January 2022

JANUARY 2022

Couple welcomes miracle baby

Slow down, appreciate life and

Live Easy!

Enjoy neighborhood socials, food trucks, community events, and making new friendships. As the seasons change enjoy miles of walking trails and golf cart friendly streets that connect directly to onsite shopping, dining, and medical facilities. All with NO CITY TAXES! THE LIVING IS EASY AT FLOWERS PLANTATION.

Flowe rsP l a ntatio n.c o m | 9 19 -5 5 3-1984 | C l ay to n, NC

CONTENTS

TABLE OF

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10 14 18 26 30 32 34

Cleveland’s Hampton wins state football awards Johnston County Public Schools names two new principals County robotics students host regional competition After a long, hard struggle, the Hardys received their miracle Johnston County Writers Group to present writing workshop in Clayton Benson’s mule sculpture has a name Triangle East Chamber hosts State of the Region

ON THE COVER Shorni Hardy holds her "miracle baby," Lili, in her hospital bed.

Photo courtesy of Shorni Hardy.

[PUBLISHER] column

Looking ahead to 2022 The calendar says that winter doesn’t start until Dec. 21, but I look at it a bit differently. For me, winter starts around Thanksgiving and is broken into two parts.

There’s the pre-Christmas part, where the spirit of the season helps to warm our hearts and lift our spirits, and then there’s January and February where it’s just colder and darker than we’d like it to be.

We’re in that second part now, where we have to sort of make our own joy. The fact that, just by sheer balance of

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TEAM Volume 6, Number 2

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RANDY CAPPS

randy@johnstonnow.com

probability, 2022 would almost have to be better than last year is a good start for me.

I don’t like to say that things can’t get any worse, but we found the bottom of a lot of barrels in 2021.

Dealing with COVID was

sad, tragic and frustrating in varying degrees. At best, our lives were disrupted through canceled events or vacations.

At worst, we dealt with health issues or said goodbye to family members.

And while it’s not quite invisible in the rear-view mirror just yet, we’re driving away from it.

At least I hope so. And because of that, I’m excited about what 2022 might bring.

Maybe we’ll see things like “normal” proms and graduations, baseball games and summer cookouts. Maybe

we’ll be able to find building supplies, or actually buy a PS5 if we want one.

And maybe, just maybe, I can stop carrying a mask around with me.

It might be January, and it might still be winter. But something hangs in the air around me that I haven’t felt for a while.

It’s optimism. An idea that 2022 might not just be better than 2021, but could actually be a good year.

I want that for each and every one of you as well.

Happy New Year everyone!

Publisher Randy Capps

General Manager Shanna Capps

shanna@johnstonnow.com

Creative Consultant Ethan Capps

Marketing Representative

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Office Manager

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Editor Mike Bollinger

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Digital Marketing Manager

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Step Into

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B E N S O N A

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V LI

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Real Country Variety and More Music

www.countryss.com

6 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

DISCOVERING A

North Carolina

I recently tried other flavors. a North Carolina The company delicacy that, survived the Great even though I had Depression, and lived in the state in fact managed previously, I had to remain never sampled profitable. In MIKE BOLLINGER before. the 1950s, the mike@johnstonnow.com While enjoying first Cheerwine a meal at Cracker vending machine Barrel with friends recently, was built, selling the drinks I was looking to use up some for 5 cents each. In the 1960s, gift cards I received at my the first can of Cheerwine was retirement party and decided produced. Also in the '60s, the to buy a bottle of Cheerwine. first TV commercial for the I had been told several times drink hit the airwaves.

I should try it, and I was Diet Cheerwine was pleasantly surprised. launched in the 1970s. The I don’t drink a lot of cherrycompany celebrated 75 flavored soda, but Cheerwine years of success in 1992, and is by far the best I have ever commemorative bottles were had. made. Those bottles remain Being the intrepid, collectibles today. In 2017, even though semi-retired, a centennial celebration was journalist, I decided to do a held in downtown Salisbury. little research. I’m sure a lot That celebration marked of you know this information, the start of the Cheerwine but I found the story a little Festival, which has become an fascinating and decided to annual event. share.

Two presidents, Dwight According to www.

Eisenhower and George W. cheerwine.com, the company Bush, are known to have tried was formed in 1917 in Cheerwine.

Salisbury by L.D. Peeler.

I’m sure I will have more Wanting to start his own soft Cheerwine in the future, drink, he found a wild cherry but it will never replace my flavor that mixed well with go-to soft drink, Sun Drop.

Sun Drop is also a Southern thing, most popular in North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee.

When I lived in the mountains of Virginia, where Sun Drop is not available, when I would visit in an area where I could buy it I would load up the trunk of my car with it and take enough home to last until my next visit.

However, there is another Southern food that I have only had once, and that one time was too many. That would be boiled peanuts.

A brief history of boiled peanuts (apparently I’m in research mode as I write this) shows they were first made by slaves brought to the South from West Africa, according

DELICACY to www.seriouseats.com. They apparently originated in South Carolina.

Once introduced, they quickly became popular in the region. Why, I’m not exactly sure. They are slimy and not at all tasty. In fact, they are one of the five worst things I have ever tasted.

Not many people seem to share my opinion. Most of the people I have talked to about it say they love the things.

They are welcome to my share.

What do you think? Share your opinions with me on these or any other Southern delicacies you particularly like at mike@johnstonnow.com, and if I get enough responses I’ll share them in a future column.

Hospice doesn’t mean giving up hope.

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[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 7

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The Vacant Lot Gives Jacob an Adventure

BY ALISON HENDRIX

Jacob walked through his brand-new neighborhood. It was filling up quickly with houses of workers who’d been hired at Novo Nordisk, the big medicine factory on Highway 70. Jacob’s daddy was one of those workers.

He stopped near an open lot. Why was there no house here?

Jacob was curious and he gathered some other kids in the neighborhood. They guessed things like ghosts or buried treasure were the reasons the land was empty.

The other kids grew tired of standing around, and they left, but not Jacob.

It grew late in the evening and he sat on the ground to have an apple. He’d just taken a bite when he saw a flash of something out of the corner of his eye. He turned in time to see a small creature with a red hat and blue vest dart behind a tuft of grass!

Jacob sprang over to the spot and said, “Hello there, what are you? Don’t be scared.

My name’s Jacob, what’s yours?”

The little creature was angry at being caught, and said,

“Bahh, my name’s Grags. The other pints will be furious that I got caught! Oh, horseradish and black tea!”

Jacob laughed. “I won’t tell if you won’t; what are you?”

The little thing said, “I am a pint, and we have a bargain with the owner of this land.

We are allowed to stay here as long as we want to mine the jewels that are underground for our food! But you big people keep pushing in. Most of you can’t see us at all, not sure how you did!”

Then Grags sucked in his little belly and slipped into a tiny hole in the ground and

disappeared!

Jacob shook his head in disbelief. He tried to run and tell the other kids about Grags and the pints, but they did not believe him. Every day, he went to the vacant lot and left things like bubble gum and small toys for the pints. He even built them tiny shelters, but he never saw one again.

Even still, when he was all grown up, if he ever passed a vacant lot, he would smile and think of the tiny creatures who mined gems to eat, and wondered what other kinds of things might be in the world, but invisible to most people.

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 9

CLEVELAND’S HAMPTON WINS STATE FOOTBALL AWARDS Submitted by CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL

CHICAGO and CHARLOTTE — A local football player has been recognized as the best player in the state and as the state’s Mr. Football.

In its 37th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade has announced Omarion Hampton of Cleveland High School is the 2021-22 Gatorade North Carolina Football Player of the Year. Hampton is the first Gatorade North Carolina Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Cleveland.

In addition, the Charlotte Observer has named Hampton as the state’s Mr. Football North Carolina.

The Gatorade award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement

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and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Hampton as North Carolina’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award, Hampton joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners, including Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Florida), Matthew Stafford (200506, Highland Park High School, Texas) and Christian McCaffrey (2012-13 and 2013-14, Valor Christian High School, Colorado).

The 6-foot, 220-pound senior running back rushed for 1,948 yards and 39 touchdowns on 161 carries this past season, leading the Rams (11-1) to the third round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Hampton averaged 12.1 yards per rush and also caught 11 passes for 272 yards and three scores. A three-time All-State selection and two-time Greater Neuse

River Conference Player of the Year, he has been selected to play in the 2022 AllAmerican Bowl in January.

Hampton has volunteered locally as a youth football coach. “Hampton is an unbelievable player,” said Daniel Finn, head coach at South Garner High School. “He’s big, strong, physical, with great speed. We played against (current University of Georgia standout) Zamir White a couple of years ago and this kid is every bit as good.”

Hampton has maintained a 3.26 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at the University of North Carolina next fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football,

girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball and boys and girls track and field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Hampton joins recent Gatorade North Carolina Football Players of the Year Jalon Walker (2020-21, Salisbury High School), Will Shipley (2019-20, Weddington High School), Sam Howell (2018-19, Sun Valley High School) and Quavaris Crouch (2017-18, Harding University High School) among the state’s list of former award winners.

Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and understands how sports instill valuable lifelong skills on and off the field. Through Gatorade’s “Play it Forward” platform, Hampton has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national organization of their choosing that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. Hampton is also eligible to submit a short video explaining why the organization he chose is deserving of one of twelve $10,000 spotlight grants, which will be announced throughout the year. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

Since the program’s inception in 1985, Gatorade

Omarion Hampton tries to break a tackle during a game against Clayton. (Photo by Kai Jones/We Journal Great Sports)

Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners and educators.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year

program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook. com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/ Gatorade.

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 11

The Smithfield-Selma High School DECA Chapter won several awards at a recent competition in Raleigh.

12 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

Smithfield-Selma DECA chapter earns regional honors Submitted BY SMITHFIELD-SELMA HIGH SCHOOL

SMITHFIELD — ­ The SmithfieldSelma High School DECA Chapter went to the Marketing Competitive Events Conference District Regionals Competition at the Raleigh Convention Center Dec. 2, competing against DECA chapters from Johnston and Wake counties.

SSS students Michelle Chen, Brianne Simerman and Jude Reece earned a top-scoring role-play, top exam and overall finalist in their category. Jude Reece placed first overall in Principles of Business Management and Chen placed fourth overall in Entrepreneurship.

“Remember, today you will either win

or learn. There is no losing,” SSS DECA advisor Carlos Sousa said to his students.

The SSS members of DECA include Crystal Anthony, Dana Ayala, Camryn Barefoot, Camille Bracy, Ayana Casado, Michelle Chen, Tatyana Cook, Karina Diaz Coyt, Frankie DiGiovanni, Rose Eklund, Katie Felizzi, Fernanda Ferreyra, Jazlyn Fontanez-Zambrano, Angel Fuentes Ponce, Jackeline Garcia, Yvette Gomez, Kamila Gonzalez, Stuart Guerrero Hernandez, Storme Harbinson Wheeler, Su’Miah Lassiter, Greer Lee, Camryn Lovette, Javier Martinez, Sherelle McDaniel, Janada Melvin, Mohamed Mohamed, Sabreen Mohamed, Monserrat Morales, Chloe Nelson, Jude Reece, Magali Santiago, Brianne Simerman, Terri Sinclair and Hailey Stephens.

“My love for DECA extends beyond simply competing and winning awards.

Through DECA, I have had the opportunity to apply the knowledge I learned in the classroom, gain professional skills and become a stronger leader within my community. DECA is truly an amazing organization, and I am extremely proud of all our DECA members,” Chen said.

DECA is a career and technical organization that prepares young leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

There are many categories that members can compete in, such as Principles of Business Management, Sports Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 13

Johnston County Public Schools names two new principals Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SMITHFIELD — Crystal Gregory was named the principal of Innovation Academy at South Campus, and Tami Poland was named principal of Polenta Elementary at a special Johnston County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Dec. 2.

Both will take their new positions Jan. 3.

Gregory comes to Johnston County Public Schools from the Wake County public school system. She has served in education over the last decade, most recently as assistant principal at Willow

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Spring High School in Fuquay-Varina.

Gregory shared that she feels a deep connection to the school, as her children currently attend IASC. “I am coming from Wake County, but moving to Innovation Academy feels like coming home,” Gregory said. “Our family chose the personalized educational experience that the school offers for our own children, and I believe that all families should have access to this type of education.”

Gregory brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role, having served as assistant principal at both Willow Spring High School and Fuquay-Varina High School.

Tami Poland was named principal of Polenta Elementary at a recent special meeting of the Johnston County Board of Education. She begins as principal Jan. 3.

Crystal Gregory was named principal of Innovation Academy at South Campus at a recent special meeting of the Johnston County Board of Education. She begins her work as principal Jan. 3.

She has also served as an instructional management coordinator for both Wake and Harnett county schools, and a teacher in both Wake and Winston-Salem/Forsyth schools.

“We look forward to being a part of Mrs. Gregory expanding her educational career here in Johnston County Public Schools,” said Johnston County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Eric Bracy. “She knows the school community, and we believe the students will accomplish great things under her leadership.”

The Innovation Academy, located in Smithfield, offers personalized learning opportunities for its students.

The school, which is open to students in grades six through eight, requires student admission through an application process.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 20222023 school year.

“This school has been amazing for our family,” said Gregory. “I look forward to impacting change not only for my own children, but for all of the children and families that attend our school.”

Poland has served Johnston County Public Schools as an educator for the last decade and has strong ties to the community that Polenta Elementary serves. Most recently, she was the assistant principal at Meadow School.

“I am honored to begin my career as a principal at Polenta Elementary School,” Poland said. “I have a passion for working with young students and their families and I cannot wait to get started on this new endeavor.”

Before her time working as assistant principal at Meadow,

Poland was the assistant principal at Cooper Academy, which is where she also completed her AP internship.

She has also served as a teacher at schools in the Clayton community.

Poland has spent many years working with families throughout Johnston County, and also served as a family minister for C3 Church from 2004-2010.

She holds a master's of

school administration from N.C. State University, and a bachelor of arts in elementary education from UNC Wilmington.

“I look forward to seeing all of the wonderful things Mrs. Poland will accomplish as Principal at Polenta Elementary,” Bracy said. “She has a contagious personality and is focused on student success. I know she will work hard for her students and their families.”

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 15

Colpetzer named ambassador of the month Submitted by JOHNSTON HEALTH

SMITHFIELD — Johnston Health has recognized Laurel Colpetzer, the secretary and patient registrar for the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation department, as Ambassador of the Month.

During a recent presentation, CEO Tom Williams said Colpetzer puts patients at ease with her pleasant demeanor, kind spirit and bubbly personality.

Before transferring to the department, she was a health screener, where she kept up with the many changes in visitor policies and screening guidelines.

While in that role, she helped save the life of a patient in the parking lot at the hospital in Clayton. A

16 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

young man in the passenger seat of a vehicle arrived unconscious. A code was called, and she ran outside to assist in performing CPR until the emergency services team took over his care.

Colpetzer is a CNA and worked for three years at a nursing home in Clayton before joining Johnston Health last year. “I love patients and the people I work with. I’m always happy to help out in any way I can,” she said.

Colpetzer lives in Clayton and has two children, ages 15 and 19. She is a native of Wilmington, Delaware Through the ambassador program, Johnston Health recognizes employees who go above and beyond the call of duty. They deliver quality care,

At center, CEO Tom Williams congratulates Laurel Colpetzer on being named Johnston Health Ambassador of the Month. At left is Ruth Marler, chief operating officer, and at right are Carolyn Ellis, director of cardiac services, and Tracey Carson, associate vice president of patient care services. In addition to a parking sign and designated parking spot, Colpetzer will receive eight hours of paid time off.

foster teamwork and offer excellent service. In addition to a designated month-long

parking space, Colpetzer will receive eight hours of paid time off.

Johnston Health is 5-STAR recipient for heart attack treatment Submitted by JOHNSTON HEALTH

SMITHFIELD – Johnston Health is 5-star rated for treatment of heart attack outcomes, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading resource that connects consumers, physicians and health systems.

Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 31 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. This analysis shows that patients treated at hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have a lower risk of mortality and a lower risk of experiencing one or more complications during a hospital stay than if they were treated at hospitals receiving a 1-star rating in that procedure or condition.

From 2018 through 2020, if all hospitals as a group performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5 stars as a group, on average, 218,141 lives could potentially have been saved, and complications in 156,050 patients could

potentially have been avoided, the Healthgrades evaluation shows.

Additionally, from 20182020, patients treated for heart attack in hospitals with 5-stars for in-hospital mortality have, on average a 49.6% lower risk of dying than if they were treated in hospitals with 1-star for inhouse mortality.

“Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the differences of care provided by different hospitals.

Consumers can feel confident that hospitals receiving a Healthgrades 5-star rating have demonstrated exceptional outcomes and their ability to provide quality care,” said Dr. Brad Bowman, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades.

Ruth Marler, chief operating officer at Johnston Health, says the 5-star rating reflects the organization’s commitment to providing quality care. “Our clinical teams and medical providers work tirelessly to grow services, improve processes and update technology,” Marler said. “They have a

heartfelt passion for every patient in their care.”

Earlier this year, Johnston Health received the 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award. Also notable, Johnston Health is nationally recognized by the American Heart Association for improving stroke treatment.

The hospital recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Primary Stroke certification.

For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 45 million Medicare inpatient records for about 4,500 short-term acute

care hospitals nationwide to assess hospital performance in 31 common conditions and procedures and evaluated outcomes in appendectomy and bariatric surgery using all-payer data provided by 16 states. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality.

Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5-star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3-star (not statistically different from expected), and 1-star (statistically significantly worse than expected).

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 17

County robotics students host regional competition Submitted by SMITHFIELDSELMA HIGH SCHOOL

SMITHFIELD — Team 6004 f(x) Robotics, based at Smithfield-Selma Senior High School, hosted an in-person competition for middle school “For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” robotics teams Nov. 20.

A FIRST Robotics Competition team, f(x) Robotics includes students from Johnston County public, charter and home schools. The competition hosted at SSS was for 25 FIRST Lego League teams. The members of the f(x) Robotics team worked hard setting up, running and tearing down the 12-hour tournament.

Seven of the team members volunteered as referees at the tournament. FLL is a middle school robotics program that encourages creative thinking among students and helps them develop problem solving skills. It encourages students to respect each other and develop leadership, teamwork, and cooperation skills. FLL teaches aspects of programming, design and public speaking.

A number of the f(x) team members are past FLL members, which encouraged them to join FRC. FRC is a more advanced robotics program that has students build and program a 120-pound robot from scratch and drive it to complete challenges during

18 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

Students from f(x) Robotics, Johnston County's only FIRST Robotics Competition team, hosted more than 500 students, parents, judges and volunteers across a 12-hour tournament Nov. 20.

district, state, national and international competitions.

FLL has students build robots from Lego Education kits and program them using a software made for the robots.

The f(x) Robotics team is split into five sections: programming, mechanical, marketing, electrical and digital. During the November tournament, they had the opportunity to show off the team robot to about 500 people present throughout the day. Due to the pandemic, inperson competitions stopped in March 2020, but hybrid competitions are resuming this year with all safety precautions in place.

SSS and f(x) Robotics were honored to be able to host this tournament and see everyone in-person again and look forward to hosting this amazing event in Johnston County next year.

Craig Danby of Discovery Channel's Battlebots stands in the background as his robot, Slammo, lifts FIRST Robotics Team 6004's robot, ISBF, into the air. Danby was a featured guest at the recent middle school robotics tournament hosted at SmithfieldSelma Senior High School.

The Smithfield-Selma High School Unified Spartans group recently led a live fitness session for schools across North Carolina.

Smithfield-Selma Unified Spartans lead statewide fitness session Submitted by SMITHFIELD-SELMA HIGH SCHOOL

SMITHFIELD — Unified Spartans are a group of students with and without intellectual disabilities who collaborate for sports, leadership, community service, and fun schoolwide events. The Unified Champion School Program is in its fourth year at Smithfield-Selma Senior High and has already been given national attention.

Most recently, Unified Spartans at SSS were seen leading a 30-minute live fitness session on Nov. 17 and 18 to schools across North Carolina. Special Olympics North Carolina began a fitness program in 2020 to support athletes unable to train in person called “Partner Up Power Up.” As part of the program, groups such as Unified Spartans lead weekly fitness

sessions to schools and Special Olympic athletes across the state. The Unified Spartans have led four sessions since the program began.

In addition to leading sessions, 61 total participants at Smithfield-Selma High have pledged to healthy living by supporting each other in the 10-week program. Daily activities are provided in a playbook.

A tracker helps each participant stay accountable. The Zoom sessions promote interaction, even if virtually. The program also encourages healthy living by setting health goals such as drinking more water, eating healthier and getting more sleep. These weekly goals, called “Power Ups,” help all participants focus on good choices. The incentives include t-shirts, workout equipment, drawstring bags and meal vouchers for a party.

The sessions provide a series of workouts that can be followed by people with and without disabilities. The live sessions start and end with dancing, motivating everyone to just move.

Sometimes, participants also have fun dancing between workouts. During the live Zoom fitness session, Unified Pairs, consisting of one student with intellectual disability and one without, were responsible for announcing, modeling and encouraging over 500 participants each day. They are further rewarded with incentives, and, most importantly, lasting friendships.

Unified Spartans, with the support of Special Olympics North Carolina, are a part of the global organization of Special Olympics which strives to create a more inclusive and collaborative society through sports, games, and community service.

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 19

FLOWERS PLANTATION FEATURE BEAUTIFUL HOMES WITHIN REACH | JAN / FEB 2022

HAPPY

New Year's

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 15TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING!

Visitor Center Open Daily | 500 NW Flowers Parkway | Clayton, NC 27527 | 919-553-1984 Ext. 1

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN 2022 LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF EXCITING EVENTS IN FLOWERS PLANTATION FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR!

Our popular concert series event will continue next year. Dates are still being determined, so make sure you continue to check out our events page at www.flowersplantation.com/events-socials/.

We had so much fun with our residents during these monthly socials!

Good food, good music, and good drinks! Our monthly socials will pick back up in March on the first Wednesday of each month. Space is limited for this popular event, so registration will be required, and you must be a Flowers Plantation resident. An email will be sent out to all residents when registration becomes available.

Enjoy a movie under the stars! Our monthly Family Movie Night presentation will resume in April. We are always open to suggestions for everyone’s favorite flick that they would like to see…just email us at info@flowersplantation.com with your selections.

February - Save the date...February 14 Enjoy a special Valentine’s Day experience at the Dr. Watson Inn. A Mix&Sip Mixology class will be offered that evening, along with music and food. Tickets will go on sale the end of December. More details will be available in our upcoming email newsletters. Don’t receive our online newsletter? Just email info@flowersplantation.com and we will get you signed up!

WOW! The turn out for our first Family Fun Fest this past September was amazing! It looks like everyone had a blast. We would love to continue the fun this year, so keep your eyes open for us to announce a spring date and a fall date.

To receive information on all upcoming community events/news please send your email address to info@flowersplantation.com

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Site map is an artist’s representation only. Please refer to actual recorded plat maps for accurate lot sizes and orientation(s). ©2020 Flowers Plantation. Sales & Marketing by Info and Sales, LLC.

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NEW HOME NEIGHBORHOODS MODELS ON-SITE TO VIEW

SINGLE-FAMILY

Bedford

COPPER RIDGE - TRUE HOMES Floors plans available from 1,680 to 3,643 square feet with three-to-five bedrooms and two-to-four-and-a-half baths.

Call Celina Hill at 609-634-3199 or Lauren Hemingway at 704-421-8855 for current pricing.

BEDFORD - MATTAMY HOMES This neighborhood features floor plans from 1,980 to 3,000+ square feet with three-to-six bedrooms and two-to-three-and a-half baths. Call Jamie Matala at 919-314-7564 or Stephanie Vidal at 919-697-9044 for current pricing.

FORREST - MERITAGE HOMES This neighborhood features floor plans from 1,980 to 3,000+ square feet with three-to-six bedrooms and two-to-three-andahalf baths. Call Jamie Matala at 919-314-7564 or Stephanie Vidal at 919-697-9044 for current pricing.

The Cottages at Evergreen

55+ ACTIVE ADULT COTTAGES AT EVERGREEN - MCKEE HOMES A gated community that features floor plans from 1,681 to 2,900 square feet. HOA dues include lawn maintenance.

Call Lawrence Wilson at 919-521-7168 or Rachel Bailey at 919-631-1304 for current pricing.

TOWNHOMES

The Crossings

THE CROSSINGS - TRUE HOMES The Elon floor plan is 2,262 square feet with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a two-car garage. The Longfield floor plan is 1,762 square feet with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a single-car garage. Call Shahroon Rana at 919-8023756 for current pricing.

COMING SOON! ARDMORE A 396-unit apartment community.

Email info@ardmoreatflowers.com for leasing information.

Forrest

WHITLEY CORNER - DAN RYAN BUILDERS Single Family Floor plans from 1600–2000 SF Townhomes – Offering two different plans (one has a first floor owner’s suite.)

For more information please call Lenka Ruzickova at 919-264-1153

Copper Ridge

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Hwy 55, a retro-themed diner that features fresh, never-frozen hand-pattied burgers, house-made frozen custard, and other classic favorites in a unique open-kitchen setting, was founded in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1991. Hwy 55 reflects founder Kenney Moore’s commitment to authentic hospitality and fresh food. Widely known in the state for its fresh food and service that exceeds expectations, the chain won BurgerBusiness.com’s “Best Burger” in 2012. It also was recently named a top 500 franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine and a “Next 20” restaurant brand by Nation’s Restaurant News. Hwy 55 currently has 121 locations in 10 states, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates

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After a long, hard struggle, the Hardys received their miracle

By MIKE BOLLINGER

Patrick and Shorni Hardy with baby Lili shortly after Lili's birth Oct. 13. The Hardys had tried for several years to have a child without success before and had been told they could not have one naturally before Lili came along. Above, Shorni holds Lili while they were still in the hospital.

26 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

CLAYTON — It took more than 11 years and a lot of setbacks along the way, but Shorni and Patrick Hardy of Clayton received their miracle in October.

That miracle came in the form of Lili-Grace Patria Hardy, born Oct. 23 at 7:55 a.m. Lili-Grace weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces and was 20 inches long. All that sounds like the result of a normal pregnancy and childbirth.

It was anything but.

Patrick is from New York and Shorni from Jamaica. The couple met in college.

The journey toward having a family started in 2010, when after five years of marriage and struggling to start a family, a trip to the doctor revealed that Shorni couldn’t have children naturally. They decided to start the process of in vitro fertilization treatments, which Shorni described as “a lot of treatments and a lot of shots.”

They then learned that one of Shorni’s ovaries was twisted, and emergency surgery was performed. The first four embryos were transferred, but Shorni was still unable to become pregnant.

In 2012, the Hardys moved to North Carolina, and in 2015 decided to

try transferring embryos again. Two were transferred, but again Shorni was not pregnant. They waited another two years, and decided to transfer the final embryo.

Again, the process failed.

Six months after the final transfer, they decided to try being foster parents. That didn’t work out, and Shorni and Patrick decided against using a surrogate mother.

In addition to the physical struggles, she said there were “a lot of obstacles that we had to endure involving close friends and family.”

“We were officially done.

We closed the door on that chapter in our lives,” Shorni said. “I let go of all hope.”

“We gave up. We threw in the towel. We closed that chapter and were devastated it didn’t work,” Patrick said.

During this time, Shorni said she was feeling she had less value because she

wasn’t able to have a child.

“As a woman, we have a superpower, so to speak, to be able to bring life into the world. Because I wasn’t able to do that, I felt less valued,” she said.

Shorni and Patrick are people of strong faith, and Shorni said she relied on that faith to help the feeling of having no value go away.

“I asked God to remove the feeling of not being valued.

I said I understood it was His will for me not to have children,” she said. “The feeling eventually went away.”

In March of this year, Shorni wasn’t feeling well and decided to go to the doctor.

“I just felt like something was wrong and wanted to find out what it was,” she said.

Knowing the doctor would likely ask if she was pregnant, she decided to take a pregnancy test even though she had been told there was no way she could have children.

“I started laughing. I felt the Holy Spirit speaking in my ear, but I didn’t want to hear it. It didn’t seem possible,” Shorni said.

She took the test. It showed she was pregnant. “I started screaming,” she said.

She then called Patrick at work, and he quickly went home. They got more tests, all different brands to make sure one brand wouldn’t give the same result. They ended up with five tests. All showed she was pregnant.

“The world just kind of stopped,” Shorni said.

“I still didn’t think it was real,” Patrick said.

In 2015, Shorni had to have surgery to remove fibroids and asked at that time if her tubes could be unblocked, and was told no. “When I found out I was pregnant, I began thinking if God had created a

Patrick and Shorni enjoy a moment with Lili.

tunnel,” she said.

Just as the process leading up to her pregnancy had been a struggle, so was the pregnancy itself. “I was sick all the time. It was a nightmare.

It really was,” Shorni said.

If the pregnancy was a

nightmare, the childbirth would have to be described as something worse. Soon after giving birth, Shorni’s blood pressure dropped to 77/40 and she was in and out of consciousness. She was bleeding internally and her

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 27

The Hardys posed for a family Christmas photo. Shorni, Lili and Patrick were joined by family dogs Larry and Luna.

hemoglobin levels were dropping. She had multiple episodes of hypotension and became unresponsive several times. Her blood pressure would not stabilize.

“I knew something really bad was wrong. I was wondering if this was it,” she said. “I had a vision of Patrick having to raise the baby by himself. I started to pray.”

“For a split second, the thought crossed my mind that I would have to raise the baby alone. I had just seen the movie ‘Fatherhood’ with Kevin Hart where he had to raise a child after his wife died,” Patrick said.

However, he said he quickly dismissed such thoughts. “I thought God was still working and this was part of his plan all along. I just had to have faith,” Patrick said.

At one point, the decision was made to transfer Shorni to Rex Hospital in Raleigh for surgery to attempt to stop the internal bleeding. Because she was in and out of consciousness, her doctor decided to call a colleague in Smithfield who had performed similar surgery and the decision was made to have her remain at Johnston Health in Clayton.

The fibroids had adhered to her uterus and her bowels, and any error in manipulation could have caused a rupture of her uterus. “They told me after everything 28 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

was done that if they had decided to make the transfer, I probably wouldn’t have made it to Raleigh,” Shorni said.

When the surgery was performed, doctors removed 8 pounds of fibroids, more than the weight of the baby. In all, Shorni received six units of blood and three units of platelets. “The doctors didn’t know how it was possible that I became pregnant and carried the baby full term,” she said.

In the end, the decision was made to remove her entire uterus.

Shorni said she believes the experience was the result of God preparing her for a testimony. “We struggled a lot. Sometimes we feel our faith is not where it is supposed to be. All of this has renewed our faith. God is truly in the miracle working business,” she said.

She said she spoke with her brother recently when he was preparing for a job interview and wished him good luck.

“He told me he didn’t need luck and told me if I could get pregnant, anything was possible,” Shorni said.

“God looks at the impossible and makes it possible. He shows us that anything is possible through Christ,” she continued.

“We went through this, and I know there are people going through similar situations. Sometimes you end up losing faith. We want people to see my story and

know that God still works miracles. I’m a testament that God works miracles. We want people to look at our testimony and hope it will help renew their faith.”

Shorni and Patrick are local filmmakers, and have had two movies premiere at the Howell Theater in Smithfield in recent years. “One of our movies was called ‘Provision.’ God provides for people. I feel like God has been working this whole time. His timing is perfect,” Patrick said.

“Had we gotten pregnant earlier, we would have been way less prepared. God allowed us time to prepare. We have a home, and we are OK financially,” Shorni said. “Lili is a miracle, and I believe she came here for a purpose.”

They said they received a lot of help and support. Shorni said she was given three baby showers.

“I can’t express enough appreciation for the medical team at Johnston Health in Clayton. “I want to make sure to thank their staff. They were angels. I really think so. I believe I was in the right place at the right time with the right people.

Dr. Woodard and his medical team were amazing,” Shorni said.

Shorni said her case has become a roundtable discussion topic at Johnston Health and is being used to help the hospital become more prepared in case a similar situation arises again.

“A lot of people were praying for us, including relatives and friends in Florida, North Carolina and Jamaica. We are so thankful that in our time of need, people rallied around me. They lifted our situation up to God, and we are thankful to those wonderful folks,” she said.

They said they named her Lili-Grace because God has given them grace. In addition, the meaning of Lili is peace, Shorni said.

“She is our miracle baby. She is being spoiled rotten by her grandparents and has her dad wrapped around her pinkie,” Shorni said. “She is our Thanksgiving and Christmas miracle.”

Since returning home, Shorni said the family is doing well. “Everybody is good.

Lili is eating a lot. She’s Daddy’s girl and Mama’s world,” she said.

For now, the Hardys want what all parents of newborns want. “We’re just trying to get some sleep,” they said.

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JOHNSTON COUNTY WRITERS GROUP TO PRESENT WRITING WORKSHOP IN CLAYTON Submitted by JOHNSTON COUNTY WRITERS GROUP

Miriam Amado-Lopez will guide a free writing workshop sponsored by the Johnston County Writers Group Jan. 22 at the hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library in Clayton. (Photo by Lauren Branch Photography & Media)

30 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

CLAYTON — The Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library continues its National Endowment for the Arts Big Read exploration of “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros with the second “Write It Out” workshop on Saturday, Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. until noon at the library, located at 100 S Church St. The NEA Big Read Clayton is presented in partnership with the Johnston County Writers Group and other sponsors, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. “Write It Out: Using Words to Create a Sense of Belonging” will be a free guided writing workshop with Miriam Amado-Lopez. “I will bring my story and experience coming from a family of immigrants into the U.S. to help unravel the human experience of settling into the unknown and finding that sense of belonging in my own world,” Amado-Lopez said.

She is an insurance professional who services all of North Carolina and lives in Smithfield. Assisting AmadoLopez is Pine Level author Cindy Brookshire, facilitator of the Johnston County Writers Group. Workshop participants will be invited to read, reflect and write on prompts from “The House on Mango Street.” Everyone will be encouraged to share their own experiences as well.

Each participant will receive a copy of the book, along with a journal and pen.

The Johnston County Writers Group will present two more “Write It Out” workshops at the library. “Write It Out: Using Words to Write a Memoir Your Way” with Goldsboro author Mary Susan Heath and Smithfield author Gary Ridout will take place March 26. “Write It Out: Using Words to Write a Family Poem,” with Benson poet Teresa Blackmon and Clayton poet Leslie Waugh (Write from Your Heart) will take place April 23.

An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens understanding of the world, communities, and people themselves through the joy of sharing a good book.

Clayton is one of 61 communities nationwide participating in the 20212022 NEA Big Read. From September 18, 2021 through May 5, 2022, the Clayton community will celebrate “The House on Mango Street” with a full calendar of events including book discussions, art and theatre classes, panel discussions, virtual author appearances, and more.

For more information on this event, please contact Joy Garretson at 919-359-9366 or at jgarretson@townofclayton. org. There is also a full calendar of events for the NEA Big Read in Clayton at claytonnc.org/bigread.

Energy assistance program

TAKING APPLICATIONS Submitted BY JOHNSTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

SMITHFIELD — Applications for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program are currently being taken for the priority group only and will continue through March 31, 2022 or until the LIEAP funds are exhausted.

Priority group applications for LIEAP,will be for households age 60 and above or disabled persons receiving services from the Division of Aging and Adult Services. Those individuals and families with the lowest income and

highest relative energy cost are potentially eligible and may apply beginning Jan. 3 through March 31 or until funds are exhausted.

Eligible households will not receive a LIEAP check, as the payments will be made directly to the energy provider such as your power, gas, or fuel oil company.

All households must make an application for heating assistance, as there will be no automatic approvals for Food and Nutrition Services recipients.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, applications can be completed by telephone at 919-989-5300.

Applications can also be submitted via the ePass portal at www.nc.gov/services/ e-pass, and from there applications will need to be printed and mailed to the Johnston County Department of Social Services, Post Office Box 911, Smithfield, NC 27577; or placed in the outside drop box located at the Johnston County Department of Social Services at 714 North Street in Smithfield.

Office hours are 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call the Department of Social Services at 919-989-5300.

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 31

Benson’s mule sculpture has a name Submitted by TOWN OF BENSON

Benson’s Arts Advisory Board launched a campaign to name the town’s newly installed mule sculpture in early November. After one month and more than 150 submissions, this week the group decided on an official name — Mim. Admittedly, there were a lot of great choices and several names were suggested multiple times. Mim was suggested more than a few times by residents who must know a little bit about their town’s history as it has a connection to the beginnings of Benson.

Who Was Mim? The Town of Benson gets its name from early settler Alfred Monroe Benson — his friends and loved ones called him Mim. The town owes much of 32 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

its historical development to the railroad line that he helped to establish in 1886.

It made Benson a trade hub where many items were brought in and shipped out of town, and mules were one of those commodities. A year later, in 1887, the Town of Benson was incorporated and soon attracted a number of entrepreneurs wishing to take advantage of this new

town along an important transportation route.

Bearing that history in mind, the arts board decided Mim was a great fit.

The Town of Benson installed its mule sculpture on the pedestal at the intersection of Highways 27 and 50 in late September. Greenville artist Jonathan Bowling, aided by Benson Public Works and the Benson Police Department for brief traffic control, finished installing the statue just before this year’s Mule Days celebration.

Bowling is an accomplished sculptor — his commissioned works can be seen at the Public Sculpture Park in New Bern, the Secret Garden Gallery in Ocracoke, the Chowan Arts Council in Edenton and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News, Va. among several other locations around the nation.

His unique approach to sculpture utilizes scrap metal from old vehicles, farm equipment, discarded tools and structural components like steel rebar to form something new entirely. Taking a closer look at his latest piece for Benson, the complexity reveals itself. Wrenches for the mane and a welded chain for the tail while cogs, gears, steel supports, machinery panels and more make up the body of the animal.

This opportunity was made possible by the Johnston County Visitors Bureau through occupancy taxes collected from Benson hotels.

These funds are designated for marketing and the beautification of downtown Benson. Benson Arts Board projects are funded by these collections and no resident tax dollars contributed to the project.

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[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 33

Triangle East Chamber hosts

State of the Region

Submitted by TRIANGLE EAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2021 State of the Region, “Growing Greater Together,” recently. The event focused on the results of the 2020 census and the growth in Johnston County’s population since the 2010 census.

Triangle East community leaders were invited to share updates. Mayor Donald Rains of Princeton shared the increase in downtown occupancy and the current work being done to rectify flooding challenges. Mayor Cheryl Oliver of Selma shared the many new additions to downtown Selma, while stressing the importance of processes, technology and personnel to manage growth in

34 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

upcoming years.

Wendy Oldham, development compliance officer with Wilson’s Mills, reiterated the rapid growth evidenced in Wilson’s Mills by more than 3,300 incoming housing builds. Smithfield’s economic development director, Tim Kerrigan, shared the increase of industrial growth and jobs, along with the need for all towns to work together for future transportation plans. All town leaders were united in their emphasis on the importance of partnership between the towns and with the county to work together on behalf of the region’s future.

Johnston County Commissioner Patrick Harris also focused on the need for collaboration in the county. Harris’ update included how Johnston County has been active in moving infrastructural

projects forward, including the new detention center to be completed in 2022 and the public safety building expected to be completed in early 2023, the focus on growth efforts on existing municipalities along the I-95 corridor, and the nearly $1 billion in new investments throughout the county during the last 18-24 months.

With intentions to bring opportunities for employment within the county, a new director hired to oversee parks, open space, and greenways, and $5.5 million set aside to assist towns with drainage-related issues, Johnston County is working in a variety of ways to keep improving the quality of life for residents, Harris said.

Lee Worsley, executive director of the Triangle J Council of Governments, was the keynote speaker and focused

on numbers from the census. Johnston County was found to be the fastest growing county in North Carolina. While the state had a 9.5% population growth overall, Johnston County experienced a 27.9% increase.

The data from 2020 showed that growth is trending eastward in Johnston County, with larger growth in the unincorporated areas. Unlike much of the state, percentagewise growth in the number of children in Johnston County was faster than overall state adult growth. In Johnston County, the number of children under 18 grew by 8,926.

Along with the opportunities for economic development, Worsley emphasized the importance of getting an early start to prepare for the continuing

growth to get ahead of the challenges as it relates to infrastructure, technology, transportation, and even the opportunity to create age-friendly communities.

The unique perspective the census numbers has provided into current and future trends allows Johnston County to proactively shape communities as they grow, Worsley said.

“I would like to thank everyone for participating in our State of the Region event.

It is comforting to know that the leaders of the Triangle East region are preparing our communities for the challenges of our current and future growth,” said Mark McDonnell, chair of the chamber board of directors.

The entire State of the Region presentation can be found at www.

TriangleEastChamber.com.

WISHING YOU HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND LOTS OF LOCAL BUSINESS LOVE! WWW.DOWNTOWNSMITHFIELD.COM

[ JANUARY 2022 ] | 35

Comfort Shield

36 | [ JOHNSTON NOW ]

Add your organization’s events to the community calendar at www.JohnstonNow.com or email us at calendar@JohnstonNow.com.

For the full community calendar with hundreds of area events, visit www.JohnstonNow.com

CALENDAR of events

NAMI Support Groups and Classes

The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers free weekly support groups throughout Johnston County for both those who are in recovery with mental illness (NAMI Connection) and for their caregivers, loved ones and friends as well (NAMI Family Support). For more information on the support groups and educational classes of NAMI Johnston County, NC, visit www.namijcnc.net, email namijcnc@gmail.com or call 919-980-5277.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 6 p.m.

Smithfield Running Club Join the Smithfield Running Club each week to meet new people, get back in shape, train for races and explore the growing downtown area of Smithfield. For more information, find them on Facebook by searching for Smithfield Running Club or email smithfieldrunningclub@gmail.com.

Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 7 a.m.

Cleveland School Rotary Club Cleveland Draft House, Garner Cleveland School Rotary Club meets bi-weekly and serves the citizens of the 40/42 area of Johnston County and Garner.

Every Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Smithfield Kiwanis Club Meeting Golden Corral, Smithfield Come for dinner and learn about this volunteer service club with a focus on actively supporting children’s programs.

Learn about Smithfield and neighboring communities from weekly presenters. Community and social opportunities as well. Visit www.facebook.com/KiwanisClubOfSmithfieldNC to learn more.

Every Wednesday, 2 p.m.

Trivia Party Clayton Center for Active Aging Join the folks at Clayton Center for Active Aging with trivia each Wednesday at 2 p.m. Call 919-295-9163 to play. For more information, contact the center at 919-553-4350.

First and third Thursdays, 6:45 p.m.

Clayton Civitan Club meeting Clayton Civitan Building, McCullers St., Clayton Join the Clayton Civitan Club for its monthly meetings. Call 919-550-0694 for more information.

First and third Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

Fellowship Masonic Lodge #84 meeting Fellowship Masonic Lodge #84, S. Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield Fellowship Masonic Lodge #84 meets the first and third Thursday of each month. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., and visitors are welcome. The lodge will open at 7:30 p.m. For more information, email Grover Dees at gdees1@nc.rr.com.

First Tuesday, Noon

Clayton Visual Arts meeting The Clayton Center Clayton Visual Arts (CVA) is a nonprofit 501(3)c organization dedicated to bringing Art to Clayton. Its members are artists, educators and art lovers. CVA engages and promotes the visual arts and strives to emphasize quality, diversity and accessibility to all local artists. Please consider joining and help support the arts in Clayton. Monthly meetings are the first Tuesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. at The Clayton Center in the York Room on the second floor. They also host monthly artist receptions on the first or second Thursday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. at The Clayton Center. For more information, visit www.claytonvisualarts.org or contact CVA president, Bronwen Fullington at bronwen.fullington@gmail.com.

Second Monday, 6 p.m.

PACT meeting Virtual Meeting via Google Meet Parents of Adult Children in Transition meets the second Monday of each month. To learn more about this program which benefits families coping with special needs, contact Jeff Holland at hollandjeff@yahoo.com.

Second Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.

Clayton Rotary Mid-day Club Virtual meeting via Zoom This small group of service-minded individuals is very dedicated to community betterment in Clayton and Johnston County. Visit www.facebook.com/ClaytonMiddayRotary to learn more.

Johnston County Chapter of National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees meeting Golden Corral, Smithfield Join the Johnston County Chapter of National Association of Active and Retired Federal Employees for their monthly meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at Golden Corral.

Stay up to date on the latest educational programs and federal and state legislation affecting current federal employees and retirees. To learn more, email jimnow42@gmail.com.

First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.

Second Wednesday, noon

First and third Tuesdays, Noon

Smithfield Lions Club Mayflower Restaurant, Smithfield This group gathers for fellowship and business. The dinner is self-pay. The meeting and meal begins at 5:30 p.m.

Come learn about the club and how we help with local community service projects. For more information, contact Karen Brown at 919-934-2555.

The Woman’s Club of Clayton meeting Virtual via Zoom The Woman’s Club of Clayton (TWCC) is a nonprofit philanthropic organization made up of professional women who share a common goal: to work together to improve our local community, socially, physically, culturally and educationally. Please consider joining to help serve those in need of assistance. TWCC meets at noon the second Wednesday of each month (except June, July and August).

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Second Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Johnston County Writers Group Virtual meeting via Zoom Join a hard-working group of local writers and poets, beginner to advanced, who network, critique each other’s work, listen to guest authors and organize open mics and write-ins around the county. It’s free and open to the public. For more information, email facilitator Cindy Brookshire at jocowriters@gmail.com.

Every other Monday, 6 p.m.

Kiwanis Club of Clayton, N.C. Virtual meeting The Kiwanis Club of Clayton, N.C., serves the community with emphasis on school youth Kiwanis programs. It advises two local high school KEY (Kiwanis Educating Youth) clubs and one elementary school club and meets each month. Visit www. facebook.com/ClaytonKiwanis to learn more.

Third Monday, 7 p.m.

Vietnam Veterans of America Smithfield American Legion Post 132 The Smithfield Chapter 990 meeting of the Vietnam Veterans of America is every third Monday of the month at 7 p.m.

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Third Monday, 6:30 p.m.

Johnston County Beekeepers Association meeting Johnston County Ag Center The Johnston County Beekeepers Association serves beginner and experienced beekeepers with educational programs and experiences. We teach and encourage better apiculture methods and promote cooperation and sharing among beekeepers, homeowners and farmers. Our monthly meetings are free and open to everyone. For more information, visit www.jocobee.org or email JCBAPresident@jocobee.org.

Third Tuesday

Widowed Persons Fellowship Group Parkside Cafe, Pine Level The Widowed Persons Fellowship Group, Johnston County, cordially invites widowed males and females to join them at their monthly self-pay dinner meeting. There is no charge to join their group. Come and see what they’re all about. Call 919-965-3865 with any questions.

Third Tuesday

Johnston County African-American C aucus meeting The Johnston County African-American Caucus meets every third Tuesday of the

month. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting is a virtual one. Visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9216132965 to attend. The Meeting ID is 921 613 2965.

For more information, email aacjcdp.info@gmail.com.

Third Thursday

Johnston County Republican Women The Johnston County Republican Women (JCRW) meets on the third Thursday of each month (except in July and December). Our meeting location changes monthly. For more information email jcrwrocks@ gmail.com.

Fourth Monday, 6:30 p.m.

Disabled American Veterans meeting Smithfield DAV, Buffalo Road Smithfield Chapter 44 of the Disabled American Veterans meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Every Thursday, 6:45 a.m.

Clayton Rotary Morning Club Virtual meeting via Zoom Every Thursday morning, 70 service-minded people, representing all ages, genders and races meet. Learn more at www.claytonrotaryclub.org.

Every Thursday, 6:15 p.m.

Clayton Area Toastmasters meetings JCC Workforce Development Center Clayton Area Toastmasters is a public speaking club in affiliation with Toastmasters International. Meetings can also be offered via Zoom if requested by a member.

For more, visit www.claytontm.com.

First Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

Four Oaks American Legion meeting American Legion Building, Hwy. 301, Four Oaks All veterans are encouraged to attend the monthly meeting of Four Oaks American Legion Post 346 on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 8, 9 a.m.

Milltown Java Jog and Breakfast Milltown Java, Princeton Award-winning artist Gaylon Pope and Sweetwater with special guest Ivan Parker will bring a full night of entertainment.

Saturday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m.

Gaylon Pope and Sweetwater Rudy Theatre, Selma The Milltown Java Jog and breakfast is set for January 8, at 9 a.m. Sign up at www.runtheeast.com.

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