Deryck Wilson

Coffman's Mens Wear at 505 Red Banks Road is running a promotion from today through June 20 to help raise funds for the Boy Scouts of America.

For every knit shirt or pair of shorts purchased, Coffman's will donate $10 to the East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts. Scouting serves 9,000 youth in eastern North Carolina.

"We appreciate Coffman's willingness to help raise funds for the East Carolina Council of the Boys Scouts of America," Michael Hesbach, district director of the East Carolina Council, said. "We hope the community will support Coffman's Mens Wear and the Boy Scouts by making a purchase during this two-week promotion."

Local Scouts participate in service projects, including "Scouting for Food," which collected more than 70,000 pounds of food.

"It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over the course of their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law," Bill Coffman, co-president of Coffman's, said. "We are pleased to help this very worthwhile organization in these challenging times of securing proper and necessary funding."

Coffman's Mens Wear specializes in tailored suits, super 100's wool trousers, luxury sportswear, single-needle shirts, handcrafted shoes and hand-sewn ties from the United States and Europe. The store carries such lines as Corneliani, Canali, Zanella, Lacoste, Bill's Khakis, Peter Millar, Allen Edmonds, and Robert Talbott.

Deryck Wilson, a past scout with Troop 340 & Coldwell Banker support the local BSA. Find more community news and real estate information by visiting us on the web@ www.ColdwellBankerGreenvilleNC.com

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With today's economy, it's nice to get something for nothing.

And for the past 36 years, the City of Greenville has provided just that with its Sunday in the Park concert series. It begins again at 7 p.m. Sunday on the Town Common with a concert by the Tar River Community Band.

Sunday in the Park has become a staple of summer family entertainment for Pitt County residents. Each Sunday a new group will take the stage for an all-ages event. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnics and even the family dog, provided it's on a leash.

"It came about because the summer theater was not functioning at the time and I felt we needed something of a cultural nature to bring the whole family together," said event organizer Stuart Aronson.

In summers past, the concerts were held in June and July. Last year the series was expanded to include dates in early August. This year Sunday in the Park will run through the end of August, with the final concert on Aug. 30.

"For the first time in history we are doing 13 concerts," Aronson said. "And because of that, it allows me to bring in three new groups that are really outstanding."

New to Sunday in the Park will be Steve Creech and the Dixieland Allstars on Aug. 9, The Barefoot Movement on Aug. 16 and Out in the Cold on Aug. 23.

Aronson added that the additional concerts are the result of gaining corporate sponsorship.

"I don't know if we'll have 13 concerts next year. We're just going to take it year to year," Aronson said.

Steve Creech is a local musician who often performs at fundraisers and at R.A. Fountain General Store in Fountain.

Out in the Cold hails from coastal North Carolina. The band was formed completely by accident in September 1977 in the studio of Elizabeth City's radio station WCNC during a Heart Fund Telethon.

"They play all sorts of stuff and do a number of songs a capella," Aronson said.

The Barefoot Movement is an acoustic quartet with members hailing from central North Carolina to middle Tennessee. The group draws from the styles of bluegrass, folk, Americana and rock.

"They are a young group of people and I like to help young bands get their start," Aronson said. "Steep Canyon Rangers, for example, began playing at Sunday in the Park a few years ago. Now they are one of the top bluegrass bands in the United States." They will perform July 12.

"They're all coming back and they are all very loyal to me and because they love the venue and Sunday in the Park," Aronson said.

Sunday in the Park schedule

Sunday June 7: Tar River Community Band

June 14: Emerald City Big Band

June 21: Greenville Summer Pops

June 28: The Monitors

July 5: Supergrit Cowboy Band

July 12: Steep Canyon Ranger

July 19: Uncle MountainJuly 26: Panyelo

Aug. 2: Molasses Creek

Aug. 9: Steve Creech and the Dixieland Allstarts

Aug. 16: Barefoot Movement

Aug. 23: Out in the Cold

Aug. 30: David Dyer and the Crooked Smile Band

Concerts start at 7 p.m. on the Town Common. In the case of inclement weather, the concert is usually canceled. For more community related information, visit the East's #1 Local Source for Real Estate & Fun

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Local Opportunities:

American Cancer: The American Cancer Society needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to and from treatments. Call 695-9028.

Animal effort: The Pitt County Animal Response Team (CART) is seeking volunteers. Call 355-7879 or e-mail mrwhaley@co.pitt.nc.us or coolcrittr@aol.com for a volunteer application.

Boys & Girls Club: The Boys & Girls Club of Pitt County needs volunteers to assist in tutoring and mentoring students from 6-to-12-years of age from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call 355-2345, Ext. 204.

Communities in Schools: Communities In Schools of Pitt County is seeking volunteers to serve as tutors and mentors at least one hour a week for students in Pitt County schools. Call Heather Rhodes at 757-9349 or e-mail volunteer@cispittcounty.org.

Council on Aging: The Pitt Greenville Council on Aging is seeking volunteers to deliver prepared meals to seniors home-bound by poor health, and for its caregiver program. Volunteers would assist with grocery shopping, errands, transportation, relief for a caregiver or companionship. For more information, call 752-1717.

The Creative Living Center: Volunteer drivers are needed to pick up and deliver prepared meals from Cypress Glen to the Creative Living Center Mondays, Wednesdays-Fridays. Program volunteer opportunities are also available. Mileage is tax deductible. Creative Living Center is a state-certified adult day health program and provides day services for seniors and disabled adults. Call 757-3344.

Disabled veterans: The Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 37 needs volunteers to drive patients round-trip from Greenville to the VA Medical Center in Durham. The van leaves the Greenville VA clinic at 6:15 a.m. Monday-Friday. Call Tom LaCoste at 493-4954.

DRNA: The Dachshund Rescue of North America seeks volunteers to provide a temporary foster home for dachshunds available for adoption. Call 353-4057 or visit www.drna.org.

Dream Factory: The Dream Factory of North Carolina needs volunteers to help make dreams come true for area children. Call(910) 539-5598s.

Farmville kitchen: The Farmville Community Outreach Kitchen seeks volunteers for cook and serve hot meals from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call Roger Collins at 756-2104 or Cathy Tripp at 753-7154.

Food Bank: Volunteers are needed by Food Bank of Central and Eastern N.C. to assist in the warehouse, sort food, enter data and educate the community about hunger issues. Hours are from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, with additional hours from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Food Bank sponsors a Kids' Day volunteer event from 2-4 p.m. the second Saturday of each month. The event is open to children ages 5-12 and includes a tour and explanation of the bank, along with a volunteer project designed for children. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and all volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes. Call Angel Ray at 752-4996 or e-mail aray@foodbankenc.org.

Food distribution:

• The First Born Community Development Center needs volunteers to assist with food distribution in grimesland. The heaviest need is on the second and fourth saturdays of each month. Call 758-6147.
• The Greene County Interfaith Volunteers in Snow Hill need volunteers for its food pantry to unpack food, pack boxes and assist with distribution wednesdays and thursdays. Volunteers are also needed to assist with care work. Call 747-1090.

Girl Scouts: The Girl Scouts seek leaders over the age of 18 to assist with the local programs. Advisors, leaders, mentors, troop assistants, consultants, and activity organizers are needed. Call (800) 558-9297 Ext. 157 or visit www.gscoastalnc.org.

Give2the Troops: Give2theTroops, a nonprofit organization that collects items for care packages to send to the military worldwide, seeks volunteers to assist at the Greenville Distribution Center assembling packages. The center is located in the Old CopyPro building on Landmark Street. Hours of operation are from 2:30-6 p.m. Monday and Thursday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. Call 321-8227.

God's Love: God's Love, a non-profit organization offering assistance to those in need, seeks volunteers to assist with sorting clothing and food and picking and delivering furntiture. Hours are flexible. Call Trudy Halstead at 341-4232.

Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity resale store, 210 E 14th St., Suite D (behind Harris Teeter), needs volunteers to work from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Personnel needed include cashiers, inventory, merchandising, warehouse. Money raised in the store supports Habitat projects locally and internationally. Call 329-364.

Habitat for Humanity of Pitt County: Volunteers are needed to build houses for low-income families. Minimum age for construction volunteers is 18. Call 758-2947.

Hope Lodge: Volunteers are needed to prepare meals for residents. Call 695-6143 or e-mail david.roscoe@cancer.org.

Hospice volunteers:

• AseraCare Hospice seeks volunteers, individuals or groups, who can sing and/or play an acoustic instrument. We serve seven counties including Pitt, Beaufort, Martin, Greene, Lenoir, Washington and Edgecombe. Call Shenella Eason at 353-3326 or e-mail shenella.eason@aseracare.com.
• Community Home Care & Hospices needs volunteers for its Wings of the Dove Hospice Volunteers program, visiting patients, assisting with clerical work and professional services for clients. Training will be provided. Call 321-1528.
• United Hospice of Eastern Carolina-Farmville seeks volunteers, 18 and older, to provide companionship to patients and support to care givers and family. Counties served include: Pitt, Lenoir, Greene and Duplin. To be a hospice volunteer, 12 hours of on-site training are required. Call Kim Moody at 753-7741.
• University Health Systems Hospice Care is looking for volunteers to give their time to people with a terminal illness. Volunteers are also needed to help with fund-raising and office support. Call Tracie Alford at 847-2000.
• Home Health & Hospice Care needs volunteers to provide companionship and support to patients experiencing a terminal illness, and to their caregivers in Beaufort, Edgecombe, Greene, Lenoir and Pitt counties. Call Kim Johnson at 291-4400, 758-8212 or (800) 965-4442.

Humane Society: The Eastern Carolina Humane Society needs volunteers to assist with animals at the shelter, at adoption fund-raising events and with weekly television spots. E-mail hsec@earthlink.net or call 413-7247.

LVPC: Literacy Volunteers-Pitt County seeks volunteers for program related activities such as tutoring and computer lab assistants as well as office and special event duties. LV-PC assists adults with improving literacy and English speaking skills. Visit www.pittliteracy.org or call 353-6578.

Little Willie: The Little Willie Center for latch-key children needs volunteers to assist with its program from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. Call 752-9083.

Make-A-Wish: The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina needs volunteers in Pitt County. Call (800) 432-9474 or (919) 821-7111, or e-mail cgourlay@eastncwish.org.

The Marley Fund: The Marley Fund, which raises money for feline leukemia and feline aids education has volunteer opportunities available including: fostering a FeLV-positive animal; working at Marley House providing care to the cats; providing educational outreach campaigns; grant writing; making cat toys and assembling cat beds; internet promotions; and general office help. Call 215-0925 or visit www.marleyfund.com.

Meal delivery: The Creative Living Center needs volunteers to assist with meal delivery on Tuesdays and Fridays. Duties include transporting containers to the Cypress Glen Retirement Community and taking lunches to the Creative Living Center. Call 757-3344.

My Sister's Closet: My Sister's Closet, a nonprofit store that also supply clothing to participants of the Family Violence Program, needs volunteers to work in the stores. There is a special need for people to work on Saturdays. My Sister's Closet is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Call Sara Munzer at 758-4400.

OLDA: The City of Greenville Off-Leash Dog Area seeks volunteers to assist in the dog area at Ash Street and River Drive, behind Tar River Estates. Cal 717-1100 or e-mail at brian_olda@suddenlink.net.

Outreach to youth: College-age volunteers are needed for a high school nondenominational outreach. Call Sid Bradsher at 757-3717, Ext. 1.

PCMH: Pitt County Memorial Hospital seeks volunteers in a variety capacities including administrative tasks such as answering phones and typing and working with patients. Volunteer services will assist in volunteer placement. Volunteers must be at least 14-years old and work one four-hour shift once a week. Call 847-4491 or visit www.pcmh.com for an application.

PC Stars: The Pitt County Strategies for the Total Advancement of Rural Students (PC STARS) needs volunteers to assist with its after-school program at the Isaac Jacob Center at Holy Temple Church, 1587 Briley Road. Call 757-3686.

PCSAC: The Pitt County Substance Abuse Coalition seeks volunteers that are 21 and older, but look approximately 19 years of age to complete alcohol purchase surveys throughout the county. Volunteers will assist in alcohol purchase attempts and environmental scans at alcohol permitted venues. Call 321-1481 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays.

Power of One: The Power of One Mentoring Program, sponsored by Communities in Schools, seeks volunteer mentors for Pitt County youth. Hours are not restricted to 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or to office work. Call Justin Bowe at 353-6007 or e-mail j.boyd@cispittcounty.org.

Red Cross: The American Red Cross Blood Services Eastern Carolina Donor Center needs volunteers to donate blood to the center, 700 Cromwell Drive. No appointment is needed. Call 758-1140.

Radio Reading: The Radio Reading Service of Eastern Carolina seeks volunteers to produce news content for a 90-minute radio program. Volunteers would find news stories on local Web sites and prepare the content for reading. Hours are 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Some writing is required. Call Jake Postma at 916-2201 or e-mail Jake_Postma@rrsec.com.

Right to Life: Pitt County Right to Life seeks volunteers to assist with events and fundraising. Call Judy Colbert at 321-0887 or 327-4134.

Role Models of America: Role Models of American seeks volunteers to assist in mentoring children through community-based mentorship and education-based mentorship. Visit http://www.rolemodelsofamericaonline.net/.

Ronald McDonald House: Community volunteers, churches and local groups are needed by the Ronald McDonald House to help provide meals for resident families who are caring for hospitalized children. For information or to sign up to help, call 830-0062.

Saving Graces: Saving Graces 4 Felines seek volunteers to assist with foster homes, cat adoptions and animal care. Call 355-3404 or e-mail savinggraces4@aol.com. Visit www.savinggraces4felines.com.

Therapeutic Riding: The Eastern Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center seeks volunteers to assist with children in its equine assisted therapy modules. Call 754-1977 or visit www.ENCTRC.org.

Tutors: Wahl-Coates and South Greenville elementary schools seek volunteers willing to tutor children in grades K-5 in math and reading from 2:30-6 p.m. weekdays. Call Mary Rose Stocks at 752-2514.

The United States economy is on the way up, according to East Carolina University's Bureau of Business Research. Gas prices are expected to hold steady this summer while companies are expected to increase production and eventually create more jobs.

James Kleckley, director of Bureau of Business Research, said that the worst part of the economic slump is likely over, and he is starting to see the economy slowly improve.

The Bureau of Business Research monitors economic indicators on the national and international level with a particular focus on how it affects eastern North Carolina.

"The worst of the worst was probably at the end of last year and the beginning of this year," he said.

"We are not losing jobs at the same pace. We are starting to see a more optimistic consumer and a more optimistic investor in the stock market."

Kleckley said the economic signs of a turnaround are now evident, but it's a slow process to climb back from such a dramatic decline.

"It is like turning an airliner or a cruise ship. You can't just stop on a dime, you have to slowly turn it around," he said.

"At the first of the year, those of us that follow this on a regular basis were really confused about what was going. You look at things and the way they are supposed to work when you go into recession, but they were happening more dramatically."

But the economy has stabilized slightly since then, and it appears to be on a climb.

"We are not as uncertain now as we were three months ago. It was pretty scary," Kleckley said.

While the economy in terms of production and investment seems to be climbing, Kleckley said it could be a while before new jobs are created.

Companies tend to increase hours of employees while increasing production before creating new positions.

Employment is a lagging indicator as companies tend to wait beyond an initial increase in production before hiring new workers, Kleckley said.

One factor in the recovery is the expected stability in the gas markets this summer.

Kleckley said that indications show that gas prices will be between $2.25 and $2.50 per gallon, slightly more than half of the peek price last summer.

"Of course anything could happen, but I think that is the range of what we are looking at," he said.

A stable affordable gas market will drive the rest of the economy and keep production and shipping costs down, which will help in the recovery, he said.

But the recovery on all levels will be slow and the economy will look different from the economy before the downturn.

"When we come back from this, we will be different consumers. We will not borrow as much and we will save more," Kleckley said.

"It will have implications about where we shop and eat and the things we buy."

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