‘Project Give It A Shot’ Works To Educate, Improve Vaccination Rates

/by

Project Give It A Shot kicked off in Vance County on Thursday as a way to educate people about the benefits of being vaccinated against COVID-19.

The project is not another spinoff from state or federal programs; rather, it’s more of a grass-roots effort from a group of high school and college students who are on a mission to help medically underserved areas try to reach that goal of achieving herd immunity.

Their first stop was at the Henderson office of Granville-Vance Public Health. Three volunteers stationed themselves in the clinic lobby for several hours in hopes of informing clients about the science behind the vaccines and the importance of being vaccinated.

Aanya Sachdeva, a senior at Cary Academy, and Rishi Desni, soon-to-be-graduate of ECU, were joined by local high school senior Justin Gregory. Gregory is set to graduate from Vance County Early College in a few weeks. He heard about the project and reached out to become a volunteer.

“It will allow me to see what it’d be like to work in the area of public health,” Gregory said of becoming a volunteer. He said there are others he knows who may be interested in being trained, too.

From left, Aanya Sachdeva, Rishi Desni and Justin Gregory

What began with volunteers mostly in the Wake County area has branched out in sort of a “phase 2” plan, which means the group will fan out into more rural counties like Vance.

Sachdeva told WIZS News Thursday that she and other volunteers are available to answer questions and to talk about the vaccine to help others gain understanding.

“We want to make it as easy as possible,” she said, for someone to get the vaccine. Sometimes, that means eliminating barriers.

For people without a way to get to a vaccination clinic, Sachdeva said the volunteers have arranged Uber rides. In Vance County, it could mean making an appointment with KARTS. For others who are uncertain about the safety of the vaccines, volunteers can take the time to try to explain in greater detail about how messenger RNA vaccines work. Their information is available in Spanish, also.

Desni, the ECU senior, said sometimes all it takes is patience.

“It’s not like it’s a one, two, three, you’re done” process, he said. As one of the project volunteers, he said taking the time with those who have questions or doubts is a key first step.

Desni said he will continue working as a volunteer after he graduates and hopes to raise awareness and get more shots in arms in counties including Wilson, Wayne and Edgecombe – all closer to him in the Greenville area. Volunteers will continue their work in Vance and spread out into Granville, Warren and Franklin as well.

According to DHHS COVID-19 dashboard data, Vance County has a 57 percent vaccination rate – well below the 70 percent herd immunity goal and below the overall state rate of 62 percent. The more urban counties of Wake, Durham and Orange all enjoy vaccination rates higher than 70 percent, so that’s one reason the Give It A Shot project shifted focus to counties outside the Triangle area.

At first, demand for vaccine exceeded supply. But that has shifted and now the challenge is not availability of the vaccine but having those unvaccinated individuals gaining access to clinics that have plenty of vaccines.

Some people who have interacted with Project Give It A Shot have said they didn’t know how to register to get a vaccine; others said they needed help finding a location. The support from the project volunteers has resulted in 945 vaccinated people, according to its website. And they’re not finished yet.

“Getting the remainder of our population to agree to getting the vaccine will require innovative thinking and building a sense of trust with a world of misinformation. That’s where we come in,” according to a written statement from Project Give It A Shot.

Want to learn more? Visit www.projectgiveitashot.com.

CLICK PLAY!

The Local Skinny! Timberlake Keeps An Eye On The Lake

/by

For more than 10 years now, Frank Timberlake has been keeping an eye on Kerr Lake parks and camping areas. And he says there are some spots that haven’t changed since he was a kid.

For some, that may seem like good news. But Timberlake said he and others in Kerr Lake Park Watch don’t see it that way.

Timberlake and others formed Kerr Lake Park Watch in 2010 as a way to monitor and support improvements in the park facilities on Kerr Lake. Their online presence includes a webpage and a Facebook page where campers and other park users can read reviews or reactions to what’s happening – or not happening – at the various campsites around the lake.

From the online booking surcharges that campers pay when they reserve a campsite to the physical layout of the sites, Timberlake and the group have opinions.

He spoke with John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment and acknowledged that some would consider him a “feather ruffler” when it comes to the lake’s camping areas.

“We want to protect, promote and improve the parks,” Timberlake said. Although there are still some tent campers who visit, more visitors bring their RVs. Those vehicles require a relatively flat surface for parking, so when you have campsites, with as much as a 20-degree slant, it’s a challenge for RVers.

When COVID-19 was in full swing, all the trashcans were removed from the camp areas, which Timberlake said created significant cost savings. But none of that came back to the campgrounds, he said.

And there are several openings for rangers across the system of camp areas, which Timberlake said makes it difficult for campers to get information they need when they’re out at the lake.

“We need to get staffed up here,” Timberlake said of the ranger positions. “Rangers should be sitting at that entrance station, focused on customer service. They need to be there in the parks, not riding the roads.

He said he’s personally shown first-time visitors to their campsite because there was no one else around to help.

Help is all he and his group want to do, he said. Help others enjoy the lake and its recreational opportunities, while “improving a place that is wonderful…to protect it and improve it.”

Visit http://kerrlakeparkwatch.org/home/ or find the group on Facebook.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Home And Garden Show 05-04-22

/by

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

  • Select vegetable varieties that have disease resistance. Ex Celebrity, Early Girl Tomatoes
  • Use heavy duty chemical resistant gloves any time you handle or apply pesticides.
  • If you have weeds in your pond bring Cooperative Extension a sample we can identify the weeds and suggest how to control those pond weeds ex Duckweed, Water Meal.
  • Find out the full grown size of any trees or shrubs you plant and make sure they have room to reach that size.
  • Try electric fence if wildlife are eating your garden.
  • Shrubs with significant dieback will rarely recover to an attractive form. Consider replacing them with a different species of plant.
  • Vegetable gardens need at least 1 inch of rain or irrigation per week.
  • Be cautious with herbicides that provide long term control, as they can damage trees and shrubs through root uptake.

CLICK PLAY!

 

 

The Local Skinny! ‘Step Back In Time’ Event Planned For May 14

/by

 

 

The Franklin County Historic Preservation Commission invites you to “Step Back in Time” at the historic Hudson Manor in Louisburg on Saturday, May 14 for a day filled with activities, food trucks and fun for the entire family – all for a good cause.

Hudson Manor owner Melissa Cogliati is teaming up with the county historic preservation commission to raise money to publish a book documenting the historic architecture of Franklin County, according to commission Chair Bill Harris. Harris, usually the person asking the questions as he interviews guests on WIZS, was the person providing the information on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny! segment with John C. Rose.

“We hope it’s going to be a great event,” Harris said, adding that there is a lot of excitement gathering in the area as the date approaches.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Harris said, and will give folks a chance to see a variety of antique tractors and other vehicles – including “Maude,” a lovingly restored antique fire truck that served Louisburg for many years.

Bring a lawn chair to relax in while you enjoy traditional bluegrass music performed by Shannon Baker and Sometime Soon and the Birdsong Bluegrass Band; The Baldwin Storytellers also will be on hand to weave stories of years gone by.

A tractor-powered grist mill will be on hand for demonstrations, as well as various artisans and craftspeople who will share everything from doll making to wool spinning. Local historian and historical reenactor Mark Pace will be present as John Penn, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Members of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe will demonstrate native dances and there will be a silent auction of antique items as well, Harris said. And Tim Fisher of Franklin County’s Portis Gold Mine will have a panning sluice on the grounds for those who may wish to try their hand at panning for gold.

The organizers have worked hard to create a day filled with interesting activities and Harris said the ultimate goal is to get the book published. In 2017, Franklin County underwent a census of sorts to document the historic architecture throughout the county. Harris said the culmination of this inventory is the publication of the book, which will be chock full of information, photos and more to chronicle the county’s history.

And the book also will include the names of anyone who makes a donation of $100 or more.

Public libraries in Louisburg and Oxford have informational brochures about the work of the commission, and also will be available at Hudson Manor on May 14.

Anyone interested in participating in the program should contact Melissa Cogliati at 919.219.9139.

Hudson Manor is located at 908 Moulton Rd., Louisburg. To learn more about the venue and the event, visit https://www.thehudsonmanor.com/special-events.

CLICK PLAY!

 

The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance 05-03-22

/by

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for May 3, 2022. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email Michele@hendersonvance.org to be included.

Name of the Company: Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce

Jobs Available: Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper.  Full -Time, Monday-Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.  We are a business membership based non-profit association.  Experienced in bookkeeping skills and QuickBooks a plus.  Professional appearance, enjoys meeting new people, assist with Chamber sponsored events and programs, attention to detail, organized, and willing to learn through video/training modules.  Beginning salary $30,000 depending on experience.

Method of Contact:  Send resume to michele@hendersonvance.org, or to robin.reed@expresspros.com.  Questions about position call Michele Burgess at 252-438-8414.

 

Name of the Company: Jersey Mike’s Sub Shop, Soon To Open.

Jobs Available: Full-time and part-time applicants are needed immediately.  Looking for applicants of all ages, good work ethic, willingness to learn new skills, and be a strong member of the team.

Method of Contact: Apply online at jerseymikes.com website and search for Henderson 27536 location on drop down menu.  Or send your resume to hendsubs@gmail.com.

Name of the Company: Eckerd Connects – Girls Residential Academy at Kerr Lake

633 Shepard’s Way Lane, Manson, NC 27553

Jobs Available: Youth Counselors Needed.  Must be 21 years old.  Need to have experience with working with young people through non-profit volunteers, churches, or scouting programs.  All shifts available – 8 hours each.  Starting salary at $15, negotiable with experience.

Method of Contact: Call Lorena Marquez at 828-358-8895.  Or email lmarquez@eckerd.org

 

Name of the Company:  3HC Home Health Care

Jobs Available: Clinical Secretary II.  Full-Time Administrative Position.  High School Diploma required and Associates Degree preferred. Applicant must have excellent computer skills, ability to work independently.  Experience in medical terminology a plus.  Proper telephone etiquette.  Duties may include scheduling for professional staff members, ordering patient supplies, maintain patient records, and create and maintain new patient admissions packets.

Method of Contact:  Apply to Rachel Richardson at R.Richardson@3hc.org or at the HC3 Home Health Care office on Beckford Drive in Henderson, or online at Indeed.com.

 

Name of the Company: Edward Jones, Beckford Drive Location in Henderson, NC.

Jobs Available:  Opening for a Branch Office Administrator (job#68078BR).  Edward Jones provides a comprehensive 6-month training program and an experienced peer to help mentor you as you learn the job requirements.  Benefits are provided.  Looking for candidates who can work independently, proficient in current and new office technology, willingness to learn how financial services/markets work, and ability to provide excellent customer service.

Method of Contact: Apply online at edwardjones.com/careers, or apply through your LinkedIn account.

 

Name of the Company  Fred’s Towing and Transport

Jobs Available Multiple positions available – Roll Back Driver, Shop Mechanic, Shop Assistant, Night and Weekend Dispatcher.

Method of Contact: Apply in person at Fred’s Towing and Transport Office, 400 Industry Drive in Henderson Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.  If you have questions, call 252-430-0082.

 

 

Name of the Company: For Your Occasion Event Rentals

Jobs Available: Tent Installer/Warehouse Professional.  Execute installation and breakdown of events; Warehouse operation organization, maintenance, and cleaning;  Delivery vehicle drive crews; Must be organized, detailed oriented, team driven, problem solver, adaptable to changing conditions, and effectively communicate with team player skills.  Experience with warehouse and fork lift driving a plus.  Flexible schedule with long days and weekend hours.  Professional appearance and demeanor.  Full time with room for growth.  Up to $16 per hour.  8 hour shift.

Method of Contact: Email resume to info@fyoeventrentals.com  or call 252-492-9800.  East Andrews Avenue, Henderson NC.  website:  http://fyoeventrentals.com/

 

Name of the Company:  Pizza Inn

Jobs Available: Hiring for all positions.  Wait Staff, Dishwashers, Pizza Cutters, Salad Bar Handlers, and Cooks.  Full-time and Part-time shifts.

Method of Contact: Contact 252-492-2144.  Go online to pizzainn.com and print out application form, and bring filled out application form to Pizza Inn Restaurant on 1250 Coble Boulevard, in Henderson.

 

Name of the Company: Woodlief’s Lawn Care

Jobs Available:  Full-time workers needed immediately for local lawn care business with continued winter work hours.  Also, looking for part-time summer workers.  Will train the right applicants who are interested in working for a full lawn care business with outdoor work responsibilities.

Method of Contact: Call Ryan Woolief, owner, at 252-432-1637 or email ryan.woodlief@gmail.com

 

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

Click Play!

 

The Local Skinny! What’s Up With Those Chestnut Street Intersections?

/by

Drivers who travel along Chestnut Street experience a variety of ways to proceed through intersections – with varying degrees of user-friendliness.

But John C. Rose got a few answers from Henderson Assistant City Manager Paylor Spruill and provided some updates to the stop, go, whoa situation along a fairly heavily traveled city street during the Monday segment of The Local Skinny!

The light with Chestnut and Montgomery streets died of old age, and city staff have not been able to find replacement parts to make a repair. So that light was retired, Spruill told WIZS in an email. And until a new light can be installed, drivers must contend with a temporary four-way stop at the intersection. “The city has included this among its capital improvement projects,” Spruill said, “and we anticipate it will receive funding in this coming budget year.”

Then there’s the sad story of the light at Chestnut and Young streets. Seems the nearby utility pole that supports this light was “fractured” in a traffic accident. It needs to be replaced and when it is replaced, the light can be remounted and should function properly.

According to Spruill, the utility company has scheduled that pole to be replaced this week.

The light at Chestnut and Horner streets operates on a timer, so drivers are at its mercy – Spruill said this intersection doesn’t use road sensors to detect the presence or absence of vehicles.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Youth Tennis Clinic, Court Dedication At Fox Pond May 14

/by

Youth between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to a free “skills and drills” tennis clinic on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Fox Pond Park.

The Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation will conduct the clinic from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Fox Pond tennis courts. No registration is required, but all participants must wear appropriate tennis shoes/sneakers.

The event will include a ceremony to dedicate a tennis court in honor of Henderson tennis standout Mary Lloyd Hodges Barbera, who died in 2015.

The Henderson City Council last year approved dedicating courts 1 and 2 in Barbera’s honor.

Barbera was a tennis phenom and was considered one of the state’s premier junior tennis players in the 1970’s and 1980’s. She was ranked #1 in the state in the girls’ 12-, 14- and 18-year-old divisions. She won two 4A state singles titles as a junior in 1981 and again in 1982 as a senior. She graduated from Vance Sr. High in 1983 and went on to Peace College, where, in 1984, she was named an All-American athlete by the National Junior College Athletic Association for Flight #1 in singles competition. She transferred to N.C. State University in 1985 and led the Wolfpack women’s tennis team with 16 wins in singles competition. She was inducted into the William Peace University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

The Local Skinny! Hundley Details Warren Co. Farmer’s Market Opening

/by

The Warren County Farmers Market kicks off its 2022 season on Saturday, April 30. Vendors will be set up at the Warren County Health Department from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and market manager Danylu Hundley invites shoppers to show up and shop local, rain or shine.

“Everything is truly local,” Hundley told John C. Rose on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny! Locally grown strawberries are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what is available at the Warren County farmers market.

In addition to seasonal vegetables, the market offers local beef, pork and chicken, as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor plants, from vegetable starts to Japanese maple trees.

Hundley said she anticipates the number of vendors will grow as the season continues. Many vendors are back this year, and there are several new ones, including Mom’s Creative Décor and More. This vendor joined for the Christmas season last year and brings her handcrafted home décor items this year as a regular vendor.

The local garden club will be on hand, selling plants to support various beautification projects in the county and recyclable tote bags will be given away on Saturday. The tote bags were purchased with microgrant money provided by Duke Energy Foundation through a partnership with Working Landscapes.

Some vendors are accepting debit and credit cards this year, Hundley noted, but cash is still king at the farmers market.

Shoppers also will find locally sourced shiitake mushrooms and baked goods like pound cakes and breakfast cookies when they visit the market.

And grits made from heritage Jimmy Red corn will be available for purchase as well.

Whether it’s a bag of heritage grits or a flat of vegetable plants, there’s something for every taste at the Warren County Farmers Market.

“We have lots planned and look forward to seeing a big turnout,” Hundley said.

The market sets up shop each week at the county health department, 544 W. Ridgeway St., Warrenton.

CLICK PLAY!

 

 

Home And Garden Show 04-27-22

/by

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

 

  • Read the back of seed packets lots of useful info. Days to maturity, suggested planting depth
  • Use the NC Extension Garden Plant Toolbox to research plants before you purchase or plant them.
  • Read the label on all chemicals before you purchase them to make sure you have the right product for the job.
  • Avoid using insecticides on plants that are in bloom.
  • If you limed in the fall now would be a great time to take another soil sample to see if your ph has changed.
  • Inspect your shade and ornamental trees to see if they are fully leafed out and growing vigorously. That’s a good indicator of overall plant health.
  • Always do a walk around your lawn before mowing look for objects that can become projectiles and could damage your mower.
  • Don’t stress about lace bug damage to azaleas. They are very common and rarely have more than a cosmetic impact.

Click Play!

 

Free Pop-Up Medical Clinic Coming To Henderson May 14-15

/by

Vance Charter School is going to be the site for an upcoming pop-up free medical clinic for residents in the Henderson and Vance County area.

The clinic is part of Remote Area Medical (RAM), an organization whose mission is to provide quality medical care by health professionals to those underserved and uninsured populations. The RAM chapter at Duke University has enlisted its members to organize and finalize plans for the weekend clinic.

Some of the procedures that will be done include general exams, women’s health exams, dental fillings, cleanings and extractions and eye exams – with eyeglasses made on site.

Doctors, nurses, dentists, optometrists and other health professionals will see patients on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, beginning at 5 a.m. each day.

Clinics have historically serviced between 200 and 2000 community members over a single weekend, according to Rishabh Jain, a Duke University senior who is one of the organizers for the local event.

Jain said RAM appreciates local collaborators Dr. Brian Mathis of Vance Charter School, Capt. Derrick Smith of the Henderson Salvation Army, and Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt of the Duke Department of Medicine to host a clinic to serve central North Carolina.

There will be extensive COVID-19 protections in place, including HEPA-filtered dental bays, hospital-grade disinfecting protocols and temperature screening and social distancing of waiting patients.

“Patients will never be asked any questions about insurance status—all are welcome,” SS said in an email to WIZS News. “We believe this will be a great initiative that brings diverse cohorts of the Henderson community together.”

Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said business/professional sponsorship opportunities are available now.  “Your financial assistance is needed, and you will see a direct return on your investment to this special cause with marketing and promotional signage, social media ads, your business name on volunteer t-shirts, and in media news releases,” Burgess said in a statement to WIZS News.

The payments can be made to Vance Charter School, and funds will be used to help cover hotel rooms for four nights for more than 30 volunteers who come in early and stay late to set up the tents, medical equipment, tables/chairs, and clean to prepare for the two-day event.

“Our Chamber’s theme for 2022 is ‘A Year of Community’ and what better way to bring our community together to help provide needed medical care for our citizens,” Burgess said.

She said many local medical professionals will be assisting in the event, as well as other area non-profit groups.

Vance Charter: https://portal.icheckgateway.com/VanceCharterSchool/

There is a drop-down box that indicates whether you want to pay by check or credit card, and then just click on Henderson RAM.  If you prefer to drop off your corporate/personal check, you can do so at Vance Charter School on Ross Mill Road in Henderson.  Please indicate that it is for the Free RAM clinic.

Learn more about RAM at https://www.ramusa.org/