* Policy, Wednesday, February 22nd, 5:30 p.m. * Community Relations, Wednesday, Feb. 22nd, 6:00 p.m. * Building & Grounds, Thursday, Feb. 23rd, 8:30 a.m. * Curriculum, Thursday, February 23rd, 9:45 a.m. * Finance, Wednesday, February 29th, 5:30 p.m. * Personnel, Tuesday, March 6th, 8:30 a.m. All meetings are held in the Superintendent’s Conference Room.
VGCC Celebrates Black History Month
Vance-Granville Community College kicked off a celebration of Black History Month with a special event on Feb. 3 as part of a series of activities coordinated by the VGCC Counseling Services department. The kick-off event, held in the VGCC Main Campus Student Lounge, opened with remarks from the new president of the college, Dr. Stelfanie Williams. “Black history is a rich tapestry on the quilt of American history,” Williams said, on what was only her third day in office. “We …
An Economy Built to Last for Rural America
From: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet/an-economy-built-to-last-for-rural-america We now face a make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it. After decades of eroding middle-class security as those at the very top saw their incomes rise as never before and after a historic recession that plunged our economy into a crisis from which we are still fighting to recover, it is time to construct an economy that is built to last. The President’s 2013 Budget is built around the idea that our …
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino transforms into full-scale resort
When a $633 million expansion wraps up later this year, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel will have a new Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Brio restaurant, as well as a five-star Mandera Spa and a spectacular rotunda entrance. All are part a new emphasis over the last four years that has seen the transformation of North Carolina’s only casino into a full-scale resort. There’s new floor space for electronic games in addition to the nearly 500 new hotel rooms that recently …
Cultural Resources Secretary Carlisle Announces Arts-Based Recommendations to Boost Local Economies
N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Secretary Linda A. Carlisle released on Feb. 7 recommendations from a statewide task force that calls for arts and cultural districts planning and funding for arts-driven economic development pilot projects. The recommendations were from the SmART Initiative Task Force appointed by Carlisle last year. She charged the Task Force with using arts-driven economic development as a catalyst in North Carolina communities. Jim Goodmon, CEO of Capitol Broadcasting, served as chairperson of the Task Force. “The …
Third Offshore Wind Forum Draws a Crowd at Carteret Community College
Academic and business leaders are among panelists who participated in a forum discussion about offshore wind’s potential for North Carolina communities. About 200 people attended the Offshore Wind Forum, held Feb. 7, at Carteret Community College. Carteret Community College was the third college in the state to host an offshore wind forum in the last five months. Other forums have been held at UNC-Wilmington and UNC-Chapel Hill. Sparking interest in coastal communities, offshore wind is being seen as a way to …
Clinical Laboratory Service to Expand in Guilford County
Governor Bev Perdue announced on Feb. 8 that Solstas Lab Partners, a leading medical and diagnostic laboratory, will expand its operations in Guilford County. The company plans to create as many as 500 jobs and invest about $11.6 million dollar over five years to gain maximum benefits from performance-based incentives approved by Guilford County and the City of High Point. The project was made possible in part by a $450,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The state grant …
Electromagnetic Systems Manufacturer to Expand in Cleveland County
Governor Bev Perdue on Feb. 13 announced that Kendrion FAS Controls Inc., a manufacturer of electromagnetic systems, will expand its operations in Cleveland County. The company plans to create 57 jobs and invest $7.3 million over the next three years in Shelby. The project was made possible in part by a $228,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Martyn Johnson was the developer on this project. Kendrion FAS Controls is a subsidiary of German-based …
N.C. Ports Ends 2011 with Container and Breakbulk Volumes Increases
Business is up at North Carolina’s State Ports with posted increased cargo movement for the 2011 calendar year compared to 2010. Container movements increased more than 11 percent and general breakbulk cargo increased 8 percent for the year positioning the North Carolina State Ports Authority for a successful fiscal year 2012. In Wilmington, NCSPA moved 287,467 20-foot equivalent unit containers in 2011, an 11.2 percent increase over calendar year 2010. And more than 1.7 million tons of bulk and breakbulk …
Wednesday Open Line
Today I’ve posted numerous releases regarding businesses expanding and creating jobs in North Carolina. Although they aren’t here, the large number of businesses announcing hiring and expansion is a telling sign that our economy is growing. While February 14th may not be an official holiday, Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular in the year’s calendar. Its origins are a mix of legends involving two Christian martyrs, a roman fertility rite, and the old notion that this is the …
President Obama’s 2013 Budget is a Blueprint for an America Built to Last
President Obama traveled to Annadale in northern Virginia Monday morning to talk about his budget for the 2013 fiscal year — and how it will boost job creation to speed our economic recovery. A core set of themes helps to define this budget, and in talking to the crowd, the President laid out those ideas: [An] economy built to last demands that we keep doing everything we can to help students learn the skills that businesses are looking for. It …
NC Schools To Celebrate “Love The Bus” Week Feb. 13-17
Students at Caleb Creek Elementary School (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools) will have a chance to make a new friend when they board bus number 246 on Wednesday morning. On Feb. 15, as part of the American School Bus Council’s (ASBC) annual Love the Bus program, State Superintendent June Atkinson will ride the bus to Caleb Creek Elementary School (1109 Salem Crossing Road, Kernersville) with students and then she will take part in a program to thank school bus drivers. “Our school …
President’s Budget for Education Summarized
President Obama hopes to increase education spending to $69.8 billion in 2013, which is 2.5 percent more than the current budget of $68.1 billion. Obama’s budget proposal Monday for the next fiscal year seeks level funding or slight increases for several education programs, including competitive grants that reward public education reforms and innovation. And he wants to spend $14 billion on one-time “strategic investment” in key areas, including synchronizing education with labor needs, improving teacher quality and making college more …
Tuesday Open Line
Happy Valentine Day to all! Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The mid-19th century Valentine’s Day trade was a harbinger of further commercialized holidays in the United States to follow. In the second half of the 20th century, the practice of exchanging cards was extended to all manner of gifts in the United States. Such gifts typically include roses and chocolates packed in a red satin, heart-shaped box. In the 1980s, the diamond …
Richard Brand: Why?
If you listen to the political promises, you know that everybody is talking about jobs. We need more jobs. We have a high unemployment rate. Mr. McCory has the delightful circumstances that the Republican party in 2010 refused to keep a half-cent sales tax that a majority of people in North Carolina said they would accept. The refusal to keep that half-cent resulted in a much reduced budget for education and a large number of teachers, teacher aids and administration …
What They Are Saying: Preventive Health Care and Religious Institutions
On Friday, President Obama announced that his Administration will implement a policy that accommodates religious liberty while protecting the health of women. Under the new policy, women will still have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive services – no matter where she works. And as previously announced, churches and houses of worship will be exempt from the requirement to refer or provide coverage for contraception. But if a woman’s employer is a charity, hospital or other religious organization …
Monday Open Lines
Weekly Address: Extending the Payroll Tax Cut for the Middle Class – President Obama urges Congress to extend the payroll tax cut to prevent a tax hike on 160 million hardworking Americans. Back in December, Congress faced this exact same predicament. People all over the country tweeted, emailed and wrote to explain how losing $40 each check would affect them. Ultimately, thanks to your stories, Congress did the right thing and passed a two-month tax cut extension. It’s more important …
Alonzo Ellis Arrested and Charged Regarding September 2011 Assault
On Thursday, February 9, 2012, Alonzo Ellis, 34, 513 Zene Street, Henderson, N.C. was arrested and charged with one count of Robbery With A Dangerous Weapon, Assault, and an outstanding order for arrest. He was placed in the Vance County Jail after failing to post a $23,800.00 secured bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Vance County District Court on February 21, 2012. The robbery charge stems from an incident that occurred in Henderson on September 5, 2011. The …
Butterfield Urges the DOJ to Maintain Its Original Decision to Oppose Changes to Elections in Kinston
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to maintain its opposition to proposed changes that would make the City of Kinston’s elections nonpartisan. In 2009, Kinston, located in Lenoir County, voted to alter their election procedure by making all city council elections nonpartisan. Butterfield believes nonpartisan elections in Kinston would reduce Black voters’ ability to elect their candidate of choice. Since Lenoir County …
Grants from BB&T and Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation Support Leadership Development Efforts for Innovative Secondary Schools
RALEIGH — Grants from BB&T and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation are helping support efforts led by the North Carolina New Schools Project to hone the skills of leaders of innovative secondary schools across the state. BB&T is providing $300,000 over three years for leadership development; the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is giving $130,000 over two years for the same effort. “These funds will help us provide the kind of coaching and support that principals want and need to be …