The Local Skinny! Upcoming Events In Granville County

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Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen has a heap of activities lined up for spring all across the county, from barbecue competitions to gardening expos. Find one – or more – that suit your interests.

Jimbo’s Backyard BBQ Competition takes place Saturday, April 8 at The Barn at Vino in Stem. General admission is $10. There will be all different types of activities taking place during the competition for visitors to enjoy, including live music, food trucks and a multitude of vendors. Allen spoke with Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! to spotlight a few of the events taking place.

Here’s a snapshot of upcoming events:

Saturday, April 22 – the 2nd annual Gardeners Expo, sponsored by The Granville Gardeners. More than 1,200 people attended last year’s free event, and Allen said this year’s event could be even bigger. Visit www.thegranvillegardeners.org to learn more. The event will be held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, Highway 15, Oxford from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 – Alive After Five kicks off the 2023 season with the Konnection Band in downtown Oxford from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Head on down to Littlejohn Street and enjoy the first of three concerts sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, April 29 – Oxford Main Street Arts & Wine Festival, downtown Oxford from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This free event will feature live demonstrations by a number of artists, as well as food vendors and activities for the kids. Tickets for the wine-tasting are available for purchase at The Hub on Main. Visit their Facebook page to learn how.

Saturday, April 29 – Central Highland Games, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Children’s Home, Oxford. It’s all things Scottish throughout the day, as kilted athletes demonstrate just a few of the unique Highland games. There will be bagpipe bands, Highland dance demonstrations and food vendors. The cost is $20 for parking, with all proceeds going to the children’s home. And for a $10 donation, you can try your hand at some of the games yourself.

Check out www.visitgranvillenc.com for a complete schedule of events.

 

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Smart Start

FGV Partnership For Children Announces ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities April 1-7

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Since 1971, early childhood education proponents have celebrated The Week of the Young Child. The FGV Partnership for Children invites the community to help mark the special week – April 1-7 – by participating in numerous activities, all with children in mind.

FGV Partnership for Children’s Development Coordinator Garry Daeke will be a guest on Monday’s TownTalk, and he shared the schedule of events that will take place, including one that will be held Saturday, April 1.

A virtual kindergarten transition forum will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Tanya Daniels, M.Ed. will present “Belonging, Believing and Becoming of Tomorrow’s Children.” Register at www.fgvsmartstart.org.

Additional activities include:

  • Monday, April 3—Pinwheels, kick off April Prevent Child Abuse NC.  Childcare programs (New Beginnings and Teach-A-Tot) will visit FGV Smart Start and ‘plant’ a pinwheel garden, along with indoor activities and snacks.  Time: 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4—Health and Fitness Day will organize healthy snacks and outdoor play for children at What A Blessing Child Care and Franklinton United Methodist Church Day Care in Franklin County. Time: 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 5—Literacy Day will set up Imagination Library enrollments at Wal Mart in each county and will be enrolling children from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 6–Safe Kids Day (Vance County) Safe Kids will set up at Dabney Drive Fire station from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and provide child safety seat inspections and installation.

The purpose of The Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

Granville Chamber Taking Nominations For 2022 Small Business Of The Year Through April 17

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The Granville Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2022 Small Business of the Year through April 17.

There are a few criteria to keep in mind about the business being nominated:

  • Has a maximum of 50 employees
  • Is a member of the Chamber
  • Is in operation two or more years and have grown or remained stable during its operation
  • Provides a critical service or product, fill a void in the business community or have a unique approach to deliver of goods and services
  • Is supportive of community growth sustainability
  • Is NOT a governmental agency or municipality
  • May have overcome extraordinary circumstances to remain open

Any individual can nominate a business that they feel deserves recognition and companies may self-nominate.

All nominated companies will be required to submit a written application and return it to the Chamber office no later than April 17. All applications will remain confidential.

Visit https://granville-chamber.com/ to download the nomination form.

Forms should be returned to the Chamber office no later than 5 p.m. on April 17 via email, U.S. mail or hand-delivered.

Send completed nomination forms to lauren@granville-chamber.com; mail to Granville Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 820, Oxford, NC 27565 or hand deliver to the office, located at 124 Hillsboro St., Oxford.

Granville County Emergency Management

Granville County To Host SKYWARN Training April 11 At Expo Center

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Learn how to become a volunteer weatherspotter for the National Weather Service at a training in Oxford, Tuesday, April 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Granville County Emergency Management is hosting a SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotter Training at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center. This is a free event and open to the public. Registration is not required – just show up at 6:30 p.m. to learn about SKYWARN.

SKYWARN volunteers support their local community by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports. These reports, when integrated with modern NWS technology, are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. The key focus of the program is to save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers.

For more information, contact Granville County Emergency Management at 919.603.1310.

Granville Tourism Authority Offers Mini-Grants To Help Local Groups With Events

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The Granville Tourism Development Authority is accepting grant applications for the upcoming fiscal year through April 21.

This mini-grant program helps Granville County organizations and agencies promote and market events and activities, all of which encourage tourism and bring visitor dollars to the community, explained TDA Director Angela Allen. The idea is to provide some direct funding up front for an organization to have an event that can grow and become sustainable in the future. Any approved funding should be considered as a supplemental resource only, Allen said.

Eligible organizations include Granville County-based community groups, nonprofit organizations, municipalities or recognized communities located within Granville County.

A for-profit group may apply for grant funding only if the event’s proceeds go to a community-supported organization, Allen said.

“Priority will be given to products that encourage out-of-county visitors, with primary consideration given to those that promote the Granville TDA’s mission of marketing the area as a travel destination,” Allen said in a statement. A “visitor” is defined as someone who travels from more than 50 miles away to attend an event or activity by the tourism industry.  Events planned for off-peak times may receive higher priority.

The maximum request is $5,000 and any request may not be greater than 25 percent of the total project budget. Included with the request can be a one-time artist/entertainment allowance of up to  $1,000.

The Granville TDA board of directors will review applications and will make recommendations for approval during their June board meeting. Award recipients will be notified after July 1, 2023, when the new fiscal year begins.

Applications are available online (www.granvillecounty.org/visitors/tda-mini-grant-2023-2024) or through the Granville County Tourism Development office, 124 Hillsboro St. in Oxford. Contact For more information, contact Angela Allen at 919.693.6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org

Upcoming Blood Drives – Sign Up To Donate And Get A $10 Gift Card

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There are several blood drives coming up in the area, and the American Red Cross is asking individuals to “spring” into action to donate life-saving blood, plasma and platelets.

As an extra incentive, all those who register for one of the upcoming drives will receive a $10 Visa prepaid card as well as a chance at winning a $3,000 Visa card, which five lucky donors in March will receive.

Blood and platelets remain at risk of running low, and donors are crucial to helping the Red Cross avoid a blood shortage in the weeks to come.

Donors of all blood types, especially type O donors and platelet donors, are encouraged to make and keep appointments to donate. Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

When donors lend an arm this month, the Red Cross will lend a hand. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma during March will receive a $10 Visa® Prepaid Card by email. Plus, they’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 Visa Prepaid Card – which could help toward expenses like gas or groceries. There will be five lucky winners. Details are available at rcblood.org/help.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities March 16-31:

Vance:

 

3/28/2023: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kerr Lake Country Club, 600 Hedrick Rd.

3/30/2023: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Raleigh Road Baptist Church, 3892 Raleigh Rd.

 

Granville:

 

3/24/2023: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Creedmoor United Methodist Church, 214 Park Ave., Creedmoor

 

Franklin:

 

3/28/2023: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Rock Spring Baptist Church, 34 Rock Springs Church Rd., Louisburg

3/31/2023: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., State Employees Credit Union, 28 Burke Blvd., Louisburg

 

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

 

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Rosalyn Green: 2022 John Penn Citizen Of The Year

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She grew up in Granville County, and like so many other young people, Rosalyn Green flew the coop when she had the chance. But chickens, they say, always come home to roost. And that’s just what Green did. Granville County is better for her return.

Green was surprised last week when she was named the John Penn Citizen of the Year during the annual Granville Chamber of Commerce banquet at The Barn at Vino in Stem.

“I was so shocked,” Green said in an interview with WIZS News. “I had no idea (they) were giving me an award.”

In fact, she was almost a no-show for the awards ceremony. See, one of her sisters had been in hospital and there was just a lot to deal with.

But Chamber Director Lauren Roberson pulled out all the stops. It’s not every day that Rosalyn Green can be surprised. No subterfuge was involved, but suffice it to say that Roberson wanted to make sure the honoree was going to show up.

In hindsight, Green said, it was a little suspicious: Roberson had asked her to represent Leadership Granville at the annual Chamber meeting. Anybody could have done that, Green recounted during an interview with WIZS News. And then another friend had called her, inquiring about her plans. Dubious, as Green would later remark.

But she was still in the dark about being the center of attention until 2021 recipient Mark Pace stood at the podium to introduce the 2022 award winner and said something about “writing grants” for the Shaw Museum in Oxford.

“I don’t think she realizes how much she does and how much of an impact she has on people,” Roberson said in an interview following the event. “It’s very endearing. She is such a genuine and kind person. She truly loves her community and wants to be involved in making it a better place.”

 To be honest, Green prefers to work “under the radar,” whether it’s collecting food from local grocery stores to deliver to Area Congregations In Ministry -Granville County’s food bank – or writing grants for the G.C. Shaw Museum in Oxford.

When she returned to Granville County n 2008, following a successful career in Washington, DC as a computer programmer with the U.S. Census Bureau, Green jumped in – feet first – to give back to the community.

At the urging of a fellow Leadership Granville colleague, she began working with the bookstore associated with St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. When the Rev. Harrison Simons suggested that she be added to the payroll, she reminded him that she was retired. “I get to come in and leave when I want to,” she recalled saying to him, adding: “I had a good time.”

And the bookstore enjoyed increased sales from all of her friends coming in to buy books, she added.

To this day, Green enjoys doing that behind-the-scenes work that serves to propel her community forward. She’d have it no other way.

Granville School Board Terms Reduced From 6 Years To 4, Finally

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Granville County residents who may be pondering running for a seat on the Board of Education, take notice: The General Assembly passed a law that changes the terms of school board members from six years to four.

And it only took four years to undo what had been done more than 30 years before as a result of a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.

As a result of House Bill 30, school board elections will be held in even-numbered years at the same time as primaries for county offices.

Districts 3 and 4 will kick off the new process, with elections in 2024; districts 1,2 and 6 follow in 2026 and districts 5 and 7 will come up for election in 2028.

In 1987, the Granville County Public School system was involved in a civil rights lawsuit brought by the U. S. DOJ. On Feb. 17, 1989, U.S.-District Court Judge Terrence W. Boyle signed a consent decree setting up the election of Board of Education members by seven geographical districts within the county, rather than all seats being at- large.  At the time, terms were set for six years.

“Almost every other school system in North Carolina already had four-year terms,” Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS assistant superintendent and public information officer, said in a statement announcing the change earlier this week.

“The thinking of the board was that this change would encourage more citizens to run for office and for board members to complete their terms of service,” he explained.

But it wasn’t quite so simple to un-do what had been done. Back in 2019, the board began discussions about changing term limits back to four years, Winborne said.  But first, it needed approval from the Voting Section of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. and then ask for a modification of the 1989 consent decree from the United States Eastern District Court.

The process further slowed during the pandemic, but finally, on Mar. 29, 2022, Judge Boyle signed a consent decree to change the term limits to four years.

N.C. Rep. Terry Garrison first introduced the legislation in June 2022, but it failed to reach the House floor.

Then, after the November mid-term elections, a resolution for support of this change was unanimously adopted at the Jan. 23, 2023 school board’s work session and forwarded to N.C. Rep. Frank Sossaman, N.C. Rep. Matthew Winslow, and State Senator Mary Wills Bode. House Bill 30 was filed by Representatives Sossamon and Winslow on Jan. 30 and it became law on Mar. 9.

“The Granville County Board of Education is grateful for the diligence and support of Granville County’s legislative delegation in fast-tracking this much needed change in term limits. It was important to the board that this bill be passed before the next election cycle,” said Board Chair Glenda Williams.

 

 

The Local Skinny! The Viking Experience

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The Vikings are coming, the Vikings are coming – back. For the second annual Viking Experience, that is, to be held Mar. 25 and 26 at The Barn at Vino in Stem.

Hanna Reid, co-owner of the company that is part history lesson, part entertainment and part immersive experience, spoke with Bill Harris on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Last year’s event was such a success, they’ve upped their game for this year, Reid said.

“We were packed out last year,” she said of the interest and attendance. “We didn’t quite expect to grow out of the Expo Center in just one year.”

But folks came from as far away as Ohio and from all up and down the East Coast to attend the two-day event. And so far this year, things are shaping up for another successful event.

Activities begin at 10 a.m. each day; Saturday’s program ends at 6 p.m., with a dinner theater at 6:30 p.m. Activities end at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Day passes are available ($18 for Saturday and $15 for Sunday), or you can choose a $30 weekend pass. There are several add-on tickets available that get you into extra activities like “the fairy experience,” escape room and fight pits, Reid explained.

And of course, there will be vendors everywhere, selling craft items, as well as local food and drinks.

There will be music, education classes, dancing, and a family friendly theatrical day court program for everyone to enjoy. She said her mom (the other co-owner) counted up and close to 500 people, from performers and vendors to volunteers and support crew, will join forces to put the weekend events together.

“It’s a really humbling thing to see how many people make this event,” Reid said.

A cast of at least 30 will be present over the course of the weekend to act out a storyline that has Queen Hanna the Red (Reid) confront another warlord who fancies conquering the Queen’s land.

With one foot in the history and the other in fantasy and entertainment, The Viking Experience is sure to delight.

Visit www.thevikingexperiencenc.com to purchase tickets online and avoid the lines that weekend.

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Computer Classes Aimed At Senior Adults

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Rebuild Communities NC is partnering with AARP’s Senior Planet to provide free ccomputer classes for anyone over 50 who wants to improve their knowledge about using computers, whether it’s for work or for pleasure.

The free classes are from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and most take place at Vance-Granville Community College, although the Perry Memorial Library will host several sessions, according to information from Edy Thompson, executive director of Rebuild Communities NC.

There have been sessions on using Google Workspace and understanding how cloud storage works, for example.

Here is a list of upcoming classes and their location:

  • Mar 14 – Google templates – VGCC
  • 21 – Introduction to Zoom hosting – VGCC
  • 23 – P2P payments – Library
  • 28 – topic to be decided – VGCC
  • 30 – topic to be decided – library

Call 252.915.1663 or email info@RebuildCommunitiesNC.org to learn more.