Vance Co. Middle School Teacher Selected to Attend Energy Literacy Fellows Program

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Pamela Perry, a member of the faculty at Vance County Middle School, has been selected to participate in the prestigious 2019 Energy Literacy Fellows Program for this year through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment.

Perry begins her participation in this statewide program with fellow educators in early March. As an Energy Literacy Fellow, she will receive benefits including:

  • access to current science content related to emerging energy issues and technologies
  • resources to support classroom integration of content
  • over $250 worth of instructional materials to support hands-on STEM investigations
  • access to a peer learning network including 2017 and 2018 Fellows
  • credit towards CEUs and the N.C. EE Certification Program
  • support for sharing energy-related STEM instructional strategies and successes with other teaching professionals at the district, regional, state and national levels

Perry will be able to participate in lots of on-site professional development sessions and several virtual sessions with educational colleagues across the state.

“I’m so excited to be chosen to participate in this program,” said Perry, who will be among the third cohort for the Fellows Program. “I see this as a great opportunity to use my training as a teacher in science and math to network with other educators and to bring back strategies and practices that will benefit both my students and my colleagues. Since we have our zSpace and MakerSpace labs here at the school, I think this experience will be a wonderful way to learn more about how we can use these innovations in our everyday instruction.”

Pamela Perry, a member of the faculty at Vance County Middle School, has been selected to participate in the prestigious 2019 Energy Literacy Fellows Program for this year through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment. (Photo courtesy VCS)

Granville County Logo

Second Raccoon in as Many Weeks Found in Granville Co.

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-Information courtesy the Granville County Government Facebook page

RABIES ALERT

Granville County Animal Control reports the pickup of the second raccoon testing positive for rabies in the past two weeks. The animal was collected in the area of Bruce Garner Road/Graham Sherron Road/Champion Drive on February 25, 2019. Residents of that area are being notified of this report.

All pet owners are urged to ensure their animals (dogs, cats, ferrets) have current rabies vaccines as mandated by North Carolina law. One-year rabies vaccines for dogs and cats are available for only $6 at the Granville County Animal Shelter. Vaccines can be administered from noon until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week.

The Shelter is located at 5650 Cornwall Road in Oxford. Call 919-693-6749 for more information.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Registration Deadline for Adult Winter Basketball Extended!

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-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department announces the return of adult winter basketball for 2019. This league is designed for adults who enjoy the game of basketball. Games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday nights with game times depending on the number of teams that register.

The registration deadline has been extended to Friday, March 8, 2019! $420 entry fee per team.

Each team will be guaranteed at least eight regular season games. A double elimination tournament will follow the end of the regular season.

For more information, please contact Steve Osborne at 252.438.2670 or sosborne@ci.henderson.nc.us or Victor Hunt at 252.438.3408 or vhunt@ci.henderson.nc.us.

Creative Lifelong Learning Offers Humanitarian Opportunity, Informative Classes

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Creative Lifelong Learning (CLL) classes and events continue to be provided through Granville County Senior Services as the next quarter approaches.

In observance of World Water Day (March 22), CLL is partnering with Wine to Water, a non-profit organization located in Boone, NC to help build awareness of the world’s water crisis while providing a fun, interactive filter build experience. This free event is open to the public and is scheduled for Friday, March 8 from 3 until 4 p.m. at the Granville County Senior Center in Oxford.

Facts about the water crisis will be provided during the hands-on experience as filters are assembled to provide clean water around the world. Each filter can provide ten people with clean water for more than ten years.

Although the event is free, there is an opportunity to contribute to the cost of building filters and the logistics of getting them to remote areas around the world.  You may make your tax-deductible donation at the event or visit the campaign site at: https://bit.ly/2SiWm8A.

The campaign will be open through the end of March. The Oxford Rotary Club has already made a large contribution to this campaign. Other civic and church organizations are also invited to contribute.

Other exciting and informative classes for March include the following:

  • Nutrition for Living II scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m.;
  • More Practical Wisdom: Is it possible to walk a spiritual path in today’s world? scheduled March 28 through April 18 (Thursdays) from 10 until 11:30 a.m.; and
  • The Trojan War: Myth & History scheduled March 13 through April 10 (Wednesdays) 2:30 until 3:30 p.m.

Classes are open to all interested adults.

Ideas for classes, events and other opportunities are welcome for the next curriculum year. Those interested in teaching classes may contact the Senior Center or apply through the Granville County Government website.

The Granville County Senior Center in Oxford is located at 107 Lanier Street. To learn more about the CLL program and scheduled classes, visit www.granvillecounty.org/residents/senior-services/center-lifelong-learning/ or contact Granville County Senior Services at 919-693-1930.

News 02/28/19

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Commissioner Causey to Visit Vance Co. Fire Stations, Insurance Agencies Thursday

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-Press Release, N.C. Dept. of Insurance 

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey plans stops in Vance County on Thursday, February 28, 2019, where he’ll present grant checks to fire departments for needed improvements, congratulate departments on their improved insurance ratings, and discuss efforts to modernize the insurance industry with insurance agencies.

During stops at fire stations, Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will also listen to firefighters’ concerns and discuss the need to improve volunteer recruitment and retention. At insurance agencies, Commissioner Causey will meet with agents to better understand their needs.

Two of the fire departments Commissioner Causey will visit Thursday – Bearpond and Epson – recently received improved ratings following inspections. Achieving a better rating can mean lowered insurance rates for businesses and homeowners in that district.

The Bearpond Volunteer Fire Department is one of four fire departments that will receive ceremonial grant checks from Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Causey. Watkins Community Volunteer Fire Department ($29,752), Epson Fire Department ($11,572), and the Hicksboro Volunteer Fire Department ($29,765) will join the Bearpond Volunteer Fire Department ($5,893) on the receiving end of check presentations.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for the day:

10 a.m. – Watkins Community Volunteer Fire Department, 1590 Horseshoe Bend Road, Henderson

10:45 a.m. – Bearpond Volunteer Fire Department, 325 Bearpond Road, Henderson

11:30 a.m.  – Epson Fire Department, 8120 N.C. 39, Henderson

1:30 p.m. – Joel T. Cheatham Insurance, 106 W. Winder St., Henderson

2:00 p.m. – Jeffrey Ayscue Allstate Agency, 946 W. Andrews Ave., Suite A2, Henderson

2:30 p.m. – Hicksboro Volunteer Fire Department, 6595 Hicksboro Road, Oxford

Vance Co. Schools Hosts Edcamp Vance; 200 Educators in Attendance

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Approximately 200 educators attended Edcamp Vance on Saturday, February 23, to share their expertise, successful strategies and ideas about public education in our society today.

The event, the second Edcamp hosted by Vance County Schools, was held throughout the morning at AdVance Academy in Henderson.

Educators came together to network and learn from one another in an effort to celebrate their profession and move forward with positive momentum for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year and beyond.

Educators crowd into the cafeteria at AdVance Academy to begin their participation in Edcamp Vance. (Photo Credit: VCS)

Vance County High School Vipers band members and cheerleaders, along with the cheerleaders from Vance County Middle School, welcomed all of the educators as they arrived for the event. The opening of Edcamp was lively and very energized as participants had fun posing in front of a photo board, even putting on crazy hats, sunglasses, pure contact lenses, scarves and more after they arrived and then greeting their colleagues with lots of smiles and hugs.

Edcamp Vance drew educators from across our region of the state, but the largest contingency by far was from Vance County Schools.

Superintendent Anthony Jackson was on hand to welcome everyone and to challenge all of the educators to teach all children as if they are their own and to disrupt the educational process every day to bring out the best in their students.

Assistant superintendents Dr. Trixie Brooks and Dr. Cindy Bennett also attended, as did most of our district principals and assistant principals. Classroom teachers made up the majority of the participants, but there were also lots of support staff in attendance. Everyone came together based on their strong commitment for students and public education.

AdVance Academy, led by Principal Stephanie Ayscue, was a wonderful host site for Edcamp. The planning committee for the event, which included several educational leaders from Vance County Schools, did an absolutely marvelous job in planning details of the event and making all participants feel welcomed and a huge part of the proceedings.

Educators attended some very powerful collaborative sessions, during which everyone had the opportunity to make the most of the experience and share their opinions and expertise on the educational process. At the end of the day, educators stressed that they thoroughly enjoyed being with their colleagues and learning from one another.

Superintendent Anthony Jackson of Vance County Schools, welcomes everyone to Edcamp Vance. (Photo Credit: VCS)

Angela Cusaac, Vance County Schools Teacher of the Year, left, and Principal Stephanie Ayscue of AdVance Academy, were two of the members of the Edcamp Planning Committee. (Photo Credit: VCS)

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market to Hold 2019 Vendor Meeting

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

In a few short weeks, spring will be here and the Vance County Regional Farmers Market will once again open for business. Anyone who is interested in becoming a vendor for the 2019 season is invited to our annual Vendor Meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 5:30 pm.

The meeting will take place at the Farmers Market, which is located at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson. A light dinner will be served.

Topics for discussion include a review of the guidelines and application, input on the opening date, procedures review and more.

For more information, please contact the Market Manager, Tracy Madigan, at tmadigan@vancecounty.org or 252-598-0814.

Renovations Complete, Maria Parham Health’s Cafeteria Open for Business

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-Information courtesy Maria Parham Health’s Facebook page

Maria Parham Health announces their cafeteria renovations are complete. The cafeteria reopened today for normal business hours.

Business hours are:

Breakfast – 7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

Lunch – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dinner – 4 – 6 p.m.

Maria Parham Health thanks the community for their patience and understanding during the renovation process.

Rebuilding Hope Registering Participants for Servants on Site Week

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-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 

While the deadline for registering for this summer’s Servants on Site is May 1, 2019, over half of the 200 openings for participants have already been filled.

RHI coordinator Randolph Wilson reports that 109 Early Bird registrations have been received for the June 22-29 event and that a theme for the Servants on Site week has been chosen.

This year’s theme is “I.D. Identify Defined.”

Encourage your youths to take part in this mission endeavor. If you know of any churches or youths you feel would be interested, call our office with contact information.

The cost is $150 per participant. Youths must have completed sixth grade.

Keep in mind that for every five youths, we require one adult of the same sex.

Financial Support for SOS Projects

Churches provide financial support to purchase materials that a crew will need for the work project at their work site, and they provide lunches to the crew and homeowner during the week. Churches serve the crew and the homeowner, but they will tell you that they are also blessed by both.

Crew partners could number as many as 15 participants from as many as eight of our different registered groups. The crew, and often the homeowner, worship with their sponsoring church on Sunday morning and have lunch with them afterward. This is the first time the crew members meet together as a crew. It is a great time for all the partners to begin knowing each other.  Crews serve the homeowner and the church, and they will tell you they are blessed by both.

The homeowners are also both blessed and a blessing.

We expect the partnership of a sponsoring church, an SOS crew, and a homeowner to provide a rewarding experience for everyone. We have seen that the relationships that are built last beyond the week of SOS.

SOS will have worship services at Central Baptist Church at 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday, June 23 – June 28, with the exception of Wednesday. We hope many will join us as often as possible.