Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville Veterans Services Announces Melissa Purick As New Executive Director

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The Granville County Veterans Services Department welcomes Melissa Purick to the role of Veterans Services director. Purick will succeed current director Albert “A.J.” Spiess, who will retire on April 30.

The Veterans Services department assists local veterans and their families navigate the complex processes to access programs and  resources at the state and federal levels.

Purick is a Veteran of the United States Air Force, where she served as a member of the Security Forces, protecting government personnel, facilities, and assets. Following her honorable discharge from the Air Force, Purick served the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She worked as an inspector, enforcing federal regulations and conducting investigations related to the safety of federal facilities. In 2009, she entered the private sector as an Operations/Ramp Agent and Customer Service Manager with Southwest Airlines, primarily at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

“I am committed to serving all Granville County Veterans and their families,” said Purick. “The Veterans Services staff is honored to serve those who have given so much to our nation. Our office will work tirelessly to ensure that Veterans and their families have access to all benefits and services that they have earned for their service.”

Purick is a member of the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers and is actively pursuing her accreditation in veteran services. She and her husband, Michael, have been together for fifteen years. She is the mother of two daughters, Amber and Autumn, and stepmother to three children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her family.

The Granville County Veterans Services Office is located at 141 Williamsboro St. in Oxford. Learn more at

www.granvillecounty.org/233/Veterans-Services or call the office at 919.693.1484.

 

 

The Local Skinny! Good Times to Kick Off May with Granville County Tourism

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Ladies, (and gents, too – why not?)  find yourself a ‘fascinator’ and head to downtown Oxford Saturday afternoon for the Art, Wine and Beer festival. In addition to the titled features, there will be live music and lots of fun activities with a Kentucky Derby theme.

This annual event, hosted by The Hub on Main, takes place on Saturday, May 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., but Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen says to come early to eat, walk, shop and enjoy all that downtown has to offer.

Local artists will be on hand with unique, handcrafted items. There will be wine and beer tastings, too.

But downtown isn’t the only happenin’ place in Oxford Saturday.  The ultimate Elvis performance is coming to Thorndale Oaks. Tickets for the “Aloha from Vegas” show are on sale now. Platinum-level tickets are limited to 50 guests – who will enjoy early entry at 5 p.m., front-stage seating, food, a champagne toast and a pre-concert look at what it takes to put on the show.

VIP ticket holders enter at 6:15 p.m. and can be part of a meet-and-greet before the 7:15 p.m. performance, Allen said.

Go to www.visitgranvillenc.com to find out all the details.

Call 919.603.3701 or 919-725-5201 to purchase tickets.

The popular Quittin’ Time cranks back up on Thursday, May 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continues on Thursdays throughout May and June. A variety of downtown restaurants and shops will have small plate offerings and specialty beverages for patrons as they stroll downtown Oxford and enjoy live music, evening shopping in a relaxed atmosphere as the weekend approaches.

Lots of outside seating creates a great social vibe, Allen said, so get ready to chat with friends, new and old during Quittin’ Time.

Allen said the Downtown Oxford Restaurant Initiative – DORI – has a Facebook page that lists participating restaurants and retailers.

Then on Saturday, May 9, Culture Fest comes to downtown Oxford from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s a celebration of diversity and community, Allen said, and will include food, cultural experiences, kids’ activities and more.

Cedar Creek Gallery outside Creedmoor hosts its triennial National Teapot Show, beginning May 15 and continuing through Sept. 14.

This nationally recognized exhibit will feature all kinds of teapots, from functional to creative to artistic, Allen said. Artists from all across the country have submitted entries, she said.

They will be for sale, but they’ll all remain in the gallery for the duration of the exhibit, so visitors can see the artists’ creativity and imagination shining through in these works of art.

Creativity and imagination aren’t only for artisans, however. If you head over to The Ox Theater on May 31, you’ll get to see creativity and imagination in the form of a a Taylor Swift live band tribute. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show, “Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Eras Experience.”

Inspired by the pop music sensation’s iconic ‘Eras’ tour, this tribute performance will have plenty of costume changes, lights and more to recreate what Allen said is “a big concert feel in a smaller venue.”

Tickets are on sale at www.oxfordnc.org. Click on Departments then The Ox Theater to find the link.

Find out all the things that are happening across Granville County at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

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Statement On ‘Long-Term Water Statement’ From Franklin County Manager’s Office

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WIZS received the following statement late Friday afternoon from Michelle Kenny, research assistant in the office of Rep. Matthew Winslow, Dist. 7.

It appears below, in its entirety:

Franklin County has been working to secure a long-term water supply for its residents and businesses for more than twenty years. This legislation is one step in a long process, and it is not our first step.

For years, Franklin County pursued every available regional option. We have purchased water from multiple sources, including the City of Henderson through the Kerr Lake Regional Water System, the Town of Louisburg, and the City of Raleigh. Franklin County requested expanded capacity through existing regional arrangements repeatedly and has been unable to secure a long-term solution. Expanding the existing regional infrastructure to meet Franklin County’s projected demand would require a construction investment of more than $78 million, and even that investment would not provide sufficient capacity to meet Franklin County’s long-term needs. Obtaining water from multiple sources at the scale Franklin County requires is simply not cost-effective or sustainable.

The Army Corps of Engineers reallocation process at Kerr Lake is the right path forward. It is a formal, federally managed process which requires strict public notice and meaningful opportunities for input from all affected jurisdictions. The Army Corps of Engineers requires transparency. Franklin County did not bypass any process; we initiated the process that exists specifically to evaluate requests like this one.

On the legislation specifically, this bill gives Franklin County a legal tool it may need to position water infrastructure as the Army Corps process moves forward. The condemnation authority exists as a last resort if good-faith negotiation fails, but negotiation in good faith is absolutely Franklin County’s plan and our preference.

Franklin County’s growth benefits the entire region. The employers, families, and businesses choosing Franklin County create jobs and economic activity that extend well beyond our borders. Securing reliable, affordable water supply is how Franklin County continues to support that growth, for our residents and for the region. Franklin County growth is likely the best opportunity for economic growth for Granville, Vance and Warren Counties.

Franklin County respects its relationships with neighboring counties. Legislative advocacy is a normal part of local government, and the County pursued this through a process that would provide the best opportunity for success. Franklin County recognizes that affected jurisdictions were not notified in advance of this provision but are committed to ongoing dialogue as this process moves forward. The Legislative process and the Army Corps process provide meaningful opportunities for all affected jurisdictions to be heard, and Franklin County welcomes that engagement.

Brightspeed Establishes Annual $3K Scholarship Through VGCC Foundation

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— from Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation announces a $3,000 annual scholarship established by Brightspeed to support students pursuing their educational goals.

The scholarship, named the Brightspeed Bright Futures Annual Scholarship, will be awarded to one deserving student and used for the fall 2026 – spring 2027 academic year, according to information from VGCC.

“Brightspeed is proud to be part of the communities we serve, and that means investing in the people who call them home,” said Sabrina Anderson, local marketing manager at Brightspeed. “The Brightspeed Bright Futures Annual Scholarship is about supporting local students as they work toward their goals and helping create opportunities that strengthen families, neighborhoods and the community as a whole. We’re honored to partner with The VGCC Foundation to help students build brighter futures.”

VGCC Foundation Executive Director Tanya Weary expressed gratitude to Brightspeed, a high-speed internet provider that operates in about 20 states, including North Carolina. “This generous contribution will make a meaningful difference by providing critical financial assistance and opening doors of opportunity for our students as they work toward achieving their educational and career goals.”

Students planning to attend VGCC in fall 2026 are encouraged to apply for the Brightspeed Bright Futures Annual Scholarship beginning in May. The scholarship is designed to support students who demonstrate a commitment to their education and a desire to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation supports the mission of the College by providing resources that enhance educational opportunities for students and strengthen the College’s impact in the community.

For more information about the scholarship or how to apply, please visit The VGCC Foundation webpage or contact The VGCC Foundation office at foundation@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3264.

Granville Health System Foundation Sam Perry Scholarship Application Period Open Through May 4

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— Information from the Granville Health System Foundation

The Granville Health System Foundation is accepting applications for its annual Sam Perry Memorial Scholarship through May 4.

Students who are selected to receive the award this year will notice that the scholarship awards have been increased. The first-place recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship, while second and third-place recipients will receive $1,000 scholarships to be paid toward tuition in August 2026, upon verification of acceptance into an approved program. These are one-time scholarships, but individuals may reapply for as many years as they are enrolled in school.

Now in its 16th year, the scholarship was established to support students pursuing careers in health care and to help strengthen the future healthcare workforce in Granville County and surrounding communities.

In 2009, the Granville Health System Board of Trustees and the GHS Foundation Board of Directors established a scholarship fund in honor of Sam Perry, a physician assistant whose specialized medical care earned him deep respect from both patients and peers throughout his career at Granville Health System.

The deadline for submitting a completed scholarship application packet is May 4, 2026, at 5 p.m., and more information is available at www.ghshospital.org/ghs-foundation.

TownTalk: Faith in Mental Health Forum Coming April 20 at MHCO

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The next ‘Faith in Mental Health’ forum is scheduled for Monday, April 20 at 6 p.m. to share information with individuals and church representatives interested in learning more about available mental health resources in Vance and Granville counties.

The session is free to attend and will take place in the cafeteria on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, said Frank Sossamon, pastor at Hermon Community Church. The theme for this program is substance misuse and addiction. A barbecue dinner will be provided as well, Sossamon said.

The Faith in Mental Health program is a pilot project that Sossamon hopes will eventually go statewide that will operate under the umbrella of public health departments.

“The numbers continue to grow with every event we have,” Sossamon said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

So far, more than 40 churches across the two-county area are actively involved in the initiative, which has three different levels of participation, depending on church interest.

Getting appropriate information into the hands of church congregations is helpful for a variety of reasons. An orientation session provides participants with information about resources in the area that can be shared with church members.

“We want you to be able to help your congregation,” he said. Participating in the Faith in Mental Health project is one way for congregations to be informed about what resources are available, where they’re located and how to access them.

The second level of commitment comes when a congregation chooses a mental health topic to highlight and discuss each month.

“Just being able to talk about it is healing for people in the church that are struggling with those things,” Sossamon said. Individuals realize that there is someone to talk to – the pastor or someone else in the congregation. “That in itself, is liberating. That in itself is healing and encouraging. And it’s healthy for the church as well,” he added.

The forums are also a way for people from different congregations to connect and form networks. He said he’s heard positive feedback from participants of earlier sessions about having the information they needed to share with others about particular services they were searching for.

The Faith in Mental Health initiative is for churches of all sizes, Sossamon said. So, whether it’s a 1,000 member congregation or a congregation of 10, there’s a place for you.

The upcoming forum will include area providers who will speak about substance misuse and addiction, as well as representatives from different programs available to provide help, from support groups to residential facilities.

The Masonic Home for Children in Oxford is located at 600 College St.

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Maria Parham Health Switching To New Patient Portal Platform; Patients Can Save Records Before April 30

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— Information from Maria Parham Health

The current patient portal in use by Maria Parham Health will be discontinued at the end of April. Patients who want to retain a copy of their medical records should take steps to download and save their records before the hospital switches over to the new patient portal platform.

Hospital officials said the current patient portal system Syntellis will be discontinued effective April 30, 2026 to make way for a new portal called InteliChart.

After April 30, patients will no longer be able to access their personal health information through the Syntellis system.

Patients who wish to retain a copy of their medical records are encouraged to log in and download their health information prior to the April 30 deadline. Access to the portal is available at https://communicator.syntellis.com, or by using the QR code provided in official Maria Parham Health communications. Step-by-step instructions for downloading records are also available in accompanying materials.

“We are excited to transition to the InteliChart patient portal, which will provide an enhanced and more user-friendly experience for our patients,” said Bert Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Maria Parham Health. “As we make this change, we encourage patients to download their existing health records from Syntellis before April 30. We appreciate our patients’ patience during this transition and remain committed to ensuring continued access to their health information.”

Maria Parham Health encourages all patients who have used the Syntellis portal to take action as soon as possible to avoid losing access to their records.

For questions or assistance, patients may contact Maria Parham Health directly for support.

Granville County Emergency Management

Zane Patterson Named Granville County’s First Fire Commission Administrator

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— Information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Zane Patterson has been named the first Fire Commission Administrator for Granville County. Patterson enters this new role to work in the Emergency Management Department to work with the Granville County Fire Commission, which oversees the Fire Protection Service District that was established in 2022, in collaboration with the 14 fire departments that serve Granville County residents. With more than 12 years of experience in fire services and numerous fire inspection and safety certifications to the job, the newly created position will help provide long-term financial stability of the county’s fire services and ensure residents have adequate fire protection, regardless of where they live, according to information from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.

Patterson joins Granville County after most recently serving as Vance County fire marshal. Before coming to Vance County, he worked as a Franklin County deputy fire marshal, a captain with the Henderson Fire Department, and as a part-time firefighter and driver operator with the Vance County Fire Department.  Patterson has also been a member of the Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department since 2014, where he has served in the leadership roles of assistant chief and member of the board of directors.

Patterson has also received numerous fire inspection and safety certifications from the State of North Carolina, including Fire Instructor, Fire and Life Safety Educator (FLSE), Fire/Arson Investigator, Fire Inspector, Fire Officer and Child Passenger Safety Technician.

“The best part of my job is working with the local volunteer fire departments,” said Patterson. “I was very excited to find an opportunity where my focus would be supporting these departments that often can be neglected. As a volunteer myself, my goal in this position is to give back to the fire services that have given so much to me.“

A native of the Cokesbury community in Vance County, Patterson is a 2016 graduate of J.F. Webb High School. He married his wife, Mackenzie, in 2020. They have three children: Daisy (3), Ellie Mae (20 months), and Voddie Mack (1 month).

Patterson also serves as the pastor of Unity Baptist Church in the Bearpond community. He attended Wake Technical Community College and is currently enrolled at Boyce College at the Southern Baptist Seminary in the Biblical and Theological Studies bachelor’s program.

TownTalk: Granville Gardeners Expo Coming April 18

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The annual Granville Gardeners Expo takes place Saturday, Apr. 18, and Vendor Coordinator Christi Henthorn said this year’s event features educational workshops, vendors, local handcrafted items as well as the plants, vegetables, herbs and more for gardeners to scoop up and add to their own landscapes.

Come out to the Granville County Convention & Expo Center between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to check out all the locally sourced plants, from herbs and vegetable slips to hardy landscape specimens.

Experienced gardeners may know exactly what they’re looking at and looking for at the expo, but there are many opportunities for less-experienced gardeners to learn more about how to cultivate the coveted “green thumb.”

More than 85 vendors will fill the indoor and outdoor spaces of the expo center that day, but there’s room for just a few more. “We’re spread out all over the grounds,” Henthorn said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

In years past, the education workshops were held inside the convention center, but this year, they’ll be integrated among the vendors and plants, sharing their knowledge about diverse topics ranging from gardening as therapy for anxiety and depression and incorporating native plants into the landscape to bird feeders, bees and pollinators and making herbal teas and breads.

Henthorn said she’d recommend bringing a wagon to make your shopping experience more enjoyable. You can fill that wagon with plants, unique arts and crafts items and more, she said. Most vendors are equipped to take electronic payments, she added, although cash is always welcome.

Members of the Master Gardeners will be on hand to talk about “victory” gardens and there will be Earth Day activities taking place during the day as well. A raffle full of great prizes has been organized to support the Gardeners’ annual scholarship.

Add a fleet of food trucks, stocked with yummy food and treats, and you’ve got a full day of fun for the whole family.

Indeed, Henthorn said the Gardeners’ Expo is a family-friendly event. Last year’s expo had more than 2,200 in attendance and this year’s event is shaping up to top that number.

“Our plants are generally all organic,” Henthorn said. They’re either grown locally at a couple of different nearby nurseries, or they come straight out of the gardens of Granville Gardener members.

Parking in front of the Expo building is reserved for those with mobility issues or handicapped placards. General parking is located next door. Volunteers will be on hand to direct drivers to a parking spot.

If you placed an online order, pickup will take place in a drive-thru line that takes you to the back side of the covered arena behind the Expo Center.

Learn more about the Granville Gardeners Club at https://thegranvillegardeners.org/

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VGCC Logo

VGCC Drama Presents ‘God Of Carnage,’ Award-Winning Comedy About Parenthood, For 4-Day Run April 9-12

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— Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

VGCC Drama is back on stage this spring with Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage,” winner of three 2009 Tony Awards (including Best Play) and the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

This internationally acclaimed comedy takes you deep into the most dangerous place on Earth: parenthood. What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behavior of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly, or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums, and tears before bedtime? Boys will be boys, but the adults are worse…much worse. “God of Carnage” is a comedy of manners, without the manners.

The student cast includes Annie Walker as Veronica, Jordon Medlin as Michael, Sophie Blair as Annette, and Elijah Moss as Alan. Riley Stone is the stage manager, Isabela De La Joya is assistant stage manager, and Joshua Ramsey serves on the crew. Department Chair Betsy Henderson acts as the play’s director.

The students’ hard work will culminate in four performances:

  • Thursday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 12, at 2 p.m.

All shows will take place in the Small Auditorium on Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus  in Henderson. The venue is located on the lower level of Building 2, which is accessible from the campus courtyard.

Following the Thursday night performance, a special talk-back discussion will be moderated by VGCC sociology professor Leslie Hurt. The conversation will explore the play’s central themes, including conflict, civility, and the complexities of human behavior. Hurt will be joined by members of the cast and crew, who will share insights into their creative process, character development, and the challenges of bringing the production to life. This engaging discussion will offer audience members a deeper understanding of the show while creating an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between performers and the community.

Tickets are on sale now. The cost is $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors/military, and $10 for students and VGCC faculty/staff. Purchase tickets online at www.vgcc.edu/god-of-carnage.

VGCC Drama presents “God of Carnage” by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Please be advised that this production contains adult and/or offensive language…and vomit.

To learn more about VGCC Drama or Fine Arts at Vance-Granville Community College, contact Betsy Henderson, Department Chair of Fine Arts & Humanities, at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3371.