-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension
Create Your Own Summer Camp at Home
Planning some activities for your kids during the summer can help stave off those “I’m bored” comments from children. Plan a summer camp at home. You can plan activities for a week or just one day. Pick a theme for the camp and involve the whole family in planning activities. Each family member can choose the theme for their camp. You might have a lake day with picnics or boating, a museum day to check out art with art activities for everyone to create when you get home, or even a cooking camp. Use your imagination and have fun planning and doing new activities this summer.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/coopextnc.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-25 16:57:512018-06-25 16:46:05Parenting Tip of the Week – 6/25/18
Vance-Granville Community College recognized 34 students who graduated this spring from the Associate Degree Nursing program with a pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center on May 9.
Among those honored with distinctive nursing pins at the ceremonies were eight who graduated through the LPN to ADN Transition Program, which helps Licensed Practical Nurses to continue their education and then become Registered Nurses. Those graduates were William Autrey of Henderson; Joan Currin of Kittrell; Tammy Emery of Creedmoor; Brittany McFarland of Kittrell; Latonya Morton of Oxford; Roselyne Muhimpundu of Wake Forest; Laura Murray of Oxford; and Omar O’Brien of Wake Forest.
Members of the 2018 Associate Degree Nursing class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their nursing pins on May 9 included, on front row, from left: Shayne Gravitt, Valerie Strange, Victoria Puplampu, Halie Brooks, Laura Murray, Brittany McFarland, Crystal Satterfield and Courtney Moss; second row, from left: Tonya Berry, Caitlyn Smith, Ashley Drake, Jessica White, Brittany Beddingfield and Jeannie Adcock; third row, from left: Brittani Lynch, Roselyne Muhimpundu and Guadalupe Duran; fourth row, from left: Tammy Emery, Stephen Gakumo, Caitlin Moen, Mary Ann Rojas-Galvan, Christine Kingsley, Kaylan Hoyle, Shakeera Robinson, Tasha Warren and Rachel Morton; back row, from left: William Autrey, Jodie Carroll, Joan Currin, Latonya Morton, Matthew Grooms and Omar O’Brien; not pictured: Joy Harris and Mujahid Yagoub. (VGCC Photo)
The graduates who took courses in the traditional five-semester sequence included Jeannie Adcock of Oxford; Brittany Beddingfield of Oxford; Tonya Berry of Franklinton; Halie Brooks of Raleigh; Jodie Carroll of Oxford; Ashley Drake of Stovall; Guadalupe Duran of Louisburg; Stephen Gakumo of Durham; Shayne Gravitt of Raleigh; Matthew Grooms of Butner; Joy Harris of Oxford; Kaylan Hoyle of Henderson; Christine Kingsley of Louisburg; Brittani Lynch of Hollister; Caitlin Moen of Cary; Rachel Morton of Louisburg; Courtney Moss of Henderson; Victoria Puplampu of Durham; Shakeera Robinson of Franklinton; Mary Ann Rojas-Galvan of Creedmoor; Crystal Satterfield of Oxford; Caitlyn Smith of Creedmoor; Valerie Strange of Bullock; Tasha Warren of Henderson; Jessica White of Louisburg; and Mujahid Yagoub of Durham.
In welcoming remarks, Dr. Levy Brown, VGCC’s vice president of academic affairs, described the class as being “highly sought after” by employers, colleges and universities because of their educational background and skill level. “Over 80 percent of these students already have a job waiting for them as a registered nurse,” he added.
Associate Degree Nursing program head/instructor Dr. Anna Seaman praised the class for its hard work, dedication and compassion. “Your efforts have not gone unnoticed,” she said. “You have the knowledge and the skills you need to be successful. But, most importantly, you have the dedication and the heart to do it with caring and compassion. We know that the dedication and compassion that you possess will be appreciated by those patients and families that you care for in the future.”
Halie Brooks, the president of the Class of 2018 nursing graduates, thanked families for their support as well as the nursing instructors. In remarks to her classmates, she added, “We have made lifelong friendships that we will forever cherish. We have also been each other’s support system through the early mornings, long days and late nights. And without each other, we may not be here.”
Academic honors were presented to graduates who completed the program with at least a 3.5 grade point average: Adcock, Brooks, Carroll, Duran, Emery, Grooms, Hoyle, O’Brien, Strange and finally Murray, who was recognized for having the highest GPA in the class.
Cords were presented to students who participated as members of the National Student Nurses Association, which sponsors community service projects and professional development. These students included Beddingfield, Berry, Brooks, Carroll, Drake, Duran, Gravitt, Grooms, Harris, Hoyle, Kingsley, Lynch, McFarland, Latonya Morton, Rachel Morton, Moss, Pumlampu, Robinson, Rojas-Galvan, Smith, Warren, White and Yagoub.
Instructor Brande McIlroy described the significance of the nursing pin. The unique green and gold pin identifies each nurse as a VGCC graduate and indicates that the graduate has the training and competence to serve as a professional nurse. During the ceremony, graduates were pinned by Dr. Seaman and received lamps and roses from instructors Ugur Celimli and Vanessa Ramseur. Meanwhile, Nursing Department Chair Erica Jastrow read their biographies. After all graduates had received pins, the lights in the Civic Center were lowered, and instructor Crystal Senter led students in reciting the “Florence Nightingale Pledge” by lamplight.
The invocation was delivered by Rachel Morton and the benediction by Brittany McFarland, both of them graduates of the program. Also participating in the program were instructors Patsy Pegram and Michael Frazier.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 26, 2018, as the rescheduled (due to weather) Alive After Five event brings fun and entertainment to downtown Oxford.
The first Alive After Five event of 2018 will be held in downtown Oxford’s parking lot at Littlejohn, Main and Gilliam Streets, to celebrate the 15th anniversary.
Gary Lowder & SMOKIN’ HOT Band will be the performers for the evening.
This band is “known as a Soul, R & B party band,” based out of North Myrtle Beach, SC. Their musical repertoire coves decades of hits from your favorite artists and genres of music including soul, rhythm and blues, funk, reggae, jazz standards, country, 50’s, 60’s and Carolina Beach Music.
In addition to performing some of the most current hits that are topping the charts today, the group has had many successful chart-topping hits on local radio and internet stations across North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida. Gary Lowder & SMOKIN’ HOT are comprised of multi-talented musicians who have come together to produce incredible performances each and every time they take the stage.
Interested concession vendors are asked to contact the Granville County Chamber of Commerce by Monday, June 25.
Also, approximately 60 volunteers are needed at check-in tables and beverage stations. If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering from 5 – 7 p.m. or 7 – 9 p.m. on July 26, please contact Wanda Garrett; 919.693.6125, wanda@granville-chamber.com or Toni Anne Wheeler; 919.528.4994, tawheeler@granville-chamber.com.
Include your name, time available for volunteer work, email address, phone number and t-shirt size in your email.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Alive-After-Five-July-2018.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-22 16:55:452018-06-22 16:50:59Oxford’s First Alive After Five of 2018 Rescheduled for Thurs., July 26
Garry Daeke, development coordinator for Franklin-Granville-Vance (FGV) Smart Start was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss FGV’s reading program and upcoming events.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Founded by singer and entertainer Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Foundation in 1995, the Imagination Library has been a part of Vance County on a smaller scale since 2005.
With the recent additional funding provided by the NC legislature, Daeke reports that FGV’s Imagination Library program has grown from approximately 400 participants to almost 2,000 in the tri-county area since January of this year.
Children ages birth to five who are residents of Franklin, Granville or Vance County can receive one book a month in the mail free of charge. “Children can really accumulate a small library, a potential of 60 books,” said Daeke. “These are high-quality Scholastic books and the kids have ownership of them.”
The first book participants receive is “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper, which, according to Daeke, plays into Parton’s theme of the fire engine. The last book in the series is “Kindergarten Here I Come” by D.J. Steinberg and teaches children ideas and concepts that will prepare them for elementary school.
According to Daeke, the goal of the program is to make books available to all children, regardless of income, and to increase their exposure to language and concepts at an early age. “Brain science says children’s brains are 85% developed by the age of five. Dolly’s program is teaching children to read and helping them understand higher concepts,” said Daeke.
The books are developmentally appropriate for children at the age of sign up and change each month as the child grows. “Children get really excited about getting something positive in the mail,” said Daeke. “That’s part of the program’s design. They are excited about books, excited about reading and even kind of demanding when their books come each month for mom or dad to sit down right then and read the book to them.”
Applications can be found at various locations around town including pediatric offices, childcare centers, the Vance County Public Health Department, Maria Parham Health, the Perry Memorial Library and the FGV Smart Start office.
Roundtable Discussion – Perry Memorial Library
The FGV Smart Start will hold a roundtable discussion at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St. in downtown Henderson on Thursday, June 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. This discussion is open to the public and will include several community organizations including Pre-K Coordinators, Cooperative Extension agents and Smart Start staff.
“The idea is to bring people together for a general discussion on how we can engage and what we can do for children in our communities,” Daeke said.
9th Annual Ducky Derby
The 9th Annual Ducky Derby will be held in downtown Henderson on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Rubber ducks will race two blocks down Garnett Street with top prizes of $1000, $500, $250 and $100 to the first through fourth place winners.
A festival will be held in the outdoor area between the Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tickets for ducks will go on sale in the next few weeks at $5 a duck, six ducks for $25 or a “flock” of 25 ducks for $100.
According to Daeke, Greystone Concrete of Henderson will once again pour the ducks out of a cement truck to ensure all enter the race in a timely fashion.
All proceeds from the Ducky Derby are used to fund Smart Start programs. FGV Smart Start is looking for sponsors for this year’s event.
Those interested in any of these events or with questions may contact the FGV Smart Start office at (252) 433-9110 or visit the NC Smart Start website at www.ncsmartstart.org.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0110_SmartStart-Logo.jpg.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2018-06-21 16:59:512018-06-21 16:45:04Smart Start’s Imagination Library Program Continues to Grow
Pat Leveque Oakley:
50 Pots for 50 Years
June 23 – July 29, 2018
Pat Leveque Oakley, Cedar Creek Gallery co-founder and
studio artist, has returned to the studio to make 50 pots
in honor of Cedar Creek Gallery’s 50th anniversary.
What is a birthday party without a present?
To celebrate our big milestone, we have a gift for you! On both Saturday and Sunday morning, the first 50 people in the door will get a commemorative dish created in collaboration between Lisa Oakley and Jennifer Stas!
-Press Release, County of Granville, Public Information Officer Lynn Allred
Granville County has much to offer, and what better way to bring attention to the talents of the people who live here than nominating them for statewide recognition through the Made in NC Awards presented by Our State magazine and Mast General Store? Now in its third year, the contest spotlights unique makers and business owners in four categories: Home and Garden, Style, Food and Drink and Art. All products must be able to be reproduced for sale, with submissions judged on quality, innovation, creativity and the connection with North Carolina.
“Whatever it is that you make and sell, you’re proud to produce it right here in North Carolina,” contest information reads, “and we want to help you show it off to the entire state.”
One winner and two honorable mentions will be selected for each of the four categories, and an overall winner will be selected from the four category winners, receiving a $500 prize, an email and social media promotion; a short feature on madeinncawards.com and on ourstate.com; and a quarter page ad in the December 2018 edition of Our State magazine ($2,000 value). Category winners will also be featured in the Made in NC awards celebration on Oct0ber 13 in downtown Winston Salem.
Last year’s winners include Blue Mountain Bowls of Pisgah Forest for their vessel sinks (overall winner, winner of Art category); Ole Mason Jar of Charlotte for their button-down shirts (Style category); Troutman Chair Company of Troutman, NC for their Plantation Rocking Chairs (Home and Garden category) and The Chef’s Farmer of Shelby for their Old North Shrub beverage (Food and Drink category).
Judges for this year’s contest include Mast General Store President Lisa Cooper; Our State Store Manager Nicole Bogus; Co-founder of Ole Mason Jar Bradley Rhyne; Founder and Owner of Replacements Ltd. Bob Page; Artist Patrick Doughtery; and Angus Barn owner Van Eure. In addition to determining this year’s winners, judges from the Our State Store and Mast General Store will also consider submissions for merchandising opportunities.
Entries are accepted online at madeinncawards.com through July 18. Once all submission forms are received at the end of the entry period, an Our State representative will contact nominees if a sample of the product is required.
Winners will be announced on August 23, 2018.
For more information about this contest, contact Angela Allen, Director of Granville County Tourism Development Authority, at 919-693-6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Made-in-NC-Awards-logo-2018.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-20 16:59:252018-06-20 16:41:35Granville County Offered Opportunity to “Show What the Region is Made Of”
-Information courtesy Angela Allen, Director, Granville County Tourism Development Authority
The City of Creedmoor and Town of Butner will host a spectacular fireworks display at Lake Holt, located on Old Highway 75 in Butner, on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Gates open at 6 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
Concessions offering a selection of hot dogs, bottled water, and soft drinks are available (no alcoholic beverages are permitted), and a DJ plays music to add to the celebration.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and a personal-size flashlight. Due to the loud nature of fireworks, event organizers request that all pets be left at home for this event.
Parking and security are organized by officers of the Creedmoor Police Department, the Creedmoor Volunteer Fire Department, Butner Public Safety, and Granville County Sheriff’s Office.
This event is supported with donations from the Town of Stem, City of Oxford, and Granville County.
The date for the annual fireworks display varies from year to year, and details are published on the events calendar once finalized. Register for e-Notification to stay informed of event news and happenings in Creedmoor.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/wizs_0002_Layer-2.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-19 16:58:152018-06-19 16:58:15Lake Holt Fireworks Display Set for Tues., July 3
-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free
As of June 3, there have been 32 domestic violence homicides in North Carolina in 2018!
The youngest victim was 7 months old…
It’s time to say “Enough!” SPEAK UP!
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call Families Living Violence Free at 919-693-5700 Crisis Line or the Hispanic Crisis Line at 919-690-0888 Day or Night!
We are here for you!
You could be saving a life…it might be your own.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsfbresize_0001s_0054_Families-Living-Violence-Free.jpg.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-19 16:57:192018-06-19 16:57:19High Number of NC Homicides Makes Families Living Violence Free Say “Enough!”
DURHAM – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is inviting stakeholders not limited to but including small businesses, general contractors, suppliers and supportive and professional service providers, to participate in the department’s next session of it’s 2018 Community Engagement Series.
“This series is designed to offer networking and learning opportunities for contractors, consultants and other companies seeking to do business with NCDOT, and is being hosted in each of NCDOT’s 14 Highway Divisions throughout the remainder of 2018,” said Chief Deputy Secretary David Howard.
“OCR’s motto is to ‘Recruit, Train, Retain and Grow,’ and this series is a conduit for us to execute that mission on behalf of the department and the taxpayers of this great state,” said Office of Civil Rights Director Shelby Scales.
The next meeting in the series will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, on the campus of North Carolina Central University inside the NCCU School of Law building at 640 Nelson Street, Durham.
NCDOT is committed to ensuring that no person shall – on the grounds of race, color, national origin, limited English proficiency, income status, sex, age or disability – be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any NCDOT program or activity, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other related nondiscrimination laws and authorities.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in the Series. Anyone requiring special services should contact Mark Whisenant at 919-508-1822 or mawhisenant@ncdot.gov as early as possible so arrangements can be made.
For more information contact: NCDOT Office of Civil Rights at (919) 508-1808 or ncdotocr@ncdot.gov.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/wizsresize_0000s_0084_WIZS-DOT-Image-2.png.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-18 17:00:242018-06-18 16:44:37NCDOT’s Office of Civil Rights Seeking Stakeholder Participation
-Information courtesy Bee Jubilee Coordinator Christi Henthron
The Granville County Beekeepers Association (GCBA), will hold their 3rd Annual Bee Jubilee this Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Granville County Expo Center, 4605 US-15 in Oxford.
The Bee Jubilee is held in conjunction with National Pollinator Week, June 18-24, and is a day-long event filled with bee and pollinator-related speakers and demonstrations, local arts and handmade crafts, non-profits, children’s activities, a silent auction, honey, North Carolina-grown produce and more.
Kids activities will be available and over 65 vendors will offer information or selling homegrown, handmade, bee or agriculture items. A silent auction and a drawing for the winner of the Year of Honey Raffle will be held.
Schedule of Events:
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Vendors & Kids Area Open – Expo Center & Arena
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Year of Honey Raffle Tickets for Sale at $1 each or 6 for $5 – Expo Lobby
9 a.m. – Silent Auction Begins – Granville County Beekeepers Association – Expo Lobby
9 to 11 a.m. – Breakfast is Served – Gavin’s Grub Hub Food Truck – Front of Expo
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Bee-Jubilee-Logo.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2018-06-18 16:59:202018-06-18 16:43:37Schedule Released for Saturday’s Bee Jubilee in Oxford
In addition to performing some of the most current hits that are topping the charts today, the group has had many successful chart-topping hits on local radio and internet stations across North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Florida. Gary Lowder & SMOKIN’ HOT are comprised of multi-talented musicians who have come together to produce incredible performances each and every time they take the stage.
