Green Rural Redevelopment (GRRO)

Henderson COVID-19 Testing & Resource Distribution Event – Oct. 28

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-Press Release, Green Rural Redevelopment, Inc. 

On Wednesday, October 28, 2020, a COVID-19 community testing and resource distribution event will be held from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the public parking lot on the corner of Chestnut St. and Breckenridge St. in downtown Henderson. Councilwoman Marion Brodie Williams has partnered with Green Rural Redevelopment, Inc. (GRRO) and Cardinal Innovations Healthcare to bring this important event to Vance County.

As of the end of September, Vance County is seeing a 2.4% rate of COVID-19 infections among the residents. This is a higher rate than the average in North Carolina, and in our rural community, the impact is enormous. This day-long event brings FREE, safe COVID-19 testing, free groceries for families and free personal protection equipment (PPE) to the residents of Vance County.

Broadening its commitment to the health and well-being of Vance County, GRRO’s Healing Hearts @ Home Program formed a community health initiative partnership with other organizations and agencies serving the county: Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, Duke Health, Granville Vance Public Health, Groundwater Solutions, Inc. (Genesis Project), Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., City of Henderson Fire & Police and the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.

To further help people impacted by the Coronavirus, Vance County residents who get tested at the event will also receive free groceries, PPE and access to a wide range of support services. Testing and distributions will be provided through drive-up service, with minimal or no-contact, in accordance with all precautions recommended for the prevention of the spread of the virus.

McGregor Beatles Concert

McGregor Hall to Feature Beatles Concert at Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information and image courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

The secret is finally out! McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce “With a Little Help From Our Friends: A Beatles Concert for McGregor” will show at the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.

Stay tuned to McGregor Hall’s Facebook page (click here) for updates on the show, including introductions to the local talent who are helping bring the music of one of the most iconic groups to life.

Donations benefiting McGregor Hall will be accepted upon arrival as your ticket price for the event. No gift is too small or large.

McGregor Hall appreciates the community’s support during this difficult time and looks forward to this “Come Together” moment on November 10.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Local News Audio

Noon News 10-22-20 Vance County Schools; Domestic Violence Awareness

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– Vance County Schools Attendance Matters Campaign
– Domestic Violence Awareness “Think Community” Saturday at Clearview Church, 3pm

Click Play for WIZS Noon News Audio and Full Details…

 

VGCC Logo

VGCC Schedules Nursing Program Information Sessions

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is offering virtual information sessions for anyone interested in applying to the Nursing programs at the college. VGCC offers training options to become a Registered Nurse (RN) through the Associate Degree Nursing program or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) through the Practical Nursing program.

The upcoming sessions, offered through Zoom (www.zoom.us), are specifically geared to help prospective students prepare to apply to enroll in a Nursing program for the Fall 2021 semester. Applications for these programs are due in February and March of 2021.

Three of the sessions will focus on the RN and LPN programs. In the past, students who were not offered a spot in the Associate Degree Nursing program were able to enroll in the Practical Nursing program instead, making this a beneficial option for many students who are ready to get started with their nursing careers.

Sessions are scheduled for Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. (bit.ly/VGCCNursing102920), Nov. 17 at 6 p.m (bit.ly/VGCCNursing111720), and Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. (bit.ly/VGCCNursing120220).

Two other sessions will focus on the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) program. This partnership between VGCC and North Carolina A&T State University allows students to complete both the Associate Degree Nursing, or RN, program, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

These sessions are scheduled for Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. (bit.ly/RIBN111320) and Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. (bit.ly/RIBN120320).

After registering, participants should receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting.

Registration in advance for each session is required. For more information, please email Dr. Erica Jastrow (Practical Nursing and RIBN programs) at jastrowe@vgcc.edu or Dr. Anna Seaman (Associate Degree Nursing program) at seamana@vgcc.edu.

Salvation Army

Salvation Army of Henderson, Partners Announce Opening of New Playground

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-Press Release courtesy The Salvation Army

Kids at The Salvation Army of Henderson are celebrating today because they have a great new place to play. For months, representatives from The Salvation Army of Henderson, Belk and KABOOM!, the nonprofit organization focused on ending playspace inequity, have been working together to increase access to playspaces for local kids with the creation of a new, kid designed playground that was installed on July 21, 2020.

The playground will give kids an incredible place to play close to where they live and learn, an opportunity that is often hard to achieve. 

Since COVID-19 began, children have had to adjust to a new normal, which means a lot of time spent in front of a screen doing virtual learning, and less time getting outdoors to play and be active. The children at our Red Shield Club have really enjoyed being able to take a break from the inside and breathe in the fresh air while having fun on the playground. The playground has provided a way for the children to still have “recess” and practice social skills in a safe way.

“I can see that the playground at The Salvation Army Red Shield Club is very important because it has increased my child’s social, brain and language development. The playground provides an opportunity for my children to practice their social skills, to come up with solutions to problems and to learn self-control in working out their conflicts,” says Shadiya Solomon, parent of a child that attends the Red Shield Club.  

In May, kids from the community participated in a virtual Design Day where they creatively thought of ideas to create their dream playground. The new playground, which was designed with inspiration from their drawings, will provide hundreds of kids and their families in Henderson with an incredible playspace that can spark hope and enable kids to reach their full potential. 

KABOOM! knows that playspaces are essential to resilience, health and childhood. The communities that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 – communities facing challenges already, and communities of color – are the same communities who often lack access to parks and playspaces due to historic disinvestment.

The partners have teamed up to help end playspace inequity, creating a new place for kids to play that reflects the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations and gives every kid the opportunity to experience the joys of childhood.  

“We know disasters and crises often exacerbate the inequities that communities are already experiencing, and in many communities, kids won’t have a playground to go back to once the COVID-19 crisis is over,” says James Siegal, CEO of KABOOM!. “We must stop the playspace inequities from becoming even deeper after we get through this pandemic, giving every kid the chance to play and just enjoy being a kid.”

Through its partnership with Belk, KABOOM! is committed to ending playspace inequity for kids, for communities, for good. 

To ensure that playgrounds are able to open safely in every community, KABOOM! has issued important playground guidance that all communities, playground owners/operators and caregivers can follow. The guidance can be viewed or downloaded at kaboom.org/reopen.

NC Governor Logo

NC to Remain Paused in Phase 3

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 for three more weeks as health officials continue to monitor North Carolina’s viral trends. North Carolina has seen increased hospitalizations and trajectory of cases in recent weeks. Governor Cooper underscored the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, and using good judgment despite fatigue or frustration with the pandemic.

“As this pandemic continues, I know it’s difficult and tiring to keep up our guard, especially when we’re gathered with people we love. But it’s necessary. No one wants to spread COVID-19 accidentally to friends or family, so we must keep prevention at the forefront,” said Governor Cooper. “Wearing a mask shows you care about people. Wearing a mask is an easy way to protect our communities and look out for each other. Confronting the virus head-on and doing our part as individuals is good for our health and good for our economy.”

Also today, Governor Cooper updated on progress with the NC Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program. Since Governor Cooper announced the (HOPE) Program last week, 12,000 eligible applicants have filed for assistance. The HOPE Program provides assistance to eligible low-and-moderate income renters experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic by making direct payments to landlords and utility companies. People can apply for help by calling 2-1-1 or going to nc211.org/hope.

“As the number of applications climbs higher every day, it should make us remember that it’s more than a number. Every one of those applications represents a family having to make impossible choices between basic necessities during a global pandemic,” said Governor Cooper.

Yesterday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen and Secretary of Department of Public Safety Erik Hooks sent a letter to local officials in communities with increased viral spread urging their continued action in fighting COVID-19 and suggesting additional measures to mitigate its spread. Read more about that letter here.

“We are doing everything we can to slow the spread of this virus. This simple fact is we can’t do it on our own. Ignoring the virus doesn’t make it go away – just the opposite,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “As hard as this is, it will end. We will get through this. Let’s do it by looking out for one another. Whatever your reason, get behind the mask.”

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is level.

Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is increasing.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.

Laboratory Testing

  • Testing capacity is high.

Tracing Capability

  • The state is continuing to hire contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.
  • There have been almost 250,000 downloads of the exposure notification app, SlowCOVIDNC.

Personal Protective Equipment

  • North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.

Read Executive Order 170.

Read the slides from today’s briefing.

Local News Audio

Noon News 10-21-20 Salvation Army Playground Relay For Life Corbitt Trucks Gang Free

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– Salvation Army Local Playground
– Relay for Life of Vance County, Rosa’s Team, 220 Fish Fry Fundraiser
– Corbitt Preservation Association President’s Challenge
– Gang Free Inc Needs Your Vote

Click Play for Full Noon News Audio

 

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Without a Fire Marshal Since June

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Vance County has been without a fire marshal since Keith Duncan accepted the position of fire marshal of Person County in June.

In a statement to WIZS News, Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen shared that the Planning and Development Department, as well as the Fire Department, are handling the inspection and plan review portions of the job. “We have several certified fire investigators in our fire department that can be made available should a volunteer department need fire investigation assistance,” said McMillen. “For the most part, we have all of the duties of the position covered currently.”

McMillen did not indicate that there are plans to fill the fire marshal position at this time.

“The Board created this new position in 2016 with the idea that it would create a dedicated liaison for the volunteer fire departments to assist with insurance ratings and concerns that may arise,” explained McMillen. “As a part of this, the fire marshal met regularly with the fire association and was instrumental in enforcing the County’s contracts with each department as well as reviewing pay requests each month to reimburse the volunteer departments for their part-time hours worked. The position was very helpful in assisting the departments as they went through their rating improvement process that took place last year. Prior to 2016, our fire chief position included the fire chief and fire marshal duties.”

Relay For Life 220 Fundraiser

Relay For Life 220 Seafood Fundraiser – Oct. 26

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-Information courtesy Katrina Tunstall, Relay For Life of Vance County

Join Relay For Life of Vance County for a trout plate fundraiser at 220 Seafood Restaurant in Henderson on Monday, October 26, 2020. Plates will be sold from 4 until 7 p.m.

Trout, fries, slaw and hushpuppies available for $8 (no drink included). This fundraiser is take-out only.

To purchase tickets in advance, call Rosa Marks at (252) 213-7076.

Enjoy some good food for a great cause!

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Local News Audio

NoonNews 10-20-20 Domestic Violence;Vance Co. Fire Marshall;Men’s Shelte

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– Domestic Violence Awareness Month

– Vance Co. Fire Marshall

– Men’s Shelter

For full details and audio click play