Last week, while I was travelling around the state, I stopped in Raleigh and had the pleasure of meeting with the folks from the North Carolina chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). I was humbled to receive the Champion for the 50+ Award from the AARP for my bipartisan work to renew and improve the Older Americans Act, which Congress passed in April. The Older Americans Act is the landmark law that helps ensure senior citizens, especially …
Month: August 2016
New Technology to Improve Traffic Flow and Safety Coming to I-540 in Raleigh
With congestion along North Carolina’s freeways growing, especially during morning and evening commute times, the N.C. Department of Transportation is using a technology new to North Carolina called on-ramp signals to help improve traffic flow for drivers along a stretch of Interstate 540 in north Raleigh. On-ramp signals, also known as ramp meters, are stop-and-go lights on freeway entrance ramps that work similar to traffic signals. When the signals are activated, vehicles on the ramp must stop when the light …
Monday Open Line
Chairs have a history going back to the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, or even earlier in antiquity. But a couple of variants that no one was anxious to try out debuted this month in the 19th century. In 1890, the electric chair was used for the first time in Auburn, New York, to carry out a death sentence. Scarcely more alluring, a special dental chair was patented on this date in 1848 by Waldo Hanchett. His innovation was a wooden recliner …
Vance County Regional Farmers Market: At the Market – August 13, 2016
At the Market – August 13, 2016! Be sure to stop by the Market to stock up on veggies. Straw and hay have been added to the agenda. VEGGIES & FRUIT: – Butter Beans (Shelled) – Canary Melons – Cantaloupes – Corn – Eggplant – Green Beans – Honey – Okra – Peas – Peaches – Peppers (Variety) – Potatoes – Squash – Tomatoes – Watermelons – Zucchini – Jams/Jellies/Preserves FLOWERS: A variety of seasonal flowers & herbs plus …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, August 12th. This date 35 years ago is significant in the advance of the digital age. On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its model 5150 — which soon became known simply as the “PC.” There had been consumer computer models for some years before, such as the early Apple and Commodore, but the IBM machine marked a turning point in acceptance due to the manufacturer’s prominence. The company was famous for its pioneering, large mainframe computers, and even by …
Henderson / Vance Night Out Against Crime August 11th, 2016
In cooperation with the National Night Out Against Crime the Henderson / Vance Night Out Against Crime Committee and the Henderson Police Department will be hosting the Henderson/Vance Night Out Against Crime on Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson on August 11th, 2016. The event is scheduled from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with set-up beginning at 3:00 PM. The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, in 1984 began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Called Meeting August 19th, 2016
Vance County Board of Commissioners Chairman Gordon Wilder has called a special meeting for Friday, August 19, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct the oath of office for the new county manager.
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Aug. 11 on North Carolina Weekend, discover the variety of travel and camping options at the N.C. RV Show in Raleigh. Experience the great outdoors at Raven Rock State Park in Lillington. Tempt your taste buds at La Strada in Lake Lure. See what’s special for dinner at The Flying Melon in Ocracoke. And “After Dark” checks out the scene at The Raleigh Beer Garden in Raleigh. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina …
Vance County Board of Commissioners HR and Water Committee Meetings August 16th, 2016
Please note the following schedule of committee meetings. Both meetings will be held in the county’s administrative conference room. HR Committee – (Brown, Taylor, Wilder) Tuesday, August 16 at 3:30 p.m. Water Committee – (Wilder, Brummitt, Taylor) Tuesday, August 16 at 4:00 p.m. All commissioners are invited to attend.
VGCC dedicates new building on Main Campus
Vance-Granville Community College officially dedicated “Building 10” at a ceremony on Aug. 3, expanding the college’s Main Campus in Vance County to the west side of Poplar Creek Road while providing new space to train public safety professionals and other students. The building will provide a new home for VGCC’s Emergency Medical Services, Fire/Rescue and Law Enforcement Training programs. Among the guests attending the dedication were county commissioners from Vance and Granville counties, who provided some of the funding for …
Thursday Open Line
A company founded in Seattle this month some decades ago has grown into a global titan in its industry. Its business isn’t web-based retailing, building aircraft, or brewing coffee. United Parcel Service began in 1907 as the American Messenger Company, founded by 19-year old Jim Casey for deliveries around Seattle on foot, or on bicycles. The expanding company became UPS in 1930, and today commands a fleet of 237 aircraft and about 105,000 motor vehicles. While UPS is the world’s …
Workshop on Sweet Corn August 16, 2016
Come to the Oxford Research Center on Tuesday, August 16, 6:30 pm to view a sweet corn variety demonstration, and get updates on sweet corn production. Extension Agents Gary Cross and Paul McKenzie will review the different varieties planted in the demonstration, and also discuss fertility, insect management and more. This is a great opportunity to see several different varieties growing side-by-side. The demo plot includes both GMO and non-GMO cultivars. Please RSVP by calling 252-213-6095 or e-mail paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu. The …
Arts and STEM come together at VGCC Science Camp for middle school students
Area middle school students recently had opportunities to practice their skills as both budding artists and scientists at Vance-Granville Community College’s sixth annual Science Camp. The theme of this year’s camp, held in June on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County, was not just “STEM,” but “STEAM,” according to VGCC Science department chair Steve McGrady. “Adding an ‘A’ for ‘Arts’ to the common acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a way to emphasize that innovation, creative thinking, …
The Glenn Miller Orchestra October 21st, 2016 at the JPAC at Louisburg College
The Glenn Miller Orchestra is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements. With its unique jazz sound and hits including “In The Mood,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Little Brown Jug,” and “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” the group is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. The show begins at 7:30pm at the Seby B. Jones Performing Arts Center (JPAC) at Louisburg College, 501 N. Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549 To purchase …
Wednesday Open Line
The Smithsonian Institution was founded on this date in 1846. It is named for British scientist James Smithson, who willed his fortune to the U.S. to establish the institution, even though he had never visited America. Today, the 170-year-old Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex, made up of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoo, and nine research centers. It currently has over 138 million items in its collections. It is one of the main attractions for …
Butterfield Presents NCCU with $480,000 USDA Grant to Expand Opportunities in Rural Areas
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) on Monday presented a $480,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to North Carolina Central University in Durham. The funds will be used to purchase video conferencing equipment for 11 end-user sites, including libraries and community centers, to connect residents with services commonly unavailable in rural areas. “Expanding educational resources to all North Carolina residents will require a digital pipeline that connects individuals virtually,” said Butterfield. “USDA’s investment will expand access to the …
Tuesday Open Line
With so much modern infrastructure featuring soaring atriums and deep subterranean transit systems, it’s not easy to imagine getting by without escalators. However, this efficient people mover was conceived in a far simpler, down to earth time. The first patent for a moving stairway was obtained on this date in 1859 by Nathan Ames. However, it was never built. The first practical escalator was built by Jesse Reno in 1896 at Coney Island, New York. Reno called his device an …
Senator Richard Burr: A piece of the American dream
This week, I had the privilege of meeting the employees at Bitty and Beau’s Coffee in Wilmington. Bitty and Beau’s Coffee is a small business with a mission to employ individuals with intellectual disabilities. It is named after Bitty and Beau Wright, two young North Carolinians who also happen to have Down Syndrome. In 2014, I worked with a bipartisan group to write and pass the Achieving a Better Life Experience law, known as the ABLE Act. This law now …
Monday Open Line
On this date in 1930, an offbeat sort of history was made when a stock trade order was placed from a zeppelin — an airship — off the Atlantic coast. This didn’t start a trend because the stock market had crashed and burned less than 10 months earlier, and a famous zeppelin crashed and burned just seven years later. While 810 million shares were traded in 1930, that was down significantly from 1929’s volume of 1.1 billion. The stock market …
Vance County Regional Farmers Market for August 6, 2016
Be sure to stop by the Market to stock up on great selection of veggies. We have a new cupcake vendor selling delicious creations. VEGGIES & FRUIT: – Apples – Butter Beans – Cantaloupes – Corn – Eggplant – Green Beans – Okra – Peas – Peaches – Peppers (Variety) – Potatoes – Squash – Tomatoes – Watermelons – Zucchini – Jams/Jellies/Preserves – Plus a few surprises! FLOWERS: A variety of seasonal flowers & herbs plus sunflowers. BAKERY: We’ll …