Saturday, at the Lakewood Community Cookout, dozens of children and families stopped by The Lakewood Community Literacy booth to pick up a free Sampson Independent newspaper and have their photos frame in the paper’s front page, memorializing their day. Even Lakewood District principals like Roseboro-Salemburg Middle’s Becky Hines, Sampson Board of Education member Eleanor Bradshaw and Roseboro town officials like Mayor Alice Butler and Tyler Wise got in on the action. And, despite the hot temperatures, Lakewood High School Leopard football players, in full gear, showed up to pose for some photos as well. The day brought families, educators, town officials and community members together to fellowship, get to know one another a little better and to unite the community behind the schools prior to their opening in a couple weeks. It was, those attending said, ‘a great day’ dedicated to a unity that has been missing from many areas for a long time. The smiles in the photographs on these two pages show just how much fun people were having. The Independent and the Literacy group were on hand to promote the new initiative that would place papers into the hands of every Lakewood District student, parent and staff member for the entire school year, building community and growing literacy. See related editorial 6A.