Photo of the Week I loved talking with these students from Triton and Harnett Central high schools this week and answering their questions about the governmental process and legislative policy. Weekly Update I began my week in Raleigh speaking to high school students who attend the all-girls Saint Mary’s School. I had an opportunity to talk about the importance of young girls serving in a public capacity, whether on a local, state or federal level. Also this week, I visited …
Month: April 2016
Vance County Schools Technology Committee at Work
Members of the Vance County Schools Technology Committee are continuing to gather information from companies for computer hardware and software for teachers and students to use in the upcoming school year. Committee members met in the late afternoon on April 12, in the Board Room of the school system’s Administrative Services Center as they listened to representatives from three different vendors with proposals on available laptop computers and software that can be used by teachers and students in local schools. …
Monday Open Line
At 5:12 in the morning on this date in 1906, San Francisco was rocked by one of the two most powerful earthquakes ever to hit North America. Estimates of the death toll run up to 3,000. The quake and the fire that followed it destroyed 28,000 buildings and nearly 500 city blocks. The devastation left more than 200,000 — half the city’s population — homeless. The quake caused damage along a corridor of almost 300 miles, from Oregon to Los …
Rusty McMahon: Less Whining, Better Results
In a February budget meeting, Deputy County Manager Jordan McMillen announced that raising county pay and benefits is a funding priority. According to McMillen, surrounding counties pay more and that’s very troublesome. Newsflash, most of you earn much more than the average citizen that pays your way and your benefits are the envy of all. Instead of complaining, maybe you should find out why some other governments pay more. I’m guessing some of your counterparts are better paid because their …
Vance County Regional Farmers Market Opens Saturday April 16, 2016
April’s farmers market is going to be the best yet! Come by with the family and stock up. We are open Saturdays only in April from 7:30am – 1pm Starting in May, open Wednesday and Saturdays! This week’s bounty VEGGIES: Our farmers will be there with a mixed selection of cole crop (cool weather) vegetables. FRUIT: Now’s the time to get your fresh Strawberries. BEDDING PLANTS: A variety of seasonal bedding plants and herbs. MEAT: Stop by the meat bay for a …
Chick-fil-A employees work toward success as VGCC students
A regular at the Chick-fil-A in her hometown, Vance-Granville Community College Director of Student Success/QEP Coordinator Amy O’Geary recently observed a significant number of students from the college behind the counter at her restaurant of choice. O’Geary counts at least 12 current VGCC students working at Chick-fil-A of Henderson, and she serves as the Academic & Career Coach, or advisor, for a number of them. One of her advisees is Lane Phipps of Oxford, one of the assistant managers for …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, April 15th. Today marks the 61st anniversary of the opening of a small hamburger restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. It was the first of what would become one of the world’s best-recognized brand names — McDonald’s. The franchise shop belonged to Ray Kroc, whose main interest at the time was selling the machines that mixed milkshakes. The name came from two McDonald brothers who ran a hamburger shop in California. The first day’s revenue at the Illinois outlet was …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of April 14 on North Carolina Weekend, explore in Part 2 the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail near Mocksville. Take to the trees at Skywild at the Greensboro Science Museum in Greensboro. Discover the Hinson Art Museum at Wingate University in Wingate. See what’s in bloom at the Wilson Rose Garden in Wilson. And the “House Special” visits the International Taste of Greenville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In …
Warren County Gardening Workshop on April 30th, 2016
On Saturday, April 30th, come to the Warren County Extension Center for “Ready, Set, Grow! Successful Gardening in Raised Beds & Containers.” This two hour workshop (9:30-11:30 am) will cover all the basics to start your gardening season off right. Registration is only $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Learn about growing vegetables in raised beds and containers, and also how to manage pests organically. Instructors include Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and your friendly Horticulture Extension Agent (Paul McKenzie). Visit http://go.ncsu.edu/readysetgrow to …
N.C. strawberry growers expect early season
N.C. strawberry growers expect to start the season early this year despite a recent cold snap. Many growers in the eastern part of the state are already picking berries nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. “Our growers are very experienced with dealing with late frosts and know how to protect their crops,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Because of their diligent efforts, this season shows a lot of promise with plenty of strawberries available. Plus, since we had warm weather …
Thursday Open Line
The distribution of political representation under the Constitution was authorized on this date in 1792. Based on the results of the 1790 Census, the House of Representatives was to be apportioned according to population, coming as near to equal populations in the districts as could be determined. That first census counted a resident population of over 3.9 million people in the soon to be 15 states. There were then 105 seats in the House of Representatives, and the Apportionment Act …
E.M. Rollins Elementary Will Become STEAM School
Vance County Schools has received preliminary approval from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to establish a STEAM Academy, as part of a restart school strategy, at E.M. Rollins Elementary School. The school system submitted a restart school application for E.M. Rollins to the state department in March. The restart school process is a new initiative offered by the state in which public school systems can apply to have a school operate under regulations more like those followed by public …
Golden LEAF Board Budgets $25 Million for Major Site Development
The Golden LEAF Foundation and the Rural Infrastructure Authority today announced details of their collaboration to provide funding to large industrial sites across North Carolina to reduce the time needed for development and increase their competitiveness for major projects with substantial job creation and private capital investment. At its April 6 meeting, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors voted to reserve up to $25 million over the next three years to support public infrastructure needs for the Major Site Development …
Farm tours, open houses planned this spring
With a variety of farm tours and open houses scheduled in April and May, now is a great time to plan a trip to a North Carolina agritourism farm. “With more than a thousand agritourism farms across the state, it is easy to find all types of activities the family can enjoy,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Whether you spend a few hours picking strawberries or an entire weekend doing a farm tour, there’s a lot to learn about modern …
Chamber Ribbon Cutting – LimBionics
A ribbon cutting was held on Tuesday, March 22nd for LimBionics to celebrate the company’s membership with the Chamber and to showcase their new added location in Henderson and all that it has to offer. They were joined by friends, local dignitaries and business owners to celebrate their opening. All guests were treated to a tour of the facility, tasteful treats and beverage after the ribbon cutting. LimBionics provides award winning patient care to those in Henderson. Brittany Stresing, owner …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates and Events
GARDENING WORKSHOP, 4/30 IN WARRENTON On Saturday, April 30th, come to the Warren County Extension Center for “Ready, Set, Grow! Successful Gardening in Raised Beds & Containers.” This two hour workshop (9:30-11:30 am) will cover all the basics to start your gardening season off right. Registration is only $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Learn about growing vegetables in raised beds and containers, and also how to manage pests organically. Instructors include Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and your friendly …
VGCC adds fully-online Associate in Arts degree to VOLT
The “Vanguard Online Learning through Technology” (VOLT) initiative at Vance-Granville Community College is entering its second year in operation and preparing to add a new program option. VOLT courses are for adult learners who need an online-only educational experience. When the fall semester begins in August, such students will be able to start work on an Associate in Arts degree. The program provides students with the first two years of a four-year degree. Associate in Arts graduates who make a …
Rep. Butterfield & Sen. Franken’s Bipartisan Measure to Accelerate Development of Vaccines & Treatments Against Zika Virus Passes Congress, Will Be Signed into Law
A bipartisan measure introduced by U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to speed up the development of vaccines and treatments against the Zika virus is set to become law after passing in the Senate last month and in the House of Representatives today. The legislation was passed at a critical moment, given that earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention characterized Zika as “[s]carier than we initially thought.” The bill—introduced by …
Wednesday Open Line
April is a significant month for the American printed word. In 1800, the Library of Congress was founded, and earlier this week, in 1828, Noah Webster published the first dictionary of American English. This is also the middle of National Library Week, celebrating libraries, those who staff them and the billions of materials they circulate. While computers and electronic media are of increasing importance in the services libraries offer, books remain at the core of their collections, with the Library …
VGCC students tour UNC-Chapel Hill
The College Success and Study Skills (ACA) department at Vance-Granville Community College recently took a group of students on a college tour to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The purpose of the March 22 trip was to give students a closer look at an area university to which they might transfer and continue their education. The VGCC group toured the campus, ate lunch at the Rams Head Dining Hall, and took part in an information session conducted …