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NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door are always open to you! You are also invited to attend any and all Sessions and Committees. Visit the website for Session and Committee meeting times. As always, thank you for your support!
NEWSLETTER NEWS
Sen. Bryant’s Committees and Offices for 2015-2016 Session
Senate Deputy Democratic Leader First Vice Chair NC Legislative Black Caucus Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Appropriations/Base Budget Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Commerce Education/Higher Education Finance Judiciary II Pensions & Retirement and Aging
AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE Events and Scholarships
Free Tax Filing Services for Consumers
Free, online resources are now available for North Carolina consumers to learn about new tax requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—and they can access free tax filing services at www.NCGetCovered.org and click on “Free Tax Filing Assistance”. By doing so consumers will reach the NCGetCovered landing page at http://www.ncgetcovered.org/free-tax-filing and receive:
available in North Carolina.
The resource directory of free file tax programs is sponsored by the United Way of North Carolina’s 211 service.
KERR LAKE REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM INTERBASIN TRANSFER CERTIFICATION REQUEST
The Kerr Lake Regional Water System (KLRWS) is a large regional system that currently provides water directly or indirectly to municipal and county systems in northeastern North Carolina. The water supply for the system is John H. Kerr Reservoir (Kerr Lake) on the Roanoke River. In February 2009, KLRWS submitted a Notice of Intent to Request an Interbasin Transfer (IBT) Certificate to the Environmental Management Commission (EMC). The proposed project, as revised in 2014, will transfer 14.2 million gallons of water per day (mgd), calculated as the average day of a (maximum) calendar month, from the Roanoke River IBT basin to the Tar River (10.7 mgd), Fishing Creek (1.7 mgd), and Neuse River (1.8 mgd) IBT basins. This transfer volume represents the projected 2045 demands of the existing customer base and anticipated growth of the service area. The current grandfathered IBT for the KLRWS is 10 mgd, calculated as a maximum day, which is equivalent to 9.7 mgd, calculated as the average of a calendar month. The owners of the KLRWS and primary bulk customers served by the system are the City of Henderson, the City of Oxford, and Warren County, known as the “Partners.” The City of Henderson is the majority partner and operates and manages the water treatment plant for the water system. The City of Henderson also currently sells water to secondary bulk customers that include communities in Warren, Vance, Franklin, and Granville Counties. These include Stovall, Warrenton, Norlina, Vance County, Kittrell, and Franklin County. Future sales will occur from Oxford to South Granville Water and Sewer Authority (SGWSA) for use by Creedmoor and its customer, Wilton. Franklin County now owns the Youngsville water system and also sells water to Bunn and Lake Royale. Kerr Lake is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for many purposes including water supply. In 2005, the USACE granted KLRWS a 20 mgd annual average day storage allocation in Kerr Lake. This demand is not projected to be exceeded by the water system through 2060.
SCHOOL NEWS: The More You Know, The More You Grow…
Wilson County Schools Highlights Teachers
WARREN COUNTY STEEL SIX DRUMLINE
Warren County High School represented their school well, in a competition in Atlanta, Ga in November. They won a total of 14 trophies in a Drumline and dance competion against schools from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey and South Carolina.
New Scholarship Established to Send Students to VGCC Science Camp Vance-Granville Community College News – Jan. 8, 2015
Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent and her husband, Hervé Sergent, have established a scholarship for children attending the Vance-Granville Community College Science Camp. This is the first such scholarship created through the VGCC Endowment Fund to send children to the summer camp. Specifically, the “Hervé and Jackie Sergent Scholarship” is intended for two children who are residents of the Oxford Housing Authority. Jackie Sergent said that Xavier Wortham, director of the Authority, will recommend students to receive the scholarship each year.
The fifth annual camp for middle school students, which is conducted by VGCC faculty members, is set to be held at the college’s Main Campus the week of June 15-19, 2015. This year, for the first time, the college is also organizing a second edition of the camp, to be held at VGCC’s Franklin County Campus the week of August 3-7.
“We are pleased to be able to support VGCC, which is such a great asset to our community,” Jackie Sergent said. “In particular, we think that VGCC does a terrific job with this camp and with other efforts to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The camp motivates kids to continue their education and helps them to learn more about careers and about the opportunities available to them right here at Vance-Granville.” She added that it is important for children to become excited about learning before they enter high school, because middle school is such a critical time in each child’s development. “As a community, we must make sure that all children, regardless of financial means, have opportunities to have such enriching educational experiences,” Sergent said. She encourages others in the community to consider establishing similar scholarships or sponsoring a child for a single camp.
“We appreciate the support of Hervé and Jackie Sergent, which will help us to better serve our young people through our excellent Science Camp,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC. “This is a great example of how Mayor Sergent looks for creative ways to build, grow, and serve her community.”
Jackie Sergent took office as Mayor in 2011 after serving the City of Oxford as a commissioner for two years. Both Sergents are professionally involved in different types of education. Jackie is the Health Promotion Coordinator and Health Education Supervisor for Granville-Vance Public Health, while Hervé is a longtime teacher of foreign languages at J.F. Webb High School in Oxford. For more information about the VGCC Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.
FORUM FOCUSES ON HELPING AT-RISK STUDENTS November 13, 2014
By Luci Weldon, Warren Record More than 30 people participated in a forum hosted last Thursday by state Sen. Angela Bryant to discuss how best to help students at risk of dropping out of school in order to end what has become known as the “School-to-Prison Pipeline.” Among those attending were school system employees of Warren and Vance county schools, law enforcement officers, probation and parole officials, foster care/social workers, Warren County government officials, teachers, students and community residents. Bryant told those attending that students with behavioral problems at school run an increased risk of landing in the criminal justice system. She said that in order to help these youth, community resources must support local educational systems, and people working with youth must show them that they are important, learn more about effectively working with special needs students and learn about resources available to help them. Before the evening’s discussion began, Bryant showed a documentary film addressing the school-to-prison pipeline and the ongoing struggle facing educators to balance maintaining a safe school environment with whether to suspend students for all disciplinary infractions. When the state senator asked those attending to discuss what stood out in the film, answers centered around a need for more advocates for children and youth, need for more understanding about what experiences in the home could lead to disruptive behaviors and a need for more resources to address these underlying issues. Following the discussion, small group sessions allowed attendees to hold more in-depth discussions about helping at-risk youth. While a handful of students and parents were present, the majority of those attending were school administrators, educators and elected officials. The group of educators and elected officials observed that local school dropout prevention programs seem to be working. However, they raised the question of how to discipline children at school without suspending them. The group stated the need for more community involvement in helping at-risk students, for educational opportunities for students while they are suspended from school, and for programs to address the home-related issues that could be the source of disruptive behavior at school. In listing ways to help at-risk students, the educators and elected officials expressed the need for the following: more behavioral specialists in the schools to guide teachers and other school personnel in better helping at-risk students, an increased partnership between mental health professionals and schools to address underlying mental health issues affecting students, parenting skills resources for parents of at-risk youth, increased Medicaid funding for youth in residential facilities so that they can receive the resources they need, better training for teachers in working with at-risk youth, and a partnership of all community residents working together to best help students. Educators noted that behavioral specialists already working in the schools try to identify the issues facing students that could be behind their disruptive behavior. However, they added that school counselors may be faced with a number of daily responsibilities such as scheduling and paperwork that leave little time for counseling students. Probation and parole officers described situations in which youth have been in court for fighting and receive probation or a court order for mental health services. They noted that officers must try to identify available resources even though they are not mental health professionals. The group added that parents can be a barrier preventing their children from receiving services that are currently available when they do not accept that their children have problems that can be addressed. As the educators and elected officials discussed the next steps to take to help at-risk youth, they listed the need for instructional courses for students about mental health problems, the need for greater involvement by school improvement teams and the need for more teachers at all schools. When everyone in the sessions returned to the large group setting, they concluded that more parents should become advocates to assist other parents through school systems’ suspensions and the appeals process. Last week’s forum was the first of three that Bryant is hosting in eastern North Carolina. Upcoming community meetings are planned in Wilson on Dec. 2 and Rocky Mount on Dec. 3. Bryant told those attending the Warren County forum that information gathered at these forums could lead to future meetings to address the needs of at-risk students.
Awards and Grants
Helping Home Fund Assistance Program from Duke Energy
Duke Energy’s Helping Home Fund provides income-qualified customers with up to $10,000 (per residence) in energy efficiency upgrades at no cost to the customer. Funds for the program will come from Duke Energy shareholders, and not through customer rates. The program is administered by the N.C. Community Action Association (NCCAA) and offered through 21 local agencies across the state. As part of the agreement, each Duke Energy utility in the state will distribute $10 million through the program. Information on participating agencies and how to apply for funds can be found at www.duke-energy.com/helpinghomefund
Duke Energy Line Workers Win 11 Awards at 2014 International Lineman’s Rodeo – Congratulations to Preston Pernell, Kittrell, NC One Duke Energy team from North Carolina finished second in the world in the overall journeyman category, and second overall in the investor-owned utility division. The team was composed of Preston Pernell of Kittrell, N.C., Shawn Martin of Holly Springs, N.C., and Keith Vandervelde of Willow Springs, N.C.
2014-2015 North Carolina Municipal Guide, Lee Peterson, Publisher
Municipal Publishing, LLC is proud to present the 2014-2015 North Carolina Municipal Guide. This guide provides information on Municipalities by County, State and Regional contacts, US. Congress Information, State Senate, State Assembly and Federal Programs. Visit their website at North Carolina Municipal Guide
Nice Promotion of our Roanoke River Region Roanoke River Partners, Inc wanted to share the link to this nice on-line promotion of our Roanoke River Region that went out across NC today. This overview includes a description of our paddle trail and camping system; a bit about the variety of wildlife that resides here; and a plug for our historic small towns and their events. http://nc-culture.com/roanoke-river-partners/
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
NC Legislative Black Caucus Elects New Officers
Raleigh, NC (January 15, 2015) The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus elected new officers for the 2015-16 General Assembly sessions this week. NC Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley lead the installation ceremony for newly elected officers after Opening Session. NCLBC officers are as follows:
Chair: Representative Garland Pierce Hoke, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland counties
First Vice Chair: Senator Angela Bryant Halifax, Nash, Vance, Warren and Wilson counties
Second Vice Chair: Senator Gladys Robinson Guilford County
Secretary: Senator Valerie Foushee Chatham and Orange counties
Treasurer: Representative Robert Reives Chatham and Lee counties
Parliamentarian: Representative Kelly Alexander Mecklenburg County
Chaplain: Senator Don Davis
Sergeant-at-Arms: Representative Charles Graham Robeson County
This year the Caucus has a record number of 35 members of the North Carolina General Assembly. “The Caucus looks forward to working with the leadership of the House and Senate on issues that affect North Carolina citizens,” said Representative Garland E. Pierce, Chair, NCLBC. “We will continue to work for our constituents on issues that are important to the community,” said Pierce.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the General Assembly on finding solutions to the economic, educational and social problems of our state,” said Senator Angela Bryant, First Vice Chair, NCLBC.
The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus is an association comprised of Senators and Representatives of African American and Native American heritage. The primary purpose of the Caucus is to operate as a vehicle through which African Americans and people of color residing in the State of North Carolina will be able to exercise their political power in a unified manner. The Caucus ensures that the views and concerns of African Americans and people of color are carried out by their elected representatives; and work to develop the political consciousness of all people. ###
NC Legislative 2013 – 2014 Black Caucus Chairman’s Report http://issuu.com/nclegislativeblackcaucus/docs/1_final_2013_-_2015_chair_report_pr/1
LINK PROVIDED OF SUMMARIES OF SUBSTANTIVE RATIFIED LEGISLATION 2013 GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2014 REGULAR SESSION RESEARCH DIVISION
Bridgestone Presents the Christmas card Design Award to Barnes Elem.
Contact: Senator Angela R. Bryant, North Carolina Senate • District 4• North Carolina General Assembly • State Legislative Office Building • 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 520, Raleigh, NC 27603 • 919-733-5878-P • 919-754-3289-F •Angela.Bryant@ncleg.net or Karon Hardy, Legislative Assistant at bryantla@ncleg.net. To unsubscribe to this newsletter, please click here |
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