Briefly
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on October 12, 2004 1:58 PM
N.C. teacher of the year
North Carolina's teacher of the year will speak at Mount Olive College on Oct. 25.
Lizbeth Alfaro will address members of the Prospective Teacher's Association in the Hennessee Room of the Lois K. Murphy Regional Center at Mount Olive College at 6:30 p.m.
Ms. Alfaro teaches English as a Second Language at Lyle Creek Elementary School in Catawba County. She has taught in Costa Rica and in North Carolina for the past 14 years.
The event is free to the public. For more information, call Linda Greenwood, director of the college's career center, at 658-2502.
'Fair share' finalist
Al Bullock, an employee with Wayne County government, is the sixth finalist in United Way's Fair Share Challenge who is eligible to win a new truck.
Five more people who have given their "fair share" to United Way will be picked by Nov. 13 to have a chance in the drawing. Fair share is one hour's pay per month or one percent of annual salary.
On Nov. 20, each of the 11 finalists will pick a key in the order that they qualified. The finalist whose key starts the truck will win.
Holiday open house
Downtown Mount Olive merchants are planning another holiday open house.
The Second Annual Holiday Open House is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 in downtown Mount Olive.
The first one held last November had 14 merchants participating, said the chairman of the committee planning the event, Charles Brown of Southern Furniture and Interiors.
The committee is planning a return of the carolers, a fashion show at Oliver's Railroad Grille and the storefront window decorating contest.
A new addition will be a contest to award the person who comes up with the best catchy name for downtown Mount Olive. Downtown merchants are also buying a bicycle to give away.
Non-perishable foods that are brought to the Open House will be given away to a food pantry.
Chili cook-off
A chili cook-off will be held Nov. 6 during the second annual Princeton Veterans Day celebration.
Tammy Holt, the cook-off organizer, said the first-prize winner will receive $100 and a trophy, the second-place finisher will get $75 and the third-place winner will get $50. The people's choice and showmanship winners also will receive trophies.
The judges will include Bob Garner of WUNC-TV and Linwood Parker of White Swan Barbecue.
Ms. Holt said contestants will be allowed to set up their stands at 6 a.m. and prepare their food at 6:30 a.m. Judging will begin at 11:30 a.m. The chili may be sold at noon. Customers who buy chili may vote on the people's choice award until 1:30 p.m.
Ms. Holt has more information at 919-936-3113.
Living history
Discover what life was like on a typical 1870s farm on Living History Wednesday at Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site in Fremont.
Starting Wednesday and repeating on Wednesdays through Nov. 17, costumed interpreters will demonstrate the skills needed for successful farm living.
About 1,000 elementary school students from Wayne, Johnston, Lenoir, Nash, Wake and Onslow counties already are registered. The public also is invited, but reservations are required.
Interpreters will show the skills of weaving, spinning, clothes washing, and sheep shearing. Students also will see the effort involved in open-hearth cooking, corn shelling and grinding, corn shuck mop making, and more. Period toys and school yard games also will be shown.
The site is along U.S. 117 in Fremont. For further information or reservations, call 242-8851 or go to www.aycockbirthplace.nchistoricsites.org.