Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Perry Memorial Library Announces Fall Schedule for Youth Programs

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-Information courtesy the Perry Memorial Library website

Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St., Henderson, announces their fall lineup of youth programs. Fall programs run  September 17 – November 29, 2018, and include:

Totally Tweens – Ages 8 – 12, Mondays @ 5 p.m.

Story Explorers – Ages 5 – 11. Tuesdays @ 5 p.m.

Books & Babies – Ages Birth – 2, Thursdays @ 10:45 a.m.

Mother Goose Storytime – Ages 2 – 5, Thursdays @ 11 a.m.

LEGO Fun Club – Ages 5 – 13, Thursdays @ 4 p.m.

August is program planning month for the library; youth programs resume Monday, September 17.

West End Baptist

West End Community Watch to Hear from Maria Parham, Tues., Aug. 21

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Information courtesy Claire Catherwood, West End Community Watch

The West End Community Watch will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. This group always meets in the Fellowship Hall of the West End Baptist Church, 619 Dabney Dr., Henderson. All are invited, regardless of where they live.

The speaker for the evening will be a representative of the management of Maria Parham Health. As usual, police will be present to give recent police activity reports and hear concerns from those present.

Please write it on your calendar and plan to attend. All are welcome.

Joy In The Lord Baptist to Hold Gospel Singing, Sat., Aug. 18

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-Information courtesy Rev. L.T. Harris, Joy In The Lord Baptist Church

Joy In The Lord Baptist Church will hold a gospel singing featuring “The Oak Grove Boys & Stephanie” from Elm City, NC.
on Saturday, August 18, 2018, at 6 p.m.

The church is located at 1238 Debnam Ave., Henderson, NC.

Everyone is welcome.

VGCC Joins Achieving the Dream to Improve Student Success

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-Press Release, ATD Network and Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College today announced it has joined Achieving the Dream (ATD), a network of more than 220 colleges in 41 states dedicated to improving student success.

As an ATD Network institution, VGCC will innovate to implement, align, and scale cutting-edge reforms, work with ATD coaches to build institutional capacity and connect with peers to foster learning and share information, according to college and ATD officials.

“We are already making a difference in the lives of students,” said Dr. Levy Brown, Vance-Granville’s vice president of academic affairs. “Now as a college, it is time to take the next step in our work to improve student learning and success.” Dr. Brown is the leader of the college’s ATD Core Team.

Dr. Joanne Bashford, left, and Dr. Linda Hagedorn of Achieving the Dream make a presentation to Vance-Granville Community College’s administration, faculty and staff at the college’s fall convocation in the Civic Center on Main Campus. VGCC today announced it has joined the network of more than 220 colleges in 41 states dedicated to improving student success. (VGCC Photo)

“The strength of local and regional economies, our ability to rebuild the middle class, and the possibility that a new generation will achieve their goals depends on community colleges,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “Colleges that join the ATD Network show an exceptional commitment to becoming the kind of institution that will lead the nation into the future.”

“Achieving the Dream will serve to accelerate and advance Vance-Granville’s ongoing efforts to assist students in achieving their goals,” said Dr. Gordon Burns, VGCC’s interim president. “Participating in Achieving the Dream with its holistic approach to student success will result in Vance-Granville identifying college strengths, prioritizing areas needing improvement and systematically determining and implementing actions that will lead to greater numbers of students and graduates achieving their personal and career goals.”

ATD offers a capacity-building framework and companion self-assessment that allow colleges to pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement across seven institutional capacities in areas such as leadership and vision, teaching and learning, and data and technology.

With the capacity framework as a guide, ATD’s approach integrates and aligns existing college success efforts and offers valuable support in preparing for accreditation, fostering conversation about goals, and making bold, holistic institution-wide changes because initiatives that don’t reach most of a college’s student body have not shown strong results.

A team from Vance-Granville and teams from the other colleges joining ATD this year met in June to plan for the launch of their ATD work, which will initially focus on student learning and success.

Dr. Joanne Bashford and Dr. Linda Hagedorn were on VGCC’s Main Campus on Thursday and Friday to meet with the Core Team, administration, staff and faculty for Vance-Granville’s launch of the initiative. Dr. Bashford serves as a Higher Education Services Consultant and Leadership Coach for ATD. Her career in community colleges spans 25 years and includes serving as the President of Miami Dade College’s InterAmerican Campus, a diverse campus of 19,000 students located in historic Little Havana, until retiring in 2017. Dr. Hagedorn is Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, International Programs, Student Services, Diversity and Equity, and Community Program at Iowa State University and a data coach for ATD. As an Achieving the Dream Data Coach, Dr. Hagedorn has been consulting with community colleges since the initiative’s inception and is currently working with six community colleges.

ATD Network colleges report data using metrics that answer critical questions about who attends college, who succeeds in and after college and how college is financed. To advance goals of social mobility and equity, the metrics provide information on how low-income and other underserved students fare. These metrics are categorized into performance metrics, efficiency metrics and equity metrics at points during the student experience from access through post-college outcomes.

As colleges in the new cohort progress, they may apply to participate in initiatives supported by philanthropic funding and managed by ATD. These initiatives help incubate new ideas that help colleges refine practices based on evidence of what works and allow ATD to disseminate knowledge to the broader network and the field.  New initiatives address the challenge of engaging adjunct faculty more deeply as key members of colleges’ workforces and implementing degree programs using only open educational resources (OER).

Achieving the Dream, along with more than 100 experienced coaches and advisors, works closely with ATD Network colleges to reach more than 4 million community college students.

H-V Chamber Logo

Henderson-Vance Chamber to Hold 20th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser

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-Information courtesy Sandra Wilkerson, Director of Admin and Events, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

Join the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at the Henderson Country Club for the 20th Annual Chamber Challenge Golf Tournament. This Captain’s Choice tournament is one of the Chamber’s largest fundraising events for the year. The Double Eagle sponsor will be BB&T.

Date & Time:

Thursday, October 4, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. – Registration 12:00 p.m. – Lunch 1:00 p.m. – Shotgun start

Tournament Entry Fee $120/Golfer or $440/Foursome

Tournament fee includes:

  • Cart & green fees
  • Mulligan three pack
  • Goody bag
  • Lunch
  • Beverages and snacks on the course
  • Dinner and awards ceremony

Awards & contests awards for first through third place teams will be given. Skills contests include Hole-in-One, Longest Drive, and Closest to the Pin. We will also have the Poker Fun game, the “Monster Launcher,” ChipOBoard and a putting contest.

Sponsorships are available – par level and above includes a HOLE SPONSORSHIP with signage for your company:

 EAGLE Sponsor (Includes Six Players and 6 Three Packs): $1,000

 BIRDIE Sponsor – (Includes Four Players and 4 Three Packs): $ 750

 PAR Sponsor – (Includes Four Players and 4 Three Packs): $ 500

 TEAM Sponsor – (Includes Four Players and 4 Three Packs $ 440

 REFRESHMENTS (soda, water, snacks) Sponsor: $ 300

 BEVERAGE CART Sponsor – (No players): $ 300 (Two available)

 CLOSEST TO THE PIN Sponsor – (No Players): $ 125 (Two available)

 LONGEST DRIVE Sponsor: $ 125 (Two available)

 TEE BOX OR GREEN Sponsor Only: $ 100

 INDIVIDUAL Player: $ 120

“Golfers, you don’t want to miss out on this exciting day of golf. This is one of the Chamber’s largest fundraising events for the year, so we need your help!  You can be a sponsor in many ways. Not only will it promote your business, you will also have a great time networking with other area business people,” said Sandra Wilkerson, director of Admin and Events for the Henderson-Vance Chamber.

For more information, please call Wilkerson or any Chamber staff member at (252) 438-8414.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

McGregor Hall

McGregor Hall to Present ‘The Carl Thomas Show: A Tribute to Battered Women’

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-Information courtesy McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center

The McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center will present “The Carl Thomas Show: A Tribute To Battered Women” on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 8 p.m.

“The Carl Thomas Show” brings national recording artist Carl Thomas to the McGregor Hall stage. Hosted by Comedian Grave Digger and Mel Ice, and featuring Linda Green as a special guest, the show will be a tribute to battered women. Raffle proceeds to benefit nonprofit organization for battered women.

Tickets are available at the McGregor Hall Box Office, 201 Breckenridge St., Henderson, Monday – Friday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., by calling (252) 598-0662 or visiting www.mcgregorhall.org. Doors will open one hour before the show.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Celebration of National Farmers Week Continues at Vance Co. Farmers Market

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-Information courtesy Tracy Madigan, Market Manager, Vance County Regional Farmers Market

Celebrate National Farmers Week at Your Vance County Regional Farmers Market (August 5 – 11)

What You Will Find at the Market This Week:

Apples, beef, beets, blackberries, blueberries, butter beans, canary melons, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggs, eggplant, garlic, green beans, onions, okra, peaches, pork, potatoes, purple hull & crowder peas, squash, tomatoes (green, red & heirloom), watermelon and zucchini.

We also have plenty of canned vegetables, honey, molasses, salsa, chow-chow, bbq sauces, jellies, jams, soaps, bath salts, scented candles, cut sunflowers, cupcakes and unique handmade crafts.

Anticipated Vendors – Saturday, August 11, 2018

Adcock Farm

Cakes Delish

Creative Gifts for Missions

Culver Farms Honey

Donation Station

The Eclectic Peacock

Faulkner Family Farms

Honeyberry Hills Farm

Imperial Stitching

JASM Farms

Jerri’s Things

JW Creek Farms

LouMag Ent.

Material Blessings

Pretty Tough Stuff Jewelry

Short’s Family Farms

Winter Soap Co.

Woodwick Designs

Contacts:

Market Manager: Tracy Madigan @ 252-598-0814

Extension Agent: Paul McKenzie @ 252-438-8188

VCRFM open Wednesdays & Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

VCRFM Welcomes SNAP/EBT

The Farmers Market building is available for rent. Contact Annette Roberson, Vance County Cooperative Extension Center, 252-438-8188 for pricing and available dates.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Dr. Jackson, Vance Co. Schools Superintendent, Discusses System’s Progress

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Dr. Anthony Jackson, superintendent of Vance County Schools, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the current status of the school system and plans for the future.

Beginning his fourth year with the school system on August 1, Jackson said Vance County schools are “nowhere near where we can be, but we aren’t where we were.”

Jackson said his model has been, and continues to be, giving the community a choice when it comes to educational practices. Citing the Vance County Early College and the year-round E.M. Rollins Elementary School calendar, Jackson believes “choice” is the key to educational success. “A one-size-fits-all model no longer serves a community,” Jackson said. “We need to have discussions with the School Board about offering different choices moving forward.”

The Early College, located on Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus in Henderson, has served the community for 12 years and has the distinction of being one of the highest performing schools in the state.

“I would stack our Vance County Early College up against any school in this state,” said Jackson. “They were voted one of the top schools in our country by US News & World Report, as were several other early colleges in our area.”

Another “choice” school, E.M. Rollins Elementary has seen enrollment soar since adopting a year-round calendar. “Year-round at Rollins has been a tremendous success for our community and we’ve seen tremendous academic gains in the school. Enrollment has nearly doubled – from 200 students to now pushing 400 students,” Jackson said.

Also on Jackson’s plate has been the massive undertaking of consolidating the former Eaton Johnson Middle and Henderson Middle schools and Northern Vance High and Southern Vance High schools by the start of the 2018-19 school year on August 27.

The new Vance County Middle School will open in the former Northern Vance High School location this fall, while the new Vance County High School will be housed in the former Southern Vance High School building.

“Staff from all of the consolidated schools have come together beautifully and have been training together all summer,” said Jackson. “We are one community.”

According to Jackson, the sentiment of “one community” is echoed in the recent events of the new Vance County High School football team. The former Viking and Raider rivals have now combined to form the Vipers and will play, at least this year, in the 2-A Conference.

To ease that transition, a recent lock-in was held to build camaraderie and allow the players “to get to know one another better.”

The Vipers have also participated in a recent meet-and-greet at Chick-fil-A in Henderson and will play in a jamboree on Saturday, August 11 to demonstrate their skills to the community.

“I was so pleased to see so many community members and parents come out [to Chick-fil-A] and tell the players that we are behind you this year,” Jackson said. “Coach [Darry] Ragland has done an inspiring job of coaching these young men and taking the mantle.”

The progress of the athletic department, as well as additional information and specifics on academic progress and performance, will be discussed in Jackson’s “State of Our Schools” address in September.

“The ‘State of Our Schools’ address is part of my five-year plan,” said Jackson. “This year’s address will include information on improvements in graduation rates, programs offered to the community, improvement in teacher turnover rates and reduction in suspension and dropout rates.”

Jackson also expressed his appreciation to the school board and the community and said he hopes “one thing people will say about my tenure here is that we didn’t shy away from the hard stuff; we have those hard conversations.”

Davis-Royster Funeral Service Endows VGCC Scholarship

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Davis-Royster Funeral Service, Inc., of Henderson has endowed a new Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund scholarship to help area students pursue an education.

The Davis-Royster Funeral Service Academic Achievement Scholarship is named for the family-owned and operated funeral service that has been operating in Vance County since 1991. The company, founded by James H. Royster and owned by Mary Davis-Royster, provides a variety of funeral and memorial services and resources customized to meet the needs of families.

“We have demonstrated through our funeral business a commitment to service based on sensitivity and integrity,” said Mary Davis-Royster. “The people of our service area have been so supportive of us for nearly three decades. We want to give something back to these communities through this educational opportunity to show our appreciation.”

Members of the staff of Davis-Royster Funeral Service, Inc., celebrate their new scholarship with representatives from Vance-Granville Community College. From left are James H. Royster, founder of Davis-Royster Funeral Service; Mary Davis-Royster, owner; Paul Crews Jr., director’s assistant; Robert L. Wright II, funeral director; Dr. Stelfanie Williams, Vance-Granville’s president; the Rev. Richard Henderson, member of the VGCC Endowment Fund Board of Directors; and Eddie Ferguson, director of VGCC’s Endowment Fund. (Photo VGCC)

Through the new scholarship, preference will be given to students enrolled for nine credit hours or more in the Business Administration curriculum program at Vance-Granville. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 will be required.

“The leaders of tomorrow for our community are turning to Vance-Granville today and will be doing so for years to come to secure the education and skills training they need to run area businesses. Our scholarship will serve as an encouragement and a valuable means of support,” Mrs. Davis-Royster added.

Mrs. Davis-Royster also serves as the licensed mortician for the company, and Mr. Royster is the funeral service assistant. Also leading the staff are Paul Crews, Jr., who is the director’s assistant, and Robert L. Wright II, licensed funeral director and embalmer.

“We are appreciative of the extended Davis-Royster Funeral Service family for their support of Vance-Granville’s students,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, VGCC’s president. “Their gift today will be meeting the needs of future business leaders for generations to come.”

Eddie Ferguson, the director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, added, “The funeral service has chosen a meaningful way to honor their legacy of decades of service to the community. We are proud they have chosen to partner with us to help our students succeed.”

The new scholarship will add to the more than 9,000 scholarships that have been awarded to students since 1982, funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving students. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business, industry or organization with a lasting gift to education. In the Fall of 2017, Vance-Granville awarded scholarships to 306 students.

For more information, the Office of the Endowment can be reached by calling Endowment Specialist Kay Currin at (252) 738-3409.

Rebuilding Hope Kids’ Construction Camp Concludes Another Successful Year

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-Information and photos courtesy Rebuilding Hope, Inc. 

A total of 27 youth in third through sixth grades registered for this year’s Rebuilding Hope Kids’ Construction Camp held August 6-8.

Activities included electrical and plumbing, roofing, hanging and painting drywall and a take-home project. One block of time in Bible study helped students understand how to build a good reputation.

Pictured (from left) are volunteers J.H. Hamm, Dave Burns and Woody Woodland showing campers how to safely handle a nail gun. (Photo Rebuilding Hope, Inc.)

Volunteers Ed Blue and Richard Rogers help campers assemble their take-home project – a stool. (Photo Rebuilding Hope, Inc.)