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May 12 • 10 a.m.-6p.m. Poplar Grove Plantation
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Volume 48, No.31
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Celebrating 40 years of Spring Fest Proposed budget presented to BOC Increased school funding, no increase in tax rate By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
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Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew
Pender County Spring Fest turned 40 this year with a beautiful Saturday celebration on the Courthouse Square. See more photos of this year’s Spring Fest, including photos of this year’s Cow Chip Tossing contest on Facebook and page 4B.
N.C Wildflower Festival this weekend in Rocky Point By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer
The first N.C. Wildflower Festival is coming May 12 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and May 13 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Old Homestead Farms in Rocky Point. The Pender County festival will feature a free art competition for students, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Rocky Point Elementary School. Since the family event will take place on Mother’s Day weekend, free admission will be offered to all moms. “We are excited as the festival is getting closer, and we are hearing great feedback from the community,� said N.C. Wildflower Communication Director Corinne Crooks. “We hope this competition will be an opportunity for students to cultivate an appreciation for art and celebrate their passions!� The art competition is free to all k-12 students. One entry per student will be allowed. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for each grade cluster which will include: k-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. All entries should
reflect the wildflower theme and be as creative as possible. Entries should have been submitted by May 5. Crooks said that every aspect of the competition has been designed to motivate students to get excited about art. The careful selection of judges, the manner in which entries will be presented at the N.C. Wildflower Festival, and the prizes to be awarded all reflect the enthusiasm of those planning the event. The competition is free to enter, and the festival will not directly profit from the event. Crooks, who formerly taught at Rocky
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Pender County Manager Randall Woodruff presented the 2018-19 proposed county budget to the Board of Commissioners Monday. The new budget comes in at more than $63.5 million, and includes increased funding for schools and holds the current property tax rate. Commissioners will continue budget work this month with two work sessions scheduled. The new budget will be approved in June and take effect July 1 with the beginning of the new fiscal year. “The budget is balanced with no tax increase. There is no solid waste fee increase and no EMS tax increase,� Woodruff said. “There is no reduced level of service to the public in this budget.� Woodruff said there are increases in service to county residents that commissioners have been interested in providing. “This budget includes a significant increase in funding for the Board of Education that is needed for the new schools,� said Woodruff. “It also does some things for our county staff and employees to benefit them.� The proposed budget is a beginning document for Commissioners to work with, and some changes can be expected
over the next several weeks as the Board looks closely at the budget. Commissioner David Piepmeyer asked Woodruff how the county was able to increase the budget without raising taxes. “Pender County is fortunate to be a part of a regional economy. We know our region is growing. Growth brings challenges, but it also enables our tax base to grow,� Woodruff said. “We have experienced significant growth in our tax base during the past three to four years. Some eastern North Carolina counties don’t experience the growth in five years that we have in one.� New construction and new
Continued on page 2A
Pender County to host 2019 Mountains-To-Sea Trail Conference
Point Elementary, said that her goal is to support art in the community. Prizes for the event have been donated by Chickfil-A, and each contestant will receive a coupon for a free meal. Defy Gravity, Jungle Rapids, Burberry Frozen Yogurt and Michaels have all donated prizes, as well. Judges will include Steve Goione, From Staff Reports a local marine wildlife artist; Rochelle Friends of the MountainsWhiteside, school board member; and a to-Sea Trail announced at the representative fromPush WWAYMowers Good Morn-• Lawn PenderTractors County Commission• Zero ing Carolina. ers meeting&onChainsaws Monday, May Trimmers “The N.C. Wildflower Festival is 7 that Surf City and Pender at Old Homestead Far m in Rocky County will host its Gathering Point, which is only 15 minutes from of Friends, Mar. 22-24, 2019. Wilmington. The festival will showcase The Gathering is the anthe best festival food and drink vendors, nual membership meeting and arts and craft vendors, giant inflatables, weekend of excursions for the helicopter rides, local live entertainFriends group that supports ment and more. Admission to the the 1175-mile Mountains-tofestival is free for moms and children Sea Trail. The weekend will 10 and under and only $3 for everyone bring hundreds of visitors else. A portion of the proceeds will be from across North Carolina donated to Rocky Point Elementary to the area. School. Come join us for a festival that The conference will kick is sure to be a hit for the whole family,â€? off with a Friends’ dinner Friday, Mar. 22 at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue Continued on page 12A
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and Rehabilitation Center. A member meeting will occur on Saturday at the Surf City Community Center. Throughout the weekend, guided hikes and excursions will showcase the natural beauty and special places along the route of the
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