Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

McGregor Hall Announces Acts, Introduces Series Packages for 2017-2018

McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center is introducing discounted series packages with more than a dozen shows scheduled for the 2017-2018 season.

Series tickets go on sale Monday, July 31, with Grammy-winning Country Artist Lorrie Morgan, a Motown revue, a new stage play by a renown African-American playwright, four Christian acts, a Christmas “spectacular” and a local production of the Tony-winning musical “Hairspray” highlighting performances.

“This season, McGregor Hall gives patrons the option to purchase packages in order to save money and enjoy more entertaining experiences,” said John Wester, chairman of the center’s board of directors. “Our board has worked with the community to schedule monthly performances for every taste.”

Three series have been scheduled:

McGregor Live! will feature six shows: Lorrie Morgan, with 14 Top 10 Country music hits, on Oct. 8; “Hairspray,” performed and produced with local talent, on Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5; the Christmas Wonderland holiday spectacular, Dec. 5; world-renowned magician and mentalist Joshua Lozoff, Jan. 6; Al Stewart, known for the Top 10 hits “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages,” and his band, the Empty Pockets, Feb. 17; and the original Eagles tribute band, Hotel California, March 16. The six-show package, with a regular price of $160 if purchased individually, is priced at $125.

Heritage! will offer five shows: the Gulf Coast soul-band The Suffers, Sept. 21; “Hairspray,” Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5; a new stage play, “Daddy’s Boys,” by North Carolina African-American playwright Garrett Davis, Jan. 13; the Masters of Soul Motown Revue, March 3; and Rod of God with comedian Roderick Allison, April 14. The five shows will be available for a package price of $100, which is $25 off regular ticket prices.

Joy! will feature three shows featuring five well-known Christian artists and groups: Dove- and Grammy-award winning Jason Crabb, Nov. 12; Karen Peck with New River, Feb. 23; and the Talleys with Tribute, April 7. With a regular ticket price of $75, the three-show package will be reduced to $50. Those purchasing the Joy! series can also add on the Christmas Wonderland show for a reduced price of $20.

All three series will have the option for spreading payments over four quarterly installments.

The series packages can be purchased online at any time at www.McGregorHall.org, by calling the Box Office at (252) 598-0662, or by visiting the Box Office at 201 Breckenridge Street in Henderson. When purchasing tickets online, patrons should make sure they are purchasing tickets through McGregor’s secure and trusted purchasing platform, eTix. The Box Office is open on Tuesdays through Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. Patrons can save online fees when ordering directly with the Box Office staff.

McGregor Hall plans to bring back the popular Music at McGregor! series later in the season for patrons who enjoy classical and chamber music.

As additional entertainment options become available during the season, McGregor will be adding shows to the performance lineup. Individual tickets will be available for sale during the season, too.

Patrons will be given the opportunity to become “Friends of McGregor” with donations above and beyond the cost of series packages. “These gifts help McGregor Hall with such projects as educational outreach to area schools,” said Wester.

McGregor Hall volunteers will also be reaching out to area businesses and organizations for sponsorship opportunities through the center’s “Performances” magazine and other promotional initiatives.

“The strength of McGregor Hall is community support,” said Wester. “This support comes in many ways — attendance at events, donations, sponsorships and volunteering, among just a few. We are excited to offer these series and discounts to help more patrons be able to enjoy the great entertainment McGregor is bringing to our community.”

McGregor also offers facility rental options. The theater and the gallery are available for hosting special events for businesses, schools, civic groups, churches and other organizations.

News 08/01/17

News 07/31/17

N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center Selects Three Communities for Downtown Revitalization

Raleigh, N.C. – The N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center selected Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson for the Center’s Downtown Associate Community program, Secretary Anthony M. Copeland announced today.

The towns will receive up to three years of downtown technical assistance services from the Center, beginning in September. These communities may have the opportunity to receive official Main Street designation if they successfully complete the program and demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the N.C. Main Street program within the three-year time frame.

“All North Carolina communities depend on a healthy and vibrant downtown to attract businesses small and large,” said Secretary Copeland. “This program will help Asheboro, Dunn and Henderson become even stronger candidates for new jobs and expansion.”

The Downtown Associate Community program launched in May 2015 and provides communities interested in downtown revitalization with the tools to build a sustainable organizational foundation. North Carolina communities must start with this program to become a designated N.C. Main Street community. The competitive selection process takes place every other year.

“We are excited to work with these communities and look forward to helping them strengthen their downtown revitalization efforts moving forward,” said N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center director Liz Parham. “The Downtown Associate Community program offers strategic economic development planning and organizational development that will provide long term sustainability for the community’s revitalization initiative.”

As with all programming offered by the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, the Downtown Associate Community program is based on the Four-Point Approach® methodology, a comprehensive process developed by the National Main Street Center® that focuses on organization, design, promotion and economic vitality.

For more information about N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning programs, visit www.nccommerce.com/MainStreet or contact Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, at (919) 814-4658 or lparham@nccommerce.com.

VGCC Culinary program moves to new scheduling format

The Vance-Granville Community College Culinary Arts program is changing the way it schedules core courses when the fall semester begins on Aug. 14. Culinary courses will now be taught in eight-week sessions rather than in the traditional 16-week semester format.

“One benefit of the eight-week format is that our students will have more concentrated time in each specific lab,” explained VGCC Culinary Arts Program Head/instructor Chef Teresa Davis. Even though each individual course will be completed in fewer weeks than under the former schedule, the amount of instructional time spent in each course will be the same. A baking class might meet for three hours each week instead of one hour, for example, allowing students to continue their training rather than waiting several days between classes.

“We think that this schedule should make it easier for many students to schedule their classes around their jobs and other responsibilities, along with any Work-Based Learning opportunities that they may have,” Davis added.

Four courses will be offered during the fall semester’s first eight-week mini-term, from Aug. 14 through Oct. 11: Sanitation & Safety (CUL-110), Baking I (CUL-160), Culinary Skills II (CUL-240) and Pastry & Confections (CUL-280).

Then, two other courses will be offered from Oct. 12 through Dec. 11: Culinary Skills I (CUL-140) and Global Cuisines (CUL-230).

The Culinary Arts degree program, based at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, prepares students to assume positions as trained culinary professionals in a variety of settings, including full-service restaurants, hotels, resorts, clubs, catering operations, contract foodservice, and health care facilities. In addition to the associate degree, VGCC offers certificates in “Basic Baking” and “Restaurant Hospitality.” Eligible high school students can enroll in Basic Baking through the Career & College Promise program.

For more information about the Culinary Arts program, contact Chef Teresa Davis at davist@vgcc.edu or (919) 690-0312.

Recent VGCC Culinary Arts graduate Hayya Wright of Louisburg prepares a dish in the kitchen at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, where the program is based. (VGCC photo)

 

Little Free Libraries Pop Up Around Henderson

by Garry Daeke

FGV Smart Start has started the Little Free Library program as a way to promotion reading for children, literacy for adults and libraries around the community. 

It’s a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where people share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.

Vance County United Way, through its United We Read, United We Succeed program, granted funds to Smart Start to start this effort. Smart Start will set up four of these libraries in the community.  Smart Start has ample supplies of  children’s books for the libraries, and  local citizens, along with the Friends of the Perry Library, will be assisting with book drives and collections to assist with additional books.

The mission is to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges, and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations.

News 07/28/17

VGCC Pharmacy Technology students train foster parents

Students in the Pharmacy Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College recently helped provide important training to Granville County foster parents.

Under the supervision of Pharmacy Technology Program Head Dr. Erica Fleming, students conducted medication management training, which is a state requirement for family foster home licensing, at the Granville County Department of Social Services (DSS). In such training, foster parents learn about understanding prescription labels, administering drugs, record-keeping, medication disposal, medication storage, psychotropic medications and medication errors. 

“VGCC offered an excellent training opportunity,” said LaVerne Smith, licensing and adoptions social worker for Granville County DSS. “The presentation was very informative and the handouts and visuals were excellent. It addressed all areas that our families need to know. This resource will be a great addition to our training repertoire. We are hoping to work in partnership with the Vance-Granville Community College Pharmacy Program to continue Medication Management training on a yearly basis.”

Fleming said that the partnership with Granville County DSS not only helped local foster parents, and in turn, foster children, but also formed part of the VGCC students’ study of community pharmacy practice.

For more information on the VGCC Pharmacy Technology program, call Dr. Fleming at (252) 738-3482.

From left, VGCC Pharmacy Technology student Tamika Everett of Creedmoor, Kristen Honaker of Henderson, Lesli Miranda of Henderson, Licensing and Adoptions Social Worker LaVerne Smith of Granville County DSS, program head Dr. Erica Fleming, Emily Adcock of Oxford and Ashley Hobgood of Henderson.

News 07/27/17

Henderson Optimist Club Hosts Annual Respect for Law Enforcement Banquet

On July 25th the Henderson Optimist Club held their annual Respect for Law Enforcement Banquet at the Henderson Country Club.

Representatives were on hand from the Henderson Police Department, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Henderson Fire Department, Vance County Fire Department and EMS, Vance County Animal Services and the Kerr Lake Park Rangers to receive awards for department representative of the year.

Britt Sams, vice president of the Henderson Optimist Club, was on hand to assist with the award presentations.

Award Recipients by department are listed below:

Vance County Sheriff’s Office

Sergeant Donald R. Roberson Jr.

Henderson Police Department

Sergeant David Elliot

North Carolina Highway Patrol

Trooper J.A. Thomas

Henderson Fire Department

 

Battalion Chief Doug Owen

Vance County Fire/EMS

Fireman Latrel Fields

Vance County Animal Services

Officer William Spain

Kerr Lake Park Rangers

Ranger William D. Stanley

 

Notes: Trooper J.A. Thomas has nominated by Sergeant Jeff Rowan for leading the State of North Carolina in DWI arrests for three consecutive years. Trooper Thomas patrols the Vance, Granville and Warren County areas.

Fireman Latrel Fields received his award for completing 18 months worth of training in seven.

Ranger William D. Stanley thanked the Henderson Optimist Club and other area agencies for working together. The Kerr Lake Rangers ask for the assistance of other area agencies with various issues at Kerr Lake on a routine basis.