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Vance County Schools Receives Technology Donations to Improve Remote Learning

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools is pleased to announce two recent donations, providing the district with additional resources to assist with our Remote Learning Plan.

Technology and digital access are valuable resources within the digital interface for our students choosing the online virtual learning experience or the blended model. Our goal is to continue to provide our students with all of the resources necessary to be successful, whether inside the classroom or through virtual platforms.

Lenovo Donates 800 Chromebooks

The philanthropy team at Lenovo recently approved the donation of 800 Lenovo 100e chrome books to Vance County Schools, each with a one-year warranty. Each computer also came with a Google license.

Additionally, the district was provided one year of access to the Lenovo LanSchool classroom management software. This donation, valued at over $160,000 in technology, allows us to provide more accessibility to our students. We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Lenovo in aiding our efforts in remote learning.

VCS Selected to Receive WiFi Hotspots

Vance County Schools was chosen to receive four WiFi rangers to place on buses, allowing for further connectivity in our community. By utilizing smart buses, the district has the ability to take WiFi into communities where connectivity is an issue.

We are grateful for the NC Department of Information Technology and AT&T for their generosity.

Warren Co. Coop. Extension to Host Equine Pasture Management Webinar

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-Information courtesy Warren County Cooperative Extension

Warren County Cooperative Extension will host an Equine Pasture Management Webinar with Dr. Paul Siciliano from North Carolina State University on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 10 a.m.

To register for this free event, go to warrencountyequine.eventbrite.com.

Once registered, the link to the webinar will be emailed to you.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Granville Vance Public Health Covid-19 Update 05/11/20

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— courtesy Granville Vance Public Health online at gvph.org

As of May 11, 2020, there are 169 known cases in Granville County, 151 cases in Vance County, and 15,045 confirmed cases in North Carolina. There are three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, one at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC, and one at Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC. Of the total positive cases in each county, 94 in Granville County are associated with the prison, 46 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health nursing home, and 11 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home. Of the 75 community-based cases in Granville County, 46 have been released from isolation and 59 of the 94 cases at the prisons have been released from isolation. Of the 150 cases in Vance, 31 have been released from isolation* and 11 are hospitalized. There have been a total of 19 deaths in the health district – 16 in Vance County and 6 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

Town Talk 05/11/20: Dr. Abidan & Nicole Shah Discuss New Book ’30 Days Through A Crisis’

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Dr. Abidan Shah, lead pastor of Clearview Church in Henderson, and wife Nicole Shah were the guests of honor on WIZS Town Talk Monday at 11 a.m.

The Shahs were on-air to discuss their newly released book “30 Days Through A Crisis: Daily Devotions to Navigate Your Faith,” a labor of love born out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Describing their trip to a mall at the very start of the COVID-19 scare – before businesses shut down – the Shahs said they experienced an “eerie” uncertainty and a current of fear running through store employees and the few remaining shoppers.

“The idea for the book really began the first week of the shutdown,” Abidan explained. “People were beginning to back off, and fear and hopelessness were growing. When you are in that situation of fear and hopelessness, it begins to mess with your mind. No matter how much faith you have, you begin to struggle.”

The Shahs discussed their feelings from that outing and said they came up with an encouraging list of words like ‘hope,’ ‘love,’ ‘grace,’ ‘resolution,’ ‘self-control’ and ‘patience’ – words that later became chapter headings for the book.

“We said to each other that if we need to hear these principles, others do as well, so let’s do something about it. From there, the book was born,” said Abidan.

Nicole gave her husband credit for the conception of the book but said they both took the idea from there, dividing chapters (30 chapters for 30 days) and offering guidance to each other through the process.

After two weeks of writing and one week of editing and design work provided by a combination of church staff and family, the Shahs published their “simple book of devotions.” “30 Days Through A Crisis” is available in both print and audio format online at Amazon or locally at Hill’s Music Shoppe.

While inspired by the COVID-19 shutdown, the Shahs said the book applies to any personal crisis, including health, marriage, family and other relationships. “There is no way we can go through life without trials and other crises coming along,” said Nicole. “We wrote this book with COVID-19 in mind, but it’s very generic so that if you happen to be going through a crisis two years from now, it should still apply.”

Nicole elaborated, “When we hit a crisis, or when a crisis hits us, we tend to forget what God has done for us in the past, and we tend to forget that we will make it through. It’s nice to have that reminder that God is with us no matter what and He will bring us through.”

The Shahs said they have been appreciative and humbled by the community support of the book, which sold out at Hill’s Music Shoppe within a couple of days of first being released. Books have since been restocked and are available for purchase at the music and Christian bookstore located at 51 US-158 Byp in Henderson.

For more information on “30 Days Through A Crisis” and Clearview Church, please visit the church’s website at www.clearviewbc.org or visit Clearview Church, Henderson, NC on Facebook.

To hear the interview with the Shahs in its entirety, go to WIZS.com and click on Town Talk.

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 05/11/20

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 2 PM Monday – Thursday.

Thornton Library Welcomes New Adult Services Librarian

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 -Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Library System welcomes Melanie Baldwin to the Richard H. Thornton branch in Oxford.

As Adult Services Librarian, Baldwin will be responsible for developing, promoting, presenting and evaluating programs and displays for adult patrons, as well as assisting in the development of the materials for the collection of books/resources and other duties.

Baldwin began work in her new role on April 1.

The Granville County Library System welcomes Melanie Baldwin to the Richard H. Thornton branch in Oxford. Baldwin began work in her new role on April 1, 2020. (Photo courtesy Granville Co. Govt)

A native of Vance County, Baldwin lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for seven years before returning to the area. She is a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Math and attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and North Carolina State University, where she earned her undergraduate degree. While working at the college library at UNC Wilmington, she decided to pursue a career as a librarian, later earning her Masters degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University.

“I wish I had been able to meet our patrons in person,” Baldwin said, “but, unfortunately, we are all doing our best to slow the spread of COVID-19. I hope everyone is taking care at this time, and I hope to be able to bring some library services to you over the internet.”

A fan of young adult fiction and fantasy books, Baldwin is married and resides in Henderson. She can be reached online through “Ask a Librarian” on the Granville County Library System website (https://granville.lib.nc.us) and at melanie.baldwin@granvillecounty.org. A new “chat” option is also available at https://granville.lib.nc.us/chat/.

While the four branches of the Granville County Library System continue to be closed to the public, Baldwin offers a reminder that curbside pickup service has again been made available from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Thornton Library in Oxford and at the South Branch library in Creedmoor.

Those wishing to reserve materials can simply call in or message either library branch with a list of requested materials, park at a curbside library space and give the library a call. Your materials will be placed on an outside table to be conveniently retrieved. (Limit five books, five DVDs and five audiobooks.) Contact the Thornton Library at 919-693-1121 and the South Branch at 919-528-1752 to make your materials requests.

United Way Awards $6,100 in Grants to Local Charitable Organizations

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-Information courtesy United Way of Vance County

The United Way of Vance County has awarded $6,100 in grants to local charitable organizations to assist needy families in Vance and Warren counties with food insecurities.

The grant funding was made possible with contributions to our United Way from corporations that serve our area.

With the corporate contributions, our United Way established a COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide grants to local nonprofits to assist families in need, with a special focus on providing the families with food.

The corporate contributions were received from Duke Energy, Truist Bank (formerly BB&T) and Vulcan Materials Company.

The United Way of Vance County Board of Directors reviewed submitted applications for the grant funds and awarded monies to Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS) in Henderson, Life Life Outreach Inc. in Henderson, and Loaves & Fishes Food Ministry in Warrenton. These three outstanding charitable organizations are using the funds to supply families during the COVID-19 pandemic with necessary food items.

“Our United Way board of directors believe it is very important to support the needs of our community during this very difficult time,” said Terri Hedrick, treasurer of the organization. “We have been contacted by many families expressing a dire need for food. So, we knew immediately how we wanted to help once our United Way received the contributions.”

“We can’t thank the outstanding corporations enough for their amazing generosity to support our community and we are very glad to allocate the grant funds to ACTS, Life Line and Loaves & Fishes, which work tirelessly to meet the food needs of disadvantaged families on a regular basis.”

The United Way of Vance County continues to accept donations for families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those interested in contributing may do so on our website at unitedwayvance.org or by contacting the organization by email at unitedwayofvance@gmail.com.

Noon News 05/11/20

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100.1 FM / 1450 AM WIZS; Local News broadcasts M-F 8am, 12pm, 5pm

WIZS, Henderson – Your Community Voice
Local News with John Charles Rose

Aycock Rec. Center, Fox Pond Remain Closed; Most Outdoor Parks/Trails Open

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A statement from the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department:

Although NC Governor Roy Cooper issued a “soft opening” throughout the state, the Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department will remain closed to the public at this time.

While the order does reference the opening of parks, it is recommended that additional precautions be taken for community gatherings and that playgrounds remain closed.

Recreation is our business and our responsibility, therefore we are keeping our parks and playground equipment “closed” but will continue to encourage you to utilize the walking trails and tracks we have to offer.

We are asking our Henderson-Vance community to continue to practice social distancing in an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Below is a list of Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities and their status.

Closed:

  • Aycock Recreation Center
    • Aycock Aquatic Center
  • Old Aycock Gym – Indoor Facility
  • Fox Pond Park
  • All Satellite Sites
    • First Presbyterian Church
    • Vance County Senior Center
  • All Playground Equipment and Structures

Remaining Open:

  • All Outdoor Parks, Trails and Tracks (excluding Fox Pond Park)

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks will monitor the situation and make an assessment on when it is safe to reopen some or all of the affected facilities. Updates about facilities, classes/programs and events will be available on our social media platforms and website at http://ci.henderson.nc.us/departments/recreation_and_parks/.

HTI Turning Donated Laptops Into Chromebooks for Vance Co. Students

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-Information courtesy the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce

Do You Have Old Laptops You Could Donate?

Matt Raydo with HUBZone Technology Initiative (HTI) recently contacted the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce about collecting old/used laptops. Raydo’s organization converts old laptops into Google Chromebooks and donates them to those in need within Vance County schools.

HTI accepts laptops without cracked screens or missing keys. The laptop’s power cord is strongly preferred, but HTI will accept laptops without one.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, walk-ins are not accepted at this time, however, you can schedule a drop-off by email at info@hubzonetech.org or call Mark Williams at (919) 603-7303. Pick up can be arranged for multiple laptops.

For more information, please check out the HTI website at https://hubzonetech.org.

Click the play button below for a video on HTI’s mission: