RALEIGH – From corn mazes and pick-your-own pumpkin patches to harvest festivals and farm-to-table dinners, agritourism farms across the state are gearing up for family-friendly activities this fall. “Agritourism is a great way for families to learn more about agriculture, the state’s top industry, in a very interactive way,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With about 600 agritourism farms across the state, there are a variety of options for families this fall.” On Oct. 11, Addison Farms Vineyard in Leicester …
Thursday Open Line
For many generations, weekday mornings have meant a routine of preparation, and then facing an ever-lengthening round-trip commute to work. However, a small but growing number of Americans are not in that situation — and that’s why tomorrow begins National Work From Home Week. Available mostly to so-called white-collar occupations, employers all over the country have found that technology has enabled grateful and motivated employees to perform necessary work without their physical presence in an office setting. There are more …
Novant Health Franklin Medical Center to close
LOUISBURG, NC – Oct. 7, 2015 – Novant Health Franklin Medical Center announced today that it will cease operations Oct. 16, 2015, following several years of declining utilization. Hospital leaders have notified the state and are working closely with patients on an individual basis to coordinate ongoing care. Hospital employees will have access to outplacement assistance from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, which may include job fairs, financial planning workshops, interest/aptitude assessments and other specialized services. Novant Health Perry …
www.statefarmersmarket.org
Scammers are known to follow in the wake of natural disasters. They may claim to be able to fix damage done by the storm, or seek contributions to fake charities to help storm victims. After a disaster, guard against home repair scams: Don’t pay for work up front. Inspect the work and make sure you’re satisfied before you pay. A small down payment may be required for some projects, but don’t pay anything without getting a written contract. Avoid paying …
11 Districts and 60 Schools Earn North Carolina’s Highest Graduation Rates in 2014-15
Eleven school districts and 60 high schools today were honored by State Superintendent June Atkinson for having the highest four-year cohort graduation rates among all districts and schools in the state in 2014-15. “I am so proud of the teachers, school counselors, coaches, principals and district leaders, and others who have worked tirelessly to make sure more students are graduating from North Carolina’s public schools than ever before. Their dedication and tenacity enabled the state to reach the all-time high …
State Farmers Market to host 30th annual Decorated Pumpkin Contest Thursday
RALEIGH — Young artists can aim for pumpkin perfection during the 30th annual Decorated Pumpkin Contest at the State Farmers Market Thursday. The contest is divided into three age groups: 8 and under, 9 to 15, and 16 and older. Contestants can carve, paint or use other art media to decorate their entries. Decorated pumpkins will be judged on use of color and shape, the quality of the pumpkin used and creativity. Artificial pumpkins will not be accepted. Entries can …
Wednesday Open Line
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” This quote is widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, but whatever the source, many people agree with the sentiment. One advance in such moral progress occurred on this date in 1868, when the first collegiate veterinary department in the U.S. began its instruction at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The country’s first veterinary doctorate was awarded in 1876 to Daniel Salmon, …
VGCC to hold free workshop for “Plus 50” adults at Warren County Armory
In partnership with the Warren County Senior Center, Vance-Granville Community College is hosting a free workshop/breakfast, entitled “Time for a Change,” for students and community members age 50 and over on Thursday, October 15, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., at the Warren County Armory Civic Center in Warrenton. The featured presenter is Anita Hicks, a peak performance strategist, corporate/business trainer and motivational speaker. She will discuss the benefits of returning to school as a “Plus 50” student and being …
North Carolina adds $60 Million to its Film and Entertainment Grant Fund
The North Carolina legislature has allocated a total of $60 million ($30M for 2015-16 and another $30M for 2016-17) to the state’s film and entertainment grant as part of its fiscal biennium budget. The grant program awards productions a rebate of up to 25% of their qualified in-state spending. Combined with the state’s renowned crew base, established infrastructure, and picturesque locations, the grant should put North Carolina on any upcoming production’s radar. To be eligible, a production must be able to start …
Tuesday Open Line
October is a special month in the history of handling data. In a month that holds the anniversaries of the first adding machine and the tentative birth of the Internet, October is also when the first all-electronic calculations were performed on an experimental computer. John Vincent Atanasoff was an associate professor in mathematics and physics at Iowa State College. Beginning in September 1939 with a $650 grant from the school, and with the help of a top engineering student, he …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Visiting Fort Bragg
Video of the Week: This week on a POLITICO panel, “Policy Levers for Boomer Heart Health,” I discussed some of the ways we can address heart health through policy such as the 21st Century Energy and Commerce Cures initiative which expedites the development of life-saving cures and treatments. Click here to watch the panel discussion. Weekly Update: At the start of this week, I led a letter to the Secretaries of two government agencies urging relief for our healthcare …
White House Weekly Address: Congress Should Do its Job and Pass a Serious Budget
In this week’s address, the President emphasized that we need to do everything we can to strengthen economic growth and job creation. This week, despite the fact that more than half of Republicans in Congress voted to shut down the government for the second time in two years, Congress managed to pass a last-minute bill to keep the government open for another ten weeks. That means that in December, we could face yet another Republican threat to shut down the …
Monday Open Line
National Hispanic Heritage Month continues, and much media prominence given to this 55 million-strong community centers on the growing heft of the Hispanic vote in elections. Already 17 percent of America’s population, it is projected to number nearly 129 million by the year 2060. In the 2012 election, over 11 million Hispanics, or 48 percent of those eligible, cast ballots. This is a decline from 2008, when just less than 50 percent of eligible Hispanics voted. But the 2012 figure …
Farmers urged to prepare for several days of heavy rain to be followed by possible hurricane conditions
RALEIGH – Farmers across the state are urged to clear drainage ditches, secure signage and loose objects, stock up on fuel and feed to be prepared for days of wet weather that may be followed by hurricane conditions. The state has already seen almost a week of rain that has saturated the ground. If Hurricane Joaquin tracks close to the coast, it could cause trees to topple and create widespread power outages, something that can be especially devastating to poultry …
Chamber Ribbon Cutting – State Farm Insurance – Margier White, Agent
A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, September 30th at 10 AM for State Farm Insurance – Margier White, Agent to celebrate the company’s membership with the Chamber and to showcase the business and all that it has to offer. Guided by the highest levels of honesty, integrity and respect, coupled with a sincere commitment to fulfill client needs – Their agency serves as a community resource that exceed expectations, delivers comprehensive insurance products and relevant financial options. They have …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Meeting Monday, October 5th, 2015
Download the full agenda packet here: 20151005_vcboc_agenda_packet Invocation Rev. Keith Benze, Pastor First Presbyterian Church 1. Public Comments (for those registered to speak by 5:45 p.m. – speakers are limited to five minutes) 2. Public Hearing 6:00 p.m. Animal Shelter Interim Financing(or shortly thereafter) 3. Appointment 6:15 p.m. Porcha Brooks, Tax AdministratorUntimely Exemption Applications 4. Water District Board– Construction and Operations Reports– Construction Project Summary 5. Committee Reports and Recommendationsa. Planning and Environmental Committee– Approval of Sale of NSP Property – …
Chamber Ribbon Cutting – Shortcakes
Tucked away down a country road in Epsom, NC you will find Shortcake’s Embroidery business where Clareese’s creativity comes to life. She has a base of over 130 customers from a four-county area. On Tuesday, September 29th friends, customers, Chamber representatives and our Mayor gathered to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Shortcake’s Embroidery business with a ribbon cutting. When asked about her business Moss said, “Her mission is and always has been to provide her customers with excellence when it …
Franklin County School Desegregation is Topic of October 19 Forum
LOUISBURG, N.C.— Rev. Luther Coppedge remembers smelling the gunpowder, but he never heard the shot that fired the bullet because he was sleeping. “We still have one of the dressers where they shot over my head while I was in the bed,” Coppedge says of the incident on Christmas Eve, 1967. Coppedge, an African-American minister, and his family were targeted for their efforts to send their son to an all-white high school in Franklin County in the mid-1960s. Their story, …
NCDOT Crews in the Triangle and Northern Counties Prepare for Hurricane Joaquin
RALEIGH – With Hurricane Joaquin still over the Atlantic Ocean but possibly heading for the North Carolina coast, N.C. Department of Transportation maintenance crews in Division 5, which includes Wake, Durham, Franklin, Vance, Person, Granville and Warren counties, are getting ready to deal with any damage that heavy rain and high winds may bring. Each county has its own DOT maintenance yard, and workers have been checking and loading their equipment, such as chain saws and backhoes, to make sure …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Properties Committee Meeting October 5th, 2015
Please note that the County’s Properties Committee (Brown, Brummitt, Hester) is scheduled to meet Monday, October 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the administrative conference room. The purpose is to discuss a joint agreement with the City and a building needs and space study proposal. All commissioners are invited to attend.