The Local Skinny! Vance Furniture Celebrates 80 Years

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Eighty years ago, in 1941, Henderson’s population was just under 8,000. The U.S. was finally climbing out of The Great Depression. The attack on Pearl Harbor was less than two months away which would bring about World War II. Amid all of this, Vance Furniture Company opened its doors.

And 80 years later those doors remain open, welcoming customers into the tallest building in Henderson. It’s no skyscraper, but the five-story building does offer a unique shopping experience, complete with an antique elevator, said owner Craig Bailey.

Bailey spoke with John C. Rose on Thursday prior to The Local Skinny! broadcast segment, which can be heard below, following a Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting to mark the 80th anniversary of the independently owned and operated business located in the iconic building on 325 S. Garnett St.

Bailey said longtime business partner Sam Harper has been serving customers at Vance Furniture for almost 60 years – that’s at least four generations of customers, he said.

“It’s quite an accomplishment to have made it this long,” Bailey said of the family business.

The business model is simple: “We honestly want to help our customers find the items that will make their homes better,” Bailey said.

People come into the store, and instead of seeing one big showroom full of furniture, they get to travel on the elevator to each different level as they search for that perfect piece of furniture.

The furniture is carefully placed to create vignettes and themes to give customers an idea of how the pieces would look in their homes. “We get to know our customers one on one,” Bailey said, as they browse throughout the building with its tin ceilings and hardwood floors.

Eighty years is a long time to do business, and Bailey said they’ve had to change with the times, too. Recent delays brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have created wrinkles in delivery times, he said. What used to take 4-6 weeks now takes twice as long, if not longer, he said.

Providing customers with quality service and the custom orders Vance Furniture specializes in is just one reason the business has continued to be successful.

And being around for eight decades is a perfect time “to pause and recognize where you’ve been and the people who’ve helped you over the years,” Bailey said. Despite the ebbs and flows over the years, being in downtown Henderson has been a positive experience. And Bailey said he believes the downtown area is on “the precipice of becoming a viable shopping area once again.” New interests, new people with a great vision are all positive signs for the whole community, he said.

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Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

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

Make a compost bin if you don’t have one.
As stem and foliage of perennial flowers and ornamental grasses begin to die off, consider leaving them standing through the winter.
Use PPE equipment when doing landscape chores. Eye protection, hearing protection.
If you’ve never tried battery powered lawn and garden equipment, take a fresh look at the offerings. Battery tech has improved significantly and the equipment is very quiet.
Harvest sweet potatoes before frost.
Be sure to remove gas from any equipment that will not be used over the winter.
If you have areas in your garden or lawn that don’t produce well take a soil sample you may have a pH problem or a nutrient deficiency.
Consider doing some basic maintenance to lawn and garden power equipment before storing for the winter so you’ll be ahead of the game next spring. Oil change, spark plugs, air filters, etc.
Have your frost protection materials organized and ready for when we have our first frost.
Planting time is now! Add new trees and shrubs to your landscape.

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for October 26, 2001. 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 christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of October 26, 2021

 

Name of the Company: Vance Charter School

Jobs Available:  High School Science Teacher

Method of Contact: Please call Brian Mathis at 252-431-0440

 

Name of the Company: Vance County Social Services and Detention Center

Jobs Available: Multiple positions open

Method of Contact:  Please go to county website at www.vancecounty.org for more information

 

Name of the Company:  Servpro of Franklin Vance and Granville Counties

Jobs Available: Staff to clean up and restore homes and businesses related to water damage, fires and mold. On- the- job training is provided

Method of Contact:   Stop by the office at 260 Industry Drive off Ross Mill Rd. near Lowe’s or call 252-433-005

 

Name of the Company: Variety Wholesalers, Inc

Jobs Available: Buyers Assistants and Merchandise Analyst positions located at 218 S. Garnett St. Henderson and Help Desk Analyst and Technical Service Specialist positions located at 1000 Facet Road, Henderson

Method of Contact:  Interested applicants can apply online at indeed.com

 

Name of the Company: Vance County Sheriff’s Department is urgently hiring

Jobs Available: 3 Deputies, 1 Investigator, 2 School Resource Officers, 1 Office Administrative Assistant and 10 Detention Officers

Method of Contact:  For more information please contact the Sheriff’s office at 252-738-2200 or go by the office in person at 156 Church Street Suite 004, Henderson

 

Name of the Company: Turning Point Community Development Corporation

Jobs Available:  Executive Assistant, Academic Coach and Instructional Assistant

Method of Contact:  For more information go to www.turningpointcdc.org

 

Name of the Company: Golden Skillet Restaurant

Jobs Available: Customer Oriented Cashier and Quality Focused Kitchen Staff

Method of Contact:  to inquire and pick up an application stop by 444 Dabney Drive in Henderson

  

Name of the Company: Select Tissue of NC

Jobs Available: Class A CDL Truck Drivers

Method of Contact:  Please apply through NC Works

 

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.

 

Kerr Tar Workforce and NCWorks

The Local Skinny! Person Co. Regional Job Fair

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The Kerr-Tar Region Council of Governments will host a job fair on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 in Person County and Kerr-Tar officials say it’s a great chance for job-seekers to meet prospective employers.

Adam Perkins, business services representative for the five-county Kerr-Tar agency, told John C. Rose Monday that more than 20 employers will be on hand in Roxboro for the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex, 425 Long Ave. in Roxboro.

“Bring your smile, dress the part and bring your résumé,” Perkins said on Monday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

The NC Works Career Centers provide services to the community, from opportunities for those looking for work and a job pool for employers looking to fill open positions.

Previous job fairs have been held across the five counties, and employers like Versatrim, Plastic Ingenuity, Durham Public Safety, Person Memorial and Durham Coca-Cola are just a few of the businesses and industries that will be on hand Friday.

Perkins said he and other staff from NC Works will be on hand Friday. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” he said. He and others will be available to answer questions and inform the participants how NC Works can help.

The job fair offers a chance for folks to “come out, walk around, network, (and) meet people,” Perkins said. And it’s a chance for employers to see you at your best, he added.

A main focus of NC Works is service to the community, he said – helping employers find workers and helping workers polish their resume or provide training to qualify them for specific jobs.

The NCWorks Career Centers are located at 111 Hilltop Village in Oxford, 857 Beckford Drive in Henderson and on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College in Warren County. Perkins invited anyone interested in learning more about services to just drop in. “Our doors are always open,” he said. If you have questions or need assistance, “just walk in and we’ll be glad to help,” Perkins added.

NC Works offers specific programs to help veterans, as well as those who may have trouble finding a job because they have a criminal record. Most employers use background checks as part of the application process, but some employers may be willing to hire ex-offenders.

The NC Works re-entry program may be able to help those who are having difficulty finding work. “There may be some employers who are following a different model,” Perkins said.

Sponsors for the job fair include Vance-Granville Community College, Piedmont Community College, Person Economic Development and Roxboro Chamber of Commerce.

In email correspondence after the interview, a full list of employers planning to attend was provided – Ameristaff; Capstone Logistics; Corning; Dialight; Durham Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Educational Opportunity Center; Gate Precast; Hire Dynamics; Ideal Fastener; Louisiana Pacific; Lowe’s; MGM Products; Murdoch Development Center; North American Aerodynamics; NC Dept. of Public Safety; Person County Government; Person Memorial Hospital; Plastic Ingenuity; Polywood; Regal Driving Academy; Spuntech; Versatrim; Vocational Rehabilitation; Walmart Distribution; We Move.

Visit kerrtarworks.com to learn more.

The Local Skinny! Warren County Tops State In Growth Of Visitor Spending – Two Years Running

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Pandemic or no pandemic, the numbers don’t lie – for the second year in a row, Warren County has grabbed the top spot in the state for growth in visitor spending, according to an annual report released by N.C. tourism officials.

The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

Warren County Community and Economic Development Director Charla Duncan points to several reasons why her county has shown positive growth when other counties are posting negative figures, not the least of which is Warren County’s relative proximity to major cities like Richmond, VA and the Raleigh-Durham area, she told WIZS News.

“Warren County has opportunities for day trippers, weekenders, and repeat visitors, and our local economy benefits from that,” continued Duncan.

People tend to overlook the quality of life in a rural county, she said. It’s not less quality of life, but it is a different quality of life that Warren County offers, Duncan said. “I think that people have looked for that a little more over the past year or so. Folks are having a chance to understand what we know to be true.” There’s a lot going on, she said, “it’s just a different kind of thing going on around here.”

“We are fortunate that Warren County’s travel and tourism industry has been able to demonstrate such resilience during a difficult year,” Duncan said. “Individually, many of our businesses have certainly experienced similar challenges as other small businesses across America during this pandemic. The strength in Warren County, particularly during 2020, is that our natural and cultural assets are a stable, safe, and desirable resource for visitors.”

It may be challenging to discern whether the $49.6 million spent in Warren County in 2020 is from visitors, tourists or simply residents who are spending more time within Warren County, Duncan noted. It’s probably a mixture of all three groups.

Duncan said a quick look at sales tax figures show that spending in the county is going fairly well. Gas sales, food and beverage sales, as well as retail and certain recreational spaces all contribute to the numbers, but whether those sales can be tied to a true tourist or a true visitor may be more difficult to track, she said.

Despite this, Duncan said, “this is our second year in a row topping the state in growth. We saw a lot of growth between 2018 and 2019, and the pandemic wasn’t in play.”

Warren County was the only county in its region to see growth; all other counties in the North Central region saw a decrease in visitor spending. The region includes Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Orange, Person, Vance, and Wake counties, according to a press release from Warren County Manager Vincent Jones.

Of the $49.6 million related to visitor spending, $12 million came from lodging, $15.5 from food and beverage, $6.7 from recreation, $4.8 from retail, and $10.6 from transportation, according to the statement.

In addition, people who have vacation homes or retirement homes on both Kerr Lake and Lake Gaston may figure in the positive numbers for Warren County since the onset of the pandemic. “If they were going to be allowed to work from home, they were going to do it from their lake house,” Duncan said.

The appeal of agritourism and agribusiness also contributes, she said. For example, Seven Springs Winery near Norlina opened for business right about the time that the pandemic was shutting everything down.

“That business has been incredibly successful, despite challenges that face small businesses. People were looking for more things to do outside, she said, and Seven Springs provides that opportunity. “They opened up at a time when that was a sought-after thing,” she added. “They’re a great asset for us. They are achieving their dream – they have a great story to tell.”

“It is great to see this positive news, as we adjust to the long-term impact of the pandemic,” stated County Manager Vincent Jones. “We hope that this new energy we are seeing as people discover and rediscover the charm of Warren County is sustained going forward.”

According to Visit NC date, the Warren County travel and tourism industry directly employees 231 people; this is an increase in employment related to visitor spending since 2019. The total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Warren County in 2020 was $10.1 million.

In 2020, state tax revenue generated in Warren County totaled $1.6 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $3.4 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

The breakdown by county is available at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association.

Warren County has seen an increase in visitor spending every year since 2016.

Home And Garden Show 10-20-21

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

THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN:

  • Prevent any weeds from going to seed in your garden
  • Build a small cold frame and enjoy fresh greens through the winter.
  • Please compost leaves this year. They are a valuable compostable source to increase organic matter for your garden soil.
  • If you have leftover garden seed, get it organized. Store in fridge for best results.
  • If your lawn seems to have been scratched up with large holes in it you may have a skunk eating white grubs in your lawn.  You can use motion sensor lights to scare the skunk away at night. Also use a grub control product to kill the white grubs in your lawn.
  • Plant bulbs for early spring blooms. Look for large bulbs that are free of decay. Do you need bone meal?
  • Soil samples are still free of charge to avoid the rush bring your samples to Cooperative extension today.
  • Take stock of your pest control products and be certain they are safely stored for the winter.

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for October 19, 2021. 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 christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

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Name of the Company: Vance County Sheriff’s Department

Jobs Available:  Sheriff’s Office has openings for 5 Deputies, 2 School Resource Officers and 1 Administrative/ Front Office person. The Detention Center has 12 vacancies for Detention Officers and 1 part-time opening for the kitchen

Method of Contact: For more information visit vancecountysheriff.org or call Sheriff Office @ 252-738-2200

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Name of the Company: George’s Restaurant of Henderson

Jobs Available: Looking to fill all positions

Method of Contact:  Please stop by the business at 210 N. Garnett St. to apply in person

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Name of the Company:  Hollander Sleep Products, LLC

Jobs Available: Operator Sewing Machine II and Utility I

Method of Contact:   Interested persons who want to apply please contact NC Works Office

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Name of the Company: First United Methodist Church of Henderson

Jobs Available:  Director of Children and Youth Ministries – This is a salaried position working directly under the supervision of the Pastor and is ultimately responsible to the Staff Parish Relations Committee for the development and promotion of a comprehensive and effective ministry to children and youth.

Method of Contact:  To apply email cover letter and resume with at least three professional references to Pastor George Loveland at George.loveland@nccumc.org

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Name of the Company:  Roses/ Variety Distribution Center

Jobs Available: General Warehouse Associates, Lift Drivers, Team Leads, Yard Drivers, Housekeeping/ Custodial, Supervisors. Available shifts 1st and 2nd  Monday- Friday, Saturday overtime as needed. Potential to earn up to $20.00 an hour, Sign on bonus of $1500.00 and attendance bonus.

Method of Contact:  Apply in person at NEW Roses Distribution Hiring Center located at 218 S. Garnett Street, Henderson, hours are Monday and Wednesday 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30am – noon and 1:00pm – 4:oopm.

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Name of the Company: Walmart Distribution Center – Henderson

Jobs Available: HR Clerk Part-time, Asset Protection Associate, Area Managers, Operations Manager, Order Filler/Freight Handler and Forklift Drivers, Loader Wrapper, Unloading/ Receiving

Method of Contact: For full listings and more information go to https://careers.walmart.com/us/jobs 

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Name of the Company: Granville Vance Public Health

Jobs Available: Front Office Manager for Clinical Services – A minimum of five (5) years of administrative experience in personnel budgeting, research or administrative management is preferred. The candidate must also possess knowledge and a strong command of principles and practices of effective communications both orally and in writing. Graduation from a 4 year college or university and one year experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Method of Contact:  Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, sample of written work (one page), completed State application, college transcripts and three work related reference contacts via email to humanresources@gvdhd.org or mail to Human Resources Manager, Granville Vance District Health Department, Post Office Box 367, Oxford, NC 27565

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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.

 

Governor Cooper Awards Seifert State’s Highest Civilian Honor

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Birthday presents come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, recipients have an idea of what’s inside a wrapped box before they even open it. Other gifts, however, may be a complete surprise. And that’s what Henderson native Donald C. Seifert got on the occasion of his 90th birthday – a surprise.

From North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

Seifert became a member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor.

His four children presented him with the framed certificate during a recent gathering that he thought was going to be a celebration of family birthdays. It was a birthday celebration, complete with cake and singing of “Happy Birthday,” but he said he wasn’t expecting what happened next.

“When (son) Clem started his remarks, I started to smell a rat,” Seifert told John C. Rose for Monday’s “The Local Skinny!” broadcast. “I thought, ‘oh me, I’m not prepared for this.’”

With his four children standing before the gathering of about 125, Seifert made his way up to the microphone, collecting his thoughts as he passed through the audience, who was giving him a standing ovation. “I remembered a little story about Rufus Edmisten,” he said, and proceeded to tell the story about the time Edmisten stood before a group that had stood up for him as he approached the microphone to offer remarks.

“He said, ‘Y’all don’t fool me with that standing ovation – you’re just looking for an excuse to stand up, stretch your legs and straighten your underwear.’”

Seifert summed up the remainder of his remarks from Oct. 2 and said he told a story from Ron Cava, pastor of First Baptist Church. He said Cava had shared a quick and easy way to talk about God’s grace and mercy. Grace is when you receive things that you don’t deserve and mercy is when you don’t get something that you DO deserve.

Seifert said receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is definitely an example of God’s grace because he certainly didn’t feel deserving of the honor.

Danny Wright and others would beg to differ, however.

Wright, who serves with Seifert on the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees, submitted the nomination, and several people in the community who have worked alongside Seifert over the years were asked to submit letters of recommendation to accompany the nomination. Henderson-Vance Chamber President Michele Burgess, Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Executive Director Eddie Ferguson and the Rev. Donald Lowery, rector at The Church of the Holy Innocents all wrote letters in support of the nomination.

In her letter, Burgess cited Seifert’s “tremendous community spirit” and a desire to work for the betterment of his hometown and county as shining examples of his civic leadership. “Mr. Seifert is a man of integrity and is a very respected member of our community. He is fair to all and shows compassion for those less fortunate.”

Seifert serves as assistant treasurer for his church, The Church of the Holy Innocents, and Rev. Lowery said one of the things he relies on Seifert for is maintaining the rector’s discretionary fund. Seifert has “a heart for charitable needs in our community,” Lowery wrote. “As a person who both donates to it…(and) who balances it on my behalf, he makes sure it is able to do the work it is established to do. I am grateful for this.”

Seifert has been a member of the VGCC board for many years and was its chair from 2003 to 2012. His family established an endowed scholarship a few years ago to honor Seifert and his wife of 61 years, Betsy.

“Donald is humble and shuns any limelight; however, his thoughts and counsel have proven time and time again to be encouraging and insightful. Donald not only symbolizes the ‘best in people,’ but he also models those attributes daily in the life he lives,” Ferguson wrote.

One of those attributes, surely, is humility. He said he appreciates the honor, and it was especially meaningful that his children presented it to him.

“It was one of the proudest and most humbling experiences of my life,” he said, reading from the letter of thanks that he sent the governor. And so as to put a face with a name, Seifert said he enclosed a photograph of him, his wife, their children and grandchildren taken the night he was presented with Cooper’s gift.

 

The Local Skinny! Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday, Oct. 19.

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Vance County’s Night Out Against Crime is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 19 on Breckenridge Street, and there will be lots of activities for families to enjoy, according to Lorraine Watkins and Tonya Moore, a couple of the organizers for the annual event.

Originally scheduled for September, rainy conditions forced officials to move the annual event to next week, Watkins told Trey Snide during Thursday’s The Local Skinny! program. Fortunately, all the participants are able to attend next week, which both women are pleased about. Activities begin at 4:30 p.m. and conclude at 8:30 p.m.

“It’s going to be absolutely awesome,” Watkins said. “This is going to be one of the best events we’ve ever had.”

Whether you’re interested in getting a free hot dog or Coca-Cola product, or you’re a kid who wants to match his (or her) push-up skills against local law enforcement officers, the evening is sure to be entertaining and fun-filled.

In addition to guest speakers and welcomes from the Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office, cheer squads from the high school and middle school are scheduled to perform. And right after the Gospel choir Work In Progress finishes its concert, there will be a drawing – hopefully captured live on Facebook – for a $500 gift card to Sam’s Furniture.

COVID-19 vaccines and testing also will be available.

The Local Skinny! Home And Garden Show 10-13-21

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This week in the garden with Vance Co. Extension:

  •  Now is the time to dig your sweet potatoes.
  •  Get outdoor container plantings ready for cold weather.
  •  Start planning your season extension materials. Cardboard, row covers, plastic canvas
  • Consider adding ornamental grasses to your landscape.
  • Check cole crops; they may need top dressing with nitrogen if they are light green.
  • Enjoy a visit to a public garden during the mild weather.
  • Soil samples are still free of charge to avoid the rush bring your samples to Cooperative extension today.
  • Spray ivy, wisteria, poison ivy and English Ivy with Brush Killer.
  • Store garden equipment that you won’t need until next spring.
  • Drain water from hoses and other irrigation equipment to prevent freeze damage

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