GVPH Director Harrison President-Elect Of National Health Officials Group

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Granville-Vance Public Health director Lisa Harrison is the new president-elect of the National Association of City and County Health Officials.

Harrison served in 2020-21 as vice-president of the group, and officially began her term as president-elect on July 1, 2021. She will serve as president in 2022-2023. The NACCHO 360 annual conference was held virtually June 29-July 1.

“I had the great privilege to offer remarks as the incoming president for the National Association of County and City Health Officials,” Harrison told WIZS News Thursday. She said she addressed the conference attendees on its last day, following discussion of a multitude of important topics by a “national audience of public health practitioners, researchers, elected officials, and people as passionate about community service as we are here at GVPH.”

“There are so many things for public health to be proud of, and relentless about, in the time that feels like a brief pause between vaccination efforts and continued social justice work,” Harrison said.

She joined Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky to facilitate a panel discussion during the conference that featured health directors, academic leaders and CDC representatives to address health disparities and structural racism. “She (Walensky) did a marvelous job thanking the public health workforce for their long-standing dedication and knowledge,” Harrison noted.

“The work ahead is as big and as hard as the pandemic response – the work ahead is about continuing to build community and reduce structural barriers to access to health and wellness in all forms. I believe strongly in our work together and am delighted to be having these conversations on a national stage to connect what is working and more quickly be able to address what is not,” Harrison said.

Harrison joined GVPH in 2012 and has worked in public health for more than 24 years. She was director of the Office of Healthy Carolinians and health education at the N.C. Division of Public Health; she was the 2015 president of the N.C. Public Health Association, among other leadership roles in the field.

“The public health infrastructure is clearly in need of some updates and I’m thrilled to be co-chairing a N.C. Institute of Medicine Task Force here in North Carolina that begins later this month to help guide the thinking and the focused needs about how to wisely build the infrastructure of the 21st century public health approach,” Harrison explained. “We know there are other viruses that will emerge over time, and we will be ready to find them quickly, stop them in their tracks, and educate the public quickly about the steps they can take to stay healthy and keep our communities healthy and strong,” she said.

Her activities and accomplishments in the field of public health make her a perfect match for the leadership role Harrison has as president-elect and, next year, president, to further the association’s mission – to improve the health of communities by strengthening and advocating for local health departments.

Based in Washington, D.C, NACCHO is the only organization dedicated to serving every local health department in the nation, according to information published on its webpage. It serves 3,000 local health departments and is the leader in providing cutting-edge, skill-building, professional resources and programs, seeking health equity, and supporting effective local public health practice and systems.

New Hiking Trail Opens In Stem, Thanks To Volunteers and Tar River Land Conservancy

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Southern Granville County has 1.5 more miles of hiking trails to explore, thanks to the Tar River Land Conservancy.

The Roberts Chapel Conservation Area opened recently, the result of lots of work by volunteers who constructed it over the past 18 months, according to press information from TRLC director Derek Halberg.

Halberg said 109 individuals spent 1,100 hours building trails, installing fences, constructing footbridges and removing trash at the site, located at 792 Roberts Chapel Road in Stem.

Stem Mayor Casey Dover expressed appreciation for the collaboration with TRLC to open the trail in the community. “We look forward to working together on more trail projects in southern Granville County,” Dover said.

Hikers may use the new trail year-round during daylight hours. “The trail winds through scenic woods and across several several streams,” Halberg said.

There are message boards with rules, maps and trail guides at the trailhead parking area, he said.

TRLC acquired the property in 2019 to limit residential growth around Camp Butner and to protect streams that flow into Lake Holt and Falls Lake, nearby reservoirs that supply drinking water to Granville and Wake counties.

The land purchase and subsequent improvements to create the hiking trail was made possible by financial contributions and support of numerous partners, including the National Guard Bureau, NC National Guard, NC Department of Justice, Granville County Commissioners, the towns of Butner and Stem, the cities of Creedmoor and Raleigh and Universal Leaf North America, U.S., Inc.

Granville Commission Chair Sue Hinman said “we are thrilled to have the Roberts Chapel Conservation Area open and look forward to the citizens of Granville County and surrounding areas utilizing this wonderful trail.”

Lindsay Efird, a manager at Universal Leaf, said the partnership with TRLC makes a positive impact in areas where the company’s employees live and provides “a public place where individuals can go to see conservation work first-hand. Over the last year we have all witnessed the importance of spending time with friends and family and what better way to do that than to spend time together outdoors,” Efird said.

Butner Mayor Terry Turner said TRLC led the way to open the Roberts Chapel trail to the public. “This trail will be another great place for the citizens of Butner to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.”

TRLC is a nationally accredited land trust that preserves natural resources across eight counties in North Carolina, including Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren, Person, Edgecombe, Halifax and Nash. Since 2000, TRLC has protected 22,307 acres of land and 189 miles of streams.

To learn more, visit www.tarriver.org.

Oxford’s Elmwood Cemetery To Have Bi-Annual Cleanup In August

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The City of Oxford is giving Elmwood Cemetery its bi-annual cleaning beginning the week of Aug. 2. Individuals with family members or loved ones buried in the cemetery should take time before the cleanup begins to remove mementos and other items that have been placed on the graves, according to information issued by the city’s executive office.

Items that will be moved include:

  • Dead, or dying, flowers, shrubs or trees
  • Any items not permanently affixed to a headstone
  • Bushes or shrubs that obstruct the view of the headstone or footstone
  • Toys, glass jars, cans or other trinkets
  • Any object that could become a projective if struck by a mower or is deemed a safety hazard to others

For more information, contact the public works department at 919.603.1511.

 

The Local Skinny! Dr. Cindy Bennett, Vance Co. Schools, Sworn In

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Today is day one for Dr. Cindy Bennett as Vance County Schools superintendent. Bennett said Wednesday she would be sworn in this morning at the Vance County Schools Administration Building on Graham Avenue.

It begins her seventh year with Vance County Schools.

At the regular meeting of the Vance County Board of Education on June 14, the board voted unanimously to select Dr. Bennett.

Dr. Anthony Jackson is departing to become superintendent in Chatham County, NC. He was here for six years.

Immediately after the school board appointed Bennett, she said at the meeting, “Thank you so much. Madam chair, to all the board members, Dr. Jackson, I can’t thank you enough for this honor. I love this community. This community is my home, and I will do everything within my power to serve the children in this community and to give them all that they deserve. Thank you again. I am humbled.”

In a press release from Vance County Schools later the night of the meeting, Board Chair Linda Cobb said, “Dr. Bennett is dedicated to our community, our schools and most importantly our students. We have been impressed with her work in Vance County Schools over the last six years. Her qualifications and experience beyond Vance County will allow her to boldly lead our district. We look forward to supporting her, working together towards ongoing excellence.”

TownTalk: White Coat Ceremony Officially Welcomes Two Residents To MPH-Duke Partnership

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According to Maria Parham Health CEO Bert Beard, it took almost four years to come to fruition, but two new physicians donned their white coats during a ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the beginning of a residency program that focuses on providing care in rural areas.

“This is a tremendous day for Maria Parham,” Beard told the gathering of local government officials and community leaders during the white coat ceremony Wednesday afternoon, hosted by MPH.

“What would it be for Duke and Maria Parham to partner on a rural track family medicine program that could facilitate health care in rural areas of North Carolina for the future,” he recalled during opening remarks.

“This is a small start, but it’s a big step,” Beard said, adding that providing appropriate medical care in rural areas is not just a concern locally, but an issue that is getting more and more attention nationally.

The first year, residents will spend a good deal of their time learning and working at Duke University Hospital and Duke Regional in Durham. In years two and three, their time will shift to Maria Parham and the Oxford office of Duke Primary Care, according to information released earlier about the program.

Dr. Tom Koinis, a physician in the Oxford office, serves as program director. Dr. Alexa Namba, once a resident Koinis worked with in 2015 on a weekly basis at the Oxford office, also will play a role in the new partnership.

As the residents who donned their white coats on Wednesday – Dr. Rashmi Saincher and Dr. Jessica Sanders – begin their work in the program, Koinis gave them a heads-up: “as you move into the physician’s world, you’ll be a major part of that community in many different ways.”

Pastor Frank Sossamon offered a blessing of hands during the ceremony. “We don’t realize sometimes how important our hands are,” Sossamon said. Hands speak, they affirm, they comfort. And they heal, he said. His blessing called for the physicians’ hands to do all those things for the patients they see in this community.

Saincher comes from a small town outside Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She studied medicine at St. George’s University in London and then completed clinicals in Philadelphia. Koinis said she is happy to leave all the cement of big cities for a return to small-town life.

Sanders is a native of Houston, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas-Austin and worked for several years in New York City before realizing through volunteer work that her passion lay in helping people. She returned to her hometown and was admitted to the McGovern Medical School, part of UT-Houston.

Koinis said the local team submitted a 200-page application to be considered for the program, and the application was approved on Jan. 29, 2021. The national “resident match day” occurred on Jan. 30, so “we got in just in the nick of time,” Koinis said. Of the 20 “excellent applicants” that were interviewed, Saincher and Sanders were selected.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to be able to lead this residency as it starts off,” he added, noting that it took a team effort to get the program off the ground. “And support from ‘big’ Duke has been really, positive, really strong.”

The residency program should be proof positive to this community and region, Beard noted earlier in the ceremony, that “our partnership with Duke is very strong and we’re going to advance it.”

TownTalk Broadcast including the Entire Ceremony

 

United Way Allocates $31,500 in Local Grants

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The United Way of Vance County awarded $31,500 in grant allocations to seven local agencies Wednesday.

Local advocate Tommy Haithcock sent a picture of those in attendance at the United Way office at 715 S. Garnett Street in Henderson. Haithcock presently serves as the president of United Way, and Desiree Brooks is first vice president.

The pair told WIZS News the receiving organizations are:

Community Partners of Hope, Inc.

Franklin, Granville, Vance Smart Start

Life Line Outreach, Inc.

Vance County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council

Acts of Vance County, Inc.

Legacy Human Services, Inc.

Harold Sherman Adult Day Center

It is an annual grant cycle.  However, 2020 was special.  Haithcock told WIZS News, “Last year we received money from United Way International to give away for covid relief.  We gave it away too, but we only gave away what we had raised once.”

The United Way assists local, non-profit agencies that seek to provide assistance to disadvantaged citizens in Vance and Warren counties in the areas of basic needs, health and education.

Granville Schools Announce More Leadership Changes As Streamlining, Consolidation Efforts Continue

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The Granville County Board of Education approved more leadership changes at a called meeting on Tuesday, June 29, further consolidating programs and services at the district level as it continues to focus on efficiency and making best use of resources.

The board also announced that Kevin Ferrell will be the new principal at South Granville High School. Ferrell began his education career at the Creedmoor school in 1994 as a social studies teacher. He returns to the district after serving nine years as an assistant principal in Wake County.

Two assistant principals also were named at the meeting. Shana Harris will serve at Butner-Stem Elementary and Sophelia McMannen will be at SGHS, according to information from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent for the district and public information officer.

In addition to these school-based changes, the board also approved staffing changes to the district’s leadership structure. “The changes made represent significant reduction in staff and reassignment of duties which will increase efficiencies, reduce costs and better strategically position the district for the future,” Winborne stated.

The board approved the changes, which includes elimination of one assistant superintendent position, as well as reducing from 16 to 12 director-level positions, all based at the district offices. The curriculum & instructions and student services departments underwent a restructure as part of the process and additional district-based positions were shifted to school-based positions, Winborne stated. The district will use grant funding to pay for school-based positions, he added.

The following changes in personnel and roles were approved:

  • Lauren Curtis – Senior Director of Student Services (Central Services)
  • Anikko Gorham – Senior Director of Exceptional Children’s Program (Central Services)
  • Shelby Hunt – Grants Manager and Special Projects Manager (Central Services)
  • Michele Robinson – Northern Regional Lead (based at CG Credle ES)
  • Tonya Thomas – Southern Regional Lead (based at SGHS)
  • Pauletta Thompson – Senior Director of Federal Programs and Strategic innovation (Central Services)
  • Felisha Whitaker – Director of Elementary Education (Central Services)
  • Angie Salisbury – Director of Career and Technical Education and Secondary Education

In the press release, Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean stated, “Just as our board is taking on the difficult task of school reorganization, so too must we streamline staffing in our central services.  These changes will also eliminate our reliance on state and local dollars. We must capture efficiencies and reduce staffing while maintaining quality support and excellent services for our students and staff.”

The Local Skinny! Home and Garden Show

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Thank you for listening to WIZS Radio. Your Community Voice!!

The Local Skinny! broadcast for June 30, 2021.

Each Wednesday, the Local Skinny! features Vance County Cooperative Extension Agents Wayne Rowland and Paul McKenzie for the Home and Garden Show.

Home and Garden Audio