National Mary Potter Club Home Goods Sale May 1

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The National Mary Potter Club, Inc. is having a “Home Goods Sale” on Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 7 a.m. to noon and proceeds will be used to support ongoing projects of the club.

The sale of new and second-hand items will be held at the Mary E. Shaw Memorial Center, located at 205 Lanier St., Oxford. Masks and gloves are required.

Club member Linda Wortham said the money raised will help maintain buildings that were part of the original Mary Potter Academy, including the Shaw Museum and the former gymnasium. The club works to preserve the history of the school, which was founded in 1888 as a boarding school for African American children. Students came from all over the United States to the school, she said.

Wortham was a member of the graduating class of 1970 – the last class to graduate from the high school. The club was established in 1975.

For more information or to donate items for the sale, please contact Wortham at 919.939.9077.

Granville Family Has Two Violinists For Governor’s School

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The only thing better than having one child accepted to Governor’s School for excellence in the arts? Having TWO children accepted! Just ask Doug and Marcia Berry, parents of the two teenagers who hope to spend part of their summer attending the program.

Kimberly Berry, a junior at South Granville High School in Creedmoor and her younger sister, Emily, will represent their school and Granville County Public Schools this summer, according to information GCPS public information officer Dr. Stan Winborne.

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students in the nation. The program is open to rising seniors only, with exceptions made for rising juniors in selected performing/visual arts areas. The girls would attend the Governor’s School West, which is held at High Point University.

Emily, a sophomore at South Granville High School, and her sister have been playing violin for most of their lives – Kimberly started playing at age five, and Emily started playing at age four.

They have been under the tutelage of Georgia Schmidt of Triangle Area Suzuki Talent Education (T.A.S.T.E) for the past eight years. T.A.S.T.E. offers training in violin, viola, and cello, with weekly private lessons, twice a month group lessons, monthly solo recitals, plus numerous concerts at White Memorial Presbyterian Church and in the community.

Schmidt said Tuesday that she taught the girls in group lessons first and then continued giving with private lessons. In the 10 or 11 years that she has known the girls and their family, she said she has seen nothing but “utmost respect and dedication” in their commitment to music. “They’re not prodigies,” Schmidt added, but they approach their music with “a combination of hard work, listening, love, respect and grit.”

Kimberly Berry (L) & Emily Berry (R) — (Pictures courtesy of GCPS.)

“They have really worked hard all these years,” Schmidt said. “This will be such a wonderful experience for those kids. I am just so thrilled they get this opportunity.”

The sisters have performed for the past six years with the Philharmonic Association Triangle Youth Music, a non-profit organization established to provide opportunities for young musicians to learn, understand and perform all genres of great classical and jazz music. The program now consists of three full orchestras, two string orchestras, and three jazz ensembles and includes 500 school-age musicians each year.

The girls also are in their church orchestra at Friendship Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Kimberly loves animals and hopes to attend UNC-CH, where she would love to perform in the university orchestra and study nursing. Emily enjoys listening to classical music. She has her eye on either UNC-CH or NC State to pursue a career in the medical field.

The Local Skinny! March 30; Speed A Little, Lose A Lot

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— information from NCDOT press release

Education Leaders Drive Home Safe Driving Message
‘Speed A Little. Lose A Lot’ Enforcement Underway Across North Carolina

State education leaders are teaming up with the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program (NCGHSP) to help sound the alarm about speeding, one of the leading causes of death in children and a major cause of death for young adults.

“Speeding repeatedly tops the list of the central causes of preventable roadway deaths, especially among young adults,” said Mark Ezzell, NCGHSP Director.

Until April 4th, the ‘Speed A Little. Lose A Lot.’ campaign will feature increased law enforcement patrols from agencies across the state working to prevent speeding.

From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020, Granville County saw 23 speed-related crash fatalities.  The number in Franklin County was 22.  Warren County had six.  Vance County suffered four.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average more than 9,000 lives are lost across America in speeding-related traffic crashes every year.

Sadly in North Carolina those numbers have been increasing.

By the numbers:

(NORTH CAROLINA)

  • A report released today by NCDOT data analysts (full report attached) indicate that from 2019 to 2020 there was an 11 percent increase in speed related crash fatalities.
  • Young people ages 20-29 are most at risk.
  • From 2016 to 2020, males made up 75 percent of these fatalities.
  • In 2020 alone there were 416 speed-related deaths and 18,332 speed-related crashes.
  • Speeding was a contributing factor in 25 percent of all fatal crashes.
  • 91 percent of speed-related fatalities occurred on non-interstate roads; the remainder were on interstates.
  • From 2016 to 2020, the majority, 27 percent, of speed related crash fatalities occurred in these counties:
  • Mecklenburg,
  • Wake,
  • Guilford,
  • Cumberland and
  • Robeson.

(FAQ’s)

  • A crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 miles per hour or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph, and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below.
  • Between midnight and 3 a.m., 68 percent of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking.

NCGHSP is sharing a series of online videos: (elementary) (middle) (high school) (young adult) with educational institutions to use inside and outside of the classroom, as a tool to bring awareness to this issue and ultimately save lives.

“We’re teaching young people to seek higher education opportunities that will offer them job stability, career satisfaction and financial gain, but collectively we as a society need to help guide the behaviors that will help them live a healthy and safe life,” said North Carolina Community College President Thomas Stith III.

“Drivers must remember that our cars carry our most precious cargo – our children and our family members. Slowing down saves lives. We all must do better by paying attention to the speed limits,” said NC Parent Teacher Association President Harold C. Dixon.

“These numbers reveal that so many are in danger on a daily basis, especially our young people,” said UNC System President Peter Hans. “As educators, we want to spread this safety message to university students, so that they may thrive and live productive lives.”

“We truly hope sharing these safe driving messages with parents, teachers and students alike will help curb the violent roadway trends that are claiming thousands of lives,” said Catherine Truitt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Even one life lost to speeding is one too many. That’s why this series of videos, partnerships with education leaders and increased law enforcement presence is so important,” said Ezzell.

AAA Carolina’s shares these tips for encountering speeders on the roadway.

Transportation officials ask that you too share safe driving messages on social media using the hashtags #SpeedALittleLoseALot and follow @NCGHSP on Facebook and @NC_GHSP on Twitter and Instagram to help shift the culture of speeding.

 

 

Revlon donates hand sanitizer to city employees

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Revlon, a name long associated with health and beauty products like shampoo and makeup, showed up Monday to the City of Oxford municipal building with a timely donation, but it won’t make hair more manageable or lashes thicker. It will, however, keep your hands clean.

Oxford city employees gladly received 500 bottles of hand sanitizer, donated by Revlon, that city employees across all departments can use to keep them safe.

Revlon Director Tim Lumpkins presented the boxes of hand sanitizer to City Manager Alan Thornton, City Clerk Cynthia Bowen, Human Resources Director Melissa Labar, Engineering Technician Darrell Smith and Code Enforcement Officer Antwan Rice.

City officials released a press release and said, “We are truly thankful to have wonderful neighbors and are proud to serve the great City of Oxford.”

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

For Once the Fifth out of Five is a Good Thing

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Almost 25 percent of Vance County residents are at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a weekly data update from Granville-Vance Public Health. Beginning April 7, any adult is eligible to get the vaccine, following an announcement from Gov. Roy Cooper to open up the shot to Group 5.

GVPH Director Lisa Harrison said as of Thursday, March 25, GVPH has administered 20,606 vaccines including 14,218 first doses and 6,388 second doses. There are several second-dose clinics scheduled for next week that will boost the vaccination of fully vaccinated residents even higher, the report stated.

In Granville County, almost 23 percent of the population is at least partially vaccinated.

“As we heard on health director calls and press conferences (Thursday), North Carolina has continued to make progress on vaccinating each priority group and many counties (like ours) are ready to progress into Group 5. We look forward to welcoming any and everyone who needs and wants a vaccine to our clinics and are grateful for our partner providers of vaccine in the two-county district,” Harrison stated in the weekly update.

Gov. Cooper loosened some COVID-19 restrictions, effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Mar. 26, to allow higher occupancy in restaurants and bars, among other businesses. The state’s mask mandate, however, remains in effect.

Transportation is available through KARTS (Kerr Area Transportation Authority) free of charge to vaccine locations seven days a week. Check out KartsNC.com or call 252.438.2573.

Call the COVID-19 hotline 252.295.2503 to make an appointment in either county.

There have been 5,496 cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and 4,569 cases of COVID-19 in Vance County for a total of 10,065 across the health district.

At this time, 77 deaths have been reported as a result of COVID-19 in Granville County; 85 deaths have been reported in Vance County.

Visit the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard to see statewide COVIDF-19 data. Relevant graphs from these dashboards are available on the local health department website at https://gvph.org/covid-19_dashboard/.

To learn more about restrictions currently in place in North Carolina and the phased approach to lifting those restrictions, please visit Staying Ahead of the Curve.

Local Chambers Promote Small Business; Looking Biz of Year!

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Nominations are being accepted at local Chambers of Commerce for the 2020 Small Business of the Year.

Henderson-Vance Chamber President Michele Burgess noted several criteria for companies who are nominated. Anyone can nominate a company for consideration, and companies may self-nominate, she said.

All nominated companies must submit a written application to the Chamber office no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, April 16, 2021.

The deadline is Monday, April 12 to submit written applications to the Granville Chamber in Oxford, according to a written statement from that Chamber’s Small Business Committee.

Both chambers use the following criteria for a small business to be nominated:

  • employs a maximum of 50 people
  • is a member of the local chamber and is located in the county
  • has been in business at least 3 years and is experiencing growth or stability over its business life
  • provides critical service or products, fills a void in the business community, or has a unique approach to the delivery of goods and services
  • Is not a governmental agency or municipality

In addition to the above criteria, the Granville Chamber lists two more criteria for consideration:

  • May have overcome diverse or extraordinary circumstances  to remain in business
  • Is supportive of community growth sustainability
  • Representative(s) of each small business completing a written application will be invited to a Small Business luncheon

All applications are confidential.

Email michele@hendersonvance.org or call the H-V Chamber at 252.438.8414 to learn more and to request an application. Copies also are available at the Chamber office, 414 S. Garnett St., open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the Granville application, email wanda@granville-chamber.com or call the Oxford office 919.693.6125. Copies of the application are also available for pickup at the Oxford office, located at 124 Hillsboro St.

Multi-Employer, Virtual Hiring Event March 30 at 11 a.m.

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NC Works is having a virtual multi-employer hiring event at 11 a.m. on March 30.

Positions range from assemblers, machine operators, material handlers, welders and more.

The most direct method for this and other job availabilities is to visit events.kerrtarworks.com. You can also call the NCWorks Career Center at 919 693 2686.

In addition, WIZS Radio in Henderson has formed a new partnership with the H-V Chamber of Commerce. As there are job openings in our area, the Chamber is going to help compile and list, and the radio station is going to announce it and publish it for the community to hear and see. This is an additional effort that continues and builds further on what the Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments has been doing in partnership with NC Works.

Granville Board of Education announces graduation dates, Plan A for middle and high schools

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The Class of 2021 in Granville County Public Schools may have a “normal” graduation after all following a called meeting of the board of education Monday. The board voted 7-0 to allow modified, outdoor, in-person graduation ceremonies, as well as bringing back middle- and high school students to in-person learning beginning April 19.

Graduating seniors will have the option of participating in the in-person graduation ceremony OR a district-wide drive-through ceremony on June 5 if families are not comfortable attending the graduation ceremony at their child’s high school, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, assistant superintendent for human resources & operations and public information officer

Seniors will NOT have a traditional senior prom this year; the board voted 7-0 to follow state DHHS recommendations and cited COVID-transmission risks associated with a dance celebration. Instead, high schools will plan “special socially-distanced outdoor events to celebrate the senior year experience,” Winborne said, which will be linked to positive school attendance and focus on the senior class. Details would be shared with the public no later than April 15, 2021.

Below is the list of schools and graduation dates and times:

  • Granville Early College: May 21 at 7 p.m.; rain date, 5/22, 10 a.m.
  • Granville Central: June 4, 9 a.m.; rain date, June 11, 9 a.m.
  • Granville Academy: June 4, 11 a.m.; rain date, June 11, 11 a.m.
  • F. Webb: June 4, 7:30 p.m.; rain date, June 11, 7:30 p.m.
  • South Granville: June 5, 9 a.m.; rain date, June 12, 9 a.m.

Granville Central, Granville Early College and Granville Academy will hold their graduations on the Granville Central football field, weather permitting; Webb and South Granville also will have their ceremonies on their respective football fields, weather permitting.

The drive-through graduation is scheduled to be held at Northern Granville Middle School. Individual high schools will release more information as details are finalized.

The approved motion directed staff to prepare for students in grades 6-12 to shift from in-person learning from two days a week to four days a week, according to Winborne.  Currently, students in grades 6-12 who attend school in-person are assigned to 2 groups (A or B), each physically reporting to school two days a week.  Both groups attend school virtually for the other three days they are not physically in school.

Beginning on Monday, April 19, the two groups will merge into a single group and all in-person students will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Wednesday remains a remote learning day for all students.  All families who previously chose to have their students remain on full virtual learning will do so for the remainder of the school year, Winborne said.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

The Local Skinny! March 22; Covid Update

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Thank you for listening to WIZS — Your Community Voice.

“The Local Skinny!” also features Tradio — click here — and the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report — click here.

The latest local data update on Covid-19, as of March 21, indicates right at 13 percent of the population of Vance County and Granville County are fully vaccinated.

In email correspondence that Lisa Harrison, health director at Granville Vance Public Health, sends out at least once per week, she wrote “Vance County — Total Doses Administered: 15,299; First Doses Administered: 9,614; Second Doses Administered: 5,685.  Granville County — Total Doses Administered: 21,036; First Doses Administered: 12,929; Second Doses Administered: 8,107.

“Vance County — Percentage of population at least partially vaccinated: 21.6%. Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 12.8%.

“Granville County — Percentage of population at least partially vaccinated: 21.4%. Percentage of population fully vaccinated: 13.4%.”

Additional links you are encouraged to use are “the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard. Relevant graphs from these dashboards are available on our website at https://gvph.org/covid-19_dashboard/,” Harrison wrote.

For a seventh time overall and for the fifth straight NCAA tournament, seven ACC teams made the field (two remain at of 3-22-21 at 2 p.m.), and Harrison says the NCAA has a good model of safety for players, staff and fans  — https://www.ncaa.org/themes-topics/health-and-safety.

Harrison says the NCAA model is good, and it’s clear.  And Harrison and others around the country say we are at a turning point in the fight against the virus, a fork in the road if you will.

To continue the original basketball/model theme of Harrison’s email to WIZS News, the other type of models, like the ones you would use for forecasting the weather for example, these models being run on covid make one thing clear.  “Get your vaccine when it’s your turn and keep practicing the 3 Ws if we want to get out of this as fast as we can! We need to keep making an effort to flatten any future curves that could happen if we let our guard down too quickly or if we allow these variants to take off unchecked. We’re in this until we’re over the hump – and we don’t want any more upward trends,” Harrison wrote.

She wrote, “GVPH had the opportunity to participate in a pilot project recently to understand better how researchers at UNC, NC State University, and Georgia Tech (all good basketball schools I might add) are able to use systems engineering and simulations to model future scenarios related to the pandemic and our response. Very cool! Even more cool is they want to help us in public health with decision-making and communicating where it’s helpful.”

Presently in North Carolina, the daily percent positive is 4.9 percent.

South Granville Rotary organizes care package project

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The Rotary Club of South Granville County invites the community to participate in a project to create care packages for senior adults in the area affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued by Club President Angela Allen, many seniors are not able to go out in the community and may need everyday household and personal items. The club hopes to create the care packages through donations. The goal is to deliver to 100 seniors in southern Granville County. Donations should be delivered no later than Apr. 27; the distribution date is scheduled for May 7.

There are two ways to help:

  1. Sign up to collect one or more items (increments of 25) on Signup Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4aaeac23aafc1-granville .  Items must be collected and delivered to the club by April 27, 2021. Items can be dropped off any Tuesday evening at the weekly Rotary club meeting through April 27.
  2. Volunteer to distribute on May 7, 2021 from 11:30 a.m. TO 12:30 p.m. The distribution will take place at the South Granville Senior Center, temporarily located at the South Granville Country Club. It is possible that the new senior center will be open by May 7 and volunteers will be updated on the location site. Volunteer slots are limited because of COVID-19 gathering restrictions, and the event will be held outside, with mask wearing and social distancing. Sign up at the Signup Genius link.

Other businesses, organizations and churches are invited to collect and donate to the project, and there are informational flyers available to promote the project.

To learn more about where to deliver donations, contact Angela Allen at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org or 919-725-6486.