Images Roanoke Valley, NC: 2009

IMAGESROANOKEVALLEY.COM THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE VIDEO Tour Sylvan Heights and see the waterfowl in the video gallery.

PHOTOS See more community images from our prize-winning photographers.

FACTS & STATS Find schools, an interactive map, and important facts and ďŹ gures.

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ROANOKE VALLEY, NORTH CAROLINA

Give My Regards to Lakeland Theater brings first-rate live shows to Littleton

BOUNTIFUL BEAKS Waterfowl park attracts i i 90,000 annuall visitors

SPONSORED BY THE ROANOKE VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2009

www.heatonrealestate.com hre@schoollink.net

Nestled in front of a fireplace, family stories of days past and days to come, your home becomes the setting for dreams that will be treasured for a lifetime.

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2009 EDITION | VOLUME 6 TM

ROANOKE O O VALLEY, NORTH O CAROLINA C O

CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S 14 BOUNTIFUL BEAKS Environmentalism mixes with education and fun at Sylvan Heights.

35 GIVE MY REGARDS TO LAKELAND Community theater brings first-rate live entertainment to Littleton.

16 HATS OFF TO HALIFAX Visit the historic town of Halifax and be transported to the year 1776.

18 ON WITH THE SHOWS

41 A FINE KETTLE OF FISH Striper bass by the thousands migrate along the Roanoke River.

Great entertainment is always on stage in the Roanoke Valley.

20 THE SECRET’S IN THE SAUCE Restaurants here serve the state’s classic cuisine: barbecue and slaw.

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ON THE COVER Photo by Todd Bennett Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park

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imagesroanokevalley.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

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OUR FINE FEATHERED FRIENDS A visit to see the birds at the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center in Scotland Neck is both entertaining and educational.

Watch this and other quick videos in the Interactive section.

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PHOTOS We’ve added even more prize-winning photography to our online gallery. To see these spectacular photos, click on Photo Gallery.

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FACTS & STATS Go online to learn even more about: • Schools • Health care • Utilities • Parks • Taxes

LOCAL FLAVOR The secret is in the sauce of the North Carolina-style barbecue served in Roanoke Valley restaurants. Get a taste of local flavor in our food section.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE Images gives readers a taste of what makes the Roanoke Valley tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”

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– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

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MARY SHERWOOD LAKE LIVING TM

ROAN O K E VALLE Y, N O R TH C A RO LI NA

ROANOKE VALLEY BUSINESS 28 Economic Driver The long-awaited North Carolina Center for Automotive Research will have a major impact on economic development here.

Creating Spaces for Living for Over 20 Years

30 Biz Briefs 32 Chamber Report

D E PA R TM E NT S 10 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Roanoke Valley culture

24 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Roanoke Valley

33 Education 37 Health & Wellness 43 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

45 Membership Directory 51 Business Guide

This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

326 Lizard Creek Rd. Littleton, NC Lake Gaston 252-586-2437 www.marysherwood.com

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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Turn the pages of our

Virtual Magazine LIVE LINKS L

Discover our rich history of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, the Roanoke Canal Trail and see the amazing Chockoyotte Creek Aqueduct.

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SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FIND An easy-to-use search function allows you to ďŹ nd speciďŹ c articles or browse content by subject.

Explore the unique Highway 301 underground tunnel and see the newly painted mural of native river species.

A VIRTUAL TOOLBELT Tools allow you to customize the look and function of the magazine on your desktop as well as print individual pages or save the magazine for ofďŹ&#x201A;ine reading.

Observe the beautiful Roanoke River where kayakers enjoy the rapids and ďŹ shermen come from miles around to catch striped bass, locally known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;RockďŹ sh.â&#x20AC;?

MORE OF THE SAME And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thing.

Inside, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd the same award-winning photography and compelling content as in the printed magazine.

SHARE WITH A FRIEND E-mail individual stories using the pop-up text window.

For more information, visit our Web site at www.historicweldonnc.com

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imagesroanokevalley.com

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At Waterfront Properties, It’s All About You … … And Your Dream Home on Lake Gaston

Over nearly a decade of committed, people-oriented service, that’s been our pledge at Waterfront Properties.

We’re a locally owned, neighborhood-oriented team of professionals dedicated to you and to our pledge that your real estate need is our only focus.

Talk to Henrietta Williams today, and get to know her and the great team at Waterfront.

You’ll know it immediately: Their commitment is finding your Lake Gaston dream home.

Henrietta “Henri” Williams, Broker/Owner – Cell: (252) 532-4160 E-mail: henri.lkgaston@earthlink.net • www.henriatlakegaston.com Waterfront Properties at Lake Gaston 1698 Eaton Ferry Rd. • Littleton, NC 27850 (252) 586-7600 • Toll-free: (888) 586-8811 E-mail: wplakeinfo@earthlink.net • www.visitwaterfrontproperties.com

The Peaceful Life … at Peete River Farm Creekside or Lakeside, Find Your Dream Lot Today

At Peete River Farm on Lake Gaston, it’s simply the best of both worlds: The wonderful serenity of a place at the lake, and the easy wo convenience to the cities of North Carolina and Virginia. From co sskis to sunsets, from fishing to festivals, this beautiful spot is the perfect place for your dream home. And take your choice from p deep-water main-lake lots or intimate creekside lots that all d support a full-sized double boathouse, from the mid-$300,000s.

With several lots already under contract on this unique point of land, there’s no better time than now to talk to Henrietta Williams about your piece of Peete River Farm.

Waterfront Properties at Lake Gaston 1698 Eaton Ferry Rd. • Littleton, NC 27850 (252) 586-7600 • Toll-free: (888) 586-8811 E-mail: wplakeinfo@earthlink.net • www.peeteriverfarm.com

Roanoke R apids

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Roanoke Rapids, NC welcomes you to the half-way point between New York and Florida. You are sure to find this Roanoke Rapids, NC hotel full of charm.

• Complimentary Express Startsm breakfast bar with our famous Smart Roast™ coffee and warm cinnamon rolls • New simplySmart™ bedding collection • Complimentary local calls • Complimentary newspaper • Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet • Microwave, mini-fridge, hair dryer and coffee maker in all rooms • Non-smoking rooms • Business center • Handicap rooms • Laundry facilities 136 Sheraton Dr. • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 (252) 536-2300 • Fax: (252) 536-2377 For reservations, call: (800) HOLIDAY (465-4329) www.hirexpress.com

Almanac

That’s Just Ducky On your mark, get set … quack.

The Ducky Derby makes a splash in Weldon each year on the first Saturday following Labor Day weekend. The event is held at River Falls Park, with food, musical entertainment and games.

The derby is a race where hundreds of tiny, yellow rubber ducks are dumped into the river, and they float downstream until they cross a finish line. People adopt the ducks for $5 each, and prizes are awarded to the owners of the top-finishing ducks.

Proceeds go to the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Halifax-Warren Smart Start program.

Q The average high temperature in the Roanoke Valley is a comfortable 70 degrees.

Q Paper is the major manufactured product in the valley, along with molded plastics, wood products and fabricated metal.

Q Students at Northampton County High School-East began the Northampton East Automotive Team in 1993, with accomplishments that include converting a Porsche 914 from gasoline to battery power.

This Museum Is All Wet The Roanoke Rapids Canal is nearly 200 years old, and a local museum showcases much of its history.

The Roanoke Canal Museum & Trail has hundreds of artifacts related to the historic landmark. A walking trail also follows the canal’s original towpath for 7.5 miles between Roanoke Rapids Lake and Weldon.

The canal opened in the 1820s to open trade and transportation to the western frontier. The emergence of railroads eventually forced its closure in 1880, but investors developed it into a source of waterpower to generate electricity.

In 1976, the remnants of the canal were listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Q Aunt Ruby’s peanuts have been produced in the valley since 1945, and today enjoy a thriving mail-order business from their Enfield headquarters.

Wow, Nice Powwow Bring your whole tribe to Hollister each April to enjoy the Haliwa-Saponi Powwow.

The event began in 1965 and is one of the largest powwows on the East Coast.

Occurring each April, it is the biggest single homecoming get-together every year for the Haliwa-Saponi tribe.

Activities include dance, food, song and crafts. Most of the 3‚800 tribal members make their home within a six-mile radius of Hollister in western Halifax County.

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Fast Facts

Q Roanoke Rapids Lake Park opened in 2007 and is a 17-acre recreation destination at the western terminus of the Roanoke Canal Trail.

Q A $14.5 million project has been under way since 2004 to construct Halifax-Northampton Regional Airport.

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Lake Gaston …

LIZ NIELSEN Associate Broker/Realtor liz@ukliz.com (252) 578-3231

SANDRA SHEARIN Managing Broker/Owner sandrashearin@hughes.net (252) 308-2015

MIKE GUPTON Associate Broker/Realtor mikegupton@embarqmail.com (919) 496-8506

HAROLD “HOGIE” HOGREFE Associate Broker/Realtor hogie@telpage.net (252) 532-5471

SUZANNE JOSEY PRINCE Associate Broker/Realtor suzannelkgaston@embarqmail.com (252) 308-3924

PAT CARROLL Associate Broker/Realtor patcarroll1@embarqmail.com (252) 578-0428

Uniquely Prepared to Assist You in Real Estate Homes and Home Sites on the Waterfront and Off

SHERRY CARROLL Associate Broker/Realtor sherrycarroll@embarqmail.com (252) 213-7380

(800) 284-7774

South Shore Realty • Hwy. 903 at the Eaton’s Ferry Bridge • www.SouthShoreLakeGaston.net

… a Great Place to Live and Play

Almanac

Leeks and Shallots In the mood for radishes or black-eyed peas?

The Roanoke Rapids Farmers Market operates throughout the warm-weather harvest season. It is open every Saturday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at its location on N.C. Hwy. 158 West.

Besides fruits and vegetables, items for sale include baked goods, cut flowers, plants, arts and crafts, clothing and jewelry. All produce must be locally grown, with at least 50 percent grown by the vendors themselves.

Nuts About Their Festival The Enfield Peanut Festival features two days of fun each year.

The festival occurs in October to celebrate the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important food crop. Activities include arts and crafts, farm equipment displays, a carnival, live musical entertainment and dancing.

More than 5,000 people attended the two-day festival in 2008.

Roanoke Valley | At A Glance POPULATION (2007 ESTIMATE) Halifax County: 55,060, Northampton County: 20,830 Roanoke Rapids: 16,419, Enfield: 2,344 Scotland Neck: 2,184, Weldon: 1,289 Littleton: 647, Hobgood: 398, Halifax: 328 LOCATION The Roanoke Valley is in northeastern North Carolina, eight miles south of the Virginia border and 150 miles west of the Atlantic coast.

BEGINNINGS The Roanoke Valley encompasses Halifax County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; formed in 1758 and named for the Earl of Halifax â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and portions of Northampton County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; formed in 1743 and also named for an English earl.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce 260 Premier Blvd., P.O. Box 519 Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Phone: (252) 537-3513, Fax: (252) 535-5767 www.rvchamber.com

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WATCH MORE ONLINE | Take a virtual tour of Roanoke Valley at imagesroanokevalley.com, courtesy of our award-winning photographers.

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Bountiful

Beaks

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SYLVAN WATERFOWL PARK MIXES ENVIRONMENTALISM, EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT STORY BY PAUL HUGHES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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oughly 2,500 birds on 18 acres in Scotland Neck have created a flurry of interest and fun for this small community and for the region.

“It’s been very important to our town,” says Nancy Jackson, town administrator.

Sylvan Heights attracts 80,000 to 90,000 tourists annually, Jackson says, in a town that has 2,238 residents.

Visitors, through admission fees and purchases in the souvenir store, contribute to the important work done by Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and EcoCenter. Visitors also have fun.

Still, with more than 1,000 birds from 170 species on public view and another 1,500 birds in the private breeding area, Sylvan Heights is, quite literally, for the birds.

Founder Mike Lubbock has an

impressive reputation worldwide as an ornithologist. Curator Brad Hazelton recently joined from the Ft. Worth Zoo to further enhance the eco-center’s work.

“Our collection is now the world’s largest breeding waterfowl park open to the public,” says Brent Lubbock, who handles marketing and business development for the center.

A visit to the park is both enlightening and entertaining. “You enter the exhibits with the birds,” Lubbock says. “The birds are f lying around, and most waterfowl will come up near enough for visitors to get a good look.”

Visitors see varieties of ducks, swans and geese and other waterfowl. In addition, the park includes other birds ranging from parrots to peacocks. New in 2008 is a lesser flamingo exhibit.

Educational programs have grown

from 850 students participating two years ago to an estimated 6,000 this year.

“I took my students there, year before last,” says teacher Kim Collier. “We found it just wonderful.”

She teaches eighth grade science at Chaloner Middle School. “Students put on gear to go into the wetlands,” she says. “It was dirty, it was wet and raining one of the days we went, which didn’t matter to the students. The hands-on element for the students was terrific.”

Sylvan Heights is initiating an Explorers Program, where students will set out with a magnifying glass, compass and binoculars, navigating the park, and stopping at certain points to do research.

Next up for 2009, says Lubbock, is further development of the park, including an ADA-accessible tree house for viewing the wetlands.

A lesser flamingo at the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park Left: A sun coture is a star in the non-waterfowl exhibit.

WATCH MORE ONLINE | Tour the waterfowl park in our quick online video at imagesroanokevalley.com.

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Hats Off to

Halifax HISTORIC HALIFAX HELPED PAVE THE WAY TO AMERICA’S INDEPENDENCE

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

V

isit the historic town of Halifax on the 12th of April, and you might believe you’ve been transported to the year 1776. Townspeople march along the streets in colonial costumes, living history demonstrations unfold before your eyes, and gun smoke and patriotic music fill the air.

The captivating celebration is Halifax Day, an annual event that pays tribute to the signing of the Halifax Resolves, a resolution signed in Halifax by the Fourth Provincial Congress three months before the signing of our nation’s Declaration of Independence on July 4. Considered one of the most important events in North Carolina history, the adoption of the Halifax Resolves was the first official move for independence made by any of the 13 original American colonies.

“Halifax is the birthplace of independence for our nation,” says Lori Medlin, executive director of the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “These people were quite brave to take such a bold step toward declaring independence from England. What’s also very special is Halifax is a preserved port town from 1776, and they’ve gone to painstaking efforts to ensure everything is authentic to that era.”

Today, the Historic Halifax State Historic Site covers 80 acres and allows visitors to step back in time to the American Revolution as they tour centuries-old buildings such as the Eagle Tavern, where legend has it the Halifax Resolves were signed, as well as eight restored homes, two museums, a law office and a colonial cemetery.

“The [1838] jail was opened to the public in 2008, and kids

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can go in and touch things and open the doors to see what it was like to be thrown in jail back then,” Medlin says.

The Tap Room is another interesting building in Historic Halifax. It was built between 1760 and 1810 and served as an inn.

“Back in the 1700s, people didn’t reserve a whole room or even a whole bed at an inn – they reserved a spot in a bed, so you never knew who you’d be sharing a bed with,” Medlin says with a laugh. “The Tap Room is great fun for families to visit, because you can sit in real Windsor chairs downstairs where people would eat and drink, and then the kids can go up and roll around on the beds. It’s not a stuffy museum – it’s very hands-on.”

The Historic Halifax Visitor Center offers an audiovisual presentation as well as exhibits on Halifax history. The eight restored homes on the property include the Owens House, which dates back to 1760 and is furnished as the home of a

prosperous merchant. Another is the 1808 Sally-Billy House, an elegant Federal-style plantation home.

“One unique building is the Montfort House, a replica of the home of Joseph Montfort, the first, last and only Masonic Grand Master Mason of North America,” says Monica Moody, director of the historic site. “The home is built over the foundation of the original house. We also have an 1832 Clerk’s Office, where we do a printing press demonstration, and we have hands-on activities like colonial games, butter-making and quill writing.”

The historic site is located along State Highway 903 off Interstate 95 and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“It’s really charming and very interactive, and it’s small enough that you can walk everywhere,” Medlin says. “It’s unique and memorable, and more importantly, you’re stepping onto a significant spot in American history.”

Visitors to Historic Halifax State Historic Site can see the centuries-old architectural features and buildings and tour taverns such as the Tap Room and Eagle Tavern. The historic site is open Tuesday through Saturday.

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On

With the

Shows LIVE PERFORMANCES TAKE THE STAGES THROUGHOUT THE ROANOKE VALLEY

STORY BY PAUL HUGHES

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been a whirlwind for us. What was once a cotton field is now an amphitheater bringing in people like Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich for spring and summer concerts. Along with that, we have the Roanoke Rapids Theatre, North Carolina’s newest entertainment experience.”

Jason Stewart, executive director of The Centre @ Halifax, agrees. “The programming here is incredible. There is always something going on.”

Located on the campus of Halifax Community College, the Centre provides seating for up to 1,500 in a multipurpose venue. Promoters work with Stewart and his staff to bring in comedians, a variety of musical performers

and live theater.

“We offer diverse programming for our residents and visitors,” Stewart says.

“The Centre is a theater where you can do a lot more than Shakespeare.”

Included in the lineup are the Roanoke Valley Country Music Jubilee, a country music showdown held every six weeks that features regional bands, acoustics nights on Fridays and a bluegrass festival held in the spring.

“Roanoke Valley has constantly changing offerings of things to see and do,” says Medlin.

For more information, contact the Halifax County CVB, 1-800-522-4282, www.visithalifax.com.

TODD BENNETT

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oanoke Valley has a real problem. With so many great entertainment offerings, there just aren’t enough days of the week for one to pack it all in.

“We’ve gone from not having very many entertainment choices to practically having more than anyone can do,” says Lori Medlin, executive director of the Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She credits this influx of topnotch entertainment to the creation of new top-shelf venues. “There is something great to do or see practically every evening, every day of the week, in stateof-the-art settings.”

Four excellent venues host live performances: Carolina Crossroads Amphitheater, the Roanoke Rapids Theatre, the Centre @ Halifax Community College and Lakeland Theatre. Audiences can choose from classic ballet productions like The Nutcracker, national country artists including Sugarland and Willie Nelson, rock and roll greats like Boston and Styx, emerging acts such as the Zac Brown Band and live theater performances including Fiddler on the Roof and Arsenic and Old Lace.

“We are able to encourage developments like Carolina Crossroads Music and Family Entertainment Center because of our proximity to I-95,” says Medlin.

“We have 100,000 cars traveling on I-95 each day, and we’ve developed 2,000 hotel rooms for our visitors. This has

Roanoke Rapids Theatre is the region’s new state-of-the art venue.

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Willie Nelson is one of the many musicians to perform at Carolina Crossroads.

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The

Secret

is in the

Sauce BARBECUE IS CLASSIC CUISINE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY

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STORY BY PAUL HUGHES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

C

ooks in the Roanoke Valley know there is a secret to North Carolinastyle barbecue: The sauce here has a tangy, spicy taste.

For a plate of this regional treat, stop by Ralph’s Barbecue in Weldon, The Bar-B-Que Stand in Scotland Neck or Lynch’s Bar-B-Q & Grill in Hollister.

Kim Amerson, owner of Ralph’s, is operating the restaurant her grandfather founded. “We’ve been here since 1941,” Amerson says. “It’s been passed through three generations.”

As a child in the 1960s, Amerson remembers a huge woodpile – fuel for the fire – and a room with six tables in it. Now her main dining room holds 175, and the banquet rooms work for up to 150.

One thing that never changes is the food.

“It’s all my grandfather’s recipes,” she says.

Amerson’s staff cooks all night, every night, on the premises.

Amerson says Ralph’s sees all kinds of customers, from lawyers and judges to farmers in work boots.

“It’s upscale barbecue,” she says. “But no, you don’t have to wear a tie.”

Barbecue in this area is vinegar-based, more spicy than sweet, relying on crushed red pepper, for instance.

“The sauce is a big deal,” Amerson says.

“Everyone’s always fussing about the sauce.”

People also praise the coleslaw.

“Around here if you eat barbecue you eat coleslaw,” she says. “It’s like if you eat mashed potatoes, you have gravy.”

Holten Williams agrees.

“Usually you have coleslaw,” he says. “It’s served cold, not warm or room temperature, and it’s very sweet rather than spicy, like some northern slaws.”

That gives a good taste combination – a spicy barbecue and a sweet slaw. Call it a onetwo punch.

Williams runs the Bar-B-Que Stand, formerly Scotland Neck BBQ. He bought it in mid-2008.

“I’ve always liked cooking,” says Williams.

“Barbecue is huge in North Carolina. Any gathering you go to, most likely there is barbecue served.”

Carolinians don’t smoke their barbecue, he says, preferring charcoal, wood or electric cookers.

Williams employs 15 and his barbecue joint is nothing fancy – which is how they like it in the Roanoke Valley.

“It’s a rustic feel: exposed wood, old photographs and antique farm implements,” he says.

The busiest time for him is hunting and fishing season for everyone else. “The restaurants just boom in the spring and fall.”

At Lynch’s, the barbecue is so good customers buy it by the pound. Barbecue devotees will drive several hours to buy a few pounds of the succulent meat to take back home and share with friends and family. It’s the sauce that keeps customers loyal – and at Lynch’s the sauce is already mixed into the meat, not served on the side.

Barbecue Joints TASTY MENUS Ralph’s Barbecue 1400 Julian R Allsbrook Hwy Weldon, NC 27890 (252) 536-2102 The Bar-B-Que Stand 900 Main St Scotland Neck, NC 27874 (252) 826-5711 Lynch’s Bar-B-Q & Grill 37674 NC Highway 561 Hollister, NC 27844 (252) 586-5069 Grandpa’s Kitchen 149 East S. Main St. Littleton, NC 27850 (252) 586-3211

Barbecue here is served with a spicy sauce.

Left: Ralph’s Barbecue is in Weldon.

“Around here if you eat barbecue you eat coleslaw.

It’s like if you eat mashed potatoes, you have gravy.”

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The Roanoke Valley VIRGINIA

Roanoke Rapids

Lake Gaston

The Roanoke Canal Museum opened in 2005. Alongside it is the 7.5-mile Roanoke Canal Trail.

Gaston

Roanoke Rap

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Halifax County Airport

Littleton

Weldon 125

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Halifax 561

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Littleton Lake Gaston offers a wide variety of water activities.

Hollister

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43 48

481

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Enfield

Enfield Aunt Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peanuts are processed at A&B Milling Co., and an annual Peanut Festival celebrates the crop.

Hollister One of the largest powwows on the East Coast is held each April.

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Halifax The precursor to the Declaration of Independence, the Halifax Resolves, was signed in this historic town on April 12, 1776.

301

Weldon 186

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The Roanoke River is popular with kayakers, canoeists and anglers.

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The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & EcoCenter is home to about 170 species of birds, including more than half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s known species of ducks, geese and swans.

Hobgood 97 122

Hobgood The Cotton Festival is a popular fall event.

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PHOTOS BY TODD BENNETT

Portfolio

Tea Time and Again ENJOY HIGH TEA AND ENGLISH DINING IN ROANOKE RAPIDS’ TRADITIONAL TEAHOUSE

K

im Simpson’s traditional English teahouse hosted 40 at a recent 65th high school reunion in Roanoke Rapids.

The former classmates – now in their 80s – had such a good time that they have already booked for next year.

Simpson owns two assisted living facilities and has worked in that industry her whole life. But she loves tea. She opened Timeless Tea in September 2006.

“A friend and I have been drinking tea for 17 years,” Simpson says. “We’ve been a lot of places and tasted a lot of tea.”

She introduced one of her five sisters to tea drinking a couple of years ago, and they and another woman are partners in the new business.

“First we considered a ‘tea-on-the-go’ concept, where we would come to your house and do the party,” she says. “Then I realized I’d rather have a tearoom and have people come to me.”

Timeless Tea has a main dining room, a social tearoom for groups and a princess room for children’s tea parties.

Simpson has hosted reunions, bridal showers, baby showers, and groups of people who just like tea. “We can hold 40 in the main dining room, and 86 total,” she says.

Customers also find the tearoom by looking for teahouses

on the Internet. She has welcomed visitors traveling through to other destinations who wanted to stop in for a cup of tea.

“We had the Royal Tea Club, 32 of them, from Pennsylvania,” she says. “They had high tea.”

Timeless Tea is also open for lunch, where Simpson might serve chicken salad, the traditional crumpets and scones, and shepherd’s pie, as well as other English dishes.

“It’s English dining at an English teahouse,” she says.

Timeless Tea’s menu features traditional English fare.

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Kayakers find peaceful waters and thrilling rapids on the Roanoke River.

y canoe or kayak, the Roanoke River is a beautiful and, in places, an exciting trip.

Chris Wicker, director of Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation, often paddles the six-mile stretch from Roanoke Rapids to Weldon.

“It’s a beautiful place,” he says.

“When people paddle the Roanoke in this area, they’re likely to see bald eagles. The last three or four times I’ve been on the river, I’ve seen eagles, blue herons and osprey.”

Deer can be seen along the wooded banks and the crystal clear water is home to striped bass and catfish.

“The river is clean,” Wicker says.

“When you’re on it, it’s like you’re in another world.”

Kayakers from across the state and Virginia are drawn to the rapids.

“Kayakers love to play in those rapids,” Wicker says. Depending upon the water level the rapids are either Class 2 or Class 3.

“The Roanoke is a mighty and powerful river, so of course you need to be prepared,” he says.

For those who shy away from the rapids, Wicker recommends experiencing the quieter aspects of the river including a walk along the canal trail system beside the water, a canoe trip or a fishing excursion.

The canal trail attracts an estimated 30,000 people annually. They walk, jog, bike, picnic and watch the birds and other wildlife. The 7.5-mile trail connects Roanoke Rapids Lake Park and River Falls Park. Much of the trail is handicap-accessible.

“I’ve paddled all my life, and this is a fabulous stretch to paddle,” Wicker says.

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DAVID MUDD

Ride the Rapids B

The Roanoke Valley has counted on

WILKIE R EAL ESTATE for over 27 years!

TOWN OFFICE (252) 537-9012 Toll-free: (866) 945-5431 Wilkie Real Estate 712 Roanoke Ave. Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 E-mail: info@wilkierealestate.com www.wilkierealestate.com

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I M AG E S R OA N O K E VA L L E Y. C O M

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Portfolio

Medoc Mountain Hosts Outdoor Fun and Adventure n Hollister, 21 miles southwest of Roanoke Rapids and 325 feet straight up, is a hunk of granite the locals call Medoc Mountain.

“Everyone comes out and asks, ‘Where’s the mountain?’” says Nicole Crider, park ranger.

Visitors won’t find a mountain here, but will find hiking, camping, fishing and exploring opportunities in this 3,700-acre state park.

A key amenity of the park is Little Fishing Creek, a gently flowing waterway that is perfect for beginning canoeists. Little Fishing Creek is considered to be one of the cleanest streams in the state and teems with redbreast sunfish, bluegill, Roanoke bass, largemouth bass and chain pickerel.

The park also offers plenty of learning opportunities.

“We have a public program every month, in addition to materials for schools,” Crider says. Subjects include stream ecology, nature hikes and programs about snakes. All programs are free.

The park features 34 campsites including 12 with electrical service, a full bathhouse and four semi-primitive group campsites.

Hiking is a highlight of an outing at Medoc Mountain, which has seven hiking trails totaling 12 miles.

“One of the biggest things we’re known for is hiking trails,” says Crider.

“People come to hike and exercise and enjoy the view.”

Medoc Mountain State Park features 12 miles of hiking along seven trails.

G

olfers in this region have plenty of choices to hone their skills.

Scotfield Country Club, a public course in Enfield, is a beautiful setting in a rural area of the county.

“It’s quiet here,” says Doug Sellers, course manager.

“We have no houses around the course, so it’s very scenic.”

Ponds on three holes complement the landscape, including willows on each side of one fairway.

The course features 6,260 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.

Membership fees are reasonable, Sellers says, even taking into account higher fuel prices. The fee is less than $50 a month for those traveling more than 20 miles.

Regular play runs just $21 to $28, including a cart.

At Hickory Meadows in Whitakers, even Santa Claus makes an appearance. The course embraces the holiday season and organizes events including a golfers scramble.

“December in North Carolina is a nice, moderate month,” says Horace Archer, head golf pro at the course.

“You can play golf just about year-round because the weather is comfortable enough.”

Hickory Meadows is working to introduce golf to a younger generation. Archer says the junior golf program

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is being expanded in 2009.

In terms of seasoned golfers, Archer says No. 9 is the signature hole at the course.

“There’s a pond to the front right of the hole, and a nice elevated green from front to back,” he says. “It’s a decent length, 360 yards. Real nice.”

Other courses in Roanoke Valley include Chockoyote Country Club, Myrick Hills Country Club and Lake Gaston Country Club.

STAFF PHOTO

Great Golf Is Here in Roanoke Valley

STAFF PHOTO

I

Golf venues are plentiful in Roanoke Valley.

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The Little Town That’s Good F its way. Nearly complete is a restored railroad depot, circa 1890. Ellis says Hobgood started the work five years ago with money from a state department of transportation grant.

“In the early part of the century, before the highway system, the rural economy depended on traveling salesmen,” Ellis says. “They came in on the trains, stayed at the hotel, ate at the restaurants, rented a carriage and traveled the countryside selling their wares.”

or a town of 398 people – the number is precise, according to town manager Danny Ellis – there is still plenty to do in Hobgood.

The town doesn’t have the largest fireworks show in the region, but it’s still among the best. The fireworks are wonderful despite the smaller size of the explosives, because people are closer, Ellis says.

That sense of closeness defines this neighborly town.

Come back the second weekend in October and it hosts a small country fair. The Cotton Festival celebrates the town’s history as a location for a major cash crop of the South.

“It’s agricultural-based, like many of the festivals around,” Ellis says. “We have food vendors and crafts booths, with farm machinery displayed: an old cotton gin, harrows, plows and other farm equipment.”

Nearly a thousand people show up for the all-day Saturday event.

The real big deal, though, is still on

The depot complex includes a restored church from 1881. At one time the town considered converting the building into a museum, but it’s become popular for picturesque weddings.

The town square is welcoming, with antique street lamps, engraved bricks and a fountain.

“Travelers visiting historic sites will stop and look around,” Ellis says. “We have people come on the weekend, park, and just walk around.”

– Stories by Paul Hughes

Stone by Jones Natural & Cultured Stone Stucco Sales & Installation Ken & Pam Jones (252) 532-2309 E-mail: stonebyjones@msn.com

The ONE store for your perfect floor.™

TODD BENNETT

KEN & PAM JONES 1031 Roanoke Ave. Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Phone: (252) 537-5670 Fax: (252) 308-0341 E-mail: carpetoneroanokevalley.com

Hobgood Methodist Church

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27

Business

Economic

Driver R&D FACILITY’S OPENING SPURS ADVANCE COLLABORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS IN REGION

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R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

STORY BY JOE MORRIS

W

ith construction about to get under way, the long-awaited North Carolina Center for Automotive Research will soon begin to have a major impact on economic development throughout the Roanoke Valley region.

The 630-acre NCCAR complex will be the focus of multiple research and development initiatives, and its formation is being watched with great interest by the automotive world. Among its amenities will be a 3.7-mile, ride-andhandling course, vehicle-dynamics areas, a chassis-dynamics laboratory, client garages with virtual office connectivity, engine-testing cells, a refueling station with hydrogen and hybrid charging facilities and more.

In fact, NCCAR is so chock full of goodies for cars both now and as yet unimagined that companies and educational institutions are lining up to get in well in advance of its scheduled fall 2009 opening.

“I think we’ve proven so far, even in the design stage, that we can generate a lot of attention from around the world,” says Simon Cobb, chief operating officer.

“We’ve already got a significant number of contacts within the auto industry, but we’re also about to start a collaborative research program with North Carolina State University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology on advanced control systems. This will be getting National Science Foundation funding, and we’re just getting started. The academics and industry interest we’re already seeing is indicative of the sort of work we’ll be doing.”

With its stated purpose of educational, scientific and charitable work in the areas of automotive technologies, fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and propulsion systems, there’s certainly no shortage of research and development for NCCAR teams to delve into. And that sort of self-perpetuating research is why the facility will make a difference to the

area now and well into the future, predicts Gary Brown, executive director of the Northampton County Economic Development Commission and the current president of NCCAR. “This has come about due to substantial collaboration between Northampton County, the Northeast region and the state,” Brown says. “We have worked to build a truly resourceful center of excellence, to drive private-sector investment and to create new, sustainable, higher-wage opportunities not only in our region but statewide.”

It’s early days yet, but Brown says the partnerships and projects already announced, as well as those he knows are coming down the pike, bode well for NCCAR’s early stages, as well as for the area’s community colleges and universities.

“Ultimately, the proving of the

products and the real-world testing will be at NCCAR, but the research is going to be done at the universities,” he says.

“There are tremendous opportunities for pure and collaborative research at the university level, which then can be transitioned to a more localized, industrial setting. This is very much a statewide initiative, and it’s going to greatly expand opportunities for public and private sector collaboration with regard to our universities and community colleges.”

And, when all’s said and done, everything will come down to the track, where the ultimate pass/fail test will be given.

“We’re in a great place to take research from the lab and the computer and prove it out in the real world, where, literally, the rubber meets the road,” Cobb says.

“I think we’ve proven so far, even in the design stage, that we can generate a lot of attention from around the world.”

The opening of the NCCAR facility in 2009 is expected to drive the regional economy with new jobs and investment.

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TODD BENNETT

Business | Biz Briefs

A plane lands at the new Halifax/Northampton Regional Airport, which has helped attract business to the area.

BUSINESS TAKES OFF An airport, no matter its size, has the ability to attract business to an area. The newly constructed Halifax/ Northampton Regional Airport in Halifax County is no exception.

“It is not necessarily the government’s job to create business,” says Gene Minton, chair of the Halifax County Commissioners. “Our job is to create the opportunity for business. And this airport is like a very fertile field where Halifax businesses can flourish.”

The $14.5 million aviation project has been in the works for the last 10 years, and with the opening just around the corner in the spring of 2009, the excitement around the project is building.

Especially promising is the airport’s close proximity to the Halfifax Corporate Park.

“The hope is that the growth will be mutual and that the airport will feed the 400-acre industrial site,” Minton says.

Highlights of the airport will be a 30

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5‚500-foot runway‚ a parallel taxiway‚ taxi lanes‚ spacious aircraft hangar and a terminal building.

HOME-GROWN SUCCESS Local resources can often be one of the most valuable assets to a successful business. For Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts in Enfield, proximity to some of the South’s finest peanut crops is the key to success.

“We only process peanuts that have been grown in northeast North Carolina,” says Bob Allsbrook, president of A&B Milling, the company that produces Aunt Ruby’s peanut products. “We believe in buying locally.”

Allsbrook’s father and uncle founded the A&B Milling Company in 1945 as a feed, seed and fertilizer store that served local farmers. Since then, the business has carved a niche with its gourmet peanut products that range from cocktail peanuts to chocolate peanut clusters.

“I like supplying a product that

people want and like,” Allsbrook says.

“People have just been very supportive in buying and sharing our product.”

The Virginia-style peanuts, which are ordered primarily online, are distributed nationally from the company’s plant in Enfield.

FLOATING A GOOD IDEA The opening of Fine Line Industries’ 40-acre Centurion boat building factory in Woodland in 2000 has helped propel the world-class towboat company forward, and in the process, has put the small North Carolina town on the map.

“Boat dealers and consumers know where Woodland is now,” says Les Clark, Fine Line Boats general manager. “Our company has grown every year since we started this factory and any time you grow you benefit the community.”

The largest employer in town with 70 full-time positions, Fine Line builds 500 top-quality ski and wakeboard boats each year, which are sold by over 100 R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

dealers in the United States and Canada.

Planned expansion of the facility would nearly double the size of operations, something Clark attributes to the town’s strong workforce and easy interstate access.

“We are definitely here to stay,” Clark says. “We are fiscally very sound and that is good for the community.”

A CENTURY OF GROWTH Kapstone Kraft Paper Corporation’s Roanoke Rapids Mill has remained a regional business anchor for more than 100 years and is a leader in the industry.

“Due to the hard work of the people in the valley, we have been able to continue to be a profitable company,” says Anitra J. Collins‚ vice president of mill operations. “Kapstone as a company has plans to continue to grow.”

Collins applauds the town’s business infrastructure and says that the ability to grow business is a key selling point for the Roanoke Valley area.

“You want to be in an area where you have support from all parts of the community,” Collins says. “And certainly we have that here.”

In return, the company’s over 500 employees give back to the community in various ways, including employee campaigns to help United Way and Consolidated Charities.

REELING IN CUSTOMERS At Colston’s Tackle Box in Roanoke Rapids, owner Bobby Colston has been giving out first-class fishing advice for 30 years. And though he sells all the supplies a hunter or fisherman would ever need, it is his advice that makes he store so valuable to the community.

“I pride myself on giving good information,” says Colston. “If the fish aren’t biting, people want to know and so I tell them what I know. That’s just the way I treat people.”

Many travelers to the area rely on Colston’s Tackle Box for the advice and supplies they need to get the best out of their fishing or hunting trips.

Colston, who runs the store with his wife, Jean, also does repair work on rods, reels, guns and bows.

“We repair most anything,” Colston says.

– Brandon Lowe R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

Building Brighter Futures for Our Children Smart Start is a nonprofit providing child care, family support and health services for children ages 0-5 and their families in Halifax and Warren counties, so that all children enter school healthy and ready to succeed.

Our services include pre-kindergarten, parent education and training, teacher training, technical assistance, referrals and health support services.

Our Child Care Resource and Referral Program can assist you in finding and paying for child care.

Halifax-Warren Child Care Resource and Referral Line: (252) 535-4715

Halifax-Warren Smart Start Partnership for Children, Inc. 1139 Roanoke Ave. • P.O. Box 339 • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 (252) 537-5621 • Fax: (252) 537-9732 • Email: smartstart@hwss.org

I spy something green.

Everyday moments can be learning moments with your kids. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org.

I M AG E S R OA N O K E VA L L E Y. C O M

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Business | Chamber Report

Profitable Partnerships CHAMBER’S OUTREACH EFFORTS CREATE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT

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and other civic activities.

“We want our people engaged in the community’s future, getting onto boards and commissions and becoming elected officials,” Purser says. “It’s all part of giving back, which is what we as a chamber want to do. That’s a big part of our mission.”

Going forward, the chamber hopes to build on its roster of educational and other programs to capitalize on the current influx of new businesses. To that end, increased networking opportunities,

small-business seminars and more are on tap in the coming months.

“We’re excited about our future,” Purser says. “As the economy comes back we’re in a good position to take advantage of it, and we’re going to grow.

We’re going to continue to be a catalyst for education, because we think that’s where we can help move the community forward, and be supportive of other businesses and groups who are helping local businesses grow.”

– Joe Morris

TODD BENNETT

R

oanoke Rapids may be a small town, but don’t tell the folks at the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce that. At least not in such a way that would indicate that they are limited, in any way, by size.

With more than 700 members in a town of around 17,000 people, the chamber is a testament to a business community that’s devoted to working with multiple partners to encourage growth and improvement in everything from education to workforce development.

Education, whether it’s through local school programs or lectures and seminars for its own members, is a key focus of the chamber, says Allen Purser, president and chief executive officer.

“We do a lot through our business education partnership, which makes a real difference in the community,” Purser says. “We have about 400 eighth graders job-shadowing every February, seeing what different careers are made of. And we interview every senior, at every high school in Northampton and Halifax counties, at the beginning and end of the school year. Those are set up as job interviews, so they can see what skills they need to have.”

The chamber also throws an annual reception for new educators in the area, and offers a year-round youth leadership program that’s focused on specific skills and trades. The latter further ties the chamber not only to the school system, but also to area higher-education institutions.

“We’re trying to improve the workforce, and we’ve got some great partners with the community colleges and the public schools,” Purser says. “We also do a program with the local department of social services called Work First, which helps people who may be on welfare or other assistance who are seeking employment, and also gives our employers access to employees that they need.”

There’s also the chamber’s Leadership Roanoke Valley program, which works to prepare members of the professional community for roles in local government

Chamber President Allen Purser says the region is in a position to grow.

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Education

JEFF ADKINS

Halifax Community College is working with other education institutions to help students here earn four-year degrees.

Combining Forces COMMUNITY COLLEGES POOL RESOURCES TO FURTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

T

he line between two-year and fouryear programs just got a little blurrier, thanks to several new partnership initiatives between Halifax Community College and several other area and regional higher-education institutions.

With multiple degree tracks of its own, HCC stays plenty busy providing certificate and degree opportunities for the area’s residents. By teaming up with Chowan University, Elizabeth City State University and East Carolina University, the school has created a mix of opportunities that allows students to achieve anything from a certificate to a full, four-year degree.

“So many of our students are in the social-service arena and are service providers,” says Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr., president of Halifax Community College.

“We know that many of our students would like to stay in this area, and also to be able to get a bachelor’s degree.

We think these programs can give them a seamless transfer from a two-year

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program to a four-year program, and it’s just the most cost-effective assistance we can provide to a rural area like we serve.”

The college’s current partnerships include the Adult Degree Completion Program with Chowan University focusing on accounting and other business and social-science degree tracks.

There are transferable general education courses provided to students at Eastern Carolina Christian College and teacherpreparation, nursing and other courses in tandem with Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina Central University and East Carolina University.

Rising enrollments for all of these programs and others offered by the college indicate strong and ongoing community interest. That interest encourages HCC to seek other joint agreement opportunities, Griffin says.

“Hopefully, as we identify needs in the community with regard to workforce and economic development, or special categories of higher degrees that we

don’t have a lot of people representing, we can work with our partners,” he says.

“Whether it’s a private partner, like Chowan, or a public partner like the UNC system, we’ll be able to identify needs and expand what we have to target them.”

In fact, he adds, these degree-track programs could soon be a force of their own on the Halifax Community College campus.

“We’d love to have a university center that would allow the universities in North Carolina to provide specific programs on the campus here, and that would allow our students to have a seamless progression from their associate degree right into their baccalaureate degree work,” Griffin says. “Not everyone can afford to, or wants to travel to a university campus, live in the dorms, have that type of experience. Many people want to stay where they are and still earn a degree – that’s what we’re working to help make happen.”

– Joe Morris I M AG E S R OA N O K E VA L L E Y. C O M

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TODD BENNETT

Arts & Culture

Lakeland Arts Center is home to the Lakeland Theatre Company – The Busiest Community Theater in America.

Give My Regards to Lakeland COMMUNITY THEATER BRINGS FIRST-RATE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TO LITTLETON

S

eeing an inspiring and energetic live show in Roanoke Valley is as easy as grabbing a seat at the Lakeland Theatre and Cultural Arts Center in Littleton.

The 326-seat theater hosts some 20-plus performances each year as well as an annual Theatre Camp and a Young People’s Theatre Workshop. Nicknamed “The Busiest Community Theater in America,” Lakeland has been providing top-notch entertainment in the Roanoke Valley since it was founded in 1977. Shows run the gamut from comedies and concerts to musicals, dramas and dance recitals.

Between 400 and 500 community members participate in the community theater’s productions annually, filling roles on stage as well as behind the scenes.

“People need to be entertained, and we take our job very seriously,” says Wally Hurst, an attorney-turned-thespian who serves as managing director for the Lakeland Theatre and Cultural Arts Center. “There are no movie theaters in Littleton, but this is even better because it’s threedimensional. Community theater is live, it’s fun, and it gives local artists a creative outlet. It lets people get away from themselves and walk in someone else’s shoes. And you never know who you’ll see on stage – it might be your neighbor.”

The 2008 season included High School Musical, I Do! I Do!, The Wizard of Oz, Steel Magnolias, Arsenic and Old Lace, Fiddler on the Roof and Peter Pan. R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

“There were lots of highlights from 2008,” Hurst says.

“Driving Miss Daisy was a great show in August, and so was South Pacific in May. Our kids did a fantastic production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in the summer. Our memberships and attendance are up, and we’re getting folks from all over the region.”

Lakeland’s annual Young People’s Theatre Workshop is held during the summer months and is open to students ages 11 to 18. The day camp attracts students from as far away as Florida, Maryland and New York, and they learn the basics of theater arts, including acting, improvisation, stage movement and terminology. They also learn about the technical side of theater, involving lights, sets, costumes, sound and stage management.

The Lakeland Theatre and Cultural Arts Center is housed in the former Littleton High School building. The arts organization has made several improvements to the aging building over the past decade, including redoing the portico in front of the building, renovating the ceilings, cushioning the seats and installing a new light board, stage and sound system. Most of the improvements have been funded by ticket sales and donations.

Visit www.lakelandartscenter.org for information on Lakeland’s 2009 season.

– Jessica Mozo I M AG E S R OA N O K E VA L L E Y. C O M

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Health & Wellness

You Gotta Have Heart CARDIAC CENTER GIVES HALIFAX REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES

W

ith its new Cardiac & Vascular Center, as well as a team of cardiologists and range of heart-related services and procedures, Halifax Regional Medical Center is poised to become the area’s go-to hospital for all things coronary.

Since its founding in 1912, Halifax Regional has been devoted to offering core medical services to Halifax, Northampton and Gates counties in North Carolina, as well as Mecklenburg and Greensville counties in Virginia.

The 206-bed facility sees around 42,000 emergency room visits per year, a testament to its role as the area’s major health-care provider.

Serving a largely rural population has meant that the hospital has added to its specialty programs over time, as many residents in the region are unwilling or unable to travel long distances for such vital procedures as cardiac catheterization. Meeting those needs locally is why the $2.5 million Cardiac & Vascular Center joined other centers of excellence that include joint care and birthing in October 2008.

“It was driven primarily by need,” says Bruce Robistow, administrative director of diagnostic services. “We’re in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, and for anybody to have these types of services before, they had to travel at least 100 miles to get it done.

This is just the latest way for us to reach out and meet the needs of our community in the same way we do for every other aspect of care and service we provide.”

The cardiac center will offer cardiac catheterization, coronary angioplasty, angiograms, peripheral vascular stenting and other services. Dr. Nadim Geloo, who proposed the center to hospital administrators a few years ago, serves as its medical director. Along with Drs. Natarjan Manickam and Somaskhara Balla, Geloo now can provide large-city services at the local level, which he says will have both immediate and long-term benefits.

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“After we see 100 patients and provide cardiac catheterization, they’ll have told five or six other people each, and that will encourage people to start thinking about cardiac disease, and asking their doctors to evaluate them for such things,” Geloo says. “And because we’re here they’ll have that access to health care, which will improve the quality of their health overall.”

Creating a healthier community is worth the investment in the cardiac center, as well as the other improvements the hospital is constantly making to its services. Recently, the hospital has invested more than $5 million in diag-

nostic imaging technology.

Robistow says Halifax Regional’s offerings stack up well against much larger medical centers.

“For the size we are, and for our demographics, we’re on the cutting edge in many ways and exceed a lot of opportunities offered by hospitals bigger than us,” he says. “I expect that with our cardiac center we’ll be able to reach out into several other counties beyond the ones we serve. People around here are very excited to see their hospital expand and stay modern to meet their needs. This really will change things around here.”

– Joe Morris

Halifax Medical Center’s cardiac center helps create a healthy community.

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Health & Wellness

523 NC Hwy. 125

â&#x20AC;˘

Roanoke Rapids

Accepting New Patients Most Insurance Plans & MEDICAID Accepted

(252) 533-9300 Michele Singer, DDS, PA

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Smith Church Obstetrics & Gynecology, PC Richard W. Minielly, M.D. Board Certified Diplomat of American Board Member of Healthnet Solutions Most Insurance Plans Accepted Medicaid Medicare Champus

• • • • • • • • •

Family-Centered Family Centered Obstetrics Routine & High Risk Pregnancy Amniocentesis 3-D Ultrasound Epidural Nonstress Testing Cancer Screening Colposcopy LEEP

• • • • • • • • •

Cryosurgery Dexa-Bone Density Screening Minimally Invasive Surgery Infertility Investigation Family Planning Birth Control Counselling JVT TVT Secure Essure Tubal Implanon

James Brown, M.D. Board Certified Diplomat of American Board 63 Office Park Dr. Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 (252) 535-4343 Fax: (252) 308-0977

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Health & Wellness

SECURE SOLUTIONS INC.

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8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r. o r g

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Sports & Recreation

WATCH MORE ONLINE | See the waters around the Roanoke Valley in our online video at imagesroanokevalley.com.

Roanoke Rapids Lake is one of several fishing venues that draws sportsmen from throughout the state.

TODD BENNETT

A Fine Kettle of Fish STRIPER BASS BY THE THOUSANDS MIGRATE ALONG THE ROANOKE RIVER

T

he scenery and the clean water are at the heart of what brings outdoorsmen to the Roanoke Valley. And the deer hunting and striper bass fishing are what keeps them coming back.

“In Roanoke Valley, it is a banner year every year,” says Bob Phillips, who owns Carolina Sportsman, a Roanoke Valley fishing guide service. “It is a wondrous blessing of nature. The place will spoil someone.”

Each April, stripers make their spawning run from saltwater to the freshwater of the Roanoke River, an annual migration that earns Weldon the title of Rockfish Capital of the World.

Locals call them rockfish because they catch so many of them around the rocks of the lake bed.

Between April and May, striper fishing reaches its peak, with upwards of 150 boats along a two-mile stretch of the river. It’s not uncommon for fishermen to catch more than 100 fish during this season. While that makes for an exciting day, rules do apply: The seasonal keep limit is two fish per day and there are regulations regarding size.

Fishing in any season has its rewards.

“Roanoke River is a fantastic place to take your family, especially your kids,” Phillips says. “It’s not hard at all to put a minnow on a line and wait 30 seconds to catch a fish.”

Three beautiful lakes, Roanoke Rapids Lake, Lake Gaston and John Kerr Reservoir, round out the fishing opportunities in the area and varieties include crappie, sunfish, white perch

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and several types of catfish. Roanoke Rapids Lake Park also offers great fishing from its pier, as well as a wonderful view of the North Carolina sunset.

“A lot of people move here to retire because Lake Gaston is such a pretty lake,” says Bobby Colston, who owns Colston’s Tackle Box, a hunting and fishing institution in the area.

“It’s so clear. They say it is cleaner than the drinking water in Raleigh.”

The fishing is never dull here. For more experienced fishermen, hickory shad, an acrobatic fish that appears each year in late February, offers an unusual challenge.

Phillips says the variety of fish available in the waters around Roanoke Valley affords fishermen the chance to try out new types of lures and baits.

Meanwhile, camouflage is the wardrobe of choice for many in Halifax County, where more deer are harvested than in any other county in North Carolina.

The long hunting season, which runs from September until January, as well as liberal bag limits, make this area a hunter’s paradise. Turkey, goose, duck, boar and bear hunting are also popular here.

Don’t worry about not knowing the terrain or the best fishing holes; plenty of seasoned guides are here to help.

“A lot of people here think about fishing and hunting,” Phillips says. “They are well informed and are willing to help.”

– Brandon Lowe I M AG E S R OA N O K E VA L L E Y. C O M

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Community Profile

ROANOKE VALLEY SNAPSHOT Historic Halifax is the site of the Fourth Provincial Congress’ adoption of the “Halifax Resolves.” It was after this, in April of 1776, that North Carolina became the first colony to officially step toward declaring independence from England.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

HOUSING COSTS

$91,750 Average Home Price

19.65% Home Turnover Percentage

EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW Roanoke Rapids School District was the first public school district in North Carolina to offer 12 grades. It also was the first in the state to offer kindergarten to all students. The city has the first high school in the state accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is officially recognized as one of two Paideia (www.paideia.org) School Districts in the United States.

Halifax County Schools P.O. Box 468 Halifax, North Carolina 27839 (252) 583-5111 Roanoke Rapids City Schools 536 Hamilton St. Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina 27870 (252) 535-3111 Halifax Academy 1400 Three Bridges Rd. Halifax, North Carolina 27870 (252) 537-8527 Halifax Community College 100 College Dr. Weldon, North Carolina 27890 (252) 536-7242 www.halifaxcc.edu

CLIMATE

3.7 in.

Avg. Annual Precipitation

28 F January Low Temperature

48 F January High Temperature

68 F July Low Temperature

89 F July High Temperature

Get the facts: imagesroanokevalley.com

MORE EO ON ONLINE imagesroanokevalley.com anoke m More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

ROANOKE RAPIDS SANITARY DISTRICT “Delivering Safe Drinking Water While Providing for Environmental Water Quality for 75 Years” 1000 Jackson St. • P.O. Box 308 Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 (252) 537-9137 • Fax: (252) 537-3064 www.rrsd.org

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Visit

Scotland Neck, NC An Outdoor Paradise

Scotland Neck has been celebrating its annual Crepe Myrtle Festival for 21 years. Thousands of visitors join in celebrating good food, good folks and good times.

Custom Home Builders 109 Long Circle Roanoke Rapids (252) 533-5970

Enjoy fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing and camping along the Roanoke River. The newly renovated boat access is just eight miles outside of town.

Mitchell Wynne, Owner www.mitchellwynnebuilders.com

Visit Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, home of the largest waterfowl collection in North America and one of the world’s leading breeders of endangered waterfowl. www.sylvan-heights.org

Ride in the annual Country Roads Bike Tour and bike along tranquil country roads through pristine farmland. The tour travels through an amazing view of the Roanoke River.

A variety of classic cars and trucks can be seen at the annual Classic Car Show and Competition in September.

Friendly contests are held. Trophies, plaques and door prizes are awarded.

(252) 826-3152 www.townofscotlandneck.com

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Roanoke Rapids Graded School District 536 Hamilton St. • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

(252) 519-7100 • www.rrgsd.org R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

HALIFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS Navigating the Winds of Change

VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.HALIFAX.K12.NC.US

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Pharmacy • Bakery • Photo Lab • Portrait Studio • Jewelry • Tire/Lube Express

251 Premier Blvd. • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 • (252) 535-3151 • Fax: (252) 535-2297 • www.walmart.com

Enfield North Carolina F o u n d e d i n 174 0

Oldest Town in Halifax County

Serving Eastern North Carolina for 55 Years

Affordable housing Full-service town with reasonable utility rates Quick & easy access to I-95, beaches, mountains, lakes, hunting, fishing & golf Home of the annual Enfield Peanut Festival Member of Tree City USA Excellent retirement community

For more information, contact us at (252) 445-3146 or visit our Web site at www.enfieldnc.org

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1751 S. Wesleyan Blvd.

P.O. Box 4426 Rocky Mount, NC 27803 (252) 446-0333 Toll-free: (800) 682-2036

147 E. Whitaker St. Enfield, NC 27823 (252) 445-5178 Toll-free: (800) 338-9704

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Electric Cooperatives …

Paving the way to a brighter Halifax County POTENTIAL LOANS: NCEMC Business Development Loan Fund • Up to $400,000

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE PROGRAMS, CONTACT:

• 7 years, 0% interest USDA Rural Economic Development Loan • Up to $450,000 • 10 years, 0% interest

Marshall Cherry Roanoke Electric Cooperative 409 N. Main St. Rich Square, NC 27869 (252) 539-2236 www.roanokeelectric.com

ADDITIONAL SERVICES: • Assistance with site and building identification • Energy audit services • Assistance with market research • Flexibility in rate design • Power quality services • Loan and grant assistance • Demographic analysis

Brady Martin Halifax Electric Membership Corporation 208 W. Whitfield St. Enfield, NC 27823 (252) 445-5111 www.halifaxemc.com

Touchstone Energy® R OA N O K E VA L L E Y

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Serving Bertie, Halifax, Hertford and Northhampton Counties.

CPTA is here to serve your transportation needs.

Give us a call Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since 1977, CPTA has provided transportation needs for any person in the four-county area who is in need of a ride, whether it be to local community colleges, shopping centers, medical offices, senior centers, day cares, human service agencies, etc. Our courteous and friendly staff will assist you to schedule your transportation needs and get you on your way to daily destinations.

For rates or to schedule transportation, please call: (252) 539-2022 Hearing Impaired, call: (800) 735-2962 â&#x20AC;˘ Check with your local human service agencies for transportation assistance programs that may be available to you.

CHOANOKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Rich Square, NC

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â&#x20AC;˘ The general public may purchase books of passes. Call (252) 539-2022, ext. 222 for more information.

For more information about CPTA, please visit our Web site: www.choanokepta.org

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Feels like home

Roanoke Rapids N O R T H

C A R O L I N A

(252) 533-2800 â&#x20AC;˘ www.roanokerapidsnc.com

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“Charging Into Excellence”

Mission Statement 5IF NJTTJPO PG UIF 8FMEPO $JUZ 4DIPPM %JTUSJDU JT UP DSFBUF BOE NBJOUBJO B IJHIMZ FGGFDUJWF FEVDBUJPOBM TZTUFN JO XIJDI FWFSZ TUVEFOU SFDFJWFT UIF IJHIFTU RVBMJUZ FEVDBUJPO 4DIPPM FNQMPZFFT BOE QBSFOUT XPSL UPHFUIFS UP QSFQBSF TUVEFOUT UP CFDPNF DBSJOH DPNQFUFOU BOE SFTQPOTJCMF DJUJ[FOT XIP WBMVF FEVDBUJPO BT B MJGFMPOH QSPDFTT

.VMCFSSZ 4U t 8FMEPO /$ t t 'BY

XXX XFMEPODJUZTDIPPMT L OD VT

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NEW LOCATION

Northern Carolina Orthopaedics, PLLC GENERAL ORTHOPEDICS SPORTS MEDICINE ADULT RECONSTRUCTION/ JOINT REPLACEMENT PHYSICAL THERAPY

Complete Orthopedic Care in the Roanoke Valley Convenient hours offered Mon.-Fri. We accept most health insurances.

171 Hwy. 125 Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 (252) 537-5631 Toll-free: (888) 406-4656

www.ncarortho.com

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“THE ONLY PROPANE GAS COMPANY OF CHOICE IN ROANOKE RAPIDS, HALIFAX, WARREN AND NORTH HAMPTON COUNTIES”

Becker Farms Properties llc Offering One-, Two- and Three-Bedroom Apartments 412 Quail Court Rd. Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 (252) 537-8415 tel (252) 537-9509 fax

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Visit our showroom for a wide selection of Heaters • Gas Logs • Grills Ranges • Water Heaters

Where ...

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Ad Index

3 4 A A A C a r o li n a s

52 B ec k e r Fa r m s P ro p e rti e s LLC

27 C a r p e t O n e

4 8 C h oa n o k e P u b li c T r a n s p o rtati o n Au th o r it y

49 C it y o f Roa n o k e Rap i ds

3 8 C ros s C r e e k Fa m i ly D e n ti s t ry

52 Dau g h t r i d g e Ga s & O i l Co m pa n y

52 D o m i n i o n R e s o u rc e s S e rv i c e s

39 Eag l e H o m e M e d i ca l Co r p o r ati o n

52 Fi r s t C itize n s Ba n k

2 Ha li fa x Co u n t y B u s i n e s s H o r izo n s

4 Ha li fa x Co u n t y Co n v e n ti o n & V i s ito r s B u r e au

45 Ha li fa x Co u n t y Sc h o o l s

3 6 Ha li fa x r eg i o n a l M e d i ca l C E n t e r

3 1 Ha li fa x / Wa r r e n S m a rt S ta rt

1 H e ato n R e a l E s tat e

Ad Index (cont.)

4 6 H i n e s Eq u i p m e n t Co m pa n y

1 0 H o li day I n n E x p r e s s

6 J o n e s Fe n c e & C u s to m V i n y l LLC

C 2 Kap s to n e Pap e r & Pac k ag i n g

7 Ma ry S h e rwo o d La k e Li v i n g I n c .

3 8 M i d At l a n ti c E y e P h ys i c i a n s

4 4 M itc h e l l W ynne Builders

5 1 N o rt h e r n C a ro li n a O rt h o p e d i c s

42 R e s e r â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s Fi n e Fo o ds

45 R i g h t m y e r Mac h i n e R e n ta l s I n c .

47 Roa n o k e E l ec t r i c Co o p e r ati v e

4 4 Roa n o k e Rap i ds G r a d e d Sc h o o l D i s t r i c t

4 3 Roa n o k e Rap i ds Sa n ita ry D i s t r i c t

4 0 R u r a l H e a lt h G r o u p

4 0 S ec u r e S o lu ti o n s I n c .

39 S m it h C h u r c h Ob s t e t r i c s & Gy n eco lo gy

1 2 S o u t h S h o r e R e a lt y

3 4 S to n e h o u s e Ti m b e r Lo d g e

4 6 Tow n o f E n fi e l d

4 4 Tow n o f Scot l a n d N ec k 8 Tow n Of W e l d o n

4 0 Tw i n Mag n o li a s B e d & B r e a k fa s t

4 6 Wa l- Ma rt

C 4 Wat e r fr o n t P r o p e rti e s

5 0 W e l d o n C it y Sc h o o l s

2 5 W i l k i e R e a l E s tat e I n c .

TM

ROANOKE VALLEY MANAGING EDITOR KIM MADLOM COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW STAFF WRITER CAROL COWAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAUL HUGHES, KEVIN LITWIN, BRANDON LOWE, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO DATABASE PROJECT MANAGER YANCEY TURTURICE DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER JOE THOMAS SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN M CCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITORS/BUSINESS MAURICE FLIESS, BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE CUSTOM/TRAVEL SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER

Visit Our Advertisers AAA Carolinas www.aaa.com

Mid Atlantic Eye Physicians www.midatlanticeye.net

Becker Farms Properties LLC

Mitchell Wynne Builders www.mitchellwynnebuilders.com

Carpet One www.stonebyjones.com Choanoke Public Transportation Authority www.choanokepta.org

Reser’s Fine Foods www.resers.com

City of Roanoke Rapids www.roanokerapidsnc.com

Rightmyer Machine Rentals Inc. www.rightmyer.com

Cross Creek Family Dentistry www.crosscreekfamilydentistry.com

Roanoke Electric Cooperative www.roanokeelectric.com

Daughtridge Gas & Oil Company www.daughtridgeenergy.com

Roanoke Rapids Graded School District www.rrgsd.org

Dominion Resources Services www.dom.com Eagle Home Medical Corporation www.eagle-home-medical.com First Citizens Bank www.firstcitizens.com First Med Alert www.firstmedalert.com

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Images Roanoke Valley is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce 260 Premier Blvd. • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870 Phone: (252) 537-3513 • Fax: (252) 535-5767 www.rvchamber.com VISIT IMAGES ROANOKE VALLEY ONLINE AT IMAGESROANOKEVALLEY.COM ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member

Magazine Publishers of America

Member

Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District www.rrsd.org Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce www.rvchamber.com Rural Health Group www.rhgnc.org Secure Solutions Inc.

Halifax County Business Horizons www.halifaxdevelopment.com

Smith Church Obstetrics & Gynecology

Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visithalifax.com

South Shore Realty www.southshorerealtyssr.com

Halifax County Schools www.halifax.k12.nc.us Halifax Regional Medical Center www.halifaxmedicalcenter.org

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

Northern Carolina Orthopedics www.ncarortho.com

Halifax/Warren Smart Start www.hwss.org Heaton Real Estate www.heatonrealestate.com

Stonehouse Timber Lodge www.lakegastonfun.com Town of Enfield www.enfieldnc.org Town of Scotland Neck www.townofscotlandneck.com Town of Weldon www.historicweldonnc.com

Hines Equipment Company www.hinesequipment.net

Twin Magnolias Bed & Breakfast www.angelfire.com/biz/ twinmagnolias

Holiday Inn Express www.hiexpress.com/roanokerapids

Wal-Mart www.walmart.com

Jones Fence & Custom Vinyl LLC www.jonesfencecompany.com

Waterfront Properties www.waterfrontpropertieswp.com

Kapstone Paper & Packaging www.kapstonepaper.com

Weldon City Schools http://district.weldoncityschools.org

Mary Sherwood Lake Living Inc. www.marysherwood.com

Wilkie Real Estate Inc. www.wilkierealestate.com

Custom Publishing Council

Member Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce

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Welcome HOME

Luxury Lakefront Living – Hubquarter Landing’s Gated Townhome Community Has It All! Not jjust premier living space in elegantly designed 2,800 to 3,200 square-foot uniquely designed townhomes, but so much more … squa Incl Including a waterfront location that’s super convenient to I-85 and I-95, and only two hours from Richmond and Raleigh-Durham.

Ral Plu great amenities like walking and golf cart trails, pool and Plus bath house, deeded boat slips and a future clubhouse all along ba the shores of beautiful 20,000+ acre Lake Gaston. th And your choice from four unique homestyle designs, each A custom created with your comfort and convenience in mind, with premium touches in every room.

Talk to Henrietta Williams today. She goes by “Henri” and has all the details on this beautiful, affordable opportunity. she h www.HubquarterLanding.com for more information.

Also visit www

Waterfront Properties at Lake Gaston 1698 Eaton Ferry Rd. • Littleton, NC 27850 Toll-free: (888) 586-8811 • Cell: (252) 532-4160 www.HenriAtLakeGaston.com • www.HubquarterLanding.com

Williams Custom Homes • John E. Williams Builder, Inc. • J. David Williams Builder, Inc. 1595 NC Hwy. 903 • Littleton, NC 27850 • (252) 586-7211 E-mail: wmsbldrs@3rddoor.com • www.BuildersAtLakeGaston.com