Barberio Named To Lead Granville Senior Center’s CLL Program

/by

 

-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Russ Barberio has been named the new coordinator of the Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program run by Granville County Senior Services. Barberio takes over for Marilyn Howard who is retiring from Granville County at the end of June.

Barberio came to North Carolina in 1982 to be the plant controller at Max Factor Cosmetics in Oxford and stayed in the area after leaving that job to work as a computer software consultant.

In retirement, Barberio had the chance to focus more on his hobbies, including working with the North  Carolina Genealogical Society to promote the organization while working to educate genealogists on research techniques. He also enjoys camping, reading, classical music, Shakespeare, and North Carolina history (particularly the Revolutionary War). After experiencing the rich array of classes available through the Granville County CLL program, Barberio jumped at the chance to lead the program upon Howard’s retirement.

“This program has been administered so successfully by Marilyn for the last six years,” said Barberio.  “She will be sorely missed, but she has left such a solid foundation for us to continue to build on.”

He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s degree in Management from Utah State University. Barberio lives in Henderson with his wife of 57 years, Diane. They have three children and four grandchildren.

The Creative Lifelong Learning program was established in 2017 through a generous endowment and is modeled after the OLLI programs at Duke and N.C. State universities. The program is committed to offering opportunities to stimulate the mind, uplift the spirit and enhance the well-being of adult learners through a wide range of  educational programs, physical activities and social events.

For more information about CLL and all of the programs offered by Granville County Senior Services, visit the  Granville County website at this link https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/ or follow  Granville County Senior Services on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064457631282.

The Granville County Senior Center is located at 107 Lanier St. in Oxford and the South Granville Senior Center is located at 114 Douglas Dr. in Creedmoor. The North Granville Senior Center is currently located at 318 US Highway 15 South in Stovall but construction is scheduled to begin this summer on a new center located in downtown Stovall on Oxford Street.

TownTalk: GPS In County Vehicles

/by

As of just a few weeks ago, vehicles that are owned by Vance County are now equipped with GPS tracking devices.

County Manager C. Renee Perry said installing the devices is being done “as a matter of safety and for fleet tracking.” The cost is roughly $9,300 a year, but that doesn’t include vehicles used by the Sheriff’s Office. They don’t have the equipment – yet.

There is some debate between Sheriff Curtis Brame and other county officials about whether the county has the authority to place the GPS trackers on vehicles used by the Sheriff’s Office.

Brame has said he is not in favor of putting the devices on his patrol cars, even though they are county-owned vehicles.

There was discussion at a June 13 county budget work session, during which Perry stated that County Attorney Jonathan Care said the sheriff’s vehicles could be included, but Brame read a statement that supported his claim that the county doesn’t have jurisdiction over the vehicles in his fleet.

The county doesn’t have power over the sheriff’s office or of its personnel; Perry said the board of commissioners “is still considering attorney guidance” in the matter.

CLICK PLAY!

 

The Local Skinny! County Budget Includes $60K For McGregor Hall

/by

The newly adopted FY 2024-25 Vance County budget includes a $60,000 appropriation for McGregor Hall, which represents the full amount requested by the performing arts venue. Executive Director Mark Hopper told WIZS News earlier today that he is “absolutely elated” with the commissioners’ action.

“It’s the first step toward making this facility function in a way that every other facility functions in the state,” Hopper said in a telephone interview Tuesday morning. “It’s a really important first step.”

Commissioner Archie Taylor is also on the board of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation. He said Tuesday that McGregor Hall attracts tourism dollars to the county each time an event is held there.

“As a commissioner, I look at our community as a whole, what is beneficial for Vance County, not for any particular organization,” Taylor said. He referred to a recent economic impact study completed by N.C. State University, which concluded that McGregor Hall has a multi-million dollar impact on the county, bringing outside dollars through sales tax and hotel/motel tax revenues.

The Henderson City Council included a $5,000 one-time grant to McGregor Hall in its recently adopted budget, representing just more than 6 percent of the total amount – $75,000 – that was requested.

City leaders have discussed the purchase of a downtown property currently owned by McGregor Hall for a price in the range of $255,000. When asked whether the sale would move forward, Hopper said “the city has not contacted us.”

CLICK PLAY!

Cooperative Extension With Michael Ellington: Japanese Beetles

/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!

 

Cooperative Extension With Wayne Rowland – Blossom End Rot

/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!

 

Edmonds Tennis Foundation

TownTalk: Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation Honors Scholarship Winners

/by

The 2024 recipients of the Edmonds Tennis & Education Foundation scholarships were honored at a weekend ceremony.

Seven recent high school graduates join the previous recipients, bringing the total to 43 the number of young people to benefit from the ETEF scholarship since the nonprofit was established in 2018.

The ETEF is for young people between the ages of 5 and 18 who want to learn about tennis or who want to really get serious about honing their tennis skills..

But Dr. Jerry Edmonds also sees the program as a network of people to call on for guidance and support.

This year’s winners include:

  • Seaniya Rodgers
  • Kenan Roberts
  • Laila Ruffin
  • Jamir Parham
  • Amari Blair
  • Zion Mosley
  • Anaya  Brame

Dr. Ervin Griffin, Sr., president emeritus of Halifax Community College, was the keynote speaker. Griffin offered words of encouragement to the scholarship recipients.

“We believe in you and your ability and willingness to embrace change and not fear the future,” Griffin said. “Whatever you do with your life, don’t quit,” he said.

As part of the 21st century workforce, Griffin said today’s young people must be like entrepreneurs, which means having to be open to change and innovation. Don’t let others with the “we’ve never done it that way before” attitude create barriers to progress.

Past ETEF scholarship winner Emma Hicks returned to the “clubhouse” – the term Dr. Jerry Edmonds, the ETEF staff and participants use to refer to the tennis center ETEF calls home – to offer her encouragement to the new recipients.

Hicks just completed her first year at UNC-Wilmington and said it was “the happiest and hardest year of my life.” She told the soon-to-be-college freshmen to “just get in there, put yourself out there,” when they arrive on campus. Also, find a studying technique that works for you and to make sure to find a good study/have fun balance.

For Edmonds, Saturday’s program offered a chance to recognize the students for their accomplishments and to send them off on the right foot to keep doing good things for themselves and their community.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Edmonds said. “We really enjoy doing this for the students.” Each student will get a $500 scholarship and a built-in mentor who will be available to the students during their first year of college – and beyond.

“It really is about those mentorship positions,” he said. “It’s always nice to have folks say you can go further.”

For Edmonds, that person is Griffin, the banquet’s keynote speaker.

“He’s the reason I pursued my doctorate degree…to this day, he pushes me to do more and move forward.”

Click Play!

Vance County Logo

Vance County Commissioners Approve $57M Budget, 10-Cent Tax Increase

/by

Vance County commissioners approved a 10-cent tax increase and a $57 million budget Monday, June 24 at 4 p.m.

The special called meeting lasted about 15 minutes, and adoption of the budget was the first order of business. The budget was approved 4-2, with Board Chair Dan Brummitt and Tommy Hester casting no votes. Commissioner Yolanda Feimster was not present.

After a motion by Commissioner Sean Alston and a second by Commissioner Leo Kelly, commissioners took a few minutes to discuss their thoughts.

“I don’t like the tax rate,” said Commissioner Carolyn Faines. “I don’t want to put taxes on our citizens.” But Faines acknowledged the needs of the county and said she would therefore cast a yes vote.

Chair Dan Brummitt said he could support “some element of increase, but I can’t support a 10-cent tax increase.”

“I can’t support a tax increase of this much when people are struggling day-to-day,” Brummitt said.

He noted that this budget represents a 16 percent increase from last year’s budget, with $4.7 million being put into a savings account, largely because of unused salaries created by short staffing.

The overall operating budget, however, represents a decrease from last year’s budget.

Commissioner Tommy Hester said he advocates a revenue-neutral budget because he wants to be able to tell taxpayers exactly where their money will be used. That could be next year, when plans for a new jail are farther along.

“You don’t build a house without a plan,” Hester said. He also expressed his displeasure at a 23 percent increase in commissioners’ stipends when county employees will get only a 7 percent pay increase. “I can’t go along with that. My conscience will not let me do it – I can’t go along with this budget.”

Commissioner Leo Kelly reiterated his comments from a previous budget work session and said the growth of the county depends on the budget; he said he didn’t relish the idea of a tax increase, but he said he, as a taxpayer, is willing to do his share.

“If we don’t grow our budget, we don’t grow our county,” Kelly said. “It’s how we move this county forward.”

In concurring with Kelly, Commissioner Archie Taylor said the county is in dire need of some things that need to get done.

The board hasn’t increased taxes since the last revaluation eight years ago. “Now, we’re at the point where we know we’re going to have to increase taxes – either this year or next year,” Taylor said.

Click Play!

Oxford Baptist Church Honors Retiring Minister Of Music, Organist Cindy Joy

/by

Oxford Baptist Church’s long-time minister of music and organist is retiring, and the church is hosting a weekend of activities to celebrate Cindy Joy and her contributions to the church and to the community.

Joy has been with OBC for 44 years, and the retirement celebration begins on Saturday, June 29 with a Mardi Gras block party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The community is invited to come on out to the parking lot on Little John St. near the church. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy food trucks, games and live music.

Later that evening, beginning at 6 p.m., the church will continue its celebration with a formal plated dinner at the OBC Family Life Center. Tickets are $40 and a reservation is required. Call the church office to make a reservation at 919.693.5181.

Then, the next day –  Sunday, June 30 at 10:30 a.m. – the church will honor Joy with a worship service celebrating her ministry.

Retired OBC minister Rev. Dr. Steve Bolton will be the guest speaker and those in attendance will hear for the first time the musical selection “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” by renown choral music composer Pepper Choplin.