New Director named at Camp Oak Hill

/by

Missy Edlin has been involved with Camp Oak Hill in a variety of ways, from camper to counselor to board president. The camp’s board of directors announced last week that Edlin has been named interim executive director, and she couldn’t be happier.

The board unanimously elected Edlin to lead the camp and retreat center, located in northern Granville County. In her new role, Edlin “sets vision and culture, furthers history and traditions, grows leaders, and embraces the need to remain relevant in an ever-changing overnight camp environment,” according to a written statement.

“I am thrilled to serve Camp Oak Hill in this role as executive director, and I look forward to supporting the staff and nurturing the love of Christ in campers’ lives this summer,” Edlin stated. “Camp is a special place to so many and I feel fortunate to be a part of this organization and the families it represents,” she said.

Edlin was introduced to Camp Oak Hill in 1986, her first year as a camper. Through the years, she participated in leadership training, then was a camp counselor and pool manager. Her relationship with the camp continued through her adult life, and most recently, Edlin headed up the fundraising campaign to mark the camp’s 40th anniversary. She has served on the board as vice president and since April 2020, as president.  “I am hopeful for the future of Camp Oak Hill, continuing to build upon the legacy of those who came before me,” she said.

This role is a natural fit for Edlin, who has a long history of ministry to others. She was chaplain for Delta Zeta sorority at UNC-CH, has led Bible study groups for campers and others for women. She has experience leading a a variety of church-based education endeavors, including developing a church-wide curriculum for community groups.

Edlin and her family live in Wake County, where she is active in community and civic activities there, including the Junior League of Raleigh and Step Up Ministries and Avent West Community Outreach. She also has served on annual fundraising campaigns for both the NC Boys & Girls Club and Urban Ministries.

Edlin leaves SoftPro Corporation after 11 years, where she was a training coordinator, implementation specialist and customer care ambassador. She previously had worked as a corporate paralegal and then as director of children’s ministry for Midtown Community Church in Raleigh. “It is a true joy to find my work at Camp (Oak Hill) as a privilege and not just a duty,” she added.

Visit www.campoakhill.org to learn more.

TownTalk 02-16-21 Shemecka McNeil Slice 325

/by

Shemecka McNeil calls it “stainless-steel syndrome.” Similar to “white coat syndrome” that describes the aversion some people have to going to doctors, those suffering stainless steel syndrome have an aversion to preparing healthy foods. McNeil is working to change that attitude, while transforming diets with a focus on healthier eating habits through the work she does with SLICE 325.

McNeil began SLICE 325 in 2017. SLICE is an acronym for Serving Locations Inviting Culinary Education, and McNeil and her team recently participated in the drive-through COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The non-profit has worked with other community organizations such as Families Living Violence Free and Area Congregations in Ministry food bank to promote healthy eating habits. “There are a lot of people out there who need help,” McNeil told Town Talk host John C. Rose Tuesday. The way she sees it, community support and healthy eating habits go hand in hand, helping people live a better life.

Whether it’s teaching people about alternatives to processed sugar or helping apartment dwellers create patio gardens for summer vegetables, McNeil said SLICE 325 can help change attitudes and habits about food preparation.

The five-week program is “home economics with a twist,” she said. Some of the topics they discuss are how to coupon and budget, creating container gardens and even dining etiquette. The groups take field trips to the grocery store or farmers market, too, she said.

For complete details and audio click play.

Healthy eating can reduce heart disease, cancer and stroke, she said. But preparing healthier choices is sometimes easier said than done. The five-week program called Creative Sustainability targets those with not a lot of extra money “leverage their resources in order to create healthy meals for themselves and their families,” according to the non-profit’s website. Participants can learn how to tweak recipes to make them healthier but still tasty.

Want to lower your salt intake? McNeil and SLICE 325 can tell you how. Other suggestions: Agar sugar or monk fruit, in syrup form, are good replacements for processed sugar. You can put it in coffee or ice cream, McNeil said.  The spice turmeric reduces inflammation and lemon-infused water curbs the appetite, brightens the skin and cleanses the body, she added.

“We just show you what nature has provided for us,” McNeil said. Using foods that help your body heal is just one way to increase your activity level, which also promotes good health.

“You can have cheat days, it’s ok!” McNeil said. The goal, she said, is to help people. The five-week program costs $50 a person and is heavy on hands-on, not handouts and lectures, she said. “We love questions, we like to be personable,” McNeil said. “We make it fun for everybody.”

Eat anything you choose, McNeil said, but added, “as long as it’s in moderation.” It’s hard to stick to a healthy diet 365 days a year, she acknowledged. That’s where the “325” comes into play in the non-profit’s name. “We took off 40 days for mental health,” she said.

Visit slice325.org to learn more.

(This information is not provided to diagnose any health conditions or to provide any health advice.  Consult your physician.)

Montague Cultivates Relationships to Get More Done for People

/by

Whether it’s excess rainfall or weekend ice storms in late winter, handling all that Mother Nature doles out requires flexibility and the “glass half-full” outlook. Although Rob Montague, area ranger with the NC Forest Service, can’t do much to prevent weather events, he can help area landowners create plans to best manage their resources.

Montague, area ranger for Vance and Granville counties, was named NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020 Employee of the Year. He appeared on Monday’s Town Talk and discussed with host John C. Rose the importance of land management practices and how he and his team help landowners.

Montague said it was “a real honor” to be recognized for the award. “But my first thought was hey, there’s more involved here than just me,” he continued. The five-person office oversees fire control, forest management and education and Montague said they “work together as a team.”

The award was announced virtually by NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler.  A written statement from Troxler’s office said Montague was honored “for going above and beyond in his daily work, for personally responding to many of the emergency calls in his area and for being a valued resource in the local community.”

Building relationships within the community is something that Montague considers his biggest accomplishment. From helping individual landowners develop forest management plans to working alongside volunteer firefighters, Montague said so much of what he does would not be possible without the support he gets from his family.

Despite “weird” schedules and calls out in the middle of the night, family support for what he does and for what emergency responders do is critical, he said. He was among a small army of folks, no doubt, who cleared limbs and downed trees after the weekend ice storm. There are “excellent fire departments across both counties,” Montague said, and the firefighters are “awesome individuals. Some are paid and some are volunteers,” he added, “but there’s very little difference in how they do their job.”

Montague spends a chunk of time helping landowners formulate a forest management plan. Sometimes, owners simply want to preserve wooded areas for recreation or for conservation reasons. Other owners have stands of timber that will be used to generate income in the future. Montague said conservation is the wise use of resources, and he enjoys helping landowners determine the best way to manage their land. “In Granville and Vance counties, we are very heavily forested, so that means (there’s) quite a bit of work to be done. Forestry is very important to the economy of both counties,” he said.

A forest management plan is a landowner’s roadmap to guide and manage their forest resources for achieve their goals, he said. Knowing when to thin or harvest time, as well as planting new stands of timber are all part of the expertise he shares with landowners. There may be cost-share programs to help defray the cost of planting, thinning trees or doing herbicide work, he added.

“The biggest joy to me is just getting out and meeting people and giving assistance, Montague said. “We’re part of their tax dollars,” he said, adding that people appreciate the fact that he provides unbiased opinions and information. “We don’t have monetary gain for providing information,” he said, although his office can provide landowners with a list of contractors who specialize in particular areas of management practices.

The recent extended periods of wet weather have made it more difficult for logging crews to do their work, and landowners who own tracts that dry more quickly could reap economic benefits, he said. Finished lumber prices have spiked during the pandemic, Montague said, but little profit has trickled to the landowner thus far. The pine market fluctuates more than the market for hardwoods, he said, adding “the need for quality hardwood is going to always be there.”

Landowners should consider a minimum of 15 acres of timberland for investment purposes, Montague recommended, simply to make the jobs of thinning or harvesting a tract appealing to logging crews. But there are other steps that landowners can take before a stand of timber is harvested that can have a positive effect on the environment, he said.

He and his team educate landowners about soil and water conservation and wildlife habitat, but a favorite type of education occurs during the second week of October, he added. That is Fire Prevention Week – normally a time when the rangers visit schools to share Smokey Bear with elementary students. “Seeing their reaction to Smokey Bear is a really fun time of year for us,” he said.

In true “glass half full” fashion, Montague said the forest land in this area is in good shape. Although trees don’t like very saturated conditions, they tolerate drought conditions even less.

To learn more, visit www.ncforestservice.gov, phone the office at 919.693.3154, or send an email to Rob.montague@ncagr.gov.

Granville County Animal Shelter Has Historic Low 6 Percent Euthanasia Rate in 2020

/by

It takes a good amount of human collaboration to successfully reduce an animal shelter’s euthanasia rate – just ask Granville Animal Services Manager Matt Katz. But that hard work paid off in 2020, and resulted in 1,927 animals’ lives being saved.

Last year, 2,050 animals came through the animal shelter, Katz said in his January update to the Granville County Board of Commissioners. The 1,927 animals saved translates to a low 6 percent euthanasia rate, which Katz described as “historic.”

“We are thankful and ecstatic for all the support we received in 2020, and are proud to have achieved such a major accomplishment,” he told commissioners.

From shelter staff and volunteers, rescue groups, veterinarians who donate medical care and partnerships with spay/neuter programs, Katz said the team effort paid off in the constant battle to find homes for animals who come to the shelter.

For instance, shelter staff partner with foster families to help kittens become socialized and acclimated to living in a home. This program alone, Katz said, saved the lives of 243 kittens. Shelter volunteers who do everything from walking dogs to socializing kittens provide an invaluable service to support the work of the staff, he added. The growing network of animal rescue groups forming partnerships with the local shelter means that animals may have a better chance at adoption. Of all the animals that came through the shelter last year, Katz said 1,170 – 57 percent – left through animal rescue groups.

“We are so proud our staff and volunteers for their hard work in making this happen,” said Granville County Board of Commissioners Chair Sue Hinman, who also serves as liaison for the Animal Advisory Committee. “We thank them for their compassion for all the animals cared for at the shelter, and appreciate the support of the community in helping them reach this goal,” she said.

The animal shelter moved to its new location in 2020, and Katz said the extra kennel space and healthier environment are definite positives. Public support for animal control policies, increases in funding from the county and public support all contribute to the success the shelter has had in reducing the euthanasia rate. Healthier, more socialized animals translates into more adoptable animals.

When donations come in from the community, the shelter can free more funds to spay or neuter animals, which addresses the problem of overpopulation.

Sheri Jones VGCC

VGCC celebrates Entrepreneurship Week

/by

— courtesy of Vance Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week (Feb. 13-20, 2021) with a variety of virtual events for the community.

National Entrepreneurship Week (NEW), established by the United States Congress in 2006, is a celebration of small businesses, innovators, and creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life and drive economic vitality. “NEW is a time to celebrate, to be inspired and to get motivated to do what you love,” said VGCC Dean of Business & Industry Solutions Tanya Weary, who is coordinating the observance along with VGCC Small Business Center Director Sheri Jones.

VGCC’s online events kick off on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 9 a.m. with a video posted to the VGCC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/vancegranville), entitled “What is Entrepreneurship?” followed on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 9 a.m. with another video posted on the Facebook page, called “Do What You Love!”

On Monday, Feb. 15 at noon, VGCC will present a lively, one-hour seminar, entitled “Give It to the People: Your Brand, Your Voice, Your Business,” with instructor Chisa D. Pennix-Brown, the CEO of Lady Bizness. Attendees will learn how to empower their brand, enhance their voice and increase their business. There will be opportunities to ask questions of the presenter. Registration in advance is required through www.vgcc.edu/entre/.

The next day, Tuesday, Feb. 16, at noon, the community is invited to “Lunch with an Entrepreneur – Learn the Failures and Successes of Starting a Business,” with Jason Shearin, a seasoned entrepreneur and owner of Lake Gaston Coffee in Littleton. Shearin will lead a discussion on what it takes to own your own business and will take questions from participants. Registration in advance is required through www.vgcc.edu/entre/.

Dean Tanya Weary will lead a webinar, “Business Plan 101,” on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at noon. She will explain how one of the most important tasks in starting a new business or growing an existing business is the business plan. Registration in advance is required through www.vgcc.edu/entre/.

On Thursday, Feb. 18, at 9 a.m., the college will showcase one of its recent alumni, Greg Kelly, who graduated from the VGCC Truck Driver Training (CDL) program, on VGCC’s Facebook page.

On Friday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m., the community can attend a virtual “StartUp Crawl” in order to learn about, and take a virtual tour of, a pair of local business incubators: Frontier Warren and the Creedmoor Business Center. This will be accessed on the VGCC Facebook page.

The series concludes on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 9 a.m., with a session called “Taking the Initiative.” This video, posted to the VGCC Facebook page, is designed for people who have ideas for small businesses and are ready to take the next steps. Sheri Jones, director of VGCC’s Small Business Center, will discuss what these aspiring entrepreneurs need to do.

The Small Business Center has a variety of resources to support entrepreneurs through education and training. For more information on the Small Business Center, contact Sheri Jones at joness@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3240.

For more information about National Entrepreneurship Week, contact Tanya Weary at wearyt@vgcc.edu, visit www.vgcc.edu/entre/ and follow the VGCC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/vancegranville).

–VGCC–

Town Talk Logo

TownTalk 2-11-21 Kevin Otis, Masonic Home For Children

/by

The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford has a long history of providing for children who, for reasons beyond their control, need a place to live. And although things have evolved over the years, Administrator Kevin Otis said the MHCO mission remains the same, some 150 years after the orphanage was established.

Otis was on Thursday’s Town Talk with host John C. Rose and discussed a bit of the past, its relationship with nearby Central Children’s Home and what he hopes is in store for the future.

Both orphanages are recipients of a current donation drive, the idea of Alyssa Blair, an employee with the City of Oxford. Donations selected from a wish list may be dropped off at the City of Oxford offices, 300 Williamsboro St., Oxford through March 24, Otis said.

Household items like batteries and flashlights, dish towels and bath towels, as well as supplies for school or office would all be appreciated, he said. “If we get a box of pens donated, then we don’t have to buy a box of pens,” he said.

Any items that families seem to need to function properly would be useful. “We really go through that stuff” in the cottages, he said.

Currently, there are 37 children residing at MHCO. Stricter licensing regulations for staffing ratios make it more difficult to offer space to more children. The children live, family-style, not in dormitories as of old, but in cottages with two house parents.

For full audio click play…story continues below.

The campus, located at 600 College Street, has buildings that are occupied by other agencies that serve the community, and Otis is proud of the community partnerships that have developed over the years. For instance, Smart Start has a satellite office on campus, and there are Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, too.  He hopes a popular karate class can crank back up when COVID-19 restrictions loosen. And a plan is in the works to provide some additional services to those who live off campus, but said details have to be sorted out before any announcement is made.

Otis speculated that COVID-19 may play a role in the lower numbers of residents. “Families aren’t comfortable (with their children) being in congregate care. He said he hopes that a boost in marketing will reach families who need help. Older children could also be a part of the independent living program.

Further complicating the placement process is the requirement to quarantine for 14 days upon taking up residence at the orphanage, he said.

Admissions, or placements, is but a part of the job of MHCO administrator, Otis said. “It means you wear every hat,” he said. “You are the person communicating with the board, vetting ideas, getting their feedback of what are best practices and best business practices and then going ahead and making sure that we conform to those by policies and procedures,” he said. It involves fundraising, going out and doing presentations…and dealing with incidents that may arise,” he continued.

Being the administrator also involves, however “getting the pats on the back for the wonderful things that your staff has done,” Otis said. One initiative comes as a result of a grant from Triangle North Healthcare to train staff on the trauma-informed model of care through Cornell University. The practices included in this particular model of care “will help all of our staff, even maintenance and print shop people, understand better the traumatic situations that kids go through,” he said. It will provide a kind of comfort level for children who have been in traumatic situations, which helps them become more successful.

Otis said a strategic planning session is scheduled for March for the board, as well as some MHCO employees and other invitees. He hopes that this session will solidify a strong marketing plan for the next four years and beyond. The ultimate goal, he said, is to market the home, increase the number of children in residence and make sure the programs are delivered using best practices.

To learn more, please visit mhc-oxford.org, phone 919.693.5111 or send Otis an email at kotis@mhc-oxford.org

Green Rural Redevelopment (GRRO)

Free Covid Tests; Free Groceries; Free PPE in Oxford, Henderson, Warrenton

/by

UPDATE 12 NOON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 2021

THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF A SECOND ICE STORM FORECAST FOR THE AREA.  THE EVENTS WILL BE RESCHEDULED, AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY WILL BE ANNOUNED ON WIZS RADIO AND POSTED ONLINE.

UPDATE 7:45 P.M. FRIDAY — 

The COVID-19 testing event scheduled for Saturday, 02/13 at the Public Works Building in Oxford has been cancelled because of the weather forecast.  GRRO has chosen to follow the NCDOT recommendation to stay off the roads because of the anticipated ice/winter storm.  We will let the public know when we reschedule the event.

————————

Free covid testing, free food and free PPE distribution events are coming to Oxford, Henderson and Warrenton.

Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO) has partnered with City of Oxford Public Works, Shiloh Baptist Church in Henderson and the Warren County Health Department to present the events over a seven day period.

GRRO Deputy Director Lucette Mercer announced the events with a series of press releases:

On Saturday, February 13th, a COVID-19 community testing and resource distribution event will be
held from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the City of Oxford Public Works Building parking lot located at 127 Penn Avenue in Oxford;

On Thursday, February 18th, a COVID-19 community testing and resource distribution event will
be held from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Shiloh Baptist Church parking lot located at 635 South College Street in Henderson;

On Friday, February 19th, a COVID-19 community testing and resource distribution event will be
held from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Warren County High School parking lot located at 149 Campus Drive in Warrenton.

At these drive-up events, people who get tested will also received free groceries and free personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and sanitizer.  Information about coronavirus vaccine will be available.

Additional partners making the community events possible are Groundwater Solutions and Genesis Project 1.

For more information call 252.430.7999.  Free transportation is available by calling 803.207.6511.

“North Carolina continues to see high numbers of Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The CDC and local health departments recommend that we all continue to get tested and observe all safety precautions. Even with the distribution of the vaccine, getting tested and knowing your COVID status are very important for your safety and the safety of those around you,” Mercer wrote.

In Honor of Black History Month, FLVF Recognizes Shamecka McNeil of Slice 325

/by

— submitted by Families Living Violence Free

In honor of Black History Month, Families Living Violence Free would like to recognize Shamecka McNeil, CEO and Executive Director of Slice 325.  (https://slice325.org/ and facebook.com/Slice325)

Shamecka founded Slice 325 to educate low-income people on the many creative ways to serve healthy meals using affordable ingredients.

Shamecka believes that families are unique as plates, and she is passionately committed to meeting the challenge, one appetite at a time.

(FLVF is a paying advertising client of WIZS.  This is not a paid ad.)

Shamecka McNeil will join WIZS for TownTalk on Tuesday (Feb. 16) at 11 a.m.  Tune in!!

Rob Montague, N.C. Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020 Employee of the Year

/by

(Rob Montague will join WIZS for TownTalk at 11 a.m. Monday (Feb. 15).

— courtesy of the NC Forest Service

Rob Montague, NC Forest Service area ranger for Granville and Vance counties, has been recognized as the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020 Employee of the Year. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler presented the award during a virtual online meeting last week. Montague was honored for going above and beyond in his daily work, for personally responding to many of the emergency calls in his area and for being a valued resource in the local community. His commitment and service to the community also earned him the November Employee of the Month Award.

Montague is always eager to help people with their forest resources. Management plans help citizens responsibly care for their land while potentially creating a financial resource too – giving Montague a sense of pride to know it’s a way to make a difference in people’s lives.

“Rob’s commitment to helping people is evident in the number of forest management plans he helps create. Many area rangers prepare an average of 10 to 30 plans each year, but last fiscal year he wrote a plan for 96 tracts,” said Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Rob knows those plans help people use their forest resources to pay for things like their retirement or their children’s educations. So, I’m proud to know it’s one of the many ways he serves the people of his community.”

Photo Courtesy of N.C. Forest Service

Montague also responds to wildfires and many other local emergency calls where he can help – often during nights and weekends. As a result, local emergency responders have come to count on him for assistance. For example, a local sheriff’s office recently called on him to provide maps needed in the search for a missing person.

“Rob is such a valuable part of our NCFS workforce. He brings enthusiasm and dedication to his role as the area ranger in Granville and Vance counties. He is extremely proactive, personally responding to 65% of emergency response calls in those counties, and he leads a sharp team of NCFS professionals who serve and fulfill the mission of this agency. I’m proud of Rob for achieving this well-deserved recognition as Employee of the Year and for his outstanding leadership as an NCFS area ranger,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott Bissette.

Outside of forest management and emergency response, Montague holds a great number of education and outreach events to inform the community of how the N.C. Forest Service can assist them. Additional details are included in a post on the department’s blog at ncagr.gov/blog.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk 2-8-21 Lisa Harrison, Granville Vance Public Health director

/by

Lisa Harrison, health director for Granville Vance Public Health was on Town Talk Monday and provided an update on current COVID-19 vaccination deployment throughout the two counties.

In addition to staying on top of the medical side of the vaccination rollout, Harrison and her team have had deep-dive lessons into the basics of supply and demand. And right now, there is more demand than supply.

Harrison said it is important that the community understand that vaccine continues to be available, but once the doses come in, it is imperative that they be administered as quickly as possible. There have been several mass vaccination clinics in the two counties, she said. But those clinics are set up only when large doses come in to the health department. The two counties administer, on average, 160 doses per county per day in the daily clinics that the health department operates.

To hear Lisa Harrison on TownTalk, click play.  Written story continues below.

The mass drive-in clinics, some held on hospital or school campuses in the local area, require cooperation across agencies, Harrison said. For example, the Jan. 25 clinic set up at Maria Parham Medical Center was organized because Harrison learned “sort of last-minute” that 975 extra doses of the Phizer vaccine would be headed to Maria Parham – for immediate use. “We don’t want to waste a single dose,” she said.

Harrison and the team sprang into action upon learning of the vaccine shipment. “It takes a lot of partners and a lot of energy to do that well,” she said. From hospital staff to EMS, law enforcement, and nurses from Vance County Schools, the health department was able to orchestrate the coordinated effort. We didn’t have a lot of lead time to put it all together, but we’re really proud of our partners for working together to make that happen.

Generally, there’s a 6-hour window for a mass clinic like the Jan. 25 event, she said, because of the need to keep the vaccine adequately refrigerated.

“We were lucky we got 975 extra (doses) not originally allocated,” Harrison said. The shipments are based on population, she said, but the local health officials had done such a good job of getting the vaccines in peoples’ arms, they were able to show they could use more.

Simply put, the vaccines create a way for our bodies to recognize the COVID-19 virus, which leads to our bodies being able to identify and fight off the virus if or when a person is exposed to the real thing.

The Phizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses given three and four weeks apart, respectively, and her team has enlisted the aid of key community leaders to help with outreach, especially into underrepresented segments of the population. If there happens to be extra doses at a clinic, these community leaders have a way to get the word out to ensure that all doses will be used.

That being said, Harrison explained that if there are extra doses at a Dose 1 clinic, a network of community leaders has been identified to help get the word out. Reaching out to key community leaders, she said, helps “to ensure an equitable distribution of vaccine (to those) who may not have the ability to access the hotline. This community outreach approach to public health is vital to get people on our list who otherwise are having a hard time. Visit gvph.org or phone the COVID-19 hotline at 252.295.1503 to learn how to register for the vaccine.

Graphic prepared by Granville Vance Public Health. Shows vaccine distribution as of February 5, 2021.

Each shipment of vaccine is identified as a Dose 1 or Dose 2. She said she wants to reassure the community about Dose 2 availability. “We always have Dose 2 for every Dose 1,” she said. But that second dose is only used for second doses. It’s all about supply management, she said. “We’re just extremely careful” with those second doses. “We only pull up into syringes the exact number of doses of people we have appointments for and are coming (to get their booster),” she said. Any extra doses from the Dose 2 shipment are better used by other health care providers who may be short of vaccine for some reason.

While the logistics may seem complicated, Harrison noted that the last thing she and her team want to do is call a client to cancel an appointment because of insufficient vaccine.

“If we have 800 vaccines for the week,” she said, we’ll open up 800 appointments. When those are filled, we won’t take any more appointments until we get more vaccine.

“We’re getting rid of (the vaccine) as quickly as we receive it, but we don’t receive enough to have a full clinic 5 days a week in both locations,” Harrison said. If the weekly shipment contains 200 or 400 doses, she said, those can be administered in the regular clinics the health department operates.

One local organization is offering help to the community with getting registered for the vaccine. Lucette Mercer, deputy director of Green Rural Redevelopment Inc. (GRRO) told WIZS Monday that the organization has 30 community health workers who can assist people getting registered online for COVID-19 vaccines.

In addition to Granville and Vance counties, GRRO also serves Warren, Franklin, Nash, Wake, Durham and Pitt counties. These community health workers have remote online access and can help with online registrations. Call 252.430.7999 for more information.