Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Programs For Youngsters At Perry Memorial Library

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It may not have a fireplace for patrons to cozy up to as they peruse their books and magazines, but  Perry Memorial Library has a full schedule of programs that can be just the ticket for youngsters when it’s too cold to be outside.

Youth Services Director Melody Peters was with WIZS’s Bill Harris on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! to give a rundown of programs and activities to keep kids busy during the cold of winter.

Kids Connect kicks off 2024 next Tuesday at 4 p.m. A park ranger from the Kerr Lake will present a program -geared to the students in grades K-5 – about wildlife in the state recreation area.

“The ranger does a great job talking about the animals you might see, tracks you might see,” Peters said. Children will get to make a cast of an animal track that they can take home, she added.

Then, on Jan. 22, the inaugural “Community Read Aloud” will take place from 5:30 p.m. to about 6 p.m.

Participants of all ages, but especially new readers or struggling readers, will get a chance to practice reading aloud.
“It’s important to be read to,” Peters said, “even adults. You’re never too old to be read to.”

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With a nod to Valentine’s Day, the Found Object Art project on Feb. 13 will also include chocolate fondue.

Participants will get a chance to dip their favorite food items in the melted chocolate to create a yummy confection – think marshmallows, pretzels and more dipped in warm, velvety chocolate.

The fondue experience surely will inspire some creativity as participants create art with random items like bottle caps, string, nails, newspaper

“It’s an exploration in art” and a chance to be creative, Peters said. Found Object art begins at 4 p.m.

Visit https://www.perrylibrary.org/ for a complete schedule of upcoming events at the library.

Vance County Schools 2-Hour Delay 01/17/2024

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From Vance County Schools:

“As we prioritize the safety of our students and staff, we would like to inform you that Vance County Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

“This decision has been made in consideration of the potential for black ice on roadways and the forecasted wind chill. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during weather-related adjustments.”

TownTalk: Special “Night to Shine” Prom Slated For North Henderson Baptist Church Feb. 9

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North Henderson Baptist Church is looking forward to being a part of what arguably may be considered the biggest prom night in the world. The church is one of more than 700 locations across the globe that will be hosting “A Night to Shine” on Friday, Feb. 9 and the Rev. Eddie Nutt said prom attendees should expect to get “the absolute royal treatment.”

Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, “A Night to Shine” is in its 10th year of providing a prom experience for individuals with special needs, Nutt said on Tuesday’s TownTalk – a segment of society often overlooked when it comes to fun stuff like proms and such.

The prom is for individuals 14 and older with special needs, Nutt explained. They’ll walk the red carpet, get a limo ride around the block and enjoy an evening filled with food, music and dancing – with photographers and videographers on hand to capture those special moments. The prom will begin at 6 p.m. and will end about 9 p.m.

And all this is “to show them the love of Christ,” Nutt said, “that they are loved and they do have value.”

The goal is to have 75 folks attend the prom, and Nutt said there will be a respite room for parents or other caregivers who may want to stay close while their loved ones enjoy a few hours of music and dancing.

Please register by Friday, Feb. 2 so organizers can plan to have enough food and nametags – not to mention crowns and tiaras.

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That’s part of the “royal treatment” Nutt referred to – each prom goer will get a crown or tiara to proclaim them kings and queens of the prom.

“They will get the absolute royal treatment – it’ll be an event that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives,” Nutt said.

Register on the church website www.nhbcnc.org or phone 252.438.8012. Find the registration here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdl_ZNpdQs-TSeAmAuu49azr-n5WhnejlHKKhrZRHBJhhNXTA/viewform

North Henderson Baptist Church is located at 1211 N. Garnett St. in Henderson.

Nutt has been pastor at North Henderson Baptist Church for about three years, but he’s been thinking about how to minister and reach out to individuals with special needs for more than 10 years.

Each time he’d pray about it, read up on it or talk to others at the Baptist State Convention, he said God would speak to him and say “not now.”

But over the past few months, “God has flipped the green light, indicating the time is now,” Nutt explained.

He got a nudge from a woman back in the summer who asked if her special-needs granddaughter could attend the church’s Vacation Bible School.

Her question, specifically, was: Would her granddaughter be welcomed?

That set the wheels in motion for not only the Night to Shine prom, but also a new ministry called Jesus’ Buddies. The half-hour service is at 9 a.m. on Sundays and is specifically designed for special needs youth and their families.

The program uses puppets and lots of visuals to help youngsters with learning challenges “grasp the message and understand the love of Christ,” Nutt said. How many pastors use a flannel board and moveable biblical figures to reinforce their message? Nutt does.

During Tuesday’s program, a caller had nothing but high praise for the Jesus’ Buddies service and said her grandchild is looking forward to attending the Night to Shine prom next month.

“What a blessing North Henderson Baptist and the congregation have been to me and my special needs granddaughter. Rev. Nutt and his wife and the congregation are so friendly…they are such a blessing.”

Heavy Rainfall Creates Second Wastewater Overflow In As Many Weeks

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From the City of Henderson:

 

The City of Henderson’s Sewer Collection System bypassed approximately 51,800 gallons of untreated water on Jan. 12, 2024 due to inflow/infiltration from heavy rains.  The overflows occurred at Sandy Creek Pump Station, Julia Ave Pump Station, and several manholes including Neathery Street, intersection of N. Pinkston Street/Farrar Avenue, 1 manhole in Green Acres Outfall, East Rockspring Street, and Bridgers Street. Approximately 50,750 gallons of untreated water entered tributaries to Sandy Creek, Red Bud Creek, and Nutbush Creek. Approximately 1,050 gallons of untreated water was contained on the ground.

North Carolina General Statutes article 21 chapter 143.215.1c requires a press release for all bypasses of 1,000 gallons or more that enter surface waters.

Questions concerning this matter should be directed to Joey Long Jr – Collection System ORC at 252-226-4492, Christy Lipscomb – HWRF Director/ORC at 252-430-9387, or Public Works Director – Lee Owen at 252-431-0419.

Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

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

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Maria Parham Health

MPH Volunteer Services Hosts Handbag Sale Jan. 31, Feb. 1

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Come shop for a new handbag, packpack and more at the “In the Bag” sale coming up at Maria Parham Health.

Sponsored by MPH Volunteer Services, the sale will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 31 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursday, Feb. 1 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to information from Volunteer Services Coordinator Lisa Radford.

The John T. Church classroom will be transformed into a showroom filled with name-brand bags, wallets, luggage, electronics and more. Many items will be priced at deep discounts – as much as between 40 percent and 60 percent.

Payments can be made in cash, or with debit and credit cards, as well as payroll deduction.

TownTalk: Martin Luther King Day Events

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As the community reflects on and commemorates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., WIZS Radio would like to take the opportunity to offer some glimpses into the day’s activities across Henderson and how these actions support the values that Dr. King stood for.

 “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”  – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Joseph Brodie, founder of Carolina United for Change, was set up outside Perry Memorial Library on MLK Day to collect much-needed items for area homeless shelters. It’s the third year his organization has undertaken this commitment to provide personal hygiene items, toiletries and cleaning supplies for use at the shelters, and he told WIZS News Monday morning that the community is responding.

“It’s not a flood of people, but they’re trickling in,” Brodie said.

Part of the MLK observance for Brodie is getting out in the community and “doing some footwork” to keep the legacy alive, he said.

One of those foot soldiers was Shelton Lynch, pastor at Guiding Star United Holy Church of America in Manson.

“It’s very important that all of us do something to help others who are less fortunate than we are,” Lynch told WIZS News in a telephone interview from the donation site.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others’”?

More than 200 volunteers participated in Monday’s pack-a-thon for Rise Against Hunger and after one hour, the report from the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center was positive: volunteers had packed 15,000 meals, putting them on track to achieve the goal of 60,000 meals by 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Sandra Wiggins, one of the event facilitators, said the goal of raising $25,000 to fund the program also had been met. School groups and church groups from across Vance and Granville counties joined forces at the pack-a-thon to feed hungry people across the globe.

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church on Orange Street in Henderson hosted a breakfast program Monday morning titled “Living the Dream, It Starts with Me –

Spreading Hope, Courage and Unity.”

Those in attendance to commemorate and remember King’s legacy, like Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame, no doubt were inspired by the essays, poems, music and remarks from various speakers including former State Senator Erika Smith and Henderson’s own Jayden Watkins.

“That young man’s going to be a leader…he has the mental attitude to move forward,” Brame said of Watkins, the 15-year-old minister and CEO of Higher Is Waiting, a nonprofit organization. Watkins spoke on King’s impact on society and he told WIZS News Monday that he delivered a message of a need for change.

“I wanted the audience to feel empowered,” Watkins said, “and to make sure we use our voices…for equity, equality and justice for all.”

In looking out at the audience, Watkins said he saw numerous community leaders and elected officials, including Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott, N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon, Sheriff Brame and City Manager Terrell Blackmon.

He said he is pleased to see more diverse leadership on the Henderson City Council and said that he feels positive about the community and its forward movement.

“I don’t feel like we’re at a pause,” he said.

“Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”

Watkins said he was honored to be among the speakers at Monday’s event and added that he was grateful for Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church for hosting the celebration, calling it “a beacon of hope and a beacon of light in our community.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

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The Local Skinny! Sossamon Appointed To Legislative Oversight Committee

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N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon has been selected to sit on two committees by N.C. Speaker Tim Moore, Sossamon’s office announced recently.

Sossamon, representing District 32 that includes Vance and most of Granville counties, now is a member of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the House Select Committee on Substance Abuse.

As a member of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, Sossamon will help shape policies and initiatives that impact the state’s transportation infrastructure, according to the press statement. The committee works to enhance and improve transportation systems across the state.

The House Select Committee on Substance Abuse plays a role in developing strategies and policies to combat substance abuse and ensure the well-being of the state’s residents. A major focus of the committee will be exploring ways to control the unregulated and untested drugs that have been created to mimic the effects of opioids that are widely available for purchase across North Carolina.

“I am honored to have been appointed to these crucial committees by Speaker Moore,” Sossamon stated. “I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to address the challenges in transportation and substance abuse facing our state. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of our constituents.”

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