Tag Archive for: #towntalk

TownTalk 03-22-21 William Landis, Small Farms Week

/by

Small farmers make up about 80 percent of farmers in this area and provide the community with delicious produce and pasture-raised meats that consumers can find at local farmers’ markets. But small-scale farmers are not necessarily trying to compete with, or become, large-scale farmers, according to William Landis with Franklin County Extension Service.  He told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that small farmers who can find a niche product or a niche market can position themselves to be successful.

Landis is the small farms agent for Franklin and Warren counties. Part of his job is to help small farmers with resources to become as efficient and productive as possible. These days, with so much information available via the internet, it may be challenging for producers to make choices about how and what to grow on their farms.

“Come to us,” Landis said of cooperative extension services. “Bounce what you’ve heard off your local extension agent. We’re here to help you out,” he said. Many small farmers around here, he said, have full-time jobs off the farm and do their farm work when they get off work.

March 21-27 is Small Farms Week in North Carolina, thanks to the Cooperative Extension program at N.C. A&T State University. And a Franklin County farmer is in the running for Small Farmer of the Year.

Mike and Suzanne Jones run MAE Farm and they market their pasture-raised meats at the State Farmers Market. Jones has been a farmer since the early 2000’s, long before Landis became an extension agent. “It’s good to see that he’s finally getting recognized,” he said.

The winner will be announced on Mar. 24 during the virtual Small Farms conference.

Small Farms Week TownTalk Podcast

Selection criteria include how small farmers are engaged in the community, as well as innovative practices that are used on the farm, Landis said. Jones is involved with the local Farm Bureau and uses innovative pasture management practices like silvopasture – letting animals graze in forested areas – and rotational grazing of multiple species.

Landis said a small farm is one that has less than $250,000 a year in income. Advances in technology, from tractors with built-in GPS systems to the use of drones, have been helpful additions for producers. Other types of technology – like phone apps – are also being used to help boost the agritourism industry, Landis said. One such app is called Visit NC Farms. Producers load information about their farm and it’s accessible via the app. Agritourism is a growing trend and has helped small farmers weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Other online tools like MeatSuite can help consumers find locally sourced meats in their area, he added.

Franklin County, he said, is situated in a perfect spot to respond to the huge Raleigh-Durham market. “Within 30 minutes, you can be in Raleigh and deliver your product,” he said. The Raleigh-Durham market is one of the largest markets in the U.S., he said. Responding to the needs and wants of a market that size is what can put a small farmer on the road to success.

Right now, the Franklin County Farmers Market is located near the Carly C’s on Bickett Boulevard in Louisburg. It currently operates under a shelter on Fridays from 9 to noon, but Landis said there is some movement afoot to create a closed-in market.

TownTalk 03-18-21: Vance County Comprehensive Architectural Survey to be Conducted

/by

Local history buffs, take note: Vance County is one of six counties chosen to have a comprehensive architectural survey conducted over the next couple of years. A state historic preservation expert was on Town Talk Thursday to discuss the project with Bill Harris and Mark Pace.

Elizabeth King, architectural survey coordinator with the NC Department of Cultural Resources, said the next step – after selecting field workers – will be to have a “scoping phase” which could start as early as this summer. This phase should take about six months and includes examining the 300-plus properties already identified in Vance County, most of which are in Henderson. The second phase involves conducting a complete evaluation of rural Vance County, including Kittrell and Middleburg, she said. Then the final phase, which should start in early 2023, will take a thorough look at yet-to-be-identified properties in Henderson.

King said this project is “long, long overdue” for Vance County.  The project is scheduled to be completed by late 2023.

The most recent architectural survey was conducted in 1974 and was meant to be merely an information-gathering project rather than a comprehensive record of buildings and places with historical significance, she said.

Back in 1966, Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act, whose mission was to create a national inventory of historic buildings and historic places, King noted.

As coordinator of the survey in her role with the State Historic Preservation Office, she said she is “standing on the shoulders of giants” because North Carolina is recognized for having one of the best architectural survey programs in the nation.

Click play for 3-18-21 TownTalk broadcast.

In the early 1970’s, young people, many fresh out of college, were hired to do a county-by-county inventory of historic buildings, King said. They interviewed residents in the communities and created a record of historic places that were beginning to disappear from the landscape and from people’s memories.  “These young surveyors were going out and capturing local history from some of the last people who were living that agrarian lifestyle,” she said of the work done back then.

The migration from rural to city life after World War II, as well as the creation of Kerr Lake in the 1950’s are a couple of factors that contribute to fading memories and disappearing buildings that could be considered architecturally and historically significant.

King said she and her colleagues in the historical preservation field use “the 50-year rule” when talking about historical significance of buildings and places. This year, a building built in 1971 could be considered as having historical significance, she explained. “But it may not be ‘historic’ with a Capital H,” she said. “We have to continually be moving that needle to be capturing younger aspects of our history,” King added.

What makes or breaks projects such as the survey is local involvement, King said. “We want to raise awareness at a local level of what is special and regionally unique” to the area, she said. A public meeting will be held closer to the beginning of the field work phase to exchange information with the community. King said the project will certainly have a technical component to collect information such as window patterns, roof lines and the like, but another component is “to listen and absorb” information from the community.

And rest assured, she said, that nobody associated with the survey will visit a property without permission. “We do not trespass. If we aren’t invited on someone’s property, we will attempt to make contact,” she said, adding that all workers would be clearly identified and will carry business cards and official letters stating the purpose of their visit.

To learn more, contact King at elizabeth.king@ncdcr.gov or 919.814.6580.

TownTalk 03-16-2021; Angela Allen, Granville Co. Tourism March and Spring Events

/by

TownTalk guest Angela Allen, Granville Co. tourism director, described multiple events starting this week and weekend and into the spring.

With spring and Easter in the air and more and more people wanting to get out of the house, Allen listed off events for children and adults, including the upcoming bridal tour which still has availability.  Four venues will be featured, with tours included.  Granville Brides on Wheels on Eventbrite will get you signed up or visit www.brides-on-wheels.com.

Check out the Cedar Creek Gallery Glass Egg Fundraiser March 16 to March 26 in Creedmoor.  All proceeds go to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.  There are prizes including raffles for 55 blown glass eggs and the event is available online as well.

The Spring Fling Maker’s Market Food Truck Rodeo happens this weekend on Saturday (March 20th) from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in Oxford.

An inaugural Children’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday (March 20th) at Vino Oasi in Stem.

Carlee Farm presents the Spring Marketplace Sunday in Oxford.

A full listing of events in Granville County can be seen online at https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/.

For complete details and audio of Angela Allen click play.

(Granville Tourism is a paying advertising client of WIZS. This text, radio show and resulting podcast is not a paid ad.)

TownTalk 03-15-21; NC 811 Exec Dir Louis Panzer; plus Vance Co. Fire Reorganization

/by

Whether you’re planting a few shrubs around the house, putting in a new mailbox at the driveway or starting some larger project around the yard, the first step should be dialing 811 to make sure where you dig is free of underground pipes or wiring.

Louis Panzer, executive director of North Carolina 811, Inc. told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that state law requires that homeowners and contractors alike call the agency before the first shovelful of dirt is moved.

The “Call Before You Dig” messaging campaign has been seen on billboards and other spots for about 10 years, and Panzer said the message has had a positive impact in the state.

“I’d say it has some traction,” he said. “It’s a pretty simple message we want to convey,” Panzer added.

With spring around the corner and warmer weather inviting homeowners to begin outdoor projects, Panzer said projects that require digging should always begin with a call to 811. April is Safe Digging Month, so remember to follow the process of calling 811 before you dig. According to NC 811, every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811 to learn the approximate location of underground utility lines.

“We do ask that folks take the time to notify us,” Panzer said. There may be easements or rights-of-way that contain underground utilities. “It’s the sensible thing to do to take the time to notify us,” he stressed. When the call is placed, Panzer said homeowners should provide as much detail as possible about the project and should expect to have a three-business-day wait period. This gives 811 staff time to communicate with utilities providers to come out to the property to mark where their lines are located. The caller will be informed about which utilities will be responding, then a follow-up email when the markings have been completed, Panzer said.

Mondays are always the busiest day for 811, he said, adding that in one day – a Monday – they logged 10,800 calls. Last year, the North Carolina 811 received more than 2 million requests for help locating underground lines.

Utilities will come in and mark their lines free of charge, but for private facilities there is a charge. Visit nc811.org to find a list of private line locators.

The call center is strict about the three-day wait period. There is an “emergency ticket” process, but that is reserved for cases where there is a “threat to life, health and property,” he said. Poor planning and time management don’t count. Homeowners can call up to 12 days before they intend to dig, according to information on the website.

Underground lines and pipes provide phone and internet service to homes and businesses, as well as essential services like water and gas. Calls to 811 can prevent damage to lines and costly repairs.

Gas lines are monitored and regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Panzer noted, and said that pipes are a very safe way to move the product. “As long as (the gas) is in there,” he said, it’s super safe.” Something as simple as a cut or a scratch in a gas line can create a weak point in the pipe that can cause problems in the future, he warned.

Any contact with a gas line should be reported immediately to the gas company. It also is a state requirement that any damage – even a nick or scrape – be reported to North Carolina 811. Of course, if there is a “product release” such as a release of gas, “your first call is 911,” Panzer said.

The 811 website says that the markings made by the utility companies are valid for up to 15 days. Try to avoid digging on top of or within 18-24 inches on all sides of the marks. This could mean moving your project to another site to a spot with fewer buried lines.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Town Talk Logo

TownTalk 03-11-21 Monica Kearney, Safe Space Inc.

/by

They may not be on the front lines or in the spotlight as other types of professionals who work to keep the community safe and healthy, but social workers operate across society to provide services to those in need.

March is National Social Work Month and this year’s theme is “Social Workers are Essential.” Monica Kearney, executive director of Safe Space in Louisburg, stressed that social workers are as essential as doctors and nurses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kearney has a master’s degree in social work and has been director at Safe Space since 2014. She spoke with John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk and said a unique quality that social workers have is “meeting people where they are…to help people have a better way of life.”

Safe Space provides domestic violence/sexual assault services that help families break the cycle of domestic violence and sexual assault. Visit www.ncsafespace.org to learn more.

Pandemic restrictions have created challenges, Kearney said, but the non-profit continues to provide outreach and educational resources to reach those who may be in crisis. “Domestic violence is a public health issue,” Kearney noted, whether someone is a victim or someone who has witnessed it in the home. A second social worker at Safe Space helps children who have witnessed domestic violence. The Safe Space mission is “to help people move beyond fear into freedom,” she added.

Social workers serve at the front lines with physicians and nurses, but also are found everywhere from schools to large corporations. Social workers protect children, provide clinical therapy interventions and use evidence-based practices to help others, Kearney said.

Stay-at-home orders, working from home or facing unemployment as a result of the pandemic may put additional strain on families already dealing with domestic violence or sexual abuse, she said. People who have experienced domestic violence, whether they are victims or witnesses, can find help and resources at agencies like Safe Space, Kearney said.

Kearney noted that people who live in more rural counties like Franklin, Vance and Granville already face struggles, but layering the additional challenges brought by the pandemic have only made things more challenging. “It’s easy to say just leave the situation,” she said, but it rarely is as easy as that. More affordable housing is one thing Kearney said would help people who are ready to leave an unhealthy relationship.

Other services that Safe Space offers include a 24-hour crisis line (919.497.5444), a short-term shelter for victims fleeing domestic violence, support groups for victims and children, as well as court advocacy, community outreach and education.

Teenagers may be experiencing challenges because of the pandemic, too, she said. Limiting social interaction can be troubling for that age group, and Kearney said Safe Space can provide information about teens’ social emotional development, as well as other relevant topics such as dating violence and cyber-bullying.

“I was born with an innate desire to make a difference in the world,” Kearney said, “I just wasn’t sure how it would manifest itself.” One of her college professors sparked her desire to make that difference through social work; she currently is pursuing her Ph.D in social work administration and leadership. She has mentored numerous social workers and social work students to help them hone in on their own natural abilities, she said.

Social workers play “an essential role in helping people from all walks of life live life to their fullest,” Kearney said, whether it’s domestic violence, mental health or substance abuse disorders. “We are essential workers,” she explained, “because we are helping people who are struggling.”

Social workers, Kearney said, are a lot like teachers – “we don’t get paid a lot, but we are the unsung heroes in the community.”

In Franklin County, contact Safe Space at 919.497.5444.

In Vance County, contact Infinite Possibilities at 252.425.2492.

In Granville County, contact Families Living Violence Free at 919.693.5700.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk 03-09-21; Lisa Harrison, Granville Vance Public Health

/by

The recent stretch of warmer, sunny days is a welcome sign that spring is just around the corner. For Granville-Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison, the break in the weather is another way to combat COVID-19 as well.

“The biggest help is that people spend more time outside,” Harrison said on Tuesday’s Town Talk. She spoke with John C. Rose and Bill Harris about how things are going with vaccinations in the area and what’s in store in the upcoming months.

“Making sure that we’re breathing fresh air,” she said, adding that the natural ventilation that being outdoors affords is very beneficial.

At this time, 17 percent of residents in Vance and Granville counties have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine and 10 percent are fully vaccinated. “That’s just excellent progress,” she said.

“We’re doing an excellent job,” Harrison said, and said the collaboration with community partners like schools, hospitals and local pharmacies has been a key component to getting vaccines in arms.

The very good news that Harrison shared Tuesday comes from a CDC update, as well as from Gov. Roy Cooper and DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen. People who have been fully vaccinated and have waited two weeks for full immunity to occur can gather in small groups – sans masks. “It’s absolutely fine for us to congregate in small groups,” she said, as long as everyone has waited two weeks after being fully vaccinated.

It is still important to wear masks in big public spaces, she said, or in spaces where you’re not sure that everyone has been fully vaccinated, she added.

More than 15,000 shots have been given in the two counties, she said, but she also acknowledged that some residents may choose not to be vaccinated. Being vaccinated, however, is “the best way to protect our entire population and each other.” Some people who have been exposed to the virus may have developed their own antibodies, which she said is a positive step toward overall community resistance or immunity to COVID-19.

For complete details and audio click play.  Story continues below including links.

Harrison reiterated that the three vaccines currently available in North Carolina – Phizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – are all safe and effective. All three prevent severe illness and hospitalization. “There is not a bad choice,” she stated. “Dr. (Anthony) Fauci is right – get the vaccine that is available to you first.”

Because the Phizer vaccine is the most fragile, it usually goes to hospitals because they can keep it in super-cold storage. The Phizer vaccine is shipped in lots of 975 doses and is used for large-scale clinics. The Moderna vaccine doesn’t have to be kept as cold, she said. She estimated that each county gets between 500 and 700 Moderna doses each week. Harrison said the health department probably would be ordering the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the end of March. It could be used for more vulnerable populations, such as those people who may have a difficult time coming back for a second dose, which is required of both the Phizer and Moderna vaccines.

Side effects such as achiness, soreness or fatigue after the second shot, Harrison said , simply mean “your immune system is working well.” You cannot catch COVID-19 from the vaccine, she stressed. The vaccine “trains” your immune system to recognize and combat the virus. “It trains your immune system and then it disappears,” she said.

After the show, Harrison forwarded some links of interest to WIZS.

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/media/1469/open

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/media/905/download

 

Christian Lockamy

TownTalk 03-08-21; New EDC director “impressed” with Vance

/by

Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission Director Christian Lockamy has been on the job for less than two months, but he said in that short period of time he sees “a strong economic development program…with a tremendous amount of potential” for good things to come.

Since his Jan. 19, 2021 start date, Lockamy said he’s been “very impressed” with people he’s met and things he’s seen, adding that the focus is on the right areas to support economic development.” He spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk and said he looks forward to what the future holds for the area.

He noted that industries looking for areas to establish or relocate often are attracted by what’s already in place. “Industry reps are not pioneers,” he said. They don’t want to go and be, in a lot of cases, the first person in an industrial park,” he said. “They like to locate where other industrial companies” are already located.

With the addition of such businesses like Raleigh-based Mako Medical Laboratories, Lockamy said the Henderson area is poised to continue to attract more industry. “They’re looking for a place to go and conduct their business” and educational institutions nearby to fill out their workforce. “If we do what we’re supposed to be doing, for economic development and really go after sites and buildings…we’ll be able to land more companies,” he explained.

Lockamy worked for 2 ½ years in the Elizabeth City/Pasquotank Economic Development Commission before coming to Henderson, and he said he is proud of the work there to develop the Tanglewood  industrial site project by building upon proximity to rail and interstate infrastructure, as well as creating a public-private partnership to further the project.

“Shovel-ready” sites and buildings are the key to attracting new business and industry to an area, he said.  “Those are the types of things that change a community forever.”

During his time in Elizabeth City, he helped create a strategic plan, led efforts to launch a new economic development website and was instrumental in securing a large industrial site and certifying two industrial parks, according to information released when his hiring in Vance County was announced.

Experience using GIS (geographic information systems) comes in handy, too, Lockamy explained, when it comes to helping counties land new businesses and industry. The GIS provides data that can help identify sites for future economic development.

For complete details and audio click play.

His time working with GIS for the city of Greenville gave him the chance to help city planners and decision makers, understand and make necessary changes to ordinances – all based on objective data from GIS. “It became instrumental when I got into economic development,” he said of GIS, and he began using GIS and research skills to understand the economic development climate, he added. GIS data can be used to analyze the demographics within a certain radius of a prospective site where a business may be looking to locate.

Besides attracting new industry, Lockamy said he looks forward to working with a new downtown director – once that person is in place. “I believe we have a lot of potential downtown,” he said, adding that Garnett Street has many old buildings that can be brought back to life. He said his experience working in Greenville with various mixed-use development projects as an asset he can use to provide support for the downtown development director. “I can work with them and provide support for them, not only with expertise but also in-kind services as well,” Lockamy said.  “It’s great working together with those types of relationships,” he said. “Anything I can do to help I certainly will.”

Town Talk Logo

TownTalk 03-04-21 Covid 19, Vance County Schools

/by

Host John C. Rose discusses Covid 19, the vaccine and the effects on Vance Co. Schools.

For full details and complete audio click play.

 

TownTalk 03-03-21; Tax Time and More

/by

For today’s TownTalk Audio Click Play.

WIZS Your Community Voice — 100.1 FM / 1450 AM

“TownTalk” Airs on WIZS M-F at 11 a.m.

“The Local Skinny!” Airs on WIZS Mon-Thurs at 11:30 a.m.

Local News Airs on WIZS M-F at 8 a.m., 12 Noon and 5 p.m.

(IRS Press Release mentioned at the end of TownTalk)

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service reminds first-time filers and those who usually don’t have a federal filing requirement to consider filing a 2020 tax return. They may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit, a new refundable credit, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the COVID-related Tax Relief Act.

Most individuals eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit have already received the full amount in two rounds of payments, known as Economic Impact Payments. All legally permitted first and second Economic Impact Payments have been issued.

Individuals who were eligible but did not receive the first or second Economic Impact Payment or received less than the full amounts may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 federal tax return, even if they do not usually file a tax return. The IRS offers free options to prepare and file a return.

Taxpayers who received the full amounts of both Economic Impact Payments won’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit or include any information about the payments on their 2020 tax return because the IRS already issued their Recovery Rebate Credit in advance as Economic Impact Payments.

Didn’t get an Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount?

People who didn’t get an Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amounts may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit and must file a 2020 tax return, even if they don’t usually file.

The first Economic Impact Payment was based on an individual’s 2019 tax year information or 2018 if the 2019 tax return information was not available. The second Economic Impact Payment was based on an individual’s 2019 tax year information. The Recovery Rebate Credit is similar except that the eligibility and the amount are based on 2020 information on the tax return. The Recovery Rebate Credit is reduced by any Economic Impact Payments issued.

People who were not eligible for either or both of the Economic Impact Payments may still be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit since it’s based on their 2020 tax return information. Those with lower income in 2020 or who were claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return in 2018 or 2019, but who cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return in 2020, may now be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit.

People eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit based on their 2020 tax information must file a 2020 federal tax return. For more information about the Recovery Rebate Credit, see Frequently Asked Questions at IRS.gov.

Filing a 2020 tax return

To avoid refund delays, file a complete and accurate tax return. The best way to file a complete and accurate 2020 tax return is to file electronically. The tax software will ask questions about income, credits and deductions and help taxpayers figure their Recovery Rebate Credit. The Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR instructions includes a worksheet that can also help.

Individuals will need to know the amount of their Economic Impact Payments to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. Those who don’t have their Economic Impact Payment notices can view the amounts of their first and second Economic Impact Payments through their individual online account. For married filing joint individuals, each spouse will need to log into his or her own account.

The Recovery Rebate Credit will be included in any tax refund. It will not be issued separately. For those due a refund (which would include the Recovery Rebate Credit), combining electronic filing with direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to get their refund.

IRS Free File

Taxpayers with incomes of $72,000 or less, an use brand-name software to prepare and file their federal tax returns electronically for free with IRS Free File. IRS Free File is a great option for people who are only filing a tax return to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. Free File Fillable Forms is the only IRS Free File option available for most taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is greater than $72,000.

Taxpayers who have no taxable income but are filing a return to receive the Recovery Rebate Credit should look for several of the Free File products that have no minimum income for eligibility. Simply go to IRS.gov/Free File, select “Choose an IRS Free File Offer” and then select “Browse All Offers” to find a Free File product with no minimum income as part of its offer.

Free online tax help for military service members, families and some veterans

MilTax, Military OneSource’s tax service, provides online software for eligible individuals to electronically file a federal return and up to three state returns for free.

Free tax preparation in local communities

First-time filers and those who usually don’t have a filing requirement may also qualify for free assistance from IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs in their community. These programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help to:

  • People who generally make $57,000 or less
  • Persons with disabilities; and
  • Limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their tax return.

In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

This year, some VITA/TCE sites are not operating at full capacity and others are not opening. Check the VITA/TCE locator tool to search for nearby available sites.

Help at IRS.gov

IRS.gov has online resources to answer tax questions immediately. The Interactive Tax Assistant is a tool that provides answers to several tax-law questions specific to a taxpayer’s individual circumstances.

Visit IRS.gov/filing for details about IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms, free VITA or TCE tax preparation sites in the local community or finding a trusted tax professional.

Town Talk Logo

TownTalk 03-2-21 Marijuana Legalization

/by

Host John C. Rose and Co-host Bill Harris discuss recent marijuana legalization bills that have been passed in New Jersey and Virginia and how it may impact drug laws in North Carolina.

For complete details and full audio click play.