Feelings and Visions Shared Through Young Eyes

In her quest to  introduce the community to all forms of art, Chowan Art Center Director Meredith Timberlake collaborated with John A. Holmes English teacher Malorie Stockwell and renowned NC Poet Phillip Shabazz for a week long Artist in School residency. The program included a freshman English honor student workshop. Introducing more literary art to the community is one of Timberlake’s major focuses.  

Students spent time in the residency exploring the art of poetry, while reading works from other poets.  

Shabazz is considered a teaching artist and has built and outstanding, extensive and respected career around his teaching, his personality and his ability to share the personal importance of the craft.  

His writings express the diversity life has to offer along with the challenges everyone will eventually face on their own level. His teaching explore examples of his work,  and those written feelings of others. His methodology inspires personal transparency within relationships between friends, family, fear and foe.  

Stockwell and Shabazz had a positive effect on the young poets. One mother approached Shabazz after the readings and commented about how much more positive and outgoing her son’s personality was after the week of poetry.

Shabazz’ teaching style could be considered contagious. The experience of sharing feelings together and being honest about those feelings created a bond, possibly lifelong.  

Holmes High School Principal Sonya Rinehart, family, friends, and passers-by gathered at the CAC to listen as the students shared their feelings.  

Rinehart offered words of praise for Shabazz and the students.

Timberlake was enthused about the event and how many parents, relatives and friends took part. She looks to bring all type pf arts to the community, and make them accessible for all to enjoy.

“It was wonderful to see such a full house at the CAC for the event. It was a wonderful afternoon,” said Timberlake.  

Once again Lynwood Winslow accompanied by Jackie Copeland Directed the Albemarle Chorale through the Rodgers and Hammerstein Oklahoma songbook to the delight of a packed Edenton United Methodist Church. The organization is made up of dedicated members who pay to participate in the chorale. They donate their time and money to be able to entertain the community. The Chorale also accepts donations. To get a slight taste of the performance watch the video below. 

Steady winds hovering above 10m.p.h.  and white capped water churned Edenton harbor Saturday morning making the annual Blessing of the Fleet a bit more interesting for the clergy, skippers and crew of the 13 boats participating in the yearly tradition. Sponsored by the Edenton Yacht Club.

The Rev. Melody Perdue of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church along with Father Jonathan Tobias of Eastern Orthodox Fellowship fought wind in the face to sprinkle each vessel and skipper with Holy Water. The aspergillums were rapidly arched from high above the shoulder to turn the sprinkle into a shower. Both Rev. Perdue and Father Tobias would have made Catfish Hunter proud. They accomplished what they had aimed for in blessing the fleet.

Classic, traditional, contemporary sail, power and pontoon boats navigated the chop and paraded past the breakwater each offering thanks in passing.  

As the boats passed, Rev. Perdue offered each a blessing and added ‘fair winds and following seas’ at the suggestion of her husband, active duty Navy Chaplain Hayes Perdue.

Before the skippers gathered at Pembroke Creek Daybeacon 4, over 300 hungry pancake enthusiasts gathered at the Edenton Baptist Church to support the EBYC.  

Pastor Koby Strawser and Associate Pastor Marisa Woodley greeted the many guests enjoying the pancake breakfast. A group of sign holding pancake breakfast influencers enticed hungry Edentonians to join the many pancake flippers for breakfast.  

Later in the day, the activities continued with a Fancy Hat Kentucky Derby party at Greybeards Cigar Bar. Mint Julep sipping Secretariat enthusiasts enjoyed an afternoon of Kentucky, Bourbon, wide brimmed hats all within driving distance of home.

Throughout the afternoon and evening, the sounds of the Rockfish Festival mingled with the high pitch of the pines to send notes up Broad St. adding to Edenton’s recent flurry of night life.