images rocky mount, nc: 2009-10

Home Economics

Rocky Mount real estate holds steady despite national statistics

THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDSPark and eco-center preserves waterfowl

A RUN FOR YOUR MONEYResidents pound the pavement to help charities

Video tour of the Veterans

Memorial

What’s Online

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SPONSORED BY THE ROCKY MOUNT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA

2009-10 | IMAGESROCKYMOUNT.COM

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PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINEON THE COVER Photo by Todd Bennett Rocky Mount train station

DEPARTMENTS

6 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Rocky Mount’s culture

27 Local Flavor

28 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Rocky Mount

40 Education

45 Health & Wellness

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

CONTENTS

FEATURES

10 THE DARK CONTINENTMuseum hosts compelling exhibit on African history and culture.

14 FOR THOSE WHO BRAVELY SERVEDVeterans Memorial honors members of the armed forces.

18 THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDSEco-center preserves endangered waterfowl from around the world.

22 HOME ECONOMICSRocky Mount real estate holds steady despite national statistics.

41 A RUN FOR YOUR MONEYResidents pound the pavement to help charities in Rocky Mount.

46 A HARD ACT TO FOLLOWThe city’s performance venues entertain audiences year-round.

ROCKY MOUNT BUSINESS 32 Mobile Kitchen Puts

Meals on WheelsBabington burner is key to safer, faster cooking.

36 Biz Briefs

38 Chamber Report

39 Economic Profi le

®


2009-10 EDITION | VOLUME 10

anniversaryissue

10th

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Raymond Baule, MD

The Nash/Rocky Mount Spine Center

Atlantic Neurosurgery

www.atlanticneurosurg.com

Providing Comprehensive

Treatment of:

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ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

LOCAL FLAVOR

Go online to learn

even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

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

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.

From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.

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

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

SENIOR EDITOR SUSAN CHAPPELL

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS RENEE ELDER,

LAURA HILL, KATHRYN ROYSTER

DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW

INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER RUTH MARTINEAU

SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS,

TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER,

IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER

PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS

MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,

KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER JANINE MARYLAND

GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER,

JESSICA MANNER, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER

WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA

WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD

WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ

WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ

WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN

AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR,

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./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS

V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM

MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN

MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,

MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS

RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS

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 Rocky Mount is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through

the Rocky Mount Area 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:Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce

100 Coast Line St., 2nd Floor Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Phone: (252) 446-0323 • Fax: (252) 446-5103 www.rockymountchamber.org

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imagesrockymount.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE




What’s Cooking?It’s 5 o’clock, the kids are hungry and you are staring at the pantry.

Sound familiar?

Perhaps you need a secret ingredient. Maybe what you need is

My Secret Ingredient.

Chef Laura Gorham’s company offers personal chef services that

include planning your menus, shopping for groceries, preparing your

meals and packaging them for your convenience.

Full custom meal service costs approximately $200 to $275 a

week, depending on the number of entrees and servings. In addition,

Gorham also offers prep chef service (planning, shopping and

chopping – then you cook) and custom cooking classes. For

more information, visit www.mysecretingredient.net.

The Heart of the City

Things are looking up

for downtown Rocky Mount.

As part of a $5 million

streetscape project, the city’s

downtown area will be getting

new sidewalks‚ park benches‚

streetlights and more. Other

changes include improving

traffic patterns for motorists

and pedestrians, and revitalizing

a 10-block area that is home to

several historic buildings.

The renovations and push

for even more investments show

just how far Rocky Mount has

rebounded since the 1999 flood

that destroyed 25 percent of the

city’s buildings.

If It Ain’t Got That SwingThere’s music in the air in Rocky Mount, thanks to the

Tar River Orchestra and Chorus.Since 1986, the musical organization has grown to include

a professional orchestra, adult chorus, children’s chorus, youth strings program, symphonic band and a swing band.

The orchestra draws on the talent of musicians from nearby cities and towns, as well as colleges such as North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount and East Carolina University in Greenville.

The group is committed to musical education, too, introducing schoolchildren to live orchestral music through a variety of outreach programs.


Almanac

Going Green, Going Strong

The “green” craze is sweeping the nation on

all fronts, including the building industry. In fact,

Charles Mullen, owner of Mullen & Co. construction

company, was one of the first building contractors

in eastern North Carolina to earn the Certified

Green Professional Designation issued by the

National Association of Home Builders.

In addition, QVC’s distribution center in

Rocky Mount stands as one of the state’s

largest renewable energy initiatives to date

and illustrates the company’s commitment

to conservation and projects that have

a low environmental impact.

Fast Facts Rocky Mount has the

distinction of having twice been named an All-American City by the National Civic League, first in 1969 and again in 1999.

If you like barbecue, don’t miss the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down, a part of the Down East Festival of the Arts, which takes place the second Friday and Saturday in October.

The “Twin Counties” region comprises Nash and Edgecombe counties and has a population of nearly 150,000. Rocky Mount is the largest municipality in the region.

The Rocky Mount train station is part of the city’s historic district.

The Farmers Market, in Rocky Mount’s Historic Mill District, is open on Fridays and Saturdays from April through November.

Listen UpIf you enjoy Morning Edition or

A Prairie Home Companion, you

must be listening to WRQM-FM.

The public radio station became a

part of North Carolina Public Radio® –

WUNC based in Chapel Hill in 2000.

North Carolina Public Radio

consists of three stations: WUNC-FM,

broadcasting from Chapel Hill;

WUND-FM from Manteo; and

WRQM-FM from Rocky Mount.

Besides the many popular NPR

programs, the station broadcasts

folk/acoustic music.

A Healthy DiagnosisIt’s comforting to know that comprehensive health-care services are in your

own backyard.

Heritage Hospital, an affiliate of University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina,

is a full-service, 117-bed acute-care facility in Tarboro.

The medical center offers a roster of facilities and special programs, including

a critical care unit, Level III intermediate care nursery, cancer center, pain

management clinic, 24-hour emergency department, rehabilitation therapy,

orthopedic and same-day surgery services.


For Immediate Application, 2009-2010:

(252) 443-9923

www.rockymountprep.org

www.rockymountprep.org

POPULATION (2009 ESTIMATE) 61,000

LOCATIONRocky Mount, in the state’s heartland

region, intersects I-95 and U.S. 64. That

intersection claims the No. 1 traffic count

along the I-95 corridor in North Carolina.

BEGINNINGSEuropean settlers first arrived in Rocky

Mount in 1712 after years of battling the

Tuscarora Indians, but the town wasn’t

formally established for another 155 years.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONRocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce100 Coast Line St., 2nd FloorRocky Mount, NC 27804Phone: (252) 446-0323Fax: (252) 446-5103www.rockymountchamber.org

Rocky Mount At A Glance

What’s Online eTake a virtual tour of Rocky Mount, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesrockymount.com.

EDGECOMBE

NASH

Nashville

Dortches

Whitakers

Sharpsburg

Rocky Mount

42

58

43

301

258

64

64

95

TarboroTo Raleighheighh

Get in the GameLike baseball? How about hoops?

Then, look no further than the

Rocky Mount Sports Complex,

where you are sure to find like-

minded sports aficionados.

A division of the city of Rocky

Mount Parks & Recreation

Department, the 143-acre complex,

located off U.S. Highway 64 on

Independence Drive, hosts parks and

recreation league games, as well as a

full slate of regional, state and national

sporting events.

Future plans call for soccer and

football fields, walking trails, a

baseball training facility, sand

volleyball courts, several lakes for

recreational fishing and a family fun

center equipped with a playground,

sprayground and picnic shelters.


Almanac


www.rockymountchamber.org

10 IMAGESROCK YMOUNT.COM ROCK Y MOUNT 10 IMAGESROCK YMOUNT.COM ROCK Y MOUNT

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

Y ou walk into the market square and immediately see three different-sized sets of footprints on the ground. They represent the footprints of a man, woman and child.

You step into your appropriate footprints, and suddenly you have become a slave at a public auction.

That is just one of many powerful displays that is part of Inside Africa, an exhibit on view at the Children’s Museum & Science Center, located inside the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences. The Inside Africa show began in January 2009, and will continue through the year.

“I first saw this several years ago in St. Louis and fell in love with every aspect of it,” says Candy Madrid, director of the Children’s Museum & Science Center. “It is now making its debut in North Carolina, and our museum is an ideal

facility to house an exhibit of this scope, size and excellence.”Madrid says it is difficult for any exhibit to cover all of

Africa because it is such a huge continent, so this show concentrates on Saharan Africa.

“I love the entire display because I am an anthropologist, and we are scientists who try to study everything about the human animal,” she says. “This show includes flora and fauna, animals, landscapes and geography, but also focuses on the people – their traditions, art and music.”

Inside Africa also tackles difficult topics such as slavery and human rights.

“For example, visitors will walk through a re-creation of a slave ship and see tiny portals that the people were literally stuffed into,” Madrid says. “They were forced to stay in these tiny enclosures during their entire transatlantic voyage, and

MUSEUM HOSTS COMPELLING EXHIBIT ON AFRICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

The

ContinentDark

The Inside Africa exhibit is on display through 2009 at Rocky Mount’s Children’s Museum & Science Center.


it’s no wonder that hundreds of thousands of people died during these ocean trips.”

Even though some of the displays can be chilling, others are packed with fun. There is a life-sized model of a giraffe that children are welcome to touch, and there is an entire section devoted to African mountain gorillas.

The Cummins Planetarium is running a corresponding show called Stars of the Pharaohs.

“Egypt is in northern Africa, and it is amazing to see the contributions that ancient Egyptians made to modern-day astronomy,” Madrid says. “It’s exciting for us to host Inside

Africa and Stars of the Pharaohs basically under one roof.”Admission to Inside Africa is $4 for adults, $3 for children

and seniors, and children 2 and under are admitted free. Admission to the Stars of the Pharaohs show is an additional $3.50 per person.

“We are trying to get people thinking with these exhibits, which is what museums ultimately do,” Madrid says. “People can come here to learn about one another and see that we all are quite similar. And based on our similarities, maybe we can come together and gain a greater understanding of who we all really are.”

Schoolchildren – and adults – can learn about the people and culture of Saharan Africa in the traveling exhibition.

“People can come here to learn about one

another and see that we all are quite similar.”


BravelyVETERANS MEMORIAL HONORS

MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

For Those Who


J ack Laughery’s name will live forever in Rocky Mount at a park named in his honor.

On Nov. 11, 2007, the Veterans Memorial at Jack Laughery Park opened in downtown Rocky Mount, directly across from the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences.

The small park honors all area veterans who have served our country in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East.

“The park is located exactly where an old Hardee’s restaurant used to sit, and Jack Laughery was a Hardee’s president who came to Rocky Mount and became a great friend to everyone he met,” says W.B. Bullock, Rocky

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN

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Veterans Memorial at Jack Laughery Park in downtown Rocky Mount

Served

ROCK Y MOUNT IMAGESROCK YMOUNT.COM 15ROCK Y MOUNT IMAGESROCK YMOUNT.COM 15

Mount city council member and chairperson of the Veterans Memorial committee. “Jack was a great entrepreneur, a tremendous corporate citizen and a military veteran. He passed away in 2006 and was the perfect person for whom to name this special park.”

Bullock says the whole idea of a memorial in Rocky Mount actually dates back to 2003, when people around town started talking about doing something appropriate to honor veterans.

“At that time, I made a request to city council that we pursue the matter, but the idea bounced around for three or four years before something finally happened,” he says. “Then everything finally started rolling in early 2007, thanks

largely to Mayo Boddie, another Hardee’s executive who approached the city about getting the action started.”

Bullock says Boddie told the city that he would spearhead a campaign to raise all the money for the memorial and park, which would cost $550,000.

“When Mayo stepped up, the city began construction efforts by first demolishing the old Hardee’s restaurant and then building the park from the ground up,” Bullock says. “The entire memorial park was constructed in less than nine months and was formally dedicated on Veterans Day 2007.”

Some 3,000 people were in attendance

What’s Online

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Take a tour of the Veterans Memorial at

Jack Laughery Park. Visit imagesrockymount.com.



Veterans from all branches of the armed forces are honored the third Monday of every month at the Veterans Memorial at Jack Laughery Park.

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A grisly one-month stretch

in Iraq during 2008 was

especially sad for the Rocky

Mount-based 1132nd Military

Police Company of the North

Carolina Army National Guard.

On March 22, 2008, three

of the company’s soldiers were

killed in the same vehicle, when

their transport truck rolled

over an explosive device near

Baghdad. The three 1132nd

soldiers were Sgt. Thomas Ray,

Sgt. David Stelmat and Sgt.

Blake Williams.

Then, on April 6, 2008, Staff

Sgt. Emanuel Pickett died from

wounds suffered as a result of

a mortar attack in the Baghdad

area. And on April 18, 2008,

Sgt. Lance Eakes lost his life

when his transport truck rolled

over a buried explosive device.

“All of us in this company

have promised that these five

soldiers will never be forgotten,”

says Capt. Leland Pearson,

commander of the 1132nd

Military Police Company.

“There have been several

articles written about these

men, and the Rocky Mount

Chamber even honored them

with a commemorative stone

in the Veterans Memorial at

Jack Laughery Park.”

Sgts. Eakes, Pickett, Ray and

Williams were members of the

1132nd, while Sgt. Stelmat joined

the company from a platoon in

New Hampshire.

“Sgt. Stelmat was assigned to

us so that we would have a full-

sized company going to Iraq,”

Pearson says. “But even though

he was technically based in

New Hampshire, he will forever

be one of the 1132nd.”

– Kevin Litwin

Keeping Their Memories Alive

opening day to view the memorial, which features granite monuments, f lags and five stone columns honoring each branch of the armed forces. A commemorative fountain and engraved brick pavers also grace the center of the memorial, and the park is illuminated at night with floodlights.

Besides fitting tributes on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day, the park hosts a flag-raising ceremony

on the third Monday of each month. A different deceased veteran from the area is honored at each monthly ceremony.

“Whenever I drive into downtown Rocky Mount, I notice the memorial, and there are always people admiring the display,” Bullock says. “It has been well received throughout our community and beyond, and this is the most rewarding public service endeavor I’ve been involved with in my lifetime.”

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A bout 40 miles northeast of Rocky Mount, the small town of Scotland Neck is home to a major international treasure.

The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center opened to the public in 2006, an outgrowth of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, which is recognized as one of the world’s most successful private avian breeding programs.

Offering a unique mixture of entertainment, education and environmentalism, Sylvan Heights draws some 80,000 to 90,000 tourists annually.

The breeding preserve, founded by noted aviculturalists Mike and Ali Lubbock in 1989, provides habitat and facilitates reproduction among exotic and endangered waterfowl such as the Madagascar teal, the African pygmy goose, Australia’s freckled duck and the white-winged wood duck – a critically endangered bird that is native to Asia, nicknamed the Spirit Duck for its ghostly nighttime trumpeting. Thanks to the Lubbocks, the white-winged

ECO-CENTER PRESERVES ENDANGERED WATERFOWL FROM AROUND THE WORLD

STORY BY CAROL COWANPHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

Birds from all over the world make their home at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center.

This Place Is

Birdsfor the


What’s Online eFor a bird’s-eye view of Sylvan Heights, watch the video at imagesrockymount.com.



wood duck population, believed to be fewer than 500 worldwide, is growing.

“Mike Lubbock has almost single-handedly brought back species of waterfowl from the brink of extinction,” says Russ Williams, executive director of the North Carolina Zoological Society in Asheboro.

Sylvan Heights allows visitors to view more than 1,000 birds representing 180 species, including ducks, swans, geese, toucans, parrots, kookaburras and peacocks. Another 1,500 birds occupy the private breeding area.

“Most of the species are in enclosed, continentally themed aviaries, so you not only get to see the waterfowl but also the plants and environmental settings from Africa, South America, North America and so on,” says Brent Lubbock, membership and development projects manager at the public park and eco-center. “You enter the exhibits, where the birds are f lying around, and most waterfowl will come up near enough for visitors to get a good look.”

In 2008, a flock of flamingos joined the park’s other exhibits. These birds-of-a-feather like to f lock together, so the park installed mirrors in their habitat, which makes the birds think the flock is bigger than it is.

“The bigger the flock, the more secure they feel, and the better the breeding,” Lubbock says.

Another new exhibit features Trumpeters, small black birds with purple chests named for the “whoomp, whoomp” sound they make.

Ideal for school field trips, Sylvan Heights’ educational programs highlight the birds, as well as wetlands, ecology and biology. In its first year, the park welcomed 850 students; that number swelled to more than 6,000 in 2008.

Further developments in 2009 make the attraction accessible to even more visitors. The park completed construction of the only wheelchair-accessible tree house in the state in summer 2009.

Built among the park’s white oaks, the tree house is part of a 5-acre expansion and wetland restoration project. Its roomy observation deck gives visitors a birds-eye view of the forested wetland habitat and its wildlife.

A stunning billboard now hails the new, paved park entrance, with direct access from Highway 258. New bathrooms have been built, and additional walkways are in progress. An interactive exhibit that showcases eight species of swans also is new in 2009, and a kids’ fossil dig has been installed next to the playground.

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit www.shwpark.com.

Sylvan Heights welcomes everyone to see its incredible variety of winged creatures and forested wetland habitat.


W hile most of the country was feeling the effects from the blow to home sales

in 2008, Rocky Mount was eager to let people know some good news: In this part of the world, real estate was holding its own and even growing.

In February 2009, members of the residential real estate community – home builders, Realtors and mortgage bankers – gathered to announce statistics that came as a welcome surprise to many.

A study by First American CoreLogic had ranked Rocky Mount fourth among U.S. cities in 2008 home price

appreciation, at a 6.8 percent increase. In addition, statistics compiled by the Multiple Listing Service indicated that in 2008, while the number of units sold statewide in 2008 dropped by 40 percent, in the Rocky Mount area, the number of units had actually increased.

“We didn’t have a housing bubble to begin with so our market has remained pretty stable,” says Realtor Bob Allen, while pointing out that sales numbers and appreciation can fluctuate, and statistics vary up and down over time. “In the last eight years, we have averaged about 2 percent annual appreciation, whereas some neighboring cities, like Raleigh, have

ROCKY MOUNT REAL ESTATE HOLDS STEADY DESPITE NATIONAL STATISTICS

EconomicsSTORY BY LAURA HILL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN CURCIO

HOME

The Numbers

$202,370Average price for new home in Rocky Mount in 2008

6%Increase in existing home prices compared to five years ago

21%Increase in median price for a new home compared to five years ago


had 8 percent. We didn’t have a bubble to burst because we didn’t have the high inflation earlier that caused this.”

Average prices for new homes in the area increased 2 percent, from $197,404 in 2007 to $202,370 in 2008, according to the Rocky Mount Area Home Builders Association and the Rocky Mount Association of Realtors.

The average number of days on the market increased by just a few days between 2007 and 2008, from 132 days to 140 days, despite the national economic slump. Existing home prices are still 6 percent higher than they were five years ago, and the median price for a new home increased by 21 percent over that period.

“Despite the doom and gloom of the market statistics constantly discussed in the news media, Rocky Mount’s home sales has continued on a steady growth pattern,” explained Norman Davis, 2008 Home Builder of the Year, said at a February 2009 press conference.

Ironically, Allen says, it was the area’s earlier hard economic times that left it in relatively strong condition now. The loss of 5,500 textile jobs several years ago, combined with the 1999 flood, lessened demand for housing locally and increased the supply of homes.

“It didn’t take a beating per se, but it certainly increased inventory, and it has been high ever since.”


brought to you by

Go online to Relocation Tools for moving tips, tools and more.


www.edgecombe.edu

livability.com

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How Terrifi cally Sweet It IsBUTTERFIELDS HAS BEEN MAKING CANDY IN THE ROCKY MOUNT AREA SINCE 1924

In 2009, if you just so happen to walk into the Butterfields Candy

production facility, things will look pretty much the same as they did when the business first started back in 1924.

“We have always been loyal to how our candy has been made, ever since Mr. J.W. Butterfield began it all in the 1920s,” says J. Brooks West III, president of Butterfields Candy.

Today, as always, Butterfields uses 100 percent pure cane sugar to produce all of its hard candy products, and there are no substitutions. A touch of fresh coconut is also added to each

batch to provide a hint of extra f lavor.In addition, the company, based

in Momeyer, N.C., continues to use a hand-turned process that was introduced in the 1920s, and the same copper kettles. The only major change over the years has been an occasional redesign of the packaging.

Butterfields currently has a workforce of 20 people that produce the hard candy products that are sold to customers via the Internet as well as at the company’s little store in Momeyer. The business also markets to thousands of upscale food stores, gift basket

specialists and other outlets across the United States and internationally.

Butterfields manufactures more than 14 varieties of fruit-flavored hard candy under the brand name of Buds. The company’s top-selling product is peach buds candy, which was an original confection in the 1920s and today is priced at $1.90 for a three-ounce package.

Other popular f lavors include apple green, apple red, cherry, cranberry-orange, grape, grapefruit, key lime, lemon, raspberry, strawberry, tangerine and watermelon. – Kevin Litwin


Local Flavor

Leigh Zalzneck always wanted a horse farm – so she bought one.

She is the owner of Summerlea Farm, a 50-acre spread located about a mile outside Rocky Mount. Zalzneck provides horseback riding lessons for customers and also cares for 33 horses that are boarded there.

“I started riding horses at age 11 and eventually went to work for someone who owned a horse farm,” she says. “But my goal has always been to own a farm myself, and that came true in 2005 when the property for Summerlea became available.”

Zalzneck, a Rocky Mount native, says American Saddlebred horses are her favorite, and many are housed on the property. But the boarding stalls at Summerlea are available for all breeds.

“Capacity here at the farm is 33 horses, and my stalls have stayed full for the past two years,” she says. “And if an owner ever wants to remove their horse from a stall, I have a waiting list of customers wanting to board here. I’ve had this farm for three years and have been surprisingly successful, thank goodness.”

Zalzneck says 25 acres of Summerlea is devoted solely for the horse farm, and the other 25 acres have been divided into lots for home development.

“About a half-dozen homes can ultimately be built behind the farm, and two lots have already been sold,” she says. “In fact, one house has been completed that is 6,500 square feet with a five-car garage. This will be a really nice development once it’s completed.”

As for the name Summerlea – where did that originate?

“When I first saw this land, my mother, Sara, noticed the rolling hills and beautiful meadows, and lea is a Scottish word for meadow,” Zalzneck says. “It seemed to be the perfect name for a perfect piece of acreage.”

Grabbing Life by the ReinsLEIGH ZALZNECK’S SCENIC SUMMERLEA FARM IS A HORSE LOVER’S PARADISE


Portfolio

A Spirited Pastor

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church has been a part of the Rocky Mount

community since 1916. Back then, services were held

in homes and then a one-room schoolhouse, which stood only a few yards from where the present church now stands.

The Rev. Thomas L. Walker, who has served as head of the congregation since 1970, now leads a church with nearly 1,000 parishioners who represent all walks of life.

The church boasts a spacious garden that serves as a peaceful location for quiet reflection and spiritual meditation.

During the Rev. Walker’s 40-year tenure, he has reached out to those who are less fortunate.

One of his finest accomplishments has been organizing an outreach ministry as part of the church. The nonprofit EBC-ATOM Inc. project improves the quality of life for low-income citizens by providing food, clothing, counseling and other assistance to the disadvantaged.

Meanwhile, Walker unfortunately found out that he had prostate cancer in 1996. After his diagnosis, he gathered information to help himself and men with similar conditions.

As a result, he wrote Brother to Brother: You Don’t Have To Die With Prostate Cancer. The book seeks to educate men about the disease by recounting Walker’s personal story of emotional trauma, family involve-ment and his day-to-day experiences battling the disease. Today, his prostate cancer remains in remission.

Besides his pastoral duties at Ebenezer Baptist, Walker also appears on several local television programs and radio shows to preach his message.


www.countryinns.com/rockymountnc

Improving and Preserving Smiles in a Gentle and

Caring Environment

(clear removable braces) ZOOM (Same day in-office whitening system)

– and vice versa,” says Jean Almand Kitchin, CEO of Almand’s Drug Stores. “We also have prescription delivery service to any customer within the Rocky Mount city limits.”

Ward Drug Co. is another inde-pendent pharmacy whose employees are experts at compounding, which is where a pharmacist mixes different drugs to fit the unique needs of a patient.

Gary Glisson remains the longtime compounding pharmacist at Ward Drug, having graduated in 1978 from the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy. In 1996, the North Carolina Pharmaceutical Association named him Innovative Pharmacist of the Year.

“Ward Drug Co, is more than 100 years old and, yes, we definitely specialize in service,” Glisson says. “In fact, I am hopefully always available on the premises to meet with a customer regarding their prescription needs.

“Plus, any customer can schedule a 15-minute appointment so that I will be totally free to give full attention to their pharmaceutical questions and concerns,” he adds.

With big-name pharmacies located on every other corner

in many cities, it is refreshing to see that Rocky Mount remains a bit different.

The city is still home to several pharmacies that remain independently owned and operated, which is unusual with the rash of national chains.

Northside Family Pharmacy is a newer business in Rocky Mount, and residents also still frequent drug stores

such as Oakwood Pharmacy and Thompson’s Pharmacy.

These stores are locally owned, along with Almand’s Drug Store, which has been a mainstay here since 1942. Almand’s has two locations, with both stores offering drive-through prescription window service.

“Our pharmacists and staff members stay with us a long time, so they really get to know our customers

A Real Prescription for Success


Portfolio

www.thedentalcarecenter.com

With Natural Gas, you will enjoy precise temperature control in

the kitchen, instant hot water in the bathroom and a beautiful

fire at the flip of a switch. But perhaps the most beautiful thing

about clean burning Natural Gas is how it can reduce your

carbon footprint by up to 60%.

To learn more about how to go green in comfort and style, visit

ComfortableResponsible.org or utilities.rockymountnc.gov.

For more information about the installation

of natural gas in your home, please contact

Jessica Williams at (252) 972-1269 or

[email protected].

choose wisely.

choose natural gas.

choose green.

Take Your Best Shot

Things are often up in the air at Rose Hill Farm Sporting Clays and Quail

Preserve in nearby Nashville.The skeet-shooting business is

situated on a scenic, 800-acre wooded farm called Rose Hill Conference Center and has 14 automated courses available for use by both novice and expert rifle shooters. In fact, Rose Hill bills itself as a skeet-shooting course that is challenging without being overwhelming.

There is also a 60-foot tower on site that officials can use to monitor all of the sporting clay action, and the tower can also be rented by the public during quail and pheasant hunting seasons. The shooting destination also features professional instruction and information workshops hosted by gun aficionados who all have won a number of awards for their marksmanship.

Rose Hill’s pro shop is well stocked with a variety of different ammunition products at reasonable prices.

Clay accessories are also available from such top manufacturers as Wild Hare and Lewis Creek. Rose Hill Farm is open Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays and by appointment.

Rose Hill Farm is a private preserve but welcomes visitors and guests, even walk-ins.

Prices vary according to the amount of time you want to rent the facility and what equipment you want to use. Memberships are available, and many club members are among the best shooters in North Carolina.

The facility’s rustic Quail Preserve is also available for both guided and unguided hunts, and personal dogs are welcome on the property. Rose Hill also rents hunting dogs. Quail hunts are booked by appointment only during the regular quail season.

– Stories by Kevin Litwin

Ray Billups, left, takes aim at a target under the watchful eye of Larry Corbett at Rose Hill Farm Sporting Clays and Quail Preserve in Nashville.

TO

DD

BE

NN

ET

T

What’s Online eFor a sneak peek at Rose Hill Conference Center, watch the video at imagesrockymount.com


www.comfortableresponsible.org

www.utilities.rockymountnc.gov

Business


Workers test diesel-fueled burners for the mobile kitchens developed by Babington Technologies.

STORY BY RENEE ELDERPHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD BENNETT

BABINGTON BURNER IS KEY TO SAFER, FASTER COOKING

Mobile Kitchen

on WheelsMealsPuts

W ell-fed troops are a must in any military operation, and serving up those meals has gotten easier, faster and safer, thanks to Babington Technologies.

Using a heating system manufactured in Rocky Mount, military cooks can prepare twice as much food in half the time, company owner Bob Babington says.

“We’ve been selling stuff to the Marine Corps since 1995, but now all branches of the service use our equipment,” Babington says.

Babington equipment also has been used to feed Hurricane Katrina survivors in New Orleans and the many military troops in Washington during the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

“They wanted to use our equipment, and we fed something like 50,000 meals [during the inauguration],” Babington says.

The experience in New Orleans after the hurricane led to a new product for the company – a complete mobile kitchen


Connecting with Rocky Mount has never been easier …


1 SIMPLY SEARCH: In a hurry? Find the exact

info you need quickly with our enhanced search capabilities.

2 SMOOTHER SURFING: Explore the site and

interact with us more easily with our reorganized navigation bar.

3 JUST THE FACTS: Get a quick snapshot

of the community with our greatly enriched Facts and Stats section.

4 WATCH AND SHARE: Experience fi rst-hand

views of the community in our video gallery, then share them with friends.

5 VIRTUAL VIEW: Flip through pages

of the digital magazine, an enriched online version of the print publication.

6 MOVING MUST-HAVES: Visit our new

Relocation Tools section for many useful tips and information to make your transition go smoothly.

7 MORE EYE CANDY: Check out our

enhanced Photo Gallery for more stunning photos of the community.

8 OUTSIDERS WELCOME: Read about the

best places to play in this community.

9 IN GOOD TASTE: Get the dish on local fl avor

from favorite restaurants, noted area products and farmers markets in our new Food section.

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that serves up to 1,000 meals per hour.“When we came away from Katrina, we saw there was no

good mobile kitchen available,” Babington says. “The Army’s mobile kitchen produced air temperatures of 145 degrees with only two burners.”

Setting out to develop a better product, Babington came out with the Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen, or SPEK, designed for mass feeding of troops, refugees and victims of natural disasters.

“Our mobile kitchen makes no noise, and there’s no heat buildup in the kitchen,” Babington says. “It runs on diesel, and there’s no smoke, no odor and no setup time.”

The company’s products are based on technology Babington developed in the late 1960s, following his two-year stint in the Air Force and more than a decade as part of NASA’s Apollo lunar landing team.

Babington’s burners employ a patented atomization process that produces a constant and uniform mist, ensuring that the fuel used for combustion is emitted efficiently and safely throughout the cooking process.

Babington burners operate with a variety of fuels,

including kerosene and diesel, and emit little to no smoke or carbon dioxide due to the efficiency of the burn, says David Vick, a manager at the plant, located just off North Wesleyan Boulevard. “The burner is the thing,” Vick says. “Nobody has topped it yet.”

Babington had been contracting out its metal fabrication work to a plant in Rocky Mount, when the local manufacturer ceased operations in 2005.

Rather than find another supplier, Babington decided to purchase the fabrication plant, in part to have more control over his own products.

Now the plant manufactures its cooking appliances “using the finest sheet metal equipment you can buy,” he adds.

Babington Technologies also has an office in Virginia and a sales office in Florida.

The manufacturing operation employs about 25 workers, many of whom were already working at the plant at the time he purchased it. Babington is quick to praise the work ethic and skills of the local workforce.

“They are really the best you will find anywhere,” Babington says.

Babington Technologies’ mobile kitchens, warmers and cookers are used to feed the military and hurricane survivors.


Business

Biz BriefsScorecard

BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$874,566Retail sales ($1,000)

$15,625Retail sales

per capita

$98,186Accommodations

and food services

sales ($1,000)

4,171Total number

of firms

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

EAGLE PRESSBiz: printer and Web site designerBuzz: Eagle Press offers personalized printing for business cards, mailing labels, letterhead, envelopes and more. The firm uses state-of-the-art equipment, offers fast turn-around and has Forest Stewardship Council Chain-of-Custody certification for print orders. Eagle Press also does custom Web sites for clients. The firm operates two plants, one in Rocky Mount and another in Tualatin, Ore.www.eaglepress.com

BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE

ROCKY MOUNT’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE


Business

COOLCUPSANDSTUFF INC.Biz: custom-made cups, napkins and coolwrapsBuzz: CoolCupsandStuff does just what its name says – it makes custom-printed cups, coolwraps, bumper stickers, magnets, napkins and other cool stuff. CoolCups also sells wearables, printed party buckets and holiday items. It has been written up in Southern Living and featured on Paula Deen’s Home Cooking.www.coolcupsandstuff.com

RIVERSIDE VETERINARY HOSPITALBiz: veterinarianBuzz: For more than 60 years, this veterinary hospital has offered medical, surgical and dental care for many families’ beloved pets. The clinic provides doggie day care and has a comprehensive Web site. The hospital also provides care for birds, reptiles, rabbits and small mammals.www.riversidevethosp.vetsuite.com

FLOWERS AND GIFTS OF ROCKY MOUNT INC.Biz: full-service f loristBuzz: Family-owned and operated, this f lorist offers a large inventory of fresh flowers, plants, silk arrangements, dried flowers, fruit baskets and gifts, among other items. The company offers delivery and shipping services, too.www.flowersjb.com

ROCKY MOUNT RADIATOR AND AIR CONDITIONINGBiz: radiator and AC service and salesBuzz: This family-run business has been providing Rocky Mount residents with radiator and air conditioning service and sales for more than 80 years. The company boasts factory-trained technicians, award-winning service and has an extensive stock of cooling system parts.www.rockymountradiator.com

ASSEMBLE IT.BOX IT.CLEAN IT.COLLATE IT.CONNECT IT.COUNT IT.CUT IT.DELIVER IT.DE-RIVET IT.DISASSEMBLE IT.DRILL IT.FAX IT.FILL IT.FOLD IT.GLUE IT.INSPECT IT.LAMINATE IT.MAIL IT.NAIL IT.PACKAGE IT.PAINT IT.POLISH IT.RECYCLE IT.REPAIR IT.REWORK IT.SAND IT.SAW IT.SEAL IT.SHIP IT.SLIT IT.SOLDER IT.SORT IT.STAMP IT.STAPLE IT.STRIP IT.TAPE IT.TEXT IT.WAREHOUSE IT.WEIGH IT.WELD IT.WIRE IT.WRAP IT.

Discover the cost-cutting secrets

of outsourcing.

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ISO Registered

Tri-County Industries 1250 Atlantic Ave.

Rocky Mount, NC 27801

(252) 977-3800(866) 605-7765 Toll-free

(252) 977-2283 Fax

www.tciworks.com


www.tciworks.com

www.econdev.org

T he Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce is speaking with a louder voice on public policy

issues after a poll of members identified political activism as a top priority.

Chamber leaders are researching leg islation and contacting elected officials on topics ranging from child care for working mothers to rules about

union balloting, says Jeffrey Batts, The Chamber’s vice chairman of public policy.

“Our chairman, John Kincheloe, has issued a challenge to The Chamber board to move beyond being an extremely successful chamber to a chamber of significance,” Batts says. “One of the ways we can get that

A Louder Voice for BusinessCHAMBER SPEAKS UP ABOUT ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO ITS MEMBERS

accomplished is to take on a greater role in public policy matters.”

The 2008 poll showed that 90 percent of Rocky Mount Chamber members viewed public policy as an important facet of Chamber work.

“That includes educating our members on issues relevant to their businesses and, where appropriate, taking positions as a Chamber and as an advocate for Rocky Mount,” Batts says.

In late 2008, The Chamber took a somewhat controversial stand in support of the city’s move to annex more than 1,700 acres in Nash and Edgecombe counties. The annexation went through in December 2008.

“We felt like, in the long term, that the growth of the city is probably good for business,” Kincheloe says.

Also coming under Chamber scrutiny recently were policies regarding funding from the Golden Leaf Foundation, which provides money to nonprofits that help communities formerly reliant on tobacco income. Some politicians have proposed redirecting much of that money into the state’s general fund.

“Golden Leaf is good for communities across the state, and we’d hate to see them take it back into the general fund,” Kincheloe says. “For many nonprofits, that kind of money just isn’t available through other sources.”

Other issues include child care assistance for working mothers and insurance underwriting for small businesses.

“Some in our membership may feel one way and some the other about these issues, and that can be difficult,” Kincheloe says.

But that won’t stop The Chamber from listening and then taking action, he adds.

“It’s our goal to inform our members of issues being considered on the state, local and federal levels, and then to take positions whenever the vast majority of our membership wants us to do so.”

– Renee Elder

The Fountains at The Albemarle, a quaint community of friends and neighbors, is neatly tucked away in historic downtown Tarboro, North Carolina. Unique gift shops, restaurants, the Town Common, churches and stately homes are all located just around the corner on Main Street. In our lovely three-story, brick-front community, adjacent to the banks of the Tar River, residents are engaged in numerous activities … making some history of their own.

Services and Care Options Offered

The Fountains offers services and amenities to bring out the personal best in everyone … allowing residents the freedom and independence to choose whatever they wish to do or to be. Services, expertly performed by dedicated well-trained professionals, are

needs and desires.

Dine in comfort with your neighbors and guests in our dining room served by our courteous wait staff. The wonderful aromas, flavors and variety of entrees tastefully compliment the elegant decor. With our efficient house-keeping and responsive maintenance staff, your home will always be well-kept. Our transportation service is ideal, offering a variety of planned excursions to local points of interest and scheduled trips to shopping centers and medical complexes.

The Fountains at The Albemarle


Business | Chamber Report

www.sunriseseniorliving.com

BUSINESS CLIMATEThe Rocky Mount region has a thriving small business sector.

While some startup businesses remain small by design, many

local companies have experienced rapid growth and now

employ hundreds of people. Large corporations like Boddie-

Noell Enterprises and MBM Corp. are headquartered in the area.

ROCKY MOUNT

TAX STRUCTURE

Residential Property Tax

Property Taxes for 2008-09

(per $100 valuation) are $.94

in Edgecombe County, $.70 in

Nash County and $.55 in the

City of Rocky Mount.

TRANSPORTATION

Amtrak

101 Hammond St.


(252) 446-3646

Rocky Mount-Wilson

Regional Airport

7265 Air Terminal Drive

Elm City, NC 27822

(252) 446-7057

Highway 97 between Rocky

Mount and Wilson

ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Carolinas

Gateway Partnership

427 Falls Road


(252) 442-0114

Nash Edgecombe

Economic Development

200 N. Church St.


(252) 442-8081

Rocky Mount Area

Chamber of Commerce

100 Coast Line St.


(252) 446-0323

INDUSTRIAL SITES

Carolinas Gateway Partnership

www.econdev.org/properties.

html

MORE ONLINE


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

E OOOOO

MAJOR EMPLOYERS

Company Product/Service No. of Employees

Nash County-Rocky Mount Schools Education 2,275

Hospira Pharmaceuticals 1,800

Nash Health Care Systems Health care 1,480

RBC Bank Banking 1,250

Cummins - Rocky Mount Engines Diesel engines 1,150

Edgecombe County Schools Education 1,100

QVC Distribution 1,025

CenturyLink (Embarq) Telecommunications 1,000

Universal Leaf North America Tobacco processing 1,000

City of Rocky Mount Local government 850

Sara Lee Bakery Bakery products 800

Edgecombe County Local government 650


Business | Economic Profile


In Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools, classrooms are being equipped with interactive white boards. At Rocky

Mount Preparatory, students can find their homework assignments online. At Rocky Mount Academy, upper-school students complete 50 hours of community service during their four years of high school. And Edgecombe County high school students are issued a personal laptop computer as part of the district’s commitment to improving computer literacy.

In Rocky Mount, education is not just alive and well – it’s downright thrilling.

Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools serve a highly diverse group of 18,000 students on 29 campuses. More than 88 percent of students enrolled in its prestigious International Baccalaureate program receive the IB degree.

In 2008, the district was named the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Partner of the year, making

it the only school system in the state and one of only three nationally to be honored with that award.

Edgecombe County Public Schools offer a wide range of academic oppor-tunities to 7,800 students who attend pre-K through high school classes in 15 schools.

In addition to honors and advanced placement courses, early college high school and career academies, the county launched its new 1:1 Laptop Initiative in the spring of the 2008-09 school year, providing individual laptops to high schoolers.

The strengths of the two systems result in outstanding public schools for the area, says Tom Rogers, vice chairman of the education division of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Our school systems feature unique opportunities for learning through creative approaches,” he says.

Offering another approach to public

education, Rocky Mount Preparatory is a tuition-free, independent public school with a stress on rigorous academics and a vigorous K-12 curriculum.

Rocky Mount Academy, a private, coed, independent school, prepares college-bound students from pre-K through 12th grade. Classes of 10 to 18 students mean more individual attention and personalized learning. The school enrolls just over 300 students annually and, says Rogers, “fills an important role in our Twin County region.”

“Few regions in the state enjoy the many benefits we have in the area of post-secondary education,” Rogers says. “For example, we derive benefits from not one, but two outstanding community colleges in Edgecombe and Nash community colleges, and North Carolina Wesleyan College is an outstanding, four-year liberal arts college.

– Laura Hill

From Laptops to Liberal ArtsROCKY MOUNT OFFERS A VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO LEARN


Education

Rocky Mount runners are making big strides – for the entire community.

An inaugural Fun Run for Charities road race ambled into Rocky Mount on May 30, 2009, with thousands of runners and walkers participating in the outdoor event.

The run was organized by Reach Out Rocky Mount, an organization whose mission is to aid as many charities as possible whenever money-raising events take place.

“Reach Out Rocky Mount was recently formed to trumpet a mission of one city, one goal when it comes to helping all nonprofit charities,” says Lige Daughtridge, chairman of Reach Out Rocky Mount. “We organize activities such as the Fun Run so that as many charities as possible can be helped. Our goal is to get individuals and companies to contribute as much as they can, in any way that they can, to make our community that much better.”

The 2009 Fun Run featured a 15K run, 10K run, 5K run, one-mile walk and a Kids Dash for children ages 6 and younger.

“We wanted to schedule a healthy event for everyone to enjoy, plus raise lots of money for needy organizations in order to improve the quality of life in Rocky Mount,” Daughtridge says. “Any church, school, civic group and all nonprofits were eligible to apply for participation in the Fun Run and then share from the generosity.”

Reach Out Rocky Mount and the North Carolina Community Foundation reviewed each application from nonprofit organizations to determine eligibility. Reach Out Rocky Mount also solicited donations for the charities, including a $100,000 contribution from an anonymous donor.

There was also a $20 admission charge for all adult runners who participated in the inaugural road race.

“Every dollar – 100 percent of donor contributions – was passed on to local charities,” Daughtridge says. “Then in July 2009, we organized an awards party to celebrate the entire festive occasion and distributed $253,266.”

Daughtridge says the run will now continue on an annual basis, scheduled for the upcoming year on May 15, 2010.

“All runs and walks start and end at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, with participants proceeding through downtown Rocky Mount, out toward Peachtree Street and then back downtown,” he explains. “It is an interesting and scenic route.”

Daughtridge adds that the city of Rocky Mount and several other organizations backed the run in 2009, and he is hoping for even more support in 2010.

“For example, the American Red Cross provided all of the water, Gatorade and volunteer manpower at the running aid stations, and the list of such helpful organizations goes on and on,” he says. “It is a very fulfilling event for every individual and every entity involved.”

– Kevin Litwin

A Run for Your MoneyRESIDENTS POUND THE PAVEMENT TO HELP CHARITIES IN ROCKY MOUNT

The Reach Out Rocky Mount event raised $253,266 for local charities.

What’s Online eGo to imagesrockymount.com and click on “recreation” to read more about Rocky Mount’s sports and recreational activities.


Sports & Recreation



www.rmfmc.com

24-hour available assistance with personal care

Medication administration

Nutritious, home-cooked meals, including choice

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Individual care plans & wellness programs

Full-time activities director to create a variety of events

Community outings, religious activities

& volunteer opportunities

Professionals who care as if you were part of

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Health & Wellness

www.boice-willis.com

www.liveunited.org

www.springarborliving.com


www.heritage.uhseast.com

www.encmg.com

Accessing cutting-edge health care usually means traveling to the nearest big city – unless

you live in Rocky Mount.Here, county-owned Nash Health

Care Systems provides services usually found only in major metropolitan areas.

“Physicians who come to our staff from hospitals like Duke [University Medical Center] say the quality of services here is equal to, if not better than, what’s available at the big teaching centers,” says NHCS President and CEO Larry Chewning.

One such service is orthopedic surgery, available through Nash General Hospital’s Joint Replacement Center. The center’s success with postoperative recovery and mobility helps make it one of North Carolina’s top 10 orthopedic-care units.

The health-care system is also noteworthy for the Rocky Mount Heartburn Treatment Center, the first of its kind in the United States.

“We have all the resources to diagnose the type of heartburn and then match the treatment very precisely

Health Care Made EasyAREA HOSPITALS BRING BIG-CITY HEALTH CARE TO GREATER ROCKY MOUNT

to the condition, whether that means prescribing medication or doing surgical correction,” Chewning says.

Physicians at the Nash Wound Care Center specialize in treating slow-healing wounds, often for diabetics who are at risk for amputation. About 80 percent of the center’s patients are treated with medication, special bandaging and modifications to diet and exercise. Patients with particularly serious wounds benefit from an on-site hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

Elsewhere in Rocky Mount, the Boice-Willis Clinic also provides care for a wide variety of conditions.

“Our goal is to provide as many services as we can so patients don’t have to travel for help,” says clinic CEO Gary J. Fazio. “We have 65 physicians in 18 specialties, with seven locations in greater Rocky Mount.”

Founded in 1914, the clinic is noteworthy for its cardiology and nuclear-medicine practices; full-service lab; in-office endoscopy units; and registered, certified health-education department.

But Boice-Willis isn’t just about offering a range of services – the clinic is also dedicated to providing high-quality care.

“Many of our doctors were trained at the best medical schools, and they take great pride in caring for the families of the community,” Fazio says.

And for Fazio and his co-workers, it makes perfect sense to deliver their comprehensive health-care model in a small-town setting.

“It feels like a family, and when you’re part of a smaller community, it gives you a good sense of ownership,” he says.

Larry Chewning agrees.“When we start a program, it affects

our friends and neighbors,” he says. “We have the ability to reach out and touch the success of our work.”

– Kathryn Royster

Health & Wellness


Doc Watson has performed there. So have blues guitarist B.B. King and country music stars Taylor Swift and Julianne Hough.

Keihin (pronounced kay-HEEN) Auditorium at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro is one of several quality facilities devoted to the arts in the twin counties.

“It’s a great place for concerts of all kinds,” says Eric Greene, Keihin Auditorium director.

The 1,029-seat auditorium, housed within the college’s Arts, Civic and Technology Center, has already earned a solid reputation for its superior sound and lighting systems – factors that are important for attracting top musical talent. Recent performers at the ECC campus have included blues guitarist Buddy Guy and the North Carolina Symphony.

Two other performance venues in the area are the Nash Arts Center, housed in the former First Baptist Church that was built in 1914, and the Rocky Mount Community Theater, located in the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences.

In addition, perhaps the most well-known performance venue in the city is The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.

The Dunn Center will begin its 15th season in September 2009 on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College. There is seating for 1,181 in its main auditorium, and a small recital hall can accommodate 133.

“We bill ourselves as the place to be for entertainment in

this part of North Carolina,” says Sheila Martin, executive director of The Dunn Center. “Besides performing arts, we have an art gallery and several rental opportunities for wedding receptions, corporate training seminars and reunions. We also have a full-service caterer on campus for such events.”

But the center is primarily known for its stage productions and will kick off its 15th season with a performance by the Raleigh Ringers.

“They are a hand bell choir that has traveled all over the world performing a very unusual show,” Martin says. “You’ve never really heard unusual music until you’ve heard Stairway to Heaven played on hand bells with musicians wearing tie-dyed shirts and long-haired wigs.”

Other shows for the 2009-10 season will include Irving Berlin’s I Love a Piano; a Broadway play called Food Fight: A Musical Comedy for Waist Watchers that features four women in a gym setting; and the world-renowned Harlem Gospel Choir. The season ends April 17 with a show entitled Feeling Groovy, featuring the music of Simon & Garfunkel.

Eric Greene at Keihin says he works closely with The Dunn Center to promote the entire arts scene in Rocky Mount.

“The two theaters have a good working relationship,” he says. “As much as possible, we try not to directly compete and try to program around each other, to complement each other.”

– Kevin Litwin

A Hard Act To FollowROCKY MOUNT’S PERFORMANCE VENUES ENTERTAIN AUDIENCES YEAR-ROUND


Arts & Culture

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MORE ONLINE


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

E OOOOOOO

SNAPSHOTThe Rocky Mount area is located in Nash and Edgecombe

counties. The region offers a small-town feel and charm but big-

city amenities such as sophisticated arts and culture, abundant

sports and recreation, and the security of quality health care

and excellent educational opportunities.

ROCKY MOUNT

CLIMATE

North Carolina’s Sun Belt climate offers moderate temperatures accentuated by four distinct seasons that provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. Winter weather rarely interferes with business operations, and ample rainfall provides abundant water resources.

29January Low Temperature

89July High Temperature

HEALTH CARE

Rocky Mount area residents enjoy excellent health care, with a wide variety of physicians, surgeons and specialists. The major hospitals are Nash General Hospital and Heritage Hospital. For a breakdown of medical services, visit imagesrockymount.com.

EDUCATION

Targeting educational

excellence is a fundamental

focus of school systems in the

Rocky Mount area. The region

continues to be a leader in

establishing business-education

partnerships, with more than

200 local businesses partnering

with area schools. For a list of

schools and other information,

visit imagesrockymount.com.

LOCAL UTILITIES

ElectricCity of Rocky Mount(252) 467-4800

Progress Energy(919) 508-5400, (800) 452-2777

Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, (252) 823-2171

PhoneEmbarq(252) 450-6779, (800) 775-0494

GasCity of Rocky Mount(252) 467-4800

CableSuddenlink Communications North Carolina, (252) 757-2200

WaterRocky Mount Water Department724 Albemarle Ave.Rocky Mount, NC 27801(252) 972-1290


Community Profile


www.ab-nc.com

www.poppies.com

visit ouradvertisersAmerica’s Best Nut www.americasbestnutco.com

Atlantic Neurosurgery Consultants www.atlanticneurosurg.com

Boice-Willis Clinic www.boice-willis.com

Carolinas Gateway Partnership www.econdev.org

Country Inn & Suites www.countryinns.com

Dental Care Center www.thedentalcarecenter.com

Eastern North Carolina Medical Group PLLC www.encmg.com

Edgecombe Community College www.edgecombe.edu

Family Medical Center of Rocky Mount www.rmfmc.com

Fountains at the Albemarle www.sunriseseniorliving.com

Frank J. Courts DDS PHD

Hampton Inn www.rockymount.hamptoninn.com

Heritage Hospital www.heritage.uhseast.com

Life Care Hospitals of North Carolina www.lifecare-hospitals.com

McLane Company Inc. www.mclaneco.com

Nancy Liipfert Associates Inc. www.nancyliipfert.com

Nash Community College www.nashcc.edu

Nash Health Care Systems www.nhcs.org

Poppies International Inc.

Riverside Veterinary Hospital www.riversidevet.org

Rocky Mount Parks & Recreation http://parks.rockymountnc.gov

Rocky Mount Preparatory School www.rockymountprep.org

Rocky Mount Public Utilities www.utilities.rockymountnc.gov

Servpro of Rocky Mount www.servpro.com

Spring Arbor of Rocky Mount www.springarborliving.com

Suddenlink www.suddenlink.com

Tri-County Industries www.tciworks.com


VETERINARY HOSPITAL

252-442-3636

Dr. Bob Cameron, DVM

Dr. Kara Bissett-Wheeler, DVM

Dr. Chandra Meachem, DVM

Dr. Jordan J. Harris, DVM

Dr. Allison P. Hassinger, DVM

FULL SERVICE VETERINARY HOSPITALBoarding Grooming Doggie Day Care

99 Success Ct., Rocky Mount

www.riversidevet.org

“Riverside Veterinary Hospital strives to provide high quality, compassionate veterinary care and exceptional client service in a friendly and professional manner.”

P.O. Box 7897253 NC Hwy. 48Battleboro, NC 27809(252) 972-2500 Ph(252) 973-6791 Faxwww.mclaneco.com

ABOUT USMcLane Company is one of the largest and fastest growing nationwide distributors of grocery and general merchandise products in the country.

OUR MISSIONTo become the world's premier logistics company.

OUR PEOPLEMcLane Company has, for well over 100 years, been built on a heritage of honesty, integrity and high Christian principles, both in our customer relationships and teamwork of our employees.

OUR TENUREMcLane Company is celebrating 10 years of service to our customers and the community in the Rocky Mount area.

OUR AFFILIATIONSUnited Way Children's Miracle Network


www.mclaneco.com

www.riversidevet.org

Ad Index 47 AMERICA’S BEST NUT

4 ATLANTIC NEUROSURGERY CONSULTANTS

43 BOICE-WILLIS CLINIC

37 CAROLINAS GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP

29 COUNTRY INN & SUITES

30 DENTAL CARE CENTER

44 EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAL GROUP PLLC

26 EDGECOMBE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

42 FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER OF ROCKY MOUNT

38 FOUNTAINS AT THE ALBEMARLE

43 FRANK J. COURTS DDS PHD

1 HAMPTON INN

44 HERITAGE HOSPITAL

42 LIFE CARE HOSPITALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

49 MCLANE COMPANY INC.

C4 NANCY LIIPFERT ASSOCIATES INC.

4 NASH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

C2 NASH HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

47 POPPIES INTERNATIONAL INC.

49 RIVERSIDE VETERINARY HOSPITAL

2 ROCKY MOUNT PARKS & RECREATION

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

questions

answers

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r . o r g

Ad Index (cont.) 8 ROCKY MOUNT PREPARATORY SCHOOL

31 ROCKY MOUNT PUBLIC UTILITIES

48 SERVPRO OF ROCKY MOUNT

43 SPRING ARBOR OF ROCKY MOUNT

48 SUDDENLINK

37 TRI-COUNTY INDUSTRIES

www.cancer.org

Rocky Mount Area RelocationRelocating is more than just about changing houses.It is about all the parts of your life that make a home.

Nancy Liipfert Associates understands. Please let us help.

We are a member of North America’s leading independent broker network.Whether you are moving to or from Rocky Mount, please call

on our team of trained professionals.

NANCY LIIPFERT ASSOCIATES INC.

ABR – Accredited Buyer RepresentativeCRP – Certified Relocation ProfessionalCRS – Certified Residential SpecialistGRI – Graduate Realtors® Institute

e-PRO – Internet Professional SRES – Seniors Real Estate Specialists

An All Broker Office

ANN MCCARTNEYABR, CRS, e-PRO,

GRI, Broker

BETTY NORMANCRS, e-PRO, GRI,

SRES, Broker

NANCY LIIPFERTCRS, GRI, CRP,

Broker-in-Charge

BRUCE GOODENOUGH

CRS, GRI, Broker

HANNAH JONESABR, CRS, GRI,

Broker

ANA JOYNERABR, CRS, GRI,

Broker

RENEE SILKABR, GRI, Broker

From left:

www.nancyliipfert.com

images rocky mount, nc: 2009-10

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