TownTalk: Crawford Focuses On ADHD For Children’s Book

It’s a short book – only 35 pages – but author Fay Crawford said thinks it could have a lasting impact on those who read it or have it read to them.

“My Special Friend” is about a boy named Mikey who is diagnosed with ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – and what he learns about how he learns.

This is Crawford’s first book, but she said writing is something that she has always been pretty good at.

It’s a work of fiction that tackles a very real subject. “ADHD is real and it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Crawford, a retired schoolteacher, said.

As a classroom teacher for more than 30 years (all of them spent at E.M. Rollins), no doubt she had her share of wiggly second-graders who just couldn’t keep their mind on their work or who had to have the instructions repeated because they just couldn’t pay close enough attention.

Teachers develop strategies and techniques to deal with any number of challenges in their classrooms, but Crawford said she wishes she’d known more about ADHD when she was still teaching.

Once she retired, she delved into research on the topic. “When I did the research, I learned so much – more than I knew when teaching,” she explained on Thursday’s TownTalk.

Without giving too much away, the storyline goes like this: Mikey is diagnosed with ADHD, but he comes to realize his ADHD doesn’t define who he is or what he can become, Crawford explained.

The target audience includes parents, teachers and young people. Children in the 3rd or 4th grade probably can read it independently, she said.

“There are so many children…with this diagnosis,” she said, and it’s important to know what it is and what it isn’t.

“During research, I discovered that ADHD is a brain disorder…children who have ADHD, there are differences in their brain development and brain activity.”

Children with ADHD have to learn how to use their brain – their “special friend” as Crawford refers to it – in a different way. It’s exactly what Mikey does in the story to win a contest.

She recalled a saying she heard from former Vance County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson: “Different is not deficient – it’s just different.”

With a master’s degree in literacy, it’s no wonder that Crawford places such an emphasis on reading – or that she decided to write a book.

“Reading is so important,” she said. “You learn so much from reading – you can go places just from reading.”

Find “My Special Friend” on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/My-Special-Friend-Fay-Crawford/dp/B0CQNNTK75

If you’d like a signed copy, visit Shero Publishing at https://sheropublishing.com/

 

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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Understanding Oil Viscosity

For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

There are many brands of motor oil to choose from, but no matter which brand you choose, there’s one thing they all have in common: a combination of numbers and a letter that describes how thick the oil is – its viscosity.

The Society of Automotive Engineers came up with this combination, but how many of us know how to interpret that number – letter – number combination?

The staff at Advance Auto Parts can help you choose the correct engine oil for your needs, whether you’re shopping for your vehicle, lawn mowers or anything else that uses oil

Generally speaking, the lower the number, the lower the viscosity.

Let’s use 5W-30 as an example. This type of oil is used commonly in newer model vehicles.

The number before the W describes the thickness of the oil at low temperatures. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better that oil will perform when the engine is cold.

The number after the W describes the oil’s thickness when the engine’s warmed up. Higher numbers mean thicker oil viscosity, which provides better protection for high-heat or high-load uses.

Trust the staff at Advance Auto to help you choose the right product for your needs.

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 only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Bedtime Problems, Pt. 2

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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RCAPS “Pet Palooza” Event Saturday, 10 AM – 3 PM

Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society is hosting “Pet Palooza” on Saturday, June 8 at the former Boyd dealership on U.S. 158 and Ruin Creek Road in Henderson.

RCAPS President Brandon Boyd said the dealership lot will be filled with vendors and more who will be donating a portion of their sales to the local animal protection group.

The event is free and open to the public, and Boyd hopes lots of folks will come out between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and take part and enjoy food, crafts, décor and more, all to support the animal rescue effort.

Since 2011, this dedicated group of volunteers has rallied around the homeless animals at the Vance County Animal Shelter to connect them with rescue groups and ultimately, to the forever homes they deserve.

RCAPS is dedicated to fighting for the survival of impounded dogs, cats or any adoptable pet facing euthanasia at the animal shelter by providing emergency medical care, hope and a “Ride to Freedom” on the RCAPS van to rescues and safe havens along the Eastern Seaboard.

 

American Flag

Wise Independence Day Parade, Festival

The Wise Independence Day parade and festival will take place on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Warren County community just up the road from Norlina.

The parade will begin the day’s activities at 10 a.m., starting at Bruce Parkinson’s home and ending at Wise Baptist Church, according to information from Danielle Edgerton, one of the event organizers.

Serving as parade Grand Marshal is the Hon. Bernard Harris.

The festival will start immediately following the parade on the grounds of Wise Baptist Church, located at 1840 U.S. 1, Wise.

Come enjoy live music by Feature Attraction Band, a car show, various food vendors, rides for kids, and more!

For more information about parade entry, vendor space or the car show please contact Gary Paynter at 252.438.0574, Danielle Edgerton at 252.204.2605 or

Mike McCray at 919.604.3081.

H-V Chamber: Next Women In Business Lunch And Learn June 27

The next Women In Business Lunch and Learn session sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, June 27.

Carolyn Perry, director of the Small Business Center at Vance-Granville Community College, will speak on the topic “Small Business Success in our Community.”

The lunch program will be held in the Farm Bureau Room at Perry Memorial Library. The $20 cost includes lunch.

Please register no later than June 20 to reserve your seat.

Contact Vanessa Jones at vanessa@hendersonvance.org or call the Chamber office at 252.438.8414.

OPS Senior Chosen For Granville Chamber Scholarship

Information courtesy of Granville County Chamber of Commerce

An Oxford Preparatory School senior has been selected as the first scholarship winner from Student Spotlight honorees recognized throughout the year by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

AleYaun “AJ” Heggie has been selected as the winner of the scholarship by the Chamber’s  Education Committee, according to a press release from Chamber Executive Director Cynthia Ratliff. Heggie, who worked at the OPS after-school program, will attend N.C A&T State University in the fall.

This scholarship program was created to recognize and support the outstanding students within our community who demonstrate excellence through their work, internships and volunteer efforts, Ratliff stated,

The committee accepted Student Spotlight nominations on a quarterly basis from chamber members who employ, mentor or support Granville County students. These exceptional students were acknowledged with certificates and subsequently invited to apply for the Chamber’s scholarship.

Bike Rodeo For Kids At ‘Vance Cares’ Saturday

The Optimist Club of Henderson, in collaboration with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, is having a Bike Rodeo this Saturday, June 8 during the Vance Cares Family Festival.

The festival, sponsored by Vance County Schools, will take place on Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to information provided by Debbie Scott of the sheriff’s department.

Free bike helmets will be given to 100 young people who participate in the bike rodeo.

This free event will have local agencies providing community resources, as well as games, vendors, music, food trucks and kids’ activities.

Other groups partnering with VCS include Optimist International, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Kerr-Tar Regional Council Of Governments and Safe Routes To School North Carolina.

S-Line Rail Corridor

S-Line Info Session Scheduled During Upcoming ‘Vance Cares’ Event

The public is invited to come to an information session Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn more about the proposed S-Line mobility hub as part of the NCDOT passenger rail service project.

The event will be held in the courtyard of the Henderson Police Department, 202 Breckenridge St.

If you would like to learn more about what this project entails and how it may affect the future of passenger rail service in Henderson, this session is for you. If you know all about the S-Line project and want to share your input, this session is for you, too.

Visit

www.ncdot.gov/divisions/rail/s-line-projects to learn more.