Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Henderson Men's Shelter

Henderson Men’s Shelter ‘Running Smoothly’ As Season Comes to a Close

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WIZS checked in with Jane King, volunteer coordinator for the Henderson Men’s Shelter, to see how shelter staff and the men they serve are faring in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

King reported that the shelter is running smoothly as it nears the closing of its season at the end of March. “Basically, all of our volunteers have asked to be excused, but our paid staff are committed to keeping the shelter open and are making a concerted effort to have the men practice good hygiene and social distancing as much as possible,” King said. “Our meal volunteers have continued to bring food and all seems to be well.”

At this time, King said the shelter is down to four men who are working on having a place to go when the shelter closes later this month. “We also have five men living in Hope House (year-round transitional home) and they are also being advised of safe practices,” explained King.

According to King, continued prayers and monetary donations to help meet payroll and prepare for next year are great ways for the community to support the shelter at this time.

Donations

All contributions are tax-deductible. Checks may be sent to:

Community Partners of Hope, Inc, P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536

With questions, please contact Jane King at (252) 432-9494.

Criteria Updated for Small Businesses Requesting Disaster Assistance Loans

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-Press Release, U.S. Small Business Administration

As part of the Trump Administration’s aggressive, whole-of-government efforts to combat the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and minimize economic disruption to the nation’s 30 million small businesses, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza issued revised criteria for states or territories seeking an economic injury declaration related to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The relaxed criteria will have two immediate impacts:

  • Faster, Easier Qualification Process for States Seeking SBA Disaster Assistance. Historically, the SBA has required that any state or territory impacted by disaster provide documentation certifying that at least five small businesses have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of a disaster, with at least one business located in each declared county/parish. Under the just-released, revised criteria, states or territories are only required to certify that at least five small businesses within the state/territory have suffered substantial economic injury, regardless of where those businesses are located.

 

  • Expanded, Statewide Access to SBA Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses. SBA disaster assistance loans are typically only available to small businesses within counties identified as disaster areas by a Governor. Under the revised criteria issued today, disaster assistance loans will be available statewide following an economic injury declaration. This will apply to current and future disaster assistance declarations related to Coronavirus.

“We’re very encouraged that banks and financial institutions are responding to the President’s efforts to mobilize an unprecedented public-private response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. As a result, most small businesses that need credit during these uncertain times will be able to obtain it. However, our goal is to ensure that credit is available to any and all small businesses that need credit but are unable to access it on reasonable terms through traditional lending channels,” said Administrator Carranza.

“To that end, the SBA is relaxing the criteria through which states or territories may formally request an economic injury declaration, effective immediately. Furthermore, once an economic injury declaration has been made in a state or territory, the new rules allow the affected small businesses within the state or territory to apply for a disaster assistance loan.”

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for each affected small business. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
  • Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available statewide to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
  • Once a declaration is made, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to affected small businesses within the state.
  • These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
  • SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
  • SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.
For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster.
NC Governor Logo

Governor’s Order Closes Sit-Down Restaurant Service, Lifts Unemployment Restrictions

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-Press Release, Office of NC Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper announced that North Carolina restaurants and bars will be closed to sit-down service and limited to take-out or delivery orders starting at 5 p.m. on March 17, 2020. Grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores are exempt from this order and will remain open, though they may not serve sit-down food.

Additionally, the order lifts some restrictions on unemployment benefits to help workers unemployed due to Covid-19 and those who are employed but will not receive a paycheck. Additionally, it adds benefit eligibility for those out of work because they have the virus or must care for someone who is sick.

“We did not come to this decision easily. But North Carolina must keep fighting this pandemic with the right weapons,” said Governor Cooper. “During this time of uncertainty, I will keep working to protect the health and safety of North Carolinians and keep our state’s economy afloat.”

This Order will directly aid workers who may have lost wages in restaurants and meeting places due to mass gathering restrictions. For example, workers who lose income due to tips or scheduled work hours, but are still employed, would be eligible for benefits because of this Executive Order. Among other changes:

  • It removes the one-week waiting period to apply for unemployment payment for those workers who lose their jobs;
  • It removes the requirement that a person must be actively looking for another job during this time when many potential employers are closed and social distancing guidelines are in effect.
  • It allows employees who lose their jobs or, in certain cases have their hours reduced due to Covid-19 to apply for unemployment benefits.
  • It directs that employers will not be held responsible for benefits paid as a direct result of these COVID-19 claims.
  • It waives the requirement that people must apply for benefits in person; workers can apply for benefits online or by phone.

The full executive order is available HERE.

For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which includes daily updates on positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.

H-V Chamber Logo

H-V Chamber Announces Food Service Members With Open Drive-Thru, Delivery

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-Information courtesy Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce

Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday he plans to order restaurants and bars closed except for takeout and delivery orders. The move aims to lessen the spread of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — by limiting interactions between large groups of people.

A number of other states have issued similar orders, including New York and Ohio. Cooper said his executive order would be effective at 5 p.m. Tuesday and would also include an expansion of unemployment insurance.

We are encouraging all of our Chamber of Commerce member firms to support our local member restaurants and caterers by calling in your take-out orders, having meals catered to your house or your business, and using these businesses for special orders during this time of concern for their business income and staffing issues.

Bojangles’s – 252-438-8446 – Drive-Thru will remain open.

Chick-fil-A – 252-436-0010 – Drive-Thru will remain open.

Cook Shack Catering – 919-497-0669 – Call for catering and special delivery. www.cookshackcatering.com

George’s of Henderson Restaurant – 252-492-0090 – Call ahead and they will deliver to your car, for minimum orders of $30+ they will deliver to home/office.  www.georgesofhenderson.com

Golden Corral – 252-438-9500 – Call ahead to order.  They will offer curbside pick-up, catering to your business, special deliveries, and you can go to their website to order and see their menu.  www.goldencorral.com – 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (7 days a week)

Golden Skillet – 252-492-4040 – Use their drive-thru.

JD Tacos Food Truck – 252-657-9430 – Food Truck set up on Dabney Drive in Henderson beside the Fire Station.  7 days a week – 11 am – 8 pm

Mayflower Seafood Restaurant – 252-738-2393 – Call ahead to order.

McDonald’s – Drive-Thru will remain open.

Middleburg Steak House – 252-431-0350 – (Have not heard from owners at this time)

Pino’s Italian Restaurant – 252-438-1341 – Call ahead for take-out.

Pizza Inn of Henderson – 252-492-2144 – Call ahead to order.

Ribeye’s of Henderson – 252-430-1117 – Call ahead to order.  Talk with them about catering and special delivery.

Sadie’s Coffee Corner – 252-572-2542 – Call ahead and they will deliver to your car.

Skipper Forsyth’s Bar-B-Q – 252-438-5228 – Call ahead for take-out.

Strickland Farms Catering – 919-497-6143 – Call for catering, special delivery.  www.stricklandfarmscatering.com

Subway – 252-430-1590 – Call for catering, take out.

Ted’s Catering Service – 252-438-0820 – Call for catering, delivery, special orders.  Can do box lunches with three-hour notice, can cook meat/sides by request. www.TedWheeler@earthlink.net

Maria Parham Health

Maria Parham Health Provides COVID-19 Policy Updates – March 17

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-Press Release, Maria Parham Health

As the situation regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, so does our hospital’s response. In addition to measures we’ve taken including restricting visitors, closing common areas, and adhering diligently to North Carolina State Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, Maria Parham Health is taking more precautionary steps to help ensure the safety of our patients, employees and visitors.

Effective immediately, we will be limiting entry points to our facility, eliminating all visitor hours and screening everyone – employees, patients and the very limited permissible visitors currently allowed – who enters the building. The following provides additional detail about these safety measures:

  • Limited Entry Points: Until otherwise notified, everyone entering the facility should come through the Main Front Hospital entrance and the Emergency Department entrance. All other entry points will be closed until further notice.
  • Zero Visitor Policy: Maria Parham Health is eliminating all visitor hours, with the exception of the following:
  • One visitor for obstetrical patients
  • Two visitors for pediatric patients
  • One caregiver if necessary, for emergency department patients
    • No other visitors will be allowed at this time without approval from Administration. This includes outpatient treatment.
  • Screening Process: All patients, visitors and staff entering the facility will be screened with questions regarding respiratory symptoms and travel history, per CDC recommendations. Patients with symptoms will immediately be provided masks and managed per CDC guidelines. Based on the screening, visitors may also be asked to take their temperature, speak further with someone, or come back at a later date. Screening will occur upon every entry.

PLEASE NOTE, WE HAVE NOT LIMITED OR RESTRICTED SERVICES AT THIS TIME.

We know that these increased precautions may seem concerning. We do not want to cause alarm, but we do want to send a clear message to our community that we are prepared, responding appropriately and remain committed to protecting the well-being of our patients, visitors, employees and community.

These increased safety measures do NOT mean that you cannot access the hospital or your providers. Please seek medical care as needed. And if you are concerned you may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call your provider in advance of going to his or her office. Of course, if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Maria Parham Health values the trust our community places in us, and we appreciate your understanding as we shift our visitation policies during this time.

For details about our COVID-19 response, please visit mariaparham.com.

NC Governor Logo

Governor Cooper to Announce Closing of NC Restaurants, Bars for Dine-in

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-Press Release, Office of NC Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are holding a media briefing today at 2 p.m. At that briefing, Governor Cooper will announce a new executive order in response to COVID-19 that closes restaurants and bars for dine-in customers but allows them to continue takeout and delivery orders.

The executive order will also include an expansion of unemployment insurance to help North Carolina workers affected by COVID-19.

The order is expected to be effective by 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

More information about the order and other updates on North Carolina’s response to COVID-19 will be available at today’s media briefing. The briefing is at 2 p.m. at Joint Force Headquarters, 1636 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607.

View live stream here: https://www.ncdps.gov/storm-update

KARTS Suspending Services – UPDATED

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PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED HERE WITH MORE CURRENT INFORMATION AND AN OBVIOUS CHANGE IN PLANS TO HELP PEOPLE MEET THERE NEEDS.

UPDATE –

For Immediate Release
March 17, 2020
Irene Johnson, Executive Director

KARTS will continue to provide transportation service in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties. It is vital for our citizens to have access to transportation for dialysis, medical appointments, and other essential destinations during this difficult time. We continue to monitor the fluid situation with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and will adhere to any state and/or federal guidelines.

The Around Town Shuttle will operate through 7:45 p.m. Friday, March 20th. After that, shuttle service will be suspended for two weeks.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Our first priority is the safety of our passengers and employees.

EARLIER STORY THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED ABOVE

-Information courtesy Roberta D. Freeman, KARTS Safety Officer

After careful thought and deliberation of our duty in the face of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, and in what we believe is in the best interest of our employees and the people we serve, KARTS will suspend operations of it’s AROUND TOWN SHUTTLE AND OXFORD LOOP SERVICE EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18.

In addition, we have also suspended our OUT OF COUNTY trips that cover Wake, Durham and Orange until further notice.

Please contact the office at 252-438-2573 EXT: 3966 or visit the website at www.kartsnc.com. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that this will undoubtedly create.

United Way of Vance County Promotes Use of 211 During Epidemic

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-Information courtesy Terri Hedrick, Treasurer/Secretary, United Way of Vance County

United Way of Vance County is joining United Ways across the state and nation in supporting community needs with the COVID-19 pandemic. N.C. 211, which is supported by all United Way units, is a great resource for the community.

N.C. 211 operates much like 911, but it is a resource for community residents on services provided by non-profits and volunteer organizations. Residents simply call 211 for resource information.

211 thas taken the following steps to serve existing callers, including:

  • Adding educational messages about the virus to the hold queue;
  • Providing call specialists with general talking points on the virus;
  • Adding a page with general information: https://www.nc211.org/coronavirus-covid-19;
  • Utilizing the Resource Team to compile economic hardship resources to meet the many needs we anticipate will surface as a result of the epidemic.
United Way also wants to promote the statewide COVID-19 hotline (1-866-462-3821) and to encourage everyone to visit our Granville-Vance Public Health website and, for Warren County residents, the Warren County Public Health website, for a wealth of information.
Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

H-V Rec. & Parks Announces Closure of Aycock Rec. Center, Fox Pond, Other Facilities

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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Kendrick Vann, Recreation and Parks Director

The governor of North Carolina recently declared a local state of emergency in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), ordering K-12 public schools to be closed for two weeks and recommended additional precautions for community gatherings.

As a result, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Department will close the following locations effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, through Friday, April 6, 2020:

  • Aycock Recreation Center and Aycock Aquatic Center
  • Old Aycock Gym – indoor facility
  • Fox Pond Park
  • All satellite sites including First Presbyterian Church and the Vance County Senior Center

All outdoor parks, excluding Fox Pond Park, will remain open.

Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks will monitor the situation and make an assessment on when it is safe to reopen some or all of the facilities. Updates about facilities, classes/programs and events will be available on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter) and website (click here).

Vance Charter School Announces K-8, High School Curriculum Info.

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-Information courtesy Vance Charter School

As you know, Gov. Cooper issued an executive order closing all NC public schools for students from March 16 through March 30. After advisement from the NC Department of Public Instruction, Vance Charter School has enacted the following schedule to help continue the learning process for our students:

Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 are designated Required Teacher Workdays. No instructional obligations will be expected for our students these two days.

Wednesday, March 18 will be our first distance learning day. Distance learning days will extend through March 30. We will give you more information on instructional expectations before Wednesday.

Report Card Night is canceled for this Thursday evening. If you do not have access to PowerSchool, you may pick up your child’s report card at Vance Charter on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, Junior and Senior families, Herff Jones will still be on campus Thursday evening from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. to distribute class rings and graduation items.

Finally, we are still planning on maintaining Spring Break as scheduled. If the need arises to alter spring break, we will communicate this to you as soon as possible. More information will follow in the coming days. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

K-8th Curriculum Information

While there is no ideal situation when it comes to delivering distance education, we are making plans to support instruction for an entire K-12 campus. This is why for now, we are giving priority online instruction to high school students as we assess technology availability for all of our students.

Vance Charter School will begin distance education on Wednesday, March 18 through Monday, March 30. Teachers in grades K-8 have prepared review packets that can be picked up from school on Wednesday, March 18 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Teachers will be available via email during this short-term school closure to answer questions that you or your child may have. We will not be using an online platform for students in grades K-8 for these short-term instructional days (March 18 – March 30).

Your child will keep their review packet until they return to school or until further instructions are sent.

We do have wonderful online resources for students to continue to practice their skills. I-Ready is an online resource that was purchased for students in grades K-8 to support individual learning in the areas of math and reading. If you would like for your child to continue to practice using I-Ready, we strongly encourage them to do so.

As communicated earlier, report cards will be available for pick up Thursday between 8 am and 4 p.m. if you do not have access to his information in PowerSchool. If you were unable to pick up instructional packets on Wednesday, these will also be available Thursday during report card pick up times.

High School Curriculum Information

Wednesday will be our first distance learning day. All teachers will be establishing communication with our students to ensure there are no connectivity challenges that will impede learning. Beginning Thursday, all students will begin receiving assignments for completion. To help our students be successful during this two-week period, we are operating under the following procedures:

Teachers will facilitate prior learned material only. No new learning standards will be presented at this time.

All teachers will have office hours from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Teachers will be available to respond to student needs in a timely manner. Students can contact their teacher through Google Classroom.

If families have internet connectivity problems, teachers will provide hard copy materials that will be available for pick up in our high school office.

Students currently enrolled in NC Virtual Public-School class will continue their classes as usual, unless otherwise told by their teacher.

For students taking VGCC courses, VGCC spring break has been moved to this week. Your classes will resume next week on Monday, March 23 in an online or hybrid format. Students need to check their VGCC email or the VGCC website for updates on a DAILY basis.

Please help us reinforce to your child how important this time is to continued learning; grading will continue to take place. We have one more quarter to complete this school year and it is up to all of us to make the best out of difficult circumstances. Thank you in advance for your patience, understanding, and support.