Small Farms Week Food Drive for ACTS

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The North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center in association with N. C. A&T State University is hosting a food drive from now until February 15, 2021. The food drive is in honor of local farmers in conjunction with Small Farms Week, which comes up later in March, according to information from Vance County Cooperative Extension.

All food collected through the food drive will be donated to ACTS (Area Christians Together in Service).

Anyone interested in donating to this food drive can take items to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center office, located at 305 Young Street in Henderson.  Also, items can be taken to the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 414 S. Garnett Street.

For more information, please contact Wayne Rowland at 252-438-8188.

Vance County Coop wishes to thank you in advance for donating to those in hunger in Vance County.

Camp Oak Hill, Summer Camp, Early-Bird Rates, But What You Get is What Counts

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Although the recent snowfall and cold temps scream winter, parents may already be thinking about how their children will spend at least some of their summer. And parents with an eye toward saving money can check out nearby Camp Oak Hill – it has early-bird rates for reservations made before the weekend is over.

Camp Oak Hill, located in northern Granville County, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Current Board President Missy Edlin said the goal is to have 400 campers over the course of the summer.

In a normal summer, the camp could handle up to 200 campers a week. “We have a heavy protocol for COVID,” she said Friday. The camp follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control as well as the American Camp Association, of which it is a member. “We want to make sure we’re well prepped for…this summer,” she said. There are different camp sessions, which begin in mid-June, for elementary, middle and high school students.

Registration opened in October, she said, for the 2021 summer camp offerings. The reduced rates end Sunday, at which time she said the rates would go up. Visit campoakhill.org to learn more.

Repeat campers enjoy the variety of activities the camp offers, from campfire singalongs to swimming and arts and crafts. Edlin is excited about a new program for rising high school seniors called Servant Leadership Training. She is putting the finishing touches on the curriculum. That camp is scheduled for July 11-23.

Edlin was herself a camper at Camp Oak Hill, starting in 1986. She was later a counselor and in charge of the aquatics program. As an adult, her ties to COH remain strong. She has been a board member and is now board president.

Her son has been attending the camp for 7 years, she said. There are many others like her family – former campers who now send their own children as campers or counselors.

There are some positions still to be filled for the upcoming summer camp season. Although most, if not all, of the female staff positions have been filled, Edlin is still looking to hire male counselors and staff. Visit the website to learn how to apply.

“I just love the family, and love the community” feel at Camp Oak Hill, which has its roots in traditional Christian values, Edlin said. “Also building that personal relationship with Jesus,” she added. It’s part of what makes Camp Oak Hill such a special place – the sharing and nurturing of faith.

Pandemic restrictions have taken a physical and emotional toll on everyone, but especially children, Edlin said. Children’s spiritual selves also have been affected, she said. We can go to church online, but it’s just not the same thing as being in community, Edlin said. She would like to create ways to be in touch virtually with campers, she said, so “at least they can feel like camp is kind of caring for them.”

Green Rural Redevelopment (GRRO)

Covid Testing, Free Groceries, PPE at Elks Lodge Thurs, Feb 4

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There will be a free COVID-19 testing event next week at the Henderson Elks Lodge. People who get tested also will receive free groceries and personal protective equipment. The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 4, according to Lucette Mercer, deputy director for GRRO, which is sponsoring the event in partnership with the local Elks Lodge.

Green Rural Redevelopment, Inc. (GRRO) will be overseeing the testing and PPE distribution during the daylong event. The Elks Lodge is located at 326 W. Rockspring St. Free transportation is available to those who need it. Call 803.207.6511 to schedule a ride.

Because of continued high numbers of COVID-19 cases in Vance County, resulting in increased hospitalizations and deaths, the two organizations teamed up to host the event, Mercer said. Local health officials recommend observing CDC guidelines. Knowing your COVID-19 status is important, since transmission can occur even when symptoms are not present. Even with the distribution of the vaccine, getting tested and knowing your COVID status are very important for your safety and the safety of those around you, Mercer stated in information from GRRO, a non-profit group that strives to reduce poverty, food insecurity and chronic health conditions in underserved communities.

Testing and food and PPE distribution will be provided through drive-up service with minimal contact, in accordance with all precautions recommended for the prevention of the spread of the virus, Mercer noted.

Contact Mercer at 303.912.2520 or email lucettem@grronc.org to learn more.

VGCC Logo

New Production Technician Class; Real Skills, Better Pay, Certifications

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— press release

Vance-Granville Community College is excited to announce a new Production Technician program. The program is designed to provide fast, hands-on training to learn job skills in safety, math, quality practices, teamwork, communications, problem solving, production processes and basic bio-processing. Our 96-hour program will prepare workers to help increase productivity, performance, competitiveness and enhance value/profit. The program will start February 15 and runs for only 16 days.

Learn skills needed to be effective contributors in production operations and achieve credentials that get employers’ attention. If you are already in the industry, improve your performance and obtain a higher-paying job within the industry. The Production Technician program is a competency-based training program designed to provide students with enhanced career opportunities in manufacturing. Students will be introduced to the concepts of process improvements and emphasizing the importance of quality and its role in company profitability and job sustainability.

This course prepares people to enter careers as a production technician, machine operator, packaging machine operator, assembly-line worker or assembly-machine operator. Often, entry-level production technician positions are the starting point for a new employee to advance within the company.  In this role, you need to understand and perform tasks based upon setup or job sheets, processes and the use of technology. According to Career Coach, new workers could start around $41,000. Entry-level compensation typically varies between $30,000-$40,000 per year.

Students completing the course:

  • are guaranteed a job interview.
  • receive the North Carolina Manufacturing Certificate.
  • are certified as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt.
  • are certified forklift operators.
  • are certified in OSHA 10 safety.

Tuition scholarships are available. Full scholarships will be provided to the first eight applicants.

Act now, because class capacity is limited. To register for this course, visit

https://www.vgcc.edu/coned/productiontech/.

Dale Folwell

Treasurer Folwell Recommends Improved COVID Vaccine Distribution Plan

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— from the office of North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell

For weeks North Carolina lagged behind much of the nation in administering the doses of COVID-19 vaccinations it received, and state Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, will outline the consequences of the state not being prepared for the rollout during his monthly “Ask Me Anything” conference call for members of the media on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Treasurer Folwell is advocating for a “PPP” approach to execute rapid, efficient supply chain delivery. Rather than concentrating immunizations in local health departments and more expensive hospitals, he believes it makes greater sense to expand availability of the shots to primary care physicians, pediatricians and pharmacies – the three Ps that have been reliably and professionally administering vaccines for more than 100 years.

The Department of State Treasurer has amassed about 26,000 health care providers in the State Health Plan’s Clear Pricing Project network. Many of them are willing and qualified to provide the shots but state health officials have kept them on the sidelines.

The treasurer contends the shaky rollout likely is contributing to more deaths, will increase poverty because business lockdowns will remain in effect until the vaccines can be more widely administered to contain spread of the virus, and students will continue to fall further behind in their education and suffer increased mental health problems because most schools remain closed.

Another topic the treasurer will discuss is the potential community harm from the pending sale of county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to health care giant Novant Health.

Treasurer Folwell contends the acquisition is the latest in a series of hospital consolidations that have inflicted negative consequences on North Carolina taxpayers and health care consumers. An article in Fortune magazine supported his position that increased hospital concentration and monopolies lead to higher costs, lower quality and decreased access. The article noted 74% of North Carolina general hospitals belong to mega-health care systems. Only three other states have a higher percentage.

Local News Audio

WIZS Local News 1-29-21 Noon

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SNOW Totals for Henderson and Vicinity; 5 INCHES

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A National Weather Service web page reporting snow totals shows that Henderson received 5 inches.

Oxford received 5 inches as well.  Littleton saw 5 inches.  Roxboro got 4.9.  RDU airport had 1.6.

Where did it snow the most in our area?  5.9 inches was the highest total according to the National Weather Service, and it was reported 3 miles WSW of Oxford along Lake Devin Road.

There is more snowy and icy weather in the forecast.  Some of the TV meteorologists have been talking about it already, and it does show up in the NWS forecast as well over the weekend.

Closings and Delays

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Thank you for choosing to make WIZS.com part of your day.  Remember WIZS, Your Community Voice on air at 100.1 FM and 1450 AM or our Live Radio Stream.  We are announcing closings and delays on air.

Closings and Delays are being posted at facebook.com/wizsradio.

We will tweet entries as well as twitter.com/wizsradio.

Below freezing temperatures will result in a refreeze the evening of Jan 28th into the morning of January 29th.

Free Alzheimer’s Association Workshops in NC in February; Diagnosis, Care Plans, Living With

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The Alzheimer’s Association’s chapters in North Carolina are joining forces to host a three-part virtual education series on Wednesdays in February.

The Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter and the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter will present different topics designed to help families learn more about the disease and how to help themselves and their family members suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

According to a press release from the Alzheimer’s Association, the workshops are open to individuals who have received a recent diagnosis or are in the early stages of dementia-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s. In addition, anyone interested in learning more about planning, resources, and services that are available may also attend.

There is no charge to attend the workshops, and participants can sign up for any or all three. Registration is required, however. To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/NavigatingALZFeb2021 or call 1-800-272-3900.

“The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is life-changing and leads to many questions so this program is invaluable for recently diagnosed individuals and their care partners,” said Lisa Roberts, Executive Director of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter. “We want them to know that they are not alone and that we are here for them from the beginning of a diagnosis and throughout their journey with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.”

The first workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 10 from noon – 1:15 p.m. Dr. Mark Pippinger, a behavioral neurologist with Novant Health, will lead the session titled “Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis: What does this diagnosis mean?” and will help participants understand the disease and the diagnostic process, as well as symptoms and approaches to managing care with professionals.

The second workshop is scheduled for Feb. 17 from noon-1:15 p.m. A panel of experts will discuss care plans and care teams, as well as provide a legal and financial overview and how a diagnosis can affect relationships with family and friends. The program is titled “Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis: The Power of Planning” and panelists include Corinne Auman (family caregiving and aging expert), Alyssa Botte (psychotherapist in memory counseling), and Marjorie Brown (elder law attorney).

The final workshop is scheduled for Feb. 24, again from noon to 1:15 p.m. Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisors will share their experiences of living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This workshop is titled “Navigating a Dementia Diagnosis: Live Well.”

According to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association, 180,000 North Carolina residents are living with Alzheimer’s disease and 479,000 family members and friends provide unpaid care to their loved ones suffering from this disease. Visit http://www.alz.org/facts/ to learn more.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s mission, through accelerating global research and early detection, is to end Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

The Eastern North Carolina chapter provides patient and family services, information and referral, education, and advocacy in 51 eastern North Carolina counties. It offers opportunities to get involved and to make a difference, in addition to a variety of services including: a 24/7 Helpline, support groups, educational programs, and MedicAlert®.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, or the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern North Carolina Chapter, visit www.alz.org/nc or call 800-272-3900.

Local News Audio

WIZS Local News Audio 1-28-21 Noon

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WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM
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