The Local Skinny! Carolina Payroll Partners Business Spotlight

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Mel Manning and Carolina Payroll Partners, LLC received a recent shout-out from the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce as recipient of the Chamber Spotlight.

Manning works out of Morehead City now, but he said he and partner Seth Ward can successfully meet their clients’ needs, thanks to technology and online software.

For the past four years, the local Chamber has been a client of Carolina Payroll Partners. Manning, who used to live in Henderson, has kept his Chamber membership current. In fact, he spent eight years on the Chamber board and one more as chair, he said during a recent interview with WIZS.

“I’m always trying to let people know about what an opportunity it was to join the Chamber, to work with the Chamber,” Manning said. “It’s a great opportunity to get your name out and meet a lot of people.”

Manning and Ward are both accountants, and have clients spread out across Vance and Granville counties, all the way to the Triangle down to the Crystal Coast. Ward is located in Cary. Together, the two handle payroll processing services for 15 clients.

Manning said he and Ward can operate remotely to provide clients exactly what they need, but they have the ability to be on site with customers if they ever need it.

They offer a range of services, but position themselves as an alternative to the impersonal national online software companies. Clients can input payroll information themselves, or they can send the raw data to either Manning or Ward and they can do it for them.

“A lot of clients will email payroll,” he said, which they then enter into the software program, generate the results and submit it for processing on their clients’ behalf.

“We wanted to be very customer-oriented when we started this… (and) take as much off our clients’ plates as possible and make it as simple as possible,” Manning explained.

The vast majority of payments come in the form of direct deposit, which Carolina Payroll Partners offers as a free option for clients. “We might have an occasional paper check,” he said, to accommodate unique situations that may crop up. In such cases, the client can prepare the check and also receives a paystub to go along with it.

Manning’s continued connection with the local Chamber runs deeper than just a business partnership. He recognizes the benefits of having a Chamber of Commerce in any given community.

“The Chamber does a lot of great things in the community, through education and things that will better all the citizens of the area,” Manning said.

Visit https://www.ncpayrollpartners.com/ to learn more or contact Manning at 252.432.0768.

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Home and Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance County Cooperative Extension Agent Wayne Rowland:

  • The lastest at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market
  • Check your garden notebook for when vegetables were planted, last top dressing of fertilizer, spray applications to keep track of what you have done in the garden and what you need to do this week.
  • Reduce disease pressure in the garden by removing diseased leaves or plants to prevent spread of disease.
  • Harvest vegetables early in the morning.
  • Contact Cooperative Extension for the latest on safe food preservation techniques.  You can always call 438-8188.

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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Summertime is all about taking a little break from routines and schedules and doing something a little bit out of the ordinary – shake things up a bit.

But not too much.

With that in mind, Perry Memorial Library Youth Services Director Melody Peters has a little something for everyone, which includes regularly scheduled events like Lego Fun Club and Mother Goose Story Time, with a few off-site events thrown in for good measure.

On Wednesday, Aug. 7, Story Time will be held for the first time at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

The month of August is when activities at the library take a hiatus, giving staff a chance to continue planning for fall.

“We’re using that opportunity so we can go out into the community,” Peters said.

The Story Time coincides with National Farmers Market Week, so naturally the theme is going to be Fruits and Vegetables. Story Time starts at 10 a.m.

But that’s not the only off-site event that library staff have planned. On Thursday, Aug. 1, bring the kids out to Satterwhite Point for a special Story Time, complete with popsicles! Park rangers will be on hand to talk about their jobs and to share details about the park’s wildlife. This event begins at 11 a.m.

“We’re hoping to do it outside like we did last year,” Peters said, but the Glass House will be the Plan B in case of rain. The park is located at 6254 Satterwhite Point Rd.

Visit www.perrylibrary.org to learn about all the programs this summer at Perry Memorial Library.

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The Local Skinny! Chestnut Street Park Revitalization Project

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Charles Turrentine Jr. grew up on Hamilton Street, so it was a short walk down to Chestnut Street Park, where he spent time playing basketball and hanging out with his friends.

The park is due an upgrade, and Turrentine is spearheading an effort to give the park a facelift.

As the old saying goes, all it takes is time and money.

“It’s a collective effort,” he said on Monday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

Turrentine’s church, Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, is located across the street from the park, and he said they’ve sort of adopted it, putting into action a plan to make some much-needed changes so the park can once again be a place for the whole community to enjoy.

“We’re really in action with the revitalization effort,” he said. “We want a modernized park that’s open to everyone.”

Rep. Frank Sossamon has joined the effort, and is one of several folks featured in a 2-minute video about the project, which can be seen on YouTube. Turrentine and Sossamon have known each other for a good while, and Turrentine said the pastor-turned-legislator contacted him asking how he could help.

Once the site of a tobacco warehouse, the park was donated by J.P Taylor in the early 1970’s and the surface for all the courts is the original warehouse floor. The plan includes other amenities like installing a cover over the courts, and adding water and electricity.

The first phase will be resurfacing the courts, which will involve taking down the hoops and the chainlink fencing that surrounds the park.

Turrentine said the resurfacing alone has a $20,000 price tag.

Inflation and the spike in construction materials and costs, has bumped the original estimate of about $100,000 to more like $500,000, he said. The fencing alone could cost upwards of $30,000.

He hopes to make some tweaks to the video and use a slightly longer version to help with fundraising efforts. The idea now is to get started at the beginning of 2025, using the rest of 2024 to promote the project and raise money.

There already are different ways to donate, including a GoFundMe page and making a tax-deductible donation at Davis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. All donations will go to fund the project, Turrentine said.

“We have to do it in phases, as the money comes in and we get more support,” Turrentine explained. And he is confident about the success of the project and what it will mean for the community.

“We can change the narrative of Henderson,” he said, putting aside differences and raising money to create a modern park for all to enjoy.

Find the “Every Court Has A Story – Chestnut Street Park” video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTW0q-4CXqA&t=21

Pop The Hood: Know The Difference Between Coolant And Antifreeze

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— For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

Although the terms often are used interchangeably, it’s important to know that antifreeze and coolant are NOT the same thing.

Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze; antifreeze contains either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, which keep your engine from freezing in winter or overheating in summer.

And while it may sound strange to be talking about “anti-freeze” products in the middle of summer, it’s always good to know just what your vehicle needs to operate efficiently in any type of weather. Let the professionals at Advance Auto Parts help you choose the product that’s just right for your needs.

Michael Puckett, a district manager at the Advance Auto on Raleigh Road, said different types of antifreeze come in different colors, according to their particular uses and ingredients.

Vehicle owners should follow the original manufacturer’s specifications when choosing antifreeze.

Coolants are usually 50/50 mixes of distilled water and the glycol, but different brands may offer different ratios.

In addition to raising the boiling point and lowering the freezing point of water, coolant also helps prevent corrosion.

Unless it’s an emergency situation, it’s never a good idea to put plain ol’ water in your vehicle’s radiator. But it IS always a good idea to disconnect the battery cables and make sure the engine is cool enough to work on before adding any fluids, even if you’re just topping off.

When your car or truck engine is not running, the coolant is in the radiator. When the engine is running, however, the coolant courses through passageways in the engine, absorbing heat before returning to the radiator to be cooled by fresh air.

If you find you’re having to top off coolant levels often, it could be a sign that there’s a leak in the system somewhere.

It’s a good idea to think about doing a system flush every few years, but that depends on the make and model of the vehicle.

The information contained in this 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.

  •  Farmer’s Market
  • Keep Hydrated in hot weather
  • Irrigation
  • Harvest vegetables early in the morning
  • Tomatoes suffering in heat
  • Soil Samples
  • Harvest vegetables daily
  • Prepare for fall gardens

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The Local Skinny! Teacher Pay And State Budget

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Gov. Roy Cooper signed a dozen or so bills into law on Monday, a couple of which involve education and educators. At a time when most area school children – and teachers – are enjoying their summer vacations, Cooper signed into law small pay raises for educators and extended grants to keep childcare centers open at least in the short-term.

In signing Senate Bill 357, Cooper stated that the legislation “provides critical but limited grants to help keep childcare centers open for the next few months.” He said legislators need to do more for parents, businesses and children to extend the grants through 2025 by

“investing in our nationally recognized NC Pre-K and investing more in quality early childhood education. Our children’s future and our economy depend on it,” Cooper stated.

As for Senate Bill 332, Cooper said it “simply restates the small pay raises legislators already gave public school teachers last year.”

Citing North Carolina’s rank of 38 among the 50 states in teacher pay, Cooper said the legislature should be paying teachers “significantly more.” That ranking, coupled with the fact that North Carolina invests nearly $5,000 less per student than the national average, Cooper said North Carolina should spend more for teachers and students. “Our state has the resources to make meaningful investments to help our public school students and now is the time to do it.”

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Vance County Logo

The Local Skinny! Commissioner Balks At City’s Reimbursement Request For Displaced Families

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In her report to the Vance County Board of Commissioners last week, County Manager C. Renee Perry said she had received a letter from Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon that formally requested $22,000 to reimburse the city for money it gave to families displaced when the place they were living in was shut down back in May.

Perry, however, reminded commissioners that county funds had been used to house the families to the tune of $26,905.67. “My recommendation is …there should be an offset to the cost that the county incurred,” Perry stated during the commissioners’ July 1 regular monthly meeting.

If the city and the county were to split all costs 50/50, the city and county would each pay $22,000 for the $2,000 vouchers provided earlier by the city to the displaced families AND the city would put up $13,452.84 to take care of half of the almost $27,000 that the county incurred while the shelter was in use.

According to Perry’s calculations, 8,547.16 is the more accurate number that should be considered – $22,000 minus the $13,452.84.

The commissioners ultimately took no action at the meeting.

Commissioner Yolanda Feimster expressed concern over the request. When the incident with (Motel) 121 occurred, the county provided the shelter, and all the things that went along with it – water and electricity – not to mention portable showers, toilets and overtime pay for law enforcement officers to make sure the area was safe.

“And we were never reimbursed, not one dime,” Feimster said.

She went on to call the $2,000 payment to the families who had to spend a week in the former Eaton Johnson gym-turned emergency shelter a “band-aid” approach that would have little long-term effect.

Feimster said she was sympathetic to those who had to move out of the motel that they called home, but she expressed concern that the city is asking for reimbursement for something that the county was not first consulted about.

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Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Vance County Regional Farmers Market

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Calvin Adcock has been a vendor at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market for 27 years. He’s set up shop on William Street, the YMCA, the old Lowe’s building and now at the market on Southpark Drive.

Manager Pat Ayscue calls Adcock a “one-man band” because he’s got “a little bit of everything that everybody wants.”

He fills his corner spot with canned tomatoes, chow-chow relish and more. Everybody comes in to see what he’s got for sale, Ayscue said during a special segment of the WIZS Home & Garden show Wednesday.

Adcock was certified to can tomatoes back in 2004, he said during the show, which was recorded at the market.

“Few tomatoes taste better than his,” Ayscue said.

Whether it’s canned tomatoes, canned green beans or freshly picked produce from other gardens from across the county, customers have their pick of anything from watermelons to eggplant now as the vendors bring a wide selection to the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

G & G Farms is a recent addition to the market, and Gian Jefferson said she and husband Gregory are enjoying being market vendors. They have different chicken breeds that lay all colors of eggs, Jefferson said.

Vance County Ag Agent Michael Ellington said helping new farmers get established and find their markets like the Jeffersons have is a highlight of his job.

Bob Parks of Parks’ Blackberries out on Bearpond Road brings his Natchez blackberries to the farmers market this time of year. The newer variety of blackberry ripens a little bit later, Parks said, helping to extend the season. Snack on fresh berries or bake them in a cobbler or dumpling for a super sweet treat.

Adcock, who will celebrate his 86th birthday later this month, said he thinks this farmers market is wonderful. “I appreciate it and like it – it’s really helped the community,” he said.

“Most people have got most anything here you want,” he said.

Click Play to Hear the Full Special Broadcast from the Vance County Regional Farmers Market!

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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If you grew up in Henderson and you’re of a certain age, you may have fond memories of spending summer afternoons in the children’s section of the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library. The children’s section was in the basement, and you could either go in at ground level or climb those impressive front steps and then head down the metal stairs just beyond the main Circulation Desk.

Either way, you ended up in a cool, quiet spot and peruse books to your heart’s content.

“Cool” is about the only similarity between the old library and the new Perry Memorial Library, however.

There are still plenty of books to choose from, and the AC is a welcome relief from the recent early-summer heat, to be sure.

But chances are good that there was NEVER an obstacle course set up for children to enjoy at the old library. It’s just one of the activities that Youth Services Director Melody Peters and team have planned, all in the name of summer fun.

The obstacle course, “Adventures in Imagination,” kicked off at 4 p.m. today, and Peters said she wanted to tap into children’s different learning styles. Some kids are tactile learners and like to touch and feel things to help them learn. Kinesthetic learners are active, so there’s a place for them to crawl and jump around as they progress along the obstacle course, picking their way across a river filled with crocodiles. This is where Peters stresses the word ‘imagination’ – the crocodiles, rocks and river are made of paper, she said.

The topic moves from imagination to science for the next couple of weeks, when participants will get to do some STEM activities with N.C. Cooperative Extension staff on Tuesday, July 9 and then on July 16 a geologist from the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is going to come talk about rocks. There will be some geodes to crack, so if your kids have never done that before, bring them to the library that day.

Family Story Time takes place on Sunday, July 28 and Peters has planned a special version of the Olympic Games for that afternoon event, complete with edible medals – think Oreos and Twizzler ropes.

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

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