TARBORO —
“A pathway to learning” is the phrase George Anderson used to describe the wetlands trail at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). The 1,240-foot nature trail officially opened to the public Friday morning as part of the college’s 45th anniversary celebration.
“The college is committed to advancing sustainability and green practices and this trail represents a wetlands area that we have turned into a learning laboratory,” said Dr. Deborah Lamm, ECC’s president, at the trail’s grand opening. “A goal of this initiative is to improve the water quality entering the wetlands and to restore the natural habitat for plants and animals native to this area.”
Anderson, the college’s sustainability coordinator, said the biology program will use the trail as a hands-on learning tool to identify flora and fauna, study wildlife and test water quality. Beavers have built dams on the ponds surrounding the nature trail, creating what Anderson terms an “ecosystem” ripe for natural exploration.
Chris Knight, the college’s SGA president, said the SGA decided to support the wetlands project because “sustainability is important to us.”
“All the choices that we pursue and all the actions that we make today will affect everything in our future,” Knight said. “We look forward to seeing other students, faculty and staff here at the college supporting sustainability efforts.”
The SGA contributed about 33 percent of the funding for the project. Another partner for the project is the Rotary Club of Tarboro, contributing about 21 percent of the funding.
Chad Hinton, Rotary Club president, said that the trail fits in well with the Rotary International’s theme this year of “peace through service.”
“I think we’ve created a peaceful place here,” Hinton said. The Club became involved in the project during Lamm’s tenure as Club president. The Club plans to fund the building of foot bridges or walking platforms along the pond to increase the public’s access to the area in the future, Hinton said.
“The college’s hope is that everyone will be able to have access to this trail for the physical education, for the exercise opportunities, for the educational purposes and for any project venues that might be part of Boy Scouts or any of our classroom activities here at the college or in the public schools,” Lamm said.
With that said, Lamm cut the ribbon marking the entrance to the trail and the crowd eagerly began walking the trail for the first time. One of the outdoor enthusiasts in the group was Ginny McLendon, the college’s dean of enrollment management.
“I love being outside,” said McLendon. “Hopefully, it [the trail] will bring in community people who want to learn about nature.”
Community
Related Photos
-
Pictured from left to right: Chad Hinton, president of the Rotary Club of Tarboro, Chris Knight, president of Edgecombe Community College (ECC)'s Student Government Association, Dr. Deborah Lamm, ECC's president, and George Anderson, ECC's sustainability coordinator, cut the ribbon at the entrance of a wetlands trail on ECC's campus Friday morning. For The Daily Southerner
-
Pictured from left to right, front are Peggy Taylor and Tim Taylor, member of Edgecombe Community College's board of trustees. Pictured behind them, from left to right, are Ginny McLendon, dean of enrollment management at the college, and Tommy Anderson, the college's retired vice president of student services. They walked the wetlands trail on the college's campus for the first time Friday morning, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. For The Daily Southerner
ECC wetlands trail: ‘Pathway to learning’
- Community
-
-
WALTON EARNS SCHOLARSHIP
John Ronald Walton, a 2013 graduate of Edgecombe Early College High School and son of John and Lesa Walton, is presented a $2,000 scholarship check by Edgecomber County Farm Bureau Presidet Tom Proter. Walton is enrolled at NC State University for the fall semester.
-
Edgecombe County Public Schools announces 2013-2014 teachers of the year
Fourteen Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) teachers have been chosen as the teacher of the year for their schools. Now they will compete against one another to be named Edgecombe County Teacher of the Year.
-
Woodmen help Tarboro High School JROTC
Ruth Cherry, Trustee of Woodmen of the World, Tarboro Lodge 115, presents a check for $100 to Tarboro High School aerospace science instructor Senior Master Sgt. (ret) Steve Alderman. These funds will be used to help send Tarboro High School JROTC cadets to summer leadership school. This is one of Woodmen's outstanding fraternal projects.
-
State Employees’ Credit Union Members Award $10,000 Scholarship to Area High School Student!
Edgecombe County – State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members via the SECU Foundation, presented a $10,000 four-year college scholarship to Dawson Blaire Gould, a senior at SouthWest Edgecombe High School. Dawson is the daughter of Jeff and Pam Gould. This scholarship was awarded for study at Appalachian State University, part of North Carolina’s 16-campus University of North Carolina System.
-
Helpful Scouts
A Scout is helpful. Yes, it's true, evident in the work these young Scouts from the First Free Will Baptist Church Troop 816 performed for America in Bloom (AIB) Community Cleanup Day on Saturday. In spite of heavy spurts of rain, they collected litter along the railroad track from Albemarle Avenue, across Main Street all the way to Saint Andrew Street. Afterwards, they met Buddy Hooks at the south end of Main near the traffic circle and helped him complete two AIB projects that will complement the south entrance to town. By spreading mulch around the plantings at the Thorne Realty landscape and edging the walkway at the Quigless Clinic landscape where other colorful plants were installed. Cornelia McGee-Anthony, from the Nash-Edgecombe Keep America Beautiful provided gloves and trash bags for all the volunteers. Troop 816 Scouts participating in the effort included (left to right) Bryson Parker, Davonatte McDowell, Jessie Tyson, Wayne Davis (assistant scoutmaster), CJ Keel, Dean Wells (scoutmaster), Steven Davis, Garrett Parker, Allen Taylor.
-
Nonagenarian Tea Honors Six Tarboro Women
The Perry-Weston Historical Institute recognized and honored six community nonagenarians on Saturday, June 1, in the Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall.. They were Carrie Lawrence Bridgers (91), Magnolia Spencer Bryant (92), Irma Harrison DuBose (91), Lillie Mae White James (90), Bessie Brown Lawrence (91), and V. Dorothula Harrison Vines (92). Since 2004, citizens 90 years of age or older have been honored at the Perry-Weston Nonagenarian Tea. This is the fourth such event.
-
New senior leadership team in place at ECPS
The current school year is in its final days, and a new leadership team at Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) is gearing up for the upcoming school year.
The team of three leaders in the executive cabinet includes superintendent John Farrelly, who is wrapping up his first year as ECPS leader, associate superintendent Karen Dameron and Dr. Valerie Bridges. Bridges will begin her role as the assistant superintendent of the educational program services division on July 1. Bridges replaces Dr. Renee Franklin, who is transferring to Caswell County Schools as the superintendent. -
Dr. Sibyl E. Moses Featured Speaker
Dr. Sibyl E. Moses, was enthusiastically received as the featured speaker at the Nonagenarian Tea, sponsored by the Perry-Weston Institute on June 1 at Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall. Dr. Moses talked about “The History of the Afternoon Tea Within the African American Community.” In her research, she has identified more than 800 different kinds of afternoon teas.
-
Essie Ruth Richardson Humanitarian Award
The Perry-Weston Historical Institute presented the first Essie Ruth Humanitarian Award to the first recipients on June 1, as a part of the Nonagenarian Tea at Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall. The Essie Ruth Richardson Humanitarian Award has been established by the Perry-Weston Historical, Educational, and Cultural Institute to honor Ms. Richardson’s work, to preserve her memory, and, at the same time, to recognize outstanding members of our community.
-
Stocks Elementary buggy day
Stocks Elementary School first graders on Friday participated in fun insect-related activities at “Buggy Day.”
The day began with a lecture from Entomologist Bruce Panneton from Edgecombe Community College. Panneton discussed his study of insects with the students before they broke off into groups to learn more about bugs through exciting activities. - More Community Headlines
-
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
NYC 911 Call Lasts for 8 Hours
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
