Stories and photos by WINGATE LASSITER unless credited otherwise
(Click on highlighted link to e-mail the editor)
 

... even though it's going to be bone-chilling cold outside, with the forecast calling for high temperatures in the 30s both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! But no matter: May your days be merry and bright with warm hearts to keep you and yours in a joyous place.
 

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The winner – a residence in West Smithfield's Rose Manor neighborhood – was chosen by the public's "likes" on the Town of Smithfield Facebook page.
 

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New JCC president is coming here from Illinois

Johnston Community College and its Board of Trustees announced last Friday that Vern Lindquist will be the college’s fourth president. Dr. Lindquist was chosen from five finalists who were part of an extensive search led by a committee of internal and external stakeholders and Executive Leadership Associates.

Lindquist comes to JCC from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois. He has served as Vice President of Academics at Lincoln Land for five years. Dr. Lindquist has nearly 30 years of experience in higher education, including almost two decades as an instructor at a community college.

The North Carolina Board of Community Colleges approved the recommendation for Dr. Lindquist’s hire at its meeting on December 16.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Lindquist has accepted the position," said JCC Board of Trustees Chair Lyn T. Austin. "The board believes Dr. Lindquist is the right person to lead JCC during this time of great growth in Johnston County and on our campuses.”

“We would also like to thank the trustees, faculty, staff, and community members who dedicated their efforts to this search or provided us with valuable feedback,” Mrs. Austin added.

Dr. Lindquist and his wife Lisa have been married for 35 years. They have two grown children. He begins his new role at JCC on January 16.

EDITOR'S NOTE: JCC's former presidents were the late John Tart (1969-1998), followed by Don Reichard (1999-2009) and David Johnson (2009-2022).
 

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Holding Foundation boosts Youth Zone campaign

The Robert P. Holding Foundation has contributed $250,000 to the Youth Zone, a campaign of the Johnston Health Foundation to renovate an existing space inside Johnston Medical Mall for children participating in the Healthy Kids program at HealthQuest Fitness & Wellness Center. As the head of First Citizens Bank & Trust Company when it was founded and headquartered in Smithfield, Mr. Holding was a trustee of Johnston Memorial Hospital (now UNC Health Johnston) in its early days (The hospital opened in December 1951; Mr. Holding died in 1957). On hand for the ceremonial check presentation earlier this month were (pictured above, left to right) Amanda Johnson, Foundation development specialist; Tom Williams, CEO and president of UNC Health Johnston; April Culver, vice president of external affairs; Jeff Parlier, senior vice president of retail banking at First Citizens Bank; and Kevin Cielinski, the health-care provider's vice president of finance. (UNC Health photo)
 

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New board members get their school assignments

Each member of the Johnston County Board of Education is assigned a set of schools to be served as part of the duties of the office. Newly elected Board Chair Lyn Andrews updated those assignments following the installation of three new board members last week. Those assignments are now listed on the Johnston County Public Schools website along with photos and contact information for each of the seven board members>


Screenshot from school system's YouTube video of last week's Board of Education meeting shows the new seating arrangement of the members around what they call "the horseshoe": (left to right) Ronald Johnson, Kay Carroll, Kevin Donovan, Superintendent Eric Bracy, Board Chair Lyn Andrews, Vice Chair Terry Tippett, Mike Wooten, and Michelle Antoine.
 

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WHAT'S COMING UP?

Happy Birthday, Ava Gardner (she would have been 100 Dec. 24)

The Ava Gardner Museum in Downtown Smithfield has been observing the upcoming anniversary of the movie star's birth over the past several months with special events. She was born on Christmas Even in 1922 at her parents' home in the "Grabtown" section of the Brogden farm community east of Smithfield. Shown below is a view of the stunning mural added this past year to the exterior side wall of the Market Street museum, featuring several portraits of the "Hollywood goddess" over the years. It was done by a Greensboro artist known as "Jeks One" (shown standing beneath his creation). Ava died in 1990 in London, where she spent her final years. Her grave is located in West Smithfield's Sunset Memorial Park.



Government holidays this Friday, Monday, and Tuesday

With Christmas Eve on Saturday and Christmas Day on Sunday, state and local government holidays in North Carolina will be observed this Friday and next Monday and Tuesday. The federal holiday for Christmas is Monday, Dec. 26 only. Monday, January 2 will be the New Year's holiday for federal, state, and local public agencies. An exception: Smithfield's Recreation & Aquatics Center, normally open seven days a week, will be closed only on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

What about garbage and trash collection during the holidays?
Town of Smithfield holidays will put off collections the next two Mondays for many residents of South Smithfield until the following Wednesdays. The Public Works recycling site will be closed Saturday (Christmas Eve), open again next Wednesday.
County of Johnston services, including the landfill and solid-waste convenience centers, will be closed this Saturday (Christmas Eve) and next Monday. The landfill and convenience sites will also be closed on Monday, January 2.
 

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Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!

Call Pernell.com
to make sure you're ready
for more wintry days ahead.

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DEATHS & FUNERALS

Click on the name to read an obituary, usually posted by the funeral home

TONY BLAKE HAMILTON, 67 – died December 21

ROBERT EARL JORDAN, 71 – died December 20

SHIRLEY ARNOLD LEE, 70 – died December 19

ROSE MARIE (DIAMOND) NASH LEE, 85 – died December 19

PATRICIA GAIL THOMPSON BIZZELL, 71– died December 18

YVONNE L. (OMMIE) NIXON, 82 – died December 17

CLARA IMOGENE COATS BIJOLLE, 84 – died December 16

DAVID WAYNE SEXTON, 62 – died December 16

GERALD BENJAMIN WEAVER, 88 – died December 15

ANN A. LAURA IVEY WALLACE, 88 – died December 14

KATHERINE MICHELLE WILKINS, 28 – died December 10

JACKIE LOU BRIDGES UPTON, 81 – died December 6
 

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A WORD (OR TWO) FROM THE EDITOR

Longfellow's lyrics disturb our Christmas faith

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" in the midst of this nation's Civil War in 1863, not long after he had received word that his son had been seriously wounded in battle while serving in the Union Army. His message of hope amidst despair still rings true today as our nation once again wrestles with bigotry and hatred and violence of alarming proportions. Here's the heart of Longfellow's famous poem (abridged):

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet
    The words repeat 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! . . .

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
    "For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."


Speaking of faith, the Weekly Sun continues a family newspaper tradition with our annual re-publishing of that most famous of Christmas editorials:
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus. READ IT ONCE MORE HERE>
 

Simpler can be better when it comes to messaging

A seasonal example of that is this yard ornament outside a residence at the corner of South First and Wellons streets:



Enough said!
 

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