Granville County Library System

Oxford’s Thornton Library Welcomes New Manager Lisa Dendy

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Library System has announced Lisa Dendy as the new branch manager for the Richard H. Thornton Library. Dendy brings a wealth of experience and extensive background in library services, both in public and academic library settings. She brings a deep understanding of community engagement and a passion for promoting literacy and learning to her new role.

Dendy joins the Granville County Library System with 19 years of experience in library services, most recently at the Davis Library at UNC-Chapel Hill. Before her time in Chapel Hill, Dendy worked for 14 years with the Durham County Library. Dendy holds a Master of Arts in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Library Science from N.C. Central University.

“We are thrilled to have Lisa Dendy join us as the Richard H. Thornton Library Branch Manager,” said Granville County Library System Director Will Robinson. “Her wealth of experience at two of the most esteemed academic and public libraries in the United States, her educational background, and commitment to community service align seamlessly with the values of the Granville County Library System. We feel that she will bring the Thornton Library and the entire Granville County Library System to even greater heights with her focus on creating an inclusive and dynamic library environment that caters to the diverse needs of Granville County residents.”

The Richard H. Thornton Library is located at 210 Main St. in downtown Oxford. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.  to 5 p.m. For more information about the Thornton Library and the other three branches of the Granville County Library system, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ or follow  the library system on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/granvillecountylibrarysystem

Granville Haunt Farm Named Top N.C. Attraction By State Travel Industry Association

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When Grey Blackwell started the Granville Haunt Farm nine years ago, he just wanted to give folks a fun – and entertainingly scary – experience around Halloween. Since that first season, the seasonal event has grown into the “anchor” for fall events in Granville County. Blackwell and The Haunt Farm were recognized recently as the North Carolina Attraction of the Year by the N.C. Travel Industry Association.

“When we started Granville Haunt Farm…we never anticipated the impact we would have on tourism in Granville County,” Blackwell said. He credits Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen and the county’s Tourism Development Authority for helping to elevate the Haunt Farm’s popularity.

“We’re grateful for their partnership in helping us bring memorable experiences to our visitors and humbled to receive this award.”

Necessity is the Mother of Invention, they say, and Blackwell pivoted his walk-through event to a drive-through during the COVID-19 pandemic. And he hasn’t looked back.

Vehicles fill the field-turned-parking-queue on the weekends, waiting their turn in line.

In just a few short years, the “Drive-Through Drive-In” attraction has gone from a beloved local event to an attraction that draws visitors from across North Carolina and beyond. The unique attraction generates about 20,000 customers a year and has led to the creation of a spinoff Christmas Farm Drive-Through that brings more than 9,000 visitors to the county.

In 2023, the Granville Tourism Development Authority’s marketing objective for the Haunt Farm was to direct even more people to its website. The campaign resulted in a total of 550,000 impressions, a 93 percent increase in traffic, 95 percent increase in users and a 116 percent increase in number of page views.

To learn more, contact Allen at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org or 919.693.6125. See a complete listing of events at www.visitgranvillecnc.com .

Visit https://www.granvillehauntfarm.com/ and https://www.granvillechristmasfarm.com/ to read more about Blackwell’s events.

Granville Chamber Sponsors Student Spotlight

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The Granville County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee invites Chamber members to nominate local high school students for the Student Spotlight.

Students with an affiliation to a Chamber member business – through employment, internship or as a volunteer – are eligible, according to information from Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Ratliff. The students must be a resident of Granville County or attend one of the following high schools: Granville Central High School; J.F. Webb High School; South Granville High School; Oxford Preparatory School; Falls Lake Academy; Granville Early College; Granville Academy or Phoenix Academy.

Students selected for the Spotlight will be recognized at the Chamber’s annual membership meeting and banquet, scheduled for Mar. 11, 2024. All nominated students may apply for a scholarship the Chamber offers that will be awarded in June 2024.

Nominations should be based on attendance, work ethic and character. To access the nomination form, click here.

For more information, contact Ratliff at the Chamber office at 919.693.6125 or cynthia@granville-chamber.com.

Delrayno Baptist Presents Drive-Thru Live Nativity Dec. 9-12

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UPDATED SUNDAY, DEC. 10:

Because of the threat of severe weather, Sunday’s drive-thru Nativity at Delrayno Baptist Church has been cancelled. “A Journey Back To Bethlehem” is scheduled to continue Monday, Dec. 11 and will be open on Tuesday, Dec. 12 as well, organizers said. The live Nativity event is open from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

 

 

Experience the wonder of a live Nativity as Delrayno Baptist Church in Oxford presents “A Journey Back To Bethlehem” beginning Saturday, Dec. 9.

There is no fee for the drive-thru Nativity, which runs for three consecutive evenings – Saturday, Dec. 9, Sunday, Dec. 10 and Monday, Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church, located at 1315 College St.

The parking lot and grounds of the church are transformed with props, scenery, lights and more to re-create Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Church members in period dress participate in the various vignettes set up on the grounds that have become a favorite local Christmas event.

Granville Youth Leadership Council Gives Teens A Voice In Decision-Making

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Youth Leadership Council provides high school students a voice in local government’s decision-making processes while promoting civic engagement and responsibility.

The Council is a platform that empowers young minds to actively participate in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of responsibility and commitment to community development, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood. Members are representatives of youth civic engagement, and also can bring about change by bringing new ideas and opportunities to the community.

The purpose of the council is to make sure youth in the community have a voice, but more importantly, that  their voices are heard, recognized and valued. Through participation in the council, the youth will gain leadership skills  through their service on selected county boards, outreach, initiatives and youth-led projects.

This year’s new members to the council are:

  • Ana Black, District 4;
  • Josef Black, District 4;
  • Claire Glavin, District 7;
  • Jacquelin  Jose, District 4;
  • Kaylee Overby, District 5;
  • Dylan Roseman, District 5;
  • Nathanael Royster, District 7

 

The new class joins the following members already serving on the council:

  • Jermaine Puryear, Jr., Chair, Board Liaison, District 3 
  • Elaina Eley, Vice Chair, Board Liaison, District 6
  • Amber Necessary, Secretary, Board Liaison, District 6 
  • Jaden Easow, Treasurer, Board Liaison, District 6 
  • Iesha Landis, Social Events Chair, Board Liaison, District 6 
  • Cassie Peele, Media and Public Relations Chair, Board Liaison, District 2 
  • Vashti Pearson, Social Media/Content Creator, Board Liaison, District 5 
  • Asia Abdul-Haqq, Board Liaison, District 5 
  • Joydan Johnson, Board Liaison, District 6 

The council had a strategic planning session retreat in November and worked to plan future initiatives, including launching a Teen Clothing Closet, sponsoring a Teen Night and developing a mental health proposal for teens.

Learn more about the Council and their activities, visit https://granvilleylc.weebly.com/.

TownTalk: December Events In Granville County

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There are plenty of upcoming activities in Granville County to make even those Scrooges or Grinches get in the holiday spirit.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen joined WIZS’s own Bill Harris on Wednesday’s TownTalk to talk about upcoming Christmas parades, drive-thru events and more.

The Granville Christmas Farm stows all its scary decorations in favor of twinkling holiday lights and scenery on weekends in December, Allen said. After Dec. 18, however, the drive-thru display will be open during the week as well.

Check out a live performance of Granville County-based group The Barefoot Movement, which will be at The Orpheum on Saturday evening, Dec. 2. Noah Wall and Tommy Norris will kick off their holiday tour with a local concert. But tickets are going fast, so check out the Orpheum’s website soon to secure your seat.

The musical duo “Little Red Birds” performs Friday, Dec. 8 at The Orpheum after the city’s Lighting of the Greens and Christmas parade.  Sip hot cocoa cocktails as you enjoy the music. Main Street will be open for a variety of activities – think inflatables, food trucks, vendors, live music – beginning at 4 p.m. on the 8th, followed by the Lighting of the Greens at 6:45 p.m. and then the parade at 7 p.m.

The next day, Saturday, Dec. 9, come back to downtown Oxford for “Jingle and Mingle.” Downtown merchants will be open for shoppers and browsers alike during normal business hours.

The flurry of activities begin this weekend across Granville County, including a tree-lighting ceremony Friday at 7 p.m. in Creedmoor and then one town over – Butner – beginning at 5:30 p.m. hosts its annual “Christmas in the Park.”

The next day, you can check out Creedmoor’s Christmas parade at 11 a.m. and then head over to Central Avenue in Butner to catch that town’s Christmas parade that begins at 2 p.m.

The Orpheum transforms from concert venue on Saturday to holiday gala on Sunday evening. Purchase tickets ($100 each) online at The Orpheum or stop by The Hub on Main. It’s black tie-optional and includes a meal, beverages and live music.

Saturday and Sunday at HighRock Farms on 2317 Enon Rd. features a date with Santa – breakfast, in fact. Make reservations at

https://www.highrock-events.com/our-events/

The Stem Ruritan Club is hosting the Stem Jingle Jangle at the club on Highway 75 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out lots of local vendors and visit with Santa.

The Barn at Vino in Stem will host Cocoa with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 3 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be vendors, food trucks and more on site. Reserve a photo session with Santa for $20 per child ($5 for each additional child) on Eventbrite or on The Barn at Vino’s Facebook page.

Carlee Farm in Stem will host its holiday marketplace again this year on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop in for shopping and find plenty of local vendors on hand. Carlee Farm is located at 1003 Carlee Farm Rd.

If you need to take a break from the commercial side of the Christmas holiday, pack the kids in the car and go “Back to Bethlehem,” courtesy of Delrayno Baptist Church in Oxford. The drive-thru Nativity is a favorite event that recreates Bethlehem across a variety of scenes that are set up in the church parking lot and drive. The drive-thru Nativity will be held Dec. 9, 10 and 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but donations are accepted.

CLICK PLAY!

 

VGCC Community Band Presents Holiday Concert Dec. 11 At McGregor Hall

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-information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

 

On Monday, December 11, the VGCC Community Band will present its annual Holiday Concert at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for admission.

 

The public is invited to this performance, which will feature a variety of seasonal music and non-holiday favorites. Selections will include patriotic music, a medley influenced by the popular sea shanty genre, and holiday songs ranging from “Mary, Did You Know?” to “Santa at the Symphony.”

 

“I always see the VGCC Community Band concert as the start of my holidays,” said Betsy Henderson, department chair of Fine Arts and Humanities for Vance-Granville Community College. “It’s a great tradition for the whole family! You’ll be entertained with some classic holiday music, and your spirits will be lifted.”

Directed by Brian D. Miller of Louisburg, the VGCC Community Band is comprised of both VGCC students and non-student adult community members. Band members have a wide range of abilities and experience and come from the college’s four-county service area and beyond; some members are from Virginia. Contact Director Miller at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu to learn more about the band program.

 

 

SportsTalk: Adcock Reflects On First Season With Mariners

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Ty Adcock never imagined himself as a pitcher.  At South Granville he threw a couple of innings for fun but pitching never really interested him.  He was a catcher and an outfielder.  It wasn’t until his junior year at Elon that a coach noticed his arm strength and felt his talents were better suited on the mound.

In June of last year after a minor league game Adcock got the call to head for Seattle where he would throw his first pitch in the Major Leagues.  “It was a bizarre experience,” Adcock said of receiving the call.  Adcock was a guest on Wednesday’s SportsTalk. “I knew I had what it takes to play in the big leagues,” Adcock continued.  “It doesn’t feel real.  It was everything you dream of as a kid,” Adcock explained about his first game in a Mariners uniform.

He doesn’t remember the name of the first batter he faced from the Miami Marlins but does remember the batter grounded out on the first pitch.  He threw for two innings in that game as a member of the Mariners’ bull pen.

Now that his first season is under his belt he is busy preparing for spring.  He will head to spring training in late January and hopes to be one of the eight pitchers the Mariners keep in their bull pen when the 2024 season starts.  “It’s up to management to see if they feel I’m a good fit for the organization,” Adcock concluded.

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Granville Commissioners Makes Changes To Land Development Code

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Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Board of Commissioners has approved changes to the county’s Land Development Code that increases minimum lot sizes of “rural cluster” subdivisions.

During its meeting on Monday, Nov 20, the commissioners continued a public hearing that had begun on Oct. 16, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

After hearing input from the public, as well as from county planning and zoning staff, the board unanimously approved changes to the plan, which more than doubles the minimum lot size requirement – to 40,000 square feet from the previous 12,000 square feet.

In addition, the minimum lot width is increased to 80 feet from 60 feet and the street and side setbacks are now 50 feet and 15 feet, respectively – up from the previous 25 feet and 7.5 feet).

This change doesn’t affect existing regulations for conventional major subdivisions, family subdivisions or minor subdivisions, which is defined as a subdivision with fewer than 10 lots.

Oxford Fire Dept. Has New Specialized Rescue Equipment For Use In Grain Bins

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The Oxford Fire Department is one of only two departments in the state to receive a specialized piece of equipment to assist with grain bin rescues.

Thanks to a partnership with the local Pegram Agency, Nationwide Insurance and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, the Oxford fire department now has the equipment should a situation arise that a person is trapped in a grain bin.

The equipment is basically a rescue tube and NECAS also provides training to make sure fire departments know how to use it properly. NECAS representatives traveled to each location with state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulators. The comprehensive training sessions included classroom education and rescue simulations using the entrapment tools, which are loaded onto 20-foot trailers and able to hold about 100 bushels of grain each.

Rural communities continue to face hazards associated with working in and around grain structures. In 2022 alone, there were at least 42 grain entrapments – the highest number in more than a decade – resulting in 15 fatalities. To help prevent tragic accidents and deaths, Nationwide and its partners are providing life-saving grain rescue tubes and training to 60 fire departments across rural America through its 2023 Grain Bin Safety campaign.

Since beginning the Grain Bin Safety campaign in 2014, at least seven fire departments have utilized their rescue tubes and training to successfully rescue entrapped individuals, including a man in Ohio who was trapped up to his armpits back in a March 2023 incident.

“With entrapments and accidents on the rise, it’s as important as ever to be following proper safety precautions before entering a bin,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “

 

Through collaboration with NECAS, Nationwide and its partners have now supplied grain rescue equipment and training to 332 first responders across 32 states to help prepare them when local grain entrapments occur.

“Grain bin accidents continue to be a critical issue facing the agriculture industry,” said Liggett. “We are proud to have supplied these important resources to 60 more rural fire departments in partnership with the many sponsors involved in our grain bin safety efforts. Thank you to the first responders who play such an important role in supporting the agriculture community.”

Nationwide is continuing to work with partners throughout the year to provide additional grain rescue tubes and training sessions to fire departments in need. To learn how to get involved or sponsor a rescue tube for your local fire department, visit the Partner With Us webpage.