Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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If you grew up in Henderson and you’re of a certain age, you may have fond memories of spending summer afternoons in the children’s section of the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library. The children’s section was in the basement, and you could either go in at ground level or climb those impressive front steps and then head down the metal stairs just beyond the main Circulation Desk.

Either way, you ended up in a cool, quiet spot and peruse books to your heart’s content.

“Cool” is about the only similarity between the old library and the new Perry Memorial Library, however.

There are still plenty of books to choose from, and the AC is a welcome relief from the recent early-summer heat, to be sure.

But chances are good that there was NEVER an obstacle course set up for children to enjoy at the old library. It’s just one of the activities that Youth Services Director Melody Peters and team have planned, all in the name of summer fun.

The obstacle course, “Adventures in Imagination,” kicked off at 4 p.m. today, and Peters said she wanted to tap into children’s different learning styles. Some kids are tactile learners and like to touch and feel things to help them learn. Kinesthetic learners are active, so there’s a place for them to crawl and jump around as they progress along the obstacle course, picking their way across a river filled with crocodiles. This is where Peters stresses the word ‘imagination’ – the crocodiles, rocks and river are made of paper, she said.

The topic moves from imagination to science for the next couple of weeks, when participants will get to do some STEM activities with N.C. Cooperative Extension staff on Tuesday, July 9 and then on July 16 a geologist from the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is going to come talk about rocks. There will be some geodes to crack, so if your kids have never done that before, bring them to the library that day.

Family Story Time takes place on Sunday, July 28 and Peters has planned a special version of the Olympic Games for that afternoon event, complete with edible medals – think Oreos and Twizzler ropes.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn about all the programs and services available at your local library.

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NCDOT

NCDOT Seeks Input On Granville Roadway Projects

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Granville County residents are invited to provide feedback on some highway improvement projects on the NCDOT 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Plan.

Comments will be accepted until July 17 at the following link: https://live.metroquestsurvey.com/?u=oq8i8y#!/?p=web&pm=dynamic&popup=IntroPopup

Once the July 17 deadline has passed, NCDOT will release regional project scores and public feedback will be used to determine what amount of available funding will be allocated across North Carolina in the final approved STIP.

Projects included in the draft STIP plan for 2026-2035 for Granville County include:

  • Multi-use recreational trail connecting Durham to the Virginia state line via Butner, Stem, Oxford and Stovall.
  • Lane and shoulder improvements on Old NC 75 at the Federal Correction Complex in Butner.
  • Upgrade and improve traffic flow for the Old NC 75 intersection at Central Avenue/33rd Street in Butner.
  • Pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Central Avenue in Butner.
  • Widen NC Highway 56 to four lanes near the Interstate 85 interchange in Butner from 33rd Street to Holly Drive.
  • Extension of New Commerce Drive to connect to Knotts Grove Road in Oxford.
  • Road safety improvements on NC Highway 96 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue) from Industry Drive to 3rd Street in Oxford.
  • Pedestrian recreation trail construction totaling 3.8 miles alongside Lake Devin in Oxford.
  •  Multi-Use Recreational Path totaling 5 miles in Oxford to connect Oxford Park, Hilltop Village Shopping Center, Granville Medical Center and the Masonic Home for Children.
  • Intersection improvements on US Highway 158 in Oxford to include Tabbs Creek Road, on/off-ramps for Interstate 85, US Highway 158 Bypass/Industry Drive, and the Revlon facility entrance.
  • General aviation terminal building construction at the Henderson-Oxford Airport.
  • Modernize roadway and expand shoulder on US Highway 15 in Oxford from the US Highway 158 Bypass intersection to Chewning Road.

For more information about STIP, visit https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/stip/development/Pages/default.aspx

Warren Industrial Site Project Gets Golden LEAF Funding

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Warren County was recently awarded $42,500 from the Golden LEAF Foundation that will be used for the county’s Hwy 1 Industrial Site.

The Warren County grant is one of 10 projects totaling more than $4.4 million in grant funds.

“The need for industrial sites, especially in rural areas, is no longer a luxury but a necessity to meet demand,” said Ralph Strayhorn, Golden LEAF Board Chair. “We are excited to see how these projects will help prepare counties for new and expanding companies in North Carolina.”

Warren County Community and Economic Development Director Charla Duncan said the award will fund due diligence documentation used in marketing the site and recruiting interested companies. Due diligence includes completing a threatened and endangered species report; an initial historical, archaeological & cultural resource review; and a buildable area summary map, among other tasks.

“Having due diligence documentation in-hand increases our site competitiveness because it cuts down on the length of time a business needs to determine if a location is suitable for their company,” explained Duncan. “We are thankful to Golden LEAF for awarding us the funding to increase our Hwy 1 Industrial Site’s competitiveness by limiting the amount of time an interested company can get to market.”

The SITE Program offers resources to help communities identify potential sites for economic development, provides funding to complete due diligence on publicly controlled sites, and provides funding to extend public utilities to publicly controlled sites or to conduct clearing and rough grading of publicly owned sites. The three phases of the SITE Program are Identification, Due Diligence, and Development.

Since 1999, Golden LEAF has funded 2,280 projects totaling $1.3 billion supporting the mission of advancing economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities.

For more information about the Hwy 1 Industrial Site, email Charla Duncan, Director of Warren County Community and Economic Development, at charladuncan@warrencountync.gov.

To learn more about the Golden LEAF Foundation, visit https://goldenleaf.org/

The Local Skinny! Involving Churches In Mental Health Education

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A bill introduced by Rep. Frank Sossamon that would get the faith community invested and involved in tackling mental health issues has passed the House in an almost unanimous vote, leaving passage by the Senate and then the governor’s signature before it can become law.

Sossamon said a pilot program is all set to be rolled out in Vance and Granville counties, which he represents – he’s just waiting for the bill to clear the last two hurdles. If all goes well, the plan is to have a program kickoff in September.

“We’ve got our notebook ready with all the material,” Sossamon said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny! “But we can’t do anything until it’s signed into law.”

The bill creates three levels of certification that churches can participate in to help their congregations and the larger community with education about mental health topics and resources available in the area.

More than 30 churches and other faith-based organizations are already signed up, according to information in Sossamon’s monthly newsletter to constituents.

The first level includes an orientation for church leadership to become familiar with resources in the area, Sossamon said, as well as inviting a pastor to preach about a different topic each month. Hearing about, say, depression from the pulpit or in Sunday School classes may help to remove the stigma of mental illness, he said. “It demystifies mental illness…and is also liberating” for someone who may be suffering in silence. It lets them know they can have a conversation with their pastor, or others in the church. “That in itself brings healing,” Sossamon added.

The next level of certification involves a quarterly training on mental health and level 3 involves specialized mental health first aid training and training to recognize someone who may be in crisis or expressing suicidal thoughts.

“We are still in the midst of a mental health crisis in North Carolina,” said Representative Frank Sossamon. “This program provides a unique opportunity to tap into the compassion and dedication of our faith communities to support their fellow citizens. By leveraging the trust and connections that churches have within their communities, we can make a meaningful impact on mental health care and support.”

Pastors in Vance and Granville counties can sign up HERE to get on the official list and receive kickoff information and program updates. If you are outside of Granville County or Vance County and interested in participating in the program, keep on eye on Sossamon’s monthly newsletter to know when the program will expand to other counties.

Sossamon and bill sponsors urge all North Carolinians to contact their state senators and express their support for HB 982. By advocating for this bill, you can help ensure that it becomes law and that our faith communities are empowered to play a vital role in addressing the mental health crisis.

View the bill text here and see its progress here.

To learn more about the faith-based program or to sign up for Sossamon’s monthly newsletter, visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/zdADBdY.

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TownTalk: Introducing Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent Michael Ellington

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When Michael Ellington was getting his plant nursery up and running a few years ago in neighboring Granville County, he turned to a trusted source – his local cooperative extension agent – for guidance as he built his business literally from the ground up.

That agent was Johnny Coley, and Ellington said he provided so much more than technical support. “It opened my eyes to what extension could do for me” beyond those technical aspects.

And now, as the agricultural agent for Vance County, Ellington said he’s using a three-pronged approach to his new role: Support, Strengthen and Sustain.

Ellington and Vance County Cooperative Extension Director Dr. Wykia Macon shared their vision about how the various extension agents can help residents in a variety of ways.

“There’s a lot more to agriculture and I think people are finally starting to wake up to that,” Ellington, a Henderson native, said on Monday’s TownTalk. After he left Vance County, he got a master’s degree at Virginia Tech and then spent some time in Charlottesville before coming back to the area and starting Notta Farm and Nursery, LLC.

He got reacquainted with Vance County when he became a vendor at the regional farmers market; “I really enjoyed reaching out to customers” and engaging with them.

From there, it wasn’t a big stretch to decide that he could engage with others in the community as an extension agent.

He and Macon met at a vendor meeting, and that’s when the seed was, um, planted – pun intended.

Ellington said it’s important the folks know that extension is supportive of their efforts and “is still a great resource for them,” but he wants to strengthen agriculture’s roots and create new producers as they create greater sustainability in the county.

“We want people to know that extension is going to be there for them and will be for the long haul,” he said.

Macon said she and staff have plans to make the regional farmers market a place where people want to be, not just for a few minutes to pick up some fresh produce, but a place that provides other opportunities for young and senior residents alike.

As a vendor for several years at the farmers market, Ellington said he noticed that customers were either seniors or very young. And he wants to change that, “get people cooking again,” he said.

Whether with food trucks or by offering samples of local produce used for meal-making or just for snacks, extension has some plans to get more people to visit the market.

“There are exciting things coming,” Macon said.

In his first four weeks on the job, Ellington said he’s been out in the community he grew up in, shaking hands and getting to know people. He hopes to cultivate associations with other agencies and groups to promote awareness.

“It’s important for us to get out in front of people,” Macon added. Whether it’s a church group, a community center or an apartment, Macon said she and her staff want the community to know that the farmers market accepts senior vouchers and EBT, for example, and that 4-H isn’t just for kids who want to learn about farming – they can learn about STEM, robotics and more.

Visit https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu/ to learn more.

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Community Info Series: Insurance Coverage For Everyone

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Life insurance coverage is the topic of next installment in a community information series presented by Charlie Baskerville.

The session will be held on Tuesday, July 9 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Baskerville Funeral Home chapel, located at 104 S. Chestnut St. in Henderson.

Phyllis Elam, a licensed agent, will present information on different types of life insurance, why it’s important to have it and the types of coverage available.

Phone 252.430.6824 or 919.702.3653 to learn more about the information session.

Email elamchristine61@gmail.com to learn more about the services provided.

Rebuilding Hope’s Camp For Youth To Sharpen Construction Skills

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There’s still time to register your young people for Rebuilding Hope’s annual Kids’ Construction Camp that will take place in early August, but don’t wait too long to sign up – space is limited.

The three-day camp will run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Monday, Aug. 5 through Wednesday Aug. 7 at the Rebuilding Hope warehouse, located at 414 Raleigh Rd. It’s designed for young people in 3rd through 6th grades. The camp is limited to 30 participants.

Campers will get hands-on experiences with basic construction skills by rotating through different stations including Hammer and Nails, Electrical and Plumbing and Block Laying, as well as a take-home building project station and Bible Study.

Registration forms are available on the website at rebuildinghopeinc.org/or at the office on Raleigh Road.

 

 

Maria Parham Hosts Seminar On Sports Injuries Of The Knee

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– information courtesy of Donna Young, Maria Parham Marketing & Communication Coordinator

Maria Parham Health is hosting a seminar led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Messmer, titled “Sports Injuries of the Knee,” on Wednesday, July 17 in the hospital’s John T. Church Classroom. The seminar will begin at 1 p.m. and will include lunch.

Messmer will explore and discuss sports-related knee injuries, cover prevention strategies, detection methods, screening techniques, and advanced treatment options.

Whether you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or simply someone interested in maintaining optimal knee health, this seminar is open to everyone in the community.

“We’re thrilled to host Dr. Mark Messmer for this informative seminar,” said Bert Beard, Maria Parham Health CEO. “This event is a fantastic opportunity for individuals of all backgrounds to gain valuable insights into knee health and interact with a leading expert in orthopedic care.”

Attendees can expect to leave the seminar with a wealth of knowledge and practical tips for preventing and managing sports injuries of the knee.

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and don’t miss out on this enlightening session! To reserve your spot and find further details about the event, please visit https://www.mariaparham.com/event/54.