Mint Hill residents Carol Timblin and Larry Ferguson recently were presented the Paul Green Multimedia Award by the North Carolina Society of Historians for their work on the “Step into History Carl J. McEwen Historic Village” DVD.

The 12-minute video, funded by the Mint Hill Historical Society with a matching grant from the Arts and Science Council, was created as an informational and promotional piece to be sent to schools, senior centers and other organizations that may wish to schedule tours. It also will be used onsite to give an introduction to the village before tours.

The “Step into History” DVD takes viewers on a virtual tour of the Carl H. McEwen Historic Village. Portraying the late 1800s, the program provides an overview of the restored doctor’s office, one-room school house, assay office and general store. Old photographs of residents also are included.

The DVD was submitted to the North Carolina Society of Historians for a competition earlier this year and received rave reviews.

Judges of the contest said, “From the moment it began, we realized that this finished work was the product of much talent and many hours of writing, filming and editing. From the first frame to the last, this is an exceptional story and will be valued by generations not yet born. We were proud to judge this entry and it won recognition by the unanimous decision of our group.”

Timblin served as writer/producer and Ferguson as director/videographer. Trent Moody composed and performed original music, Sam McGee served as narrator, and Richard Putnam mixed it in his Shelby Big Feat studio.

Timblin says the video truly was a joint effort.

“I wrote the script, but I give the team the credit. They were all so very talented and we made a very good team. Everybody wanted a good finished product and I feel like we’ve produced a professional quality DVD,” Timblin said.

Mint Hill clerk retiring

Beth Hamrick, who has served as Mint Hill town clerk since 1985, is retiring at the end of November.

Hamrick started her career with the town in 1980 and was appointed town clerk in 1985. For more than three decades, she’s taken minutes of multiple meetings, written countless proclamations, catalogued official town records, soothed disgruntled citizens and much more. She’s worked in every administrative department in the town and even served one year as interim Town Administrator.

Hamrick has watched the town grow from 7,793 residents and seven employees in 1980 to 21,000 residents and 60 employees today. She’s worked through 16 municipal elections and served under the leadership of 19 different elected officials, including four mayors; and with September’s move to the new Town Hall, she’s worked in three different locations as well.

Hamrick says she will miss her fellow employees and the daily interaction with citizens but that she’s looking forward to following her own schedule.

“I’ve spent more than half of my life planning my personal time around the town’s schedule. It’s really going to be nice not to have to plan family celebrations around town meetings,” Hamrick said.

Taking Hamrick’s place as clerk beginning Dec. 1 will be current receptionist Michelle Farrar.

Hamrick says, “Always remember that without citizens, there is no need for local government, so keep a schedule flexible enough to have time for them. And subscribe to the principles of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks’ Code of Ethics, which include affirmations ‘to uphold constitutional government and laws of the community’ and ‘to render equal service and extend the same treatment to all.’ ”

The town will hold a reception for Hamrick 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Town Hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill. The public is invited.