NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS from Dywanda Pettaway, Clerk to Board of Education
The Granville County Board of Education will hold a special meeting to interview candidates for the vacant District 1 seat on the Board of Education on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at 2:30 pm, at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.
According to information from the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, the HR meeting for June is Thursday, June 20th, 2019 at 12 noon.
The host for the meeting will be the Granville Vance Public Health Dept. (101 Hunt Dr., Oxford, N.C.). Lindsey Bickers Bock, Health Educator will be speaking on the educational programs that are offered through the Health Education Dept.
RSVP to wanda@granville-chamber.com or 919-693-6125 by Monday, June 17th, if you would like to attend.
One of the two segments of TownTalk on Thursday, June 13 featured Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer with Vance County Schools. She said the 2018-2019 school year is complete at this point.
Click Here To Listen To TownTalk With Hedrick
There were three uplifting graduation ceremonies this spring resulting in almost 400 graduates from Vance County Public Schools.
Early College High School Graduation Story
Advance Academy Graduation Story
Hedrick said the school system is so pleased with the school year, considering the changes with consolidation and how the challenges were met.
Following a safe and happy summer, remember the 2019-2020 school year starts early for three schools. Vance County High School, Early College High School and EM Rollins, of which Rollins is year round, will start on Monday, August 5.
The first school day otherwise for the remaining schools still on the traditional calendar is Monday, August 26. Open House is August 22.
And, over 900 school system employees will gather at McGregor Hall on Monday, August 19 for the annual convocation.
-Press release and additional information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy
In an email to WIZS News and other media outlets, Evans said, “I am sharing a bit of good news regarding electric rates. Due to fuel savings achieved from the joint dispatch of our generation fleet (one of the advantages of the merger several years ago), we are proposing an adjustment to our fuel rate in order to pass those savings along to our customers.”
Duke Energy Progress files annual adjustments with North Carolina Utilities Commission for customers in North Carolina
If approved, typical residential customers will see their monthly bills go down $4.
RALEIGH, N.C. – Duke Energy Progress today made its annual filings with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) for costs associated with fuel, compliance with the state’s renewable energy portfolio standard (REPS), cost recovery under the Joint Agency Asset Rider (JAAR), and implementation of energy efficiency (EE) and demand-side management (DSM) programs.
In its filing, Duke Energy Progress is proposing a decrease in monthly fuel costs as part of an annual adjustment of the actual cost of fuel used to power North Carolina homes and businesses through renewable, natural gas, nuclear and coal-fired generation. By law, the company makes no profit from the fuel component of rates.
The fuel rate is based on the projected cost of fuel used to provide electric service to the company’s customers, plus a true-up of the prior year’s projection. The NCUC is responsible for reviewing the actual fuel costs required to serve customers to ensure an accurate adjustment is made each year.
The percentage change on a typical bill would be an average decrease of 3.3 percent for residential customers, 4.4 percent for commercial customers and 1.9 percent for industrial customers. The total monthly impact of all rate changes for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month would be a decrease of $4, from $120.95 to $116.95.
The new fuel, REPS and JAAR rates would go into effect Dec. 1, 2019, and the new EE and DSM rates would go into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
Helping customers save
Duke Energy Progress works to actively manage its fuel contracts to keep fuel costs as low as possible for customers. Savings achieved from the joint dispatch of Duke Energy’s generation fleet in the Carolinas also help to minimize the company’s fuel costs.
Duke Energy Progress is also committed to helping customers take control of their energy use and manage their bills. The company offers energy-saving tips and innovative efficiency programs for every budget to help customers realize additional savings.
For example, the Home Energy House Call is a free in-home energy assessment, valued at $180, designed to give Duke Energy customers more information about how they use energy in their home and strategies to save money on their monthly bill.
To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/savings.
Duke Energy Progress
Duke Energy Progress, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns nuclear, coal, natural gas, renewables and hydroelectric generation. That diverse fuel mix provides about 12,700 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.6 million customers in a 32,000-square-mile service area of North Carolina and South Carolina.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit’s regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2019 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, and Forbes’ 2019 “America’s Best Employers” list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
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— press release from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Announces Community Investment
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Directors has announced the acquisition of the historic Henderson landmark, Garnett Street Station.
Through its newly formed limited liability company, Garnett Street Station, LLC, the Foundation closed on the property purchase on June 10. The property was purchased from Restoration Associates.
“We consider this an excellent investment for the Foundation, since it is an income-producing property,” said Val Short, Executive Director for the Foundation. “We can also ensure this important historic treasure will be maintained and preserved for future generations,” she added.
Current tenants at Garnett Street Station will continue to lease office and parking spaces. The Foundation is planning some renovations and improvements to the building, including replacing the platform at the back of the building, painting the exterior trim, and repairing mortar on the brick.
Built around 1885 as a railroad freight station and depot, the building stands on land that was originally deeded to the Raleigh & Gaston Rail Road Company by Lewis Reavis in 1837. The depot building was restored and converted to an office building in 1989 by Restoration Associates.
The Foundation will occupy the office on the south end of the building, according to Short. She expects the Foundation will be able to relocate to Garnett Street Station by the end of the summer. “We are very excited about having a permanent home for the Foundation, especially in this iconic symbol of Henderson’s history and development,” said Short.
Located in Henderson, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and schools in Vance, Warren, Granville, and Franklin counties. The Foundation’s grant funding mission has been made possible by the endowment that was established after Maria Parham Health merged with the for-profit Duke-Lifepoint in 2011. For more information about the Foundation, call 252-598-0763 or visit the website: www.tnhfoundation.org
— cover photo and press release courtesy of Granville County Public Schools
Did You Know….
Granville County Public Schools – We’re Going Mobile Again this Summer! Look for the Book Bus in a neighborhood near you.
Did you know?
Reading for pleasure makes a big difference to children’s educational performance. Evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in reading tests than those who don’t, but also develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. In fact, reading for pleasure is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.1
Did you also know?
Regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic level, or previous achievement, children who read four or more books over the summer fare better on reading comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books over the summer.2
The lack of reading books over the summer often results in what is commonly called “summer slide”. No, “summer slide” is not referring to a piece of playground equipment kids will play on at the park this summer. “Summer slide” is a decline in reading ability and other academic skills that can occur over the summer months when school isn’t in session.3 When students experience “summer slide”, it usually means that teachers will have to back-up at the beginning of the school year and reteach skills and strategies that children have lost over the summer.
Did you know?
GCPS is doing something to combat “summer slide” and to build early literacy skills?
The Granville County Public School System is keenly aware of the importance of developing early literacy skills and the gaps that occur when children enter school without having encountered many books. We also are aware of the dreaded “summer slide” that happens when students are not engaged with texts while on summer break. In order to maintain and increase those early literacy skills and to help children develop a love of reading, GCPS is operating the mobile Book Bus for a second year. Families can expect a visit from the Book Bus at a variety of sites around the county on a regular schedule. Once parked at each site, children and families will have an opportunity to board the bus and choose a book! Staff and volunteers will be on hand to help and provide snacks and encouragement. Books are also available to ‘check out’ for families to share and exchange.
What a wonderful opportunity we have here in Granville County to help kids participate in reading books they choose and enjoy. The payoff is huge. Round up the kids! Join us for a summer snack and a bus load of good books. Look for the GCPS mobile Book Bus in a neighborhood near you beginning in July.
1 “Why is Reading so Important?” Pearson UK, Retrieved from https://www.pearson.com/uk/learners/primary-parents/learn-at-home/help-your-child-to-enjoy-reading/why-is-reading-so-important.html
2 Kim, J.S. (2004). Summer reading and the ethnic achievement gap. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, 9(2), 169-188
3 Rippel, M. “How to Beat Summer Slide”. All About Learning Press, Retrieved from https://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/summer-slide/
— info courtesy Warren Co. Cooperative Extension
Safe Plates
Training Program for Food Protection Manager Certification
Safe Plates course and test will take place on July 1-3
Class will be held on July 1st & 2nd
Time: 9am-4:30pm
Test: July 3rd: 9am-11am
Location: Hawkins Center: 427 West Franklin Street
Warrenton, NC
What is Safe Plates
Warren County Cooperative Extension offers Safe Plates for all those who work in the food service industry. The course helps food establishments meet the North Carolina requirement of having at least one supervisor certified as a food protection manager, per the FDA Food Code 2013.
What Information is Covered?
Safe Plates includes instruction on personal hygiene and employee health; purchasing and storage; eliminating crosscontamination; handling allergens; pest control and facility design; cleaning and sanitizing and correct temperatures for storing, preparing and holding foods.
Who Should Participate?
This course is designed for food employees who are seeking food protection manager certification. Certification is based on passing the ANSI-approved exam from the National Registry for Food Safety Professionals. Certification is accepted throughout the United States for five years from date of exam, and includes a certificate to be displayed in the workplace as well as a wallet card.
How is Safe Plates Different?
NC Safe Plates is taught through case studies, storytelling, activities and discussion. This class is interactive and encourages participants to engage with the material.
More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, but less than half are ever diagnosed. Acknowledging why your loved one is acting differently is hard, but early detection and care can make a significant difference, according to a public service announcement recently received at WIZS.
Today’s edition of Town Talk featured Lisa Roberts, Executive Director, of the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina and Bethany Wood, Manager, Walk to End Alzheimer’s of the Eastern NC Chapter.
Click here or on the WIZS logo below to listen to the show.
6 Tips for Approaching Alzheimer’s
If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s in yourself or someone you know, don’t ignore them. Early detection makes a world of difference, and so does the way you approach the conversation with a family member or a friend. If you notice a pattern of memory loss or behavioral issues that are affecting one’s ability to function, it’s essential to talk about it so they can be evaluated. The Alzheimer’s Association offers these tips:
1. Have the conversation as early as possible – Ideally, it’s best to talk about the Alzheimer’s warning signs with a family member or friend before they even occur, so that you can understand how someone would want you to approach them about it. However, many people aren’t planning for Alzheimer’s before it happens. If you’re noticing signs of dementia, start a conversation as soon as possible, while mental functioning is at its highest and before a crisis occurs.
2. Think about who’s best suited to initiate the conversation – There might be a certain family member, friend or trusted advisor who holds sway. Consider asking this person to step in and plan around how to have the most supportive and productive conversation.
3. Practice conversation starters – The following phrases can help broach the conversation.
a. “Would you want me to say something if I ever noticed any changes in your behavior that worried me?”
b. “I’ve noticed a few changes in your behavior lately, and I wanted to see if you’ve noticed these changes as well?”
c. “Lately I’ve been considering my own long-term care plans, and I wanted to see if you’ve done any advance planning you can share with me?”
4. Offer your support and companionship – Seeing a doctor to discuss observed warning signs of Alzheimer’s may create anxiety. Let your family member or friend know that you’re willing to accompany them to the appointment and any follow-up assessments. Offer your continuous support throughout the diagnosis process.
5. Anticipate gaps in self-awareness – It can be the case that someone showing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s is unable to recognize those signs in themselves. Be prepared to navigate confusion, denial and withdrawal, as people may not want to accept that their mental functioning is declining.
6. Recognize the conversation may not go as planned – Despite your best intentions, a family member may not be open to discussing memory or cognitive concerns. They may get angry, upset, and defensive or simply refuse to talk about it. Unless it’s a crisis situation, don’t force the conversation. Take a step back, regroup and revisit the subject in a week or two. If they still refuse to get help, consult their physician or the Alzheimer’s Association for strategies that may help.
10 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR BRAIN
START NOW. It’s never too late or too early to incorporate healthy habits.
BUTT OUT: Smoking increases risk of cognitive decline. Quitting smoking can reduce risk to levels comparable to those who have not smoked.
FOLLOW YOUR HEART: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke – obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes – negatively impact your cognitive health.
HEADS UP: Brain injury can raise risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Wear a seat belt and use a helmet when playing contact sports or riding a bike.
FUEL UP RIGHT: Eat a balanced diet that is higher in vegetables and fruit to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
CATCH SOME ZZZ’S: Not getting enough sleep may result in problems with memory and thinking.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH: Some studies link depression with cognitive decline, so seek treatment if you have depression, anxiety or stress.
BUDDY UP: Staying socially engaged may support brain health. Find ways to be part of your local community or share activities with friends and family.
STUMP YOURSELF: Challenge your mind. Build a piece of furniture. Play games of strategy, like bridge.
BREAK A SWEAT: Engage in regular cardiovascular exercise that elevates heart rate and increases blood flow. Studies have found that physical activity reduces risk of cognitive decline.
HIT THE BOOKS: Formal education will help reduce risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Take a class at a local college, community center or online. Growing evidence indicates that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline by adopting key lifestyle habits. When possible, combine these habits to achieve maximum benefit for the brain and body. Visit alz.org/10ways to learn more.
