Vance-Granville Community College Biology instructor Phyllis “Button” Brady was recently honored with the President’s Leadership Award from Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of the college. Brady, who has been a full-time instructor at VGCC since 1992, was instrumental in leading the college’s effort to be reaffirmed for accreditation in 2013. Brady’s honor is one of three Glen Raven Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Awards presented to VGCC employees this academic year. The other honorees were Faculty Member of the Year …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
As if to prove there is nothing new under the sun, Massachusetts acted on this date in far-off 1801 to register voters. At that time, the franchise was limited to men — usually those of local repute and owning property. Town assessors drew up publicly posted lists of voters. If any voter was omitted, documents proving eligibility were accepted. The practice caught on very slowly. Only after the Civil War did voter registration become widespread. Today, North Dakota is the …
Vance County Schools Announcement on Schedule Changes
Due to missed student days because of recent inclement weather, the six-week grading period for students at Northern Vance, Southern Vance and Western Vance high schools will not end until Tuesday, March 11. Report cards for students in these schools will now be distributed on Tuesday, March 18.
Jody Pernell named I-85 North Welcome Center Manager
Jody Pernell of Henderson has been named manager of the I-85 North Welcome Center in Warren County. Pernell joins the Welcome Centers with nearly 20 years of customer service experience, having served as general manager of Greenway’s Authentic Charcoal Grill in Henderson and Middleburg Steak House in Middleburg. Pernell joined the other eight Welcome Center managers at the N.C. Governor’s Conference on Tourism this week in Charlotte. She can be reached at (252) 456-3236 or via Jody.pernell@nccommerce.com. Special thanks to …
American Tobacco Trail Bridge over I-40 in Durham
Durham’s got something only Forth Worth, Texas, has: an arch-supported, stress-ribbon pedestrian bridge. If you walk down the American Tobacco Trail or drive down Interstate-40 through Durham, you’ll see the $11 million bridge – a work of steel art, consisting of a large metal arch of rolled steel that bows over I-40 with no support in the center. The walking deck is only 12 inches thick and is made of concrete and reinforced steel. This bridge is being touted as …
Popular N.C. Beer Month returns in April
North Carolina, one of the nation’s top craft beer states, celebrates the craftsmanship of 100 breweries and destinations that embrace it with the return of NC Beer Month in April. N.C. Beer Month, co-sponsored by the Division and the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild, directs travelers to a rising range of beerscapes, from brewery-rich cities and welcoming towns to unexpected finds in lesser-known places. Major festivals, singular events, special-edition beers, lodging packages, beer dinners, and brew schools showcase the breadth and …
CBC First Vice-Chair G. K. Butterfield’s Statement on the Senate’s Failure to Advance a Vote to Confirm Debo Adegbile as Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), former North Carolina Judge and First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, today released the following statement regarding the Senate’s failure to advance Debo P. Adegbile through the confirmation process: “I have spent my entire career – first as a civil rights attorney, superior court judge, state Supreme Court justice, and now as a Member of Congress – supporting and defending the U.S. Constitution by advocating for equal justice under the law. …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of March 6 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, take in the Picasso Ceramics Exhibit at Methodist University in Fayetteville. Enjoy a tour of Raleigh via Triangle Glides Segway Rides. Explore the Hickory SALT Block in Hickory. Discover the House of Flags Museum in Columbus. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Wang’s Bistro in Zebulon. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV …
Butterfield Applauds Passage of Water Heater Energy Efficiency Bill
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the passage of legislation to enable the use of large electric water heaters in voluntary energy efficiency programs. Butterfield is a cosponsor of the water heater legislation, H.R. 4066, which was included as part of the larger energy efficiency bill that passed the House of Representatives earlier today. The water heater bill will help reduce demand for electricity during peak hours and encourage the use of renewable energy from intermittent …
New Agreement Improves Transfer Process between VGCC and State Universities
Vance-Granville Community College students will enjoy a smoother pathway to completing a four-year degree starting this fall, thanks to a new Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the N.C. Community College System and the University of North Carolina System. On Feb. 21, members of the State Board of Community Colleges and the UNC Board of Governors signed the revised CAA, replacing an agreement that had been in place since 1997. The CAA outlines how course credits transfer from VGCC, or any …
Thursday Open Line
The Philadelphia Flower Show — the largest such indoor event in the world — winds up this weekend. Some 265,000 visitors are expected to have attended by the time the show closes on Sunday. The Philadelphia show started in 1829 and now covers 33 acres. The show now under way features a symbiosis of fine art and gardening, dubbing the event “articulture.” In the U.S., close to 70 percent of households take part in some form of gardening. To aid …
Greg’s Garden (March 4th, 2014)
The Plots Are Ready, Now What?First of all, we want to let our readers know that it is not too late to start your garden now. If you have an area in your back yard that is as small as 16 feet by 20 feet, you can have a plot garden with 4, 4 foot square plots. There is still plenty of time to get your plot ground prepared and the square plots built. If you want to have plants …
2014 Leadership Vance Class Visits Western Vance High
The 2014 Leadership Vance class, sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Vance Alumni embarked on a one day retreat to Western Vance High on Monday, March 3rd with challenges such as rock climbing, rappelling, and time “on the ropes” at Western Vance High School. The purpose of the retreat was to provide the class participants with the opportunity to get to know one another and learn to work as a team. This year’s participants include Terrance Britten, …
Speaker encourages VGCC students to continue education
Vance-Granville Community College kicked off a series of workshops designed to inspire women to accomplish their academic goals on Feb. 24. Approximately 100 women enrolled as students at the college, along with several faculty and staff members, enjoyed the first session, entitled “Follow-Through to Completing a College Degree.” The workshops are part of a Campus Action Project, called “An Educated Woman, An Educated Future,” funded by a grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Michelle Evans, co-president of …
The Celtic Tenors Coming to the JPAC March 13th, 2014
LOUISBURG, N.C.—On Thursday, March 13 at 7:30pm, The Celtic Tenors will bring their sophisticated sound to the JPAC at Louisburg College. With a polished international reputation and just over a million album sales under their belts, The Celtic Tenors offer something truly unique: they combine the skill, range, and ability of world-class tenors with the personality and fun of genuine performers. Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson, and Daryl Simpson have performed together as The Celtic Tenors for over twelve years, and they …
Wednesday Open Line
A severe economic panic, striking in 1893, led the city of Seattle to create the nation’s first municipal unemployment assistance office on this date in 1894. State and federal unemployment assistance wasn’t established until the 1930s. Recently, the national unemployment rate, as determined by the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, has settled to a little under 7 percent. In 2010, Washington state’s average was at the then national average of 9.6 percent. The most current unemployment rate is over 6 …
New VGCC Scholarship created by Triangle North Healthcare Foundation
Students preparing for allied health careers at Vance-Granville Community College have a new resource to help them succeed, thanks to support from a community organization. The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation recently made contributions to the VGCC Endowment Fund that will create a new scholarship. The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation Academic Achievement Award scholarship will be presented to full-time VGCC students who meet certain academic requirements. Preference will be given to students pursuing a health-related program of study, such as Pharmacy …
Vance County Public Middle and High School Weekly School News March 3-7, 2014
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS WEEKLY SCHOOL NEWS Volume 2, Issue 27 A Publication for Middle and High Schools March 3-7, 2014 The MISSION of Vance County Schools is to be committed to educating all students to prepare them for lifelong learning and productive citizenship. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS ? Today (Monday) is a teacher workday with no school for students, except at Early College High School. ? The Tri-County Honor Band Concert will be held …
Butterfield Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Prominent Durham Banker, F.V. “Pete” Allison, Jr.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement regarding the passing of former Chairman of Mutual Community Savings Bank, F.V. “Pete” Allison, Jr.: “I am saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend, F.V. “Pete” Allison, Jr. Pete was a personable, kind, and effective business leader that took great pride in his work, but even greater pride in his family. He successfully used his career in banking to enrich the lives of …
Vance County Public Elementary School News March 3-7, 2014
VANCE COUNTY SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS Volume 1 Issue 20 March 3-7, 2014 The MISSION of Vance County Schools is to be committed to educating all students to prepare them for lifelong learning and productive citizenship. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS Today (Monday) is a teacher workday with no school for students, except at the Early College High School. SCHOOL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK Zeb Vance Elementary: (Monday, March 3-Friday, March 7) – …