VGCC to Hold Domestic Violence Observances at All Four Campuses

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5 pm

-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Join VGCC for the college’s Annual Domestic Violence Observances the week of October 14 – October 17:

Main Campus (Henderson) –

Monday, October 14 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the Student Lounge

Franklin Campus

Tuesday, October 15 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Student Lounge

South Campus

Wednesday, October 16 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Building 2

Warren Campus

Thursday, October 17 from 12 until 2 p.m in Room W4103

Students will be able to:

  • Meet area professionals in the field of domestic violence
  • Learn some of the signs of someone in need and where to go to get help for yourself or others
  • Learn about community resources.

Refreshments will be served

This event is co-sponsored by the VGCC Counseling Department and the VGCC Domestic Violence Awareness Committee.

If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Davis at (252) 738-3350 or davisc@vgcc.edu.

Ducky Derby

VGCC Students Help With Ducky Derby

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College students volunteered at Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start’s 10th Annual “Ducky Derby” fundraiser in downtown Henderson on Saturday, September 21.

The Ducky Derby festival, the local Smart Start program’s signature fundraiser, was a sell-out event, with record-setting attendance. Young children and their families watched over 2,250 yellow rubber ducks, purchased by supporters, swim down the “river” on Garnett Street and race to the finish line.

VGCC student Simone Rose assists with F-G-V Smart Start’s 10th Annual Ducky Derby fundraiser in downtown Henderson. (VGCC photo)

A part of the festival included providing entertainment and games for the children, such as corn hole and ring toss, face painting and balloon animals.

Students from VGCC’s Early Childhood Education degree program assisted with implementing the games and helped to make sure that all the ducks had a safe journey down the “river.” Additionally, students assisted with the setup and cleanup of the event.

Participating VGCC students included Tiffany Bailey, Debi Brotherton, Brittaniana Channell, Cornisha Mitchell, Simone Rose and Ashley Wright.

“This event was an excellent example of our instructors and students serving as stellar representatives of VGCC and collaborating with the community we serve and was particularly appropriate since these students are in training to teach and nurture children,” said Antoinette C. Dickens, the college’s Department Chair of Public Service and Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

VGCC’s Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs; preschools; public and private schools; recreational centers; Head Start Programs; and school-age programs.

The program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

For more information, contact Dr. Tracey Bennett Carter at (252) 738-3471 or cartert@vgcc.edu.

Hometown Debate Series to Tackle Delivery of Medical Services – Oct. 17

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Cynthia Bowen, City Clerk, City of Oxford

The NC Institute of Political Leadership and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce present the 2019 Hometown Debate Series: A Conversation on the Delivery of Medical Services.

The event is free to the public and will be held at the Civic Center of Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus in Henderson on Thursday, October 17, 2019. The discussion begins at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m.

State Representatives Donna McDowell White and Maryann Black will speak at the occasion, along with Gregory Griggs, with the NC Academy of Family Physicians and Jordan Roberts, with the John Locke Foundation.

The debate is sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, Humana, IIANC: Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, NC Rural Center and the NCAHU: North Carolina Associate of Health Underwriters.

Warrenton Harvest Market Set for Fall Fun in Historic Courthouse Square

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information and flyer courtesy the Visit Warren County NC Facebook page

The Warrenton Revitalization Committee will hold a Harvest Market event on Saturday, October 12, 2019, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse Square in downtown Warrenton.

Crafts, art, gifts, jewelry, candles, produce, festival foods and more will be available. Enjoy live music by Ally J.

Vendor applications are due by October 8 and can be viewed by clicking here.

For more information, please contact (252) 257-1122 or email townadministrator@warrenton.nc.gov

McGregor Hall is Going ‘Shrek’ Green With Children’s ‘Soiree in the Swamp’

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Join Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and all of their friends for a “Soiree in the Swamp” at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson.

Children of all ages will enjoy yummy delicacies, entertainment by Shrek and his friends and pictures with their favorite characters.

Activities will be held on McGregor Hall’s stage in the swamp set on Saturday, October 26 and Saturday, November 2, 2019, at 2 p.m.

All children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

If you or your children enjoyed last year’s “Tea With Belle” event, then you’ll love Shrek and Fiona’s “Soiree in the Swamp!”

Tickets for both “Soiree in the Swamp” and McGregor Hall’s October 25 – November 3 production of Dreamwork’s “Shrek The Musical” are available by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HEREwww.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Camping Season at Kerr Lake’s Hibernia Extended to Dec. 1

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, Kerr Lake Park Watch

It’s been a long time coming and it’s only a little over a month, but in the immortal words of Fred Flintstone, “YABBA DABBA DO!”  That’s the reaction to this week’s announcement by NC State Parks & Recreation that the camping season at Hibernia will be extended for the first time.

Kerr Lake is getting its first west bank winter (actually late fall) camping in an NC State Recreation Area. Winter camping has previously been restricted to certain areas of Nutbush and Satterwhite, but for the first time Hibernia’s Area 2 will be open this year until December 1. Hibernia usually closes around October 25 and reopens between March 15-20.

Campers may call Reserve America or go online to book. For nine years Kerr Lake Park Watch has advocated extending the camping seasons as more and more RV’s are equipped for cold-weather camping. You can see the extended camping area in the map below.

“We see this as the tip of the iceberg,” said a jubilant Frank Timberlake, Lead Public Affairs for Kerr Lake Park Watch, “and additional camping time should be added. We agree with state parks folks that December could be slow, so why not add a month earlier in the Spring. We hope the state will publicize this; we surely will.”

Kerr Lake Park Watch Steering Committee member Larry Matthews added, “It’s refreshing and rewarding to know that our state parks leaders are hearing and responding to the campers or moreover to the pleas of their customers; and customers we are because while there may be some tax revenues involved, we pay for every stay.”

Kerr Lake Park Watch has maintained that the salaries for rangers, maintenance and support staff for the seven state recreation areas go year-round, so more of the parks should be open for longer seasons. Campers continue to want more; and in some cases, demand or pass campgrounds by, that don’t build and rehab sites for RV’s with eight-foot bodies, three-foot slides, and eight-foot awnings with at least water and 50-AMP electrical service.

More and more of the RV’s today have enclosed bellies, heated lower sections and even heated water, sewer and grey water tanks. The folks who own those RV’s are looking for close-by facilities for “winter escapes,” not to mention there’s the added bonus of promoting and seeking out tourists passing through the Kerr Lake region.

“This is a long-awaited event for those of us who have winter-camped at Kerr Lake for many years, to now have another option on the west side of the lake,” commented long-time Kerr Lake Park Watch Steering Committee Member Tom Elmore, who’s camped at Kerr for over fifty years. “There are those of us who know the value of Hibernia and believe that this change will be an exciting opportunity for both the campers and the park system, plus the local businesses. On a personal camping basis, being year-round campers, we’ve been limited in the past and have not stayed, and get this, spent money locally, as much as we’ve wanted to.”

Timberlake added, “I would think that the tourism people in Vance and Warren, and even Granville counties would see what a monumental occasion this is as the park seasonal operations haven’t been changed or upgraded with the times in decades. It’s a small step, but certainly one in the right direction, and just 300 or so extra tourists in the area can really add to the community coffers.

I would think that some regular hours at the entrance station will need to be held, maybe at all three parks with extended seasons. Hopefully, we should be fairly cool in November, but in a recent stay, I had nine campers tell me that they could not buy stacked firewood at the entrance station because no one was there.”

Pointing to continued needed improvements, Timberlake, who’s been visiting many of the parks since he was a young child and camping at the SRA’s since he was 14, said, “The next thing we need to do at the seven state recreation areas is to standardize the open/close times for the gates. The other day a seasonal employee told me the gates closed at 10 p.m. Luckily, we were back before 9 p.m., where shortly after the camp host told us that the gate closed at 9 p.m. Mishaps like that can cause problems for staff and certainly inconvenience visiting customers of the parks, possibly leading to bad reviews and no returning campers.”

“We’ve had numerous requests for extended camping, so here it is,” said Timberlake.”If we get a high response, we can see getting the Division of State Parks to extend more time in more parks. Please share this new extended camping season with your Kerr Lake friends!”

NC Dept of Agriculture

NC Farms Open for Fall Events

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, NCDA&CS

Travelers looking for unique farm experiences will have plenty of options this fall as farms across the state open their gates to welcome visitors. From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to festivals and farmers markets, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Following is a selection of activities being offered at N.C. agritourism destinations through the end of the fall season. Visitors are encouraged to verify event dates and hours of operations before they go.

Eastern North Carolina

  • Alpaca Dreams in Louisburg is participating in the National Alpaca Farm Days Sept. 28-29 and will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. both days.
  • Galloway Farm is now open in Hallsboro. This year, the farm is featuring a new augmented reality scavenger hunt. The farm also offers an 11-acre corn maze, two-acre kid’s fun maze, hayrides, barrel train, cow-patty miniature golf and more.
  • Garner’s Corn Maze in Newport is open for the season from Sept. 28-Nov. 2. They are open to the public Saturdays and Sundays and offer reserved educational field trips Monday through Friday. In addition to the corn maze, the farm offers a you-pick pumpkin patch, hayrides, children’s activities, farm animals, concessions and more.
  • Hood Swamp Corn Maze in Goldsboro opens from Sept. 27-Nov. 3. The sixth-generation family farm offers a corn maze, hayrides and activities for kids.
  • Hubb’s Farm in Clinton is open for the season through Nov. 9. Now in its 12th fall season, the farm offers pumpkins, corn mazes, hayrides, animals, plus more activities. Educational tours are welcome Tuesdays through Fridays.
  • The Farm On Grape Creek in Cove City will host the Fall Farm Festival Oct. 26-27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Featuring pumpkins, hayrides, farm tours, animals, music, games and food. Cost is $10 per person, which includes a small pumpkin. The event is free for children under 3.
  • The Farmer’s Barn in Chadbourn is now open with a large selection of on-farm fun. Activities include a tube slide, cow train, hayride, pumpkin patch, zip line, animal corral and more. A Haunted Maze also will run Oct. 19-26 with special offerings from NC Farm Bureau members.

Central North Carolina

  • CATHIS Farm in Lillington is now open. The farm’s Pumpkin Hollow offers a pumpkin patch, hayrides, farm animals and many other family fun activities during the day. Those looking for a scare can visit the Devil’s Playground at CATHIS Farm for a haunted house on the farm Friday and Saturday nights from 8-12.
  • Chickadee Farms in Clayton is hosting its premier farm-to-fork event of the year on Oct. 27 from 4-8 p.m. The event includes a pig picking, pie contest, music, crafts, farm tours and more.
  • Come out to Flint Rock Farm in Cameron for group field trips, day camps for kids, educational activities, family outings, and farm learning experiences with a bullying prevention theme. Pre-register October through mid-November.
  • Gross Farms in Sanford will be hosting fall fun Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 3. The farm has a variety of fall fun activities including a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayride, play area, slide, kettle corn, homemade ice cream, bands and entertainment
  • The Guilford Local Foods Celebration will be held Oct. 5-12. The week-long celebration includes farm tours, local tastings, cooking demonstrations and more events to celebrate Guilford County farmers.
  • Huckleberry Trail Farm in Siler City is open Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October. The farm strives to offer an accessible farm and an autism-friendly environment.
  • Ken’s Korny Corn Maze  in Garner is open through Nov. 9. Visitors can enjoy the six-acre corn maze and other activities.
  • The Living Well Folk School at Sustenance Farm in Franklinville will be offering workshops in local self-reliance, long-term sustainability, emergency readiness, modern homesteading, healthy living and community building on Oct. 19 and Nov. 16.
  • Mckee CornField Maze in Rougemont is open through Nov. 3. Visitors can enjoy pumpkins, hayrides, farm animals, corn hole, children’s play areas, games, crafts, music and fall family fun. The farm also will host a movie night on Oct. 26.
  • McLaurin Farm in Greensboro will open its pumpkin patch through Oct. 27. The farm also will host the 28th year of the Woods of Terror  haunted attraction.
  • Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur will be hosting OktoberFest each weekend in October, and an Apple Cider 5k and 10k run on Nov. 2 at 9 a.m.
  • Mitchell’s Nursery and Greenhouse in King will hold its Fall Open House Sept. 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served all day and hotdogs will be available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This annual event sets the stage for the fall growing season.
  • Raynay Alpaca Farm in Ruffin is celebrating National Alpaca Farm Day on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy hayrides, interacting with the alpacas, live music and magic, food vendors, John Deere Equipment, and a local beekeeper with a hive on display. Alpaca items, honey, and jams and jellies will be available for purchase.
  • Reverence Farms in Graham will offer fresh Thanksgiving turkeys and fixings for pickup on Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can enjoy a meal at the farm’s cafe, see farm animals and enjoy free food samples. Turkeys should be purchased in advance.
  • Sonlight Farms in Kenly will be open every Saturday through Oct. 26. This fall, they are hosting two themed Saturdays with special activities and crafts, in addition to their regular activities including hayrides, pumpkins, animals, playground and more. On Oct. 26, visitors can conquer their corn maze at night with the farm’s Blackout Challenge.
  • South Fork Sweet Sorghum Festival will be held Oct. 26 in Hillsborough. Bringing 19th-century traditions into the 21st century, featuring demonstrations of harvesting, stripping, milling, cooking and bottling sweet sorghum syrup.
  • Visit The Barn at Lloyd’s Dairy in Efland for the Orange County Feargrounds Haunted Barn Oct. 25, 26 and 31 from 7-11 p.m. The dairy also is hosting the Tarheel Antiques Festival and Christmas Craft Show Nov. 16-17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • The Hunter Farm in Weddington will open its pumpkin patch Sept. 29-Nov. 17. The farm also offers hayrides and petting barn where visitors can feed the farm animals. The farm is open daily through Oct. 31, and on weekends starting in November. Food trucks are on-site on Saturdays.
  • The Well Fed Community Garden in Raleigh will be hosting its Art in the Garden event Sept. 28 and Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by The Irregardless Café, a local Raleigh restaurant, the garden donates 20 percent of its bounty to volunteers and neighbors with the remaining 80 percent served in meals at the restaurant.
  • Tractors Corn Maze in Wake Forest is open Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 28 through the end of October. Enjoy an eight-acre corn maze, pumpkin patches, free pumpkin, hayride, corn pit and games.

Western North Carolina

  • Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk offers visitors the chance to get up-close and personal with the alpacas, donkeys, goats and other animals that work and play at Apple Hill Farm. Fall tours are available through Oct. 18. Tours are offered Sundays-Fridays at 2 p.m., and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Products also are available at the on-site Farm & Yarn Store.
  • Cherry Mountain Farm in Rutherfordton will hold a Goat Shearing Festival Oct. 12 starting at 9 a.m. Come early to see the Angora goats get their fall haircuts, enjoy food from a local food truck, visit the llama and horses, and enjoy hanging out at the farm. The gift shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The Clay County Chamber of Commerce will hold it’s 11th annual Punkin Chunkin Festival Oct. 20-21. The family-friendly event features a pumpkin throwing contest using catapults, trebuchets and air cannons, plus a chili and anything-pumpkin cooking contest and more.
  • Harvest Farm Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch in Valle Crucis invites travelers to experience the best weekend fall family fun in the High Country. Visitors can take a hayride, get lost in a corn maze, harvest their own pumpkin or choose from a selection of pre-picked pumpkins at the barn.
  • Shelby Corn Maze in Shelby is open for the season through Oct. 27. Visitors can enjoy farm and fall-themed activities including a pumpkin patch, hayrides, cow train, apple launcher, corn cannon and more.
  • The Farmer’s Daughter in Taylorsville is open through each Saturday of October with hayrides and pumpkins.
  • Trosly Farm in Elk Park will open its harvest and holiday market Saturdays from October through December. Visitors can find fresh breads, baked goods, produce, holiday gifts and more.
  • Walnut Hollow Ranch in Hayesville offers educational farm tours, farm stays and more. The ranch is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations for lunch tours are available on those days during the autumn.

‘Shrek the Musical:’ A Favorite Story Will Come to Life at McGregor Hall

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Everyone’s favorite movie is coming to McGregor Hall’s stage! DreamWorks Classic’s SHREK THE MUSICAL is the story of dreams becoming reality for a group of misunderstood fairy tale creatures who learn that our differences are what make us strong. This Broadway styled musical will feature glamorous costumes, a magical set, and a LIVE, professional orchestra.

The six performance dates include:

  • October 25-26, November 1-2, 2019, at 8 p.m
  • October 27, November 3, 2019, at 2 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Warren Co. 4-H: Youth Mentors Needed for Community Service Hours Opportunity

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Information courtesy Warren County NC Coop. Extension

Know a youth in need of internship or community service hours?

Warren County 4-H will be staring a mentoring program called “4-H L.I.T.” (Leading Into Tomorrow) and is in need of youth mentors.

Seven youth mentors are needed and must:

  • Love working with youth
  • Attend required training on Monday, Sept. 30
  • Complete mentor application
  • Commit to 60 hours by the end of the school year

An online application is available on the Warren County 4-H website (click here). The application deadline is Saturday, September 28.

With additional questions, please contact Rashawn Steverson at (252) 257-3640 or email rhstever@ncsu.edu.

NC Dept of Agriculture

Troxler Announces Grants for Bioenergy Research, New & Emerging Crops

100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

-Press Release, NCDA&CS

The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative is seeking grant proposals focused on research and development of agricultural and forestry-based feedstocks for bioenergy production as well as new and emerging crops.

“We are excited that the North Carolina Bioenergy Research Initiative will offer $1 million in competitive grants for projects focused on bioenergy and the production of exciting new crops,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Our state’s investment in agricultural research has helped maintain agriculture and agribusiness’ strength as the leading industry in the state. Bio-based industries and new emerging crops and products offer opportunities to increase N.C. farm income.”

High consideration will be given to projects that focus on crop production in either the field or forest that will provide feedstock for bioenergy-related technologies, potential edible crops, new adaptations of crops and economic analysis.

Projects can focus on production and harvesting methods and plant variety work, including:

  • Genetic improvement and selection
  • Identification of crops with economic potential
  • Weed management
  • Harvest management such as methods, timing, transportation and storage
  • Stand management such as renovation for productivity, planting dates, crop management and eradication when necessary
  • New species with bioenergy potential
  • Education and demonstration
  • Economic analysis and enterprise budgeting
  • Innovative uses of biomass for energy

For a copy of the grant application and additional information, go to the Bioenergy Research Initiative website at www.ncagr.gov/bioenergy/Grants. Applications must be postmarked by Nov. 8.

For more information, contact Allison Medlin, at allison.medlin@ncagr.gov or at 919-693-2483.