Town Talk 08/26/19: VGCC’s Continuing Education Provides Skilled Local Workforce

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Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Adult Basic Skills and Continuing Education at Vance-Granville Community College, was the guest of honor on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk.

Celebrating 50 years of serving and educating the community, Tucker said the college continues to excel because it adapts to the changing needs of both residents and employers alike.

Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Adult Basic Skills and Continuing Education at Vance-Granville Community College, was the guest of honor on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk. Celebrating 50 years of serving and educating the community, Tucker said the college continues to excel because it adapts to the changing needs of both residents and employers alike. (WIZS photo)

“While there are careers that require a two-year or four-year degree, there are also careers that require a specific skillset or certifications,” said Tucker. “VGCC’s Continuing Education Department works to quickly ascertain the needs of the workforce and then builds a skilled workforce for the employers.”

In fact, Tucker said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais has been committed to providing an educated workforce to meet the current and future needs of local employers since taking the helm in January.

“One of Dr. Desmarais’ visions is that we meet the needs of our workforce in a short-term, workforce development kind of way,” said Tucker.

On the Adult Basic Skills side of the house, Tucker said the majority of jobs now have a minimum requirement of an Adult High School Diploma or High School Equivalency (GED).

“When you complete an Adult High School Diploma or receive your High School Equivalency, you are laying the groundwork to an employer that you are capable of completing a basic level of education. They know if you complete a high school credential then you have a certain level of academic skill,” explained Tucker.

Offering programs primarily to adult learners 18 years and older, VGCC provides High School Equivalency classes free of charge at all four campus locations. Daytime and evening classes are available.

Other programs and areas that fall under the Con. Ed. umbrella include Fire and Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement Training, Occupational Extension, Occupational Healthcare, Personal Enrichment and VGCC’s Small Business Center.

For more information on VGCC’s Continuing Education division or to register, please visit www.vgcc.edu/coned, register in person at any campus location, or call (252) 738-3324/(252) 738-3345.

To hear Tucker’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Address Canvassing Begins for 2020 U.S. Census

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Every ten years, America comes together to count all the residents and households in the country, providing the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting and distributing federal funds that support vital programs in communities, counties, states and across the nation.

Census results impact housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy. Your community benefits the most when the census counts everyone.

Address canvassing for the 2020 Census has begun, with representatives of the U.S. Census Bureau in the field to update and verify local addresses.

These address listers may be knocking on doors across the area and asking a few simple questions to confirm the address and to request information regarding additional living quarters on the property.

For identification purposes, badges and briefcases will be visible indicating affiliation with the Census Bureau.

This operation is one of several activities the Census Bureau conducts for an accurate and complete count and will continue through mid-October as the 2020 Census prepares to officially start counting people in March 2020.

For more details, visit the Census Bureau website a https://www.census.gov/.

FGV Smart Start to Hold 10th Annual Ducky Derby

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-Information courtesy FGV Smart Start

Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start will hold its annual Ducky Derby Festival and rubber duck race, a fundraiser for the local Smart Start program, on Saturday, September 21, 2019, in downtown Henderson, NC.

At noon, the festival begins on Breckenridge Street between the library and police station. This years’ activities include a bounce house and slide, as well as face painting and balloon animals for the children. Other activities are corn hole and ring toss. Vendors will be on hand serving hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage dogs, fish sandwiches, corn on the cob, funnel cakes, ice cream, and snow cones.

Entertainment will include a DJ, singing performances from several daycare programs, and music from Henderson Collegiate, Mary Potter Elementary School band and choir, as well as the drumline from Granville Central High School.

The YMCA will lead line dancing and Zumba in the street. Children can man a real firehose with the assistance of the Henderson Fire Department, and Smart Start will be giving each child at the event a free book, as well as the opportunity for the parent to enroll any child age 0 to 5 in the Imagination Library, a program that sends a book each month to the child at their home.

Safe Kids will also be present and will set up childcare safety seat inspections for those parents with children still in car seats. Local nonprofits will have booths with information for families and children as well.

At 2 p.m., the entertainment switches to Garnett Street, where the rubber duck race will take place. Up to 2,000 rubber ducks will be poured into the Garnett Street “river” by a cement mixer provided by Greystone Concrete. The first duck to cross the finish line at Orange Street wins $1,000, second place $500, third place finish is $250, and the last duck to cross the finish line wins $100.

There will be an additional drawing at the end of the race for Chick-fil-A for a year. Winners of the cash prizes do not have to be present to win; however, the winner of the ‘Chick-fil-A for a Year’ prize must be present to claim the 52 meal tickets.

In Henderson, tickets are on sale at EZ Car Care, Dots Hallmark, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and the State Employees Credit Union. All Smart Start staff and board members also have tickets, please call (252) 433-9110.

Tickets will also be on sale the day of the race until 1 p.m. Ducks are $5 each, a Quack Pack of 6 tickets is $25, and a Flock of 25 tickets is $100.

Granville’s Last ‘Alive After Five’ of Year Set for Sept. 12

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-Press Release, Granville County Chamber of Commerce

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the date for the last Alive After Five event of 2019 – Thursday, September 12. This event will feature the music and entertainment of JIM QUICK AND COASTLINE BAND and will be held from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. in Oxford’s Downtown Parking Lot on Gilliam Street.

Coincidentally, this concert is leading into an exciting weekend in downtown Oxford  – the annual North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest, which will be held Saturday, September 14. Plan to spend quite a bit of time meeting, greeting, visiting, shopping, dining and lodging in Oxford.

Concession vendors Chick-fil-A of Henderson will be offering their famous chicken sandwiches and soft drinks; Williamson’s Country Store and Grill from Bullock will be offering hot dogs, fried bologna sandwiches, French fries, soft drinks, etc. There will be Coca-Cola and Long Beverage products.

The Chamber’s Alive After Five outdoor event is free to attend. Come early, bring a chair, listen to the incredible music, dance and enjoy visiting with friends. The last Alive After Five event of 2019 will be a night to remember as Jim Quick and Coastline Band takes the stage!

Please visit the Chamber’s website, www.granville-chamber.com or their Facebook page to view the event poster for complete details, including amazing event sponsors and contributors.

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Property, Building & Real Estate Committee to Discuss Oxford Armory

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-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The Property, Building & Real Estate Committee for the Oxford Board of Commissioners will meet on Thursday, September 12, 2019, at 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the First Floor Training Room, City Hall, 300 Williamsboro Street in Oxford.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Oxford Armory.

All those interested are invited to attend.

Wilton Elementary’s Sheila Atkins Named GCPS Principal of the Year

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

On Wednesday, August 21, Dr. Alisa McLean and district staff visited Wilton Elementary School for a surprise announcement naming Principal Sheila Atkins the 2019-2020 GCPS Principal of the Year.

Mrs. Atkins, who was chosen by her principal peers for the honor, was called to an unscheduled faculty meeting and greeted by cheers, balloons, flowers, cake, and of course, a sparkling tiara to celebrate the occasion.

On August 21, Dr. Alisa McLean (right) and district staff visited Wilton Elementary School for a surprise announcement naming Principal Sheila Atkins (left) the 2019-2020 GCPS Principal of the Year. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

Superintendent McLean placed the tiara on Mrs. Atkins’ head before commenting to the cheering school staff, “I am so proud to announce this year’s winner to you, the faculty of this wonderful school. Mrs. Atkins is so deserving of this special honor, but I want you to know that it also reflects on the amazing job all of the staff at this school do every day for our students.  Wilton Elementary School is truly on the move!”

Mrs. Atkins enters her 23rd year as an educator, all of which she has served in Granville County Public Schools. She began her career as a Teacher Assistant and Bus Driver, then worked as an Elementary Teacher, and Assistant Principal. She has served as a Principal for the past six years, serving at both Wilton Elementary and Joe Toler Oak Hill Elementary School.  Mrs. Atkins earned her undergraduate degrees from NCCU and ECU, and her graduate degree from NC State University.

At today’s surprise announcement, Mrs. Atkins fought back tears of joy as she explained to her staff, “I am so blessed to receive this honor, but you know I could not do anything without all of you. Together we are a team, and the most important thing in our work is the children! We are all in this together.”

The entire faculty cheered and celebrated the occasion with pride, with many also noting that for the first time in recent memory, both the Teacher of the Year (Jade Currin) and Principal of the Year are from the same school. Both esteemed educators will go on to compete at the regional and state level to represent their respective professions.

Wilton Elementary School is a “School of Choice,” which means it is open for enrollment for all students who reside in Granville County. The school was recently recognized for honors at the state level by being named a “Lighthouse” school – a distinction earned by less than 15% of schools in the country for its student leadership program.

Faculty and staff from Wilton Elementary School celebrate the announcement of Principal Sheila Atkins as the 2019-2020 GCPS Principal of the Year. (Photo courtesy GCPS)

Movie Nights to Craft Projects: Lots to Do at Granville Co. Libraries!

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

From movie nights and game nights to craft projects and student enrichment, your local public library offers a full slate of activities during the last full week of August.

This Saturday, Aug. 24, enjoy a homemade dessert competition at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor. Bakers from all over the county have been invited to participate in this contest for a chance to win gift card prizes. This event begins at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Come join the fun!

If baking is not in your wheelhouse, join Young Adult (YA) book lovers for a meeting of the new “Never Too Old YA Book Club.” On Monday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m., club members will be discussing the book “Sadie” by Courtney Summers in the Thornton Library’s small conference room. For more details, contact Stefani Perry, Adult Services Librarian, at 919-693-1121.

And for a great family experience, all local residents are invited to “Movie Night at the Library!” On Tuesday, Aug. 27, enjoy “Jumanji” (rated PG-13) on the big screen. The movie starts at 6 p.m. at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford.

Next week’s “Crafternoon” DIY workshop will be held at the South Branch on Aug. 26 as the “Make Your Own Scented Candle” series continues. The workshop will be held at 2 p.m. for ages 12 and up.

Story Times continue for the younger set, with a theme of “Back to School.” Visit the Stovall Library on Mondays at 10:30 a.m., the South Branch on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., the Berea Branch on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and the Thornton Library at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. Contact your local library branch for more details!

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) workshops continue for students in kindergarten through grade 8 each Thursday at the Thornton Library (4 p.m.) and Game Nights are held each Thursday evening at 6 p.m., also at the Thornton branch.

For those needing help with their computer or smartphone, Drop-In Tech Help is available on Aug. 27 at 3:30 p.m. at the South Branch and every Friday at the Thornton Library at 10 a.m.

Today’s local library offers more than just books! To learn more about upcoming programs and events, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us for a complete schedule.

Granville’s Creative Lifelong Learning Program Gears Up for Fall

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

A full calendar of classes, interactive activities and educational trips have been scheduled through Granville County Senior Services’ Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program, which offers a wide variety of programming for all interests. Courses range from “Beginning Tai Chi” and a “Basic Self-Defense” class to “Conversational Spanish” and “Nutrition.”

This the second full year that the CLL program has been offered to residents of Granville County, as well as those outside the area. Even though early renewal and membership ended on August 15, anyone can join CLL and register for various classes throughout the year.

Pictured is Conversational Spanish Instructor Laura Gabel at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt.)

According to Senior Services Director Kathy May, the Creative Lifelong Learning program is modeled after the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offered at Duke and N.C. State Universities, as well as other senior center programming in the Triangle. The suggestion for a similar program was made by a local retired couple, who also established an endowment fund which pays for course instructors.

Through the work of a steering committee, led by CLL Coordinator Marilyn Howard, many interests have been identified and instructors scheduled for a wide variety of course offerings based on member requests, class leader expertise and balance in the curriculum, with most classes being held at the Senior Center in Oxford. Classes vary in length, with sessions that range from interactive hour-long workshops to day-long trips and/or lectures.

“What we are trying to do is to fill a void in the community,” May said about the CLL program. “We have so many baby boomers here who want to stay active and be stimulated. We are excited to be able to offer this program to all of our citizens.”

The first week of the CLL program kicks off with “The Study of Mark” by instructor Pat Cox, which will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays (until Dec. 19) from 8:30 until 10 a.m. For those interested in learning Tai Chi, a 9:30 a.m. class, “Beginning Tai Chi,” is offered on Tuesday mornings until Dec. 31, as well as a “Tai Chi Continuation” class, offered at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. These hour-long classes are taught by Peter Kay.

Laura Gabel will instruct an intermediate Spanish class beginning Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. and continuing through Nov. 27, with Kathy Wolford offering a 1:30 p.m. class in “Wire Weaving” each Thursday from Sept. 5 until Oct. 17.

A Basic Defense class will also be offered, with instructor Brent Bedwell. This class will be held on Mondays at 7 p.m. beginning  Sept. 9 and scheduled through Oct. 28.

Back by popular demand, the Young at Heart Chorus will meet at Oxford Methodist Church on Mondays at 11 a.m. beginning Sept. 9. This group is under the direction of Sarah Lewis and there is no cost for returning members.

On the second Tuesday of each month, the “North Carolina, Our Home” interest group will resume meetings at 9:30 a.m. and will have their first meeting of the new CLL calendar on Sept. 10. This meeting is free and open to the public, with no enrollment or membership required.

And new to the CLL curriculum is the “My Former Life” series, which offers a glimpse into the professional experiences of Granville County seniors and their careers before retirement. Cynthia Salzhauer will kick off this new offering with a presentation of her background in managing one of the largest ice-skating rinks on the east coast. This session is also offered at no charge to those interested in attending.

Many other classes will follow in coming weeks which include “Clogging,” “The History of Granville County,” “The Romanov Dynasty” and others as more instructors and course offerings are being made available.

For a more complete listing or to see how you can enroll, contact Marilyn Howard, CLL Coordinator, at 919-693-1930.

Brick Power Team to Hold Bench Press Contest for Adults, Teens

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-Information courtesy Harry Orr, Brick Power Team

Brick Power Team will hold a Bench Press Contest at Strong Ox Cross Fit Gym, 108 Critcher Rd. in Oxford, on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Adult entry fee for the contest is $40, $30 for teens. General public – $5 (children under 12 free).

Weigh-Ins will be held from 8:30 until 11 a.m. with the meet to begin at 12:30 p.m. Trophies will be given for first and second place.

For more information or to enter the contest, call (252) 432-4196 or email horr2553@yahoo.com.

Downtown Oxford Set for ‘Cruise-In’ and ‘Movie Under the Stars’

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-Information courtesy Downtown Oxford

Oxford Parks & Recreation invites you to join “Cruising Downtown,” a Cruise-in on College Street in downtown Oxford on Friday, September 27, 2019. The event will be held from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. and is free to the public.

Enter a car for judging for only $5. To register, visit oxfordnc.recdesk.com or call (919) 603-1155.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” will play at the end of the Cruise-in at 8:30 p.m. Cruise up to the movie or bring chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening under the stars.