthews – Reidsville
Garland Clark – Rocky Mount
Zack Wynne & Kyle James – Roxboro
Jim Masek – Rutherfordton
Greg Shields – Salisbury
Faye Schultz – Sanford
David Teddy – Shelby
Florence Grant – Spruce Pine
Cindy Sutton – Statesville
Wake Forest Garden Club – Wake Forest
Waynesville Police Department Officers – Waynesville
11 March 2021/
by Kim Ringeisen/
in Edenton Township, North Carolina, Vol1/
Comments Off on Edenton Couple recognized as 2020 North Carolina Main Street Champions!
This is a follow-up to the original article, concerning the Facebook post from Senator Bob Steinburg concerning Tyrrell county schools and an asserted complaint by a grandparent, concerning a virtual school play to Senator Bob Steinburg.
Tyrrell county schools have clearly stated in a letter posted to their site, that the play did not involve sexuality or transgender roles. That they will continue to investigate this issue and take appropriate steps to ensure that they are teaching North Carolina’s standard course of study and complying with their school board policy on teaching controversial issues.
On February 26, at 3:11 PM, in a personal post on Senator Bob Steinburg’s personal Facebook page, he called to action the following;
“Folks- you better start getting involved in your local schools; and schools- get back to what we are paying you to do- teaching our students academics! We will handle the social issues in our homes.” He started his post off by stating a concerned grandparent called him upset, that his sixth grade grandson was asked by a teacher to play the part of a transgender in a school virtual teaching exercise.”
Personal Facebook – Senator Bob Steinberg
This assertion has since been investigated and found that no reference to sexuality or sexual orientation in the play by the Superintendent of Tyrrell County Public Schools.
