Community Partners of Hope

Henderson Men’s Shelter in Need of Volunteers, Donations for December

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-Information courtesy Jane King, Community Partners of Hope

Community Partners of Hope and the Henderson Men’s Shelter recently released their list of December 2018 volunteer and donation needs, including:

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

SUPERVISION (sign up for full week or any part of one)

  •        December 2 – 8 (both shifts)
  •        December 13 – 15 (both shifts)
  •        December 20 –  22 (both shifts)
  •        December 23 – 29 (both shifts)

MEALS (full week or any part of a week)

  •        November 30
  •        December 14 & 15
  •        December 17, 18, 20, 21, 22

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

  • Large bottles of hand sanitizer
  • Large refill bottles of hand soap
  • Cans of foot powder or Athletes Foot spray
  • Tall kitchen trash bags (13 Gallon Size)
  • Laundry detergent
  • 7-ounce adjustable air fresheners
  • Febreeze Fabric Freshener (unscented)
  • Pine-sol type cleaner – gallon containers
  • Toilet bowl cleaner – gel type
  • Soap – small sample size (or hotel supplies)
  • Hand warmers
  • Instant Grits
  • Crackers & nabs
  • Cup of Noodles (with cup)
  • Coffee & creamer
  • Peanut butter & jelly
  • Four-pound bags of sugar
  • CLOTHING – NEW ONLY and in original packages (please take used clothing to thrift store)
  • Men’s undergarments (all sizes)
  • Waterproof men’s gloves
  • Men’s sweatshirts (Sizes L, XL, XXL)
  • Men’s thermal sets (Sizes L, XL, XXL)
  • White tube socks

NOT NEEDED: Shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, instant oatmeal, deodorant, dress socks, and coffee mugs

Donations can be taken to:

  •             First Baptist Church (9 – 5 Monday thru Thursday or 9 – 12 Friday)
  •             First Presbyterian Church (10 – 1 Monday thru Thursday)
  •             WIZS Radio Station
  •             Or call Betty Boyd (252) 432-3967 to arrange delivery

A NOTE ABOUT DONATIONS

We depend on lots of donated clothing (NEW only) and supplies to keep the shelter running and our men warm and dry.    Sometimes we get donations that we cannot use and then several of us must go through them and “regift” them to other agencies.  Please be sure to let your churches know what we do and do not need this year! Also, it is much easier for us if items are donated in their original packaging instead of repackaged in sets.

All contributions are tax deductible.

You may send a check to:

Community Partners of Hope, Inc,

P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536

*You can see our calendar at any time from our website www.cp-hope.org. Just click on the SHELTER CALENDAR tab at the top.

Vance-Granville Community Band to Present Free Winter Concert on Dec. 3

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community Band will present its 11th annual winter concert on Monday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in McGregor Hall at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. The concert is free and open to the public.

“The concert is a classic old-fashioned band concert,” said Brian D. Miller, director of the band. “Bands should always play music that is appealing and makes sense. We have had a great tradition of performing good, solid, traditional band music in the Vance-Granville Community Band. It was John Philip Sousa’s philosophy that music should always be attractive and have great audience appeal. There is no better model for band administration and performance than the one set forth by Sousa.”

The band’s repertoire for the December concert includes a march by Sousa, the seldom-heard “Keeping Step with the Union,” a march Sousa composed in 1921 and dedicated to Mrs. Warren G. Harding, wife of the 29th president of the United States. “Sousa wrote 136 great marches,” Miller said, “but we don’t get to hear the rare ones. It’s a lot of fun to present Sousa’s lesser-known marches.”

Above: Brian Miller conducts the Vance-Granville Community Band during its 2017 winter concert. (VGCC photo)

The band will also perform a rare 1914 march entitled “Radium King.” “This march came from a golden time period of the circus march and celebrated the wonder of radium as a newly-discovered element,” Miller said. Other pieces on the concert include a famous 1960s band composition entitled “Overture In Bb,” a transcription of music from the movie “The Greatest Showman.”

Christmas season music will also be featured on the concert as well, Miller added. Patrons will hear “All Is Well,” “Greensleeves,” and a Christmas march transcribed by band member Bob Salzmann.

“We are certainly fortunate to have Bob Salzmann with us in the band,” said Miller, “because not only is he an excellent musician, he is a fine arranger. It’s great having our own arranger create music for the band.”

The audience will hear two well-known medleys of Christmas favorites, including Leroy Anderson’s all-time classic “Christmas Festival,” referred to by Miller as “one of the greatest Christmas band pieces ever.”

The band has shown significant numerical and musical growth under the baton of veteran band director Miller, who established his identity in the area as the longtime director of the Louisburg High School Band, which grew into one of the state’s largest bands in one of the state’s smallest schools and whose Symphonic and Concert Bands became known in the regional area for performance of traditional band overtures and old-fashioned Sousa marches.

Miller said his philosophy is simple: “Play good, traditional music that is appealing to the audience.”

“We hope that everyone will come enjoy this great cultural experience in historic downtown Henderson,” Miller added. “We want everybody to hear the Vance-Granville Community Band.”

The Community Band, which is sponsored by the VGCC Division of Arts and Sciences, includes people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from throughout the region. No auditions are required. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, on the Main Campus in Henderson, at Exit 209 on Interstate 85 (Poplar Creek Road).

For more information, contact Brian Miller at (919) 496-5877 or at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu or Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu.

Hughes Receives Scholarship From WGU North Carolina

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-Press Release, WGU North Carolina

Despite the rainy weather outside, nothing could dim Shellie Hughes’ smile as she and several coworkers gathered for a special scholarship presentation on Nov. 12. Hughes, a coordinator with CenturyLink, the second largest U.S. communications provider to global enterprise customers, was presented with a $2,000 institutional partner scholarship from WGU North Carolina, the state affiliate of the national nonprofit online Western Governors University.

Shellie Hughes, coordinator with CenturyLink (left), is presented with a $2000 scholarship by Lynne Barbour (right), WGU North Carolina Strategic Partnerships Manager. Hughes is working toward her Master of Science Management and Leadership degree and will use the scholarship to help offset the cost of tuition. (Photo Credit: WGU North Carolina)

Hughes is working toward her Master of Science Management and Leadership degree and will use the scholarship to help offset the cost of tuition. CenturyLink is an institutional partner with WGU, and as such, promotes employee professional development and continuing education. Hughes won the scholarship based on her academic record, readiness for online study at WGU, and current competency in the field of information technology.

WGU is an accredited online university offering more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The university has more than 100,000 students enrolled nationwide, including more than 2,600 in North Carolina.

“Shellie is a bright young woman who would be an asset to any organization,” said WGU North Carolina Strategic Partnerships Manager Lynne Barbour, who presented the scholarship. “One of my favorite parts of this job is traveling throughout the state and presenting scholarships to deserving individuals who are seeking to further their careers through education, and Shellie definitely exemplifies that desire.”

For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit https://www.wgu.edu/north-carolina.html.

Editor’s Note: Hughes is the daughter of Chris and Debra Hughes of Henderson.

Restoration Family Center to Hold Community Yard Sale; Free Food While it Lasts

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-Information courtesy Pastor Adrian Poole, Restoration Family Center 

Restoration Family Center, located at 735 East Rockspring St. in Henderson, will hold a community yard sale on Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free food will be available while it lasts. The yard sale will include some free items.

 

News 11/28/18

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Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant Destroyed by Fire, Cause of Blaze Under Investigation

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Henderson’s Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant on Ruin Creek Road caught on fire overnight. No one was injured.

The popular eating place, beloved by many, is a total loss, according to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell.

The cause is under investigation.

Please scroll below for pictures taken by WIZS staff.

 

 

 

 

Local Protection Society’s Work Reduces Number of Euthanized Shelter Animals

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Alan Hedgepeth and Michelle Wood, volunteers with the Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society (RCAPS), were the guests of honor on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program. RCAPS is a group of volunteers dedicated to finding homes for animals at the Vance County Animal Shelter located on Brodie Rd. in Henderson.

“We started with seven or eight volunteers and, over time, have developed procedures to work with rescue groups in the Northeast,” said Hedgepeth.

According to Hedgepeth, the volunteers spend the majority of their time searching for no-kill rescue groups who will commit to providing a temporary or “foster” home for the animals at the shelter. “We find rescue groups during the week, and each Friday night a transport is arranged so the animals can go to the approved rescue groups up north.”

From there, rescue groups place the animals in “pre-approved and pre-screened” foster homes where they will stay until they are adopted.

When asked why so many of the rescue groups were located up north, Hedgepeth replied, “In the Northeast, they have spay and neuter laws, and those laws are enforced. They don’t have the overpopulation of dogs like we do here in the South.”

One way RCAPS reaches out to the rescue groups is via social media. Photos of each animal in the shelter are posted, along with personal bios and videos, to Facebook for viewing.

“It is a very cumbersome and expensive process,” said Hedgepeth. “Michelle does a lot of the work and has her hands full.”

According to Hedgepeth, weekly transport can cost over $1,000 a week. “That’s why fundraising is so important for us; it costs a lot of money to do what we do.”

Wood reported that 195 animals were transported from the Vance County Animal Shelter to rescue groups in the month of October alone. Hedgepeth said the overall totals are even more astounding with an estimated 16,000 to 20,000 animals placed in foster homes since the group started in 2011.

The group’s hard work, coupled with policies put in place by Chief Frankie Nobles and the Vance County Animal Shelter, has paid off, said Hedgepeth. “When we first started at Ruin Creek, the intake at the shelter was around 4,500 animals a year. Last year, I believe it was around 2,200.”

Hedgepeth was also happy to report that the number of animals euthanized by the shelter has significantly decreased from previous years. “The majority of euthanized animals, at this point, are feral cats; the dog rate is extremely low.”

Wood clarified that the majority of the dogs that are euthanized are not picked up by a rescue group or are injured beyond vet care.

In addition to costs related to transport, RCAPS also has the expense of providing medical care to animals in need. “RCAPS tries to provide medical care for any animal that we reasonably believe can be saved,” said Hedgepeth. “The shelter, often times, doesn’t have the capacity or funds to offer this care and that’s when we step in.”

When asked what his ultimate wish would be for the group, Hedgepeth responded, “Additional funds. I can’t say it enough! The work we do is expensive, and fundraising is essential to keep the group going.”

To listen to the interview in its entirety, please click here.

VGCC Faculty, Staff Raise $16,000 To Support Students

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 -Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College’s annual Faculty & Staff Drive for the VGCC Endowment Fund raised $16,011 this fall from among employees on the college’s four campuses, according to an announcement by the co-chairs for the drive to the Trustees on Monday, Nov. 19, at the board’s regular bi-monthly meeting on the Main Campus.

The funds were raised to support the mission of the college and award scholarships to deserving students, said Eddie Ferguson, director of the Endowment Fund.

Heading up the drive this year were Michael Brodie, Campus Police sergeant; Antoinette Dickens, program head and instructor for the Paralegal Technology curriculum program; Willie Mae Foster-Hill, Main Campus receptionist; and Jeremy Lambert, assistant director of financial aid.

“Our campaign theme was ‘Rise Up!’” Ferguson told the Trustees. “It was based on the fact that every day our students rise up to come to school under a lot of hardships, whether it be academic pressure, family issues, transportation or such. We serve a very diverse community.”

VGCC’s Faculty & Staff Drive for the Endowment Fund was led by volunteers Michael Brodie, Campus Police sergeant; Antoinette Dickens, program head and instructor for Paralegal Technology; Willie Mae Foster-Hill, Main Campus receptionist; and Jeremy Lambert, assistant director of financial aid. Shown above celebrating the success of the drive at the Board of Trustees meeting are, from left, Brodie; Kay Currin, Endowment Fund specialist; Trustee Danny Wright, chair of the board; Dr. Gordon Burns, interim VGCC president; Foster-Hill; and Eddie Ferguson, director of the Endowment Fund. Dickens and Lambert were unavailable for the photo. (VGCC Photo)

The faculty and staff, he said, “rose up” with this drive to provide the funds for the students. “We are really proud to raise this money from our employees, most of which will go directly to students in the form of scholarships. Some of the money is directed to projects such as our student emergency fund to help meet other immediate needs,” Ferguson said.

Statewide Budget Priorities

In his report to the trustees, Interim VGCC President Dr. Gordon Burns outlined budget priorities identified by the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) for 2019 through 2021 and urged the trustees to share those priorities with the returning and newly elected members of the N.C. House of Representatives and the N.C. Senate who represent the four counties served by Vance-Granville Community College.

Under the Workforce Development Legislative Agenda, NCCCS is requesting funding to help 700,000 students annually achieve a better life through high-school equivalency, career and technical education, short-term workforce training, and high quality, affordable college transfer programs, Dr. Burns said. The state’s community colleges are essential in closing the skills gap for North Carolina employers, the NCCCS notes, and are a driving force in the economy of the state.

The system office reports that the state’s 58 community colleges continue to suffer from approximately $53 million in budget cuts made during the 2008 recession that have not been restored, which undercuts efforts to prepare the state’s workforce. Dr. Burns noted, too, that community colleges are having difficulty recruiting and retaining faculty and staff because the average annual faculty salary, at $47,362, is 41st in the nation.

Among legislative priorities for 2019-2021, NCCCS is seeking recurring funds of $11.5 million to fully fund short-term workforce training; $15 million to upgrade information technology systems across the state; $2.6 million to fund workforce-focused multi-campuses; and $2.8 million to expand a program that places career coaches in high schools to assist students with determining career goals and identifying community college programs that align with the students’ goals.

Dr. Burns said the legislative priorities also include increasing funding to bring faculty closer to the national annual salary average of $60,422, enacting statutory changes to eliminate barriers to enrollment caused by the state’s relatively new Residency Determination System, and stabilizing budgets for colleges faced with enrollment declines because of Hurricane Florence.

Capital Projects

In his report to the board on capital projects, Trustee Donald Seifert, chair of the Building Committee, said renovations have been completed to the seminar rooms in the Civic Center on Main Campus.

H.G. Reynolds Company began renovation of a 3,200-square-foot portion of Building 10 on Main Campus to create a Practical Simulation Lab for the Basic Law Enforcement Training, Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Services programs. The work, which started in October, is scheduled to be completed in January. In addition to the area being renovated, parking lot space is being expanded, Seifert said.

College officials are also working with the county managers in Vance and Granville counties to fund the replacement of a storage building on the Main Campus that was lost in a fire this past summer.

Other Action

In other action:

  • The trustees voted to approve the closure of two curriculum certificate programs and a diploma program no longer in demand from students. The closure of the Nurse Aide Certificate, Nurse Aide Diploma and the School Age Care Certificate programs, effective this fall, will go to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the North Carolina Community College System for final approvals. The closures came at the request of the Curriculum Committee, chaired by Trustee Barbara Cates Harris.
  • Trustee Xavier Wortham, chair of the Investment Committee, reported the VGCC Endowment Fund Corporation received a favorable report from May & Place PA, certified public accountants, for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. He also gave the bimonthly update on the college’s investments.
  • Trustee Sara Wester, chair of the Personnel Committee, reported on new employees, retirements and resignations, and she presented an amended employee calendar for 2018-2019.
  • Student Government Association President Angel De Leon, the student Trustee, reported to the trustees on a leadership workshop recently attended by students, participation in recent Fall Festivals on the college’s campuses, and a relief drive that is being held to help victims of Hurricane Florence.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, Jan. 28.

Santa and Mrs. Claus to Visit McGregor Hall This Saturday!

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-Information courtesy the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center’s Facebook page

Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the McGregor Hall Gallery in Henderson on Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Bring your family, camera, and a donation of non-perishable food items benefiting ACTS of Henderson, NC. For the cost of only your ACTS donation, you can enjoy Santa’s Hot Cocoa Bar.

After visiting Santa, stay for “The Waffle House Christmas Musical” starring Joyce DeWitt at 8 p.m.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Henderson Vance Rec. & Parks Collecting Items for ‘Shoebox Give-a-Way’

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

The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department is partnering with local community groups to provide a post-Christmas “Shoebox Give-a-Way.”

We are soliciting items for ages 6-17 such as small toys, cards, unopened candy, pencils, shampoo, conditioner, pens, lotion, deodorant, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, gloves, scarfs, books, combs and anything you are able to donate that will benefit these age groups.

We will also need shoe boxes as well. Deadline to receive these items will be on Friday, December 14, 2018, at 5 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center. This program will run in conjunction with the “Peace Toys for War Toys” Program held by the Outreach Unit.

For more information, please contact Shantel Hargrove at 252.430.0382 or shhargrove@ci.henderson.nc.us or Gregory Kelly 252.431.6099 or gkelly@ci.henderson.nc.us.