Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Summer Success And Fall Events At Perry Memorial Library

/by

Libraries are usually associated with books – words on pages. But if you’re Melody Peters, you also gotta look at the numbers.

The number 8 – that’s how many weeks of summer programming is in the books (no pun intended) at Perry Memorial Library. The number 38 – that’s how many programs were held. And 1,500-plus? That’s how many participants took part.

“We were busy,” Peters, Youth Services Director at the library, told WIZS co-host Bill Harris during Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! “It was a GREAT summer!” she proclaimed.

In addition to all the different programs held at the library, Peters said a lot of new patrons got library cards, and there were other families who returned after a long hiatus, thanks largely to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were groups of day campers who got to visit the library, too, which Peters said was good for the library AND for the youngsters whose parents work and didn’t have the time to bring them to check out books or enjoy the programming.

There’s a lot of planning that goes in to creating a successful summer program, but as the saying goes, it isn’t work if you love what you do.

And that is true for Peters. “I love what I do,” she said. “I love talking to people and working with kids of all ages.”

When she can help a young person find a book that brings a smile to their face, it’s a gift.

“I think it’s the best gift in the world,” she said.

But she’s not resting on her laurels, just taking a slight breather during August before fall programming cranks back up.

Thanks to input from the community, there will be a few adjustments to the fall schedule, along with some additional programs for young people to enjoy.

The Maker Space is opening up for a gaming and robotics club on Thursdays, she noted.

And the popular Lego Club, Life Hacks, Survival Skills and Kids Connect will continue.

“It’s kind of the same model…then things will expand a little bit,” she said.

One add-on comes from a suggestion Peters got on a sticky note, on which a young person wrote “electricity.”

She contacted Vance Granville Community College, got some ideas and then got a grant for all the materials needed to teach the nuts and bolts of electricity to youngsters.

“That’s what I love,” Peters said, of the responsive collaboration to create new programs.

It’s planned for Oct. 10, which coincidentally is a teacher workday.

She’s got the equipment, the contact and the space, she said, to present the program.

Considering the interest from the summer program, getting the kids to participate shouldn’t be too difficult.

Find out about all the services and programs offered at Perry Memorial Library at https://www.perrylibrary.org/.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Vance County High School

Vance Co. Vipers Kick off Season August 18th

/by

It’s not far off. August 18th will see the return of high school football as the Vance County Vipers open their season at home against long time rival Warren County. Head Coach Aaron Elliott made impressive strides last season in his first year at the helm of the Viper’s program taking Vance Co. into the playoffs and he’s preparing for an even bigger year this season. The team has emphasized weight training in the off season and brought in a new defensive coordinator. All is looking good on paper for the Vipers but the real test is when they hit the field against some strong competition this season.

After facing Warren County, the Vipers have several games against some very strong opponents including Louisburg, Northern Durham and perennial conference favorite Southern Durham.
You can follow the Vipers all season long here on WIZS on Vance County Friday Night Football as John Rose, David “Doc” Ayscue and Bill Harris bring you all of the action of every game all season long live. Join us on Friday, August 18th at 6:50 for the season opener from Vance Co. Stadium as the Vipers take on those Eagles from Warren County.

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

/by

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

Click Play!

 

Warren Co. Memorial Library

Warren Library Gets $28,500 Grant To Better Serve The Community

/by

Thanks to a grant totaling more than $28,000, the Warren County Memorial Library is kicking off a plan to seek community input that will expand the services it provides to patrons.

The $28,500 grant comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is administered through the State Library of North Carolina. The IMLS provides funding to agencies affiliated with the State Library by using a population-based formula.

“This assessment will help the library to gather feedback from the community on how to best serve the residents in Warren County,” stated Library Director Christy Bondy.

“We want to expand our services as much as we can,” Bondy said. “To do that, we need to find out where our blind spots are. We’re looking for creative ways to serve the community and want to see everyone’s basic needs get met when it comes to literacy. But as libraries evolve, we’re here to help people in whatever way we can.”

The information gathered through the surveys and focus groups scheduled for the fall will be used to learn what services patrons use, but Bondy said it also will help learn why the community is not using the library.

“We will use the survey and focus group input to learn what services and resources the community is using, as well as what services are being provided that the population is unaware of,” Bondy said. “The feedback will also aid us in determining what could be added to improve the overall experience.”

The assessment will be conducted by Rethinking Libraries, LCC, a library consulting firm that helps clients to see their institutions differently and embrace changes to become more vibrant, 21st Century libraries. Rethinking Libraries has been involved in numerous facilities projects, strategic planning processes, building programs and other consulting work with hundreds of libraries across the United States. Clients range from small rural public libraries to large urban facilities.

The needs assessment portion of the project kicked off Aug. 4; paper copies are available at the library’s circulation desk; complete the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCMLPRMedia.

The Warren County Memorial Library is located at 119 S. Front St. in Warrenton. For more information, visit www.wcmlibrary.org.

TownTalk: Cruise In For Christ Coming This Saturday

/by

 

Come to the Cruise-In for Christ this weekend and prepare to satisfy your tastebuds as you see up-close and personal some pretty delicious-looking vehicles.

Union Chapel Church is hosting the Cruise-In on Saturday, Aug. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Tony’s Automotive at 415 Raleigh Rd.

Proceeds will be donated to the Vance County Special Olympics, according to organizer Tony Sanford and Radford Frazier, pastor of Union Chapel Church in Kittrell.

Last year, Sanford pitched his idea of a cruise-in to the church’s missions team. Frazier admitted it sounded a bit unorthodox, but the cruise-in got the green light. There were three cruise-ins last year; this year, there will be six.

“It was such a good idea as a way to reach the community,” Frazier told WIZS co-host Bill Harris on TownTalk. “It was a great way to get back in and get engaged with the community” following the pandemic resitrictions.

“Everything is given to the cause,” Sanford said.

The guidelines are simple, he said: Come on out, have some food, see some cars, have some fun.

Car enthusiasts love to get up close to vintage cars, lovingly restored to glimmering perfection. Whether you have one or just like to look, Saturday’s event is sure to please.

The cruise-ins average 25-25 vehicles, and Sanford said there’s plenty of room for more at his location.

Next month’s event is Saturday, Sept. 9 and will benefit Community Partners of Hope as it continues its plan to transform the former City Road Methodist Church to a year-round men’s shelter.

Contact Frazier at 919.482.2319 to learn more about becoming the recipient of the Cruise-In proceeds.

Or better yet, find Sanford and Frazier Saturday at the Cruise-In – or Sunday, at Union Chapel’s 10:30 a.m. worship service.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Students At 3 VCS Campuses Start A New School Year

/by

Students headed back to class Monday in three Vance County Schools – getting the 2023-24 school year off to a good start with smiles, high fives and lots of excitement.

The first day of class at E.M. Rollins STEAM Academy, Vance County Early College and Vance County High School began without a hitch, and VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin stated that teachers and staff are ready to educate students and empower them to engage in opportunities and experiences, taking learning to the next level.

The annual back-to-school convocation for all staff is scheduled for Aug. 22 at McGregor Hall in advance of the Aug. 28 start date for all traditional calendar schools in the district.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Brown Marmorated Stinkbug

/by

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

Click Play!

 

Keep Immunizations, Vaccines, Up-To-Date For Maximum Protection

/by

-information provided by Betsy Hunt, Chief Nursing Officer at Maria Parham Health

Although the COVID-19 virus still poses a health risk to many Americans, the widespread panic brought on by the pandemic as it raged and surged over the past few years is a thing of the past, thanks largely to the development and use of vaccines.

In May, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced an end to the public health emergency brought on by COVID-19.1 Since the peak of the Omicron variant in January 2022, COVID-19 cases have declined rapidly – though the disease still poses a health risk to many Americans, COVID-19 death rates have dropped 95 percent from their height in 2021.2

Much of our achievement in combatting the virus can be attributed to a record-breaking vaccine rollout, according to information from Betsy Hunt, chief nursing officer at Maria Parham Health.

Since the first COVID-19 vaccine was released to the public, more than 270 million Americans have received at least one dose, and over 70 percent are considered fully immunized,3 making this the largest adult vaccination program in our nation’s history. As more of us become resistant to the virus, we are able to return to the activities we love – visiting restaurants, traveling outdoors and hosting social gatherings – without fear that we’ll endanger ourselves or the people around us.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. Each year, we take this time to recognize that vaccines are essential to our health and the health of our community – a lesson that the past few years have made especially clear. For centuries, immunization has been one of the most effective ways we can protect ourselves from preventable illness.4 Diseases that were once deadly, such as polio, have all but vanished thanks to the power of community-wide vaccination, while others such as COVID-19 are becoming much less dangerous. Whether we’re young or old, we can stop the spread of disease by following vaccination guidelines.

Although COVID is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, it’s important to remember that other diseases have not gone away. The CDC has observed that over the past few years, many children missed yearly check-ups due to concerns surrounding COVID.5 September is approaching, which for many Americans means the start of the school year – as you gear up your child with books and pencils, make sure to also check their immunization record, and talk to their pediatrician about making up any missed appointments.

Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Adults also benefit from certain vaccinations, to protect against diseases such as shingles, tetanus, and the common flu. Some vaccines can even reduce your risk of cancer – the Hepatitis B vaccine can prevent liver cancer, while the HPV vaccine immunizes you against the most common cause of cervical cancer.6 Your recommended vaccines may vary, depending on your age, lifestyle, and prior immunization history – for instance, adults who travel frequently, or who missed important vaccinations during childhood, may be due for a check-up. Talk to your primary physician about your vaccine history, and ask if any of the following vaccines are right for you:

If there is a lesson we should take away from the past few years, it’s that our community’s health is everything, and protecting our health is everyone’s responsibility. When you get vaccinated to strengthen your immune system, you’re not just safeguarding yourself from common illnesses – you’re also protecting your family, neighbors, and the most vulnerable members of your community.

Different vaccines are recommended, depending on the age of the patient. COVID-19 and flu vaccines, for example, are recommended for anyone between the ages of 6 months and 80+. Shingles vaccines are recommended for anyone over 50 and HPV vaccines target those in the 11-26 age group.

Schedule a check-up with your primary care provider today. To find a provider, call 800.424.DOCS. For more information on immunization recommendations by age, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html or talk to your primary care provider.