32 Graduate From VGCC Radiography Program

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Thirty-two new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year radiography program were honored in a virtual pinning ceremony earlier this month.

Although not held in the traditional manner, the May 10 event incorporated the traditional welcomes and congratulatory remarks that go along with graduations. But Angela Thomas, dean of health sciences and head of the radiography program went a step further when she welcomed all in attendance in the various languages represented in the diverse class – Amharic, English, Swahili and Spanish.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais spoke about the students’ accomplishments amidst the trying times of a global pandemic. Desmarais wished the group well in their future endeavors and reminded the group that should they need courses in the future, VGCC would be there with open arms.

Class President Mariah Lawson delivered remarks highlighting the trials the class had to overcome and the good times they all shared throughout the 21-month journey. She concluded with a poem written especially for the radiography class of 2021 which has been coined “The Best Class Ever!” Additionally, some of the graduates communicated what the program meant to them. The overall consensus was that they were more than Radiologic Technologists; they were professionals, according to a statement from VGCC’s Chris LaRocca.

The Academic Achievement Award given to the student with the highest GPA went to Travis Banka of Durham, NC. Banka maintained a 4.0 GPA each semester for the entirety of the program. In accepting the award, he thanked the radiography program and faculty. On behalf of the class, he thanked the faculty for giving them all the tools necessary to ensure success in the program.

Instructor Anthony Twisdale shared the history of the radiographer’s pin before Dean Thomas led the graduates in reciting the radiographer’s pledge as the ceremonies concluded.

Following is a list of all graduates and where they live: Laura Andersen and Mackenzie Cates, both of Efland; Travis Banka, Belete Dress, Eden Ketema, all of Durham; Taylor Beck of Kittrell; Elizabeth Brogden, Glenn Burgess, Coleen Green, Kaylor Lawrence, Terri McGarr, and Katie Rumsey, all of Creedmoor; Cassidy Burton, Datoka Chabala, Dora Dial, and Edwin Vargas, all of Franklinton; Theresa Carrillo, Matthew Denton, Geneva Duncan, and Jakea Spruill, all of Henderson; Raegan Ellis of Prospect Hill, Lawrence Haymond of Wake Forest; Cristal Herrera and Ashley Hicks, both of Louisburg; Sierra Holland, Mariah Lawson, and Charles Maina, all of Raleigh; Osvaldo Martinez of Butner; Robyn Perry of Zebulon; Victoria Swain of Roxboro; and Carly West of Littleton. Not in attendance was Sean Murphy of Raleigh.

VGCC Logo

VGCC “Boot Camp” Offers Skills To Get Jobs, Plan For Careers

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Vance-Granville Community College is offering a job readiness “boot camp” for anyone interested in learning valuable skills to get employed and stay employed.

All four campuses are having the four-day sessions, designed to provide 24 hours of instruction, according to information from Tanya S. Weary, dean of business & industry solutions at VGCC.

The class is limited to 10 students, and will focus on several key topics, from interviewing and resume writing to goal setting and communication.

Participants should be at least 16 years old, according to Kyle Burwell, VGCC’s director of occupational extension. This type of employability skills class has been offered in the past by VGCC, but this is a new format designed to provide students with skills necessary to obtain and maintain employment.

Find the location to fit your schedule:

  • Main Campus: June 7-10
  • Warren Campus: June 21-24
  • South Campus: July 12-15
  • Franklin Campus: Aug. 2-5

For more information, contact VGCC at 252.738.3276 or visit https://www.vgcc.edu/coned/hrd/

TownTalk 5-18-21 Mobile Learning Lab “Open Bus” Event May 22

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Chalis Henderson gives credit where credit is due. And Henderson credits her father for coming up with an idea that is finally coming to fruition – the Creating Success Mobile Learning Lab.

What used to be a mode of transportation to take students to and from school now brings the school to the students – it’s a former bus.

The public is invited to come check it out on Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oasis of Hope Ministries, 2495 US 158 bypass in Henderson.  There will be a deejay playing music, as well as food and lawn games for the whole family to enjoy.

Henderson was Tuesday’s guest on Town Talk and told host Trey Snide how the idea for a mobile learning lab came about. She is the executive director of Turning Point Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit whose mission is to be a catalyst for development and empowerment of residents in Vance, Warren, Granville and Franklin counties.

She and her father were talking a few years ago about how they could expand the building where the church was holding its education program. Henderson said she thought of maybe hauling in a shipping container to the church, but then her father said, “Why don’t you use a bus?” That’s when the idea of a classroom on wheels began, she said.

Warren County government gave them the money to buy the bus, and over the past couple of years, that bus has been transformed.

“We want everyone to come out and witness the lab firsthand,” Henderson said. The computers are in place, and there will be a slideshow that will “paint the story of the development of the learning lab,” she said.

They ripped out the bench seats and created a flexible-space classroom equipped with laptops – a comfortable space for children and adults, Henderson said. “It’s been such a rewarding process to see it develop,” she said. “We know it’s going to be a great resource for the community.” Whether it’s children learning something new about technology, or having a session for grownups, Henderson said she anticipates that anyone who participates will leave feeling smarter and more empowered.

Turning Point CDC works to bring resources to rural communities and to bridge the gap that exists between those resources and the people who may need them.

Visit www.turningpointcdc.org to learn more.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Vance United Way Grant Proposals Due By June 11

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The United Way of Vance County grant application process for 2021 is now open.

Local non-profit agencies that seek to provide assistance to disadvantaged citizens in Vance and Warren counties in the areas of basic needs, health and education are invited to submit applications, according to United Way board member Desiree Brooks.

The application deadline is Friday, June 11

Visit www.unitedwayvance.org to download an application or request an application via email at unitedwayofvance@gmail.com.

Brooks reminded prospective applicants to make sure to fill out the application in its entirety; incomplete applications will not be considered for grant funding.

Send completed and signed applications to:

United Way of Vance County,

P.O. Box 1352

Henderson, N.C. 27536

Applications also may be sent electronically to unitedwayofvance@gmail.com.

United Way staff will contact agencies to keep them updated on the status of their applications and to schedule presentations to the Funds Allocation Committee on June 16, Brooks added.

Call Brooks at 252.432.4847 to learn more or email unitedwayofvance@gmail.com.

Acting U.S. Attorney G. Norman Acker, III Recognizes Police Week 2021

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In honor of National Police Week, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina G. Norman Acker, III recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Sunday, May 9 through Saturday, May 15, 2021.

“This week is a time to honor our law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation,” said Attorney General Garland. “I am constantly inspired by the extraordinary courage and dedication with which members of law enforcement act each day, putting their lives on the line to make our communities safer. To members of law enforcement and your families: we know that not a single day, nor a single week, is enough to recognize your service and sacrifice. On behalf of the entire Department of Justice, you have our unwavering support and eternal gratitude.”

“During Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe,” said Acting United States Attorney Acker.  “I want to acknowledge the work performed by federal, state, and local law enforcement, who often face uncertain and dangerous situations without question and without expectation of thanks.  We want them to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation.”

In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities that they have sworn to serve.

During the Roll Call of Heroes, a ceremony coordinated by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), more than 300 officers will be honored.  Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), of the law enforcement officers who died nationwide in the line of duty in 2020, nearly 60 percent succumbed to COVID-19. Here in the Eastern District of North Carolina, two officers died in the line of duty.

Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 46 law enforcement officers died as a result of felonious acts and 47 died in accidents in 2020.  LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website.

The names of the 394 fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Thursday, May 13, 2021, during a Virtual Candlelight Vigil, which will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm EDT. The Police Week in-person public events, originally scheduled for May, have been rescheduled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns to October 13-17, 2021. An in-person Candlelight Vigil event is scheduled for October 14, 2021.

Those who wish to view the Virtual Candlelight Vigil on May 13, 2021, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF. The FOP’s Roll Call of Heroes can be viewed at www.fop.net. To view the schedule of virtual Police Week events in May, please view NLEOMF’s Police Week Flyer.

To learn more about National Police Week in-person events scheduled for October, please visit www.policeweek.org.

 

Kerr-Tar Agency on Aging Helps Families Find Options for Care

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Family members often find themselves pitching in to help older parents, grandparents or siblings with their daily living needs. Providing that extra support, however, often comes at the expense of their own needs. And sometimes, they just need a break.

The Kerr-Tar Area Agency on Aging can help those caregivers connect with resources to assist with the kind of service – for the care receiver and the care giver, said Austin Caton, Kerr-Tar family caregiver support specialist. Caton and Camille Koonce, a certified case manager and eldercare consultant, discussed some local options with John C. Rose on Thursday’s Town Talk.

Navigating through the various programs and services can be confusing and time-consuming, but Caton can help untangle the knots for families to access the option that best suits their needs.

One program is called respite care, Caton said, which provides unpaid primary caregivers a break from the responsibilities of caring for a family member. “The caregivers are just depleted,” he said. There are vouchers funded through the Older Americans Act that can help pay for this respite care so the primary caregiver can do things like go to the grocery store or get a haircut.

“Some people will use someone they know – from church, a neighbor, a family member not living in the home,” Caton said. Other people will contact a local home care agency, and Caton can provide a professional referral. The agency will conduct an assessment and set up a schedule for the respite care, he added. The voucher can help pay for this service.

Often, caregivers are juggling the demands of a full-time job and family obligations with providing that extra care for a family member in need. There are day programs that provide those needing care with a place to spend the day while the primary caregiver is at work. These programs can cost between $50 -$75 a day, but Koonce said it may be the best option for all parties involved. Day programs offer a way for participants to socialize with one another while being supervised by a staff of caregivers.

They explained the difference between home care and home health. Home care is non-medical care, like preparing meals, light housework, medication reminders and helping a care recipient get from a chair to a bed and back again –any daily activities that person may need help with. Insurance doesn’t cover this expense, but help with paying for it may be available through veteran’s programs or long-term care insurance, for example.

Nurses provide home health care, Koonce said, and includes wound care, administering IV medication and other things that require a doctor’s orders to perform.

“There’s a big push right now for family members to stay comfortably in the home,” Caton said, “because of the skyrocketing cost of health care.” Expect to pay $9,000 -10,000 a month, he said, for a bed in a long-term skilled care facility.

Contact Caton by phone 252.436.2040 ext. 6072 or apply at www.kerrtarcog.gov.

“It’s a pretty simple process,” he said. He or others will complete an assessment – either in home or by telephone – to get started. “We want to be a wholistic, all-encompassing agency (to) help identify those needs or whatever you’re struggling with and help get you to the right place and the right services,” he said.

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New Process to Get “Work Permit” in NC

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— press release courtesy NCDOL

NCDOL today announces the rollout of a new process for obtaining youth employment certificates that aims to streamline the process and better ensure youths are working in safe jobs. After a soft launch in April, the new process takes effect today, May 3.

The NCDOL Wage and Hour Bureau administers youth employment certificates, which are required under the N.C. Wage and Hour Act. The certificates, commonly referred to as a work permit, are designed to alert parents, teens and employers of certain prohibited jobs and hour limits for workers under the age of 18.

“We changed the process for obtaining youth employment certificates to better ensure that our state’s young employees end up working in safe and acceptable jobs,” Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said. “We understand this will be a big change for employers, but we are ready to assist any employer, parent or youth who have questions about the new process.”

Any questions about the new process should be directed to the Wage and Hour Bureau Call Center at 1-800-625-2267. To learn more about youth rules and regulation, please visit the NCDOL website.

NCCare360 Works To Match Clients With Providers, Resources

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It sounds ambitious, but doable: NCCare360 is a public-private partnership designed to provide streamlined support for those who are looking for help with finding resources for everything from health care to housing, access to transportation and other challenges that people are faced with.

Quinny Sanchez Lopez, community engagement manager, spoke to the Vance County Community Collaborative earlier this week and shared information about joining the partnership.

Attending the monthly meeting were representatives from education, governmental and non-profit agencies, according to information from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation.

Executive Director Val Short welcomed the group, which convened to learn more about the public-private partnership between the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation.

There is no fee to register to join the partnership, Sanchez Lopez said, which reaches all 100 counties in the state.

NCCare360 is “the first statewide network that unites health care and human services organizations with a shared technology that enables a coordinated, community-oriented, person-centered approach for delivering care in North Carolina,” according to the statement.

The idea is to have a group of health and human services providers in one network to connect clients with community resources. Unite Us powers the technology platform, which is used for feedback and follow-up and ensuring accountability of service delivery.

Included in the model is a community engagement team that works with local organizations such as social service agencies to independent providers to get resources to those who need them.

Referrals can be made by providers or by the client himself or herself. A NCCare360 “navigator” connects the client to resources in their area. A resource directory is available at www.nccare360.org.

Agencies that partner with NCCare360 receive training and are responsible for responding to referrals and reporting outcomes.

Granville Vance Public Health is a NCCare360 partner and Director Lisa Harrison said Thursday that it is exciting to see technology evolve in a way that can further the mission of public health.

“We are eager to incorporate NCCare360 technology as our social workers and nurses at the health department continue to connect people in our communities to needed resources,” Harrison said in a statement to WIZS News.

Improving the health of people in the community goes beyond a doctor’s office or making good food choices at the grocery store. “For decades… health department staff have valued working with children and families to navigate opportunities for improved transportation, housing, child care, health care services including mental health services, healthy food resources, small business support, and community outreach,” she said.

But it takes more than a computer network to be successful. It also takes people who know about the local community to be involved and informed as well.

“While this technology is robust and transformative, technology is just technology unless all network partners are trained and empowered to use it to better serve their patients and clients,” Harrison said.

For more information about joining the partnership, contact Sanchez Lopez by email quinny.sanchezlopez@uniteus.com.

Visit www.nccare360.org to learn more.

Kerr Tar Workforce and NCWorks

Employment for Graduating Seniors, Class of 2021 Career Expo

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High school seniors who will graduate in a little over a month have choices to make, whether it’s choosing a college or university to attend or beginning a career. A regional career expo targeting the Class of 2021 will be held next week and it is designed with the Gen Z’er in mind.

The virtual event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., according to Desiree Brooks, business services manager of the Kerr-Tar Council of Governments workforce development board.

Brooks told WIZS News Tuesday, April 13 that several area workforce development boards, along with NC Works and the NC Department of Public Schools’ Career Technical Education (CTE) program have collaborated to put on the event.

“We have been coordinating with the CTEs in the five counties and they are working on getting students ready for the event,” Brooks said. “They are targeting students who are ready to enter the workforce upon graduation – we are all very excited about this event.”

The expo – tagged as the “Gen Z Edition” – will allow students and employers to communicate using a platform that young people are comfortable and familiar with, according to a flyer promoting the event. Students who have developed technical skills, have hands-on experience and earned credentials through their high school CTE program can use the expo as a way to showcase those skills for prospective employers. Employers can share job descriptions and other details of their business in interviews using text or video chat.

“One of our goals is to make sure the parents of seniors see the importance of this so they can encourage them to take part in this event,” Brooks noted. “Another goal is to get employers that are willing to hire graduating seniors with little or no prior work experience.”

Sign up for the event at trianglecareerexpo.com.

TownTalk 04-27-21 VGCC 9th Annual Small Business Summit

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Niche crops, innovative practices and agritourism may not be the first things that come to mind when people think about farming, but participants in an upcoming daylong workshop will learn more about these topics and more.

Vance-Granville Community College will present the 9th Annual Small Business Summit on Thursday, May 20, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will be held outside, at Seven Springs Farms and Vineyards, 332 Axtell Ridgeway Road, Norlina, NC. All CDC-recommended social distancing and mask protocols will be followed.

This year’s theme is Ag Alternatives & Legacy Farms. VGCC’s Tanya Weary and Sheri Jones spoke with John C. Rose on Town Talk Tuesday about the event, which will provide attendees with a day of agriculture education, including discussions of niche farming, agritourism and farm modernization. The workshop will be led by a diverse group of successful farmers and business owners. Attendees will also learn about agriculture-related grants and financing options.

Register by May 10 by visiting www.vgcc.edu. Or contact Jones  via email joness@vgcc.edu or call 252.425.8385. Lunch is included with registration and will be provided by The Meat Up Spot, a regional food truck (a vegetarian option will be available).

It is “quite fitting” to hold the workshop at Seven Springs, Weary said. Agritourism is growing, and Weary said “we’re excited that Seven Springs has agreed to host us, and to share their knowledge with those in attendance that day on what agritourism has done for them and for Warren County.

Jones, director of VGCC’s Small Business Center, said the outdoor venue will allow for social distancing for participants. “The owners have been so cooperative in making sure that everything stays in compliance and will keep everybody safe. It is a beautiful venue and I think people will really enjoy it.”

“Agriculture is an important part of our local economy, with many of our small businesses being involved in food and farming, so we are excited to focus on this sector,” said Weary, VGCC’s Dean of Business & Industry Solutions.

Derrick Jackson of Grass Grazed Farm in Durham will serve as the keynote speaker, discussing “A New Farming Model.” Jackson and his wife, Paige, operate a 60-acre farm, where they focus on sustainable pastured livestock, ethical practices and regenerative agriculture.

Other sessions include a panel on “High Tunnel Production,” led by N.C. Cooperative Extension including Dean’s Greens Farm, Rocky Ridge Farms and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; “Land of Opportunity: Heir Property, Startups, and Finding Your Niche” with Patrick Brown of Brown Family Farms/Hempfinity; a session on “Agritourism, Partnerships and Building Community,” featuring Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards and Lake Gaston Outfitters; and a presentation on “Finding Resources: Cost-Share, Grants, and Financing Your Agribusiness.”

The event is hosted by the VGCC Small Business Center, with co-sponsors including Warren County Economic Development, The Meat Up Spot, Sweet Delights, Grass Grazed, and Seven Springs Farms & Vineyards.

“I think the main goal that Tanya and I have had as a team is to listen and to hear what each community needs that may be specific to their community and we try to meet them there,” Jones said.