Her Magazine - April 2022

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Meet our team

Christina Ruotolo

Christina Ruotolo is the editor of Her Magazine, Hot Dish writer, and a multimedia specialist at The Daily Reflector. She is also a part-time bookseller at Barnes & Noble. Christina enjoys baking, puppy snuggles and spending time with her boyfriend, Craig.

Emily Leach

Emily Leach is a graphic designer at The Daily Reflector. Things that take up her free time are, going to the gym, practicing her cello and piano, and getting together with family. She loves spending time with her husband, Nick and puppy Miles. Contact her at eleach@apgenc.com.

Editor

Designer

Deborah Griffin Photographer

Deborah Griffin is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer living in eastern N.C. where she lives on a farm with her husband of 32 years.

Deborah writes and shoots assignments for various local and state publications, and authors the stories of others, as ghostwriter. Contact her at deborah@ deborahgriffinphotography.com Christy Jones, also know as Coach Chris, is an improvement coach for leaders.

She helps them break free from feeling overwhelmed and prepares them to take their teams to high levels of performance.

Contact her at www.beginmonday.com.

Christy Jones Contributor

Lisa Pendry Contributor

Sonya Hall

Lisa Pendry is the owner of Fabric and Home Furnishings in Greenville’s Arlington Village, providing residential and commercial design services. Completed projects include: Dr. Bowman and Padgetts new office, renovation of Aldridge and Southerland offices, the interior of Soco Restaurant, and Murphy and Bunch CPA offices. She also has a design office in Morehead City to serve coastal clients. For more info, visit fabricandhomefurnishings.com.

Sonya Hall is a Mortgage Banker with Atlantic Bay located at 1702 East Arlington Boulevard, Suite C in Greenville, NC. For more information visit the website, www.

SonyaHallMortgage.com or call 252-3207922 (Ext 5644).

Bonnie Lesko-Roberts is a registered dietitian with the Pitt County Health Department WIC Program. For more info about WIC or other nutrition programs, call 252-902-2300.

Contributor

In 2014 after my parents died, I had the difficult task of cleaning out my childhood home and getting it ready to sell. It took over two years of long weekends, lots of tears, reminiscing and a lot of discovery. The onestory brick ranch was built in the late 60s, had original hardwood floors, porcelain tile and sinks in the bathrooms, wood paneling and baseboard heaters. I pulled up old shag carpet and stained linoleum floors, changed light fixtures and painted the front room a soft butter yellow. As I pulled up carpets, I remembered all the times I had fallen asleep next to baseboard heaters in winter. I cleaned kitchen floors and remembered the time I roller skated around the dining room table. I remember the embossed wallpaper with the gold-edged bird cages that hung in the bathroom for years. I used to make up stories about the birds in the gold cages. I remember writing a boy’s phone number on my pale pink bedroom wall.

Every room had a story. Every room had memories. Every box or drawer I opened was a treasure map to my past. Even though I was cleaning out the house for a new owner, I realized those memories will always be with me no matter how many new walls are painted over or trees cut down. Even though I don’t live there anymore, Mom’s yellow Jonquils still bloom every year and the Bonsai in the backyard Dad planted thirty years ago will keep growing. A family lives there now, a Virgin Mary statue stands guard in the front yard and the shutters are now painted a cream color. For this special home and design issue of Her, I wanted to feature historical home restoration. The cover model is Interior Architect Kasey Stone, Owner of Clerestory Design. She has been renovating the Hyatt House, the 2nd oldest home in Washington, N.C. since last fall. The home dates back to the 1700s and is filled with an illustrious past and a possible ghost too. You will read about the history of the home and what Kasey and her team discovered when they started the demo and how the project is going. This issue is also filled with Realtor and DIY spotlights, design trends for 2022 and much more. May this issue inspire you to re-do a room in your home with new furniture, bold wallpaper patterns, new lamps, or just sitting back and enjoying the history and memories your home holds.

Blessings,

Christina Ruotolo — editor

Contents Cover Story

4-8 Every House Tells a Story

Inside

Contributor

Bonnie Lesko-Roberts

Dear Readers,

10 12 14 15 16 16 17

Her Advice: Designing Your Ideal Life Her Business Spotlight: Her Health: Food Design Trends Her Recipe: Greek Yogurt Dip Her Success Spotlight: Kim Moody.

Her Realtor Spotlight: Kunny Brothers Her Money: Renovation Loans

20 Her Realtor Spotlight: Heather Garris 2 1 Her Realtor Spotlight: Sharon Alexander and Elliott Squires 22 2022 Designs Trends 24 National Poetry Month: N.C. Poets Share Their Poetry 28 Meet HER: Lizbeth Furci with Rhinestone Epiphany 30 HER Charity Spotlight:

Meet Her

34 Kasey Stone

Christina Ruotolo | Editor | 329-9532 Craig Springer | Advertising | 329-9632 Emily Leach | Designer | 329-9598

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STORY Kasey Stone restores and redefines the past

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BY CHRISTINA RUOTOLO PHOTOS BY DEBORAH GRIFFIN

t’s a warm, mid-March afternoon in downtown, Washington, N.C. The sun is high and bright, new green buds are sprouting on trees, and a Japanese pink maple in the front yard of a historical home is dropping leaves like pink rain showers. Interior designer Kasey Stone is dressed in a bright pink blazer and greets me on her wide, welcoming front porch. We head up the street past the cemetery to tour her new project a few blocks from her home. Walking up Main Street toward the North Carolina Estuarium, you will see the Hyatt House, located on Water Street. Paint crews are poised on ladders, painting the home a soft shade of pale green. Sunlight pours into the beveled original glass windows as we walk inside for a tour.

Exposed wooden beams hug the ancient ceilings, and a frame of history shelters us as we admire the past room by room.

Kasey is the owner of Clerestory Design, a full-service interior design firm serving eastern North Carolina and beyond. Her love of design was fostered in her childhood by a father in the furniture industry and a mother with a talent for creating beautiful homes and

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gardens. Kasey holds a degree in architecture from N.C. State and a degree in interior architecture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is also a licensed general contractor with a specialty in residential renovation and restoration. Since Kasey was a kid, she has loved the process of renovating and design.

“Out of school, I worked for a few architecture and design firms; I was able to get exposure to many aspects of the business,” she said. “In 2006 my parents bought a home in Washington, N.C., in need of a full restoration. I decided to get my general contractors license and manage the project. Soon I realized that my heart was in old homes. Restoring these pieces of history is truly my passion.”

Clerestory Design allows Kasey the opportunity to apply her education and experience to many aspects of design. While she is known for her love of color and clean and classic design, each project is unique and designed to reflect the client and their tastes.

“I believe that your home should tell your story,” she said, “It should reflect who you are, how you live and what you love.”

Relying on her expertise in construction and renovation, Kasey has worked on historic properties throughout North Carolina, and her experience in commercial, retail and residential décor and furnishings has provided her with projects all over the globe. Whether simply selecting a wall color for a client or designing and managing an extensive home restoration, Kasey has the experience, resources and expertise needed.

The Hyatt House, which she purchased in the spring of 2021, will be about 2,600 square feet, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms when complete. Built in 1785, the Hyatt House is the second oldest house in Washington. The home, part of Washington’s ghost tour, is the stuff of legends, including being built like a ship and being haunted by an old sea captain.

The house has been vacant since before 1967. When Kasey’s employees started the demo and removed the mantle in the drawing room, they unearthed a tin type photo, paper photos, old bottles, a piece of jewelry, a bullet, and a key. Other findings included an old spode China pattern that dates back to the 1800s and a petrified possum. For Kasey, the restoration of old homes is like tracing past ancestral maps of families long gone and in a way, it brings their stories back to life.

“My goal is to honor the historical significance of the home but add all the comforts of a modern house,” she said. “So far we have uncovered a skeleton of construc-

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tion that I think is really beautiful. My research leads me to believe that the house was built by shipwrights, and the home truly is constructed like a ship would have been. It is amazing to think that these pieces were shaped by hand years before modern construction methods and tools were created. There were no codes or standards, but this home has stood for 237 years. I aim to make sure it stands for another 237.”

After the process of demo comes the fun of putting it all back together. It is a challenge to honor the original floor plans while Kasey and her construction team create new spaces that would have not been there originally, such as a kitchen and bathrooms.

She is reminded of her first project completed and what lessons she has learned since then.

“We moved a lot when I was a child so we were always renovating our new houses to make them ours.

So my first project was probably my bedroom when I was 10 years old,” she recalled. “My first full historic restoration was my parents’ home on Second Street in Washington, which was built in 1891. It was so neglected that a tree was growing in the dining room.”

While Kasey had a great education and background, knowing how to apply that to the real world was a new lesson. She also learned that she had the talent and passion that is needed to do these old homes justice.

Kasey has enjoyed local and national success through her job and loves being able to share her results locally and online through her You Tube channel. Her success has traversed the country from abroad to the White House.

Her most recent project was the restoration of her own home located on Main Street, which was built in 1848 and took about a year to restore. It was the most personal project she has done, and it has truly become her dream house. There are bright colors everywhere from deep red in the living room to blush in the dining room and butter yellow in the inviting kitchen. The front foyer has vibrant and immersive Dorothy Draper wallpaper called Brazilliance which has been in production since 1937. It’s Kasey’s favorite room in her home and makes her happy every time she walks into it.

Working with the furniture industry, Kasey has designed a penthouse on Rodeo Drive, a number of grand homes in the Middle East and a vacation home in Lake Como for a world leader.

“My biggest honor and most memorable project was being invited by the first lady to decorate the

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White House Decorations

White House for Christmas in 2020,” she said. “That is the ultimate historic home. I spent a week working in the stately rooms taking in all the details and thinking of all those who had been there before me.

It was honor to work in such an important and historic property.”

But Kasey’s favorite part about her job might surprise you. It’s the demolition.

“This is when you start peeling back layers and these old homes start telling you their stories,” she said. “You are uncovering history.”

Once the Hyatt House is completed, Kasey hopes to find new owners who will cherish its history and character. After this project, she looks forward to future restoration projects and doing what she loves.

“In the short term I am working full speed ahead on the Hyatt House,” she said. “Once it is completed, I will be looking for that next historical home that is waiting to be returned to its glory.”

Kasey does more than just renovate homes; she helps her customers define their style and assists in helping them define spaces to fit their tastes.

“I always say I do anything from full renovations to helping you select a sofa, and everything in between,” she said. “Many of my design clients want help with a kitchen or bathroom renovation. Sometimes Clerestory Design does the construction, and sometimes I just consult on the design. Others want me to select furnishings or accessories for a room.

Some just want me to tell them they are on the right track for a DIY project. I love that each client and each project is different. I’m here to help a client as much or as little as they need.”

Kasey offers simple advice for homeowners who are looking to easily and affordably change the look and feel of their home?

“Start with paint!” she said. “Nothing is faster and with little expense you can make a real change in your home. I love bright and vivid color, but it is not for everyone. Find a color that makes you happy. I also love wallpaper and it has made a comeback.

These are not your 1980s patterns. With many papers offered with a peel and stick back that is easily removable, you are not stuck with it for life.”

For Kasey, the best part of her job is creating a space or home for her clients that is uniquely for them. “If they love it then I have done my job,” she said.

For more information visit clerestorydesign.com or, follow her on her You Tube Channel to see the restoration of the Hyatt House.

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www.century21eliteproperties.com April 2022

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DESIGNIN ADVICE

your IDEAL

BY COACH CHRIS

I

have always been intrigued with the construction world and the design of homes and buildings. It has been amazing watching various building projects go through the process from beginning to end. For me, life is almost like a construction project. To get the most out of life, I believe there are certain things you must pay attention to if you are going to “design your ideal life.” Let’s chat about a few of the things—shall we?

First, if you are going to design your “ideal” life, I believe you have to start with choosing a plan. Just like in construction, you must choose the right “house plan” that fits your lifestyle, your desired “lot”, and fits into your loot (budget). You must sit down, think about what you really desire and begin to customize your plan. Ask yourself questions like: “At this stage in my life, what do I really want to focus on, what do I want to accomplish, what do I want to move the bar on, who do I want to become, and what does success look like for me in this stage?” It will be beneficial to take your time and think this through. After you have 10

Life

processed those thoughts, I encourage you to write them down and then draw up your plan.

The second consideration I want to offer you in designing your ideal life is to think about your foundation.

In construction, the foundation of a home or building is a very critical element of the building process. It must be done correctly in order to prevent problems down the road. In respect to our conversation, what I am referring to when I use the term “foundation” is your core values. Your core values will guide what you do and who you become. Your core values are what you believe and how you live those values out in your everyday life. I would encourage you to spend some time outlining what your core values are and make sure that you are being true to those. For example: What do you believe about yourself? What do you believe about your health? What do you believe about your relationships? What do you believe about your faith? What do you believe about your dreams? What do you believe about your career path? And any other things you can think of. Your core values will be critical for your success and significance in life.

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Christy Jones, also know as Coach Chris, is an improvement coach for leaders and helps them break free from feeling overwhelmed and prepares them to take their teams to high levels of performance.

Contact her at www. beginmonday.com.

Of course, building and designing a home in the construction world contains a lot of moving parts such as choosing the plan, laying the foundation, putting up the framing, going through inspections, enclosing the home, installing the mechanical installation, adding sheet rock and insulation, and so much more. One of the other critical elements that I want to highlight for us in designing our ideal life is this concept called “house wrapping.” Certain climates offer a higher risk of moisture, mold, and wood rot in the home. A protective barrier known as house wrapping is installed to prevent the structure of the home from getting damaged. Here is what this says to me: as you are designing your ideal life, you have to make sure that you have “wrapped” your life with the right stuff so that foolishness and faulty thinking does not stifle your success.

(Whew, now that is a powerful sentence!) I want to encourage you to consider what kind of “house wrapping” you are using for your life. Make sure it is the kind that is durable and not damaging. Consider who you may have surrounding you. Are they pushing you in the direction of kindness and productivity or are they April 2022

draining the very essence of life out of you? Make a call and then wrap your life for success.

As you are thinking about designing your ideal life, remember that YOU are responsible for building the kind of life you desire. You have what it takes inside of you to create the life you want. Make it a priority to spend time, write down your plan and then get busy designing! Until next time…know that you are on your way to living your ideal life.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

2ND AYDEN FLIP FIREHOUSE FLIP

WORK IN PROGRESS

RESTORE 2 MORE, LLC AY D E N , N O RTH CAROLINA

Restore 2 More, LLC in Ayden, N.C. has been in business for one year.

Owners and husband-wife team Kari and Glenn Paramore buy real estate from foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, inherited homes, estates or unwanted properties. They also give options to owners on which is best to do, such as sell to them or use an agent to sell their home. Their way of getting homes is through referrals, social media or lead generation.

They have two flips going on in Ayden right now. One was an inherited house and the other was a fire house.

“We make the house come alive again by fixing it up and either renting or selling with different income opportunities to help other people that would not normally be able to rent or own a home,” said Kari, who is also a real estate agent with Keller Williams Points East in Greenville.

“In our business; everyone wins. Before letting your home fall to pieces because you can’t afford to fix it up, call someone like us and we can help with options.”

Kari Paramore REALTOR® DIRECT- 252.917.4906 OFFICE- 252.355.6000 Ext. 2143 KariParamore@kw.com KariParamore.kw.com

For more information visit:

WWW.RESTORE2MORE.COM or call 252-917-4906

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Keller Williams Points East 1708 East Arlington Blvd., Greenville, NC 27858 Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated.

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HEALTH

FOOD

DESIGN TRENDS m a d e

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BY BONNIE LESKO-ROBERTS This issue focuses on home and design trends, but are there also food trends?

Yes! And one of the hottest trends is a charcuterie board. This original idea of serving flavorful meats on a board has evolved into more popular grazing, dessert, snack or appetizer boards, to name a few. With a few basic guidelines you can design a safe, healthy and tasty option for a small family gathering or socially-distanced event.

Keep it simple. You don’t have to run out and buy a special board. A large tray or food-safe paper on a counter top makes a perfect base for your creation. A great option is making individual plates ahead of time, piled with a variety of treats.

Keep it healthy. Many boards you may see feature high-fat meats and cheeses. But this is your design. You can include lower-fat rolled turkey, reduced-fat cheeses, delicious fruits, hummus, whole-grain crackers or pita chips and colorful vegetables for dipping. You can even add small amounts of olives or pickles, dark chocolate and nuts. To add new flavor and color, try herbs such as dill or rosemary sprigs in dips.

Keep it safe. In order to prevent the spread of germs, do not allow guests to touch food with their hands. Instead, use

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toothpicks, tongs, small serving plates and forks and have hand sanitizer available for your guests. Prepare boards at the last possible moment to avoid keeping foods out any longer than needed.

Keep dips and any chilled foods on ice to keep them cold. Some foods, especially meats and cheeses, cannot sit out at room temperature for more than two hours. In warmer temperatures, limit the time to 60-90 minutes. After that, properly dispose of any leftover foods.

Always use cheeses that are pasteurized and cooked meats that are heated to steaming and cooled before serving to prevent any food-borne illness. You can make a safe and delicious board with these simple guidelines.

Remember, if you keep it simple, healthy and safe, you can have a trendy and creative charcuterie board for your next gathering, large or small. Bon appetite!

Bonnie Lesko-Roberts is a registered dietitian with the Pitt County Health Department WIC Program. For more info about WIC or other nutrition programs, call 252-902-2300.

April 2022

gr e e k YOGURT

DIP

MAKES 2 CUPS INGREDIENTS: • 2 cups (16 ounces) 2% Greek yogurt • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 teaspoon onion powder • 2 teaspoons dried dill • ½ teaspoon salt • Fresh ground white or black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS: Add the Greek yogurt to a medium-size bowl and whisk in the garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and serve. Store any remaining dip in a covered container in the refrigerator.

NUTRITION FACTS: YIELD: 16 SERVING SIZE: 2 Tablespoons Amount Per Serving: CALORIES: 23 TOTAL FAT: 1g SATURATED FAT: 0g TRANS FAT: 0g UNSATURATED FAT: 0g CHOLESTEROL: 3mg SODIUM: 76mg CARBOHYDRATES: 2g FIBER: 0g SUGAR: 1g PROTEIN: 3g

RECIPE

SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

HAS PUBLISHED HER SECOND BOOK “CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES ANYONE?” “Chocolate Chip Cookies Anyone?”

Is an easy read for young children to help them understand and celebrate adoption! Readers can follow the story of Bri and Summer as they learn why they are so special to their families.

The book also offers the opportunity for readers to process their feelings and their own experiences through journaling and drawing. Kimberly Purnell-Moody lives in Winterville with her family. She enjoys shopping, event planning and family reunions!

Her books are available on Amazon or on her website kimberlypurnellmoody.com

EALTOR

S POTLI GHT Age: 50 | City of residence: Greenville Occupation: REALTOR® with Century 21 Elite Properties in Greenville How long have you been a Realtor?

Since 2001 What's the best part about your job? Helping provide a service to buyers and sellers in acquiring what they want. The goal is getting them from A to Z in what they want, not to sell them a property.

Elite Properties 16

Favorite room in your house & why?

My sunroom. It has lots on natural sunlight & the view of the patio/yard.

If you could offer one tip for buyers?

Keep in mind resale when purchasing since most people will move every five to seven years.

If you could offer one tip for sellers?

Maintain your home so that when you are ready to move, it will not be overwhelming and you can reap the benefits while living in it.

Tahaia "Kunny" Brothers

211 East Arlington Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 215-0015 • www.century21eliteproperties.com Her - M agazine

April 2022

R E NOVAT ION

LOANS A L OW-I N V E N TORY SOLU T ION

BY S O N YA H A L L WI T H AT L A N T I C B AY M O R TG AG E

T

he high-demand housing market, filled with bidding wars and a low inventory of newly constructed homes, spilled over from 2020 and into 2021.

However, across the country, local markets are starting to normalize.

A renovation loan is a resourceful way to upgrade an existing property to accommodate new homeowners’ wants and needs. People with the appropriate credit can take advantage of the loan to modernize an outdated home and make it their own. It transforms the not-so-perfect home you just purchased into your family’s future for the next 30 years.

Maybe you want a suite attached to your home so your mother-in-law has a space all her own. Or maybe you want to install or update the heating and cooling systems.

Repairs you want to see happen are included, too. No matter the property, a renovation loan spins your recent purchase into your dream home with all the fixings.

Let’s say you stumble across a place during your home-buying search that doesn’t quite measure up to what you’re looking for. However, your agent informs you that, while not perfect, the home is in

MONEY

Sonya Hall is a Mortgage Banker with Atlantic Bay located at 1702 East Arlington Boulevard, Suite C in Greenville, NC. For more info visit the website, www.

SonyaHallMortgage.com or call 252-320-7922 (Ext 5644).

a fantastic school district for your children.

First, you should identify all the things that need to be fixed. After that, the fun part begins. You get to put together your wish list of things that aren’t in the home, items that need repairing, and what should be changed outright.

Don’t forget: It’s rare, if not impossible, to find a home with everything you’re looking for. So, the renovation loan lets you upgrade the property rather than losing out on your desired amenities from the get-go.

Given the current times, houses that stay on the market for more than two weeks attach a sort of negative stigma to themselves. If nobody is purchasing that home while the market is so hot, there must be something terrible about the property, right? Just remember, the renovation loan can fix any physical nagging issues for a home. You can even refinance your current loan to one of the renovation loans, and the contractor will start working on the home within 30 days of closing.

Most people are unfamiliar with the loan, but it’s a great option for anyone looking to gain peace of mind with the home they think they “settled on.”

Loan programs may change at any time with or without notice. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All loans subject to income verification, credit approval and property appraisal. Not a commitment to lend. Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, L.L.C. NMLS #72043 (nmlsconsumeraccess.org) is an Equal Opportunity Lender. Located at 600 Lynnhaven Parkway Suite 203 Virginia Beach, VA 23452. attributed/sourced AtlanticBay.com

April 2022

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FEATURING HENKEL HARRIS ~ DREXEL ~ BAKER ~ THOMASVILLE

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April 2022

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E A LTOR s potlight HE ATHER GARRIS Age: 50 City of residence: Grifton, N.C. Occupation: REALTOR® How long have you been a REALTOR®? 12 years Favorite room in your house and why? My favorite room in our home isn’t really “in” our home, but it’s our three-season porch at our home at Harker’s Island. I enjoy relaxing on the porch while watching the beautiful view of the water. It’s the perfect place to relax and rewind from a stressful week.

If you could offer one tip for buyers? Persistence pays off. Sometimes it takes multiple tries/offers before having your offer accepted. Trust the advice of your agent when making an offer on a home.

Purchasing a home is an invest-

ment. Don’t make an emotional decision, but rather make your decision about making an offer on a home based on market data regarding the property’s value.

If you could offer one tip for sellers? Listen to the advice of an experienced agent when determining the listing price for your home.

An experienced agent will help you determine the best listing price based on current market conditions and comparable sales data. Pricing your home correctly from the start helps you achieve the best results when your home hits the market. If the home is priced correctly, you will receive more interest from more potential buyers, which will likely result in multiple, quality offers in our current market. If the home is priced too high, you will likely have less showings, leading to your home staying on the market longer.

915 E Fire Tower Rd Suite 102, Winterville, NC 28590 (252) 565-1875 • www.realtyonegroupaspire.com 20

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April 2022

SHARON EDWARDS ALE X ANDER Age: 65 | City of residence: Winterville | Occupation: REALTOR® Agent photo

by Tanisha Walker with In God’s Image Photography

How long have you been a REALTOR®? 21 years Favorite room in your house and why? My “cloffice” — my husband and I decided he would use the master closet and I turned a spare bedroom into my dream closet. I recently added a small office in a corner of the room.

If you could offer one tip for sellers? Put yourself in the buyers’ shoes. If you were a buyer, what would you pay for your current home in its current condition?

If you could offer one tip for buyers? Get pre-approved, then decide what’s a realistic purchase price for you. It might not be the full amount the bank suggests — or it might be more than the bank is willing to finance.

3011 S Memorial Dr. Suite 4, Greenville, NC 27834

ELLIOT T SQUIRE S Age: 31 City of residence: Greenville, Raleigh, and Calabash Occupation: REALTOR® & co-owner of TouchDown Realty Co and of TouchDown Realty Triangle Group How long have you been a REALTOR®? I always have to stop and think about this-almost nine years!

What's the best part about your job? Seeing others succeed, whether it's a homebuyer, a seller, or one of our agents.

Favorite room in your house and why? I personally feel that it's important to be a huge fan of your bedroom and bathroom-since you start and end your day there.

If you could offer one tip for buyers? I hear a lot of buyers, new and "experienced" alike, say they don't want to "overpay" in this market. The reality is, it isn't the price of the property to which you should pay most attention; it's your interest rate. A prepared real estate agent and a good mortgage lender will ensure a buyer succeeds even in this market!

If you could offer one tip for sellers? The E.N.C. market has seen sales prices rising, but don't be greedy. If a buyer backs out over a home inspection, those reported items have to be disclosed to the next buyer who comes along. Not performing those repairs may mean it doesn't go under contract in one day again. Do it right, and any market will treat you right!

touchd own re a lt y

1700-C E. Arlington Blvd., Greenville, NC 27858 (252) 999-0585 • touchdownrealtyco.com Her - M agazine

April 2022 Heather Garris

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2022 INTERIOR 1 3 5

BY LISA PENDRY

BRING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE with vivid colorful and unique accessories to add just the right drama.

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COMFORT: Enjoy ultimate comfort with velvet, soft tweed and performance fabrics which allow us to bring our family back to the family room.

SHAPES: Shapes of our furniture can't be boring. Cuddle chaises, sectionals and swivel chairs will make the family room versatile and cozy.

4

LAMPS: Lamps need to be unique and to add softness and fun to your home.

BE BOLD: Using bold accents vs. white through colored candles, bold pillows with hints of sage or grass green will complete your home.

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METALS: Metals need to be blended with furniture, art & drapery hardware.

(Gold is still the most elegant choice.)

fabricandhomefurnishings.com 22

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April 2022

DESIGN TRENDS 7 8 TRAVEL: Yes, we are traveling again and want to bring the vacation vibe into our homes with art, fabric, and bold area rugs.

DRAPERY: Drapery will pull it all together and add the softness and finishing touches that will complete your home.

Lisa Pendry is the owner of Fabric and Home Furnishings in Greenville’s Arlington Village, providing residential and commercial design services.

Completed projects include: Dr. Bowman and Padgetts new office, renovation of Aldridge and Southerland offices, the interior of Soco Restaurant, and Murphy and Bunch CPA offices. She also has a design office in Morehead City to serve coastal clients. For more info, visit fabricandhomefurnishings.com

BIG NEWS

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(252) 493-0550

BEAUTIFUL ~ UNIQUE ~ CUSTOM FURNITURE ~ AMAZING DESIGN TEAM on site April 2022

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HER Celebrates National Poetry Month Featuring Poems From North Carolina Poets Photo By Sandra Davidson

Jaki Shelton Green, ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina, is the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina Poet Laureate. Appointed in 2018 and reappointed in 2021, she teaches documentary poetry at the Duke University Center for Documentary Studies. Green is the author of eight collections of poetry, and her poetry has appeared in many anthologies, journals, and magazines. She is the founder and owner of SistaWRITE, which "brings women and spaces together for writing, community, sisterhood, and shared experience."

She also serves as Poet Laureate in Residence for the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Light - by Jaki Shelton Green Ghost pages always fit my palm squarely off center where gravity tenderly lifts each page. The shifting begins when I dream myself awake inside a kaleidoscope of light. Tiny hands stretch to feel the breath of the light. I dream myself awake and crack into a thousand moments. I find home in the dark path where ghosts whisper through a rainstorm. A veil of light is the only masks we need. The Beloved is a trickster reminding me to feed the light growing inside my palms. I find home in the dark path. I dance its curves. The laughter of tiny feet drops stars behind us. I am following the path. The way of the Beloved. Eating edible stars. Holding a belly of symphony.

I’ll meet you there on a star beam as flat as a map of the world. We will pretend we are meeting for the first time. We will pretend that our thirst has never greeted morning together.

I will introduce you to the sky as breath. We will ask the river for an ancient chant to sing morning home. We will burst into song for the prayers whispering between light and shadow. We will teach our eyes to yearn for the moon. We will grow into mindful shadows. I will dance you all the way back to the dark path. I will become a thousand string of lights. A dancing crashing constellation. A Piano. A flute. A drum that spells your name across the sky.

There are sleeping trees that refuse to listen to the stories of the leaves. They have outlived fierce tornadoes and wintry spirits. It is here that we taste light for the first time and realize that we’ve stolen and savored light before inside the cloud of a womb. We become the reds yellows browns that fall beneath a cathedral of sky that refuses to bend. I trace your hands across a sky that remembers to remember. I trace your heart across an open flame that guides the breath of the firefly. I scatter your footprints across forest floors where full moons serve a witches’ brew.

A spider unlaces the black light hanging low. We all rush to see the eclipse of each other.

We are all low hanging fruit waiting to ripen. I am the source of me. You are the source of you.

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April 2022

We are potent scars inside each other’s hands. We are dances un-danced. Feasts un-tasted. Journeys unarrived. We are carrying the rivers where blood is born. We are this barren ground where we are learning new ways to sing our names backwards. We are new maps for all the ages we are becoming.

We are a new pulsating red that the sky needs to start a revolution. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for Inside this dance of light and sound.

We are learning new ways to measure a suspended tear on a child’s face. We are learning how to cultivate the light inside midnight visitations of spirit grandmothers and grandfathers who scattered moonbeams across oceans of no return. Ancestors who stole light from crooked paths washed out continents and crowded cargo ships in the spirit of becoming the light that they knew their seeds would need. We are the seeds they scattered. We are the Light their hands carried in their arms hands feet spirits wombs and hearts. We are holding the light inside our brush strokes, our sculptures, our fire, our fibers that dance, our words that sing.

We have been here before. Standing upside down bone naked inside ransomed truths. Inside the natural world that whispers itself into the stitches of our cloth. We are the creator ones. The maker ones who understand the biology of what remains. We dare white light to pass through a prism and separate light.

We dare the rainbow of colors to weep. We dare red to grow an even longer wavelength. We have been here before holding red skies red oceans red storms hostage inside the light we bear. We have been here before as the poets the magicians the weavers the glass blowers who see in the dark. We are here now offering the light.

We are here now offering the light. We are here now offering the medicine. We are here now offering the fire that the world needs. We are here now reclaiming the Light from the shadows. We are here now bending Light back into our hungry hearts. We are here now offering a feast of Light.

The Word Yes is in Everyone’s Eyes

Photo By Cari Corbett

I imagine yes is the only living thing—ee cummings

The wind unbraids the snakes from my dream’s hair as I slip outside into dawn’s hush.

The frozen grass sparks in the rising sun’s light. A sharp architecture that the horses’ soft muzzles nudge to graze.

As a child I thought grass was alive, and I asked permission before I stepped.

I may believe it still and listen to the crunch of my boots and the percussion of three horses trotting towards me and my armful of hay.

Malaika King Albrecht served as the inaugural Heart of Pamlico Poet Laureate, and she is the founding editor of the online magazine Redheaded Stepchild. She's the author of four poetry books, including most recently, “The Stumble Fields” (Main Street Rag 2020).

April 2022

It’s outside that I’m most inside my body with the sharp keer of the hawk singing along my spine and the cold air bristling my face.

Every cloud can be a bird, and a flock of birds rises from the pasture as a single swift dark cloud.

See how my breath sends brief ghosts into the air.

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A Diggers Lot

Photo By Lorien Stocks

Sitting alone at time’s endRecoiled by a single notion…

Only the hole she herself crafted cannot be reconciled"A Digger’s Lot." Maximum Tilt Solstice Anthology. Lisa Allen, ed. Newton MA: Pine Manor College, 2019, pp. 115.

Kristie Williams is a published poet. Her forthcoming poetry chapbook, “Finding Her,” will be published through Finishing Line Press in August. Williams has been previously published by Main Street Rag, Dan River Review, Cairn, Maximum Tilt Solstice Anthology, Madness Muse Press, Hermit Feathers Review Heron Clan 8, and Nostos: Journal of Poetry, Fiction, and Art. She will begin taking pre-sale orders the week of April 19.

Ties That Bind My brain is full of fluttering wings and things we’d rather not talk about.

But what would you do if I decided to shout and scream and cry?

What if I spew the words you don’t want to hear? (the words I don’t want to speak) Beware.

The golden wires may shock the wings from my head.

I may spit them out by accident. (come with me into the storm of confession) Leave the wasted world of wrong words behind.

Only truth sets you free but lies can bind you together. (you just have to decide if that’s what you seek) Michelle Garren-Flye is the owner of The Next Chapter Books & Art, editor of The Next Chapter Literary Magazine, a multi-published author of romance, children’s books and poetry. In 2021 she was named the Heart of the Pamlico Poet Laureate. For more info, visit http://michellegflye.com.Current Heart of the Pamlico Poet Laureate 26

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April 2022

Everyday Miracles

Photo By Photo By Crutchfield Photography Crutchfield Photography

It’s the little things, really, that bind my life to yours the curve of your hand as you sleep the kite-tail swoop of your laughter the squeak of a porch swing the fold of a dish towel the grace of bread waiting to rise. (from Just Off Half-Moon Road) Sheila Turnage hails from Farmville and is the best-selling author of the “Three Times Lucky” children’s series. Her new poetry book, “Just Off Half-Moon Road,” was published by Main Street Rag last fall. For information on virtual events, poetry seminars, and book club events, visit Sheila Turnage or Sheila Turnage Author on Facebook.

Want to try your hand at writing poetry in April?

FA R M V I L L E , N . C . C E L E B R AT E S N AT I O N A L P O E T R Y M O N T H As a town located on the corner of creativity and commerce and filled with artistic people and places, Farmville makes it a point to celebrate National Poetry Month every year. The monthlong celebration will begin on Monday, April 4th at the Town Board meeting when Mayor John Moore reads the proclamation recognizing the event that runs from April 1st through April 30th and reminds everyone of the important place poetry has in our lives and culture. Town Commissioners, Alma Hobbs and Jamin Dixon will each share a poem at the meeting. Farmville will sponsor the second annual “Hometown Haiku” competition, which is open to all adults and children in Pitt County. The top three winners will April 2022

receive prizes and their names will be listed on the Paramount Theater Marquee on Main Street. Entries for the haiku competition should be emailed to info@farmvillencchamber.org by April 20. To honor the 150th anniversary of Farmville, the poetry committee will write columns for the Standard newspaper sharing and discussing poetry from the time period of about 1872, the year the town incorporated. “This is the fourth consecutive year that Farmville has participated in the largest literary celebration in the world,” says Lori Drake, a member of the town’s poetry committee. “It’s always a good idea to pause and ponder this lovely literary form and take a minute to put a poem in our pockets.”

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meet

LIZBETH FURCI

Age: 64 City of residence: Greenville Occupation: Owner of Rhinestone Epiphany, located inside Little Shoppes at 223 W. Main Street in Washington, N.C. Rhinestone Epiphany features beautifully hand-created hair accessories and unique functional items as well as vintage jewelry and gifts. I want all my products to have Style + Function + Vintage. Step out of your box and “Dare to be...Different!”

What is your favorite item to create and why? I love making fabric headbands. I have a passion for fabric. I love getting new fabrics in and can’t wait to see what the finished project looks like. I make several different styles to fit any occasion from baby up to adults.

When did you start Rhinestone Epiphany? I opened my booth in January 2020. I started with headbands and moved to making fabric boxes, bowl cozies, and heating pads as well as items that can be utilized in your home in a variety of ways. I also hand-make lavender sachets that I adorn with vintage brooches and vintage earrings with and without clips.

Where did the name come from?

When I was in college at ECU, I was fascinated with the 1950s and wore vintage earrings, brooches and little beaded sweaters. Wearing clip-on earrings for a long period of time can cause your ears to hurt, so I decided to remove the clips and added posts, and tada, it worked. That was my “epiphany.” It grew from there.

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What are some of the new projects that your are working on?

Over the last year during the pandemic, I started creating custom hair barrettes from resin featuring hand pressed fresh flowers. I love flowers and nature and am always collecting for my next project.

Pressing flowers is a therapeutic process, and I wanted to find a way to incorporate them into my DIY creations. And then I found resin, which is a versatile medium that can be used in many different art projects. I also make decorative pins and bangle bracelets.

I love experimenting and look forward to creating custom gifts that will bring joy and meaning into others’ lives.

Her - M agazine

April 2022

GREENVILLE WOMEN’S CARE

WELCOMES DR. STEVEN SPRUILL

Dr. Steven Spruill earned his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Health Systems of Eastern North Carolina in Greenville, NC. Dr. Spruill’s areas of interest include minimally invasive techniques for menstrual problems, health and nutrition. He believes in patient-centered care and shared decision making for his patient’s health care needs. Prior to joining Greenville Women’s Care, Dr. Spruill practiced at Vidant Women’s Care-Tarboro, formerly Tarboro Women’s Center.

A native of eastern North Carolina, Dr. Spruill is married, to his wife Nusara, and has three children, Stefan, Carmen and Carissa.

Outside of the office, he enjoys music, running and fitness and spending time outdoors with his family.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Spruill, call Greenville Women’s Care at 252.757.3131.

2251 Stantonsburg Rd. | greenvillewc.com | 252.757.3131 April 2022

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CHARIT Y SPOTLIGHT

April is National Autism Awareness Month. This month Her magazine is showcasing the local organization Aces for Autism. One in 58 individuals in North Carolina is affected by autism.

aces for Autism, 925 Conference Drive, is a not-for-profit treatment and educational center dedicated to empowering families and individuals impacted by autism to experience success from diagnosis through adulthood.

In the fall of 2018, Aces for Autism purchased 23.83 acres on Worthington Road in Winterville. Plans are underway for the Ron and Rose Bowen Family Autism Campus, which will provide treatment, care, educational and recreational space for children and families affected by autism.

Aces’ goal is to provide services that allow individuals and families served to experience God’s love and purpose for their lives. Foundations of their organization are: integrity, hope, trust, respect, advocacy, compassion, faith in God, and Christian values. Aces has an “it takes a village” approach to supporting the success of organizations that provide treatment for children with autism.

If you would like to become involved with the Aces for Autism team, volunteer or donate, 30

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April 2022

THE GREENVILLE LOCATION FEATURES: • 13,000 SQUARE FOOT CLINIC SPACE

5+ YEARS IN SERVICE

• STATE-OF-THE-ART SENSORY ROOM

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What started as a simple vision in 2014 quickly became a reality due to the tremendous local

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• HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUAL MILESTONES MADE • FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE IMPACTED BY ADVOCACY EFFORTS

From the annual Dinner & Auction to its loyal donors, Aces has been able to generate tremendous support from the local community.

50+ CHILDREN IMPACTED Aces has been able to help families achieve milestones they never thought possible by providing positive care and treatment.

call 252-689-6645, email info@acesforautism.com, or visit

www. acesforautismnc.com April 2022

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Eastern North Carolina Real Estate Service Directory Your Full-Service

Elaine Anderson REAL TOR/Broker elaine@century21trg.com

Local Realtor

Representing buyers, sellers and investors with experience & integrity.

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Cell - 531-2010

shrrywll@gmail.com

The Realty Group

1420 East Arlington Blvd. Suite B Greenville, NC 27858 252-355-7800

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April 2022

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Her meet

K A SEY STONE Age: 43 | City of residence: Washington What is your anthem (song that represents you)? The N.C. State Fight Song Current job? Principal at Clerestory Design Who is your style icon? Dorothy Draper.

I am so inspired by her use of color and pattern and the way she ran her business.

If you could have dinner with any famous person dead or alive, who would it be and why? Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I so admire how she has lived her life and led her people, and she has the best hats.

Signature scent: I don’t really have one, maybe paint. Lol! What is your favorite room in your home and why? My office and foyer. When I set out to find a new (old) home in Washington, I wanted one that could handle the Dorothy Draper wallpaper Brazilliance (in production since in 1937). Now this paper adorns the walls in this room, and it makes me happy each time I walk into it.

Favorite book: “Gone With The Wind”

by Margaret Mitchell Quote to live by: “To be womanly always, to be discouraged never”- Ethel Switzer Howard

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April 2022

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