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Thursday, October 14, 2021
POST Voice Vol. 50, No. 47
The Pender-Topsail
&
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
www.postvoiceonline.com
Mayor of Burgaw PETE
Re-Elect
COWAN
Too early to tell effect of school mask policy on COVID infection rate
Fifty Cents
Committed to the Community, Dedicated to Progress, Proven Leadership Paid for by the candidate.
October busy on Topsail Island
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Health officials say it’s too early to tell if the optional mask policy in Pender County Schools has caused a rise the number of COVID cases. Pender Health Department Director of Nursing Shirley Steele says no increase in symptoms and diagnosis have been observed – but it has only been one week under the new mask policy. “We have had an increase in exposures, and we expected that,” Steele said. “If a student doesn’t have a mask and
Burgaw municipal election candidates speak out on their ideas for the town in the candidates profiles. Read about the candidates on pages 14-15A.
One-Stop Early Voting begins Oct. 14
is exposed, we have to send them home if you can’t determine if they were more than six feet away.” The positive COVID-19 test rate in Pender County con-
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Pender Education Partnership plans event Oct. 21 in Surf City Pender County State of Education and Economy By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer Pender Education Partnership (PEP) invites the public to join them for their annual Pender County State of Education and Economy. The event will be held at The Cove at Salty Turtle Beer Company in Surf City on Oct. 21 from 5:307:30 p.m. Salty Turtle refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and there will be time for socializing before the presentation begins at 6 p.m. “We welcome business leaders, our chambers of commerce, elected officials, and parents of Pender County students to the State of Education and Economy,” said Tammie Parris, PEP President. “Our first two State of Education and Economy events were well attended.” The purpose of the event is to update the public on the
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Burgaw Candidates profiles pages 14-15A
status of education and economy in Pender County. Guest speakers will be PCS Superintendent Dr. Steven Hill, CFCC President Jim Morton, and Pender County Manager Chad McEwen. Topics of discussion will be centered on Pender County educational data and economic data. “The focus of SOE/SOE is to raise enough funds to fully cover mini-grants that need sponsorship. This is a chance for our chambers, business partners, local government, public citizens, and honestly, anyone who wants to make a donation to PEP to support these creative, educational ideas that Pender County teachers submit by way of application for books, supplies, technology, etc. that the state funds will not cover,” said Parris. All teachers who have submitted an application and have been selected have been invited to attend, and will be available to share specifics about the project or idea that funds are
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Photo by Eric Vithalani
Musicians perform live on stage at Ocean Fest in Surf City last Friday night. Topsail Island has several more events this month, with Autumn with Topsail this Saturday and Sunday, and Surf City Fall Fest at Soundside Park Oct. 23.
One-stop early voting begins Oct. 14 and runs through Oct. 30, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 30 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Voting will be held in Burgaw at the Cooperative Extension Office 801 S. Walker St. Burgaw. St. Helena will not offer One-stop early voting. For more information, call the Pender County Board of Elections office at 259.1220.
Autumn with Topsail back in 2021 For the 32nd year, art and music lovers will gather in Topsail Beach, North Carolina at the Autumn with Topsail (AWT) Festival. The festival takes place, rain or shine, Oct.15 from 5-8:30 p.m., Oct. 16 from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Oct. 17 from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Historic Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd. Proceeds from the festival support the Historical Society of Topsail Island, a volunteer non-profit organization that owns and operates the Assembly Building and Missiles and More Museum. New this year, Autumn with Topsail will expand the festival to another evening of live music, food, libations, and fun. The Friday night schedule includes The Notorious Clam Slammers who will kick off the festival with a performance from 6-8:30 p.m. Food trucks and the Beer & Wine tent will be open. Admission for Friday night’s festivities is $5. All Friday night tickets are sold at the main gate only
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starting at 5 p.m. Please note the craft vendors are not open on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday’s juried art festival will feature arts and crafts from a variety of categories including oils,
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acrylic, charcoal, photography, ceramics, glass, metal, pottery, woodworking, leather, fiber, wool, musical instruments, jewelry, and much more. The festival selects the best art vendors for your shopping pleasure. Live bands performing at the festival this year include: •The Notorious Clam Slammers on Friday evening from 6-8:30 p.m. •The Carolina Band will take the stage on Saturday noon, followed at 5 p.m. by the North Tower Band. •The Band of Oz will perform Sunday afternoon, 1-4 p.m. In addition to art and live music, our food court offers a large selection of local vendors cooking on the festival grounds. Snacks and sweets will be available alongside traditional options. There are always plenty of tables and chairs for diners to relax and enjoy their food along with a
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