Features

Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce President Julie Beck stands in the Southern Bank Parklet, where a Block Party will be held Thursday, Sept. 12, 5-8 p.m. The purpose of the event is to bring UMO students downtown to mingle with local citizens. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)

Block Party aims to bring UMO students and local community together

On Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m., the Southern Bank Parklet will be filled with food and music, during a Block Party designed to encourage more engagement between University of Mount Olive students and local citizens.

Mount Olive’s Garris Funeral Home, in business since 1929, is owned by Nannie Barfield (center), who runs the business with her daughter McKale Barfield Best and grandson Ty Best. Nannie Barfield and McKale Best are licensed funeral directors; Ty Best is a funeral service licensee. Garris Funeral Home is located at 812 S. Center St. in Mount Olive. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)

95-year-old business allows Barfield/Best family to serve others

The motto of Garris Funeral Home is: “Sincere and personal service since 1929.” Yes, 1929.

In his Mount Olive studio, artist Winford Galmon — who goes by his first name professionally — explains how his style has evolved over the years. On the left is a finger-painting he created approximately 20 years ago when he was working in an ‘illustrative’ style. On the right is a recently-created abstract in the ‘fine art’ style he now prefers. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)

Acclaimed artist’s color-rich style has widespread appeal

Most people, if setting out to paint a portrait, would skip right past the bright reds, blues, greens, and yellows in search of more “realistic” skin-tone colors, but not Winford Galmon. He goes for the brightest, most intense colors possible, which he then has the audacity to apply in thick, bold chunks — and, almost magically, the result is a face or figure that feels both realistic and abstract all at once.

The Faison Improvement Group is holding its first-ever, free movie night on Saturday, August 17, at the Anne Stroud Taylor Recreation and Wellness Center. Free hot dogs will be served at 6 p.m. The movie will begin at 7 p.m. (Faison Improvement Group|Courtesy photo)

Faison residents invited to ‘bolt’ to Rec Center for free dinner, movie

FAISON — Free dinner and a movie — it doesn’t get much better than that.

From left, Bill May, Carlette Bledsoe, and Donna Grubbs work on applying a fresh coat of paint to the hallway walls in the main building at James Kenan High School. From August 3-10, members of Kenansville Baptist Church, with assistance from other churches, are sprucing up the school as part of the N.C. Baptist State Convention’s ServeNC week. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)

Church spruces up high school during ServeNC week

WARSAW — Students won’t return to James Kenan High School until Aug. 26, but on Tuesday the halls were already buzzing with activity as members of Kenansville Baptist Church (KBC) wielded paint brushes, rollers and spray guns, hustling to give the old brick and cinder block interior walls a fresh coat prior to the new school year.

Artist Christy Bennett, of Seven Springs, describes her Mount Olive studio as her ‘feel-good place,’ where she can retreat to ‘whenever nothing else is going right.’ (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)

Seven Springs resident draws, paints in storybook-like studio

Entering Christy Bennett’s studio is a little like stepping into the pages of a children’s storybook. Colorful fish practically swim off canvases and into the room. A doe-eyed giraffe greets onlookers with a serene expression. Elephants bedecked in tassels, jewels, and crowns promenade against a night-sky of swirling stars and moonlight. With each glance around the studio — or turn of the proverbial page — another image emerges with its own story to tell.