Tag Archive for: #towntalk

TownTalk 5-11-21; KARTS Provides Key Service To Rural Residents

/by

Irene Johnson, executive director of KARTS discusses the transportation services offered by the agency, the effects of Covid-19 and the need for drivers.

Johnson stressed Kerr Area Rural Transportation Authority operates with a “safety first” approach to everything.

For Broadcast Audio Click Play. Written story below.

 

The term “public transportation” may conjure up images of crowded buses headed across a busy commercial district in a large city, but rural areas have public transportation services that help people get to medical appointments or complete errands in town.

In Vance, Franklin, Granville and Warren counties, 55 KARTS buses travel the country roads to pick up rural residents who rely on public transportation.

KARTS, or Kerr Area Rural Transportation Authority, has been serving the four-county area since 1983, said Irene Johnson, KARTS executive director. She told John C. Rose Tuesday on Town Talk that she wants to spread the word about KARTS.

Anyone who needs a ride to get a COVID-19 vaccine can ride for free, Johnson said. “We will make that possible at no cost” to the rider, she said. Just call KARTS at 252.438.2573 after scheduling the vaccine appointment.

Johnson said KARTS buses are on the road Monday through Saturday, and some drivers begin their shifts behind the wheel by 2:30 a.m. Many riders go to dialysis centers she said, and appointments there start as early as 4 a.m.

But KARTS buses take riders to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, too. A scheduler can provide details about schedules and fare costs. Visit www.kartsnc.com for a breakdown of roundtrip fares. A roundtrip fare between 1-10 miles costs $8; a roundtrip fare between 11-20 miles is $10.

Those Around the Town shuttles that scurry throughout Vance County are KARTS buses, too. Johnson said there are designated stops for those shuttles, which generally run between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

COVID-19 restrictions created extra steps for KARTS, including sanitizing machines for the vehicles when they’re off the road, as well adding hand sanitizer stations on each bus. Masks are required to board the bus, and drivers have extras for anyone who needs one.

In addition to transporting people to their medical appointments and grocery shopping, Johnson said KARTS also takes people to work. She said at least four buses deliver workers daily to their jobs at Revlon in Oxford. Johnson estimated that those 55 buses are handling an average of 400 appointments a day, down from as many as 700 at one time.

KARTS, like many other rural transport agencies across the state, need qualified drivers. “We’re comfortable at 400 (trips), but we could use 20 drivers right now,” she said.

Drivers must be at least 21 years old and pass a background check and a drug screen.

“You’ve got to be someone who likes people,” she noted. “The easy part is being behind the wheel – you may be the only person they see all day.”

(KARTS is an advertising client of WIZS.  This article and audio are not paid ads.)

TownTalk 05-10-21 Economics, Jobs, Inflation

/by

Host John C. Rose discusses economics, employment and inflation including the effect stimulus payments have had, how the lack of employees has effected the shipping of goods and concerns about inflation.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

TownTalk 5-5-21 VGCC Applied Technologies

/by

Vance-Granville Community College offers an array of certificate and degree classes under the heading of Applied Technologies – from welding to mechatronics, these programs are designed to put students on a new career path or gain additional skills in their current field of work.

Robinette Fischer chairs VGCC’s applied technology department. She and Rusty Pace, who heads up the school’s welding program, discussed the various areas of study available at the college with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk.

Welders are in short supply in the four counties that VGCC serves, Pace said. “There is a shortage of qualified welders,” he said. On top of that, the average age of a qualified welder is late 50’s or close to 60 years, so as more workers reach retirement age, industry will be looking for replacements.

Students in the welding program can earn a two-year degree or diploma, and Pace said evening classes offered at Main Campus provide convenience for those who may be working during the day.

Fischer said she fields calls regularly from businesses and industries asking for candidates to fill job openings. Electricians, heating and cooling (HVAC) technicians and welders are just a few of the jobs that are in demand.

Andrew Lynam of Youngsville, seen here in the Welding shop on VGCC’s Main Campus, is the college’s recipient of the North Carolina Community College System Academic Excellence Award for 2018. (VGCC Photo)

“The jobs are out there,” Fischer said. “And they pay well.” More women are applying to these programs, she said. “We’re trying to market more to women and make it understood that (they are) as capable as anyone else,” she said.  “There’s no reason that women can’t go into those occupations and be successful.”

Pace said students who complete the welding program at VGCC will leave qualified in one of several areas of welding and must meet American Welding Society standards. Successful completion of the program prepares students for at least an entry-level welding job.

Other programs in the applied technologies department offer certificates, diplomas and degrees.

The carpentry program is being offered again after a pause, Fischer said. Other areas of study include electrical system studies for residential and commercial wiring, automotive, HVAC, mechatronics and electrical engineering (geared to a manufacturing environment that includes motors and other types of controls).

Whatever the program, Fischer said students have access to help all along the way. “If you’re wanting to go from ground zero to the top, we’re here for you and we’ll make that possible,” she said. We’ve got people to help you from the time you come in and say what program you’re interested in, getting you registered and started,” Fischer continued.

Pace said he and his fellow instructors help students not just have a job in welding, but have a career in welding. “The best place to start is at Vance-Granville,” he said.

Classes start May 24 for the summer term; the fall semester begins Aug. 16. Visit www.vgcc.edu to learn more.

(VGCC is an advertising client of WIZS and WIZS.com. This is not a paid ad.)

Click Play for Broadcast Audio and Full Details.

 

TownTalk 5-4-21 Donald Seifert, Shriner’s Fish Fry

/by

Donald Seifert of the Tri-County Shrine Club about the upcoming Shriner’s Fish Fry.

Broadcast audio here.  Written story below.

For decades, the annual Shrine Club fish fry was held at the Henderson Armory. In recent years, although the locations have changed, the mission has never wavered: the local Shrine Club fundraiser supports local and national causes to help children.

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 marks the 57th fish fry, said Donald C. Seifert, who spoke with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk.

The event is take-out only, he said, and runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 210 Industry Drive, at the Sherman and Boddie facility. Tickets are available from local Shriners, but also are available at the door.

“It all comes together,” Seifert said of the preparation for the annual fish fry. “But it comes together right at the last day or two,” he said. Club members will get the cookers on site and prepare the fish. There’s a lot of work that goes into the annual event, and he said club members look forward to serving a lot of customers on May 19.

“We do have some good experience on moving folks through and getting them hot plates (of food),” he said.

In the 57 years that the fish fry has been held, there’s no telling how much fish has been battered, fried and placed on plates or in to-go boxes, he said. “It’s very gratifying. The people of Henderson and the surrounding area have been so supportive – it’s just been a good project for us and I think people have enjoyed it also,” Seifert added.

A couple of years ago, the group known as Henderson Shrine Club adopted a new name to reflect its demographic. The Tri-County Shrine Club is the same group, but Seifert said the newer name is more inclusive.

“We’ll do our level best to deliver to our customers a good fish plate – they’ll certainly get their money’s worth,” he said.

The local Shriners support causes in the community – they recently helped with a first-responders fundraiser – as well as Shriners’ hospitals across the nation and around the globe. “Road runners” are Shriners who transport children and family members to Shrine hospitals for treatment. Treatment and transportation are at no cost to the family, and fundraisers like the local fish fry support the medical care the children receive.

The fish fry is something that the community looks forward to, with many years selling completely out of fish – but the timing is uncannily close to when the event is over. Larry Parker and Ray Fields are two mainstays of the fish fry, and Seifert said that the former Highway Patrolmen really know how to move things along when they need to.

Rose asked Seifert how many fish fry events he’d attended over the years. With only a slight pause, Seifert stated “It’s been most of them – I was here and I was a Shriner, so I was at the fish fry.”

TownTalk 5-3-21 Dr. Michael Sylvia, Chief Of Pediatrics, Maria Parham Health

/by

Children can safely return to school said Dr. Michael Sylvia, Chief of Pediatrics at Maria Parham Hospital, earlier today on TownTalk.

TownTalk broadcast audio and written story below.

In the past year or so, experts and laypeople have spoken at length about all the complications brought on by COVID-19 and the effects it has had, both in the community and across the globe. But one local pediatrician said Monday he would offer a simple response to the question about children’s safe return to school: Yes.

“The short answer is yes, it is safe to send your child- and kids – back to school,” said Dr. Michael Sylvia, chief of Pediatrics and vice chair of the department of Medicine at Maria Parham Medical Center.

“We know that school is incredibly important, not just for the learning’s sake, but there’s a lot of social skills that kids develop in school, especially in the 6- to 12-year age group, that pre-adolescent range,” Sylvia told John C. Rose on Monday’s segment of Town Talk.

He said children invariably will come home with the everyday, run-of-the-mill germs that cause colds, stomach bugs and other common ailments when they do return to in-person school full-time. But it is important for parents and other adult family members to be able to discern those routine symptoms and not jump to the conclusion that the child has COVID-19.

“Kids share germs – it’s inevitable,” he said. Symptoms such as a high fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, chills and body aches, and loss of taste or smell could indicate something more than just a standard cold, he said. If a child complains of those symptoms, or has been exposed to COVID-19, a call to the doctor is in order for possible testing.

As children return to group activities like sports, it’s going to be important to be vigilant about hand washing and not grabbing the wrong water bottle.

But not letting young people play sports could have a more negative impact than letting them get back on the fields for practice and games. “Sports is huge for team building and emotional development,” Sylvia said. “I’m all about kids getting out and exercising.”

Parents who notice changes in their children’s behavior – physical or emotional – should talk with their pediatrician. “The one thing that parents can do is just be open,” Sylvia said. “Share your concerns with your child.”

Sylvia commented on the ongoing research around COVID-19 and how it affects different age groups. Teenagers are still far less likely to catch COVID-19 or have symptoms bad enough to put them in hospital, he said. Younger children are even less likely to experience symptoms, he added. But children are still being included in clinical trials, and the research can help health experts target the age ranges that should be vaccinated.

“We’re optimistic that we’ll have some pretty good information about vaccines in kids by summer,” Sylvia said.

The decision to vaccinate young children has yet to be made, but Sylvia said it probably would be a good idea, even if there is a low incidence of infection. Why? “It’s (for) the child or the adult in the community who can’t get the vaccine for health reasons,” he said.

“I’m optimistic that we will be through this in the near future,” Sylvia said. “Parents just have to stick it out just a little longer.”

TownTalk 04-29-21 Local History With Cathleen Turner, Preservation North Carolina

/by

Hosts Bill Harris and Mark Pace speak with Cathleen Turner, Piedmont Regional Director of Preservation North Carolina, about the importance of protecting historical properties.

Written story below.

As well, please enjoy full broadcast audio of the show.

Saving historic properties from demolition is but one aspect of Preservation North Carolina’s mission. The preservation of a physical building also keeps alive and relevant the stories that go along with the structure – its place in the community and the families that once lived or worked in them.

Cathleen Turner, Preservation North Carolina’s Piedmont regional director, said the nonprofit organization is a source of information for anyone interested in historic preservation – whether it’s restoration, repair or rehabilitation.

Turner was a guest on Town Talk Thursday and shared some of PNC’s success stories with hosts Bill Harris and Thornton Library’s Mark Pace.

It’s important to keep in mind whether a property is “saveable, buyable and sellable,” she said, as well as its role in the life of the community in which it’s located. “Sometimes the most modest little cottage can reveal a depth of information about the people who lived there or were associate with it.”

One success story has a local connection. Turner mentioned the Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, a stewardship project of PNC. Pace noted that two Bellamy brothers married two sisters from right here in Vance County. The sisters were Hargroves, members of the family that owned Hibernia near Townsville. The Bellamy home fared far better than the Hargrove home, which is no longer standing. The Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design Arts took decades to rehabilitate, and it was turned over to PNC as a stewardship property in 1989.

Not all properties are destined to be restored to its original state, Turner said.

“We use the Secretary of the Interior standards for rehabilitation,” she said, “which are guidelines that we apply on a case-by-case basis.” Many of the buildings’ owners aren’t interested in restoring them to a particular period. “People like their indoor bathrooms and kitchens. And they like their Wifi, too,” Turner added.

The term “rehabilitation” may describe more accurately what occurs with properties. Updating to today’s standards is done thoughtfully, she said, “with respect to repair rather than replace.” If something is missing or beyond repair, then she recommends to replace in-kind. Yesterday’s materials – those old growth forest woods – are hardier than most modern materials.  If the original materials can be saved, that is preferred. “The way we approach rehabilitation is very common-sense and sensible. And smart, from a bottom-line standpoint.”

Another success story is located in the tiny town of Milton, near the Virginia border. It is there that Thomas Day’s home and workshop have been restored. “We had been interested in seeing that building preserved for a very long time,” Turner said. A fire nearly burned it to the ground, but the building was not beyond restoration. She said it probably would have been razed had PNC not stepped in. Visitors can see where the famed furniture maker once lived and worked.

Closer to home is a property known as the Charles Brewer house, located on North Clark Street in Henderson. Houses located in National Register historic districts may be eligible for tax credits, Turner said. “We don’t give grants to private property owners,” she said, but tax credits provide incentives for the repair work and restoration to be completed.

Visit www.presnc.org to learn more about PNC’s projects and programs.

TownTalk 04-27-21 VGCC 9th Annual Small Business Summit

/by

 

Niche crops, innovative practices and agritourism may not be the first things that come to mind when people think about farming, but participants in an upcoming daylong workshop will learn more about these topics and more.

Vance-Granville Community College will present the 9th Annual Small Business Summit on Thursday, May 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will be held outside, at Seven Springs Farms and Vineyards, 332 Axtell Ridgeway Road, Norlina, NC. All CDC-recommended social distancing and mask protocols will be followed.

This year’s theme is Ag Alternatives & Legacy Farms. VGCC’s Tanya Weary and Sheri Jones spoke with John C. Rose on Town Talk Tuesday about the event, which will provide attendees with a day of agriculture education, including discussions of niche farming, agritourism and farm modernization. The workshop will be led by a diverse group of successful farmers and business owners. Attendees will also learn about agriculture-related grants and financing options.

Register by May 10 by visiting www.vgcc.edu. Or contact Jones  via email joness@vgcc.edu or call 252.425.8385. Lunch is included with registration and will be provided by The Meat Up Spot, a regional food truck (a vegetarian option will be available).

It is “quite fitting” to hold the workshop at Seven Springs, Weary said. Agritourism is growing, and Weary said “we’re excited that Seven Springs has agreed to host us, and to share their knowledge with those in attendance that day on what agritourism has done for them and for Warren County.

Jones, director of VGCC’s Small Business Center, said the outdoor venue will allow for social distancing for participants. “The owners have been so cooperative in making sure that everything stays in compliance and will keep everybody safe. It is a beautiful venue and I think people will really enjoy it.”

“Agriculture is an important part of our local economy, with many of our small businesses being involved in food and farming, so we are excited to focus on this sector,” said Weary, VGCC’s Dean of Business & Industry Solutions.

Derrick Jackson of Grass Grazed Farm in Durham will serve as the keynote speaker, discussing “A New Farming Model.” Jackson and his wife, Paige, operate a 60-acre farm, where they focus on sustainable pastured livestock, ethical practices and regenerative agriculture.

Other sessions include a panel on “High Tunnel Production,” led by N.C. Cooperative Extension including Dean’s Greens Farm, Rocky Ridge Farms and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; “Land of Opportunity: Heir Property, Startups, and Finding Your Niche” with Patrick Brown of Brown Family Farms/Hempfinity; a session on “Agritourism, Partnerships and Building Community,” featuring Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards and Lake Gaston Outfitters; and a presentation on “Finding Resources: Cost-Share, Grants, and Financing Your Agribusiness.”

The event is hosted by the VGCC Small Business Center, with co-sponsors including Warren County Economic Development, The Meat Up Spot, Sweet Delights, Grass Grazed, and Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards.

“I think the main goal that Tanya and I have had as a team is to listen and to hear what each community needs that may be specific to their community and we try to meet them there,” Jones said.

TownTalk 04-26-21 NC MedAssist Mobile Pharmacy Visits Henderson April 30

/by

NC MedAssist is coming to Henderson Friday, April 30 to distribute various types of over-the-counter medications and other first-aid items to residents in a drive-thru event. Online registration continues until noon on Wednesday, and that’s the best way to make sure that individuals get the medicines they need.

Kinsey Luce, mobile events and project manager for NC MedAssist, was a guest on Monday’s Town Talk. She told John C. Rose that the mobile pharmacy will bring about $100,000 in medicines to distribute. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The drive-thru format is a response to COVID-19 restrictions, she said. “We’re so excited to be back” in the area; last summer’s event in Granville County had 1,100 people come out to pick up cough and cold medicines, allergy medicines and other over-the-counter remedies.

The mobile pharmacy will be at the local Salvation Army facility, 2292 Ross Mill Road and is the result of a partnership with Triangle North Foundation.

“We’re still going to do everything we can to keep everyone safe,” Luce said, and added that all participants will be required to use facemasks. “We want to have a safe event and give out tons of free medicine.”

The program is open to individuals and families needing medications. Although no ID is required, participants must be 18 years or older to get medicines.

The advance, online registration will allow participants to choose exactly which medicines they need. “We’ll shop for your order, and it’ll be labeled and ready for you to pick up,” Luce said.

Pre-registration is not a requirement, but it would be helpful to get people in and out quickly.

NC MedAssist can also provide ongoing assistance for qualified individuals and families, she said. The enrollment process has been simplified and guidelines eased to help the uninsured get the medications they need.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

TownTalk 04-22-21 Vaccines, Restrictions, Latest in NC

/by

TownTalk Broadcast Audio 4-22-21

The base of information for TownTalk 4-22-21 comes from the following press release from the State of North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen.

April 21, 2021 Press Release

Governor Cooper Outlines Timeline for Lifting State’s COVID-19 Restrictions
As vaccinations continue and trends stabilize, NC will lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. laid out a timeline for lifting current pandemic restrictions today. With stable trends and continued vaccination success, the state expects to lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1. The Governor plans to issue an executive order next week outlining safety restrictions for the month of May.

“Each shot in an arm is a step closer to putting this pandemic in the rearview mirror,” said Governor Cooper. “North Carolinians have shown up for each other throughout this entire pandemic and we need to keep up that commitment by getting our vaccines.”

North Carolina continues to focus on distributing vaccines quickly and equitably. This fast and fair approach to getting shots in arms is the best way to beat this pandemic, protect one another, boost the economy and make it possible for restrictions to be lifted.

To date, the state has administered over 6.5 million vaccines. 46.9 percent of adults are at least partially vaccinated, and 35.1 percent are fully vaccinated. More than 76 percent of people 65 and older have had at least one shot.

With vaccine now widely available across the state – often with no wait for an appointment, all North Carolinians 16 and older can plan to take their shot. The state anticipates lifting the mask mandate and easing other public health recommendations, once two thirds of adult North Carolinians have received at least one vaccine dose and if trends remain stable.

“We are at an exciting moment. We now have enough vaccine for everyone,” said Secretary Cohen. “If you are 16 and older, it is your turn to join the more than 3.6 million North Carolinians who have already taken their first shot. It’s up to you to get us to the two thirds goal as quickly as possible so we can live with this virus and begin to put this pandemic behind us.”

Gov. Cooper and Sec. Cohen urged North Carolinians continue to get vaccinated and exercise good judgment even when restrictions are lifted. Businesses should continue to follow voluntary health recommendations and North Carolinians should continue to take safety measures in order to boost the economy, keep children in schools and protect each other.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released statistics indicating that North Carolina is among the states with the fewest deaths and fewest job losses per capita.

State health officials are continuing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to follow the state’s mask mandate and continue to practice safety precautions, including the Three Ws—wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash hands often.

If you avidly follow the latest information in North Carolina about covid, the following press release from North Carolina came out Thursday, April 22, 2021 AFTER TownTalk was already complete.

NCDHHS Announces Summer Community Get-out-the-Vaccine Campaign
Initiative Aims to Vaccinate Majority of North Carolina’s Adults by Summer

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the Bringing Summer Back get-out-the-vaccine campaign that will engage community organizations across the state to fully vaccinate as many people as possible by summer.

To date, more than 3.6 million adults in North Carolina have been vaccinated with at least one dose. While the state has made great progress in helping people schedule and get to their vaccine appointments, more than half of the adult population is still completely unvaccinated, putting them at higher risk of contracting and spreading the virus.

Being fully vaccinated means getting back to hugging loved ones who are also fully vaccinated, gathering with fully vaccinated friends and family and going to small indoor gatherings with less worry. Getting the majority of North Carolina’s adults vaccinated by summer means getting back to the summer activities we all love — like backyard gatherings with families and friends, public fireworks, outdoor festivals or parades — all without wearing masks.

The Bringing Summer Back campaign is a fun, flexible and community-centered approach that creates a space for every organization and individual to roll up their sleeves and do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 and get everyone back to the people and places they love. The campaign will run during two weeks in May (May 9–15 and May 16–21) and two weeks in June (June 6–12 and June 20–26), during which organizations across the state will rally together to promote vaccination.

Organizations can get involved in a number of ways:

    • Organize volunteer days: Invite members, volunteers and others to participate in a day(s) of phone banking, door knocking or other forms of outreach to the communities they serve.
    • Distribute resources: Notify communities about efforts to help people get COVID-19 vaccine appointments through emails, social media or other creative ways.
    • Host a get-out-the-vaccine challenge: Create friendly competition. See who can reach out to the most people via phone, door knocking, social media or other ways. Offer an incentive to get people motivated and involved.
    • Get creative: Come up with your own approach to encourage people to get vaccinated.

Organizations that would like to get involved can register to participate and access toolkit materials at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/BringSummerBack (Spanish: covid19.ncdhhs.gov/Devueltaalverano) or by emailing BringingSummerBack@dhhs.nc.gov.

The toolkit offers simple, specific steps everyone can take to navigate people to an appointment, such as calling loved ones who haven’t been vaccinated yet, sharing their experience on social media and asking if anyone needs support in getting vaccinated.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines in North Carolina, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567. Appointments can be made by visiting myspot.nc.gov.