TownTalk: Resource Fair At VGCC April 27

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Organizers for an upcoming community resource fair are pleased with how planning is going so far, and they are predicting a win-win situation for all involved – for those who provide resources and for those who are seeking information.

Huff Consulting of Oxford, along with partners Vance-Granville Community College and the Henderson-Vance and Granville County Chambers of Commerce have been planning for months.

Michele Walker, Huff Consulting’s sales and account manager, said there are 65 vendors – nonprofits, for-profit companies, churches and more – lined up to participate in the April 27 event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the VGCC Civic Center on the Main Campus in Henderson.

“We’re very fortunate to have the community coming together for this,” Walker said on TownTalk.

Huff Consulting is a recruiting firm that works with a wide range of employees – from day laborers to corporate executives, Walker said, adding that her company has recognized the struggles that face many in the community. “Everybody has a need,” she said. And this resource festival is a way to bridge the gap between available resources and the folks who are looking for them.

Sandra Wilkerson, president of the Henderson-Vance Chamber, said this coordinated effort across county lines fits perfectly with the local Chamber’s 2023 theme “Year of Collaboration.”

The resource fair participants not only will be able to provide information to attendees, but they’ll also have the chance to build collaborations among themselves.

Having so many different segments of the community and region under one roof for the day is sure to create connections, said Lauren Roberson, director of the Granville County Chamber.

“We’re super excited to be a part of it and help in any way we can,” Roberson said.

In addition to sharing information with the community, Roberson said another goal is to shine a light on all the opportunities within the whole Kerr-Tar region, which includes Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties.

“You’re going to get way more done collaborating than working against each other,” she said. “We’re going to succeed by all working together.”

If people can live and work in the same area, that means there’s a greater chance that they’ll spend more time – and dollars – in that same area.

“We want to keep people in the Kerr-Tar region,” Roberson noted.

Don’t fret if you’re interested in coming out to the festival but have young children in tow – VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel said you’re in luck: VGCC’s Science Department is having an event that day as part of the NC Science Festival. There will be a Kid’s Corner where children can “come in and have fun with science,” Cissel noted.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Farmers’ Market Set To Open April 15

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will open Saturday, April 15 for the 2023 season and Market Manager Pat Ayscue welcomes visitors and shoppers to come ccheck out all the vendors beginning at 8 a.m.The market will have its annual Spring Fling on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ayscue said.

The vegetable and plant growers will have a good variety of slips and flowering plants for the home and garden, and the craft vendors will have wreaths and other handcrafted items for the home and office.

Other vendors will have beef, pork, chicken, eggs, produce and more from the farmers along with those strawberries we have been waiting for. Homemade pies and cakes, whole or sliced  – just right for an after-dinner treat or for a special occasion.

Fresh-cut flowers will be on hand, Ayscue said, giving two green thumbs-up for the beginning of the growing season.

And before or after shopping, Ayscue invites everyone to stay awhile and walk through the Memorial Gardens, located on the grounds of the farmers’ market.

 

Warren April 13 Open House To Discuss Revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps

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-Information courtesy of Charla Duncan, Warren County government

The NC Department of Public Safety and Warren County will host a public open house on April 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to provide an opportunity for citizens and other stakeholders to see the result of the revised flood insurance rate maps.

The meeting will be held at the Warren County Armory Civic Center, 501 US Highway 158 Business East, Warrenton.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to review new flood hazard areas, ask questions about the revised studies and understand the requirements for submitting appeals or comments to the revised studies.

County and municipal employees will be on hand to help residents locate their properties from the flood hazard data and determine their level of flood risk. Representatives from the N.C. Floodplain Mapping Program will be available to answer questions about the hazard data update process, flood insurance coverage and floodplain management.

Impacted residents will be receiving mailed notifications from the Warren County Planning & Zoning Department.

For more information about the flood map changes, contact NCFMP Outreach Planner Milton Carpenter at 919.825.2302.

The Local Skinny! Upcoming Events In Granville County

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Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen has a heap of activities lined up for spring all across the county, from barbecue competitions to gardening expos. Find one – or more – that suit your interests.

Jimbo’s Backyard BBQ Competition takes place Saturday, April 8 at The Barn at Vino in Stem. General admission is $10. There will be all different types of activities taking place during the competition for visitors to enjoy, including live music, food trucks and a multitude of vendors. Allen spoke with Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! to spotlight a few of the events taking place.

Here’s a snapshot of upcoming events:

Saturday, April 22 – the 2nd annual Gardeners Expo, sponsored by The Granville Gardeners. More than 1,200 people attended last year’s free event, and Allen said this year’s event could be even bigger. Visit www.thegranvillegardeners.org to learn more. The event will be held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, Highway 15, Oxford from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 – Alive After Five kicks off the 2023 season with the Konnection Band in downtown Oxford from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Head on down to Littlejohn Street and enjoy the first of three concerts sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, April 29 – Oxford Main Street Arts & Wine Festival, downtown Oxford from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This free event will feature live demonstrations by a number of artists, as well as food vendors and activities for the kids. Tickets for the wine-tasting are available for purchase at The Hub on Main. Visit their Facebook page to learn how.

Saturday, April 29 – Central Highland Games, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Children’s Home, Oxford. It’s all things Scottish throughout the day, as kilted athletes demonstrate just a few of the unique Highland games. There will be bagpipe bands, Highland dance demonstrations and food vendors. The cost is $20 for parking, with all proceeds going to the children’s home. And for a $10 donation, you can try your hand at some of the games yourself.

Check out www.visitgranvillenc.com for a complete schedule of events.

 

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Smart Start

TownTalk: Week Of The Young Child Events

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Franklin Granville Vance Partnership for Children is sponsoring a variety of activities this week to observe The Week of the Young Child, but FGV Partnership Development Coordinator Garry Daeke has a simple suggestion for parents to celebrate all year long: “Love your kids, smile at them every chance you get and spend all the time you can with them.”

Daeke was a guest on TownTalk and provided details for upcoming events in the three-county area for children ages 0-5.

Wednesday, April 5 is “Literacy Day,” and FGV Partnership representatives will be stationed outside the three Walmarts in Henderson, Oxford and Louisburg to sign children up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

“Hopefully, we’ll enroll a lot of children,” he said, adding that they’ll be giving out books to children under 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents of children between 0 and 5 don’t have to wait until Wednesday to sign up to participate – Daeke said most of the applications FGV processes are completed online. It is a simple process, the result of which is each child under 5 getting a book a month in the mail.

He said almost half of the eligible children in the three counties are enrolled in the program, which, for a rural area, is pretty darned good.

Thursday, April 6 is Safe Kids Day in Vance County, and anyone who has a car seat installed in their vehicle can stop by the Henderson Fire Department on Dabney Drive to make sure it’s installed properly.

Daeke said data shows that, despite our best efforts, most car seats need some adjustment to be properly installed. Inspectors will be set up beside the fire department to make sure the seats are safely installed.

There also will be some seats available for purchase as well that day, he said.

On Monday, April 3, about 20 students from a couple of local day cares came to “plant” a pinwheel garden outside the FGV offices, in conjunction with the  observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

 

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Vietnam Vets Welcomed, Honored, Remembered During March 29 Ceremony

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By all accounts, the ceremony held at American Legion Post 60 Wednesday hit all the right notes: about 50 people gathered at noon to remember, support and pay tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War.

Britany Wilson spearheaded the event, and she told WIZS News that at least 18 veterans of the Vietnam War were present. “We honored each veteran personally,” Wilson said, with certificates and pins.

“I was very pleased that so many showed up,” she said, adding that the goal was to extend appreciation for their military service.

North Carolina author and military veteran Samuel Conner was the guest speaker. His book, “My Motorcycle Ride Across the Country” is one thing that has helped him in his healing process.

Unlike returning troops from earlier wars, Vietnam-era veterans typically did not get the hero’s welcome.

The Vietnam Veterans Association, Gentiva Hospice – where Wilson works as manager of volunteer services – and Jimmy Dixon all partnered to make sure this event was a success.

Wilson hosts a monthly coffee social at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month for any veterans in the area.

The next gathering is this Saturday, April 1, at Sadie’s Coffee Corner.

But beginning in May, American Legion Post 60 is opening its doors for the monthly meeting.

“They (veterans) have a bond. It’s just a time for them to come and share that camaraderie that they miss,” Wilson said.

The post is located at 110 E. Spring St., Henderson.

Jack Richardson 2022 Citizen of the Year; H-V Chamber Banquet

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Jack Richardson won 2022 Citizen of the Year honors at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce membership meeting and banquet Thursday evening.

2021 Citizen of the Year Mark Hopper presented Richardson the award, noting the tremendous number of volunteer positions Richardson has held locally. He has been “an advocate for students and he has impacted so many lives,” Hopper said. Church, Area Christians Together in Service, the men’s homeless shelter were all described as areas Richardson has earned love and respect.

Hopper said Richardson has “been in every leadership role at his church (First Methodist) and he’s been on all the committees and has helped build handicap ramps and he’s done the live nativity scene of the church.”

He said Jack Richardson is “the epitome of what citizens should be doing to make our community better.”

Richardson was on stage as it began to sink in. He told WIZS afterwards, “I did not know.” He said, “It’s numbing almost.” He said he could not have dreamt this scenario.

Fifteen minutes earlier when he was on stage, he said it was very humbling. “I’m not sure I deserve this,” he said, but “I will gladly accept.” He said, “I enjoy working at the schools and the shelter and ACTS, and I’ve been doing these things for many years and I will hopefully be able to continue for many more. I thank you very much.”

L-R: H-V Chamber President Sandra Wilkerson; 2022 Citizen of the Year Jack Richardson; 2023 Chamber Board Chair Bert Long

Earlier in the evening, 2022 board chair Ronald Bennett provided a report to the 350 or so people in attendance, calling 2022 “A Year of Community.” Next, 2023 Chamber board chair Bert Long expanded on the present term as “A Year of Collaboration,” to the crowd inside the Vance-Granville Community College civic center.

Bennett said he saw 2022 as being about different “ships.” “Partnerships, relationships, friendships, friendships that last a lifetime,” he said.

Three hundred fifty members strong, Bennett said 2022 for the Chamber was “busy and quick.” He spoke of the strong financial position of the chamber and the staff. He said, “Most importantly we are strong because of you,” speaking about and directly to the member base. “We thank you for your support.”

Long, of HG Reynolds, spoke and said each chamber year has a theme. He spent some time pondering to help come up with this year’s theme, naming 2023 “A Year of Collaboration.”

The idea is to propel the business community forward, work together or cooperate.

Long said, “In the current environment, working together can go a long way. We need conflict, but hear me out. We need healthy conflict. We must have conversation and spend time to understand each other, and we can’t learn and grow without it.”

“How,” he asked. “It starts by listening. Sometimes business leadership is looked to for answers, but there also needs to be respect. Once we listen, we must respond in a respectful manner. The tone is important.”

Rather than saying “Yes, but…” Long said, “What if we could say ‘yes and.’”

That could make a difference because as Long noted, everyone has a unique perspective but may need to put themselves in the other person’s shoes because that person has also had defining experiences and perspective as well.

We must work at it, he said, and celebrate the success of others.

Long concluded, “Take some time to connect. Explore how you can collaborate. It could be with someone in this very room.”

Smart Start

FGV Partnership For Children Announces ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities April 1-7

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Since 1971, early childhood education proponents have celebrated The Week of the Young Child. The FGV Partnership for Children invites the community to help mark the special week – April 1-7 – by participating in numerous activities, all with children in mind.

FGV Partnership for Children’s Development Coordinator Garry Daeke will be a guest on Monday’s TownTalk, and he shared the schedule of events that will take place, including one that will be held Saturday, April 1.

A virtual kindergarten transition forum will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Tanya Daniels, M.Ed. will present “Belonging, Believing and Becoming of Tomorrow’s Children.” Register at www.fgvsmartstart.org.

Additional activities include:

  • Monday, April 3—Pinwheels, kick off April Prevent Child Abuse NC.  Childcare programs (New Beginnings and Teach-A-Tot) will visit FGV Smart Start and ‘plant’ a pinwheel garden, along with indoor activities and snacks.  Time: 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4—Health and Fitness Day will organize healthy snacks and outdoor play for children at What A Blessing Child Care and Franklinton United Methodist Church Day Care in Franklin County. Time: 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 5—Literacy Day will set up Imagination Library enrollments at Wal Mart in each county and will be enrolling children from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 6–Safe Kids Day (Vance County) Safe Kids will set up at Dabney Drive Fire station from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and provide child safety seat inspections and installation.

The purpose of The Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.