Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

TownTalk: Turning Point CDC Kicks Off Summer Meal Distribution Program

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Turning Point Community Development Corporation kicked off a summer meal distribution program today that will continue providing meals for children daily through mid-August.

Chalis Henderson, Turning Point’s director, invites the community to drive through and pick up hot meals for children Monday through Friday between noon and 1 p.m.

The meal program is a collaboration with the N.C. Food Bank, Henderson told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk. It will be located at the Oasis of Hope Ministries and Turning Point CDC, 2495 Hwy 158, near the intersection of Norlina and Warrenton roads.

Hot, nutritious meals will be prepared and delivered each day, Henderson said. She has a team of volunteers who will load the meals into vehicles – it’s set up to be a “grab and go” event, she added.

Henderson said folks can just show up to pick up food – there is no need to register or to show any identification – but it is a first come, first served event. The hot meals will be served Monday through Friday, and extra food will be given on Fridays to help over the weekend.

Turning Point CDC is 20 years old this year, Henderson said, an organization started by her parents. It moved to Henderson from Oxford in 2012 and Henderson has been the director since 2018. She said Turning Point’s vision is that “rural communities can thrive and flourish,” and she is committed to continuing her parents’ mission and vision to serve rural communities.

Transportation and limited internet connectivity sometimes hinder access to community resources, she said. That is one reason Turning Point is putting a computer lab on wheels – to bring the resources to those who live in more rural areas. Henderson will be hiring a program director soon to launch the Creating Success Mobile Learning Lab, which is a former school bus upfitted to house a bank of computers for adults and children to use.

The bus is undergoing final inspections to get it road-worthy, she said, and the new program director will be in charge of scheduling and logistics for when and where the bus will be visiting. She hopes the mobile learning lab will be up and running as early as July.

“It’s a unique position,” Henderson said, adding that the perfect candidate would be someone with innovative ideas who isn’t afraid to try new things. She hopes to host as many as 20 community events in the next year with the mobile learning lab.

To learn more, call 252.621.5190. Visit www.turningpoint.org to learn how to become a volunteer or to donate.

For complete details and audio click play.

 

Aycock Rec Center To Host ‘Crafty Kids’ Workshop July 1

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Think “patriotic” on Thursday, July 1 at 6 p.m. when Aycock Recreation Center hosts an Independence Day Crafty Kids workshop for children ages 4 to 8.

This event is open to the first 12 participants to register.

The cost is $5.00 per participant.

Register online at https://hvrpd.recdesk.com/ or in person at Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Rd., Henderson. An adult (over 18 years of age) must stay with the child to help complete the crafts. Contact Lauren Newlin at 252.438.3160 or lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us to learn more.

(This is not a paid ad.)

Free Outdoor Wi-Fi Available in Downtown Henderson and Kittrell

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– courtesy of Vance County –

Vance County and the City of Henderson have partnered with Open Broadband to provide free public Wi-Fi in downtown Henderson. Service is available outdoors along Garnett Street from Rose Avenue to Orange Street. Service is also available surrounding the County Courthouse, City Hall, the Police Station, McGregor Hall and Perry Memorial Library. The network name is Open Henderson and can be accessed free of charge!

Additionally, Vance County has partnered with Open Broadband and has provided free public Wi-Fi in Kittrell. Service in Kittrell is available in the Dollar General, Kittrell Grocery, Shell Gas Station and Post Office parking lots along US 1 South. The network name is Open Kittrell and can be accessed free of charge!

The Local Skinny! VCS Recognizes School-Community Partnerships For 2021

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Vance County Schools gave special thanks to the community partners of the schools in the district during end-of-year recognitions.

Each school in the district identified a particular partner – business, church or individual – that has made contributions to support the school.

A district committee reviews all the partnerships and awards one as the district partnership of the year. This year’s partnership award goes to TechTerra for its support of STEM Early High School.

TechTerra founder Susan Wells worked with STEM and donated a class set of 3D doodler pens, along with project kits. “This generous contribution allows for students to be afforded innovative opportunities and learning experiences,” VCS public information officer Aarika Sandlin said.

Students can extend their knowledge through use and application with the items from TechTerra.

STEM Principal Gradesa Lockhart expressed her gratitude to TechTerra for “the ongoing efforts in providing our students with innovative equipment and experiences.” The partnership makes an impact on the students and the school, Lockhart said.

District leaders expressed gratitude not only to the partners of the individual schools, but also the support that comes from civic organizations, churches, businesses and the Vance County Public School Foundation.

“We are grateful for each and every partnership, as they find ways to support our students and staff through impact, innovation and outreach,” according to a press release from Sandlin.

Below is a list of schools and the community partners that were recognized:

Advance Academy – Melissa Elliott

Aycock Elementary – Lowe’s of Henderson

Carver Elementary – Cokesbury United Methodist Church

Clarke Elementary – First Baptist Church of Henderson

Dabney Elementary – First United Methodist Church

Early College High – AIS Carolinas

E.M. Rollins Elementary – First Baptist Church

E.O. Young Elementary – Middleburg United Methodist Church

L.B. Yancey Elementary – Rowland Chapel Christian Church

New Hope Elementary – Rock Spring Baptist Church

Pinkston St. Elementary – First United Methodist Church

STEM Early High – TechTerra Education

Vance County High – Gill Clopton

Vance County Middle – Sean Alston

Vance Virtual Village – Poe Center for Health Education

Zeb Vance Elementary – Clearview Baptist

Vance County Logo

Commissioners Approve Rescue Squad Contract, Level Funding In Budget

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The Vance County Commissioners voted Monday to approve a four-year contract extension for the county rescue squad, and County Manager Jordan McMillen said he expects the new contract – with one small change – to be signed later this month.

McMillen told WIZS News that the vote was 4-3 to approve the contract extension, but commissioners voted to remove the fifth item in the contract, which resulted in approval. The fifth item, McMillen said, was a proposed requirement to gather addresses and certifications along with the annual roster submissions. Instead, the county will get a list of active members from the Rescue Squad’s worker’s compensation listing, he explained.

“In terms of funding, the contract does not guarantee any level of funding, as that is determined each year with the budget,” McMillen explained. The commissioners approved the FY21-22 budget Monday evening, which McMillen said “includes level funding for the Rescue Squad for the coming year – this totals $100,000 in annual funding plus up to $2,775 additional to cover financial reviews and Verizon service for their mobile data terminals.”

TownTalk: Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration Filled With Activities For Family Fun

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Henderson’s first celebration of Juneteenth will take place next week, thanks to a partnership with Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department and numerous local community agencies.

Tara Goolsby, HVRPD program superintendent, discussed the week’s scheduled activities Wednesday on Town Talk. Activities kick off on Sunday, June 13 at Fox Pond Park with a cookout from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a COVID-19 vaccination clinic, as well as craft activities for children, a deejay playing music.

The Juneteenth Week of Freedom continues on Monday, June 14 with a 6 p.m. presentation about genealogy by local expert Brandy Parker. This event will be held at Aycock Recreation Center.

The observation of Juneteenth comes from June 19, 1865, when word about enslaved people’s emancipation after the end of the Civil War finally reached enslaved people in Texas.

“This is the first time we’ve had a Juneteenth celebration in Henderson, and the first big event since COVID,” Goolsby said. “We’re excited that we’re bringing something new to Henderson, she told Town Talk host John C. Rose.

There will be a community information fair on Tuesday, June 15 at Aycock Recreation Center. Participants can learn more from representatives of various agencies and entities in the area, including Vance-Granville Community College, the Henderson Tobacco Warehouse, the City of Henderson human resources department and others. There also will be a booth for voter registration.

Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., folks can take a bus tour of what had been known as Black Wall Street in Henderson. Goolsby describes this area as the general area of Montgomery Street. The bus will run every 30 minutes from Aycock to Montgomery Street and participants can learn more about the businesses that used to be in that area.

Goolsby said the organizers were intentional in their planning. “Of course, we want to have a celebration, but also want to provide people with information that they may not otherwise have access to,” she said.

Two presentations – one on the African diaspora and one on home ownership – will be given on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center.

A street festival on Breckenridge Street will provide activities and excitement on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be food trucks, vendors and music. “I started watching the weather last week,” Goolsby said. “So far, it looks like it’s going to be an amazing day!”

Goolsby said Juneteenth is a time for celebration, but also a time for reflection. And she looks forward to planning future Juneteenth activities.

Goolsby said it’s not too late to register to be a vendor. Contact her at 252.438.3948 or tgoolsby@ci.henderson.nc.us to learn more.

For broadcast audio and other details, click play…

Maria Parham Job Fair; June 24th; 2p-9p

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Maria Parham Health Job Fair

June 24, 2021

2 p.m. until 9 p.m.

RSVP

(Maria Parham is an advertising client of WIZS Radio and WIZS.com. This is not a paid ad.)