-Information courtesy Vance-Granville Community College
Due to the threat of inclement weather, all campuses of Vance-Granville Community College will be closing at 10:30 a.m. today, Thursday, October 11.
The Scholarship Awards Dinner scheduled for tonight will be postponed to a later date.
By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Que Tucker, Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
From the Greatest Generation to Baby Boomers, Generation X to Millennials, teenagers in every era have had challenges growing up.
In today’s digital world, high school students are being tested in unique and demanding ways. The Washington Post confirms that 73 percent of all American teenagers own their own smartphone and, on average, spend almost nine hours a day texting, chatting, gaming, blogging, streaming and visiting with friends online.
Although conclusive research showing a direct correlation between the mental health of teenagers and smartphone usage won’t be complete for years, it isn’t a great confidence builder for a student to discover online that everyone else seems to have more friends.
In addition, recent figures indicate that more than 31 percent of America’s 42 million teenagers are overweight or obese, compared to only five percent in 1980. According to the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, North Carolina is ranked the 25th most obese state in the nation with 30.9 percent of all teenagers considered overweight.
Not surprisingly, many psychologists and researchers agree that today’s teenagers are more lonely, anxious and depressed than ever before.
As the new school year gets underway and social pressures increase, statistics like these verify how important it is for teenagers to participate in high school sports and other activities such as marching band, choir, speech and debate.
The most recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) indicates there are almost eight million participants in high school sports and more than four million in performing arts activities. Most of these students would agree the primary advantage of playing a sport or participating in an after-school activity is the opportunity to meet new people and develop meaningful friendships. An online chat is no substitute for working toward a common goal face-to-face, side-by-side for weeks on end with teammates.
And positive social relationships are only the beginning. Among other benefits, high school sports are instrumental in helping teenagers establish nutritional and exercise habits that will carry them for a lifetime. Participating in a sport in high school is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, establish good eating and sleeping habits, discourage the use of alcohol and drugs and develop a greater sense of self-esteem.
Additional benefits of participating in a high school sport or activity are shared by the NFHS on a new website at MyReasonWhy.com, where dozens of high school students address this topic in their own words through videos.
A new school year brings with it an opportunity for teenagers to make new friends and establish new lifestyle habits. Encouraging them to make friends on the field of play as well as online is a great way to start.
-Information and flyer courtesy the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page
The Warrenton Revitalization Committee presents “Fright Night” on Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse Square, 109 S. Main St., Warrenton.
Wear your costume, register for prizes, enter drawings, get your face painted and take a ghost walk. A “local spirit” will lead the ghost walk at 8:30 p.m.
Music will be provided by DJ Lee Burrows with Solid Sound Productions and refreshments will be available for purchase.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
-Photo credits Jeannie Rose and John C. Rose
Good food, good people, good music and a great, local cause all came together on Sunday evening at the Chefs on the Farm event held at the Warren Estate in Warren County.
The event, a fundraiser for Working Landscapes in Warrenton, paired farmers and their products with local chefs for a delicious outdoor dinner complete with a festive “on the farm” fall setting.
Working Landscapes is a nonprofit rural development organization with a mission to advance the economic and environmental resilience of the region. Among their visions, the organization seeks to help people recognize, appreciate and have access to local food and the natural environment.
They clearly accomplished just that as the community dined on such delectables as short rib gumbo, pizza, ratatouille, smoked chicken rillette, beef dumplings, apple turnovers, cocktails and much more.
The food was presented on covered tables with signs stating the dish, the known allergens and the chef/farm pairing.
On the local scene, Chefs Michael Ring, Nick Garrison and A.J. Garrelts with Warrenton’s Robinson Ferry Restaurant & Spirits were paired with G&D Produce, to present the short rib gumbo.
Other restaurant and farm participants included Saint Jacques French Cuisine in Raleigh partnered with Bender Farms; Coronato Pizza partnered with Taber Farms and AAA Farm and Ranch; Sassool of Raleigh/Cary partnered with Nash Produce; 18 Seaboard in Raleigh partnered with Taber Farms; Umma Foods partnered with Sunrise Ridge Farm; Whiskey Kitchen in downtown Raleigh partnered with Taber Farms; and 41Hundred partnered with Y’mijer Farm.
The crowd dined while enjoying live music from the GrassStreet Bluegrass Band. GrassStreet, based in central North Carolina, features Wayne Kinton (guitar, vocals), David Kinton (upright bass, mandolin, vocals), Ricky Hargis (banjo, vocals) and Tab Kearns (dobro, vocals).
The band has entertained fans of all ages since 2003 with their mixture of original material and bluegrass standards ranging from the traditional to the progressive.
According to WIZS’ own John C. Rose, the event was quite the success. “My wife and I attended the event as paying customers to help the cause and it was awesome,” said Rose. “We are already planning to go back every time they have future Chefs on the Farm events. All of the food was great. The atmosphere of being on the farm and seeing some folks you know and meeting some new people, and GrassStreet playing in the background, was just perfect.”
(L to R – Nihya Alston, Kamini Hudson, Nyasia Warren)
(L to R – Beth Aiken, Anna Walker, Amanda Ellis)
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees is now inviting applications and nominations for the position of President of the college.
A website has been launched with a presidential profile and the details of the application procedure. The site can be reached at www.vgcc.edu/presidentialsearch.
General inquiries about the college and application materials can be directed to April Perkinson, search liaison to the board, at (252) 738-3227 or perkinson@vgcc.edu.
To be assured consideration, resumes and cover letters must be received by Friday, November 9, 2018, according to the website. Resumes with cover letters and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled.
The Trustees are working with the firm of Executive Leadership Associates (ELA) LLC of Emerald Isle to assist in the search for a replacement for Dr. Stelfanie Williams who left the college in August to take a job with Duke University. The new president will be the seventh in the history of the college.
ELA, described as “a consortium of former North Carolina community college presidents who are committed to ensuring that our internationally recognized community college system continues its proud tradition of excellence,” was selected by the Board of Trustees at its September 17 meeting.
The firm is helping the Trustees by creating the presidential profile of the ideal candidate needed, guiding the search process, and recruiting and screening applicants as needed.
The trustees are expected to present finalists to the State Board of Community Colleges for evaluation early in 2019, said Dr. Gordon Burns who is serving as interim president for the college. The board plans to have the new president in place in March 2019. Dr. Burns served as president of Wilkes Community College in North Wilkesboro for 18 years before retiring in 2014.
Serving on the Trustees’ presidential search committee are Trustees Deborah Brown, chair; Herb Gregory, vice chair; N. Annette P. Myers, Abdul Sm Rasheed, Donald C. Seifert, Sr., and Sara C. Wester.
-Information and flyer courtesy the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page
The Warrenton Revitalization Committee will hold a Harvest Market event on Saturday, October 13, 2018, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Historic Courthouse Square in downtown Warrenton.
Crafts, art, gifts, jewelry, candles, produce, festival foods and more will be available. Enjoy live music by The Jimmy Weaver Trio.
Also, don’t miss the first ever Harvest Pie Competition! Categories for pie judging include apple, sweet potato, pumpkin and pecan. Judging will take place around 2 p.m. and cash prizes will be awarded.
Contest registration forms may be printed from the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page by clicking here.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
-Information courtesy the North Carolina State Board of Elections & Ethics Enforcement
Important Dates:
Friday, October 12, 2018 – Regular Voter Registration Deadline
Voter registration forms must be postmarked or delivered to your county elections office by 5 p.m. on October 12. Same-day registration will be available in your county during the One-Stop Early Voting period, beginning October 17 and ending November 3.
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 – Start of One-Stop Early Voting
Voters may register and vote at any One-Stop Early Voting location in their county of residence. For locations and hours, check with your county elections office or vt.ncsbe.gov/OSSite.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 – Regular Deadline to Request a Mail-In Absentee Ballot
Requests must be received by your county elections office by 5 p.m. on October 30.
Saturday, November 3, 2018 – End of One-Stop Early Voting and Same-Day Registration
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 – ELECTION DAY
Polls will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Locate your polling place at vt.ncsbe.gov/PPLkup.
-Information courtesy Butch Meek, Rotary Club of Warrenton
The Rotary Club of Warrenton announces that they are partnering with the Town of Warrenton as civic sponsors of the 2018 Christmas Parade to be held Saturday, December 8, 2018, at 5 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Be the Inspiration.” Rotary is asking parade participants to showcase how their organization is involved with environmental issues that affect health and welfare both locally and around the world. Participants in the parade are encouraged to show how they are providing inspiration in their communities. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best floats.
Entries will be judged December 8 at 5 p.m. The parade rain date is set for Sunday, December 9. Parade entry forms can be obtained from the Town Hall located at 133 South Main Street or from Tar Heel Tire Company, or visit the Warrenton Festivals page on FaceBook.
-Information courtesy the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page
The Warrenton Revitalization Committee is hosting our first ever Harvest Pie Competition during this year’s annual Harvest Market Festival on Saturday, October 13! The categories include apple, sweet potato, pumpkin and pecan pies.
We will be accepting entry forms at the festival from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Judging will take place around 2 p.m. and cash prizes will be awarded, amounts to be determined.
We have added a youth division to make the competition more accessible to kids and teenagers who want to participate. We have edited the registration form with”Adult” and “Youth” boxes. The form may be printed from the Warrenton Festivals Facebook page by clicking here.
We hope to see you there!
(This is not a paid advertisement)
— courtesy of The United States Department of Justice and The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina
Department of Justice Reminds the Public to Be Aware of Fraud When Disaster Strikes and Report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud – (866) 720-5721
RALEIGH – The Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region, which opened opportunities for criminals to exploit people during vulnerable times. The NCDF, a national coordinating agency within the Department’s Criminal Division, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and serves as a centralized clearinghouse for disaster fraud complaints and information relating to both natural and man-made disasters. The NCDF seeks to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows them to forward complaints to the appropriate agency for investigation.
“In the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Florence the affected communities and citizens of Eastern North Carolina should be on guard against disaster fraud schemes,” said Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “As FEMA and other federal, state, and local relief agencies work tirelessly to support those who have suffered losses as the result of this natural disaster, we can be certain that criminals will target those impacted and attempt to profit from the suffering of others. The Department of Justice is committed to detecting and stopping this type of fraud. Through the National Center for Disaster Fraud, and in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we are working to aggressively prosecute the offenders.”
While compassion, assistance, and solidarity are generally prevalent in the aftermath of natural disasters, unscrupulous individuals and organizations also use these tragic events to take advantage of those in need. Examples of illegal activity being reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include:
FEMA fraud;
Identity theft;
Contractor fraud;
Charity fraud; and,
Impersonation of government officials.
The NCDF reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Members of the public are reminded to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before trusting anyone purporting to be working on behalf of disaster victims and before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of disaster victims. The public is also reminded to be extremely cautious before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, especially those who may contact you after a natural disaster.
Unfortunately, criminals can exploit disasters, such as Hurricane Florence, for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating phony websites designed to solicit contributions. Tips should be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, e-mails can be sent to disaster@leo.gov, and information can be faxed to (225) 334-4707.
Learn more about the NCDF at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud and watch a public service announcement from United States Attorney Higdon here (link is external). Within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Deputy Criminal Chief Felice Corpening serves as the Disaster Fraud Coordinator. Working with the NCDF and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, Deputy Criminal Chief Corpening oversees the federal prosecution and investigation of disaster fraud matters impacting Eastern North Carolina. Violations of North Carolina state disaster fraud laws are handled by the North Carolina Department of Justice’s (NCDOJ) Consumer Protection Division. The NCDOJ Consumer Protection Division may be contacted at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM (1-877-566-7226) or by visiting www.ncdoj.gov/complaint.
Tips for the public on how to avoid being victimized by fraud are available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tips-avoiding-fraudulent-charitable-contribution-schemes.
