Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Reading And Tennis Come Together At Perry Memorial Library

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Perry Memorial Library is bringing tennis back to the gallery for a fun-filled event that gets kids learning about the sport through reading and exercise.

Melody Peters, the library’s youth services director, said a crew from Edmonds Tennis and Education Foundation is taking a second swing at a workshop designed for young people ages 5-18. They aced last year’s event, and Peters said they’ll be back this year to serve up some more fun.

The Tennis Book Read takes place on May 31 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

And, not to worry, there will be tennis racquets in the gallery, she said.

“They tell me they have it all under control,” Peters said, reassuringly.

ETEF volunteers will be on hand to work with the young people to learn the basics of tennis.

The Edmonds family established the nonprofit youth development organization in 2018 and uses the game of tennis to provide academic and athletic opportunities to underserved youth.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn more or email Peters at mpeters@perrylibrary.org.

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The Local Skinny! Keeping Pets Fit And Trim

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When it comes to caring for our pets, local veterinarian Dr. Aleksandar Besermenji says the simplest solution is often the best solution when it comes to reducing obesity – portion control and exercise are key components in maintaining dog and cat health.

“We do see a lot of animals with issues of extra weight,” Besermenji said on Tuesday’s recurring Pet and People segment of The Local Skinny! Besermenji practices at Franklinton Animal Hospital on U.S. 1 in Franklinton.

Just like in humans, it’s not good for dogs and cats to have an “unhealthy accumulation of body fat,” Besermenji said. And just like in humans, dogs and cats that consume more calories than they expend in energy end up with fat reserves in their bodies.

The key is prevention, he noted. “Feed them what the (label) says and nothing more.”

Granted, that’s easier said than done, but if pet owners don’t oversee what their pets are eating, it opens the door for problems – especially insulin resistance and diabetes in cats and joint and bone problems for dogs.

Exercise is as important as diet when it comes to maintaining healthy weights. As pets age, however, they may be less energetic. And that may be a time to revisit the type and amount of food they eat.

A little bit of canned food is ok – on occasion – but it’s not a good idea to feed only canned food. “When they crunch on those kibbles, it helps to scrape the tartar off” teeth, Besermenji said, emphasizing the importance of dry food in a pet’s diet.

Franklinton Animal Hospital is open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Call 919.341.1055 to learn more.

 

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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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Third Overtime Score Propels Vance Charter School Women’s Soccer to Elite 8

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The Vance Charter School women’s soccer team defeated Voyager Academy Monday night 2-1 on an Addison Clary assist to Abby Cole for a one-touch score.

Coach Johnny Yount told WIZS News, “(The) second overtime 10-minute period was ours and carried over to the first 5-minute OT.”

The winning score came in the first minute of the third overtime as the 12th-seeded Knights upset 4th-seeded Voyager in Durham.

Yount said, “(This is) such an incredible achievement for this program and everyone involved.”

Vance Charter will face top-seeded Woods Charter on Wednesday at 6 p.m., according to Coach Yount, in the Elite 8 round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state playoffs.

High school soccer overtime rules require two 10-minute periods which are not sudden victory.  The contest becomes sudden victory in the third OT.

N.C. Rep Sossamon Takes Field Trip To Visit Vance County Schools

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– Information courtesy of Vance County Schools

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon visited several Vance County Schools recently as a participant in the first year of “Bring Your Legislator to School” Day.

Sossamon represents District SS, which includes Vance County. He visited E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, Dabney Elementary, STEM Early High School and the district’s Center for Innovation.

Lawmakers were invited by members of the NC Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Network, the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and bi-partisan legislative sponsors to visit schools in their respective jurisdictions and engage with school communities. Sossamon joined more than 70 fellow legislators who accepted the invitation to visit schools in their districts.

School principals, as well as Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett joined Sossamon as he toured the schools and chatted with teachers and students.

The goal of this visit was to show legislators what current state investment in education looks like in practice during the day-to-day reality of North Carolina’s elementary and secondary schools.

N.C.’s Ag Impact Keeps Growing…And Growing

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-information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Maybe you’ve seen the bumper sticker that reads “If You’ve Eaten Today, Thank a Farmer.”

The impact that farmers and farming have in this state is huge. And Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has put that statement in measurable terms – for the first time, the economic impact of agriculture and agribusiness industry in North Carolina has topped $100 billion.

The exact figure, in fact, is $103.2 billion.

The numbers come from Dr. Mike Walden, N.C. State University economist and professor emeritus. These numbers reflect the economic value of growing, processing and delivering food, natural fiber and forestry products, Troxler said in a press release, and were calculated using the latest USDA statistics.

“When I took office in 2005, the economic impact of agriculture and agribusiness was $59 billion and $100 billion seemed like a good goal to work toward,” Troxler said. “In 2016, I made a prediction that North Carolina’s agriculture and agribusiness industry would soon reach $100 billion,” he added.

“I’m proud to say that we’ve reached that goal and surpassed last year’s economic impact by more than 11 percent. Reaching this milestone is a big accomplishment for everyone in agriculture and agribusiness and proves how much we can accomplish when we are all pulling together.”

Agriculture is North Carolina’s No. 1 industry, employing about one-fifth of the state’s workforce. Last year’s economic impact figure was $92.9 billion.

“We are blessed to have a strong, resilient, and engaged agriculture community that includes farmers, agribusiness owners, commodity associations, agricultural associations and effective leadership in the North Carolina General Assembly,” Troxler said. “I can assure you we will set new goals and keep North Carolina agriculture growing.”

Henderson Police I-85 Traffic Stop Yields Large Quantity of Drugs

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Press Release Courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow —

On Saturday, May 20, 2023, at approximately 4:50AM, members of the Henderson Police Department conducted a traffic stop on I-85 for a traffic violation. After a positive alert by our agency’s K-9, a vehicle search was conducted. During the course of the investigation and search 1,000 Bricks of Heroin and 5 kilos of cocaine were located within the vehicle.

The sole occupant of the vehicle, Jonathan Gordan (age 41) of Albany, New York, was arrested and charged with three (3) counts of Trafficking in Cocaine, three (3) counts of Trafficking in Heroin, one (1) count of Possession with the Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Cocaine, one (1) count of Possession with the Intent to Manufacture, Sell, Deliver Heroin, one (1) count of Maintain a Vehicle to Keep Controlled Substances, and one (1) count of Manufacture Cocaine.

Jonathan Gordan was taken before a Vance County Magistrate and received a secured bond of $500,000.00. He was remanded to the custody of the Vance County Detention Center.

The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Health Remembers Lives Lost In Service To Country

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-Information courtesy of Donna Young, MPH Marketing & Communication Coordinator 

Maria Parham Health invites the public to its third annual Memorial Day Service on Thursday, May 25, 2023. This year’s theme is “Reflection and Celebration.” The service will begin at 10 a.m. by the flagpoles in front of the hospital, where attendees will remember and honor those who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Maria Parham’s keynote speaker this year will be Hartwell Wright, Vietnam veteran and recent recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards conferred by the Governor of North Carolina. It is awarded for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina that is above and beyond the call of duty that has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina communities. Hartwell Wright received the award in February 2022.

The Maria Parham Memorial Day Service will include prayers from Harriett Baptist Church Pastor Will Breedlove, as well as special music, the hanging of a memorial wreath and the reading of names In Memoriam.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the auditorium.

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