For the week of April 14 on North Carolina Weekend, explore in Part 2 the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail near Mocksville. Take to the trees at Skywild at the Greensboro Science Museum in Greensboro. Discover the Hinson Art Museum at Wingate University in Wingate. See what’s in bloom at the Wilson Rose Garden in Wilson. And the “House Special” visits the International Taste of Greenville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In …
Warren County Gardening Workshop on April 30th, 2016
On Saturday, April 30th, come to the Warren County Extension Center for “Ready, Set, Grow! Successful Gardening in Raised Beds & Containers.” This two hour workshop (9:30-11:30 am) will cover all the basics to start your gardening season off right. Registration is only $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Learn about growing vegetables in raised beds and containers, and also how to manage pests organically. Instructors include Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and your friendly Horticulture Extension Agent (Paul McKenzie). Visit http://go.ncsu.edu/readysetgrow to …
N.C. strawberry growers expect early season
N.C. strawberry growers expect to start the season early this year despite a recent cold snap. Many growers in the eastern part of the state are already picking berries nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. “Our growers are very experienced with dealing with late frosts and know how to protect their crops,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Because of their diligent efforts, this season shows a lot of promise with plenty of strawberries available. Plus, since we had warm weather …
Thursday Open Line
The distribution of political representation under the Constitution was authorized on this date in 1792. Based on the results of the 1790 Census, the House of Representatives was to be apportioned according to population, coming as near to equal populations in the districts as could be determined. That first census counted a resident population of over 3.9 million people in the soon to be 15 states. There were then 105 seats in the House of Representatives, and the Apportionment Act …
E.M. Rollins Elementary Will Become STEAM School
Vance County Schools has received preliminary approval from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to establish a STEAM Academy, as part of a restart school strategy, at E.M. Rollins Elementary School. The school system submitted a restart school application for E.M. Rollins to the state department in March. The restart school process is a new initiative offered by the state in which public school systems can apply to have a school operate under regulations more like those followed by public …
Golden LEAF Board Budgets $25 Million for Major Site Development
The Golden LEAF Foundation and the Rural Infrastructure Authority today announced details of their collaboration to provide funding to large industrial sites across North Carolina to reduce the time needed for development and increase their competitiveness for major projects with substantial job creation and private capital investment. At its April 6 meeting, the Golden LEAF Board of Directors voted to reserve up to $25 million over the next three years to support public infrastructure needs for the Major Site Development …
Farm tours, open houses planned this spring
With a variety of farm tours and open houses scheduled in April and May, now is a great time to plan a trip to a North Carolina agritourism farm. “With more than a thousand agritourism farms across the state, it is easy to find all types of activities the family can enjoy,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Whether you spend a few hours picking strawberries or an entire weekend doing a farm tour, there’s a lot to learn about modern …
Chamber Ribbon Cutting – LimBionics
A ribbon cutting was held on Tuesday, March 22nd for LimBionics to celebrate the company’s membership with the Chamber and to showcase their new added location in Henderson and all that it has to offer. They were joined by friends, local dignitaries and business owners to celebrate their opening. All guests were treated to a tour of the facility, tasteful treats and beverage after the ribbon cutting. LimBionics provides award winning patient care to those in Henderson. Brittany Stresing, owner …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates and Events
GARDENING WORKSHOP, 4/30 IN WARRENTON On Saturday, April 30th, come to the Warren County Extension Center for “Ready, Set, Grow! Successful Gardening in Raised Beds & Containers.” This two hour workshop (9:30-11:30 am) will cover all the basics to start your gardening season off right. Registration is only $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Learn about growing vegetables in raised beds and containers, and also how to manage pests organically. Instructors include Extension Master Gardener Volunteers and your friendly …
VGCC adds fully-online Associate in Arts degree to VOLT
The “Vanguard Online Learning through Technology” (VOLT) initiative at Vance-Granville Community College is entering its second year in operation and preparing to add a new program option. VOLT courses are for adult learners who need an online-only educational experience. When the fall semester begins in August, such students will be able to start work on an Associate in Arts degree. The program provides students with the first two years of a four-year degree. Associate in Arts graduates who make a …
Rep. Butterfield & Sen. Franken’s Bipartisan Measure to Accelerate Development of Vaccines & Treatments Against Zika Virus Passes Congress, Will Be Signed into Law
A bipartisan measure introduced by U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to speed up the development of vaccines and treatments against the Zika virus is set to become law after passing in the Senate last month and in the House of Representatives today. The legislation was passed at a critical moment, given that earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention characterized Zika as “[s]carier than we initially thought.” The bill—introduced by …
Wednesday Open Line
April is a significant month for the American printed word. In 1800, the Library of Congress was founded, and earlier this week, in 1828, Noah Webster published the first dictionary of American English. This is also the middle of National Library Week, celebrating libraries, those who staff them and the billions of materials they circulate. While computers and electronic media are of increasing importance in the services libraries offer, books remain at the core of their collections, with the Library …
VGCC students tour UNC-Chapel Hill
The College Success and Study Skills (ACA) department at Vance-Granville Community College recently took a group of students on a college tour to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The purpose of the March 22 trip was to give students a closer look at an area university to which they might transfer and continue their education. The VGCC group toured the campus, ate lunch at the Rams Head Dining Hall, and took part in an information session conducted …
Tuesday Open Line
On this date in 1892, the first U.S. patent for a truly portable typewriter was issued to George C. Blickensderfer of Stamford, Connecticut. His “type writing machine” featured a revolving type-wheel, a precursor to the type-ball of 1970s typewriters. The wheel reduced the number of moving parts from 2,500 to 250, improving reliability and reducing the weight by one-fourth. The Blickensderfer Manufacturing Company eventually became one of the world’s largest typewriter manufacturers in a crowded field. In 1900, U.S. manufacturers …
Warren County: April Major Festivals 2016
Courtesy of Senator Angela Bryant: April 16 & 17, 2016 Warrenton Quilt Days and Preservation Warrenton Historic Homes Tour A celebration of quilts and quilters in historic Warrenton, NC. Quilts on display everywhere! Historic Home tour, churches, public squares. Festival includes classes, national speakers, and a gala. Location: Warrenton and sites throughout the county 252-257-7117 www.WarrentonQuiltDays.com April 15, 16 &17, 2016 51st Annual Haliwa-Saponi Pow-Wow Oldest continuing pow-wow in NC. Featuring Native American dance, drum, singing, crafts, foods and …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Talking about Women Leaders in Public Service
Photo of the Week I really enjoyed speaking on the panel “Women Leaders in Public Service” at the Junior League of Raleigh’s Center for Community Leadership this week. It was great to see such a good turnout of women interested in public service! Weekly Update The beauty of spring was on full display this week in the Second District with flowers and trees in lovely bloom. If you are going to be in Washington on April 16 or 17, …
City of Henderson City Council Meeting Monday April 11th, 2016
Henderson City Council Regular Meeting on Monday 11 April 2016, 6:00 p.m. in the R. G. (Chick) Young, Jr. Council Chambers, Municipal Building134 Rose Avenue Henderson, North Carolina Download the full agenda packet here: 20160411_coh_agenda_packet.pdf I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. OPENING REMARKSIn order to provide for the highest standards of ethical behavior and Transparency in Governanceas well as provide for good and open government, the City Council has approved Core Valuesregarding Ethical Behavior1 and …
Senator Richard Burr: Hope for Americans with Rare Diseases
By definition, a rare disease affects a small number of people, but the community as a whole is immense. More than one million North Carolinians have a rare disease. Nearly every family and community in the state feels the impact of these illnesses in some way. This week, I spoke before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee about the need for rare disease treatments. WATCH: Sen. Burr speaks on treatments for rare diseases I highlighted the example of …
Henderson-Vance Spring Litter Sweep Week April 18-23 and Recycling Day April 23rd, 2016
The Vance County Appearance Commission is sponsoring another Henderson-Vance Spring Litter Sweep Week, April 18-23, and a Henderson-Vance Recycling Day on Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the parking lot of the City Operations Center on Beckford Drive in Henderson. The Spring Litter Sweep Week is part of the North Carolina Spring Litter Sweep scheduled over the last two weeks of April. Our Spring Litter Sweep Week efforts will target areas throughout Vance County that need …
Monday Open Line
On this date 48 years ago, the Civil Rights Act of 1968 became law. At the bill signing ceremony, President Lyndon Johnson said: “The proudest moments of my presidency have been times such as this when I have signed into law the promises of a century.” Putting the event into perspective, it occurred one week to the day after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Among its provisions, the Act protected civil rights workers, expanded the rights of …