Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Arulappan Named Vance Co.Schools’ Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence

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-Press Release, Vance County Schools

Selvaraj Arulappan, an Exceptional Children’s teacher at Vance County High School, was chosen as the Vance County Schools’ Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence for 2018-2019.

With his award, Arulappan represented our school system in the N.C. Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence Award competition at the state level and attended the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 68th Conference on Exceptional Children held in Greensboro November 15-16.

Selvaraj Arulappan, an Exceptional Children’s teacher at Vance County High School, was chosen as the Vance County School’s Exceptional Children’s Educator of Excellence for 2018-2019. (Photo Credit: Vance County Schools)

Arulappan has 13 years of experience as an educator and is a leader among his peers at Vance County High School. He received his master’s degree in special education from N.C. Central University.

He has a passion for working with students who are intellectually, physically and behaviorally challenged. He also is very successful in engaging and connecting with students.

He is a leader in the classroom and serves in multiple roles at Vance County High including on the Leadership Team, as a PBIS Committee member and a vocational rehabilitation counselor. He also collaborates with the music therapy and art staff to provide diverse experiences for his students. His colleagues describe him as caring, compassionate, supportive, proactive, dedicated and engaging.

“Mr. Arulappan has done such amazing work serving his students in preparation for transition into life after high school,” one colleague said.

Another colleague noted, “Mr. Arulappan stands out above others with his ability to engage and connect with students. He actively engages the parents in meeting the educational needs of their children.”

Several educators who work with him said that Arulappan goes beyond the call of duty to support his students and colleagues.

VGCC Franklin Campus Launches Vanguard Flex Evening & Weekend College

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus has launched a new initiative called Vanguard Flex to meet the needs of adult learners who need more options for class scheduling.

The evening and weekend college program begins with Spring Semester for which registration is now underway.

“Vanguard Flex offers flexible, hybrid schedules in the evenings and on weekends on our campus located at 8100 N.C. Highway 56 in Louisburg,” said Bobbie Jo May, dean of the campus. “We want to accommodate the busy schedules of our adult learners. We are offering flexible scheduling for placement testing, advising, the library resource center, and the open computer lab on our campus some evenings and one Saturday per month.”

Spring Semester classes start on all four VGCC campuses on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, with a registration deadline of Jan. 3. In addition to the traditional 16-week semester session, VGCC is offering a 12-week term, two 8-week terms and two 4-week terms for the Spring. The first of two 8-week sessions will begin on Jan. 7 and run through March 5. The second 8-week session starts March 5 and concludes May 6, with a registration deadline of Feb. 28. A 12-week mini-term begins Feb. 5 and runs through May 6, the registration deadline coming Jan. 31.

The four-week “Spring Forward” online mini-term begins Dec. 17 with a registration deadline of Dec. 13. A second four-week online mini-term, labeled “March Forward,” is scheduled to begin March 5 with registration ending March 1.

Vanguard Flex is offering five complete curriculum programs of study initially: Early Childhood Education, Certificate; Early Childhood Education, Diploma; Medical Office Administrative Assistant I, Certificate; Business Management, Certificate; and Basic Welding, Certificate. All courses taken in the certificate programs can be applied to diplomas and degrees offered through Vance-Granville, Dean May said.

In addition, a variety of classes is being offered in the following areas through the Vanguard Flex initiative at Franklin Campus:

College Transfer: English, Math, Biology, Introduction to Computers and Psychology courses can be used toward many degree and diploma programs offered through the college. Dean May is recommending that students meet with an academic coach or advisor prior to enrolling in the classes.

Career and Technical: Courses in Welding Technology, Paralegal Technology, Medical Office Administration, Business Management, Bioprocessing Technology and Early Childhood Education lead to certificates and diplomas that can be completed entirely through the evening and weekend format.

Continuing Education: VGCC’s Franklin Campus has a robust selection of courses through the Continuing Education division during the day, evenings and weekends, among them, Nursing Assistant, Medication Technician, Phlebotomist, Notary Public, Bioworks, Human Resource Specialist and Healthcare Administration.

Adult Basic Skills: For those in need of a High School Equivalency or Adult High School Diploma, the Franklin Campus offers flexible hybrid schedules with evening classes in the Adult Basic Skills program. Basic Skills classes for Spring will begin Jan. 8 and will be held each Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Orientation is held each Friday at 10 a.m. Dean May encourages students to contact the instructor at 252-738-3618 with questions about the classes.

A complete list of the evening and weekend courses is available online at www.vgcc.edu/vanguard-flex.

Students who are interested in Vanguard Flex should contact the Franklin County Campus at (919) 496-1567 or write to Dean Bobbie Jo May at mayb@vgcc.edu.

McGregor Hall

McGregor Hall to Present ‘Irish Christmas Dance Spectacular’ Dec. 20

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-Information courtesy the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center website

McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will present “Carol of the King: The Irish Christmas Dance Spectacular” on Thursday, December 20, 2018. The show starts at 8 p.m. – doors open at 7 p.m.

Enjoy this Riverdance-style Christmas extravaganza! The 20-member dance troupe performs lightning fast hard-shoe rhythms and graceful soft-shoe jigs.

Tickets may be purchased by:

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)

(This is not a paid advertisement)

 

Public Invited to Attend Christmas Musical at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist

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-Information courtesy Angela Crawford, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church 

You are invited to attend Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church’s Christmas Musical on Sunday, December 9, 2018, at 3 p.m. Musical guest will be Blessed Generation, Gospel Disciples, Jordan Chapel Gospel Choir and Souls of Calvary.

The public is cordially invited to attend. The church is located at 2464 Rock Mill Rd. in Henderson.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Henderson-Vance Rec. & Parks Gearing Up for 2019 Adult Basketball

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-Information and flyer courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department announces the return of adult winter basketball for 2019. This league is designed for adults who enjoy the game of basketball. Games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday nights with game times depending on the number of teams that register.

Entry deadline is Thursday, January 31, 2019. $420 entry fee per team.

Each team will be guaranteed at least eight regular season games. A double elimination tournament will follow the end of the regular season.

For more information, please contact Steve Osborne at 252.438.2670 or sosborne@ci.henderson.nc.us or Victor Hunt at 252.438.3408 or vhunt@ci.henderson.nc.us.

 

City of Henderson Logo

Coffey Discusses Kerr Lake Regional Water Meeting, Possible Rate Changes

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Sara Coffey, member of the Henderson City Council, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the City’s recent meeting with the Kerr Lake Regional Water Partners.

Attendees of the November 27 meeting held at City Hall included representatives from the City of Henderson, the City of Oxford and Warren County.

The KLRW Advisory Board reviewed the system upgrade project, discussed a possible revision of the partners’ rate structure and reviewed results from a recent study projecting water usage over the next 10 years.

According to Coffey, the meeting focused mainly on a potential new rate structure and the partners’ capacity needs.

“No decisions were made at this meeting, other than to move forward with the rate structure discussion,” said Coffey. “We will meet again in December to decide how to proceed.”

Several factors necessitate a rate structure change, Coffey said, including the increase in cost to operate the water plant, the cost of new equipment and the increase in costs of water and water treatment measures.

“We [Henderson] are 60 percent partners, so 60 percent of the debt is on the City of Henderson,” said Coffey. “We need a different rate structure; ours has been the same for a good, long time now.”

Additional discussions focused on the capacity needs of each partner, a task that, according to Coffey, is hard to determine exactly. To help with this process, a study was conducted to project water usage for the next 10 years according to a variety of scenarios.

Plans to change the rate structure are still in the infancy stage, but, according to Coffey, the project will move forward.

“All we came away with yesterday was to know the project wasn’t going to be scrapped. Warren County has $3 million and we [Henderson] have $3 million to use. It does not need to be sent back. It needs to go into the water and water plant.”

To hear the interview in its entirety, including discussion on current and upcoming events in and around Henderson, please click here.

Community Partners of Hope

Henderson Men’s Shelter in Need of Volunteers, Donations for December

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-Information courtesy Jane King, Community Partners of Hope

Community Partners of Hope and the Henderson Men’s Shelter recently released their list of December 2018 volunteer and donation needs, including:

VOLUNTEER NEEDS

SUPERVISION (sign up for full week or any part of one)

  •        December 2 – 8 (both shifts)
  •        December 13 – 15 (both shifts)
  •        December 20 –  22 (both shifts)
  •        December 23 – 29 (both shifts)

MEALS (full week or any part of a week)

  •        November 30
  •        December 14 & 15
  •        December 17, 18, 20, 21, 22

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

  • Large bottles of hand sanitizer
  • Large refill bottles of hand soap
  • Cans of foot powder or Athletes Foot spray
  • Tall kitchen trash bags (13 Gallon Size)
  • Laundry detergent
  • 7-ounce adjustable air fresheners
  • Febreeze Fabric Freshener (unscented)
  • Pine-sol type cleaner – gallon containers
  • Toilet bowl cleaner – gel type
  • Soap – small sample size (or hotel supplies)
  • Hand warmers
  • Instant Grits
  • Crackers & nabs
  • Cup of Noodles (with cup)
  • Coffee & creamer
  • Peanut butter & jelly
  • Four-pound bags of sugar
  • CLOTHING – NEW ONLY and in original packages (please take used clothing to thrift store)
  • Men’s undergarments (all sizes)
  • Waterproof men’s gloves
  • Men’s sweatshirts (Sizes L, XL, XXL)
  • Men’s thermal sets (Sizes L, XL, XXL)
  • White tube socks

NOT NEEDED: Shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, instant oatmeal, deodorant, dress socks, and coffee mugs

Donations can be taken to:

  •             First Baptist Church (9 – 5 Monday thru Thursday or 9 – 12 Friday)
  •             First Presbyterian Church (10 – 1 Monday thru Thursday)
  •             WIZS Radio Station
  •             Or call Betty Boyd (252) 432-3967 to arrange delivery

A NOTE ABOUT DONATIONS

We depend on lots of donated clothing (NEW only) and supplies to keep the shelter running and our men warm and dry.    Sometimes we get donations that we cannot use and then several of us must go through them and “regift” them to other agencies.  Please be sure to let your churches know what we do and do not need this year! Also, it is much easier for us if items are donated in their original packaging instead of repackaged in sets.

All contributions are tax deductible.

You may send a check to:

Community Partners of Hope, Inc,

P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536

*You can see our calendar at any time from our website www.cp-hope.org. Just click on the SHELTER CALENDAR tab at the top.

Vance-Granville Community Band to Present Free Winter Concert on Dec. 3

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

The Vance-Granville Community Band will present its 11th annual winter concert on Monday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. in McGregor Hall at 201 Breckenridge Street in downtown Henderson. The concert is free and open to the public.

“The concert is a classic old-fashioned band concert,” said Brian D. Miller, director of the band. “Bands should always play music that is appealing and makes sense. We have had a great tradition of performing good, solid, traditional band music in the Vance-Granville Community Band. It was John Philip Sousa’s philosophy that music should always be attractive and have great audience appeal. There is no better model for band administration and performance than the one set forth by Sousa.”

The band’s repertoire for the December concert includes a march by Sousa, the seldom-heard “Keeping Step with the Union,” a march Sousa composed in 1921 and dedicated to Mrs. Warren G. Harding, wife of the 29th president of the United States. “Sousa wrote 136 great marches,” Miller said, “but we don’t get to hear the rare ones. It’s a lot of fun to present Sousa’s lesser-known marches.”

Above: Brian Miller conducts the Vance-Granville Community Band during its 2017 winter concert. (VGCC photo)

The band will also perform a rare 1914 march entitled “Radium King.” “This march came from a golden time period of the circus march and celebrated the wonder of radium as a newly-discovered element,” Miller said. Other pieces on the concert include a famous 1960s band composition entitled “Overture In Bb,” a transcription of music from the movie “The Greatest Showman.”

Christmas season music will also be featured on the concert as well, Miller added. Patrons will hear “All Is Well,” “Greensleeves,” and a Christmas march transcribed by band member Bob Salzmann.

“We are certainly fortunate to have Bob Salzmann with us in the band,” said Miller, “because not only is he an excellent musician, he is a fine arranger. It’s great having our own arranger create music for the band.”

The audience will hear two well-known medleys of Christmas favorites, including Leroy Anderson’s all-time classic “Christmas Festival,” referred to by Miller as “one of the greatest Christmas band pieces ever.”

The band has shown significant numerical and musical growth under the baton of veteran band director Miller, who established his identity in the area as the longtime director of the Louisburg High School Band, which grew into one of the state’s largest bands in one of the state’s smallest schools and whose Symphonic and Concert Bands became known in the regional area for performance of traditional band overtures and old-fashioned Sousa marches.

Miller said his philosophy is simple: “Play good, traditional music that is appealing to the audience.”

“We hope that everyone will come enjoy this great cultural experience in historic downtown Henderson,” Miller added. “We want everybody to hear the Vance-Granville Community Band.”

The Community Band, which is sponsored by the VGCC Division of Arts and Sciences, includes people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from throughout the region. No auditions are required. Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center, on the Main Campus in Henderson, at Exit 209 on Interstate 85 (Poplar Creek Road).

For more information, contact Brian Miller at (919) 496-5877 or at bmiller9302@vgcc.edu or Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu.

Hughes Receives Scholarship From WGU North Carolina

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-Press Release, WGU North Carolina

Despite the rainy weather outside, nothing could dim Shellie Hughes’ smile as she and several coworkers gathered for a special scholarship presentation on Nov. 12. Hughes, a coordinator with CenturyLink, the second largest U.S. communications provider to global enterprise customers, was presented with a $2,000 institutional partner scholarship from WGU North Carolina, the state affiliate of the national nonprofit online Western Governors University.

Shellie Hughes, coordinator with CenturyLink (left), is presented with a $2000 scholarship by Lynne Barbour (right), WGU North Carolina Strategic Partnerships Manager. Hughes is working toward her Master of Science Management and Leadership degree and will use the scholarship to help offset the cost of tuition. (Photo Credit: WGU North Carolina)

Hughes is working toward her Master of Science Management and Leadership degree and will use the scholarship to help offset the cost of tuition. CenturyLink is an institutional partner with WGU, and as such, promotes employee professional development and continuing education. Hughes won the scholarship based on her academic record, readiness for online study at WGU, and current competency in the field of information technology.

WGU is an accredited online university offering more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The university has more than 100,000 students enrolled nationwide, including more than 2,600 in North Carolina.

“Shellie is a bright young woman who would be an asset to any organization,” said WGU North Carolina Strategic Partnerships Manager Lynne Barbour, who presented the scholarship. “One of my favorite parts of this job is traveling throughout the state and presenting scholarships to deserving individuals who are seeking to further their careers through education, and Shellie definitely exemplifies that desire.”

For more information about WGU North Carolina, visit https://www.wgu.edu/north-carolina.html.

Editor’s Note: Hughes is the daughter of Chris and Debra Hughes of Henderson.

Restoration Family Center to Hold Community Yard Sale; Free Food While it Lasts

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-Information courtesy Pastor Adrian Poole, Restoration Family Center 

Restoration Family Center, located at 735 East Rockspring St. in Henderson, will hold a community yard sale on Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free food will be available while it lasts. The yard sale will include some free items.