|
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:
· THE MORE YOU KNOW, YOU’RE SURE TO GROW: Healthy Children Come from Healthy Families; Wilson County DSS – Tax Time – VITA Free Tax Services Are Here · HAPPENINGS AROUND THE DISTRICT
· SIDE NOTE: SUBCOMMITTEE: Senator Bryant’s Interim Oversight and Study Committees
Lelia B. Yancey Elementary School in Vance County receives a NC State Flag from Sen. Angela Bryant and the United States of America flag from Congressman G.K. Butterfield. March 11, 2016 |
SIDE NOTE: Senator Bryant’s Interim Oversight & Study Committees:
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety
Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee
Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee
Joint Legislative Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
Commission Study Committee on Homeless Youth, Foster Care and Dependency
Joint Subcommittee of the Justice and Public Safety Oversight Committee and Health and Human Services on Mental Health Oversight Committee
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice (Advisor)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
EVENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE: · North Carolina Military Business Center – MICC Fort Bragg Acquisition Forecast Open House: Wednesday, March 30th at Fayetteville Technical Community College, Cumberland Hall Auditorium, 2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville, NC 28302. For more information and to register for this event, please visit http://www.ncmbc.us/FortBraggSmallBusinessOutreachEvent2016.php?utm_source=Newsletter+3_3_16&utm_campaign=093014+Newsletter&utm_medium=email · NC Council of Community Upcoming Trainings 2016: Friday, March 25th: ASAM’s Patient Placement Criteria; Tuesday, April 5th: Building Strong Teams in Clinical Businesses; Thursday, April 7th: The Ethics of Cultural Competency in Behavioral Health; Tuesday, April 12th: Resiliency in the Clinical Workforce; Friday, April 15th: PCP Development and Service Notes: Documentation with Clinical Quality and Accuracy; Tuesday, April 19th: Conversations for Corporate Change Goals with MI-informed Communication; Thursday, April 2st: Depression in Older Adults: Treatment Techniques; Friday, May 6th: Ethics; Thursday, May 12th: Motivational Interviewing and Group Psychotherapy; Thursday, May 19th: Clinical Supervision; Wednesday-Thursday, May 25th – 26th: Introduction to Motivational Interviewing. For more information about these events, please call (919) 757-5608. · The Ethics of Cultural Competency by the North Carolina Council of Community Programs: Thursday, April 7th from 9:30am-4:30pm at the NC Council of Community Programs, 505 Oberlin Rd., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC 27605. For more information, please contact Dr. Joanna Linn at (919) 757-5608 or email her at jlinn@nc-council.org. For registration information, please contact Karen@nc-council.org. · The Alliance of NC Black Elected Officials (ANCBEO): 11th Annual NC Black Summit on April 21-22, Hilton Garden Inn Crabtree Valley, 3912 Arrow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612. For information email, Info@ncbeoalliance.org. · The Twin Counties Partnership for Healthier Communities 2016 Quarterly Meeting: Mon. May 16 from 1-3pm; Wednesday, Aug 10th from 1-3pm and Tuesday, Nov. 29th from 1-3pm. All meetings will be held at the Eastpointe, 500 Nash Medical Arts Mall, Meeting Hall. · Arts Council of Wilson Eyes on Main Street: Downtown Wilson will feature International Photography Exhibits from April 9th through July 10th. Opening party, Sat. April 9th at 5pm. Corner of Nash and Douglas Streets · Esquires for Education Inc. Summer Camp: Golf and Swim Lessons: Monday, June 20th-Friday, June 24th OR Monday, June 27th-Friday, July 1st from 9:00am-3:00pm at Beechwood Country Club, 205 Country Club Road, Ahoskie, NC 27910. Registration closes March 3rd. For registration email esq@esquiresforeducation.org or call (252) 325-4676. · North Carolina Military Business Center – Medical, Biomedical & Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter Symposium: Two locations: Tuesday, June 7th ; Medical: Support to the Warfighter, NC State Univ. and Wednesday, June 8th – Biomedical & Biodefense: Support to the Warfighter, NC Biotechnology Center, Hamner Conference Center. For more information and to register for this event, please visit http://www.ncmbc.us/2016_Support_To_The_Warfighter.php?utm_source=Newsletter+3_3_16&utm_campaign=093014+Newsletter&utm_medium=email · Esquires for Education Inc.: Now recruiting for Character and College Prep Program. For more information, email esq@esquiresforeducation.org or call (252) 325-4676. · 2016 N.C. Rural Assembly by The Rural Center: Monday-Tuesday, September 26th-27th. For more information, please call (919) 250-4314.
********************************************************
GRANTS, AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS: The A. Stephon Smith, Sr. Fire Science Memorial Scholarship
The A. Stephon Smith, Sr. Fire Science Memorial Scholarship is seeking applicants interested in fire science. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 31. Contact information and instructions regarding the scholarship can be found on the scholarship application. For more information call 27612 · 919-424-7956 or email: ssmithscholarship@gmail.com. Melvin Williams, Jr. Scholarship Administrator _______________________________________________________________________ Sen. Angela R. Bryant Provides Scholarship to Northern Vance High Student to Attend 2016 Youth Legislative Assembly
Henderson, NC – February 12, 2016 The NC Department of Administration’s Youth Advocacy & Involvement Office is hosting the “The YLA is an opportunity for students to learn how the legislative process works in an actual legislative environment,” said Sen. Bryant. “My office is proud to sponsor a scholarship for a Vance County student to attend the 2016 Youth Legislative Assembly. I am honored to partner with the Youth Advocacy & Involvement Office to develop youth leadership skills. The experience should be very instructive and rewarding for these students.” Mirroring the real NC General Assembly, students will assemble to elect a leadership team, choose bill topics, draft bills to be debated and be voted up or down. Past topics include random drug testing of high school athletes, offshore drilling, and increasing the minimum drop-out age for high school students. “We are pleased to have Sen. Bryant sponsor a student for YLA this year,” said Clare Shocket, Director of the Youth Advocacy & Involvement Office. “Legislative support is vital to the YLA Program. For Chontara, Sen. Bryant’s support may be life changing.” Chontara is the daughter of Catherine Couch Mason and Charles Mason. For more information about Youth Legislative Assembly, please contact Erica Gallion, Program Coordinator, at 919-807-4406. _______________________________________________________________________ NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY BUSINESS CENTER Recent Federal Contract Awarded to Roanoke Rapids Eagle Home Medical Corporation of Roanoke Rapids, NC (Halifax County) was awarded a $106,467.25 contract for home oxygen services for Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Contract award: VA24416J1780. About NCMBC The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a business development organization and a collaborative effort between North Carolina businesses and the North Carolina Community College System. Created by the North Carolina General Assembly and opened in 2005, the NCMBC operates from offices at ten community colleges across the state, under the supervision of Fayetteville Technical Community College. For full contact information, visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/contact-us/NCMBC_Staff.php _______________________________________________________________________ Scholarship for High School Seniors 2016 High School Scholarship Application available NOW! Deadline April 22, 2016
For more information or if you have any questions – email scholarship@roanokeelectric.com or call 252-209-2278. The winner will also receive a certificate of the award at Roanoke Electric Cooperative’s Annual Meeting held the fourth Saturday in August
******************************************************** THE MORE YOU KNOW, YOU’RE SURE TO GROW: Healthy Children Come from Healthy FamiliesBy Michelle Hughes, Executive Director, NC Child When it comes to a child’s health, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Data from the 2016 Child Health Report Card, published by NC Child and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM), show critical links between a child’s health and that of her parents, which is why investments in parents’ health yield big returns for children. The Report Card reveals that North Carolina has made important gains in many areas of child health. The percentage of children without health insurance has hit an all-time low at 5.2% and the teen birth rate continues to decline dramatically. If we want to build on this success, more attention needs to be given to the significant impact that improving the health of parents would have on children’s health.
For instance, North Carolina’s infant mortality rate has stalled after declining for most of the past 20 years. The lack of progress is connected to persistent health challenges facing parents, particularly people of color and those struggling financially before and during a pregnancy. These health challenges are difficult to overcome without insurance. In 2014, 17.4 percent of parents (324,000) were uninsured, which means they lacked access to affordable check-ups, basic health services, and prenatal and postnatal care. Addressing parental uninsurance is also an effective strategy for getting more children insured. Despite our progress over the past five years, there are still 120,000 children in our state without insurance, which means they don’t have access to preventive care like check-ups, immunizations, and dental cleanings, which can have a long-term impact on not only their health, but also their education and economic status.
About two-thirds of these uninsured children are eligible for either Medicaid or NC Health Choice, but not enrolled. That’s why it’s so important to make health insurance available to parents—when uninsured parents become insured, they often learn of and enroll their children in insurance programs for which they are already eligible. We have seen this phenomenon in North Carolina and in other states.
The list of connections between parental and child health is long. Children who grow up in homes where parents suffer from mental illness and substance abuse are more likely to suffer from those same conditions. The children of parents who smoke have worse birth outcomes, get sick more often, and are more likely to smoke themselves. Parents’ eating behaviors and levels of physical activity also significantly impact those of their children.
The good news is that an affordable and effective strategy for insuring parents and improving their health is at our fingertips—we just have to use available federal funds to close the health insurance coverage gap. Right now, 500,000 adults are stuck in the coverage gap with no good way to get insurance. Many of them work in industries like retail, food service or construction that don’t offer employer-sponsored health insurance, and where wages are too high to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford insurance in the private market.
North Carolina has the opportunity to use available federal funding to close the coverage gap and provide hard-working North Carolinians with affordable health insurance options, which will improve the health of their entire families. The decision about whether to close the gap rests with the governor and the legislature.
The 2016 Child Health Report Card makes very clear the connection between parental health and children’s health. Children’s futures are inextricably linked to the resources their families have to care for them, and health care is a big part of that. Policymakers should keep this fact in mind as they consider strategies for improving the lives of our state’s children.
****************************************************** TAX TIME
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sen. Bryant presents the Long Leaf Pine Award to Mr. Artis Crews with Sen. Bryant
Former Mayor James (Pete) O’Geary, Dec.14, 2015
“Sen. Angela Bryant, keynote speaker, addresses attendees of the Martin
Luther King Jr. breakfast in Wilson on Jan. 18th.
Superintendents from Halifax and Northampton Counties Schools met
with Sen. Bryant and Rep.Wray on Feb. 23rd. Pictured above Rep. Michael Wray,
Anitra Wells, Tammi Sutton, Sen. Bryant, Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram,
Dr. Monica Smith-Woofter, Dr. Elease Frederick, and Dr. John Parker
********************************************************
IN THE NEWS:
Warren Record
1. A new program to help preserve the history of local communities for generations to come is underway, and members of the public are asked to become involved. Warren County’s Historic Preservation Commission is spearheading an initiative to have permanent signs placed across the county in communities from Arcola to Ridgeway and Wise, and in crossroads communities such as Perrytown, Five Forks, Russell Union and all the others that make life in Warren County special. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_11033aba-e60b-11e5-aeeb-0bd55252c533.html
2. Warren County commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Dennis Paschall as the county’s emergency services director during their regular monthly meeting Monday night. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_5537226e-e60b-11e5-8ca5-2fa12d381d4c.html
3. Warren County Special Olympics is seeking volunteers to assist with the Warren County Spring Games to be held on April 14 at the Warren County High School football field. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_446c40ac-e07c-11e5-980e-6f48fd2dab01.html
4. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its intent to assist organic farmers with the cost of establishing up to 20,000 acres of new conservation buffers and other practices on and near farms that produce organic crops. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_9ca28bce-e07b-11e5-832c-5bbb0597dd52.html
5. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Warren County will host a cancer survivor registration fair on Monday, March 7, from noon-2 p.m. at Warren County Memorial Library, 119 Front Street, Warrenton. All cancer survivors are invited to visit the fair to be registered for the 2016 Relay For Life event and get a sneak peek at the new 2016 survivor T-shirts. All survivors must register for Relay For Life each year to ensure they receive a survivor T-shirt prior to the event. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_2be22056-e07c-11e5-b104-db5f071af21c.html
6. Loaves & Fishes Ministries food pantry of Warrenton is working to increase its volunteer force and food supply, and upgrade its food storage capabilities in preparation for October, when some 300 able-bodied Warren County food stamp recipients could lose benefits. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_c9b15396-dafb-11e5-9b8b-e76ca6aceec2.html
7. Volunteers Sought for Warren County Special Olympics Warren County Special Olympics is seeking volunteers to assist with the Warren County Spring Games to be held on April 14 at the Warren County High School football field. The rain date is April 15. Opening ceremonies will kick off the games at 9:45 a.m. Athletes from Warren County Schools will compete in events such as standing long jump, running long jump, track and field events, softball throw and relay events. Volunteers will be needed to help facilitate these competitions. All local residents are invited to attend to cheer on the Special Olympics athletes. An interest meeting for parents and potential volunteers will be held in March. For more information about volunteering or attending the games, contact Daniel Harris, Warren County Special Olympics local coordinator, at 252-257-3184, ext. 1239, or email dharris@warrenk12nc.org. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_446c40ac-e07c-11e5-980e-6f48fd2dab01.html
Wilson Times
1. Courthouses statewide, including in Wilson County, launched a new system that will make it easier for residents to search court records. Wilson County implemented the Criminal and Infraction Public Records Search (CIPRS) system, which is web-based and much simpler to use, about a month ago. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/Story/40632081—Wilson-implements-public-records-system
2. Construction of a new bridge on N.C. 581 east of Wilson is scheduled to get under way on Monday, March 21. The project is part of a $6.3 million contract awarded Sanford Contractors to replace six bridges in Wilson County and two in Wayne County. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Feature/Story/40660002—New-bridge-construction-will-close-section-of-N-C–581
3. Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield presents Power of the Vote, a summit to address the challenges facing women and girls in eastern North Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pitt Greenville Airport, 400 Airport Road, Greenville. The event is free, but RSVP is required to attend; visit www.RepJFB.eventbrite.com for more information. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/Story/40621284—Community-Briefs
Henderson Daily Dispatch
1. Families with limited income have a new opportunity to obtain dental services. Carolina Fellows Family Dentistry has opened an office at 115 Hilltop Village to serve patients in the Tri-County area. The practice accepts Medicaid and Health Choice insurance and offers a sliding fee scale for those without dental insurance. http://www.hendersondispatch.com/news/area-dentists-provide-services-for-low-income-families/article_8cc39220-e4ae-11e5-be4a-6be8763e5d51.html
Rocky Mount Telegram
2. Hannah Gerlach is rather “ambivalent” about her feelings concerning her Thursday night win as spelling bee champion, especially as that was the word that won her the victory. Gerlach, 14, will be reprising her performance at the Scripp’s National Spelling Bee because she has claimed the local title of Spelling Champion for the second year in a row. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/News/2016/03/11/Gerlach-remains-queen-spelling-bee.html
3. A Martin Millennium Academy sixth-grade student was elected to a state office for the National Junior Beta Club during a statewide convention recently in Greensboro. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/Community/2016/03/08/Local-student-elected-to-state-Beta-Club-post.html
4. Employers and recent college graduates seeking professional positions are invited to attend a networking social scheduled for 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on March 16 at Milton & Miles at 270 Gay Street in downtown Rocky Mount. These networking socials are being organized to help local young professionals, college graduates and soon-to-be college graduates develop relationships with managers and executives of local businesses with current and future professional openings. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/Community/2016/03/05/Events-aim-to-link-job-seekers-with-employers.html
5. A longtime Pinetops mayor is remembered by colleagues and family as a dedicated public servant who loved his town and county. Vines Cobb, 87, was born, raised and died in Edgecombe County — the place he loved, said Raymond Cobb just a few hours after burying his father Monday. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/News/2016/03/09/Former-Pinetops-mayor-dies.html
6. New principal takes helm at Northern Nash High School: Northern Nash High School recently welcomed new Principal Brian Hopkins to the fighting Knights family. Hopkins took over the leadership of the school after former principal Chad Thompson moved into his new role as executive director of secondary education at the Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools Central Office. Hopkins is returning to Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools from Edgecombe County Schools, where he served as principal of North Edgecombe High School for over a year. Prior to working in Edgecombe County, Hopkins served as principal of Tar River Academy from 2012-14. Hopkins also served as the assistant principal of Nash Central High School from 2010-11 and as a district behavior support specialist from 2009-10. Hopkins has more than three years of experience as a teacher with Weldon City Schools and four years of experience as an instructor and academic counselor with Halifax Community College. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/Community/2016/03/03/New-principal-takes-helm-at-Northern-Nash-High-School.html
********************************************************
YOUR KIND WORDS ARE APPRECIATED:
Senator Bryant,
This letter of thanks is being sent to you with deepest appreciation from myself along with the volunteers and students at Scotland Neck Education and Recreation Foundation in Scotland Neck, NC. In doing so, I personally wanted you to know how much I appreciate you being instrumental in getting the center’s status restored with the Food Bank after a brief suspension. I hope that this didn’t cause any inconvenience on your behalf but we were really concerned because the Food Bank plays a vital part in our program. Without it, our students would not be able to enjoy the nutritious meals that they receive during their stay at the center. Thanks again for being a part of the “village” that it takes to produce citizens that are well rounded, socially, emotionally, physically and academically for today’s society. We look forward to your continued support of Scotland Neck Education and Recreation Foundation.
_______________________________________________________________________
Sincerely,
Mildred Moore, Director
Scotland Neck Education and Recreation Foundation
Ms.Bryant,
I want to thank you for your strong support of the property owners’ interests in the ultra high lake levels we had been recently experiencing. On April 1st, I will have owned a home here for 41 years, and over that time, with exception of the few times after several hurricanes, I had never seen the water level stay so high for so long. It became obvious, that Dominion Power, with Corps non-intervention, had changed things for their benefit, and were ignoring the possible damages the high water was and would cause. Their objective seemed to be keep the water available to generate power to sell at the most profitable times, and if property was being damaged that was unfortunate as they control the waterfront, and so losses to homeowners wouldn’t affect their profit-making water power revenues.
Thanks to you, Commissioner Davis, and Congressman Butterfield, I believe they have gotten the message, that property rights are an important component that they will need to recognize, as they use the public’s water to make profits for their company. After your efforts, the water levels have returned to more normal levels, and property damage potential has been reduced. With warm weather boating season upon us, this couldn’t have been more timely. I feel you have truly fulfilled your role as my County representative in understanding, and confronting this huge potential problem for your constituents around Lake Gaston. Thank you and best wishes for many more years of success in your career.
Sylvia & Bill Solari
***********************************************************************
Follow Senator Angela R. Bryant on social media!