The city of Henderson is hosting a two-day community workshop to develop a plan for using local foods to support downtown revitalization. The workshop will focus on planning for a downtown farmers market and public space, but will also explore ways to improve walkability, promote downtown, and identify next steps in developing other food-related enterprises that could support economic and community development.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Department of Transportation (DOT), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and Delta Regional Authority (DRA) selected Henderson for the Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance program, which will result in an action plan for strengthening our downtown through local foods.
A team of these agency partners and their consultants will join local stakeholders to conduct a workshop in Henderson on June 6th and 7th. Your participation and knowledge of the local area is needed to help make this event a success. The workshop will bring together many key stakeholders from throughout our region to develop an action plan primarily around, but not limited to, these goal areas:
- Design a Thriving Place: Create a vision for the site of the downtown farmers market and surrounding area
- Sustain a Thriving Market: Management and growth strategy for the downtown farmers market
- Connect People to Downtown: Promote the place, improve walkability, and provide education and entertainment programs at the farmers market that draw in more people
- Plan for Additional Programs that Use Food to Build Community: Identify next steps towards long term goals of a grocery store, community kitchen, and community gardens in the downtown
The workshop will include presentations on community livability and the roles that local foods play in supporting it, plus small group working sessions and discussions on the community’s vision and goals, and specific actions for reaching them. The workshop will lay out an action plan for moving forward.
- Who: Stakeholders and community leaders such as you, local residents, and elected officials; along with representatives of EPA, USDA, DRA and contractors from Renaissance Planning.
- What: Discussions on local foods and community livability, group work sessions, and networking that will result in an Action Plan.
- Day 1 Evening Session: Tuesday, June 6th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Perry Memorial Library (Farm Bureau Room)
- Day 2 Action Planning Work Sessions: Wednesday, June 7th from 9:00 AM to Noon and 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Perry Memorial Library (Farm Bureau Room)
- Please RSVP: Contact Carolyn Powell, Director of Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission by email at carolyn.powell@hendersondowntown.com or phone at (252) 810-9785 to RSVP for the workshop.
Your expertise, experience, and enthusiasm for the community and region will help make the workshop a success. We look forward to seeing you there.
Community Meeting – June 6th, 2017
More info: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/local-foods-local-places-community-meeting/
Planning Session – June 7th, 2017
More Info: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/local-foods-local-places-planning-session/
Other Upcoming Events:
Spring Fling: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/spring-fling-2017/
Independence Day Celebration: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/independence-day-2017-celebration/
VGCC and Epsom Fire Department partner to offer Ag Rescue training
/by WIZS StaffVance-Granville Community College recently partnered with the Epsom Fire Department in northern Franklin County to offer a training program designed to prepare local firefighters for specific emergency situations that may occur on farms.
The “Machinery & Agricultural Rescue” course was conducted in March, with instructor David Pease of the R.E.D.S. (Rescue Extrication Delivery Specialists) Team, a group he helped found to provide specialized training. Pease has over 40 years of experience in rescue and emergency medical services.
Some 35 firefighters participated in the class, representing not only the Epsom fire department but also the Vance County Rescue Squad, the Bearpond Fire Department, the Cokesbury Fire Department, the Oxford Fire Department and the Louisburg Fire Department.
Randy Owen, the college’s coordinator/instructor of Fire/Rescue Programs, said that training courses like this represent the college’s interest in meeting the particular needs of the four rural counties served by VGCC. He expressed his appreciation to the Henderson Fire Department and the Vance County Rescue Squad for supplying special equipment and personnel to help conduct the course.
VGCC Dean of Continuing Education Dale Fey added, “Because agriculture is an extremely important part of the heritage and the economy of our communities, the Continuing Education division has initiated numerous programs in recent years that relate to farming, such as NC REAL Agricultural Entrepreneurship, Heavy Equipment Operator training and this fire/rescue course.”
VGCC provides training for both beginning and experienced firefighters in all areas of firefighting procedures and equipment, including training for firefighter certification at levels I and II. For more information, contact Randy Owen at owenr@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3448.
–VGCC–
SVHS Student selected for IFAL
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools
For Immediate Release
May 15, 2017
Kimberly Rice, a junior at Southern Vance High School, has been selected to participate in the Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders (IFAL) at N.C. A&T State University from June 11 through June 16.
The IFAL program is a one-week residential program designed for rising high school seniors sponsored through the N.C. Farm Bureau.
While attending the institute, students are exposed to the academic and research programs in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and are familiarized with careers in the food, agricultural and environmental sciences.
Maria Parham Health to offer free sports physicals
/by WIZS StaffMaria Parham Health will be offering free sports physicals from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17th for those students who plan to play sports in a school setting.
Please enter through our main entrance and directions the waiting area will be provided.
Please bring the form’s your child’s sports program requires for participation and make sure the parent’s section is already filled out and signed.
Town Talk 05/15/17
/by CharleneCooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland 05/15/17
/by CharleneButterfield Statement on SCOTUS Voter ID Decision
/by WIZS StaffWASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ unanimous finding that the North Carolina General Assembly acted with discriminatory purpose in enactment of a 2013 Voter ID law:
“Today’s announcement is a victory against those who try to implement discriminatory voter ID laws written to suppress the vote of certain North Carolinians.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the case left in place the Fourth Circuit’s well-reasoned finding that the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly acted with a discriminatory purpose in enacting its 2013 voter ID law that also included other discriminatory voting changes like limitations on early voting predominately used by African Americans.
“Today, the Supreme Court rightly refused to hear the appeal of a law that I have long said discriminates against African American voters. I hope this is finally the end to one of the most undemocratic and disgraceful voter ID laws in the country.”
https://butterfield.house.gov
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News 05/15/17
/by LarryMajor Community Workshop Coming to Downtown Henderson
/by WIZS StaffThe city of Henderson is hosting a two-day community workshop to develop a plan for using local foods to support downtown revitalization. The workshop will focus on planning for a downtown farmers market and public space, but will also explore ways to improve walkability, promote downtown, and identify next steps in developing other food-related enterprises that could support economic and community development.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Department of Transportation (DOT), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and Delta Regional Authority (DRA) selected Henderson for the Local Foods, Local Places technical assistance program, which will result in an action plan for strengthening our downtown through local foods.
A team of these agency partners and their consultants will join local stakeholders to conduct a workshop in Henderson on June 6th and 7th. Your participation and knowledge of the local area is needed to help make this event a success. The workshop will bring together many key stakeholders from throughout our region to develop an action plan primarily around, but not limited to, these goal areas:
The workshop will include presentations on community livability and the roles that local foods play in supporting it, plus small group working sessions and discussions on the community’s vision and goals, and specific actions for reaching them. The workshop will lay out an action plan for moving forward.
Your expertise, experience, and enthusiasm for the community and region will help make the workshop a success. We look forward to seeing you there.
Community Meeting – June 6th, 2017
More info: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/local-foods-local-places-community-meeting/
Planning Session – June 7th, 2017
More Info: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/local-foods-local-places-planning-session/
Other Upcoming Events:
Spring Fling: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/spring-fling-2017/
Independence Day Celebration: https://hendersonncdowntown.com/event/independence-day-2017-celebration/
Pinkston Street Elementary hosts “EOG Parent Night”
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools
For Immediate Release
May 12, 2017
The Vance County Schools’ Family Resource Center hosted an “EOG Parent Night” on May 11 at Pinkston Street Elementary School for parents and their children who are in grades 3-5 in our 10 elementary schools.
Approximately 200 people attended the event. They participated in a variety of information sessions held in classrooms throughout the school to gain valuable strategies and advice on what to expect on the N.C. End-of-Grade tests in reading, mathematics and science.
Parents and children rotated through the various sessions, which were all led by teachers in our elementary schools. The sessions were designed to provide them with information on the types of things that will be covered on the tests and how they can prepare at home and at school to be successful on the tests, which will be administered at the end of May.
In the first photo, Robin Wilson, a teacher at New Hope Elementary School, leads a session with parents and students involving the state reading test. In the second photo, Kedecia Stewart, a teacher at Pinkston Street Elementary School, discusses math strategies with parents and students.
Vance County Schools holds 2nd “Honoring Academic Success” Banquet
/by WIZS StaffVance County Schools
For Immediate Release
May 12, 2017
Vance County Schools held its second annual “Honoring Academic Success” banquet on Wednesday, May 10, at McGregor Hall in downtown Henderson to honor 48 high school seniors who are the top academic achievers in their respective graduating classes for the 2016-2017 school year.
An audience of approximately 225 people attended the banquet which featured entertainment by local students and a nice meal, catered by Cook Shack of Louisburg.
Kaitlyn Tant, a junior at Southern Vance High School, and Jadyn Jones, a junior at Northern Vance High School, each sang lovely musical selections to honor the high school seniors. They wowed the audience with their impressive musical talents.
Uriah Ford, a 2016 graduate of the Vance County Early College High School, was the featured speaker for the evening. Ford spoke about his experience last year as a member of the honored group at the 2016 “Honoring Academic Success” banquet. He also talked about his first year as a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and urged all of the soon-to-be graduates to enjoy their last few weeks in high school and to look forward to the challenges still facing them.
But, the true stars of the evening were the 48 high school honorees. Each are part of the top 10 percent of academic achievers in their senior classes. They have all proven to be leaders academically and have proven during their four-year high school careers that they value their studies and can be counted on to set high goals and work to achieve them. They were recognized individually and were presented with medallions by Superintendent Anthony Jackson, Vance County Board of Education Chairperson Gloria J. White and Vance County Public School Foundation President Archie Taylor Jr.
Those honored seniors included from the Vance County Early College High School: Christopher Brame, Sierra Hawkins, Kristen Oakes, Janet Rodriguez-Morales and Jacob Weaver. They are joined by, from left, counselor Tannis Jenkins and Principal Debbie Hite.
Seniors honored as top academic achievers at the AdVANCE Academy at Western Vance High School were Danny Lee Hicks Jr., Cindy San Juan, Dawn-Sha’ Smith, Antavious Williams and Robert Wunderlich. They are joined by Principal Stephanie Ayscue, left, and counselor Marsha Harris, right.
Top achievers in the senior class at Southern Vance High School include: Luis Amaya-Villa, Yasmene Clark, Dalton Elliott, Gavin Eutsler, Daniel Faulkner, Kenia Gomez, Kendall Harris, Anna Hernandez, Brandon Lawrence, Antonia Loyd, Carrington Matias, Angelica Montano, Vianey Nonato, Tyler Patrick, Jaslin Renteria, Heidy Reyes, Yarelic Tamayo, Logan Waite and Autumn Wortham. They are joined, from left, by Principal Rey Horner and counselor Carol Simmons.
From Northern Vance High School those seniors honored were Megan Andrews, Jared Bennett, Charlie Chiem, Tamiya Davis, Brooks Falkner, Holly Hilliard, Sarah Howarth, Hannah Mason, Shadi Nagi, Connor Pendergrass, Michelle Pham, Penny Phan, Turner Roberson, Jo’el Royster, Deriana Scott, Bailey Shelton, Imani Simmons, Nathaniel Stevenson and Jeffery Zheng. They are joined by, from left, counselor Jameka Floyd and Principal Andrew Markoch.