TownTalk: Fall in Full Swing with Granville County Tourism

/by

Granville County is squeezing a lot into an already-busy time of year, but Granville Tourism Authority Director Angela Allen encourages the community to jump in and embrace the seasons – you can walk, trot, run, eat, shop, march and drive your way through the various programs and events that will take place in the next few weeks as the holidays approach.

Downtown Oxford retailers are preparing for Christmas with a Holiday Open House Saturday, Nov. 15. You’ll see festive storefronts dotting the downtown district, who want to entice folks to shop local this season.

“Here in Granville County, we’re welcoming the season,” Allen said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

Get all the tastes of Thanksgiving a week early at Thorndale Oaks on Nov. 18. Make reservations by calling 919.603.3701. The cost is $32.95 for adults and $19.95 for children.

The City of Oxford has refurbished its auditorium and rebranded it the OX Theater. Located within the municipal building at 300 Williamsboro St., the theater will host Shana Tucker on Thursday, Nov. 20 for “An Evening of Sade,” The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tucker is a cellist and a vocalist and, along with a band and backup singers, will entertain the audience with the smooth, sultry sounds of the singer popular in the mid-1980’s and 1990’s.

Burn some calories in advance of that Thanksgiving meal with the 20th annual Turkey Trot to benefit Area Congregations in Ministry, the local food bank. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. event, which sends walkers and runners along a 2-mile path from Oxford United Methodist Church down College Street to the Masonic Home for Children and back.

Four cans of food or a monetary donation to ACIM gets you in – make plans to join in the fun to support the food bank mission of feeding hungry people in Granville County.

Once Thanksgiving is in the rear-view mirror, it’s full-steam ahead to all things Christmas, and Allen reeled off an impressive list of events that begin before all the leftovers are gone.

“I’m excited for the holiday season,” Allen said, “because that’s when I feel our community really sines and comes together – we’re creating community and memories.”

Find out all the details at https://visitgranvillenc.com/, but here’s a partial list of what’s happening in Granville County:

  • Granville Christmas Farm – opens Friday, Nov. 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get tickets at https://www.granvillechristmasfarm.com/. The farm will open daily the week before Christmas through New Year’s Eve.
  • Corn Hill Farm – a local tree farm that will have a special Christmas Connection on Friday, Nov. 28, complete with arts and crafts for the kids, vendors, food and Santa from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Visit https://cornhillfarms.com/
  • Back to the OX Theater for Celtic Angels on Dec. 1. The show starts at 7 p.m. Then it’s Nashville Noel on Dec. 14. Visit https://www.oxfordnc.org/ to purchase tickets.
  • The Lighting of the Greens and Parade in Oxford is Friday, Dec. 5 beginning at 4 p.m. The parade begins at 7 p.m. The City of Oxford also will have its tree lighting on Dec. 5.
  • Parade season continues with parades in Creedmoor and Butner on Saturday, Dec. 6 – Creedmoor in the morning and Butner in the afternoon.
  • Christmas Buffet Dinner at Thorndale Oaks on Saturday, Dec. 6. It’s a full buffet, $58.95 Children 12 and under: $24.95 Children 5 and under are free. Call 919.603.3701 or 919.725.5201 to reserve your table.

CLICK PLAY!

Kerr-Tar Family Caregiver Conference November 13

/by

People who provide care to family members or loved ones with chronic conditions like dementia can face relentless challenges, running the gamut from finances to time management.

On Thursday, Nov. 13, the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments, in partnership with Dementia Alliance, will offer resources and services to caregivers that may prove useful in overcoming some of the challenges that go along with caring for family members with long-term health issues.

The conference is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be held at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, according to Michael Patterson, KTCOG family caregiver specialist. Registration is $10 for family caregivers and $25 for professional caregivers.

Professional caregivers can receive 1.5 continuing education credit. Register at www.dementianc.org/2025henderson. Patterson said walk-up registrations also will be taken the day of the conference.

“This is a great opportunity for our caregivers to receive resources, services and skills they need to support their caregiver journey,” Patterson said on Monday’s TownTalk.

The guest speakers include Michael Lewis, chief behavioral officer and senior financial advisor at Family Legacy Financial Solution, Dr. Delon Canterbury, a pharmacist consultant at GeriatRx, Inc. and Lisa Levine, executive director at Dementia Alliance.

Patterson said the half-day conference will give participants a chance to hear from experts that he said may be outside the traditional box of resources as they gain knowledge and make connections with local resources and services.

A caregiver’s main concern is on the safety, health and well-being of the care recipient, Patterson acknowledged, but finding support for that care provider is also very important, according to feedback he’s gotten as he networks throughout the KTCOG service area.

“Finances is a big challenge for our family caregivers,” Patterson said, so the session on financial resources is an important topic. The majority of those caregivers are providing that care for free – and it’s something that they may choose to do for their loved ones, but it can have an impact, he said, affecting personal and work lives.

Canterbury’s session will focus on how to be an advocate for loved ones when it comes to medications they are taking. The concept of “de-prescribing” focuses on reviewing medicines, understanding particular side effects and making sure a patient isn’t being over-prescribed.

The final session of the conference will turn to a lighter side of caregiving, highlighting the importance of self-care with a segment called Laughter Yoga.

Caregiving can be an emotional journey, Patterson said, and caregivers must balance, as best they can, caring for their loved one as they care for themselves.

It’s important to “bring joy to yourself and to those around you,” he said.

Once a family member has gotten a diagnosis of dementia or other long-term health condition, it’s also important to be proactive in setting up a process for care.

“The longer you wait, the more stressful it can be to try to find resources,” Patterson said.

To learn more, contact Patterson at 252.436.2040 ext. 6072 or by email at mpatterson@kerrtarcog.org

CLICK PLAY!

(Original post just above made Oct. 27, 2025)

********************

Who: Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

What: Kerr-Tar Family Caregiver Conference

When: Thursday, November 13 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Where: Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center

Additional Details: Dementia Alliance of NC. Hear from Director of Dementia Alliance, Lisa Levine, and from Pharmacist Consultant, Dr. DeLon Canterbury. Learn practical skills for engaging and supporting those living with dementia, and how to care for yourself in the process. A Family Caregiver Ticket is $10 – For those caring for someone living with dementia, neighbors, friends, students, clergy and anyone else who would like to attend. Limited scholarships available. Professional Caregiver Tickets are $25. Breakfast and refreshments will be provided. To learn more about how to sign up, please reach out to Michael Patterson at (252) 436-2040 ext. 6072 or email mpatteron@kerrtarcog.org.

(Original post just above made Oct. 23, 2025)

TownTalk: Around Old Granville – Sassafras Fork Township

/by

OK, local history buffs, here’s a question for you:

What do the Declaration of Independence, inventor of a Space-Age portable stereo and the poet Langston Hughes all have in common?

Ready for the answer?

Sassafras Fork township.

Northern Granville County residents may be more familiar with Sassafras Fork than others, but back in the 1760’s, Sassafras Fork encompassed the general area now known as Bullock, Grassy Creek, Gela, Stovall and Soudan, just across the NC/VA border.

WIZS’s Bill Harris and local historian Mark Pace talked about what that area used to look like in the recurring TownTalk segment “Around Old Granville.”

Now, here’s how those three seemingly unrelated items intersect in northern Granville County:

The town of Stovall recently held a Harvest Festival, featuring a celebration of one of its famous residents, John Penn. Penn was one of the state’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence and he moved from Virginia to North Carolina in part because there were too many lawyers where he was from in Virginia, but also because his wife’s family lived near Sassafras Fork.

Now, about that Space-Age portable radio…

Pratt Winston, who died in 2024, was an entrepreneur and inventor. He created the iconic Weltron radio product line, which sold all over the world into the late 70’s.

Winston’s home, Rose Hill, originally was part of the Speed holdings, still stands.

Pace said it’s probably the oldest brick home in the area, having been built around 1834. The two-story Greek Revival-style home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Ready to make the connection between Sassafras Fork and Langston Hughes?

“Shaw School was so well known back in the 1940’s and ‘50’s, Pace said, that it was able to attract numerous speakers of some renown.

The poet Langston Hughes, of Harlem Renaissance fame, visited the school in 1953 for a poetry reading, Pace said.

At the time of Hughes’s visit, Stovall was enjoying a population of close to 500, but over time, that number dwindled.

The 2010 Census reported just more than 400 people living in Stovall, and that number dropped to 324 in the 2020 count.

But Stovall once boasted a booming economy for the times – with a funeral home, doctors, a bank, factories, lumber mill, hotel, numerous churches and a railway station. There were close to 800 people living in Stovall in the 1920’s, Pace said.

A man named John Stovall gave land to have the rail depot put on his land, which is what prompted the name change from Sassafras Fork to Stovall, he said.

 

CLICK PLAY!

City of Oxford

City Of Oxford Nov. 4 Election Results

/by

Oxford Mayor Guillermo Nurse won re-election Tuesday, defeating challenger Jim Crawford by 251 votes.

The final count Tuesday night was 1,107 for Nurse – 56.31 percent –  and 856 – 43.54 percent – for Crawford, according to unofficial results on the N.C. State Board of Elections website.

Karen McGhee, Scotty Brooks, Kate Kelly and S. Quon Bridges were the top four vote-getters to earn seats on the City of Oxford Commission.

Brooks and Bridges are incumbents; McGhee and Kelly are newcomers to the board.

Voter turnout for the Oxford municipal elections was just over 26 percent – 3,887 of 14,852 voters cast ballots, according to NCSBE.

McGhee got 1,198 votes, Brooks got 1,103, Kelly got 954 and Bridges got 911.

The other candidates for city commissioner were:

Martha Wrenn – 881 votes

Courtney Crudup – 719 votes

Sandra Compton – 662 votes

All results are unofficial until they are certified in the Nov. 14 canvass.

 

City of Oxford

Oxford Police Chief Patricia Ford Resigns

/by

The City of Oxford announced Tuesday afternoon the resignation of Police Chief Patricia Ford.

Ford was the first female captain and the first female chief for the Oxford Police Department. She leaves with 29 years of service in law enforcement.

City commissioners thanked Ford for her dedication to the police department and to the community during the city’s Public Safety Committee meeting on Nov. 3 for her long-standing commitment to the citizens of Oxford.

“I appreciate the support the entire board has given to the pd; It means a lot to me. My leadership philosophy has always been different. Instead of standing at the top and letting direction trickle down, I believe in standing at the bottom to lift everyone up. My role has always been to support the officers and staff who serve this community every day.”

No further details were released.

 

VGCC Foundation Gets $3,000 Grant From Food Lion Feeds For Food Pantry

/by

 

— Information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College

 

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation has received $3,000 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help students experiencing hunger. The Feeding the Hungry grant supports The Foundation’s efforts by purchasing food items that will ultimately help tackle food insecurity among our students. In addition, the grants support community feeding partners by helping neighbors increase their access to nutritious food and providing nutrition education to eliminate health risks for those experiencing food insecurity.

The VGCC Foundation aims to reduce food insecurity through its food pantry that serves students at all VGCC campuses. The campuses are located in Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties. The food pantry is a one-stop shop for food and hygiene items for students and is sustained through a partnership with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Food Lion, fundraisers, donations of items and monetary gifts. The Foundation will be able to use this generous gift from Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to purchase food items and support healthy eating initiatives for its students.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation is committed to supporting families facing food insecurity across its 10-state footprint. Established in 2001, the foundation provides financial support for programs and organizations dedicated to feeding local neighbors in the communities it serves. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $18.1 million in grants.

Apply By Nov. 30 For Chamber’s 2026 Leadership Granville Class

/by

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for the 2026 Leadership Granville class. Over the course of nine months, participants get a chance to explore the county where they live or work through hands-on experiences, leadership training and networking opportunities.

The program costs $450 for Chamber members; $500 for non-members.

Applications are due to the Chamber by Nov. 30. The orientation takes place in late February, and the program concludes with a graduation ceremony in November.

Click Here to Apply.

To learn more, contact the Chamber at 919.693.6125 or email granvillecountychambernc@gmail.com

Veterans And Military Families Health And Resource Fair Coming To VGCC Civic Center Nov. 1

/by

UPDATE OCT 23:

The upcoming health and resource fair for military veterans and their families is going to be bigger this time around because organizers have cast a wider net to include those in Vance, Warren, Franklin, Person counties along with Granville County.

“It’s so important for us to bring these resources to the veterans and to their families,” said co-chair Lyn Breisacher of the Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee. She and fellow co-chair Anne Williams have planned the event, which will take place at Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The space will be full of vendors and agencies eager to share resources and information to help veterans and their families with all types of services, from educational opportunities and financial services to employment, housing and social services.

Representatives from the Veterans Administration will be there to answer questions about claims, benefits and other services.  Additionally, Walgreens will be offering free flu vaccines to all attendees, including any VGCC student who wants to get the vaccine. Refreshments will be available, too, along with door prizes. Thomas Grill will have its food truck on site, and veterans will receive a discount on their food purchase, Breisacher said.

Veterans should bring their military ID or DD-214, especially if they intend to check on the status of a claim or to start a claim with the VA at their mobile unit, which will be set up to help vets and families, she said.

Individuals can talk to a real person, “one on one, face to face,” Breisacher said, instead of exchanging emails and making phone calls to try to get information about services and claims.

“This makes it a whole lot easier and adds a personal touch,” she said.

The resource and health fair kicks off a month-long national observance of military veterans and families, and Breisacher said it’s just one way to show support for veterans.

Veterans Day is Nov. 11, and many organizations and municipalities plan ceremonies on that day – 11-11 at 11 a.m. – to honor those who have served in the military.

“We want to salute them the whole month,” she said. Operation Green Light is another way communities can show support, she noted. Replace your porch light or other outdoor light with a green light bulb and let it shine during November.

The Committee welcomes all the veterans in our area to take advantage of this event.

Contact Lyn Breisacher at 919.693.8947 or Anne Williams at 919.892.5471 to learn more.

Click Play!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

UPDATE OCT 14:

November is just a few short weeks away, and the Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee is gearing up to celebrate Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month with an event on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center.

The committee is hosting a Veterans Health and Resource Fair, open to all area veterans.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there will be a variety of exhibitors on hand to provide information about all types of services of interest to veterans, from educational opportunities and financial services to employment, housing and social services.

Representatives from the Veterans Administration will be there to answer questions about claims, benefits and other services.

additionally, Walgreens will be offering free flu vaccines to all attendees.  Refreshments will be available, too, along with door prizes.

The Committee is looking forward to welcoming all the veterans in our area to take advantage of this event.  Also, if you’re an agency or organization who has resources available for these veterans and you haven’t been contacted by one of our committee members, please contact Lyn Breisacher at 919.693.8947 or Anne Williams at 919.892.5471.

Stovall Harvest Festival and Celebration of John Penn Saturday, Oct. 25

/by

North Carolina boasts three signers of the Declaration of Independence, one of whom was John Penn, born in Virginia, but married a Granville County gal and lived on a farm near Stovall.

As the nation’s 250th anniversary draws near, the town of Stovall is hosting a Harvest Festival and a celebration of John Penn on Saturday, Oct. 25.

The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include “modern-day” attractions like a cruise-in at the brand-new North Granville Senior Center, Kid Zone with bouncy houses and games, Halloween-themed activities and the customary food trucks juxtaposed with an appearance by the esteemed Mr. Penn himself, who will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage to bring remarks to those gathered.

Local historian and Penn reenactor Mark Pace will perform as Penn at 12 noon and again at 2 p.m., discussing America’s revolution, the Declaration and impending war with England.

The very first state historical marker was placed in Stovall back in 1936 to recognize John Penn.

Stovall leadership and others in the community have joined forces to pay tribute to a good harvest and to a history not shared by many communities across the nation.

The town of Stovall is located on Highway 15 North, less than 10 miles from Oxford. The public is welcome and invited to come out and celebrate – there’s something for everyone!

Here’s a breakdown of events:

STOVALL HARVEST FESTIVAL EVENT TIMELINE

• 11:00 – 11:15 a.m. – Opening Ceremony – Main Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Cake Walk – Rural Medical Center Front Lawn

– Trunk or Treat – Stovall Methodist Church

– Classic Car Cruise‑In – North Granville Senior Center

• 11:30 a.m. – SVFD Gear Demonstration – Stovall Community Park

• 12:00 p.m. – John Penn Reenactment by Mark Pace – Stovall Library (30–45 mins)

• 12:45 p.m. – SVFD Hose Demonstration – Stovall Community Park

• 1:00 p.m. – Cornhole Tournament – Behind Town Hall

– Costume Contestants gather at Main Stage

• 1:30 p.m. – Costume Contest (12 and under; prizes for Scariest, Cutest, Most Creative) – Main Stage

• 2:00 p.m. – John Penn Reenactment by Mark Pace – Stovall Library (30–45 mins)

• 2:30 p.m. – SVFD Extinguisher Demonstration – Stovall Community Park

• 2:40 p.m. – Pie in the Face – Main Stage

• 2:45 p.m. – Raffle Drawing – Main Stage

• 3:00 – 3:15 p.m. – Closing Ceremony – Main Stage

Listen to this Story!

NC AgVentures Grant Program Funds Projects That Enhance Farm Profits

/by

NC AgVentures, a program of N.C. State Extension, provides grants to the state’s farmers and to non-profit community groups that work with family farms as a way to fund agricultural project ideas that will increase farm profits. Sponsored by the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, the program will award a minimum of 50 grants to independent family farms in 46 counties across the state, including Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin.

This is a great opportunity for any producer who is thinking of diversifying, improving, or expanding their farm operation.

NC AgVentures will award grants up to $10,000. Application submission begins today – Wednesday, Oct.15, with a deadline of 6 p.m. on Dec. 19.

Find details and the online application at www.ncagventures.org.

Webinars are planned still for Nov. 10 and Nov. 24 to provide additional information about the grant program and the application process.

The presentations are the same. Click the links below to register.

November 10, 2025 (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.)

November 24, 2025 (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.)