Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

The Local Skinny! VGCC Helping Entrepreneurs

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Vance-Granville Community College’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) is open for business.    Students and community members attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce recently to mark this momentous occasion.  The Nov. 9 event coincided with Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The EIC is located at VGCC’s South Campus in Creedmoor and serves all four campuses in the VGCC system.

The EIC supports VGCC’s mission of strengthening the state’s economy by helping students and clients living in rural areas achieve their entrepreneurial potential by exposing them to entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurial opportunities, according to a press release from VGCC.

By educating, inspiring and supporting a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success, VGCC and the EIC help N.C. entrepreneurs succeed by offering them the training and learning opportunities that prepare them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and ideas. 

 This effort also enhances VGCC’s Small Business Center offerings of Ice House, Kauffman FastTrack and NC REAL Entrepreneurship training, among others. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais recently joined other community college presidents in signing the national Entrepreneurship Pledge.

“I think that the Center is a great opportunity for networking, gaining business skills, and preparing for the future in business,” said Tanya Weary, dean of business & industry solutions. “I am really excited for VGCC. This is the start of something that will grow and develop.  The opportunities this innovation environment will create are endless.”   

Serena Aycock, one of the members of the newly formed Vanguard Entrepreneurship Club, was on hand to take part in the ribbon cutting.  “I am absolutely inspired and honored to attend this great community college,” Aycock said. “I feel the energy of success in this room during this unforgettable ribbon-cutting event.”

The Center has had support from NC IDEA.  NC IDEA is an independent private, 501(c)(3) foundation whose vision is to help North Carolinians achieve their entrepreneurial ambition to start and grow high potential companies. NC IDEA fosters sustainable economic development with competitive grants and programs for entrepreneurs and funding to strengthen the North Carolina entrepreneurial ecosystem.  Thom Ruhe, President & CEO was present to support VGCC’s continued entrepreneurial efforts.   Also present were Dr. Rebecca Corbin, President & CEO of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship; Alyssa Martina, Director of Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Elon University; and Dr. Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Social Sciences and Global Programs, UNC Chapel Hill were present to support VGCC’s entrepreneurial efforts;  and representatives from the four counties that VGCC serves.

To learn more about VGCC’s entrepreneurial endeavors, contact Tanya Weary at wearyt@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3521.

Grace Ministries

TownTalk: Grace Ministries Prepares 2000 Meals for Thanksgiving

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G.R.A.C.E. Ministries is partnering with several churches in Vance and Granville counties to distribute a couple of thousand plates of food Saturday, Nov. 20. Jamie Elliott, one of the founders of G.R.A.C.E. Ministries, said he welcomes the community to come join in, whether you’re interested in helping prepare the food or whether you want to come and pick up plates for you and your neighbors.

Elliott spoke with John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk and he said the food has been purchased, but added that monetary donations surely would help replenish the coffers – checks written to G.R.A.C.E. Ministries may be mailed to P.O. Box 316, Henderson, NC 27536.

In addition to eat-in and take out plates at the G.R.A.C.E. Ministries location at 961 Burr St., Elliott said West End Baptist, Island Creek Baptist and West Oxford Baptist churches all will be distributing plates on Saturday as well. West End will be set up at Henderson Family Dentistry, 560 Dabney Dr., Island Creek will be distributing food at its location, 950 Stagecoach Rd. and West Oxford will be giving out plates from their location, 627 Hillsboro St., Oxford.

Plates should be ready for pickup around lunchtime, but volunteers should plan to arrive by about 8:30 a.m. “Those cooking will be on site about 3 a.m.,” Elliott said. “Grab some friends and come on out,” he said. “We’ll have a good time (while) serving the Lord.”

There will be little time for relaxing after the Saturday food event, Elliott said, because as soon as they wrap up the pre-Thanksgiving meal, “we’ll put all our attentions on the toy drive” for Christmas.

New or very gently used toys will be collected in advance of the Dec. 18 program at G.R.A.C.E. Ministries. Elliott said he sincerely hopes that, this year, children can return to the church, hear a Christmas story and receive a gift. Visit graceofhenderson.org to learn more about the upcoming events.

G.R.A.C.E. Ministries works in the four-county area to reach those struggling with addiction. Weekly recovery meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at 961 Burr St., Elliott said. Resources are available to help those in need.

Contact Elliott at 252.204.3617 or Bobby West at 252.432.7124 to find out ways to help with these holiday events.

 

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Pender Reflects On First Season At VCHS

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Wilbur Pender was hired as Vance County High School’s head football coach only four weeks before the season started, and the team’s season was disrupted for two weeks due to Covid but none of that really mattered as the Vipers posted a 7-3 record this season making it to the state playoffs. They lost in the first round 48-6 to Westover High School in Fayetteville. Pender says that game, “Let us know where we are, I saw a lot of deficiencies show up.”
The Vipers, according to Pender, are a close team but, “We just didn’t play good enough to win that game. I hate to say it but the best team won,” Pender added. Looking back on the season Pender said the Vipers did their best to control what they could control, and he tried to give his team the best chance at a positive outcome.
While losing seniors like Omari Allen, who will be moving on to East Carolina next season, Pender says there will be a good group of players returning and he is encouraging his players to play other sports that will help make them better athletes when next season begins.
He expects to continue to grow the program at Vance County and would like to see a rebuild of the Jay-Vee program which, because of the pandemic, did not happen this year.

 

Crossroads Christian School

SportsTalk: Richardson Tips Off Crossroads Basketball Season Friday

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Scottie Richardson has two hats. One hat is his Athletic Director’s hat and the other is his Head Basketball Coach hat.  Friday night he will be wearing his basketball hat as Crossroads Christiam kicks off the 2021 basketball season against Oxford Prep.  In his 4th year as coach Richardson says there is a system in place for the team which will have 14 players including five seniors, anchored by All State player Andreas Prince who averaged 22 points per game and made 44% of three point attempts last season. On Tuesday Crossroads will face Henderson Collegiate in a game that can be heard live on WIZS beginning immediately following the Joy Christian Center broadcast.

Richardson says that he is expecting good things from the basketball program but also praised other sports at the school, “It’s the best athletic season in school history,” Richardson stated on Thursday’s SportsTalk with Trey Snide. The school’s soccer team, which started 0-4 on the year finished the season with the most wins in school history for the program with 15. The previous record for men’s soccer was four. The soccer team finished ranked 3rd in the state losing in the final four by one point.  The cross country team, which had not had a full roster in nine years, won the state championship this season. Girls volleyball posted 10 wins this year, the most victories since 2010.

“We got the right coaches on the bus and the wrong ones off,” Richardson said of the success of the school’s athletic programs.

 

Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Self Care

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

TownTalk: Gang Free Working To Vaccinate Families

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Gang Free Inc. in Henderson is one of 10 sites across the state selected to partner with NC Department of Health and Human Services and Healthier Together to offer a six-week-long family vaccination clinic.

Melissa Elliott, founder of Gang-Free Inc. said 56 individuals participated in the Nov. 6 kickoff event at 940 County Home Road. “We’ve been rolling ever since,” she told John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk. The clinic is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The exception is Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25) and Friday, Nov. 26. Appointment times are available, but not necessary. Elliott said drop-ins are welcome.

The clinic is for individuals of any age, she said, adding that they have the Pfizer vaccine recently approved for children 5-11. And anyone coming to get their first vaccine before Nov,. 30 will receive a $100 gift card, she added.

Elliott said it is “totally humbling” to see her organization listed among the other state sites that are hosting the family vaccination clinics and said it is a tribute to the mission of Gang-Free to be a location that seeks to offer help to the community.

Gang-Free Inc. isn’t a large organization, she acknowledged, but said what it may lack in size, it makes up for with community spirit.

“We’ve got hearts and we care about people,” she said.

Having a clinic that is open to the whole family is a great form of outreach, she said. Often,  marginalized populations that face a scarcity of money and resources are a target for educating and informing about the vaccination. “We always educate before we vaccinate,” she said. Health educators on hand help explain the need for a vaccinated population. When Elliott hears them relate the COVID-19 vaccine to other routine and accepted vaccines that children get, she said it helps the public understand the importance of vaccination.

“I don’t see anything as a problem,” Elliott said, rather, “I’m always looking for solutions.” Helping people understand their role in helping their community is part of the group’s mission with the family vaccine clinic. “We’re going to knock all the barriers out of the way – we’re going to get them here,” Elliott emphasized.

If you need transportation, contact KARTS at 252.438.2573.

For more information about the clinic, call 252.598.0067.

Visit Myspot.nc.gov to learn more.

 

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

TownTalk: Lisa Harrison Praises Area Healthcare Workers; Appears Before Congress

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If you receive a postcard in the mail from Granville Vance Public Health in the next little bit, Lisa Harrison surely would appreciate it if you agree to help out with a project that is currently underway in the two-county area.

Harrison, GVPH director, said the health department is conducting its community assessment to solicit information from residents about what is foremost on their minds with regard to health issues.

She told John C. Rose on Town Talk Wednesday that the health district is going to be sending out postcards to about 4,000 individuals – chosen at random – to complete an online survey that will be used to complete the community health assessment.

In addition, there will be two focus groups held next week – one at Gang Free Inc, 940 County Home Rd., Henderson on Nov. 16 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a second at Oxford United Methodist Church, 105 W. McClanahan St., Oxford on Nov. 17 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For the past several years, the health department has focused on mental health, substance abuse, youth well-being and access to health care services. Results from the current community assessment will help inform the direction for county health professionals to take over the next several years. Harrison said she wants the public to say “what we should spend our time and money on in the next three years.”

As health director, she is attuned to the programs offered and services needed in Vance and Granville counties.

But Harrison also currently serves as president of the board of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), which has taken her to conferences and meetings across the country.

She recently testified before Congress about the national shortage of health care workers and a possible loan repayment program to improve the situation.

“It was a really nice opportunity to brag on our workforce,” Harrison said. Those health care workers who have been “working at the tip of the spear” during the COVID-19 pandemic need to have advocates like Harrison representing them on the national level.

The hearing lasted about 4 ½ hours, but she said it seemed like there was bipartisan support for the loan repayment program.

The front-line workers battling COVID-19 aren’t much different from soldiers defending the country and keeping it safe. “I appreciate that there was some discussion…to protect Americans,” she added.

As for the staff at the health department, Harrison has nothing but glowing comments to share. “It’s always an honor and a privilege to talk about (them),” she said. They are dedicated to this community and so “it’s easy for me to tell that story.” The health department locations in Henderson and Oxford have extended clinic hours to make it easier for people to come after work and school to get vaccinated.

“Now’s the time” to get vaccinated, Harrison said. “We don’t want any more variants…(and) certainly we don’t want any more deaths. A vaccine is the best way to protect everybody.”