THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Four members of Vance County Schools’ Behavioral Health Team appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Toni Fletcher, lead of the School Student Behavioral Health Team and Lead Social Worker, began the segment by announcing that VCS is kicking off its ‘Attendance Matters’ campaign with the slogan ‘In School, Logged In, Every Day.’
With the Vance County Board of Education’s recent vote to extend fully remote learning through December, Fletcher explained the importance of offering continued support during this unprecedented time in education.
“It is very important to us that we make the connections with our children and our families,” said Fletcher. “This is something we’ve never done before – teaching this way.”
Counselor Erica Wright, with the Student Behavioral Health Team, said VCS will recognize students for their hard work on billboards throughout the community, through local news and media sources and with school incentives as a way to encourage good attendance practices.
School Safety/District Hearing Officer Dr. Ralph Holloman said, “The National Dropout Prevention Center has recorded that family engagement is the number one key for attendance, and we want to send that message to parents. Keep on encouraging your child to participate, log in and be in school every day.”
Thanking parents for all they have done to keep their child engaged while also balancing work, family and other responsibilities, Holloman said, “Parents, your continued involvement is the key to our children’s success in Vance County schools.”
To address mental well-being, Dr. Latoria Fleming, counselor for the Student Behavioral Health Team, said school counselors and social workers are remotely available to provide social and emotional support.
“Please reach out to school support staff if you know of a student that’s struggling,” said Fleming. “Those staff members can provide short-term counseling or, if necessary, connect you with community resources or mental health agencies.”
While support is the key to continued motivation, Fletcher said completing remote schoolwork is difficult without reliable internet access. “Some of our families live rurally and don’t have access to the internet, and some are unable to afford access due to financial barriers.”
To combat this problem, VCS has placed WiFi rangers in fire departments, daycare centers, churches, apartment complexes and in some homes with five or more children throughout the county.
In addition, Fletcher said Kajeets, portable devices approximately the size of a cell phone, have been placed in over 150 homes to provide internet capabilities.
For those in need of technology assistance, Fletcher reminded listeners that a technology help desk with tech support is available to parents and students Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. To find the help desk phone number for your child’s school, please visit the VCS District website (click here).
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
Town Talk 10/22/20: ‘Think Community’ Domestic Violence Awareness Event This Weekend
/by Kelly Bondurant100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
Debbie K. Scott, domestic violence coordinator/gang resource specialist with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, appeared on WIZS Town Talk Thursday at 11 a.m.
Scott announced that the Vance County Sheriff’s Office and Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame, in collaboration with Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church, will host the 2nd Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Event on Saturday, October 24, 2020. The event will begin at 3 p.m. at Clearview Church located at 3485 US Hwy 158 in Henderson.
For social distancing purposes, activities will be held in the church parking lot. Face masks are required.
This year’s theme – “Think Community” – was designed to promote community support and resource availability.
“The goal is to educate and raise awareness of the effects of domestic violence here in our community,” said Scott. “The goal is also to support the victims and survivors of domestic violence and to provide them with information on available resources.”
The keynote speaker will be Winston-Salem Chief of Police Catrina Thompson. Thompson, a native of Detroit, MI, is the fifteenth Chief of Police for the city of Winston-Salem. She graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Appalachian State University.
During her twenty-six years with the Winston-Salem Police Department, Thompson has served as the assistant chief in charge of the Investigative Services Bureau, which is the command bureau over detectives and school resource officers.
As chief, she leads a department with 570 sworn officers, 173 civilian positions and an annual budget of $74.5 million.
“She can come with a voice and help us,” Scott said. “What’s most important is that she’s a survivor; she was a victim, so she has a powerful story to share with us.”
In addition to Thompson’s address, the Clearview Praise Team will perform music with a special guest performance by Minister Roy Burroughs & Work In Progress. Valerie L. Williams, founder and CEO of Lovesmart, Inc., will serve as honorary guest.
Refreshments will be served courtesy of Clearview Church.
Sponsors for the event are Clearview Church, the Optimist Club of Henderson and Betty B’s Florist.
For more information, contact Scott at (252) 738-2235 or by email at dscott@vancecounty.org.
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
McGregor Hall to Feature Beatles Concert at Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre
/by WIZS StaffTHIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
-Information and image courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
The secret is finally out! McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce “With a Little Help From Our Friends: A Beatles Concert for McGregor” will show at the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre on Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
Stay tuned to McGregor Hall’s Facebook page (click here) for updates on the show, including introductions to the local talent who are helping bring the music of one of the most iconic groups to life.
Donations benefiting McGregor Hall will be accepted upon arrival as your ticket price for the event. No gift is too small or large.
McGregor Hall appreciates the community’s support during this difficult time and looks forward to this “Come Together” moment on November 10.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Noon News 10-22-20 Vance County Schools; Domestic Violence Awareness
/by John C. Rose– Vance County Schools Attendance Matters Campaign
– Domestic Violence Awareness “Think Community” Saturday at Clearview Church, 3pm
Click Play for WIZS Noon News Audio and Full Details…
Granville Co. Board of Education Finance Committee to Meet Oct. 23
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools
The Granville County Board of Education Finance Committee will meet on Friday, October 23, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. at 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC 27565 to discuss the 2020-2021 Budget Resolution.
For more information or a link to the meeting, please contact Mrs. Beth Day, Assistant Superintendent of Finance at dayb@gcs.k12.nc.us or Ms. Lisa Preddy at preddyl@gcs.k12.nc.us.
VGCC Schedules Nursing Program Information Sessions
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Vance-Granville Community College is offering virtual information sessions for anyone interested in applying to the Nursing programs at the college. VGCC offers training options to become a Registered Nurse (RN) through the Associate Degree Nursing program or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) through the Practical Nursing program.
The upcoming sessions, offered through Zoom (www.zoom.us), are specifically geared to help prospective students prepare to apply to enroll in a Nursing program for the Fall 2021 semester. Applications for these programs are due in February and March of 2021.
Three of the sessions will focus on the RN and LPN programs. In the past, students who were not offered a spot in the Associate Degree Nursing program were able to enroll in the Practical Nursing program instead, making this a beneficial option for many students who are ready to get started with their nursing careers.
Sessions are scheduled for Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. (bit.ly/VGCCNursing102920), Nov. 17 at 6 p.m (bit.ly/VGCCNursing111720), and Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. (bit.ly/VGCCNursing120220).
Two other sessions will focus on the Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) program. This partnership between VGCC and North Carolina A&T State University allows students to complete both the Associate Degree Nursing, or RN, program, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.
These sessions are scheduled for Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. (bit.ly/RIBN111320) and Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. (bit.ly/RIBN120320).
After registering, participants should receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting.
Registration in advance for each session is required. For more information, please email Dr. Erica Jastrow (Practical Nursing and RIBN programs) at jastrowe@vgcc.edu or Dr. Anna Seaman (Associate Degree Nursing program) at seamana@vgcc.edu.
Salvation Army of Henderson, Partners Announce Opening of New Playground
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release courtesy The Salvation Army
Kids at The Salvation Army of Henderson are celebrating today because they have a great new place to play. For months, representatives from The Salvation Army of Henderson, Belk and KABOOM!, the nonprofit organization focused on ending playspace inequity, have been working together to increase access to playspaces for local kids with the creation of a new, kid designed playground that was installed on July 21, 2020.
The playground will give kids an incredible place to play close to where they live and learn, an opportunity that is often hard to achieve.
Since COVID-19 began, children have had to adjust to a new normal, which means a lot of time spent in front of a screen doing virtual learning, and less time getting outdoors to play and be active. The children at our Red Shield Club have really enjoyed being able to take a break from the inside and breathe in the fresh air while having fun on the playground. The playground has provided a way for the children to still have “recess” and practice social skills in a safe way.
“I can see that the playground at The Salvation Army Red Shield Club is very important because it has increased my child’s social, brain and language development. The playground provides an opportunity for my children to practice their social skills, to come up with solutions to problems and to learn self-control in working out their conflicts,” says Shadiya Solomon, parent of a child that attends the Red Shield Club.
In May, kids from the community participated in a virtual Design Day where they creatively thought of ideas to create their dream playground. The new playground, which was designed with inspiration from their drawings, will provide hundreds of kids and their families in Henderson with an incredible playspace that can spark hope and enable kids to reach their full potential.
KABOOM! knows that playspaces are essential to resilience, health and childhood. The communities that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 – communities facing challenges already, and communities of color – are the same communities who often lack access to parks and playspaces due to historic disinvestment.
The partners have teamed up to help end playspace inequity, creating a new place for kids to play that reflects the neighborhood’s unique needs and aspirations and gives every kid the opportunity to experience the joys of childhood.
“We know disasters and crises often exacerbate the inequities that communities are already experiencing, and in many communities, kids won’t have a playground to go back to once the COVID-19 crisis is over,” says James Siegal, CEO of KABOOM!. “We must stop the playspace inequities from becoming even deeper after we get through this pandemic, giving every kid the chance to play and just enjoy being a kid.”
Through its partnership with Belk, KABOOM! is committed to ending playspace inequity for kids, for communities, for good.
To ensure that playgrounds are able to open safely in every community, KABOOM! has issued important playground guidance that all communities, playground owners/operators and caregivers can follow. The guidance can be viewed or downloaded at kaboom.org/reopen.
Home and Garden Show 10-20-20
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com on Tuesday at 4:30 PM.
Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 10-20-20 – Invasive Plants
/by CharleneListen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.
NC to Remain Paused in Phase 3
/by WIZS Staff100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL
-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper
Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 for three more weeks as health officials continue to monitor North Carolina’s viral trends. North Carolina has seen increased hospitalizations and trajectory of cases in recent weeks. Governor Cooper underscored the importance of wearing masks, social distancing, and using good judgment despite fatigue or frustration with the pandemic.
“As this pandemic continues, I know it’s difficult and tiring to keep up our guard, especially when we’re gathered with people we love. But it’s necessary. No one wants to spread COVID-19 accidentally to friends or family, so we must keep prevention at the forefront,” said Governor Cooper. “Wearing a mask shows you care about people. Wearing a mask is an easy way to protect our communities and look out for each other. Confronting the virus head-on and doing our part as individuals is good for our health and good for our economy.”
Also today, Governor Cooper updated on progress with the NC Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program. Since Governor Cooper announced the (HOPE) Program last week, 12,000 eligible applicants have filed for assistance. The HOPE Program provides assistance to eligible low-and-moderate income renters experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic by making direct payments to landlords and utility companies. People can apply for help by calling 2-1-1 or going to nc211.org/hope.
“As the number of applications climbs higher every day, it should make us remember that it’s more than a number. Every one of those applications represents a family having to make impossible choices between basic necessities during a global pandemic,” said Governor Cooper.
Yesterday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen and Secretary of Department of Public Safety Erik Hooks sent a letter to local officials in communities with increased viral spread urging their continued action in fighting COVID-19 and suggesting additional measures to mitigate its spread. Read more about that letter here.
“We are doing everything we can to slow the spread of this virus. This simple fact is we can’t do it on our own. Ignoring the virus doesn’t make it go away – just the opposite,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “As hard as this is, it will end. We will get through this. Let’s do it by looking out for one another. Whatever your reason, get behind the mask.”
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.
Laboratory Testing
Tracing Capability
Personal Protective Equipment
Read Executive Order 170.
Read the slides from today’s briefing.
Town Talk 10/21/20: Vance Co. Schools Launches ‘Attendance Matters’ Campaign
/by Kelly BondurantTHIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY
Four members of Vance County Schools’ Behavioral Health Team appeared on WIZS Town Talk Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Toni Fletcher, lead of the School Student Behavioral Health Team and Lead Social Worker, began the segment by announcing that VCS is kicking off its ‘Attendance Matters’ campaign with the slogan ‘In School, Logged In, Every Day.’
With the Vance County Board of Education’s recent vote to extend fully remote learning through December, Fletcher explained the importance of offering continued support during this unprecedented time in education.
“It is very important to us that we make the connections with our children and our families,” said Fletcher. “This is something we’ve never done before – teaching this way.”
Counselor Erica Wright, with the Student Behavioral Health Team, said VCS will recognize students for their hard work on billboards throughout the community, through local news and media sources and with school incentives as a way to encourage good attendance practices.
School Safety/District Hearing Officer Dr. Ralph Holloman said, “The National Dropout Prevention Center has recorded that family engagement is the number one key for attendance, and we want to send that message to parents. Keep on encouraging your child to participate, log in and be in school every day.”
Thanking parents for all they have done to keep their child engaged while also balancing work, family and other responsibilities, Holloman said, “Parents, your continued involvement is the key to our children’s success in Vance County schools.”
To address mental well-being, Dr. Latoria Fleming, counselor for the Student Behavioral Health Team, said school counselors and social workers are remotely available to provide social and emotional support.
“Please reach out to school support staff if you know of a student that’s struggling,” said Fleming. “Those staff members can provide short-term counseling or, if necessary, connect you with community resources or mental health agencies.”
While support is the key to continued motivation, Fletcher said completing remote schoolwork is difficult without reliable internet access. “Some of our families live rurally and don’t have access to the internet, and some are unable to afford access due to financial barriers.”
To combat this problem, VCS has placed WiFi rangers in fire departments, daycare centers, churches, apartment complexes and in some homes with five or more children throughout the county.
In addition, Fletcher said Kajeets, portable devices approximately the size of a cell phone, have been placed in over 150 homes to provide internet capabilities.
For those in need of technology assistance, Fletcher reminded listeners that a technology help desk with tech support is available to parents and students Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. To find the help desk phone number for your child’s school, please visit the VCS District website (click here).
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.