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Almanac

Want To Mentor?

Communities In Schools of Pitt County helps young people stay in school – with the community’s help.

The CIS program recruits community members to volunteer their time as mentors to children who need a helping hand. CIS statistics show that during the 2004-2005 school year‚ 20‚000 students dropped out of North Carolina’s public schools. Statistics also show that 47 percent of prison inmates in the state are school dropouts.

Communities In Schools assesses the needs of the troubled youth‚ then designs plans to help each child. CIS connects students in need with mentors on a one-time basis or as part of a long-term‚ carefully monitored effort. Visit www.cispittcounty.org.

Fifty Fun(d) Years

It was exactly 50 years ago when 30 citizens got together to start the Pitt County United Fund. Their first campaign to raise money for community needs netted a whopping $89‚958 – not bad by 1958 standards.

Known as the United Way of Pitt County since 1991‚ the organization has grown in strength and stature through the years. UWPC raised more than $2 million in its 2006 fund drive and now serves 43‚000 individuals in need through 19 programs.

“No other single nonprofit touches the number of lives in our local community‚” says Doug Gomes‚ United Way board member and senior vice president of Grady-White Boats‚ Inc.

Not ready to rest on past accomplishments‚ United Way leaders are hard at work on a three-year action plan to address the root causes of problems‚ make lasting changes and improve even more lives.

Fifty Homes and Counting

Happy 50th to the local Habitat for Humanity.

In February 2007‚ the Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County broke ground on its 50th home and unveiled the final product in late 2007.

The Lara-Hernandez family of Pitt County has moved into the three-bedroom house at 612 Ford St. in Greenville.

Habitat of Pitt County was founded in 1990 for the purpose of constructing homes for the underprivileged. Habitat purchases land with community development block grants‚ then supervises the construction of each home. Volunteers provide manpower during the construction process‚ and materials are also either donated by area businesses or sold to Habitat at a discounted price.

The organization also manages Re-Store‚ a non-profit retail business that sells donated building materials and home supplies for discounted rates. The proceeds from Re-Store sales go toward purchasing of land and permits‚ as well as other necessities for building Habitat houses. Re-Store is open Monday-Friday‚ from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Pirates Forever

A century isn’t something to take lightly.

That’s why East Carolina University is taking plenty of time — more than two full years‚ in fact — to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The state legislature voted to create a teacher-training institute in Greenville on March 8‚ 1907. But it wasn’t until Oct. 5 of 1909 that the first students streamed onto campus. To honor that historic time period‚ a series of special events and lectures is continuing on campus through fall 2009.

Also marking the occasion is the publication of two university histories: Promises Kept: East Carolina University‚ 1980-2007 and No Time for Ivy: East Carolina University‚ 1907-2007‚ a pictorial history of the university. The books were written or edited by Henry Ferrell‚ ECU history professor and university historian.

A few little-known facts from the history books: Purple and gold became the university’s colors in about 1916‚ and the pirate logo first appeared in 1934‚ replacing the previous college nickname‚ the Teachers.

Quite a Site

Need information? Chances are you might find what you need by logging onto the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce’s Web site.

The www.greenvillenc.org site has a variety of headers to click on. By doing that‚ visitors can receive information on all the towns in Pitt County as well as health care‚ education‚ a calendar of events and local governments.

Site users can also access a community job bank‚ and there is a chamber members-only section.

A Force in Workforce

Work First ensures a better life for the residents of the Greenville-Pitt County area.

The program helps people get off welfare and into jobs‚ with the support they need to become successful employees. The program also assists companies to acquire extra tax incentives and other benefits if they hire a Work First participant.

Companies who hire employees through Work First are also protected if an employee cannot do the job. The company gives each employee a 100-day probation period‚ and the employer will be not charged on their employment insurance account if such a termination occurs.

Employers can also receive help to cover the cost of public transit or vanpooling for Work First applicants.

Seeing Red – and Purple

Only one rule: They must wear purple clothes and red hats.

The Crimson Dolls is a Greenville chapter of the national Red Hat Society‚ which was formed for women over 50 who just want to meet‚ eat‚ shop and have fun. The Crimson Dolls has 20 members. Whenever the ladies get together‚ the only stipulation is that they wear their purple-and-red ensembles.

On Aug. 25‚ 2007‚ a total of 380 “Red Hats” from throughout North Carolina traveled to Greenville to attend the North Carolina State Queen’s Council meeting. The Crimson Dolls played host for the event at the Hilton Hotel‚ with a day of shopping‚ lunch‚ door prizes and dancing at Wimpie’s Cajun Bar & Grill in Winterville.

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