Granville Wedding And Event Expo Gathers Vendors Under One Roof

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The Granville County Convention and Expo Center will transform into a one-stop shopping venue for the upcoming Wedding and Events Expo on Saturday, Mar. 4 .

Angela Allen, Granville County Tourism Development Authority director, said the event will be a perfect opportunity for anyone looking for ideas as they plan special events, from birthday celebrations to weddings.

A variety of vendors will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to talk with prospective clients who may be looking for a venue, photographer, florists and much more. Tickets are $10 per person; pre-registration is recommended. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/weddings-events/ .

Allen said vendors will be on hand representing event venues, caterers, event rental companies, invitation designers, balloon artists, photographers, makeup professionals, hair stylists, accommodation options, dessert makers, event planners and florists.

Volunteers are needed to help set up and clean up, parking, registration and other tasks that go along with such a big project, Allen said. High school students 16 years or older who need to earn community hours may sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4aaeac23aafc1-volunteers#/

The Granville TDA is looking for a few more sponsors who would like to be featured during the daylong expo. To claim one of the final sponsorships, or for more information about volunteering, contact Allen at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org or 919-693-6125.

The following businesses are currently sponsors:

  • A&A Photography
  • Printing and More
  • Makeup artist Beth McDowell
  • Carlee Farm
  • Carolina Noir Boudoir photography
  • Cedar Grove Acres
  • DJ Harvey Wall
  • Heiden Travelverse
  • The Grand at Oxford (Days Inn)
  • KG Photography and Videography
  • Lydia Crouse Photography
  • Shear Desire Hair Salon
  • Tranquility Estate
  • DJ Trey Snide
  • the Willow Oak Room at the Creedmoor Community Center
  • Wilkinson Creative Co.

The Granville County Convention and Expo Center is located at 4185 US Highway 15 South in Oxford.

Granville Opioid Advisory Committee Plans Community Meetings

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-information courtesy of Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Opioid Advisory Committee will host two public meetings to educate and engage with the community on strategies to fight the opioid epidemic locally, including how best to spend the $3.8 million that the county is scheduled to receive as part of the national opioid settlement.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center, located at 4185 U.S. Hwy 15 South, Oxford and the second meeting is set for Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Willow Oak Room of the Creedmoor Community Center, 116 Douglas Drive, Creedmoor.

The public will have the opportunity at both meetings to express their opinions on how the county should allocate funding to fight the opioid epidemic.  The county will get the $3.8 million over the course of the next 16 years as a result of the litigation against large manufacturers and distributors of opioids who contributed to the U.S. opioid crisis raging in the United States. The funding will  help state, county and municipal governments grow or implement proven strategies that will help prevent, treat and foster recovery from opioid addiction, according to a press release from Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

In conjunction with these public meetings, the Opioid Advisory Committee has issued a short survey designed to help the committee form final funding recommendations that will be presented for approval by the Granville County Board of Commissioners. Participate in the survey by following this link: www.granvillecounty.org/opioidsurvey.

“Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey and join us on March 8 and May 4 to help us fight the opioid epidemic here in Granville County,” said committee Chair Jimmy Gooch. “As a county government, we have an obligation to utilize these funds to help as many of our residents as possible while also being careful  stewards of the dollars we receive. Gaining a better understanding of how our community would like the county to prioritize our spending is a critical step to improving how the opioid crisis is addressed in Granville County,” Gooch explained.

The Opioid Advisory Committee was established in 2018 by the Granville County Board of Commissioners to engage in shared leadership and collective action to advance a comprehensive response to opioid and other drug use. The committee includes representatives and stakeholders from within Granville County government as well as the Granville-Vance Public Health Department, Granville Health System, Vaya Health, law enforcement, local pharmacy owners, behavioral health professionals, affected families and other concerned citizens.

For more information about the National Opioid Settlements, visit the “More Powerful NC” website:  https://www.morepowerfulnc.org/opioid-settlements/nc-memorandum-of-agreement/.

 

 

Planned GAP Mural Will Feature Names Of Business, Family Donors

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Local businesses and residents have the opportunity to have their names emblazoned on a new mural that will be created at Granville Athletic Park. Sponsorship levels range from $1,000 to $7,500 – each tier offers a different level of prominence and visibility, giving the donors a chance to have their contributions visible to the thousands of visitors that visit the GAP each year.

“The GAP has such an amazing history, and we are always looking for ways to honor the citizens and  organizations that have made this park what it is today,” said Assistant County Manager Korena Weichel.

The mural will be installed later this year on the outside wall of the shelter facility in Phase III of the GAP, near the accessible playground, tennis courts and sand volleyball area that opened in 2021, according to a press release from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

The GAP opened in 2004 and since that time, it has become a popular destination for recreation for Granville County residents and many others. The park consists of miles of paved walking trails, an 18-hole disc golf course that weaves through tall  pines and hardwoods, ball fields framed by foliage, an outdoor amphitheater perfect for showcasing special open-air performances and an outdoor classroom. Other features at the GAP include numerous amenities like the large sports pavilion, picnic shelters, children’s musical sound  garden, outdoor fitness equipment, spray park, and a Storywalk® display.

For more information about securing your place on the GAP sponsor mural wall, visit  www.granvillecounty.org/gapsponsors.

Lillian Brooks, Oxford Prep Senior, Chosen For UNC-CH Morehead-Cain Scholarship

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Lillian Brooks, a senior at Oxford Preparatory School, has been selected for the Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the daughter of Angela and Chris Brooks of Oxford.

Brooks, set to graduate summa cum laude, also serves as senior class president and participates in numerous groups at Oxford Prep, including the school’s chapter of the Student Government Association, which she helped establish, according to information from OPS Executive Director Andrew Swanner.

She is a student board member of the school’s board of directors, and a member of the Beta Club and the Tri-M honor society.

Brooks has played soccer and volleyball, and she enjoys her involvement in various musical groups, including the school’s concert choir, jazz band and concert band.

She plays piano and enjoys singing in the Oxford Baptist Church’s youth choir.

And if all that is not enough, she works as a lifeguard at Forest Hills Pool in Oxford, as well as in the Oxford Prep Griffins Nest after-school program.

The Morehead-Cain scholarship provides a four-year, fully funded educational experience for incoming students at UNC-CH, selecting recipients on qualities including leadership, character, scholarship and physical vigor.

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Pruning Workshop To Demonstrate Proper Techniques For Best Results

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It’s time to prune some of the shrubs, bushes, vines and trees that dot our landscapes, but unless you know how to properly tackle this annual task, you could unwittingly lop off new buds or otherwise cause problems that won’t show up until it’s too late.

Join Johnny Coley, N.C. Cooperative Extension horticulture agent in Granville and Person counties for a free pruning workshop on Saturday, Feb. 25 to learn the ABC’s of proper pruning and care for a variety of plants that grow in the Piedmont. Coley will demonstrate how to care for fruiting plants like apples, pears, figs and peaches, as well as blueberry bushes and grapevines.

There is no fee to participate, but registration is required, Coley said. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fruit-pruning-workshop-tickets 539367291087

The class will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at 450 C.C. Andrews Rd. in Timberlake, NC 27583.

TownTalk: Katie Haynes: 2022 Miss U.S. Agriculture People’s Choice

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Growing up in 4-H, Katie Haynes said, she got interested in showing rabbits, something she’s been doing now for 11 years now and still enjoys it.

“4-H really helped boost my public speaking skills and confidence levels,” Haynes said.  She’s likely going to continue using those skills and more as she travels to Alabama this summer for a pageant competition.

But this isn’t just any pageant – Haynes is the 2022 Miss U.S. Agriculture People’s Choice winner. And she’s not done yet. She and others will be vying for division titles and ambassadorships for the agriculture group, which means making appearances near and far to be speak up for agriculture.

In fact, Haynes is in California this week for the World Ag Expo. She was on her way to an orange farm when John C. Rose caught up with her by phone to talk about the road to Enterprise, AL and a pageant that she and other young women will be competing in this summer.

The contestants achieve different levels through attendance at events and through raising money. Haynes represented Granville County in the 2021 Miss U.S. Agriculture pageant and took home the people’s choice award in 2022.

And although she lives in southern Granville County, she seems to do a fair amount of traveling within the state and outside the state to lend support to causes like AgrAbility, a federal program that operates through N.C. Cooperative Extension.

AgrAbility helps provide support to veterans, the elderly and disabled persons that allow them to get back into agriculture, despite physical challenges or limitation – “get people back to what they love.”

Haynes herself uses a wheelchair, having been diagnosed with chronic illness when she was a teenager. She’s glad to be a role model for others, she said, offering them a true picture of inclusion.

“My platform is to educate people to make sure everybody has a place in agriculture,” Haynes explained.

Whether she’s exploring orange farms in California or photographing livestock (another favorite pastime), Haynes said it’s been wonderful to meet such a diverse group of people who share a love of agriculture.

“I’ve been able to connect with a lot of different types of people in agriculture,” she said. “And it feels like one big family.”

What else is in store for this dynamic young lady?

She said she’d love to become a motivational speaker.

Watch out, world. Here comes Katie Haynes.

Find Haynes’s nonprofit organization, “Smiling While Sending Hope” on Facebook and Instagram.

Sponsorships for Katie’s upcoming competition help defray costs for hotels, gas and for the dresses that are being created for the pageant.

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N.C. Cooperative Extension Scholarship Open For Those In Business-Related Field Of Study

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The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Administrative Professionals Association is accepting applications for the 2023 Herter-O’Neal Scholarship. This scholarship is open to students pursuing an associate’s and/or bachelor’s degree in a business-related field of study or who are enrolled in a diploma program that results in a degree. The statewide winner will be awarded $1,000 for tuition and/or books. District finalists will receive $250.

The Herter-O’Neal Scholarship is awarded each year to honor the work and dedication of Edith Herter and Frances O’Neal, founding members of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Administrative Professionals Association.  NCCEAPA membership is comprised of North Carolina Cooperative Extension administrative assistants in 100 counties, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, N.C. State University and N.C.  A&T State University.

The application deadline is Mar. 10, 2023. All questions can be addressed to Granville County Cooperative Extension Administrative Assistant Gwen Rubio at gwen_rubio@ncsu.edu or 919-603-1350. Completed applications can be mailed or dropped off – with ATTN: Gwen Rubio written on the envelope – at the Granville Cooperative Extension and mailed or hand delivered to the Granville County  Cooperative Extension Office located at 125 Oxford Outer Loop, Oxford, NC 27565.

The Local Skinny! Dogs Deserve Better To Hold Quarter Auction

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“Dogs Deserve Better Piedmont” is sponsoring its 3rd annual “Puppy Love” Quarter Auction later this month at The Barn at Vino in Stem.

This chapter of the nonprofit organization is based in Granville County, and it serves neighboring counties including Vance, Person, Wake and Franklin. Lucy Poynton joined WIZS’s Bill Harris Monday to launch a new segment of The Local Skinny! Called “Pets and People.”

The doors open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, Poynton said. There will be food trucks and vendors on hand in advance of the 7 p.m. auction start.

Tickets are $10, but if you’re interested in attending, don’t wait – 80 percent of the tickets have already been sold.

Poynton said she and her small band of volunteers have been working for the past 3 ½ years or so to help get dogs off tethers.

“We’d drive around and see a lot of outdoor, chained dogs,” she said. The money the group raises pays for materials to construct 10-foot by 20-foot kennels for the dogs, and other items like dog houses, straw for winter bedding and flea and tick collars.

She estimates that the organization has “unchained” close to 140 dogs, distributed hundreds of flea/tick collars and helped with urgent vet care, including spay/neuter, for 65 animals.

They occasionally will help provide spay/neuter services for cats as well, although the focus is on providing items for dogs – from kennels to toys – “anything to make their life a little better.”

The Barn at Vino is located at 3200 Bliss Trail, Stem, NC 27581.

Contact dddpiedmont@dogsdeservebetter.org to learn more

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Ready, Set, Go! Hot Sauce Vendors Can Sign Up Beginning Feb. 15

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Are you ready for some hot sauce? Vendor applications will go live next week as the City of Oxford gears up for the 17th annual NC Hot Sauce Festival, set for Saturday, Sept. 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All applications and payments will be processed online, according to information from Alyssa Blair, Oxford’s downtown development and Main Street director.

The official online kickoff for early-bird registration is Wednesday, Feb. 15 and will continue through June 30; regular registration is July 1-Aug. 1. The deadline to submit an application is Aug. 1, but waitlist applications will be accepted until Sept. 1.

Stay up-to-date on all the latest information at Hot Sauce Facebook page.

Granville CTE Students Have Internship Opportunities

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One of the ways that Granville County Public Schools is observing CTE Month in its district is by sharing information about internships that give students job experience while earning high school credit.

During the internship period, students gain experiences and skills that promote their learning and skill set related to a career or a career pathway, according to GCPS Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne.

Interns must complete 120 hours to earn the credit, but they gain so much more – from observing and participating in the daily operations of the business to having unique access to particular careers and performing specific job tasks related to the business.

The teacher, student and the business community jointly formulate the details of the internships, which can be paid or unpaid, Winborne noted.

Oxford Parks and Recreation has had interns in the past, and Director Tina Cheek said it’s been a positive experience.

“Our past interns have allowed us opportunities to train and teach new skills as well as share experiences within the department. Interns allow us the opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on things we do every day. Hosting an intern is definitely a win-win,” Cheek stated.

Students get to develop those “real-world” skills that employers find desirable: time management, perseverance, problem-solving and teamwork, just to name a few.

Sound good?

To be eligible for an internship opportunity, a student must be a CTE concentrator – which means having successfully completed a second-level CTE course in a career pathway. Students can obtain their own internship site or they can ask for assistance from their CTE teacher or from GCPS Career Development Coordinator Tamara Rodebaugh.

Business leaders who would like to join the internship program can contact Rodebaugh at rodebaughtw@gcs.k12.nc.us.