GCPS’ ‘Books for Break’ Initiative Encourages At-Home Reading Over Holidays

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools is celebrating reading and readers with Books for Break – Celebrating the Joy of Reading! As part of its commitment to early literacy, GCPS is giving a book to every student in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade to keep and enjoy at home.

During the winter break, we hope students enjoy reading not only these books about characters’ adventures in the snow but also continue reading their personal favorite books. In the words of children’s book author Tomie dePaola, “Reading is important because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.“

We hope these books offer your family the opportunity to find joy in reading together.

WHO: Students in Pre-K through 3rd grade

WHAT: Books for Break, a literacy initiative of Granville County Public Schools

WHEN: Friday, December 13 (year-round) and Friday, December 20 (traditional)

WHERE: All elementary schools

WHY: To encourage students to continue reading during winter break

NC Dept of Agriculture

NCDA&CS Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Recipients

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced recipients of over $1.3 million in funding from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The funding will be used for projects that enhance the quality of specialty crops grown in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass and sod, and nursery and greenhouse crops. Grant proposals were submitted by nonprofit organizations, commodity groups, government agencies and universities.

Some of the funding went to support the N.C. Good Agricultural Practices Program and the N.C. Water Analysis Program. Carolina Farm Stewardship received funding for its project called “Increasing Competitiveness: Food Safety and Quality.”

In addition, N.C. State University received funding for the following 10 research projects:

  • Attract and Kill for Managing Brown Marmorated Stink Bug;
  • Breeding Flavorful Disease Resistant Strawberry Cultivars;
  • Comprehensive Christmas Tree Management Using Drones;
  • Elongate Hemlock Scale and Fraser Fir;
  • Heirloom–Type Tomato Hybrids for Niche-Markets;
  • Hemlock Restoration in Nurseries and Landscapes;
  • Horizontal Planting to Improve Sweet Potato Production;
  • Improving Field Production of Grafted Tomatoes;
  • Postharvest Disease Control for Export Sweet Potatoes;
  • Tulip and Dutch Iris Extended Storage

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is administered by the department and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the 2018 farm bill. More information about the program is available at www.NCSpecialtyCropGrant.org.

McGregor Hall to Transform Into Christmas Wonderland for Holiday Spectacular

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

Back by popular demand, the Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular will bring cheer to McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center on Monday, December 16, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.

Christmas Wonderland is quite simply one of the most delightful and enchanting Christmas shows ever. Featuring glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North, this performance is pure holiday magic!

Tickets for this event may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

VGCC’s Kenneth Wilson Receives Glen Raven Award

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-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College’s Kenneth Wilson (Project Manager –  TechHire Grant) won the Glen Raven award on Thursday, December 12, 2019. He was presented with the award by VGCC President Rachel Desmarais, Ph.D.

VGCC and Glen Raven are longtime partners. The college serves the company by providing training programs for employees on subjects including management, leadership, safety and technical skills such as industrial maintenance.

A strong corporate supporter of VGCC’s Endowment Fund, Glen Raven has endowed scholarships for students as well as awards that recognize faculty and staff excellence.

Vance-Granville Community College’s Kenneth Wilson (Project Manager –  TechHire Grant) won the Glen Raven award on Thursday, December 12, 2019. He was presented with the award by VGCC President Rachel Desmarais, Ph.D. (VGCC photo)

Mark Your 2020 Calendars for the New Horizons Baptist Stew Sale!

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-Information courtesy Pastor Cam Ford, New Horizons Baptist Church

New Horizons Baptist Church in Oxford will be having a Brunswick Stew Sale on Saturday, January 11, 2020.

Quarts are $8 apiece, and you’ll be able to pick these up from the Granville County Shrine Club located at 706 Roxboro Rd. in Oxford from 9 until 11 a.m. that morning.

Pastor Ford and the congregation look forward to seeing you there!

Granville County Public Schools

GCPS’ Holiday Message Focuses on Academic Highlights

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Happy Holidays from GCPS to the Granville community!  It certainly is an exciting time of year, and not just for the holiday cheer and goodwill, but also for the amazing things going on in our public schools!

In case you haven’t heard, GCPS is “On the Move!” Our educators have been hard at work since July and August helping our students have what is shaping up to be a stellar year!  From academics to character development, extra-curricular, athletics, the Arts, and community engagement, our students are truly worthy of our community’s pride and joy!

Just a few of the academic highlights thus far include a huge push with literacy, a renewed focus on math and science standards, and a deeper dive into student performance data. This year is 20/20 for everyone – meaning each student is expected to have a minimum of 20 minutes of uninterrupted reading each day, and as such, every elementary school student will receive a winter book selection to take home with them over the break.

Research shows that text-rich environments at home are a great way to boost reading comprehension and can encourage a lifelong love for reading. We hope every child will take some time to unplug and read! Superintendent McLean is excited about the district’s “20/20 Vision” with a focus on reading for all.

As a follow up to our Day of Caring in November, our staff has been continuing their efforts to encourage positive character traits in our students through special holiday appreciation events, food drives, coat drives, and other community support efforts.

Our students have also been involved in anti-bullying campaigns and been helping spread the word on preventing the use of drugs, alcohol and vaping. And as always, safety is a top priority, with “See Something, Say Something” being our motto each and every day – for everyone!

This past fall was a great season of extra-curriculars and athletics, with several teams making the state playoffs!  Perhaps more importantly though, several programs were recognized for their excellent sportsmanship on and off the field. As winter sports kick off, we hope you will come out and support our students at their athletic events. It is an exciting time for basketball, wrestling and of course, cheerleading!

And, let’s not forget our Career and Technical Organizations, who have been competing for awards across the state and nation! From local robotics build-offs, to business plan competitions in Tennessee, to FFA projects in Indiana – these students have been ON THE MOVE!

It is so important that our students not only thrive academically, but that they are also exposed to a variety of experiences to help broaden their perspectives beyond our county and help prepare them for the world.

Finally, you may have missed seeing the recent winning selections of the Holiday gift card contest. Four students were selected as this year’s winners from dozens of entries from across the district at all grade levels. Also of note are the many holiday performances, choral recitals, and marching bands in local parades. Stop by any school and you will see our children’s creative spirits on display in some form or fashion!

So, while the staff in our schools prepare for a well-deserved break, preparation at the district level continues to look ahead: January will begin with a regular Board of Education meeting to be held on January 6, but in a NEW location! For the first time, the Board will hold its meeting at the Mary Potter campus in the media center.

Superintendent McLean notes, “We are very fortunate to have such an amazing team of educators across our district. No matter their role in helping educate our students, GCPS employees are simply the best. I also look forward to working with the new chair and vice chair as we continue our focus on academic achievement and performance overall. The holiday season is always a wonderful time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for, and we should celebrate the commitment we all have for the children of our community. It is a true blessing.”

Newly elected Board Chairman, David Richardson offered his thoughts, stating, “While it is my goal to always be improving, we also need to take time to stop and be appreciative of the accomplishments of our people. I for one, am grateful for all of the hardworking and talented educators we have that dedicate their lives to the children in Granville County. It is sometimes easy to take them for granted, and I hope that members of the community will take some time to join me in extending a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to each and every one of them for all they do every day. They deserve our appreciation and I wish them all a restful and joyful winter break.”

All students and staff will report back in the new year on Friday, January 3, 2020. We look forward to seeing everyone then! After all, GCPS is ON THE MOVE!

New VGCC Scholarship Honors Maria Parham Guild Gift Gallery Volunteer

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Volunteers from the Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Health recently presented $25,000 to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to create a new scholarship. This scholarship — the 14th established by the Guild Gift Gallery in recent years — honors the memory of one of the volunteers, the late Vernell Champion of Henderson.

Champion passed away in November of 2018 at age 76.

In front, from left: Guild Gift Gallery volunteers Claire Catherwood, Tricia Kleczek, Gean Bobbitt, Charlotte Ayscue and Beverly Parrish. In back, from left: VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson with volunteers Fern Ellington, Stephanie Stringer, Pat Ayscue, Shaaron Reynolds, Betty Abbott, Jean Hutchins and Ralph Hutchins. Not pictured: volunteers Shannon Clark, Carol Pegram, Margie Moss, Gail Malone, Jean Norwood, Debra Smiley, Cathy Nowell, Judy Campbell, Sylvia Anderson, Linda Washburn and Anne Bunch. (VGCC photo)

“Vernell was one special lady,” her fellow gift shop volunteer Cathy Robertson remembered. “Vernell was a valuable asset to the Guild Gift Gallery for more than eight years. She was a loyal volunteer, always ready to lend a helping hand anytime, and she was a special friend to all who knew her. She was an active member of Victory Baptist Church and also of South Henderson Pentecostal Church.”

The new gift continues a tradition of the organization’s generous support for education. The volunteer-operated Guild Gift Gallery offers convenience items and gifts as a service to both patients and visitors at the hospital. Profits from sales are used to provide scholarships to people preparing to enter the health care professions.

The new VGCC scholarship will assist deserving students in programs such as Nursing, Radiography, Medical Assisting and Pharmacy Technology.

“Vance-Granville continues to be grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Guild Gift Gallery,” said Eddie Ferguson, VGCC’s endowment fund director. “We’re honored that we get the opportunity to celebrate the life of Mrs. Champion in this way, by helping students achieve their educational goals for years to come.”

Because the “Vernell Champion/Guild Gift Gallery at Maria Parham Presidential Scholar Award” scholarship is endowed, it will be awarded in perpetuity.

“Mrs. Champion’s legacy of volunteer service will be an inspirational example to students who receive a scholarship in her name, as they prepare to serve in the health care field,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, the president of VGCC. “Thanks to volunteers like Mrs. Champion, the Guild Gift Gallery makes a significant difference in our community by supporting students in their pursuit of rewarding careers.”

Through the Endowment Fund, VGCC has awarded more than 9,700 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, please call (252) 738-3409.

Granville Christmas Events Full of Crafts, History & Santa!

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

Make a wooden snowman with “Crafts for Every Season,” offered through the Creative Lifelong Learning program of Granville County Senior Services. This hands-on workshop will be held on Dec. 13 from 9:30 until 11 a.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford. The instructor is Christine Luscavich. Call Marilyn Howard at 919-693-1930 to register.

Have your pets’ photos made with Santa and enjoy refreshments as the Animal Shelter hosts its annual holiday event. Santa will be available beginning at 11 a.m. at Coldwell Banker Advantage, 2555-A Capital Drive in Creedmoor. For details, contact the Granville County Animal Shelter at 919-693-6749.

Create your own hand-crafted holiday chocolates at the Thornton Library on Dec. 14. Beginning at 2 p.m., make (and sample) peppermint chocolate candies. (Must be 18 years of age and older to participate.) Contact Adult Services Librarian Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121 for more information.

Learn more about genealogy and local history as two programs are presented by the Granville County Library System. North Carolina Room Specialist Mark Pace will show participants how to “discover their roots” as he provides an overview of the history of our area and the resources available to help develop a family tree. These presentations will be held on Dec. 14 at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor and on Dec. 15 at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford, both at 2 p.m. Contact Pace for more information at 919-693-1121.

Want to make your own personalized Christmas gift? A series of fun Cricut workshops continue at the South Branch Library in Creedmoor. Bring your own coffee mugs, plates or other items you would like to have personalized on Dec. 18  at 2 p.m. Supplies will be provided. The event is for ages 18 and up. Call Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121 for details.

Santa and his elves will be turning the South Branch Library into a winter wonderland from 4 until 6 p.m. on Dec. 18. Bring your kids for pictures, greetings and special Christmas wishes. Or enjoy Stories with Santa at the Thornton Library at 5 p.m.– while making a fun holiday craft—on the same day! Visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ for a listing of additional events scheduled for all branches of the Granville County Library System.

Learn how to make holiday candles and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate as the Granville County Library System’s “Crafternoon” series continues with a workshop at the Berea Library on Dec. 19 (5:30 p.m.) Registration is required to reserve materials for this event. For details, contact Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121.

It’s Movie Night at Thornton Library! On Dec. 20, enjoy “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 6 p.m., complete with popcorn! Contact Adult Services Librarian Stefani Perry at 919-693-1121 for details.

Enjoy holiday music as the South Branch Library hosts a Christmas Piano Student Recital on Dec. 21. Performances begin at 3 p.m., refreshments will be served. To learn more, contact Penelope Mason, Library Branch Manager, at 919-528-1752.

Granville County Chamber of Commerce

Nominations Requested for Granville Chamber’s 2020 John Penn Citizen Award

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— Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s Recognition Committee announces that the committee is accepting nominations for the 2020 John Penn Citizen of the Year Award.  This prestigious award, named for Granville County’s signer of the Declaration of Independence, is presented at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Banquet.

The 2020 event will be held Monday, January 27, 2020, in the Civic Center at Vance-Granville Community College.

Nomination forms may be obtained at a Chamber office or may be downloaded from the Chamber’s website, www.granville-chamber.com.

This award was designed to recognize a person(s) for outstanding service to the community. Past recipients include Dr. Joseph Colson, Mrs. Robinette Husketh, Hubert Gooch, Rev. G. C. Hawley, Mrs. Gladys Satterwhite, Hugh Currin, Sr., Rev. Harrison Simons, Tom Speed, John Mackie, Dr. Roy Noblin, Dr. David Noel, John K. Nelms, J. J. Medford, Mrs. Mildred A. Jenkins, Tom Johnson, Mrs. Virginia Tuck, L. Clement Yancey, Mrs. Nancy W. Darden, Leonard M. Dunn, Mrs. Carlene Fletcher, Hubert L. Cox, Leonard Peace, Sr., Marshall Tanner, Harold Sherman, Boyce Harvey, Paul Kiesow, Ms. Johnsie Cunningham, Stan Fox, Doan and Bette Laursen, Dr. John B. Hardy, Jr., L. C. Adcock, Jim Crawford, Xavier Wortham, Dr. Richard and Julia Ann Taylor, Gary Bowman, James “Lump” and Mary Ann Lumpkins, Laura Gable and Annette Myers.

Nominations are due no later than Thursday, January 2, 2020. 

Formal invitations to the banquet will be mailed to Chamber members. Persons interested in attending may contact one of the Chamber’s offices – wanda@granville-chamber.com, 919.693.6125; tawheeler@granaville-chamber.com, 919.528.4994.

McGregor Hall to Offer Three Performances of ‘Black Nativity’

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will feature three presentations of “Black Nativity” this weekend: Friday, December 13 & Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, 2019.

Black Nativity is a heartfelt musical presenting a fresh, new way to relive the birth of Jesus Christ. Based on the poetry of Langston Hughes and favorite gospel songs, “Black Nativity” leads us back to the manger through the rhythm of drums, the feet of high energy dancers and the souls of passionate storytellers.

Tickets may be purchased by:

DROP-IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)