Brightspeed Establishes Annual $3K Scholarship Through VGCC Foundation

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— from Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation announces a $3,000 annual scholarship established by Brightspeed to support students pursuing their educational goals.

The scholarship, named the Brightspeed Bright Futures Annual Scholarship, will be awarded to one deserving student and used for the fall 2026 – spring 2027 academic year, according to information from VGCC.

“Brightspeed is proud to be part of the communities we serve, and that means investing in the people who call them home,” said Sabrina Anderson, local marketing manager at Brightspeed. “The Brightspeed Bright Futures Annual Scholarship is about supporting local students as they work toward their goals and helping create opportunities that strengthen families, neighborhoods and the community as a whole. We’re honored to partner with The VGCC Foundation to help students build brighter futures.”

VGCC Foundation Executive Director Tanya Weary expressed gratitude to Brightspeed, a high-speed internet provider that operates in about 20 states, including North Carolina. “This generous contribution will make a meaningful difference by providing critical financial assistance and opening doors of opportunity for our students as they work toward achieving their educational and career goals.”

Students planning to attend VGCC in fall 2026 are encouraged to apply for the Brightspeed Bright Futures Annual Scholarship beginning in May. The scholarship is designed to support students who demonstrate a commitment to their education and a desire to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation supports the mission of the College by providing resources that enhance educational opportunities for students and strengthen the College’s impact in the community.

For more information about the scholarship or how to apply, please visit The VGCC Foundation webpage or contact The VGCC Foundation office at foundation@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3264.

Granville Health System Foundation Sam Perry Scholarship Application Period Open Through May 4

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— Information from the Granville Health System Foundation

The Granville Health System Foundation is accepting applications for its annual Sam Perry Memorial Scholarship through May 4.

Students who are selected to receive the award this year will notice that the scholarship awards have been increased. The first-place recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship, while second and third-place recipients will receive $1,000 scholarships to be paid toward tuition in August 2026, upon verification of acceptance into an approved program. These are one-time scholarships, but individuals may reapply for as many years as they are enrolled in school.

Now in its 16th year, the scholarship was established to support students pursuing careers in health care and to help strengthen the future healthcare workforce in Granville County and surrounding communities.

In 2009, the Granville Health System Board of Trustees and the GHS Foundation Board of Directors established a scholarship fund in honor of Sam Perry, a physician assistant whose specialized medical care earned him deep respect from both patients and peers throughout his career at Granville Health System.

The deadline for submitting a completed scholarship application packet is May 4, 2026, at 5 p.m., and more information is available at www.ghshospital.org/ghs-foundation.

TownTalk: Faith in Mental Health Forum Coming April 20 at MHCO

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The next ‘Faith in Mental Health’ forum is scheduled for Monday, April 20 at 6 p.m. to share information with individuals and church representatives interested in learning more about available mental health resources in Vance and Granville counties.

The session is free to attend and will take place in the cafeteria on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, said Frank Sossamon, pastor at Hermon Community Church. The theme for this program is substance misuse and addiction. A barbecue dinner will be provided as well, Sossamon said.

The Faith in Mental Health program is a pilot project that Sossamon hopes will eventually go statewide that will operate under the umbrella of public health departments.

“The numbers continue to grow with every event we have,” Sossamon said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

So far, more than 40 churches across the two-county area are actively involved in the initiative, which has three different levels of participation, depending on church interest.

Getting appropriate information into the hands of church congregations is helpful for a variety of reasons. An orientation session provides participants with information about resources in the area that can be shared with church members.

“We want you to be able to help your congregation,” he said. Participating in the Faith in Mental Health project is one way for congregations to be informed about what resources are available, where they’re located and how to access them.

The second level of commitment comes when a congregation chooses a mental health topic to highlight and discuss each month.

“Just being able to talk about it is healing for people in the church that are struggling with those things,” Sossamon said. Individuals realize that there is someone to talk to – the pastor or someone else in the congregation. “That in itself, is liberating. That in itself is healing and encouraging. And it’s healthy for the church as well,” he added.

The forums are also a way for people from different congregations to connect and form networks. He said he’s heard positive feedback from participants of earlier sessions about having the information they needed to share with others about particular services they were searching for.

The Faith in Mental Health initiative is for churches of all sizes, Sossamon said. So, whether it’s a 1,000 member congregation or a congregation of 10, there’s a place for you.

The upcoming forum will include area providers who will speak about substance misuse and addiction, as well as representatives from different programs available to provide help, from support groups to residential facilities.

The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford is located at 600 College St.

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Granville County Emergency Management

Zane Patterson Named Granville County’s First Fire Commission Administrator

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— Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Zane Patterson has been named the first Fire Commission Administrator for Granville County. Patterson enters this new role to work in the Emergency Management Department to work with the Granville County Fire Commission, which oversees the Fire Protection Service District that was established in 2022, in collaboration with the 14 fire departments that serve Granville County residents. With more than 12 years of experience in fire services and numerous fire inspection and safety certifications to the job, the newly created position will help provide long-term financial stability of the county’s fire services and ensure residents have adequate fire protection, regardless of where they live, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

Patterson joins Granville County after most recently serving as Vance County fire marshal. Before coming to Vance County, he worked as a Franklin County deputy fire marshal, a captain with the Henderson Fire Department, and as a part-time firefighter and driver operator with the Vance County Fire Department.  Patterson has also been a member of the Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department since 2014, where he has served in the leadership roles of assistant chief and member of the board of directors.

Patterson has also received numerous fire inspection and safety certifications from the State of North Carolina, including Fire Instructor, Fire and Life Safety Educator (FLSE), Fire/Arson Investigator, Fire Inspector, Fire Officer and Child Passenger Safety Technician.

“The best part of my job is working with the local volunteer fire departments,” said Patterson. “I was very excited to find an opportunity where my focus would be supporting these departments that often can be neglected. As a volunteer myself, my goal in this position is to give back to the fire services that have given so much to me.“

A native of the Cokesbury community in Vance County, Patterson is a 2016 graduate of J.F. Webb High School. He married his wife, Mackenzie, in 2020. They have three children: Daisy (3), Ellie Mae (20 months), and Voddie Mack (1 month).

Patterson also serves as the pastor of Unity Baptist Church in the Bearpond community. He attended Wake Technical Community College and is currently enrolled at Boyce College at the Southern Baptist Seminary in the Biblical and Theological Studies bachelor’s program.

TownTalk: Granville Gardeners Expo Coming April 18

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The annual Granville Gardeners Expo takes place Saturday, Apr. 18, and Vendor Coordinator Christi Henthorn said this year’s event features educational workshops, vendors, local handcrafted items as well as the plants, vegetables, herbs and more for gardeners to scoop up and add to their own landscapes.

Come out to the Granville County Convention & Expo Center between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to check out all the locally sourced plants, from herbs and vegetable slips to hardy landscape specimens.

Experienced gardeners may know exactly what they’re looking at and looking for at the expo, but there are many opportunities for less-experienced gardeners to learn more about how to cultivate the coveted “green thumb.”

More than 85 vendors will fill the indoor and outdoor spaces of the expo center that day, but there’s room for just a few more. “We’re spread out all over the grounds,” Henthorn said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

In years past, the education workshops were held inside the convention center, but this year, they’ll be integrated among the vendors and plants, sharing their knowledge about diverse topics ranging from gardening as therapy for anxiety and depression and incorporating native plants into the landscape to bird feeders, bees and pollinators and making herbal teas and breads.

Henthorn said she’d recommend bringing a wagon to make your shopping experience more enjoyable. You can fill that wagon with plants, unique arts and crafts items and more, she said. Most vendors are equipped to take electronic payments, she added, although cash is always welcome.

Members of the Master Gardeners will be on hand to talk about “victory” gardens and there will be Earth Day activities taking place during the day as well. A raffle full of great prizes has been organized to support the Gardeners’ annual scholarship.

Add a fleet of food trucks, stocked with yummy food and treats, and you’ve got a full day of fun for the whole family.

Indeed, Henthorn said the Gardeners’ Expo is a family-friendly event. Last year’s expo had more than 2,200 in attendance and this year’s event is shaping up to top that number.

“Our plants are generally all organic,” Henthorn said. They’re either grown locally at a couple of different nearby nurseries, or they come straight out of the gardens of Granville Gardener members.

Parking in front of the Expo building is reserved for those with mobility issues or handicapped placards. General parking is located next door. Volunteers will be on hand to direct drivers to a parking spot.

If you placed an online order, pickup will take place in a drive-thru line that takes you to the back side of the covered arena behind the Expo Center.

Learn more about the Granville Gardeners Club at https://thegranvillegardeners.org/

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VGCC Logo

VGCC Drama Presents ‘God Of Carnage,’ Award-Winning Comedy About Parenthood, For 4-Day Run April 9-12

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— Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

VGCC Drama is back on stage this spring with Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage,” winner of three 2009 Tony Awards (including Best Play) and the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

This internationally acclaimed comedy takes you deep into the most dangerous place on Earth: parenthood. What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behavior of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly, or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums, and tears before bedtime? Boys will be boys, but the adults are worse…much worse. “God of Carnage” is a comedy of manners, without the manners.

The student cast includes Annie Walker as Veronica, Jordon Medlin as Michael, Sophie Blair as Annette, and Elijah Moss as Alan. Riley Stone is the stage manager, Isabela De La Joya is assistant stage manager, and Joshua Ramsey serves on the crew. Department Chair Betsy Henderson acts as the play’s director.

The students’ hard work will culminate in four performances:

  • Thursday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 12, at 2 p.m.

All shows will take place in the Small Auditorium on Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus  in Henderson. The venue is located on the lower level of Building 2, which is accessible from the campus courtyard.

Following the Thursday night performance, a special talk-back discussion will be moderated by VGCC sociology professor Leslie Hurt. The conversation will explore the play’s central themes, including conflict, civility, and the complexities of human behavior. Hurt will be joined by members of the cast and crew, who will share insights into their creative process, character development, and the challenges of bringing the production to life. This engaging discussion will offer audience members a deeper understanding of the show while creating an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between performers and the community.

Tickets are on sale now. The cost is $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors/military, and $10 for students and VGCC faculty/staff. Purchase tickets online at www.vgcc.edu/god-of-carnage.

VGCC Drama presents “God of Carnage” by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Please be advised that this production contains adult and/or offensive language…and vomit.

To learn more about VGCC Drama or Fine Arts at Vance-Granville Community College, contact Betsy Henderson, Department Chair of Fine Arts & Humanities, at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3371.

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Lost and Forgotten Communities

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People find all kinds of items when they clean out parents’ and grandparents’ attics that can provide insight into bygone times – diaries, vintage clothing and photographs all provide glimpses into the past.

But what about whole communities? Once-vibrant places where folks could go for mail, fabric for new clothes and other provisions?

Communities literally got “on the map” because of post offices, general stores and churches.  But road construction and, more importantly in and around the area known as Old Granville County, railroad construction, are what determined a community’s ultimate rise or decline.

WIZS’s Bill Harris and local historian Mark Pace ran through a list of forgotten and almost-forgotten communities, in Thursday’s Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk. Some of those spots in the road are marked with signs – like Huntsville in Granville County – but places like Monroe in the northeast corner of Warren County live on mostly in historical accounts.

This community, named for President James Monroe, got on the proverbial map when a ferry operator named Robinson offered for sale a hundred or so 1/4 -acre lots in that vicinity. He sold a third of them right quick – for the tidy sum of between $35 and $150, Pace said.

The stagecoach stopped there and numerous notables of their day stopped in for visits. There was U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, for example, and Vice President Aaron Burr, whose name would become forever remembered for killing his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

There was only one thing missing from Monroe, however, Pace said.

“The railroad didn’t come through,” Pace said. “And that was the end of Monroe.”

As Monroe, went, so went other small communities that started off in relative prosperity but were doomed because the Raleigh & Gaston didn’t come near.

Take Bunn, for instance, in Franklin County. “Old” Bunn is located a little to the east of present-day Bunn. “When the railroad came through, Bunn moved a mile or so to the east, Pace explained.

And then there’s Lynesville, a precursor to Townsville in Vance County. The railroad moved it a little to the west, drying up Lynesville and giving new life to the unincorporated town that remains today.

And before there was Henderson, there was Chalk Level, which boasted a stagecoach stop, a store and more. It was the mid-1830’s when Lewis Reavis gave land for the right-of-way for the railroad that created a dead end for Chalk Level. The train depot was basically in Reavis’s front yard, Pace said. The advent of the railroad created economic prosperity for what would become Henderson and signal a death knell for Chalk Level.

There are still signs for Tally Ho in Granville County, and there’s a Tally-Ho Road, but when the Stem family gave land for the railroad, Tally Ho died off while the town of Stem gained traction.

Before there was an Oxford, there was a community called Harrisburg, Pace said. Harrisburg played a role during the American Revolution as a gathering point for American supplies.

“As early as 1759 Harrisburg was as large and important as Williamsboro,” Pace said, referring to the once-prominent Vance County community that also fell victim to the placement of the railroad.

In Harrisburg, there was a post office, a dozen or so houses, a community center and the obligatory horse racing track, Pace said. But its exact location wasn’t really clear – until recently. He said thanks to some metal detection work and studied of historical records and deeds, Harrisburg was situated in the general area between the Oxford exits 204 and 206 along I-85.

The community of Letha south of Rocky Ford in Franklin County had a post office from 1890 to 1910. There also was Whitaker’s Mill, as well as a store and perhaps a community cemetery.

“The mill no longer stands,” Harris said, “but you can still see evidence of where the mill was. It’s one of the prettiest areas of Franklin County.”

Most likely it was the mill closing that sent Letha into relative obscurity.

Up in northern Granville County, in the Cornwall community, there was Big Rock. It had a post office from 1885 until the mid-1930’s, Pace said.

When he went off in search of any evidence of the place, Pace said he had to travel several miles through the woods on an ATV.

What did he find? Nothing really was left, he said.

Except, you guessed it – the big rock.

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Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Announces Scholarships For Students Heading For Health-Care Related Fields

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Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established two scholarships – one for high school students heading to college and one for individuals already working in the health care field who are pursuing health-care degrees.

The Foundation is seeking students whose academic plans align with the TNHF mission – to encourage, support and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North region and a vision to live in a healthy community, according to information from TNHF Executive Director Paul Ross.

Each high school in the TNHF region, which includes Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties, will select one student to nominate for the TNHF scholarship. From this pool of applicants, the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee will select one individual from each county to receive a $4,000 scholarship.

Preference will be given to students who plan to major in a health-related field. Scholarship applications must be submitted to the school counselors by May 1, 2026.

Requirements for the scholarship recipients include:

  • A minimum unweighted GPA of 2.5.
  • Plans to pursue a career in a health-related field matching the vision and mission of TNHF.
  • Full time residence in Vance, Granville, Warren or Franklin County
  • Documented acceptance into an accredited two-year or four-year college or university
  • Copy of college acceptance letter required

Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Directors also will award a $25,000 scholarship to an individual currently working in health care and currently enrolled in health degree programs for associate degrees or higher.

The recipient must meet the following requirements:

  • Currently employed part time or full time in a health-related position
  • Currently enrolled in a health-related degree program at an accredited college or university, pursuing an associate degree or higher
  • Currently enrolled in the health-related degree program at an accredited school
  • A minimum unweighted GPA of 2.5.
  • Preference will be given to applicants living and working in Vance, Granville, Warren or Franklin counties

Applications are available online at http://www.tnhfoundation.org/ after April 1,2026.

Based in Henderson, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a regional healthcare foundation, which was established in November 2011 after Maria Parham Medical Center merged with the for-profit Duke LifePoint organization. The Foundation’s grants and scholarships are made possible by the endowment that was created from the assets of the former nonprofit hospital.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Foundation Grants Support Local Storm Preparedness

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— Information from Duke Energy

The Duke Energy Foundation is committing $500,000 in grants to support local storm preparedness across North Carolina. Eligible organizations can apply for grants of up to $25,000 now through April 30, 2026 by visiting the Duke Energy Foundation website.

Successful applications will describe pressing local preparedness needs and how the organization(s) will use the funds, according to information from Beth Townsend, Duke Energy East Region’s director of Government and Community Relations.

Examples of potential, successful proposals include:

  • Collaboration across agencies, sectors and communities in local disaster preparedness and response.
  • Innovative planning of initiatives for communities to prepare for natural disasters and extreme weather.
  • Storm readiness training, materials, kits and other community engagement and education initiatives.
  • Specialized training for first responders for natural disaster scenarios.

The application website includes information on qualifications, registering through Benevity, and step-by-step instructions. However, if you have any questions, please contact Sue Mills at sue.mills@duke-engery.com.

NC Forest Service

State Under Burn Ban Until Further Notice Because Of Dry, Windy Conditions

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The whole state of North Carolina is under a burn ban until further notice because of the increase risk of wildfire because of drought conditions and windy weather.

“With drought severity across the state, forecast fire weather and the potential for limited rainfall, it is critical to reduce the number of new fire starts,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Vegetative fuels will dry rapidly, and with the amount of fuel loading in the mountains and drought impacts statewide, a burn ban for all 100 counties is necessary to reduce the number of wildfires across our landscape. Please follow this burn ban to help reduce the risk for everyone.”

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning statewide, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.

Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.

The N.C. Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions. Residents with questions regarding a specific county can contact their N.C. Forest Service county ranger or their county fire marshal’s office. 

 

FAQ’s

Q: What is open burning? 

A: Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal.

 

Q: May I still use my grill or barbecue? 

A: Yes, if no other local ordinances prohibit their use.

 

Q: Can I still use my fire pit or fireplace outdoors?

A: More than 100 feet from an occupied dwelling, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and burning barrels are considered open burning and are subject to the burn ban. Within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning. All local outdoor burning bans are set independently. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of this ban, and they have been asked to also consider implementing a burn ban. Check with county fire marshals about local restrictions.

 

Q: Can I have a campfire when I go camping? 

A: Campfires would be considered open burning and are not exempt from the burn ban. During a burn ban, portable gas stoves or grills are alternate methods for cooking food while camping.

 

Q: Can I use fireworks during a burn ban?

A: Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited during a burn ban and are not allowed in any county while the burn ban is in effect.

 

Q: How should I report a wildfire? 

A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.

 

Q: How should I report a person who intentionally starts a wildfire? 

A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.

 

Q: My local fire marshal has also issued a burn ban for my county. What does this mean?

A: The burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest service does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and has asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. If a fire within a 100-foot area of a dwelling escapes containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

 

Q: Are there other instances which impact open burning?

A: Local ordinances and air quality regulations may impact open burning. For instance, outdoor burning is prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts. Learn more about air quality forecasts on the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s website.

 

Q: What can I do to protect my house against the risk of wildfire?

A: Learn about wildfire risk assessments, preparedness and prevention plans on the following N.C. Forest Service webpages: Wildland Urban Interface and Resist Wildfire.