TownTalk: Jimmy Sidberry Explains Insurance Options During Annual Enrollment Period

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The adage “One size does not fit all” is especially true for insurance coverage, a point to which local insurance representative Jimmy Sidberry can attest.

“This is my season,” Sidberry said on Tuesday’s TownTalk with guest host Steve Lewis, referring to the annual enrollment period open now through Dec. 7.

The annual enrollment period is a time for Medicare beneficiaries to take a look at their existing plans and make sure they’re still getting the best deal for their situation.

As Sidberry, with The Health Insurance Store on Dabney Drive explained it, Medicare is a federal insurance that pays 80 percent of a plan for people over 65. Medicaid is a state plan that helps low-income people pay that 20 percent not covered by Medicare.

Medicare is for people over 65 and for people under 65 with certain disabilities.

There are Medicare Advantage plans that provide coverage for  extras like dental and vision, Sidberry said.

The main thing that Sidberry said people approaching Medicare age should remember is this: Apply during the all-important window before your 65th birthday and no later than two months after. “If you wait, you can run into penalties,” he said. Penalties that won’t go away.

Same with prescription drug plans. The federal government requires beneficiaries to select a drug plan.

Beneficiaries who follow all the guidelines and meet all the deadlines have options before committing to a yearlong plan, Sidberry said. The open enrollment period runs between Jan. 1 and March 31.

“If a plan isn’t working for you, talk with your agent during the open enrollment period,” Sidberry suggested.

Want to learn more? Contact Sidberry at 919.500.9648.

 

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TownTalk: Mental Health And Substance Use Forum Takes Place Next Week

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The approaching holidays bring families together to celebrate and spend time together, but  those family gatherings also can place undue pressure and stress on those who also may struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues.

Melanie Griggs, a behavioral health clinical counselor at Granville Vance Public Health, said two upcoming listening sessions are designed to provide resources and information about services in the community.

“It’s a big, big problem,” Griggs said of individuals who find themselves in a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Above and beyond those modern-day stressors that creep into people’s lives from time to time, other people experience anxiety, depression, loneliness and even suicidal thoughts.
“It affects the family, employers, our entire community,” Griggs said.  “All of us are touched by someone who struggles with either of these issues on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

GVPH is one of the partners hosting the discussions.

The Vance County forum will be held Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church, 511 Orange St., Henderson.

The Granville County forum will be held Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Community Church, 3237 Knotts Grove Rd., Oxford.

“We’re going to talk a lot about access and where in our communities…you can go to get more information and support to address (people’s) particular concerns.”

Provider booths will include those that specialize in medications for Opioid Use Disorder (e.g., Buprenorphine, Methadone), individual and family counseling, medication management, crisis management, intensive outpatient services, and residential treatment.

“We want to make sure that people in our community know what’s out there…making sure they know where to go to get these services.”

Griggs said the community has access to a mobile crisis management unit, accessible by phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 1.844.709.4097.

 

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TownTalk: Around Old Granville’s Local Theater History

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Way before McGregor Hall, the Cinema or even Raleigh Rd. Outdoor Theatre in Henderson, patrons of the arts could enjoy a live performance, a silent movie or even a vaudeville show in any number of theaters and performance halls that dotted the community.

Most folks in Henderson remember the Embassy, located just a block off Garnett Street, its interior dripping in burgundy velvet and the stairs leading to the balcony where the “cool” kids hung out.

Local historian Mark Pace said it was billed as “the grandest movie theater in the U.S.” when the Stevenson family opened it in 1940. He joined WIZS’s Bill Harris for the tri-weekly Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk.

The Embassy closed in 1987 and the building was torn down in 1996; its name lives on in The Embassy Square Project, an $8 million privately funded endeavor that gave way to McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center and Perry Memorial Library.

The Stevenson family owned dozens of movie theaters across the state and the former Moon-Glo Outdoor Theatre (renamed Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre) is one of only a handful of drive-in theaters that are still in operation across the state.

Then there’s The Stevenson, located along Garnett Street near the spot where the former Rose’s store was. The Art Deco style building was designed by Henderson architect Eric Flanagan, who also designed the Henderson High School – now the Center for Innovation for Vance County Schools.

Just down the street from The Stevenson – near Frazco – was The State, another movie house.

Downtowns across the Old Granville area had at least one movie theater, Pace said.

The Orpheum in Oxford on Williamsboro Street was built in 1913. It burned in 1943 and was rebuilt in an Art Deco style that the newly restored location has retained in its new incarnation  as a wedding and event venue.

A group is Lousiburg is trying to do a similar thing and save a theater downtown, which opened in 1935 and was in operation until about 2009.

Oxford also had The Liberty Theater, located near the current location of Hall’s Flooring. The Mills family ran this theater, which was in operation from 1929-1942 for African Americans.

The Carolina Theater occupied a spot near Strong Arm Baking Co. on Main Street in Oxford from the mid 1930’s to the early ‘60’s, Pace said. The building burned down in 1997 when it was being used as a fitness center and now is the site of the Hugh Currin mini-park.

There was a drive-in in Oxford, across from the Food Lion at Hilltop, called the Starlite. Pace said he’s looking for a photograph of this theater, so if anybody has one, he’d love to see it.

 

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TownTalk: The Salvation Army Is More Than Just Kettles And Bells

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Whether you’re gearing up for the traditional Black Friday sales crush or someone who chooses to wait until December to think about shopping for holiday gifts, one thing’s for certain: When you hear that bell ringing and see that familiar red kettle, you know the Christmas season is near.

For more than a century, the Salvation Army has been a fixture in communities all over the country, and its volunteers ring bells and stand watch over those red kettles that are waiting to be filled with coins and folding money outside retail stores in the community.

The local Red Kettle Campaign kicked off last week, and Capt. Josh Keaton of the local Salvation Army said folks will see the iconic kettle outside the local Walmart beginning this Saturday.

Of course, there will be kettles in other locations across Henderson, including the Rose’s store and Food Lion stores.

And each kettle needs volunteers – 15 to 20 volunteers for each kettle during the week, he said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. This year’s local goal is $75,000, Keaton said. There are about 25 kettle locations, and all donations stay right here in the area served by the Salvation Army.

Visit RegisterToRing.com to sign up to volunteer or call the Salvation Army at 252. 438.7107.

“Spots are filling up this year,” Keaton said, but “the more volunteers we have, the better off we are.”

Keaton said it’s important for young people to see others giving back to the community, and he said “the older generation is our driving force” when it comes to volunteers. Be it a civic group or church group, the older volunteers serve as a reminder to the youth to give back to the community, Keaton said.

“We can’t do what we do without our volunteers,” Keaton said – not just during the holidays when folks may feel more inclined to be generous, but throughout the year.

“I’m grateful to be a part of this community,” he said, adding that there is a great need, but also a great level of generosity which support the efforts of the Salvation Army.

Customers at area Walmarts can choose an Angel from the Salvation Army’s Angel Trees and shop right in the store for gifts for children and senior adults, Keaton said.

The Angel Tree campaign runs from Nov. 9 to Dec. 9. Keaton said he expected that more than 200 children will experience the joy of opening a gift on Christmas morning because of the Angel Tree project.

When you pass a kettle on your way into a store this holiday season and find yourself with no cash, don’t worry. The Salvation Army has got you covered. There’s a QR code that you can scan with your phone and make a quick payment through any of several online payment options.

“It seems to be working well,” Keaton said, adding that online payment options may add a convenience factor to holiday giving.

“We can’t continue to put our eggs in one basket,” he said.

Or, in this case, kettle.

 

 

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TownTalk: Commissioners Hear Presentation From Vaya Health About “Diversion Center” Plans

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The Vance County Board of Commissioners got an update on plans by Vaya Health to turn a vacant retail space into a 16-bed “diversion center” designed for individuals who are in a mental health crisis.

There are still many hurdles to cross, Vaya officials said, but first steps include getting support – and ultimately money – from the county to operate the facility. Vaya representatives presented the plan and update during the commissioners’ Nov. 6 meeting.

The space is connected to Tractor Supply on Dabney Drive, and it’s where the former Big Lots store was located.

“There’s not a lot of current space available that can be modified,” said Elliot Clark, Vaya’s community relations regional director.

The site would have to be rezoned, and they’ve spoken with city officials about that, Clark said. “It’s the best option we could find at the best price point,” he said.

The $4.5 million estimate is now a few months old, so the final figure to complete the project may be higher. Vaya is contributing $1.5 million of the total, and they’re pretty confident they can secure significant state funding, but it helps to know that Vance County leaders support the project – financially and otherwise.

The diversion center would serve Granville and Franklin counties, too, and the Vaya reps will ask those two counties for support as well. No definite amounts have been determined, but it could work out to be something along the line of $500,000 per county.

The main idea for this facility it to help take some of the heat off hospital emergency rooms, which often aren’t equipped to handle the specific needs of individuals suffering from behavioral and mental health crises.

“There is significant need in the community,” said Vaya Vice President Donald Reuss, adding that while there are numerous providers across the system, there’s no comprehensive crisis center in place.

Of particular interest is the planned walk-in clinic. “It’s really the core piece,” Reuss said, to support those in crisis and to prevent crises. Individuals can walk in, have access to a therapist or psychiatrist and get meds filled at the in-house pharmacy.

The walk-in clinic will provide “timely access to care when people need it.” The walk-in clinic would follow normal business hours, but the urgent care side would be available 24/7.

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TownTalk: Mark Hopper Reflects On McGregor Hall’s Impact On Youth, Local Economy

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Mark Hopper, executive director at McGregor Hall, wears several hats – in addition to overseeing the venue and its operation, Hopper is equally at home in the orchestra pit, directing musicians during a performance and directing actors on stage during rehearsals.

But he said one of the most rewarding things he gets to see is the effect the theater has on young performers.

“It’s rewarding, watching them grow as actors and artists – and as human beings,” Hopper said on Monday’s TownTalk. “I see something new every single night that we rehearse – it’s very rewarding to watch them grow daily.”

“McGregor Hall Live” kicked off the 2023-24 season with a two-weekend run of “Ragtime: The Musical” and, by all reports, it was a glowing success.

And while Hopper said he’s grateful for the kind words of theater critics, he said he tries to keep things in balance.

“To get that validation is really rewarding for the cast,” Hopper said. More importantly, though, he said he tried to impress upon the actors and crew – many of whom live outside the Henderson area – “what a really big deal this is.”

The “this” Hopper’s referring to is the whole McGregor Hall entity, which has proven itself to be a venue that host high-quality performances as well as a providing a destination for numerous other performance competitions.  In short, McGregor Hall is fueling economic growth – all without financial support from either the city or county.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic impact study suggested that McGregor Hall drew about $3 million to the local area. Hopper said he’s confident that number will double when the current economic impact study numbers are released.

“I hope we continue the pattern of growth that we’ve had since COVID,” Hopper said, adding that after a year of being totally shut down with no live performances, McGregor Hall has had “a pretty remarkable rise from the ashes.”

He said that individuals have bought tickets from 209 different ZIP codes representing 21 states – people who are coming in to Henderson to spend money, eat in our restaurants and stay in our hotels, Hopper added. “If we stay on that arc, it’s going to be pretty exciting.”

Next up is a house-produced Christmas show in two parts, Hopper said. “We’re putting on a stage production ourselves…that features a lot of local and regional talent.” The first part is a shortened version of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol,” followed by a stage musical of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” complete with a live jazz trio.

Visit www.mcgregorhall.org to see the complete list of events scheduled.

 

 

TownTalk: Granville-Vance Health Dept. Director Lisa Harrison Pleased with Cohen Visit

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When it’s added altogether, Granville Vance Public Health is getting $9 million in federal and state funds to be used to improve access to mental health resources and battle substance abuse disorders through a variety of programs for young people and families.

For GVPH Director Lisa Harrison, that’s a big deal.

“Our dream is that this is ‘difference-making’ money,” Harrison said on Thursday’s TownTalk.

Specifically, the health department has received $4 million – $1 million each year for the next four years – in federal money to provide behavioral health programs to the school districts in Vance and Granville counties to combat drug use and substance abuse. The $5 million award comes from the General Assembly that will create spaces within the Emergency Department at Maria Parham Health to safely provide care for patients in mental health crises and intensive outpatient services at Maria Parham’s Franklin campus in Louisburg.

“I could not be more excited about all of these opportunities to address these issues. It’s definitely an interesting and exciting time to be in this work.”

Part of the excitement comes from a special group of visitors that spent most of a day last week in Granville and Vance counties. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were the main attraction at Medical Arts Pharmacy Friday afternoon to discuss the importance of access to health care and more in rural America.

“It was such a wonderful opportunity” to host the two high-profile health professionals in Henderson and Oxford, Harrison said. “It was such an amazing visit and so much fun.”

Becerra and others stopped in at the Oxford health department for a roundtable discussion, during which Harrison said Becerra asked good questions of the local representatives and seemed engaged in the dialogue.

Then it was on to Medical Arts Pharmacy, where Becerra, Cohen and others offered remarks about health care equity and the importance of providing adequate health care in rural areas.

In health departments like GVPH, Harrison said there’s always more need than money to satisfy that need, at least from local and state funding sources. Under Harrison’s leadership, GVPH has been awarded federal grants totaling more than $6 million since 2015.

The networking and partnerships across agencies – local, state and federal – are key to providing the very best care in the two counties, she said.

As governmental agencies, hospitals, schools and others all work together for a common goal, Harrison said she believes it will make a difference in the overall health outcomes for youth and families in the community.

Hear the complete interview with Harrison at www.wizs.com

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TownTalk: Elliott Wins Runoff For Henderson

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Henderson voters have elected Melissa Elliott to be the city’s next mayor, creating a historic moment on two fronts: The Mayor-Elect will be the first woman and the first Black to lead the city.

Tuesday’s runoff election was the last piece of the puzzle that provides a complete picture of city leadership; four City Council members were elected in the Oct. 10 nonpartisan municipal elections, but the mayor’s race was undecided until Tuesday’s runoff.

Traditionally, the new Council members and the mayor will be sworn in at the December meeting, which is set for Monday, Dec. 11.

As Elliott said in an interview with WIZS News Tuesday evening, she will only move one seat to the left in December; until she takes the mayor’s chair, she represents the Ward 3 at-large seat on the City Council.

New Council members elected on Oct. 10 include:

  • Ward 1: Geraldine Champion
  • Ward 2: Sam Seifert
  • Ward 3 at-large: Michael Venable
  • Ward 4 at-large: Tami Walker

Almost 10 percent more voters turned out for Tuesday’s runoff election than in the Oct. 10 municipal election, which included four City Council seats in addition to the mayor’s race.

As WIZS reported Tuesday night, Elliott got 1,527 votes (56.35 percent) to Etheridge’s 1,183 (43.65 percent).

Yesterday’s turnout was about 29 percent, compared with about 20 percent in the October election. A runoff was called for when no candidate received the 50 percent plus 1 vote needed to claim the win outright.

Middleburg re-elected its mayor to another term Tuesday. Ray Bullock was elected with 25 votes. He ran unopposed. Shirley Bullock got 18 votes, Hazel Baskett got 11 votes and Mamie Turner got 14 votes to fill three seats on the Town Council.

But Kittrell Mayor Jerry Joyner was upset in Tuesday’s election by Gene Pulley who got 16 write-in votes, according to information Wednesday from Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin.

Susan Pulley got 25 votes, Mary Jo Floyd got 19 and Robert Tunstall got 17 votes to fill the three City Council seats.

Cocklin said the election results remain unofficial until the canvass is completed on Nov. 17.

Find a link to all election results at https://er.ncsbe.gov/

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TownTalk: Maria Parham Health Seeks To Bolster Nursing Staff

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Are you a nurse looking for a change of scenery? Or maybe you’re a nursing student who is looking ahead for employment after the classwork is complete. Then again, if you feel like nursing is your true passion and you’re ready to make a career change, there’s an event coming up on Thursday, Nov. 16 just for you.

Ryan Randall, market Human Relations recruiter for Maria Parham Health and Person Memorial in Roxboro was a guest on Tuesday’s TownTalk and shared details about the upcoming nursing social recruitment event.

Current nurses, CNAs and CMAs are invited to come to Maria Parham Women’s Care, 1209 S. E. Industry Dr. next week from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to learn about employment opportunities offered at Maria Parham in Henderson, Maria Parham Franklin in Louisburg and Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro.

“There are numerous opportunities – both clinical and non-clinical roles,” Randall said. Visit the hospital websites to find current job postings.

Whether you’re a nurse with lots of experience, or a student looking for that first job after completing a nursing program, the possibilities are out there, Randall said.

Representatives will be on hand during the event to share information about salaries, sign-on bonuses, tuition assistance programs and more.

No matter the industry, Randall said “there is a massive need for people that have incredible talents.” Nursing is no exception.

But Randall wants prospective employees to know about Maria Parham Health. “This place is truly special,” he said, “and we’re just trying to get the word out.”

 

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TownTalk: Sergent Looks To Community For Support After Oxford Fire

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In the hours after a fire destroyed two businesses in downtown Oxford, Mayor Jackie Sergent said city officials were already busy putting together a plan to rally around the displaced business owners.

City firefighters and numerous volunteer departments responded to the blaze Monday morning on the 100 block of Williamsboro Street in downtown Oxford. The call came in at 8:28 a.m. and Sergent said by 9:30 a.m. Downtown Development Director Alyssa Blair was “already starting to look where those two businesses might be rehoused…so they might be up and running as soon as possible,” Sergent said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

The Healing Haven and Farrar’s Jewelers were destroyed by the fire, which was brought under control before 11 a.m. The investigation is ongoing, Sergent said. No cause has yet been determined.

“We are very pleased and proud that our fire department and all the other first responders were able to handle the fire with minimal damage to adjoining properties and no loss of life or limb,”

She said she is incredibly proud of the way that the city’s fire chief and emergency management team responded, providing “leadership an insight to manage the fire…and avoid a conflagration that would take out an entire city block and limit the damage to the building that was burning.

The last time a fire destroyed a building in downtown Oxford was in February 1997.

A fitness studio occupied a very narrow space beside near where Strong Arm Baking Co. is located along Main Street.

That building was a complete loss, and city commissioners voted to create a pocket park in 2001. “It’s named for former Mayor Hugh Currin,” Sergent said. “It’s a lovely little spot now.”

Sergent said she believes the people of Oxford will rally around the two business owners who have been displaced. “Our downtown is made up of small business owners and we do not want to lose them,” she said.

She encourages the community to “step forward and support them in any way we can think of…we will help them get going…and find a way to sustain (them).”