Vance-Granville Community College will offer a course on “afternoon tea,” the tradition that is enjoying a renaissance as fine hotels, inns and tea rooms across the country give guests an opportunity to retreat from the hurried pace of their lives. The course, called “Let’s Have an Afternoon Tea,” will meet on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 until 4 p.m., starting Sept. 29. The final class and “graduation” ceremony is an actual afternoon tea …
Month: August 2015
Local Community Groups and Parents Sue Halifax County Board of Commissioners Over Blocked Access to Sound Basic Education
HALIFAX, NC – Today, as children in Halifax County begin a new school year, the Coalition for Education and Economic Security (CEES), the Halifax County Branch of the NAACP, and three parents and guardians of children attending public schools in Halifax County filed suit against the Halifax County Board of Commissioners to vindicate the North Carolina constitutional right of Halifax County’s schoolchildren to the opportunity for a quality basic education. Under North Carolina’s state constitution, and as affirmed by the …
Operation Medicine Drop – Dispose of Your Unused, Expired Prescriptions September 26th, 2015
Unintentional poisoning from prescription medications is on the rise in North Carolina – Since 1999, approximately 6,900 people have died from prescription poisonings. Operation Medicine Drop offers the public a free and convenient option for disposing of their prescription and over the counter medications to protect their families and the environment. Prescription drug take-back event where the public can dispose of expired, unused prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications and keep them out of the wrong hands. Operation Medicine Drop cannot …
Meet Me In The Street Thursday August 27th, 2015
Come on out join the Chamber and The Konnection Band as they play all the songs that you love to hear. There will be vendor booths, food and free entertainment for your enjoyment along Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. The weather is looking good and it’s going to be a shaggin’ good time, so make your plans now for Thursday, August 27th starting at 5:30 until 8:30 PM! Sponsors for this year’s concert series are: Presenting Sponsor, CenturyLink; Gold Sponsors, …
Avian influenza informational meetings to be held for backyard poultry owners
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is holding five regional meetings to inform backyard poultry owners about the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that is expected to be introduced in the state this fall. Veterinarians with NCDA&CS and the N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will give an overview of the U.S. outbreak and how North Carolina is planning to protect commercial poultry and small flocks. They will also answer questions about the …
Henderson Family YMCA Golf Tournament September 22, 2015
Please join us for the 2nd annual Dr. Bev Tucker Memorial – Henderson Family YMCA Golf Tournament to be held at the Henderson Country Club on September 22, 2015. Dr. Tucker, or Dr. Bev as he is affectionately known, was instrumental in the establishment of our YMCA, the construction of its facilities, participated as an active member from our inception, and served for many years on the Y’s board of directors. As part of the YMCA’s annual campaign, we honor …
Wednesday Open Line
It is said that “every dog has its day,” and according to an animal welfare activist in the Pacific Northwest, today is the day for every dog. Now in its 11th year, this is National Dog Day, about five months after National Puppy Day. The occasion has two goals. One is to honor dogs, which serve humanity as companions, watchdogs, herders, and Seeing Eye dogs. They also aid in search and rescue, and in sniffing out explosives and drugs. The …
Newsletter from the Office of Sen. Angela R. Bryant
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! SIDE NOTE Senator Bryant’s Primary Sponsored Bills: · S39 – State Minimum Wage/Inflation Increases · S50 – Wilson County Occupancy Tax Modification. (Passed Senate; …
VGCC Students Awarded Golden LEAF Scholarships
A group of students from Vance-Granville Community College recently received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the North Carolina Community College System. The scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare related to attending classes during the 2014-15 academic year, and industry-recognized credential testing expenses that address skill gaps upon …
Tuesday Open Line
The Smithsonian Institution, founded this month in 1846, is the world’s largest museum and research complex, with 137 million artifacts in its collection. One was donated to the museum in August 1985 to mark the 25th anniversary of its commercial debut — the original Xerox 914 copying machine. Weighing in at just under 650 pounds, the 914 could produce seven copies per minute. The principle of xerography — producing images on paper using electricity — was developed in 1938 by …
VGCC offers Fall Mini-Term Classes
Although the Fall 2015 semester at Vance-Granville Community College is well underway, there are actually still opportunities to register for a variety of classes offered during “mini-terms.” These sections start later but end on Dec. 14, at the same time as the full 16-week courses, and they include just as many hours of instruction as under the traditional schedule. The Fall 12-Week Mini-Term begins on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The complete list of courses is available by visiting schedules.vgcc.edu and clicking …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Welcoming Home Our Veterans
Photo of the Week: I started the week at a Welcome Home Dedication for Sgt. Jonathan Rivenbark. This event was hosted by Helping a Hero, a nonprofit organization that identified and selected Sgt. Rivenbark for a newly-built, specially-adapted home in Legacy Lakes. It was wonderful to be at the event where we officially welcomed Sgt. Rivenbark and his wife, Yulia, into their 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home which was fully accessible with wider doors, and a roll in shower. Weekly Update: This …
White House Weekly Address: It’s Time for Congress to Pass a Responsible Budget
In this week’s address, the President spoke to the economic progress that our country has made — from 13 million new jobs created over the past five and a half years, to 17 states raising the minimum wage. Congress needs to do its part to continue to help grow the economy, but instead left town last month with a great deal undone. Congress failed to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank, which enjoys bipartisan support and is tasked solely with creating American …
Monday Open Line
One of America’s favorite snack foods is said to have originated on this date in 1853 near Saratoga Springs, New York. The chef at Moon’s Lake House, George Crum, was irritated at a customer who sent back his fried potatoes several times, saying they were too thick and soggy. Crum decided to slice potatoes wafer thin and stir-fry them. The customer was delighted, and so-called Saratoga chips became famous. The true origin of potato chips is unknown, but they are …
Ducky Derby in Downtown Henderson August 29th, 2015
Franklin Granville Vance Smart Start will hold its 6th annual Ducky Derby Festival and rubber duck race, a fundraiser for the local Smart Start program, on Saturday, August 29th in downtown Henderson. At 10 o’clock the festival begins on Breckenridge Street between the library and police station. This years’ activities include a bounce house and slide, as well as face painting and balloon animals for the children. Other activities are corn hole and ring toss. Vendors will be on hand serving …
Healthy Places NC – Funding Opportunity
The Conservation Fund’s Creating New Economies Fund Funding Priorities: Proposed projects for the current grant cycle must meet the triple bottom line and: Increase access to healthy food; or Connect small farmers to low?income consumers; or Increase opportunities for outdoor physical activity. Grant Amount: The maximum grant is $15,000, however, average grants range from $8,000 ? $12,000. Who Can Apply: Eligible applicants include nonprofits, town and county governments, and initiatives associated with a Resourceful Communities partner organization or community. Former …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, August 21st. The American Bar Association was founded on this date in 1878 in Saratoga Springs, New York. One-hundred attorneys from 21 states were present at its first meeting. The legal profession then was far different from what we know today. There was no National Code of Ethics, lawyers generally worked alone and trained under a system of apprenticeship. Today, there are some 1.27 million lawyers in the U.S., as the ever-swelling number of civil and criminal cases, and …
Fallen Soldier’s Family creates VGCC Scholarship in his memory
A new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College will bear the name of a Vance County native who lost his life in combat during the Iraq War. The Lunsford B. Brown II Memorial Academic Achievement Scholarship was recently established by members of his family, including his mother, Deborah F. Brown of Henderson, who chairs the VGCC Board of Trustees. Deborah Brown said that the family had talked for several years about creating a scholarship in memory of Lunsford, who was killed …
Governor McCrory Stresses Staying Safe When Traveling Back to School
Raleigh – More than 1.5 million students across the state will head back to the classroom next week, and North Carolina officials want to make sure those students arrive safely and ready to learn. With more cars, buses and pedestrians packing North Carolina roadways, Governor Pat McCrory, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol urge motorists to stay alert and exercise caution on the road, especially around schools, crosswalks, school buses and bus stops. …
Thursday Open Line
The nation’s first radio station licensed by the federal government began broadcasting in Detroit on this date in 1920 — station 8MK, now operating as WWJ. The station was owned by the Detroit News, and for some convoluted reasons, the station operated with an amateur license, which in 1922 was changed to commercial. The first station to receive a commercial license was KDKA in Pittsburgh, which began broadcasting in October of 1920. From these rudimentary early broadcasts, the new medium …