Learn About TROSA’s Recovery Program At Dec. 13 Event

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Jesse Battle is senior director of community partnerships for TROSA, a multi-year recovery program for individuals with substance use disorders.

Battle will be in Henderson on Dec. 13 at Baskerville’s Funeral Home Chapel to speak about TROSA, which stands for Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers.

The program begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at the funeral home, located at 104 S. Chestnut St., according to information from Charlie Baskerville, Jr.

TROSA, a cost-free option for all North Carolinians, serves as a national model for recovery programs. Founded in 1994, TROSA is an award-winning and licensed multi-year residential program providing care for men and women with substance use disorders for more than 25 years.

TROSA is a free treatment program and participants do not need insurance.

Designed to take two years to complete, the TROSA program gives residents the time, tools and services to learn and practice living in recovery, according to written information provided by TROSA.

Participants receive housing, meals, clothing and essential daily-care items during the program, and also get vocational and life skills training opportunities, medical care – including dental and vision care – as well as counseling and daily therapeutic activities and mentorship opportunities.

To learn more about TROSA, call 833.408.7672 or visit www.trosa.org.

 

 

NCWorks

TownTalk: NCWorks Job Fair

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The NC Works Career Center is having an end-of-year career fair on Friday, Dec. 9 at its new location, 826 S. Garnett St. More than a dozen representatives from numerous employers will be on hand to share information with individuals looking for employment.

“This will be a fun and exciting event and the perfect way to start a new career before the holidays,” said Desiree Brooks, business services manager for KTCOG workforce development board.

The job fair will be held in the parking lot of the agency’s new facility, and will include employers from manufacturing, health care, IT and more.

The event will be held from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and features employment opportunities across the five-county region served by Kerr-Tar: Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person, Brooks said in an email to WIZS News.

 “There will be opportunities for everyone,” Brooks said. “If anyone needs additional assistance, they can easily access the new NCWorks Career Center and learn about additional services while they are there.” She said employers are eager to meet qualified candidates and discuss what they do and the positions they have available.

Brooks said RJ’s Grill will be on hand with food to purchase

For more information about NCWorks, visit www.facebook.com/NCWorksKT

or www.kerrtarworks.com or phone the NCWorks Career Center at 252.598.5200.

 

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Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

 

  • Check local nurseries and garden centers when purchasing holiday decorations and gifts
  • If you think any shade trees need work, make arrangements now. But DO NOT TOP.
  • If you have put up a natural christmas tree check water reservoir each day for water and keep it full with water that will keep your tree fresh and keep it from trying out and becoming a fire hazard
  • If you are installing a row of shrubs as a screen, consider using multiple species. This is less risky than putting all your eggs in one basket.
  • You can make holiday decorations from cuttings from your landscape plants. Ex hollies, magnolia, Pine cuttings, pine cones
  • Take an inventory of leftover seeds and make sure they are stored in a suitable location (cool and dry).
  • Soil Sample Peak season fee starts Dec 1 $4 per sample 7 week analysis time.
  • Christmas gift idea: PPE for your loved one! Chem resistant gloves, eye protection, hearing protection.
  • Make a compost bin if you don’t have one already
  • Add some berry producing native shrubs to your landscape to help birds through the winter.

 

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TownTalk: Raleigh Ringers Coming To McGregor Hall

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The Raleigh Ringers are coming to McGregor Hall this weekend for a weekend performance at McGregor Hall. Director David M. Harris and the group of musicians have performed in 39 states, Canada and Europe, delighting audiences with music throughout the year.

But when Harris realized there was an opening in the schedule, he called Mark Hopper. And the rest, as they say, is history. The Raleigh Ringers concert is part of the McGregor Alive! Series.

The Raleigh Ringers performed at McGregor Hall in 2019, and Harris told John C. Rose on TownTalk Wednesday that he was impressed with the acoustics, as well as the overall beauty of the performing arts center. “We were anxious to come back,” he said.

“It’s not often we have a Christmas slot open,” Harris explained, and he and his fellow ringers have a short trip for the Sunday performance. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the concert begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/

The concert will include some holiday standards, including “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” juxtaposed with “Blue Christmas” and selections popularized by Siberian Orchestra.

Also in the repertoire are a couple of songs especially written for handbells.

Harris said the group has played original music written by Henderson’s own Dr. Phil Young, who Harris called a “pioneer” in the area of handbell music.

The Raleigh Ringers began in 1990, when different church handbell choirs formed a loose network and would have a summer concert at the end of their performance season.

Once dependent on the kindness of retirement centers for storage of their equipment, the Raleigh Ringers now has its own building where they can keep their bells and all the other things needed for concerts, as well as having their own practice space.

“Ringers can come in off hours and work on their parts,” Harris said, on top of the three-plus hours a week that the whole group comes together to practice.

For those who may not know too much about handbells, there’s more to a performance than just ringing a bell, Harris said.

“There’s so much choreography,” he said, and ringers need to know all their roles, whether it’s moving different bells for other ringers to use during a song, or exactly which ringer is going to turn the page of music.

“All of that has to be worked out well in advance,” Harris said.

Part of the mission of the Raleigh Ringers is to provide education about the instruments to their audiences. Members of the audience often are invited to the stage after the concert to try their own hand at handling the bells, from the giant ones at one end of the table to choir chimes at the other.

Handbell ringers play in coordination with other ringers to produce a complete line of music, unlike other musicians – like pianists – who play the complete line of musical notes to create the desired music.

For Harris, this is just a part of what sets handbells apart from other musical instruments, and he said it’s part of their mission to educate the community about this particular type of music.

“It’s such amazing teamwork when a piece comes together,” he said.

Visit www.rr.org to learn more about Raleigh Ringers.

 

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Don’t Fall Victim To Fraud – Attend “Scam Jam” Dec. 5 At Person Co. Senior Center

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The Person County Senior Center in Roxboro is the site of the upcoming 2022 Scam Jam event, sponsored by the Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging, on Monday, Dec. 5.

What’s a Scam Jam? It’s a collection of educational presentations designed to help consumers learn about different types of scams and frauds, and how to keep from being a victim, according to Kenia Gomez-Jimenez, KTCOG’s communications coordinator.

Whether it’s consumer fraud, identity theft or telemarketing fraud, guest speakers will help educate attendees about how to spot, avoid and report such activities. The event starts at 1:30 p.m., with presentations beginning at 2 p.m.

Among those scheduled to speak are N.C. Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey, Ann Elmore, agency legal consultant with the N.C. Dept. of the Secretary of State and Kevin Roberson, NC senior Medicare Patrol director and SHIIP compliance officer.

The Scam Jam is free and open to anyone in the five-county area that KTCOG serves, including Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties.

Refreshments will be provided.

The Person County Senior Center is located at 87 Semora Rd., Roxboro.

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Leonard Throws Duke Past Wake, 34-31

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— text and picture by Patrick Magoon freelance writer for WIZS

Duke’s offense demonstrated resilience to defeat visiting Wake Forest, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Demon Deacons and securing the team’s eighth regular-season win. After a tremendous turnaround season, Duke is looking forward to its first bowl since 2018.

During a crisp Saturday evening, both fanbases exchanged chants and cheers as their team fought to maintain its lead. Considering the lead changed hands multiple times, neither Duke nor the Deacons had complete control. A crucial mistake by one team resulted in a successful series for the other. Therefore, fans anxiously sat on the edge of their seats, and coaches paced back and forth as a game-winning drive was imminent.

The Deacons played catch-up for much of the game. After Duke scored, they moved the ball swiftly to keep the win within reach, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pull ahead. Wake Forest’s Sam Hartman responded well under pressure, completing 26 of 42 pass attempts for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

Duke heavily relied on its offensive playmakers to pick apart Wake Forest’s discombobulated secondary and consistently put points on the board. Riley Leonard threw for a career-best 391 yards and four touchdowns, and wide receivers Jalon Calhoun and Sahmir Hagans caught a combined 19 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Hagans’ 20-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter secured the win.

“Our quarterback was special,” said head coach Mike Elko. “He’s had a special year.”

Duke’s defense, led by linebacker Shaka Heyward, amassed 72 tackles, three sacks, and deflected six passes. Defensive back Darius Joiner intercepted Hartman in crunch time to regain possession with just 1:22 to play.

TownTalk: Ragland Produces Christian Stage Play

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Connie Ragland’s newest play is called “This Is Why We Don’t Come To Church,” and it premieres on Saturday, Dec. 10 in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center.

The Christian stage production takes a somewhat satirical look at a serious topic – attitudes about church.

Have you ever known a “pew-owner” – that person who gets into a snit when someone else is sitting in “their” pew? Or have you seen churchgoers shun someone simply because they didn’t dress the right way for church?

Ragland said that these behaviors may contribute to a decline in church membership, and she said her play is going to poke a little fun at some stereotypes.

Things have shifted in the church and in the country, Ragland told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk. Whether it’s because churches had to close their doors during COVID-19 and embrace virtual services, or whether it’s for other reasons, church membership is down, she said.

The play’s title, she said, “is a way to grab your attention and say ‘hmmm, I wonder what that’s all about,” Ragland said.

The play includes plenty of local talent, but some cast members are traveling from as far away as Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City.

“There’s something in it for everyone,” Ragland said. “A lot of the cast are millennials,” she said, with other age groups and generations represented as well.
With a blended cast representing a wide range of ages, she said “everyone will get something out of this show.”

As she was writing the play, she said a particular person’s name popped into her head for a particular role. She called that person, who immediately accepted, saying she had been searching for a way to return to the stage.

“I’m just overwhelmed with joy when people say ‘yes’ to me,” Ragland said, “that people want a part of something of this nature.”

The play is made possible thanks to a joint effort with Connie Ragland Productions, Youth Christian Center and its board, led by Delthine Watson “to help bring positive things back to the community.”

Formed several years ago by the Rev. Eddie Williams, the Youth Christian Center’s mission is to educate and inspire young people, whether they’re learning the finer points of etiquette or how to tie a necktie.

“We’re excited – we’ve got more rehearsals coming up, but the general feeling is yes, we’re ready to get the message out there,” Ragland said.

The play is for the whole family. “It will make you laugh, cry and think,” Ragland said.

Tickets are $15 for youth and and $25 for adults. Purchase them at eventbrite.com or call Vincent Ragland at 252.213.2095. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local charities.

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