Tag Archive for: #towntalk

TownTalk: Fore! VGCC 38th Annual Golf Tournament Ready To Tee Off

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In her new role as executive director of the Vance Granville Community College Foundation, Tanya Weary is preparing for the annual golf tournament, which has raised more than $1.3 million for the college over 37 years.

This year marks the 38th annual event, and Weary told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that registration is open now until April 15. Visit www.vgcc@edu/golf to sign up to play or to become an event sponsor. The tournament takes place on the afternoons of May 9 and May 10 at Henderson Country Club.

Weary, previously VGCC’s dean of business and industry solutions, said the biggest adjustment for her in her new role is that she no longer is overseeing programs and developing new programs for VGCC.

Now, as the Foundation’s executive director, her role involves making sure that VGCC has the money to continue offering programs to students and in the larger community.

When the college recently transitioned its endowment program to a nonprofit foundation, it opened up doors that allow VGCC to apply for grants, she said.

Providing scholarships for students is just one way that fundraisers like the golf tournament contribute to the success of the college.

“Our sponsors say they want to be supportive and see our students do well,” Weary said, adding that sponsors help “make college a reality for some of our students who may not be able to afford it without the support of the foundation. Sponsors make that happen.”

Sometimes, the financial needs go beyond the traditional tuition and books, she said. VGCC has funds that can help students in emergency situations, too. “It’s only because of sponsors that we can do that,” she said.

It’s not too late to sign up for sponsorship opportunities, Weary noted. Gupton’s Services is the presenting sponsor again this year, Weary said.

Other sponsors include:

 

  • Charles Boyd Chevrolet
  • Food Lion
  • Glen Raven Mills
  • Golden Skillet
  • Kilian Engineering
  • Mast Drug
  • R. Williams
  • Oxford Prepatory School
  • Select Products

Phone 252.738.3264 or email foundation@vgcc.edu to learn more.

 

 

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TownTalk: Career Day At LB Yancey School

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Students at L.B. Yancey Elementary in Henderson got a chance to interact – virtually – with a range of professionals during last week’s Career Day at the school. They also got the chance to share their career aspirations by dressing as doctors, nurses, civil servants and there was even one funeral director.

The theme for the day was “I Have a Voice – My Career, My Choice,” according to Alicia Eccleston-Clarke, event organizer. She said Career Day offered students the chance to see just how many career options await them. “Exposing them to the career opportunities available to them will hopefully serve as a way to motivate students to work hard and to do their best in school,” she said.

The staff and students were joined by a team of top-notch professionals who sparked much interest and excitement as they joined via Zoom to share details about their respective careers. The student were able to pose questions to their virtual guests. The day’s activities culminated with a student parade through the school hallways to show off their career day attire.

Fourth-grader Nathan Durham summed up Career Day this way: “It was so amazing! I wanted to be a soldier or cop or firefighter or anything! I couldn’t choose so I dressed as a funeral director.”

Guidance counselor Connie Jones and Cherie Dixon-Rose, multi-grade classroom leader at the school, were part of the organizing committee. Principal Dr. Shannon Bullock and the whole school staff worked together to make the Career Day a meaningful day for the students.

From the decorated bulletin board displays to the banner and décor, kids were excited from the moment they walked into the building. “I was overjoyed to see the level of participation from all stakeholders. Students being able to directly communicate with professionals in their desired careers will inspire them to continue working hard to achieve their goals,” Bullock said. Her comments were from a press release by VCS Director of Communication And Marketing Aarika Sandlin.

The following individuals participated in Career Day:

  • Estena Bradley – nurse Ppactitioner in the areas of Gynecology and Obstetrics from the Center for Women’s Health, Oxford;
  • Vernon Turner – on-air meteorologist for Spectrum News 1, Raleigh;
  • The Hon. Caroline S. Burnette – district court judge with the State of North Carolina;
  • Charles Gunby – chief executive officer of CG Project Management, Electrical, and Construction, LLC;
  • Michael Rice, P.E. teacher/track & basketball coach,Vance County Middle School,
  • Carlos Gunby – firefighter and paramedic EMT;
  • Camisha Gavin, realtor with CC & Co. Real Estate;
  • Jason Brown, former NFL player, author and current full-time farmer with First Fruits Farm.

 

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TownTalk: Chris Wright Talks New EMS And Fire Dept. Building

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Any time a call comes in about a motor vehicle crash, first responders spring into action. Whether it’s local law enforcement or a state trooper who dashes to the scene, there also will be a fire truck or rescue squad that responds as well.

Such was the case Wednesday when more than 20 emergency type vehicles were on the scene of an accident on Spring Valley Road.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright was on his way from his home to the gym for his regular workout when the call came in, so he arrived in his personal vehicle.

Wright told WIZS News that there was a large presence and response to the scene, including rescue squad vehicles to the fire department, sheriff’s office and the State Highway Patrol.

By the time Wright arrived, the Extrication Team had begun the process of removing the victim from what was left of the car.

Some of those vehicles have specialized equipment needed for such things as extrication, Wright said. And it means that emergency vehicles, over the years, have gotten bigger as a result.

It’s important to have the most up-to-date equipment possible for first responders to be able to do their jobs, and Wright said it’s also important to have a place that can house those vehicles when they’re not in action.

He said he’s pleased that County Manager Jordan McMillen, Finance Director Katherine Bigelow and the Vance County Board of Commissioners are at least beginning to plan for construction of a new fire department. The commissioners, at their regular meeting earlier this month, approved reallocating $4.5 million to the capital improvement fund to address several projects, one of which is a new fire department. The commissioners identified a new public safety center as one of its five priorities at their recent planning retreat.

“There’s definitely been a need over the last years,” Wright told John C. Rose in a phone interview that was recorded for Thursday’s Town Talk. With the increase in staff, as well as housing fire and EMS in one space, and the number of vehicles for each group, there simply isn’t adequate space for all.

The building was completed in 1960 and added on to in the early 1990’s to provide two additional vehicle bays.

According to Wright, the doorways to the vehicle bays aren’t tall enough to accommodate newer-model vehicles. The way vehicles being built now , “we almost have to have them specially built,” he noted. That’s just one issue facing him and his department – having to spec out vehicles that will fit – literally – in the facility.

In this time of preliminary planning, there are many factors to consider, Wright said, including whether to continue to house EMS and the fire department together or have them in separate spaces.

He said county officials are now beginning to look at land and different models of buildings as they discern the planning process.

It could take a couple of years, or as many as three years, he said, but he hopes that by the time it’s completed, Vance County will have a facility it can be proud of and one that can be a resource to the community it serves.

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TownTalk: Pink With A Passion Hosting Walk For Cancer Awareness, Survivors

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Join Pink With A Passion on Saturday, April 9 at the Warren County Recreation Complex for a walk to celebrate cancer survivors and to honor the memories of loved ones whose lives cancer has claimed.

Amena Wilson, president of Pink With A Passion, and Elaine White, vice-president, invite the public to come out to show support for all those who are battling the disease.

“We’ve been trying since 2020 to have it,” Wilson told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. “We are so excited to be able to bring forth this walk,” Wilson said.

The event is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there will be food trucks, a deejay and the local high school band present to provide entertainment. “There are so many fun activities planned,” Wilson said. Bring a lawn chair and stay for a fun-filled day, she added.

In addition to the three-mile walk, there also will be a ceremony to honor cancer survivors, who also are invited to take part in a survivors’ lap and be recognized by the crowd.

The event is not a fundraiser; rather, an opportunity to give back to the community, Wilson said, and to bring awareness to cancer patients. There will be PWAP t-shirts on sale, however.

White said she and Wilson decided to continue the fundraising efforts to help those battling cancer after they had some leftover money from when Wilson went through treatment of breast cancer after a 2018 diagnosis.

They helped White’s sister when she underwent treatment and just decided to keep it going after that.

“It makes me feel awesome – great – for doing this,” White said. Sometimes, when people’s spirits are low, it’s important to get everyone together and just make them feel good, she said.

This walk and other planned activities is a way to do just that, she said. “It’s something to encourage everybody,” she said.

Future events that Pink With A Passion plans include a Rainbow Luncheon in June. This is another “give back,” Wilson said. There will be limited seating for the free luncheon, she said, which is designed to show a little love to cancer patients and a guest of their choice. “We’ll have sit-down luncheon, encourage them and lift their spirits,” White explained.

A wellness clinic scheduled for October in conjunction with another awareness dinner, will be another fundraiser event for Pink With A Passion.

Visit www.pinkwithapassion.org, call Wilson at 252.213.5735 or White at 243.983.7476 for more information.

 

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TownTalk: GEF Hosts “Arts In Bloom Gala” April 28

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There’s a certain satisfaction artists have when they create something that others also admire and appreciate – “budding” artists (pun intended) in Granville County will have the chance to experience that feeling of satisfaction next month at the Granville Education Foundation’s Arts in Bloom Gala and Silent Auction.

GEF Executive Director Jennifer Cufalo Carpenter invites the community to come out to The Granville Museum, 1 Museum Lane in Oxford, beginning Thursday, April 28 to see local students’ artwork. Carpenter spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk about the event, which is the first of its kind offered by GEF.

She and Amy Rice, GCPS’s STEAM coordinator (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) both said they are excited about the event, which will culminate on May 3 at 4 p.m. when the winners of the silent auction will claim their art.

Carpenter said GEF came up with the idea “to showcase (student) talent, promote the visual arts and to give back to the community.”

She said that all schools located in Granville County have been asked to submit at least three items to be included in the art exhibit and silent auction, which will include students in grades K-12.  It will be a distinct opportunity for students to be able to see others appreciate, enjoy – and bid on – their artwork, she said.

Rice, whose career in education began as a Science teacher at J.F. Webb High School, said that, for her, “the most exciting part is to showcase the talent of our students.”

Teachers bring the completed artwork to Rice at GCPS Central Services. “I love seeing the artwork as it comes in,” she said.

A teacher recently brought in some entries and commented to Rice that this event allows students to feel successful. Not all students make the A honor roll, Rice said, and the art gala is an important way for students to demonstrate talent in areas other than academics.

Arts in Bloom kicks off with a light reception from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Apr. 28. The event continues on Sunday, May 1 and concludes at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3.

Musical entertainment will be provided on Apr. 28 by students of Granville Central High School musical director Joshua Carter, himself a recipient of three GEF mini-grants in 2021-22 totaling more than $7,000.

The GEF awards grants to Granville County educators who submit applications for projects to enrich and enhance their students’ educational experience. GEF also funds cultural arts programs that bring in the arts to schools in the county.  Carpenter said the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on the cultural arts arm of GEF programming, but she is happy to report that it will resume this spring.

The art submissions are not limited to paintings or drawings, Carpenter said, adding that students may choose to create in any medium – “we wanted to allow the kids to be creative,” she said, adding that entries could be as varied as crochet, quilting or beadwork.

Proceeds provide resources and enrichment programs for students in all Granville County schools.

There are sponsorship opportunities available for Arts in Bloom, too – $500 Rose event sponsor, $250 Daisy supporting sponsor and $100 Tulip featured sponsor. The deadline to submit sponsorships to GEF is April 7. Details about sponsorship and more can be found at www.GranvilleEdFoundation.org.

Email Carpenter at GranvilleEdFoundation@outlook.com or phone 919.693.7047.

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TownTalk: Fentanyl Is Killing America’s Future – Young People

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Patricia Drews is on a mission – it’s a mission that won’t bring her daughter back, but she is determined to try to help other families learn more about what she calls drug-induced homicide that took the life of her only child.

Her daughter, Heaven, died in 2019 – one of approximately 200 young people dying each day back then in the U.S. from opioids. That figure has doubled to about 400 a day as the opioid epidemic rages. The NC DHHS reported Monday that an average of nine North Carolinians died each day in 2020 as a result of a drug overdose – a 40 percent increase from the previous year.

Drews has written and published a book titled Death of America’s Future: China’s Fentanyl that she said should be available for purchase by the end of the week. It is a compilation of more than 80 accounts – including the tragic story of her daughter Heaven – of families that have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning.

“I wanted a mother’s perspective,” she told John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk, “of losing a child.” The first 50 copies of the book, which she paid for herself, should be available this week on Amazon. It was expensive endeavor, Drews noted, but if the book sales do make a profit, she wants to donate the proceeds to several different organizations, including Lost Voices of Fentanyl, a national organization with more than 10,000 members.

The book contains a color photograph of every mother and child, which was important to Drews so she could show families as they had once been – “that they lived, they loved, they laughed,” she said.

Drews said 104,000 young people in the United States died from drugs, and the numbers just keep climbing, she said.

Drews draws a clear distinction between a drug overdose versus the lethal opioid poisoning responsible for the deaths of so many young people. “Yes, they made a choice to experiment,” she said, “but they did not choose to die. The drug dealer that sold them that fentanyl made that choice for them.”

Raising awareness is critical to keeping young people safe – “we need to educate ourselves and we need to educate our children,” Drews said.

In December 2019, North Carolina enacted a law that allows prosecutors to charge drug dealers who illegally sell a controlled substance that causes someone’s death. The “death by distribution” act carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison.

Her daughter’s case remains active, she said. “I refuse to let it go – they need to be held accountable.”  Her daughter died in January 2019, just months before the new law went into effect that December.

“But there’s no statute of limitations on homicide,” she said.

To learn more about how to purchase a copy of the book, visit the local Forgotten Victims page on Facebook or contact Drews directly at 252. 204.9611.

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TownTalk: Embrace Henderson Event Is Only A Few Weeks Away

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After a COVID-19 delay, Embrace Henderson’s Family Spectacular is returning to Saddlerock Farm on Saturday, April 9 for a fun-filled event for children and adults.

Embrace Henderson’s Kevin Kilgore told WIZS that the group is glad to get back to its mission of coming together to host events, revivals – and the Family Spectacular – after a two-year COVID-19 break.

The Spectacular will be held at Saddlerock Farm, 1786 Weldon’s Mill Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It’s the only event that we’ve scheduled this year…because it’s outside, it felt like it was a good place to start back,” Kilgore said.

The 2022 event marks the 10th anniversary of the Spectacular. Kilgore said previous events have had right around 1,000 in attendance. “I’d love to have twice that many, but we’re comfortable with the number of adults and kids that do come,” he said.

There will be horse rides, hayrides, bouncy houses, children’s games, an illusion show, just to name a few. There also will be sno cones, popcorn and drinks to enjoy.

The event is absolutely free, Kilgore said.

Embrace Henderson was formed in 2010 when a group of individuals and various churches joined forces to be able to bring events, revivals and events like the Family Spectacular, all while spreading God’s Word.

The local group is partnering with Bob Fowler’s Child Evangelism Fellowship and Scott and Karen Lamm with LammEvents.com to bring all the activities to Vance County next month.

“There’s no way we could do this without either of them,” Kilgore noted.

TownTalk: Stay Safe With The 9pm Routine

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It’s just good sound advice, but coming from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow, getting into a #9PMRoutine, it sure sounds like something everyone in the area should pay attention to.

Barrow joined John C. Rose on Town Talk to discuss how a few simple steps at the end of each day could give residents peace of mind about their safety.

“We’re supposed to feel safe in our homes,” Barrow said. A nationwide campaign that is #9PMRoutine reminds folks to lock their vehicle doors, close and lock exterior doors of the home and turn on exterior lights to keep yourself from being an “easy victim” of crime.

Grownups may remember growing up in a time where nobody locked their car doors and may not have even locked their doors at night, but they also didn’t have all those shiny, portable electronic devices – GPS systems, cell phones, computers – that are easy targets for theft.

The main idea of the #9PMRoutine is just that – getting people in a routine that they remove their valuables from their cars and remove the temptation for would-be thieves.

“Portable things that you can easily walk away with that have value” are what thieves are looking for, Barrow said.

Additionally, he said his department gets lots of calls about firearms being stolen from vehicles. Barrow suggests that those gun owners who support the Second Amendment right to bear arms also need to know the responsibilities associated with that right.

“Be responsible about how you leave it in your vehicle,” he said.

Visit the Henderson Police Department’s Facebook page to learn more about the #9PMRoutine.

Corbitt Trucks

TownTalk: Corbitt Preservation Event To Be Held On April 9

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When he looks at one of those old Corbitt trucks, Charles Powell sees so much more than an old vehicle that just happened to be manufactured right here in Henderson in the early part of the 20th century – he sees, in his words “magnificent pieces of equipment.”

Powell, president of the Corbitt Preservation Association, and plenty of other Corbitt Truck enthusiasts are looking forward to gathering again in a few weeks to share their love of the locally produced vehicle with others.

There will be a Spring Fling and Open House on Saturday, April 9 in the area of the Bennett H. Perry Museum, which also is home to the preservation association. This is the 20th year for the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

“You can’t just look at it as a hunk of metal,” Powell told John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk. What some may see as utilitarian vehicles of a bygone era, Powell and other Corbitt truck fans see as history on wheels.

There will be some Corbitt trucks parked along Church Street in front of the museum so folks have a chance to see them up close.

The preservation association was all set to have the open house last year, but COVID-19 quashed those plans. Powell said the open house for the museum is a great way to let the community know that the museum is here for them to enjoy.

“I think everybody’s ready to get out,” Powell said. “People have been inside for so long – I think they’re really going to like these events.”

There are half a dozen or so car shows or other similar events across the state that Powell and others either drive or trailer some of the old Corbitts to, including the Got To Be NC festival in Raleigh and another at the Transportation Museum in Spencer, near Salisbury.

“It takes quite a bit to get these vehicles loaded up and hauled to a show,” Powell explained. Some of the vehicles are between 70 and 100 years old, so driving them is often out of the question.

Some of the ones who have loved and cared for the vehicles are getting older, too, he said. He’d love to attract some younger folks to become members of the preservation association. Membership dues were waived during the pandemic and Powell said anyone interested in becoming involved need do nothing more than show up at a meeting – the next one is May 15 – or come out to the spring fling and sign up.

Find the group on Facebook at Corbitt Preservation Association or at https://corbitttrucks.com/

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TownTalk: Granville Gardeners’ Expo Coming April 23

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From Master Gardeners looking for a little something to add to their flower beds to newbies just hoping to cultivate a green thumb, the upcoming Granville Gardeners’  Expo will have something for just about everyone.

From workshops and demonstrations to plants and home décor, the Granville County Expo and Convention Center on Saturday, April 23 will be filled to overflowing with vendors and others to kickstart springtime gardening projects, according to Christi Henthorn, one of the event organizers.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it will be a time “to learn, shop and have some fun,” Henthorn told John C. Rose and Bill Harris on Thursday’s Town Talk.

The Granville Gardeners is a nonprofit organization that is filled with all different types of gardeners, from the backyard enthusiast to commercial nursery men and women. “Our job as garden club members is to help folks (find ways to) garden that fits their needs,” Henthorn said. Likewise, local vendors who will be on hand can help you decide which plants best fit the space you have.

Visit https://www.thegranvillegardeners.org/  and click on the Expo link to find the list of plants available for pre-order to be picked up on the day of the event. The link to pre-order is scheduled to go live tomorrow (Friday, Mar. 18), Henthorn said.

Some of the workshops planned for the expo include learning how to compost and putting together attractive planters

“We have some very, very experienced gardeners that have lived here their whole lives and their gardens are just stellar,” Henthorn noted.

There still is room for more vendors, with 10 x 10 spaces priced at $40. Other sizes are available as well, she said. There also are sponsor opportunities as well. Below is a list of the sponsorship levels:

  • Seed – $100
  • Sprout – $300
  • Sapling -$500
  • Bouquet – $1,000+

to learn more or send an email to granvillegardeners@gmail.com. In addition, the club phone number is 919.892.9135.

 

 

 

Christi Henthorn details the upcoming Granville Gardners Expo.

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