Tag Archive for: #vancecountynews

Red Cross and Kerr-Vance Academy Team up for Blood Drive

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RALEIGH, N.C.(Feb. 15, 2017) – During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood.

Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world. Red Cross Month is a celebration of supporters, who are the face of the Red Cross in their communities and bring hope to people facing emergencies.

Blood donor Timothy Sheely knows the need firsthand. His wife required 12 units of blood during emergency surgery following the birth of their son. “If it had not been for blood donors, she might not have survived,” he said. “Thanks to generous blood donors, I still have a wife and my kids still have their mom. I can’t possibly thank those people in person, but I can give a little piece of me back with each donation for the greater good.”

The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed to help those rely on blood products.

Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Henderson

3/8/2017: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Kerr Vance Academy, 700 Vance Academy Road

How to help

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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VGCC receives Perkins career training grant

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Vance-Granville Community College has been awarded a $181,631 grant for the current academic year under the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. These funds are being used to support students enrolled in VGCC’s workforce-oriented programs with student success coaches and the modernization and expansion of career-training equipment.

A portion of the funds support personnel at VGCC’s Student Success Centers, who serve as advisers to work with students in Business and Applied Technologies programs throughout their training — from enrollment to completion. The college also provides industry-advised faculty development to keep instructors up-to-date on the latest technologies through the grant funding.

“In conjunction with other grants and funding sources, the Perkins grant enhances our ability to educate, inspire and support students in technical fields, which are so vital to our college mission and to the economic health of our region,” said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. “With help from this grant, our outstanding faculty and staff in career-oriented programs give students the practical training they need to succeed in the workforce.”

Perkins funds allow classes at all four VGCC campuses to have up-to-date career training equipment, including a manikin/wig dryer and, soon, a state-of-the-art facial imaging machine for Cosmetology students, drill presses for Welding trainees and 26 new webcams to continue to expand VGCC’s award-winning online course offerings.

Efforts to provide apprenticeships and to educate high school students about careers in advanced manufacturing also received a boost from Perkins funding.

The Perkins Act is the principal source of federal funding to states for the improvement of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. The North Carolina Community College System, which administers Perkins funds through competitive grants to the 58 community colleges in the state, also provides extensive training to faculty throughout the year and, publicly, on their newly launched teacher-training portal at www.nc-net.info.

“Funding through Perkins and other workforce grants currently at work on VGCC campuses are positioning us well for the expected job growth in our region,” according to Kaine Riggan, VGCC’s grants coordinator. “Perkins funds are expected to shift more towards work-based learning, and we are stocked, staffed and ready for it.”

Riggan added that with a healthy number of local manufacturing jobs and a comfortable commute to the Research Triangle Park area, the four counties served by VGCC have been a favored investment for federal workforce development funds in recent years.

For more information on VGCC Business & Applied Technologies programs, contact Dean Angela Gardner-Ragland at gardnera@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3226.

–VGCC–

City of Henderson Offers Update on Water Situation

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PRESS RELEASE: 15 February 2017

The City of Henderson/ Kerr Lake Regional Water System has begun the repair on a 36” water main just outside the water plant.  Due to the repair procedure, some customers may experience periods of cloudy or discolored water; however, it is safe to drink. This should clear up by the evening of February 16, 2017. While there should be no disruption of service during this time, we do ask customers to practice conservation of water during this time and not to use fire hydrants except for emergency purposes.

Should you have any questions concerning this repair please contact Christy Lipscomb, KLRWP Director at 252-438-2142.

VGCC President honors English department

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The president of Vance-Granville Community College, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, recently recognized a group of faculty members for excellence by awarding the “Vanguard Cup” to the college’s English department.

The department became just the second recipient of the cup, an honor created by Dr. Williams to recognize “exceptional team performance toward the college mission, vision and strategic plan.”

In this case, the English department was particularly noted for developing a strategy to improve students’ writing skills, which would in turn help them be more successful in all of their college courses. “The English faculty developed a new course with dedicated labs in an attempt to improve student success,” Dr. Williams said.

“In the first semester of implementation, the students improved, and by the spring semester, the English 111A course held a 100% course success rate,” the president noted. “This means that students are better prepared for their fields and for university transfer. The faculty in the English department are to be commended for their innovative efforts to help VGCC students.”

David Wyche, chair of the VGCC English department, added, “I’m grateful for this recognition of the creativity and hard work that these English instructors contribute in countless ways every day.”

He said that two former colleagues also deserved credit. “The English 111A lab is the legacy of Biology instructor Button Brady’s vision. She saw a need and worked tirelessly to meet it before she retired,” Wyche said. “Former instructor Bridget Bell created English 111A and taught it until the birth of her second child, when she decided to devote more of her time to being a mom. I am indebted to both of them.”

The English department is a unit of the VGCC division of Arts and Sciences, which offers courses that transfer to four-year colleges and universities as well as general education for students in all of the college’s curriculum programs.

–VGCC–

Vance County 4-H To Offer Poultry Show Interest Meeting

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You’re Invited To The 2017 Poultry Show and Sale Interest Meeting.

4 County 4-H Poultry Show & Sale

If you ever wanted to learn how to raise your own chickens, now is your chance!

All children ages 5-18 are invited to join us at 6:30 PM at the Vance County Regional Farmer’s Market (210 Southpark Dr, Henderson, NC 27536) to discuss plans for the 2017 Four County 4-H Poultry Show and Sale.  A free dinner will be served, so RSVP with your county Extension Office!

Interested?

Please Contact Turner Pride with any questions and concerns.

Available via phone (252) 438-8188 and email at tapride@ncsu.edu.

Join Vance County 4-H Today!

Vance County Cooperative Extension Center, 305 Young St, Henderson, NC 27536

Henderson Residents Asked to Conserve Water Starting Wednesday

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PRESS RELEASE: 13 February 2017

The City of Henderson/ Kerr Lake Regional Water System will begin repair on a 36” water main just outside the water plant beginning at 12:00 a.m. on the morning of February 15, 2017.

Due to the repair procedure it will be necessary to shut the main off to replace the pipe.

The plant will continue to produce and distribute the water through the existing 24” main parallel water main.  While there should be no disruption of service during this time, we do ask customers to practice conservation of water during this time and not to use fire hydrants except for emergency purposes.

It is anticipated that the 36” main will be back in service later in the day on the 16th.

Should you have any questions concerning this repair please contact Christy Lipscomb, KLRWP Director at 252-438-2142.

 

Esther J. McCrackin

City Clerk – City of Henderson, NC

134 Rose Avenue

P.O. Box 1434

Henderson, NC 27536

H-V Recreation and Parks Department to hold Coaches Meetings

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February 6, 2017

To youth league baseball/softball coaches,

This is to inform you about the youth baseball/softball coaches meetings.  These meetings will take place at the Aycock Recreation Complex in the meeting room which is located on the second floor of the Baseball/Softball Concession Building.  These meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times:

  1. All Softball Leagues (8U/10U/12/U/16/U/18U) Monday, February 13 at 6:30pm
  2. Minor/Major/Junior/Senior Baseball Leagues Thursday, February 16 at 6:30pm
  3. Rookie Baseball League/T-Ball Co-Rec. League Monday, February 20 at 6:30pm

At these meetings we will distribute last year’s rosters so that you can call all of your players to remind them about registration.  Rules will be discussed, skill evaluation times, start of practice dates, and the start of the regular season dates.  At this meeting we will get you to fill out information that will be used to perform a background check.

You must be present at this meeting in order to reserve your team.  If for some reason you are not there, you must let us know by the day of your scheduled meeting.  If we do not hear from you and you are not at the meeting, someone else may be assigned your coaching spot.

If you are planning to coach please call me at 438-2670 or email: sosborne@ci.henderson.nc.us to let me know which league and team you are interested in coaching.  Please remember that a coach who coached last year has first priority for his/her team again this year.  Second priority goes to any assistant coaches of that team, third priority goes to coaches who are moving up or down, and last priority goes to newcomers.  You must also fill out a coach’s application and coach’s code of conduct even though you coached last year.  These are included with this letter.  If you have any questions please call me.

Thank you for your time.

 

Steven W. Osborne

HVRPD Program Superintendent 

Butterfield Re-Introduces Childhood Cancer STAR Act

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), along with Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), re-introduced the Childhood Cancer STAR (Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research) Act, HR 820, in the 115th Congress.

The STAR Act would improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences, improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors, and identify opportunities to expand the research of therapeutics necessary to treat the approx. 15,700 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. every year.

Congressman Butterfield: “Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death in American children and we need to take action. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act aims to give young cancer patients and their families better access to life-saving treatments and the support they need even after beating cancer.  I thank my colleagues for their continued partnership on this measure.  No parent should have to lose a child to cancer.  This Act moves us one step closer to seeing that it does not happen.”

Congressman McCaul: “I co-founded the Childhood Cancer Caucus because we need to do more in the fight against the number one killer of our children.  When I was in elementary school, my friend lost his battle to this illness, and this tragedy continues to be a far too frequent occurrence for children across the nation.  That is why we need to move legislation like the STAR Act through Congress this year, and prevent the worst outcomes from becoming a reality.”

Senator Reed: “With far too many children’s lives tragically cut short by cancer, it’s critical that we do all we can to help the brave young people who are fighting these battles.  The Childhood Cancer STAR Act will bring needed assistance to children with cancer and their families by expanding opportunities for research on childhood cancer and providing new strategies to help survivors overcome late health effects, such as secondary cancers.  It is my hope that these efforts will lead to life-saving treatments for children and bring us closer to our ultimate goal of ending pediatric cancer once and for all.”

Congresswoman Speier: “Childhood cancer is a nightmare for children and their families. And for many of these children, the fight does not end with remission,” Rep. Speier said. “That is why I’m proud to reintroduce the STAR Act and fight for its immediate passage in order to address the care and quality of life of the population of childhood cancer survivors, which is expected to reach 500,000 by the year 2020. The joyful news of remission should never be ruined by the serious threat of financial and emotional turmoil due to the on-going medical needs of these incredibly brave survivors.”

Senator Capito: “We must continue making advancements that can help save the lives of those battling childhood cancers. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act will contribute to new developments in research and treatment, and has the potential to positively impact tens of thousands of lives. I’m proud to reintroduce this very important legislation for patients and families in West Virginia and across the country.”

Senator Van Hollen: “There are unique barriers to studying childhood cancer that are slowing and preventing the next big breakthrough in treatment.  We need a strategy to give every child with cancer the hope of a long and healthy life, and the STAR Act is a bipartisan approach to delivering that hope. By taking action to better study this disease and improve the quality of life for survivors, this bill will ultimately save lives and get us closer to the day that no child has to face the diagnosis of cancer.”

Congressman Kelly: “No parent should ever have to hear the words, ‘Your child has cancer.’ I am so grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to introduce this crucial legislation to help make that dream a reality. The STAR Act will be a powerful tool in the fight to eradicate childhood cancer forever, and an ally to the survivors who have bravely fought and beat this disease.”

Senator Isakson: “It is extremely important that we increase research and treatment of the devastating effects of childhood cancer.  This critical legislation is a positive step forward to help find the right cures for our youngest patients.”

Background:

The STAR Act passed the U.S. House in the 114th Congress.

https://butterfield.house.gov

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Luncheon to raise funds to support VGCC Culinary Arts students

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The Culinary Arts program at Vance-Granville Community College is holding a luncheon to raise funds to help send students to competitions through the SkillsUSA organization. The Valentine’s-themed luncheon will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Masonic Home for Children on College Street in Oxford, where the Culinary program is based.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/VGCCvalentine.

“Our Valentine’s SkillsUSA Fundraising Luncheon will give students the opportunity to demonstrate both front and back of the house skills, while operating a refined, up-scale event that showcases their work, not only in the classroom, but the kitchen as well,” said Chef Teresa Davis, the VGCC Culinary Arts program head.

She said the menu is set to include, for starters, a choice of poached shrimp cocktail with lemon horseradish cocktail sauce, beef tartare on potato chips with a whole grain aioli, crab cakes, mini chicken and biscuits with Dijon maple glaze, or romaine salad with a creamy Parmesan dressing; for the main course, a choice of butter poached salmon with lemon and dill, Au Poivre steak, or brown butter gnocchi with spinach and parmesan; for sides, a choice of roasted asparagus bacon bundles, roasted Brussels sprouts with candied pecans and cranberries, cheesy scalloped potatoes, or creamy grits with roasted corn; and for dessert, a choice of assorted cupcakes, assorted chocolates or chocolate-dipped strawberries.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of secondary and post-secondary students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. Among the benefits to VGCC students are opportunities to participate in competitions, which are designed by industry experts and showcase the nation’s top career and technical education students.

In 2016, Culinary Arts student Dustin Gregory of Oxford won a statewide competition and became the first student from VGCC to take part in a national SkillsUSA contest. Several local donors and the US Foods company made donations to help sponsor his trip to the national conference.

For more information about the Culinary Arts program, contact Chef Teresa Davis at davist@vgcc.edu or (919) 690-0312.

–VGCC–

Three Graduate Mid-Year from AdVance Academy

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Vance County Schools: For Immediate Release

Congratulations to the mid-year graduates from the AdVance Academy at Western Vance High School.

Chris Alston, Krystyna Stallings and Jose Hernandez, shown from left in the accompanying photo, have successfully completed their high school education.

They were honored at the academy’s mid-year commencement ceremony on January 26.

Alston and Hernandez are going into the local workforce. Stallings will continue her education at Vance-Granville Community College.