The Local Skinny! Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation’s ‘Tennis and Dentist’ Event Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM

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The Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation is hosting a “Tennis and Dentist” event on Saturday, May 31 to combine learning about the sport of tennis and the importance of good oral hygiene.

Things will get underway at 10 a.m. at Fox Pond Park, 375 Vicksboro Rd. and will continue until 2 p.m., according to Dr. Jerry Edmonds, who founded the organization with his wife Dorcel in 2018.

In case of rain, the event will move to Aycock Rec Center, Edmonds said.

The tennis clinic is free and is open to youth between the ages of 5 and 18.

Participants will learn tennis fundamentals, learn about dental health and get lunch, too.

Racquets and tennis balls will be provided.

Tennis is a relatively inexpensive sport, and there are public courts all around just waiting to be used. All tennis players need is a racquet, a can of balls and a good pair of tennis shoes and they’ll be all set.

The Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation is a nonprofit that combines tennis, academics and nutrition to strengthen young people for success.

Visit https://www.edmondstennis.org/ to learn more about the organization.

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Grand Opening of Community Garden at VCRFM

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The community garden at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market held its official grand opening Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Dr. Wykia Macon, director of the Vance County Cooperative Extension, was on hand and hands on!

She spoke recently at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market and said agriculture is “undeniably central to our lives,” when addressing 100 attendees of the ‘State of Agriculture’ luncheon hosted by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

Horticulture and Field Crops agent Michael Ellington was on hand and at work as well, and it’s apparent months of preparation is starting to pay off.

The community garden a place where gardeners of all skill levels are welcome to learn and share their own knowledge about growing fruits and vegetables.

Garden beds are available to rent for the growing season – each 4 foot by 8 foot bed is $40 for the whole season.

Community gardens provide lots of benefits, Ellington said recently on his weekly Tuesday segment on WIZS. Fresh, healthy food is just the beginning.

Access to affordable, nutritious food can be limited, especially in underserved neighborhoods and communities, he said. Garden plots like the ones at the farmers market offer local hands-on solutions that can reduce food inequality and increase availability.

And it just makes sense that folks who grow their own fruits and vegetables are likely to eat more of each. Community gardens give people power over what they eat, he said.

Community gardens can bring diverse groups together, and soon, new friends are swapping recipes and stories while they pull weeds and keep their plots watered.

These places “reveal that social fabric that holds communities together,” Ellington said.

Macon added that cooperative extension programs support agriculture in all its forms – from livestock and horticulture to youth programs like 4-H.

The community garden is also a place where children can learn first-hand about where their food comes from – literally – not from a video screen or a textbook.

“They learn by planting seeds, watching them sprout and harvesting what they’ve nurtured,” Ellington said.

Planting a garden can reduce grocery bills and can reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in the landfill.

Community gardens also send a clear message to prospective businesses that residents care about where they live.

If you’d like more information about the community garden, visit the cooperative extension website at https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu, call 252.438.8188 or email Ellington at maellington@ncsu.edu.

There are many ways to help, from volunteering to sponsoring to making a direct donation.

And if you don’t have a green thumb, don’t fret. Just spread the word about the community garden to friends and neighbors.

Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is now open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
  • Monitor rows in garden open ends of rows that have water pooled up in them.
  • Check tomatoes for leaf spot diseases. You can prune all leaves below the first fruit set.
  • Monitor tall fescue for brown patch disease, especially if you fertilized later than March 15th.
  • Treat fire ants now. Use fire ant bait.
  • Keep lawn mower blades sharp.
  • If you have young children or grandchildren, teach them how to work in the garden. They are our future gardeners.
  • Consider drip irrigation in your garden.
  • Use row covers to protect your garden from wildlife.
  • Continue your fruit tree spray program according to the label directions of the product that you are using.
  • Keep your garden journal up to date.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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Clarke Elementary Principal Dr. C’Monee’ Wilkins Named NCAE’s 2025 Principal Of The Year

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Clarke Elementary School Principal Dr. C’monee’ Wilkins has been named 2025 Principal of the Year by the N.C. Association of Educators.

This distinguished award honors outstanding leadership, a deep commitment to student and staff success and steadfast support for public education.

Wilkins has more than a decade of experience in education. She was selected following an interview process led by the NCAE Division of Principals/Administrators Board, who chose her for her strong instructional leadership, innovative approaches and dedicated advocacy for educational equity, according to information from NCAE Press Secretary Adrian Ezell.

NCAE President Tamika Walker Kelly said, “We are honored to name Dr. Wilkins as our Principal of the Year. Her transformative work is a powerful reminder of the impact strong educational leadership can have on a school community. We are proud of all she has accomplished and excited to see what she will do next.”

Under Wilkins’s leadership, Clarke Elementary has seen remarkable gains. The school’s overall performance grade has improved, and math proficiency in grades 3-5 has tripled. She credits these achievements to the school’s structured coaching model implemented through its Opportunity Culture framework.

Beyond academic outcomes, Wilkins has championed partnerships with organizations such as Student U and Duke University to secure grants that provide critical academic support, mentorship and family engagement resources – helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.

“Strong schools are built through collaboration, vision and dedication to student success,” Wilkins said. “Through strategic coaching, thoughtful advocacy and continuous learning, I strive to ensure that Clarke Elementary remains a model of excellence where every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

The NCAE Principal of the Year Award is presented annually by the NCAE Division of Principals/Administrators. Nominees are judged on professional practice, advocacy for the profession, community engagement and leadership skills.

The NCAE is the largest association of professional educators in North Carolina.

Maria Parham Oncology Director Kimberly Smith Honored With Mercy Award From LifePoint Health

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— courtesy of Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health is proud to announce that Kimberly Smith, RN, BSN, Director of Oncology, has been named the hospital’s recipient of the 2025 Mercy Award, the highest honor given to a LifePoint Health employee.

The Mercy Award, named in memory of LifePoint Health’s founding chairman Scott Mercy, recognizes one individual at each LifePoint facility who exemplifies the company’s commitment to making communities healthier through extraordinary compassion, dedication and service.

With nearly 20 years of service at Maria Parham Health, Smith has dedicated her career to caring for others, serving in multiple departments including Med/Surg, Labor &  Delivery, Inpatient Rehabilitation, and most notably, Oncology—where her light shines brightest.

“Kimberly is the kind of person who makes an immediate impact wherever she goes,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “Her unwavering dedication to our patients, her team, and  our entire community is truly inspiring. Kim doesn’t just show up to do her job—she lives out our mission every day. We are incredibly proud to recognize her as our 2025 Mercy Award  winner.”

Kimberly is known for going above and beyond, making herself available to support not only patients but also their families and fellow employees. Outside the hospital, she is deeply involved  in community outreach efforts, regularly organizing initiatives to provide food, clothing and resources to those in need.

She plays a key role in organizing the hospital’s annual Cancer Survivor’s Dinner, hosts awareness events focused on cancer education, and partners with organizations like the Henderson Fire Department’s Boot Drive and the Angel Fund to ensure patients receive both financial and emotional support during their treatment journey.

Those who work with Kimberly consistently describe her with words like “compassionate,”  “committed,” “selfless,” and “kind” —qualities that reflect the very spirit of the Mercy Award.

Maria Parham Health congratulates Kimberly Smith on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for being a beacon of hope, healing and humanity within the hospital and beyond.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

The Local Skinny! Grand Opening of Community Garden at VCRFM

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The community garden at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market has its official grand opening this Saturday, and Horticulture and Field Crops agent Michael Ellington invites folks to come out to see the result of months of preparation and what has been achieved.

Cooperative Extension staff will be on hand from 12 noon to 2 p.m. to answer questions and to share information about the newest addition to the farmers market campus.

It’s a place where gardeners of all skill levels are welcome to learn and share their own knowledge about growing fruits and vegetables.

Garden beds are available to rent for the growing season – each 4 foot by 8 foot bed is $40 for the whole season.

Community gardens provide lots of benefits, Ellington said. Fresh, healthy food is just the beginning.

Access to affordable, nutritious food can be limited, especially in underserved neighborhoods and communities, he said. Garden plots like the ones at the farmers market offer local hands-on solutions that can reduce food inequality and increase availability.

And it just makes sense that folks who grow their own fruits and vegetables are likely to eat more of each. Community gardens give people power over what they eat, he said.

Community gardens can bring diverse groups together, and soon, new friends are swapping recipes and stories while they pull weeds and keep their plots watered.

These places “reveal that social fabric that holds communities together,” Ellington said.

It’s also a place where children can learn first-hand about where their food comes from – literally – not from a video screen or a textbook.

“They learn by planting seeds, watching them sprout and harvesting what they’ve nurtured,” Ellington said.

Planting a garden can reduce grocery bills and can reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in the landfill.

Community gardens also send a clear message to prospective businesses that residents care about where they live.

If you’d like more information about the community garden, visit the cooperative extension website at https://vance.ces.ncsu.edu, call 252.438.8188 or email Ellington at maellington@ncsu.edu.

There are many ways to help, from volunteering to sponsoring to making a direct donation.

And if you don’t have a green thumb, don’t fret. Just spread the word about the community garden to friends and neighbors.

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Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is now open on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
  • Cooperative Extension has publications on most vegetables and fruits that can be grown in  the central piedmont of  North Carolina call 252-438-8188 or come by the Cooperative Extension Offices during 8:30am til 5pm M-F.
  • Harvest herbs frequently. Young foliage is more tender and flavorful Clipping promotes new growth.
  • Sharpen Garden hand tools with a file, makes chopping weeds much easier.
  • Treat fire ants now. Use fire ant bait.
  • Try electric fencing to keep wildlife out of your garden.
  • Identify your insects on plants before buying a control chemical.
  • Consider drip irrigation in your garden.
  • Use row covers to protect your garden from wildlife.
  • Continue your fruit tree spray program according to the label directions of the product that you are using.
  • Monitor strawberries closely. They ripen quicker than you know.
  • Check houseplants dust weekly with a soft cloth.
  • Check storage areas for mice.      

Thank you to our caller for calling in and leaving a question!

The Vance County Cooperative Extension is located at 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson, NC 27536

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events To Kick Off Summer at Perry Memorial Library

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With summertime approaching, Perry Memorial Library’s Youth Services librarian Melody Peters has planned some programs to help get families and children in the mood for warm-weather activities.

The Mother Goose Story Time returns at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 5 and the theme of the morning is The Beach. Subsequent themes include Summer,  Art, Camping, Colors, Crayons and Boats.

When the Summer Reading program “Color Our World” kicks off on Tuesday, June 17, Peters and library staff have planned an afternoon of outdoor activities sure to please the whole family. She said it’ll be “super fun and different,” with close to 20 nonprofit partners scattered throughout the parking lot to interact with families and children – complete with prizes and giveaways.

“We wanted families to move through and interact with groups they may not normally interact with,” Peters said, mentioning N.C. Cooperative Extension and a local beekeepers’ group as just a couple of the groups on hand for the afternoon event, which takes place between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Participants can complete one reading log each week over the course of the seven-week program for the chance to choose prizes that are mostly consumable – think ice cream cones, milkshakes, movie passes and snow cones.

Teens in grades 6-12 will have an extra chance to gather at the library for Summer Thrilling Thursdays, Peters said. She tried a similar program over spring break, and she wants to keep the momentum going over the summer.

The teens will gather in the library’s Makerspace from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and enjoy gaming, crafts and snacks.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/home to learn about all the programs and services at the library.

 

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The Local Skinny! N.C. Rep. Bryan Cohn Says $10M For Water Plant Expansion Is Spent

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N.C. Rep. Bryan Cohn said House Bill 74, signed into law last week by Gov. Josh Stein, is not anticipated to have any impact on the $10 million that had been reappropriated away from the City of Oxford as part of the Kerr Lake Regional Water expansion.

“That money has been distributed and contractors have been paid,” Cohn told WIZS News Monday morning. “That money no longer exists.”

Cohn learned in early March that the bill contained language that would “claw back” money that had been appropriated to the City of Oxford in 2023 to expand the water plant. The project is underway, and once complete, will increase capacity to up to 20 million gallons a day.

“The facts are that the city of Oxford, through the water authority, applied for reimbursement to DEQ. DEQ evaluated that reimbursement request, just like they would any other reimbursement request, and they issued the final payment,” Cohn explained. “So that money has been distributed and the contractors working at Kerr Lake Regional Water plant have been paid – at least they’ve been paid using the funds allocated by the General Assembly.”

You can’t spend money twice, and Cohn said he is unsure what will happen next, but he added “the law is on our side.” The money was originally allocated in 2023 by the N.C. General Assembly for the regional water expansion project.

“That project is underway and they followed all the proper protocols and procedures for executing the work and getting reimbursement as required,” he said.

Cohn said when he learned that there was an attempt to reallocate the funding, he said he recommended that they needed to request reimbursement and follow the process given.

“At no point did I ask DEQ or anyone to circumvent or expedite anything,” Cohn explained, adding that he “simply asked the regional water authority and the city of oxford to go ahead and put in for reimbursement before this became law.”

In House Bill 74, South Granville Water and Sewer Authority was appropriated $3 million for an expansion project of its own, and Cohn said he fully supports those efforts. The other $7 million was to have been used in Franklin County and a couple of other counties, for similar projects.

“We have the opportunity to do something right now with this budget,” he said, referring to the fact that legislators are in the middle of creating the state’s budget. But he said he didn’t want to be in a situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

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The Local Skinny! County Manager Releases Revised Budget

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Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry said that her $64.3 million proposed budget presented to commissioners last week had some missing information, which prompted a line-by-line review of the numbers to create a revised budget.

The revised budget seems to be about $600,000 more than the original budget, coming in at $64,933,833.

“I know errors happen, but I hated for this to happen,” Perry told WIZS News. ”There was an issue with the data transfer from one spreadsheet to the next, and some of the expenditures and some of the requests did not make it in my budget,” she explained.

Perry said she and her team used a different process with the spreadsheets used to create the budget and “when we merged the data, we didn’t catch that some of the departments’ recommendations were missing, so it threw my numbers off.”

Perry said “something was on my mind” after the Monday, May 5th presentation to commissioners, and when she started looking through the spreadsheets, she realized something was missing.

She emailed commissioners first thing the next day, Tuesday morning May 6, to inform them of the issue.

“As soon as I was aware, I made them aware,” she said.

Perry said she and her team reviewed the budget over the last week, “making sure that we budgeted properly and that what I’m presenting to the commissioners are the things that they need to consider. I don’t want to go after July 1 and realize, ‘Oh, my God!’ we don’t have money for that,” she said.

“I need to present what we need for fiscal year 25-26 in its entirety, and I did not do that (at the Monday meeting). I’m taking full accountability, being transparent…to be able to present what I need to present to my commissioners.”

The revised budget was posted on the county’s website this Wednesday, May 14, giving commissioners a week to review before the scheduled May 20 budget work session.

The public hearing on the budget remains scheduled on June 2 at the regular monthly commissioners’ meeting.

If you happened to notice the first scheduled budget work session for this past Monday, May 12th, was cancelled.  This is the reason why.

In Perry’s cover letter to the budget presented to commissioners, she wrote:

“With all funds balanced and revenues and expenditures noted, this budget will not only meet statutory requirements but primarily seek to move Vance County forward in the next fiscal year by continuing to address needs within our infrastructure, services, and targeting opportunities of growth to capitalize on the inherent strengths of the communities across the County. The following message will outline points of emphasis and funding within the budget and highlight characteristics of the County that point toward continued strength and growth.”

The manager’s proposed budget does not include an increase nor a decrease in the general fund property tax rate of .7129 per $100 in value. The budget does not include an increase nor a decrease to 5.94 cents fire tax rate.

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