Henderson-Vance Spring Litter Sweep Week: April 23 – 28, 2018
The Henderson-Vance Spring Litter Sweep Week is being held in conjunction with the state-wide litter sweep week Monday, April 23 through Saturday, April 28.
Terri Hedrick, chair of the Vance County Appearance Committee, was recently on air to encourage all citizens of Vance County to spend time outdoors this week improving the community by cleaning up trash and debris.
“We ask all who are able to participate to please clean up around homes, churches, neighborhoods and local schools,” said Hedrick.
Approximately 35 Adopt-a-Highway programs will be participating throughout the week and mowing is scheduled for many roadways.
Gloves and orange trash bags are available for interested participants throughout the week at the City Operations Center at 900 S. Beckford Drive and at the Vance County School’s Administrative Office at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson.
Participants are asked to fill their orange trash bags, tightly secure them and place them by the curb, if in the city, or by the side of the road, if in the county. Maintenance crews should collect the trash bags by next week.
The litter sweep will culminate in the annual Recycling Day at the City Operations Center on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Volunteers and vendors will be accepting, for free, a variety of recyclables including electronics, cardboard, metal, aluminum cans, plastic, glass, newspapers/magazines and other household recyclables.
Old medications, including prescription, over-the-counter and medical syringes, may also be recycled.
Shredding trucks will also be on site to securely dispose of participants’ personal documents.
Old paints will not be accepted for recycling at this year’s event; however, Hedrick reminds the community that paints that have been dried either by chemical means or by cat litter may be taken to any of the manned trash sites throughout the county.
Starting at 12 p.m., there will be a free hot dog luncheon inside the City Operations Center. Jason Brown and his Wisdom for Life Foundation and Fruit of the Spirit community group will once again be hosting this time for food and fellowship.
Brown, a former NFL player, is the owner of First Fruits Farm in Louisburg and is, according to Hedrick, a big supporter of the community, giving freely of his produce to help feed others.
Cash prizes will also be given away at the luncheon to litter sweep participants who can document they participated in the cleanup process. Participants must be present to win prizes.
Prizes include $150 for most bags of trashed filled by a group, $100 for most people in a group and $50 for the most unique item found.
To be eligible for cash prizes, participants must document how many bags of trash they filled, how many people were in their group and take a picture of their efforts, especially of their most unique item found.
Packets of information regarding litter sweep week and the forms and documentation procedures needed to be eligible for the free lunch and cash prizes are available at the Vance County School’s Administrative Office.
While Hedrick is encouraged by the efforts of the community during this week each year, she says the Appearance Committee would ultimately “like to see people cleaning up all year and stop being litterbugs.”
Musicians Michael Stephenson & Mark Hopper to Perform at McGregor Hall Friday, April 27
— Press Release submitted by McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
SPRINGTIME BECKONS WITH AN UPBEAT EVENING OF JAZZ, SPIRITUALS & LIGHT CLASSICAL MUSIC
On Friday, April 27, two of North Carolina’s very own musicians, Michael Stephenson and Mark Hopper, will join together on the stage of McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center for Sax & Piano: A Springtime Concert. Part of the Music at McGregor Series, the evening event will showcase a harmonic display of upbeat jazz, spirituals and light classical music that is sure to dazzle the spirits as spring blossoms color the streets of historic downtown Henderson, N.C.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the concert starts at 8 p.m. Several restaurants located near the theater are scheduled to open for pre-concert dinner service.
Stephenson is the Coordinator of Music and Drama at Pitt Community College in Winterville, N.C., and a founding member of the New Century Saxophone Quartet. The Henderson native is also a former faculty member of Vance-Granville Community College, starting the Vance-Granville Community Band.
Hopper is the Minister of Music and Organist at the First Baptist Church in Henderson, the Vice President of the McGregor Hall Board of Directors and a director with the Henderson Rec Players. He will be playing the Hall’s Steinway piano and a 1970 Zuckerman harpsichord.
“Spring has arrived and it’s the perfect time of year to dress up for an evening dinner out and jazz concert in historic downtown Henderson,” said Hopper. “Mike and I plan on playing an array of upbeat jazz, spirituals and light classical music.”
The program for Sax & Piano: A Springtime Concert with Michael Stephenson and Mark Hopper includes Sonata in C Minor, BWV 1017 by J. S. Bach; Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla; Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie; Aria by Eugene Bozza; Scaramouche, Op. 165b by Darius Milhaud; Down by the Riverside by Daniel Kallman; and Rumba by Maurice Whitney. For a full setlist, visit www.McGregorHall.org.
Tickets are on sale for $20 plus sales tax and can be purchased directly at the McGregor Hall Box Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. as well as 7 p.m. the night of the show. The Box Office is located at the Hall at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson and can be reached by phone at (252) 598-0662. Tickets can also be purchased online at anytime prior to a performance at www.McGregorHall.org by using the secure and trusted purchasing platform, eTix.
(This is not a paid advertisement. However, there are other ads on WIZS Radio which are ads paid for by McGregor Hall.)
Tour De Vance Drawing Cyclists From Large Area For April 28 Bicycle Ride
-Press Release provided by Vance-Granville Community College
The Sixth Annual Tour de Vance Bicycle Ride, scheduled for Saturday, April 28, is drawing cyclists from surrounding counties in addition to locals, organizers say.
Online registration continues through 5 p.m. on Friday, April 27, but riders can also register on-site at Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus on the morning of the race, with check-in starting at 7:30 a.m.
“This is a great time to dust off your bicycle and join the ride,” said Wendy Meyer-Goodwin, who has been working as event organizer since the Tour de Vance began. “This ride has been growing steadily since its inception, drawing families and first-timers in addition to the most seasoned of cyclists for four separate cycling events.”
Proceeds from the ride this year will benefit the Endowment Fund at Vance-Granville Community College, with donations supporting scholarships for students enrolled in Health Sciences programs at the college.
“We have several options available for cyclists,” said Meyer-Goodwin. “The 10-mile route is ideal for youth, families and beginners. A 20-mile course suits riders ready for a bit more distance. Experienced cyclists can choose a 31-mile ‘Forest and Farmland’ circle route through the country or a 62-mile ‘Kerr Lake Look’ that adds to that 31-mile circle route an out-and-back spur to the lake past the Nutbush Creek State Recreation Area.”
“Along the routes, rest stops and a ‘SAG wagon’ following the last cyclist of each distance will offer support when needed,” she added. “Law enforcement will accompany riders on the 10-mile route for added excitement. Whether you are new to a bicycle or regularly put your mettle to the pedal, come join us for this fun, healthy event.”
The rides start and finish in front of the Civic Center at VGCC’s Main Campus, located off Interstate 85 and Poplar Creek Road at 200 Community College Road in Henderson.
All riders can register through the VGCC website at vgcc.edu/tourdevance.
The 10-mile ride will cost $10 for each rider. The 20-mile ride will cost $25, and the 31-mile and 62-mile (or “metric century”) rides will cost $40.
“Vance-Granville’s Endowment Fund is honored to be associated with an event that has become such a success,” said Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund. “This bicycle ride promotes the importance of exercise and good health. We are pleased to use these proceeds to help our students enrolled in the many Health Sciences programs at VGCC.”
VGCC offers curriculum programs including Associate Degree Nursing, Radiography, Practical Nursing, Histotechnology, Medical Assisting and Pharmacy Technology.
The 62-mile ride starts at 8:30 a.m., the 31-mile ride at 9:30 a.m., the 20-mile ride at 10 a.m., and the 10-mile ride at 10:30 a.m. Law enforcement will accompany riders on the 10-mile route.
The starting times represent a change from previous rides. Starting times are being staggered to have more riders ending near the same time, Meyer-Goodwin added.
Lunch will be provided.
Participating sponsors include Granville Vance Public Health, Carolina GI Associates PC, OmniPoint General Surgery, Barnett Properties, Spoke Cycles, Henderson Fruit & Produce, Prim Rentals, T&T Laundries, Benchmark Community Bank, Chick-fil-A, Medical Arts Pharmacy, George Watkins, The Rogers Group, AAA Gas, Chase Development, Family Eye Center, William L. Stark CPA, Dave Williams, Roberson Family Dentistry, College Station, Ted’s Catering, Robinson Ferry, Bearpond Market, Carolina Kettle, Superior Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep, and Black & White Coffee.
For more information, contact Wendy Meyer-Goodwin at tourdevance@gmail.com.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Vance County Cooperative Extension – Weekly Parenting Tip
-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension
Parenting tip – week of 4/23/18
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a common plant in our area that can cause an itchy rash. Remember the old saying “Leaves of three – let it be”? This is a good way to help you identify poison ivy plants. The plant has leaves that grow in clusters of three. These leaves are usually 2 to 4 inches long, and the plant can grow as a groundcover, a small bushy plant or a vine. Learn how to identify this plant to make sure your outside adventures are happy ones.
Candidates Forum for May 8, 2018 Primary (Audio)
Candidates Forum for May 8, 2018 Primary
On Sunday, April 22, 2018 in downtown Henderson, The Daily Dispatch, The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and WIZS partnered to present a local candidates forum in advance of the May 8th Democrat Primary in Vance County.
The question and answer portion of the forum was confined to candidates with opposition in the primary. Not all candidates in the primary chose to appear, but a microphone, name card and seat were available for all candidates. Other local candidates, even those without opposition, were allowed equal time in the opening statement portion of the forum. Closing statements however were confined to candidates with opposition.
The full audio of the forum is presented here.
Vance County Senior Center Provides Important Services for Ages 55+
By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire
The Vance County Senior Center located at 126 S. Garnett Street in downtown Henderson hosts a variety of activities and programs for a growing senior population.
According to Juan Jefferson, director of operations for the Senior Center, “The aging population in Vance County is exploding.” Jefferson said this increase in the aging population is also true at the state and national level.
With the combination of the popularity of the Senior Center and the increase in the aging population, Jefferson says the Center is often at capacity. “We usually have 100 people in and out of our facility every day,” agreed Amber Gupton, Medicare Coordinator for the Senior Center.
Vance County residents age 55 and older are welcome to visit the Senior Center Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A state-of-the-art fitness center with exercise equipment including stationary bikes and weight machines is available along with activities such as low impact aerobics, line dancing, billiards, card games and cornhole.
According to Jefferson, the card games and billiards are popular activities and the line dancers are well known throughout the area.
“We have very energetic line dancers,” said Jefferson. “We get invitations from all around to come dance. Our line dancers are really popular. Just about every month they have some kind of engagement.”
The Senior Center also offers day trips several times a month and overnight trips occasionally.
According to Gupton, the group just returned from an overnight trip to Lancaster, P.A. “We have a good time on our trips,” said Gupton. “For our overnight trips we’ve been to New York City, Atlantic City and Gatlinburg, T.N. to name a few. Cost varies by trip.”
Daytime trips have included the N.C. State Fair, the Fruitcake Factory and a chocolate factory in Raleigh. Cost for daytime trips ranges from $5 to $20.
The Senior Center also offers general and medical transportation via KARTS. To qualify for transportation, the rider must be 60 or older and live in the Vance County area.
“Transportation is one of the biggest issues for our senior citizens,” Jefferson said. “The second biggest issue is safety and security.”
Other programs offered include Meals on Wheels, on-site nutritional programs, educational programs, on-site health screenings, blood pressure checks and support groups.
April is National Volunteer Month and the Senior Center recently held a luncheon to honor their 70 volunteers.
While the Senior Center already has a large number of volunteers, those who are interested in assisting are always welcome. “To help, you can complete a volunteer application and then we welcome you to what I call the family,” said Gupton.
In summing up the overall goal of the agency, Jefferson said, “The Vance County Senior Center strives to enhance the intellectual, emotional, social and economic well-being of seniors across the county.”
For more information on the Vance County Senior Center, please call (252) 430-0257 or visit the website at https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/senior-citizen-center/.
NVHS Seniors Honored for Job Internships
NVHS Seniors Honored for Job Internships
— information from VCS Press Release written by Terri Hedrick, Public Information Officer
Five seniors in the Occupational Course of Study program at Northern Vance High School were honored the morning of April 13th for successfully completing the hours required by the state for their job internships.
Each of the seniors works at a local business.
Julia Foster, their job coach, led the recognitions.
The students were presented with gold trophies and praised by Foster and other Northern Vance educators.
The students honored are shown in the accompanying photo with Foster, standing at far left. The students include, from left, Jaquez Sneed, Branden Strickland, Brittany Powell, Tre’darrius Tunstall and James Eastman. Two additional seniors who have also completed their internships are Joshua Jones and Bernabe Rodriguez, Jr. They were not available for the photo.