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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NCDOT

$57M Dabney Drive Upgrade Chugging Along

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Anyone who dropped in during Tuesday’s NCDOT meeting at E.M. Rollins School got a chance to view project maps and speak with transportation officials about just what the $57 million Dabney Drive upgrade is going to look like.

From initial conceptual drawings, what it’s going to look like is very different.

The proposed upgrades include a peanut-shaped roundabout at Dorsey Avenue and upgrading existing Dabney Drive for eastbound traffic and Corbitt Road and a former rail corridor for westbound traffic. But it also makes accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists who use the roadway.

Dabney Drive is a major transportation artery for the city that gives motorists access to residential, commercial, industrial, churches and institutional facilities located within the project area. There aren’t many times during the day that traffic isn’t congested, and NCDOT has been working on getting plans together for the upgrade since 2019.

Right now, projected costs to complete the Dabney Drive upgrade include $7.3 million for relocating utilities, $25 million for right-of-way acquisition, $24.4 million to complete an environmental document. Construction is set to begin in Fall 2027.

and utility companies to make sure the work “will minimize impacts to the greatest extent possible,” documents state.

No doubt NCDOT will have to acquire property, and once the design phase is complete, affected property owners will be contacted.. For more information about the right-of-way process, visit https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/Documents/right-of-way-residential-english.pdf#search=right%20of%20way.

In addition to fielding questions from the public, NCDOT representatives received comments, which will be reviewed and discussed as plans continue.

The project – U-5890 – has its own webpage https://publicinput.com/dabney-drive-henderson

NCDOT also invites public comment by email or phone. To send an email, visit dabney-drive-henderson@publicinput.com.

Phone 984.205.6615 and enter Code 4600 to leave a voice message.

Public comments can also be mailed to:

Zahid Baloch

NCDOT Division Project Team

1573 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1573

 

Comments should be submitted by Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

 

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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.
  • Do not over water seedlings in greenhouse or cold frame
  • When pruning, always wear safety glasses and gloves.
  • Cut back ornamental grasses and liriope, but be careful not to cut into emerging growth.
  • Get your Piedmont Planting guide from Cooperative Extension
  • Do a germination test on old seed.
  • Have all your lawn mowers serviced before the rush

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The Local Skinny! Vance County Schools Receive Blue Ribbon Awards

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For the fourth year in a row, Vance County Schools has been recognized by a statewide organization for excellence in communications. The district took four Blue Ribbon awards at a recent ceremony of the North Carolina School Public Relations Association, according to information from VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin.

Of the 344 awards given out during the ceremony, Vance County received two Gold level awards, one Silver and one Bronze level award.

The BlueRibbon Awards are the highest honor presented by t6he NCSPRA to school districts. The awards are given for outstanding communication in eight categories: marketing, digital media engagement, electronic media, excellence in writing, publications, image/graphic design, photography and special events/programs.

“This recognition is an honor for our entire district, as well as a testament to the hard work of our team,” Sandlin said in the press statement. “We are grateful for the ongoing collaboration between the Communications department and the Center For Innovation staff as we work together to provide opportunities and experience for our students and showcase our district’s story.”

Here’s a breakdown of the award-winning programs and projects:

VCS earned Gold level recognition in the Special Events and Programs category for its Engage, Inspire, Empower conference, held in April 2023 for young women in grades 7-12 and in the Digital Media Engagement category for its Alumni Roll Call 2023 social media campaign.

The district took Silver and Bronze in the category of Image/Graphic Design for its use of AI technology that turned each principal into a superhero during Principal Appreciation Month.

The Bronze award was given for a billboard campaign called Sharing Our Story at New Heights. The billboard is on Norlina Road across from the Food Lion Shopping Center.

The NCSPRA identified a “Best of the Best” for each category, and VCS was honored in the Special Events/Programs category.

Other school district winners were:

  • Digital Media Engagement: Guilford County Schools
  • Electronic Media: Guilford County Schools
  • Excellence in Writing: New Hanover County Schools
  • Image/Graphic Design: Chatham County Schools
  • Marketing: Rutherford County Schools
  • Photography: Durham Public Schools
  • Publications (Electronic & Print): Durham Public Schools

Visit www.ncspra.org to learn more about the organization.

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