Tag Archive for: #stemnews

TownTalk: Granville County Tourism Heating Things Up In June

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With summer just around the corner, Granville County’s calendar of events is heating up with a variety of programs, events and exhibits from Butner to Oxford sure to satisfy everyone’s interests.

Granville’s Tourism Director Angela Allen has a whole list of activities for folks to take part in most any time – summer in Granville County, she said, sort of unfolds – there’s something to do just about all the time.

Looking for an easy way to wind down after work with family and friends? Head to downtown Oxford on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in June for Quittin’ Time. Slow down for a minute and stroll downtown, listening to live music, visiting local retail shops and enjoying small plate and specialty beverages from participating restaurants.

Or head down to Creedmoor’s Cedar Creek Gallery any ol’ time to catch the National Teapot Show, which comes every three years to the art gallery/retail space in southern Granville County. The exhibit features teapots created by artisans and craftspeople from all over, from the functional to the sublime.

Find some fresh produce, local meats and more at the Oxford Armory Farmer’s Market in downtown Oxford on Saturday mornings.

That’s just a sample of what’s available across Granville County this season, and Allen has a whole other list of special events that you’ll surely want to take in.

  • Butner Summer Festival this weekend, June 5-6. There’s a barbecued chicken cookoff, live music, vendors, kids’ activities and more.
  • Juneteenth Freedom Day – in Creedmoor on Friday, June 19
  • Juneteenth Freedom Day – Oxford on Saturday, June 20
  • Bee Jubilee and Food Truck Rodeo – Saturday, June 27 at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center on Highway 15 just south of Oxford

See a complete listing of events taking place in Granville County at www.visitgranvillenc.com

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(The text and audio are not a paid ad. Granville Tourism is, however, an advertising client of WIZS.com.)

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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TownTalk: Granville County Tourism Kicks Off March Activities With Annual Wedding And Event Expo

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This weekend’s Granville Wedding and Event Expo kicks off a busy month across Granville County, and Angela Allen says there’s no slowing down as springtime approaches.

The wedding and expo event takes place Sunday, Mar. 1 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at Creedmoor Community Center.

It’s not only for brides-to-be, Allen said on Thursday’s TownTalk. Anybody who’s planning a special event – from a family reunion to one of those milestone birthdays – is welcome to the expo.

“There’s so much inspiration and creativity,” Allen said of the expo, where more than 40 vendors are expected to provide information for everything from event planners to photographers, DJs, caterers and more.

There are a few ways to get registered, she said.

Get in for free with a donation for Families Living Violence Free – either supplies or a monetary donation works.

But if you’re interested in taking it up a notch, purchase a tasting ticket for $10. That way, you can try samples from the 10 food vendors. For $20, you’ll get a tasting ticket and a VIP swag bag filled with goodies.

The expo features local vendors not just from Granville County, but include vendors from Vance, Franklin and Person counties, too.

Go to www.visitgranvillenc.com to register.

Just like a wedding or fancy party, Allen said she’d prefer to have folks RSVP of their attendance. But it’s also fine to just show up at the door, too.

Other March highlights include:

  • Saturday, Mar. 7 – Mardi Gras celebration and silent auction to benefit the Boys & Girls Club at High Rock Farm from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Mar. 7 – Hawley Magic Show at Ox Theater. Jonathan Hawley brings his high-energy family show for a 7 p.m. performance.
  • Friday, Mar. 20 – Mutts Gone Nuts at Ox Theater at 7 p.m. This canine stunt show features a performance by some very talented rescue dogs.
  • Saturday, Mar. 21 – Granville Ambulance Chase and Food Truck Rodeo – downtown Oxford. There’s a 5K, 10K, Fun Run and Family Walk, followed by the food truck rodeo. “It’s all about fitness and a little bit festival,” Allen said. Proceeds support local health initiatives.
  • March 21-22 and 28-29 – It’s going to take two weekends to get in all the activities, food and fun of The Viking Experience. Visit www.thevikingexperiencenc.com to learn more about this immersive experience into the Norse culture.
  • Saturday, Mar. 28 – 2nd annual Bunny Hop Bash at Clement Farm. There will be egg hunts, a bouncy house and, of course, a visit from the Easter Bunny at this event for the whole family.
  • Saturday, Mar. 28 – Paws for Granville – at the Barn at Vino in Stem. Proceeds from this annual dinner and silent auction benefit the Humane Society of Granville County.
  • Sunday, Mar. 29 – Spring Eggstravaganza at Carlee Farms in Stem. There will be activities for the kids, vendors and another appearance by the Easter Bunny.

To learn more about these events and all the happenings in Granville County, go to www.visitgranvillenc.com.

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There’s Still Time to See a Christmas Parade! Stem’s Annual Event to be Held Dec. 15

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-Information courtesy Stem Christmas Parade & Festival Facebook page

There is still an opportunity to see a local Christmas parade this holiday season! Stem’s annual Christmas parade starts promptly at 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2018.

Line up will begin at 11 a.m. on School Street.

This year, the parade route will begin on School Street, cross over Old 75 and proceed down W. Talley Ho Road becoming E. Talley Ho Road and ending at Hopkins Street.

Come out and enjoy the festivities!

Town of Stem Invites Public to Opening of Renamed Jack Day Community Park

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

You are cordially invited by the Town of Stem to the Grand Re-Opening of the recently renamed Jack Day Community Park on Saturday, August 11, 2018, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. with family fun in the park to follow. The park is located on Franklin Street in Stem beside the Stem Fire Department (100 Franklin Street).

Over the past two grant cycles, the Granville County Parks and Recreation Committee has funded the Town of Stem for projects at this park. We are looking forward to this event and to seeing recreation facilities grow in Stem!

GCPS Continues Significant Proficiency Gains and Academic Growth

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At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 11, the Granville County Board of Education received a special report on the student achievement results from the 2016-2017 school year.  During this presentation, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Myrick presented a series of graphs and charts providing comprehensive data on how the students performed on state tests.  The presentation focused on GCPS test score averages over the past three years compared to state and surrounding district averages.  Dr. Myrick also shared information about academic growth measures for each school, and school letter grades as assigned by the state.

Data from his presentation revealed an increase in proficiency in 14 of 18 tested areas, with 18 of 19 schools having met or exceeded academic growth.  These significant gains in growth and proficiency across grade levels and content areas contribute to a multi-year positive trend for student achievement.

The scores for our district were generally higher than those of Vance, Warren and Person counties, and slightly lower or comparable to those for Franklin County.  All five districts in our region were at or below the overall state average in all areas.

In the second set of data, Dr. Myrick displayed the following chart showing how GCPS schools letter grades compared to those of local charter schools:

Letter grades for schools in our district improved compared to the previous year, with no schools reporting an F, fewer schools reporting as a D, and more schools reporting as a B.

School Board Chairman Dr. Thomas Houlihan commented on this set of data, saying, “Three year trends sho tremendous growth over time.  It’s very exciting to see this type of progress.  We do want to celebrate, but we don’t want to forget the work that remains.  We also don’t want to forget the hard work and dedication of all of our talented teachers.”

School letter grades are determined by a state-mandated formula that uses proficiency and growth on a variety of test scores to assign a letter grade.  More information about how school letter grades are calculated can be found here:

https://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/reporting/spgbckgrndpack15.pdf

Vice Chairman Leonard Peace, Sr. offered his remarks, saying “We are definitely headed in the right direction.  The teachers certainly deserve all of the credit for their hard work.”

Superintendent Dr. McLean thanked Dr. Myrick for his work in this area, and summarized the presentation with these remarks, “While I can take no credit for these remarkable gains, I am excited that there is established, consistent momentum for our district.  If we are to achieve our goals of double digit improvements and 90 percent across the board, then we must use these fine results to help launch us forward. ”

Granville County to hold Business & Industry Appreciation Day

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The Granville County Economic Development department, in partnership with the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center and the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, is planning this year’s “Business & Industry Appreciation Day.” The annual event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 4-6 p.m. at the Granville County Expo & Convention Center, located at 4185 Highway 15 South in Oxford.

For local businesses and industries, the event is not only a networking opportunity but also a chance to learn more about services and resources that are available to assist them. Organizations, agencies and businesses that provide services to a business (such as lending or education/training) are invited to set up a table to share information with those in attendance. For information on reserving a table, which is free of charge, contact Lynn Cooper at the Granville County Economic Development department at (919) 693-5911 or Lynn.Cooper@granvillecounty.org.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. A brief program, including remarks to recognize the important contributions made by local employers, will take place at 5 p.m.

–VGCC–

Breaking and Entering, Laceny and Vandalism reported in Granville County

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Sometime between Thursday, June 18th, 2017 late evening and Friday, June 19th, 2017 early morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property off Gantt Farm Road, Stem, NC and criminally damaged mailboxes.

Sometime between Saturday, July 1st, 2017 noon and Sunday, July 9th, 2017 late evening hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property off George Sherman Road, Rougemont, NC and criminally forced entry into a shed and removed one 2600 PSI pressure washer, one DeWalt table chop saw and one Stihl MS290 chainsaw.

On Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017 between early morning and late evening hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property off Tar Hill Road, Oxford, NC and criminally removed from a trailer- one 16 inch Stihl HT 101 pole saw, one Stihl BT 130 Auger with 6 inch bit, one Stihl 170 with a 16 inch bar chainsaw, one Stihl HS81 T 24 inch hedge trimmer and one Stihl FS110R straight shaft weed eater.

Sometime between Saturday, July 15th, 2017 and Monday, July 31st, 2017 during mid-morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property off Graham Hobgood Road, Oxford, NC and criminally removed one ES 25 NAPA booster jumper, one back pack Solo sprayer, and one Lowes push mower from a storage shed.

Sometime between Friday, April 14th and Saturday, August 12th, 2017 during mid-afternoon hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon private property off Hayes Road, Creedmoor, NC and forced entry into a shed and criminally removed a 2008 Honda CR dirt bike red in color.

Sometime between Sunday, August 13th late evening and Monday, August 14th, 2017 mid-morning hours an unknown person or persons unlawfully went upon inter-state 85 northbound at mile marker 185 and vandalized a disabled 4 door 2000 Honda Accord by breaking the windshield and criminally removed a radio from the vehicle.

If you have information concerning these incidents, please contact the Granville County Sheriff’s Office at 919-693-3213 or call Crime Stoppers 919-693-3100.

THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AUTHORIZED THE PAYMENT OF A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST/INDICTMENT(S) OF PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CRIMES.  IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE CRIMES OR ANY OTHER SERIOUS CRIME(S) IN GRANVILLE COUNTY.  YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL THE GRANVILLE COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS IN OXFORD AT 919-693-3100.

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Granville County sees 3% Boost in Tourism Spending

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Visit North Carolina announced that domestic visitors to and within Granville spent $47.08 million in 2016, a 3% increase from 2015.

“We are excited to hear that Granville has made a 3% increase in the last two years due to collaborations with area hotels, retail shops, restaurants, farms, parks and recreation, and events to promote our area as a destination for many travelers.” said Angela Allen, Granville TDA Director.

Tourism impact highlights for 2016:

  • Total payroll generated by the tourism industry in Granville was $6.02 million.
  • State tax revenue generated in Granville totaled $2.81 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income. About $1.33 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

Gov. Roy Cooper announced in May that visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2016. The $22.9 billion in total spending represented an increase of 4.4 percent from 2015.

These statistics are from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2016,” which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by the U.S. Travel Association.

“All eight economic development regions of the state had spending growth of 3 percent or more, and 96 percent of the state’s counties saw direct tourism employment growth from 2015 to 2016,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina. “Tourism continues to be major driver of economic development across North Carolina, which is the sixth most-visited state in the country.”

Statewide highlights include:

  • State tax receipts as a result of visitor spending rose 5.1 percent to nearly $1.2 billion in 2016.

 

  • Visitors spend more than $62 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds more than $5.1 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $3.2 million in state taxes and $1.9 million in local taxes).

 

  • The travel and tourism industry directly employees more than 219,000 North Carolinians.

 

  • Each North Carolina household saves $497 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.

Red Cross and Sport Clips Haircuts offer free haircut coupon to blood and platelet donors

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DURHAM, N.C. (Aug. 21, 2017) – Feel good, do good and look good this September by donating blood or platelets with the American Red Cross and get a free haircut coupon from Sport Clips Haircuts. Blood and platelet donors of all blood types, especially type O negative and O positive, are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply following a critical summer blood shortage.

“We are excited to continue the Saving Lives Never Looked So Good campaign and partnership with Sport Clips this September,” said Donna M. Morrissey, director of national partnerships, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “We are grateful for Sport Clips showing its support of the Red Cross and saying ‘thank you’ to those helping save lives through blood donations.”

Those who come out to give blood or platelets Sept. 1-30 will receive a coupon for a free haircut via email several days after their donation. The coupon is valid through Nov. 11, 2017, at participating Sport Clips locations. Donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon.

“Sport Clips is proud to support the blood collection efforts of the Red Cross on a national level,” said Amanda Palm, corporate communications manager of Sport Clips. “There is always a need to maintain the blood supply in our country, and a free haircut is a simple way we can thank donors for their lifesaving donation.”

Donors are urged to make an appointment to donate using the free Blood Donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross and Sport Clips encourage donors to use the hashtag #SavingLivesLooksGood to share their new looks and invite others to give.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Granville

Stem

9/12/2017: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Granville Central High School, 2043 Sanders Rd

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Vance

Henderson

9/5/2017: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Vance Granville Community College, 200 Community College Road

 

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About Sport Clips Haircuts

Sport Clips Haircuts is headquartered in Georgetown, Texas. It was established in 1993 and began franchising in 1995. The sports-themed haircutting franchise, which specializes in haircuts for men and boys, is ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “Fastest-Growing Franchises” and in the top 10 in its “Franchise 500.” There are more than 1,600 Sport Clips stores open in the U.S. and Canada. Sport Clips is the “Official Haircutter” of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), offers veterans preferential pricing on haircuts and franchises, and was named a “2016 Best for Vets: Franchises” by Military Times. Sport Clips provides “haircuts with heart” through its annual Help A Hero fundraiser that has given $5 million to the VFW; national partnership with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants; and other national and local philanthropic outreach. Sport Clips is a proud sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and Furniture Row Racing’s Erik Jones, and partners with numerous NCAA and professional sports teams. To learn more about Sport Clips, visit sportclips.com.