You’ve got three more chances this coming weekend to treat yourself by attending “Ragtime: The Musical,” which has gotten rave reviews from members of the local community, as well as from a Triangle-based theater critic.
Kurt Benrud called the performance “phenomenal” in a review that appeared in the Triangle Review, a weekly email newsletter that covers theater and the arts in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. The play is based on a 1975 book by the same name by E.L. Doctorow. The story takes place at the turn of the 20th century and weaves connections among three very different cultures and backgrounds.
He said “both the venue and McGregor Live! Series’ production of ‘Ragtime’ are first-rate and well worth attending.”
“The acting, the singing, and the choreography are all so excellent and so tightly integrated that it is nearly impossible to address them as separate aspects of the production,” Benrud wrote.
“Director Mark Hopper has skillfully plotted the entrance of the characters in the opening scene, establishing the distinct groupings as well as their interrelatedness. The opening song (and movement) by the full company — “Prologue: Ragtime” — was so well performed that it took my breath away.”
The vocalists were accompanied by a 17-piece orchestra, also conducted by Mark Hopper. There is a lot of local talent in both the orchestra pit and on stage, but McGregor Hall also is drawing talent from farther afield to perform.
Benrud noted the smooth, professional transitions from scene to scene. “The transitions, …while distinct, are smooth and seamless. The ensemble always blends beautifully with the principal cast in terms of the action, the song, and the dance.”
He said every song (and singer) was “spot-on” every time, but he singled out Kelley Keats (as Mother), Kamerin Hull (as Coalhouse), Karen-Leigh Albert (as Sarah), and Joshua Glasscock (as Tateh) for delivering “hauntingly beautiful” renditions of one or more selections.
This is Keats’ first time performing at McGregor Hall, but she has extensive experience as a stage actor. Likewise, Hull makes his debut as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. He is a student at UNC-Greensboro. Albert, who has performed at McGregor Hall before, lives in Woodbridge, VA. And Glasscock has been in numerous McGregor Hall performances during his almost 20 years of theatre work.
No doubt the actors are key to a successful performance, but the stage and scenery are an important aspect. Of the set design, Benrud said “The platform at the back of the stage makes a convincing deck of a ship at key moments, a bridge at others, and a second floor of a residence at still others. It also serves nicely to frame background silhouetted activity, as a street for a marching band, and many other functions.”
He gave kudos to scenic designer Matt Nowell and scenic artist Sarah Burns, too, noting that the “set pieces…are flown in subtly, often to and from shadowed portions of the stage, while the action is on another. Screens and banners are also used effectively.”
The costumes, which were coordinated by Sharon Hopper, were, in Benrud’s words, “amazing.”
The Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m.; the Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets online at www.mcgregorhall.org or by calling the box office at 252.598.0662 Monday-Friday, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center is located at 201 Breckenridge St., Henderson.
The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Repairing Dents, Dings And Scratches
/by WIZS StaffFor our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.
Don’t you just hate it when you get just a little too close to the mailbox with your car and you hear “that” sound – that metal on metal sound, just as you’re lowering your window to pick up the mail?
Even the most careful drivers can probably remember a similar experience, from a drive-thru bank or fast-food restaurant, or even a runaway grocery cart that came to a stop against your car’s side panel, leaving a little dent or ding.
How hard could it be to buff out a scratch, fill a ding or pop out a dent?
The folks at Advance Auto Parts can help you decide the materials you need to tackle the project yourself.
WIZS’s John Stevenson and Bill Harris discussed some how-to’s during the Pop The Hood segment of Thursday’s The Local Skinny!
“It’s not terribly hard,” Stevenson said of doing cosmetic work on your vehicle. “It’s just time-consuming. The more time you take, the better your results are going to be.”
A shallow scratch may be able to be buffed out, for example, but a deeper scrape could require some sanding before you add body filler and then paint.
Did you know that the sticker inside your vehicle’s door jamb is the place to look to find paint codes? The friendly staff at Advance Auto can find the paint to match the code and fix you up with the other items you need to tackle the job yourself.
Armed with a few items and a little bit of patience, you’ll have your vehicle looking great in a jiffy
Until the next time you get too close to the mailbox.
The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS. Safety First! Always seek proper help. This is presented for its informational value on and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-02-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Supervision And Safety, Pt. 2
/by Bill HarrisListen 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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Raleigh Theater Critic: “Ragtime: The Musical” Is “Phenomenal!”
/by WIZS StaffYou’ve got three more chances this coming weekend to treat yourself by attending “Ragtime: The Musical,” which has gotten rave reviews from members of the local community, as well as from a Triangle-based theater critic.
Kurt Benrud called the performance “phenomenal” in a review that appeared in the Triangle Review, a weekly email newsletter that covers theater and the arts in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. The play is based on a 1975 book by the same name by E.L. Doctorow. The story takes place at the turn of the 20th century and weaves connections among three very different cultures and backgrounds.
He said “both the venue and McGregor Live! Series’ production of ‘Ragtime’ are first-rate and well worth attending.”
“The acting, the singing, and the choreography are all so excellent and so tightly integrated that it is nearly impossible to address them as separate aspects of the production,” Benrud wrote.
“Director Mark Hopper has skillfully plotted the entrance of the characters in the opening scene, establishing the distinct groupings as well as their interrelatedness. The opening song (and movement) by the full company — “Prologue: Ragtime” — was so well performed that it took my breath away.”
The vocalists were accompanied by a 17-piece orchestra, also conducted by Mark Hopper. There is a lot of local talent in both the orchestra pit and on stage, but McGregor Hall also is drawing talent from farther afield to perform.
Benrud noted the smooth, professional transitions from scene to scene. “The transitions, …while distinct, are smooth and seamless. The ensemble always blends beautifully with the principal cast in terms of the action, the song, and the dance.”
He said every song (and singer) was “spot-on” every time, but he singled out Kelley Keats (as Mother), Kamerin Hull (as Coalhouse), Karen-Leigh Albert (as Sarah), and Joshua Glasscock (as Tateh) for delivering “hauntingly beautiful” renditions of one or more selections.
This is Keats’ first time performing at McGregor Hall, but she has extensive experience as a stage actor. Likewise, Hull makes his debut as Coalhouse Walker, Jr. He is a student at UNC-Greensboro. Albert, who has performed at McGregor Hall before, lives in Woodbridge, VA. And Glasscock has been in numerous McGregor Hall performances during his almost 20 years of theatre work.
No doubt the actors are key to a successful performance, but the stage and scenery are an important aspect. Of the set design, Benrud said “The platform at the back of the stage makes a convincing deck of a ship at key moments, a bridge at others, and a second floor of a residence at still others. It also serves nicely to frame background silhouetted activity, as a street for a marching band, and many other functions.”
He gave kudos to scenic designer Matt Nowell and scenic artist Sarah Burns, too, noting that the “set pieces…are flown in subtly, often to and from shadowed portions of the stage, while the action is on another. Screens and banners are also used effectively.”
The costumes, which were coordinated by Sharon Hopper, were, in Benrud’s words, “amazing.”
The Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m.; the Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets online at www.mcgregorhall.org or by calling the box office at 252.598.0662 Monday-Friday, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center is located at 201 Breckenridge St., Henderson.
Franklin Animal Shelter Expands Adoption Hours, Adds Part-Time Staff
/by WIZS StaffIn a response to community interest and concerns, Franklin County Animal Services is implementing several changes at the county’s animal shelter, including more adoption hours for the public to come to see the available dogs and cats who need homes.
The new hours begin Saturday, Nov. 4, according to information from Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks.
The extended hours will be Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 noon to 4 p.m., and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be no adoption hours on Thursdays and Sundays.
The Franklin County board of commissioners have approved pay raises for animal services staff and two new part-time shelter attendant positions. Additional pet introduction areas are also being designed for installation at the shelter, Hicks stated.
Animal Services staff also will resume posting animal photos to Facebook Albums located on the Franklin County Animal Shelter Facebook page. Other updates have been made recently to the Animal Services page on the Franklin County website (www.franklincountync.gov) to allow for viewing and sorting available animals, associated fees, programs and resources, along with how to become a rescue partner.
During public adoption hours, the public can view the dogs and cats available for adoption. Approved animal rescue partners can work with shelter staff to visit and view animals by appointment during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at other times as specifically deemed necessary.
Changes were announced at the Oct. 30 Animal Services Advisory Board meeting in addition to a presentation about the volunteer programs at the Animal Shelter. Those interested in helping the animal shelter can participate in the Kitten Foster Team or donate to the Pet Pantry – which provides food and supplies to those who cannot afford it. Start dates for additional volunteer programs including a Community Outreach Team, Dog team, Cat team and a trap-neuter-vaccinate-release program will be announced as resources are identified.
Find the Oct. 30 presentation at 103023 Advisory Board Presentation.pdf (revize.com)
Warren County Farmers Can Apply For Cost-Share Program To Address Water Issues On Farms
/by WIZS StaffWarren County farmers who want to make improvements in their water quality and capacity can apply for some state cost-share funds through the Soil and Water Conservation District.Applications for the N.C. Department of Agriculture’s 2024 program year are being accepted now. The assistance is available to assist landowners and producers with water issues on agricultural land. This cost share assistance is available for the installation of approved best management practices. Agricultural landowners and producers should stop by the office located at 820 US Highway 158 Business West, Suite 102 or call 252.257.4141, ext. 3 to learn more about this program.
SportsTalk: Crossroads Wins Boys Soccer Championship
/by Bill HarrisSince Spring of 2021 Crossroads Christian School has won five state championships. The school added their fifth last Saturday as the boy’s soccer team defeated conference rivals Bradford Academy 5-1. “It’s boy’s soccer’s first championship,” said Crossroads AD Scottie Richardson on Wednesday’s SportsTalk. “Holden Coghill won two games his first season and now a state championship,” added Richardson. Coghill is the head coach at Crossroads.
Crossroads also had to face another conference rival, Cape Fear, to get to the championship game. “Familiarity with those two schools makes playing them more difficult because it’s harder to keep the kids focused,” Richardson added. Last year Crossroads lost to Cape Fear in the semi-finals and this year Richardson was determined that would not happen this season. To keep them focused the team spent the night in Rocky Mount where the tournament was played. The ate meals together and Richardson said he felt that helped the team stay focused.
Crossroads will lose three seniors off of a team that lost its first game of the season and then peeled off 19 straight wins. Congratulations to the Crossroads Christian Boy’s Soccer team for winning that state championship.
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 11-01-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
Home And Garden Show
/by Bill HarrisOn the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
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TownTalk: Pacific Organics Conducts Facilities Tour
/by Laura GabelQuality control is a critical step in just about everything that gets made today. From food to fashion to cars and so much more, manufacturers and producers have to make sure that what comes off assembly lines or factory floors is as good as it can be.
Pacific Organics, located right here in Vance County, incorporates quality control at every step of the way to ensure that its pine bark potting medium products are just exactly what they’re supposed to be. In fact, said owner and president George Cunningham, his company tests each load of its potting medium before it gets shipped to the customer.
The bark products that Pacific Organics makes is “not just stuff in a pot,” said Brian Jackson, an N.C. State University horticulture professor who’s conducted research with Pacific Organics for 15 years or so. Jackson was speaking to a group of more than 200 conventioneers who had come to Henderson to tour the facility.
Durham is hosting the 47th annual gathering of the International Plant Propagators Society and they have spent the past few days learning from plant experts and touring area nurseries. They visited Pacific Organics Tuesday afternoon to see the operation. They visited the lab, the aging field, production and shipping areas.
Pacific Organics produces “highly engineered materials that serve very specific functions for whatever plant it is you’re growing or whatever system you’re growing,” Jackson said. “I hope today you see why these barks are engineered.”
There’s a new product called RM18, and company officials said it could become an alternative to peat moss. It holds moisture like peat moss, but it’s bark – called substrate in the industry, which makes it a soil-less medium.
“A customer had a growing application that required a lot of moisture retention, and we didn’t have an existing product that met those requirements,” said Bobby Oakley, recently retired from the company. “So we got a different screen to make (the bark) even smaller.” The result is an engineered substrate that could prove useful to other customers.
Pacific Organics gets its raw material – pine bark – from area sawmills and paper mills. And then they get to work making their different products that get shipped all over the Southwest, Midwest and up and down the East Coast from Florida to Maine, Cunningham said.
They got started in 2004 and spent the first couple of years supplying landscape mulch before developing their business to include nurseries. Today, the company’s aged, stabilized pine bark line is designed and tailored for each nursery it supplies.
“All of your production starts here,” Jackson told the IPPS group. “The growing medium is where it starts.”
The International Plant Propagators Society represents the epitome of plant production, said Scotty Hipps, general manager at Pacific Organics. “To be offered this chance for them to come and see us,” Hipps said, “it means everything to us.”
Hipps said all aspects of the production process is based in science. “Everything we do is numbers-based,” he said, which means that it’s easily replicated. “We make it every day the same way…we don’t leave anything to happenstance.”
Cunningham said the company prides itself on testing throughout the production process to make sure that pH levels and soluble salt levels are in acceptable ranges and that customized blends meet the customers’ specifications.
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