TownTalk: Business Spotlight: Henderson Country Club

/by

 

Now through February, golfers can call the Henderson Country Club to book a tee time and get an up-close look at newly renovated greens and more, all for the low price of $40.

This is the second year the club has offered the special rates – which are in effect now through the end of February.

Golfers can take advantage of the nice, moderate weather and enjoy a round of golf as the club optimizes filling available tee times. Give the club a call at 252.433.7089 to book a tee time.

The HCC was Thursday’s Business Spotlight on TownTalk, and President Joseph Falkner and Membership Chairman Jeff Fleming talked about the many ways that the public can enjoy the grounds and facilities, not just the course, with its newly renovated greens.

Falkner said the new greenskeeper and his staff have done a great job to create championship greens. The weather cooperated when the greens were first installed, so they grew perfectly.

“This is the best the greens have ever rolled and the best the course has ever looked,” he added.

“Ultimately, it’s a community center for people,” Falkner said. “We’ve got a great kitchen staff…and can support hundreds of people at the time” for banquets, private parties and more.

There are plenty of opportunities for the public to enjoy what HCC has to offer, Falkner said, in addition to playing golf, the dining spaces can accommodate small or large groups. Recent upgrades to the banquet area include new chairs and fixtures.

“We are a full-service club,” Fleming reminded. “You have to think beyond golf.” Other amenities include tennis courts, swimming pool, workout area and the stately clubhouse.

Falkner said he sees HCC as a major attraction for families relocating to Henderson, making it a place the whole family can enjoy.

“Every successful and thriving small town has a club similar to ours,” Fleming said, adding that this facility can work as a hub to facilitate business.

The golf course is the location for numerous fundraiser tournaments, including Vance-Granville Community College and the local Chamber of Commerce. Then there’s the annual Invitational tournament and Member-Guest, just to name a few.

Expect to hear about additional tournaments next year, as the board continues to garner more attention for the club and its facilities.

“There are a lot of young business leaders on this board,” Fleming said. “We’ve come back strong.”

Visit https://www.hendersoncc.net/  to learn more.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

/by

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

Click Play!

 

SportsTalk: Biedenbach Reflects On David Thompson

/by

Eddie Biedenbach knows basketball and he knows NC State basketball.  He also knows David Thompson.  Thompson was a key player in for the Wolfpack in 1974 when they defeated Marquette for the national championship.

NC State University recently unveiled a statue of Thompson placed at Reynolds Coliseum. Biedenbach, who played for Everett Case and Norm Sloan at NC State in the mid to late 1960’s, was an assistant coach when Thompson was leading NC State to that national championship.

“No one knew much about him,” Biedenbach said of Thompson when he first started to recruit him for the Wolfpack.  He had seen film but seeing him in person was a different matter.  “I called Coach Sloan at halftime,” Biedenbach said of the first time he was Thompson play.  He was, needless to say, very impressed.

“He had no weaknesses.  He was a team player,” Bidenbach added on SportsTalk Wednesday. “He had everything it took to be a good player,” he said.  “He played the game like it was supposed to be played,” Biedenbach continued.

Biedenbach said today’s game is different from what it was 50 years ago when Thompson was leading the Wolfpack. Dunking was not allowed and there was no three point shot or a 30 second shot  clock. “He could play today’s game,” Biedenbach said of Thompson.

CLICK PLAY!

 

TownTalk: Get Into The Holiday Spirit With Louisburg Christmas Tour

/by

Dorothy Cooper and her fellow organizers have done everything possible to plan for the second annual Old Towne Louisburg Candlelight Christmas Tour through the Louisburg Historic District, and it seems like even the weather is going to cooperate by providing winterlike temps for Saturday’s walking tour.

Cooper, historian for the local historic district, said there are 10 locations on this year’s tour, which features a combination of residences and other historic structures.

Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online at https://www.louisburghistoricdistrict.com/. The tour will be held Saturday, Dec. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Last year’s event was a great success, with people coming from Orange and Guilford counties, as well as counties closer to Franklin, she said.

“It was really interesting to have people come in and say ‘I never knew this little town was here!’” Cooper said on Wednesday’s TownTalk with WIZS co-host Bill Harris.

Person Place, located at Louisburg College, is where the tour begins. Participants will get a booklet complete with a map of the locations and information about each spot.

The sanctuary of Louisburg Baptist Church will be open, and organist Brian Miller will be providing seasonal music during the tour. Another stop is the Louisburg Fire Department museum – the lone location that folks may want to drive to, Cooper noted.

The majority of the tour stops are within walking distance of Person Place and the parking, which will be on the Louisburg College campus. And there’s one surprise location that ticketholders will learn about when they check in and get their booklets.

Participants also have the chance to book a horse and carriage ride for an additional fee. Bookings can be arranged when purchasing tickets for the tour, she added.

All proceeds support events and workshops of the historic group, including repair and restoration work at the city’s Oakwood Cemetery.

On Jan. 6, the group is sponsoring a Twelfth Night Luminary Drive-Through event at Oakwood Cemetery. Details are available on the website.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Home And Garden Show

/by

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

• Check your garden storage areas and greenhouse for mice.
• If applying mulch, be sure not to overdo it.
• Check stored dormant bulbs, fruits and vegetables for decay.
• If you have large trees that may need pruning, start contacting tree care companies.
• Inventory your seed for next year before ordering more seed of the same variety.
• NC Extension Gardener Handbook is a great last minute gift.
• Check garden equipment that needs replacing so you can put the needed items on your gift wish list.
• Think about how you could improve your landscape to support birds over the winter. Think about cover from evergreen shrubs, brush piles, berries and seed heads.

Click Play!

 

Granville County Library System

Oxford’s Thornton Library Welcomes New Manager Lisa Dendy

/by

-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Library System has announced Lisa Dendy as the new branch manager for the Richard H. Thornton Library. Dendy brings a wealth of experience and extensive background in library services, both in public and academic library settings. She brings a deep understanding of community engagement and a passion for promoting literacy and learning to her new role.

Dendy joins the Granville County Library System with 19 years of experience in library services, most recently at the Davis Library at UNC-Chapel Hill. Before her time in Chapel Hill, Dendy worked for 14 years with the Durham County Library. Dendy holds a Master of Arts in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Library Science from N.C. Central University.

“We are thrilled to have Lisa Dendy join us as the Richard H. Thornton Library Branch Manager,” said Granville County Library System Director Will Robinson. “Her wealth of experience at two of the most esteemed academic and public libraries in the United States, her educational background, and commitment to community service align seamlessly with the values of the Granville County Library System. We feel that she will bring the Thornton Library and the entire Granville County Library System to even greater heights with her focus on creating an inclusive and dynamic library environment that caters to the diverse needs of Granville County residents.”

The Richard H. Thornton Library is located at 210 Main St. in downtown Oxford. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.  to 5 p.m. For more information about the Thornton Library and the other three branches of the Granville County Library system, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ or follow  the library system on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/granvillecountylibrarysystem

Vance County Logo

Candidates Have Two More Days To File For 2024 Local Elections

/by

UPDATE 6PM ON 12-15-23

It looks like there will be two contested seats on the Vance County Board of Commissioners in next year’s election, with two candidates running for the District 1 seat and two candidates running in District 2. The two-week filing period ended at 12 noon today, Friday, Dec. 15.

Valencia L. Perry filed Friday for the District 2 seat and will face incumbent Archie B. Taylor, Jr., according to information provided by Shelly Wood, deputy director of the Vance County Board of Elections; Taylor filed last week. In addition to Taylor, three other commissioners filed to retain their seats on the board: Carolyn Faines in District 1; Leo Kelly in District 5 and Yolanda Feimster in District 6.

Faines also faces a challenger in next year’s election. William Heitman filed as a Republican candidate for the District 1 seat.

There are three seats up for election on the Vance County Board of Education, with District 5 the only contested race of the three. Incumbent Linda Cobb filed for re-election. She will face challenger William Earl Purvis, who filed on Wednesday as a Democratic candidate. Incumbent Dorothy Williams Gooche filed as the Democratic candidate for District 3 and Ayana Fritz Lewis filed as a Democratic candidate for District 4.

Primary elections will be held on March 5, 2024 and the general election is slated for Nov, 5, 2024.

(PLEASE ALLOW THIS CORRECTION TO THE ORIGINAL POST BELOW.  SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 1 WAS ELECTED IN 2022 AND IS NOT UP FOR ELECTION AGAIN UNTIL 2026.)

*************

Original Post:

Three more candidates have filed for seats on the school board and board of commissioners this week, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin.

Candidates have until 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 15 to file for four seats on the Board of Commissioners and four seats on the Board of Education.

On Tuesday, Carolyn Faines filed as a Democratic candidate to retain her District 1 seat on the board of county commissioners. Dorothy Williams Gooche also filed on Tuesday as a Democratic candidate for District 3 of the Board of Education.

Archie B. Taylor, Jr. filed as a Democrat on Monday for re-election for the District 2 seat on board of commissioners.

In the first week of the two-week filing period, Linda Cobb filed as the Democratic candidate to retain her School Board District 5 seat.

William Heitman filed as a Republican candidate for the District 1 seat on the county board of commissioners, currently held by Faines.

Leo Kelly, who was elected vice chair during the December meeting of the county commissioners, filed for re-election to the District 5 seat.

County commissioners in districts 1,2,5 and 6 will be elected in the 2024 elections. Carolyn Faines holds the District 1 seat, Archie Taylor holds the District 2 seat, Leo Kelly is in District 5 and Yolanda Feimster is the District 6 commissioner.

Candidates for county commissioner will pay a $138.59 filing fee, payable by check, and must present a valid photo ID, live in the district they wish to file for and be 21 years old by Election Day. Primary elections will be held on March 5 and the general election is slated for Nov, 5, 2024.

Candidates for school board will pay a $72 filing fee. Seats in Districts 3,4 and 5 will be up for election.

TownTalk: Henderson Mayor And City Council Sworn In

/by

Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott made history Monday night when she was sworn in as the first woman and the first Black to hold the city’s highest office.

The Henderson City Council chambers and lobby area was standing-room only, filled with family, friends and dignitaries to witness the historic swearing-in ceremony.

With her left hand on a Bible – held by her mother – Elliott raised her right hand and repeated the oath of office administered by Judge Henry Banks.

Four newly elected City Council members also were sworn in Monday as part of the regular monthly meeting of the council.

Geraldine Champion (Ward 1), Sam Seifert (Ward 2), Michael Venable (Ward 3 at-large) and Tami Walker (Ward 4 at-large) were installed and took their seats alongside current members Garry Daeke, Ola Thorpe-Cooper, Lamont Noel and Sara Coffey.

Outgoing Council members Mike Rainey and Marion Brodie Williams shared brief remarks during the meeting; Jason Spriggs was not present.

Banks also administered the oath of office for Seifert, Venable and Walker; Judge Ben Hunter administered the office for Champion.

The first action taken by the reorganized Council was to elect a Mayor Pro Tem. Ward 3’s Daeke was elected unanimously to that role.

In his final remarks as mayor, Ellington said he and Elliott both began their terms on the Council in 2015, adding that they were seated beside one another in Council meetings. “We’ve always been there together when we left …City Hall,” he recalled. He thanked city staff, including former City Manager Frank Frazier who also was in attendance Monday. Ellington accepted a gavel as a parting gift from the Council.

Brodie Williams challenged the incoming Council members “to not just work for your particular ward but the entire city – everyone and everybody. Lean on your mayor and manager and seasoned Council members,” she said. And remember to “do your research.”

Rainey, who joined the Council in 2003, said he had met a lot of people and seen a lot of changes during his 20-year tenure. He recalled the late Mary Emma Evans, former City Council member, who was fond of saying “it’s OK to disagree, but you don’t have to be disagreeable.”

After months of campaigning for the Oct. 3 election among a field of five candidates, Elliott found herself in a runoff with political newcomer and local businessman Greg Etheridge in the November election – an election she easily won by 300 votes. About 20 percent of the city’s registered voters voted in the October election, and 29 percent came out to vote in the runoff.

Just after the runoff Elliott said, “I’m elated…overwhelmed with joy,” about the election outcome.

“I am a servant leader,” Elliott said, and she plans to serve the community at-large and all people.

“Everyone was so wonderful…so much encouragement,” she said. There were “so many people that wouldn’t allow me to quit. I’m thankful for this historic moment in time,” but she said she also looks to the future for the city.

 

CLICK PLAY!

 

Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Library

/by

 

Programs at Perry Memorial Library will be slowing down next week as Christmas approaches, and things were going to be “up in the air” – literally – today at 4 p.m., when the StoryUp! Aerial Theater of Durham comes to town for a performance.

It’s something new for 2023, said Youth Services Director Melody Peters, and that’s just the start for new programs and events for the New Year at the library.

“We’ve got some new things coming,” Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! with WIZS co-host Bill Harris. “We’re really excited about that.”

In addition to resuming regular programs like the Mother Goose story time on Thursday mornings, the library will host a community read-aloud on Monday nights beginning in January.

Peters said she hears patrons, including teachers, parents and grandparents, voice concerns about young people’s waning reading habits.

“Either they aren’t reading for enjoyment or pleasure, or they’re not reading at the appropriate level,” Peters said. “I want to get people reading together – listening to each other read,” she added. The idea is to build young readers’ confidence and fluency.

We use different hemispheres of our brains for listening and for reading, Peters said. When you read aloud, there’s more information exchanged across both hemispheres which builds literacy and reading fluency.

The idea is for Peters to read one chapter of a chapter book to the group for the first 15 minutes of each hour-long session. Then the group will divide randomly to tables and they’ll take turns reading to the group. There will be volunteers on hand to help less confident readers if they need it.

“I want to hear people reading for 45 minutes,” Peters said. “I want to make it a positive things (and) don’t want anyone to feel bad about their reading ability,” she said. “This is a new approach – we’ll see how it goes.”

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ for a complete listing of events and programs.

The library will be closed Dec. 23-26 for Christmas, as well as Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

CLICK PLAY!