Rodrick Allison to Perform ‘A Laugh With Dad’ at Spring St. Missionary Baptist

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-Information courtesy Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church

The Men‘s Ministry of Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church present “A Laugh with Dad” as provided by Rodrick Allison (aka Rod of God) on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at 11 a.m.

For over 17 years, Allison has performed his signature style of clean comedy nationally and internationally, leaving countless audiences filled with laughter.

He has performed with legendary recording artists such as Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Marvin Sapp, Tye Tribbett, Kelly Price, Kim Burrell, Tramaine Hawkins and numerous other artists.

Rod is known as the “attorney by day and comedian by night” entertainer because he is also a lawyer. When he’s not performing he can be found providing legal services in his private law practice and in the courts of North Carolina.

Throughout his comedic career, he has remained committed to his mission of proving “you can be funny without being vulgar, and be a Christian without losing your sense of humor.”

Bring Dad for an afternoon of fellowship and entertainment. Spring Street Missionary Baptist is located at 511 Orange Street in Henderson.

News 06/04/19

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HFD Participates in ‘Smoke Alarm Saturday;’ 9V Battery Donations Needed

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Fire departments across North Carolina participated in the 2nd annual “Smoke Alarm Saturday” campaign on June 1, 2019.

“Smoke Alarm Saturday” is North Carolina’s one-day, statewide, smoke alarm canvassing event aimed at highlighting the importance of functional smoke alarms and fire safety.

The event, held on behalf of Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey and the Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), was created in response to a recent increase in fire deaths in the state. According to a press release issued by Causey’s office, 134 North Carolinians lost their lives in fire-related incidents in 2018, making it one of the deadliest years on record.

Members of the Henderson Fire Department assist with the 2019 “Smoke Alarm Saturday” event. (Photo courtesy Capt. Lee Edmonds)

According to Captain Lee Edmonds with the Henderson Fire Department, approximately 75 counties – including Vance – participated in Saturday’s event. Last year, 60 counties assisted with the installation of over 4,000 alarms in homes across the state.

The one-day canvassing event brought national media attention to NC, emphasizing the awareness that working smoke alarms do save lives, according to the OSFM.

While Edmonds said his group was glad to assist with this year’s event, door-to-door canvassing has been performed by the Henderson Fire Department for the past 10 years. In 2009, after a Vance County family tragically lost several of their children in a house fire, former fire chief Danny Wilkerson began an annual smoke detector inspection for City of Henderson residents.

The inspection, which begins anew each November following Fire Prevention Month in October, is free of charge to City residents. “We put new batteries in smoke detectors, replace old smoke detectors and install smoke detectors in places that did not previously have them during these campaigns,” said Edmonds.

To assist with this year’s smoke detector campaign, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Vance Class of 2019 will hold a battery drive through Friday, June 28, 2019. Donations of new 9 volt batteries are needed.

To donate batteries, look for the red box marked “Battery Drop Spot” at the following locations: City Hall (Henderson), Vance County Tax Office, Maria Parham Health (front desk of the main lobby), L.B. Yancey Elementary School, Vance-Granville Community College (Building 1, front lobby), Charles Boyd Chevrolet of Henderson, Vance County Department of Social Services and the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce.

With questions on battery donations, please contact McKinley Perkinson at (252) 436-1402 or Evelyn Harris at (252) 738-3254.

VCHS’s Medical Academy Honors Nurse Aide Graduates

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Nurse aide graduates from Vance Medical Academy at Vance County High School were honored during the evening of May 29, 2019, at their pinning ceremony. 

All seven graduates have completed their studies and nurse aide training to qualify for the certified nursing assistant exam. 

Nurse aide graduates recite their professional pledge. They include, from left, Jenna Dement, Nancy Duran, Shirley Lopez-Alor, Lidia Morales Vital, Dayon Thornton, Emily Valenzuela Valdiolivar and Dyamond Williams. (VCS photo)

The graduates include: Jenna Dement, who will attend Wake Technical Community College to pursue an associate degree in Early Childhood Education; Nancy Duran to pursue a nursing degree at Vance-Granville Community College; Shirley Lopez-Alor to pursue a nursing degree at Vance-Granville Community College; Lidia Morales Vital to pursue a nursing degree at Vance-Granville Community College; Dayon Thornton to attend N.C. Central University to pursue a degree in nursing or animal science; Emily Valenzuela Valdiolivar to pursue a nursing degree at Vance-Granville Community College; and Dyamond Williams to pursue a nursing degree at Vance-Granville Community College. 

Jenna Dement (left) is pinned during the ceremony by Rebecca Davis, Health Science instructor in the Vance Medical Academy. (VCS photo)

Each of the graduates received a lapel pin and framed certificate in recognition of their achievements. Their pins were presented by Rebecca Harris, a registered nurse and their instructor in the Vance Medical Academy. 

During the event, the new graduates also participated in a candle lighting ceremony and recited the “Nurse Aide Pledge.” The pledge reads, “I solemnly pledge to uphold the standards of care with which I have been trained and to apply high moral and ethical value to my daily tasks. I further pledge that I will safeguard the confidentiality, respect and dignity of my patients and work only in the best interest of those committed to my care.”

Reminder: Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers to Perform This Sunday!

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

The McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will feature The Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers on Sunday, June 9, 2019. Show starts at 2 p.m.

A Part of the Music at McGregor Series

The Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers, founded in 1998 by Joel F. Reed, promote choral artistry by modeling the highest quality choral standard and performing a breadth of literature, including music from the southern Appalachian region.

The McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will feature The Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers on Sunday, June 9, 2019. Show starts at 2 p.m. (Photo courtesy the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center)

The Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers are currently 25 singers who rehearse monthly in preparation for the ensemble’s performances. Many of the members are professional musicians, working in public and private schools, colleges and churches. Others are professionals from the business and medical communities who reside in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and are, for the most part, alumni and retired faculty of Mars Hill University.

The ensemble has performed regularly in the North and South Carolina areas including conferences of North Carolina American Choral Directors Association and National Association for Music Education.

Tickets may be purchased by:

DROP IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m

CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org  (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

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Time Change for Vance Commissioners’ Budget Work Session

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will hold a budget work session on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, 122 Young Street in Henderson.

Please note this a time change from the previously scheduled 6 p.m. meeting.

Go ‘In the Wild’ at Blessed Hope Baptist’s Vacation Bible School

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-Information courtesy Lauren Elliott, Blessed Hope Baptist Church 

Blessed Hope Baptist Church will hold Vacation Bible School from 6 until 9 p.m. nightly Sunday, June 9 – Thursday, June 13, 2019. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. each evening.

There will be classes, crafts, missions and recreation for ages 4 – adults. Bring the whole family and join us as we go “In the Wild.”

Blessed Hope Baptist is located at 741 Dabney Road in Henderson, NC.

Senator Thom Tillis Visits Vance County High School

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina was welcomed to Vance County High School by students and school administrators during the afternoon of May 30.

He spent quite a bit of time in the school’s media center meeting with students from the high school and the Early College High School. Those students who met with him are Student Council leaders from the two schools.

He also met with Ruby Zuniga Trejo of STEM Early High, and Xavier Wilson of Vance County High, both of whom won the Student Spotlight award this school year.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, center, presents a U.S. Flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to students at Vance County High School. (VCS photo)

Sen. Tillis and his staff in Washington, D.C., will serve as hosts during part of an all-day trip that all 16 Student Spotlight award winners from our schools will participate in on June 19, as they travel with their parents to our nation’s capital.

Jesus Rodriguez and Rosolind Williams, both students at Vance County High School and members of the Air Force Junior ROTC, accepted the U.S. Flag from Sen. Tillis.

Principal Kristian Herring of STEM Early High presented the senator with a STEM Sharks t-shirt and Principal Rey Horner of Vance County High presented him with a Vance Vipers hat and framed banner from the Vipers’ basketball conference championship.  

Sen. Tillis also visited the school’s Vance Virtual lab and spent some time at one of the 20 digital learning stations to experience the three-dimensional software used by students in their studies of science, health, geography and more.   

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Vance Commissioners to Hear on Proposed Budget, Senior Center Relocation

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Clerk to Board/Executive Asst., County of Vance

The Vance County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, June 3, 2019, at 6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 122 Young Street, Henderson. The Invocation will be given by Pastor Rhonda Pulley, South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Agenda items:

1. Public Comments (for those registered to speak by 5:45 p.m. – each speaker is limited to five minutes)

2. Budget Hearing FY 2019-20 Economic Development Appropriations

3. Budget Hearing FY 2019-20 Proposed Budget

4. Water District Board

a. Public Hearing – FY 2019-2020 Water Budget

b. Monthly Operations Report

5. Committee Reports and Recommendations

a. Properties Committee – Eaton Johnson Renovation – Architect Contract, Inclusion of Senior Center

b. Public Safety Committee – Fire Contracts, Fire Association Concerns

6. Finance Director’s Report

a. Surplus Property

b. Fiscal Year-End Closeout Authorization

c. Reimbursement Resolution – New DSS and Senior Center Facility

7. County Manager’s Report

a. Fireworks Permit – City of Henderson

b. Henderson Vance Industrial Park Phase 3 – Land Swap

c. County Zoning in Middleburg Town Limits

d. Volunteer Fire Department Contracts

8. Consent Agenda Items

a. Budget Transfers

b. Tax Refunds and Releases

c. Monthly Reports

d. Minutes

9. Miscellaneous

a. Appointments

b. Voting Delegate and Alternate – NACo Annual Conference

10. Closed Session

a. Legal Matter

b. Economic Development Matter

Click here to view current and prior Board agendas.

Larry Leach Named Rebuilding Hope’s June Spotlight Volunteer

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-Information courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 

“I am the drywall mudder of choice,” says Larry Leach with a grin. “When the drywall goes up, I get the call to come and tape and mud.” Larry began offering his services to Rebuilding Hope, Inc. several years ago.

After retiring from IBM with 30 years of service and 15 years as a contractor for the company, “I was looking for a way to use my time and experience to improve the houses of Henderson,” said the St. Louis, Missouri native. “Seeing so many houses in need of attention made me sad.”

Larry Leach named Rebuilding Hope’s June 2019 Volunteer of the Month. (Photo Credit: RHI)

“I wanted to volunteer at some organization doing repairs and improvements to homes in Henderson.”

Larry said he watched the progress of RHI’s fundraising for the Coca-Cola building, and after it was purchased in 2017 he stopped in to explore the opportunities – one of which turned out to be finishing drywall.

“The other thing that honestly just comes naturally was the unpacking of the stuff moved from the old [RHI] location on North Oliver Drive,” he said.

Larry unpacked and determined where to store plumbing and electrical supplies, screws, nuts, bolts, nails, roofing, paint, tools, office supplies, and even some kitchen items.

“Since then we have received boxes from organizations and individuals, and I dig into them and do my best at locating a place for the stuff,” he said.

Larry’s volunteering doesn’t stop at RHI.

“I am involved with GRRO (Green Rural Redevelopment Organization), a nonprofit organization that is revitalizing the landscape in Henderson by converting empty city-owned lots in the middle of the city into gardens,” Larry said.

“My wife Belinda and I manage one of these gardens and offer up the produce to various food bank organizations. We’ve planted a variety of seeds and also have installed some patio swings.”

Larry and Belinda also volunteer at Second Thursday packing food boxes for distribution, providing fresh produce to the citizens of Vance County.

Leisure time finds Larry enjoying yard work, home improvement and repairs, reading, walking his dogs and vegetable gardening.

Larry and Belinda have been married for 19 years and between them have five children and seven grandchildren.