Images Roanoke Valley, NC: 2009

BOUNTIFUL BEAKSWaterfowl park attracts

90,000 annual visitors

BOUNTIFUL BEAKSWaterfowl park attracts

l i i

Give My Regards to

LakelandTheater brings first-rate

live shows to Littleton

SPONSORED BY THE ROANOKE VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2009

IMAGESROANOKEVALLEY.COM THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

PHOTOSSee more community images from our prize-winning photographers.

FACTS & STATSFind schools, an interactive map, and important facts and fi gures.

VIDEOTour Sylvan Heights and see thewaterfowl in the video gallery.

ROANOKE VALLEY, NORTH CAROLINA

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

With one of the broadest ranges of listings in the Roanoke Valley and the expertise of a Heaton Real Estate Agent by your side, we can help you make your dream a reality.

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RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • RESORT • LANDOur Dedication And Experience Will Move You.

307 Long Circle•Roanoke Rapids,NC 27870 • 252.537.9873

[email protected]

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2009 EDITION | VOLUME 6


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O O O C O

ON THE COVER Photo by Todd BennettSylvan Heights Waterfowl Park

14 BOUNTIFUL BEAKSEnvironmentalism mixes with education and fun at Sylvan Heights.

16 HATS OFF TO HALIFAXVisit the historic town of Halifaxand be transported to the year 1776.

18 ON WITH THE SHOWSGreat entertainment is alwayson stage in the Roanoke Valley.

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

35 GIVE MY REGARDSTO LAKELANDCommunity theater brings fi rst-ratelive entertainment to Littleton.

41 A FINE KETTLEOF FISHStriper bass by the thousandsmigrate along the Roanoke River.

CONTENTS

FEATURES

ROANOKE VALLEY IMAGESROANOKEVALLEY.COM 5

What’s Online linOnlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnl

imagesroanokevalley.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

PHOTOS

FACTS & STATS

RELOCATION

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

LOCAL FLAVOR

Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

Go online to learn even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

JONES FENCE &CUSTOM VINYL, LLC

Custom Built Vinyl Fence & Vinyl Rails

Vinyl Screen Porch Enclosures

Decks

Vinyl Siding Replacement Windows

Chainlink, Decorative Aluminum

& Wood Fence

2012 Jackson Bypass Rd. Seaboard, NC 27876

(252) 534-1430Visit our Web site:

www.jonesfencecompany.com

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

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

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.

OUR FINE FEATHERED FRIENDS

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

6 IMAGESROANOKEVALLEY.COM ROANOKE VALLEY

MARYSHERWOODLAKELIVING

Creating Spaces for Living for Over 20 Years

326 Lizard Creek Rd.Littleton, NCLake Gaston252-586-2437www.marysherwood.com

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DEPARTMENTS

10 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Roanoke Valley culture

24 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Roanoke Valley

33 Education

37 Health & Wellness

43 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

45 Membership Directory

51 Business Guide

ROANOKE VALLEY BUSINESS 28 Economic Driver

The long-awaited North Carolina Center for Automotive Research will have a major impact on economic development here.

30 Biz Briefs

32 Chamber Report

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

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE


LIVE LINKSHot links allow users to quickly link to other sites

for additional information, and an ad index allows you to easily locate local advertisers in the magazine.

SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FINDAn easy-to-use search function allows you to fi nd specifi c articles or browse content by subject.

A VIRTUAL TOOLBELTTools 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 offl ine reading.

MORE OF THE SAMEAnd that’s a good thing. Inside, you’ll fi nd the same award-winning photography and compelling content as in the printed magazine.

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

LIVE LINKSHot links allow use

uickly link to otheor additional informati

and an ad index allows easily locate local adven the magazine.

LHq

Virtual Magazine

Turn the pages of our

imagesroanokevalley.com

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

Visit HistoricWELDON

“Rockfi sh Capital of the World”

Walk through Weldon’s National Register Historic District and see

the charming older homes and buildings along

Washington Avenue.

Explore the unique Highway 301

underground tunnel and see the newlypainted mural of

native river species.

Discover our rich history of the Wilmington and

Weldon Railroad, the Roanoke Canal Trail

and see the amazing Chockoyotte Creek Aqueduct.

Observe the beautiful Roanoke River where

kayakers enjoy the rapids and fi shermen come from

miles around to catch striped bass, locally known

as “Rockfi sh.”


Waterfront Properties at Lake Gaston1698 Eaton Ferry Rd. • Littleton, NC 27850(252) 586-7600 • Toll-free: (888) 586-8811

E-mail: [email protected] • www.peeteriverfarm.com

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

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

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) 532-4160E-mail: [email protected] • www.henriatlakegaston.com

Waterfront Properties at Lake Gaston1698 Eaton Ferry Rd. • Littleton, NC 27850(252) 586-7600 • Toll-free: (888) 586-8811E-mail: [email protected] • www.visitwaterfrontproperties.com

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 convenience to the cities of North Carolina and Virginia. From skis to sunsets, from fishing to festivals, this beautiful spot is the perfect place for your dream home. And take your choice from deep-water main-lake lots or intimate creekside lots that all 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.

Atwocospd

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

Roanoke Rapids

Fast Facts The average high

temperature in the Roanoke Valley is a comfortable 70 degrees.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Wow, Nice PowwowBring 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.

That’s Just DuckyOn 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.

Almanac


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

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

Lake Gaston …

… a Great Place to Live and Play

(800) 284-7774

MIKE GUPTONAssociate Broker/Realtor

[email protected](919) 496-8506

SANDRA SHEARINManaging Broker/Owner


LIZ NIELSENAssociate Broker/Realtor


SHERRY CARROLLAssociate Broker/Realtor


PAT CARROLLAssociate Broker/Realtor


HAROLD “HOGIE” HOGREFEAssociate Broker/Realtor


SUZANNE JOSEY PRINCEAssociate Broker/Realtor


Littleton

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Weldon

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Hobgood

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Roanoke Valley | At A GlancePOPULATION (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

LOCATIONThe Roanoke Valley is in northeastern

North Carolina, eight miles south of

the Virginia border and 150 miles

west of the Atlantic coast.

BEGINNINGSThe Roanoke Valley encompasses

Halifax County – formed in 1758 and

named for the Earl of Halifax – and

portions of Northampton County – formed

in 1743 and also named for an English earl.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONRoanoke 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

Nuts AboutTheir Festival

The Enfield Peanut Festival

features two days of fun each year.

The festival occurs in October

to celebrate the community’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.

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.

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


Almanac

BountifulBeaks


R oughly 2,500 birds on 18 acres in Scotland Neck have created a f lurry of interest and fun for this small com-

munity 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, con-tribute to the important work done by Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center. 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 develop-ment 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 f lamingo 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.

SYLVAN WATERFOWL PARK MIXES ENVIRONMENTALISM, EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

STORY BY PAUL HUGHES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

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.


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

STORY BY JESSICA MOZOPHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

Hats OffHalifaxto

HISTORIC HALIFAX HELPED PAVE THE WAY TO AMERICA’S INDEPENDENCE


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.

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.”


R 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 top-notch entertainment to the creation of new top-shelf venues. “There is some-thing great to do or see practically every evening, every day of the week, in state-of-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 per-formances including Fiddler on the Roof and Arsenic and Old Lace.

“We are able to encourage devel-opments 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

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 multi-purpose venue. Promoters work with Stewart and his staff to bring in come-dians, 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.

LIVE PERFORMANCES TAKE THE STAGES THROUGHOUT THE ROANOKE VALLEY

STORY BY PAUL HUGHES

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

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Shows With theOn


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


BARBECUE IS CLASSIC CUISINE IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY

The

SauceSecret the is in


C ooks in the Roanoke Valley know there is a secret to North Carolina-style 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 one-two 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 photo-graphs 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.

STORY BY PAUL HUGHES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

TASTY MENUS

Ralph’s Barbecue1400 Julian R Allsbrook HwyWeldon, NC 27890(252) 536-2102

The Bar-B-Que Stand900 Main StScotland Neck, NC 27874(252) 826-5711

Lynch’sBar-B-Q & Grill37674 NC Highway 561Hollister, NC 27844(252) 586-5069

Grandpa’s Kitchen149 East S. Main St.Littleton, NC 27850(252) 586-3211

BarbecueJoints

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

Enfield Aunt Ruby’s Peanuts are

processed at A&B Milling Co., and an annual Peanut Festival celebrates the crop.

Roanoke RapidsThe Roanoke Canal Museum

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

Hollister One of the largest

powwows on the East Coast is held each April.

LittletonLake Gaston offers a wide

variety of water activities.


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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.

HobgoodThe Cotton Festival

is a popular fall event.

WeldonThe Roanoke River is popular with

kayakers, canoeists and anglers.

The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center is home to about 170 spe cies of birds, including more than half of the world’s known species of ducks, geese and swans.

Scotland Neck


Kim 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.

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

Timeless Tea’s menu features traditional English fare.

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Portfolio

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

Ride the Rapids

By 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 experi-encing 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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Great Golf Is Here in Roanoke Valley

Golfers 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

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.

In 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 f lowing water-way that is perfect for beginning canoeists. Little Fishing Creek is con-sidered to be one of the cleanest streams in the state and teems with redbreast sunfish, bluegill, Roanoke bass, large-mouth 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 pro-grams 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 Hosts Outdoor Fun and Adventure

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

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Golf venues are plentiful in Roanoke Valley.


Portfolio

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Hobgood Methodist Church

For 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

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 sales-men,” 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.”

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

The Little Town That’s Good

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Economic

R&D FACILITY’S OPENING SPURS ADVANCE COLLABORATIONS,

PARTNERSHIPS IN REGION

Driver


Business

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-and-handling 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 educa-tional 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 educa-tional, 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 substan-tial 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, sustain-able, 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.

STORY BY JOE MORRIS

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

“I think we’ve proven so far,

even in the design stage, that

we can generate a lot of attention

from around the world.”


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

BUSINESS TAKES OFFAn 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 air-port’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

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

HOME-GROWN SUCCESSLocal 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 dis-tributed 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 pro-pel 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

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Business | Biz Briefs

dealers in the United States and Canada.Planned expansion of the facility

would nearly double the size of oper-ations, 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 GROWTHKapstone 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 CUSTOMERSAt 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

Building Brighter Futures for Our ChildrenSmart Start is a nonprofi t 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 fi nding 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: [email protected]

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

I spy something green.


Profi table PartnershipsCHAMBER’S OUTREACH EFFORTS CREATE POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT

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 work-force, 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

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

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


Business | Chamber Report

The line between two-year and four-year 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 oppor-tunities 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

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 busi-ness and social-science degree tracks. There are transferable general education courses provided to students at Eastern Carolina Christian College and teacher-preparation, 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 com-munity 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 every-one 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

Combining ForcesCOMMUNITY COLLEGES POOL RESOURCES TO FURTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

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


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Seeing 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 three-dimensional. 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.

“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

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

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

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Arts & Culture

W ith its new Cardiac & Vascular Center, as well as a team of cardiologists and

range of heart-related services and pro-cedures, 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 testa-ment 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 cathe-terization. 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 admin-istrators 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.

“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 oppor-tunities 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

You Gotta Have HeartCARDIAC CENTER GIVES HALIFAX REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND SERVICES

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


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The 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

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

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

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


Sports & Recreation

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 308Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

(252) 537-9137 • Fax: (252) 537-3064www.rrsd.org

ROANOKE VALLEY

SNAPSHOTHistoric 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.

HOUSING COSTS

$91,750Average 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.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

Halifax County SchoolsP.O. Box 468Halifax, North Carolina 27839(252) 583-5111

Roanoke Rapids City Schools536 Hamilton St.Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina 27870(252) 535-3111

Halifax Academy1400 Three Bridges Rd.Halifax, North Carolina 27870(252) 537-8527

Halifax Community College100 College Dr.Weldon, North Carolina 27890(252) 536-7242www.halifaxcc.edu

CLIMATE

3.7 in.Avg. Annual Precipitation

28 FJanuary Low Temperature

48 FJanuary High Temperature

68 FJuly Low Temperature

89 FJuly High Temperature

Get the facts:imagesroanokevalley.com

imagesroanokevalley.com

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

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MORE ONLINEanoke

ONE O OOOOOOOOO

Community Profile



Scotland Neck, NCAn Outdoor Paradise

Visit

(252) 826-3152www.townofscotlandneck.com

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.

Enjoy fi shing, hunting, boating, canoeing and camping along the

Roanoke River. The newly renovated boat access is just eight miles outside of town.

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.

Custom Home Builders

109 Long CircleRoanoke Rapids(252) 533-5970

Mitchell Wynne, Ownerwww.mitchellwynnebuilders.com

Roanoke Rapids GradedSchool District

(252) 519-7100 • www.rrgsd.org

536 Hamilton St. • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870


Navigating the Winds of Change

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

HALIFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS


Oldest Town inHalifax County

Affordable housing

Full-service town withreasonable utility rates

Quick & easy access toI-95, beaches, mountains,

lakes, hunting, fi shing & golf

Home of the annualEnfi eld Peanut Festival

Member of Tree City USA

Excellent retirementcommunity

For more information, contact us at (252) 445-3146

or visit our Web siteat www.enfi eldnc.org

Enfi eldNorth Carolina

F o u n d e d i n 1 7 4 0

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

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

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) 445-5178Toll-free:

(800) 338-9704

Serving Eastern North Carolina for 55 Years


POTENTIAL LOANS:

NCEMC Business Development Loan Fund

• Up to $400,000

• 7 years, 0% interest

USDA Rural Economic Development Loan

• Up to $450,000

• 10 years, 0% interest

ADDITIONAL SERVICES:

• Assistance with site and building identifi cation

• Energy audit services

• Assistance with market research

• Flexibility in rate design

• Power quality services

• Loan and grant assistance

• Demographic analysis

Touchstone Energy®

Electric Cooperatives …Paving the way to a brighter Halifax County

FOR MORE INFORMATION ONTHESE PROGRAMS, CONTACT:

Marshall CherryRoanoke Electric Cooperative

409 N. Main St.Rich Square, NC 27869(252) 539-2236www.roanokeelectric.com

Brady MartinHalifax Electric Membership Corporation

208 W. Whitfi eld St.Enfi eld, NC 27823(252) 445-5111www.halifaxemc.com


For rates or to schedule transportation,please call: (252) 539-2022

Hearing Impaired, call: (800) 735-2962

CHOANOKE PUBLICTRANSPORTATION

AUTHORITYRich Square, NC

For more informationabout CPTA, pleasevisit our Web site:

www.choanokepta.org

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 offi ces, 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.

• Check with your local human service agencies for transportation assistance programs that may be available to you.

• The general public may purchase books of passes. Call (252) 539-2022, ext. 222 for more information.

Serving Bertie, Halifax, Hertford and Northhampton Counties.


(252) 533-2800 • www.roanokerapidsnc.com

Feels like home

Roanoke RapidsRoanoke RapidsN O R T H C A R O L I N A


Mission Statement

“Charging Into Excellence”


NEW LOCATION

Northern Carolina

Orthopaedics, PLLC

GENERAL ORTHOPEDICS

SPORTS MEDICINE

ADULT RECONSTRUCTION/JOINT REPLACEMENT

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Complete OrthopedicCare in the

Roanoke Valley

Convenient hoursoffered Mon.-Fri.

We accept most health insurances.

171 Hwy. 125Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

(252) 537-5631Toll-free: (888) 406-4656

www.ncarortho.com


Becker Farms Properties llc

412 Quail Court Rd.Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870(252) 537-8415 tel(252) 537-9509 fax

Offering One-, Two- and Three-Bedroom Apartments

Visit our showroom for a

wide selection of

Heaters • Gas Logs • Grills

Ranges • Water Heaters

“THE ONLY PROPANE GAS COMPANY OF CHOICE IN ROANOKE RAPIDS, HALIFAX,

WARREN AND NORTH HAMPTON COUNTIES”

Where ... “Service is our most important product”

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL • AGRICULTURAL

WWW.DAUGHTRIDGEENERGY.COM

1423 E. 10TH ST. • ROANOKE RAPIDS

252 5330101 611 MAIN ST. • SCOTLAND NECK

252 8264131

Ad Index 34 AAACArolinAs

52 BeCkerFArms

ProPertiesllC

27 CArPetone

48 ChoAnokePuBliC

trAnsPortAtion

Authority

49 CityoFroAnokerAPids

38 CrossCreek

FAmilydentistry

52 dAughtridgegAs

&oilComPAny

52 dominion

resourCesserviCes

39 eAglehome

mediCAlCorPorAtion

52 FirstCitizensBAnk

2 hAliFAxCounty

Businesshorizons

4 hAliFAxCounty

Convention&

visitorsBureAu

45 hAliFAxCountysChools

36 hAliFAxregionAl

mediCAlCenter

31 hAliFAx/WArren

smArtstArt

1 heAtonreAlestAte

Ad Index (cont.) 46 hinesequiPmentComPAny

10 holidAy innexPress

6 JonesFenCe&Custom vinylllC

C2 kAPstonePAPer &PACkAging

7 mArysherWood lAkeliving inC .

38 midAtlAntiC eyePhysiCiAns

44 mitChell WynneBuilders

51 northern CArolinAorthoPediCs

42 reser’sFineFoods

45 rightmyermAChine rentAls inC .

47 roAnoke eleCtriCCooPerAtive

44 roAnokerAPidsgrAded sChooldistriCt

43 roAnokerAPids sAnitArydistriCt

40 rurAlheAlthgrouP

40 seCuresolutions inC .

39 smithChurChoBstetriCs &gyneCology

12 southshorereAlty

34 stonehouse timBerlodge

46 toWnoFenField

44 toWnoFsCotlAndneCk

8 toWnoFWeldon

40 tWinmAgnoliAsBed &BreAkFAst

46 WAl-mArt

C4 WAterFrontProPerties

50 WeldonCitysChools

25 WilkiereAlestAte inC .

ROANOKE VALLEYMANAGING 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 MCCORD

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

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN

OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM

RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D 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 questionsor comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce

260 Premier Blvd. • Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870Phone: (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 Custom Publishing Council

Member Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce

TM


AAA Carolinaswww.aaa.com

Becker Farms Properties LLC

Carpet Onewww.stonebyjones.com

Choanoke PublicTransportation Authoritywww.choanokepta.org

City of Roanoke Rapidswww.roanokerapidsnc.com

Cross Creek Family Dentistrywww.crosscreekfamilydentistry.com

Daughtridge Gas & Oil Companywww.daughtridgeenergy.com

Dominion Resources Serviceswww.dom.com

Eagle Home Medical Corporationwww.eagle-home-medical.com

First Citizens Bankwww.fi rstcitizens.com

First Med Alertwww.fi rstmedalert.com

Halifax County Business Horizonswww.halifaxdevelopment.com

Halifax County Convention& Visitors Bureauwww.visithalifax.com

Halifax County Schoolswww.halifax.k12.nc.us

Halifax Regional Medical Centerwww.halifaxmedicalcenter.org

Halifax/Warren Smart Startwww.hwss.org

Heaton Real Estatewww.heatonrealestate.com

Hines Equipment Companywww.hinesequipment.net

Holiday Inn Expresswww.hiexpress.com/roanokerapids

Jones Fence & Custom Vinyl LLCwww.jonesfencecompany.com

Kapstone Paper & Packagingwww.kapstonepaper.com

Mary Sherwood Lake Living Inc.www.marysherwood.com

Mid Atlantic Eye Physicianswww.midatlanticeye.net

Mitchell Wynne Builderswww.mitchellwynnebuilders.com

Northern Carolina Orthopedicswww.ncarortho.com

Reser’s Fine Foodswww.resers.com

Rightmyer Machine Rentals Inc.www.rightmyer.com

Roanoke Electric Cooperativewww.roanokeelectric.com

Roanoke Rapids Graded School Districtwww.rrgsd.org

Roanoke Rapids Sanitary Districtwww.rrsd.org

Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commercewww.rvchamber.com

Rural Health Groupwww.rhgnc.org

Secure Solutions Inc.

Smith Church Obstetrics & Gynecology

South Shore Realtywww.southshorerealtyssr.com

Stonehouse Timber Lodgewww.lakegastonfun.com

Town of Enfi eldwww.enfi eldnc.org

Town of Scotland Neckwww.townofscotlandneck.com

Town of Weldonwww.historicweldonnc.com

Twin Magnolias Bed & Breakfastwww.angelfi re.com/biz/twinmagnolias

Wal-Martwww.walmart.com

Waterfront Propertieswww.waterfrontpropertieswp.com

Weldon City Schoolshttp://district.weldoncityschools.org

Wilkie Real Estate Inc.www.wilkierealestate.com

Visit Our Advertisers

WelcomeH O M E

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: [email protected] • www.BuildersAtLakeGaston.com

Waterfront Properties at Lake Gaston1698 Eaton Ferry Rd. • Littleton, NC 27850

Toll-free: (888) 586-8811 • Cell: (252) 532-4160www.HenriAtLakeGaston.com • www.HubquarterLanding.com

Not just premier living space in elegantly designed 2,800 to 3,200 square-foot uniquely designed townhomes, but so much more …

Including a waterfront location that’s super convenient to I-85 and I-95, and only two hours from Richmond and Raleigh-Durham.

Plus great amenities like walking and golf cart trails, pool and bath house, deeded boat slips and a future clubhouse all along the shores of beautiful 20,000+ acre Lake Gaston.

And your choice from four unique homestyle designs, each 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 she has all the details on this beautiful, affordable opportunity.

Also visit www.HubquarterLanding.com for more information.

Luxury Lakefront Living – Hubquarter Landing’s Gated Townhome Community Has It All!

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Images Roanoke Valley, NC: 2009