Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover Balancing Family And Work, Pt. 4
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Tag Archive for: #thelocalskinny
The Local Skinny! COVID Has Not Gone Away
There aren’t as many people still following the CDC guidelines that call for mask-wearing in public, but there remain some for whom “COVID fatigue” has not affected.
Schools, hospitals, doctors’ offices and other places that once required temperature checks and masks before entering have loosened those protocols.
Dr. Tracei Ball, a spokesperson for NC Department of Health and Human Services, encourages everyone to stay current on COVID vaccinations to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
As long as it’s around, people are susceptible, so it’s imperative to stay protected, Ball said.
Ball is chief medical officer for OnCall Mobile Medical and Wellness in the Charlotte Metro area, and she told Bill Harris on Wednesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! that even though COVID no longer steals the headlines and news broadcasts as it did over the past couple of years, it still poses a risk.
“We’re still seeing hospitalizations and deaths,” she said. “We need to stay abreast of what’s happening with COVID regardless of what’s happening in the headlines.”
The bivalent vaccine against COVID works, she said. “That’s going to give you the greatest protection against COVID right now,” Ball said.
And by the way, if the last vaccine you received was before September 2022, you’re due for a booster. And anyone 65 or older or who has a medical condition that puts you in a higher risk for infection is eligible for a booster if it’s been more than four months since your last one.
“If we all work together and do our part, we protect not only ourselves, but our loved ones as well,” Ball said. “We may have to deal with COVID for some time.”
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The Local Skinny! Home And Garden Show 04-26-23
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
- Protect transplants from cutworms by placing a cardboard collar made from a empty paper towel roll around the stem of the transplant . You can make 4 collars from 1 paper towel roll.
- Tomato tip: Plant multiple varieties, including cherry and disease resistant hybrids.
- When planting transplants try to plant them on non windy days.
- Tomato tip: Provide consistent soil moisture through drip irrigation.
- When planting seed in conventional rows and we get a hard rain within two days of your planting use a leaf rake to lightly loosen the soil surface to get rid of crusty soil so seedlings can emerge through the top edge of soil.
- Tomato tip: Look for healthy transplants – stocky, deep green foliage, healthy roots.
- Don’t over water plants check soil media first if it is moist wait another to water your plants
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The Local Skinny! Maria Parham Unveils Oasis Room Art
The staff at Maria Parham Health have enjoyed the amenities of their Oasis room for about a year – the massage chairs, a TV, soothing music, beverages and snacks are just a few of the perks that filled the space.
The blank wall was a perfect candidate for some artwork, and thanks to high school junior and budding artist Abi Short, that wall now is the permanent home for a painting Short calls “Peace.”
Short, 16, is the daughter of MPH Cardiologist Dr. Sydney Short. She joined her parents, hospital staff and community leaders as her painting was unveiled Monday.
The idea for the Oasis room came about as hospital employees and health professionals everywhere were strained because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital came up with the idea for a spot where staff could take a step away from the stress of their jobs for just a few minutes – a quick cup of coffee while listening to some music or a few minutes in a massage chair can do wonders during the work day.
MPH CEO Bert Beard told those assembled at the unveiling that the space is a place to recharge and relax. “We want to continue to do things that are going to enhance our workplace,” Beard said, because we know “that enhances the care we give to our patients.”
Cancer Center Director Kimberly Smith is on the hospital’s Awards and Resilience Committee and she said having a spot like the Oasis room helps reduce staff burnout – it’s a place where people can “come in and take a break and a breather,” she said.
Donna Young, MPH marketing director, said the hospital invited employees’ families to enter an art contest to find the perfect painting for the accent wall inside the Oasis room.
“We knew we wanted something really special,” Young said. “We got some wonderful entries…put it to a vote and Abi’s won.”
The young artist described her work as a reflection of memories of family vacations to the mountains.
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Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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The Local Skinny! Leadership Positions Open In the City of Henderson
Vance County and the City of Henderson face several key leadership positions – the openings are the result of different circumstances, and local governments are coping with the vacancies as they continue to look for qualified applicants to fill the jobs.
It was announced last week that Jordan McMillen would be leaving his post as county manager to become manager of the town of Butner.
And Curtis Tyndall has been acting fire chief, but Terrell Blackmon said now the city has begun a search for a permanent chief, following the death of Steve Cordell.
Blackmon said the city continues to operate without a city engineer, a job that has been vacant for a couple of years. The water and street staffs depend on “on-call” engineers, and Blackmon stated that the city has a “very competent engineering staff that handles all of the day-to-day activities.” Public Works Director Andy Perkinson retired in January and the Human Resources Director, Elgin Ward, is set to retire in August.
Blackmon spoke at the recent West End Community Watch meeting and discussed the openings and the effect they have on city operations.
“We are getting ready to advertise for a fire chief, as well as a human resources director. The HR Director will be retiring in August, but we intend to begin recruiting for that position at the same time that we advertise for a fire chief. We have several engineers that we use on-call and for projects that have been handling the professional engineering work for the city,” Blackmon stated in an email to WIZS Monday.
He added that although the position hasn’t been filled, there are several potential candidates whom city staff have spoken with about the job.
henderson.nc.gov/departments/human_resources/jobs.php
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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Mini Gardening
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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The Local Skinny! Diabetes Program To Be Presented
Granville Vance Public Health is sponsoring a program Monday at the Lincoln Heights Apartment Community Room to talk about Type 2 diabetes and how to reduce the risk of getting that life-changing diagnosis.
Wendy Ji, regional coordinator for the Minority Diabetes Prevention Program, was on TownTalk Thursday to share details about the upcoming event, which includes lunch and drawings to win prizes.
“Let’s Talk About Diabetes” is a free program that will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Ji said. It’s just one way state health officials collaborate with local health departments to help individuals understand how a diagnosis of prediabetes can be reversed with simple lifestyle changes.
The MDPP that Ji coordinates serves Vance, Granville, Franklin, Warren and four other nearby counties.
“It’s very difficult to manage Type 2 diabetes,” Ji noted, adding that this program focuses on helping individuals understand what prediabetes is and how to keep it from developing into full-blown disease.
“Over one in three (people) have prediabetes,” Ji said. But only 80 percent of those are aware that they have it. “Being aware you are at risk is important to know so you can get resources and make lifestyle changes,” she said.
Someone with prediabetes has blood sugar levels that are higher than normal, but they haven’t climbed into the level to indicate diabetes.
More classes will be offered in the fall across the service area, Ji said. Individuals can have their A1C levels tested Monday, but there also is a 7-question screener to help participants understand their risk for developing diabetes.
Visit www.preventdiabetesnc.org to learn more.
Contact Ji at 252.492.7195, ext 125.
En español: Llamar a Elizabeth Lugo, 252.492.7195, ext.269.
Lincoln Heights Apartments is located at 257 Lincoln St., Henderson.
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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Balancing Family And Work, Pt. 3
Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.
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Home And Garden Show
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
- Use row covers to protect young seedlings from birds Ex sweet corn
- Risk of frost is low. Should be safe to plant tomatoes marigolds, begonias, geraniums, squash, and other warm season plants. Hold off on sweet potatoes and peppers and okra.
- Central piedmont Planting Guide is available from Cooperative Extension
- Vegetables with large seeds are usually very easy to grow as direct seeded crops. This includes beans, corn, squash, melons, and more.
- Continue your fruit spray program
- When purchasing vegetable and flower plants, look for stocky plants with deep green foliage, and a strong root system.
- Always check soil before tilling.
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