Planning for the future … in the town and the parks

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March 4, 2013

Planning for the future … in the town and the parks

THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Staff reporter The Daily Southerner Mon Mar 04, 2013, 10:00 AM EST

TARBORO — (This is the fifth in a series on the challenges facing the Town of Tarboro as the 2013-2014 budget process gets under way. Today: Planning for the future … in the town and at the parks.)

Two municipal departments — one of the town’s most visible and another among the least have some of the most community interaction.

Parks and Recreation is responsible for the day-to-day operation of Braswell Center and park, Ray Center and Clark Park and swimming pool, E. L. Roberson Senior Center, Indian Lake Park and Sports Complex and the Community Swimming Pool.

As such, there are multiple opportunities to interact with the community on a daily basis, yet Director Cheryl Gay and staff is challenged to increase use of the facilities — especially at the Ray Center and Clark Park.

Just as with other departments, parks and rec faces the challenge of getting the job done with aging — and often, deteriorating assets.

Gay is faced with roof issues at the Roberson Center, where the original roof remains, as well as the need to replace the gym floor at Braswell.

A community forum was recently held to ascertain methods of increasing participation at Ray Center and the park and pool, and it was quickly determined that the cost of activities often played a role in the rise or fall of attendance,

Gay told council members her objectives were to increase and improve marketing and publicity of all programs and facilities, to increase participation across the board, to enhance and expand the volunteer program and to provide high quality facilities and programs for the community.

The second of the two departments, Planning, is not as visible as Parks and Recreation, but is the department that, through its day-to-day functions, has the opportunity to monitor the economic wellbeing of the community.

And at first glance, the economics of 2011-2012 were much improved over he prior year.

At the town’s recent budget planning retreat, Planning Director Josh Edmondson provided statistics that showed there were 56 more permits (of all types) issued in 2011-2012 than he prior year, but that the valuation (building only) of those permits was nearly $28 million — nearly four times the total of 2010-2011.

Those 519 permits averaged $53,415 in value compared to 463 permits a $15,766 the previous year.

Revenue from the permits to the town more than doubled — from $31,183 to $79,318.

Edmondson’s department also enforces codes and ordinances, handling 13 minimum housing complaints and more than 100 complaints regarding junk vehicles.

Edmondson old council members that within the next few months, updating of the town’s hazard mitigation plan would begin and that the local plan would be replaced by a regional plan that encompasses Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties.

The Upper Coastal Plains Council of Governments will prepare the plan under contract and will involve all local governments in the process.

He also told council that two grants were still pending with he department of commerce — Talent Enhancement and Catalyst Housing.

Council members also learned that offers had been submitted on six of 11 town-owned properties up for sale and that the total offers amounted to $17,600 at the time.

(COMING WEDNESDAY: Economic development and the marketing of Tarboro.)

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Here is your chance to celebrate your graduate’s Special Day by announcing their graduation in our Congratulation Page.

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.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
Early college seniors graduate
Law enforcement urges teen drivers to drive safely during holiday

Local News

Dr. Deborah Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College, received the national ACT Career Preparedness Award on behalf of the college Tuesday. Shown from left to right are Dr. Jon Whitmore, ACT CEO; Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president; Sid Baker, education program specialist, NC Office of the State Superintendent; Dr. Lamm; and Virginia Edwards; editor-in-chief, Education Week.

Edgecombe Community College receives national award
Edgecombe Community College (ECC) received a national award Tuesday night for its efforts to prepare students to be successful in careers and the workplace.
Edgecombe was among four honorees that received national awards in Washington, D.C., during a gala that concluded ACT’s inaugural College and Career Readiness Campaign.

May 24, 2013 1 Photo
County gospel choir to celebrate 20th anniversary

Sports

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.

May 24, 2013
Thorne tabbed Regional Player of the Year

Opinion

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.

May 20, 2013

Lifestyles

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.

May 13, 2013 1 Photo

Obituaries Archives

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.

May 24, 2013
IRENE EVANS
SHIRLEY A. GOLDSTON
JOHNNY LEE LAWRENCE
CECILIA AMANDA PUDDY

Food

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.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Budget Friendly Deliciousness
Barbeque Bests
Coffee isn't just a drink

Events

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.

May 24, 2013

Our Community

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.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
DAR AWARDS

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Planning for the future … in the town and the parks

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