Town Talk 11/25/19: Granville Tourism Announces Thanksgiving Week Events

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Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

When asked to briefly describe her job, Allen laughed and replied, “I tell people exactly how to have fun and where to find it.”

Some of those “fun” Granville County events are planned for the last week of November and include:

The 15th Annual Turkey Trot will take place in downtown Oxford on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2019. This annual tradition benefits Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM), Granville County’s food bank.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Oxford United Methodist Church on College Street. Walkers and runners set off on the roughly 2-mile course at 9 a.m. and end the race back at the church.

The entry fee is two cans of food or a cash donation in any amount to ACIM.

Pre-Thanksgiving Lunch Buffet at Thorndale Oaks in Oxford on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season early with your family, friends, and coworkers.

Menu items include – smoked whole roasted turkey with gravy, sliced ham with honey glaze salad, fresh fruit and holiday mixed green salad, homemade stuffing, Southern-style green beans, homemade mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, assorted pies and peach cobbler.

Reservations required; call (919) 603-3701 or email thorndaleoaks@aol.com.

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast will be held Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center of Oxford Baptist Church, Main Street, Oxford.

Attendees are requested to bring non-perishable food donations (canned food) for Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM).

Small Business Saturday will be held on November 30 to support small, local, independent businesses in Granville County, NC.

Understanding the important contributions small businesses make to their communities, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce encourages consumers to take part in Small Business Saturday® by supporting small, local businesses.

Continuing a five-year tradition, shopping bags with promotional items for Small Business Saturday will be available at the Chamber’s Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast on November 27.

Tobacco Wood Brewing Company, 117 Wall Street in Oxford, has several exciting events planned for the week including a Thanksgiving Market featuring produce, baked goods, etc. on Wednesday, November 27 from 3 until 5 p.m.; an Open Mic Night on Wednesday, November 27 at 7 p.m.; and the release of a special Black Friday beer at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 29.

For more information on Granville County events, please visit www.visitgranvillenc.com.

To hear Allen’s interview in its entirety, including information on additional upcoming events, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Granville Co. Library System Accepting ‘Food for Fines’

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Have outstanding fines at a Granville County library? No problem! Bring a food donation for Area Congregations In Ministry (A.C.I.M.) by Friday, December 20, 2019, and $1 will be taken off your library balance for every can/jar contributed.

This applies to all four branches of the Granville County Library System – the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, South Branch Library in Creedmoor and the Stovall and Berea locations.

Items must be non-perishable, 12 oz. or larger and not dented or expired.

Help someone have a holiday meal this season and reduce or eliminate your library fines!

Granville’s Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) Classes Continue

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Fall calendar of classes, interactive activities and educational trips is winding down for the Granville County Senior Services’ Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program, with registration for Winter course offerings coming soon. Offering a variety of programming for all interests, the new tagline for the CLL program is “Never Stop Learning.”

Completing the current season are several courses scheduled during the month of December. Registration is still open for these final classes:

  • “Egypt’s Sacred Sites and Spiritual Journey” will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. This class will be instructed by Peggy Moore, an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Learn about Egypt’s ancient history and the legends of gods and goddesses, as well as the pyramids of Giza, the temples in Aswan and in Luxor and Moore’s travels to other sites;
  • A demonstration on Mary Kay Skincare will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 from 3 until 5 p.m., facilitated by Ella Fleming. This is an interactive class for participants to learn about their own skin types, as well as offering an afternoon of fellowship and fun;
  • On Thursday, Dec. 5, have “A Cup of Christmas Tea” as participants learn the art of Dutch tea bag folding while learning the story behind the classic poem. This class will be instructed by Maxine Chauvaux at 1:30 p.m.;
  • The discussion group, “North Carolina, Our Home” continues to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. This month, the interest group is scheduled to meet on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m.;
  • The art of Barn Quilt Painting will be taught on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. by instructor Nancy Peele. A short history of barn quilts will also be shared with students, as well as a hands-on painting of a quilt pattern;
  • On Dec.13, “Crafts for Every Season” continues with the making of a wooden snowman. This class follows other seasonal projects such as a decoupage wooden tray, a mason jar candle holder and a clay pot scarecrow and is being taught by Christine Luscavich.

All classes are taught at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford, located at 107 Lanier Street.

A course schedule for Winter is now being developed, with classes that will include Tai Chi, Spanish, Sewing, Line Dancing, Photography, Basic Defense, Arts and Crafts, and other topics. Also to be scheduled are courses such as the Criminal Justice System and The Road to World War I, as well as a discussion of the book “Freedom Road.” The popular “My Former Life” series also continues as local residents share their professional and personal experiences that made them who they are today.

Those interested in serving as instructors for the Winter season are asked to contact Marilyn Howard at the Senior Center in Oxford.

Participants do not have to be “seniors” to participate, as the Creative Lifelong Learning Program is open to any resident over the age of 18. As of the month of November, more than 250 CLL members have participated in this program. This the second full year that the CLL program has been offered to residents of Granville County.

For a more complete listing of courses available, or to see how you can enroll, contact Marilyn Howard, CLL Coordinator, at 919-693-1930 or visit www.granvillecounty.org.

Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging Offering Caregiver Vouchers

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Harvey Holmes, family caregiver resource specialist with the Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.

The agency offers aging and adult services to residents in Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren and Person counties.

With November’s designation as both National Family Caregivers Month and National Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month, Holmes was on the program to discuss Kerr-Tar’s caregiver voucher program.

To assist with the heavy financial burden of providing care to a loved one, Kerr-Tar will reimburse caregivers up to $750 in eligible out-of-pocket expenses within 90 days of incurring the charge.

Eligible expenses include hiring in-home assistance such as a nurse, CNA, neighbor or relative (who does not live in the home) to care for a loved one.

“Caregiving is extremely expensive,” said Holmes. “With the voucher program, you get to choose who you want to be in your house. More importantly, you get to choose who the recipient is comfortable with.”

To learn more about the voucher program, please contact the Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging at (252) 436-2040 or email Holmes directly at hholmes@kerrtarcog.org.

Additional information can be found at www.kerrtarcog.org or on the agency’s Facebook page (click here).

To hear the interview with Holmes in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk. Holmes’ segment begins at the 17:50 mark.

Tickets Available Now: McGregor Hall to Ring in Season With Holiday Shows

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Don’t miss these special events at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson this holiday season.

The Raleigh Ringers Holiday Concert 

  • Friday, December 6, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.

The Raleigh Ringers’ holiday handbell concert runs the gamut of song selections from old yuletide favorites to Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” score and other sounds of the season.

Black Nativity

Black Nativity is a heartfelt musical presenting a fresh, new way to relive the birth of Jesus Christ. Based on the poetry of Langston Hughes and favorite gospel songs, Black Nativity leads us back to the manger through the rhythm of drums, the feet of high energy dancers and the souls of passionate storytellers.

Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular

  • Monday, December 16, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.

Back by Popular Demand!
Christmas Wonderland is quite simply one of the most delightful and enchanting Christmas shows ever. Featuring glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North. This performance is pure holiday magic – with enough fun and festive cheer to power all the Christmas lights in town!

Tickets for these events may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Retired VGCC Faculty Member, Wife Establish Scholarship

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Wesley and Sheila Smith of Kittrell recently established a new scholarship for students at Vance-Granville Community College.

Wesley Smith has a longstanding association with VGCC. He graduated from the college’s Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology (often called HVAC) program in 1988. Several years later, Smith returned to become an instructor and head of the same program. “I was a good fit for the job,” he recalled – so good, in fact, that he remained in that position for 27 years, before retiring from VGCC in 2018.

Left to right: Kay Currin, Sheila Smith, Wesley Smith, Dr. Rachel Desmarais, Eddie Ferguson. (VGCC photo)

Now, Smith and his wife have created the “Wesley E. and Sheila K. Smith Academic Achievement Scholarship,” which will be awarded each year to a worthy student. Preference will be given to students in the HVAC program who meet certain academic requirements.

“I want to help students because this is a great career and the HVAC technician can make a good income,” Mr. Smith said.

“Wesley Smith spent decades educating, inspiring and supporting students while preparing them for their careers, and now, he is continuing his outstanding legacy of service through this scholarship,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “We thank Wes and Sheila for their generosity, which will help students complete the training they need for good jobs in our community.”

VGCC Endowment Fund Director Eddie Ferguson added, “Dedicated, caring faculty members like Wes have helped make our college a special community over the past five decades, which makes it fitting that he and Sheila have created a scholarship during our 50th anniversary year, which will reward excellent students for years to come.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,700 scholarships to students since 1982.

Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education.

For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet on School Improvement Plans

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a special meeting on Monday, November 25, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of this meeting is to approve School Improvement Plans and receive information regarding long-range facility planning.

The Board will also meet in a Closed Session pursuant to N.C. General Statutes 143.318.11 (a)(1), 143-318.11 (a)(3), and 143.318.11 (a)(6) to discuss confidential matters and consult with the Board attorney.

Additions to VGCC Building Will Enhance Public Safety Training

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently marked the completion of the second phase of renovation and construction work on Main Campus Building 10, providing additional instructional capacity for the Law Enforcement Training, Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs. That represents the culmination of a complete overhaul of the 16,000-square-foot building, a former commercial structure that the college purchased in 2010.

Pictured: Steve Barney, Head instructor for EMS programs at VGCC, in the EMS Lab. (VGCC photo)

Building 10 is located on Poplar Creek Road in Vance County, across the street from the rest of the college’s Main Campus. The first phase of its renovation was completed in 2016, providing new space to train public safety professionals and other students. Now, the newly completed area of the building allows participants to benefit from cutting-edge practical simulation training.

A new EMS lab will allow VGCC to provide training that was not previously available, using state-of-the-art equipment that gives students opportunities to participate in real-life scenarios. The lab will be used for EMT-Basic through EMT-Paramedic students, to include continuing education classes. Enhanced manikins in the lab provide immediate feedback to EMS personnel, so they can improve their skills. The equipment allows the instructor to input changes to various types of feedback from the manikins to the students, for maximum training flexibility.

In addition, the completion of Phase II includes a driving simulator that helps prepare police, fire and EMS students for safe emergency vehicle operations in a controlled environment. Finally, a firearms simulator provides 21st – century scenarios for officers to practice all forms of de-escalation techniques and all levels of the use of force. Both simulators help current officers improve their driving and firearms skills.

Pictured: Delton Farmer, VGCC Program Head -Business, in a car simulator. (VGCC photo)

“We are so very excited about the new space and equipment that allows us to better serve our fire, rescue, emergency services and law enforcement students and community agencies,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “Vance-Granville is proud to be able to provide this resource as we continue to meet the region’s demand for jobs in these areas.”

VGCC Board of Trustees member Doris Terry Williams added, “We are very fortunate to have this state-of-the-art expansion to our campus and the opportunity it provides for first-class training of area law enforcement officers and first responders.”

The H.G. Reynolds Company began renovation of this 3,200-square-foot portion of the building in 2018. In addition to the renovation, parking lot space was expanded.

A grant from the Cannon Foundation and funds from the statewide Connect NC bond (approved by North Carolina voters in 2016) supported the project.

Thornton Library Welcomes Children’s Author

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl was a special guest of the Granville County Library System on November 15 as she shared her book and her writing journey with fourth and fifth graders of six local elementary schools.

Hackl’s book “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe” has been selected for North Carolina’s Battle of the Books competition, and schools who participated in the “meet the author” session will be taking part in this annual reading contest.

Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl explains her writing process to local fourth and fifth graders who are participating in “Battle of the Books.” (Granville Co. Govt photo)

Hackl says she spent her childhood “inventing characters and roaming the woods” in Mississippi, just outside of an actual ghost town.

Her childhood home is the setting for her book, which takes readers on an adventure with a twelve-year-old who follows clues to solve a mystery, along with her poetry-loving dog and the last resident of the town. The author’s goal is to inspire students to use the transformative power of reading to improve their academic performance and their creative writing skills. Her book has been awarded the Southern Book Prize for Children’s Literature.

Each student was able to take home their own copy of “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe,” courtesy of Granville Health System (Granville Co. Govt photo)

According to Granville County Library System Director Will Robinson, the visit was the result of a partnership between the libraries and a Wake Forest book store, who will be coordinating future author visits with Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson.

Carlson says that the common goal of the library and the book store is to put a book in the hands of every child who participates.

Hackl’s visit was the first one scheduled through this partnership. Schools that attended on November 15 included Butner-Stem Elementary, C.G. Credle, Mount Energy, Stovall-Shaw Elementary, West Oxford Elementary and Wilton Elementary. Each student was able to take home a signed copy of the book, courtesy of Granville Health System.

For more information about this event, contact Carlson at the Richard H. Thornton Library at 919-693-1121.

NC Pecan Growers Prevail With Good Crop for Thanksgiving

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

Pecan pie lovers can celebrate. The North Carolina pecan growers have a good crop ahead of the holidays despite a relatively dry summer and damages sustained during last year’s hurricane season. That is good news for consumers wanting to incorporate local ingredients into their Thanksgiving meals.

“Reports from growers are showing a good quantity and quality of pecans this year, with pecan season running into December,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

The department encourages consumers to look for the Got To Be NC logo on packaged pecans, visit local farmers markets or take a trip to more than two dozen pecan orchards across the state. December 13 will be Pecan Day at the State Farmers Market, where visitors can get free samples of a pecan dessert, plus mouth-watering pecan recipes to try at home.

The N.C. Pecan Growers Association offers an online directory to help consumers find local pecan orchards at www.buyncpecans.com. The website also includes pecan recipes and downloadable activities for children.

North Carolina is one of the Top 10 pecan-producing states in the nation. While pecans are grown across the state, the majority of commercial orchards are located in Eastern and Southeastern North Carolina.