Vance-Granville Community College officials, in collaboration with regional partners, have launched an initiative to introduce the “apprenticeship” model to students and employers throughout the area. In December, representatives of local industries, economic developers and school system officials met at the college to learn more about the North Carolina Triangle Apprenticeship Program (NCTAP). VGCC recently became a partnering educational institution with NCTAP. Then, in January, VGCC officials joined other colleges and manufacturers in attending the first-of-its-kind Apprenticeship Summit in Raleigh. “Historically, …
Category: News
ACTS: Neighbors helping Neighbors
A Message from Twanna Jones I would like to thank you for giving your support so that we can keep on doing what we do in Christ’s name. As the Executive Director of ACTS I wear many different hats and would like to extend a personal invitation to you to help make a difference in a life in our community today. Our volunteer resources has been extremely limited in the past but we are hoping to change that. The lines …
Ferguson honored for leadership at VGCC
Eddie Ferguson, director of the Endowment Fund at Vance-Granville Community College, was recently honored with the President’s Leadership Award from Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of the college. Ferguson’s honor is one of three Glen Raven Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards presented to VGCC employees during each academic year. The others, the Faculty Member of the Year and Staff Member of the Year awards, were presented to Kristi Salmons Ellenberg and Kali Brown, respectively, in the fall of 2015. …
VGCC celebrates Black History Month
Students, faculty, staff and special guests from the community were featured at a special Black History Month program at Vance-Granville Community College on Feb. 11. Entitled “Honoring Our Past, Understanding Our Present & Shaping Our Future,” the educational event in the VGCC Civic Center sought to focus on local history. “This focus is important,” said VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams in her welcoming remarks, “because too often, we may be familiar with Black History on a national scale, but overlook …
Vance County Board of Education Committee Meeting Dates
Vance County Board of Education Committee Meeting Dates: * Building & Grounds, Thursday, February 25th, 8:30 am * Curriculum Committee, Thursday, February 25th, 9:30 am * Finance Committee, Wednesday, March 2nd, 5:30 pm * Policy Committee, Wednesday, March 2nd, immediately after Finance * Personnel Committee, Tuesday, March 8th, 8:30 am Note: All meetings are held in the Superintendent’s Conference Room.
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
2016 VEGETABLE PRODUCTION BOOKS I have a very limited supply of the 2016 Vegetable Crop Handbooks. They are available to commercial farmers on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep in mind that there are only minor changes from year to year, so if you have last year’s edition you may find that adequate. POST HARVEST HANDLING WORKSHOPS There are three opportunities across the state to attend this excellent workshop, including Apr 6 in Durham. Details at this link. LUNCH …
VGCC Child Care Center awarded Five Stars
The state of North Carolina has once again awarded a five-star license — the highest possible rating — to the Child Care Center at Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus. State evaluations of child care programs are conducted once every three years, explained Bridget Perry, the manager of the VGCC center. “On a scale of one to 15 points, our program received 13 total points, earning the renewal of our five-star status,” Perry said. “The five-star rating shows our parents and …
FAFSA Day events this Saturday to help students apply for financial aid
Free expert help applying for college financial aid will be available on February 20 at locations across North Carolina. With the cost of college rising, financial aid is more important than ever for many North Carolina families, but some eligible students aren’t taking advantage. According to a recent study, North Carolina high school graduates missed out on a reported $87.6 million in Pell Grants, free federal money for low- and middle-income students. The study also found that 47% of NC …
Vance County Early College Applications Available, First Parent Info Meeting February 18th
Vance County Schools is now accepting applications for rising ninth graders to enroll in the Vance County Early College High School for the 2016-2017 school year. Applications can be picked up from counselors at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, Henderson Middle School and the STEM Early High School, as well as on the Early College website and at the school’s office on the third floor of Building 2 on the campus of Vance-Granville Community College off Poplar Creek Road. The deadline for …
Time to submit wheat tissue samples for spring nitrogen needs
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reminds growers that properly timed spring nitrogen applications are essential to the growth and development of wheat. Assessing nitrogen needs now will optimize yield and economic return later, and is especially important for organic grain growers. To decide how much spring nitrogen to apply, growers should submit a wheat sampleto the NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Division for plant tissue testing. “Tissue sampling should be done when wheat reaches Zadoks growth stage 30 (GS-30) …
Vance County Properties Committee Meeting February 18th, 2016
Vance County’s Properties Committee (Brummitt, Kelly, Wilder) is scheduled to meet Thursday, February 18 at 3:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at the City of Henderson City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. The meeting will be with the Henderson City Council’s Land Planning Committee to discuss dilapidated/abandoned structures and REO properties.
NC Cooperative Extension Gardener Updates
GARDEN PATH NEWSLETTER Our latest issue available here. As usual, it contains great information on timely gardening tasks, our plant of the month, herb of the month, and much more! MASTER GARDENER SYMPOSIUM There is still time to register for “Backyard Gardening: Big Ideas for Small Spaces”! This year our symposium will be held on March 19th at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Registration required and all the details are available at http://go.ncsu.edu/vancegarden.
NCDA&CS accepting proposals for 2016 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant proposals for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Nonprofits and government agencies wishing to apply have until March 25. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. It is managed by the department and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the 2014 farm bill. “In 2015, we were able to award more than $1 million to fund 13 …
Henderson City Council’s Land Planning Committee Meeting Thursday, February 18, 2016
The Henderson City Council’s Land Planning Committee will meet on Thursday, February 18 at 3:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 134 Rose Avenue. This meeting will be with the Vance County Properties Committee to discuss dilapidated/abandoned structures. The public is welcome.
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
FOOD SAFETY FOR FARMERS MARKET PRODUCE VENDORS If you sell produce at a local farmers market, please don’t miss this opportunity to learn about how to make sure your produce stays safe from farm to table. Registration required (call 252-438-8188). Take your pick of the following dates: Wed, Feb 17, 4:30 pm, Vance County Regional Farmers Market Fri, Feb 26, 9-10:30 am, Vance County Reginal Farmers Market FRANKLIN COUNTY SMALL FARMS CONFERENCEDon’t miss this unique learning opportunity! Get all the …
Microsoft Office and IT Academy courses scheduled at VGCC
New training courses in computer software and hardware are set to be offered soon at Vance-Granville Community College, and grant funding can help eligible area residents pay for them. All of these courses will be offered in a “hybrid” format, with some coursework online and some on VGCC’s Main Campus during the evening. The “Microsoft Office Specialist” course will be offered March 8-May 13, with the in-class component on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 until 8 p.m., taught by …
Vance County Early College Recognitions
Administrators and faculty members at the Vance County Early College High School hosted their annual “Leading the Pack” celebration for outstanding students on February 9, in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College. There were 18 students honored during the celebration as they near the end of their fourth year in the five-year program and are on target to complete their high school education and have two years of college course credits when they graduate in May of 2017. The …
Cast, crew announced for VGCC Dinner Theater production
Vance-Granville Community College has announced the cast and crew for “Deathtrap,” a comedy-thriller that will be the college’s fourth annual Dinner Theater event. The dinner theater is scheduled for the evenings of Thursday, April 28, and Friday, April 29, in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. each night. Then, on Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m., there will be a special encore matinee performance of the play, without dinner, at the …
N.C. pecan growers to meet in Greenville March 5
The N.C. Pecan Growers Association will hold its annual conference March 5 at the Pitt County Cooperative Extension office in Greenville. The event is open to current pecan growers and those interested in learning more about pecan production in the state. The meeting includes workshops and an orchard tour. Dr. Lenny Wells, a pecan horticultural specialist at the University of Georgia, will discuss varieties and successful production practices. Other pecan production and business topics will be covered, including crop growth …
Evening introductory Carpentry course offered at VGCC
A course that introduces students to the carpentry trade will be offered soon by Vance-Granville Community College. “Carpentry I” is scheduled to be held on Monday through Thursday evenings from 6 until 10 p.m., March 16 through June 28, on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Students will learn about proper safety techniques, equipment and building materials, blueprint reading, floor systems, wall systems, ceiling and roof framing, ceiling joists, and envelope systems. The 235-hour course includes both classroom instruction and …