HVDDC: Shop Downtown Henderson and Win Free Stuff

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Shoppers who visit retailers in downtown Henderson have a chance to get a little something extra, just for shopping local, thanks to a campaign sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Committee’s promotions committee.

Amanda Ellis, chair of the downtown development board, said the idea is to increase foot traffic in the downtown area – “get people in the doors and stores,” she told WIZS News Tuesday.

Shoppers attach their receipt for $25 or more from participating businesses for a chance to win a gift basket valued at more than $250. Shoppers can submit up to five receipts, Ellis said.

“We’re hoping this is going to jumpstart” retail activity, she said. “The idea is to get people downtown in the stores,” Ellis said. The campaign continues until March 1. The drawing will be held on March 1 at the DDC office, Ellis said.

Another wrinkle includes coordinating with the upcoming dance studios and competitions scheduled for McGregor Hall. Ellis said the plan is to get some food trucks to drive in some evenings and on weekends when the dancers and their families are in town, and encouraging them to eat local, too, instead of getting in their cars and driving somewhere else.

 

Friday, Feb. 4 Is Wear Red Day To Promote Awareness Of Heart Disease In Women

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Tomorrow – Friday, Feb. 4 – is National Wear Red Day to promote awareness of heart health. Join the employees at Maria Parham Health by wearing red to support awareness of women and heart disease. Donna Young, MPH marketing and communication coordinator said local businesses that participate have a chance to win a free quarter-page ad in The Henderson Dispatch. See the Maria Parham Health Facebook page for details about how your business can enter.

Wear Red Day is just one way the staff at MPH are showing their support of February’s American Heart Month.

The American Heart Association created National Wear Red Day in 2004 with a mission to dismiss myths and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke as the number one killer of women. To support heart health in women locally, Maria Parham employees are encouraged to wear red. Photos of employees will be shared on the hospital Facebook page throughout the day. Community members are also welcomed to wear red and share their photos on social media using the hashtag #MPHWearsRed.

Maria Parham Health has kicked off “28 Days of Heart” as a way to provide a wealth of heart health information each day during February. Visit MariaParham.com each day to learn tips about how to keep your heart healthy, from recipes to fitness.

Maria Parham’s Facebook will have heart-healthy recipes, fitness tips, and medical information geared at keeping your ticker ticking as it should.

NC Homeowner Assistance Fund Open Statewide

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North Carolina Homeowners Financially Impacted by Pandemic May Be Eligible for Housing-Related Help

— press release

The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund is now accepting applications from North Carolina homeowners whose finances were impacted by the pandemic and who need assistance with housing-related expenses. Established through the 2021 American Rescue Plan to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements and foreclosures for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Fund offers assistance of up to $40,000 for qualified homeowners as long as funding is available.

“The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt by many North Carolinians,” said Scott Farmer, executive director of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, which is administering the NC Homeowner Assistance Fund. “This program is designed to help homeowners who are experiencing pandemic-related financial hardships hold on to their homes while they get back on their feet. Ensuring that families have stable housing has always been our mission and that has become even more critical during this ongoing public health crisis.”

For qualified homeowners, the fund offers:

• Housing payment assistance for primary residence in North Carolina (for example, single-family home, townhome, condo or mobile home).

• Assistance for mortgage reinstatement to catch up on late payments (first or second mortgages) or other housing-related costs due to a period of forbearance, delinquency or default.

• Assistance covering other housing-related costs such as homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues/fees or delinquent property taxes to prevent foreclosure.

Homeowners may be eligible for assistance if they are experiencing financial hardship due to job loss or business closure, reduction in hours or pay, difficulty obtaining new employment, death of a spouse or co-borrower or increased expenses due to the pandemic. Increased expenses can be due to health care, the need to care for a family member, increased child care costs due to school closures or increased costs associated with quarantine. Applicants must be seeking assistance for a primary residence in North Carolina and meet income and other requirements.

Homeowners can learn more and apply for help by calling 1-855-MY-NCHAF (1-855-696-2423) or by visiting NCHomeownerAssistance.gov.

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TownTalk: UNC VS. Duke Rivalry Week

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College basketball fans – especially fans of those teams who wear those two different shades of blue – are getting ready for another installment in a rivalry that has become legendary across the nation. The first Carolina-Duke matchup of the season takes place Saturday evening in Chapel Hill.

And for Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, it will be another stop along the way on his farewell tour.

In case you haven’t heard, Coach K is retiring at the end of the year – a fact that saddens Duke fans and elates others whose teams have gone up against the Blue Devils year after year.

Although Saturday’s game will likely be his last as a coach to the Smith Center, Duke game analyst John Roth said Coach K – in typical Coach K fashion – will be focused on making sure his team is ready to play and not on himself.

Roth said it’s hard not to reflect on the legendary coach’s 42-year career at Duke. “He is classic for focusing on the here and now,” Roth noted, adding that his focus will be “trying to make sure this team gets his best” effort on Saturday.

Roth, who is part of the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield, spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk and said he’s been around Duke about as long as Coach K has – he was a senior at Duke in 1980 and Krzyzewski was named coach in March 1980.

Since 2009, Roth has been host and analyst for Duke radio broadcasts and is the producer of the Duke football and basketball coaches’ television shows. He also worked in the sports information office at Duke from 1982 to 1990, and he was its director from 1986-1990.

Roth said Coach K “always seems to have the right thing to say,” whether to motivate players or others he meets. “He is always ‘on,’ Roth said. “You never see him when he’s not ready to be his best.”

And when players recognize that characteristic, it’s hard not to want to give him back their best effort, he said.

Watching and working alongside Coach K has been an unbelievable and rewarding experience.

“To be consistent at something for 40 years –  it just blows me away sometimes,” he said.

Roth’s take of this year’s Blue Devils?

“I think they’ve continued to get better from the beginning of the year ‘til now. To me, they’re getting better by the game.” Statistically, Duke’s offense is tops in the conference, he said, and the defense isn’t too shabby, either.

But statistics and drawn-up plays sometimes go out the window during rivalry games like Duke-UNC, and fans from both sides surely have games that stand out in their memories.

If there were a Mount Rushmore for basketball coaches, Roth said Coach K and UNC’s Dean Smith would undoubtedly be two of the faces memorialized in stone. And Coach K’s retirement at the end of this season marks the end of a 60-year run that saw either Smith or Krzyzewski on the sidelines.

Saturday’s game starts at 6 p.m., but chances are, the hype and anticipation surrounding it begins way before tipoff.

 

 

American Heart Month: Know Your Heart Numbers

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February is American Heart Month and Maria Parham cardiologist Dr. Mohammad Akhter has a question to ask: “Do you know how healthy your heart is?”

The heart is one of the hardest working parts of the body, Akhter said in an article sent to WIZS as part of American Heart Month.

Knowing some key terms – and understanding what they mean with regard to heart health – are important to keep in mind, he said.

People hear about blood pressure and cholesterol, but knowing your own numbers and taking action to control them is an important step to maintain heart help. Targets for healthy cholesterol levels can vary based on age and gender, but a general rule of thumb for adults is to aim for 125-200 mg/dL. Too much LDL (the “bad” kind)  or not enough HDL (the “good” kind) increases the risk for build-up or blockage in arteries, which could lead to heart attack or stroke.

As for blood pressure, Akhter said that the 120 over 80 is still a good guideline, and readings above those levels would be considered elevated or high. Readings greater than 130/80 are considered hypertensive.

“High blood pressure can be a significant contributor to and sign of serious heart issues,” Akhter said. “Unfortunately, it is an all-too-common condition, affecting nearly half of American adults according to the American Heart Association, and presenting no symptoms the majority of the time,” he said.

Fortunately, high blood pressure can be lowered and managed with the proper care, including diet and medication.

Health professionals usually perform the blood analysis that gives individuals their cholesterol level and blood pressure, but there’s another indicator that Akhter points to that could be a predictor of heart problems – a patient’s waist size.

He cited a study by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute which showed that men with a waist size larger than 40 inches and women with a waist size greater than 35 inches are at higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

“The good news is that healthy eating and physical activity can help you lower and maintain a healthy waist size and stay on the road to good heart health,” he said.

Risk factors like high cholesterol and blood pressure can also run in your family, so knowing your family’s heart health history can help you stay alert to your own health risks. And while these aren’t the only markers on the map to good heart health, they are key factors in determining how healthy your heart is and your risk for heart issues now or down the road. Your primary care provider can check these numbers for you – including during your annual check-up – and work with you on a plan to make any changes necessary to get you back on track, whether it’s simple lifestyle changes or medication if necessary.

Call 800.424.DOCS to make an appointment. For more information on heart health, visit heart.org. Take a free heart health assessment at MariaParham.com/heart-care.

Armed Robbery at Speedway on South Garnett

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The Henderson Police Department and Chief Marcus Barrow are looking for a suspect in an armed robbery.

Sunday night January 30 about 9:18, officers responded to the Speedway convenience store at 929 South Garnett Street.

According to a press release on the matter, the male suspect in the armed robbery wore all black clothes and a camouflage face mask. The suspect approached the clerk, brandished a firearm and demanded money.

He fled on foot behind the store.

If you have information related to this case, contact Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or via the P3 app or call Henderson Police at 438-4141. You can also contact Henderson police through Facebook or Instagram.

Andrea Harris Task Force

TownTalk: Alice Sallins Reflects on Andrea Harris And Talks Arts Council, Black History Month

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Henderson’s city operations facility has had a few names since it was constructed – but the name it officially got today (Tuesday, Feb. 1) will be a lasting one. From now on, the building, located on Beckford Drive, will be named for Dr. Andrea Harris, who died in May 2020.

Harris grew up in Henderson and was an educator, as well as a civic leader and activist at the local and state level. The City Council voted in 2021 to rename the building in memory of Harris.

Alice Sallins was among those in attendance at the official ribbon-cutting and dedication Tuesday morning. Sallins worked alongside Harris when they both were involved with the NAACP.

“I knew her very well,” Sallins said of Harris. “When she was president of the NAACP, I was vice president.” Being involved in the community in which you live was important to Harris, and Sallins continues to follow Harris’s example.

“If you’re involved, then you represent the rest of the community,” Sallins told John C. Rose in a phone interview Tuesday morning. If you’re sitting at the table, “you’ll make sure you get a slice of the pie,” she said.

Although Sallins said things have gotten better, she said there’s still room for improvement when it comes to have diversity among the various boards and governing bodies and agencies in the community. “We’ve come a long way, but we’ve got a long ways to go,” Sallins said.

“If you’re planning for me and not including me, then you’re not planning for me at all,” she said.

As Sallins waited for the dedication to begin, she reflected on her friend, Andrea Harris. “She would be pleased, really, if she were here today.”

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington offered remarks on the occasion of the dedication, saying that city officials gathered “to commemorate an exceptional part of our community’s history and celebrate one of our own.”

“Looking at the City Operations building and the name that is forever etched, helps to tell a brighter, fuller story of who we are,” Ellington said in a written statement to WIZS News on Tuesday. “Many citizens pass through those doors to cast their votes in every election – local, state and federal – with a promise of democracy and it reminds us that we all are created equal. Today we remember one of the brightest lights of our time. A brilliant champion for all people, a fierce friend and truly a phenomenal lady. We cherish the time we were privileged to share with Dr. Andrea Harris.”

Vance County Arts Council Black History Month Virtual Program

The Vance County Arts Council is planning a virtual Black History Month program that will be available beginning Monday, Feb. 7 for viewing.

Alice Sallins, the council’s executive director, shared names of some of the artists who will be featured in the project, which can be viewed via YouTube. Willa Brigham, a Charlotte-based storyteller and daytime Emmy award winner, is one well-known personality who will be a part of the virtual celebration.

Sallins said Brigham will have a 45-minute session that will be recorded and offered to the Vance County Schools, as well as the general public, for viewing.

Stella Jones will share African American poetry and vocalist Evelyn Couch will perform Negro spirituals. Johnny Watkins will recite poetry by Langston Hughes, she said.

The program should be completed this week and will be uploaded by Saturday.
The link will be live from Monday through the end of February. Look for the links on the Vance County Arts Council Facebook page and in other locations, she said.

“Look for a high time,” Sallins said. “We have some very good artists who are working hard” to create a quality program for the community to enjoy.