Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

Granville County Tourism

TownTalk: Granville Tourism Heats Up With Fall Events

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Anyone who lives in or near Granville County has plenty of opportunities to celebrate Halloween this year, and Tourism Director Angela Allen couldn’t be happier to run down the list of activities – from trick-or-treat events to art galleries and costume contests, folks can stay busy all weekend long.

“What a difference a year makes,” Allen said. Last year at this time, COVID-19 restrictions had things running at a bare minimum or non-existent, she recalled during Wednesday’s Town Talk with John C. Rose and Bill Harris.

And although the weather seems to be cooling off, “things are really heating up in Granville County, as far as events go,” she said. Everybody seems ready to celebrate a holiday again, and Granville is offering numerous and varied activities for the whole family.

For starters, tonight (Thursday) is pizza night at Thorndale Oaks. There’s a whole buffet, she said. Call 919.603.3701 for more information. There are pasta and dessert stations, and lots of yummy pizza options cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven. The price is $18.95 per adult; and $9.95 per child.

Here’s a list of some of the events taking place:

  • Friday, Oct 29 – Spooktacular Candy Stroll in downtown Oxford from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Creedmoor – come in costumes and collect candy from area merchants.
  • Saturday, Oct. 30 – The Orpheum in downtown Oxford will host a Halloween costume dance and contest. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the event will be geared to families; from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., it’s adults only. Judges will select winners of the costume contest for cash prizes, Allen said. Tickets are $5 per person and $15 per family.
  • Friday-Sunday – Oct. 29-31 – Granville Haunt Farm on Hwy. 15 South opens at sunset. This drive-through event recreates scenes from some of the great scary movies and horror films. It’s set up like a giant drive-in movie, Allen said to think of the haunt farm as appropriate for anyone who would watch a PG-13 film. Check Granville Haunt Farm’s Facebook page and Instagram for details about ticket prices and times and “to get an idea of what you’ll feel and experience,” she added. taste of what awaits.
  • Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31 – last chance to pick a pumpkin at William Lyon’s farm outside Creedmoor. The pumpkin patch is open each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s also a corn maze and hay rides to participate in, making it a really good daytime outing for families.
  • Saturday, Oct. 30 – the local farmers’ market is open from 7 a.m. to noon near downtown Oxford and has seasonal produce and other handicrafts for sale.
  • Daily through Nov. 7 – Cedar Creek Gallery near Creedmoor has its own pumpkin patch, but this patch is full of the glass variety by local and regional artists.

 

Following on the heels of Halloween is Veterans’ Day and Allen said the Oxford Veterans’ Parad is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. This is a time to celebrate and honor area veterans, and to thank them for their service, Allen said.

Any veteran who wishes to participate in the parade can contact Rebekah Olivares, city event coordinator at 603.1101.

The Town of Butner also will honor veterans at Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11.

For a complete listing of other events in November across Granville County, search visitgranvillenc.com, find visitgranvillecounty on Facebook or Instagram.

(Granville Tourism is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid ad.)

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Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie: What Works in the Garden

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

TownTalk: Pink With A Passion Helps Victims Of Breast Cancer

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What started out as a simple act of neighbor helping neighbor has had a ripple effect to spread kindness – and donations of money and care boxes – to cancer patients.

Pink With A Passion is the grassroots brainchild of Amena Wilson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. When she reached out to her neighbor Carlotta Woodard to help with an event, Woodard went from kindly neighbor to hard-working volunteer for Pink With A Passion.

Woodard officially becomes a cancer survivor on Sunday, when she celebrates her 10-year anniversary of being cancer-free.

The group serves the four-county area and recently donated $2,000 to Maria Parham Health’s  Cancer Center in observance of breast cancer awareness month. The money is available for any particular needs a patient may have, whether it’s transportation, helping make a copay or other medical costs. The women spoke with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk.

In addition to the cash donations, they take care boxes to be distributed to patients, either at the hospital’s cancer center or to other individuals they may know about who are dealing with cancer.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hindered somewhat their ability to get out in the community to raise awareness and money. Not to be deterred, a raffle fundraiser that ran from March 1 to May 1 netted close to $13,000.

Raising money and redistributing it to people in need is what Pink With A Passion is all about.

The pink, of course, is the color associated worldwide with breast cancer, Wilson said. The “passion” part of their name is a nod to what fuels the group’s desire to help.

“We find people we know who are dealing with cancer,” Wilson said. “We reach out and give to them – whatever we can do to help. We give to others.”

Wilson said the idea for the group was born from her own efforts to help defray the expenses associated with her own diagnosis. She organized a fish plate fundraiser and said it was so successful she decided to keep it going.

“I was so overwhelmed,” she said of the support she got from the community. “There was so much love, passion and support show, I decided to do it for other people.”

And the simple act of asking a neighbor to join her effort has paid dividends. Woodard said she was eager to be a part of a support system for others through Pink With A Passion, mainly because of its vision for helping others.

Woodard knew all too well the importance of having a support system; she said she was blessed to have a strong support system as she faced her diagnosis head on. An annual mammogram detected her Stage 1 cancer and because it was caught early, a mastectomy and a chemo pill therapy was her treatment.

“I didn’t have a lump,” Woodard said, who added she has a family history of breast cancer. “If it weren’t for a mammogram, I wouldn’t even know I had cancer.”

She said she is sporting pink hair for the month of October, in said she is so excited to celebrate her 10-year anniversary of being cancer-free.

Wilson said she thanks God for allowing her to find a lump in her breast – it was detected at an early stage as well. Early detection is THE key for beating breast cancer, both women said. But going through treatments with a positive mindset, as little stress as possible, exercise and a healthy diet all contribute to a patient’s restored health.

In addition to caring for your physical well-being while undergoing treatment, Wilson said it is critical to have someone accompany you to doctor’s appointments. Taking notes and having a second set of ears to hear what a physician is discussing about your case is so important. “Knowledge is so important when you’re going through cancer,” Wilson said.

To learn more, find the group on Facebook, contact the organization via email at Pinkwithapassion_7@yahoo.com or Wilson at 252. 213. 5735.

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TownTalk: Peripheral Artery Disease

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People who suffer from peripheral artery disease can experience a range of symptoms, but a physician who specializes in treating patients with PAD said advances in care can shorten recovery time and improve quality of life.

Mohammad Akhter, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist affiliated with Duke Hospital. He has been with Maria Parham Health since the summer and talked with John C. Rose on Tuesday’s Town Talk about some of the causes and symptoms of PAD, as well as some of the things that specialists in his field can do to help patients feel better.

PAD is a condition that happens when plaque builds up in your arteries which restricts blood flow to extremities. In the early stages of PAD, a person may not experience any symptoms, but that changes as the disease progresses unchecked.

It primarily affects the lower legs, Akhter explained. “As the disease progresses, (patients experience) painful cramping in one or both hips or calves, leg numbness or weakness, or coldness in the lower leg or foot.”

People with severe PAD may have open sores or ulcers on their legs or feet that won’t heal because of the restricted circulation.

Until relatively recently, treatment of PAD almost certainly involved surgery. Advances in care such as the care that Akhter provides can include catheterization and placement of balloons and stents to open the arteries.

Patients hear that they have a blockage in their extremities and they think that surgery is the only treatment option. Those with mild or moderate disease, he noted, can get relief through less-invasive catheter techniques, which is Akhter’s specialty. Often, patients can go home that day or the next morning, he said, and face a much shorter recuperation period.

“Seek treatment sooner rather than later,” he advised.

Screening for PAD can be as simple as having a primary care provider take a detailed history, conduct a physical exam and check for pulses in arms and legs. And the use of a Doppler probe can help find pulses that aren’t easily detected, he added.

Medical treatment is part of the care plan, but simply increasing your level of activity through rehabilitation or exercise can also help. The body, Akhter said, will try to adapt to how much you ask of it. “Patients can actually lessen symptoms in weeks or months (after) introducing activity into their lives,” he said. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a week is an “excellent way to treat symptoms of PAD,” Akhter added.

Risk factors like smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure all contribute to a person’s overall health, so bringing blood sugars and cholesterol down will help as well. “Behavioral changes significantly reduce the progression of the disease.”

Once the disease is advanced, preventative care is less effective, so patients could wind up needing more invasive treatment, including surgery, to address the disease and its effects on the body. Maria Parham offers a full spectrum of diagnostics and therapeutics including arterial ultrasound and a dedicated wound care center.

Akhter moved to Durham in 2018 after beginning his specialized work at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York and then practicing as a board-certified interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist for about 10 years at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston.

He completed medical school in his native Pakistan and completed his residency and a fellowship at University of Southern California.

He made his way to Durham to complete a master’s degree in global health, but COVID-19 derailed his plans, for the time being.
“It has been gratifying practicing my skill set here in North Carolina,” he said, adding that although he has been amazed to see disadvantaged populations debilitated by PAD, he also remains hopeful because he can utilize his specialized treatments to improve medical conditions.

He praised his cath lab coworkers at Maria Parham Health for being advocates for patient care and for making his work easier.

“I don’t know what this community would do,” Akhter said, without a hospital that he called a “lifeline” for the area.

Although there’s no cure for PAD, there are treatments and care plans that can help.

Call 800.424.DOCS to find a specialist and schedule an appointment.

(Maria Parham Health is an advertising client of WIZS. This is not a paid ad.)

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The Local Skinny! Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for October 26, 2001. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of October 26, 2021

 

Name of the Company: Vance Charter School

Jobs Available:  High School Science Teacher

Method of Contact: Please call Brian Mathis at 252-431-0440

 

Name of the Company: Vance County Social Services and Detention Center

Jobs Available: Multiple positions open

Method of Contact:  Please go to county website at www.vancecounty.org for more information

 

Name of the Company:  Servpro of Franklin Vance and Granville Counties

Jobs Available: Staff to clean up and restore homes and businesses related to water damage, fires and mold. On- the- job training is provided

Method of Contact:   Stop by the office at 260 Industry Drive off Ross Mill Rd. near Lowe’s or call 252-433-005

 

Name of the Company: Variety Wholesalers, Inc

Jobs Available: Buyers Assistants and Merchandise Analyst positions located at 218 S. Garnett St. Henderson and Help Desk Analyst and Technical Service Specialist positions located at 1000 Facet Road, Henderson

Method of Contact:  Interested applicants can apply online at indeed.com

 

Name of the Company: Vance County Sheriff’s Department is urgently hiring

Jobs Available: 3 Deputies, 1 Investigator, 2 School Resource Officers, 1 Office Administrative Assistant and 10 Detention Officers

Method of Contact:  For more information please contact the Sheriff’s office at 252-738-2200 or go by the office in person at 156 Church Street Suite 004, Henderson

 

Name of the Company: Turning Point Community Development Corporation

Jobs Available:  Executive Assistant, Academic Coach and Instructional Assistant

Method of Contact:  For more information go to www.turningpointcdc.org

 

Name of the Company: Golden Skillet Restaurant

Jobs Available: Customer Oriented Cashier and Quality Focused Kitchen Staff

Method of Contact:  to inquire and pick up an application stop by 444 Dabney Drive in Henderson

  

Name of the Company: Select Tissue of NC

Jobs Available: Class A CDL Truck Drivers

Method of Contact:  Please apply through NC Works

 

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

H-V Chamber’s Nominating Committee Offers Slate Of Directors

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The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce has announced its proposed slate of directors for the upcoming year.

The nominating committee submitted the following members to be reappointed to serve a second three-year term for 2022-2024:

  • Ronald Bennett, Variety Wholesalers and Hillside Farms
  • Jenny Hester, Prim Development and Rentals
  • Bert Long, HG Reynolds Co.
  • Hal Muetzel, Express Employment Professionals
  • Turner Pride, Vance County Extension Service
  • Bert Beard, Maria Parham Health – move from an ex-officio position to serve a three-year term
  • Scott Burwell, Kennametal – appoint to fill a vacant one-year term remaining on an unexpired term 2020-2022
  • Karrie Fogg, Fred’s Towing and Transport – appoint to fill a vacant two-year term remaining on an unexpired term 2021-2023

Burgess told WIZS News that bylaws allow for additional names to be submitted for consideration. Bylaws require the president to send the proposed slate of nominations to all members in good standing. Any additional nominations must be received within 10 days of the mailing and 10 other chamber members must agree to the nomination. Any nominees would be discussed at the November meeting before the formal vote is taken.

GCPS Students Get Extra Day Off On Nov. 12 Following School Board Work Session

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Students in Granville County Public Schools will get a break on Friday, Nov. 12, following a work session today (Monday) of the Granville County Board of Education.

The day also be a non-instructional day for students and will be a remote optional workday for staff, according to information from Dr. Stan Winborne, associate superintendent of curriculum & instruction and student services and district public information officer.

The school board voted unanimously to make the calendar change at a work session on Monday, Oct. 25. All GCPS students, including Granville Early College High School, will have the day off.

Veterans’ Day is Thursday, Nov. 11, which is normally a day off for students and staff. By making the calendar adjustment, Winborne said it will allow the district “to avoid a potentially unsafe shortage of staff on a day that falls between a holiday and a weekend, and it would give our students, families and staff an opportunity to focus on their mental health and personal well-being.”

All employees will have the option to either work remotely on this day to engage in professional development sessions, or take appropriate leave.

 

The district will implement this change by using surplus instructional time to ensure the required 1025 minimum instructional hours are delivered for the 2021-22 school year.

Kerr Tar Workforce and NCWorks

The Local Skinny! Person Co. Regional Job Fair

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The Kerr-Tar Region Council of Governments will host a job fair on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 in Person County and Kerr-Tar officials say it’s a great chance for job-seekers to meet prospective employers.

Adam Perkins, business services representative for the five-county Kerr-Tar agency, told John C. Rose Monday that more than 20 employers will be on hand in Roxboro for the event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Huck Sansbury Recreation Complex, 425 Long Ave. in Roxboro.

“Bring your smile, dress the part and bring your résumé,” Perkins said on Monday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

The NC Works Career Centers provide services to the community, from opportunities for those looking for work and a job pool for employers looking to fill open positions.

Previous job fairs have been held across the five counties, and employers like Versatrim, Plastic Ingenuity, Durham Public Safety, Person Memorial and Durham Coca-Cola are just a few of the businesses and industries that will be on hand Friday.

Perkins said he and other staff from NC Works will be on hand Friday. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” he said. He and others will be available to answer questions and inform the participants how NC Works can help.

The job fair offers a chance for folks to “come out, walk around, network, (and) meet people,” Perkins said. And it’s a chance for employers to see you at your best, he added.

A main focus of NC Works is service to the community, he said – helping employers find workers and helping workers polish their resume or provide training to qualify them for specific jobs.

The NCWorks Career Centers are located at 111 Hilltop Village in Oxford, 857 Beckford Drive in Henderson and on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College in Warren County. Perkins invited anyone interested in learning more about services to just drop in. “Our doors are always open,” he said. If you have questions or need assistance, “just walk in and we’ll be glad to help,” Perkins added.

NC Works offers specific programs to help veterans, as well as those who may have trouble finding a job because they have a criminal record. Most employers use background checks as part of the application process, but some employers may be willing to hire ex-offenders.

The NC Works re-entry program may be able to help those who are having difficulty finding work. “There may be some employers who are following a different model,” Perkins said.

Sponsors for the job fair include Vance-Granville Community College, Piedmont Community College, Person Economic Development and Roxboro Chamber of Commerce.

In email correspondence after the interview, a full list of employers planning to attend was provided – Ameristaff; Capstone Logistics; Corning; Dialight; Durham Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Educational Opportunity Center; Gate Precast; Hire Dynamics; Ideal Fastener; Louisiana Pacific; Lowe’s; MGM Products; Murdoch Development Center; North American Aerodynamics; NC Dept. of Public Safety; Person County Government; Person Memorial Hospital; Plastic Ingenuity; Polywood; Regal Driving Academy; Spuntech; Versatrim; Vocational Rehabilitation; Walmart Distribution; We Move.

Visit kerrtarworks.com to learn more.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Composting

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.