Vance-Granville Community Band to present free holiday concert on Nov. 27

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— courtesy VGCC

The Vance-Granville Community Band will perform its tenth annual winter holiday concert on Monday, Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center, located at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. Admission is free of charge.

Included in the concert will be a host of holiday favorites, including “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas,” “The First Noel,” “A French Noel” (Pat-A Pan), “Appalachian Carol” (Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head), and a medley of Christmas classics including “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

“The Night Before Christmas” will be presented in a “story-time” format, as Clement Moore’s famous poem is read with band accompaniment.

The concert will begin with the traditional rendering of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the state song, “The Old North State.” Plus, as is customary for any ensemble led by the director of the band, Brian Miller, a Sousa march will be included. “No concert is complete without Sousa,” according to Miller. “This year, while we are playing almost all Christmas music, we will of course play a Sousa march. It will be Sousa’s classic ‘The Invincible Eagle March,’ which the master of American music wrote in 1901.”

Brian Miller conducts the Vance-Granville Community Band during its 2016 holiday concert. (VGCC photo)

Miller, in his second year as director of the Vance-Granville Community Band, was known locally as the man at the helm of the Louisburg High School band program for more than two decades, a band program that grew into one of the largest in the state and was known for its performance of Sousa marches and traditional band literature. Miller now teaches band and humanities at Crosscreek Charter School in Louisburg, is the organist for both Louisburg Baptist Church and Louisburg College, teaches part-time for VGCC, frequently serves as music director for the Louisburg College Drama department and is found at North Henderson Baptist Church on Sunday nights, playing the piano and sometimes preaching.

“We want everybody to come hear this free concert,” said Miller. “It will be played right in the heart of historic downtown Henderson, in the center of this great community. The concert will only last about an hour, and hearing the band play these great old songs is a terrific way to usher in the holiday season.”

The Community Band, which is sponsored by the VGCC Division of Arts and Sciences, includes people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from throughout the region. No auditions are required. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7-9 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, on the Main Campus in Henderson, at Exit 209 on Interstate 85 (Poplar Creek Road). For more information, contact Brian Miller at (919) 496-5877 or at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu or Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

VGCC names Burwell to direct Occupational Extension training

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— courtesy VGCC

Vance-Granville Community College recently named Kyle F. Burwell of Oxford as the college’s new director of Occupational Extension and Human Resources Development (HRD). Burwell has been a member of the VGCC staff since 2006, as coordinator of HRD. She has also served as coordinator for a number of grants to the college, including grants from the USDA, the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, and the American Association of Community Colleges’ Plus 50 initiative.

In her new role, Burwell supervises HRD and prison programs as well as the various occupational extension courses, which include BioWork, Notary Public, information technology certifications and manicuring. Such courses are offered on all four VGCC campuses at various times throughout the year to meet the job training needs of the communities in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties.

Burwell holds an associate degree from Peace College (today, William Peace University) and a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University. Prior to joining VGCC, she served as child care resource and referral director for the Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership for Children/Smart Start. Burwell is a graduate of the VGCC Vanguard Leadership Institute and of Leadership Vance, a program of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

Kyle Burwell (VGCC photo)

“We are excited to have Kyle in this position of leadership, as she oversees innovative programs that serve the residents and businesses of our region,” said Dr. Levy Brown, the college’s interim vice president of academic affairs. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and many years of experience to this very important role at VGCC in continuing education. I look forward to seeing Kyle continue to foster strong community partnerships.”

For more information on Occupational Extension programs, contact Burwell at burwellk@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3276.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)

Franklin County Sheriff

Franklin County Active Shooter Training Exercise

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— press release courtesy of the Office of the Franklin County Sheriff

On November 18, 2017 the Franklin County Sheriffs Office and Franklin County Emergency Management, with participation from other North Carolina law enforcement, fire, and rescue service agencies, will conduct an active shooter training exercise on the campus of Long Mill Elementary School located at 1753 Long Mill Road, Youngsville.

The planning, training, and interagency cooperation leading up to this exercise began earlier this year, with the goal to assess our response capabilities and better shape each agency’s role in the event of an active shooter incident within Franklin County. A training operation of this scale has never been conducted before in our county, in both the number of agencies and personnel involved.

Those of us working in Public Safety know that the safety of our children is one of our highest priorities. While assessing our response capabilities is a primary goal, this training exercise is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication by all those involved with a focus on our ability to quickly and safely reunite children with their families.

Participating agencies include: Louisburg Police Department, Franklinton Police Department, Youngsville Police Department, Louisburg College Police Department, Wake County Sheriffs Office, Nash County Sheriffs Office, Vance County Sheriffs Office, Granville County Sheriffs Office, Wake Forest Fire Department, NC State Highway Patrol, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, NC Alcohol Law Enforcement, NCDMV License and Theft Bureau, Franklin County Emergency Services, Franklin County School System, and Franklin County Emergency Communications Center.

Residents and motorists will notice emergency vehicles in the area between 9am and 12pm. Law enforcement personnel will be in the area to provide traffic direction.

All media will be initially required to report to Capital Auto Auction, located at 2380 Long Mill Road, Youngsville.

Kent Winstead

Sheriff

West Craven @SGHSVikingFB (South Granville)

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— by Jeff Jenkins, WIZS

West Craven at South Granville — Friday, November 16, 2017

Looking very much like a Team of Destiny, the undefeated Vikings of South Granville started their 2AA playoff run last Friday with a 41-21 victory over Washington County in Creedmoor. Washington was the #14 seed in the 2AA East bracket, with an overall regular season record of only 4-7; but to their credit, the 21 points they scored on the Vikings was 2.5 times the average points allowed by South Granville per game this season, and they held the Vikings to 8 points for the entire second and third quarters. But South Granville scored 20 points in the final quarter to put the game away, gaining 503 total yards in the process, with 446 of those yards on the ground from scrimmage.

This Friday, the #3 seed Vikings will keep the home field advantage when they face the #6 seed, West Craven. The visiting Eagles, from Vanceboro (just north of New Bern) are in the same conference as Washington, the Eastern Carolina 2A, and will have about a 300 mile round trip tonight. The Eagles finished the regular season 6-5 overall, but took their league championship with a 5-1 conference record and a 25-23 upset win over Kinston, which finished 9-3 on the season after losing their first round playoff game last week. West Craven scored 47 points in their regular season win over Washington, but they averaged only 24 points per game on offense on the season as a whole, including last week’s 28-7 opening round win over Richlands. The Eagle defense has allowed 23 points per game, revealing a weakness on defense that South Granville will try to exploit with their bruising ground game.

So tonight will be a battle of two conference champions, and the South Granville Vikings should keep that in mind. However, that is about all these teams seem to have in common, since, South Granville is 12-0 on the season, averages scoring 43 points per game, and allows their opponent to score under 9 points per outing.

Granville County Logo

TIMBERLAKE TO COVER HOLIDAYS AT OXFORD LIBRARY WITH PHOART™ EXHIBIT

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— courtesy of Granville County and the Granville County Library System from R F Timberlake

Granville Native to Show & Share Art Exhibit on Display at Richard H. Thornton Branch

If you ask North Carolina artist R F Timberlake, as he says Frank to family and friends, how he got into producing fine digital art prints, he’ll tell you this yarn, “My fourth-grade teacher at Stovall, the very famous Katherine Royster told me that if I didn’t focus on business that I’d end up making license plates! Recently, after producing the print, Red Boats of Beaufort, I made my wife a custom license plate featuring that print. It hit me, Mrs. Royster was right. I am blessed to have had enough business to create and support my love art and to create PhoArt® for me and others to enjoy.”

You can visit the Richard H. Thornton Library branch of the Granville County Library System from November 15, 2017 until January 15, 2018 to see over 30 colorful prints from various locales including a few special Granville County and Kerr Lake prints. Several of the prints will be shown publicly for the first time at the Oxford library. “We are extremely pleased to offer Mr. Timberlake’s innovative approach to visual art that captures things and places that are special to him in a classical sort of way,” said Carly Cox, Adult Services Librarian. “We’re thrilled to hold a “Meet the Artist” reception a few days after the exhibit opens on Sunday, November 19th from 2:00-4:00 PM here at the Thornton branch, and we invite our library patrons and the public to come see this art and talk the artist.”

“Mr. Timberlake and his Shutter Art Gallery will give away a yet, unnamed print, from the Down East – Outer Banks Collection. Visitors who come to the reception and properly register with us will be eligible to win the print which we will draw for at the conclusion of the reception,” added Cox. The signed and numbered print will be on display at the reception.

R. Frank Timberlake told WIZS News that this print, “Ups and Down of Fishing Atlantic,” will be given away at the conclusion of the “Meet the Artist” reception on November 19th 2-4PM.

Timberlake and his gallery will also donate 20% of any prints sold during the Granville library exhibit that can be attributed by local address or if people call or email including GRANVILLE LIBRARY.

Born in Oxford, Timberlake was raised in Stovall and Grassy Creek. He’s a familiar face in the area visiting and being a frequent camping visitor. He is a cofounder of the 550+ member Kerr Lake support group, Kerr Lake Park Watch. Timberlake is a former news broadcaster and broadcast owner and is president of the award-winning advertising & PR firm, R F Timberlake & Company, Inc., that he and wife Linda founded 27 years ago. Their home, office and studio are in eastern Wake County. They have four sons, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“I didn’t like my painting. I wanted realism and I got impressionistic,” says Timberlake. “So, I worked, studied, got tutoring to improve my photography and then I incorporated digital technology to create PhoArt® which is simply making a photograph appear that it is painted and it’s a lot more detailed than people might think. My wife and business partner of 41 years, Linda, said that I should show and share my art. I did as she said and wham, it took off!” The artist adds that producing digital fine art allows him to take on more projects in a variety of locations.

“We’ve limited 200 issues of any print, and that adds a touch of exclusivity,” says the artist. Although he offers prints on fine linen, smooth and textured papers, unframed, Timberlake’s chosen presentation is “gallery wrapped” meaning the canvas is stretched around a wooden frame, backed and prepped for hanging. Those prints have museum backing and four coats of museum, archival art lacquer to prevent UV damage and fading. Another very unique point, for example, is that three people can purchase consecutively numbered prints and all three can be assorted sizes, a somewhat unique offering, even though the three prints are signed and numbered. All of the prints on display at the Thornton branch will be “gallery wrapped.”

“I have art in museums and some locations in Virginia, but it means the world to me to be able to come home to Granville County and to present my art to so many friends, both old and new! We’re even going to have a few prints for people to see and to promote the exhibit in the beautiful new Stovall library branch, added Timberlake.

The R F Timberlake PhoArt® exhibit can be seen during regular library hours through January 15, 2018.

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Families Living Violence Free

Domestic Violence 101

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WIZS News has been asked to announce the following courtesy of Families Living Violence Free in Oxford:

Peggy Roark
Adult & Empowerment Services
Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator
Families Living Violence Free
125 Oxford Outer Loop Road
PO Box 1632
Oxford, NC 27565
Email: Proark@flvf.org
Office: 919-693-3579
Crisis: 919-693-5700
Hispanic Crisis 919-690-0888
Website: www.flvf.org
Like us on Facebook!

Giving Voice and Support to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims
Granville Crime Stoppers

Granville Crimes Late Oct, Early Nov 2017

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— courtesy Granville County Crime Stoppers

Sometime between Saturday, October 21st and Sunday, October 22nd, 2017 an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of a residence located off Old Roxboro Road, Oxford , NC and criminally removed a Craftsman generator from underneath an open shed.

Sometime between Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 late evening and Thursday, November 2nd, 2017 early morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property of Oxford Mini Mart convenience store located off Williamsboro Street, Oxford, NC and forced entry into the store, which caused criminal property damage. Also, criminals removed cash money and two cash boxes from the cash register. A Nissan Altima vehicle silver in color was involved in this incident.

If you have information concerning these incidents, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers 919-693-3100.

THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AUTHORIZED THE PAYMENT OF A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST/INDICTMENT(S) OF PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE CRIMES OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CRIME(S) IN GRANVILLE COUNTY. YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS IN OXFORD AT 919-693-3100.

Houston Astros Carlos Díaz Visits Granville Central High School

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— courtesy Granville County Schools

The Spanish students at Granville Central High School recently had the privilege of listening to Carlos Díaz, Center Fielder of the Houston Astros, talk about Puerto Rico and the current crisis affecting the country. He shared places to visit, typical food, and information about the status of Puerto Rico since Hurricane María and Irma. He also shared information about being well-rounded students who are excelling in the classroom and on the field. He encouraged students that are looking to enter professional sports to make sure that they are well rounded because sports are a part of who you are, but they don’t define who you are.

Right Carlos Diaz, Left, Spanish Teacher Wendy Owens

Franklin County Logo

Franklin County Celebrates its Veterans

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— courtesy Franklin County Government

Veterans will be honored November 10 with a program and luncheon

Franklin County citizens will unite Friday, November 10th to show love and appreciation for veterans in the county, state and nation who have bravely served our armed forces and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Franklin County is stepping it up this year, celebrating veterans with both a program and luncheon in their honor! This year’s program will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the parking area behind the Hamilton H. Hobgood Courthouse Annex, 113 S. Main Street, Louisburg, North Carolina. Guest speaker will be Robert Elliott of the Veterans Farm of North Carolina. Musical selections will be rendered by the Louisburg High School Band and Chorus as well as other special musical guests. A luncheon for veterans will follow at noon. In the event of rain, the celebration will be held in the auditorium of Louisburg High School.

The Franklin County Veterans Service Office hopes citizens will attend the program to show support for military personnel both near and far and to remember many are on foreign soil fighting for the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.

For more information on the event, contact the Franklin County Veterans Service Office at 919-496-1939. Additional contact numbers can be obtained by visiting Franklin County’s website at www.franklincountync.us.

Royster retires from VGCC endowment board

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— courtesy VGCC

T.S. “Sam” Royster, Jr., of Oxford, recently retired from the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund Board of Directors.

Royster has served on the board since 1998. Among his numerous contributions to the Endowment Fund, he and his law partners established the Royster, Cross & Hensley, LLP, Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2007. He helped to arrange for another scholarship, the Harold & Helen Sherman Presidential Scholar Award. Royster is also a longtime participant in, and sponsor of, the annual VGCC Endowment Fund Golf Tournament.

The board of directors oversees the Endowment Fund Corporation, a nonprofit organization established in 1976 to seek and receive scholarship funds and other contributions for the college. Current board members include Robert L. Hubbard (the vice-chair), Rev. Dr. Richard M. Henderson, Julius Banzet, III, Sarah Baskerville, Rep. James W. Crawford, Jr., Dr. Ben F. Currin,

Sam Royster, seated, is honored for his contributions to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund at an Endowment Board meeting. Standing behind him, from left, are VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson, board members Opie Frazier and James Crawford, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams and board members Danny Wright and Donald Seifert. (VGCC photo)

Tanya Evans, Clay Frazier, L. Opie Frazier, Jr., Ronnie Goswick, Katharine Macon Horner, Darryl Moss, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., Marshall Tanner, Josh Towne and Todd Wemyss. As president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams chairs the board, and Danny Wright, chair of the VGCC Board of Trustees, serves on the board ex-officio.

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,100 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 about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS.)