TARBORO —
For Edgecombe County folks eager to get into the holiday spirit, the home of Curtis and Melody Bearden off N.C. Highway 33 was the place to be Saturday evening.
The Beardens’ 10th annual Turning on the Lights event drew a crowd estimated at 1,200 people.
“This is definitely the biggest crowd we’ve had ever. We’ve overflowed our overflow parking lot,” said Curtis Bearden.
Monte Tippette of Rocky Mount entertained the crowd with “Christmas music to get everybody into the spirit,” including “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Christmas in Dixie.” His 10-year-old son Zory lent his vocals on one of the songs and Curtis Bearden provided accompaniment on the drums.
“Overwhelming and awesome” were the words Tippette used to describe the energy of the crowd that gathered around the stage, applauding and cheering.
The G.W. Carver Elementary School choir took the stage after Tippette’s performance, under the direction of Becky Johnson. Among the holiday tunes the fourth and fifth graders sang are “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Light the Candles Around the World.” The Beardens’ 9-year-old daughter Autumn is a member of the choir and extended the invitation. The Beardens wanted to make the house look special for night they brought their newborn daughter Autumn home from the hospital on Dec. 30, thus the first Turning on the Lights.
One of Autumn’s favorite parts of this year’s Turning on the Lights is a Santa Express train that rode children through the menagerie of lights. Children also had a chance to visit with Santa in a special gazebo Saturday evening and share their Christmas wishes with him.
Jaylen Davis, 8, asked Santa for some new games for his Wii. When asked about his favorite Christmas decoration, he pointed to the roof of the Beardens’ home and said, “the Grinch on the top of the house.”
For Davis’ mother, Brandy Davis, the best decoration is “all the lights around the water, especially the bridge.” A pond in the center of the path illuminated with numerous decorations adds to the effect of the lights, and icicles appear to hang down from a bridge dazzling with colored lights.
“It gets better and better every year,” Brandy said. She and her husband Kevin take their children to the Turning on the Lights every year.
“I love it. It’s for a good cause,” said Kevin.
The proceeds of this year’s Autumn Lights will go to 9-year-old Lucas Moore, who has neck injuries from a car accident and a long recovery period ahead of him. With tears in his eyes, Moore gave a hearty “thank you” to the crowd at the Turning on the Lights for their support.
Wayne Tamberelli, shepherd leader of Beacons of Light life group at Sunset Church of God, prayed a “prayer of protection over Lucas for his ordeal.”
“We know that He’ll be with Lucas on his long journey,” Tamberelli said. He also prayed a “prayer of Thanksgiving for Jesus’ coming at Christmas.”
For Tamberelli, the yearly show of support for a needy child at Christmas shows “people’s hearts are still turned towards God.” Tamberelli sought to remind people that Christmas isn’t just about holiday lights and shopping, it’s about the celebration of a “very, very important birthday” – the birth of the “Savior of the World.”
A face in the crowd who has experienced a miracle of God is Lt. Keith Hale On Jan. 1, 2011, his daughter Miranda went into cardiac arrest and suffered a brain injury. Doctors told Hale that his daughter would be a vegetable for the rest of her life, but today, she is thriving.
“With God’s will, here she is,” said Hale. Miranda, now 14, was the beneficiary of last year’s Turning on the Lights.
“It says so much for living in a small community,” said Hale. “The support you get is unreal. People don’t mind chipping in and helping out.”
Miranda said her favorite part of Saturday evening was the fireworks that lit up the sky, adding to the illumination of Autumn’s Christmas lights below. The lights will be on at the Beardens’ home every evening until Dec. 30. Admission is free, but the Beardens have a donation box for Moore at the entrance of their home.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Lucas Moore, 9, who broke his neck in a car accident, is the beneficiary of the donations from the 10th Annual Turning on the Lights party Saturday evening at the home of Curtis and Melody Bearden. He is pictured with his parents Johnny (left) and Lee-Ann Moore.
-
Beardens’ 10th annual lighting event draws largest crowd ever
- Local News
-
-
Two suspects arrested on 36 charges; third issued citation
After executing a search warrant Thursday on a residence at 500 W. Johnston St. in Tarboro, police officers arrested two suspects for possessing a small amount of marijuana and issued a third suspect a citation for possessing a glass pipe to smoke the drugs.
After the marijuana was found, officers notified two of the three suspects that they also had additional warrants on them from the department's "Spring Fling" drug campaign where they had sold marijuana to undercover officers. -
Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday
Want a leg up in a medical terminology course? Anatomy? Physical science? Take a look at Latin, perhaps the best grounding for all education.
Not convinced? Just ask Stephen Herring, instructor of religion, geography, and developmental studies at Edgecombe Community College (ECC). He will teach an Introductory Latin class beginning Tuesday. The class will meet at Fleming 218 on the Tarboro campus. -
NTSB wants to lower DWI blood alcohol levels
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a bold set of targeted interventions to put the United States on course to eliminate alcohol-impaired related crashes. They have given recommendations that call for stronger laws, swifter enforcement and expanded use of technology.
-
Measles cases have state health officials concerned
Twenty-three cases of the measles have been reported in North Carolina in a recent outbreak and has state health officials concerned.
“It (measles) is a highly contagious disease that is spread in the air by coughing and sneezing,” said Susan Rogerson, nursing director at the Edgecombe County Health Department. Outbreaks of measles in the United States are rare because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. -
County still looking for bids on 41 properties
While county commissioners have accepted bids on seven foreclosure properties, a total of 41 others remain available for interested parties to submit bids.
County Planning Director Brian Hassell said interested parties may submit bids for commissioners to consider. If a bid is approved and another party is interested, they may submit an upset bid. -
Scouts honor ‘Buddy’ Hooks
Try as he might, master of ceremonies Dave Sharpe was unable to talk someone into telling an unexpected story on Ellis “Buddy” Hooks as Hooks was recognized as the 2013 Edgecombe County Distinguished Citizen Award recipient by the Boy Scouts of America.
-
Sheriff's Department to host junior academy
The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department will be hosting a junior academy for students ages 13-18 years old. Sheriff James Knight believes that this is the most important times of a juvenile's life and wants them to learn about the criminal justice system.
-
Andrews assumes new position at ECPS Central Services
John Farrelly, Superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS), announced this week that Shawna Andrews has been named the Director of Middle Schools and Title I in the Educational Program Services Office at Central Services.
Andrews, who most recently served as the Director of Elementary Schools and Title I, began her tenure with ECPS in 1995 as a math and science teacher at C.B. Martin Middle School. Following her completion of a Master’s in School Administration, she served as an administrative intern at G.W. Bulluck Elementary, SouthWest Edgecombe High School and Tarboro High School before being named an assistant principal at Tarboro High School in 2003. -
Big ‘Happening’ set for Tarboro Saturday
At no time of the year is Tarboro’s Town Common more bustling with activity than the second Saturday in May. It’s that time of year again and the 43rd Annual Happening on the Common is set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
“I think we’ve got a good day coming up,” said Carol Banks, event coordinator for the Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council. “We’ve got record-breaking (number of) vendors. So far we’re up to 56.” -
Pinetops 300 kicks into gear this weekend
One of the biggest community events in the southern part of Edgecombe County – the Pinetops 300 – is set for Friday and Saturday at its usual spot – 309 School St. at the ballpark in Pinetops. The truck and tractor pull, South Edgecombe Rural Fire Department’s fundraiser of the year, is a longstanding tradition.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
