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TownTalk: VGCC Hosts Career Fair April 25

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With Vance-Granville Community College’s graduate career fair and mixer just over a week away, Director of Career Services Dr. Krystal Foxx said she hopes the VGCC Civic Center will be filled with people from all across the community who want to mix and mingle with area employers to learn about jobs.

It’s not just for current students and graduates, Foxx explained – the Thursday, Apr. 25 event is open to anyone in the community who’s looking for a job, or a different job.

During the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., participants can visit with 46 employers from across the region to learn about job openings. There will be on-the-spot interviews available, too, she said, so come prepared.

“We have quite a few employers coming that are looking for individuals in the applied tech program, in health care, business and government,” Foxx said on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

“We’re excited about the opportunity and looking forward to hosting on the 25th.

Preregister online at www.vgcc.edu/career-services and then select the Career Fairs option on the right side of the page; the first 100 people who sign up AND attend will get a special treat from Chick-fil-A, she said.

It’s more than just a job fair, Foxx noted. It’s a chance “to learn more about the richness of the companies in the community and how they can continue to be productive citizens and give back to the community through the professions and the work they do,” she said.

The college’s career services department guides students in areas such as preparing resumes, effective interviews and job search strategies, she said.

“Our college is putting career selection at the forefront,” she said. A career fair “solidifies that we are there to support their career endeavors.”

The www.vgcc.edu/career-services page also has a list of employers who will be at the fair.

“We know that there is a demand for job opportunities right now,” Foxx said. “We really want everyone to take advantage of that…we want our local employers to feel supported and to be able to recruit from the local community.”

To learn more, phone 252.738.3466 or email careerservices@vgcc.edu.

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“HERricane” Program Highlights Careers In Emergency Management For Young Women

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North Carolina Emergency Management is partnering with several area counties to host the second emergency management experience for young women interested in learning about career in emergency management.

The deadline to apply for “HERricane” is April 19, and is open to any female student in grades 9-12 in the state. The students selected to participate in the program will learn about disaster response and public safety through field trips, training and disaster simulation exercises.

“Last year’s HERricane experience was such a success so we’re really excited to host this year’s event to encourage young women to consider careers in emergency management and public safety,” said Katie Webster, NCEM assistant director of planning. “Across the spectrum of emergency management and public safety personnel, there is a broad spectrum of women who thrive in their careers, and we want to empower the young women who attend HERricane to be the leaders of tomorrow in these fields.”

The event will take place from August 5-9 from 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. and will be hosted at the N.C. State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh. NCEM intends to select up to 24 students to participate in the 2024 program. There is no cost for students to participate and NCEM will provide breakfast snacks and lunch for participants.

Participants will:

  • Learn about key emergency management and public safety jobs
  • Explore careers through field trips within Durham, Wake and Orange counties
  • Participate in a career fair and networking event

Visit www.ncdps.gov/nc-herricane to learn more and to download the application or email

HERricane@ncdps.gov to learn more.

2024 Alive After Five! Kicks Off April 25 In Oxford

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The 2024 Alive After Five! concert season kicks off Thursday, Apr. 25 with Brake Tyme Band in the Littlejohn parking lot from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce, along with other local sponsors including Duke Energy, brings the annual free entertainment event to towns across Granville County for all to enjoy.

Beverage tickets will be available for purchase at check-in tables the day of the event.

Visit the Chamber’s website, http://www.granville-chamber.com, or follow on Facebook or Instagram – Granville County Chamber – to stay updated with all the details, including a list event sponsors and contributors.

Sponsorships are still available, so contact Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Ratliff at cynthia@granville-chamber.com if you or your business would like to be added to the list.

Come early, visit our local downtown businesses, bring a chair, listen to this incredible music, dance, and enjoy visiting with friends.

 

New Granville Finance Director Begins April 15

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Granville County has announced that Jennifer Baird will become the county’s finance director and she will begin her new job on April 15.

Baird joins Granville County after three years as senior fiscal analyst and accounting operations supervisor for the city of Durham. With 19 years of state and local government finance experience, Baird will lead operations in the county’s finance office as Steve McNally transitions to his retirement in the coming months, according to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

“I am thrilled and honored to have been selected as Granville County’s next Finance Director,” said Baird. “I look forward to working with county administration, our board of commissioners, and staff from all county departments to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, and the county’s finances are protected.  Granville County has a sterling reputation of financial management, and I am proud to join and continue that legacy.”

During her time in Durham, Baird helped develop the personnel and operating budget  for the Water and Sewer Fund and managed all operations of the city’s Utility Finance Department. Prior to her time in Durham, Baird served as Business Officer II, Assistant Finance Manager and other accounting and finance positions for the State of North Carolina departments of Health and Human Services, Public Instruction and Agriculture and Consumer Services.

She was responsible for preparing state budget requests and certifications for various grant programs and managed accounts payable operations for the statewide Child Nutrition grant. She also served as the Chief Finance Officer for Granville-Vance Public Health for two years in between her time with the state and the city of Durham. Baird began her career as a family preservation Caseworker for Person County Cooperative Extension before moving into accounting.

A Person County native, Baird graduated from Person High School in Roxboro and holds degrees in Accounting and Human Services from Vance-Granville Community College and Piedmont Community College. She is also completing the North Carolina Finance Officer Certification Course at the School of Government at UNC. Baird and her family moved to Granville County in 1993 and reside n the Berea community.

NCDMV Employs Online Tools To Tackle Customer No-Shows

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– Information courtesy of NCDMV

To combat folks not showing up for their scheduled appointments at driver license offices, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is now requiring new appointments to be confirmed.

In the month of February, 33.5 percent of appointments were no-shows, according to NCDMV officials.

“This confirmation process is necessary to address the high no-show rate for appointments we have been experiencing in our driver license offices,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.

Now, when appointments are reserved online at SkipTheLine.ncdot.gov, customers will receive a text message and email with a confirmation link and they will need to confirm their appointment by clicking either link within 15 minutes, or the appointment will be canceled. Upon confirming their appointment, customers will receive a text and email notification letting them know the appointment was successfully confirmed.

Four days before the appointment, customers will receive a reminder text and email with a confirmation link. Within 24 hours, customers will need to again confirm their appointment. Once confirmed, another email and text will be generated confirming the appointment.

For appointments booked less than four days out, the second confirmation link will not be sent.

“Folks are used to having to confirm their medical and other appointments in this way,”  Goodwin said, “so we’re applying this standard from the private sector to our business model and expecting good results and increased appointment availability.”

A handful of self-service kiosks have opened up in grocery stores in Raleigh, Charlotte and Fayetteville that allows for a variety of DMV transactions. There are additional online tools Walk-In Wait Time Tool and Q-Anywhere to cut down on customers’ wait time in DMV offices.

Sam Perry Memorial Scholarship Applications Available Now

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The Granville Health System Foundation is accepting applications for the 2024 Sam Perry Memorial Scholarship, which awards $1,000 to a Granville County resident who wants to pursue a career in health care.

Now in its 14th year, the scholarship is named for a physician’s assistant who had a long career with Granville Health System.

The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. on April 30. Here’s the application packet link. Visit www.ghshospital.org/ghs-foundation to learn more.

The winner will be announced by the end of May 2024, according to information from Lauren Roberson, Granville Health System’s Marketing & Foundation director. This is a one-time scholarship, but individuals may reapply for as many years as they are in school.

Students who have been accepted into a two-year or four-year Allied Health Program at an accredited school with the intention to pursue a career in the healthcare field are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. Programs eligible for this scholarship include clinical laboratory sciences, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiological science, pharmacy, RN, BSN, ADN, LPN, dentistry and related careers, physician assistant and nurse practitioner.

 

 

Celebrate Small Farms Week Mar. 24-30

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Small farmers from across the state are in the spotlight as N.C. A&T State University celebrates the 38th annual Small Farms Week. This year’s theme is “New Paths to Profits,” and small farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs will be able to take part in a variety of workshops and educational programs, panel discussions and tours at the N.C. A&T University Farm Pavilion in Greensboro as part of the weeklong week paying tribute to small farmers.

On Tuesday, Mar. 26, Small Farms Week will focus on education for small farmers that cover topics ranging from small-scale animal production, plant production, natural resource management and to adapting to climate changes that could bring more droughts, severe storms and intense summer heat.

A goal of Small Farms week is to showcase and support limited-resource, small-scale, part-time, and alternative-enterprise farmers who provide their communities with fresh produce and locally sourced products.

“The agriculture landscape is changing,” stated Fletcher Barber, Ed. D., this year’s chair of Small Farms Week. Barber also is the Extension Service’s small farms recruiter and said in a press statement that consumers are interested in exploring multicultural food traditions and new niche products. “That interest offers opportunities for our farmers,” Barber said.

A highlight of the weeklong activities occurs Wednesday when the 2024 Small Farmer of the Year will be named.

Activities kicked off Monday in Wayne County, home to 2023 Small Farmers of the Year J & J Produce.

Since 2019, sisters Jeannette Martin Horn and Joyce Martin Bowden have grown a wide variety of produce – including green beans, mustard and turnip greens, squash, onions, tomatoes, pecans and their signature field peas – on 100 acres of their Century Farm. The sisters’ ancestor, a soldier in the 135th U.S. Colored Infantry, bought the land after the regiment was “mustered out” in 1865, making their land a Century Farm.

“The Martin sisters are a perfect example of the heart and soul of farming in North Carolina,” said M. Ray McKinnie, Ph.D., Extension administrator and associate dean in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. “Their land has been in the family for more than 150 years, and they not only grow, they give back to their community by hosting groups and encouraging them to learn about agriculture and farming.

“Our 2024 Small Farmer of the Year, whoever that may be, will exemplify these same characteristics that make family farms so important to our agricultural economy,” he added.

Thursday, Mar. 28 and Friday, Mar. 29 will offer more educational sessions and demonstrations, emanating from the university or other organizations within North Carolina that highlight farming best practices, research results or student-led agricultural and environmental activities benefitting small farmers.

“Our goal is to help small farmers make the most of new markets and crops while adopting sustainable practices that protect their land and their ability to adapt as our climate becomes more variable.”

Check here during the week for updates: www.itzy.io/sfw2024

The Local Skinny! Paws for Granville Auction Raises Money for Spay and Neuter

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Calling all animal lovers who also enjoy a night out, complete with dinner and a silent auciton! The fifth annual Paws for Granville fundraiser is Saturday, April 6 and organizers say you’re not going to want to miss it!

Tickets are $35 for the event, which will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Barn at Vino in Stem. Proceeds go to fund the spay/neuter program at the Granville County Animal Shelter, which is partnering with the local Humane Society to put on the event.

Angela Gooch, treasurer and co-founder of the Granville County Humane Society, spoke with WIZS’s Bill Harris on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny! to provide details.

“We’re hoping to get plenty of support from the community” for the fundraiser, Gooch said, which in turn will provide much-needed funds to pay for the shelter’s spay/neuter program.

Gooch said there typically are a lot of cats to be spayed or neutered, but that the shelter had taken in “an awful lot” of puppies lately.

“It’s a big problem,” she said.  “It seems like no matter how many we do, there are more and more to take their place” in the spay/neuter program.

One way to help raise funds to support the spay/neuter program is through a silent auction. Event attendees can bid on items that include jewelry, a bicycle, garden flags, gifts cards to Angus Barn, the N.C. Zoo and a ticket package to see the “Mamma Mia” ABBA tribute at DPAC – not to mention a variety of dog- and cat-related paraphernalia.

Purchase tickets online through Eventbrite, visit the Granville County Animal Shelter, 515 New Commerce Dr. or call 919.691.9114.

In addition, donations may be made to the local humane society, P.O. Box 385, Butner, NC 27509 or make an online donation at hsgcncinfo@gmail.com

“We need the community help to make this a success,” Gooch said.

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Scholarship Opportunity For Seniors Who Want To Pursue STEM Career After High School

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Granville County high school seniors who want to pursue careers in renewable energy and STEM-related careers are eligible to apply for a $1,000 scholarship program from a Durham solar energy company.

Cypress Creek Renewables will award 35 Energizing Tomorrow’s Leaders scholarships, which can be used for tuition, books, materials for two-year or four-year programs at universities and community colleges.

Seniors who will graduate this year from any school in Granville County are eligible to submit applications; the deadline to submit is April 1, 2024.

Find the application at https://ccrenew.com/scholarships/.

The biggest requirement for the application is the creativity of the short, 1-minute video requirement on “How Renewable Energy Affects my Future,” which can be created using a cell phone.

This scholarship could be for a traditional student seeking a 4-year degree, but it’s also for students looking to fund their training in a trade school or certificate program. There is no minimum GPA or ACT/SAT score because students will be evaluated wholistically.
According to information on the Cypress Creek webpage, “scholarships will be granted to students pursuing 4-year, 2-year, or certificate programs at an accredited community college or university. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate an interest in a career in the renewable energy industry or a STEM-related field but all eligible students are welcome to apply.

Proof of enrollment will be required prior to fund dispersal, and scholarships will be paid directly to the college or university.
There are three other N.C. counties included as well as is among four counties in North Carolina selected to participate; 23 other counties in 10 other states also are included.

Forums On Human Trafficking Well Received In Vance, Granville

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-information courtesy of  the Office of  N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon

In an effort to shed some light on the issue of human trafficking, N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon helped organize forums held recently in Granville and Vance counties to raise awareness among his District 32 constituents and provide training for law enforcement officers.

The two forums had “significant participation and engagement from various stakeholders,” according to a press statement from Clai Keel, a spokesperson for Sossamon.

The law enforcement session featured insights from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol on the prevalence of human trafficking across North Carolina and its impact on law enforcement communities. The session highlighted training opportunities such as the Interdiction for the Protection of Children (IPC) program, designed to help officers identify and assist missing, exploited, or at-risk children. Following the forum, both the Granville and Vance County Sheriff offices have committed to participating in the intensive two-day IPC training later this year.

Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott attended the Vance County forum and shared her personal connection to the issue of human trafficking and emphasized the importance of community collaboration in addressing this critical issue.

In the session for the general public, the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission and NCSTOP delivered a comprehensive Human Trafficking 101 presentation. Attendees gained valuable knowledge about recognizing and responding to human trafficking situations, as well as access to available resources for victims and survivors.

Sossamon expressed his gratitude to all participants, speakers and sponsors for their contributions to the success of these forums. He emphasized the importance of ongoing education, awareness, and collaboration in the fight against human trafficking, reaffirming his commitment to advocating for policies and initiatives that protect vulnerable individuals and hold perpetrators accountable.