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VGCC Hosts Oct. 20 Conference To “Imagine The Future Of Work”

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Vance-Granville Community College is hosting a daylong conference in October designed to help the region’s employers and business leaders to learn more about important workforce issues and how to create innovative programs to offset the challenges employers and employees face.

The “Business/Industry Connect 2022: Imagine the Future of Work” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Civic Center on the college’s main campus in Vance County. The event is free, includes lunch, but registration is required. To register, visit BIC2022.eventbrite.com.

VGCC officials hope that the event can help businesses attract talent, understand the neuroscience behind successful hiring, institute highly motivating onboarding programs and develop a company culture that energizes coworkers, unlocks their potential and leads to higher retention rates. Many organizations are finding it difficult to find and keep skilled workers, according to a press statement from Jerry Edmonds, III, VGCC’s vice president of Workforce & Community Engagement.

Two special guests will help facilitate the conference: Phil Dixon and Bryan W. Mattimore.

Dixon graduated from Warwick University with a degree in Computer Science. His career in the Information Technology field included a stint with Apple before launching his own consulting firm. In 2010, he earned a master’s degree in Consulting and Coaching for Change in England at a program run jointly by HEC Paris and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He found his life’s passion in studying neuroscience and the brain.

Today a resident of Oxford – in Granville County – Dixon has published several articles and books about the brain, and is a frequent and international speaker on the topic of brain-based leadership.

Mattimore is cofounder and “Chief Idea Guy” of the Growth Engine Company, based in Connecticut. In his business consulting career, Mattimore has given more than100 keynote addresses, facilitated over a thousand brainstorming sessions, and managed 200 successful innovation projects, leading to over three billion dollars in new sales annually for one-third of the Fortune 100 companies. He is also a Senior Fellow with The Conference Board, an innovation and marketing instructor for Caltech in their Executive Education Department, and the author of several books. His new book, “Islands of Invention, How to Create Extraordinary Innovation Centers,” co-authored with McKinsey consultant Claus Raasted, is set to be published later this year.

“We look forward to this opportunity for the local business and economic development community to gather, learn and collaborate on ways to not only find new team members, but also to develop and engage the employees they already have,” said VGCC Grants Administrator Ken Wilson, who is coordinating the conference. “VGCC and our partners in education and workforce development are here to help local organizations successfully hire and train their talent.”

For more information, contact Ken Wilson at wilsonk@vgcc.edu.

 

NCDOT

Henderson Gets $463K in Powell Bill Funds From NCDOT

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Henderson is the big winner among area municipalities in the recent $154.8 million Powell Bill allotment announced by the N.C. Department of Transportation for street improvements.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon told WIZS Wednesday that he and the City Council will be working to help prioritize where and how to use the $463,634.73 allotment, about half of which has been distributed.  The remaining amount to be paid by Jan. 1, 2023, according to a press statement from NCDOT.

Officially called the State Street Aid to Municipalities, the program also is known as Powell Bill funds. This year, a total of 508 municipalities statewide benefitted from the allocation.

The Powell Bill funds are used primarily to resurface municipal streets but also may be used to maintain, repair, construct, or widen streets, bridges, and drainage areas. Municipalities can also use Powell Bill funds to plan, construct and maintain bike paths, greenways or sidewalks.

The amount each municipality receives is based on a formula established by state law, with 75 percent of the funds based on population and 25 percent based on the number of municipality-maintained street miles.  The annual population figures are provided by the Office of State Budget and Management.

“Powell Bill funding allows us to complete a lot of transportation projects important to North Carolina communities from Murphy to Manteo,” said State Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette.  “Municipalities can use these funds on projects that make our state a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

The fund is named for Junius K. Powell, a former state senator and mayor of Whiteville. Powell was the primary sponsor of the 1951 bill to help the state’s cities with urban road problems. The first allocation of Powell Bill funds was for $4.5 million and was distributed to 386 cities and towns.

Here’s what other area municipalities received through the Powell Bill:

  • Oxford – $255,752.37
  • Butner – $211,071.63
  • Creedmoor – $136,485.84
  • Louisburg – $95,153.03
  • Franklinton – $81,171.29
  • Youngsville – $61, 422.29
  • Norlina – $36,146.25
  • Stem – $29,567.39
  • Warrenton – $29,013.37
  • Stovall – $12,849.72
  • Middleburg – $6,201.01
  • Kittrell – $5,248.47

Oxford’s CultureFEST Postponed; New Date Set For May 2023

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This Saturday’s CultureFEST in downtown Oxford has been rescheduled, thanks to the likelihood that the area will be dealing with the remnants of Hurricane Ian, now poised to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast tomorrow.

Two of the event organizers  – Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and Ajulo Othow – were on TownTalk Monday to spread the word about the event, which was going to mark its second year of being held in the parking lot at Littlejohn Street.

Sergent contacted WIZS News Tuesday morning to share the news of the postponement.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel and postpone until next May,” Sergent said.

With weather forecasts predicting that North Carolina will be hit with heavy rains from the storm, it was a case of better safe than sorry.

Chamber’s 2022 ‘Alive After Five’ Concert Finale Thursday In Downtown Oxford

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The final Alive After Five concert of the 2022 season is set for  Thursday, Sept. 29 in the Littlejohn parking lot in downtown Oxford.

The band “Spare Change” takes the stage at 5:30 p.m., according to information from Granville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lauren Roberson. The event is free – bring a lawn chair, your dancing shoes and enjoy three hours of music in the cool fall weather.

Food vendors will be on hand, including Southern Snow Company, and Smoken Souls BBQ, along with Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., The Hub on Main, Coca-Cola and Long Beverage.

Beverage tickets are available for purchase at check-in sites located at Littlejohn and Gilliam streets. There will also be face painting and chalk for entertainment for the children, so bring the family to enjoy the free community event.

 

 

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Blackmon, Kelly Bring Home KTCOG Honors From Annual Banquet

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments held its annual awards banquet last week and two local officials were honored for their leadership at the city and county levels.

Leo Kelly, Jr., chairman of the Vance County board of commissioners was named Outstanding County Elected Official, and City Manager Terrell Blackmon received the Outstanding Manager Award, according to information from KTCOG’s Susan Tucker.

Kelly received his award from Granville County commissioner Sue Hinman. Henderson City Council member Mike Rainey presented Blackmon with his award at the banquet, held Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Warren County Armory Civic Center. KTCOG Board Chair Walter Gardner presided over the meeting.

Tucker said 124 individuals were present for the annual banquet representing the five counties that comprise the KTCOG.

“The primary purpose of this annual banquet is to highlight the achievements of regional leaders who have been nominated by their peers/constituents for outstanding performance and contributions,” Tucker said in a statement to WIZS News Monday.

The 2022-23 officers also were installed at the banquet. The new chairman is Zelodis Jay, a member of the Granville County board of commissioners; vice chairman is Derrick Sims, a Person County Commissioner; and treasurer is Betty Wright, a Louisburg town council member.

In addition to awards received by Kelly and Blackmon, the following awards were presented:

  • Kerr-Tar Outstanding Board Member Award was presented to Betty Wright, with the town of Louisburg. Jimmy B. Clayton of Person County presented the award.
  • Outstanding Municipal Elected Official Award went to Jackie Sergent, mayor of Oxford. Oxford City Commissioner Quon Bridges presented the award.
  • Outstanding City or County Clerk to the Board award was given to Paula Pulley of Warren County. Warren County Commissioner Tare Davis presented the award.
  • The Regional Star Award was presented to David Smith of Granville County. Granville County Commissioner Tony Cozart made this presentation.
Granville County Library System

Granville Libraries Offer Programs For Children Of All Ages

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-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

 

 The Granville County Library System is ready to serve residents with a full schedule of programs for the 2022-23 school year. After another successful summer reading program, programs aimed at pre- and school-aged Granville residents are back at all four library branches. Check out the recurring programs hosted by the Library System below to make plans for your children throughout the school year.

Storytime (ages 0-6): Young children and their caregivers enjoy stories, rhymes, games, songs, crafts, and interactive learning at the library. Storytime is offered Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the South Branch Library, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Richard H. Thornton Library, and monthly on Fridays at 11 a.m. at the Berea Branch Library.

LEGO Club (ages 3-12): Unleash your LEGO creativity! This weekly drop-in program will allow children to create LEGO masterpieces with materials provided by the library. Imagination is required! Lego Club meets Mondays at 4 p.m. at the South Branch and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Craft Hour (ages 5-12): Get creative, explore different art mediums, and take home a new project every week! Craft hour occurs on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. at the Stovall Branch Library.

STEAM (ages 5-12): Have you ever wondered how bridges are built or how airplanes fly? Have you ever asked yourself what electricity is or why volcanoes spew lava? Well, if you’re in elementary school, come join us each week as we explore the curious world of science through hands-on experiments. Get creative, get innovative and get ideas for making our world a better place! STEAM meets weekly on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. at the South Branch and weekly on Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Art Fusion (ages 5-14): Do you know someone who lives and breathes art? Join us as we dive into art history and practice different art techniques created by famous artists throughout history! Art Fusion meets monthly on the second Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Code Ninjas (ages 5-18): Learn how to code your own animations and games using SCRATCH, a program created by MIT to teach kids how to code! Code Ninjas meets monthly on the fourth Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Thornton  ibrary.

Battle of the Books Book Club (ages 9-17): Part book club. Part competition. All fun! Pick one of three book options to read, then chat about it with friends. Test your knowledge with a Battle of the Books style trivia contest! Battle of the Books Book Club meets monthly on Thursdays at 4 p.m. at the South Branch.

Teen Time (ages 12-18/grades 6-12): Grab your friends and join us for art projects, Cooking 101, monthly

challenges, theme nights, book clubs, and more! Teen Time meets Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. at the Thornton Library.

Game On! (ages 13-18): Board games, card games, video games, and puzzles! Get your game on at the library! “Game On!” meets on Fridays at 2:30 p.m. at the South Branch.

For a full calendar of events, make sure you visit the Granville County Library System website  (https://granville.lib.nc.us/) and check out all the other programs and services offered across the Granville  County Library System.

Berea Branch Library (1211 US Highway 158, Oxford): Tuesday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Oak Hill Express Library (8061 NC Highway 96 North, Oxford): Lockers and book return open 24 hours a day. Deliveries occur on Tuesday.

Richard H. Thornton Library (210 Main Street, Oxford): Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

South Branch Library (1550 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor): Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Stovall Branch Library and Express Library (300 Main Street, Stovall): Monday – Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Express library lockers and book return open 24 hours a day.

Wilton Express Library (2547 NC Highway 96 South, Franklinton): Lockers and book return open 24 hours a day. Deliveries occur Tuesday and Thursday.

Boys and Girls Clubs

State Treasurer Folwell Returns $310.58 To BGC Halifax Unit From Unclaimed Property Division

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Donyell “DJ” Jones understands better than most the post-pandemic budgetary and fundraising pressures on nonprofit organizations. That’s why State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, was eager to return missing money to the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central North Carolina, where Jones is chief executive officer.

Jones accepted the $310.58 from the state’s unclaimed property division, commonly called NCCash.com. It may seem a small sum, but every penny counts.

“This funding will support our feeding program, allowing each child to enjoy a hot, healthy meal and a healthy snack each day after school,” Jones said. “On behalf of the over 1,700 kids and teens that we serve each year, we appreciate Treasurer Folwell and his team for their support of our local communities.”

Folwell presented the check to Jones during a visit Thursday to the Halifax unit of the BGCNCNC.

“Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central North Carolina is committed to ensuring that each young person that walks through our doors has the opportunity to realize their full potential. Through supportive relationships with club leaders, a healthy meal, quality programs and activities, or just being in a safe environment, our club members are provided a sense of hope,” Jones said.

“We understand that we cannot achieve this alone and rely on the generosity of our volunteers, donors, and community partners to fulfill our mission. We truly thank the Department of State Treasurer for emphasizing the unclaimed property program and ensuring that organizations like ours have access to the much-needed resources to serve our kids,” Jones said.

“The staff and volunteers provide a unique and valuable service to their community, and even more so in helping to shape, guide and influence the young people with whom they work,” Folwell said. “By nurturing and nudging them into self-discovery and positive pathways, they help club members to see new worlds and imagine exciting possibilities.”

 

For the fiscal year through Aug. 31, UPD has paid 32,129 claims totaling more than $15 million from NCCash. Part of that total has been disbursed through the NCCash Match program, a no-hassle, expedited system that eliminated paperwork processing. As of Aug. 31, DST paid 16,986 Cash Match claims totaling nearly $7.3 million.

Under state law, UPD receives and safeguards funds that are escheated – turned over – to DST. The unclaimed property consists of bank accounts, wages, utility deposits, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned. More information, including how to find out if you are owed money, can be found at https://www.nccash.com/.

Butner Inmate Gets 20 Months For 2020 Escape Attempt

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-information courtesy of the office of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of NC

A federal inmate has been sentenced to 30 months for attempting to escape from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner back in 2020.

According to court documents, Charles Asher, 62, an inmate at FCI Butner at the time of the offense, was found hiding in the bushes – and not in his designated housing unit, as required – on the compound at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2020, near the exit door of the institution.

“Asher was found with multiple unauthorized items that could be used to effectuate an escape, including: a homemade rope approximately 14 feet in length, gray gloves, a blue mattress cover, and a homemade cardboard replica handgun wrapped with black electrical tape,” according to a press statement from the office of Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Asher had pleaded guilty in June 2022 to the sole count of attempted escape from prison and U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced Asher.

Learn To Construct Livestock Fence During Oct. 25 Workshop

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The old saying that “fences make good neighbors” could be amended to “good fences make neighbors happy” to describe an upcoming hands-on workshop that involves creating a safe fencing plan for livestock.

The day-long class will be held on Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Butner Beef Cattle field lab, located at 8800 Cassam Rd. in Bahama, NC 27503.

Whether you want to create new fenced pastures or just want to hone skills needed to keep fences in good order, this workshop is for you.

“A good fence is a critical component of a successful livestock operation no matter what species of animals,” according to a press release from Kim Woods and Matthew Place, livestock agents in Granville, Person and Warren counties, respectively.

The $40 cost per person includes lunch and all materials, and participants should dress appropriately for the weather and bring gloves and eye protection. There will be some indoor classroom work to discuss the economics of fencing and construction materials, as well as state laws regarding fencing. The group will then head outside and actually build a fence.

The event is sponsored by several fence product companies.

Fences keep animals in the safety of their pasture while – hopefully – keeping predators out. “Building a good fence that will last a long time is not near as easy as making the decision that you need a fence,” however. Come to the class to learn more about proper design and construction.

Visit https://person.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-Fencing-School-Reg-8.pdf?fwd=no to find the registration page. Mail it, along with your payment, to

Granville County Cooperative Extension,

Attn: Kim Woods

125 Oxford Loop Rd. Oxford, NC 27565.

Make check payable to Granville County, with “Fencing School” in the subject line.  Registration is limited to the first 30 people in order for everyone to have adequate hands-on time with tools and materials.

To learn more, contact Kim Woods at 336.599.1195 or 919.603.1350 or Matthew Place at 252.257.3640.

The Local Skinny! Restaurant Week Comes To Oxford

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Local foodies, take note!

Next week, innovative dining experiences are a short drive away as Oxford kicks off “Restaurant Week.”

The event kicks off this Sunday, Sept. 25, with a Sunday Supper at Oxford Oaks Farm, located in Oxford Park, 3679 Oaklawn Dr., and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen told Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! Monday that the apps and drinks will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by a three-course meal at 6 that will be topped off with dessert and coffee.

This is a ticketed event and Allen said seating is limited. Visit https://strongarm.menu for details and to purchase tickets.

Q, the general manager for Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., said the idea for Restaurant Week grew out of the Quittin’ Time events that have been held in downtown Oxford for the past couple of years.

Quittin’ Time features small plates, or tapas, and patrons walk among the participating restaurants to sample food and beverages. But during Restaurant Week, each restaurant takes a turn at providing a specialty meal.

“Every restaurant in this town has superstars…who come up with some of the most creative dishes than I’ve seen in a long time – it’s gonna blow people’s minds,” Q said.

Up first is Harvest, with a prix fixe dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 27. There is a 5:30 p.m. seating and a 7:30 p.m. seating. Call Harvest this week between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 919.603.1460 to reserve a spot.

On Wednesday, the spotlight shines on Main St. Oasis, where reservations will be accepted, but are not necessary. A Mediterranean fish dinner is the featured dish.

Uptown and Strong Arm team up for Thursday evening’s culinary delights. Uptown and Tobacco Wood will be featured again on Saturday evening.

Tobacco Wood is pairing the music of a jazz trio with some kitchen vibes straight out of the Delta: “we’re going to do a little Cajun Creole night,” Q said, with some specialty dishes available – think jambalaya and shrimp and grits. Guests also can choose to spice up the wings or other regular menu items with a little Cajun dry rub or Cajun sauce, Q added.

The beauty of Restaurant Week, Q said, is that patrons “have a full night to understand what each restaurant has to offer…plus more. The plus more is what you’re going to see” next week, he added.

Check out the full listing of Oxford’s Restaurant Week at Visit Granville County NC’s Facebook page.

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