YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1978 w w w. j a m e s t o w n n e w s . c o m
weekly edition
June 3-9, 2026
Vol 48 No 23 | 1 Section | 6 Pages
Dowling continues educational career at Millis Road Elementary By NORMA B. DENNIS FREELANCE WRITER ndworddesign@gmail.com If anyone understands how the past can shape one’s future it is Maggie Dowling. As a child, she loved school and wanted to become a teacher. School, however was really difficult for her due to a significant learning disability in reading. “Through some champion educators, my parents advocating and a lot of hard work I am able to close that gap,” said Dowling. “Because of my own
Maggie Dowling experience and educational journey as a child, I knew I wanted to be that champion educator and advocate for students.” As of July 1, Dowling will be the new principal at Millis Road Elementary School in Jamestown,
continuing to build on a 15-year career in education. She comes to Millis Road from Southwest Elementary School where she was assistant principal. Dowling began teaching in a self-contained exceptional children’s class at Southern Middle School. The class supported students with autism and behavioral needs. When she began to see a direct correlation between effective leadership and improved student outcomes, she decided to become a principal. “I observed how strong school leaders create the
conditions for both students and staff to thrive,” Dowling said. “I realized that by serving as a principal, I could expand my impact beyond a single classroom and help create an environment where every student has access to high-quality instruction and every staff member feels supported and empowered.” As an educator, Dowling thoroughly believes that elementary education plays a critical role in shaping a child’s future. It is during this time that students develop the initial academic, social, emotional
and behavioral skills that will influence their success throughout their educational journey and beyond. It is here that children learn to read, build mathematical reasoning, develop problem-solving skills and establish habits as learners. “Beyond academics, elementary schools help students develop confidence, resilience, communication skills and positive relationships with peers and adults,” she said. “These early experiences often shape how students view themselves as learners and can influence their long-term attitudes
toward school and achievement.” This groundwork that leads to future learning, strong relationships and a positive school culture is essential. “When students experience success and support early in their educational journey, they are more likely to remain engaged, achieve at higher levels and pursue opportunities that positively impact their future,” Dowling said. As she nears her duties as principal at Millis Road see dowling, page 2
Honor, heart sewn into every quilt Compiled By Norma B. Dennis and Carol Brooks Fifth budget workshop The Town Council’s fifth budget workshop will be held June 4 at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Civic Center at Town Hall. Note the earlier time. Fiber Arts Day The Historic Jamestown Society will hold Fiber Arts Day June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mendenhall Homeplace, 603 W. Main St., Jamestown, across from City Lake Park. Many crafters will also be on hand to show their wares and demonstrate spinning. Church begins summer schedule Sedgefield Presbyterian Church, 4216 Wayne Road, Greensboro, is beginning its summer schedule June 7. Sunday school will be paused for the summer and the worship service will begin at 10 a.m. A time for refreshments and fellowship will be held following the morning worship. GCS principal supervisor Jennifer Cooper, principal at Millis Road Elementary School since 2020, has been promoted to the position of principal supervisor for Guilford County Schools. Cooper was a 2024-2025 Principal of the Year finalist. Planning Board The Jamestown Planning Board will have their regular meeting on Monday, June 8, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 301 East Main Street. The public is invited to attend. Have an event that you think needs to be included in About Town? Email Norma B. Dennis at ndworddesign@gmail.com or Carol Brooks at cab1hp@gmail.com
By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com The proverb “Big things come in small packages” can apply to the work of Marcia Pearce. She makes lap quilts, 35x42 inches, for veterans on the Triad Flights of Honor. She applies a small purple heart to quilts destined for those who had received a Purple Heart in service. Perhaps the biggest thing, however, is Pearce’s heart. “I get a warm feeling when I give out the quilts,” Pearce said. “I love to hear back from the veterans.” One veteran recently said she uses her quilt all the time. “We’re blanketing (the veterans) in love and honor,” said Alison Huber, executive director of Triad Honor Flight, in a recent interview. “They’re always shocked when we hand out the quilts. They just don’t understand why they’re all getting quilts made with so much love.” While she has been quilting for 20 years, Pearce started making the veterans’ lap quilts in 2022. Both her son and daughter were in the Air Force and she wanted to do her part for the veterans. Her friend, Shelby Kline, was involved with the Marcia Pearce’s T-shirt says it all. Honor Flight and got Pearce involved. She already had several yards of leftover patriotic fabric, day in D.C. All the veterso she got to work and ended up with 93 ans on the flight, not the lap quilts for the spring flight that year. guardians, get a quilt.” There are usually 100 veterans on the To date, she and her flights. helper Susan Causey have “They were going to give [the quilts donated their time and to the veterans] on the way home but the labor to make approxiplane was so cold, they handed them out mately 1,000 of the quilts. By the end of before they left the Greensboro airport,” the year that number should rise to 1,166. Pearce said. “They were all excited. They A few friends have donated to the project. were warm. A couple of them in wheelchairs kept the quilt on them the whole see quilt, page 2
Photos by Carol Brooks
(At left) Marcia Pearce holds up one of her lap quilts, ready for the next Honor Flight. (Above) Purple hearts adorn quilts for veterans who earned a Purple Heart. (Below) Susan Causey, left, and Marcia Pearce work on the computerized quilting machine.
WANT TO GO? Marcia Pearce, and probably Big Ben the Great Dane, will have some of her work on display and items for sale at Fiber Arts Day June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mendenhall Homeplace, 603 W. Main St., Jamestown, across from City Lake Park. Many other crafters will also be on hand to show their wares and demonstrate spinning.
New playground becoming community destination Jamestown’s Parks & Recreation Director Scott Coakley had some very good statistics about Jamestown Park usage to pass on to the Town Council on May 19. The statistics related to the new inclusive playground, which opened September 2025, nature trail and new basketball court. “Since the new playground has opened up, we’ve been able to capture some data,” Coakley said. “When I got this, Jeff [Goard,
Parks & Recreation superintendent] and I met with GameTime to go over the data and I was intrigued. It’s been busy and you’ve seen it’s been really busy. Some of these numbers will just blow you away.” GameTime is a playground by PlayCore and was designated a National Demonstration Site (NDS) by PlayCore. “PlayCore literally wrote the book on inclusive playgrounds,” Coakley said. “It creates environments that support play and recreation for all people and abilities. “We’re also on PlayCore to
promote physical fitness through fun, well-designed outdoor play environments and creative playground learning activities.” PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research and Education (CORE) uses research and advocacy to help build healthy communities through play and recreation. The new Jamestown Park playground showed significant increases in use since it opened in September 2025. “Our site is becoming an important community destination,” Coakley said. September 2025-March 2026
was compared to the same time period as the previous year. Unique visitors rose from 5,900 to 15,300, a 159 percent increase. Total visits rose from 8,200 to 28,400, a 246 percent increase. The week of Oct. 6, 2025, had the most visitors at 2,300 compared to the same period in 2024 at 960 visits. This increase is making Goard’s crew spend more time cleaning up the area, however. Visitors did not just go to the park, according to a survey. They also enjoyed dining in Jamestown, up 5 percent and shopping, up
Everyone likes good news and the Jamestown News wants to print a column focused on sharing good things seen happening in the community. To make the column work, you need to participate. Email ndworddesign@gmail.com with your observations of a person or group being helpful to others. Norma Dennis will print them on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
2 percent. Only 1 percent more went home after their park visit. Of all the visitors to the park in the past six months, 52 percent were from High Point, 31 percent were from Greensboro and 17 were either in-state or out-of-state visitors, proof the park is a destination site. Ironically, Coakley spoke after returning from the fire that damaged a shelter and playground sun shade at the park. Parks & Recreation crews had the area reopened by Saturday following the Tuesday fire.
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By CAROL BROOKS freelance writer cab1hp@gmail.com