Tag Archive for: #vancecountyncnews

H-V Chamber Announces 2017 “Meet Me In The Street” Concert Series

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The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce is proud to host another season of “Meet Me in the Street”, a series of concerts offered free to the local community.

The first concert for the year will be held on Thursday, May 25 and will feature “The Konnection Band”. This band is a local favorite and is one of the East Coast’s premiere party bands, specializing in a variety of music including Top 40, Rock, Country, R & B, Beach and Oldies.

The second concert is set for Thursday, June 22 and will host “Steve Owens & Summertime”. A band with a beach music focus and chart-topping songs since their start in 2011, Summertime presents a mix of Carolina Beach Music, soul and rock-n-roll.

The third and final concert of the season is on Thursday, September14 and will feature “Liquid Pleasure”. After more than two decades of bringing audiences to their feet, this band has become a multi-cultural icon. Veteran member Melvin Farrington says “We love being in touch with people like us, who love a variety of good music, and appreciate hearing it performed live”. Liquid Pleasure presents a mix of Oldies, Beach Music and Disco.

In addition to the live music and dancing, a kids section will also be included this year. So bring the whole family for an evening of food, friends and fun!

Sponsors for this year’s concert series are: CenturyLink, Duke Energy and Maria Parham Health – Gold Sponsors; BB&T, Mars Petcare, Wake Electric Membership Corporation and Walmart DC #6091 – Silver Sponsors; and Express Employment Professionals – Bronze Sponsor.

All concerts are free to the public and will be held at the corner of North Garnett and Breckenridge Streets from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for 2 Presenting Sponsors and more. For more information, contact the Chamber at 438-8414 or annette@hendersonvance.org.

Kerr Lake Readies For T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division Opener Presented by Navionics

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WHAT: The 2017 T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament season will open Saturday, March 25, for Piedmont Division anglers with a tournament on Kerr Lake presented by Navionics. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively in the one-day tournament.

WHEN: Saturday, March 25, 2017

Piedmont Division

Kerr Lake

Nutbush North

115 Jack Wade Farm Road

Henderson, N.C.

Hosted by the Vance County Department of Tourism

NOTES: Piedmont Division anglers can expect Kerr Lake to produce some sizeable bass for this BFL opener. Fans following the action will likely see competitors flipping and pitching to flooded bushes with jigs and Texas-rigged soft-plastics. A variety of moving baits including crankbaits, spinnerbaits and umbrella rigs may also play a role near wood. A five-bass limit nearing 18 pounds should be enough to take top honors at this late-March BFL event.

The 2017 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

About FLW

FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.

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VGCC adding new Associate in Fine Arts degree

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Vance-Granville Community College is preparing to offer an Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degree in Visual Arts, with classes starting in August. Prospective students can begin the process of enrollment now.

The degree will be a third college transfer option available at the college, joining the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees already being offered. Earning this two-year AFA degree can serve as a springboard to completing a four-year bachelor’s in fine arts (BFA) degree in visual art at a university. Students will be encouraged to contact four-year universities in which they are interested, to find out about any specific transfer requirements.

In addition to their general education classes, AFA students will take classes in art history, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design, and drawing.

VGCC has offered visual arts classes of different kinds throughout its history. In 2015, VGCC began holding “Fine Arts Day” events, which incorporated not only visual art but also music, dance and dramatic arts.

Isaac Talley, an award-winning visual artist, is a full-time art instructor at VGCC, teaching courses such as Art Appreciation, Two-Dimensional Design, and Drawing. “The AFA will be an excellent way to complete your first two years of college with tuition that’s very affordable, and then proceed on to East Carolina University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Greensboro or elsewhere,” Talley said. “It’s a great opportunity, especially for people who are interested in painting, as well as digital photography, which we are planning to add in 2018.”

He added that while at VGCC, students will be able to hone their skills and build a portfolio that can help them gain admission to the university of their choice. They also may simply want more training in art without necessarily continuing to the four-year level. Jessie Hartley of Oxford, a current VGCC College Transfer student who won first place at the college’s juried student art exhibition, said that “the AFA program is appealing to me because it opens up more learning opportunities for me involving art. With the Associate in Arts program, I have learned everything from some early art history to painting and drawing. With the AFA program, my knowledge of art can expand even further with the use of different media and techniques that I possibly haven’t even heard of. It will also help my credibility for future job possibilities involving art.”

Hartley said that she has enjoyed all of the art classes she has taken at VGCC thus far. “In painting and drawing, I enjoyed the freedom and self-control it gave me,” she recalled. “I learned that I could express myself in all manners of ways on a canvas that could speak to the viewer of that piece, perhaps even touch their soul.  In art history and art appreciation, I enjoyed going through the past, learning facts and valuable information and where it all began. All in all, I am really looking forward to the AFA program, and I feel that all art students, including myself, will benefit wonderfully from it.”

After she graduates from VGCC, Hartley’s plan is to develop her own studio as a freelance artist. “I would like to travel to different art festivals and sell my work, as well as learn different crafts and techniques with a diverse range of media,” she said. “I may pursue further education later on, which the AFA degree will help with to enhance my credibility and experience.”

For more information about the AFA program, contact Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3371.

–VGCC–

The WOW starts NOW!

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Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

Parents of children who are pre-kindergarten and kindergarten age are urged to visit Vance County Schools‘ elementary schools this coming week, March 13-17, to tour the school, visit with teachers and administrators and register their children for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year.

Special pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration activities are planned for Tuesday, March 14, and Thursday, March 16, from 1 to 6 p.m. each day at the schools. Aycock, Carver, Dabney, E.M. Rollins, E.O. Young, L.B. Yancey, Pinkston Street and Zeb Vance have special events planned for Tuesday, March 14. Special events will be held at Clarke and New Hope on Thursday, March 16.

All children who register for kindergarten will receive a colorful, new backpack. Refreshments and special children’s activities also will be available.

For those parents who cannot attend the school events during the week, a special registration event will be held at the Vance County Schools Administrative Services Center at 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson on Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers will be on hand to talk with parents and to lead children in special activities. Parents of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children can also register them for the 2017-2018 school year at this event. Refreshments and backpacks will be provided. All activities and items are free.

“The WOW Starts NOW!” is the slogan this year for the school system’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration campaign.

To register for the 2017-2018 school year, all pre-kindergarten children must be four years of age on or before August 31, 2017, and all kindergarten children must be five years of age on or before August 31, 2017.

Mike Waters Announces New Assistant District Attorney

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Henderson, NC– District Attorney Mike Waters is pleased to announce the addition of David Erdmann as an Assistant District Attorney.

Mr. Erdmann was sworn in by District Court Judge Carolyn Thompson on Thursday, March 2, 2017. He joins the District Attorney’s staff after four years of practice as a criminal defense attorney in Surry County, North Carolina.

Mr. Erdmann is from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, and will relocate to the Ninth Prosecutorial District. He was a 2007 graduate of North Carolina State University, and earned a Juris Doctor from Florida State College of Law in 2011.

Mr. Erdmann also clerked for the Honorable Jose Lopez in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

He will be primarily working in Vance County prosecuting narcotics cases.

Applications Now Being Accepted for STEM Early High School

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Vance County Schools

For Immediate Release

March 3, 2017

 

Applications are now being accepted for enrollment in the STEM Early High School for the 2017-2018 school year.

This grades 6-8 middle school has a focus on project based learning with instructional emphasis in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

The STEM Early High School is located on the campus of Northern Vance High School.

Information sessions are now being held by STEM Early High administrators in local elementary schools. Applications for the school are available during these sessions. They also are available through the school counselor at each elementary school. Applications and additional information also can be obtained on the Vance County Schools website at www.vcs.k12.nc.us.

Completed applications to the STEM Early High School must include two recommendations from educators or adult mentors and must be received by the elementary school counselors or at the STEM school by March 30.

HPD Crime of the Month: Individual injured after drive-by shooting

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Press Release: March 1, 2017

On February 25, 2017 at approximately 11:50 PM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to Maria Parham Health in reference to a shooting into an occupied vehicle. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Nakiya Cheek who stated that while at a stop sign at Davis and Nicholas Street a vehicle drove pass and a subject opened fire into her vehicle. As a result Cheek sustained injuries from broken glass.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow

HPD Crime of the Month: Bullet Hole Found in Rear Window of Parked Car

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Press Release: March 1, 2017

On February 27, 2017 at approximately 8:45 AM officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to 84 Ranes Drive in reference to property damage to a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Kelly Puryear who stated that she found a bullet hole in the rear window of her vehicle.

The investigation is being conducted by members of the Henderson Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. If anyone should have any information related to this case, they are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925 or the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141. Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $2,000 for information that may lead to an arrest. Callers may remain anonymous.

Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow

Famed Virginia State University Chorale to Visit McGregor Hall

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The VSUAA-Greater Triangle Alumni Chapter (NC) is proud to present the renowned Virginia State University Gospel Chorale in concert on Sunday, April 2, 2017 in concert at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 3.30 p.m.

The Mistress of Ceremony will be Ms. Phyllis Coley CEO/ Publisher of Spectacular Magazine and Former Host/ Producer of Spectacular Magazine Radio Show, both of Durham, North Carolina. Various acts will open the concert: The South Warren Elementary School  Visual & Performing Arts Group from Warrenton, NC under the direction of Mr. Cameron Eaton and Mrs. Morgan Perry; Mr. Joezell Charles, a saxophonist, who is Band Director at Eaton-Johnson Middle School, Henderson, NC; Mrs. Sandra Gibson,Mrs. Black NC 2011/ Smooth Jazz-R&B Vocalist, Apex, NC.

Among The Virginia State University Chorale’s numerous accolades and accomplishments are the following: 2016 National College Choir Competition Winner; 2015 Steve Harvey Neighborhood Awards- Best Church Choir; 2013 America’s Got Talent- Season 8 Quarter Finals; 2012 Verizon’s “ How Sweet the Sound”-DC Regional People’s Choice Award Winner.

Advance tickets for the event are $10 each, online tickets are $10 each with nominal processing fee ( https://vsugospel.bpt.me ), and at door tickets are $15 each. For more information and/or advance tickets, please contact the following: Henderson area- DeAnna Lewis at dlewis@warrenk12nc.org, Dennis M. Snead at 1906rbl@gmail.com, Cicily Marsh at missceecee@gmail.com, Taylor Whitehead at mrknowitall91@aol.com ; Raleigh area- Anita Jackson at Tlcanj@gmail.com, Orlando Conner at ozat@bellsouth.net ; Durham area- Faye Watkins at fayewatkins75@gmail.com,  Vivian Lewis at  vivianlewis30@hotmail.com .

Chartered in 2016 as the 46th chapter of the Virginia State University Alumni Association (VSUAA), Greater Triangle Area Chapter (NC) Inc., is actively working to support students who live in our area and aspire to attend our Alma Mater.

 

The Virginia State University Gospel Chorale History, Achievements, and Highlights

 Founded in 1971 by Ms. Jackie Ruffin (formerly of the Richard Smallwood Singers) and Mr. Larry Bland as the Larry Bland Gospel Ensemble. The name was later changed to the Virginia State College Gospel Choir.

 Recorded its first album, “Everyday with Jesus,” in 1977. After the success of this album, the choir then recorded a second album, “He’s Able,” in 1978. The choir recorded its third CD, “Virginia State University Gospel Chorale: Live in Concert,” in 2003.

 Has participated off-and-on in a number of competitions. The most notable competition was the National Black Music Caucus Gospel Competition in New York City, where the choir won first place in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1996, and 2003, and second place in 1985 and 2006.

 Has toured nationally in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Alabama, Maryland, Connecticut, and Washington, DC. Has toured internationally (most recently in 2013 and 2015) in U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and Europe (Italy, Hungary, France, Switzerland, and Romania), performing each time at the annual Pope’s Vatican Christmas Concert.

 Has performed on the same stage as gospel-recording artists Cheryl “CoCo” Clemons of R&B group SWV, Mary Mary, Tye Tribbett, Earnest Pugh, Hezekiah Walker, JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise, and poet Nikki Giovanni.

 Made history in September 2012 by competing in How Sweet the Sound, a Verizon experience. Out of the thousands of video entries submitted, the choir was one forty-two choirs, and only one of four college choirs, to compete in the regional competitions around the country. Although the choir did not advance to the grand finale, it would go on to win the 2012 DC Region’s People Choice Award and garner local, regional, and national acclaim.

 Made history again in January 2013 by being selected to perform at the DC Citywide Interfaith Food Drive, which was part of President Obama’s National Day of Service. This was part of the official Presidential Inauguration Activities.

 In probably their biggest accomplishment to date, was a quarterfinalist is season 8 (2013) of “America’s Got Talent.” This not only garnered national and international exposure for the Chorale, but for the University as well.

 Performed at the historic Virginia gubernatorial inauguration of Terence “Terry” McAuliffe in January 2014.

 In February 2014, travelled to Bridgetown, Barbados by special invitation to perform as special guest at their Black History month festivities.

 Winner of the 2015 Steve Harvey Neighborhood Awards’ Best Church Choir.

 Winner of the 2016 National College Choir Explosion.

 The VSU Gospel Chorale is currently listed under the word “choir” in the Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Additionally, the Chorale is included in two music appreciation textbooks in the gospel music sections.

 The choir is currently blessed to have approximately 100 choir members and five musicians – a colorful mix of races, nationalities, and geographical backgrounds. The Chorale is under the leadership of Mr. James Holden Jr. (Faculty Advisor), Perry Evans II (Director), Mr. Michael Rainey (Business Manager), and Mr. Mark Johnson (Musical Director).

Schewels Furniture Celebrates 120 Years with Ribbon Cutting

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Hendersonians take note: Schewels Furniture store is celebrating 120 years in business!  With the help of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, vendor representatives, and staff, Schewels Store Manager, Charles Hearn, officially cut the ribbon and welcomed chamber members, Henderson officials, and area businesses on Tuesday, February 21st.

When Elias Schewel, a Russian immigrant, began peddling household goods like adirondack chairs in a horse and buggy in 1897, he could hardly have imagined that his fledgling enterprise would have grown to 52 stores in three states.  Today the company he founded is owned and operated by his fourth generation descendants, Marc Schewel and Jack Schewel. Schewels is a legendary company that was founded on the principles of comfort, innovation, and industry-leading craftsmanship offering gorgeous stationary furnishings to the iconic recliner, where you can always count on quality and awesome customer service.

Schewels consistently provides great opportunities for savings and special deals to their customers.  They offer newsletters, sales circulars, and emails about new sales – all completely free. Let them help transform your house into a home.  If you want to take advantage of the many great offers from Schewels stop in today at their location of 940 S. Beckford Drive in Henderson.  You can also check them out online at www.schewels.com or call them at 252- 492-7066.  Schewel Furniture happily accepts Credit Card, Check Card, Debit Card and eCheck payments and now easy online payments without the charge of a processing fee for any form of online payment.