Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Granville County Tourism

TownTalk: Granville Tourism Heats Up With Fall Events

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Anyone who lives in or near Granville County has plenty of opportunities to celebrate Halloween this year, and Tourism Director Angela Allen couldn’t be happier to run down the list of activities – from trick-or-treat events to art galleries and costume contests, folks can stay busy all weekend long.

“What a difference a year makes,” Allen said. Last year at this time, COVID-19 restrictions had things running at a bare minimum or non-existent, she recalled during Wednesday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and Bill Harris.

And although the weather seems to be cooling off, “things are really heating up in Granville County, as far as events go,” she said. Everybody seems ready to celebrate a holiday again, and Granville is offering numerous and varied activities for the whole family.

For starters, tonight (Thursday) is pizza night at Thorndale Oaks. There’s a whole buffet, she said. Call 919.603.3701 for more information. There are pasta and dessert stations, and lots of yummy pizza options cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven. The price is $18.95 per adult; and $9.95 per child.

Here’s a list of some of the events taking place:

  • Friday, Oct 29 – Spooktacular Candy Stroll in downtown Oxford from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Creedmoor – come in costumes and collect candy from area merchants.
  • Saturday, Oct. 30 – The Orpheum in downtown Oxford will host a Halloween costume dance and contest. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the event will be geared to families; from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., it’s adults only. Judges will select winners of the costume contest for cash prizes, Allen said. Tickets are $5 per person and $15 per family.
  • Friday-Sunday – Oct. 29-31 – Granville Haunt Farm on Hwy. 15 South opens at sunset. This drive-through event recreates scenes from some of the great scary movies and horror films. It’s set up like a giant drive-in movie, Allen said to think of the haunt farm as appropriate for anyone who would watch a PG-13 film. Check Granville Haunt Farm’s Facebook page and Instagram for details about ticket prices and times and “to get an idea of what you’ll feel and experience,” she added. taste of what awaits.
  • Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31 – last chance to pick a pumpkin at William Lyon’s farm outside Creedmoor. The pumpkin patch is open each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s also a corn maze and hay rides to participate in, making it a really good daytime outing for families.
  • Saturday, Oct. 30 – the local farmers’ market is open from 7 a.m. to noon near downtown Oxford and has seasonal produce and other handicrafts for sale.
  • Daily through Nov. 7 – Cedar Creek Gallery near Creedmoor has its own pumpkin patch, but this patch is full of the glass variety by local and regional artists.

 

Following on the heels of Halloween is Veterans’ Day and Allen said the Oxford Veterans’ Parad is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. This is a time to celebrate and honor area veterans, and to thank them for their service, Allen said.

Any veteran who wishes to participate in the parade can contact Rebekah Olivares, city event coordinator at 603.1101.

The Town of Butner also will honor veterans at Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11.

For a complete listing of other events in November across Granville County, search visitgranvillenc.com, find visitgranvillecounty on Facebook or Instagram.

(Granville Tourism is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid ad.)

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GCPS Students Get Extra Day Off On Nov. 12 Following School Board Work Session

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Students in Granville County Public Schools will get a break on Friday, Nov. 12, following a work session today (Monday) of the Granville County Board of Education.

The day also be a non-instructional day for students and will be a remote optional workday for staff, according to information from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and student services and district public information officer.

The school board voted unanimously to make the calendar change at a work session on Monday, Oct. 25. All GCPS students, including Granville Early College High School, will have the day off.

Veterans’ Day is Thursday, Nov. 11, which is normally a day off for students and staff. By making the calendar adjustment, Winborne said it will allow the district “to avoid a potentially unsafe shortage of staff on a day that falls between a holiday and a weekend, and it would give our students, families and staff an opportunity to focus on their mental health and personal well-being.”

All employees will have the option to either work remotely on this day to engage in professional development sessions, or take appropriate leave.

 

The district will implement this change by using surplus instructional time to ensure the required 1025 minimum instructional hours are delivered for the 2021-22 school year.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen Completes 3-Year Program To Be ‘Travel Marketing Professional’

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Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen has completed a three-year program to become officially designated as a travel marketing professional from the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College.

Allen was among about 60 other tourism professionals recognized for completion of the program recently at the STS Connections Conference in Spartanburg, SC.

Allen has been in her role as tourism director since April 2015. She is responsible for administrative and marketing work in the promotion of travel and tourism in the county. In 2017, Allen was named a “Rising Star” in the tourism industry when she received Visit NC’s Destination Marketing Award for bringing statewide attention to the county she serves, according to a press release from county public information officer Lynn Allred.

(Left to right) Angie Zok of the Miles Partnership; Monica Smith, President and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society; Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen; and Berkeley Young, Provost, Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College.

From seasonal attractions like strawberry picking and Haunt Farms to annual events like the Hot Sauce Contest and Brides on Wheels, Allen is ready to provide information about events and destinations in Granville County.

The STS Marketing College Program provides tools and working knowledge to travel and tourism professionals that can be used to promote destinations, attractions and events. Topics covered in the training include online marketing strategies, effective print publications, research strategies, community engagement, economic impact and budgeting.

As a newly minted travel marketing professional, Allen joins a network of more than 1,200 colleagues from 13 states and the District of Columbia who have completed the program, which was established in 1992.

To learn more about Granville County tourism, visit www.granvillecounty.org.

Butner’s Polk Correctional Facility Gets New Name – Now Granville Correctional Institution

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The former Polk Correctional Institution in Butner has been officially re-named Granville Correctional Institution on Monday, Oct. 4. Warden Johnny Hawkins cut the ribbon to mark the occasion, which was held at Gazebo Park in Butner. Representatives of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce were on hand with other officials to witness the name change ceremony.

The Butner facility opened in 1997 to replace the Polk Youth Center in Raleigh. Originally designed to house youthful offenders between the ages of 18 and 21, it evolved to become a detention facility for those between 19 and 25.

 

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

‘Alive After Five’ Season Finale This Evening In Butner’s Gazebo Park

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There’s still time to grab your shaggin’ shoes and head down to the Butner Gazebo Park for the season finale of Alive After Five, presented by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce. The Band of Oz will perform today from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and admission is free.

Gazebo Park is located at 410 Central Ave. in Butner, NC 27509.

There will be food vendors on site, as well as a contingent of cyclists from Cycle North Carolina who are in the middle of their annual ride from the mountains to the coast. The group is stopping over in Granville County before continuing their ride eastward.

 

Granville School Board Approves Weekly COVID-19 Screening For All Unvaccinated Staff

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The Granville County Board of Education approved at its meeting Monday night the weekly COVID-19 screening for all staff who are non-vaccinated or who choose not to report their vaccination status.

The testing likely will begin in December, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, GCPS public information officer and associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and student services.
Winborne told WIZS News Tuesday that details will be shared as logistics are worked out with Mako, the third-party testing company.

The board also voted to approve the current mask guidelines for students and staff. Masks are required for all students while indoors, but they may be removed when outdoors, as long as the students maintain social distancing. Students who congregate outside and are closer than six feet to one another must continue to observe mask guidelines.

A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18, as part of the continuing discussion on school consolidation and possible school closure. Details will be made available about the public hearing soon, Winborne said.

‘Citizens Academy’ Graduates First Class In Ceremony On Sept. 30

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The inaugural “Citizens Academy” of the Granville County Sheriff’s Office concluded Thursday with a graduation ceremony for 13 participants.

The program is open to residents age 21 or older and is designed to build a bridge between law enforcement and local citizens through a series of classroom presentations and community involvement.

Participants gathered on Tuesday evenings at the Law Enforcement Centre training room to learn about current law enforcement issues, patrol procedures and crime prevention.

Sheriff Charles R. Noblin, Jr. congratulated the group on successful completion of the class.
“The partnerships we are building between our staff, the community and our residents all contributed to the success of the Citizens Academy program,” Noblin stated in a press release.

The first class of graduates includes Sue Hinman, Garnet Drakiotes, Billy Mickle, Teresia Blackwell, Kimberly Adcock, Robert Blancato, Faicia Elliott, Linda Clough, Annette Myers. Donna Mickle, Renata Thornton, Erica Harris and James Eden.

To learn more, contact the sheriff’s office at 919.693.3213.

Hobgood To Succeed Retiring Allred As Granville Public Information Officer

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Oxford native Terry Hobgood has been named Granville County’s public information officer and grant development specialist. Hobgood will take over from Lynn Allred, who plans to retire in December.

Hobgood joined the administrative team in July as a deputy clerk after having served as city clerk and public information officer for the city of Creedmoor.

According to a statement, Hobgood will lead county communication efforts and will assist county departments to identify grant funding opportunities and reporting compliance on all active grants.

A graduate of J.F. Webb High School, Hobgood attended UNC-Wilmington and attended N.C. State University and UNC-Greensboro where he studied English Literature and Library and Information Studies.

Hobgood also is a graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy as well as the Clerk Certification Institute.

He previously worked as director of the Mary Duncan Public Library and Benson Museum of Local History, and then served as communications director, town clerk and assistant to the Benson town manager.

Contact Hobgood at 919.693.5240 or terry.hobgood@granvillecounty.org.

Tar River Land Conservancy Needs Volunteers To Construct Trails In Southern Granville County

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Fall is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s hiking or working in the yard.

And Derek Halberg, executive director of Tar River Land Conservancy, has a couple of opportunities for volunteers to combine both activities. The result will be the addition of 3.3 miles of hiking trails in southern Granville County.

TRLC is looking for volunteers to turn the properties into hiking trail destinations for everyone to enjoy as early as June 2022 – one will be named Horseshoe Road Nature Preserve and the second will be named Robertson Creek Nature Preserve. Both sites are located near Creedmoor.

Workers will use hand tools to clear brush and create trails and experienced staff will be on hand to supervise. No previous experience is necessary, and volunteers will have the opportunity to help construct footbridges and benches along the trails as well.

When the trails are completed, hikers can enjoy walking through the pine and hardwood forests, as well as crossing streams and viewing the scenic wetlands and wildlife. The trails will be open all year long, during daylight hours.

Work sessions for the Horseshoe Bend property are scheduled for Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 13 and 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. The property is located at 3018 Horseshoe Rd., Creedmoor, NC 27522.

Workdays for the Robertson Creek property, located at 2173 E. Wilton Ave., Creedmoor, are scheduled for Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 20, also from 9 a.m. to noon.

To register for one or more workdays, contact TRLC at volunteer@tarriver.org or 919.496.5902.

Individuals or groups are welcome and TRLC staff can design special events for Scouts, faith-based groups, service clubs and others upon request.

There are two TRLC sites currently open for visitors that provide 6.5 miles of hiking trails near Stem and Butner.

Visit www.tarriver.org to learn more.

Cyclists To Pedal Through Granville County Oct. 6 On Their Way From NC Mountains To The Coast

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Cycle North Carolina kicks off a week-long ride from the mountains to the coast on Oct. 3, with hundreds of cyclists taking to the state’s scenic backroads to get from Sparta to Topsail Beach over a six-day period. Granville County is on the itinerary for Day 4, and participants will get a glimpse at several different local spots during their visit.

The group consists of cyclists from 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, as well as Costa Rica and Canada. Tour stops include Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor, the Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena, Camp Butner Museum, Butner Town Hall, High Rock Farms outside Oxford and the Stem Fire Department.

From noon until 4 p.m., cyclists can enjoy lunch from area food trucks on the grounds of the Creedmoor Recreation Center. The Granville County Tourism Development Authority will also host a welcome tent where local maps and area information will be available.

The day will conclude at the Butner Gazebo Park for “Alive After Five,” sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, where cyclists will meet area residents and enjoy live music by the Band of Oz. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and food trucks will be on site, according to information from county public information officer Lynn Allred.

Volunteers are needed to assist on the day of arrival, Oct. 6, and will be assigned to distribute information at the welcome tent, transfer luggage, and handle other duties. Two-hour shifts are set up beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m. For more information about volunteering or to sign up, please contact Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

The “Mountains to the Coast” Tour is the state’s only fully-supported ride. Luggage is transported in vehicles from one overnight host community to the next. Rider support vehicles are also available to aid cyclists who experience physical or mechanical issues. Outdoor camping areas are set up for interested participants, with rest stops available every 15 to 20 miles along the route. The group averages about 65 miles a day.

The stop in Granville County includes an overnight stay at a temporary campsite on the grounds of the Creedmoor Recreation Center, with reservations at local hotels for those who prefer additional amenities. Overnight stays for the 2021 tour are also scheduled for Mount Airy, Reidsville, Roxboro, Smithfield and Wallace, with the route passing through many other towns and communities along the way.

Over the past 21 years, Cycle North Carolina participants have made overnight stops in more than 100 North Carolina towns and have visited 700 communities while promoting heritage tourism, visitor attractions and state parks, as well as the benefits of bicycling and a healthy lifestyle.

Drivers should be aware that groups of cyclists will be on Granville County roads on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7. Please drive carefully and pass with caution.

Visit https://ncsports.org/event/cyclenc_mountainstocoast_ride to learn more about the “Mountains to the Coast” cycling tour.