‘Tis The Season To Find That “Perfect” Tree

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Now that the calendar is turned to December, plenty of folks will turn their focus toward getting their homes decorated for the holidays – and for so many, that includes choosing the perfect Christmas tree.

But “perfect” is in the eye of the beholder, and according to Vance County Cooperative Extension Technician Wayne Rowland, there are a few things to consider before you head out to a favorite local tree farm, civic club or charitable organization’s lot or retailer to start your search.

For starters, where will the tree be located? If you’re going to be able to view the tree from all angles, then a #1 Premium grade tree may be your best bet. If it’s going to be nestled into a corner, you can opt for a less expensive choice, knowing that you can hide blemishes or wonky-shaped branches from view.

Almost every county in North Carolina produces Christmas trees of one species or another, and many N.C. grown Fraser firs find their way into homes across the country at this time of year.

But, as Rowland reminds us, these trees are living things, and they require care to keep them looking their best over the course of the coming month.

Keep plenty of water in the tree stand once a cut tree is in place. The balled-and-burlap option also needs plenty of water, too, since you’ll be planting it outside later.

Just make sure that the species you’ll be planting is one that will live in our particular climate, Rowland said.

White and Virginia pines, as well as cedars and Lebanon cypress are good choices for balled-and-burlap options, he said.

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: The Seeds of Entitlement

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Jamon Glover, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

We wrap up our Supporting Father Involvement series by talking about kids with entitlement and how to handle it.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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TownTalk: Around Old Granville – National Register of Historic Places in Old Granville pt. 1

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Bill Harris and Mark Pace dig deep into the places around Old Granville County that are a part of the National Register of Historic Places.

(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)

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The Local Skinny! Farm City Lunch Recap

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Behind every juicy, red tomato, tender ear of corn, and plumped out butterbean are untold hours of planting, weeding, watering and spraying. Those gardens don’t take care of themselves, after all.

At last week’s Farm City lunch at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, Elvin Eaton shared some insights about farming and how he and his wife, Madeline, got their Fairport Farms up and running in Granville County.

Vance County Cooperative Extension Horticulture and Field Crops Agent Michael Ellington said Eaton brought a powerful message to the 140 or so folks gathered for the annual event, and it all tied in to promoting awareness that gardening and farming start small.

Sort of like planting a seed and then watching that seed grow, flourish and then produce something wonderful.

“Farming as a business,” Ellington said.  Many people forget it’s a business – that was Eaton’s key message. And every successful business needs a business plan, a map to get from a starting point to a destination.

The Eatons started small – really small, like microgreens small. From there, they branched out with some high tunnels to extend the growing season and now with hydroponics – that’s growing things in water and not soil.

Forming partnerships with agencies such as the local cooperative extension, FSA and others, the Eatons are using innovative techniques to make Fairport Farms successful.

In fact, the Eatons were named the 2025 Small Farmers of the Year during N.C. A&T State University’s Small Farms Week.

Ellington said oftentimes, when people think of farmers and farming, they envision the acres and acres of row crops or tobacco and lots of mechanized equipment. But backyard gardeners and small-scale farmers are successfully bringing their produce to market.

The vendors who come to the farmers market contribute to the concept of the market being a hub of activity, and Ellington said that’s by design.

“We want to create a community center,” he said, “where the community can gather, learn and grow – coming together through partnerships.”

The market isn’t just a spot to buy and sell vegetables – it’s a place where new gardeners can get help from master gardeners as they plant and cultivate plots in the community garden. The market campus is a backdrop for educational opportunities. Local beekeepers and gardeners can design and install pollinator-friendly gardens.

“We’re thinking of the market as a backdrop where people can learn and then go put (those things) into practice.”

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TownTalk: Festive Events with Dr. Alice Sallins

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If you’re looking for a little holiday cheer to transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas, look no further than Saturday, Nov. 29 for the 10th annual Tidings of Comfort and Joy performance at McGregor Hall.

The doors open at 3:30 p.m. for the 4 p.m. performance, and Dr. Alice Sallins with the Vance County Arts Council promises there will be a good mix of returning groups and newcomers to help folks get into the holiday spirit.

“We want to get you in the mood to celebrate” the season, she said.  The arts council wanted to bring a free event to the community “that would bring a bit of joy” to those who were sad during the Christmas season.

In addition to Clearview’s Dr. Abidan Shah sharing the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke, there will be music from Evelyn Couch, Tia “Catillia” Cheek, Jimmy & the Sound Barriers and Eugene Taylor & Jimmy Williamson, among others.

The Henderson Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, Dec. 6.

“We’re looking for a good turnout,” Sallins said. There are more than 100 entries, and she said there are a half dozen or more new businesses and schools that are planning to join the parade this year.

The parade begins at 2:30 p.m., so spectators should grab a good vantage point along the parade route. All entries in the parade should be lined up by 1:30 p.m. or so – no later than 2:15 p.m., she said.

Get more information at https://vanceartscouncil.com/.

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TownTalk: Filing Period Opens Dec. 1 For March 2026 Primary

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The filing period for the March 3, 2026 primary begins in one week.

The filing period begins at 12 noon on Monday, Dec. 1 and ends at 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 19. In Vance County, candidates may file to run for sheriff, as well as seats on the board of commissioners and the board of elections, register of deeds and clerk of court.

The March primary is a lead-in to the November mid-term elections.

Candidates for the local offices must file in person at the Vance County Board of Elections and pay the associated filing fees in full, either by check or money order. The filing fee constitutes 1 percent of the base annual salary for the position.

Fees range from $72 for seats on the board of education to $1,275.09 for sheriff.

The three seats on the Vance County Board of Commissioners are districts 3,4 and 7, currently held by Charisse Fain, Dan Brummitt and Tommy Hester, respectively.

Hester, most recently elected in 2010, has said previously that he would not seek re-election; Fain was appointed in February 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Sean Alston, who resigned his seat after taking job as a magistrate in Warren County.

Brummitt was elected in 2006.

The seats on the Vance County Board of Education that will be included in the upcoming primary are those in districts 1,2,6 and 7.

Those seats are currently held by Gloria Jefferson White, Randy Oxendine, Omega Perry and Ruth Hartness, respectively.

Clerk of Superior Court the Hon. Henry Gupton is retiring at the end of the calendar year – there’s a retirement celebration scheduled for mid-December – and Judge John Dunlow will appoint an individual to fill Gupton’s unexpired term.

Cassandra Neal is the current register of deeds in Vance County. Neal ran unopposed in the 2022 election.

Learn more at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-elections/

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The Local Skinny! Rebuilding Hope Gets $10K Grant From Coastal Credit Union Foundation

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Rebuilding Hope has received a $10,000 grant from Coastal Credit Union Foundation.

The local nonprofit made the announcement in its most recent newsletter. The foundation provides grants to organizations that make an impact in their communities by offering access to resources and that fit the foundation’s affordable housing initiative.

Coastal Credit Union’s local Branch Manager Karen Jones encouraged leaders to apply for the grant, according to information in the newsletter.

Emily Nail, executive director of the credit union’s foundation, presented the grant award on Nov. 20 to RHI volunteer Robbie Parham and co-director Tom Wille.

Send an email to info@rebuildinghopeinc.org if you’d like to be added to the mailing list.

Visit www.Rebuildinghopeinc.org to learn about all the opportunities available for requesting help or to make a donation or provide a service.

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