The nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service for low and moderate income taxpayers will return to the Vance County Senior Center for the 2012 tax season, and additional volunteers are need to help continue this valuable service. During the 2011 tax season, over 100 taxpayers in Vance County received assistance from trained volunteers with preparing and filing tax returns, all at no cost. Lois Waugh, the Vance County Tax-Aide Local Coordinator says, “An IRS Taxpayer Usage Study reported …
Farrington Foundation gifts create new VGCC Scholarships
The Farrington Foundation, based in Warrenton, N.C. and Delray Beach, Florida, recently endowed two new scholarships for students at Vance-Granville Community College. In August, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams formally accepted the contributions establishing the scholarships from the foundation’s trustee, Nick Bagshawe, an attorney with the Warrenton law firm of Williams & Bagshawe. The foundation was established by Bagshawe’s grandmother, the late Ethel Farrington. Bagshawe recalled that in the 1920s, when very few women earned college degrees, Mrs. Farrington graduated …
VGCC Automotive program receives National Accreditation
The Automotive Systems Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College has once again received accreditation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). This year, VGCC’s Automotive program was accredited for meeting high standards of quality in all eight NATEF training areas: Automatic Transmission & Transaxle; Brakes; Electrical/Electronic Systems; Engine Performance; Engine Repair; Heating & Air Conditioning; Manual Drive Train & Axles; and Suspension & Steering. When VGCC was most recently recertified …
Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
The General Assembly continues to move closer to the 2013 session and I have been busy preparing for our return by meeting with constituents and interest groups. My focus remains job creation and economic development and the required systems such as education and infrastructure improvements needed to support our economy. I welcome your ideas about how we can put people back to work in our community, even as more of our teachers and other vital public servants continue to be …
VGCC names Ferguson to Industry Services post
Vance-Granville Community College recently named Eddie Ferguson of Oxford as the college’s new Director of Industry Services and Emerging Technologies. Ferguson joins VGCC after many years as a business executive. From 1982 until 1995, Ferguson served as vice-president of Medic Computer Systems, a Raleigh-based medical software company he helped start. In 1995, he founded Hunt Investments, LLC, an investment and real estate development firm based in Oxford. Ferguson has been involved in a number of economic and community development projects …
VGCC to pilot new program aimed at combating Childhood Obesity
Vance-Granville Community College has been selected as one of a few North Carolina community colleges to launch a program, in partnership with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, to train child day care providers in how to promote healthier children. The “Kids Eat Smart Move More” initiative, supported by federal funding through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, will begin as a pilot project at up to ten community colleges before expanding statewide. The goals of KESMM …
White House: Open Government, Open Data, Open Source
Earlier this year, the President launched an initiative to build a 21st century platform for government. It requires federal agencies to make key services available to mobile users and to release important government data in ways that will allow citizen developers and entrepreneurs to turn them into new products, services, and jobs. “I want us to ask ourselves every day,” he said, “how are we using technology to make a real difference in people’s lives.” Here at the White House, …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
All summer long, millions of Americans have been enjoying ice cream cones. The exact origin of the cone is a subject of controversy. This month in 1903, an Italian immigrant in New York City — Italo Marchiony — filed a patent for a waffle-like pastry cup to hold ice cream. But he later lost court cases against makers of devices, which produced cone-shaped holders for ice cream. Whoever actually invented the ice cream cone, the first ones were hand rolled. …
Henderson City Council Special Called Meeting Friday, September 14 at 12:00 Noon
Henderson City Council has a Special Called Meeting Friday, September 14 at 12:00 Noon in the municipal building at 134 Rose Avenue. There is a public hearing regarding: Consideration of Approval of Resolution 12-83. Authorizing the Submission of a Preliminary Application for the North Carolina Department of Commerce (NCDOC) 2012 CDBG Infrastructure Grant to Obtain Approval for Full Grant Application (CAF 12-123) Please read the full details of this hearing here: SKMBT_75112091312390
Meet Me In The Street Tonight
Come to Downtown Henderson, NC tonight, Thursday, September 13th for the last Meet Me In The Street of 2012, Downtown Henderson will host The Castaway’s band from 5:30pm to 8:30pm Thursday, September 13th, 2012.
NPS seeks public input on Civil War battlefield preservation
As the nation observes the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the National Park Service (NPS) is asking for public feedback about the future of the war’s touchstone battlefields. The NPS’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) has released a draft report about the conditions of the nation’s Civil War battlefields. As directed by Congress, the report highlights battlefield preservation efforts over the past 20 years and sets new priorities for federal, state and local action. The report will help focus …
DBAP hosting 2012 Gildan Triple-A National Championship game
The Durham Bulls Athletic Park is the host site of the 2012 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Sept. 18. Minor League Baseball’s premier event will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. The Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game pits the winner of the International League’s Governors’ Cup against the Pacific Coast League Champions in a one-game, winner-take-all championship. It is the first time a Triple-A Championship Game has been played east of the Mississippi River since …
New VGCC program trains Activity Assistants
A new opportunity being offered by Vance-Granville Community College will provide training for area residents interested in improving the quality of life for senior citizens. The “Activity Assistant” program is scheduled to begin classes on Oct. 2 and continue through Nov. 29. Students will meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 until 9:30 p.m. at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. In addition, students will gain clinical experience by shadowing professionals at local adult care facilities. An Activity Assistant …
Nurse Aide course scheduled at VGCC Main Campus
Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a Nurse Aide Level I (CNA I) course to start soon at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Classes will be held Monday-Friday, starting Oct. 31 and continuing through Jan. 31, 2013. This includes the required introductory course. Classroom instruction is held in Building 7 on Main Campus from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. each day, while the schedule is 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on clinical training days. The Nurse Aide I program …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Sept. 13 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” relax with a boat tour of Lake Lure. Get your giddy up during Benson Mule Days. Learn more maritime history at the Roanoke River Lighthouse in Edenton. Enjoy a tour of Bethania. And discover Davenport & Winkleperry in Pittsboro. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” is exclusively underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions of “North Carolina Weekend” …
Study: $20.7 million economic impact of traditional music events in WNC
Old-time mountain and bluegrass music is more than a cultural treasure in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It can be an economic one, too. A recent study reported an analysis of music venues showed an economic impact of $20.7 million from 26 traditional music events in western North Carolina. The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and the N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources announced the findings at the annual meeting of the BRNHA Partnership. The study looked at 26 music venues …
N.C. wineries celebrate Wine Appreciation Month in September
RALEIGH — The sound of corks popping and glasses clinking can be heard across the state as local wineries and grape growers celebrate Wine Appreciation Month. “North Carolina’s more than 400 commercial grape growers and more than 100 wineries represent an important part of our state’s diverse agribusinesses community,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “In fact, it’s estimated that the wine and grape industry generates more than $1.28 billion and creates 7,600 jobs in the state.” North Carolina ranks 10th …
Soybean Rust found in Johnston County
Asiatic Soybean Rust has been confirmed closer to most of North Carolina’s soybeans with the confirmation of rust in Johnston County, North Carolina. Between this find, and the confirmation of rust in Robeson County, NC, and in Union County, GA, this puts rust approximately 105 miles from Charlotte, 140 miles from Elizabeth City, 15 miles from Fayetteville, 15 miles from Murphy, 35 miles from Raleigh, 80 miles from Washington, 75 miles from Wilmington, and 80 miles from Winston-Salem, NC. We …
White House: President Obama Discusses the Attack in Benghazi, Libya
Tuesday, four Americans lost their lives after an attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador Chris Stevens and Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith were among those killed. This morning, President Obama condemned that attack, which he called “outrageous and shocking” in a statement from the Rose Garden. “We’re working with the government of Libya to secure our diplomats,” he said. “I’ve also directed my Administration to increase our security at diplomatic posts around the world. And make …
Thursday Open Line
An unusual event gets under way today in the two small Texas towns of Rockport and Fulton — the annual Hummingbird Celebration. Some 6,000 people will celebrate the spectacular fall migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds from their northern nesting grounds to winter locations in Mexico and Central America, including their 500 mile flight over the Gulf of Mexico. One activity is capturing and banding hummingbirds to track their movements. Nearly 14 million people across the U.S. enjoy bird watching each year. …