Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Saturday, Oct. 25 Is ‘Pumpkin Day’ At the Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

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Saturday, Oct. 25 is Pumpkin Day at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. From 9 a.m. to 12 noon, pumpkins and mums will be raffled off every 15 minutes, so be sure to stop by for a chance to win!

According to Market Manager Pat Ayscue, there will be plenty of pumpkin-themed activities for the kids to enjoy, including using cookie cutters to create their own unique style of fall masterpiece.

EBT is accepted and matched with Double Bucks as long as funds are available.  Children still get a $5 token each visit through October.

The market is filling up with fall produce including turnip salad, cabbage and broccoli, not to mention other goodie like local honys and fresh pies and pasture-raised pork, chicken and lamb.

There are plenty of handcrafted treasures including quilts, wooden ware, pottery and holiday wreaths, perfect for gift-giving or decorating your home.

Come on out for Pumpkin Day – you’ll be glad you did.

The market hours are Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. through Dec. 13.

26-Year-Old Charged With Murder

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— from the office of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame

On October 9, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., deputies from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Island Creek Road regarding a domestic situation. Upon arrival, deputies located a male victim, later identified as 26-year-old Delfine Lowder Sr., suffering from a stab wound. Life-saving measures were performed on Mr. Lowder, Sr, who later succumbed to his injuries.

The victim’s wife, identified as 26-year-old Queen Allah, was identified as the suspect. Allah has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection to the incident. Ms. Allah was processed and taken to the Vance County Detention Center where she was turned over to the detention staff. She is currently being held without bond.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is actively investigating the case.

Maria Parham Health ‘Trunk Or Treat’ Oct. 28

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This is the fifth year that Maria Parham Health is hosting its Trunk or Treat for the community, but it’s the first time that costumed kiddos will get to walk through instead of riding through in vehicles.

Hospital organizers say they’re looking forward to being able to dial up the fun by interacting more closely with trick-or-treaters from the community during the event, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Medical Plaza, 120 Charles Rollins Rd.

Originally launched as a drive-through in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trunk or Treat  provided a safe, CDC-compliant way for children and families to celebrate Halloween. Trick-or treaters stayed in their vehicles while receiving candy from costumed staff and volunteers  stationed along a designated route.

“With the significant decrease in COVID cases in our area, we felt it was time to bring back that face-to-face community spirit,” said Donna Young, public information officer for Maria Parham  Health. “We’re excited to welcome families back in a more interactive and festive setting.”

This year, guests will park in the gravel lot behind the hospital and walk down to the Medical  Plaza at 120 Charles Rollins Rd., where the main event will take place. Hospital staff will decorate their vehicles and don creative costumes to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. In addition, community organizations are invited to join in by decorating their own vehicles and passing out treats.

Adding to the fun, live music will be provided by local band Man Up, who will entertain guests with spooky rock tunes that blend Halloween flair with a youthful energy.

The event promises to be a safe, family-friendly celebration full of treats, laughter, and community engagement — a tradition that continues to grow year after year.

For more information or to register your organization to participate, please contact Donna Young  at donna.young@lpnt.net.

TownTalk: ‘Break the Silence, Stop the Violence’ Event at Clearview Church Oct. 25

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So often, victims of domestic violence suffer in silence, too ashamed or embarrassed to seek help or support to lead them out of an awful situation. But Debbie Scott, domestic violence educator with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, wants them to know that they are not alone, and that help is just a phone call or a conversation away.

That’s the message of the 7th annual ‘Break the Silence, Stop the Violence’ domestic violence awareness event that is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. at Clearview Church in Henderson.

Scott and other victim advocates have planned an afternoon of speakers who work in law enforcement and advocacy to shed more light on domestic violence and where victims can go to get help.

In addition to several speakers lined up for the event, Scott said others will share their own experiences with domestic violence. “We will have two very powerful testimonies,” she said, adding that she considers it a blessing to work with strong advocates like the women who will share their stories to make a difference in the lives of others.

Thanks to a supportive community and a lot of hard work, Scott said the number of domestic violence or dispute calls coming into the Vance County 911 center dropped 11.5 percent from the previous year.

Between Oct. 1, 2024 and Oct. 1, 2025, 911 received 1,041 calls related to domestic violence or domestic disputes. The previous year’s total was 1,177. Sexual assaults dropped by 1 – from 46 to 45, but Scott said any step forward is progress.

“Our statistics in Vance County are changing,” Scott said. “We are changing the narrative…we can break the stigma. We can break the shame.”

The Oct. 25 program is going to be a combination of education, awareness and celebration, she said.

Contact Scott at 252.738.2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org

 

CLICK PLAY!

Community Information Series: GED/Second Chance Workshop Oct. 14

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The upcoming Community Information Series topic is a GED/Second Chance Workshop titled “It’s Never Too Late to Learn.”

The community is invited to attend the event on Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Baskerville Funeral Home chapel. The funeral home is located at 104 S. Chestnut St., Henderson.

Learn about opportunities to complete your GED, continue your education, and take the next step toward your goals. Representatives from TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers and Piedmont Community College will be available to share information on academic advising, career workshops, and free assistance with college applications, testing, and financial aid.

For more information, call 252.430.6824.

American Red Cross: Create An Escape Plan In Case Of Fire – And Then Practice!

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– information courtesy of the American Red Cross

During Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), the American Red Cross North Carolina Region reminds everyone of the dangers of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

“Home fires don’t wait for the right moment, but being prepared makes all the difference,” said Sharonne Hayes, the Red Cross regional Communications Manager of the North Carolina Region. “When a smoke alarm sounds, your family should be ready to act fast. Testing your smoke alarms and practicing your escape plan helps ensure your family knows what to do when every second matters.”

Here are a few tips for creating a home fire escape plan and practicing a 2-minute drill:

  • Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.
  • Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!
  • Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.
  • Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.
  • If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutesto get to safety. Time your fire drill and find out: What’s your escape time?
  • While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Smoke alarm safety:

  • Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
  • In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
  • Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Local Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers provide emotional support, financial assistance, and information to help families begin the process of recovery. Most of the 65,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are home fires.

For emergencies like home fires, our volunteers provide comfort during what can be the worst days of people’s lives. Learn how you can volunteer for our Disaster Action Team at redcross.org/DAT. Since October 2014, the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,479 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in neighborhoods across the country. Our local Sound the Alarm initiatives have helped save 87 lives across North Carolina by installing more than 83,600 free smoke alarms in high-risk communities. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.

If you need assistance, visit redcross.org/NC for a free smoke alarm installation.

NC Dept of Agriculture

Visit NC Farms Mobile App Helps Visitors Find Local Agritourism Destinations

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— information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services

 

People looking for fun agritourism activities this fall can now find statewide listings through the Visit NC Farms website as the platform transitions from a mobile app to expand access for farms and visitors. The website will also allow agritourism farms to update their event information quickly.

Visitors can find information, or farms can list information, at visitncfarms.com

Launched in 2018, the Visit NC Farms mobile app helped connect thousands of residents and visitors with local farms, farmers markets, food and drink experiences and agritourism destinations. The app provided a strong foundation for raising awareness of agritourism and local food across the state, which the website will build on.

“Interest in agritourism continues to grow and visitors have even more options today,” said Erica Calderon, agritourism marketing specialist. “Visit NC Farms has always been about connecting people to the food, farms and communities that make North Carolina unique, and we hope visitors will check out the new website when they are looking to make plans.”

On-farm activities and experiences can be sorted by nine category filters, including farm visits, u-pick, farm stays, farmers markets, trails, workshops, sips + bites and special events. This helps make exploring simple and intuitive, Calderon said.

Other advantages of the new Visit NC Farms website include:

  • Free platform for farmers: Businesses and event hosts can be listed at no cost, opening the door for broader statewide participation.
  • Broader accessibility: Available on any device, without requiring a download.
  • Faster updates: Farms and event organizers can update listings quickly, ensuring accurate information year-round.
  • Industry support: Dedicated resources make it easier for agribusinesses to get listed and submit seasonal events.

 

“The app gave us a strong start, and now the website allows us to take that mission even further,” Calderon said.

The launch of the new website underscores NCDA&CS’s long-term investment in agritourism and agribusiness marketing. It maintains the program’s core mission while opening opportunities for more farms to share their stories and for more visitors to discover authentic North Carolina farm experiences.

For more information or to explore farm-fresh experiences, visit visitncfarms.com.