Pamela Hester Named Vance Co. Tourism Director
-Press Release, Vance County Tourism Development Authority Board
The Vance County Tourism Development Authority is pleased to announce the hiring of Pamela Weathers-Hester, as the next Tourism Development Director. She will begin in this position on July 2, 2018.
Mrs. Hester has background experience in advertising, marketing, and community outreach locally and in areas across North Carolina. She previously worked with Henderson’s Main Street Program organizing, directing, and coordinating overall operations of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission and the Main Street Program.
Mrs. Hester is excited to be able to show the world that Vance County, Home of Kerr Lake, is a great place for hosting tourism-related events and activities. She will be a welcome addition to the county’s management team and the Vance County community.
Youth “Fishing With a Mentor” Program at Fox Pond Park
-Information courtesy Sandra Wilkerson, Director of Admin and Events, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce
Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks, in conjunction with the City of Henderson and Vance County, announces “Fishing With a Mentor,” a program for local youth ages 6 – 18 to be held at Fox Pond Park, 375 Vicksboro Rd, Henderson.
This free program is a mentor-led, department supported event to enhance youth participation in fishing while enjoying real-life conversations centered around present-day topics while utilizing Fox Pond and its amenities.
An opening ceremony for the program will be held on Sunday, July 8, 2018, from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Fox Pond Fishing Pier. Free food will be provided to participants after the event.
Dates for the fishing program include Wednesday, July 11, 18, 25 and August 1, 2018, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Those interested may register at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd, Henderson.
For more information, call Tara Goolsby at (252) 438-3948 or email tgoolsby@ci.henderson.nc.us or Gregory Kelly at (252) 431-6099 or email gkelly@ci.henderson.nc.us.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
West End Community Watch Hears from City Manager, Fire Dept.
-Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch
The West End Community Watch met on Tuesday, June 19 at West End Baptist Church. Henderson City Manager Frank Frazier was pleased to report that taxes and city sewer rates will not increase. Still, due in part to the fact that the City now has reduced debt, City employees will receive 5% raises.
Additionally, many other improvements have been made or are in progress. The Wastewater Plant renovations, which began in 2011, have been completed. Renovations to the old municipal building and the downtown Fire Station are in progress. Several streets have been resurfaced. The City’s retention rate of employees has improved greatly. Discussions are underway for future stormwater projects.
Captain Lee Edmonds, fire prevention officer of the Henderson Fire Department, informed the group that most houses in other areas of the city had already been visited by the fire department. Homes in West Henderson will be the last ones visited. The annual visit can be expected before the end of summer. In November, the rotation begins again. These inspections have been made by the Henderson Fire Department since 2009.
Statewide, there are been more fire-related deaths this year than ever before. Therefore, the State has stepped up fire prevention methods. All fire departments in the State of NC are now required to make regular home visits. When the fire department enters a home, the firemen do a quick safety inspection and check the placement of smoke detectors. They make sure the detectors are operational and replace them or their batteries, when necessary. A resident can call to request an inspection or assistance with a smoke detector.
Plenty of Programs for Adults at Perry Memorial Library
-Information courtesy the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library website
Upcoming events for adults at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge Street, Henderson:
Adult Summer Reading – Saturday, June 16 – Friday, August 3. Reading, Movies, Programs, Prizes. Pick up prize card at the Reference Desk.
Photograph & Document Preservation Program – Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Experienced digitizers will facilitate this program and have equipment available to digitize items. Bring any photo or documents, a flash drive and any questions you may have.
Books to Movies Book Club – Monday, June 25 from 5 – 8 p.m. The movie “The Martian” based on the novel by Andy Weir will be viewed followed by a discussion on both the movie and the novel. Books are available at the library now for checkout. Bring a bag dinner and a friend!
Cookies & Coloring – first Sunday of every month from 1 – 2:30 p.m. All materials provided by the library.
Needlework Club (formerly the Knitting Club) – every other Monday from 1 – 3 p.m. Check the library’s calendar for exact dates. All adults – all needle crafts – all skill levels.
Roanoke Rapids’ First Baptist Invites Youth to Vacation Bible School
-Information courtesy Rev. Donald West, First Baptist Church – Roanoke Rapids
TEAM JESUS Vacation Bible School will take place at First Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids July 9 – 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Olympic themed VBS will include Olympic Bible lessons, games, snacks, crafts, music, puppet shows and great Olympic fun. This exciting VBS is for preschoolers through 12th graders.
The church is located at 515 Becker Drive in Roanoke Rapids just one mile from Interstate 95 and 20 minutes east of Littleton.
For more information, call 252-537-6171 or access the church website at www.fbcrrweb.org or the church Facebook page. All kids and youth are invited to experience this Olympic challenge!
Mako Medical & Medical Arts Raise Over $1K for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
With the recent hot, summer temperatures, Medical Arts Pharmacy and Mako Medical Laboratories picked the perfect time to partner together and hold an ice cream fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis.
Held at Medical Arts Pharmacy, 235 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, on Friday, June 15, the group raised $1,100 in funds, with all proceeds benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Ice cream was provided by FRESH. Local Ice Cream, a mom and pop ice cream shop based out of Raleigh, NC.
“Medical Arts Pharmacy was excited to team up with Mako Medical Laboratories for an ice cream fundraiser to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Brandon McEachern and Brett Ross of Mako Medical Laboratories scooped ice cream, while guests enjoyed taking pictures with Mikey Mako,” said Cara White Kirby, vice president of marketing for Medical Arts Pharmacy.
“The City of Henderson was very supportive – from the Health Department to Rose Oil, we had a ton of people come out last Friday,” said McEachern.
“Business leaders from Charles Boyd Chevrolet, Rose Oil, Phillips, Dorsey, Thomas, Waters, & Brafford CPA Firm, Mayor Eddie Ellington, Henderson Councilwoman Sara Coffey and many others stopped by to support this great cause,” Kirby said.
Mako and Medical Arts’ mutual connection with Cystic Fibrosis made this focus an obvious choice according to Kirby, “Mako has a personal connection with Cystic Fibrosis and our pharmacy takes care of several patients from the community. Medical Arts is committed to providing the best pharmaceutical care for the people of Vance and surrounding counties, and we were delighted to be able to give back to our community in this way!”
“We are working hard to make a lasting impact in Henderson; this was one step in the right direction,” McEachern said.
Photos courtesy Cara White Kirby
Relay for Life Only Four Days Away – Event Schedule Released!
-Event schedule information courtesy Cindy Robinson, Volunteer, Vance County Relay for Life
With only four days to go until the 2018 Vance County Relay for Life, Relay organizers have released an event schedule for teams, volunteers, survivors and participants.
This year’s Relay for Life event will be held, for the first time in downtown Henderson, this Saturday, June 23, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Specifically, the event will be held in the square between the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library and the Henderson Police Department.
The opening ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m.
The theme for this year’s Relay is the yellow brick road from “The Wizard of Oz.” Saturday’s event will feature all of the prepurchased bricks laid out to form a “yellow brick road” of those who have fought cancer.
Between donations and fundraising events, organizers hope to raise at least $100,000 for cancer research this year.
EVENT SCHEDULE
11 – 11:50 a.m. Welcome Everyone to Relay (Intro MC Trey Snide with WIZS)
(11:05 a.m.) Prayer (Ryan Hill)
(11:10 a.m.) National Anthem
(11:20 a.m.) Welcome (Mayor Eddie Ellington)
(11:25 a.m.) Welcome (Downtown Development Director- Kaine Riggan)
(11:30 a.m.) Opening Ceremony – Survivor Walk
(11:50 a.m.) Somewhere Over the Rainbow
12 – 1 p.m. Brake Tyme Band
1:05 p.m. Contest – (Best Witch’s Cackle)
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Brake Tyme Band
2:35 p.m. Contest – (Best Cowardly Lion’s Roar)
3 – 4 p.m. Brake Tyme Band
4:05 p.m. Contest – (Best Skippers)
4:30 – 6 p.m. Tranzition Band
6 p.m. Contest – (Best Ruby Slippers)
6:15 p.m. Caregiver Ceremony
6:30 p.m. Survivor & Caregiver Walk – Torch carried by Natalie Watkins Brooks
7:30 p.m. Blessed Generation Youth Group
8 – 9:20 p.m. Unashamed Southern Gospel Quartet
9:30 p.m. Luminaria Ceremony
9:45 p.m. Moment of Silence followed by Prayer – Reverend Michael Hobbs
10 p.m. Contest and Raffle Winners Announced
10:45 p.m. Wrap up of Event
11 p.m. Closing Prayer – Pastor Abidan Shah
ON-GOING EVENT SCHEDULE
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Reading of “Wizard of Oz” in Children’s Circle at Perry Memorial Library
11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Silent Auction in McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center lobby
11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Amusement ride – $3 per person
1 – 5 p.m. Horse & buggy rides will be available at the corner of Breckenridge and Wyche Street – $5 per person.
VENDOR & TEAM SCHEDULE
7 a.m. Trailers and cookers arrive for set-up. MUST BE SET-UP BY 8 A.M.
8 a.m. ALL TEAMS or anyone with tents arrive. MUST BE SET-UP BY 9 A.M.
*Teams with tents: dismantling of tents not allowed until 11 p.m. (end of Relay)
(This is not an advertisement)