Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
Vance Co. DSS Provides Much Needed Services to Local Area
Krystal Harris, director of the Vance County Department of Social Services (DSS), was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss programs offered by the department.
According to Harris, services offered by DSS can be classified under one of four areas – economic services, adult services, child welfare services and administration.
“People usually think of our economic services such as food and nutrition or our child welfare services when they think of DSS but we provide many other additional services,” said Harris.
Medicaid, Work First, food and nutrition benefits, Child Protective Services (CPS), Adult Protective Services (APS), in-home services for the elderly and disabled, foster care and adoptions are among the many services provided by DSS.
Unlike many counties that source their child support services out to other agencies, Vance County’s DSS has an in-house child support program.
In addition, DSS provides daycare subsidies to approximately 1,000 children in Vance County with more currently on a waitlist.
Daycare providers must be accredited as a three-star center to be eligible to receive the subsidies provided by a combination of funding from the State and from Smart Start. The State sends payment directly to the participating daycare providers while parents are charged a “parent fee” or a percentage of the money owed.
Program Integrity, DSS’ fraud prevention program, is used to investigate reports or suspicion of anyone committing fraud, especially as it relates to economic services such as Medicaid, food and nutrition or the Work First program.
According to Harris, the need for DSS is great in the local area, a trend that she sees continuing to grow. “Approximately a third of the population of Vance County receives food and nutrition benefits,” Harris said. “A lot of our citizens are unemployed and when unemployment rates increase we see an increase in requested services.”
The number of people served and the increased need for services has led DSS to begin working with the County to explore relocation options. “We are in the process now and are making some progress on finding possible relocation sites for our office,” said Harris.
Vance County DSS currently employs 125 workers, including employees at the Senior Center in downtown Henderson, a division that falls under DSS. There are seven social workers available for in-house investigations on an as-needed basis. If you need to report a situation, Harris emphasized that there is someone available to help 24/7.
Part of Harris’ job as DSS Director is to use WIZS’ Town Talk and similar platforms to help educate the public on services that DSS provides and to help dispel negative ideas of the program. “In my experience, we do have a negative connotation with our name, but we provide a lot of services to assist people and to get them out of crisis situations. If we didn’t have social services a lot of people would not have health benefits or a meal on the table each day. Children and adults would not be safe.”
For more information on the Vance County Department of Social Services, please visit the office at 350 Ruin Creek Rd, Henderson or call (252) 492-5001.
Applications for services may also be found by visiting NC ePASS at https://www.nc.gov/services/e-pass.
Maria Parham Health Presents Years of Service Awards
-Press Release, Maria Parham Health Marketing
Maria Parham Health recently held their annual awards recognition dinner to celebrate their employees who have hit milestones in their years of service to the hospital. Employees were recognized in five-year segments with recognitions announced at five years, ten years, twenty years, twenty-five years, thirty years and forty years.
Employees and their guests enjoyed dinner and an awards presentation at the Henderson Country Club.
Five Years: Left to Right: Lisa Starling, Amanda Bell, Dr. Lakshmi Kanth, Shannon Carrol, Natalie Frazier, Carolyn Pulley, Rosalind Richardson, Raymond Dickerson, JR., Alma Wilson, Sean Zimmerman, Barbara Curry, Linda Woody, Catherine Fogleman. (MPH Photo) Not pictured: Brooke Coghill, Brooke Darnell, Kelly Edwards, Tony Franklin, Hernan Jimenez-Medina, Karen MacLean, Ashley Miller, Amanda Moody, Lisa Paynter, Felicia Tapp and, Heather Tysinger-Ayscue.
Ten Years: Left to Right: Gelene Sandifer, Cynthia Pruitt, Denise Smith, Dena Hunter, Olivia Dixon, Elizabeth Penderrass, Stephanie Carter, Kathy Adcock, Tammy Care, Tiffany Jarrell, Maya Tiwani, Vivian Walker-Marable, Georgia Ferrell, Jennifer Singley and Rosalie Steele. (MPH Photo) Not pictured: Jason Barrett, Russell Bryant, Caroline Cash, Terry Cooke, Destiny Jordan, Kathy Paschall, April Pernell, Roger Ramussen, Shannon Roberts and Eric Spangler.
Fifteen Years: Left to Right: Pam Parker, Brandy Turner, Karen Starkey, Sandra Ayscue and Anita Bennett. (MPH Photo) Not pictured: Hope Breedlove and Donald England.
Twenty Years: Left to Right: Margie Hentze, Estena Bradley, Brent Dillard, Tonia Starling, Kellie Velez, Minnie Hargrove and Travis Thompson. (MPH Photo) Not pictured: Traci Ayscue, Tammy Gallager. Peter Hunt and Tonya Setzer-Ayscue.
Twenty-Five Years: Left to Right: Dianne Williams and Dorothy Woodlief. (MPH Photo) Not pictured: Anita Newcomb and Nancy Radford.
Thirty Years: Left to Right: Sharlene Roberson, Donna Robinson, Rhonda Tippett, Roy Hargrove and Beverly Fuller. (MPH Photo) Not pictured: Anthony Hughes
Forty Years: Joni Ayers (MPH Photo)
VGCC Honors Radiography Graduates At Pinning Ceremony
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Twenty new graduates of Vance-Granville Community College’s two-year Radiography program were honored in a May 7 pinning ceremony in the college’s Civic Center.
The Radiography Class of 2018 included James D. Bolton of Henderson, Marco Antonio Carmen-Vazquez of Oxford, Yamile Chavarin of Henderson, Whitney Michelle Cox of Oxford, Crystal Gill of Henderson, Brittany Harmon of Norlina, Gloria Maria Hudnall of Oxford, Corinna W. Hutton of Durham, Jan Maniace of Hillsborough, Aaron McNeill of Oxford, Mark James Meinhart of Louisburg, Bethany Scarbrough Murphy of Youngsville, Laurie Newton of Henderson, Brittnee M. Orto of Creedmoor, Ashley Rhew of Timberlake, Katie Weary of Bullock, Terrance Mario Wesley of Raleigh, Lori Faye Wiggins of Creedmoor, Johnathan Williamson II of Oxford, and Jennifer Wright of Hurdle Mills.
In his remarks to the Class of 2018 as keynote speaker, John Douglas Britton II, a vascular interventional technologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, urged the graduates to “aim high” but “never forget your roots.” (VGCC Photo)
In his remarks to the Class of 2018 as keynote speaker, John Douglas Britton II, a vascular interventional technologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, urged the graduates to “aim high” but “never forget your roots.” A 2015 graduate of VGCC’s Radiography program, Britton added, “It’s important to set goals for yourself. To aim high is to work towards significant rewards along with personal and professional satisfaction.”
“It’s also important to remember who you are, where you’re from, where your roots are and realize that honoring your foundation will ensure that you live a grounded, meaningful life — one with purpose,” he said. “The gift of heritage comes with a responsibility to share, inspire, spread the word and teach others as you have been taught.”
Britton was chosen by the graduating students to receive the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) Certificate of Excellence for Clinical Educators, presented at the ceremony by Stacey Soles, VGCC’s clinical coordinator for Radiography.
Receiving the JRCERT Certificate of Excellence for Students was Aaron McNeill, with the award presented by instructor Lewis Daughtry, Jr. A special recognition was also made to McNeill by Soles for perfect attendance in the clinical education classes during the entire 21 months of the program.
Members of the 2018 Radiography graduating class at Vance-Granville Community College who received their pins May 7 included, on the front row, from left: Katie Weary, Laurie Newton, Marco Antonio Carman-Vazquez, Crystal Gill, Ashley Rhew and Yamile Chavarin; second row, from left: Brittany Harmon, Lori Faye Wiggins, Terrance Mario Wesley, Brittnee M. Orto and Jan Maniace; third row, from left: Corinna W. Hutton, Whitney Michelle Cox, James Bolton, Aaron McNeill and Gloria Maria Hudnall; back row, front left, Bethany Murphy, Johnathan Williamson II, Mark James Meinhart and Jennifer Wright. (VGCC Photo)
Among other awards presented, the VGCC Radiography Academic Award was given to Ashley Rhew, and the VGCC Radiography Clinical Excellence Award was presented to Terrance Mario Wesley. Those presentations were made by Angela Thomas, VGCC’s dean of Health Sciences.
The students voted for Tabitha Owens of EmergeOrtho as the top technologist at the clinical sites in which they received their 900 hours of practical training, while the Clinical Affiliate Award of Excellence went to the Granville Medical Center Radiography Department. Both awards were presented by instructor Anthony Twisdale.
In welcoming remarks, VGCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Levy Brown congratulated the graduates, welcomed them to the imaging profession and encouraged them to “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you’ve imagined.”
Dr. Brown shared some information about the diverse class, noting that nine of the 20 graduates had been raising children during their studies and 12 had earned Dean’s List or President’s List honors. Seven have already accepted employment opportunities in their new careers, and 10 of them have been accepted into educational programs to diversify their skill set within Radiography, including CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy. Others have plans to concurrently take classes to obtain their bachelor’s degree at four-year institutions.
The class drew strength from working together as a family, VGCC’s Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas said. “With the realization that you cannot make it on your own, you decided to embrace and display the real meaning of family,” she said. “This gave each of you the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer and then you all gradually began to strive to do better as a unit…. Today, your journey continues as you transition from my students to my colleagues — colleagues with whom I can say that I trust to work as well as to take care of my loved ones.”
As class representative, Terrance Mario Wesley spoke on behalf of his classmates. He shared comments about each of his fellow graduates and his program instructors and clinical instructors. Describing his instructors as being “the best a student could ask for,” he added, “I would like to thank you all for imparting wisdom, believing in us, and being an awesome example for us.” Wesley said. He closed with a quote from his childhood mentor as encouragement to graduates and the next class of radiographers: “Good, better, best — never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.” Wesley also gave the invocation and benediction.
Daughtry shared the history of the Radiographer’s Pin prior to Thomas and Twisdale awarding pins to each graduate. Thomas led the graduates in reciting the Radiographer’s Pledge as the ceremonies concluded.
View VGCC’s Flickr album of photographs from the pinning ceremony.
McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center Announces Summer Lineup
-Information courtesy the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
Enjoy these upcoming summer performances at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center:
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat presented by Henderson Rec Players
Friday, July 6, 2018, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 7, 2018, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 8, 2018, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 14, 2018, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 15, 2018, at 2 p.m.
Doors open one hour before the show
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE: Based on the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, this uplifting and energetic musical is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2018. Presented by the Henderson Rec Players, the performance will feature a large cast of all ages and is directed by Jo Ellen Nowell and Mark Hopper. Bring the whole family to this creative re-imagining of a beloved Bible story!
The Manhattans featuring Henderson’s Gerald Alston
Friday, August 3, 2018, at 8 p.m.
Doors open one hour before the show
Premium Meet & Greet Tickets available
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE: R&B legends The Manhattans featuring Henderson, NC-native Gerald Alston bring their smooth sound with hits like “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star.” Tickets are not general admission, rather, seat selections are made in advance and are based on availability. All seats are expected to sell out. Advance ticket purchases recommended.
MEET & GREET with GERALD ALSTON: Enhance your experience with PREMIUM MEET & GREET TICKETS that include front-row seats to the concert as well as admission to a private catered reception with Gerald Alston prior to the show at 6:30 p.m. Advance purchases recommended.
Clybourne Park presented by Henderson Rec Players
Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at 2 p.m.
Doors open one hour before the show
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE: Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play, “Clybourne Park” is a satire about the politics of race that will be directed by Stephanie Asabi Howard. In response to Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” playwright Bruce Norris set up his work as a pair of scenes that bookend Hansberry’s piece and are set in the same modest bungalow on Chicago’s northwest side. In 1959, Russ and Bev move out to the suburbs after the tragic death of their son. Inadvertently, they sell their house to the neighborhood’s first black family. Fifty years later in 2009, the roles are reversed when a young white couple buys the lot in what is now a predominantly black neighborhood, signaling a new wave of gentrification. In both instances, a community showdown takes place, pitting race against real estate with this home as the battleground.
3 Easy Ways To Purchase Tickets:
DROP IN: 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, N.C. Monday – Friday 1:30 – 5:30 p.m,
CALL: (252) 598-0662 (M-F 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)
CLICK HERE: www.McGregorHall.org (Use the eTix official site, online fees apply)
Doors open one hour prior to showtime. Group & Student Discounts Available.
For more information and updates on upcoming performances, visit www.McGregorHall.org.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
New VGCC Nursing Scholarship Named in Honor of Retired Registered Nurse
-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College
Hutson Wester of Henderson recently made a donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to create the Brenda McGee Wester, R.N., Academic Achievement Scholarship in honor of his wife.
Wester has long been a supporter of the college’s scholarship program. He started his first scholarship in the 1980s, recently elevating the Hutson Wester Insurance scholarship to the Presidential Merit Award status. He started the Virginia L. Wester Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2015 in memory of his former wife. He was also instrumental in endowing the Henderson Rotary Club Academic Achievement Scholarship in 2008.
Now retired from Wester Insurance Agency in Henderson, Wester also taught Continuing Education classes on insurance at VGCC for several years.
Brenda McGee Wester retired after 30 years as a Registered Nurse in 2005, having worked at Duke Raleigh Medical Center and Wake Medical Center as well as spending a portion of that time in State government. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Johnston Community College and is considering enrolling into a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at a four-year institution, she said.
Hutson Wester and his wife, Brenda, present a donation to Vance-Granville Community College’s Endowment Fund to start the Brenda McGee Wester, R.N., Academic Achievement Scholarship. From left are Eddie Ferguson, Endowment Fund director; Kay Currin, Endowment specialist; Brenda Wester; Hutson Wester; and VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams.
Mrs. Wester said her career in Nursing was sparked by her mother’s interest in helping neighbors in the McGee’s Crossroads community while growing up as one of six daughters on a 100-acre tobacco farm in Johnston County. “My mother, Lillie McGee, was the one that they called on when a mother was having a baby,” said Mrs. Wester. “My mother was a nurse by what came natural to her,” serving as a midwife in addition to providing loving care to members of her family.
“I know what it’s like to come along and want to be a nurse, but some students can’t afford to go to college,” said Mrs. Wester. “Having a scholarship available will help them be able to make it. That means a lot to me.”
In awarding the newest scholarship, preference will be given to students enrolled in eight or more credit hours in one of the college’s Nursing programs. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 will be required. VGCC offers Associate Degree Nursing, LPN to ADN Transition, RIBN (Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nursing) and Practical Nursing among its Health Sciences programs.
“I think Vance-Granville is one of the best things that ever happened in our four-county area,” said Hutson Wester. “I’ve seen what the college has done since the very beginning when it was located in the former Maria Parham Hospital building on Chestnut Street in Henderson.”
VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams voiced her appreciation of the new scholarship. “Students who are preparing for careers in Nursing have a new source of support, thanks to the generosity of Hutson Wester. This scholarship, like those he started earlier, is so essential in helping us meet our mission of educating, inspiring and supporting our students.”
Eddie Ferguson, director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, added, “Hutson Wester has been such a strong supporter of the college — in the classroom, in the community and also on the golf course as a regular participant in our annual Endowment Fund golf tournament. He has chosen a meaningful way to honor his wife.”
The new scholarship will add to the more than 9,000 scholarships that have been awarded to students since 1982, funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving students. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business, industry or organization with a lasting gift to education. In the Fall of 2017, Vance-Granville awarded scholarships to 306 students.
For more information, the Office of the Endowment can be reached by calling Endowment Specialist Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.
Parenting Tip of the Week – 6/25/18
-Weekly parenting tips provided courtesy of Jean Bell, Parenting Education Coordinator, Vance County Cooperative Extension
Create Your Own Summer Camp at Home
Planning some activities for your kids during the summer can help stave off those “I’m bored” comments from children. Plan a summer camp at home. You can plan activities for a week or just one day. Pick a theme for the camp and involve the whole family in planning activities. Each family member can choose the theme for their camp. You might have a lake day with picnics or boating, a museum day to check out art with art activities for everyone to create when you get home, or even a cooking camp. Use your imagination and have fun planning and doing new activities this summer.
Vance Co. Announces Development of 85 Acres at Henderson-Vance Industrial Park
-Press Release, County of Vance
Vance County is pleased to announce that the North Carolina Department of Commerce has approved and the county has received a $2.45 million grant from the Rural ReadySites program for development of phase III of the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park. The NC Rural ReadySites grant program helps local communities prepare potential industrial sites for development and provided a total of $14.3 million to a total of 10 North Carolina localities. Vance County’s successful grant will cover development costs to include construction of a new roadway and extension of water and sewer infrastructure through the site. The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments was instrumental in preparing and submitting the grant application.
Vance County Board of Commissioner Chairman and Henderson-Vance Economic Development Chairman Tommy Hester recognized this as a huge step forward for the county. “Receiving this grant puts Henderson and Vance County ahead of our neighbors and puts us in a position where we will have more available assets to attract businesses, industries and jobs. If you look at where economic development is coming from and expanding, it’s obvious with the companies that have expanded recently in the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park. This grant will allow for the necessary infrastructure to be put in place, and unlike surrounding areas, this park has access to rail and natural gas, is adjacent to US 1, is within five miles of I-85 and 25 miles from Wake County. Our number one priority is jobs and this grant moves us in that direction.”
The county entered a purchase contract in April for approximately 85 acres located at the intersection of US 1 and Bearpond Road directly adjacent to the existing Henderson-Vance Industrial Park. The county also has a program underway wherein it’ll make effective use of drone technology (you can learn more about them on Let’s Fly Wisely) to efficaciously attract home buyers. According to County Manager Jordan McMillen, the county has begun due diligence on the land and anticipates completing this in the next few weeks. At that point, the board of commissioners will determine whether to proceed forward with the purchase. The successful grant is a game changer for the area and positions the county not only to own and control a prime piece of real estate, but also to develop raw land to a shovel-ready status. The Henderson-Vance Industrial Park began in 1988 with the purchase of Phase 1 (150 acres) and since that time has been filled with nine businesses contributing approximately 600 jobs and a total value over $62 million. The park alone generates over $5.5 million in tax revenue to the county on an annual basis.
Henderson-Vance Economic Development Director, Dennis Jarvis, II characterized the grant as a big win for the community. “The grant award ensures Vance County is going to be competitive in the region, the state, and the Southeast for new investment and retention projects. We will have a shovel-ready world-class business facility and a new platform to market the community in the global playing field.”