McGregor Hall is unique. It’s large. It’s privately funded. It’s well positioned to promote economic prosperity and cultural diversity. It’s something that not every community has. And today on its very stage, a group interested in the 1,000 seat performance and learning center met to learn more about how to cultivate the vision that started about 20 years ago.
Anyone who’s chosen to attend a show, been to a meeting, taken a tour or otherwise entered McGregor Hall can see its beauty. And many have and continue to envision what it will do. What’s not easy to see or feel, just yet, is the economic impact. And, to that end, in fact, an economic impact study of McGregor Hall is needed.
Dr. Bruce McDonald and Tom White from NC State came to Henderson today to discuss McGregor Hall and its impact, to learn more about the facility and to spur still more progression in the team of people, volunteers and the community at large that is supporting the facility.
(WIZS Photo) – Seated around the table starting on the left are Dennis Jarvis, Benny Finch, Nancy Wykle and Ray Gronberg from The Daily Dispatch, Tom White and Dr. Bruce McDonald from NCST, Archie Taylor, Tommy Hester, John Wester, Jordan McMillen, Frank Frazier, Sandra Wilkerson, Pam Hester, Eddie Ellington and with their backs to the camera are Mark Hopper and Jim Nutt.
White, who is the Director of the Economic Development Partnership with the Office of External Affairs, Partnerships and Economic Development at NC State University, said McGregor Hall is a unique resource and discussed its positive spillover effect, and not just for downtown.
McDonald, who is an associate professor of public budgeting and finance and director of the MPA program at NC State University’s School of Public and International Affairs, said, “Theater builds a sense of community.” He said people will move towards it, not away, because it’s stabilizing and adds quality of life.
Things change, and one change being seen now is a much harder look at locating business and industry out away from larger metropolitan areas. As McDonald said it, “There is more to our state than RDU and Charlotte.”
The folks who own, operate and work for businesses and industries want to see cultural and social opportunity.
Look at Variety Wholesalers, which chose Henderson over Raleigh. M.R. Williams chose Henderson over other areas not just to maintain an existing operation but to grow it immensely. Mako Medical Laboratories chose Henderson. Mars Pet Care recently spent millions and millions at its facility.
According to Mark Hopper, Vice Chair of the Board for the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation and McGregor Hall, “Business contributions are up 1,400 percent in three years.” That’s since day one. Hopper also said, “But if we just had a few more resources.”
Chairman of the Embassy Cultural Foundation John Wester said, “It’s a learning center. There are no limits to what we can do.” He said we’re doing this on our own which is unique without city or county appropriations, taxes or anything like that, but we’re offering good for the community.
Not only is McGregor Hall attracting talent from the local area, but actors and actresses and performers from Raleigh and Durham are coming to Henderson as well as many others from far away.
Hopper said, “The arts is not about end product. For me, the arts is about reaching people and changing lives. Everybody craves community, and we can provide a place to connect.”
Hopper said it’s a lean operation and we’re “fiscally responsible and responsible to community.” Not only has the 1,000 seat venue been rented by local people needing a space, but local school initiatives like “Arts Alive” benefit from McGregor Hall. Mecklenburg and Halifax counties in Virginia have formed a relationship with McGregor Hall for use of the space.
That’s use across county and state lines, and the resource is right here in Henderson.
Whether you are over 40 years old or under 40, whether you are in school or in retirement, whether you love music, or plays or performances or none of the above, McGregor Hall is your resource too. And a positive report from an economic impact study could increase funding opportunities and speed up pledges and sponsorships for McGregor Hall.
Based on what was said today, McGregor Hall is an economic stimulus, and for that to be true, civic pessimism won’t do.
Mt. Olive Baptist to Observe Annual Missionary Program – Sun., Oct. 14
/by WIZS Staff-Information courtesy Angela Crawford, Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church will observe its annual Missionary Program on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at 11 a.m. during morning worship service. The guest speaker will be Minister Brenda Rice of New Covenant Church of Henderson. The public is invited to attend.
The church is located at 2464 Rock Mill Rd. in Henderson.
New Parade Time, Route for Masonic Home’s 8th Annual Homecoming Festival
/by Kelly BondurantKevin Otis, administrator with the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the upcoming 8th Annual Masonic Homecoming Festival.
The two-day event kicks off Friday, October 12 at 9 a.m. with the 20th Annual “Chip Shots for Children” golf tournament at South Granville Country Club. Sponsored by the Masonic Home’s Alumni Association, the shotgun start tournament raises funds for the Home’s current youth.
Food preparation gets underway at 5 p.m. on Friday as the BBQ teams begin cooking “under the oaks.” Teams will compete in best BBQ categories and prepare food for the masses expected to attend events on Saturday.
New to the homecoming festivities this year, The Moonlighters Orchestra, an 11-piece brass and string ensemble, will begin playing at 6 p.m. on Friday evening. While BBQ teams are cooking, the orchestra will entertain with “everything from big band, to rock and roll and beach music.”
The fun continues on Saturday, October 13 with the annual homecoming parade, BBQ feast, live music, campus tours, games and activities for the entire family.
The popular scrap exchange sponsored by the South Granville Rotary Club will allow visitors to repurpose old items into something new. “They have stuff that most people would throw away. Instead of throwing it away, they bring it all together and give you ideas of how you can take scraps and turn them into something fun,” Otis said.
This year’s parade will have both a later start time and a different route than previous years. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. in front of the fire station on McClanahan St. and run down College St. to the front gates of the Masonic Home.
“Saturday is our big day,” said Otis. “School groups, Masonic groups and Shriners all come together. It’s a lot of fun for the whole family.”
Following the parade, the pit will open at noon for a $10 lunch of BBQ, fixings and a drink. Tickets can be purchased on-site.
At 12:30 p.m., Bryan Mayer, country music’s “biggest performer” at 6 foot, 8 inches tall will take the stage.
With questions or if you are interested in playing in the golf tournament or hosting a BBQ team, please call the Masonic Home at (919) 693-5111.
Advanced Ticket Purchase Encouraged for ‘Cluck ‘N Shuck’ Seafood Event
/by WIZS Staff— Information and flyer courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com
The Granville County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring their eighth annual fall seafood event – “CLUCK ‘N SHUCK” – to be held Friday, October 26, 2018, from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at The Red Barn on Golf Course Road (off Lake Devin Road) in Oxford.
Caterer Leon Nixon’s dinner menu offerings will include steamed oysters, fried shrimp, fried fish, fried chicken tenders, slaw, buttered potatoes, hushpuppies, tea, Pepsi-Cola products and cold beverages.
The event will be held at the venue – The Red Barn – where it has been held the past five years. This location provides an incredible setting for those desiring to eat on the decks overlooking Lake Devin. Inside seating on the ground floor of The Red Barn is also available.
Advanced ticket sales – $40 per person or 2 tickets for $75 – includes all-you-can-eat on premises. As this is a limited ticket event, those wishing to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets early from one of the Chamber’s offices – 124 Hillsboro Street in Oxford (8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.) 919.693.6125 or the South Office – 1598 NC Hwy 56, between Butner and Creedmoor (8:30 am until 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 8:30 until noon Thursdays) 919.528.4994. Event t-shirts are also available at the Chamber’s offices for $10 each.
Event sponsors are Duke Energy, Granville Health System, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Roxboro, Carolina Sunrock, Touchstone Bank, The Pegram Agency, Shalag Nonwovens, Vino Oasi, For Your Occasion Party Rentals, Butner-Creedmoor News, Oxford Public Ledger, The Daily Dispatch, US 98.3FM and WIZS 1450AM.
GCPS to Use Technology to Help Improve Attendance During Flu Season
/by WIZS Staff-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
As schools everywhere go back in session, all elementary schools in GCPS hope to stay one step ahead of illness this year, keeping more kids healthy and in school with the help of Kinsa Smart Thermometers. As one of the districts accepted into the Lysol + Kinsa FLUency health program, all GCPS elementary families will receive free Kinsa Smart Thermometers, priced at $19.99 retail, and will be able to see aggregated, anonymous information on any symptoms and illnesses going around the school through an accompanying mobile phone app.
This FREE product for families is made possible through a research grant. GCPS was invited to participate with one other school district in the country as part of a larger study on how school facility cleanliness can impact student health. Our team of five School Nurses will be charged with implementing and monitoring this program in all 9 elementary schools in our school district.
“Our top priority is keeping our students in class learning,” explained Superintendent Alisa McLean. “With this innovative program, we hope to see the trends affecting our classrooms so that we can help contain the spread of illness, increase attendance, and continue giving our students the education they deserve.”
The FLUency program, now in its 4th year, has already helped over 60,000 families, and 90 percent of participating school nurses believe FLUency kept them more informed of illnesses going around their school.
The deadline for elementary school families to order their FREE thermometer is Friday, October 26. No orders will be accepted after this deadline. The research grant will be renewed at the beginning of next school year for any new families who wish to participate.
Elementary school parents should be on the lookout for additional information coming soon via phone calls, emails, paper brochures, GCPS websites, and more!
Vance County Schools 10/08/18
/by CharleneCooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 10/09/18
/by CharleneTown Talk 10/09/18
/by LarryNews 10/09/18
/by LarryMcGregor Hall – Unique Economic, Cultural Opportunity
/by John C. RoseMcGregor Hall is unique. It’s large. It’s privately funded. It’s well positioned to promote economic prosperity and cultural diversity. It’s something that not every community has. And today on its very stage, a group interested in the 1,000 seat performance and learning center met to learn more about how to cultivate the vision that started about 20 years ago.
Anyone who’s chosen to attend a show, been to a meeting, taken a tour or otherwise entered McGregor Hall can see its beauty. And many have and continue to envision what it will do. What’s not easy to see or feel, just yet, is the economic impact. And, to that end, in fact, an economic impact study of McGregor Hall is needed.
Dr. Bruce McDonald and Tom White from NC State came to Henderson today to discuss McGregor Hall and its impact, to learn more about the facility and to spur still more progression in the team of people, volunteers and the community at large that is supporting the facility.
(WIZS Photo) – Seated around the table starting on the left are Dennis Jarvis, Benny Finch, Nancy Wykle and Ray Gronberg from The Daily Dispatch, Tom White and Dr. Bruce McDonald from NCST, Archie Taylor, Tommy Hester, John Wester, Jordan McMillen, Frank Frazier, Sandra Wilkerson, Pam Hester, Eddie Ellington and with their backs to the camera are Mark Hopper and Jim Nutt.
White, who is the Director of the Economic Development Partnership with the Office of External Affairs, Partnerships and Economic Development at NC State University, said McGregor Hall is a unique resource and discussed its positive spillover effect, and not just for downtown.
McDonald, who is an associate professor of public budgeting and finance and director of the MPA program at NC State University’s School of Public and International Affairs, said, “Theater builds a sense of community.” He said people will move towards it, not away, because it’s stabilizing and adds quality of life.
Things change, and one change being seen now is a much harder look at locating business and industry out away from larger metropolitan areas. As McDonald said it, “There is more to our state than RDU and Charlotte.”
The folks who own, operate and work for businesses and industries want to see cultural and social opportunity.
Look at Variety Wholesalers, which chose Henderson over Raleigh. M.R. Williams chose Henderson over other areas not just to maintain an existing operation but to grow it immensely. Mako Medical Laboratories chose Henderson. Mars Pet Care recently spent millions and millions at its facility.
According to Mark Hopper, Vice Chair of the Board for the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation and McGregor Hall, “Business contributions are up 1,400 percent in three years.” That’s since day one. Hopper also said, “But if we just had a few more resources.”
Chairman of the Embassy Cultural Foundation John Wester said, “It’s a learning center. There are no limits to what we can do.” He said we’re doing this on our own which is unique without city or county appropriations, taxes or anything like that, but we’re offering good for the community.
Not only is McGregor Hall attracting talent from the local area, but actors and actresses and performers from Raleigh and Durham are coming to Henderson as well as many others from far away.
Hopper said, “The arts is not about end product. For me, the arts is about reaching people and changing lives. Everybody craves community, and we can provide a place to connect.”
Hopper said it’s a lean operation and we’re “fiscally responsible and responsible to community.” Not only has the 1,000 seat venue been rented by local people needing a space, but local school initiatives like “Arts Alive” benefit from McGregor Hall. Mecklenburg and Halifax counties in Virginia have formed a relationship with McGregor Hall for use of the space.
That’s use across county and state lines, and the resource is right here in Henderson.
Whether you are over 40 years old or under 40, whether you are in school or in retirement, whether you love music, or plays or performances or none of the above, McGregor Hall is your resource too. And a positive report from an economic impact study could increase funding opportunities and speed up pledges and sponsorships for McGregor Hall.
Based on what was said today, McGregor Hall is an economic stimulus, and for that to be true, civic pessimism won’t do.
Riggan Encouraged by ‘Good, Positive Movement’ in Downtown Henderson
/by Kelly BondurantKaine Riggan, executive director for Downtown Development, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss updates and news-worthy items involving downtown Henderson.
Downtown Board of Directors
Riggan explained that the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission’s Board of Directors is currently without a chair but has two qualified candidates in Benny Finch and Paul Harvin. “Both candidates are very qualified,” said Riggan. “While they have different leadership styles, they would both be great for the organization.”
Finch previously served as Vance County’s economic development director for 30 years; Harvin is vice president of The Rosemyr Corporation.
According to Riggan, the process of officially naming a chair has been tabled by the Board until further notice.
Breckenridge Pavilion
With a location planned near the Henderson Police Department, the last piece of the overall Breckenridge Commons project -known as the Breckenridge Pavilion – is currently under review by a City-hired landscape architect.
When asked about the project’s lengthy timeframe, Riggan explained, “It could have moved forward if we had been willing to put it at the top of the hill. Several members of the board felt that amphitheaters sit at the bottom of a hill. You don’t look up at a stage, you look down at a stage.”
To achieve this outcome as cost-efficiently as possible, said Riggan, the architect is looking at the best way to utilize the resources that already exist in the area.
Downtown Henderson Buildings
“We are seeing good, positive movement in [downtown] buildings,” Riggan said.
Riggan reported that Gupton’s Sporting Goods, known to many in the community as Gupton’s Gun Shop, is being sold to an owner who is interested in using the building as a gym facility for women.
According to Riggan, the same owner bought the adjoining property, renovated the apartment upstairs for income and is now interested in developing the downstairs portion for business purposes.
Other currently vacant downtown buildings are being discussed for repurposing as a sandwich shop and a juice bar.
Riggan said he was further encouraged regarding the prospects of downtown business growth after attending a City variance meeting last week. “The committee had six projects before them of people wanting to open businesses or do something that they needed to have a code variance for and they were all approved. I think that says a lot about how willing we are to invite businesses and be open to expansion.”
While Riggan is encouraged by this support of potential downtown business owners, he readily admits there is room for improvement and steps to take to be eligible for additional opportunities. “We are still in a building phase with the Downtown Development Commission,” said Riggan. “We are trying to become a Main Street community again, which probably won’t happen before July 2020 at the earliest.”
Downtowns designated as members of the Main Street America program are eligible for additional funding and technical assistance. In addition to following a detailed plan, downtowns are required to have a full-time director to earn the distinction. Riggan is currently employed on a part-time basis.