When members of the Class of 2020 tell their stories to their children and grandchildren years from now, they will have so much to say.
Sure, the conversation will begin with COVID-19 and how a pandemic disrupted their senior years, proms, military balls, graduations and final spring sports seasons.
But then they will talk about what they learned — about courage, perseverance and what really matters.
And they will also tell their children about something else, a value we have tried to teach them for generations.
Community.
This county wrapped its arms around the Class of 2020, reaching out in a variety of ways, from signs in front yards and congratulatory parades to a Facebook group that matched neighbors with seniors to help them celebrate.
That is also what we are doing with our upcoming special edition of “Eastbound & Downtown.” It is our addition to the flood of well-wishes for Wayne County’s senior class.
And partnering with us are locally owned businesses. You will recognize many of their names. These are just some of the many businesses in this community who are always there when the time comes to step up.
This is why we say more than once in a while that we as a community should patronize those who invest in their hometown and support charitable events and community gatherings whenever called upon to do so. This is just another example of them stepping up to be there for their neighbors, even in the face of real challenges themselves.
The magazine will feature notable graduates from public and private schools, a creative presentation of senior portraits, a listing of each school’s graduates and tributes created by parents who wanted to send a personal message to the special young man or woman in their lives.
We believe this community has never seen anything like this publication. And that, we feel, is yet another way to give the Class of 2020 something to soften what has been an unprecedented blow.
So please join us and Potts Orthodontics, Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home, Pizza Inn, Mimi’s Boutique and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices McMillen and Associates Realty — the special sponsors for this edition — as we salute the Class of 2020.
And please take note of those who have sponsored graduation lists and the many businesses and public officials who have supported the effort by advertising.
One Wayne County couple even decided to help us mark this unique graduating class.
We understand that many who wanted to appear in this product, to show their support, have been impacted by the state’s stay at home order, and that, until recently, their businesses have been operating in a limited fashion or, in some cases, not at all.
But now that Phase 2 has begun and patrons are making their way back through your doors, we wanted to extend our deadline for a few more days in the event you are now in a position to join your fellow businesses in support of this edition.
As always, “Eastbound & Downtown” will be a free publication — brought to you in our standard 11 inch x 11 inch full-color format.
Each graduate will get two copies — one for themselves and one for their family — and the publication will also be distributed at local schools, administrative buildings and businesses.
We expect the product to arrive for distribution by the first week of July, as we will wait to send our pages to press until the school district finalizes the lists of graduates for each of our public schools.
Those who advertise will also get a complimentary ad on our website, NewOldNorth.com as our way of supporting small businesses like ours get back on their feet.
So join us as we wrap up this once-in-a-lifetime publication and bring it to life.
For more information, call Angela at 919-344-3272 or email newoldnorth@gmail.com
