Local Chambers Recognize 2018 Small Business of the Year Recipients
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, along with the Franklin, Granville and Warren County Chambers and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center, hosted the seventeenth annual Small Business Luncheon at the Henderson Country Club on Thursday, May 9, 2019.
The 2018 Small Business of the Year award recipients included Holland Industrial, Vance County; US 98.3/Lakes Media LLC, Granville County; Focus Design Builders, Franklin County; and Hardware Café, Warren County.
Holland Industrial receives the 2018 Vance County Small Business of the Year award. Left to right: Patrick Brame, Bobby Powell, Charles “Charlie” Brown and Vanessa Jones, interim president, Henderson-Vance Chamber. (WIZS photo)
Duke Energy was once again the presenting sponsor for this event. Tanya Evans, district manager for Duke Energy, thanked the small business owners and staff members for their contributions to the community and for their level of commitment.
“As a small business owner, you don’t get to turn it off at 5 p.m. and go home. This is a way of life for you and takes dedication and commitment,” Evans said.
Keynote speaker John Alston, owner of A&S Pest Control and winner of the Warren County Chamber’s 2008 Small Business of the Year award, spoke on his 42 years of success as a local small business owner.
“Success is not about how much money you make, it’s about the relationships you form and your enjoyment of the job you are doing,” Alston explained.
Alston said he felt blessed to have started a company that allows him to do what he enjoys while also providing financially for other families.
After hearing from Alston, Vanessa Jones, interim president of the Henderson-Vance Chamber, presented the 2018 Vance County award to electric motor and mechanical repair facility Holland Industrial.
Focus Design Builders receives the 2018 Greater Franklin County Small Business of the Year award. Left to right: Jonathan Williams, Paul Eitel and John Barnes, executive director, Greater Franklin Chamber. (WIZS photo)
Located on West Montgomery Street in Henderson, the “employee-owned” company was started by Charles S. Holland, Sr. in 1952 and has expanded to include 35 employees and a 150-mile sales territory today.
Now in its third generation of management, Holland President Charles “Charlie” Brown thanked the Chamber for their support and said he hopes Holland will be around to celebrate their 100th anniversary in a few decades.
John Barnes, executive director for the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, presented the Franklin County award to Focus Design Builders, a construction-based company offering a single point of contact for design and construction services.
Founded in 2010 during an ebb in the construction industry, CEO Paul Eitel said it was faith that prompted him and his two business partners to start a construction business.
Three months into the business with $8 million in sales, Eitel said that faith paid off. The company now estimates 300-400 families benefit from the revenue generated by their small business alone.
Jonathan Williams, project developer for Focus Design Builders, also mentioned the education he received at Vance-Granville Community College before transferring to a four-year university.
US 98.3/Lakes Media LLC receives the 2018 Franklin County Small Business of the Year award. Left to right: Aurora Birch, Tom Birch and Sandra Dean Pruitt, president of Granville Insurance Agency. (WIZS Photo)
“I’m proof that you can receive a quality education here locally,” Williams said in support of VGCC.
Granville County’s award recipient, US 98.3/Lakes Media LLC was presented their award by Sandra Dean Pruitt, president of Granville Insurance Agency.
Tom Birch, president, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Launched in Oxford in 2005 and expanding to South Boston in 2006, Birch said the station has approximately 45,000 listeners today.
Birch also proclaimed that “radio is alive and well” and is still the most effective medium of all reach platforms, including television, in the constantly-evolving communications game.
Warren County Chamber Chair Kathleen Derring presented the Warren County award to Hardware Café manager Haley Paynter.
Hardware Cafe receives the 2018 Warren County Small Business of the Year award. Left to right: Haley Paynter and Kathleen Derring, chair of Warren Chamber. (WIZS Photo).
Located in downtown Warrenton, the previous hardware store, now affectionately known by locals as the “red and black” café, has quite the history, including a recent change in management with Paynter at the helm.
Derring said this award was “a long time coming” for the Hardware Café and explained that as a small business owner herself, she knew that loving what you do is essential for success.
Held in conjunction with National Small Business Week, the annual luncheon highlighted and supported what Henderson-Vance Chamber Chair Nancy Wykle referred to as “the backbone of our community and our economy both nationally and locally, small business.”
Community Voices Leadership Program Announces Remaining Session Dates
Community Voices Leadership Development Training for Vance County
This training series is designed for:
- People who want to be trained to help others to discuss critical community issues.
- People who want to create a shared vision for their community’s future.
- People who are interested in learning good listening and communication skills.
- People who are willing to volunteer their time to implement a community action plan in support of this community effort.
The training session began with a tremendous kick-off session on April 9, 2019, and we want to keep the momentum going. The sessions will be held nearly once a week and will run through late-June over the next 7 to 8 weeks. Members of our community who have been trained to serve as facilitators for this program will be running the sessions. We plan to conclude the training program with an Action Forum & Graduation in June after the holiday season.
Sessions are held at the Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market, 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson at 6 p.m. on the scheduled dates below. Some adjustments may be made to the schedule as needed.
| April 9:
Kick-Off Session |
Working Together to Build a Strong Community
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| April 30:
Session 1 |
Creating a Shared Vision of Community’s Future
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| May 7:
Session 2 |
Connecting Our Vision to Community Strengths & Resources
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| May 14:
Session 3 |
Communicating as a Group to Reach Our Vision & Making Shared Decisions as a Group
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| May 21:
Session 4 |
Learning to Solve Our Community Problems, Step by Step & Selecting Community Problems from our Vision
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| May 28:
Session 5 |
Seeking More Information about Our Problems and Determining Solutions for Our Problems
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| June 4:
Session 6 |
Determining Solutions to Our Community Problems
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| June 11:
Session 7 |
Part 1: Making a Shared Community Action Plan & Planning to Continue Our Work
Facilitators: Niki Alston and Angela Venable |
| June 18:
Session 8 |
To prepare for action forum |
| June 25 (tentative): | Action Forum & Graduation
Facilitators: TBD |
Hurricane Preparedness Week: Complete Your Written Hurricane Plan
-Information courtesy Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations
THIS WEEK IS NORTH CAROLINA’S HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK
All week long, the National Weather Service has issued informative messages to help you prepare for the hurricane season. Today’s topic, the final in the series for this year’s hurricane preparedness week, is complete your written hurricane plan.
The time to prepare for a hurricane is before the season begins – when you have the time and are not under pressure. If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep, the odds are that you will be under duress and will make the wrong decisions. Take the time now to write down your hurricane plan. Know where you will ride out the storm and get your supplies now. You don’t want to be standing in long lines when a hurricane warning is issued. Those supplies that you need will probably be sold out by the time you reach the front of the line.
Being prepared, before a hurricane threatens, makes you resilient to the hurricane impacts of wind and water. It will mean the difference between being a hurricane victim and a hurricane survivor.
Here are some things to know about completing a written hurricane plan:
• Writing down your plan will ensure you don’t make mistakes when faced with an emergency.
• Document all of your valuables and possessions with a camera or video camera well before the storm.
• Gather all vital documents, like passports and medical records, and put them somewhere that you can quickly access.
• Make planning and preparedness a family affair to ensure everyone knows what to do.
• Don’t forget to include your pets in your plan.
• Every plan should include gathering non-perishable emergency supplies and assembling a disaster supply kit.
• Share your plan with others in your family, and have an out-of-state friend as a family contact who knows your plan and where you will go during a disaster, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
To make developing your family emergency plan easy, be sure to download a free template that is available online at https://readync.org.
For more information about hurricane preparedness, please visit the following web sites:
Henderson City Council to Discuss Proposed Budget, Mon., May 13
-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson, NC
The Henderson City Council will hold their regular meeting on Monday, May 13, 2019, beginning at 6 p.m. in the R.G. (Chick) Young, Jr. Council Chambers of the Municipal Building located at 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson, NC.
Agenda items include:
PUBLIC HEARING
a) Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 19-01, Amending the Zoning Map to Rezone 1337 Dabney Drive (Parcel 0013 03052), 1343 Dabney Drive (Parcel 0013 03001), and 1511 Lynne Avenue (Parcel 0013 03002) from OIA (Office Institutional “A”) District and R-8 (Moderate to High Density Residential) District to B-4 (Neighborhood Commercial) District.
(b) Consideration of 1) Holding a Public Hearing on the Question Annexing 429 Birch Street and 432 Bobbitt Street Pursuant to NCGS §160A-31, and 2) Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 19-16, 1) Extending the Corporate Limits of the City of Henderson, North Carolina; 2) Assignment of Newly Annexed Areas to Ward 4, and 3) Directing the City Attorney to Record Annexation with Vance County Board of Elections, Vance County Register of Deeds and the North Carolina Secretary of State.
NEW BUSINESS
a) Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 19-12, Amending Elmwood Cemetery City Code Article II Section 4-12, Cemetery Maintenance and Operation, and Article IV, Section 4-18, Plants, Flowers, Etc., and Section 4-22, Other Rules and Regulations Enumerated.
b) Consideration of Approval of 1 Ordinance 19-07, Amending Section 10-34 of the City Code Relative to Peddlers, Solicitors, Park Concessions and Food Trucks.
c) Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 19-20, Amending Section 7-48 of the Henderson Code of Ordinances Relative to Specific Streets.
d) Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 19-19, FY19 BA #32, Approving a Budget Amendment to Make Repairs at Red Bud and Industrial Park Pump Stations.
CONSENT AGENDA
All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine or have been previously discussed, and can be approved in one motion unless a Council Member asks for separate consideration of an item.
a) Consideration of Approval of Resolution 19-21, Authorizing the Submission of an Application to the Bureau of Justice Assistance Office for the FY19 Bulletproof Vest Program Grant for the Police Department.
b) Consideration of Approval of Tax Releases and Refunds from Vance County for the Month of March 2019.
CLOSED SESSION
a) Pursuant to G.S.§143-318.11 (a)(6) regarding a Personnel Matter XIV.
WORK SESSION
a) Consideration of Stormwater Utility Ordinance.
b) Consideration of Beckford Drive Widening Project.
PROPOSED FY20 BUDGET PRESENTATION (To be Distributed at Meeting)
Short: Unpredictability of Recent Hurricanes Shows Need for Early Preparations
Brian K. Short, director of emergency operations for Henderson-Vance County Emergency Operations, was on Thursday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss North Carolina’s upcoming 2019 hurricane season.
All week long, WIZS, in conjunction with NC Hurricane Preparedness Week, has brought listeners and online viewers hurricane safety tips courtesy Short and the Emergency Operations Center.
Short said now is the best time to prepare for hurricane season, which begins June 1 and ends November 30.
“It is never too early to make sure you and your family will be taken care of when disaster strikes,” Short proclaimed.
While the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be slightly below average due to an expected weak El Nino effect, Short said it only takes one storm to wreak havoc on a community.
“It only takes one hurricane for your area to have a disaster with a lasting impact for months or even years.”
Short, who has worked with hurricane preparation and cleanup efforts for 29 years, pointed to recent hurricanes Florence and Michael as examples of how unpredictable storms can be.
“With Florence, the local area fared better than we thought; Michael ended up being a little worse than we expected,” said Short. “It goes to show that you can never let your guard down with these storms. You always have to be vigilant.”
Of all the safety tips and suggestions, Short believes the most important is to have at least a 72 hour supply of the essentials for all family members in your household, and to keep those essentials in a water-tight container.
Essentials include drinkable water, medications, eyeglasses, non-perishable food items, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies and important home and health/insurance documents. With water, specifically, Short recommends three gallons per person, per day for three days.
Many people already have these items in their home, Short stated; it’s often a matter of getting all supplies together in one place and properly securing them against storm or water damage.
“If we are significantly impacted by a storm, we won’t be the only area nearby affected. If that is the case, Vance County and North Carolina resources will be spread thin and it may take at least that long [three days] for help to reach you. We ask you to be as self-sustainable as you can possibly be to protect yourself, your family and emergency personnel,” Short urged.
For additional tips on hurricane preparations and to stay up-to-date on the latest weather developments, please visit ReadyNC.org or https://www.vancecounty.org/em.
Smartphone users can also download a free app at https://www.readync.org/EN/DOWNLOADAPP.html. This app provides information regarding storm preparedness as well as current road conditions, local weather, power outages and storm shelters.
To hear the Town Talk interview with Brian Short in its entirety, click here.
H-V Job Readiness Program Offers Youth Summer Employment Opportunities
-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center
The Henderson-Vance Job Readiness Program offers Vance County teenagers ages 14-18 job training and possible job opportunities.
All applicants must be enrolled in school and must register for and attend three days of unpaid training on June 17-19, 2019. The training will teach the job skills needed for HVRPD’s summer youth employment opportunities.
Please register at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Road in Henderson.
Please contact Shantel Hargrove at 252.430.0382 or shhargrove@ci.henderson.nc.us or Gregory Kelly at 252.431.6099 or gkelly@ci.henderson.nc.us for more information.
Vance Co. Properties Committee to Discuss Relocation of Senior Center
-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners
Vance County’s Properties Committee is scheduled to meet Friday, May 17, 2019, at 8 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC.
The main topic to be discussed is the proposed relocation of the Vance County Senior Center.
E.M. Rollins to Offer STEM Activities for the Entire Family – May 25
-Information courtesy Veronica Young, School Counselor, E.M. Rollins Elementary
E.M. Rollins Elementary School and the Youth Connecting Foundation will host a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Fair on Saturday, May 25, 2019, from 11 a.m until 2 p.m.
Events will be held at E.M. Rollins in Henderson and will include hands-on, interactive and educational features.
Bring the entire family. Refreshments will be served.
