VGCC and Chambers promote local business and culture at event
Vance-Granville Community College, the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County and the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center offered unique cuisine and entertainment at the second annual “Business & Music After Hours” event, held at the Warren County Armory Civic Center in Warrenton on Feb. 16. Much like the first such event in 2011, organizers considered the gathering to be a great success, with a sizeable audience of local residents and business leaders in attendance.
The evening began as attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres prepared by VGCC’s Culinary Arts students. The menu included Shrimp-Vegetable Spring Rolls with Thai Chili Sauce, Smoked Salmon and Herb Spread on Puff Pastries, Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Hickory Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeños, Chicken Roulade with Focaccia Crisps, Prosciutto Crostini with Lemon Fennel Slaw and BLT Bites. While dining on the students’ creations, attendees were entertained by music from “The Vanguard Combo.” This group includes the recipients of VGCC Music Scholarships, students Joseph Hedgepeth (tenor saxophone) of Henderson; Chris Bost (guitar) and Norris Foster (drums), both of Oxford; and Sean Casady (bass) of Louisburg. The four were joined by student Eriekca Crosby (vocals) and by VGCC music instructor Michael Stephenson (saxophone). Also sitting in with the combo on some selections were VGCC facilities manager Tommy Nowell and Eaton-Johnson Middle School principal Dr. Larry Webb (a Community Band member), both on keyboards.
During the “business” portion of the program, Chamber of Commerce of Warren County president Bill Miller, Jana L. Miller, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County, and Almira Papierniak, Executive Director of the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce , made remarks and discussed their respective organizations. Jana Miller also welcomed the new president of VGCC, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, who applauded the collective efforts by students, faculty and staff, Community Band members, the Chambers, supportive businesses and Warren County commissioners that made the event possible. “This is what community colleges are all about: community engagement,” Williams said. Other sponsors of the event included ACE Hardware of Lake Gaston, the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer, The Warren Record, CCB (Citizens Community Bank), CenturyLink, Stallings Brothers Inc., South Shore Realty, Maria Parham Medical Center and Progress Energy.
President Williams turned the program over to the Vance-Granville Community Band, a combination of students and interested citizens under Michael Stephenson’s direction. Band members hail from all four counties of the college service area (Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin) and beyond, and include some high school students. The ensemble played several marches as well as music from the classic film, “Mary Poppins,” and from the television series, “Band of Brothers.” One piece, “Peg Leg Pete” by Luigi Zaninelli, featured a tuba solo by Doug Black. The highlight of the band concert may have been a rendition of the traditional band favorite, “Second Suite in F” by Gustav Holst, which garnered a standing ovation.
Above: The Vance-Granville Community Band, under the direction of Michael Stephenson, performs during the “Business & Music After Hours” event, held on Feb. 16 at the Warren County Armory Civic Center. (VGCC photo)
