To highlight its importance, both as a crop and as part of the changing U.S. diet, this is National Rice Month. Globally, rice is the world’s most important cereal grain. Reflecting both our increasing cultural diversity and awareness of good nutrition, Americans have more than doubled their annual consumption of rice from 1980, from 9½ to 21 pounds each. Rice has been grown in America since the late 17th century, and is currently a $3 billion a year crop. While …
Month: September 2013
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (September 9th, 2013)
Work Session The Work Session was the last item on the Council’s regular session agenda intended to initiate the process of selecting a new police. Ray Griffin appears to have taken a different direction for selecting a new police chief. Since the retired police chief did not designate a subordinate worthy enough to be the new chief the task of selecting a new chief fell to the City Manager. Mr. Griffin has contracted the City to engage The Management and …
VGCC and Chambers team up for third “Business & Music After Hours”
For the third time, Vance-Granville Community College is partnering with the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County and the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center for an event that brings local businesses together while also providing entertainment and cultural enrichment for the community. The “Business & Music After Hours” event will combine Chamber activities with music from the Vance-Granville Community Band. The public is invited to the free event, which will take place on Thursday, Sept. 26 from …
NCDPI Receives 170 Letters of Intent to Open Charter Schools in 2015
Interested nonprofit organizations have submitted 170 Letters of Intent to apply to open a public charter school in August 2015. The letters were delivered to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction by noon on Sept. 6 and signal that the groups plan to submit a charter proposal to the NCDPI’s Office of Charter Schools by 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2013. More information about the organizations that submitted a Letter of Intent is available on the Office of Charter Schools …
Mountain State Fair offers free admission during Ingles Day, Sept. 11
FLETCHER — Fairgoers can help their community and earn free admission to the N.C. Mountain State Fair during Ingles Day. On Wednesday, Sept. 11, visitors can get free admission to the fair by donating five cans of Laura Lynn brand food from Ingles at the gate. “The fair is committed to educating the public about the farmers who grow and raise our food, but there are a lot of people out there who don’t know where they are going to …
Butterfield Joins NC Congressional Delegation to Host ‘Taking Care of Business’ Summit, Monday and Tuesday
WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to help North Carolina businesses get a leg up in a difficulty economy, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) has joined his fellow members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation to host the annual “Taking Care of Business” North Carolina Business and Economic Development Summit on September 9 and 10. The two-day summit will connect North Carolina businesses with congressional leaders, administration officials, and others to discuss current issues affecting the economy and the business …
Tuesday Open Line
The first coast-to-coast paved roadway in the United States opened on this date a century ago. Known as the Lincoln Highway, the road originally ran for nearly 3,400 miles through 13 states, connecting New York City with San Francisco. As a young army officer, Dwight Eisenhower drove in an army convoy on the Lincoln Highway — an experience which lay behind his later support as president for the Interstate Highway System that we enjoy today. And the Lincoln Highway, with …
City Council Candidates Forum Set For September 22nd
Leaders of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, radio station WIZS-1450 AM and The Dispatch have announced a Henderson City Council candidate’s forum. The candidates will appear before the public on a live radio broadcast at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 22. The forum will be held in the county commissioners’ room at the Vance County Administrative Building, 122 Young Street, in Henderson. A preliminary survey of all eight candidates for the four council seats indicates 100 percent …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
GARDEN PATH NEWSLETTER Our latest issue, published by the Extension Master Gardeners of Warren and Vance Counties, is available here: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/SEPTEMBER-2013.pdf PESTICIDE DISPOSAL DAY November 14, 10 am to 2 pm, Warren County (location TBA). NEW PEAK SEASON SOIL TESTING FEE The NCDA&CS will charge $4/sample for samples received December through March. Get your samples in to the Warren or Vance Extension Center by 11/26 and we will deliver them for you so you can avoid the fee. PESTICIDE DISPOSAL …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Standing Against Obama’s War
This week, I conducted several constituent listening events in different parts of the district, while also monitoring recent developments in Syria. Thanks to all of you who shared your concerns with me regarding the situation in Syria through phone calls, emails and comments on my social media sites. At the end of this newsletter you will have another opportunity to share your thoughts on Syria through a survey I hope you will complete. At this time, I cannot support military …
Gene Purvis retires after 22 Years serving VGCC students
Gene Purvis of Franklinton recently retired as Dean of Student Development at Vance-Granville Community College, after a 32-year career in public education (including 22 years at the college). His VGCC colleagues held a retirement reception in his honor on August 29 at the college’s Main Campus. Purvis first joined VGCC as a vocational counselor in 1991, following 10 years of service as a teacher and counselor in the Granville County Schools system. He also served as coordinator of Financial Aid …
Christmas With The Embers Tickets On Sale Now
The Christmas holidays will be here before you know it, bringing along aromas of cinnamon and gingerbread, stores packed to the brim with shoppers and plenty of local events to make this season count. So, where to begin? Why not stop in at the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and purchase tickets to this year’s “Christmas with the EMBERS?” An absolute great gift for a friend, an employee or just a nice treat for yourself! This is an absolute can’t miss …
White House Weekly Address: Calling for Limited Military Action in Syria
In his weekly address, President Obama makes the case for limited and targeted military action to hold the Assad regime accountable for its violation of international norms prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that’s happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and beyond. This week, the President continued to address the conflict in Syria, met with Baltic Leaders, and embarked on a three day trip to Sweden and Russia. That’s August 30th …
Monday Open Line
The nation’s oldest institution of higher learning opened on this week in 1636 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Called the “New College,” it opened with a student body of nine. It was founded by Puritans, who hoped to duplicate the educational standards of Oxford and Cambridge for their sons. In 1639, the school was renamed in honor of John Harvard, a young minister who bequeathed his library and half his estate to the institution. Harvard stood alone in the American …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting Monday September 9th
This memorandum will serve as notice that Chairman Thomas S. Hester, Jr. has called a special meeting for Monday, September 9 at 5:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the special meeting is to:1. Enter into closed session to discuss a personnel matter2. Related action as necessary
City of Henderson City Council Meeting Monday, September 9th, 2013
Henderson City Council Regular Meeting is scheduled for Monday 9 September 2013, 6:00 p.m. in the R. G. (Chick) Young, Jr. Council Chambers, Municipal Building at 134 Rose AvenueHenderson, North Carolina. Download the full agenda packet here: 20130909_coh_agenda_packet I. CALL TO ORDERII. ROLL CALLIII. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCEIV. OPENING REMARKSIn order to provide for the highest standards of ethical behavior and Transparency inGovernance as well as provide for good and open government, the City Council hasapproved Core Values regarding …
Vance County Board of Education Meeting September 9th, 2013
The Vance County Board of Education will meet on September 9, 2013 7:00 p.m. in the Administrative Services Center. The agenda is as follows: I. Call to Order II. Moment of Silence * III. Approval of Minutes * IV. Approval of Meeting Agenda V. Recognitions/Announcements VI. Comments from the Public (Citizens who would like to address the Board may do so by completing Form BDDH-E, Public Participation at Board Meetings. This request must be made …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
Thousands of fungus aficionados will be descending on Kennett Square, Pennsylvania this weekend for the 28th annual Mushroom Festival. This is appropriate, because September is National Mushroom Month, and Kennett Square bills itself as the mushroom capital of the world. Activities include a culinary tent, cooking demonstrations, a fried mushroom eating contest, farm tours, as well as entertainment. All swirling around festival mascot Fun Gus. Mushrooms are an important salad ingredient and add interest to many other meals. They are …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes from the Peanut Gallery (BoC September 3rd, 2013)
Reading the one page agenda for the Board’s meeting one might assume the meeting would be short. In reality that was a wrong assumption. No one spoke favoring or opposing the Rural Operating Assistance Program although time was reserved for the public to speak. And no one had anything to say during the time reserved for public comments. So what held the attention of the commissioners for more than two hours; the water project. Topics covered before the Water Board …
VGCC Offers Three Small Business Seminars Next Week: Starting A Business, Employees & Marketing
TEN STEPS TO STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013, 6-9 PM LOCATION: VGCCMAIN CAMPUS (HENDERSON), BUILDING 8, ROOM 8229 INSTRUCTOR: JESS MCLAMB COST: FREE This seminar covers what you should know before you commit yourself and financial resources to starting your small business. The information discussed in class should help participants make a feasibility assessment and understand the minimum start-up requirement, licensing, market and financial and tax requirements. Participants can virtually attend this class from any VGCC …