Two computer scams we’ve warned you about before appear to be on the upswing again. Phony tech support: You get a call from someone who claims to be tech support from Microsoft or another legitimate company. They say they’ve detected a virus or other problem on your computer, then try to con you into letting them take control of the computer remotely to fix the problem. Actually there’s no issue with your computer, and your problems are just beginning if …
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Top Three Things Small Businesses Should Know About the Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act will help small businesses by lowering premium cost growth and increasing access to quality, affordable health insurance. Depending on whether you’re a small employer or a larger employer, different provisions of the Affordable Care Act may apply to you as described below. 1. Businesses with Fewer than 25 Employees- Small Business Tax Credits The Affordable Care Act does not require that businesses provide health insurance, but it offers tax credits for eligible small businesses that …
Registration opens for N.C.’s annual nanotech conference
Registration for the N.C. Nanotechnology Commercialization Conference is open. The conference, to be held at Wake Forest Biotech Place in Winston-Salem April 9-10, is the largest and most important nanotech industry event in the South. It will bring together more than 300 nanotech stakeholders including public and private nanotechnology companies, nanotechnology innovators, cutting edge start-ups, leading scientists, investors and executives from Fortune 100 companies. The event is co-hosted by The NanoBusiness Commercialization Association, the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Office of …
N.C. companies showcase security products in the Middle East
Intersec 2013 took place Jan. 15-17 at the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Center in the United Arab Emirates. This event is a premier security exhibition in the world as it showcases the latest equipment and advanced technological solutions in the global security sector. Companies from around the world wishing to expand their business in the Middle East attend this event. This year, Intersec attracted 990 exhibitors and some 19,500 visitors from 54 countries. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s International …
Wednesday Open Line
The election cycle just passed engaged campaign managers in almost all levels of political races. The man usually credited with being America’s first campaign director, John James Beckley, operated decades before the advent of the news cycle and social media. He directed campaigns on behalf of the Democratic-Republicans in the late 18th century. After Thomas Jefferson won the presidency in 1800, the Library of Congress was founded, and Beckley was appointed the first librarian of that world-renowned institution this week …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (Henderson City Council Meeting January 28th, 2013)
Annual Financial Audit Report Curtis Averette, a partner with William L. Stark and Company, presented the annual financial audit report stating the report is an unqualified opinion. An unqualified opinion is better than a qualified opinion because a qualified opinion means there is something the auditor needs to explain such as when accounts do not balance. Mr. Averette explained the audit disclosed weak controls governing water bill payments. (I think he said for six years). The weakness resulted in a …
The 5th Annual Weight Loss Challenge Starts Now!
Adults that live or work in Granville and Vance Counties can form a team of 4 adults who will work together to lose 10 pounds each between January 28th, 2013 and April 12th, 2013. Successful teams and individuals will be eligible for drawings for $3,000 in gift cards donated by the sponsors. The last day to enter is February 1st for the initial weigh in! Eat Smart, Move More: North Carolina’s State Plan to Prevent Overweight, Obesity and Related Chronic …
SBA Launches Affordable Care Act Web Page & Blog
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today launched a new web page and blog dedicated to educating small business owners about the Affordable Care Act. The new tools will serve as a gateway for small business owners connecting them with information provided by SBA’s federal partners responsible for implementing the law, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Affordable Care Act provides small business owners with access and opportunity to provide affordable health care options …
VGCC Radiography Student recognized for Academic Excellence
Vance-Granville Community College has named student Rita Hatzimimis of Wake Forest as its recipient of the North Carolina Community College System’s Academic Excellence Award for 2013. One student from each of the 58 colleges in the state system is honored with the award each year. Hatzimimis will be officially recognized at Commencement in May, when she is also scheduled to graduate with a degree in Radiography. In 1988, Hatzimimis earned her first college degree: a bachelor’s degree from Elon College …
Vance County Schools Upcoming Committee Dates
Please note change in times for the following committee meetings: Vance County Board of Education Committee Meeting Dates: * Finance Committee, Wednesday, January 30th, 5:15 pm * Policy Committee, Wednesday, January 30th, Immediately following Finance Note: All meetings are held in the Superintendent’s Conference Room.
Butterfield to Spend the Afternoon Visiting Duke University Hospital
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today will attend a series of meetings concerning healthcare at Duke University Hospital. Among the topics to be discussed are the challenges for hospital administration in the current fiscal climate, and federal funding for medical research. (Editors Note, I assume the afternoon referenced is 1/28/2013 as we received it on that day, at about 2pm.) Butterfield will meet with Duke University Health System President and CEO Dr. Victor Dzau; Executive Vice President …
Tuesday Open Line
A social milestone was reached this date in 1907, when congressman Charles Curtis of Kansas was seated in the U.S. Senate, completing the few weeks remaining in the term of a resigned senator. He was also chosen to serve a full term in that office. Curtis became the first person with Native American blood to serve in the Senate. He remained until March 3, 1929, when he left the Senate to serve as vice president under Herbert Hoover. There are …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC Water Called Meeting January 28th, 2013)
Last Friday, the County Manager issued an email notice announcing that Chairman Hester had called for a meeting of the County Commissioners and the Water Board for noon today. (Just so everyone understands, the Water Board members are also our County Commissioners so whatever one board approves there is little chance the other board would disapprove.) The purpose of the meeting was to allow the “Adoption of Resolution for Water Bond Anticipation Notes (this allows for extension of BANs for …
Vance County Board of Commissioners / Water Board Meeting January 28th, 2013
The Vance County Board of Commissioners / Water Board voted today to move off paying for bonds associated with the water project until later in the year. Please read the details here: 20130128_vcboc_water_board_called_meeting
Diversity Study Finds Economic Disparities Rising in NC Schools
DURHAM, N.C. — The racial balance in North Carolina’s public schools has remained steady since 2005-06, ending a trend of growing disparity from the previous decade, but students are increasingly separated by income. These are among the findings of a comprehensive report from three Duke University public policy professors who studied whether schools in each of the state’s 100 counties mirror the racial and economic composition of that county as a whole. “Although state-enforced school segregation is now a distant …
Northern Vance High School Sirocco Computer Cleaner
Everybody check out Northern Vance High School’s Engineering Team’s award winning Sirocco video. The Sirocco is entered into NCSU’s Prize for Innovation competition. NVHS is one of the five finalists in the State! Winner is determined by online voting Feb 4 – 11. Visit their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SiroccoTheInnovativeComputerCleaner The students at Northern Vance High School wanted to enter a competition at NC State, so, in order to enter this contest, they had to discover a need, and then created an …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: No Budget, No Pay
We started this week with the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of a nation where people were not “judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” and a Presidential Inauguration. The week is ending with the annual March for Life which marks the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. This has been a busy week for legislation. The House passed “The No Budget, No Pay Act” to …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
FRUIT TREE PRUNING WORKSHOP Once again, we will hold our annual Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop at a home orchard near the Vance/Warren county line. This is scheduled for Feb 5th, 10:30 am to noon. You MUST register, at which time directions will be provided. In the event of inclement weather, we will have an indoor seminar at the Warren County Extension Center. BEE/CHICKEN CLASSES AT VGCC These look interesting! http://www.vgcc.edu/News/newsarticle.cfm?recNo=3171 WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEK (from the …
White House Weekly Address: Two Nominees Who Will Fight for the American People
President Obama discusses his nomination of Mary Jo White to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission and Richard Cordray to continue as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This week, Washington D.C. was transformed into an historic stage, with an estimated one million people on hand to witness the President and Vice President take the Oath of Office at the United States Capitol. Through it all, West Wing Week was there, from the terrace of the Capitol to backstage …
Monday Open Line
As the Great Depression approached its worst, Wisconsin made the nation’s first governmental direct relief effort for the unemployed. On this date in 1932, it enacted unemployment insurance. Wisconsin was soon followed by a half-dozen other states before the Social Security Act in middecade moved all states to adopt such programs by 1937. Wisconsin’s program issued it’s first unemployment check in August, in the amount of $15. By 2010, states and local governments took in over $75 billion from the …