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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TownTalk: Shamrocks On Breckenridge Friday, Mar. 15

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With the Shamrocks on Breckenridge just more than three weeks away, Amanda Walker Ellis has a couple of items on her radar: As treasurer of the Downtown Development Commission, Ellis is hopeful to get a few more sponsors; as a member of the Promotions Committee, she’s all about getting the word out for folks to deck themselves out in all shades of green and come enjoy the free event on Friday, Mar. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“The more sponsors we get, the more food we can provide,” Ellis explained on Wednesday’s TownTalk segment. This is one way “to get families in downtown Henderson,” Ellis said. There will be a couple of food trucks on hand and sufficient sponsors’ fees means that people don’t have to pay for food.

There will be activities for the children, a DJ will be spinning tunes and cloggers from Ballet Arts will perform, Ellis said.

The deadline to become a sponsor has been extended to this Friday, Feb. 23. Sponsorship levels range from Pot of Gold – $1,000, Shamrock – $500 and Leprechaun – $250, Ellis noted. All sponsors will be prominently displayed or included in all publicity about the street fair, now in its third year.

But this year, there’s an extra twist, Ellis said.

Downtown merchants have been invited to join in the festivities, so come early and shop the sidewalk sale before the Shamrocks event begins at 5 p.m.

The fun and shenanigans continue at Southern Charm with green beer and other fun stuff available after the street fair concludes.

You’re invited back to downtown Henderson between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 16 to sample a variety of foods at an International Food Festival – with a spin on health.

Food trucks from the Triangle and Triad are joining local vendors to provide a culinary backdrop for a cadre of health providers who will be on hand to conduct simple diagnostic tests to promote health and wellness as well as to provide other information.

Not to worry if you prefer more customary food offerings, Ellis said – “It’s not all international food – there are normal food trucks as well.”

The DDC, under leadership of board chair Daniel White, is planning Shamrocks on Breckenridge, but she said it pairs nicely with the city’s food festival the next day.

“People want stuff to do in downtown Henderson, and stuff is coming,” Ellis said. “We just need people to come out and support it.”

From Vance County, it’s a short trip to the Raleigh-Durham area, where there are endless opportunities for festivals and other cultural events to enjoy, and Ellis said that’s a good thing. But she is also happy when events like Shamrock on Breckenridge happen locally – making it a much shorter drive.

“It’s all about teamwork,” she said.  “And when your team is working together, it’s amazing what you can get done.”

 

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TownTalk: Tax Prep Help Available

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The IRS is offering assistance to eligible tax filers during special Saturday hours at a couple of locations in Granville County beginning this Saturday, Feb. 24.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs are available to offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.

Representative of the two programs will be at Richard Thornton Public Library in Oxford from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  on Feb. 24; if evening hours are better, make plans to go to the library’s South Branch Monday, Feb. 26 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to request help.

The next closest location for the free tax help offered by VITA and TCE is at the Taxpayer Assistance Center, 7751 Brier Creek Parkway, Suite 102, Raleigh. At this location, in-person help is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

No appointment is required for any of the sites offering the help.

The VITA program has operated for more than 50 years. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:

  • People who generally make $64,000 or less
  • Persons with disabilities; and
  • Limited English-speaking taxpayers

Before going to a VITA or TCE site, see Publication 3676-B for services provided and check out What to Bring to ensure you have all the required documents and information the volunteers will need to help you.

Visit www.irs.gov to find out more, including what types of information you’ll need to bring, including a government-issued photo ID, Social Security numbers or ITIN for all household members and more.

Additional resources are found below:

 

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • If you have plants in a greenhouse or cold frame, always check the projected high temperature for the day 70F or higher. You will need to ventilate your greenhouse or cold frame.  Also have a good thermometer in these structures.
  • Begin pruning fruit trees, grapevines and blueberry bushes.
  • Organize your seed in the order you need to plant
  • Begin pruning trees and shrubs, but only if they need it.
  • Cooperative Extension has publications on most vegetables free of charge.
  • In most cases it’s best to avoid shearing cuts.
  • Conduct a germination test on old seed
  • Look for a date on all seed you purchase. Seed from last season or earlier will likely have a lower germination rate. .

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TownTalk: Vance County Government Vacancies

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Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry has wasted no time in posting job descriptions for several county positions that are either currently vacant or will be vacant in the next few weeks.

Perry is responsible for hiring a new budget and finance director – the previous director was terminated on Feb. 9 – and a new economic development director after outgoing director McKinley Perkinson leaves on Mar. 19.

It puts Perry in an unenviable spot of having to find new people to take important leadership roles, but she maintains a positive outlook.

“The only thing I can do is continue to recruit and look for the best candidate for each position and just hope and pray that when they come in the door they see me as a manager that wants to support them and take Vance County in a different direction,” Perry said in a recent interview with WIZS News.

The salary range for the job of economic development director is $80,076 to $104,099, according to the job posting on https://www.vancecounty.org/.

Benny Finch held that job for 25 years, but since his retirement in 2009, there have been a number of directors, each short-lived in their time with the county.

Perry said before Perkinson, “There were two or three people that didn’t stay long, so I guess my plan is just to try to get someone that wants to come here and make this home.” “It might be a little difficult…the only thing I can do is just take a chance and see how it goes – it’s definitely a revolving door.”

The salary range is a pretty healthy one, but candidates for the job should take a deep breath before taking a peek at the job description posted online: There are 14 bullet points under the heading of “Essential Job Functions” and 18 bullet points under the “Knowledge, Skills and Abilities” heading.

The ideal candidate has a four-year college degree and experience in the area of economic development.

In addition to those nuts-and-bolts skills that an effective employee needs, the economic development director also must possess those “soft skills” – think interpersonal skills, being a liaison among different groups exercising good judgment and meeting deadlines – that are so important when cultivating relationships and attracting new business.

The job description states that the economic development director works under the “general direction” of the county manager and economic development board.

Perry said as she seeks to fill the vacancies, she’ll be building a strong team to move the county forward.

“I’m hopeful that, with my leadership, things will be different…I just know that I’m looking at the end goal with making Vance County great. It’s already good – we’re just going to make it better.”

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Perry Memorial Library

Events At Perry Library; Mayor To Read To Youngsters

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Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott will take a break from her duties with the city for a bit next week when she visits Perry Memorial Library to read a storybook to youngsters and then hang around to answer questions about what it’s like to be mayor.

Youth Services Director Melody Peters said the Tuesday, Feb. 27 gathering is for all ages, and everyone’s invited. Peters said on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny! that the program will last 30-45 minutes. “We have a craft planned, so it’ll be fun!” she exclaimed.

Ongoing programs are gearing up after a holiday pause, and Peters said the Monday Community Read program is gathering a bit of steam.

“One of my dreams for this program,” Peters said, “is to have all ages reading.” Whether it’s younger children reading to teens, teens reading with other teens or classes for adults who struggle with literacy, Peters said the library wants to meet people “where they’re at” with literacy.

The Community Read program is on Monday afternoons from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Visit www.perrymemorial.org to find out about all the events and programs the library offers.

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