Archive for September, 2021

Granville County Board of Commissioners to meet on October 4

Notice of Regular Meeting:

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet at the Granville Expo & Convention Center, 4185 Highway 15, Oxford, NC on Monday, October 4, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. for a regular scheduled meeting.

This will be an in-person meeting.  Any questions should be directed to Debra Weary, Clerk to the Board, at 919-603-1307 or emailed to debra.weary@granvillecounty.org. 

To view the agenda, please click here.

Hobgood named Public Information Officer/Grants Development Specialist

Terry Hobgood has been named the new Public Information Officer/Grant Development Specialist for Granville County Government. Hobgood brings more than nine years of experience in local government to this role, and previously joined the Granville County Administration office in July 2021 as Deputy Clerk.

Hobgood will fill a vacancy left by current Public Information Officer/Grants Coordinator Lynn Allred, who plans to retire from full-time employment in December 2021. Hobgood will transition to his new role over the coming months.

In his new role, Hobgood will lead all Granville County Government communication efforts regarding programs, activities, and services to the public and County employees. He will also assist County departments in identifying grant funding and ensuring rules and reporting compliance on all active County grants.

A native of Oxford, Hobgood is a graduate of J.F. Webb High School and attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where he pursued a degree in Film Studies. Hobgood also attended graduate school at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he studied English Literature and Library and Information Studies.

Hobgood’s previous professional experience before joining Granville County Government includes City Clerk and Public Information Officer for the City of Creedmoor and various positions for the Town of Benson. Hobgood began as the Director of the Mary Duncan Public Library and Benson Museum of Local History, and eventually served as Communications Director, Town Clerk, and Assistant to the Town Manager.

He is a graduate of the UNC School of Government’s Public Executive Leadership Academy as well the Clerk Certification Institute.

The Granville County Administration office is located at 104 Belle Street in Oxford. Hobgood can be reached at 919-693-5240 or at terry.hobgood@granvillecounty.org.

Open enrollment for Medicare Part C and Part D begins Oct. 15

Granville County Senior Services is offering free assistance for residents participating in Open Enrollment for Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) plans for 2022. A trained counselor with the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will be available to offer assistance to Granville County residents who would like to review or make changes to their Medicare plan.

Open Enrollment, which begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7, is the one time of year to make changes to your Medicare plan. As your health needs and the costs and benefits of your health plan change from year to year, it is important to pick the right plan that meets your needs. Granville County Senior Services offers this service to county residents to meet their mission of providing a sense of community, overall health, and independence for older adults.

To make an appointment for a free counseling session to review or make changes to your Medicare plan, please call the Granville County Senior Center at (919) 693-1930. The Granville County Senior Center is located at 107 Lanier Street in Oxford.

Opportunity available through N.C. Cooperative Extension

A new program will provide minority producers who operate small farms with hands-on education to help them grow their profits and improve their operations. The Small Farm Leadership 360 Initiative, created by the Small Farms Task Force of Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T, is a four-part program that will feature both online learning and hands-on activities, featuring four modules in November 2021, February 2022, June 2022 and October 2022.

The program is free to qualified farmers in 17 targeted counties, but only a limited number of seats are available. The targeted counties for the Small Farm Leadership 360 initiative are Bertie, Caswell, Chowan, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Person, Rockingham, Vance, Warren and Washington.

Experts with Extension and other agricultural organizations will address a wide range of topics of interest to small farmers, including farm management best practices, tax advantages for small farmers, market opportunities, farm cooperatives, and best practices in agricultural production. In addition to online learning, the Small Farm Leadership 360 Initiative will include visits to farms and cooperatives and small group interactive sessions. Every participant will also develop a six-month best practice action plan, with guidance from a local Cooperative Extension agent.

“We are specifically reaching out to minority farmers who have smaller operations,” said James D. Oliver, Ph.D., who leads the Small Farms Task Force along with Fletcher Barber, Ph.D. “These farmers have not had the same opportunities as those who live in areas with more resources. We want to give them the skills and knowledge that will allow them to thrive.”

Applications for the Small Farm Leadership 360 Initiative must be received by October 15 for full consideration. Farmers can obtain a registration form for the program by contacting Granville County Cooperative Extension Center at 919-603-1350, downloading a brochure at www.granville.ces.ncsu.edu or picking up a brochure at 125 Oxford Outer Loop Road, Oxford, NC 27565.

Granville County employees participate in Fall Litter Sweep

Employees of Granville County Government participated in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Fall Litter Sweep on Friday, Sept. 17, collecting more than 50 bags of trash along portions of the Oxford Loop and Brassfield Road.

The annual Fall Litter Sweep continues through Sept. 25. Teams interested in participating can contact the Department of Transportation through their website at ncdot.gov to register.

Click here to register your cleanup team.

Granville included in 2021 “Mountains to Coast” cycling tour

Cycle North Carolina kicks off a week-long ride from the mountains to the coast on Oct. 3, with hundreds of cyclists traveling through the Butner/Creedmoor area as part of their journey through the state’s scenic back roads. Participants representing 41 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Costa Rica and Canada, will leave from Allegheny High School in Sparta and are set to arrive in North Topsail Beach Town Park on Oct. 9, biking an average of 65 miles per day.

The cyclists’ scheduled stop in Granville County is planned for the fourth day of the trek on Oct. 6, with an itinerary that includes tours of Cedar Creek Gallery, the Soldiers Memorial Sports Arena, Camp Butner Museum, Butner Town Hall, High Rock Farms and the Stem Fire Department.

From 12 until 4 p.m., cyclists can enjoy lunch from area food trucks on the grounds of the Creedmoor Recreation Center. The Granville County Tourism Development Authority will also host a welcome tent where local maps and area information will be available.

The day will conclude at the Butner Gazebo Park for “Alive After Five,” sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce, where cyclists will meet area residents and enjoy live music by the Band of Oz. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and food trucks will be on site.

The “Mountains to the Coast” Tour is the state’s only fully-supported ride. Luggage is transported in vehicles from one overnight host community to the next. Rider support vehicles are also available to aid cyclists who experience physical or mechanical issues. Outdoor camping areas are set up for interested participants, with rest stops available every 15 to 20 miles along the route.

The stop in Granville County includes an overnight stay at a temporary campsite on the grounds of the Creedmoor Recreation Center, with reservations at local hotels for those who prefer additional amenities. Overnight stays for the 2021 tour are also scheduled for Mount Airy, Reidsville, Roxboro, Smithfield and Wallace, with the route passing through many other towns and communities along the way.

Over the past 21 years, Cycle North Carolina participants have made overnight stops in more than 100 North Carolina towns and have visited 700 communities while promoting heritage tourism, visitor attractions and state parks, as well as the benefits of bicycling and a healthy lifestyle.

Volunteers are needed to assist on the day of arrival, Oct. 6, and will be assigned to distribute information at the welcome tent, transfer luggage, and handle other duties. Shifts are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., 1 until 3 p.m., 3 until 5 p.m. and 5 until 7 p.m. For more information about volunteering or to sign up, please contact Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

Drivers should be aware that groups of cyclists will be on Granville County roads on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7. Please drive carefully and pass with caution.

Visit https://ncsports.org/event/cyclenc_mountainstocoast_ride to learn more about the “Mountains to the Coast” cycling tour.

“Nifty Nineties” event to celebrate Granville County seniors

Granville County Senior Services’ “Nifty Nineties” event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, the 2021 event will be a drive through celebration for age 90 and older.

The celebration will be held at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford and will begin at 5 p.m. Advance registration is required for seniors and one guest to attend. Participants can drive through in the recognition parade, listen to live music from the parking lot, and receive special giveaways. A take-out meal for seniors and their guests can also be enjoyed from their vehicles or from their own homes.

The Granville County Senior Center in Oxford is located at 107 Lanier Street. Call 919-693-1930 to register or for more details.(Please register by Sept. 17.)

“Get To Know Your Land” with NC Cooperative Extension and the NC Forest Service

Property owners can “get to know their land” with the Granville and Vance County offices of NC Cooperative Extension, along with the NC Forest Service.

Starting Oct. 1, a series of six classes will be offered covering everything from plant identification to pond, pasture and woodland management, providing an overview of practices to help landowners get the most benefit from their own natural resources. Classes will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. on Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 29, Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, and will be a mix of classroom instruction and in-the-field training.

The program is free, but registration is required. For complete details or to register, visit http://go.ncsu.edu/knowyourland or call 919-603-1350 or 252-438-8188.

Human Relations Commission schedules fair housing training

The Granville County Human Relations Commission will present a Fair Housing Training Program at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11. This program is targeted to elected officials and administrative staff; however, it is open to any interested party. 

Mr. Gene Troy, Program Manager for the North Carolina Human Relations Commission, Civil Rights Commission, North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings will conduct the training virtually via Zoom webinar. Those interested in joining the Zoom webinar may contact the County Manager’s office to register by calling (919) 693-5240 or emailing debra.weary@granvillecounty.org.

Fair Housing means that all persons have equal opportunity to be considered for rental units, purchase of property, housing loans, and property insurance. The State Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental handicaps or family status. Although this seems straight forward, it is often difficult to know how best to advise citizens with housing concerns and issues. This training will help elected officials and administrative staff better understand the Fair Housing Act, when it applies, and how to start the process when assistance is needed.

A future session may also be scheduled for the general public. 

For more details about this training, please contact Ron Bullock of the Human Relations Commission at 919-693-7923.

Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) Program gearing up for Fall

The Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) program is gearing up for the Fall season and offers classes, workshops and activities to citizens in the community. The 2021 schedule includes offerings that range from Conversational Spanish and Sign Language to Barn Quilt Painting and Tai Chi, with a wide variety of additional topics to choose from.

Most classes are held during regular business hours at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford, located at 107 Lanier Street. Class times vary in length, depending on format. Sessions may consist of one-day lectures or hands-on workshops, or may be scheduled on multiple dates for ongoing programming. There are also options for remote learning, as some course offerings are available online.

Modeled after the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Duke and N.C. State Universities, as well as other Triangle-area senior center programming, CLL is funded through a generous private endowment and by annual memberships, class fees, and donations. Membership is required to participate in any class, activity, event or field trip offered through CLL. A non-refundable annual membership fee, payable at the Senior Center location in Oxford, covers classes from the fall session of one year through the spring/summer session of the following year. Charter members can also enjoy a 10 percent discount on all class fees

All fees are due at the time of registration and are determined based on expenses incurred to provide the class. Some classes may require an additional cost for supply fees or materials.

An online payment option is available through the Granville County Government website at www.granvillecounty.org, or payments can be made through the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. A limited number of need-based scholarships are also available. If seeking financial assistance to participate, please contact Senior Services Director Kathy May.                  

Registration is going on now. To view the class schedule in its entirety, please visit “My Active Senior Center” at https://myactivecenter.com/.

Instructors are also needed for future scheduling. Those with a skill or area of expertise that they would like to share with others are encouraged to lead a class, workshop or activity that can be added to the course calendar.

To learn more about the CLL program, please contact Coordinator Marilyn Howard or Kathy May at 919-693-1930.