The Local Skinny! Lunch And Learn With Maria Parham Health

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Maria Parham Health will host a Lunch and Learn program on Thursday, Mar. 21 to talk about colorectal cancer early detection and prevention.

Register online at mariaparham.com/event/50 or by calling 252.436.1605. The program will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. and will be held in the classroom of the hospital, located at 566 Ruin Creek Rd.

Although colorectal cancer is a significant health concern, health experts say awareness and early detection make it highly preventable and treatable.

“We are committed to raising awareness about colorectal cancer and providing our community with the information they need to make informed decisions about their health,” said Kimberly Smith, Director of the Maria Parham Cancer Center.

“Through events like this, we hope to highlight the importance of early detection and screening in preventing colorectal cancer, ultimately saving lives,” Smith said.

The Lunch and Learn Event will feature board-certified gastroenterologist Varnita Tahiliani, MD, who will discuss various aspects of colorectal cancer, including risk factors, symptoms, screening options, treatment modalities, and lifestyle modifications for prevention. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with healthcare professionals in an interactive setting.

Lunch will be provided. Due to space restrictions, registrations will be limited to the first 30 attendees that register.

For more information about the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Lunch and Learn Event, please visit www.mariaparham.com.

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MPH, South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Team Up For May 3 Cancer Survivor Dinner

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Maria Parham Health Cancer Center is planning a Cancer Survivor Dinner on Friday, May 3 to honor the strength and resilience of community members who have been affected by the disease.

The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church, located at 905 American Rd., Henderson, according to information from hospital officials.

The dinner will be a celebration of life, courage and hope and serves as a tribute to the unwavering spirit of individuals who have faced the challenges of cancer with bravery and determination.

“We are honored to host this special event to recognize the incredible journey of cancer survivors in our community,” said Kimberly Smith, Director of Maria Parham Health Cancer Center. “This dinner is a heartfelt expression of gratitude and admiration for their courage and resilience.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring along one guest to share in the celebration. Please register to attend by calling 252.436.6485.

The Cancer Survivor Dinner promises to be an evening of fellowship, joy and reflection. It provides an opportunity for survivors and their loved ones to come together, share their stories, and draw strength from one another.

“We believe that by standing united, we can inspire and uplift each other in our journey towards healing and recovery,” Smith stated.. “Together, let us embrace the spirit of solidarity and resilience that defines the cancer survivor community.”

Maria Parham Health Cancer Center is committed to supporting cancer survivors and their families throughout their journey. The Cancer Survivor Dinner is just one of the many initiatives aimed at providing comprehensive care and support to individuals affected by cancer.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 252.436.6485.

 

The Local Skinny! Mar. 5 Primary Elections

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The March 5 primary elections are upon us, and local elections officials are gearing up to make sure all goes smoothly.

There are a couple of updates from state elections officials that could have an impact on how local officials process the early voting and absentee votes next week.

With only two contested races in the upcoming primary, local officials should be able to manage without too much trouble, but instead of tabulating the early votes in advance of the 7:30 p.m. poll closing, they have to wait until after the polls close to make those tabulations.

WIZS News will be at the Vance County Board of Elections office Tuesday evening to report all the election results as they become available.

Since this is the first time the new rules will be in effect, it’s unclear just how long the early voting results may take, but it could be an hour or more before unofficial results can be posted.

One other change involves absentee ballots. Those ballots must be received no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day; this rule replaces the previous rule that allowed for a three-day grace period to receive absentee ballots.

Unlike early voting results, absentee-by-mail results can be tabulated before the polThose absentee results will likely be the first to appear publicly for any given county when the polls close. They will include all absentee ballots returned to the county boards of elections before Election Day. Under state law, ballots returned on Election Day are approved and added to the vote totals during the 10-day period after Election Day known as the “canvass.”

Canvass is the process of ensuring votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed, culminating in the certification of results during meetings of every county board of elections.

By law, these canvass meetings will be held by each county board of elections at 11 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 15. The state board will meet at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 26 to finalize primary results.

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Home And Garden Show

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

  • Do not till wet soil in your garden
  • Continue pruning.
  • Check seedlings each day when growing them under grow lights.
  • Learn about Lithium Ion battery care.
  • Try growing a vegetable that you haven’t grown.
  • If you want to try fruit production, start with blueberries, blackberries, muscadine grapes, strawberries or figs.
  • Check house plants for insects, wipe with a soft cloth.
  • Avoid the temptation to plant tender flowers and vegetables. Trees and shrubs are fine to plant now.

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Remembering Sam Watkins

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The legacy of Sam Watkins is alive and well – flourishing, in fact.

Watkins died 10 years ago – family and friends no doubt still experience the void, but perhaps the grief has softened a bit and is slowly replaced by fond memories of a man who cared so much for his community.

Not only was he a successful businessman – president of Rose Oil Co. – but Watkins was a staunch supporter of the town where he grew up and he was determined to make it a better place.

No doubt his name will forever be associated with what originally was called the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation. Today, the community knows it as McGregor Hall and the Perry Memorial Library.

The new public library opened in 2007, and Watkins was able to see the first half of the vision become a reality.

McGregor Hall, the 1,000-seat theater that occupies the space opposite the library, opened its doors in 2014, the same year that Watkins died.

At the time of his passing, his brother George said it was Sam’s love of this community that compelled him to make sure the cultural arts center was completed.

“It was vital for Vance County to survive in a manner you could be proud of,” George told WIZS News in 2014.

Since it opened, McGregor Hall has attracted quality concerts, shows and more to its stage for the community to enjoy. It rebounded after the pandemic and continues to provide entertainment for individuals in this community and beyond.

It was Sam’s vision to make the cultural center – the venue now called McGregor Hall – an asset for the community, both culturally and economically.

“We’re gonna do it,” George said in that 2014 interview.

“He never relented until he accomplished what he wanted to accomplish,” George said of his twin. “And he was good at it.”

Yes, he was.

And a grateful community continues to benefit from the vision that Sam Watkins had.

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The Local Skinny! Triangle North Begins Grant Cycle

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The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is accepting letters of interest through April 1 as it opens the 2024 grant cycle.

 The foundation, a regional health care organization awards grants for programs in five focus areas: child well-being; chronic disease; mental and substance abuse disorders, nutrition and physical activity; and reproductive health.

Nonprofit organizations, government agencies and schools in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties are eligible to apply, according to information from the Henderson-based foundation.

The grants support the mission of the foundation “to encourage, support, and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health” in the four-county area.

TNHF Grants Coordinator Carolyn Powell is available to discuss project ideas or to assist with grant writing. Call 252.430.8532 to make an appointment.

The link to the foundation’s online grant portal, as well as information on previously funded project is available at the website:   http://www.tnhfoundation.org.

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Pop The Hood: Conventional vs. Synthetic Motor Oil

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Thank you for listening to Pop The Hood on WIZS!

Changing the oil in your car or truck is probably one of the most important – if not THE most important – piece of maintenance you can do to care for your vehicle’s engine.

Up for debate is when to change the oil – is it every 3,000 miles? Every 5,000? It depends.

Another debate involves the type of oil to use: conventional, synthetic or a hybrid?

Again, depends on who you ask. And on the vehicle.

Let the professionals at Advance Auto Parts help you find answers to your questions about the brand and type of oil best suited for your needs.

Conventional oil is fine for many makes and models, but some manufacturers recommend synthetic oil, which is supposed to have fewer impurities than the conventional oil.

Think of conventional oil as a material made up of molecules that resemble a handful of gravel – it’s all the same substance, but they’re all different shapes. Synthetic oil is more like a handful of marbles – more uniformly shaped and smooth.

As you may expect, synthetic oil is more expensive than conventional oil, so you’ll spend more for an oil change if you use synthetic oil.

Follow your vehicle’s specs to make sure the oil you choose is compatible with the vehicle.

If your vehicle is an older model, a synthetic oil can help prevent sludge buildup and prolong engine life.

Expect to spend $25-$50 for a conventional oil change at your neighborhood oil change shop; that range could be $45-$70 for synthetic oil. The good news is that synthetic oil doesn’t have to be changed as often.

Another plus for synthetic over conventional comes for drivers who tend to make many short trips. Conventional oil doesn’t have a chance to warm up enough to burn off impurities; synthetic oil does warm more quickly, so it may to prevent engine malfunctions.

The do-it-yourselfer may be able to crawl under a vehicle, drain the old oil and replace it with new oil for a fraction of that cost, but consider the time and effort involved to determine which route is better for you and your situation.

Be an informed consumer and know which questions to ask, whether you’re going to take your car to the shop or DIY it.

The three types of motor oil will work fine in your vehicle as long as they meet current American Petroleum Institute certification and don’t go against the manufacturer’s recommendations. The only type of engine you should never use synthetic oil in is a rotary. Rotary engines have unique seals that are engineered for use with conventional oil only.

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The information contained in this audio on air and online as well as the wizs.com web post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS. Safety First! Always seek proper help. This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

Home And Garden Show

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

  • If you have plants in a greenhouse or cold frame, always check the projected high temperature for the day 70F or higher. You will need to ventilate your greenhouse or cold frame.  Also have a good thermometer in these structures.
  • Begin pruning fruit trees, grapevines and blueberry bushes.
  • Organize your seed in the order you need to plant
  • Begin pruning trees and shrubs, but only if they need it.
  • Cooperative Extension has publications on most vegetables free of charge.
  • In most cases it’s best to avoid shearing cuts.
  • Conduct a germination test on old seed
  • Look for a date on all seed you purchase. Seed from last season or earlier will likely have a lower germination rate. .

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Perry Memorial Library

Events At Perry Library; Mayor To Read To Youngsters

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Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott will take a break from her duties with the city for a bit next week when she visits Perry Memorial Library to read a storybook to youngsters and then hang around to answer questions about what it’s like to be mayor.

Youth Services Director Melody Peters said the Tuesday, Feb. 27 gathering is for all ages, and everyone’s invited. Peters said on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny! that the program will last 30-45 minutes. “We have a craft planned, so it’ll be fun!” she exclaimed.

Ongoing programs are gearing up after a holiday pause, and Peters said the Monday Community Read program is gathering a bit of steam.

“One of my dreams for this program,” Peters said, “is to have all ages reading.” Whether it’s younger children reading to teens, teens reading with other teens or classes for adults who struggle with literacy, Peters said the library wants to meet people “where they’re at” with literacy.

The Community Read program is on Monday afternoons from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Visit www.perrymemorial.org to find out about all the events and programs the library offers.

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