VGCC Reopening Business Seminars

VGCC Small Business Center Presents ‘Reopening Your Business’ Webinar Series

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-Information courtesy the VGCC Small Business Center 

As local businesses begin to reopen, the Small Business Center of Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) has scheduled a six-part series of online seminars intended to assist businesses in navigating these uncharted waters.

Sessions include:

June 4 – Understanding Phases 1, 2 and 3 of Reopening

June 9 – Reopening Your Business Without Opening Liability

June 11 – Best Social Media Practices as You Reopen

June 16 – The Latest CDC Health & Safety Guidelines Broken Down for Your Business

June 17 – Connecting With Customers as you Reopen

June 19 – Managing Finances During Reopening & Beyond

All sessions are from 10 – 11 a.m. Please register no later than twenty-four hours prior to each session at www.ncsbc.net.

In these one-hour sessions, subject matter experts will look at the various phases of reopening along with potential liability, communicating with customers and employees, CDC guidelines and managing finances. There will also be time allowed for questions and answers.

Participants will need a valid email address in order to receive the webinar login information. After registering, the link will be sent the evening before the event, and a reminder email will also be sent approximately one hour before the start time.

With additional questions, please contact the VGCC Small Business Center via email at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu.

Cow Tests Positive for Rabies in Granville County

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-Information courtesy Granville County Government

Granville County Animal Control reports a confirmed case of rabies. A cow has tested positive for the rabies virus near the intersection of Lee Yancey Road and Grassy Creek/Virgilina Road. Animal Control officers are posting notices on surrounding homes.

North Carolina law mandates that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated by four months of age (N.C. General Statute 130A-185). Although cow-to-cow transfer of rabies is very rare, vaccines are available for cows and should be administered by a licensed veterinarian.

To learn more, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html or https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/rabies.html.

Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp

Register Now! Boys & Girls Clubs to Hold Free Virtual Summer Camp

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-Information and flyer courtesy BGCNCNC

The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central North Carolina (BGCNCNC) will hold a free virtual summer camp for local children June 15 through July 31, 2020.

Camp includes:

  • A “Be Great” box full of fun activities and supplies that will be delivered to your home each session
  • Access to a Private Facebook Group for updates, activities and daily Facebook Live sessions
  • Daily Zoom meetings with guest speakers, presentations, classes and more!

In order to receive access and a “Be Great” box, please register by Friday, May 29, 2020. Complete the registration form at www.bgcncnc.com or visit the BGCNCNC’s Oxford, Roanoke Rapids or Vance locations weekdays from 4:30 – 6 p.m.

For more information, call (919) 690-0036 or visit www.bgcncnc.com.

NC Governor Logo

Four-County Area to Receive Over $4 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funding

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper announced that $85.4 million in federal funds provided for COVID-19 relief to counties will be disbursed this week.

Three large counties, Guilford, Mecklenburg and Wake, have already received funds directly from the federal government, and 59 other counties that have completed certification will receive funds this week from the state-administered Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) that was passed by Congress. Counties are encouraged to support municipalities with the funding as needed.

“Everyone is working hard to make ends meet, including county governments as they finalize their budgets,” Governor Cooper said. “These funds will help communities respond to the COVID-19 crisis with testing, personal protective equipment and more.”

Though the federal government did not require that the state share any of the $3.56 billion in the CRF to North Carolina local governments, Governor Cooper’s COVID-19 budget proposal recommended $300 million be allocated to counties and municipalities.

Ultimately, the unanimously approved and bipartisan budget that Governor Cooper signed included $150 million for counties that have the flexibility to share monies with their municipalities as county commissioners deem appropriate.

Local allocations include:

Vance County – $974, 599

Granville County – $1,233,427

Warren County – $571,030

Franklin County – $1,383, 798

The full distribution of funds is listed here by county, along with instructions to counties about how the funds may be used.

The CRF funds may be used for medical needs including the COVID-19 related expenses of public hospitals and clinics, including testing; public health expenses, such as personal protective equipment and other medical supplies, as well as the cost of cleaning public areas and facilities such as nursing homes; payroll expenses for public safety or healthcare employees dedicated to responding to the COVID-19 emergency; and expenses to comply with public health measures, including teleworking, distance learning, food delivery, paid leave for public employees, expenses for maintaining prisons, and protecting the homeless population.

By state law, the 97 remaining counties will receive a base amount of $250,000, with more distributed by population. This quick disbursement of funds was coordinated by the state Office of State Budget and Management and the new North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office (NC PRO).

For questions about how CRF funds may be used, go to the NCPRO website for more information.

Oxford Prep Holds ‘Drive-In’ Commencement Ceremony for Class of 2020

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-Information and photos courtesy Oxford Preparatory School

Oxford Preparatory School (OPS) held a “Drive-In” Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 23, 2020, at 2 p.m. in celebration of the school’s 45 graduates.

OPS candidates for graduation, led by marshals McKayla Boyd, Bryce Garrett, Carla Rodriguez, Zach Biggs, Molly Thrift, Alex Rote, Caitlyn Williams and Nick Ellis, made their way past the vehicle of every family who came to honor the graduates as “Pomp & Circumstance,” played loudly through car radios.

OPS Executive Director Andrew Swanner welcomed seniors and their families to the commencement ceremony. 

Graduates included:

Wesley Chen Aitken, Ey’Mania Alston, Charles Ethan Ayscue, Lori M. Blanks, Rorie Samantha Brewer, Michelle Carlos-Tejada, Shannon Marie Edmondson, Lillian Marie Everly, Daniel Peter Gillis, Claire Noel Gordon, Emanuel Randy Gutierrez, Lindsey Grace Haley, Evelyn Kate Hann, Benjamin Thomas Hester, Maci Anna-Blake Hawks, Ashton Holloway, Robert Mark Hopper, Ridge Newell Huff, Emily Rose Iannuzzi, Jack Christopher Iglesias, Jordan Danielle Jones, Mackenzie Michelle Macon, Abbie Lee Mann, Nathan Robert Metcalf, Sophia Jean Metcalf, Kamarion Emmanuel Moore, Joel Parker Murray, Morgan Alexandria Nance, Emily Nicole Osborne, Alyssa Cameron Parker, Krystal Dawn Parrish, Alexandria Grace Reeder, Ashleigh Laureen Sarvis, Robert Hampton Short, Alexis Nicole Simmons, Ian Somod Simmons, Alexander Mitchell Slack, Catherine Elizabeth Slack, Sarah Jane Slack, Kaitlyn Diane Spain, Matthew Walter Spiers, Kathryn Marie Stock, Kayla Paige Tippett, Travis Alexander Wallace and Macy Cole Watson.

Summa cum laude graduates who maintained a four-year GPA greater than 4.5 were Wes Aitken, Ey’Mania Alston, Robert Hopper, Emily Iannuzzi, Abbie Mann, Nathan Metcalf, Sophia Metcalf, Kamarion Moore and Alexis Simmons.

In addition to the nine summa cum laude graduates, Lindsey Haley, Claire Gordon and Ian Simmons were honored as magna cum laude graduates for maintaining a GPA between 4.0 and 4.49.

Seniors Emily Osborne and Ashton Holloway were named cum laude graduates for maintaining a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. 

98% of the students received acceptance to a four-year college and were offered more than $5.7 million in scholarships. 72% of seniors obtained some college credit hours, eight completed the CCP pathway with a minimum of 32 credit hours and one student earned a full AS degree.

 

 

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Local COVID-19 Report: 31 Deaths Reported in Granville, Vance Health District

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 26, 2020, there are 258 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 243 cases in Vance County, and 24,140 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, 119 in Granville County are associated with the prisons, 45 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health nursing home, and 22 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 139 community-based cases in Granville County, 57 have been released from isolation and 4 are hospitalized.

Of the 119 cases in the prison system, 63 have been released from isolation.

Of the 243 cases in Vance, 98 have been released from isolation and 12 are currently hospitalized.

There have been a total of 31 deaths in the health district – 20 in Vance County and 11 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

VGCC Biotech Students Participate in Virtual Career Fair

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Students studying biotechnology at Vance-Granville Community College recently joined their counterparts from a handful of other colleges in a career fair that was tailor-made for the current state of social distancing and video-conferencing. 

On May 14, nine VGCC Bioprocess students participated – from their homes – in the first in a planned series of Virtual Career Fairs organized by the BioNetwork, part of the N.C. Community College System. Representatives of several North Carolina biopharmaceutical companies talked with students, including Biogen, Catalent, KBI, Guerbet, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Seqirus, along with staffing agencies like Adecco, Manpower and Spectraforce. 

“This innovative event represented an outstanding partnership of Vance-Granville staff, the BioNetwork and the private sector,” said Stewart Lyon, who heads VGCC’s Biotech programs, based at the college’s Franklin County Campus. “Although the full results are still being tabulated, we know that our students were able to speak with an average of six employers during the event, and one student spoke with 13 potential employers!  Some participants have also confirmed that they have received invitations to formal job interviews from the event.”

VGCC not only made this opportunity available to students but also helped prepare them ahead of time, so they could present themselves in the best professional light. Lyon, VGCC Director of Career Services Linda Fletcher and BioNetwork staff all helped review the students’ resumes before the event. In fact, having an “approved” resume was a requirement for students to participate. Lyon and Fletcher continue to offer such services to students, to help them secure good jobs after they complete their studies. 

Enrollment for the Fall 2020 semester is going on now for the Bioprocess Technology program. VGCC offers a Bioprocess Technology certificate, which can be completed in as little as six months (combining online coursework with labs meeting only once per week); a diploma program, which takes about one year, and the two-year Associate in Applied Science degree. All these options are eligible for federal financial aid to qualified students. 

Lyon also points out that students have options to continue their education beyond VGCC, particularly through new transfer opportunities. Students seeking four-year degrees can transfer to North Carolina Central University and East Carolina University through special articulation agreements.

For more information on VGCC’s biotech programs, contact Mr. Lyon at lyons@vgcc.edu or 252-738-3632.

Prospective students are also encouraged to check the college website, www.vgcc.edu, and the Facebook page – facebook.com/vancegranville – this summer for announcements on upcoming Biotech information sessions.

Dr. Andrea Harris

In Memory of Dr. Andrea Harris, Local Resident and NC Women & Minority Economic Developer

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-Obituary and photo courtesy Davis-Royster Funeral Service

Dr. Andrea Lynnette Harris, 71, of West Rockspring Street, Henderson, died May 20, 2020, at Duke Raleigh Medical Center in Raleigh. She was born in Sumter, SC to the late Al Harris, Sr. and Geneva Smith Harris.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. No public services will be held at this time.

She is survived by two nieces: Alana and Omara Harris; and one great-niece, Lourdes Harris, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Arrangements are by Davis-Royster Funeral Service: https://www.davis-royster.com/obituaries/Dr-Andrea-Lynnette-Harris?obId=14048441#/celebrationWall

Dr. Andrea Harris, Henderson resident and NC Women & Minority Economic Developer, died May 20, 2020. (Photo courtesy Davis-Royster Funeral Service)

Congressman G. K. Butterfield issued the following statement on Harris:

“Andrea Harris lived a life of passion, humility and unwavering dedication to breaking barriers and blazing trails for the economic advancement of minority groups. From being the youngest community agency director in the nation at age 23 to serving as Co-founder of the Senior Fellow of the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development in Durham, NC; Andrea dedicated her life’s work to the imperative economic principle that prosperity must be shared and never isolated.”

“Though she was the recipient of many awards and recognitions for her work in business and leadership—above all, Andrea Harris is beautifully adorned by the doors that she has opened, the opportunities that she has fostered and the lasting impact she has made on individuals, businesses and minority communities in North Carolina. Her legacy continues to challenge us all to be better, to speak up, to make our voices heard and our purpose clear. Andrea was my personal friend for more than 40 years, and I extend my sincerest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce President Michele Burgess said Harris will be remembered as a trailblazer for historically underutilized businesses and for her work with civil rights. She was serving as a member of the Vance County Economic Development Commission Board and was on the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees.

Henderson Mayor Eddie Ellington had these kind words: “Today we remember one of the brightest lights of our time. A brilliant champion for all people, a fierce friend and truly a phenomenal lady. Like so many others, we cherish the time we were privileged to share with Andrea Harris. With a strong word she had the ability to remind us what was truly important. I recall the words of Maya Angelou, ‘No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again, and bring the dawn.’”

Yesterday, NC Governor Roy Cooper honored Harris’ many accomplishments by ordering all North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Saturday, May 23.

GCPS Surpasses Quarter Million Meals Served to Children During Pandemic

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Monday, March 16, 2020 marked the first day Governor Cooper ordered all public schools to be closed in our state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the nearly 70 days since that time, Granville County Public Schools has delivered innovative and flexible services to meet the needs of our community.

We are proud to announce that this past week, the district surpassed the quarter-million meal count, and has now served 292,814 total meals to the children in Granville County during the pandemic. These high-quality, nutritional meals include many of the same items served in our regular school-based menus, including things like fresh fruit, vegetables, yogurt, cheese sticks, breakfast bars, sandwiches, pizza, nachos, and of course, our beloved tater tots! Plenty of fruit juice and fresh milk help round out each meal served, with the occasional cookie as a treat for our children.

Patricia Crute, Child Nutrition Director, Granville County Public Schools (Photo courtesy GCPS)

The district’s meal service has shifted to meet demand and to minimize the risk to staff and volunteers, and in recent weeks has ramped up production to provide more than 40,000 meals a week.

Currently, the district provides drive-up service at 26 sites, and door-to-door delivery to the homes of disabled and medically fragile children. It is important to note that service is provided to ALL children aged 2-18 who request meals, regardless of which school they might attend. Students enrolled in charters, private schools or who are homeschooled are welcomed with open arms to any meal service site. Our goal is for no child in our community to be hungry while school is not physically in session.

Leading this effort across the county is Child Nutrition Director, Patricia Crute. A native of Granville County and veteran GCPS employee of 29 years, Ms. Crute offered her thoughts on the program thus far, stating, “Child nutrition has always been my passion. Being able to provide meals to our children during this time is what I feel I am supposed to do. I love knowing that my staff and I, with the help of all of the volunteers and the staff from our Transportation and Maintenance departments, are making a difference in the lives of our children.”

Superintendent Dr. Alisa McLean offered her perspective on the effort, sharing, “I could not be prouder of our team. While we couldn’t control the challenges brought on by this pandemic, we can control how we respond and continue to meet our children’s needs. I am truly grateful to the hard-working and dedicated staff in our Child Nutrition, Transportation, and Maintenance Departments, as well as our Teacher Assistants, Custodians and all of the other employees who have helped make this meal service possible. I also want to send a special ‘Thank You’ out to the countless volunteers who have also been on the front lines with us in helping make sure our children do not go hungry. We truly are blessed in this community for how we all join together in taking care of our children and making their welfare the top priority.”

The current meal service will continue through the end of the regular school year. The last day for drive-thru and delivery will be provided on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

A modified summer feeding program is currently being planned to help meet the nutritional needs of children while school is not in session. Details about that program will be provided to families soon.

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Local COVID-19 Report; NC Moves to Phase 2 of Lifting Restrictions

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health and Brian Short, director of H-V Emergency Management

As of May 21, 2020, there are 222 known COVID -19 cases in Granville County, 194 cases in Vance County, and 20,860 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, 99 in Granville County are associated with the prisons, 45 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health nursing home, and 18 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 123 community-based cases in Granville County, 54 have been released from isolation and five are hospitalized.

Of the 99 cases in the prison system, 67 have been released from isolation.

Of the 194 cases in Vance County, 75 have been released from isolation and 11 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 26 deaths in the health district – 19 in Vance County and seven with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

In state news, Governor Cooper and DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen issued Executive Order 141 announcing that North Carolina will move into “Safer At Home” Phase 2 of lifting COVID-19 restrictions today, Friday, May 22, 2020, at 5 p.m.

Phase 2 lifts the Stay At Home order moving into a Safer At Home recommendation, especially for people at high risk for serious illness. Teleworking is also urged when possible.

Mass gathering limits in Phase 2 will be no more than 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors in most circumstances. These limits apply to the following: event venues; conference centers; stadiums and sports arenas; amphitheaters; and groups at parks or beaches.

Some businesses will remain closed in Phase 2 including bars, night clubs, gyms and indoor fitness facilities and indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters and bowling alleys.

Certain businesses will be open at limited capacity with other requirements and recommendations, including restaurants at 50% dine-in capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements; personal care businesses, including salons and barbers, at 50% capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements; pools at 50% capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements.

Childcare facilities, day camps and overnight camps will be open with enhanced cleaning and screening requirements.

Retail businesses allowed to open in Phase 1 at 50% capacity will continue at that level.

Public health recommendations are provided for worship services to practice enhanced social distancing and other cleaning and hygiene practices.

The Safer At Home Phase 2 runs through at least Friday, June 26, 2020.