Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

The Local Skinny! Restaurant Week Comes To Oxford

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Local foodies, take note!

Next week, innovative dining experiences are a short drive away as Oxford kicks off “Restaurant Week.”

The event kicks off this Sunday, Sept. 25, with a Sunday Supper at Oxford Oaks Farm, located in Oxford Park, 3679 Oaklawn Dr., and Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen told Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! Monday that the apps and drinks will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by a three-course meal at 6 that will be topped off with dessert and coffee.

This is a ticketed event and Allen said seating is limited. Visit https://strongarm.menu for details and to purchase tickets.

Q, the general manager for Tobacco Wood Brewing Co., said the idea for Restaurant Week grew out of the Quittin’ Time events that have been held in downtown Oxford for the past couple of years.

Quittin’ Time features small plates, or tapas, and patrons walk among the participating restaurants to sample food and beverages. But during Restaurant Week, each restaurant takes a turn at providing a specialty meal.

“Every restaurant in this town has superstars…who come up with some of the most creative dishes than I’ve seen in a long time – it’s gonna blow people’s minds,” Q said.

Up first is Harvest, with a prix fixe dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 27. There is a 5:30 p.m. seating and a 7:30 p.m. seating. Call Harvest this week between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at 919.603.1460 to reserve a spot.

On Wednesday, the spotlight shines on Main St. Oasis, where reservations will be accepted, but are not necessary. A Mediterranean fish dinner is the featured dish.

Uptown and Strong Arm team up for Thursday evening’s culinary delights. Uptown and Tobacco Wood will be featured again on Saturday evening.

Tobacco Wood is pairing the music of a jazz trio with some kitchen vibes straight out of the Delta: “we’re going to do a little Cajun Creole night,” Q said, with some specialty dishes available – think jambalaya and shrimp and grits. Guests also can choose to spice up the wings or other regular menu items with a little Cajun dry rub or Cajun sauce, Q added.

The beauty of Restaurant Week, Q said, is that patrons “have a full night to understand what each restaurant has to offer…plus more. The plus more is what you’re going to see” next week, he added.

Check out the full listing of Oxford’s Restaurant Week at Visit Granville County NC’s Facebook page.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Military History Show Coming To Local Airport Oct. 29

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The 7th annual Military History Show will take place Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Henderson-Oxford Airport in Oxford.

The free event is open to the public and will be held 10a.m. to 4 p.m., complete with a display of military equipment, uniforms and other historical articles. Participants can bid on items during a Silent Auction and Total Flight Solutions will be on hand for helicopter rides.

All proceeds will benefit the Veterans Affairs Committee of Granville County.

Contact Harry Coombs to secure a vendor space, make a donation or to become a sponsor. At 919.691.7697 or Harry4th@centurylink.net.

The airport is located at 6514 Airport Rd., Oxford, NC 27565

LFNC Fellow Begins 1-Year Fellowship With Granville County

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As one of 23 host sites across the state, Granville County has its first participant in a leadership program that is part of the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government.

The program, Lead for North Carolina (LFNC), places recent college graduates in a one-year fellowship in various municipal and county governments. Keegan Rapp, a graduate of Queens University in Charlotte, began his fellowship in August.

The Belmont, NC native said he is excited to be in Granville County.
“I became a Fellow to learn more about how local government assists people in North Carolina,” Rapp said. “I will work to boost the capacity of Granville County while elevating the county and learning its story.”

LFNC serves as a bridge between North Carolina communities and smart, passionate and committed young leaders. With the launch of its fourth cohort this year, the program has placed 74 fellows in positions with municipal governments, county governments and regional councils across the state. By recruiting, training and placing these fellows, LFNC seeks to strengthen public institutions, support local communities as it cultivates a new generation of public service leaders.

“We are excited to host Keegan Rapp as our Lead for NC Fellow,” said Assistant County Manager Korena Weichel. “Keegan will assist and learn from all county departments during his time with us. Granville County government is committed to cultivating the next generation of local government leaders as prioritized by our board of commissioners in the 2021-2025 strategic plan. Hosting a Lead for NC Fellow is a great way to gain valuable assistance for county management while also providing Keegan with an in-depth training ground to begin his  public service career.”

Of the 23 fellowship placements, 10 Fellows will serve in municipalities, eight in  county offices, and six in regional councils of government. In total, fellows’ assignments will cover thirty-seven individual North Carolina counties. Fellows will work in areas including budgeting, management, opioid response, planning, housing and economic development.

Lead for North Carolina is made possible through funding from an array of partners, including the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation, AmeriCorps, The Anonymous Trust, Golden LEAF Foundation, The Jessie Ball duPont  Fund, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, State Farm, Wells Fargo and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

Lead for North Carolina is joined by the following founding partners: the North Carolina League of Municipalities, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, the North Carolina City/County Management Association and Lead for America.

Granville School Board Set To Meet Monday, Sept. 19

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The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a regular board meeting on Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Mary Potter Center of Education

Public comments for the meeting can be made in person at the board meeting, or in writing by using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y37evl6z

Comments should be submitted between 12 noon and 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting, according to a press statement from Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS associate superintendent and public information officer. Board members will receive copies of comments; a maximum of 30 minutes in total will be allotted for public comment during the meeting.

Although seating is limited, anyone without access to WiFi may use internet services at the Richard Thornton Library, 210 Main St., Oxford, NC 27565 or the South Branch Library, 1550 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor, NC 27522

Join live at https://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=MDhkZj.

 

Families Living Violence Free

Quarter Auction Oct. 7 To Benefit Families Living Violence Free

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Join the fun to raise money for a good cause at the Quarter Auction to benefit Families Living Violence Free on Friday, Oct. 7. The event will be held at The Barn at Vino in Stem.

FVLF Executive Director Peggy Roark said a $20 ticket includes dinner and a bidding paddle. Bring an appetite, lots of enthusiasm and a few rolls of quarters! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 6:15 and the auction kicks off at 7 p.m. Bring some extra cash to purchase items from your favorite participating vendors.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the auction is just one way to support agencies like FLVF as its staff provides services to those in the community who have experienced trauma in the form of domestic violence or sexual assault.

The Barn at Vino is located at 3200 Bliss Trail in Stem.

Phone 919.693.3579 to purchase tickets.

High School Students Can Apply For Youth Leadership Council Through Sept. 30

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-information from Granville County Cooperative Extension

The Granville County Youth Leadership Council (GCYLC) is accepting applications through Sept. 30 to join the council. Any student in grades 9-11 who is interested in honing leadership skills and learning how to make a difference in their community is encouraged to submit an application, according to Charissa Puryear, Granville Unit Director at the N.C. Cooperative Extension office.

The GCYLC is being formed as a partnership between the Granville County Board of Commissioners and N.C. Cooperative Extension. The council will offer 20-25 youth from diverse backgrounds across the county a chance to participate in a leadership development program while serving as ambassadors and youth voices to the county commissioners and other local boards. The council is being created to elevate youth voices and contribute to community development, programming and vision while providing youth a unique opportunity to be drivers of their own ideas from conceptualization to implementation and reflection, Puryear noted in a press statement.

Members will also be encouraged to represent GCYLC at board meetings, conferences, and special events.

Students interested in applying should be enrolled in high school, live in Granville County, and be available for meetings at least one time per month. Community, youth and faith-based organizations and educators are encouraged to nominate youth. If interested in applying, visit www.granvilleylc.weebly.com or contact Charissa Puryear at cmpuryea@ncsu.edu or 919.603.1350.

Masonic Home for Children

Visit Sept. 15 Open House At MHCO To Learn More About Community Support Center

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Plans are underway to create a community support center on the campus of the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford to offer resources, training and other services to families in the community.

Through a partnership with the Granville County United Way, FGV Smart Start, Granville Education Foundation and Baptist Children’s Home the Masonic Home for Children invites interested community agencies  to an open house on Thursday, Sept. 15. Drop by between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more about how to identify and address family needs, provide services, network and make referrals for services on behalf of families in need.

Some of the proposed services include:

  • Parenting Education
  • Nutrition Classes
  • Family Counseling
  • Foster Care Training
  • Adolescent Group Counseling
  • Financial Management Education
  • Recreation
  • Networking to a variety of services

Visitors can come to the Parham Cottage at the children’s home, whose main campus is located at 600 College St., Oxford.

Granville Announces Drew Cummings As New County Manager

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-information courtesy of Granville Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

The Granville County Board of Commissioners has selected Drew Cummings as the new county manager. Cummings has been an assistant county manager and chief of staff in Durham County for 14 years. He will begin his new job on Oct. 17.

“I am so excited to come to Granville County and look forward to working with the commissioners, staff, and the community to continue building on the strong groundwork that has already been laid,” Cummings said.

Cummings is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He and his wife, Amy, have three school-aged children and in his spare time Cummings enjoys exercise, woodwork, and singing in his church choir.

“The Granville County Board of Commissioners is unanimous in its selection of Drew Cummings,” said Tony Cozart, board chair. “His educational level and extensive experience make Mr. Cummings the desired candidate to serve as our next county manager.”

Before his time in Durham County, Cummings, worked in other areas of municipal government and was a middle school teacher for seven years before entering work in local government, according to a press statement from Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood..

While in Durham County, Cummings focused on a wide range of issues including economic development, education, transportation, affordable housing, and homelessness. He has been a member of the International City-County Management Association (ICMA) as well as the North Carolina City and County Managers Association since 2004.

Cummings achieved his ICMA Credentialed Manager status in 2021 and is also a 2015 graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy. He is a graduate of Harvard University, holding a BA in Government and received his Master’s in Public Policy from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy.

Cummings comes to us with outstanding references, is very well trained in county administration, and has shown throughout his career that he is a person who has committed himself to getting results. His longevity with Durham County shows that he is willing to ingrain himself in a community and weather a few storms while moving towards a long-range vision of success. As a longtime Durham resident, Mr. Cummings is already familiar with this region and knows the needs and opportunities for success that we have in Granville,” Cozart said.

“I look forward to getting to know the community and staff much better in the coming months as we re-commit ourselves to the goals of responsive, innovative, efficient government and seek to seize the positive out of all the change we have seen over the past few years. It is a true honor.”

David Richardson, Granville School Board Chair, Dies

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David Richardson, chairman of the Granville County Board of Education, died Tuesday evening. Friends, church colleagues and education supporters across the county reflected Wednesday on Richardson’s life and legacy in the community.

Granville County Public Schools Public Information Officer Dr. Stan Winborne said district officials received word of Richardson’s death, but he had no further information about funeral service arrangements.

Richardson was pastor at Peace’s Chapel Baptist Church, located in the Fairport community. He also served on the advisory committee for the Granville Crime Stoppers, and President Frank Sossamon said he had known Richardson through that organization, as well as through their shared work in the ministry.

“It was a shock to all of us,” Sossamon said, of learning of Richardson’s death.

“He was a caring man…He deeply cared for people,” he said, adding that he wanted to do something that would positively affect his community. He was recently re-elected to the District 7 seat on the Granville County school board. “He wanted what was best for the county,” Sossamon continued.

A post by Board President Dr. Linda Frederickson on the Granville Education Foundation social media page said, “David was a champion for Granville County Schools and so supportive of GEF. He had a kind and giving heart and truly wanted to do what was best for Granville County Schools.”

State Highway Patrol

Booze It & Lose It Campaign Aimed At Reducing Alcohol-Related Car Crashes

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State and local officials have a simple message – never drink and drive.

Doing so over the long holiday weekend could mean a trip to jail rather than to the beach or pool.

Through Sept. 11, law enforcement statewide will be stepping up patrols to stop impaired drivers during the annual Labor Day Booze It & Lose It campaign.

Driving while impaired is against the law and could be deadly, not to mention expensive. People charged with DWI can lose their license and pay thousands of dollars in court fees.

“By finding a sober ride home, you can prevent a fun summer night from turning tragic,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “More than 400 North Carolina families lost loved ones last year in alcohol-related crashes, and if we can stop even one family from experiencing this kind of loss, it will have been worth it.”

In 2021, 423 people died on North Carolina roads due to alcohol-related crashes, including 15 during the Labor Day Booze It & Lose It enforcement campaign period.

Increased enforcement during specific campaign periods year-round is a key part of making North Carolina roads safer. That’s especially important this year, as officials seek to reduce the number of traffic fatalities, which in 2021 marked the most traffic deaths in North Carolina since 1973.