The Mineral Springs Improvement Council of Ellerbe is sponsoring a Mayfest on Saturday, May 4, from noon until 6 p.m.
“The Mayfest is a fundraiser to assist with the construction of building a multipurpose community facility,” said Annie Jordan Buie, president of the council. “This facility will be used for numerous community activities such as continuing educational classes, summer youth programs, senior programs, male and female youth mentoring, weddings, receptions, gospel concerts, job fairs, and entrepreneurial classes.”
The activities will be held in the Community Park and the Town Hall area. Vendors are welcome at a cost of $25 per booth.
There will be food, games, singing and various types of entertainment.
The Mineral Springs Improvement Council was formed in 1969 and has continued to be a pillar for the Ellerbe community. Buie, an Ellerbe native, helped found the organization, along with Jeremiah Asbury, S.B.T. Easterling and J.E. Ford, and Buie said she has always been president of the organization.
The Mineral Springs Improvement Council has provided low income housing, after school programs, summer youth programs for Hoffman, Ellerbe and Norman, as well as sponsored s Community Clean Up program.
According to Buie, the proposed multipurpose community facility will serve not only Ellerbe, but Norman, Windblow, Derby and the Green Lake community.
“It would be nice if we could partner with Richmond Community College to have a teacher come to Ellerbe so senior citizens wouldn’t have to go to Hamlet,” said Buie, who sees Ellerbe as having potential with a few changes in the community.
Several years ago the Mineral Springs Improvement Council purchased an old tobacco storage building, but had to have it demolished at the request of the county Health Department.
“Now we want to place our multipurpose center on that property,” said Buie.
So far, several vendors have signed up for the festival and will bring along items like antiques and crafts and some will offer food.
Barbara Moton is the coordinator for this event and the co-chairs are Laura Abrams and Jeannette Dumas. Any persons interested in volunteering or becoming a vendor should contact Moton at 336-880-9404, Dumas at 336-307-9821 or Abrams at 910-652-4210.
— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@civitasmedia.com.






















