VOLUNTEER TUTORS HELP GUIDE THE FUTURE
OPTIMISTIC RACERS PADDLED, PEDALED AND PLODDED THROUGH EDENTON
RECORD NUMBER TRY THE TRIATHLON
COMMUNITY GATHERS TO CHEER, SUPPORT
More than 70 paddlers, cyclists and runners took to the scenic landscapes and waterways of Edenton and Chowan County Saturday as the annual Paddle, Pedal, Plod race drew a record turnout in support of a meaningful local cause.
Organizers reported that 73 participants competed in this year’s event, which benefits the DeVine Intervention Cancer Fund, a program dedicated to assisting local individuals and families facing cancer-related hardships. Event coordinators said contributions and donations raised during the race will help continue the organization’s mission of supporting residents throughout Chowan County.
“First and foremost, thank you to all who came out today to participate in our race and to allow us to support Chowan County,” organizers shared following the event. “We are stoked that some of you drove quite a ways to enjoy the beauty that Edenton and Chowan County has to offer.”
The strong turnout exceeded expectations and highlighted the growing popularity of the multi-sport event, which combines recreation, wellness and community spirit while showcasing some of the area’s most picturesque scenery.
Participants tackled three unique race segments that could be completed individually or as part of a relay team. The race began with “The Paddle,” a two-mile kayak course through the calm waters of Edenton Bay. Kayakers launched into the morning waters beneath cloudy skies as spectators lined portions of the shoreline and Queen Ann Bridge cheering them on.
From there, competitors transitioned to “The Pedal,” a scenic 15-mile bicycle ride winding through the rural backroads and countryside of Chowan County. Riders traveled through open farmland and historic areas before returning toward downtown Edenton.
The event concluded with “The Plod,” a 5K run and walk that carried participants through one of Edenton’s historic homesteads, Hayes Farm, before crossing the finish line to applause from supporters and volunteers.
The day’s success was made possible through the efforts of numerous sponsors, volunteers and community organizations. Organizers extended special thanks to major sponsors including Regulator Marine, ECU Health Chowan Hospital, Carrera Painting and Kellogg Supply Company.
Additional support came from the Town of Edenton, Edenton Police Department, Chowan County Sheriff’s Office, Chowan County Recreation Department, Boy Scout Troop 164 and Rachel Lee for her extensive assistance with coordinating the event.
The atmosphere throughout the day reflected both competition and camaraderie as experienced athletes and first-time participants shared the course together. Brightly colored kayaks filled the waterfront while cyclists and runners enjoyed ideal weather conditions that many described as perfect for the event.
Organizers said the race continues to grow each year not only because of the challenging and scenic course, but because participants understand the importance of the cause behind it.
By day’s end, volunteers and racers alike celebrated another successful Paddle, Pedal, Plod — one that combined fitness, fellowship and philanthropy while once again highlighting the natural beauty and strong sense of community that define Edenton and Chowan County.
RUNNER APPROACHING
Though out the race volunteer Paul Buckout presented runners with final race tags securing their place in the final standings. Runners gave the tag to other volunteers Lincoln Adams and Julia Townsend owners of The Peanut Factory,
VOLUNTEER TUTORS SHAPE THE FUTURE
Inside the Tutor Room at the Edenton Boys & Girls Club of the Albemarle, students gathered around tables this week working through math problems, reading assignments and homework with the help of a dedicated team of volunteer tutors who continue to make a lasting impact on local children.
The afternoon tutoring program pairs young students with community volunteers who provide one-on-one academic assistance in subjects such as reading and math while also offering encouragement, mentorship and personal attention in a supportive learning environment.
Photographs from the tutoring sessions showed volunteers sitting alongside students as they practiced addition problems, reviewed word lists and worked through classroom assignments together. In one session, tutor Bruce Rutland assisted two students with math worksheets, while other volunteers helped children with reading exercises and homework review.
The volunteer tutoring team includes Julie Tunney, Anne Van Benschoten, Bruce Rutland, Kathy Masters and Jim Butler. Also pictured with the group was Liz Brentjens, Youth Connect Coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of the Albemarle.
Many of the volunteers have dedicated years of service to the organization and its students. Jim Butler has volunteered with the tutoring program for approximately 20 years, reflecting the long-term commitment many tutors have made to supporting local youth.
The tutoring program is part of the Boys & Girls Club of the Albemarle’s broader mission “to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full
potential as responsible, productive and caring citizens.”
Club leaders say the Tutor Room provides students with more than academic support. The setting also helps children develop confidence, improve communication skills and build positive relationships with caring adults who encourage them to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
With a focus on academic success, character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles, the Boys & Girls Club works to provide young people ages 6 to 18 with a safe and positive environment filled with supportive relationships, opportunities, recognition and fun.
Throughout the afternoon sessions, students could be seen smiling proudly as they completed assignments and shared their work with volunteers.
Organizers say the volunteer tutors play an important role in helping students stay engaged academically while also giving parents confidence that their children are receiving additional support after school.
The Edenton Boys & Girls Club of the Albemarle continues to rely on community volunteers whose dedication and consistency help strengthen the educational opportunities available to local children each day.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB VOLUNTEERS OFFER HELP AND GUIDANCE
EVENTS NOT TO BE MISSED
PREPARE FOR THE FLOATING TEA PARTY
PREPARE FOR THE FLOATING TEA PARTY
PREPARE FOR THE FLOATING TEA PARTY
FARMERS MARKET SUMMER FESTIVAL
PREPARE FOR THE FLOATING TEA PARTY
PREPARE FOR THE FLOATING TEA PARTY
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OPTIMIST CLUB NEEDS SUPPORT
PREPARE FOR THE FLOATING TEA PARTY
ROCCO'S LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME
ROCCO'S LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME
ROCCO'S LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME
BLESSING OF THE FLEET, MAY 30
COMMUNITY SAILING BEGINS
DAR ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON HONORS MANY
NEW OFFICERS INDUCTED
The spirit of service, preservation and patriotism was celebrated during the recent May Awards Luncheon hosted by the Edenton Tea Party Chapter of the North Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in Edenton.
The annual luncheon brought together chapter members, award recipients and guests for an afternoon recognizing individuals who have made lasting contributions to historic preservation, community service and civic leadership throughout the region.
Held under the sponsorship of the Edenton Tea Party Chapter NSDAR, the luncheon featured a full program of presentations and recognitions highlighting the chapter’s ongoing commitment to honoring service and preserving local and national history.
Bonnie T. Henn, Regent of the Edenton Tea Party Chapter NSDAR, welcomed attendees to the event. Clara Patton King, chapter chaplain, delivered the invocation, while Reva Hinson led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. Caroline Butler, the chapter’s Historic Preservation Chair, presented the American’s Creed as part of the program.
The luncheon also recognized the work of the May Luncheon Award Committee, which included Reva Hinson, Kay Caveney, Claudia Dodson, Caroline Butler and Nicole Dalton.
One of the featured presentations of the afternoon was the Presentation of Excellence in Historic Preservation. Caroline Butler presented the honor to Dr. Benjamin Speller and the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation.
Several additional awards recognizing leadership and service were presented throughout the luncheon. Bonnie Henn presented the Outstanding Senior Award to Sandy Sperry and also presented the Hannah White Arnett Award to Jay Henn.
The Hannah White Arnett Medal is one of DAR’s newest recognitions. It may be awarded to a member in good standing of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) or Sons of the Revolution (S.R.) for unselfish devotion, tireless efforts, and assistance to the DAR; and who has dedicated his time, energy, talents, and/or resources to the organization in support and furtherance of the DAR mission of historic preservation, education and patriotism.
The Women in History Recognition presentation was made by Bonnie Henn and honored Virginia Wood and Beth Taylor for their contributions and dedication to preserving and sharing history within the community.
Community service also remained a central theme throughout the afternoon. Reva Hinson and Kay Caveney presented Community Service Awards to Anne Rowe and Karen Foley for their volunteerism and efforts benefiting the local community.
The luncheon additionally highlighted honors and awards recently received by chapter members and the Edenton Tea Party Chapter during the state conference, recognizing the local chapter’s continued involvement and leadership within the North Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
The program concluded with the installation of officers led by Clara King, followed by announcements, closing remarks from Bonnie Henn and a benediction offered by Clara King.
Throughout the event, the recurring themes of patriotism, volunteerism, education and historic preservation reflected the longstanding mission of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Organizers noted that the luncheon serves not only as a time of recognition, but also as an opportunity to celebrate the people and organizations working to preserve the history and character of Edenton and surrounding communities for future generations.
The annual luncheon continues to be one of the chapter’s signature events, bringing together members and residents who share a commitment to honoring America’s heritage through community involvement and public service.
SPELLER HONORED
DR. BENJAMIN SPELLER WAS HONORED WEDNESDAY FOR HIS LIFETIME OF VOLUNTEER WORK
UPCOMING EVENTS NOT TO BE MISSED
You Are Cordially Invited
John A. Holmes High School Principal Sonya Rinehart is inviting the community to get a first look at the future of education during a special Community Open House on Friday, July 24, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Residents, students, alumni and families will have the opportunity to tour the brand new school campus, meet staff members and celebrate the opening of the state-of-the-art facility that will serve generations of students to come.
Organizers say the event is designed to showcase the school’s modern learning spaces while welcoming the community into a new chapter for John A. Holmes High School. Guests are encouraged to explore the campus, connect with educators and experience the vision for the future of education in Chowan County.
School officials say they look forward to welcoming the public for this exciting milestone event.
HERITAGE FARM FEST JUNE 6
Step back in time and celebrate rural heritage at the 2026 Heritage Farm Fest, taking place Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 131 Morristown Road in Edenton. Hosted by the Heritage Association, the family-friendly event will showcase the traditions, craftsmanship and agricultural roots that helped shape eastern North Carolina.
Visitors can enjoy antique tractors, horse and mule demonstrations, blacksmithing, cooking demos, face painting, wagon rides, pedal tractors, open-fire cooking, barrel train rides and much more throughout the day. Heritage demonstrations and hands-on activities will offer guests a glimpse into life on the farm from generations past.
The free event is designed for all ages and promises a day filled with history, education and old-fashioned fun in a welcoming country setting. Whether you enjoy farming history, artisan crafts or simply spending time with family outdoors, Heritage Farm Fest offers something for everyone.
ADACHI REVIEWS SHREK
SHREK, Back on the Big Screen for its 25th Anniversary
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Shrek’s cinematic debut, and Universal has decided to redistribute the film across the country, including right here in little old Edenton. I doubt that anyone under 30 will have seen Shrek on the big screen but now would be the perfect opportunity to do so. It would be worth the small investment.
Shrek is an ogre, hated and feared by all in town. He enjoys his solitary life in the swamp until the tyrannical Lord Farquaad banishes a bunch of fairy-tale creatures to Shrek’s swamp. In return for removing the creatures from Shrek’s home, Lord Farquaad demands that Shrek rescue Princess Fiona who is being held prisoner in a dragon-guarded castle tower. Shrek and his companion Donkey successfully free Fiona, and that’s when Shrek and Fiona fall in love.
As promising as that romantic storyline might be, the relationship worth following is that between Shrek, voiced by Michael Myers, and Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy, who is given the best lines in the film and makes the most of it. The hilarious ongoing banter between the two won the film an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and Shrek became the first film to win an Oscar for Best Animated Film. There are many memorable lines in the film. One of my favorites: “It’s rude enough being alive when no one wants you, but showing up uninvited to a wedding?”
By the way, Shrek’s physical features were heavily inspired by Maurice Tillet, a real-life French professional wrestler from the 1940s known as "The French Angel". Tillet suffered from a condition causing bones to grow disproportionately, resulting in a unique facial structure that DreamWorks animators reportedly used as a reference for the iconic ogre. I suppose in a rather perverse way, Mr Tillet would have been proud of the honor bestowed upon him.
Editor's note: Darryl Adachi is a longtime Edenton resident. Adachi blends sharp wit, cinematic insight, and hometown charm into movie reviews that are as entertaining as the films themselves.
Weather Update-MAY 22 - 28
HISTORIC EDENTON, NORTH CAROLINA 7-DAY WEATHER OUTLOOK
📍 Historic Edenton North Carolina — 7-Day Weather Outlook:
Friday, May 22 — Thursday, May 28, 2026
Friday
🌤️ Partly sunny and pleasant
High: ~77°F • Low: ~60°F
Comfortable late-spring conditions.
Saturday
🌦️ Mostly cloudy with scattered showers
High: ~73°F • Low: ~62°F
Occasional rain possible during the afternoon.
Sunday
🌧️ Cloudy with periods of rain
High: ~71°F • Low: ~61°F
Cooler and damp through much of the day.
Monday
🌦️ Mostly cloudy with lingering showers
High: ~74°F • Low: ~59°F
A few showers early, then gradual improvement.
Tuesday
🌤️ Partly sunny and seasonable
High: ~76°F • Low: ~58°F
Drier air and improving skies.
Wednesday
☀️ Mostly sunny and warm
High: ~80°F • Low: ~61°F
A pleasant warming trend returns.
Thursday
🌤️ Partly sunny and warm
High: ~82°F • Low: ~63°F
Late-May warmth settles back in.
🌟 Weekly Outlook Summary 🌟
A cooler and wetter pattern develops across Edenton heading into the Memorial Day weekend, with clouds and scattered rain chances dominating Saturday through Monday. Temperatures remain below the summer-like warmth experienced earlier in the month, with highs mostly in the lower to mid 70s.
Conditions improve gradually by Tuesday as drier air returns and sunshine becomes more common. By mid to late week, temperatures rebound into the upper 70s and lower 80s, bringing a more typical late-May feel back to the Albemarle region.
🧭 Weekly Weather Headlines
• 🌦️ Wet weekend pattern develops
• 🌧️ Coolest weather Sunday
• 🌦️ Lingering showers Memorial Day
• 🌤️ Drier air returns Tuesday
• ☀️ Warmup late week
HISTORIC MARTINIQUE HOUSE TO BEGIN NEW LIFE IN EDENTON
Historic Homes, Cupola, Barker House have a new neighbor adding to Edenton's Story
One thing that can save the deterioration of history is preservation. Case in point is the Martinique house, believed to be the oldest remaining home in northern Chowan County. While that may not seem monumental to some, the future of the home is monumental to many.
The town of Edenton, along with a growing group of preservation advocates, is quickly becoming recognized on the national preservation stage for its efforts to save historic homes, buildings and cultural landmarks. Protecting significant properties has become a major part of the town’s long and impressive history.
For more than seventeen years, the Martinique farmhouse has sat empty in northern Chowan County, slowly deteriorating while preservationists searched for a way to save it. The centuries-old structure had reached a point where action was necessary before the building was potentially lost forever.
The Edenton Historic Preservation Commission voted to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for the proposed relocation of the historic Martinique house from rural Chowan County to Edenton’s waterfront following an extensive public meeting that included both strong support and concerns from residents, preservationists, and community leaders.
Town officials presented the proposal as part of a larger waterfront improvement effort tied to the Harbor Towns project and a partnership involving the Town of Edenton, the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation, and other preservation organizations. The plan would relocate the centuries-old structure to the waterfront near the Penelope Barker House, where it would serve multiple public purposes, including a dock master office, sailing classroom space, visitor gathering area, and maritime education center.
Town Manager Corey Gooden outlined the conceptual site plan, explaining that the proposal would also improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety in the existing waterfront parking area. The redesign would convert the current two-way traffic pattern into a one-way circulation system while adding ADA-accessible crossings and reorganized parking spaces. Officials said the project would ultimately increase parking efficiency while maintaining access to the playground and surrounding public spaces.
Supporters emphasized that the Martinique house represents an important part of Chowan County’s architectural and cultural history. Several speakers noted the home’s connection to maritime history and the story of enslaved Alan Parker who escaped to freedom on the Chowan River. . Preservation advocates argued the structure offers an opportunity to expand how African American history is interpreted along Edenton’s waterfront.
Former Sheriff and current Clerk of Court Dwayne Goodwin spoke about the home’s historic ties to the Winborne family and former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice John Wallace Winborne, who grew up at Martinique. He also expressed support for preserving the structure before further deterioration makes restoration impossible.
Residents questioning the proposal raised concerns about traffic flow, parking loss, tree removal, waterfront views, long-term maintenance costs, and whether the site could physically support the structure. Others questioned whether sufficient funding existed to fully restore the building once relocated and whether the project was moving too quickly. Several speakers also voiced concerns about potential structural impacts on neighboring properties during construction and foundation work.
Town officials and project consultants responded throughout the meeting, explaining that engineering studies, feasibility reviews, and environmental evaluations had already been conducted. Preservation consultant Andrew Ownbey told commissioners the structure had previously been moved and currently sits on beams designed for relocation, adding that professional house movers had determined the building remains structurally capable of being transported again. Officials also stated that commercial-grade foundation engineering and soil evaluations would address concerns about stability at the waterfront location.
Many supporters framed the project as both a preservation effort and an investment in Edenton’s future waterfront use. Sailing advocates, preservation leaders, and tourism representatives described the proposed building as an opportunity to create educational space for youth sailing, public programs, and transient boaters while preserving a historically significant structure that might otherwise be lost.
Edenton Mayor Hackney High addressed the commission near the conclusion of the meeting, encouraging members to focus on the narrow question before them — whether relocating Martinique to the site was historically appropriate. High emphasized that future design details, landscaping, exterior materials, and restoration plans would all return for additional public review before final approval stages.
Following the Historic Preservation Commission’s approval of the COA, the proposal moved to the Edenton Town Council for additional discussion during its May 12 meeting. Council members heard further comments from residents, preservation advocates, and organizations involved in the project before unanimously voting to move forward with the relocation plan.
The unanimous vote marked another significant step in what supporters describe as one of the town’s most ambitious preservation projects in recent years. Additional engineering, restoration, and design review phases are expected as planning for the Martinique relocation continues.
PRESERVATION WITH A PURPOSE...
"Saving Martinique is so important. This 18th century structure will provide a place to teach our youth to sail, give the people that care-for our waterfront a nice office and provide storage for sailboats and equipment. Parking will be improved and the history of Martinique will teach us about our shared past. This is a win/win for Edenton since the move and restoration will be fully-funded by a state grant," said Edenton Town Councilman Sam Dixon.