TownTalk: Exciting Times For Vance Charter Cheerleading

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Members of the Vance Charter School cheer team weren’t able to get a lot of practice time in before last weekend’s state championship competition – it was that weeklong trip to New York City to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade that kept them off the practice mat.

But just like their months-long fundraising efforts to get all 20 of the VCS high school cheerleaders to make the trip, things turned out OK.

Actually, better than OK.

They brought home another state championship, winning in the the large varsity, no-tumble division.

“The girls put in the work and made it happen,” said Coach Stacey Long, clearly satisfied with the outcome of all the events that have transpired in the last few weeks.

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But Long isn’t just talking about the most recent competition. She’s talking about the way the girls went out into the community, seeking the $70,000 in donations to help get the whole team to New York, all expenses paid.

That was their goal, she said, and that’s exactly what happened. Thanks to the generosity of more than 50 sponsors across Vance and Granville counties – and beyond – the entire cheer team spent a whole week in the Big Apple, for what surely is a trip of a lifetime.

They visited the Empire State Building, took a harbor cruise to see the Statue of Liberty, visited the 911 Memorial and took in a Rockettes show and a Broadway performance, Long said, all thanks to generous sponsors.

“But the actual Thanksgiving Day parade was very magical,” Long told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk. “The girls were just so excited to be a part of that.”

The parade organizers had many activities planned for the participants, but Long and Assistant Coach Shelley Whitehead planned additional outings. But the girls and their chaperones also had some free afternoon time over the course of the trip, too. Some went shopping, visited Central Park and did a little ice skating, among other activities.

“They really got a lot of New York in,” Long said.

And although the iconic tree at Rockefeller Center wasn’t ready for viewing, they did get to see the Saks Fifth Avenue light show display.

“Every day we got up, there was a little more Christmas,” Long said. “The girls really enjoyed seeing that part of New York.”

But no sooner had they returned home than they set their sights on last weekend’s state championship, held in Raleigh on Dec. 3. Add to that cheering for their Knights’ basketball games and next week’s exam schedule, the girls have maintained a tight schedule.

With practices at 6 a.m. and then again in the afternoon, they put the finishing touches on their 2:30-minute routine.

“These girls have put in at least 12-14 hours (of practice) since May,” Long estimated. Logging all those practice hours has paid off, she added.

With another trophy added to the school’s awards case, Long said she wants the young women to take a little time off from practice and focus their attention to next week’s exams.

Then she hopes they’ll take some time to enjoy the holidays with their families. “We’ll let them reset and recharge,” Long added.

Because as soon as the New Year kicks in, they’ll be back on the practice mats. They have another state competition on Jan. 28 in Raleigh. And they’ll be looking to defend their title, which they won last year.

Here’s a list of cheer team members:

Abby Cole

Brianna Dickerson

Helena Florez

Kelcey Hardee

Catherine Hedgepeth

Emma Hicks

Emma Long

Olivia Long

Maya Lloyd

Shakera Macon

Ziya Perry

Mia Satterwhite

Pearla Tabor

Kelsey Waddle

Cheyanne Burroughs

Kate Carrington

Summer Francis

Alina Gonzalez

Ashley Hennessey

Lauren Taylor

Stacey Long- Coach
Shelley Whitehead- Assistant Coach

Following is a list of Sponsors, provided by the VCS cheer coaches:

Platinum Sponsors:

Oxford Cheer Elite

Spectrum Medical Solutions

Stainback & Satterwhite Law Office

Better Beach Rentals & Sales

Silver Sponsors: 

Parkview Office Plaza

2000/5 Partners, Inc.

Sprinkle Properties

Drake & Seymour Dentistry

Bronze Sponsors:

Currin Dental Lab, Inc.

Shadowing Oaks

Carrington’s Clearing & Grading

Floyd Management & Realty, Inc.

Goddard & Peterson, PLLC

Wilson’s Carpet

Coffeys Bail Bonds

Dr. Hal & Betty Westerholm

Cloninger Law Office, PLLC

Kim Hedgepeth

Joe Rebo & Associates, Inc.

Larry’s Service Company

Kilian Engineering, Inc.

Granville Haunt Farm/Granville Christmas Farm

The Church of the Holy Innocents

Carolina Sunrock

Margier White State Farm Insurance

EFP Capital, Inc.

Henderson Optimist Club

Roberson Family Dentistry

Individual Sponsors:

Medical Arts Pharmacy

The Pegram Agency

River Wind Farm

C&P Body Shop

Jean Burwell

Milano’s in Oxford

Shalag

Jonathan Care, Attorney at Law, PA

C Squared

Wesco, Inc.

Johnny & Callie Yount

Sammie McCraw

Danny & Jane Williams

Union Bank

Oxford Lions Club

Jerry & Dorcel Edmonds

Skippers Forsyth’s BBQ Inc.

John Young

Bojangles

Ray’s Window Cleaning Services

Newcap Inc.

Ed & Angela Reeves

Sparkly Strands Fairy Hair

Susan Crews

John Wyche

TownTalk: Aycock School Festival of Lights is This Week

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Aycock Elementary’s 3rd annual Festival of Lights is almost here! The campus transforms into a glittery, shining drive-through experience sure to put folks in the holiday spirit.

Whether you prefer Who-ville or Polar Express, Aycock Principal Kristen H. Boyd said there’s something magical about the lights display. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a really fun time,” Boyd said in a recent interview. The two-night event kicks off on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and continues on Thursday, Dec. 8, with vehicles driving through from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This event is free and open to the community; donations will be accepted, with proceeds going to the festival of lights fund, as well as supporting various school clubs for the students.

Boyd said some of the school’s clubs include a garden club, an Imagineering club, as well as clubs for art and engineering.

Some display favorites are back – like Who-ville and Polar Express, but a new display called Santa’s Workshop will make its debut in this year’s event.

Vehicles will enter via the Aycock Rec Center, Sandlin noted, adding that there’s a specific traffic pattern to follow that will weave onlookers through the various light displays.

Boyd said turnout was great the past two years, and she hopes this year’s festival of lights will be bigger and better attended than ever.

The festival of lights is a way to give back to families in the community, and it’s also a time to give folks a chance to experience the result of teachers’ collaboration.

 

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TownTalk: Sheriff Curtis Brame Sworn In; Begins Second Term

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Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame officially began his second term of office today, after a swearing-in ceremony that took place at the Vance County Courthouse at 11 a.m. Monday.

The oath of office was administered in the presence of retired judge Randolph Baskerville.

Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow was one of the speakers during today’s swearing-in ceremony. He said he is proud of their close working relationship when it comes to protecting Vance County and Henderson and keeping residents safe.

In his remarks, Barrow said he picked up on a theme that Baskerville had mentioned in his remarks at the beginning of the ceremony: Character, the judge said, is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.

“I wanted to build off of what the judge had said,” Barrow told WIZS News by telephone Monday. So he added, “Character is doing the right thing when everybody is looking.”

He said that is what Brame does – he makes decisions that the public may not understand, but it’s “still…the right choice, even though it might not be the popular choice.”

“Sometimes we can’t tell the public why we make the decisions we make,” Barrow said.

In previous interviews with WIZS News, Brame has said his office needs more funding to try to fill job openings, and he has been vocal about the need for a new jail. He also has strongly stated to the community that parents need to play a role in the lives of youth in the area, and helping to keep them out of trouble and off the radar of law enforcement.

 

 

NCWorks

TownTalk: NCWorks Job Fair

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The NC Works Career Center is having an end-of-year career fair on Friday, Dec. 9 at its new location, 826 S. Garnett St. More than a dozen representatives from numerous employers will be on hand to share information with individuals looking for employment.

“This will be a fun and exciting event and the perfect way to start a new career before the holidays,” said Desiree Brooks, business services manager for KTCOG workforce development board.

The job fair will be held in the parking lot of the agency’s new facility, and will include employers from manufacturing, health care, IT and more.

The event will be held from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and features employment opportunities across the five-county region served by Kerr-Tar: Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person, Brooks said in an email to WIZS News.

 “There will be opportunities for everyone,” Brooks said. “If anyone needs additional assistance, they can easily access the new NCWorks Career Center and learn about additional services while they are there.” She said employers are eager to meet qualified candidates and discuss what they do and the positions they have available.

Brooks said RJ’s Grill will be on hand with food to purchase

For more information about NCWorks, visit www.facebook.com/NCWorksKT

or www.kerrtarworks.com or phone the NCWorks Career Center at 252.598.5200.

 

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TownTalk: Raleigh Ringers Coming To McGregor Hall

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The Raleigh Ringers are coming to McGregor Hall this weekend for a weekend performance at McGregor Hall. Director David M. Harris and the group of musicians have performed in 39 states, Canada and Europe, delighting audiences with music throughout the year.

But when Harris realized there was an opening in the schedule, he called Mark Hopper. And the rest, as they say, is history. The Raleigh Ringers concert is part of the McGregor Alive! Series.

The Raleigh Ringers performed at McGregor Hall in 2019, and Harris told John C. Rose on TownTalk Wednesday that he was impressed with the acoustics, as well as the overall beauty of the performing arts center. “We were anxious to come back,” he said.

“It’s not often we have a Christmas slot open,” Harris explained, and he and his fellow ringers have a short trip for the Sunday performance. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the concert begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.mcgregorhall.org/

The concert will include some holiday standards, including “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” juxtaposed with “Blue Christmas” and selections popularized by Siberian Orchestra.

Also in the repertoire are a couple of songs especially written for handbells.

Harris said the group has played original music written by Henderson’s own Dr. Phil Young, who Harris called a “pioneer” in the area of handbell music.

The Raleigh Ringers began in 1990, when different church handbell choirs formed a loose network and would have a summer concert at the end of their performance season.

Once dependent on the kindness of retirement centers for storage of their equipment, the Raleigh Ringers now has its own building where they can keep their bells and all the other things needed for concerts, as well as having their own practice space.

“Ringers can come in off hours and work on their parts,” Harris said, on top of the three-plus hours a week that the whole group comes together to practice.

For those who may not know too much about handbells, there’s more to a performance than just ringing a bell, Harris said.

“There’s so much choreography,” he said, and ringers need to know all their roles, whether it’s moving different bells for other ringers to use during a song, or exactly which ringer is going to turn the page of music.

“All of that has to be worked out well in advance,” Harris said.

Part of the mission of the Raleigh Ringers is to provide education about the instruments to their audiences. Members of the audience often are invited to the stage after the concert to try their own hand at handling the bells, from the giant ones at one end of the table to choir chimes at the other.

Handbell ringers play in coordination with other ringers to produce a complete line of music, unlike other musicians – like pianists – who play the complete line of musical notes to create the desired music.

For Harris, this is just a part of what sets handbells apart from other musical instruments, and he said it’s part of their mission to educate the community about this particular type of music.

“It’s such amazing teamwork when a piece comes together,” he said.

Visit www.rr.org to learn more about Raleigh Ringers.

 

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TownTalk: Ragland Produces Christian Stage Play

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Connie Ragland’s newest play is called “This Is Why We Don’t Come To Church,” and it premieres on Saturday, Dec. 10 in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center.

The Christian stage production takes a somewhat satirical look at a serious topic – attitudes about church.

Have you ever known a “pew-owner” – that person who gets into a snit when someone else is sitting in “their” pew? Or have you seen churchgoers shun someone simply because they didn’t dress the right way for church?

Ragland said that these behaviors may contribute to a decline in church membership, and she said her play is going to poke a little fun at some stereotypes.

Things have shifted in the church and in the country, Ragland told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk. Whether it’s because churches had to close their doors during COVID-19 and embrace virtual services, or whether it’s for other reasons, church membership is down, she said.

The play’s title, she said, “is a way to grab your attention and say ‘hmmm, I wonder what that’s all about,” Ragland said.

The play includes plenty of local talent, but some cast members are traveling from as far away as Winston-Salem and Elizabeth City.

“There’s something in it for everyone,” Ragland said. “A lot of the cast are millennials,” she said, with other age groups and generations represented as well.
With a blended cast representing a wide range of ages, she said “everyone will get something out of this show.”

As she was writing the play, she said a particular person’s name popped into her head for a particular role. She called that person, who immediately accepted, saying she had been searching for a way to return to the stage.

“I’m just overwhelmed with joy when people say ‘yes’ to me,” Ragland said, “that people want a part of something of this nature.”

The play is made possible thanks to a joint effort with Connie Ragland Productions, Youth Christian Center and its board, led by Delthine Watson “to help bring positive things back to the community.”

Formed several years ago by the Rev. Eddie Williams, the Youth Christian Center’s mission is to educate and inspire young people, whether they’re learning the finer points of etiquette or how to tie a necktie.

“We’re excited – we’ve got more rehearsals coming up, but the general feeling is yes, we’re ready to get the message out there,” Ragland said.

The play is for the whole family. “It will make you laugh, cry and think,” Ragland said.

Tickets are $15 for youth and and $25 for adults. Purchase them at eventbrite.com or call Vincent Ragland at 252.213.2095. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local charities.

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TownTalk: Salvation Army Kettle Drive And Music For The Holidays

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Jimmy Barrier describes the upcoming performance at the local Salvation Army as a Gaither-style event.

If you don’t know exactly what that means, then by all means, come out at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11 to “An Acoustical Christmas.” And if you enjoy that Gaither style of musical performance, then you already know you’re in for a treat.

Barrier will share emcee duties with the Salvation Army’s Capt. Joshua Keaton, but he will also be behind his familiar bass as he and the Sound Barriers fill the air with Christmas music and other favorites with that Gaither-style Southern Gospel feel.

The concert is free and open to the public and will be held at the Salvation Army, 2292 Ross Mill Rd.

A love offering will be taken to benefit the Anchor of Hope and the Red Shield Club, he told John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk. Anchor of Hope is a women’s ministry that helps individuals in need and the Red Shield Club is the after-school program.

“It’s all acoustic, all live,” Barrier explained, “so if you make a mistake, everybody hears it.”

It didn’t take much to get Capt. Keaton and his wife, Capt. Amanda Keaton, on board with the project.

“They were elated to have the Gaither-style Christmas program,” Barrier said, adding that he hoped to make the concert an annual event and name it for the late Gill Clopton, who originally had the idea.

“I want to do that and honor him in that way,” Barrier said. He recalled that Clopton was very happy that the program had been scheduled.

Barrier said he and his wife were out shopping for blankets to donate to the Anchor of Hope’s blanket ministry the day before Thanksgiving and he found himself in the presence of someone singing Christmas carols – right inside the store.

Before he knew it, and to his wife’s chagrin, Barrier was performing a duet with Evelyn Couch.

“We started singing Christmas carols in Rose’s at the top of our lungs,” Barrier said.

But the duets didn’t stop there. He invited Couch to come and sing with the group at the recent McGregor Hall community concert last weekend.

“It was wonderful,” Barrier said of last weekend’s performance at McGregor Hall, sponsored by the Vance County Arts Council.

She will join Barrier again at the Dec. 11 concert to perform “O Holy Night.”

“She sings the fire out of it,” Barrier said.

 

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TownTalk: Boys & Girls Club Of North Central North Carolina

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It makes Donyell “DJ” Jones happy to see young people walk through the Blue Doors of the Boys & Girls Clubs. Even when those doors aren’t blue – like those clubs that operate within schools, for example – Jones is confident that the programming and support remains aligned with the philosophy of the stand-alone clubs that have been in existence for 160 years.

Jones is CEO of the Boys & Girls Club North Central North Carolina, which operates clubs in Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Halifax counties.

He talked with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s TownTalk to provide an update on the status of clubs, how COVID-19 has negatively affected staff and to talk about a couple of local renovation projects that are about to crank up to improve club facilities in Henderson and Oxford.

“We had to be very flexible over the past year,” Jones said, referring to getting back into the swing of things following the pandemic shutdown. But now, club members have returned and BGC is getting back to the business of provide quality after-school care and programming.

The administrative offices are located in Oxford, in a building that is connected to the club building. Jones said he and other office staff are once again experiencing the “laughter and energy that we missed so much when (the children) were home.”

Over the summer, key BGC leaders gathered to identify some key priority areas, Jones said. From those discussions, the group refined a three-year strategic priority plan, which includes creating safe, state-of-the-art facilities as well as intentional programming to reflect the different needs of each club site and the ever-present question of financial sustainability.

The Oxford club is getting a much-needed facelift that is set to begin in February 2023, Jones said.

Jones said a general contractor has been hired and the work, once begun, will transform current outdated bathroom facilities, how club members enter and exit the club, as well as other integral renovations to club space.

“The esthetics and lighting are going to be awesome,” Jones said. “I know it’s going to be a great thing for our young people.” Plans include a new gaming room, collaborative spaces for projects and more improvements to allow for better programming.

The Clark Street club in Henderson also is getting some attention, thanks to help from Goodwill Community Foundation. “That facility needs a little love,” Jones said, adding that Goodwill’s contribution will help take care of most of the items on the wish list there.

Simply put, Jones said, “the kids really deserve it.”

The idea is that newly renovated spaces will attract new members as well, but right now, Jones said that all clubs in BGCNCNC currently open have wait lists.

Why? Like so many other workplaces, there’s not enough staff.

The number of employees dictates the number of kids at the club, Jones said. “We need part-time youth development professionals for our after-school sites,” he said. The biggest need is in Franklin County, but more staff also is needed in the Henderson and Oxford clubs.

They’re looking for individuals who have “a patience and a genuine love for young people,” he said, and it’d be a bonus to have special skills, whether they be in the arts, or STEM education, just to name a couple.

But most of all, he said, clubs need staff who are consistent and who “bring a different vibe and energy to our clubs.”

Jones said safety is the number one priority, and staff must effectively supervise club members while engaging them to address the specific needs of the young people who attend the club.

Some clubs based in schools have reopened, including the one at Northside Elementary in Warren County. The club at Carver Elementary in Vance County is set to reopen in January, but Jones said it’s unclear when Franklinton Middle School may reopen.

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Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk: Local Health Update With Lisa Harrison

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The COVID-19 pandemic has brought laser-focused attention to the need for community partnerships, and Granville-Vance Health Director Lisa Harrison knows firsthand the value of working together to assure overall community health.

Harrison, who recently completed her term as president of the National Association of City and County Health Officers, attended a national conference in Washington, DC, where public health officials gathered to talk about topics like vaccine equity.

“We had a really exciting day,” Harrison told John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk.

No matter where you find yourself – in the business world, faith community, education or simply a parent of young children, Harrison said “it’s wonderful that people are recognizing the hard work that the public health workforce commits to all the time to fight disease and promote health.”

“It doesn’t matter who you are in this community of ours, people’s health is one of the most important measures of wealth we have in this society. And I’m glad that people are realizing that there are people working hard to keep it that way,” she said.

Both Vance and Granville counties are currently enjoying low incidences of COVID-19 cases, but Harrison said flu is making its presence felt in the two counties.

“We are definitely seeing an uptick,” she said. “We need people to be washing hands and getting flu shots,” she said.

Vaccines provide protection for so many different diseases and sicknesses, she said, from shingles to COVID, childhood diseases to flu and pneumonia.

But access to vaccines still poses barriers and so she said public health professionals have to consider ways to get vaccines out into the community.

“We have to make an effort to go out into neighborhoods where transportation is a challenge for people and where there are maybe pockets of folks who don’t have the same amount of knowledge about the importance of vaccinations and staying healthy,” she said.

 

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TownTalk: Christmas Parade And More Coming To Downtown Henderson

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The Vance County Arts Council is pulling out all the stops as the holiday season approaches. This umbrella organization has its fingers in a lot of pies this time of year, from wreath-making workshops with senior adults to free concerts and organizing the annual Henderson Christmas parade.

And Alice Sallins is up for the challenge. She spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s TownTalk to provide an update on all the upcoming festivities.

There’s a free community concert that will take place on Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. at McGregor Hall. The “Tidings of Comfort and Joy” musical event will include local musicians like Jimmy Barrier and the Sound Barriers, Ben Lawrence and Orlando Owens, just to name a few.

“It’s going to be an awesome show,” Sallins said. “We want it to be a good show and free to the community,” she said, adding that it will include secular and sacred music. Visit www.vanceartscouncil.com to read more.

The Christmas parade will take place next weekend, but Sallins said she really needs to have the applications by Friday, Nov. 25. It’s ok if folks drop their applications in the mail by Friday, because that means she should get them Monday. There’s a quick turnaround time for letting participants know their order in the parade lineup by Tuesday.

Click on https://vanceartscouncil.com/event/henderson-nc-christmas-parade-2022/ to find the entry form.

“Each year, it seems like the citizens go out of their way to have a bigger and better parade,” she said, adding that there will be some new faces and groups in this year’s lineup.

“Every year, our goal is to make it a little bigger and a little better.”

The parade is really shaping up, Sallins said. “So far I have 60 forms,” she noted, but expects to have at least 120 entries by parade time, which is Saturday, Dec. 3, beginning at 3 p.m.

“Last year the parade was beautiful and colorful – there were a lot of original floats and professional floats,” she said.

Triange Floats is sending “a bunch of floats” this year – at least eight more than last year, Sallins said.

Vance County Schools has 27 entries, she said. Marching bands, fire departments and military entities all enter for free. The parade proceeds help fund arts council programs.

Some of those programs include six fall and winter wreath-making workshops. Upcoming workshops the senior center are on Dec. 13 and Dec. 15, she said.

The arts council gave distributed craft kits to youngsters and arts council representatives will visit area schools to do arts and crafts activities with students as well.

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