The Local Skinny: Recycling On The Rise In Granville

/by

In the 12 years since Teresa Baker has been recycling and sustainability coordinator for Granville County and Granville County Public Schools, she has seen a lot of things change. And most of it is because of her efforts to get the community onboard with recycling.

“It’s improved tenfold,” Baker told Bill Harris on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! “It‘s just been amazing.”
When the county started this program 12 years ago, residents were separating newspaper from aluminum cans from glass bottles. Now, residents can simply collect all their recyclables in a single container, what the industry calls “single stream.”

Among her many job duties, Baker collaborates with GFL, formerly Waste Industries, to make sure all residents have the service they need so their recycling efforts are optimized.

By informing the community about events like the fall and spring household recycling events she hosts, Baker said Granville residents are keeping a lot of harmful items out of the environment.

“We can reuse a lot of stuff, we can repair and recycle” to keep things out of the landfill. She said the upcoming RepairCafé workshop is just another way to keep items from being added to the landfill. She and Oxford resident and RepairCafé organizer Don Fick have teamed up to have a workshop at the Granville Expo Center on Sept. 18.

TownTalk: Repair Cafe Event Coming To Granville County

/by

Don Fick of Repair Cafe NC discusses how his organization repairs many daily household items keeping them out of local landfills.

For complete details and audio click play.

Just because the button on your household gizmo is broken doesn’t mean it needs to go straight to the landfill – it may just need a quick trip to a RepairCafé workshop. There’s one coming up Saturday in Durham, but Don Fick and his crew are coming to Granville County in September.

Fick and Teresa Baker, the county’s recycling and sustainability coordinator, held an interest meeting last week in Oxford and have since scheduled a workshop for Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Granville County Expo Center. Fick joined Bill Harris on Wednesday’s Town Talk to talk about what RepairCaféNC is and what it does.

At its simplest, Fink said, RepairCafé workshops consist of a group of folks who get together and share repair skills to fix broken items that others bring in.  There is no charge for the labor, although guests may be asked to reimburse for replacement parts that are used.

In today’s society, disposable items are everywhere – things that once were made to last a long time are now easily – and more economically – replaced. But that “stuff” has to go somewhere. And, usually, that means a landfill.

“The money that the county has to spend to dump a ton of waste is only going up,” Fick said. Individuals don’t really have to think about that, he added. “We toss it in the trash can and the truck comes and picks it up and we never see it again.”

Fick said a mission of RepairCafé is to reduce the amount of waste consumers generate that ends up in landfills. When a lamp stops working and it’s not the light bulb that’s the problem, someone who lacks confidence about making repairs may choose to toss it. But that same lamp may find new life in the hands of one of the RepairCafé “coaches.”

Fick said the volunteers have a 65 percent success rate of fixing the items that they work on. They see a lot of lamps, as well as vacuum cleaners, electronic equipment, necklaces and children’s toys.

He cited one example of a woman who brought in a music box – a gift from her grandmother – that had long ago ceased playing.

“She sat with two of our coaches and together they meticulously cleaned it, lubricated it, worked very carefully on realigning some bent pieces of metal. And after an hour’s work, it was playing music again,” Fick recalled. “We were able to restore her cherished possession,” and she got to share her story and her relationship with her grandmother.

“We’re doing more than fixing stuff,” Fick said. “We’re helping people reconnect with memories and we’re showing appreciation for the stories they bring.”

Fick said the group is looking for volunteers for the Granville County workshop. The volunteer coaches simply have an interest or curiosity of how things work, he said, and have a skill set for making repairs.

The Durham workshop will be held at The Scrap Exchange from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.repaircafe.org to learn more or to register to attend a workshop.

 

School Board To Review, Discuss Survey Results July 22

/by

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a special called meeting Thursday afternoon at the Mary Potter Center of Education to receive and discuss results of a community survey in its continuing discussion about school consolidation.

The July 22 meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and will be open to the public, but face coverings, health screenings and social distancing will be in required, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer.

The meeting also will be livestreamed, Winborne said in a statement issued Monday, July 19. Join the meeting at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

The Local Skinny! McClary To Speak At Living Stones Church Of God Worship Center in Oxford

/by

WIZS has been asked to announce the appearance of a special guest speaker at Living Stones Church of God Worship Center.

First Lieutenant Patrick Cleburne McClary, III, USMC, Retired is a Vietnam War hero, and he will speak at Living Stones COG in conjunction with National Purple Heart Day.

National Purple Heart Day is August 7th and “Clebe” McClary, as he is known to thousands, will speak at Living Stones COG on August 8th.

The worship center is located at 6096 Tabbs Creek Road, Oxford.

Andy Roberson, Commander of American Legion Post 60, may be contacted for more information at 252-432-2432.

Praise and worship begins at 10:40 a.m., and guest speaker McClary will begin at 11 a.m.

Edward Woodlief, historian of Henderson American Legion Post 60, told WIZS News, “McClary is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, three purple hearts, the Audie Murphy award and numerous other awards given him for combat during the Vietnam War. McClary, a South Carolina native, was seriously wounded but continued to lead his men while under enemy fire. After numerous surgeries and a long rehabilitation, he has become the symbol of courage and hope for audiences around the world.”

McClary is online at clebemcclary.com, and the site says, “During the Vietnam War, while some of his contemporaries were staging anti-war protests and desecrating the American flag, the Lowcountry (South Carolina) native was serving as a platoon leader in the First Reconnaissance Battalion. On the battalion’s 19th patrol, the unit was attacked by the Viet Cong. Lieutenant McClary was seriously wounded, losing his left arm and left eye, yet he continued to lead his men. The numerous surgeries and long recovery period that followed could have taken a bitter toll, but he faced his rehabilitation with characteristic determination. In the years since, Lieutenant McClary has become a symbol of courage and hope to the many audiences around the world with whom he has shared his story.”

For more, click play.

City of Oxford

New Tethering Ordinance Takes Effect Aug. 1 For Oxford Dog Owners

/by

Beginning Aug. 1, Oxford residents who tether their dog could be in violation of a new city ordinance that carries a civil penalty of $100 for each day they are found to be out of compliance.

The board adopted the ordinance at their July 13 meeting.  City Commissioner John Tovey said he brought the issue before the board several weeks ago “in response to a concern from a city resident about an older dog who was tied 24 hours a day.” Tovey told WIZS News Friday via email he went to see the situation for himself and “it was then I decided that the city needs to have an ordinance to stop this abuse.”

Community feedback since the ordinance was adopted has been “nothing but positive, very positive,” Tovey said, adding that there have been more reports of dogs being tied out all day, every day – “it’s good that light is being shed on this problem.”

Tovey researched laws and ordinances in other communities and states to see what, if any, policies are in place elsewhere.

Animal Control will make initial contact with a person not complying with the new ordinance. If the issue is not resolved, police may be called in, he said.

The objective of the ordinance is “to regulate the unattended restraint or tethering of dogs” and provides details to describe “acceptable tethering devices.”

“No person shall tether a dog to a tree, fence, post, dog house, or other stationary objects for more than three (3) hours total in a twenty-four (24) hour period,” the ordinance states. The rope or chain used has to be at least 10 feet long and fastened in a way to prevents the animal from getting tangled or causing itself harm.

A cable system is considered an acceptable form of tethering – for no more than the three hours specified in the ordinance, which also has details about how the tether is attached to the dog, as well as weight restrictions.

“Someone HAS to speak for the animals, we are (basically) a nation of animal lovers, but there are always a few who will abuse animals, it has to stop,” Tovey wrote.

Read the entire ordinance (here) or use https://www.oxfordnc.org and click on the Government tab and select Ordinances from the dropdown box.

Filing Period Ends For November Elections; Stovall’s Mayor Janet Parrott Retiring After 42 Years

/by

The town of Stovall will choose a new mayor for the first time in more than four decades in the upcoming elections in November; incumbent Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent will face challenger Sherry Shavon Hester and the three other incumbent mayors of Butner, Creedmoor and Stem are running unopposed.

The filing period ended today (Friday) at noon for the Nov. 2 municipal elections, said Tonya Burnette, county elections director.

Janet Parrott, Stovall’s mayor, did not file for re-election. The two candidates who filed are Curtis S. Pugh and current town board member Mike Williford.

Parrott told WIZS News she is retiring from her role as mayor after 42 years. She was first elected in 1979 when she was 24 years old, she added, but will continue to work as administrator for the town of Stovall.

Eight candidates filed for seats on the Oxford Board of Commissioners – incumbents Patricia Fields and S. Quon Bridges filed for re-election and newcomers Bryan Cohn, Courtney Crudup, Walkiria Jones, Melanie Kaye Moseley, John L. Oliver and B. Seth Lumpkins also filed.

Three candidates for Stovall Commissioner are Douglas Lunsford, Jr., Carl T. Roberts and Tonya Sneed.

Susan Cope, Kevin Easter and Frank N. Shelton, III filed to run for commissioner in the town of Stem.

In Butner, Michel Branch, Judy Cheek and Tom Lane filed for seats on the Butner Town Council; in Creedmoor, Emma L. Albright and Robert Way filed for commissioners’ seats.

Butner Mayor Terry Turner, Creedmoor Mayor Bobby Wheeler and Stem Mayor Casey Dover face no opposition.

Oxford Police Dept

Oxford Announces Interim Police Chief

/by

The City of Oxford has announced that former Oxford Police Department Captain Pat Ford will return to the Police Department to serve as interim police chief. Ford will begin the job on Aug. 2 and will lead the department as it conducts a search for a permanent chief.

Chief Al Coley announced in June that he will retire, effective Aug. 1.

“The City of Oxford is both pleased and thankful to have someone with nearly 25 years of service and experience with the Oxford Police Department to serve in this capacity,” according to a press release issued from the city’s executive offices.

 

TownTalk: Granville County Celebrates 275 Years

/by

Question: What was the largest town in Granville County in 1880?

Answer: Henderson.

It’s not a trick question, but unless you’re a local history buff, you may not know that for about 135 years, a good part of Vance County was, well, in Granville County, as were Warren and Franklin counties.

Present-day Granville County residents are preparing to celebrate the county’s 275th anniversary with a day-long event at Granville Athletic Park. About two years in the making, the celebration has something for everyone, according to planning committee members Mark Pace and Chair Sue Hinman. They joined county tourism director Angela Allen on Thursday’s Town Talk to talk about the exciting details with John C. Rose and Bill Harris.

“This is truly a celebration,” Allen said, of the county’s history, its progress, its resources – all the great things that make Granville County what it is today.

The GAP will be filled to overflowing with activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the whole family to enjoy. Balloons and clowns and games and music, to name a few, Hinman said. At 9 a.m., there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open Phase III of the GAP, which contains new tennis courts and an inclusive playground.

Hinman, chair of the county commissioners board, said she is excited to be a part of the celebration and to be able to spread the word about the county’s 275th anniversary.

Allen said the park will be filled to overflowing with everything from live music to bouncy houses for the kids. Visit www.granvillecounty.org/275th to find a complete schedule of events.

At the sports pavilion, attendees will find a variety of resources where they can learn about the cities, towns and communities in the county.

Also available is a book written and compiled by local author Lewis Bowling. Looking Back: 275 years of Granville County History will be available for purchase, and Bowling will be on hand to sign copies, Pace said.

Of the hundreds of books that have been written about Granville and the surrounding areas, this is a “complete narrative history,” Pace said. “And this is the first one of Granville County,” he added. Among the 300 pages of the coffee-table style book are many never-before published photographs that capture Granville County’s past.

At 10 a.m., an opening ceremony will kick off the event, with presentation of colors and remarks from local dignitaries. After that, Allen said it’s time to enjoy live music in the amphitheater, food from a variety of vendors and even visit an outdoor classroom space where folks can learn about such things as the history of tobacco in the area as well as where the walking trails in the county can be found.

The Granville-Vance Health District will be on hand for COVID-19 testing as well as COVID-19 vaccines, Allen said.

The committee was formed and began planning before the pandemic, and Pace said, to be honest, there were times during the planning process when the group didn’t know whether the celebration would be able to take place at all. Allen said the committee members come from across the county and all municipalities are represented.

“It’s a great mix of community pieces,” she said. “We wanted to make this as inclusive as we possibly could.” The celebration represents the thought that went into the planning process.

Until the original county was carved up into the four counties we know today, Allen said she has learned through planning for this event that Granville County was truly a hub for the state. She said it is great to be able to “live, work and play in a community that already has a reputation of bringing people together.”

Today, about 60,000 people call Granville County home. Back in the late 1780’s, when it was just more than 40 years old, there were about 6,500 residents, and one of those residents was John Penn, North Carolina’s only signer of the Declaration of Independence. Penn died in 1788, but chances are slim to none that he ever ate a funnel cake or enjoyed a sno-cone. Visitors to the GAP next Saturday, however, could glimpse such an anachronistic sight – sort of.

Mark Pace will portray Penn during the event, sharing stories and insight from a time more than 200 years ago. And who knows? Maybe he’ll wander over to the sno-cone stand to see which flavor he prefers.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Repair Café NC Information Event Coming To Oxford July 15

/by

An organization called Repair Café NC is having an informational meeting for Granville County residents on Thursday evening at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.

Repair Café NC has numerous programs across the state, and it’s a way to connect people who have broken household items with others in the community who can fix them. The local organizers are Oxford resident Tom Fick and Teresa Baker, the county’s recycling coordinator.

Sometimes a simple repair is all it takes to keep an item working – and keeping it out of the landfill.

According to the group’s website, Repair Café “brings together people to share skills and solve problems. Valuable practical knowledge is getting passed on. Things are being used for longer and don’t have to be thrown away.”

The event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., located at 117 Wall St., Oxford.

To register, visit www.repaircafenc.org.

Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free Has Moved

/by

Families Living Violence Free has moved.

The new location is 211 West Antioch Drive, Henrahand Cottage, Oxford, NC 27565.

Learn more at (919) 693-3579 or www.flvf.org.

The 24/7/365 crisis line is 919-693-5700 for English and 919-690-0888 for Spanish.