FYBE HOSTS EDENTON CHOWAN CHAMBER MEET UP
Holiday Season Begins, Coat Drives, Toys for Tot drop off - Byrum's
FYBE HOSTS EDENTON CHOWAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERS SOCIAL
HOLIDAY SEASON KICKS OFF IN STYLE
Penelope would be proud to know that Edenton's future was standing in the entryway of her home Thursday evening as members of the FYBE Team joined Chowan Edenton Chamber of Commerce Director Susan Creed in welcoming chamber members for an evening of socializing. Edenton Chef Cheryl Orr delighted guests with a variety of appetizers and her renowned sweet potato biscuit ham sandwiches.
FYBE Community and Gov. Relations Rep. Sarah Tinkham along with Melissa Smith and other FYBE representatives joined Edenton Mayor Hackney High, Chowan-Edenton Optimists Club President Billy Barrow and other guests for the enjoyable gathering.
FYBE was instrumental in placing Edenton on the Broadband Map just over a year ago. The Town of Edenton officially became a Gigabit City, a community with 100 percent access to broadband; the first of our size in northeast North Carolina to achieve this milestone.
Thanks to a partnership between the Town of Edenton and Fybe – a broadband service provider and subsidiary of Roanoke Cooperative – the expansion of fiber internet services in Edenton now serves 4,300 homes and businesses throughout the community.
Focus Broadband Opens Edenton Office
This past week, FOCUS Broadband also hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new operations site, located in the Edenton-Chowan Industrial Park. The new facility will serve as a central hub for the company’s technicians, as well as store equipment. Speakers included Chowan County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Kirby, Perquimans County Assistant Manager Brandon Shoaf, and NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Opportunity Annette Taylor, who each highlighted the transformative impact of high-speed internet access on the area. FOCUS Broadband has announced that high-speed internet service is now available to more than 7,000 addresses in Chowan and Perquimans counties, with additional addresses coming soon. Residents and businesses in rural areas of both counties may now take advantage of fiber optic broadband service with speeds up to 5Gig, enabling them to work and learn remotely, access telehealth services and more. FOCUS Broadband began its efforts to bring high-speed internet to Chowan and Perquimans counties nearly five years ago by partnering with administrations from both counties to pursue funding through broadband expansion programs.
In 2022, the company was awarded $8 million in grant funds from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) Grant program to bring fiber optic broadband service to more than 3,600 addresses in Chowan and Perquimans counties. Building on that success, FOCUS Broadband received an additional $7.2 million in GREAT Grant funding in 2023 to extend service to an additional 1,700 addresses across both counties. In addition to the GREAT Grants, FOCUS Broadband also received $6 million through NCDIT’s Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program to expand service to almost all the remaining underserved addresses in many of the most remote areas of both counties. Construction on these CAB-funded projects has been underway for several months and is expected to be completed quickly. Once these final phases are finished, FOCUS Broadband will serve more than 8,000 addresses across Chowan and Perquimans counties. FOCUS Broadband has invested $3 million of its own as matching funding for these grant awards.
“We are proud to bring reliable, high-speed internet to thousands of residents in Chowan and Perquimans counties,” shared FOCUS Broadband CEO Keith Holden. “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of the county commissioners, county managers and community leaders. We’re also grateful for the partnership of Albemarle Electric Membership Corporation, whose assistance was instrumental in our network construction, and for NCDIT, whose ongoing commitment to rural broadband expansion through the GREAT and CAB programs was vital to this effort.”
Edenton Woman's Club Takes the Bow by the Tail for Funds
“Ok ladies, grab your bow board and follow me. Hold on to one end of the ribbon for the first tail, then wind the rest through the pegs on one side, when you come back around twist your ribbon and repeat the process on the other side,” said Bow Master Liz Lewis. Lewis was offering instructions to the ladies of the Edenton Woman’s Club on the steps used in creating large velveteen bows for the Woman’s Club Holiday fundraiser.
“Everyone used to get their seasonal bows from the former craft store in Edenton,” said Carlette Pruden. “We felt the void in the community so the Woman’s Club decided to make holiday bows to raise funds for our student scholarship fund.”
The fabulous large red bows are a labor of love. Each year the Edenton Woman’s Club awards two scholarships to local students.
To order bows call 252- 333-6377. Bow pick up will be at the Visitors Center and Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library.
The Edenton Woman's Club will be selling bows at the Farmer's Market December 6th and December 20th.
A DAY OF SERVICE AT IREDELL HOUSE
2025 Day of Service
Members of the Edenton Tea Party Chapter of the DAR participated in a four day Day of Service at the James Iredell House in October,2025. James Iredell was an associate justice on the first national Supreme Court. His home was saved by the Edenton Tea Party Chapter in the late 1940's. Today it is a regular tour site in the Edenton historic program. Members decided to do this Day of Service to recognize and celebrate James Iredell, his family, and his home as a part of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
During these four days members inventoried artifacts of the Iredell family. These artifacts included furniture, paintings, books, letters, decorative and plain chiña, and clothing. These items were identified with new images and ñew written descriptions. These new images and written descriptions will be placed in new catalogues for easy reference. All these items were rewrapped and stored in updated materials and boxes for safe storage.
Those who participated included Melanie Gibbs, Christy Hinson, Kathy Hamer, Lisa Laws, Bea Kremer, Bonnie Henn, and Anne Rowe. Each member was very pleased to see and learn about these household items which belonged to various members of the Iredell family. The members were very enthusiastic about what they did. Añne Rowe thanked all who participated in a fun and interesting Day of Service.
STITCHING NORTH CAROLINA'S STORY
Once again history is being made at the historic Chowan Courthouse. Embroiderers have commenced a 12 ,month long hand embroidery project illustrating North carolina's role in the American Revolution. The undertaking will be conducted throughout North Carolina in conjunction with sites across the original 13 colonies.
The North Carolina tapestry panel illustrates the Edenton Tea Party, a significant moment early in the Revolutionary movement.
The panel depicts a group of women gathered outside the Chowan County Courthouse in 1774 debating and discussing a document symbolizing their political resolve. The event is considered one of the earliest recorded instances of organized political actions by women in the American colonies.
The Edenton Tea Party was organized by Penelope Barker and involved 51 women who signed a resolution to boycott British goods including tea and textiles. This act was in protest of the Tea Act of 1773 and other oppressive measures imposed by the British Crown. The women pledged their support for the resolutions passed by the North Carolina Provincial Congress, which aimed to resist British taxation without representation
The resolution, known as the "Edenton Resolves," declared the women's commitment to abstain from British imports until unjust laws were repealed. It emphasized their duty to protect the "safety and happiness" of their county and demonstrated their solidarity with broader colonial resistance efforts.
While ridiculed in England through satirical cartoons, it was celebrated in the colonies as an act of patriotism. These women not only supported the revolutionary cause but placed themselves at great risk by publicly asserting their political agency.
Upon completion, America's Tapestry will debut on the country's 250th anniversary celebration at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William and Mary it will travel to other universities.
CHRISTMAS BOW ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN
PICTURING WASHINGTON'S ARMY
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE WEEKEND...THE FOOD BANK NEEDS HELP
FARMERS MARKET CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
The Edenton Farmers market Christmas Festival will have over 30 vendors offering local holiday gift ideas...
UPCOMING NOVEMBER EVENTS
ALBEMARLE QUEEN THANKSGIVING CRUISE
ALBEMARLE QUEEN THANKSGIVING CRUISE
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CHOWAN FFA POINSETTIA FUNDRAISER
ALBEMARLE QUEEN THANKSGIVING CRUISE
EDENTON'S 'ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS' PARADE
EDENTON'S 'ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS' PARADE
MORE NOVEMBER EVENTS
THE GARDEN OF EDEN CLUB PRELUDE TO THE HOLIDAYS
CHOWAN ARTS COUNCIL NOVEMBER EVENTS
Holiday Tent, Halloween Party, Wreath Making Workshop ...
THE HERRINGBONE EVENT TENT- HOLIDAY GATHERINGS
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Thanksgiving Dinner with the Queen
DEP WORKSHOP SERIES, RESTORATION, WREATHS, & FLOWER ARRANGING
DEP WORKSHOP SERIES, RESTORATION, WREATHS, & FLOWER ARRANGING
STORIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
REGULATOR MARINE DONATES, ECU BALL PICS
REGULATOR MARINE DONATES, ECU BALL PICS
REGULATOR MARINE DONATES, ECU BALL PICS
FARMERS MARKET APPRECIATION
REGULATOR MARINE DONATES, ECU BALL PICS
REGULATOR MARINE DONATES, ECU BALL PICS
LAW ENFORCEMENT DINNER, AWARDS
REGULATOR MARINE DONATES, ECU BALL PICS
LAW ENFORCEMENT DINNER, AWARDS
NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
EYC CELEBRATES 50 YEARS SMOOTH SAILING
READY ABOUT,PREPARE TO TACK INTO THE NEXT 50 YEARS
ART COUNCIL COSTUME ARTISTS SHOW OFF
ART COUNCIL COSTUME ARTISTS SHOW OFF
COWBOYS, PIRATES, ARTISTS GATHER FOR COSTUME AFFAIR