WIZS Pop The Hood: Batteries

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— for our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts

Unless you’re really into vehicles and how they work, you may think all car batteries are alike. By asking just a few simple questions about your particular driving habits, the knowledgeable team of employees at Henderson’s two Advance Auto Parts locations can help you choose the right battery for your vehicle.

In this first installment of “Pop the Hood,” Advance Auto Parts District Manager Jay Matthews explains a bit about choosing the right battery for your needs.

Running a lot of errands each day and stop and start your vehicle often? Have you tricked out your car or truck with lots of electronics? The Advance Auto Parts employees aren’t being nosey, Matthews said. “What they’re trying to do is determine the best battery for you.”

It’s important that your car’s battery provide adequate cranking power – and that varies with the seasons, he noted.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is what it takes to crank your vehicle at 70 degrees is totally different from what it takes at 30 degrees.”

Drivers are welcome to come to either location – 400 Prosperity Drive just off Dabney Drive or 390 Raleigh Road – to get a complimentary battery or alternator check, just to make sure things are operating properly.

Preventive maintenance is just one way to reduce the chance that your vehicle is going to leave you stranded.

Sometimes it’s not the battery that needs replacing, Matthews said. Sometimes, the corrosion that occurs when acid leaks from the battery ends up on the terminals and in the battery cables.

“On most vehicles, we do free installation of batteries,” he said. Some vehicles have batteries in tricky places that just aren’t safe to install in a store parking lot. The folks at Advance Auto can look up the information quickly to determine which vehicles that don’t qualify for the free installation.

Advance has free curbside services to offer battery checks, as well as wiper replacement and check engine light scans. And the stores offer a 10 percent military discount.

Check out “Pop the Hood” every other Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on WIZS

CLICK PLAY for 5-4-23 Broadcast!

Home And Garden Show

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

  • When seedlings emerge check for areas that might need reseeding.
  • Should you skip mowing this month?
  • Start checking for insect pests and signs of disease.
  • Make sure you have a good nitrogen only fertilizer on hand for vegetable gardens and flower beds. These areas may need supplemental nitrogen through the season. Blood meal is an excellent choice, organic and slow release.
  • Check out your irrigation system
  • Do you have garden areas that won’t be used this year? If so, plant a cover crop.
  • Don’t over water plants check soil media first if it is moist wait another to water your plants
  • It is way past the recommended date for fertilizing and seeding tall fescue, as well as spraying for broadleaf weeds.
  • Wear sun protective clothing even on cloudy days.
  • Growing vegetables in containers? Use large container that are clean, plus good quality potting mix. Never use soil from yard or garden.

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The Local Skinny! Shriner’s Fish Fry Is Scheduled For May 17th

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The Tri-County Shriner’s Fish Fry is on again for its traditional third Wednesday in May and area Shriners are gearing up for another long, but productive day, with delicious results for its patrons.

Plates are $10 each – take-out only – and sales will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17, said chairman Vernon Mustian.

Mustian and Donald Seifert were guests on WIZS “The Local Skinny!” to talk up the 59th fish fry.

You just may spy Mustian near the cookers on Fish Fry Day. “I have been cooking there for awhile,” he acknowledged. He holds the club’s office of First Vice President, but the club also put him in charge of the whole event this year. “It is a chore,” he said, adding that his admiration has grown for those who have organized past events.

“We try to put out a good plate,” Seifert said. “The price is reasonable and if we have good weather, I’m sure we’ll have a good turnout.”

Drive out to 210 Industry Drive near Lowe’s and Mako Medical to pick up plates. Delivery is available for 10 or more plates. Call 919.369.0316 to make delivery arrangements.

You can buy tickets in advance or purchase plates at the take-out tent.

“We are hoping to raise more than last year, “ Mustian said. “We had a good year last year, and we’re looking for a big number – at least $10,000.”

Shriner Henry Gupton told WIZS in an earlier interview that all proceeds after expenses will be donated to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Greenville, SC.

THIS  STORY WAS ORGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 2, 2023 AND IS BEING RE-POSTED FOR VIEWING AT THIS TIME.

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Volunteers Join Voices To Read Bible Aloud From Genesis To Revelation May 3

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About a dozen local churches are taking part in this year’s Public Bible Reading Day. If everything falls into place like it’s supposed to, volunteers will have read the Bible – from start to finish – by the end of the day.

This special day happens Wednesday, May 3 and it is specifically timed to take place around the National Day of Prayer, which is observed on the first Thursday in May.

Lois Murphy told WIZS that the different churches in the area already have been assigned their books of the Bible.

COVID has thrown a monkey wrench of sorts into the plan that organizers have of reading aloud in public, Murphy said.

“We read aloud and we read publicly if we can,” Murphy said. “COVID has shut down some of the public reading, and some churches still have some COVID restrictions in place,” she said.

Because of this, volunteers have the option of reading in their church or from the comfort of their own homes.

“I would like to see people reading…at the plaza at the courthouse, maybe at a downtown location, even in stores or businesses, if they would permit us,” she mused.

The way it works is pretty simple: Each church gets a section of scripture that can be read in 15 minute increments. The whole Bible is divided into 15-minute segments. After a quick calculation, Murphy said it would take about four hours to read Genesis and another three to get through Exodus.

Here is a list of local churches that will be participating in the Reading Day:

First Baptist Church

First United Methodist Church

Union Chapel

Island Creek

Clearview Church

Harriet Baptist

Fuller Chapel

Cotton Memorial

Blessed Hope

West End

South Henderson

New Sandy Creek

Murphy suggested that anyone interested in joining in the read-aloud contact one of the churches listed above to get more information.

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The Local Skinny! COVID Has Not Gone Away

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There aren’t as many people still following the CDC guidelines that call for mask-wearing in public, but there remain some for whom “COVID fatigue” has not affected.

Schools, hospitals, doctors’ offices and other places that once required temperature checks and masks before entering have loosened those protocols.

Dr. Tracei Ball, a spokesperson for NC Department of Health and Human Services, encourages everyone to stay current on COVID vaccinations to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

As long as it’s around, people are susceptible, so it’s imperative to stay protected, Ball said.

Ball is chief medical officer for OnCall Mobile Medical and Wellness in the Charlotte Metro area, and she told Bill Harris on Wednesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! that even though COVID no longer steals the headlines and news broadcasts as it did over the past couple of years, it still poses a risk.

“We’re still seeing hospitalizations and deaths,” she said. “We need to stay abreast of what’s happening with COVID regardless of what’s happening in the headlines.”

The bivalent vaccine against COVID works, she said. “That’s going to give you the greatest protection against COVID right now,” Ball said.

And by the way, if the last vaccine you received was before September 2022, you’re due for a booster. And anyone 65 or older or who has a medical condition that puts you in a higher risk for infection is eligible for a booster if it’s been more than four months since your last one.

“If we all work together  and do our part, we protect not only ourselves, but our loved ones as well,” Ball said. “We may have to deal with COVID for some time.”

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The Local Skinny! Home And Garden Show 04-26-23

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

  • Protect transplants from cutworms by placing a cardboard collar made from a empty paper towel roll around the stem of the transplant . You can make 4 collars from 1 paper towel roll.
  • Tomato tip: Plant multiple varieties, including cherry and disease resistant hybrids.
  • When planting transplants try to plant them on non windy days.
  • Tomato tip: Provide consistent soil moisture through drip irrigation.
  • When planting seed in conventional rows and we get a hard rain within two days of your planting use a leaf rake to lightly loosen the soil surface to get rid of crusty soil so seedlings can emerge through the top edge of soil.
  • Tomato tip: Look for healthy transplants – stocky, deep green foliage, healthy roots.
  • Don’t over water plants check soil media first if it is moist wait another to water your plants

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The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Unveils Oasis Room Art

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The staff at Maria Parham Health have enjoyed the amenities of their Oasis room for about a year – the massage chairs, a TV, soothing music, beverages and snacks are just a few of the perks that filled the space.

The blank wall was a perfect candidate for some artwork, and thanks to high school junior and budding artist Abi Short, that wall now is the permanent home for a painting Short calls “Peace.”

Short, 16, is the daughter of MPH Cardiologist Dr. Sydney Short. She joined her parents, hospital staff and community leaders as her painting was unveiled Monday.

The idea for the Oasis room came about as hospital employees and health professionals everywhere were strained because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital came up with the idea for a spot where staff could take a step away from the stress of their jobs for just a few minutes – a quick cup of coffee while listening to some music or a few minutes in a massage chair can do wonders during the work day.

MPH CEO Bert Beard told those assembled at the unveiling that the space is a place to recharge and relax. “We want to continue to do things that are going to enhance our workplace,” Beard said, because we know “that enhances the care we give to our patients.”

Cancer Center Director Kimberly Smith is on the hospital’s Awards and Resilience Committee and she said having a spot like the Oasis room helps reduce staff burnout – it’s a place where people can “come in and take a break and a breather,” she said.

Donna Young, MPH marketing director, said the hospital invited employees’ families to enter an art contest to find the perfect painting for the accent wall inside the Oasis room.

“We knew we wanted something really special,” Young said. “We got some wonderful entries…put it to a vote and Abi’s won.”

The young artist described her work as a reflection of memories of family vacations to the mountains.

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City of Henderson Logo

The Local Skinny! Leadership Positions Open In the City of Henderson

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Vance County and the City of Henderson face several key leadership positions – the openings are the result of different circumstances, and local governments are coping with the vacancies as they continue to look for qualified applicants to fill the jobs.

It was announced last week that Jordan McMillen would be leaving his post as county manager to become manager of the town of Butner.

And Curtis Tyndall has been acting fire chief, but Terrell Blackmon said now the city has begun a search for a permanent chief, following the death of Steve Cordell.

Blackmon said the city continues to operate without a city engineer, a job that has been vacant for a couple of years. The water and street staffs depend on “on-call” engineers, and Blackmon stated that the city has a “very competent engineering staff that handles all of the day-to-day activities.” Public Works Director Andy Perkinson retired in January and the Human Resources Director, Elgin Ward, is set to retire in August.

Blackmon spoke at the recent West End Community Watch meeting and discussed the openings and the effect they have on city operations.

“We are getting ready to advertise for a fire chief, as well as a human resources director. The HR Director will be retiring in August, but we intend to begin recruiting for that position at the same time that we advertise for a fire chief. We have several engineers that we use on-call and for projects that have been handling the professional engineering work for the city,” Blackmon stated in an email to WIZS Monday.

He added that although the position hasn’t been filled, there are several potential candidates whom city staff have spoken with about the job.

henderson.nc.gov/departments/human_resources/jobs.php

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City of Henderson Ward 3 Town Hall Meeting 4-27-23

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A flier has been distributed for the 6 p.m. meeting April 27 at Shiloh Baptist Church.

Council Member Garry Daeke told WIZS News on April 20 that the Henderson City Council is looking to do a town hall meeting in each ward.  He said it’s so “people will come out and just bring, you know, things forward that maybe they want us to know that they don’t always bring to the council, feel comfortable, you know, coming in front of the council.  We thought we’d go out to them.”

Daeke said there was a plan also to present some information about housing.  He said one of the urban redevelopment areas (URA) is in Flint Hill.  “Probably going to bring some design stuff for that, show them some ideas we have or at least where we are in the process,” he said.

Community development and code enforcement information may be presented as well because the City is looking at beefing up that department.  “We’re probably going to see more inspections of houses and stuff…,” he said.

The floor will be opened up for residents to talk about what’s important to them, according to Daeke.

The City of Henderson provided notice Monday that a possible quorum of the Henderson City Council Members may be present the Ward 3 Town Hall Meeting Thursday.  The notice stated, “This is not a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council, no official business will be conducted, nor will any official action be taken and no meeting minutes will be produced for this notice.”

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

The Local Skinny! Diabetes Program To Be Presented

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Granville Vance Public Health is sponsoring a program Monday at the Lincoln Heights Apartment Community Room to talk about Type 2 diabetes and how to reduce the risk of getting that life-changing diagnosis.

Wendy Ji, regional coordinator for the Minority Diabetes Prevention Program, was on TownTalk Thursday to share details about the upcoming event, which includes lunch and drawings to win prizes.

“Let’s Talk About Diabetes” is a free program that will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ji said. It’s just one way state health officials collaborate with local health departments to help individuals understand how a diagnosis of prediabetes can be reversed with simple lifestyle changes.

The MDPP that Ji coordinates serves Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren and four other nearby counties.

“It’s very difficult to manage Type 2 diabetes,” Ji noted, adding that this program focuses on helping individuals understand what prediabetes is and how to keep it from developing into full-blown disease.

“Over one in three (people) have prediabetes,” Ji said. But only 80 percent of those are aware that they have it. “Being aware you are at risk is important to know so you can get resources and make lifestyle changes,” she said.

Someone with prediabetes has blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but they haven’t climbed into the level to indicate diabetes.

More classes will be offered in the fall across the service area, Ji said. Individuals can have their A1C levels tested Monday, but there also is a 7-question screener to help participants understand their risk for developing diabetes.

Visit www.preventdiabetesnc.org to learn more.

Contact Ji at 252.492.7195, ext 125.

En español: Llamar a Elizabeth Lugo, 252.492.7195, ext.269.

Lincoln Heights Apartments is located at 257 Lincoln St., Henderson.

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