Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

West End Baptist

West End Baptist Establishes Scholarship At VGCC

/by
  • information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

West End Baptist Church has endowed a new scholarship at Vance-Granville Community College. The newly established scholarship represents years of dedication and contributions from West End Baptist Church.

The $15,000 donation to the VGCC Foundation creates a “Presidential Merit Award” level scholarship which means that the scholarship will provide $750 a year to cover tuition, books and college fees. The scholarship will be available to students in Vance County from the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 academic year onward. Preference will be given to students who have a minimum 2.5 high school or college GPA, are enrolled in at least 9 credit hours, have membership at West End or are referred by a church member.

Students interested in applying for VGCC scholarships are encouraged to apply beginning in mid-April.

“This scholarship presents another wonderful opportunity to expand resources that will allow us to educate, inspire, and support a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success,” said Tanya S. Weary, VGCCF Executive Director.

Church treasurer Jerry Parrish and church member Bobby Van Brunt recently joined Pastor Cade M. Patterson in presenting a check to the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. Van Brunt is both a WEBC member and former VGCC employee, and he played a major part in making the scholarship a success.

“We are proud to partner with VGCC to enable deserving students to further their education,” Van Brunt commented.  “Whether the choice is technical education or foundation for a university degree, students will achieve success for themselves while becoming an asset to the community.”

West End Baptist Church will celebrate its centennial anniversary in May, and it has been at its current location on Dabney Drive since 1944. Patterson said he sees this gift as a natural extension of the church’s mission within the community.

“I’m grateful to serve this generous congregation,” said Patterson. “As a church, West End strives to love our neighbors, just as Jesus commanded us. We hope that this scholarship is a gift that will lead people to consider Christ’s incredible generosity toward us.”

The VGCC Foundation offers more than 300 endowed scholarships for VGCC students—more than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, and churches, as well as the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call 252.738.3409.

Maria Parham Health Adds Midwife To Women’s Care Staff

/by

-information courtesy of Maria Parham Health Donna Young, Market Coordinator, Communications and Marketing

Maria Parham Health will have the services of a new midwife available to see patients in the hospital’s Women’s Care clinic.

“We are pleased to welcome Liz Carr to our Women’s Care team,” said Bert Beard, CEO of Maria Parham Health. “We pride ourselves on our capacity to give new parents more choices in the childbirth experience, and Carr’s background as a Certified Nurse Midwife will be an important addition to Maria Parham’s award-winning Labor & Delivery Unit.”

Carr earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Versailles, KY. She also received midwifery education, training and experience from NorthShore Health Center in Indiana, the University of Louisville Midwife Clinic in  Kentucky, Sterling Women’s Care in Kentucky and the University of Kentucky Midwife Clinic.

She specializes in obstetrical care, general gynecological care, postpartum care, hormone replacement therapy, high-risk pregnancy, contraceptive counseling and menopause management.

Carr will be seeing patients at Maria Parham Women’s Care. For a referral or to schedule an appointment, please call 252.492.8576.

 

 

VGCC Logo

VGCC Adds NC Wesleyan As Transfer Option To Complete 4-Year Degree

/by

-information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Students who complete their two-year degree have another option when choosing where to continue on the path to a four-year university degree: North Carolina Wesleyan University. The two schools recently entered into an agreement that will allow VGCC students to participate in Wesley Works, a transfer program that offers benefits to students who want to obtain a college diploma.

VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais shared optimism about the partnership. “By this new agreement with NC Wesleyan University, I am pleased that VGCC graduates will have more options than ever to continue their path to a four-year degree,” Demarais stated in a press release.

The agreement will enhance and expand the educational opportunities of Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science graduates by offering VGCC graduates access to the benefits of the Wesleyan Works program, pre-admission advising, generous transfer credit, and a clear definition of the transfer of courses from VGCC to NC Wesleyan. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allows VGCC Associate in Applied Science students to transfer an additional 15 hours of general education credits for a total of 75 transfer credits.

“We’re proud to add Vance-Granville Community College to our array of partners we have transfer agreements with. They join over 40 other colleges and community colleges with seamless transfer pathways to NC Wesleyan University following completion of a two-year degree,” stated NCWU President Dr. Evan D. Duff. “Through our Wesleyan Works program, all AA/AS/AAS community college graduates gain automatic acceptance to NCWU with no application fee and the ability to transfer in up to 75 credit hours. This smooth transfer process allows community college graduates a simple path to making their education attainable in order to accomplish their goals in life.”

Students who graduate from VGCC and transfer under this agreement may select any of NC Wesleyan’s programs of study or may transfer to the college’s Adult and Professional Studies program, taking advantage of the Wesleyan Works program. Students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 and be in good academic standing. The agreement brings NC Wesleyan within the reach of VGCC students who may not have otherwise been able to attend the college.

Wesleyan Works is a transfer program designed for community college students who plan to continue their education at NC Wesleyan. Students who participate in Wesleyan Works will have access to academic advising and financial aid counseling through NC Wesleyan, as well as access to events on the college’s main campus. The program is ideal for students who would like to attend NC Wesleyan’s evening or online programs.

North Carolina Wesleyan University, a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning and responsible participation in their communities. NC Wesleyan University provides a highly personalized education in a dynamic and challenging environment. With students from all over the United States and more than 40 different countries, NC Wesleyan is a small college with a big taste for cultural diversity. To learn more about either school, visit www.vgcc.edu or www.ncwc.edu.

TownTalk: Resource Fair At VGCC April 27

/by

Organizers for an upcoming community resource fair are pleased with how planning is going so far, and they are predicting a win-win situation for all involved – for those who provide resources and for those who are seeking information.

Huff Consulting of Oxford, along with partners Vance-Granville Community College and the Henderson-Vance and Granville County Chambers of Commerce have been planning for months.

Michele Walker, Huff Consulting’s sales and account manager, said there are 65 vendors – nonprofits, for-profit companies, churches and more – lined up to participate in the April 27 event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the VGCC Civic Center on the Main Campus in Henderson.

“We’re very fortunate to have the community coming together for this,” Walker said on TownTalk.

Huff Consulting is a recruiting firm that works with a wide range of employees – from day laborers to corporate executives, Walker said, adding that her company has recognized the struggles that face many in the community. “Everybody has a need,” she said. And this resource festival is a way to bridge the gap between available resources and the folks who are looking for them.

Sandra Wilkerson, president of the Henderson-Vance Chamber, said this coordinated effort across county lines fits perfectly with the local Chamber’s 2023 theme “Year of Collaboration.”

The resource fair participants not only will be able to provide information to attendees, but they’ll also have the chance to build collaborations among themselves.

Having so many different segments of the community and region under one roof for the day is sure to create connections, said Lauren Roberson, director of the Granville County Chamber.

“We’re super excited to be a part of it and help in any way we can,” Roberson said.

In addition to sharing information with the community, Roberson said another goal is to shine a light on all the opportunities within the whole Kerr-Tar region, which includes Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person counties.

“You’re going to get way more done collaborating than working against each other,” she said. “We’re going to succeed by all working together.”

If people can live and work in the same area, that means there’s a greater chance that they’ll spend more time – and dollars – in that same area.

“We want to keep people in the Kerr-Tar region,” Roberson noted.

Don’t fret if you’re interested in coming out to the festival but have young children in tow – VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel said you’re in luck: VGCC’s Science Department is having an event that day as part of the NC Science Festival. There will be a Kid’s Corner where children can “come in and have fun with science,” Cissel noted.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Farmers’ Market Set To Open April 15

/by

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will open Saturday, April 15 for the 2023 season and Market Manager Pat Ayscue welcomes visitors and shoppers to come ccheck out all the vendors beginning at 8 a.m.The market will have its annual Spring Fling on Saturday, May 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ayscue said.

The vegetable and plant growers will have a good variety of slips and flowering plants for the home and garden, and the craft vendors will have wreaths and other handcrafted items for the home and office.

Other vendors will have beef, pork, chicken, eggs, produce and more from the farmers along with those strawberries we have been waiting for. Homemade pies and cakes, whole or sliced  – just right for an after-dinner treat or for a special occasion.

Fresh-cut flowers will be on hand, Ayscue said, giving two green thumbs-up for the beginning of the growing season.

And before or after shopping, Ayscue invites everyone to stay awhile and walk through the Memorial Gardens, located on the grounds of the farmers’ market.

 

Vietnam Vets Welcomed, Honored, Remembered During March 29 Ceremony

/by

By all accounts, the ceremony held at American Legion Post 60 Wednesday hit all the right notes: about 50 people gathered at noon to remember, support and pay tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War.

Britany Wilson spearheaded the event, and she told WIZS News that at least 18 veterans of the Vietnam War were present. “We honored each veteran personally,” Wilson said, with certificates and pins.

“I was very pleased that so many showed up,” she said, adding that the goal was to extend appreciation for their military service.

North Carolina author and military veteran Samuel Conner was the guest speaker. His book, “My Motorcycle Ride Across the Country” is one thing that has helped him in his healing process.

Unlike returning troops from earlier wars, Vietnam-era veterans typically did not get the hero’s welcome.

The Vietnam Veterans Association, Gentiva Hospice – where Wilson works as manager of volunteer services – and Jimmy Dixon all partnered to make sure this event was a success.

Wilson hosts a monthly coffee social at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month for any veterans in the area.

The next gathering is this Saturday, April 1, at Sadie’s Coffee Corner.

But beginning in May, American Legion Post 60 is opening its doors for the monthly meeting.

“They (veterans) have a bond. It’s just a time for them to come and share that camaraderie that they miss,” Wilson said.

The post is located at 110 E. Spring St., Henderson.

Smart Start

FGV Partnership For Children Announces ‘Week Of The Young Child’ Activities April 1-7

/by

 

 

Since 1971, early childhood education proponents have celebrated The Week of the Young Child. The FGV Partnership for Children invites the community to help mark the special week – April 1-7 – by participating in numerous activities, all with children in mind.

FGV Partnership for Children’s Development Coordinator Garry Daeke will be a guest on Monday’s TownTalk, and he shared the schedule of events that will take place, including one that will be held Saturday, April 1.

A virtual kindergarten transition forum will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Tanya Daniels, M.Ed. will present “Belonging, Believing and Becoming of Tomorrow’s Children.” Register at www.fgvsmartstart.org.

Additional activities include:

  • Monday, April 3—Pinwheels, kick off April Prevent Child Abuse NC.  Childcare programs (New Beginnings and Teach-A-Tot) will visit FGV Smart Start and ‘plant’ a pinwheel garden, along with indoor activities and snacks.  Time: 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, April 4—Health and Fitness Day will organize healthy snacks and outdoor play for children at What A Blessing Child Care and Franklinton United Methodist Church Day Care in Franklin County. Time: 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 5—Literacy Day will set up Imagination Library enrollments at Wal Mart in each county and will be enrolling children from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, April 6–Safe Kids Day (Vance County) Safe Kids will set up at Dabney Drive Fire station from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and provide child safety seat inspections and installation.

The purpose of The Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

New Law Eliminates Need For Sheriff’s Offices To Issue Pistol Purchase Permits

/by

Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame issued a press release Thursday to reiterate the news coming out of the N.C. General Assembly about pistol purchase permit applications.

“Effective immediately, pistol purchase permits will no longer be issued by any sheriff in North Carolina,” Brame stated. “The Vance County Sheriff’s Office has stopped processing pistol purchase permit applications, including pending applications,” he continued.

All state laws regarding the issuance of pistol purchase permits by sheriffs in North Carolina were repealed on Wednesday morning following a vote by the General Assembly to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 41, Guarantee 2nd Amendment Freedom and Protections.

This means any person who wants to purchase or transfer a handgun in North Carolina no longer has to apply to the sheriff for a pistol purchase permit. However, any person who wants to purchase a handgun through a firearms dealer will still undergo the background check required under current law and either be sold the handgun or denied sale if the background check indicates the person is disqualified from possessing a firearm.

Brame stressed that it is important to understand that North Carolina concealed handgun laws have NOT changed.

Any person residing in Vance County who wishes to carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina must still apply for and be issued a concealed handgun permit by the sheriff.

Criminal penalties still apply for anyone that knowingly transfers a handgun to a person who may not lawfully possess the firearm (such as a convicted felon). Therefore, it is important for citizens to remember that anyone wishing to obtain or transfer any firearm, including a handgun, must still comply with federal and state laws governing who may lawfully possess a firearm.

 

 

L.B. Yancey Students Participate In Career Day And Expo

/by

When you’re a fifth grader, it’s tough to visualize where you may see yourself in the future, but thanks to L.B. Yancey Elementary’s Career Day and Expo, but at least one young person’s eyes were opened to the possibility of becoming a photographer when she grows up.

The “I Am Tomorrow” career expo was held in the school gym on Mar. 22. Students dressed up as doctors, chefs, police officers and more as a way to share information and interests about different careers.

Staff members joined in the fun and parents were invited to participate as well as the children – a much livelier event than last year’s, which had to take place virtually because of COVID-19 restrictions on gathering.

Numerous career professionals set up displays to help the students learn about a variety of career opportunities, from being a barber to a meteorologist. On the list of specially invited professionals was:

  • Vance County Schools’ Center for Innovation Robotics Team
  • Spectrum News 1 Meteorologist, Vernon Turner
  • Maria Parham Primary Care Physician, Dr. Gary Smith
  • Fitness Trainer, Jessica Rice-Hawkins
  • Entrepreneur, Jinell Cheek of Nellie C Photography
  • Barber, Richard Terry
  • Licensed Funeral Director, Joshua Hicks
  • Musician, Justen Ward
  • Entrepreneur, Taylor Evans with Cricut Personalizations
  • Representatives from the Walmart Distribution Center
  • Vance County Sheriff’s Office

The day started with a parade, and students walked the school’s hallways while Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5” filled the air. Other students lined the hallways,armed with handmade posters with inspirational messages to cheer on the parade participants.

Career Day Expo Chairperson Alicia Clarke said the goal was to allow students to see different professionals as a way to motivate them to set goals for themselves and then working toward achieving those goals. “If this Career Day was any indication of what is to come, then the world will be in good hands,” Clarke stated.

L.B. Yancey Principal Dr. Shannon Bullock agreed. “The school’s Career Day and Expo was a very successful event. The students and parents were so excited to see all the different career choices provided for them. Students were able to see successful individuals from Henderson and other nearby cities, and know that they are able to achieve anything they set their mind to.”

City of Henderson Logo

Henderson Community Cleanup Day April 21

/by

Join the City of Henderson in a community-wide Cleanup Day on Friday, April 21.
It’s a great way for individuals, businesses and other groups to come together to spiff up city roadsides, neighborhoods and commercial spaces.
The cleanup event really proves the adage “many hands make light work,” and City Manager Terrell Blackmon said participants can request trash bags that the city will provide. Filled bags left in pre-designated areas will be picked up by city employees as well.
“This event will be a great opportunity for you to show your community pride and help to improve the appearance of our community, which also helps change the perception of how others view our city,” Blackmon stated.
This local event is timed to coincide with NC DOT’s “Litter Sweep” Program and to celebrate Earth Day.
Local business owners are encouraged to join in by picking up litter outside your business, or along any city or state road where your business is located.
For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Henderson City Clerk Tracey Kimbrell at 252-430-5705 or traceykimbrell@henderson.nc.gov.