Area Schools Participate In National Program Focused On Reducing Social Isolation

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School cafeterias usually are abuzz with activity at lunch time – there’s usually a lot of chatter as students take a few minutes to decompress from the rigors of the classroom. But cafeterias also can be a place where students can experience social isolation. Conjure up an image of a student eating alone in a cafeteria and you get the picture.

In an effort to raise awareness about the negative effect social isolation can have on young people’s mental health – and academic performance – WellCare of North Carolina is bringing No One Eats Alone Day to a couple of area schools.

Clarke Elementary in Henderson was scheduled to participate today (Friday, Mar. 4) and G.C. Hawley Middle School in Creedmoor is slated to participate on Mar. 10, according to information from WellCare. Henderson YMCA will be the third site in the area to participate, scheduled for Mar. 24.

Billed as “a positive prevention initiative designed to promote inclusion and a culture of belonging in middle schools,” No One Eats Alone Day was created by the nonprofit Beyond Differences.

According to a press statement, students “will learn about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on mental health and academic performance, while also being encouraged to create new friendships. Mental health is especially important now as students experience the growing stressors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social isolation effects.”

The area schools and the YMCA join thousands of schools across the country that will celebrate No One Eats Alone Day. The initiative will reach more than a million students in all 50 U.S. states. No One Eats Alone Day is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation.

WellCare of North Carolina provides government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex needs primarily through Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans across the state. WellCare of North Carolina is one of the state’s Medicaid Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs). Visit www.wellcare.com/nc to learn more.

The Local Skinny! From The Land Of Ice And Snow: Vikings Coming To Granville

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The Vikings are planning an invasion soon, right here in Granville County. But this invasion is filled with activities for the whole family, especially if you’re into axe-throwing and drinking mead.

The Viking Experience will take place at the Granville Expo Center on Mar. 26 and Mar. 27.

Hannah Reed and her mother Angela Reed are the business duo behind the weekend event, which they describe as part educational and part entertainment.

They talked with John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! about how those who attend the local venue will be transported back to the Middle Ages, when Vikings in their sailing ships were conquering and pillaging.

There will be plenty of activities for children and adults, including “Vikings in training” activities and fight demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Not into axe-throwing and sword-fighting? That’s ok, too. There will be music and dancing “pretty much all day,” as well as a Norse-inspired acrobatic groups to entertain attendees.

Purchase an extra “fight pass” to gain access to the fight pit, where foam swords and other “safe” weapons abound, the Reeds said.

Based in Creedmoor, the Reeds attend similar festivals in Maryland, but noticed that there weren’t any Norse-inspired events around these parts. So about five years ago, they set the wheels in motion that has resulted in the first Viking Experience in the area.

Vendors will sell food, drinks, jewelry and much more during the weekend. And re-enactors will mingle with the crowds. “Our characters are roaming constantly and will interact with you as if you are actually part of that world,” Hannah said.

The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mar. 26 and then from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mar. 27. Tickets are available online at https://www.thevikingexperiencenc.com/

Plan to stay for the dinner theatre, which is offered at a separate ticket price

Angela suggests buying tickets in advance.

“We are getting a huge, huge interest in this event – much larger than we even expected,” she said.

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4-H Logo

Meeting Set For Mar. 8 To Plan For Annual 4-H Poultry Sale

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Parents of children between the ages of 5 and 18 with an interest in raising and showing poultry should attend a virtual meeting next week to learn about plans for the 2022 Four County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale.

The meeting will be held via Zoom beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 8. The link is

https://go.ncsu.edu/4countypoultry.

The program provides 10 birds to each youth participant to raise, show and then sell. Each participant must show and sell three of the 10 birds they raise.

The birds will be auctioned at the sale, with proceeds going to the participant and to to the Four County 4-H group. Trophies also will be awarded.

Direct questions to your county’s 4-H agent.

  • In Vance County, contact Wykia Macon at 252.438.8188
  • In Granville County, contact Lina Howe or Kim Woods at 919.603.1350
  • In Warren County, contact Stephen Misenheimer or Matthew Place at 252.257.3640
  • In Franklin County, contact Meg Wyatt or Martha Mobley at 919.496.3344
NC MedAssist

NC MedAssist Distributing OTC Meds In Oxford Mar. 11

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NC MedAssist is coming to Oxford next week to give away an assortment of over-the-counter medications including pain relief products, as well as cold and flu medicines, allergy pills and children’s medication.

The distribution will take place on Friday, March 11 – rain or shine – from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., according to information from the non-profit based in Charlotte. Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is bringing the event to the area.

Registration is not required, but you may pre-register at www.medassist.org/mobile and pick up your order on the day of the event.

Items also may be picked up for a family member or friend.

All North Carolina residents over the age of 18 are welcome to pick up medications; there are no income or ID requirements.

NC MedAssist is a non-profit pharmacy that provides access to prescription medications to the uninsured and also provides free over-the-counter medications to anyone in need through its Mobile Free Pharmacy events.

Learn more at www.medassist.org.

AARP Driver Safety Classes Scheduled For Senior Drivers

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Registration is now open for AARP Driver Safety Courses hosted by  Granville County Senior Services. The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation’s first and largest driver safety  course designed especially for drivers 50 and older. The course is intended to help drivers live more independently  as they age and remain safe on today’s roads.

The AARP Driver Safety Program course covers defensive driving techniques and the normal changes in vision,  hearing, and reaction time associated with aging. The course also provides practical techniques for adjusting to  these changes to ensure the driver’s own safety and that of others on the road. Participants learn about current  rules of the road and how to operate their vehicles safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment.  Course topics include maintaining proper following distance, methods of changing lanes and turning at  intersections, effects of medications on driving, minimizing the effect of dangerous blind spots, limiting driver  distractions such as eating, smoking, and cell phone use, properly using safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes, maintaining physical flexibility, and monitoring the driving skills and capabilities of yourself and others.

The North Granville Senior Center in Stovall will hold this class on Monday, March 21 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  You must preregister for this class by calling the center at 919. 693.3383.

The Granville County Senior Center in Oxford will hold this class on Thursday, March 31 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  You must preregister for this class by calling the center at 919. 693.1930.

The course cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members, which includes all course materials.  Course participants may be eligible to receive a state mandated, multi-year discount on their auto insurance  premium. Participants should contact their insurance company or agent for more details. The instructor for this  class will be Lynroy Thomas, a certified AARP Driver Safety Program instructor.

Granville School Board Hears Pitch About A Dual Language Program At West Oxford Elementary

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The Granville County Board of Education heard a presentation on Monday from a group of educators who proposed that West Oxford Elementary become the site of a dual language program.

As the old saying goes, “All it takes is time and money.” In this case, it’s time, money and bilingual native Spanish-speaking teachers.

West Oxford Assistant Principal Jacquel Green, along with staff members Regina Harris, Sonia Hernández and Rita Jackson, spoke to the board about the positive impact a dual language program could have at their school and they provided details for implementation. Principal Bethany Bonnemere appeared via video to explain the importance of creating bilingual and biliterate students.

Board members asked questions and provided positive feedback to the West Oxford team. Board Chair David Richardson ultimately made a motion, which was seconded and approved, for the idea to be considered at the Feb. 25 meeting of the Finance Committee. The committee will meet virtually at 11 a.m.

West Oxford has a Global Leadership theme, which the dual language program would complement nicely, but the big question is: How would it be funded?

Green shared with the board that no area charter schools currently offer a dual language program; Person and Warren counties each have one school that offers dual language and Durham County has three schools with dual language programs.

More than 25 families with students currently in pre-school completed a survey from the school expressing interest.

Harris, a 3rd grade lead teacher, explained that the initial kindergarten cohort would have two native Spanish-speaking teachers who would co-teach 24 students. The majority of instruction would be in Spanish, with 30 minutes of daily instruction in English.

Each year, a new native Spanish-speaking teacher would be added and a new cohort of kindergarten students would join the program. In some cases, teachers would “loop up” and move grade levels with the class.

As students approach the 3rd grade, they would receive more instruction in English in preparation for end-of-grade tests, but most math instruction would be given in Spanish.

The team asked the board for a 10-year commitment to the program – an investment of time and money. Allowing the kindergarten cohort to get to high school, Hernández said, would show the kinds of gains they can make in becoming bilingual and biliterate.

The vendor that partners with the school now to implement its global leadership theme also provides support for dual language programs, Green said, and can help identify qualified teachers.

A program coordinator is needed, and this person would have a number of responsibilities, including being a substitute when teachers are absent to ensuring the program is implemented appropriately.

Board member Leonard Peace said it sounded like a wonderful program to have. “I certainly hope we can afford to do it,” Peace said. “I would like to make sure we can afford to do it before we make the decision.”

Dr. Gregory McKnight agreed, and said the program would be “an investment that would pay good dividends for our students and our system.”

Veterans’ Center Satellite Office Set To Open Next Week In Creedmoor

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Beginning Wednesday, veterans who live in southern Granville County will be able to shorten their travel time to get help from the local Veterans Services office. A new office will open in Creedmoor, at the existing Sheriff’s Office Satellite station near the South Branch of the Granville County Public Library.

The location will be open on the third Wednesday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to information from county public information officer Terry Hobgood, Jr.

This location will provide veterans with assistance processing various forms, from license plates and tax relief to hunting licenses. The Creedmoor location will also allow veterans in southern Granville County the opportunity to drop off paperwork locally without making the round trip to the main office located at 141 Williamsboro St. in Oxford. Veterans must make an appointment for either location by calling 919.693.1484. Currently, walk-ins are not permitted.

The Creedmoor location also provides the opportunity for additional programming sponsored by the Granville County Veterans’ Affairs Committee. A veterans’ support group will begin meeting at the Creedmoor office twice a month starting Monday, Feb. 28 from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. This group will be open to veterans of all ages from all service branches and will meet on a drop-in basis with no attendance requirements. The purpose of these support group meetings will be to hold informal gatherings of veterans for fellowship, conversation and camaraderie. This will also be an opportunity to introduce services provided by the Veterans Services Office for those who may be unfamiliar with services that are available. The new southern veterans’ support group will supplement the existing group that meets in Oxford weekly on Mondays at the Granville County Senior Center from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

“On behalf of the Granville County Veterans’ Affairs Committee, we sincerely appreciate the efforts and support the Committee has received from the Granville County Board of Commissioners, Granville County Sheriff John Hardy, and County Manager Michael Felts,” said Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Michael Turner. “We are thrilled to expand the services provided to Veterans in Granville County. The Veterans’ Affairs Committee believes this new location will provide a positive impact for veterans and their families that reside in southern Granville County.”

The opening of a new Veterans Services location aligns with Granville County’s 2021-2025 Strategic Plan to provide convenient access to services for all residents in Granville County. This office location was made possible with the support of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office to allow shared access of their Creedmoor Satellite Office to provide these additional county services.

For more information about the Granville County Veterans Services Office, call 919.693.1484 or visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/veterans-services/

For more information about the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, visit the Granville County website: https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/other-boards-commissions/boards-commissions/veterans-affairs-committee/

COVID-19 Rates Continue To Drop In Vance, Granville

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COVID-19 cases continue to recede in Vance and Granville counties, and there have been no new deaths reported in the past week, according to information from Granville Vance Public Health.

Trends are decreasing, lowering the risk of infection, according to Lisa Harrison, GVPH director. Harrison also notes that there have been improvements in hospital capacity.

There have been 79 new cases reported in Vance County in the 7 days ending Friday, Feb. 18. The percent positivity rate is 12.9 percent; in Granville County, 164 new cases were reported in the same period for a percent positivity rate of 11.6 percent.

A total of 11,658 cases have been reported in Vance and 13,888 cases have been reported in Granville.

In the Bureau of Federal Prisons in Butner, there were 3 Granville County inmates whose positive test results were reported to the local health department this week (57 cases have been reported during the 30-day period). There are no new cases among staff to report.

Granville County Sheriff

Granville Sheriff’s Office To Offer Citizens Academy In April

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The Granville County Sheriff’s Office will host the second annual Citizens Academy, set to kick off in April 2022.

Registration is required for the program, which will be held at the Law Enforcement Center, 525 New Commerce Drive, Oxford. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Citizens Academy offers classes to provide a general overview of law enforcement issues, crime prevention, patrol procedures as well as additional topics of interest regarding law enforcement for the community. This program will build a better understanding between law enforcement and those served by the Granville County Sheriff’s Office. Interested participants may pick up a paper application at the Granville County Sheriff’s Office.

Download an application at https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/sheriff/new-citizens-academy/.

For more information about the Citizens Academy, contact the sheriff’s office at  919.693.3213.

Got To Be NC Festival Set For May 20-22 At State Fairgrounds

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Planning is underway for the 2022 Got to Be NC Festival and registration is open now for commercial vendors and homegrown marketplace vendors to participate in the three-day event coming up in May.

The annual event will be held at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh from May 20-22. It will feature food, wine and beer from across the state, according to information from the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

The festival also will feature one of the largest displays of antique tractors and farm equipment in the Southeast, and organizers are looking for tractor collectors and clubs to be part of the event. Plans include a daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds for tractors in working order. Participation is free and open to individuals and clubs, but pre-registration is required. Contact Pat Short at 336.706.9796 to register or for questions. National farm broadcaster Max Armstrong will be on hand to announce the Sunday, May 22, tractor parade lineup.

Food concessionaires, commercial vendors and organizations interested in exhibiting at the festival have until March 1 to complete their application at ncstatefair.org. For more information, contact Letrice Midgett, commercial space administrator, at 919-839-4502 or email at Letrice.Midgett@ncagr.gov or phone her at 919.839.4502.

April 1 is the deadline for North Carolina-based food and beverage companies to register for the festival. Prospective vendors must be members of the Got to Be NC marketing program. Got to Be NC program members should contact Sherry Barefoot at sherry.barefoot@ncagr.gov with questions.

Registration forms and vendor applications for the Homegrown Marketplace are available at https://gottobenc.com/event/gtbnc-festival/.