TownTalk: KVA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of State Championship

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The Kerr-Vance Academy Spartans boys’ basketball team takes to the court Friday evening in a  6 p.m. conference matchup with Halifax Academy, but the folks in the bleachers will also get a chance to relive a magical moment in the school’s history as the 2005 state champion basketball team is recognized.

It was 20 years ago that the varsity boys’ squad won the NC Independent Schools Athletic Association championship, and Headmaster Matthew McLaughlin and Athletic Director Mike Joyner said Friday’s recognition will be something special for current students and alumni.

McLaughlin said the event is centered around a basketball game, but he hopes it will be seen as a larger celebration of what is “alive and well” at Kerr-Vance Academy.

He joined the school back in July 2024, and when he learned that KVA was coming up on the 20-year anniversary, he just knew it’d be the perfect way to honor the school’s past and present, with an eye on its future.

An informal class reunion is planned for Saturday night at Norse Brewery in Wake Forest, and McLaughlin said all alums are welcome to attend. Another special event surrounding the game and 20-year anniversary recognition is a raffle for a home HVAC system – complete with installation, courtesy of Ranes Heating. Tickets are $10 each, and the lucky winner will be announced between the 3rd and 4th quarters of the Friday game. Tickets will be sold up until about halftime of the game, McLaughlin said. The winner doesn’t have to be present to win, and tickets are transferrable.

The Spartans will play Friday on a newly installed floor in the Crawford Gym, a shiny investment in the school’s future, which was established back in 1968. The new floor bears the name Bob Walker Court, a nod to the long-time assistant coach who, alongside Head Coach John Whitley, took that 2005 team to the state title game.

Friday’s festivities will be a way to acknowledge the 2005 team and what that state championship means to KVA.

Joyner said it’s important to recognize accomplishments of sports teams – dozens of banners hang in the school gym proclaiming championships in volleyball, tennis, girls’ soccer, baseball,  basketball among others over the years – but success on the field or court is a direct reflection of success in the classroom.

And when current students hear or see what previous students have accomplished, it helps them envision success in their own futures, McLaughlin said.

“A lot of schools and school communities talk about athletics being an extension of the school,” he said. At KVA, “it’s not an extension – it IS our school.” Sports teams are visible, tangible ways that the community can see what KVA is all about. The community doesn’t get a chance to visit the science lab or that elementary classroom, but they can see the student-athletes in a sports contest and have a good idea about what kind of learning goes on during the school day.

Joyner said the school culture with athletics is very important, and that “winning culture comes from across the school, not just athletics.”

 

 

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events at Perry Memorial Library

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Books aren’t the only things patrons can check out at Perry Memorial Library – in fact, the items on the Hat and Mitten trees don’t have a due date!

Youth Services Director Melody Peters said the trees will be up through the end of February and they’re trimmed with warm hats, mittens and probably some gloves for anyone who may need them.

“It’s great to see people use it and just take what they need and not have to ask,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Peters said the community has been generous in their donations of the winter accessories – library staff has already had to refill the trees several times.

Donations can be dropped off at any of the desks throughout the library – adult services, youth services or circulation.

Besides being a cozy spot to search for the perfect reading material, the library is a place where patrons can take some warmth with them when they leave, in the form of winter outerwear.

January’s programming is heating up, unlike the outside temps, and Peters said next week’s Kids Connect will feature a “craft buffet” that will feature a variety of crafting items that kids can use to create to their hearts’ content. Hopefully, the program will get participants outside to take a winter walk to collect items and then come back in and complete a craft. Kids Connect will be held Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m.

Speaking of hearts, the week of Valentine’s Day will feature several programs during what Peters said will be a very busy February.

Teens will find Found Object Art and Fondue in the Maker Space on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. Students in grades 6-12 can enjoy chocolate fondue while they create original artwork from a collection of “found” objects.

And the popular “Teddy Bear Sleepover” happens the day after Valentine’s Day, on Saturday, Feb. 15. Kids bring their favorite stuffed animal “lovey” to the library between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Peters explained, for a sleepover like no other.

“They get into all kinds of things,” Peters said, and library staff are on hand to document all their antics and nighttime adventures when the loveys “have the library all to themselves.”

The children pick up their loveys the next day – maybe at the 2 p.m. Family Story Time program – and will receive a photo album of the night’s activities.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn more.

 

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Maria Parham Marks 100 Years; Looks to Future

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In 1924, a group of five local physicians banded together to open a small hospital, with a vision of serving the community with compassion and care.

A century later, Maria Parham Health commemorates its centennial, with one eye on celebrating the achievements of the past 100 years and the other fixed on continuing to provide the community with compassionate and top-quality health care.

“While we celebrate our past, we are equally focused on the future,” said Maria Parham Health CEO Bert Beard. “We are committed to continuing to provide outstanding healthcare services, investing in cutting-edge technology, and enhancing the patient experience for generations to come.”

In comments during festivities Friday, Jan. 17 – 100 years to the day that the hospital was incorporated – Beard said the hospital’s growth and transformation are testaments to the vision shared by its founders and its current staff and leadership.

“As we reflect on this momentous occasion, we honor not just our hospital’s past, but the people who have made it all possible—our caregivers, our patients, and the community that has supported us every step of the way,” he said. “From our humble beginnings to becoming a trusted leader in healthcare, Maria Parham Health has been a cornerstone of strength and healing, and today, we stand proud of all we’ve accomplished, with much more to come.”

The hospital moved to its current location in the mid-1960’s, costing about $2.25 million. Since then, the campus has expanded, including increased space for patients, modernization and remodeling that cost about $50 million in 2005.

In 2011, Maria Parham Medical Center became part of the Duke LifePoint healthcare system.

Learn more about Maria Parham’s history and services it provides at https://www.mariaparham.com/about.

VGCC MLK 2025: “Where do we go from here?”

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— information courtesy of Vance-Granville Community College Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Please mark your calendars and join Vance-Granville Community College for a heartfelt celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., hosted by VGCC’s Men’s Achievement Academy and Vance-Granville’s Initiative on Equity for Women (VIEW)!

This year’s celebration will reflect on King’s profound question, “Where do we go from here?” and explore how we can move forward together as a community. The event will honor Dr. King’s legacy by fostering unity, promoting equality, and inspiring collective action towards a more just and inclusive society. Through thoughtful panel discussions and communal fellowship, we will celebrate the progress we’ve made and reaffirm our commitment to continuing Dr. King’s work. Together we will envision a future where everyone can thrive and take steps to make that vision a reality.

  • Tuesday, January 28, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
  • Vance-Granville Main Campus Civic Center (200 Community College Road, Henderson, NC)

All members of our community are invited to attend this free event, along with Vance-Granville’s students and employees. Refreshments will be prepared and served by Vance-Granville’s Culinary Arts program. To help event organizers plan, please RSVP at vgcc.jotform.com/240085947256059 or visit the event page on the College’s website at www.vgcc.edu

 

Vance Charter Lottery Mar. 1; Application Period Runs Jan. 21-Feb. 28 For 2025-26

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The Vance Charter lottery for the 2025-2026 school year will open on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Parents of prospective students have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 to complete the online application. Find the application at www.vancecharter.org under VCS Lottery Info.

Because there is a limited number of spaces per class, it is possible more students will apply than there are available openings.  If this situation occurs, the school will admit students through a blind lottery.  Each application will be numbered and the numbers will be pooled per class.  Due to using an automated lottery program, the numbers will be generated randomly until all spaces in each grade level are filled.  The remaining students will be placed on a waitlist in order of their number’s removal through the automated lottery process.

The school will host two informational sessions:  Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 13, also at  6 p.m.

The lottery will be held on Saturday, Mar. 1. Attendance is not necessary, as final results will not be available until verification checks are performed.  Likewise, all applicants will receive email/text notification within one week of the actual lottery  to share final results.

Please remember that siblings of Vance Charter students who do not currently attend Vance Charter School must submit an application to be included in the lottery. This includes incoming kindergarten students.

 

TownTalk: McGregor Hall’s The Spot For Valentine’s Day Dinner And Show

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Make plans to spend this Valentine’s Day by enjoying dinner and a show – right here in Henderson.

“The Bridges of Madison County” opens on Friday, Feb. 14 for a two weekend run at McGregor Hall, and Mark Hopper, McGregor Hall’s executive and creative director, said patrons can choose to dine before the show “with your Valentine or some of your best friends.”

The doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner service in the Gallery begins at 6:15 p.m., Hopper said on Thursday’s TownTalk. There’s plenty of time to enjoy the meal before the curtain rises at 8 p.m.

Visit https://www.mcgregorhall.org/ to purchase tickets online, stop by the box office Monday through Friday between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. or call 252.598.0662. Discounted rates for tables for 8 are available, too. Other shows are Feb. 15, Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.

There will be a silent auction, which includes stays in vacation homes and a surprise item that Hopper said he’ll wait to reveal. The meal and the silent auction both benefit McGregor Hall.

As for the play, Hopper said the storyline is pretty involved. “It’s not a stereotypical Valentine’s Day kind of thing…(but) the theme of the show is love.”

Readers may remember the 1992 Robert James Waller novel. Moviegoers may remember the 1995 Oscar-winning movie featuring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. And Hopper said there’s “something remarkable in store” for audiences who come to see the McGregor Hall production.

Kelley Keats plays Francesca, who grew up in World War II Italy, married a GI and moved to Iowa to begin a new life. When Robert shows up to photograph the covered bridges of Madison County, a chance encounter cause Francesca to re-evaluate her life.

“It’s been very rewarding to work on – challenging but rewarding,” Hopper said, heaping praise on Keats, with her experience on Broadway, as well as the “incredible” cast that “makes the transitions with grace and skill.”

This upcoming production is the fourth ticketed show of a five-show series called McGregor Live!, Hopper said ticketed shows make up just a small percentage of what McGregor Hall hosts – something like 10 percent.

The rest comes from rental events and other types of shows, including “Father Figure,” another play by area playwright Garrett Davis. “He’s a very skillful writer,” Hopper said of Davis, who has Warren County ties, adding that most of his shows delve into the health-oriented concerns of the African American community.

“Father Figure” is about a father and son reconciliation, healing and the importance of a father figure in the life of a son. That show is on Feb. 2 at 4 p.m.

The fifth and final production in the McGregor Live! series is Catapult Dance on Mar. 27 at 7:30 p.m. which tells stories through group dance – in shadow. Hopper admits it’s difficult to describe in words just what the show will look like. There’s a video clip on the website.

The troupe was a finalist on Season 8 of America’s Got Talent.

Shows especially for area school students take place later in February and March, including a program on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for older elementary students and a “Faces of Black History” for younger elementary-age students.

The N.C. Symphony returns on Mar. 13 to audiences of fourth graders from the area.

View the complete calendar of events at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/

 

 

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The Local Skinny! “Night To Shine” Returns To North Henderson Baptist Church Feb. 7

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North Henderson Baptist Church is pulling out all the stops again this year for a very special prom night. This year’s “Night to Shine” will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, and Pastor Eddie Nutt said the promgoers will get the royal treatment.

The evening is especially for individuals 14 and older with special needs, Nutt said. It’s just one of many events that will take place that day across the country and the world as part of the Tim Tebow Foundation.

It’s only the second time that the local church has participated, but this is the 11th year that the Tebow Foundation has hosted it. It’s always the Friday before Valentine’s Day, Nutt noted. Over the years, more than 625,000 guests have participated in all 50 states and in 72 countries across the globe.

Things will get underway about 6 p.m. at the church, located at 1211 N. Garnett St., Promgoers will walk the red carpet and will be greeted by paparazzi as they make their way into the church building for an evening of music, dancing and, of course, refreshments.

There will be limo rides “if they want to go out and ride around in the community,” Nutt said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

If a lady needs a refresh or touchup of their hair or makeup, she can head over to the hair station or the makeup station, Nutt said. Gentlemen can get a fresh shine on their shoes if they need one.

“They’ll get the complete royal treatment throughout the evening,” he said.

The royal treatment continues as, one by one, Nutt gets to place a crown or tiara on each person’s head to crown them King or Queen of the evening.

“Seeing that look in their eyes as their name is called,” Nutt said, “is a heart-touching moment…to see that expression on their face, that they have worth, value – they are kings and queens in God’s eyes.”

Please pre-register for the evening by calling the church at 252.438.8012 or online at the church website, www.nhbcnc.org.

 

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