Mako Medical Labs is matching contributions up to $10,000 made to the Vance County Public School Foundation, so now it’s up to interested individuals and other businesses and organizations to step up to help achieve this goal.
“We are excited to announce a strong business-education alliance between Mako Medical Labs and the Vance County Public School Foundation,” Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said in a recent statement to WIZS News. “Both are very active members of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce and we want to help promote this collaboration.”
A donation to the foundation now will have double the impact, Burgess noted.
Dr. Abidan Shah, pastor of Clearview Church in Henderson, chairs the foundation, which has supported various initiatives in the local school system for more than 25 years. Those initiatives include teacher leadership training, teacher mini grants, student academic growth success, the Student Spotlight program, bringing the NC Symphony to Vance County to speak and perform for elementary students, awarding National Certified teachers, and the Arts Alive event.
Mail checks, payable to VCPSF, to:
PO Box 2956, Henderson, NC 27536
Online donations also can be made with a credit card at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.
Contact Aarika Sandlin, VCS director of communication and marketing at asandlin@vcs.k12.nc.us or call 252.492.2127.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Mako-Medical.jpg265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2022-07-16 12:00:352022-07-18 16:43:10Mako Medical Offers To Match Donations To VCPSF Up To $10K
The Vance County center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension is hosting a food drive in advance of the 36th annual Small Farms Week, which will be observed March 21-26, 2022. The statewide event, presented by Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, recognizes the contributions of small farmers across the state’s 100 counties.
The Vance food drive will continue until March 11, but this year’s format looks a little different. Instead of a general collection of canned goods and nonperishables, county staff will collect nonperishable ingredients for a family meal. Each extension office will be putting together meal bags for up to 10 families of four to five people. The Vance County center office will be collecting items for salmon burgers and sweet potato oven fries. Please see the flyer for ingredients needed to fill our meal bags.
Here is a list of items being collected:
Low-sodium sweet potatoes
Canola oil
75-oz. can pink or red salmon
Green onions
Red bell pepper
Saltine-style crackers, unsalted tops
Lemon juice
Eggs
Plain low-fat yogurt
Ground black pepper
Cooking spray
Whole-wheat buns
Bibb lettuce
Tomatoes
Lemon pepper seasoning blend
All food collected through the food drive will be donated to ACTS (Area Christians Together in Service). Anyone interested in donating to this food drive can bring items to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Vance County Center office at 305 Young Street in Henderson.
For more information, please call 252-438-8188 or contact Nitasha Kearney, EFNEP Educator at ndkearney@ncat.edu or Wayne Rowland at dwrowlan@ncat.edu.
Thank you in advance for donating to those in hunger in Vance County.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Small-Farms-Week-Coop-Food-Drive.jpg294560WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2022-02-16 17:06:292022-02-16 17:50:47Donate To Cooperative Extension Food Drive To Create Meal Bags For Up To 10 Families
Small businesses have borne the brunt of the economic impact brought about by the pandemic restrictions during the past year. But on Wednesday, four small businesses were recognized for their staying power in the communities in which they operate.
Thomas Ruhe, CEO of Durham-based NC Idea, spoke to Chamber of Commerce representatives and Chamber members during the Small Business of the Year awards luncheon, held at the Henderson Country Club. He congratulated the winners and commended them for stepping up during the pandemic to continue to serve their communities.
“I want to honor you for what you do,” he told the group gathered for the occasion. “You are, in a sense, first responders…economically you are on the front lines looking for signs of life” during what has been a challenging year dealing with COVID-19 lockdowns and closings.
“You are the ones figuring it out – you didn’t have the luxury of pulling back” when other businesses reverted to self-preservation mode.
Small Business Week is observed during the first week of May, and the awards luncheon was hosted by the Chambers in Franklin, Granville, Person and Vance counties, as well as the VGCC Small Business Center. Duke Energy sponsored the event.
Ruhe said one of the roles of NC Idea, an independent private foundation, is to provide grants to entrepreneurs. The foundation is building an “entrepreneurial ecosystem” in North Carolina. When small businesses thrive and help support a local economy, he said, that success bubbles up to the state level.
“You’re doing what I’m talking about,” Ruhe told the audience. Putting money in the hands of budding entrepreneurs is one way that NC Idea supports young businesses. The seed grant program awards $50,000 twice a year to entrepreneurs. “There’s no better money for an entrepreneur than grant money,” he said. From a pool of 176 applicants, he said between 6 and 8 will be chosen.
NC Idea also gives at least half of its grant funding to underserved communities – people of color, women and those who live in rural areas, he said. “This is where the impact is greater,” he added.
This year’s winners are:
Vance County – WIZS Radio John C. Rose accepted the award from Dr. Levy Brown, chair of the Henderson-Vance Chamber board. The family-owned business has been on the air since May 1, 1955 and Rose said the honor is one that he would like to share with first responders and other workers who had to be at their jobs despite the pandemic. “Using technology to do my job made it easy for me,” Rose said after accepting the award. “Really, the thanks goes to all the small businesses…but it is a particular honor for me to be able to stand here and say thank you.”
Granville County – Oxford Public Ledger
Barbara Critcher accepted the award for her husband Charles and his brother Ronnie, who own the local weekly newspaper.
Person County – Keller Williams Realty
Sherry Clayton, owner of the realty firm, accepted the award from Samantha Bagbey, who heads up the Person Chamber.
Franklin County – Heartwood Animal Hospital
Richie Veverka, Franklin Chamber’s executive director, announced the winner.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2020-Small-Biz-WIZS.jpg265504Laura Gabelhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngLaura Gabel2021-05-05 18:41:132021-05-05 18:41:13Small Business Winners Include WIZS
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Home-and-Garden_new030321.jpg265504John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2021-04-28 15:24:392021-04-28 15:24:39The Local Skinny! Apr 28 Home and Garden Show
On today’s episode of WIZS’ Town Talk, originally aired September 15, John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS and primary Town Talk host, was on the receiving end of questions posed by new guest host Brandon Boyd.
Many in the community may recognize Boyd from Boyd Chevrolet Buick GMC.
Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, Boyd asked Rose how the vision for WIZS, which has been on the air continuously since May 1, 1955, has changed over the decades. Rose replied he believes the station’s vision has remained mostly unchanged.
Purchased by Rose Farm & Rentals on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III, Rose said his father’s vision for the station has always been to support and promote the local community.
“My dad’s vision for the radio station at that time, and for most of his tenure before passing away in 2007, was ‘of Henderson, by Henderson and for Henderson,’ with a webpage, social media and a little better throw on FM towards Oxford added,” said Rose.
Since first flipping the switch to enter the airwaves in 1955, WIZS has broadcast on 1450AM. At exactly noon on August 17, 2018, WIZS flipped the switch again to add 100.1 FM as a live simulcast.
With FM added, Rose said another of his father’s visions for the station was realized. “Getting FM was a several years-long process,” explained Rose. “It was something my father always wanted to do, but there was never quite the right time, quite the right apparatus, quite the right opportunity or quite the right amount of money to make it happen.”
When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened a filing window for smaller stations to join the FM airwaves, Rose said the timing was right for the station to apply for a licensed FM translator, a “full-fledged FM station.”
With its ability to reach a younger audience more familiar with the FM format, the simulcast helps ensure a viable future for WIZS as a provider of local news, sports, music, talk and entertainment.
“We want to be a community radio station,” Rose said. “We want to engage young people in what’s going on in the community.”
When Boyd, who stated “every day, people in this area trust you for the news,” asked Rose to describe what the community’s respect means to him, Rose replied he doesn’t think he has earned it just yet.
“I don’t think I can earn that,” he elaborated. “I think that I can only strive to earn it. People like the late John D. Rose, III, my dad, and also Bob Harrison that worked at WHNC in our community, have set the bar extremely high in what local community radio is able to do from the standpoint of offering local news.”
In further discussing WIZS’ history, Boyd and Rose fondly remembered the “unique individuals” that have made WIZS both entertaining and informative over the years.
“There is a cast of characters that goes down in history – some in infamy – but there were some great, great people,” said Rose. “A radio station is not better than its people, and all radio stations and organizations are bigger than one person.”
In summing up his first guest host appearance, Boyd said, “Not only was it an honor to host an interview with John Charles on Town Talk; it was a true privilege. The Rose family and WIZS are assets to the Henderson and the Tri-County area and have been a part of all of our lives for many years now.”
“As for people that are new to this area,” Boyd continued, “I believe it is a story that needs to be shared and deserves to be told as to how this radio station has not just survived but has grown to become Henderson’s voice. John Rose was truly an ambassador for this area and his son John Charles is proudly leading the effort today. How fortunate we are to have WIZS 1450AM and now 100.1 FM: Henderson’s Trusted Community Voice.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/towntalk.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-09-28 16:26:022020-09-29 10:43:46Town Talk 09/28/20: Guest Host Brandon Boyd Interviews WIZS’ John Charles Rose
WIZS Beach Music Blast host Trey Snide, who was instrumental in launching the beach music segment that broadcasts from 12 – 1 p.m. on WIZS 1450 AM and 100.1 FM Monday-Friday, was on Wednesday’s edition of Town Talk to discuss the Carolina Beach Music Awards (CBMA).
The annual CBMA (originally called the Cammys for Carolina’s Magic Music Years) began in 1995 as a way to celebrate and recognize performers and fans of Carolina Beach Music.
Snide said he is honored to have been nominated for the past two years as FM DJ of the Year. This year, the CBMA will combine its previously separate FM, AM and Online DJ categories into one single DJ category.
WIZS 1450 AM was also represented on the CBMA nomination list in 2019 for AM Radio Station of the Year.
Originally due in July, the nomination deadline for the 2020 CBMA has been extended through September. The 26th CBMA Show Weekend is scheduled to take place in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina November 12-15.
For more information on the CBMA, please visit www.cammy.org.
To hear the interview with Snide in its entirety, please click the play button above.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/bmb_first_interview.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2020-07-24 11:43:292020-07-24 11:46:31WIZS Hopes to Continue Streak of Carolina Beach Music Award Nominations
Approximately one year ago today, WIZS quietly celebrated a big event in its now 64-year history – its first broadcast on an FM radio station.
Since first flipping the switch to enter the airwaves on May 1, 1955, WIZS has broadcast on 1450AM. At exactly noon on August 17, 2018, after years of planning and dreaming, WIZS flipped the switch again to add 100.1 FM as a live simulcast.
Trey Snide and John C. Rose put finishing touches on FM transmission line equipment to isolate the FM antenna which is mounted on the AM tower
John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS, and Trey Snide were on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program (08/14/19) to discuss the FM simulcast and what it has meant for the station in its first year of existence.
With its ability to reach a younger audience more familiar with the FM format, the simulcast helps ensure a viable future for WIZS as a provider of local news, sports, music, talk and entertainment.
As is often the case in life, the addition of the FM channel was not without its fair share of blood, sweat, tears and a few “hold your breath” moments.
“When we first flipped the switch a year ago, there was an unbelievably long, almost nauseating period of dead air on the AM station,” Rose remembered.
Feeling reassured once the two channels synched moments later, Rose said, “The FM translator is required to be a simulcast of its AM parent. The AM station that has been here since 1955 is the foundation of everything we do.”
The first moments on 100.1 FM were even more poignant for Rose because his mother, Susan Rose, who serves as president of WIZS’ parent company Rose Farm and Rentals, Inc., was the very first person to speak the very first words WIZS ever broadcast on an FM station.
FM Anniversary Celebration
To recognize both the one-year anniversary of FM simulcasting and 30 years of Rose family ownership of the station, WIZS will hold a community celebration on Saturday, August 17, 2019, at Ribeyes Steakhouse of Henderson. Ribeyes is located at 2002 Graham Avenue, and the event will be held in the parking lot from 3 until 7 p.m.
The Rick Strickland Band, featuring the award-winning music of entertainers Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson, will be performing live.
Drinks and food specials will be available for purchase; entertainment and good fellowship are free of charge. Rose invited the community to “bring your family, bring your good mood, bring a chair or bring a tent and plan on having a good time.”
Brief History of WHVH/WIZS
On May 1, 1955, Howard V. Harrell, a tv and radio repairman from Oxford, started the station under the call letters WHVH – his initials. The station has been on the air continuously ever since.
The call letters were changed to WIZS around 1959, shortly after the station was sold to Stan Fox and his business partners Irv Fox and Seymour Dworsky.
Rose Farm & Rentals purchased WIZS and assumed operation on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III, father of John Charles Rose.
For the last 30 years, local news has been broadcast on-air on 1450AM, as well as on the more recently licensed translator 100.1 FM, at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily; mid-day news has been reported at various times throughout the years.
Along with the addition of FM, WIZS’ online presence grew exponentially in 2018 with 100,000 people visiting the website and new viewers “liking” and/or following the station on social media daily.
The popularity of WIZS’ Facebook and Twitter pages has grown throughout 2019, prompting the station to begin the process of adding an Instagram presence.
WIZS offers the following weekday broadcast schedule:
“Weekday Wakeup with Brandi Leigh” from 6 – 9 a.m.
Mix of County, Beach and Pop/Rock Oldies music from 9 – 11 a.m.
“Town Talk” at 11 a.m.
“Tradio” at 11:30 a.m.
“Beach Music Blast” with Trey Snide at 12 p.m.
“Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m.
Mix of County, Beach and Pop/Rock Oldies music from 2 – 5 p.m., including the “Afternoon Drive” with John Stevenson starting at 3 p.m.
Weekend programs include “Country Grass” with Ms. Velvet from 7 – 9 a.m. and “Choice Country Classics” from 9 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, and Saturday afternoon brings a mix of County, Beach and Pop/Rock Oldies music for your listening pleasure.
Robert Wright provides live news, local church happenings and gospel music on Sunday mornings from 7 – 11 a.m. in a segment titled “Sounds of Jordan.” This is followed by Ms. Velvet’s “Sunday Afternoon Gospel Jamboree,” a popular variety of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music, from 12 – 2 p.m.
Ending the Town Talk segment of August 14, 2019 with a final discussion on the magnitude of being a part of the FM airwaves, Rose said it was a long-time dream of both his and his father.
“Can you imagine being able to flip a switch and make something happen,” Rose asked. “Can you imagine the preparation that goes into that moment? Can you imagine years and decades about dreaming of doing something and then being able to flip a switch and make that happen? I cannot describe what that moment felt like. I cannot describe in words what it felt like to witness my mother flip that switch.”
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click the play button below. Listen live to WIZS’ Town Talk Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. on 1450AM, 100.1 FM or online at www.wizs.com.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/flippingswitch.png294560Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-08-14 20:45:162019-08-18 09:22:43WIZS Celebrates FM Anniv., Announces Sat. Event at Ribeyes
WIZS is celebrating year one of FM broadcasting at 100.1 FM.
From 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Ribeyes of Henderson, the Rick Strickland Band will perform live, featuring award-winning artists Rick Strickland and Lesa Hudson. There is no cost of admittance. Bring a lawn chair. Food and beverage specials will be available for purchase from the restaurant.
The only thing you will need to pay for is anything you eat or drink, and that payment is made directly to Ribeyes of Henderson. The restaurant is located at 2002 Graham Avenue, near Ruin Creek Road, in the same building that formerly housed The Silo.
Rose Farm and Rentals, Inc. is celebrating 30 years of ownership of WIZS as well. WIZS 1450 AM remains at the heart and soul of our daily operations, just as it has served the community continuously since May 1, 1955 with news, sports, music and special programming. The station has always been locally owned, controlled and operated, and most recently that has been by Rose Farm and Rentals, Inc. The original president of the corporation was John D. Rose III until the time of his death in October, 2007. Since then, Susan Rose has performed duties as president. John C. Rose is the present day general manager. Rose Farm and Rentals assumed ownership and operations from then-owner Stan Fox on June 1, 1989.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ribeyes-of-Henderson-081619-jcr.png294560John C. Rosehttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngJohn C. Rose2019-08-14 13:45:302019-08-18 09:19:23WIZS Celebration; 3p-7p, Saturday; Ribeyes of Hend; Rick Strickland Band Live
John Charles Rose, owner and operator of WIZS, was on Town Talk this morning to announce this day, May 1, 2019, as the 64th anniversary of the local radio station.
On May 1, 1955, Howard V. Harrell, a tv and radio repairman from Oxford, started the station under the call letters WHVH – his initials. The station has been on the air continuously ever since bringing the community local news, sports, music and entertainment.
The call letters were changed to WIZS around 1959, shortly after the station was sold to Stan Fox and his business partners Irv Fox and Seymour Dworsky.
Rose Farm & Rentals purchased WIZS and assumed operation on June 1, 1989, under president John D. Rose, III. A month from today, the Rose family will celebrate 30 years of WIZS ownership.
“Our continuing commitment to the community and the radio staff have made it possible for us to celebrate 64 years as a station,” said Rose. “The various personalities, the various people who are very good at their jobs, and of course our loyal advertising base have all made it possible.”
Rose reminded listeners that news is free and available 24/7 at www.wizs.com and on WIZS’ social media pages.
For the last 30 years, local news has been broadcast on air on 1450AM, as well as on the more recently licensed translator 100.1 FM, at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily; mid-day news has been reported at various times throughout the years. News has been on the air at set times since day one of operation.
WIZS’ online presence grew exponentially in 2018 with 100,000 people visiting the website and daily additions of viewers who like and/or follow the station on Facebook and Twitter.
Putting the “community” in the locally owned and operated community radio station, WIZS offers approximately 250 public service announcements free of charge each month to non-profit organizations, schools, churches and government institutions. PSAs can be submitted and viewed online at any time by clicking here.
Rose also reminded listeners of the current weekday station schedule, including a mix of news, music, sports, talk and entertainment:
“Weekday Wakeup with Brandi Leigh” from 6 – 9 a.m.
Music from 9 – 11 a.m.
“Town Talk” at 11 a.m.
“Tradio” at 11:30 a.m.
“Beach Music Blast” with Trey Snide at 12 p.m.
“Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m.
Music from 2 – 4 p.m.
“Afternoon Drive” with John Stevenson at 4 p.m.
Weekend programs include “Country Grass” with Ms. Velvet from 7 – 9 a.m. and “Choice Country Classics” from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday afternoon brings a mix of Country, Beach and Oldies music for your listening pleasure.
Robert Wright provides live news, local church happenings and gospel music on Sunday mornings from 7 – 11 a.m. in a segment titled “Sounds of Jordan.” This is followed by Ms. Velvet’s “Sunday Afternoon Gospel Jamboree,” a popular variety of Country, Bluegrass and Gospel music, from 12 – 2 p.m.
“Thanks for listening to WIZS,” Rose concluded his segment. “We’re proud to know you, we’re proud to try to help you, we’re proud to try to do good things for you and we’re proud you’ve chosen to make WIZS your home on the radio.”
To hear the Town Talk segment with John Charles Rose in its entirety, click here.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/WIZS-FM-AM-504x265.png265504Kelly Bonduranthttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngKelly Bondurant2019-05-01 16:57:462019-05-01 16:57:46WIZS Celebrates 64 Years of Informing & Entertaining the Community!
