TownTalk: Business Spotlight with Midnight Blue Martial Arts

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Midnight Blue Martial Arts takes center stage in the Business Spotlight on Tuesday’s TownTalk and owner Kimberly Harris invites the community to join her at the karate studio on Saturday afternoon for a Valentine’s Sip and Shop event.

This is the second year for the event, Harris said, which will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the studio, located at 101 N. Garnett St.

Midnight Blue, celebrating 25 years of providing classes in the area, has been in its downtown location since 2008, she said.

The karate studio will be filled with more than 25 vendors from across the area, featuring handcrafted items from jewelry to personalized Valentine’s Day cards for that special someone in your life.

During the pandemic, Harris said she turned to sewing to help keep her busy since she couldn’t get back into the studio to teach.

That pastime turned into something bigger and she took her new business on the road to some vendor fairs. She decided to host her own last year, and this year’s event features some return vendors, as well as new vendors who wanted to get in on the fun.

Bun on the Run will be parked out front and Sadie’s is bringing delicious hot chocolate.

Folks familiar with the karate studio will know that there’s a Black Belt Wall featuring each student who has achieved that level of proficiency.

“We take a picture (of them) in front of the American flag,” Harris said, which serves to motivate students to keep working hard toward their goal.

The students range in age from 2 to 68, but everyone learns a key element through the classes they take: being respectful.

Call 252.767.8398 to learn more about Midnight Blue Martial Arts Academy, LLC or visit https://hendersonkarate.com/

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TownTalk: Helping Shelter Cats with The Kitten Lady

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Hannah Shaw loves kittens.

She’s written numerous books – about kittens – and fosters the fuzzy little furballs whenever she can.

So it’s not surprising that the online influencer calls herself “The Kitten Lady,” and helps to educate the kitten-loving public at https://www.kittenlady.org/

Shaw spoke by telephone from her home in California Tuesday with WIZS co-host Bill Harris in observance of February as National Cat Health Month.

“Any time anything seems a little bit off with our pets, going to the vet is a great idea,” she said, noting that cats’ generally stoic nature may serve to mask a medical issue.

Plus, any cat owner will tell you they’re notorious for hiding when they don’t feel their best.

About 15 years ago, Shaw lived in the Triangle area and first became involved in animal rescue.

The author of the book “Tiny But Mighty” said she started helping shelters in the area with the kittens.

“Things have improved since that time,” she said, but she added that there’s still much work to be done to reduce the unwanted kitten population.

The most obvious way to reduce the unwanted pet population is for owners to spay or neuter their pets.

But, Shaw said, more than three-quarters of all kittens born are born on the streets – that is, nobody owns them.

A whopping 3 million cats find their way to shelters each year, which can put a strain on resources to provide. Many will be euthanized; others will be adopted or go to foster homes.

But during their time in the shelter, they need food, medical care and kitty litter.

Lots of kitty litter.

One litter manufacturer, Cat’s Pride, has a program called “Litter for Good” that donates cat litter to shelters. According to its website, https://catspride.com/litterforgood/, they’ve donated more than 37 million pounds of litter on their way to a goal of 50 million.

Shaw said she’s witnessed pallets of litter being delivered to shelters. “It frees up so much of the budget” for other needs,” she said.

Learn more about Shaw at her website

https://www.kittenlady.org/about.

 

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Perry Memorial Library

The Local Skinny! Events At Perry Memorial Library

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Perry Memorial Library is offering up some special treats during February, from classic movies in the history room to chocolate fondue and meeting Henderson’s mayor, Melissa Elliott.

During Black History Month, patrons can enjoy watching a curated movie list, said Melody Peters, youth services director.

As part of African American and the Arts programs, the library will show movies on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Peters said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

“It’s a great opportunity to get folks into the building,” she said, and to let the community know “we’re more than books.”

Young people will get a chance to meet Henderson Mayor Melissa Elliott at the Kids Connect session on Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.

Elliott, the city’s first Black and first female mayor, will share a story with the group and then take questions from her young audience. Peters said she always has been interested in ways to get children interested in local government, and Elliott’s visit is a good start.

Next Tuesday, Feb. 13, the monthly Life Hack program kicks off at 4 p.m. and combines creating a found object art project with chocolate fondue. Some folks may ask why? Peters turns it around and says: “Why not?”

Discover the complete listing of events, activities and programs the library offers at https://www.perrylibrary.org/

 

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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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TownTalk: Blessed Hope Celebrates 40 Years

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Forty years ago, the space shuttle Discovery had its first launch, Apple had introduced a new-fangled computer called the Macintosh, and the Rev. Donald A. Perkinson held the first official meeting of Blessed Hope Baptist Church.

Fast-forward 40 years and now private companies are blasting tourists into space and a cell phone that fits conveniently in a pocket is vastly more powerful than that clunky desktop computer. My, how some things change.

That initial gathering of 10 people in the living room of Perkinson’s cousin’s living room has blossomed into a vibrant congregation located on Dabney Road.

They celebrated Founder’s Day on Sunday at Blessed Hope, and in his message to the congregation and friends gathered, Perkinson said he continues to do all to the glory of God. “I give him all the glory and honor,” he said.

Those references to current events of 1984 were made by Clem Seifert, who also happens to be Perkinson’s son-in-law. Seifert spoke during the Sunday service and said some things in our lives are meant to change, but some things remain the same.

The people in the pews may change over the years, but “the Word of God never changes,” he said, adding that Perkinson and the people of Blessed Hope continue to do the work just as Paul instructed in his letter to Timothy.

Perkinson said he accompanied his father to a rest home to minister to its residents, and he believes it was then that he got that first nudge from God. Later, when he was teaching a Sunday School class for young married couples that he learned about expository preaching.

He moved his young family to Texas while he studied to be a preacher and came back home to Henderson in 1983, but he just couldn’t find the right church fit.

That’s when he felt he heard God say to him, “Why don’t you do what I’ve called you to do?” Perkinson recalled.

That was Feb. 5, 1984 – the day that would become Founder’s Day for Blessed Hope. That very morning, Perkinson held the first service in his cousin’s living room. Forty years later, some things have changed, but the message remains the same.

Listen to more of Perkinson’s and Seifert’s remarks at www.wizs.com and tune in to WIZS on Sundays at 5 p.m. 

 

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VGCC Logo

VGCC President Rachel Desmarais Among TBJ ‘2024 Women In Business’ Honorees

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Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Desmarais was recently recognized by the Triangle Business Journal as a recipient of its 2024 Women in Business Awards.

Desmarais’s inclusion in the 2024 Women in Business Awards underscores her commitment to supporting local communities and economies through a highly skilled workforce, according to a press release from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, Desmarais took the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Pledge through the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, which included specific action steps to advance entrepreneurship and create jobs across the country. The college was so successful in these initiatives that NACCE named it the Entrepreneurial College of the Year in October 2022.

In late 2023, VGCC launched the AdvanceNC partnership. Described as “an innovative workforce development ecosystem developing a robust talent pipeline to support unprecedented economic growth,” the AdvanceNC initiative is made up of 10 community colleges, two state universities and six regional workforce development boards which collaborate to meet the industry needs of major international companies operating in the state.

For nearly three decades, the Women in Business Awards have celebrated women in the Triangle region who are dynamic and outstanding leaders, with established track records of significant accomplishments in business and community service. Triangle Business Journal honored a total of 25 winners this year.

New Warren Program Helps Connect Employers, Job Seekers

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-information courtesy of Crystal Smith, senior assistant to Warren County Manager Vincent Jones

 

Warren County employers and job seekers have a new tool at their fingertips to connect residents with local employment opportunities. Warren County Community and Economic Development has launched an online job board for employment and internship opportunities from Warren County employers. This service is free for both employers and job seekers.

The job board allows employers to register and post openings for jobs and internships in Warren County, according to information from Crystal Smith, senior assistant to Warren County Manager Vincent Jones.

Each posting will direct job seekers directly back to the employer to begin the application process. Warren County Community and Economic Development will continue to advertise the job board as a local and regional resource for job seekers and will also promote it in any larger state and national campaigns the department undergoes.

“One of the top challenges our employers face is recruitment; we hear it over and over again,” said Charla Duncan, director of Warren County Community and Economic Development. “When we drilled down to see how our businesses are currently advertising open positions, we found that a majority of them are advertising in limited networks.”

In a recent departmental poll of local employers, the top three employment advertising methods currently used are: word of mouth (79 percent of businesses polled), unpaid social media posts (68 percent), and placing signage at the place of business (53 percent).

“Businesses are reporting back to us that their funding is limited when it comes to paid advertising for open positions, or that the cost of marketing is too high,” Duncan said. “The Work in Warren job board is a free resource for county-based businesses that aims to give all businesses more digital exposure.”

“A few local employers helped to test the board while in development, and they all reported back that the process was easy and quick,” said Duncan, explaining that the board was designed to be a simple interface to connect employers with job seekers. County staff will follow the success of the job board and check in with employers over time to monitor any ongoing web development needs.

Duncan also stated that her department sees the Work in Warren job board as a recruitment tool for future industries and a future workforce.

“We have not had a comprehensive, streamlined reflection of the employment opportunities in our county,” stated Duncan. “If someone is looking to move to the region, we want to make sure they can envision a professional future for themselves in Warren County.”

Job seekers and employers can visit the Work in Warren job board at www.WorkInWarren.org.

Duncan encourages job seekers to regularly visit the Work in Warren job board just as they would another hiring platform such as Indeed, Monster, or LinkedIn. Job posts will remain active for 30 days before they expire, and employers have the option to extend the opening or remove the post if the position has been filled.

For more information, contact Duncan, Director of Warren County Community & Economic Development, at 252.257.3115. The Work in Warren job board can be found on the Warren County Community and Economic Development website at www.warrencountync.org.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office Serves Suspect in Court

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Press Release:

On February 1, 2024, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office patrol division responded to the Vance County District Court to serve Daniel Claude Raines, 26, of Henderson with outstanding warrants from Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Mr. Raines was served with one count of breaking and entering, larceny after breaking/enter and obtaining property by false pretense.

Mr. Raines received a $60,000 secured bond and was given a court date of 03/01/2024. Mr. Raines was placed in the Vance County Detention Center.

Outstanding Warrants Served; Additional Charges Obtained

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Press Release:

On Wednesday, January 31, 2024 members of the Vance County Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit served several outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants for probation violation on Dylan Levi Vaughn, age 28 of Lemay Lane. During the investigation, additional charges for possession of heroin and cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resist, obstruct and delay were subsequently obtained. Vaughn is currently in the Vance County Jail with no bond.