Vance County Schools Receiving Lifesaving Bike Helmets from State

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— Vance County Schools Press Release

Vance County Schools will be receiving 75 bike helmets as part of an ongoing program to reduce bicycle injuries and deaths in North Carolina. These helmets are being provided through NCDOT’s Bicycle Helmet Initiative.

The Bicycle Helmet Initiative began in 2007 and has distributed thousands of helmets since its inception. It is funded by the sale of “Share the Road” specialty license plates. Helmets will be awarded by April 30th.

We are excited to partner with Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Fire Dept and YMCA to distribute the helmets.  Distribution will take place in late spring and all participants who come by during distribution will be entered to win a bicycle.

For more information about this grant or distribution locations, contact J. Carraway at jcarraway@vcs.k12.nc.us.

For more information about the program, visit the NCDOT Bicycle Helmet Initiative webpage.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

HVRPD announces class listings

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The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department has several class offerings at Aycock Recreational Center to get you moving on land or in the water. Below are the listings, along with times and costs, according to Tara Goolsby, program superintendent for HVRPD.

Yoga – Classes are Thursdays from 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sessions teach Basic Yoga techniques to inspire physical, mental and spiritual inner peace. Class is limited to 10 participants and cost $1 for members, $2 for non-members. Register at Aycock Recreation Center or online at https://hvrpd.recdesk.com/. Masks are required during the class and while in the facility. To learn more, contact Lauren Newlin at 252.438.3160 or lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us.

Hip-Hop Water Aerobics – This fun and fast-paced aerobics class takes place in the pool! High-energy, low impact workouts are designed to get you moving! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, classes are limited to 10 participants and masks are required in every part of the building except while in the pool.  Participants must be able to touch the bottom of the 4-ft. end of the pool.  Classes will be held on Thursdays, 7:15 p.m. – 8 p.m. beginning on Thursday, April 8.  Classes are $1 for members, $2 for non-members. Register at Aycock Recreation Center or online  https://hvrpd.recdesk.com/ . To learn more, contact Lauren Newlin at 252.438.3160 or lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us.

Senior Skills & Drills – Designed for participants age 50 or older to practice or learn about the different sports offered during the annual Senior Games. There is a $2 fee per activity. Register at Aycock Recreation Center or online https://hvrpd.recdesk.com/ . Masks must be worn at all times. Contact Crystal Allen at 252.431.6091 or callen@ci.henderson.nc.us) for more information.

Enjoy Henderson Holy Week Services 2021 at hendersonholyweek.com

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A group of local churches is joining together to sponsor a series of virtual noontime Holy Week services, all of which are open to the community.

First Baptist, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Shiloh, Cotton Memorial and Holy Innocents have shared Holy Week services and lunches for many years, and the tradition continues – sort of.

This year, the services will be livestreamed at www.hendersonholyweek.com, according to Dr. Ronald S. Cava, senior minister at First Baptist Church. Although last year’s events were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the churches have had time to prepare an alternative to in-person services.

“While we still cannot have a physical gathering and share lunches, we will have services this year,” Cava said in a written statement to WIZS.

All services Monday, March 29 through Friday, April 2 at 12 noon will be live streamed and will include scripture readings, homilies, and special music.

The Local Skinny March 29; Tracy Madigan New HVDDC Dir

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Tracy Madigan, presently the manager of the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, has accepted a new position effective April 1. She will be the new director of the Henderson-Vance County Downtown Development Commission (DDC). Madigan confirmed the move in a text late last week saying, “I accepted the position as DDD. I have agreed to continue running the market through May — it’s only open on Saturdays — or until they hire a replacement, whichever comes first. Very hard decision; I love our farmers market!”

City Manager Terrell Blackmon confirmed the hire last week while discussing the passing of Dr. Stephen Pearson, who died Thursday at the age of 57. Pearson was at the time of his death the chairman of the DDC board of directors. Blackmon said, “She will be a City employee beginning April 1, 2021. She will be the City’s Downtown Development Director. … She will manage the City’s Main Street Program. She is replacing our previous Director Kathy Walters.”

Blackmon said one of Pearson’s “last acts as DDC Chair in recent weeks was serving on the interview panel for the hiring of the City’s new Downtown Director Tracy Madigan. His passion for Downtown Henderson was unmatched and he will truly be missed by the Henderson community.”

Paul McKenzie, agricultural area agent with Vance County Cooperative extension and immediate supervisor to Madigan, said, “We are incredibly grateful for everything Tracy has done for the market. She is a big part of the reason that the market is as successful as it’s been. Her dedication, her disposition, her demeanor, her professionalism, her creativity, I mean the list goes on and on and on. I mean, she’s the face of the market. We’re very very thrilled that she’s got this new position that she’s clearly very excited about and where she’ll be able to continue making a great contribution that uses her talents to the community.”

According to what Blackmon said, it’s the private industry experience, managing the farmers market and knowledge of the Henderson community that make Madigan a great fit for downtown. He said those are big pluses. “Farmers are also entrepreneurs/small business owners, therefore Tracy already has considerable knowledge in the marketing, retention and expansion of small businesses,” Blackmon said.

McKenzie said, “In a way, we haven’t even lost her because she’s still going to be a champion of the community and a champion of the farmers market.”

He said he was confident of finding a new manager to build on the past and present successes of the market. McKenzie felt like a smooth transition would be forthcoming.

Others are ready to help with a smooth transition for Madigan as well. “The NC Main Street program staff are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to assist with any additional training and technical assistance that Tracy will need to perform her job to the best of her ability,” Blackmon said.

He said, “When recruiting for the position, I certainly leaned on the Chamber Commerce along with other groups and individuals in the community to assist the City with identifying viable candidates to fill the position. There was some interest outside of Henderson, but most of our candidates were local, as well as, our finalists.”

The Local Skinny March 25; Jamie Elliott, Grace Ministries – Easter Eggs and BBQ!

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Grace Ministries invites the community to an Easter egg hunt and a free barbecue lunch on Saturday, April 3.

Jamie Elliott said he expects to serve up 500 pounds of barbecue during this free event, which will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Elliott spoke with John C. Rose on The Local Skinny Thursday to discuss the event, as well as other services that Grace Ministries offers.

Elliott said the egg hunt will follow the lunch, and there will be other games and activities for children. Anyone interested in donating either colorful, plastic eggs or candies to put in them are encouraged to do so. He needs the eggs and candy by April 1; desserts are also needed for the lunch, he said. These items can be dropped off at Grace Ministries, located at 961 Burr St., Henderson.

Grace Ministries is offering an after-school program for students, he said. Grace Kids operates on Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. he said. Students from 6-18 years are welcome. In addition to homework help, the program provides participants with meals, Bible Study, crafts and outdoor activities.

Elliott said a Tuesday evening program for adults facing addiction problems is another service Grace Ministries provides to the community. The program is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The vision of Grace Ministries, according to the website, is “to have a positive impact on lives in Vance, Franklin, Granville and Warren counties, with the gospel of Jesus Christ…to reach as many who are willing to change their lives and turn away from addictions of any kind and the destructive lifestyles that come from addictions.”

Contact Elliott at 252.204.3617 for more information. Visit graceofhenderson.org to learn more.

The Local Skinny! Broadcast 3-25-21 with Jamie Elliott

 

TownTalk 03-29-21; Pastor Frank Sossamon Retiring from SHPHC

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The Rev. Frank Sossamon knows precisely where he was on the last Sunday of June, 1985. He was preaching his first sermon as pastor of South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church. This Sunday – Easter Sunday – he will preach his final sermon as senior pastor to a congregation he has served for almost 36 years.

He may be retiring from the pulpit, but Sossamon is not planning on slowing down any time soon. He reflected on his tenure at South Henderson on Town Talk Monday, and talked with John C. Rose about his plans for the future.

His son John F. Sossamon II runs Sossamon Funeral Home in Henderson and Sossamon said he looked forward to working more with the funeral home, providing services to help families grieving the loss of a loved one, “not just at the time, but throughout the duration of their difficulty,” he said.

Being able to work with his son will be very rewarding, Sossamon said. He said he would be available to offer grief counseling through the funeral home services. “We’re not just in the business of burying the dead,” he said, adding that he wants families to know that they will be supported before, during and after a loved one has died.  “We want to help you through your time of grief and sorrow…help you through a hard and tough situation.”

He and his wife, Vickie, also plan to do some traveling and it was important to him to be able to retire in good health to be able to travel. He’ll be 67 in October, which he admits is “not old, but it’s still retirement age.” He said he’s seen others keep pushing back retirement dates over and over and then not be healthy enough to enjoy their time once they are retired.

Sossamon said it’s also healthy for the church to have new leadership. “It’s a good time…to have a change of leadership after almost 36 years,” he said, “someone else to create vision and direction and move the church to even a higher level of ministry and productivity in the community.”

A new pastor certainly will have big shoes to fill. Sossamon said there already is a pastoral search committee in place to work with the church conference to receive and review resumes of prospective pastors. This committee will interview candidates, then select one to preach a trial sermon, after which the candidate will be introduced to the congregation.

Then comes a vote to determine whether to call the candidate as the new pastor.

Sossamon spent eight years as a pastor in Marion, NC before he came to Henderson. Since his arrival, he has been involved in local activities and the church has presented musical programs which proved to be very popular in the larger community. He said he would be happy to keep a relationship with the church and its new pastor to be engaged and involved however he’s asked.

He said he may always be seen first as a pastor, and that’s ok. “I want to be Frank Sossamon all the time,” he said. He may encounter someone in the grocery store who needs to discuss an issue with him, he said. “I really cannot fully get away from being a pastor and I don’t mind talking to individuals during those times.”

One very rewarding aspect of being a pastor at one church for so long is seeing youngsters grow and develop in their faith and ultimately assume leadership roles in the church, Sossamon said.

The congregation celebrated Sossamon on Sunday during the morning service and again in the evening in a show of appreciation. He said he was glad to be the preacher at Sunday’s service. Easter Sunday “is such a monumental Sunday at the church – at all Christian churches,” Sossaman explained. This year, however, the first Sunday in April will be remembered not only as Easter Sunday, but also the day Sossamon delivered his “farewell” sermon.

TownTalk with Frank Sossamon Broadcast Audio

 

Pearson a Bundle of Intelligence, Leadership, Passion and Success

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Dr. Stephen Pearson, co-owner and operator of Sadie’s Coffee Corner and champion of downtown revitalization in Henderson, has died. He was 57. Friends and colleagues remembered Pearson Friday as an entrepreneur dedicated to making Henderson a better place for the community to enjoy.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Pearson chaired the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission for almost a year. “He brought his business development expertise and background to our downtown development efforts, invested in our community and led our DDC with passion and determination,” said City Council member Gary Daeke.

Pearson and his wife, Amanda, opened Sadie’s Coffee Corner in fall 2019, and quickly got involved in the community. “Stephen and Amanda Pearson chose us for their business location out of every other town and that made him special to me and our Chamber of Commerce from the very beginning,” said Chamber President Michele Burgess.

“He had a vision for revitalizing downtown Henderson and he was willing to put in the work and the investment to make it happen. Stephen used to love to use the hashtag #whynothenderson. He saw potential here, where others see dilapidation. His enthusiasm and energy and his positive attitude will be greatly missed,” Burgess said Friday.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon remembered Pearson as a champion for downtown Henderson. He said Pearson “described himself as a disruptor, because he wanted to change the way that we do things in our community for the better… His passion for downtown Henderson was unmatched and he will truly be missed by the Henderson community.”

Pearson brought experience as well as enthusiasm to downtown development; he had a doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in global business organization leadership and was an adjunct professor at UNC-CH and Utica College in New York, in addition to being chief operating officer to Sadie’s Coffee Corner.

Dennis Jarvis, former director of the Henderson Economic Development Commission, said Pearson “wanted to change the world, so he thought ‘I’ll change one block of Henderson first.’ He succeeded.” Jarvis added that Pearson was “an innovator, an educator, a veteran, an animal lover and larger than life. He was a bright light and inspiration to me personally and professionally.”

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington remembered Pearson as someone who truly wanted Henderson, and the downtown area especially, to succeed. “No one is ever ready to receive such sorrowful news,” Ellington told WIZS News Friday, “and with much sadness the City of Henderson mourns the loss of a man that will be remembered as big in stature, but most importantly big at heart.”

In an April 22, 2020 interview on Town Talk, Pearson said Sadie’s supportive customers and community partners, combined with his belief that downtown is the “epicenter of the growth in Henderson,” would help ensure the coffee shop’s continued success.

Joe Hedrick, a regular patron at Sadie’s said “Steve Pearson had a great vision for our community and a determination to make downtown Henderson a better place for all of us.”

Pearson revealed in that Town Talk interview from 2020 that he and his wife believed so strongly in the downtown’s potential that they would be developing another downtown location that would include a business incubator, a business accelerator and will include a classical pizza, cheese and wine tasting shop.

Mayor Ellington said the Pearsons were active, positive members of the community who “continue to impact downtown in ways we haven’t seen in years.” More development in the Garnett Street area is a way to carry on Pearson’s mission of a vibrant Main Street, Ellington said.

Brian Boyd, a friend of Pearson as well as a coffee shop patron and board member of the Chamber and Henderson-Oxford Airport Authority, had this to say:

“God blesses us with giants in life that have large presence, vision, compassion and care. Giants do not always get the most time to be here, but they make the most of their time and leave a legacy that can continue through everyone they touched. I will miss my friend Steve and I am sad by his passing but still motivated by his vision for the growth and continued betterment of our Henderson community, kindness and care for all people and determination to progress in all things.”

Boyd said he and Pearson had talked about Henderson and its potential for continued growth and development. “Henderson was a place where he wanted to leave a legacy of hope and change for the good,” Boyd said of his friend. “He loved his time here.”

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

For Once the Fifth out of Five is a Good Thing

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Almost 25 percent of Vance County residents are at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a weekly data update from Granville-Vance Public Health. Beginning April 7, any adult is eligible to get the vaccine, following an announcement from Gov. Roy Cooper to open up the shot to Group 5.

GVPH Director Lisa Harrison said as of Thursday, March 25, GVPH has administered 20,606 vaccines including 14,218 first doses and 6,388 second doses. There are several second-dose clinics scheduled for next week that will boost the vaccination of fully vaccinated residents even higher, the report stated.

In Granville County, almost 23 percent of the population is at least partially vaccinated.

“As we heard on health director calls and press conferences (Thursday), North Carolina has continued to make progress on vaccinating each priority group and many counties (like ours) are ready to progress into Group 5. We look forward to welcoming any and everyone who needs and wants a vaccine to our clinics and are grateful for our partner providers of vaccine in the two-county district,” Harrison stated in the weekly update.

Gov. Cooper loosened some COVID-19 restrictions, effective at 5 p.m. Friday, Mar. 26, to allow higher occupancy in restaurants and bars, among other businesses. The state’s mask mandate, however, remains in effect.

Transportation is available through KARTS (Kerr Area Transportation Authority) free of charge to vaccine locations seven days a week. Check out KartsNC.com or call 252.438.2573.

Call the COVID-19 hotline 252.295.2503 to make an appointment in either county.

There have been 5,496 cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and 4,569 cases of COVID-19 in Vance County for a total of 10,065 across the health district.

At this time, 77 deaths have been reported as a result of COVID-19 in Granville County; 85 deaths have been reported in Vance County.

Visit the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard to see statewide COVIDF-19 data. Relevant graphs from these dashboards are available on the local health department website at https://gvph.org/covid-19_dashboard/.

To learn more about restrictions currently in place in North Carolina and the phased approach to lifting those restrictions, please visit Staying Ahead of the Curve.