Chamber Banquet Attendees See O’Geary – 2016 Citizen of the Year
Chamber Banquet Attendees See O’Geary – 2016 Citizen of the Year
Tuesday night inside the Vance Granville Community College Civic Center, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce held its 79th annual membership meeting and banquet.
Former Henderson Mayor James D. “Pete” O’Geary was presented the Citizen of the Year Award for 2016.
O’Geary told the packed room, “I am speechless. I never thought it would be Pete O’Geary tonight. I am so honored to be here and to receive this award. I thank you so much, and it has been suc
h a pleasure for me to serve as the Mayor of the City of Henderson, City Council and other organizations that I have been a part of. It has truly been a blessing to me, not only to me but also my family, and also my wife, and also my sons.”
He introduced his wife Grace and announced they have been married for 61 years. He introduced his granddaughter, Evan O’Geary, who is also Miss Henderson. He introduced his son Jonathan and wife Amy and his son Dr. Steven O’Geary. He said, “It is such an honor to be here and to have my family to support me.” His other son, who lives in Connecticut, could not be in attendance.
The humble and kind O’Geary told WIZS News after the banquet concluded that the things he has done have been such a pleasure. He said, “I have been blessed through the years. I’ve had so many wonderful people to work with, a wonderful staff at City Hall, and citizens have just been wonderful. It’s been a pleasure for me, a wonderful opportunity.”
Marion Perry, the 2015 Citizen of the Year, presented the award to O’Geary on behalf of the Chamber and Chamber President John Barnes. Integrity, kindness and good citizenship were words used by Perry in introducing O’Geary.
Perry said, “As mayor, he served with honor and distinction and worked exceptionally hard to help the City maneuver through economic adversity created by the nationwide great recession. He was a successful bridge builder, who is still highly respected and loved. He always takes time to listen to people no matter what the time of day.”
O’Geary is widely known for his diplomacy and for getting people to work together as a team. He is a recent recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an award presented to him at the end of his term as mayor.
The keynote speak
er was Scott Mason, The Tar Heel Traveler with WRAL-TV. He told about his life and presented numerous Tar Heel Traveler clips to the audience. It was enjoyed very much by all – very entertaining. He signed and sold copies of his books in the lobby afterwards.
Susan Rogers, 2017 Chamber Board Chair and who is the marketing director at Chic-Fil-A, talked about her love of Henderson and how she has been a lifelong resident. She said, “My heart is here, in this community.” She issued a charge to the members, guests and community to engage the H-V Chamber of Commerce even more in 2017. “I ask you to take your decision of joining the Chamber a step further, and choose to become engaged and build the relationship. Relationships are the building blocks that your businesses stand on,” she said.
Gloria White, Chair of the Vance County Board of Education, and Crystal Richardson, Principal of the Year and Principal of Clarke Elementary, presented the Shining Moment in Education Award to The Henderson Family YMCA and The Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department.
Tonya Moore with KARTS was presented the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award.
The entire banquet was broadcast live on WIZS 1450 AM and live streamed on wizs.com.
Ellington Farms Recognized For Being Safe
Ellington Farms Recognized For Being Safe
Ellington Farms in Vance County was recently recognized as a Certified Safe Farm by NC Cooperative Extension. The local Extension Center provides a voluntary and complementary safety review of all equipment and facilities used by the farming operation to identify potential hazards.
Farms with a passing score are awarded Certified Safe Farm status and receive a sign to post on the farm. The program recognizes farmers who work hard to maintain safe equipment and a safe environment while doing one of the world’s most dangerous but important jobs.
In this photo, Tommy Ellington (on right) of Ellington Farms received his sign from Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent with Vance County Cooperative Extension. Ellington Farms is the fifth farm in Vance County to achieve this distinction.
For more information, farmers may contact paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu or call the Extension Center 252-438-8188.
(Information written and provided to WIZS News by Paul McKenzie.)
Chamber Banquet to Feature Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason
Chamber Banquet to Feature Tar Heel Traveler Scott Mason
(If you are unable to attend the banquet, it will be broadcast live on WIZS 1450 AM and live streamed on wizs.com.)
The lead story gives details of the upcoming Chamber banquet and a visit from WRAL-TV’s Scott Mason, The Tar Heel Traveler. The banquet story is re-published with permission below, or click the link above which includes the entire news letter.
The 79th Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet will be held on Tuesday, January 31 at the VGCC Civic Center.
This year’s event will include a delicious dinner and music, keynote address and various recognitions including: Vance County Schools’ teacher, assistant principal, and principal of the year, Vance County Schools’ “Shining Moment in Education” award, 2016 Ambassador of the Year Award and the prestigious Vance County Citizen of the Year Award for 2016.
Keynote speaker for 2017 is WRAL’s Scott Mason, the Tar Heel Traveler. Mason is a broadcast journalist with 30 years of television experience. He has won dozens of awards for documentaries, writing, and feature reporting, including three National Edward R. Murrow awards and 20 regional Emmys. In both 2004 and 2005, the Electronic News Association of the Carolinas named Mason the North Carolina Television Reporter of the Year. Mason’s success caught the attention of WRAL-TV in Raleigh, and in April, 1997, he became the station’s Documentary Producer. He researched, wrote, and produced nine documentaries before adding his talents to the nightly news team as a reporter specializing in features. Today, Mason is known as the Tar Heel Traveler. His Monday-Thursday feature series on WRAL takes viewers along the back roads of North Carolina where he meets memorable characters, finds out-of-the-way places, and unearths fascinating historical footnotes. The series has become so popular it has led to Tar Heel Traveler half-hour specials, which Mason produces each quarter. In addition, he has also published two books about his television adventures: Tar Heel Traveler: Journeys Across North Carolina (Globe Pequot Press) and Tar Heel Traveler Eats: Food Journeys Across North Carolina (Globe Pequot Press). Mason graduated in 1984 from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he majored in Journalism and Communications. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in creative writing at Queens University of Charlotte and lives in Raleigh with his wife Nina, daughters Lane and Genie, and son Scout. This project is made possible by funding from the North Carolina Humanities Council, a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Presenting Sponsor for this special annual event is Duke Energy. Gold sponsors are Maria Parham Medical Center and CenturyLink, Silver Sponsors are BB&T, Envirolink, MARS Petcare, Wake Electric Membership Corporation and Walmart DC #6091. Bronze sponsors are Express Employment Professionals and J.M. White Funeral Service.
Seating for dinner will be promptly at 6:30 and live music will accompany the meal. Several sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting the Chamber. Tickets are available for $35 each or a table of 10 for $320. Contact the Chamber at 252-438-8414 for more information or for tickets.
Henderson City Council annual Strategic Planning Retreat set for this week
The Henderson City Council will meet for its annual Strategic Planning Retreat on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at the Henderson Country Club from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for a working dinner and on Thursday, February 2, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Room at the Perry Memorial Library. A quorum is expected at both meetings; however, no final action will be taken at either meeting. The public is welcome to observe.
Esther J. McCrackin
City Clerk – City of Henderson, NC
134 Rose Avenue
P.O. Box 1434
Henderson, NC 27536
Vance Co. Schools Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Vance Co. Schools Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Vance County Schools are currently accepting pre-kindergarten applications and kindergarten registration at all elementary schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
To apply for pre-kindergarten children must be 4 years old on or before August 31, 2017. To register for kindergarten, children should be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2017.
Parents are urged to go to the elementary school in the area where they live now to register their children for the upcoming school year.
Elementary schools will be announcing soon special events and activities for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration.