The N.C. Department of Transportation is accepting proposals from communities for the 2017 Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. The program provides funding for the development of comprehensive plans to provide facilities for biking, walking or a combination of both. “Since 2004, the state has awarded nearly $4.6 million through this program to 173 municipalities across the state,” said Ed Johnson, interim director of the department’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Division. “We are proud that the program benefits cities and communities …
Month: August 2016
Vance County Democratic Party Upcoming Events
Sunday, August 28, 2016 3:00 PM at the Vance County Democratic Headquarters 203 South Garnett Street, Henderson, NCDr. Lee Cooley, of the North Carolina State Board of Elections where she serves as the Voter Outreach Specialist to Minorities for the State of North Carolina, will speak on voting rights Wednesday, September 7, 2016 6:30 PM at the Vance County Democratic Headquarters 203 South Garnett Street, Henderson, NCGrand Opening of The Vance County Democratic HeadquartersLight refreshments will be served Sunday, September 18, 2016 …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
GARDEN PATH NEWSLETTER, AUGUST EDITION The latest issue of our gardening newsletter is available for download from this link. As usual, your local Extension Master Gardener Volunteers have included lots of timely tips, plant suggestions, and much more. GARDENING CLASSES, VANCE CO REGIONAL FARMERS MARKET Aug 10, 10 am, Good Bugs for Your Garden – Learn how to attract and conserve beneficial insects Aug 24, 11 am, Garden Photography – Learn how to take beautiful photos with the camera …
Vance County Schools Board of Education Meeting August 8th, 2016
The Vance County Board of Education will have a Board Retreat on Monday, August 8, 2016, at 4:00 pm in the ASC Conference Room, 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson. The regular Board Meeting will begin at 7:00 pm in the Board Room. Click to download the Board Agenda Packet along with a Policies that will be presented at the meeting. The Board Retreat Agenda is also available.
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, August 5th. On this day in 1966, a groundbreaking ceremony was held near the southern tip of Manhattan. On the site of a recently cleared neighborhood of low-rise buildings called Radio Row, work began on what would become the World Trade Center. The iconic twin towers, the landmark feature of the seven-building development, were briefly the tallest in the world after their completion in the early 1970s. The cost of the World Trade Center complex was around $1.5-billion. In …
Butterfield Applauds $791,700 Grant for Pitt-Greenville Airport
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) applauded the recent announcement of a $791,700 grant for Pitt-Greenville Airport from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funding will be used to make several critical terminal and infrastructure improvements that will increase access and efficiency. The airport improvements build on additional FAA investments in the airport, including $7.9 million from President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “This FAA grant is an important step toward fulfilling my longstanding …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Aug. 4 on North Carolina Weekend, admire the Dale Chihuly Venetians exhibit at Alamance Arts in Graham. Put the pedal to the metal for the Blue Ridge Brutal Ride in West Jefferson. Enjoy the great outdoors at Merchants Millpond State in Gatesville. “Collecting Carolina” looks at genealogy at the N.C. State Archives in Raleigh. And the “House Special” samples the fare at El Taco Loco in New Bern. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North …
Thursday Open Line
In this first week of August 102 years ago, American motorists got the green light to safely proceed through increasingly traveled crossroads. A traffic light system, credited with being the first in the U.S., flashed red and green at the intersection of 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. To further prompt drivers, the words “Stop” and “Move” were emblazoned on the operating red and green lights. At the time, there were about 1.8 million motor vehicles in the …
Strong Revenue Growth Triggers Lower Business Tax Rate
Governor Pat McCrory announced Tuesday that North Carolina ended the fiscal year with strong revenue growth, meaning business tax rates will be lower in 2017. Tax revenue collections were $21.3 billion, more than $300 million above the threshold for triggering a reduction in the state’s business tax rate from 4 percent to 3 percent beginning January 1, 2017. This will be less than half the 6.9 percent rate paid by North Carolina businesses in 2013. “Even in an environment of historic …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Meeting changed to September 6th, 2016
Please note the September 2016 regular meeting date has been changed due to the Labor Day holiday from September 5th to September 6th. See the attached resolution. Vance County BoC 092016.pdf
Wednesday Open Line
Although the numbers have fallen sharply in the last few decades, still some people in the U.S. succumb to diseases that could have been prevented by immunization. Others experience pain, suffering and disability. That’s why this is National Immunization Awareness Month — highlighting the importance of vaccinations to a long and healthy life. The process of vaccination was known even in ancient cultures. Its most spectacular success came in the eradication of smallpox, a scourge of humanity for thousands of …
Henderson / Vance Night Out Against Crime August 2nd, 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 2, 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 …
NC Court Ruling on Voting Rights
Courtesy Senator Angela Bryant: On Friday, July 29, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down several key provisions of an election law passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2013. According to the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina legislature enacted the challenged provisions with an intent to discriminate against African-American voters. For that reason, the Court of Appeals said, the provisions violated both the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. The full Fourth …
Tuesday Open Line
A patent awarded on this date in 1903 literally affected the shape of things to come. Specifically, the shape of glass things to come. Michael Owens of Toledo, Ohio, patented a machine that could automatically manufacture glass bottles, producing four per second. The invention standardized and expanded the glass industry. It also enabled tremendous growth in the soft drink and beer industries, making available a less expensive way of packaging their products. Owens’ later machines were developed to quickly turn …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Take a Virtual Capitol Tour this Week!
Photo of the Week The Apotheosis of Washington — Painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865, this fresco depicts George Washington surrounded by Lady Freedom and Victory, as well as 13 other female figures representing the 13 original colonies. It was finished in 11 months after the end of the Civil War and stands at 180 feet above the ground. This is one of the sights you will see on a tour of the U.S. Capitol. If you are unable to …
Butterfield Applauds Unanimous Fourth Circuit Decision on Discriminatory Voter ID Law
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement after the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously determined the NC General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enactment of Voter ID law: “I applaud the UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT on its unanimous and well-reasoned opinion that determined the North Carolina General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enacting a voter ID law and other discriminatory voting procedures including a limitation on early voting. “The …
Monday Open Line
Supermarkets carry dozens of brands in their cereal aisles, from the sugary and candy-like to high-fiber organic products. One of them has been available for over 120 years, an early entrant in the cereal business. On this date in 1893, Denver restaurant owner Henry Perky received a patent for a “Machine for the Preparation of Cereals for Food.” That food was shredded wheat. By 1901, he had set up an ultra-modern plant at Niagara Falls called “the Palace of Light” …