Maria Parham Volunteers to Hold Jewelry Sale

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Volunteer Services of Maria Parham Health will be hosting for the first time, Jewelry is Fun.  This sale will take place on April 12th (7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)  and 13th  (7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.).  Bargain prices with a large selection of gifts $7.99 and up.  Jewelry and accessories are $5.  Sale will take place in the John T. Church classroom.  We’ll see you there!

Lisa Radford

Volunteer Coordinator

Maria Parham Health, Duke LifePoint Healthcare

566 Ruin Creek Road   PO Box 59   Henderson, NC 27536

Phone: 252.436-1564

Vance County Schools Free College Info Session Wrap up

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High school students and parents involved in Vance County Schools took advantage of a free college information session offered on April 4 through the school system’s Family Resource Center.
The session was held from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Family Resource Center, located on Graham Avenue in Henderson in the school system’s Administrative Services Center.
High school counselors from Northern Vance, Southern Vance, Early College and the AdVance Academy at Western Vance high schools were on hand to talk with students and parents about the college application process, applications for student scholarships and loans and available financial aid for college. They also shared information about the services and programs available through Vance-Granville Community College.
The counselors included Jameka Floyd of Northern Vance, Carol Simmons of Southern Vance, Tannis Jenkins of Early College, and Marsha Harris of the AdVance Academy.
They provided written information on college applications and financial aid and assisted students with online services and applications for a variety of colleges and universities throughout North Carolina and beyond.
The information session was designed mostly to provide a wealth of information to high school seniors who have not yet made a decision about the college they will attend.
Cassandra Evans, director of Federal Programs for the school system and the coordinator for the Family Resource Center, planned the college information session with assistance from the counselors.
In the accompanying photo, counselors Marsha Harris, left, and Jameka Floyd, right, work with students in the Family Resource Center during the college information sessions.

Retired judge, wife endow scholarship at VGCC

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Henry Banks, who recently retired as chief judge of the North Carolina Ninth Judicial District Court bench, and his wife, Mamie B. Banks, recently established a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College.

Residents of Henderson, Judge Banks held court in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties as a district judge for almost 21 years, while Mrs. Banks is a longtime educator, currently teaching in the Exceptional Children’s department at Northern Vance High School. She actually started her own higher education at VGCC, taking general education courses at the college before transferring to North Carolina Central University to complete a bachelor’s degree in education and, later, a master’s degree in special education.

Judge Banks also received both his undergraduate and law degrees from NCCU. He practiced law for many years in Henderson and served on the Henderson City Council for 13 years.

In awarding the new J. Henry and Mamie Banks Academic Achievement Scholarship, preference will be given first to students in the VGCC Paralegal Technology degree program, and secondly to students preparing to become teachers, either in the Early Childhood Education program or in the College Transfer program.

Judge Banks said that in addition to his wife’s experience in the teaching profession, he has always had a passion for education, as well. “We’re endowing this scholarship to provide financial support to help people pursue their dreams,” he said. “Because of my career, I know there is a particular need for qualified paralegals in our area.” Mrs. Banks added that she and her husband hope their contributions will encourage others to donate to the community college and help area residents gain education and training.

“We are so grateful to Judge and Mrs. Banks for their support of VGCC students,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “Their examples of public service, both in the law and in education, will inspire students who receive the scholarship in their name for years to come. Not only the scholarship recipients, but also their families, their employers and their communities will benefit from the Banks family’s generosity.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 8,800 scholarships to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

E.M. Rollins Teachers Get CenturyLink Grant

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Regina Hilliard and Faye Crawford, two second-grade teachers at E.M. Rollins Elementary School, today were awarded a $5,000 technology grant from CenturyLink.
Hilliard and Crawford submitted their grant request a couple of months ago through the CenturyLink technology grant program.
They plan to purchase a variety of technology devices, including iPads, and software for their students with the grant funding.
Several CenturyLink representatives were on hand at the school this morning to make the grant presentation. Derek Kelly, a legislative affairs manager with CenturyLink, and Larry Mathiot, area public relations representative for CenturyLink, led the presentation.
The forward photo shows Crawford, left, and Hilliard holding the large replica of the grant check at center. Joining them are E.M. Rollins Principal Stephanie Ayscue, standing to the right of Hilliard; Kelly, standing at far left; Mathiot, standing in back third from left; and other CenturyLink representatives.

Cooperative Extension with Jean Bell 04/06/17

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VGCC registering students for summer Science Camp

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Vance-Granville Community College will offer a Science Camp for local middle school students this summer at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The camp will be held Monday-Friday, June 12-16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Rising sixth, seventh and eighth-graders from Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties are invited to participate in the week-long camp.

Sessions will be taught by faculty members from the VGCC Science Department and other college programs. The VGCC Science Camp is now in its seventh year. “We will have fun, hands-on activities that involve various sciences and allow campers to explore STEM career fields like electronics, pharmacy and biotechnology,” said VGCC Science Department Chair Steve McGrady. “Our outstanding VGCC faculty members collaborate each year to make this a learning experience that is unlike anything available in our four-county area.”

The cost to attend the camp is $125, which includes lunch each day and a camp T-shirt.

The deadline to register for Science Camp is May 12. Parents can now register their campers online at www.vgcc.edu/camps.

For more information, contact Steve McGrady at (252) 738-3339 or mcgradys@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

Drivers Not Sure What To Expect In First South Boston Night Race Of Season

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SOUTH BOSTON, Va. (April 6, 2017) – Like the difference between night and day. That’s what drivers are saying about South Boston Speedway’s new racing surface heading into Saturday’s night race … the first race under the lights this season.

The new surface debuted two weeks ago as an unknown to the teams and wound up producing record speeds and classic close racing. Drivers say questions abound headed into Saturday night’s Virginia State University Twin 75s presented by the Kappa League of Petersburg.

“I feel like there is going to be a big difference,” Bobby McCarty said of his expectations for Saturday night. “The track seems to be weather sensitive so I feel like it might be a little slick when the temperature drops. I’m also curious to see how it reacts to taking the rubber without the sun baking it.”

It will be the first time teams and fans alike have been under the track’s upgraded lighting system, part of the track’s $1 million capital improvement program.

When the season opened two weeks ago, track qualifying records fell in every division. Philip Morris, who wound up sweeping both ends of the Late Model Stock doubleheader, blew away the old track record with a time of 14.731 seconds around the .4 oval. The old track record was 15.314 seconds. His speed was 100.197 mph, the first time the 100-mph barrier had been broken in a Late Model. Half of the Late Model field broke the old mark in qualifying.

And even though drivers expect the track to be much different Saturday night under the lights, it doesn’t mean they believe speeds will drop.

“Honestly, I think the second groove should take rubber better at night,” said veteran driver Peyton Sellers, who finished 11th in the first 100-lapper in the season-opener but bounced back for a fourth in the second. “I think the track should be faster than the first race which is always good for the fans.”

Austin Thaxton, who had a pair of top-10 finishes in the opener, expecst to see a change in the track Saturday.

“I think it’s going to be a lot different at night,” said Thaxton. “Hopefully it will go in our favor.”

Regardless of track changes with the season’s first night race, McCarty is excited to be racing on new pavement this season.

“I’d like to say: ‘good job’ to everyone who had a hand in the repaving,” said McCarty, who had a third and a 10th on opening day and challenged for the win in the first 100-lapper. “The second groove really came in good as the day went on and it turned into some great side-by-side battles.”

South Boston Speedway will turn on the lights for the first time this season Saturday night for the Virginia State University Twin 75s presented by the Kappa League of Petersburg.

There will be twin 75-lap races for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car Division, a 50-lap Limited Sportsman race, a 30-lap Budweiser Pure Stock race and a 15-lap Budweiser Hornets race.

Registration and pit gates open at 2:30 p.m. with practice from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Grandstand gates open at 5:30 p.m., qualifying is set for 6 p.m. and the green flag flies at 7 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 7-12. Kids ages six and under are admitted free with a paid adult.

News 04/06/17

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Economic Development Update 04/05/17

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Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s 2017 Grant Cycle now open

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If you are part of an organization that is searching for funding for health-related projects and programs, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation may have the opportunity you are seeking.

The Foundation’s 2017 Grant Cycle opened Monday, April 3.  The first step in the grant application process is the Letter of Interest, which is due May 15th. The Letter of Interest form is available on the online Grant Portal, which can be accessed via the Foundation’s website www.tnhfoundation.org

In order to be considered for a TNHF grant, you must represent a nonprofit organization, school, or governmental agency that serves the Triangle North region— Warren, Vance, Granville, and/or Franklin counties. Your project should fall into one of these five funding priorities:  Chronic Disease, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Nutrition & Physical Fitness, Success in School as related to Health & Fitness, and finally, Reproductive Health.

 

To schedule a meeting to discuss a potential grant project, call 252-598-0763.

Since its first grant cycle in 2013, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has awarded nearly $800,000 in grants to a variety of programs and projects, including Save Our Kids and Girls on the Run at the Henderson Family YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs’ Healthy Teens, Green Rural Redevelopment’s Micro Market Farm School, Community Workforce Solutions’ Health Matters, Smart Start, Vance Co. Schools Kidpower program, and many others. A full listing of TNHF grant programs is available on the Foundation’s website.

The mission of the Foundation is “to encourage, support, and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North region.”  The Foundation cannot accomplish this alone.  “Through our partnerships with community organizations, formed through grantmaking, this Foundation can make a difference in the health status of our communities,” said Mrs. Short. “Please let us hear from you!” she added.