Things are heating up in Granville County, and it’s not all because of the weather.
Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said this weekend’s Hot Sauce Festival is shaping up to be the best one yet.
This year, contestants entering their creations and concoctions have more than 100 categories and sub-categories to choose from, Allen said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in downtown Oxford.
Judges will review all different types of sauces, rubs and other products that get slathered on pork, chicken and more. There’s not just hot sauce, she said. There’s mild, hottest hot and verde, just to name a few.
Oxford has become the destination for hot sauce aficionados and foodies on the second Saturday in September. This is the 16th annual festival, and Allen said thousands of folks come to experience the festival, complete with music, arts and crafts vendors and much more.
“There’s a lot of good food,” Allen said. “We’re going to have judges who have this awesome job” of sampling products and deciding which ones get recognized. You can sample many of those products as you stroll along the streets of downtown Oxford, she added.
Of course, there’s a lot more to the Hot Sauce Festival than just hot sauce – Bailey Farms again is sponsoring the pepper eating contest, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Top prize is $1,000.
There will be plenty of live music on a couple of different stages throughout the day, including On The Border, an Eagles tribute band.
Visit www.nchotsaucefestivalandcontest.com for a complete schedule of events and vendor lists.
For those interested in getting the party started early, check out The Orpheum’s “night before” party. Find details at visitoxforddowntown on Facebook.
If the live music performances during the Hot Sauce Festival gets your toes tappin’ for more, head down to Creedmoor on Saturday, Sept. 16 for the Creedmoor Music Festival, now in its 30th year.
The town turns into a multi-genre sound stage to provide a wide range of music, from gospel to bluegrass and beyond.
The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and music will be performed on two stages. There will be plenty of “fair food” fare for listeners, as well as vendors with arts and crafts and a classic car cruise-in.
Those folks who want to create their own music can pop in to The Orpheum in downtown Oxford on Wednesdays at 8 for karaoke.
And if listening is more your thing than making music, visit Oxford Oaks Distillery for dinner and local live music on Wednesdays for “Verdigris Vibes.”
September goes out with a bang on Saturday, Sept. 30 with two events in the Oxford area.
Paws for Granville is an annual fundraiser held at the Granville County Expo Center to benefit spay/neuter projects of the Humane Society of Granville County and the Granville County Animal Shelter. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is a must-attend for animal lovers who want to make a difference.
The Central Children’s Home is hosting a cross-country event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. that will include fun runs for locals and other track and field events sanctioned by USA Track and Field.
Bring along a can or two of food, because the event also is sponsoring a fundraiser for ACIM, the county’s food bank.
Find more information about these events and more at https://visitgranvillenc.com/
CLICK PLAY!
TownTalk: Hot Sauce And More Coming To Granville County In September
/by WIZS StaffThings are heating up in Granville County, and it’s not all because of the weather.
Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said this weekend’s Hot Sauce Festival is shaping up to be the best one yet.
This year, contestants entering their creations and concoctions have more than 100 categories and sub-categories to choose from, Allen said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in downtown Oxford.
Judges will review all different types of sauces, rubs and other products that get slathered on pork, chicken and more. There’s not just hot sauce, she said. There’s mild, hottest hot and verde, just to name a few.
Oxford has become the destination for hot sauce aficionados and foodies on the second Saturday in September. This is the 16th annual festival, and Allen said thousands of folks come to experience the festival, complete with music, arts and crafts vendors and much more.
“There’s a lot of good food,” Allen said. “We’re going to have judges who have this awesome job” of sampling products and deciding which ones get recognized. You can sample many of those products as you stroll along the streets of downtown Oxford, she added.
Of course, there’s a lot more to the Hot Sauce Festival than just hot sauce – Bailey Farms again is sponsoring the pepper eating contest, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Top prize is $1,000.
There will be plenty of live music on a couple of different stages throughout the day, including On The Border, an Eagles tribute band.
Visit www.nchotsaucefestivalandcontest.com for a complete schedule of events and vendor lists.
For those interested in getting the party started early, check out The Orpheum’s “night before” party. Find details at visitoxforddowntown on Facebook.
If the live music performances during the Hot Sauce Festival gets your toes tappin’ for more, head down to Creedmoor on Saturday, Sept. 16 for the Creedmoor Music Festival, now in its 30th year.
The town turns into a multi-genre sound stage to provide a wide range of music, from gospel to bluegrass and beyond.
The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and music will be performed on two stages. There will be plenty of “fair food” fare for listeners, as well as vendors with arts and crafts and a classic car cruise-in.
Those folks who want to create their own music can pop in to The Orpheum in downtown Oxford on Wednesdays at 8 for karaoke.
And if listening is more your thing than making music, visit Oxford Oaks Distillery for dinner and local live music on Wednesdays for “Verdigris Vibes.”
September goes out with a bang on Saturday, Sept. 30 with two events in the Oxford area.
Paws for Granville is an annual fundraiser held at the Granville County Expo Center to benefit spay/neuter projects of the Humane Society of Granville County and the Granville County Animal Shelter. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is a must-attend for animal lovers who want to make a difference.
The Central Children’s Home is hosting a cross-country event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. that will include fun runs for locals and other track and field events sanctioned by USA Track and Field.
Bring along a can or two of food, because the event also is sponsoring a fundraiser for ACIM, the county’s food bank.
Find more information about these events and more at https://visitgranvillenc.com/
CLICK PLAY!
The Local Skinny! Baskerville Funeral Home Hosts Mental Health Community Info Series
/by WIZS StaffThe community is invited to attend an informational session on Sept. 12 to learn more about programs offered by Greater Outreach Services.
Charlie Baskerville has held numerous community info events to share resources with people in the area, and the one scheduled for next week will provide information about mental health and other programs and counseling services.
The meeting will take place at Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut St., and Baskerville said it’s a way for him to give back to his community. It begins at 6 p.m. and will last about an hour, with time for questions afterward, as well as light refreshments.
His experience as a pastor and a military veteran contributed to his idea about providing and serving.
“Those things enlightened me about service,” Baskerville said on Tuesday’s The Local Skinny!
He’s a retired pastor now, but he considers the community info series a type of ministry.
It’s a way to “inform the community of the resources available…to make the community a better place.”
Call 252.430.6824 to learn more.
CLICK PLAY!
WIZS Radio Local News Audio 09-05-23 Noon
/by Bill HarrisClick Play to Listen. On Air at 8am, 12pm, 5pm M-F
WIZS Radio ~ 100.1FM/1450AM
N.C. Symphony To Perform Sept. 9 At JPAC In Louisburg
/by WIZS StaffThe Seby Jones Performing Arts Center in Louisburg is the place to be this Saturday evening to hear the N.C. Symphony perform a concert called A Little Night Music.
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the JPAC, located on the campus of Louisburg College.
In addition to Mozart’s “A Little Night Music,” the symphony will perform other selections, including works from Rossini’s’ “The Barber of Seville” and Bizet’s “Carmen” as well as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma.”
Tickets are $40 for adults. Seniors and teens, $35 children 6-12 are $10 and children 5 and under get in free.
Purchase tickets online at www.jpacarts.com, by phone at 919.497.3300 or 866.773.6354 or stop by the box office Monday-Friday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The Jones Performing Arts Center is located at 501 N. Main St., Louisburg.
Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
/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.
Click Play!
N.C. Rep. Sossamon To Sponsor Sept. 18 Meeting To Learn About Broadband Progress In The Area
/by WIZS StaffWant to learn more about the state of broadband internet access in your area?
Rep. Frank Sossamon has organized a community forum to share information about what may be in store for the area with regard to broaband internet access.
The meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 18 at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St. and will begin at 6 p.m.
Staff from the N.C. Department of Information Technology are scheduled to be present to provide residents with the most up-to-date information about this issue.
VGCC To Host Community Engagement Nights
/by WIZS StaffVance Granville Community College has scheduled a series of “Community Engagement Nights” through its four-county service area to allow individuals to partner with school leaders and plan for the future. The first one is Thursday, Sept. 7 in Warrenton; please RSVP to let college officials know you’re planning to attend.
The discussions will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to information from VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel.
VGCC strives to be a catalyst in developing strong communities where everyone can experience a fulfilling quality of life, which comes “through educating, inspiring and supporting a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success.”
VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais and attendees of the events will engage in strategic planning activities, which will help leaders make recommendations about various areas of the institution. Light refreshments will be served.
Attendance at each event is limited; sign up at www.vgcc.edu/events.
Below is a list of the Community Engagement Night sessions:
TownTalk: The 2023 Ducky Derby is Here!
/by Laura GabelThere’s a deluge expected in downtown Henderson next month, but you won’t find details on any weather app or forecast – not even the farmer’s almanac. Flooding will be minimal and isolated to Garnett Street, officials say – just long enough for that last little rubber ducky to cross the finish line.
No need to gather your rain gear just yet – it’s just the 14th annual Ducky Derby!
This year’s event takes place Saturday, Sept. 16 in downtown Henderson, with the Henderson Fire Department supplying the water and Greystone Concrete Products pouring the ducks from one of its cement mixers.
The Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start hosts the annual fundraiser and Garry Daeke was on Tuesday’s TownTalk to share details and how to purchase tickets.
“We hope to have a good day and have fun – it’s always a blast,” Daeke said.
Ducks are $5 each, or you can purchase more than one and save a little cash – a Quack Pack is 5 ducks for $20 and a Flock gets you 25 ducks for $100. Tickets are available the day of the derby, too.
“I’m continually excited about how much fun people have” Daeke said. The fun includes children’s games, food trucks and music. This year, there’s a “blender bike” that kids can use to pedal their way to create their own smoothies.
And there are prizes for the top three finishers, as well as for that last little straggler to cross the finish line.
First prize is $1,000, second prize is Chick-fil-A for a year and third prize is a $250 gas card from Sheetz. The last duck wins $100.
Tickets are available from FGV staff or board members and by calling the FGV office at 252.433.9110. You can reach Daeke at the office or at 252.432.3145.
The event begins at 11 a.m. and continues through 2 p.m.
The race begins at Garnett and Breckenridge streets and the finish line is at Orange Street.
Sponsorships are available; contact Daeke to become a sponsor.
“We get new folks every year that want to be a part of what’s going on downtown,” he said.
Click Play!
Brodie Road Convenience Site Now Open On Sundays
/by WIZS StaffThe Brodie Road waste convenience site will be open on Sundays beginning this Sunday, Sept. 3, a move that county leaders hope will be helpful for residents and also reduce the amount of illegal dumping that occurs in the area.
The site is located at 900 Brodie Rd.and will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays throughout the year, according to Jason Falls, county solid waste director.
“This is a service improvement approved by the Vance County Board of Commissioners to improve access for customers as well as a way to decrease illegal dumping in the area,” Falls said in a press statement. This is the only change planned in operating days/times, he noted. All other convenience center hours of operation remain the same.
Falls also reminds residents to secure their loads when hauling trash to the convenience centers. Call Falls at 919.691.0928 if you have questions.
Municipal Election Candidates’ Forum Set for Sept. 7
/by WIZS StaffThe Henderson-Vance Leadership Caucus has scheduled a “Meet the Candidates Forum” next week in advance of the upcoming nonpartisan municipal elections on Oct. 10.
The forum will take place Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young St., according to information from Terry Garrison, caucus president.
All candidates on the ballot have been invited to participate, Garrison stated.
“The forum is intended to allow the candidates an opportunity to give their platforms and answer prepared questions of importance to many voting citizens,” Garrison said.
The event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Henderson Vance Black Leadership Caucus, the Vance County branch of the NAACP and the Vance County Democratic Party.