Popular “Quittin’ Time” Returns To Downtown Oxford May 5

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Quittin’ Time in Oxford is set to kick off the 2022 season next week, inviting folks to hang around downtown after the workday ends to enjoy unwinding at a number of local eateries.

This is the second year for Quittin’ Time, and eight local restaurants and venues are gearing up to create small plates and drinks for their patrons during the 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. window that begins Thursday, May 5 and continues on Thursdays through the end of June.

Visit Uptown 101, The Hub, Main St. Oasis, Strong Arm Bakery and Kitchen, Tobacco Wood Brewery, Harvest, Milano’s and The Orpheum to purchase hand-crafted small plates, craft cocktails, irresistible desserts – there may be some of last year’s favorites back on the menu, too!

Menu offerings will change from week to week, so follow along on social media for hints on what’s to come!

There’s no need to RSVP for the weekly free event – the only cost is for what patrons choose to purchase from the different locations as they stroll through downtown Oxford.

Would You Rather Lose 20 Lbs. Or $2K Of Debt?

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Think for a moment about how you would answer this question: Would you rather lose 20 pounds of weight or $2,000 of debt?

If your answer is the weight, you’re right in line with most other North Carolinians who responded to a survey from BarBend.com, a world leader in news and information about strength training.

The results show that 54 percent of North Carolinians who took part in the survey said they are more concerned about their “fitness debt” than their financial debt. Financial debt may be an all-too-familiar term to many, but just what is “fitness debt?”

“Fitness debt, or fitness deficit, can be defined as the difference between how much exercise you should be doing and the amount of exercise you actually do on a regular basis,” according to information from BarBend.

“If you’re exercising your body for fewer hours than it needs to function optimally, you have a fitness debt, which can be measured as a percentage. Over time, a fitness deficit can add up and negatively impact one’s health, leading to things like weight gain and increased risk of certain health factors – much like how a poor credit score can affect finances,” the statement continued.

In another study by BarBend, North Carolinians, on average, complete 111.3 hours of training or physical activity each year. That’s less than the CDC recommendation of 130 hours, so North Carolina has an average fitness debt of 18.7 hours per year.

Compare that to the national average of 115.1 hours – fitness debt of  7.3 percent – and North Carolina’s ranks lower than the national average.

So, what can individuals do to lower that fitness debt? Some of the same tactics that we use to reduce financial debt can be adapted to help improve overall fitness.

Those New Years’ resolutions to move more, spend less may have faded into oblivion as we approach the halfway mark of 2022. It helps to be conscious of the number of hours that you are seated during the day – whether it’s behind a desk, watching TV or sitting in front of a computer.

“It may sound innocuous to think about the number of hours per day you are sitting down, but sitting has even been referred to as the ‘new smoking’ based on the number of health issues it can trigger,” according to BarBend.

The only two states with a fitness “credit” are the Dakotas – South Dakota has a fitness credit of 7.3 percent, which means that South Dakotans work out 7.3 hours above the CDC recommendations; North Dakota also had a fitness credit of 3.7 percent.

The state with the overall highest fitness deficit is Wyoming, which had a 35.6 percent deficit – its residents worked out 35.6 fewer hours than the recommended 130 hours.

Granville Spring Clean Recycle Event May 14 At Expo Center

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Granville County residents, mark your calendars for Saturday, May 14 to bring unwanted hazardous materials and a variety of recyclable items to the countywide Spring Clean event.

Teresa Baker, Granville County’s recycle coordinator, said the event will be held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Expo Center is located at 4185 U.S. Hwy 15 South in Oxford.

Residents may bring items ranging from old paint and unused pesticides to batteries, electronics and books.

But it’s not just an event to get rid of unwanted items – the Humane Society of Granville County will be on hand to accept much-needed donations of dog and cat supplies, from crates to collars, pet food to flea and tick medication.

The county usually hosts a recycle event each spring and fall, and Baker has reported that tons of materials are diverted from landfills when they are collected for proper disposal at county events like this one.

Below is a complete list of vendors on site for the event:

  • Veolia: paints, household chemicals, light tubes, drain cleaners

Note: Limit 15 cans of paint per vehicle

  • C. Dept. of Agriculture Pesticide Division: pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc.
  • Shred Ace: onsite secure document shredding
  • GFL – scrap metal, junk lawnmowers, broken appliances, broken bicycles
  • Metech Electronic Recycling: laptops, computers, printers, fax, televisions, monitors
  • Granville County Sheriff’s Office: prescriptions/medications, sharps, flares, ammunition
  • Interstate Batteries: all types of batteries
  • Book Recycling & Polystyrene/Styrofoam

 

 

Representatives of the Humane Society will happily accept dog and cat food, crates, dog houses, leashes, collars, towels and flea and tick prevention.

Enjoy Highland Games In Oxford Saturday, Apr. 30

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The Central North Carolina Highland games will be held on Saturday on the campus of Central Children’s Home. Traditional Scottish athletic events like “tossing of the caber” will be demonstrated by skilled athletes from all over, and it’s all for a good cause.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the children’s home. And if there happens to be a kilt hanging in your closet, you’re welcome to wear it Saturday. The daylong event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen said it will be a fun time to watch and learn.

Tickets are $20 for those 16 and older; those 15 and under are admitted free. Contact event organizers at GamesAnnouncer@gmail.com.

Just what exactly IS a caber? It looks like a telephone pole and it weighs more than 150 pounds. And people toss it in the air and flip it so that it lands perpendicular to the ground. If that sounds a bit much, there’s also the N.C. Sheaf Toss Championship that will take place that day. That event involves throwing a 16-pound bundle of twine over a high bar.

The athletic events won’t be the only draw, however. A number of pipe bands will be performing, incorporating the sounds of bagpipes with drums and precision marching.

“If music and movement is your thing then you’ll want to take in the Celtic dance exhibition,” Allen said. “We’ve all heard of Riverdance. This will give you a chance to see individual dancers up close as they present traditional steps and dances,” she added.

There will be plenty of food and drink on hand throughout the day as well.

Visit www.visitgranvillenc.com for the schedule of events. The children’s home is located at 211 W. Antioch Dr., Oxford.

Equine Nutrition Workshop May 3 At Granville Livestock Arena

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Area horse owners are invited to attend a workshop next week to learn more about what equines need to eat to maintain good health.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Granville livestock arena, 4200  Cannady Mill Rd.

Topics that will be discussed include understanding hay analyses and various supplements that are on the market to improve everything from a horse’s coat to strong hooves as well as reducing stress and improving gut health.

Feeding horses is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Just like people, different types of horses require different types of nutrition. Athletic horses that compete in events may require feed that is totally different from other equines that may be used for the occasional trail ride. Learn more about equine nutrition at the workshop, hosted by the cooperative extension agencies in Warren and Granville counties.

Registration is required by Sunday, May 1.

To register, CLICK HERE.

Or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-does-your-horse-really-need-tickets-292592440867

 

Granville County Library System

Granville Library Patrons Have New Self-Checkout Kiosk Option

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Visitors to a couple of libraries in the Granville County Library System (GCLS) surely have noticed the newly installed self-check kiosks that provide contactless checkout of books and other materials.

Patrons of the Thornton Library in Oxford and the South Branch in Creedmoor have bibliotheca’s selfCheck 500s to assist them in checking out materials, thanks to a $17,775 grant from the State Library of North Carolina and the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA

Whether patrons want to avoid the line at the circulation desk or simply want to maintain privacy about the materials they are checking out, a simple scan of their library card is all that’s needed to check out books and other items, according to information from the library. Of course, library staff will be available to assist if patrons need help navigating the self-checkout process.

“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Granville County Library System has looked for ways to modernize and make library operations safer through technology,” Library Director Will Robinson said in a press statement.

The self-checkout system improves library operations and minimizes contact between staff and patrons, Robinson said. And using federal COVID relief funds instead of local tax dollars was a great way to make operations more efficient while giving patrons additional choices on how they access our  materials and services, he added.

The State Library of North Carolina received funding as part of the federal government’s investment in museums and libraries through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which provided additional funds to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support vital library programs and services in local communities. LSTA grants are awarded in response to specific needs of public, academic, and community college libraries. These federal funds are investments that help libraries deliver relevant and up-to-date services to their communities.

The grants are made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-250229- OLS-21).

Free Pop-Up Medical Clinic Coming To Henderson May 14-15

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Vance Charter School is going to be the site for an upcoming pop-up free medical clinic for residents in the Henderson and Vance County area.

The clinic is part of Remote Area Medical (RAM), an organization whose mission is to provide quality medical care by health professionals to those underserved and uninsured populations. The RAM chapter at Duke University has enlisted its members to organize and finalize plans for the weekend clinic.

Some of the procedures that will be done include general exams, women’s health exams, dental fillings, cleanings and extractions and eye exams – with eyeglasses made on site.

Doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists and other health professionals will see patients on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, beginning at 5 a.m. each day.

Clinics have historically serviced between 200 and 2000 community members over a single weekend, according to Rishabh Jain, a Duke University senior who is one of the organizers for the local event.

Jain said RAM appreciates local collaborators Dr. Brian Mathis of Vance Charter School, Capt. Derrick Smith of the Henderson Salvation Army, and Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt of the Duke Department of Medicine to host a clinic to serve central North Carolina.

There will be extensive COVID-19 protections in place, including HEPA-filtered dental bays, hospital-grade disinfecting protocols and temperature screening and social distancing of waiting patients.

“Patients will never be asked any questions about insurance status—all are welcome,” SS said in an email to WIZS News. “We believe this will be a great initiative that brings diverse cohorts of the Henderson community together.”

Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said business/professional sponsorship opportunities are available now.  “Your financial assistance is needed, and you will see a direct return on your investment to this special cause with marketing and promotional signage, social media ads, your business name on volunteer t-shirts, and in media news releases,” Burgess said in a statement to WIZS News.

The payments can be made to Vance Charter School, and funds will be used to help cover hotel rooms for four nights for more than 30 volunteers who come in early and stay late to set up the tents, medical equipment, tables/chairs, and clean to prepare for the two-day event.

“Our Chamber’s theme for 2022 is ‘A Year of Community’ and what better way to bring our community together to help provide needed medical care for our citizens,” Burgess said.

She said many local medical professionals will be assisting in the event, as well as other area non-profit groups.

Vance Charter: https://portal.icheckgateway.com/VanceCharterSchool/

There is a drop-down box that indicates whether you want to pay by check or credit card, and then just click on Henderson RAM.  If you prefer to drop off your corporate/personal check, you can do so at Vance Charter School on Ross Mill Road in Henderson.  Please indicate that it is for the Free RAM clinic.

Learn more about RAM at https://www.ramusa.org/

Duke Energy

Duke Energy Announces Second Year Of Downtown Revitalization Grant Program

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Duke Energy Foundation continues its commitment to help downtown communities across the state through a program poised to award $500,000 in downtown revitalization grants.

The application process is open now, according to Duke Energy District Manager Tanya Evans, and this grant cycle marks the second year to support local businesses through the Duke Energy Hometown Grant Revitalization Program.

In 2021, the foundation provided $1.5 million to more than 380 small businesses across the state as a way to support small business recovery since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a press statement, hometown revitalization grants will be awarded in 20 communities across the state. Each community could receive as much as $25,000, Evans said.

Small businesses will partner with a local 501c3 organization, which will create a microgrant program that small businesses will be able to access.

Microgrants may range from $500 to $2,500 per individual business, according to information from Duke Energy. The grant application is open now through May 31, 2022 and is available at duke-energy.com/2022. Grant decisions will be announced in August.

Nonprofits that participated in the 2021 program are not eligible to apply in 2022, Evans said. Working Landscapes in Warren County administered the microgrants in 2021.

“The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to small businesses, and reminded us all how important they are to creating and sustaining vibrant downtowns,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. In a written press statement, De May continued by saying “Our hometown revitalization grants were very well-received across our communities last year. We hope this new wave of funding will continue to help local businesses and storefronts recover from a difficult few years and position them for a more prosperous future.”

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts, and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. Learn more at duke-energy.com/foundation.

NC DOT

NC DOT Spells Out Rules For Placing Campaign Signs

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As the political campaigning heats up in advance of the upcoming May 17 primary election, drivers are likely to see candidates’ campaign signs along roadsides. State laws govern where the signs may – and may not – be placed, and NC DOT has the authority to remove signs that are in violation of proper placement.

Anyone other than DOT employees who removes – or vandalizes – campaign signs could be subject to a Class 3 misdemeanor citation from law enforcement, according to a press statement released this week by NC DOT.

Campaign signs can remain in place for 10 days after the May 17 primary election. Signs still in the right-of-way after May 27 are in violation of state law, and the NCDOT is authorized to remove and dispose of them.

It is  General Statute 136-32 (b) which states that political signs, if properly placed, are allowed on the NC DOT right-of-way until May 27.

“NCDOT has the authority to remove any signs that violate the general statute, create safety hazards for travelers or interfere with maintenance operations. NCDOT employees may remove signs that are illegally placed within the state right-of-way, as time permits. The signs are normally taken to local maintenance offices where they will be stored until claimed,” according to the press statement.

Restrictions regarding sign placement include:
•    Whoever places a sign is required to get the permission of any property owner of a residence, business or religious institution fronting the right of way where a sign would be placed;
•    No sign is permitted in the right of way of a limited-access highway such as an interstate;
•    No sign can be closer than 3 feet from the edge of the pavement of the road;
•    No sign can obscure motorist visibility at an intersection.
•    No sign can be higher than 42 inches above the edge of the pavement;
•    No sign can be larger than 864 square inches; and
•    No sign can obscure or replace another sign.

Oxford Logo

Oxford FD Receives Higher ISO Rating

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The city of Oxford has announced that its fire department has received a new rating following a recent inspection, which places it among the top 12 percent of all rated fire departments in the state.

The Oxford Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief David Cottrell, achieved a new rating of 3 from the Insurance Services Office, according to information from the City of Oxford. The ISO rating will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2022.  The inspection, conducted by officials with the NC Department of Insurance of the State Fire Marshal, is required on a regular basis as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System (NCRRS).

The scores range from 1 (highest) to 10 (not recognized as a certified fire department by the state). A higher rating means that a department is better equipped to respond to fires and also significantly lower homeowners’ insurance rates in their district. Among other things, the inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities, and availability of a water source.

In a statement, Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey congratulated Cottrell and his department for their “performance and for the hard work of all the department members. The citizens in the city of these districts should rest easy knowing they have a fine group of firefighters protecting them and their property in case of an emergency.”