TARBORO —
Making Tarboro a better community was the topic of an America in Bloom (AIB) organizational meeting Thursday evening. This is the second year of AIB competition for the community.
“Our only goal is to make communities better,” said AIB head judge Jack Clasen during the meeting at Calvary Church Parish House. AIB is a non-profit organization that promotes “nationwide beautification through education and community involvement.” After 11 years of judging towns for AIB, Clasen can get a sense of what he calls the “essence” of a town in just a couple of days.
“I think Tarboro’s a great town. You’ve got a great future ahead of you,” said Clasen.
In the September AIB competition, Tarboro was nominated for three awards — landscaped areas, old town cemetery on Saint James Street and best community garden, the Saint David Street vegetable garden.
“Just to be nominated is absolutely terrific,” Clasen said.
Candis Owens coordinated Tarboro’s first AIB competition.
“It’s been a wonderful ride. It’s been a learning experience,” Owens said. Her hope is that AIB will help draw the attention of town residents to Tarboro’s assets.
“We have a wonderful community. We just see it all the time and we just take it for granted,” Owens said.
Tarboro and Charlotte are the only North Carolina communities to have competed in AIB, which has drawn approximately 200 from 40 states since its founding in 2001. Towns compete against other towns in their population category.
Tarboro’s AIB participation also brought out-of-town attention to the community, as representatives of a number of Eastern North Carolina communities were invited to attend the organizational meeting. Brian Roth, mayor of Plymouth, attended and gleaned ideas about bringing a delegation to next year’s competition, set for September in Orlando.
“Tarboro’s a beautiful community already, but all communities can do better,” Roth said, noting he is particularly impressed with the historic and business districts. “This is an opportunity to take a look at all segments of the community and see what areas of the community need a little more attention so all areas can sparkle and pop.”
Clasen’s advice to Tarboro was to come up with a strategy for next year’s competition. The only question that remained was whether or not Tarboro wanted to commit to entering the upcoming competition.
“I think with the support of the city council, we’d be foolish not to pursue it,” Owen said. By a show of hands, the decision was unanimous. Owen, a member of the town council, had garnered support for the project from other community leaders at the recently held council retreat.
“What we do for ourselves [as a town] will be the prize,” said Buddy Hooks, one of the tour guides for the AIB judges last year.
Each AIB community is judged in six categories – floral displays, urban forestry, environmental efforts, heritage preservation and overall impression. Tarboro received its best scores in landscaped areas (102 out of 175 points) and heritage preservation (93 out of 175 points). An area in need of improvement is urban forestry, where Tarboro received 66 out of 175 points. Another area Clasen mentioned that needs improvement is youth involvement.
“I’d like to see us really work on our youth programs next year,” Owens said.
Several positive things have resulted from the AIB competition, said Owens. Town manager Alan Thornton is considering the formation of a town appearance committee as well as Tarboro’s potential involvement in Tree City USA, which recognizes unique trees in the community. Additionally, the competition drew attention to the broken benches at the Blount-Bridgers House, which are in the process of being cleaned and re-conditioned, Owens said.
Owens’ goal is to form a steering committee of 15 active community members to begin working on strategies for the upcoming competition.
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Tarboro begins prepping for America In Bloom
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Here is your chance to celebrate your graduate’s Special Day by announcing their graduation in our Congratulation Page.
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
The announcements will appear in The Daily Southerner on June 7, 2013.
Deadline for placing announcements will be Tuesday, June 4th by 5:00pm.
All ads must be pre-paid. Information can be dropped off at our office 504 W. Wilson Street, Tarboro or call 823-3106. - Law enforcement urges teen drivers to drive safely during holiday
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
- Local News
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Gas prices in Tarboro lower than state average
With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, travelers on U.S. 64 exiting into Tarboro could discover some of the cheapest gas in North Carolina.
On Wednesday, Murphy Express reported the cheapest gas at $3.35 while Hadi's, Raceway and Hess prices were one cent higher. - Tar River United Way recognizes ‘community champions’
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Gas prices in Tarboro lower than state average
- Sports
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14-Under softball tryout
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be having tryouts for 14-under girls fast-pitch softball Wednesday, May 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Farmington Park in Rocky Mount. The is located at 319 Wellington Dr. There will also be a tryout Thursday, May 30 at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field 1 in Tarboro from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee for Tarboro residents and a $35 fee for non-residents. For more information call the sports complex at 641-4202, Kathy Webb 252-813-4697 or Jamie Lindsey 252-883-0883 or sftbllgrlunc@hotmail.com.
- Thorne tabbed Regional Player of the Year
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14-Under softball tryout
- Opinion
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
- Lifestyles
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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- Obituaries Archives
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
PRINCEVILLE — Curtis Lee Davis, 60, died Sunday, May 19, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (2225 N.C. Hwy 97 East) with burial in the Morning Family Cemetery.
Arrangements under direction of Dickens Funeral Service. - IRENE EVANS
- SHIRLEY A. GOLDSTON
- JOHNNY LEE LAWRENCE
- CECILIA AMANDA PUDDY
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
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Great fondue
My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
Fondue began as a way to use up old, hardened cheese. The original fondue was cheese with wine. You then dipped hardened pieces of bread into the mixture. In America, the 1950's was the height of the fondue craze. However, it appears to be making a comeback. - Budget Friendly Deliciousness
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- Events
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Edgecombe Events May 24
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events May 24
- Our Community
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Edgecombe Garden Club honors members
The Edgecombe Garden Club met May 1 for their noon luncheon at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Pauline Nicolosi greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner, Devotion Chairman, read “Torch” which was about our tongues torching good or evil.
Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements. They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum. - DAR AWARDS
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