Tag Archive for: #towntalk

Corbitt Preservation Association To Hold Spring Fling Saturday

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The plan for Saturday’s Spring Fling at the Corbitt Museum is to have trucks and tractors on display for the public to view and ooh and aah over, but when you’re dealing with vehicles that are as old as the Corbitts that are around here, Tom Burleson said “you keep your fingers crossed.”

The annual event will take place April 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and it’s a perfect time for folks to stop by and learn more of the history about the Corbitt family and its many contributions to the Henderson area, according to Burleson, vice president of the Corbitt Preservation Association.

Burleson himself grew up on Corbitt Road, he said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. And his childhood home was just up the street from the Corbitt mansion, that stood where Wester Realty now stands.

The Corbitts owned The Little Hotel and Mrs. Corbitt ran it back in the day, when Mr. Corbitt was busy cranking out trucks, military vehicles and tractors.

“We’ve got a good story to tell,” Burleson said. “We want to try to interest some younger folks.” His fellow Corbitt enthusiasts have “a lot of snow on the mountain,” he quipped and Corbitt Preservation Association events like the Spring Fling help to keep the history alive.

The association’s members are always on the lookout for Corbitt memorabilia and continue to collect it for display at the museum, located at 180 Church St. One recent addition is a promissory note dated 1917 signed by THE Richard J. Corbitt himself.

The company was founded in 1899 and produced horse-drawn buggies, Burleson said, then it morphed to motorized buggies, then automobiles, trucks and tractors. The Corbitt Company found its niche, however, in military vehicles.

One board member chugs down I-85 in his 1950 model truck that originally was purchased for use by the J.W. Jenkins Oil Co. in Henderson. “He gets some of the strangest looks,” Burleson said, but it’s just one of the trucks and tractors that’s still chuggin’ along.

Hopefully, it will be parked outside the Corbitt Museum Saturday.

Fingers crossed.

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TownTalk: VGCC Hosts Career Fair April 25

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With Vance-Granville Community College’s graduate career fair and mixer just over a week away, Director of Career Services Dr. Krystal Foxx said she hopes the VGCC Civic Center will be filled with people from all across the community who want to mix and mingle with area employers to learn about jobs.

It’s not just for current students and graduates, Foxx explained – the Thursday, Apr. 25 event is open to anyone in the community who’s looking for a job, or a different job.

During the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., participants can visit with 46 employers from across the region to learn about job openings. There will be on-the-spot interviews available, too, she said, so come prepared.

“We have quite a few employers coming that are looking for individuals in the applied tech program, in health care, business and government,” Foxx said on Wednesday’s TownTalk.

“We’re excited about the opportunity and looking forward to hosting on the 25th.

Preregister online at www.vgcc.edu/career-services and then select the Career Fairs option on the right side of the page; the first 100 people who sign up AND attend will get a special treat from Chick-fil-A, she said.

It’s more than just a job fair, Foxx noted. It’s a chance “to learn more about the richness of the companies in the community and how they can continue to be productive citizens and give back to the community through the professions and the work they do,” she said.

The college’s career services department guides students in areas such as preparing resumes, effective interviews and job search strategies, she said.

“Our college is putting career selection at the forefront,” she said. A career fair “solidifies that we are there to support their career endeavors.”

The www.vgcc.edu/career-services page also has a list of employers who will be at the fair.

“We know that there is a demand for job opportunities right now,” Foxx said. “We really want everyone to take advantage of that…we want our local employers to feel supported and to be able to recruit from the local community.”

To learn more, phone 252.738.3466 or email careerservices@vgcc.edu.

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The Local Skinny! Council Approves Creation Of Board To Oversee Main Street Program

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The Henderson City Council voted unanimously Monday to create a downtown advisory board that will take responsibility for overseeing the city’s Main Street program.

This action was taken as a way to stay in compliance with the state’s Main Street program, given a decision in March by the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission to divest itself as the active board of directors and committees of the Main Street program effective June 30, 2024, according to information presented Monday by City Manager Terrell Blackmon.

One requirement for continued accreditation is that the program have a board of directors representing district stakeholders and
community members. The new advisory board will consist of between 5 and 7 appointed members who would be selected following an application process.

Blackmon said he has had conversations with state Main Street staff and they are aware of the changes that will be taking place. He added that city staff would continue to work in partnership with the HVDDC, but the city-appointed board would be responsible for the Main Street program.

The Main Street approach is centered around economic development strategies designed to transform the downtown area and revitalize and strengthen the downtown economy. Henderson re-established its Main Street designation in 2020 and uses a four-pronged approach to attain its goals: economic vitality, design, promotion and organization.

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TownTalk: Garry Daeke Discusses ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities

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That group of shiny pinwheels planted out front of the Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start office is a visual reminder to us all of the joys that children bring into our lives.

The pinwheel gardens that may be seen in other places across the tri-county area are symbols of joy, happiness and fun, said Garry Daeke, development coordinator at FGV Smart Start. “That’s what we want our children to remind us” of, he said on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

As part of The Week of the Young Child celebrations across the area, the FGV Partnership is hosting several events to promote awareness as it shows support for early learning, the healthy development of young children, as well as the adults – teachers, parents and caregivers – throughout the community.

Unfortunately, the main public event, Family Night, scheduled for Thursday at Vance-Granville Community College, will NOT be held as planned because of the risk of severe weather, Daeke said. It will be rescheduled.

He spoke by phone with WIZS from Sugar N Spice day care during Time Out Tuesday, when a group of select childcare advocates were “sent” to Time Out at as part of a fundraising effort. They could leave their time out spots when they’d reached their fundraising goal, Daeke explained.

It’s just one way the community bands together to support and promote child-centered programs in the three-county area, he said.

“It’s been a great morning so far for me,” Daeke said. Wednesday is Health and Nutrition Day, and he said he’d be at New Beginnings Child Care to enjoy some outdoor activities and healthy snacks with youngsters there.

Then, the 18-member staff will fan out across the three counties on Friday to visit different day cares and preschools for “Read to Young Children” Day. Daeke said staff will visit different classrooms to read with children – they’ll even bring along some books to share, he said.

 

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TownTalk: City Council Hears McGregor Hall Presentation

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The Henderson City Council held its regular monthly meeting Monday at McGregor Hall, giving Executive Director Mark Hopper an appropriate backdrop to emphasize the economic impact the performing arts venue has on the community as he asked the city’s elected officials for financial support.

In beginning his remarks, Hopper said he would try to condense six years of work into a 15-minute presentation. Using a multimedia approach, Council members heard from Hopper and saw videos recapping the significance of McGregor Hall in the larger community as well as on the lives of local performers.

With one full-time employee, five part-time employees and 300 volunteers, McGregor Hall has made quick work to become a stand-out venue in the greater Triangle area, Hopper said. McGregor Hall is under the governance of the nonprofit Embassy Cultural Center Foundation.

Through solid local partnerships and dedicated individuals and business sponsors, the venue has been able to accomplish a lot in a short time.

But, Hopper said, without some additional financial support from local government, the curtain likely will fall on McGregor Hall. One quarter of the venue’s total revenue goes to service the mortgage debt.

In a letter to City Manager Terrell Blackmon, and members of the City Council, Hopper outlined McGregor Hall’s needs – he’s asked the  Council for $75,000 to help keep the ship afloat. Hopper would like to get county leaders on board, too.

The cultural and artistic impact may be difficult to put a price tag on, but the most recent economic impact study shows that McGregor Hall has contributed $9.2 million to the local economy over the past four years – $5.1 in lodging bookings alone. McGregor Hall hosted more than 30,000 guests to its rental events, namely in the form of 15 weekends of spring dance competitions.

“What we need is help with our debt service,” Hopper told the City Council. “We will not survive 2025 without support.”

Hopper said that every single dollar of investment to McGregor Hall brings a return of $31 to the community.

About 40 percent of revenues come from ticket sales, which Hopper said is in keeping with the industry standard. Grant funding, rental fees and concessions each kick in 10 percent and 20 percent from local business sponsors.

It would mean a lot for local government leaders to put a price tag on what it means to have a top-notch venue in Henderson and Vance County that draws patrons from the Triangle to southside Virginia – both to watch performances as well as to be on stage for shows.

Hopper said McGregor Hall is helping to change the perception of Henderson and Vance County, one performance at the time.

“We’re bringing people together who otherwise wouldn’t interact on a personal level,” he said.

Following Hopper’s presentation, Council Member Garry Daeke said he hoped the full council would consider the request for funding as it continues through the budget process and “look at it in an affirmative manner.”

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TownTalk: County Commissioners April 1 Meeting Coverage

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Monday’s (4-1-24) Vance County Commissioners meeting was an example of local government at work: there was a little bit of everything, from employee recognition, a few zoning requests, a proclamation, a public comment period and some motions made and approved to keep things moving in the right direction.

Frankie Nobles introduced Michelle Green as the Employee of the Month and said she had received several different nominations from colleagues at the Emergency Operations Department. As a telecommunicator, Green goes above and beyond, Nobles told commissioners. With a mind on teamwork, Green’s initiative and motivation are ever-present when she steps in and steps up to cover shifts or lend a helping hand to colleagues.

Vance County Manager C. Renee Perry officially introduced Stephanie Williams as the county’s new budget and finance director. April 1 marked Williams’s first day on the job and she had taken her seat beside Perry.

As a formality, the board appointed Williams and it became official. Williams told commissioners that she is looking forward to working with the board and to help all the citizens of Vance County.

Commissioners observed April as National Fair Housing Month, and also reminded residents that the NC DOT Spring Litter Sweep runs from April 13-27.

One county resident signed up to address the board about concerns he has about people discharging guns in the vicinity of his residence.

View the meeting in its entirety on YouTube.

The next scheduled commissioners’ meeting is May 6.

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TownTalk: NC Should Have Good Weather To View April 8 Eclipse

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As a meteorologist, Jonathan Blaes is a scientist well-versed in the vagaries of weather, especially in North Carolina and especially in the springtime. But next week, he just may divert his attention – for a few minutes, anyway – to observe a celestial event that has nothing to do with storms, or clouds or rain or anything else weather-related.

It’s the solar eclipse that will have his attention on Monday afternoon, which he called “a remarkable and really ‘far out’ kind of thing.”

The official forecast from Blaes, meteorologist-in-chief at the National Weather Service in Raleigh:  observers in North Carolina won’t see the most dramatic show when the eclipse occurs roughly at 3:15 p.m., but they will have clear skies and fair temps to make viewing more pleasant.

“It’s certainly going to be a neat event,” he said on Thursday’s TownTalk, “but be careful.”

Although the sun will seem a little bit less powerful during the eclipse because the moon is in the way, its harmful UV rays can still cause damage, so please do NOT look skyward during the eclipse.

Blaes offered an alternative to the traditional pinhole cameras and special glasses for those who want to experience the eclipse in a safe manner: Go for a walk in a wooded area.

“As you walk underneath the trees, you’ll see a crescent shape of the sun on the ground,” he said. It’s Mother Nature’s version of that pinhole camera – the leaves of the trees will create miniature eclipse sun images, he said. “It’s one of the neatest things I’ve ever experienced.”

As a scientist, Blaes said he’s experienced a lot of what Mother Nature throws at North Carolina over the course of a year – springtime storms and rotations aloft that can create tornadoes are just a couple of types of weather that keep him and others at the National Weather Service on their toes.

He said this spring, folks in this area can expect conditions this spring to be “a little bit warmer and a little bit wetter” than normal. Sure, anyone can predict that, but Blaes and his team have analyzed tremendous amounts of data to come up with such a simple-sounding pronouncement.

“Being a meteorologist is fun,” Blaes said. “It is challenging – every day is a puzzle.” The surge in data from satellite images and other sources produces more information than humans can manage, he said, so he and his team rely on statistics and AI – all of which contribute to improved weather forecasts.

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TownTalk: Community Info Series To Focus On Dementia

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It’s something that many of us worry about as we get older and can’t remember things like we once did, but Michael Patterson, a family caregiver specialist for Kerr-Tar COG Agency on Aging breaks down what falls in the “normal forgetfulness” category and what does not.

Patterson was a guest on Wednesday’s TownTalk and previewed some of the information that he will share at the monthly community form series sponsored by the Hon. Charlie Baskerville.

The program “Dementia Friends,” which will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 9, is designed to promote awareness about what dementia is and how it affects caregivers and their families who care for those in the grips of dementia.

“When it comes to individuals caring for those with dementia, (I) stress this is a journey,” Patterson said, “a chronic condition.” It’s not like caring for someone with flu – follow doctor’s orders and you’ll be good as new in a week or so.

Some people can live for decades with dementia, and others’ lives are cut short. Whatever the scenario, caregivers carry a heavy load and experience a different relationship with their loved one.

“I work with caregivers to understand that this is a journey,” Patterson said. Self-care is important, he emphasized. What caregivers need to understand is that they are not alone.

A couple of his favorite resources include the Dementia Alliance of NC and Duke Dementia Family Support. Both provide education and support group opportunities; the Duke group offers respite vouchers, as does the KTCOG Agency on Aging.

“Dementia is a brain disease,” Patterson said, but its onset can be triggered by numerous factors, including genetics or other health conditions like hypertension or high cholesterol.

So when your doctor or health care team encourages you to eat right, take your meds and live a healthy lifestyle, a secondary effect could be lowering your risk for any of the types of dementia.

“Dementia is the umbrella and then under it are the other subcategories,” Patterson explained, adding that many people equate dementia with Alzheimer’s.

Granted, Alzheimer’s accounts for between 60 percent and 80 percent of most dementia cases, but it’s not the only type of dementia that researchers have identified.

Now that Baby Boomers are reaching the age of 65-70, this generation of adults that accounts for a larger percentage of the overall population may skew the prevalence for dementia diagnoses.

But, Patterson said, “just because you are getting older, doesn’t mean you’re going to get dementia.”

Memory loss is a normal part of aging, as our mental and physical abilities change over time.

It’s when that memory loss has an adverse impact on your daily living that dementia may be coming into play.

Can’t find your car keys? Normal aging. Can’t remember what the car key is used for? Not normal aging.

If you get in your car to go home but forget how to “get” home, that also could be more than normal aging.

Learn more at the April 9 program, which will be held at Baskerville Funeral Home, 104 S. Chestnut St., Henderson.

Contact Patterson at 252.436.2040, extension 6072.

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TownTalk: Jayden Watkins Part of 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy

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Henderson’s own Jayden Watkins is set to board a plane Wednesday and head to Orlando, FL to participate in the Walt Disney World Dreamers Academy.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that almost wasn’t, but Watkins said, “God worked everything out.”

You see, his mom had accidentally thrown away the packet of information that Watkins was supposed to fill out to officially be accepted into the program. So there he was, on Christmas Day, searching for a way to get in touch with the folks at the Dreamers Academy and get his hands on the information before the deadline passed.

There’s a saying that goes, “Pray for rain, but keep on hoeing,” and that’s what Watkins did. He hunted and searched online and in emails, but he put his trust in God to “make it happen.”

And it did.

The four-day mentorship program brings together 100 high school students from all across the U.S. who demonstrate compassion, intellectual curiosity, courage, optimism and a positive outlook.

Watkins, who will turn 16 later this month, said it’s an opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, recording artists and others who will share advice about how “to take our dreams and turn them into reality.”

While he’s in The Magic Kingdom, Watkins said he’d be producing an inspirational video that will be released on social media platforms. “I’ll be on a TV show and a couple of other programs that will reach millions,” he told WIZS co-hosts Bill Harris and Steve Lewis on Tuesday’s TownTalk.

The Henderson Collegiate student said the application process was like applying to college, but even more selective. This year’s participants were chosen from among thousands of applicants. Watkins said he simply told his story in the application. “I was authentic…I shared my dreams, my aspirations,” he said.

Actions speak louder than words, another timeless adage that couldn’t be more appropriate when talking about Watkins. In his short time on this Earth, he has become a licensed minister, an author, podcaster, CEO of a non-profit and part-time employee right here at WIZS.

One has to apply actions in order to make your dreams a reality, he said.

If all these accomplishments have elevated Watkins into something more than your typical teenager, he seems unfazed.

“I remember how important it is to be humble,” he said. “All of my talents, all of my gifts, come from God.”

While he’s off in Orlando, his 7-day Bible Study will be released. It’s called “Distance for Warfare” and it can be found beginning this Thursday on the YouVersion Bible app.

His “Empowered Teen Bible Study” was featured recently on CBS 17 for its work in the community, and Watkins said it provides a unique opportunity for teens, who meet monthly for Bible study and to give back to the community.

The group assembles “Blessing Bags” filled with toiletry items, socks and gloves, non-perishable food items and more that are taken to local shelters.

Upwards of 40 teens put the bags together, and Watkins said he’s always grateful for sponsors – groups and individuals – to provide the items for the Blessing Bags.

It may not be the traditional way that churches sponsor youth groups, but that’s ok. Watkins says it’s important to “change the method and keep the message” of helping others in the community.

Whenever he feels like he needs to step back and take a breath from all his work – when he just wants to be a normal teenager for a little while, “I remind myself of my purpose.”

He’s learning the importance of balance in his life – school, family, work, church, community service, entrepreneur all come together to create a busy schedule, no doubt.

But, Watkins said, “This is not only something I like to do, this is something I love to do.”

 

 

Business Spotlight – City Auto

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When he was 16, Tony Lamancusa bought a Dodge Charger, and the first thing he did was make it better by taking off the intake and putting in a bigger one. Everything went according to plan. Intake, check, Carburetor, check. Spark plugs, rewiring, check.

But when he turned the key, nothing happened.

“Nobody ever told me anything about firing order,” Lamancusa said, recalling how it took several weeks for him to find someone to help him diagnose the problem and share that all-important firing order – six numbers that Lamancusa still remembers: 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Details are so important when it comes to service and repair on vehicles, and that story is a reminder for Lamancusa as the owner of City Auto and Truck Stop on Andrews Avenue.

His engineering background, coupled with his passion for rebuilding muscle cars really comes in handy with the full-service center.

From the routine stuff like inspections, oil changes, brakes, tires and belts to engine and transmission work, Lamancusa said he and his employees can handle it. They also work on boat trailers, semi trailers, RV’s, go-carts and forklifts.

Lamancusa said he values customers’ time and he strives to take care of their vehicles while they wait. “We try to get people in and out as quickly as we can,” he said.

And, he’s hiring.  Apply in person.

Stop by the shop to talk with Lamancusa to find out about the wide array of services they offer. He said he’s got very competitive prices – if you’ve got the parts and simply need them installed, that’s fine, you’ll just be charged for labor. They specialize in most American made cars, he said, stressing that they’re not an import shop.

“We run a clean shop and we honor what we do,” he said.

Call City Auto and Tire at 252.492.1195. Online at cityautoandtruckcenter.com

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Recently, City Auto and Truck became a Penske dealer, so customers can reserve and pay online and then come pick up the truck.

As a business owner, Lamancusa likens himself to an orchestra conductor: being at the front desk, he interacts with the public, handles the phones and now Penske customers. “I’m the conduit that everything flows through,” he said.

His background in electrical engineering is a perfect complement to the hands-on work that comes with running a shop like City Auto.

“Working with my hands, and my (engineering) knowledge, putting machines together – the two go well together,” he said.