Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Upcoming Events At Perry Memorial Library

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The official first day of autumn is still a few weeks away, but fall programs at Perry Memorial Library are getting started this week.

Youth Services Director Melody Peters said things are shaping up for a wonderful fall at the library – come on in and have some fun!

Mother Goose story time is starting back up after a short end-of-summer break, Children 0-5 are welcome to come hear a few stories, sing a few songs and get some wiggles out, Peters said Tuesday on The Local Skinny!

Before children can read the words on a page, Peters said, they really need to hear the stories read to them.

Children pay attention to the voices as the stories are read aloud, she noted. All the senses are firing in a child’s first two years, so she takes care to choose books that are visually appealing written by diverse authors.

“It’s a fast, full 30 minutes,” Peters said of the weekly story time. “We’re not sitting still for this…we’re goint to have that song and move their bodies,” she said. They “practice” sitting while the stories are being read, but other than that, there’s a good bit of activity.

The story time uses themes and the first one is “On the Farm,” followed by “Apples” and “Fall.”

Story Time is all about “quality, not necessarily quantity,” she said. “You want to leave them wanting more.”

Speaking of more, that’s exactly what teens in grades 6-12 are getting in this season’s Life Hack series, Peters said. To kick things off, there’s STEM gaming fun in the Maker Space in September. From using the popular Wii system to learning about robots, tweens and teens can come together and just get used to coming to the library and using the creative space.

In October, they’ll have a chance to learn about electricity and actually have some hands-on learning by making electric circuits. Peters found a grant to purchase some kits filled with dozens of projects for the teens to learn with.

In November, a local bank representative is going to navigate youth through the ins and outs of personal finance. Although it’s pretty simple to wave your phone in front of a device to pay for something, the time will come when young people will need to be a little more tuned in to paycheck information, bank deposits and checking accounts.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ to learn about all the programs and services available for children and grownups alike.

 

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The Local Skinny! Gain Computer Skills At VGCC Franklin Campus Training Hub

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Vance-Granville Community College, in partnership with a Wake Forest company, has opened up a computer hub at its Franklin Campus to improve the community’s access to technology.

Not only will DigitalBridge provide classes to help individuals learn how to use technology, but the hub is a place where people can come in a get a document printed, for example.

Stephanie Tolbert, VGCC dean of Business, Applied Technologies and Public Services, said the training hub addresses three challenges underserved communities face when it comes to using technology: connectivitiy, affordability and workforce skills training.

The hub is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Franklin Campus, located at 8100 Hwy 56 just outside of Louisburg. Additional times and days are available by appointment, Tolbert noted during Monday’s TownTalk.

They had a ribbon-cutting recently and have placed signs outside and in to direct people to the hub.

“We are ready, willing and able to help,” Tolbert said. “Just come to Franklin Campus and walk right into the lab.”

Let’s say you received a document via email, but you need help printing it, Tolbert said. Stop by the hub and get help making a copy. Or say you want to add a certain technology certification to boost your resume – there are more than 130 courses available in a self-paced format, Erica Hixon said.

And it’s all provided at no cost to the participant, Hixon, DigitalBridge’s project lead, said.

The information is all tailored to the individual, depending on goals and skill levels, Hixon said.

“Training is offered in-person or remote,” she added, with career coaches available to guide their efforts.

Whether it’s learning how to print a document, complete an online application all the way up to learning to write computer code, there’s something for everyone. A simple assessment will help target skill levels, so students won’t have to sit through learning information they already know.

It’s all about helping people get jobs, or get better jobs, while they’re gaining confidence with using technology.

“DigitalBridge is an initiative that serves to meet people where they are,” said VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

The idea for the training hub began when VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais was at a national community college conference on entrepreneurship, Tolbert said. Once Desmarais learned about the Wake Forest group, the links were established and the training hub is the result.

“We had to go all the way to a conference to be introduced to someone in our own backyard,” Tolbert said. Desmarais recognized the need for the community, she said, adding that it’s not just a good partnership for the institution, but also for the community.

Learn about all the services the hub can provide by visiting https://mydigitalbridge.org/ or by calling 919.246.5700.

The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood

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

It’s time to wash your ride – maybe past time – and you’ve found a few minutes in an otherwise busy day to put some soap in a bucket and get to work. But before you pull out an old t-shirt from the rag bag and squirt some dish soap in a bucket, you may want to check in with the folks at Advance Auto Parts.

Cleaning your vehicle properly is not as simple as you may think.

Michael Puckett is a district general manager for the auto parts chain, whose shelves are filled with a variety of cleaning products to fit any need, from chenille and microfiber cloths to rubbing compounds and paint touchups.

If you normally run through a car wash to get that road grime off your car or truck, you may find the selection a bit overwhelming. If your car is newer, it may have a protective clear coat on it. If you’re babying a vintage model, you can select a rubbing compound to enhance the color.

And let’s talk about tires and rims for a bit.

“We’ve got brushes to use on your tires,” Puckett said, as well as other products to put some gleam on those tires. Are those pricey rims aluminum or chrome? There’s a different product for each material, and those products aren’t all spray-on, so you’ll need to know how to apply them.

Puckett outlines a 5-step process that he and the staff at Advance Auto recommend to customers to create that perfectly clean vehicle:

  • Step 1: Wash and headlight restoration
  • Step 2: Surface prep and paint repair
  • Step 3: Wax and polish
  • Step 4: Wheels and tires
  • Step 5: Glass and interior

There are products that combine wash and wax products for a 2-in-1 effect and Puckett said the ceramic clear coat products help restore faded paint colors.

If your vehicle has a scratch that you’d like to fix, Puckett said there’s a variety of touch-up products on the store shelves to choose from. Don’t see your particular color? Let the folks at Advance Auto make that paint match for you. “We can actually mix it right here at the store,” he said.

“I enjoy helping every customer and helping them get what they need to complete their projects,” Puckett said.

When you’re picking up those cleaning supplies to make your car or truck sparkle, just remember there’s one thing that Advance Auto does NOT stock – elbow grease.

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

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Home and Garden Show

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The Home and Garden Show for Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Click play below for the audio, brought to you by Satterwhite Point Marina.

The Home and Garden Show airs each week on WIZS on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

Dr. Marion Lark Funeral Viewing Options

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The First Baptist Church of Henderson, NC issued a viewing link and options for Dr. Marion Lark’s funeral service.

“The funeral for Dr. Lark will be Wednesday, August 23 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church. For those who are unable to attend, the funeral will be livestreamed via Vimeo and on the First Baptist Church Henderson Facebook page. (Click Here). The link to watch via Vimeo is below. Access should be available beginning at 2:50 pm.”
Dr. Marion Lark Funeral Service

 

The Local Skinny! Daeke On City Opportunities, New Faces On Council

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Garry Daeke isn’t up for re-election this year. But the Ward 3 representative on the Henderson City Council said the upcoming municipal election is shaping up to put some new people in leadership roles. And there will be plenty of issues for him and his fellow council members to consider, from housing to downtown revitalization, just for starters.

“Every (election) cycle, we get some new folks in,” Daeke said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! “I appreciate all the new folks and their ideas and the camaraderie,” he added.

As he sees it, council members would be well served to focus on helping to create a path for the city that considers for its residents safety, affordability and living happily together.

Sometimes, he admitted, that takes a little effort.

One project that seems to be gaining momentum is the mixed-use development that is planned for Dabney Road, just behind Aldi and Lowe’s Home Improvement. Originally referred to as Berry Village, recent documents have called it Dabney Village.

Whatever the name, the 123-acre project has cleared all the hurdles necessary to get going in earnest, Daeke said.

“All the city permits are done and it’s ready to begin,” he said. Next up is water and sewer, as well as working with DOT for road configuration and entrances to the community, which will include apartments, townhomes and single-family homes as well as retail and other amenities.

It offers a housing opportunity and a community opportunity that people haven’t had in Henderson, Daeke said.

This is something creative, new and exciting for Henderson, he said. It’ll take some city money up front to get things right, he added, but there should be a good return on that investment, but good planning is key. “This is a very well-planned development,” he said. Developers hope to begin in the spring.

This also is the general area where the city was looking at constructing a new fire station.

“Our fire department is excellent, our (insurance) rating is excellent, our response times are excellent and we want to keep it that way.”

Between new construction and revitalization, there are plenty of reasons to get behind development in the city.

Sometimes, the wheels of progress turn slowly, especially when it comes to waking up a downtown area. But Daeke is watching and waiting – and hopeful.

“We’re going see it go crazy when we get this S Line lined up,” he said, referring to the proposed passenger and commuter rail service that includes a stop in Henderson. When that happens, “you’re going to see downtown as a destination to live, work and play again.”

It takes time to bring projects to full term, and it takes collaboration. But Daeke said it’s worth it.

“Working as a team, with others, to accomplish things for your community – it’s a wonderful thing to do.”

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Fire at Former J.P. Taylor Company Location on J.P. Taylor Road

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Revised and posted at 2:15 p.m. Friday

About 10:30 this morning, a fire broke out on J.P. Taylor Rd. at the location that was once J.P. Taylor Company.

The vicinity of 800 J.P. Taylor Road is now a scrap or salvage yard.

The Rev. Ricky Easter of Victory Baptist Church was across the street, and he told WIZS, “It didn’t appear to be all that much to it,” in reference to the amount of smoke. He said no flames were visible that he saw from his vantage point.

After clearing the scene, Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright told WIZS, “It was several scrap cars burning, and with assistance from Bearpond and Ladder 18, Cokesbury and Watkins and Vance County Rescue, we were able to mitigate the fire quickly.”

Also, Easter said firefighters arrived quickly, and the overall timeline suggests that the fire did not burn all that long.

It’s been nearly 14 years since the building at that same location, that still read J.P. Taylor across the top but was then being used as a storage facility for a different company, was totally destroyed by fire.

Vance County Logo

Interim County Manager Explains Details Of Fire Study Process

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Vance County Interim County Manager Scott Elliott has a unique vantage point as plans for the county’s fire services study makes their way from start to finish.

In his role as county manager, he’s responsible for providing guidance and support to county commissioners – the board voted to conduct the study – while making sure that the paid fire personnel are doing their job – he’s their boss, after all.

Elliott spoke to WIZS News Wednesday afternoon and acknowledged the fire services study has been the topic of some discussion in the community.

“It’s an issue that people are passionate about and have feelings about,” Elliott said.

Commissioners had discussion – rather heated at times – during their meeting last week, about whether the public safety committee should have oversight of the fire study.

Elliott recommended that this should be a matter for the full board, but most commissioners did not see it that way – the vote was 4-3 to have the public safety committee, the fire commission oversee the project, with Elliott’s input.

“They’re the decision makers at the end of the day,” he said, “We have to respect that.”

He said, however, that he and county staff have the responsibility of guiding the commission and leading them along the right path.

The path to a completed fire study is expected to take consultants AP Triton about four months to complete.

Elliott said he asked Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright to direct any questions from the media to the county manager’s office instead of fielding the inquiries himself. That way, Elliott said, Wright can “focus on providing fire services he currently has on his plate.”

“Until we have results of fire study, we thought it’d be better … to not have county staff taking positions on things when we don’t know what the outcome of the study will be,” Elliott noted. Even once the recommendations are submitted to the full board, Elliott said there’s no way to know now if commissioners will implement them.

There are a lot of questions swirling around about what the fire services study will bring forth, but Elliott said he’s confident that it will be a comprehensive study of the existing system – including the Golden Belt Fire District and all the volunteer districts across the county.

“It shouldn’t be a complicated study or analysis,” he said. “They’re to give us their professional analysis of our system…and how to make it better.”

Home and Garden Show

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The Home and Garden Show for Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

Click play below for the audio, brought to you by Satterwhite Point Marina.

The Home and Garden Show airs each week on WIZS on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

Alan Gill Steps In As Interim Director Of Vance County Board Of Elections

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Alan Gill has been named to serve as interim Vance County Board of Elections director following the recent announcement that Melody Vaughan is stepping down from that position.

Gill told WIZS News Monday that he began today and he and Vaughan will have a couple of weeks to have some overlap before she leaves on Aug. 25.

“There’s a lot of things that need to go on,” Gill said, with city elections looming in early October and then elections in Kittrell and Middleburg a month later.

Gill has experience with elections that take place in the county and he has been a chief judge – mostly in the West Henderson polling location – since the early 2000’s. He also has worked the early vote sites since he retired from his job as director of the Vance County Recreation and Parks Department in 2014.

“If I can help, I’m glad to,” Gill said of his interim director role. “I’m actually quite happy just doing the chief judge duties, but didn’t want to see the Vance County Board of Elections left in a hard spot,” he added.

He also served a stint as deputy director a few years ago, so he has experience in much of the office operations, including processing registrations, cross-checking databases and updating addresses and voter information.

The position has been advertised, so Gill said he didn’t know how long this interim position will last. It could last through November, however, meaning that Gill will be the person leading the county’s election workers through the early-voting period and then carry out the Oct. 3 Henderson municipal elections.

“I know almost all of the election workers and most of the people that are at the sites that we use for voting,” Gill said, “so if I can help out and we get through this election in good shape, then I’ll be happy.”

Click Play – Broadcast Audio from 8-15-23