Tag Archive for: #granvillecountynews

Town Talk 11/25/19: Granville Tourism Announces Thanksgiving Week Events

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

Angela Allen, director of the Granville County Tourism Development Authority, appeared on WIZS’ Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

When asked to briefly describe her job, Allen laughed and replied, “I tell people exactly how to have fun and where to find it.”

Some of those “fun” Granville County events are planned for the last week of November and include:

The 15th Annual Turkey Trot will take place in downtown Oxford on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2019. This annual tradition benefits Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM), Granville County’s food bank.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Oxford United Methodist Church on College Street. Walkers and runners set off on the roughly 2-mile course at 9 a.m. and end the race back at the church.

The entry fee is two cans of food or a cash donation in any amount to ACIM.

Pre-Thanksgiving Lunch Buffet at Thorndale Oaks in Oxford on Tuesday, November 26, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Celebrate the holiday season early with your family, friends, and coworkers.

Menu items include – smoked whole roasted turkey with gravy, sliced ham with honey glaze salad, fresh fruit and holiday mixed green salad, homemade stuffing, Southern-style green beans, homemade mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, assorted pies and peach cobbler.

Reservations required; call (919) 603-3701 or email thorndaleoaks@aol.com.

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast will be held Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center of Oxford Baptist Church, Main Street, Oxford.

Attendees are requested to bring non-perishable food donations (canned food) for Area Congregations In Ministry (ACIM).

Small Business Saturday will be held on November 30 to support small, local, independent businesses in Granville County, NC.

Understanding the important contributions small businesses make to their communities, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce encourages consumers to take part in Small Business Saturday® by supporting small, local businesses.

Continuing a five-year tradition, shopping bags with promotional items for Small Business Saturday will be available at the Chamber’s Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast on November 27.

Tobacco Wood Brewing Company, 117 Wall Street in Oxford, has several exciting events planned for the week including a Thanksgiving Market featuring produce, baked goods, etc. on Wednesday, November 27 from 3 until 5 p.m.; an Open Mic Night on Wednesday, November 27 at 7 p.m.; and the release of a special Black Friday beer at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 29.

For more information on Granville County events, please visit www.visitgranvillenc.com.

To hear Allen’s interview in its entirety, including information on additional upcoming events, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Granville Co. Library System Accepting ‘Food for Fines’

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Have outstanding fines at a Granville County library? No problem! Bring a food donation for Area Congregations In Ministry (A.C.I.M.) by Friday, December 20, 2019, and $1 will be taken off your library balance for every can/jar contributed.

This applies to all four branches of the Granville County Library System – the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, South Branch Library in Creedmoor and the Stovall and Berea locations.

Items must be non-perishable, 12 oz. or larger and not dented or expired.

Help someone have a holiday meal this season and reduce or eliminate your library fines!

Granville’s Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) Classes Continue

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Fall calendar of classes, interactive activities and educational trips is winding down for the Granville County Senior Services’ Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program, with registration for Winter course offerings coming soon. Offering a variety of programming for all interests, the new tagline for the CLL program is “Never Stop Learning.”

Completing the current season are several courses scheduled during the month of December. Registration is still open for these final classes:

  • “Egypt’s Sacred Sites and Spiritual Journey” will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. This class will be instructed by Peggy Moore, an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Learn about Egypt’s ancient history and the legends of gods and goddesses, as well as the pyramids of Giza, the temples in Aswan and in Luxor and Moore’s travels to other sites;
  • A demonstration on Mary Kay Skincare will be held on Monday, Dec. 2 from 3 until 5 p.m., facilitated by Ella Fleming. This is an interactive class for participants to learn about their own skin types, as well as offering an afternoon of fellowship and fun;
  • On Thursday, Dec. 5, have “A Cup of Christmas Tea” as participants learn the art of Dutch tea bag folding while learning the story behind the classic poem. This class will be instructed by Maxine Chauvaux at 1:30 p.m.;
  • The discussion group, “North Carolina, Our Home” continues to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. This month, the interest group is scheduled to meet on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m.;
  • The art of Barn Quilt Painting will be taught on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. by instructor Nancy Peele. A short history of barn quilts will also be shared with students, as well as a hands-on painting of a quilt pattern;
  • On Dec.13, “Crafts for Every Season” continues with the making of a wooden snowman. This class follows other seasonal projects such as a decoupage wooden tray, a mason jar candle holder and a clay pot scarecrow and is being taught by Christine Luscavich.

All classes are taught at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford, located at 107 Lanier Street.

A course schedule for Winter is now being developed, with classes that will include Tai Chi, Spanish, Sewing, Line Dancing, Photography, Basic Defense, Arts and Crafts, and other topics. Also to be scheduled are courses such as the Criminal Justice System and The Road to World War I, as well as a discussion of the book “Freedom Road.” The popular “My Former Life” series also continues as local residents share their professional and personal experiences that made them who they are today.

Those interested in serving as instructors for the Winter season are asked to contact Marilyn Howard at the Senior Center in Oxford.

Participants do not have to be “seniors” to participate, as the Creative Lifelong Learning Program is open to any resident over the age of 18. As of the month of November, more than 250 CLL members have participated in this program. This the second full year that the CLL program has been offered to residents of Granville County.

For a more complete listing of courses available, or to see how you can enroll, contact Marilyn Howard, CLL Coordinator, at 919-693-1930 or visit www.granvillecounty.org.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Meet on School Improvement Plans

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a special meeting on Monday, November 25, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the Granville County Public Schools Central Office, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, North Carolina.

The purpose of this meeting is to approve School Improvement Plans and receive information regarding long-range facility planning.

The Board will also meet in a Closed Session pursuant to N.C. General Statutes 143.318.11 (a)(1), 143-318.11 (a)(3), and 143.318.11 (a)(6) to discuss confidential matters and consult with the Board attorney.

Thornton Library Welcomes Children’s Author

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl was a special guest of the Granville County Library System on November 15 as she shared her book and her writing journey with fourth and fifth graders of six local elementary schools.

Hackl’s book “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe” has been selected for North Carolina’s Battle of the Books competition, and schools who participated in the “meet the author” session will be taking part in this annual reading contest.

Children’s author Jo Watson Hackl explains her writing process to local fourth and fifth graders who are participating in “Battle of the Books.” (Granville Co. Govt photo)

Hackl says she spent her childhood “inventing characters and roaming the woods” in Mississippi, just outside of an actual ghost town.

Her childhood home is the setting for her book, which takes readers on an adventure with a twelve-year-old who follows clues to solve a mystery, along with her poetry-loving dog and the last resident of the town. The author’s goal is to inspire students to use the transformative power of reading to improve their academic performance and their creative writing skills. Her book has been awarded the Southern Book Prize for Children’s Literature.

Each student was able to take home their own copy of “Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe,” courtesy of Granville Health System (Granville Co. Govt photo)

According to Granville County Library System Director Will Robinson, the visit was the result of a partnership between the libraries and a Wake Forest book store, who will be coordinating future author visits with Children’s Librarian Amy Carlson.

Carlson says that the common goal of the library and the book store is to put a book in the hands of every child who participates.

Hackl’s visit was the first one scheduled through this partnership. Schools that attended on November 15 included Butner-Stem Elementary, C.G. Credle, Mount Energy, Stovall-Shaw Elementary, West Oxford Elementary and Wilton Elementary. Each student was able to take home a signed copy of the book, courtesy of Granville Health System.

For more information about this event, contact Carlson at the Richard H. Thornton Library at 919-693-1121.

Mendenhall Named Educator of Excellence for Exceptional Children’s Program

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools, Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean, and the Department of Exceptional Children proudly acknowledge Mrs. Stacie Mendenhall as our 2019-2020 Educator of Excellence for the Exceptional Children’s Program.

Stacie Mendenhall named Granville County Public Schools’ 2019-2020 Educator of Excellence for the Exceptional Children’s Program. (GCPS photo)

Mrs. Mendenhall received her Master’s in Speech Pathology from Appalachian State University and has a career that spans 23 years. Twenty-one of those years are with the school system.

She currently works as a Speech Language Pathologist at Tar River and Wilton Elementary Schools. She serves as the Lead Speech Language Pathologist for the entire school district.

In addition to providing high-quality services to students and maintaining impeccable data and documentation, she leads PLCs for speech and other related service personnel in the district. She provides guidance and training to anyone who needs it and does so with a smile.

She is an active participant in facilitating Medicaid training for newer therapists, and most recently was selected to be a trainer on the new ECATS system. She attends statewide meetings for speech pathologists and returns to the district to implement the best practices locally. There is nothing that is asked of her that Mrs. Mendenhall doesn’t do with a willing heart and with high quality.

Outside of her duties as a speech pathologist, Mrs. Mendenhall spends time with her husband, son, daughter, five dogs, and her cat. She is very active in the community with her church and is a part of Girl Scouts as well as Girls on the Run. She enjoys reading and travel. While she has been to Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, her favorite place continues to be Hawaii.

Granville County Public Schools expects a standard of excellence. Mrs. Mendenhall exemplifies that not only to her students but those fortunate enough to work with her. Her strong morals, work ethic, leadership, and diligence to practice make her our shining star.

During her interview for this honor, she said, “I love working with children to help them build the communication skills they need for lifelong leadership and success!” It is clear that her standard of excellence extends beyond the classroom and our school district is beyond fortunate to have someone of her caliber on our team.

Finally, the link below provides a list of all the disability awareness days for the year:

https://www.disabilitytalent.org/single-post/2018/12/27/2019-Diversity-Inclusion-and-Disability-Awareness-Calendar.

Also, DPI has provided a new parent listserv for parents to sign up to receive updates (click here). The listserv will forward information or the work of the Exceptional Children Division at NC DPI and provide opportunities for input, feedback, and participation in Division activities.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Town Talk 11/18/19: Granville Vance Public Health Talks Flu Shots, Health Priorities

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

Lisa Harrison, health director for Granville Vance Public Health (GVPH), was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss flu season and the department’s 2018 Community Health Assessment.

Flu Season

According to Harrison, now is the perfect time to receive your influenza shot for the 2019-2020 season. “We like to tell people to get their flu shot between Halloween and Thanksgiving. It’s nice to be protected as you spend more time with family and friends during the holidays.”

With a reported 341 deaths state-wide last season, Harrison said getting a flu shot is the best way to avoid becoming infected with the easily-transmitted virus.

“The number one preventable thing you can do is get the flu shot to make sure your immune system is ready to fight the flu with you,” explained Harrison. “Other things you can do include washing your hands with soap and water and covering your mouth when you cough.”

Flu season typically picks up in October, peaks between December and February and can last as late as May. With a 6-9 month protection period, Harrison said receiving the shot now will carry the majority of recipients through the anticipated flu season.

Shots are offered at GVPH, at most doctors’ offices, at drug stores, and even at some grocery stores.

“There are many places that offer the flu shot,” said Harrison. “We like you to get them where there is a nurse just in case you need any kind of follow up care.”

2018 Community Health Assessment

GVPH conducted the 2018 Community Health Assessment for Granville and Vance Counties in partnership with the NC Institute of Public Health, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, and a CHA Steering Committee. Over the course of nine months, the group gathered information directly from community residents through surveys and forums and reviewed state and national data.

Priority topic areas included access to health care, community safety, education, health equity, mental health and substance use disorder, nutrition and physical activity, poverty and housing, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and youth well-being.

The top three community health priorities identified were mental health and substance use disorder, youth well-being and access to health care.

Applicable to all three identified priorities, but especially youth well-being, the health implications of early childhood trauma is an emerging area of study and understanding.

“We understand so much better now that when people experience trauma early in life, it can affect their health outcomes later in life,” said Harrison. “Trauma can suppress the immune system and increase chronic disease.”

GVPH is currently working with community partners including the YMCA, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation, other health departments, school systems and the Department of Social Services to “get a handle on how we become trauma-informed as agencies and how we better address trauma early on in people’s lives.”

For more detailed information, please click here to view GVPH’s 2018 Community Health Assessment Summary or visit GVPH’s website.

To hear Harrison’s interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.

Granville Co. Commissioners to Meet Mon., Nov 18

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, November 18, 2019, at 7 p.m. at the Granville Expo and Convention Center, 4185 US Highway 15 South, Oxford.

Agenda items include:

Consent Agenda

1. Contingency Summary

2. Budget Amendment #3

3. Capital Project Budget Amendment – GAP Phase III

4. October 2019 Tax Refunds and Releases

Introductions, Recognitions and Presentations

5. Healthy Opportunities Pilot Presentation

Public Comments

6. Public Comments

Public Hearings

7. Text Amendment Petition

8. Public Hearing – Proposed Ordinance to Franchise Ambulance Service

Tax Matters

9. Appeal of Exemption Application for Centre for Homeownership and Economic Development Corporation

Solid Waste Matters

10. Solid Waste Scale Purchase

Purchasing

11. Granville Athletic Park Dugout Covers

12. Sheriff’s Office Ammunition Purchase

13. Courthouse Parking Lot Cameras

Appointments

14. Granville County Human Relations Commission

15. Granville County Economic Development Advisory Board

County Manager’s Report

16. Creedmoor Interlocal Agreement

17. 275th Anniversary Committee Souvenir Book

18. Requests from Board of Education and Oxford Preparatory School

County Attorney’s Report

19. County Attorney’s Report

Presentations by County Board Members

20. Presentations by County Board Members

Any Other Matters

21. Any Other Matters

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here. 

Oxford Prep PTO to Hold 4th Annual Holiday Bazaar Sat., Nov. 16

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-Information courtesy Oxford Preparatory School

Oxford Preparatory School, 6041 Landis Rd., will hold its 4th Annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 16, 2019. The event will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. inside the school’s gym.

Crafts, wreaths, jewelry, candles, honey, food, clothing, art, makeup, homemade items and much more will be on sale.

The bazaar is hosted by the Oxford Prep PTO.

U.S. 158 Bridge in Granville County Opens

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-Press Release, North Carolina Department of Transportation

A new bridge carrying U.S. 158 over Tabbs Creek just east of Oxford reopened to traffic on Tuesday, three days ahead of schedule.

The $1 million bridge replacement project took six months to complete and replaced a structure that had been built in 1941.

It is projected that 12,800 vehicles will use the new bridge daily.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.

A new bridge carrying U.S. 158 over Tabbs Creek just east of Oxford reopened to traffic on Tuesday, three days ahead of schedule. (WIZS photo)