Jennifer Woodlief Named Maria Parham Employee of the Month

Maria Parham Health has announced Jennifer Woodlief, HR Specialist in the Human Resources Department, as Employee of the Month for February. Jennifer has been employed at Maria Parham Health for almost 11 months and is already an example of an exceptional employee. Jennifer has lived in Vance County since she was eight years old and still calls this her home. Jennifer is married and she and her husband, Joe, have three children; Hunter and Madison who are nine and Bryson who is eight. After high school, Jennifer earned her Associates Degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix. . When she is not working, Jennifer enjoys watching her children play sports, photography, camping, hunting, fishing and painting.

Here’s what those who nominated Jenifer had to say about her:

“Jennifer always exemplifies exceptional customer service. Even when the HR department is super busy and a lot of people need many things from her, she is always nice, polite and courteous to everyone.”

“Jennifer is always willing to help any other department and is an exceptional team player.”

Words of wisdom from Jennifer:

“Always find the good in everything, every situation and every one.”

Thank you Jennifer for all you do for our hospital.

STEM Early High School Applications Due Next Thursday

Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 21, 2017

The deadline for completed applications for students to enroll in the STEM Early High School for the 2017-2018 school year is Thursday, March 30.

Current Vance County Schools students who want to apply should submit their completed applications to their school counselors by Wednesday, March 29.

Other students should submit their completed applications by March 30 to the STEM Early High School on the campus of Northern Vance High School on Warrenton Road or the school system’s Administrative Services Center on Graham Avenue in Henderson.

No late applications will be accepted.

VGCC puts Associate in Arts degree on fast track

Vance-Granville Community College is introducing a new way for students to complete the first two years of a four-year degree on an accelerated timetable.

Starting with the fall semester that begins in August 2017, students will have the option to earn the 60-credit-hour Associate in Arts (College Transfer) degree in just three semesters: fall, spring and summer. Under the standard pathway currently in place, full-time students typically complete the Associate in Arts in five or six semesters (while taking courses in the summer on a part-time basis).

“The VGCC Division of Arts and Sciences is very excited to be able to offer a new accelerated pathway for the Associate in Arts,” said Cynthia Young, the college’s dean of arts and sciences. “This will allow dedicated students the ability to complete a two-year degree in just one year and quickly move on to a four-year university.”

The new pathway will be rigorous, with students taking a combination of 16-week and eight-week courses. For example, during the fall semester, students on the accelerated schedule will take two courses over the entire 16 weeks, four other courses during the first eight weeks and three others during the second eight weeks. A student would take a maximum of six courses at any one time. Only three courses would be required in the eight-week summer term.

Some required courses will be taken online, while others may be taken either online or in the traditional face-to-face format.

Students must first either complete or place out of any developmental coursework in order to complete the degree on this schedule.

The Associate in Arts (A.A.) is ideally suited for students who want to pursue bachelor’s degrees in communication, education, humanities, fine arts, languages, and social and behavioral sciences. Students in the program complete essentially the same required general education courses that they would take at most four-year universities and colleges. Graduates with an A.A. who make a grade of “C” or better in every course are assured of admission into one of the 16 universities in the University of North Carolina system, usually transferring in with junior ranking.

In the past few years, the comprehensive articulation agreements between all North Carolina community colleges, the UNC System and the private N.C. Independent Colleges and Universities have been revised with clearer pathways, simplifying the transfer of credits for both A.A. and Associate in Science (A.S.) graduates.

Registration for the fall semester at VGCC is currently ongoing, and ends on Aug. 10.

For more information on the accelerated pathway, contact Oluwunmi Ariyo at (252) 738-3270 or ariyo@vgcc.edu.

–VGCC–

Citizens Aligned to Take Back Henderson Addresses Urban Homesteading Program

At a recent Henderson City Council Meeting the council voted to establish an Urban Homesteading Program pursuant to NCGS 160A-457.2. There is a possibility a few of the abandoned houses that are currently owned by the county/city could qualify for this program. The next step is to develop procedures and policies to ensure the program is administered fairly.

The statue reads as follows:

A city may establish a program of urban homesteading, in which residential property of little or no value is conveyed to persons who agree to rehabilitate the property and use it, for a minimum number of years, as their principal place of residence. Residential property is considered of little or no value if the cost of bringing the property into compliance with the city’s housing code exceeds sixty percent (60%) of the property’s appraised value on the county tax records. In undertaking such a program a city may:
(1) Acquire by purchase, gift or otherwise, but not eminent domain, residential property specifically for the purpose of reconveyance in the urban homesteading program or may transfer to the program residential property acquired for other purposes, including property purchased at a tax foreclosure sale.
(2) Under procedures and standards established by the city, convey residential property by private sale under G.S. 160A-267 and for nominal monetary consideration to persons who qualify as grantees.
(3) Convey property subject to conditions that:
a. Require the grantee to use the property as his or her principal place of residence for a minimum number of years,
b. Require the grantee to rehabilitate the property so that it meets or exceeds minimum code standards,
c. Require the grantee to maintain insurance on the property,
d. Set out any other specific conditions (including, but not limited to, design standards) or actions that the city may require, and
e. Provide for the termination of the grantee’s interest in the property and its reversion to the city upon the grantee’s failure to meet any condition so established.
(4) Subordinate the city’s interest in the property to any security interest granted by the grantee to a lender of funds to purchase or rehabilitate the property. (1987, c. 464, s. 8; 1997-456, s. 27.)

If you have questions regarding the program or the status of the procedures and policies development please contact:

City Manager, Frank Frazier at ffrazier@ci.henderson,nc.us or at 252-430-5701 or:

Development Services Director, Corey Williams at cwilliams@ci.henderson.nc.us or at 252-430-5725.

Vance County Democrats to hold convention next Saturday

The Vance County Democratic Party Convention will be held on Saturday, April 1st at 10:00 AM in The Vance County Commissioner’s Room on the Second Floor, Young Street in Downtown Henderson, NC.

NC Representative Terry Garrison will be the Speaker.

This building is the former Vance County Court House.

There is parking on Young Street and a parking lot to the left of the building that is accessible from Court Street.

News 03/21/17

https://soundcloud.com/user-96612206/news-032117

Vance County School Update 03/20/17

Henderson Collegiate looking for career day volunteers

On Friday, March 24th, 2017, share what you love with Henderson Collegiate’s 7th – 10th grade students at their 3rd annual Career Day!

This event will create opportunities for students to explore the diverse and amazing careers that will be open to them once they graduate from college and go out into the world to change it for the better.

To do this, they need volunteers from various professions who are able to come set up a table and to talk with students about their careers.

Where: Henderson Collegiate Middle School, 1071 Old Epsom Rd., Henderson, NC

When (revised): 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 24th, 2017
Volunteers are invited to begin arriving at 8:45 a.m. to set up their tables and enjoy coffee and networking.

Who’s Invited: Professionals who are interested in sharing about their careers and the education linked with their professions

What: Set up a table with information about your career and talk with students about your experiences

Questions?

Contact Caitlin Terranova with questions or to RSVP. Email: cterranova@hendersoncollegiate.org | Phone: 252-204-8750

VGCC to hold Enrollment Day on Saturday, April 8

Vance-Granville Community College will hold “Enrollment Day” on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. until noon, in Building 8 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County.

During those hours, VGCC staff members will be ready to assist anyone who is interested in enrolling at the college for the summer term, which starts on May 30, or the fall semester, which starts in August. Prospective students are encouraged to pre-register at www.vgcc.edu/enrollment-day-registration. The deadline to pre-register is March 31. All who register in advance will receive a free VGCC T-shirt on Enrollment Day.

The April 8 event will include campus tours, an information session for future Vanguards, help with financial aid and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), along with assistance with choosing programs and registering for classes. Incoming students who have already completed applications for admission will also have the opportunity to take a placement test.

Breakfast items will be available, while supplies last.

VGCC’s Main Campus is located on Poplar Creek Road in Vance County (about midway between Henderson and Oxford) at the intersection with Interstate 85 (Exit 209).

Registration for classes at VGCC is ongoing. For more information, contact VGCC at studentsuccess@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3330, or visit any campus.

–VGCC–

*FOUND* 2017 Shamrock Contest *FOUND*

Congratulations to Gary Daeke who found the Shamrock on Thursday 3/16/17. 

It was located at the Vance County Animal Shelter, at the tree line under a log. Listen to Town Talk on our website for Friday 3/17/17 to hear how he found it!

 

Can you help Cullen find his lucky Shamrock?

Cullen the merry little leprechaun lost his shamrock while traveling through Vance and Granville Counties and needs YOUR help to find it!

Each weekday, a new clue will be posted to the website and Facebook page. Bonus clues will also be given out over the air from time to time, so be sure to listen for your best chance to win. Bonus clues will only be given out once, so don’t miss them.  This year’s prize is $400 CASH. Good Luck!

Note: If you have won a prize within the last 30 days you will still be eligible to win the prize if you find the Shamrock.

Clues to find Cullen’s Shamrock: 

  1. Cullen the leprechaun has been traveling so long, he doesn’t know in which direction he’s gone.
  2. If you are getting started this early hour, walk due South from the Clock Tower.
  3. During your walk if you’ve come to the “line”, you may want to turn around to save some time.
  4. Going to see Benjamin won’t do you any good, but either Earl or Zeb may have a little something under the hood.
  5. The Shamrock may be ‘hard’ to find, but where it lays may not be…keep that in mind.
  6. Remember, if you’re on your knees, you may not see the forest before you see the trees.
  7. Careful traveling by the light of the moon, if you hear a howl you may see the Shamrock soon.
  8. If you’re in Vance County, you haven’t traveled too far; for where the Shamrock lies, you can hear cars.
  9. Once you find the Shamrock this year, be sure to say hi and thank our little friends who are near.