The Vance County Board of Educations will hold their regular monthly meeting in Henderson, N. C. 27536 on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Administrative Services Center. Below is a short agenda list, here is the full agenda packet for you to download: 20120813_vcboe_agenda_packet (90 pages) I. Call to Order II. Moment of Silence * III. Approval of Minutes * IV. Approval of Meeting Agenda V. Recognitions/Announcements VI. Comments from the Public(Citizens who would like to address …
The PTA Visits the White House
Today, we will welcome more than 150 Parent Teacher Association leaders from 41 states, DC, and US military bases overseas to the White House for a day-long briefing. But this Friday isn’t just for those joining us at the White House: we’ll also be engaging with millions of moms and dads who can’t make it to Washington. We’re hoping you’ll tune-in live and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #WHPTA. Watch the conversation live at WhiteHouse.gov/Champions for PTA Day tomorrow, …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
Few brand name products are celebrated by an entire town in a special festival. But in Hastings, Nebraska, where Kool-Aid was invented, such an event starts today and runs through Sunday. Those attending will be treated to big name entertainment and the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand, dispensing 14 different flavors. The powdered drink was invented in 1927 by Edwin Perkins. He later married his childhood sweetheart, Kitty Shoemaker, who some claim had developed her own famous product — Jell-O. It’s …
Michael Bobbitt: Argand Energy Solutions Makes Presentaton at Chamber of Commerce
I paid my way to the Vance Henderson Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting this afternoon. The topic dealt with small investors or companies and solar power. Rob Lease, with Argand, made the presentation to a packed conference room of business people. The basic summary is this: 1. If a building has a roof of at least 40 sq feet and up to 80 sq feet of open space the building owner may want to consider installing solar panels to generate …
NC Schools Receive Grant to Cover AB/IB Test Fees
Thanks to a grant and supplemental funds from the U.S. Department of Education, every eligible North Carolina high school student taking an Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam this year will have his or her test fees covered. As a part of the federal Advanced Placement Test Fee Program, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) will receive more than $800,000 to cover AP and IB test fees for all low-income students who qualify during the 2012-13 school …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Aug. 9 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” sail away on the schooner Jeanie B in Washington. Take a stroll along the Charlotte Liberty Walk in Charlotte. Step back in time via a performance by the Lost Colony in Manteo. Lift a glass at Treehouse Vineyards in Monroe. And the “House Special” samples the fare at the Southern Kitchen in Whiteville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” is exclusively underwritten by the N.C. …
2012-13 School Year Means Many Firsts for North Carolina Schools
This fall, North Carolina public schools will put their best foot forward as the state’s READY initiative is launched in every classroom. The READY initiative provides students and educators with new curriculum standards, new student assessments, a new school accountability model and new educator effectiveness support. This is the first time that the state has changed all of these components in a comprehensive way, kindergarten through 12th grade. This school year marks a major milestone in completing the work outlined …
Input sought for Statewide Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan, webinar August 14
The N.C. Dept. of Transportation Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation has begun the process of developing a comprehensive Statewide Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan (WalkBikeNC). This Plan will serve as a blueprint for better integration of walking and bicycling into the North Carolina transportation system and everyday life. NCDOT is seeking input and assistance to create a plan that reflects the unique character and people of North Carolina. To learn more about the plan, click here. To participate, join the …
VGCC schedules AutoCAD class on Main Campus
Vance-Granville Community College is now registering students for an upcoming class about Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD). The “AutoCAD LT” course will be held on Wednesday nights, Sept. 5 through Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. The AutoCAD LT software is used in a variety of professions such as engineering, architecture, manufacturing and even landscaping and interior design. AutoCAD, the world’s number-one-selling two-dimensional drafting and detailing product, can streamline and simplify day-to-day tasks, …
VGCC offers course on building, repairing computers
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for a course that will teach area residents how to get the best performance out of their personal computers. “PC Maintenance & Repair” is scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m., Sept. 6 through Nov. 29, on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Mitch Evans, the Director of Infrastructure Services in the VGCC Information Technology department, is the instructor for this hands-on course. Topics covered …
VGCC offers seminar on Cash Flow for Small Businesses
Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center will present a free seminar entitled “Cash Flow,” on Thursday, September 6. The seminar will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. in room 7107 of Building 7 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Participants in the class will increase their skills in cash management by learning how to sharpen financial decision-making abilities. They also will review cash flow analysis and capital gain strategies and will be taught the financial positions …
Thursday Open Line
There’s a very American celebration going on in many parts of the country — the annual state fair. One of the largest, in Iowa, starts today and will draw 1 million people by its close in 10 days. A total of 15 states will stage their fairs this month. Those who attend will experience the special blend of eating, entertainment and entrepreneurship that make up a state fair. These events date from the early 19th century and celebrate the annual …
Visitor spending rises in all N.C. counties in 2011
State Spending by Domestic Visitors Jumps to Record $18 Billion RALEIGH — Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that all of the state’s 100 counties saw increases in visitor spending in 2011, including seven counties that had double-digit increases. Data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development showed that three counties (Mecklenburg, Wake and Guilford) had more than $1 billion in visitor spending in 2011 while Dare, Buncombe, Forsyth and Durham all had more …
Stephen C. Ertman: Louisburg College to Disinter Founder from Family Graveyard Despite Protests
By: Stephen C. Ertman, Spokesman for the Edwards & Dickinson Family Descendants Here is some late-breaking news on the growing opposition to stop Louisburg College from disinterring their first precept, Matthew Dickinson, from the Edwards Family Cemetery located near Ingleside, NC. A Dickinson Family Descendant has recently come forward and sides with the Edwards Family Descendants in strongly opposing the disinterment of Matthew Dickinson. Matthew Dickinson did not marry, so he has no direct descendants. Diane Gravlee is his great-great-great …
White House: Getting Women the Care They Need
As chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, I am incredibly proud to highlight an important part of the health care law that gives women more control over their health care. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 47 million women will have access to the preventive services they need. We all know that women and men face unique health risks and benefit from different preventive services. For too long, too many women have gone without these services due …
Wednesday Open Line
Forty-three years ago today, one of the nation’s most notorious crimes began to unfold — the murders of actress Sharon Tate and some of her friends by Charles Manson and members of his so-called “family.” Manson, a drifter and petty criminal, was obsessed with songs of the Beatles, which he felt contained coded references to a forthcoming racial war in the U.S. He intended the Tate murders to start that war, believing he would become the nation’s leader in the …
Micahel Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BOC August 6th, 2012)
1. Comprehensive Transportation Plan Maps Scott Walston, with the NC Department of Transportation, presented the Comprehensive Transportation Plan for Commissioners’ and publics’ review. This is a forward looking transportation plan for Vance County. Mr. Walston first reviewed the process for planning transportation needs, then quickly reviewed the maps of roadways, bike trails, and high speed rail. Before anyone gets excited all of the maps are drafts or concepts. Mr. Walston made it clear this was not the time to approve …
Eligibility Guidelines for Free or Reduced-Price Meals in School Lunch Program Announced
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently announced the 2012-13 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy for free and reduced-price meals for children enrolled in North Carolina’s public schools. The USDA’s school meals programs help ensure all students have access to nutritious meals at school. State Superintendent June Atkinson said that research indicates that eating habits affect student performance and health. “Children who are hungry have difficulty learning and do not perform as well in the classroom as …
Automotive Component Manufacturer Chooses Scotland County N.C. for Expansion
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that FCC (North Carolina), LLC, a manufacturer of automotive components, will expand its operations in Scotland County. The company plans to create 66 jobs and invest more than $57 million over the next three years in Laurinburg. The project was made possible in part by a $264,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. “My top priority is creating jobs,” said Gov. Perdue. “Manufacturers know our job training programs are world-class and that …
Butterfield to Promote Healthcare, Employment, and the Arts in the District this Week
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will make several stops in North Carolina’s First Congressional District this week to highlight the work of community healthcare facilities, present grants to deserving organizations, and discuss employment relations with factory workers. On Tuesday, Butterfield will visit Elizabeth City State University to meet with university officials and present a $128,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund a cellular research study. Later in the day, Butterfield …