1. family and parenting
2. children
3. daycare and preschool

Volume 15 Issue 4
July/August
Greene Lamp Newsletter
Community Action...Celebrating 50 years
Administrative News
July
Board of Directors Meeting - The Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for
Monday, July 20, 2015 at 12 noon. The meeting will be held at the Greene County
Health Care facility in Snow Hill.
Head Start Policy Council - The Head Start Policy Council is scheduled for
Wednesday, July 27, 2015.
Directors/Management Team - The Directors and Management Team meetings will
be held on July 27, 2015.
Independence Day - Independence Day will be observed on Friday, July 3, 2015.
Greene Lamp offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.
August
Head Start Policy Council - The Head Start Policy Council is scheduled for August
19, 2015.
Special points of interest:
 Administrative News
 From Crayons to Careers
 July is National Hot Dog Month
 August is National Eye Exam Month
 Health Corner
Directors/Management Team - The Directors and Management Team meetings will
be held on August 25, 2015.
Teachers Return - Teachers return on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 (tentatively).
Agency Orientation - The Agency Orientation is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday,
August 25, 2015 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Grainger-Hill Administrative Office.
 Expansion Opportunity
 Welcome Wagon
 July Birthdays
 August Birthdays
 Donations
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the
Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second
Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had
been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United
States independent from Great Britain. After voting for independence, Congress
turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining
this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the
Declaration, finally approving it on July 4.
Greene Lamp Expansion Opportunity
Pa
From Crayons to Careers
Devonte Maurice Hooker
A Product of Head Start
Head Start - Greene Lamp
Devonte Hooker attended Campus Head Start at Lenoir Community College in the 2001 - 2002
program year. He was under the supervision of Mrs. Carolyn Raspberry and Mrs. Nell Mewborn.
These ladies quickly noticed that Devonte was intelligent, well spoken, and artistic. These are
qualities that contributed to his academic success.
Elementary School - Moss Hill
Devonte attended Moss Hill Elementary School where he was placed in Mrs. Steven’s third grade
academically-gifted class.
Middle School - Woodington Middle School
He attended Woodington Middle School where he scored 95 on the end-of-grade math examination and was inducted into the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for students who show exemplary talent in academics.
High School - South Lenoir High School
He graduated from High School on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
Career Path
His goals are to become a pilot and a gaming design artist. He plans to attend Lenoir Community
College to study Aviation. He also plans to attend the Arts Institute to develop his artistic gift of
drawing and gaming.
He is the son of Dona Thompson, Administrative Assistant
JULY IS NATIONAL HOT DOG MONTH
Did you know that hot dogs and mustard were both introduced in 1904 at the St.
Louis Worlds Fair? Ever since that time, hot dogs along with Mustard have been an
integral part of America’s family summer celebrations – from ballgames and backyard barbeques to picnics and state fairs. In 1915, French’s® Mustard made baseball
a permanent part of its heritage by incorporating its name into the iconic red pennant we know today.
So as you gather family and friends to mark America’s birthday, remember that July is National Hot
Dog Month and celebrate with hot dogs and French’s, America’s #1 selling mustard.
AUGUST IS NATIONAL EYE EXAM MONTH
August is National Eye Exam Month. Many who don’t have 20/20 vision already have regular appointments with eye doctors, but even if you aren’t having any trouble with your vision, there are
plenty of reasons to get a regular eye exam. Here are a few of the most important reasons for you to
regularly schedule an eye exam, regardless of your vision. High Blood Pressure: Hypertension can affect retina even when there are no symptoms and can be detected during an eye exam. So your eye
doctor could actually be the first one to catch your high blood pressure. Diabetes is another illness that
can be caught by an eye exam, even when there are no visible symptoms. It is estimated that one-third
of Americans with diabetes don’t know they have it, and diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of
blindness in adults in the United States. Diabetic retinopathy refers to changes in the blood vessels of
the retina and usually affects both eyes. It may not be noticeable at first, over time it can cause vision
loss and blindness. Anyone with diabetes should get a comprehensive dilated exam once a year. Glaucoma: Even if your regular physician looks into your eyes with an ophthalmoscope, they won’t be
able to detect glaucoma unless it is already quite advanced. Glaucoma is a condition in which increased pressure on the optic nerve causes damage leading to vision loss. The biggest risk factor for
glaucoma is age, as it usually develops in people over 40. Glaucoma develops slowly over time, and
usually without any symptoms. The only way to diagnosis it is with a comprehensive eye exam. Getting a regular exam is important, because you are still at risk for glaucoma even if you have 20/20 vision. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored, so make sure you are getting your eyes checked regularly as you age. Macular Degeneration is another condition that can be diagnosed through regular eye
exams is macular degeneration. This is the deterioration of the central part of the retina, the macula,
and it can cause blurred vision and blind spots. Macular degeneration does not cause blindness, but it
can affect quality of life because of all the daily activities that require clear vision. This generally affects those 50 and older, and is more common in smokers, women, Caucasians, and the
severely overweight.
This August, make it a point to schedule an eye exam for yourself or your loved ones.
Even if you aren’t having trouble with your vision, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t at
risk.
Seven Tips to Keep Kids Safe From Summer Heat
Summer holidays may be fun for kids but the risk posed by hot and humid weather can keep their parents up at night. During summer time, kids involve themselves in activities like swimming, boating, biking, camping, etc. Unfortunately, all such outdoor activities in the scorching heat and on hot and humid
days leave the kids exhausted and often dehydrated. It is known that kids care the least about their
health when they are outdoors playing and therefore, it is up to the parents to take adequate care when
their kids play out on especially hot days.
Water bottle
When the temperature rises, you need to make sure your kid is drinking enough water. It is crucial for
them to keep drinking water throughout the day especially when they are playing in the heat. Water also
helps in flushing out toxins from the body and providing fluidity for blood flow.
Fresh Juices and Lemon water
Parents should provide their kids with fresh juices, coconut water, buttermilk or lemon juice as these
provide refreshment by replenishing fluids lost in the form of sweat.
Light-colored Clothing
Light-colored clothes are considered good in regulating body temperature during summer. Dark clothes
tend to absorb heat from the sun, whereas light-colored clothes reflect heat away from the body, thus
keeping the body cool. Choose light-colored clothes for kids during summer.
Sunscreen cover
Always apply a good sunscreen with a high SPF factor before letting your child go out in the sun to play.
The sunscreen will protect your kid from harmful sun rays and all the damage it causes. In addition, you
may also make them wear hats and shades to protect them from direct sunlight.
No junk food!
Make sure your child does not eat a lot of spicy junk foods like pizza, pasta and burgers. Spicy foods
heat up the body. Instead, you should make them eat fresh fruits like watermelons, muskmelons and
kiwi. All these fresh fruits contain antioxidative properties and a high water content which prevents dehydration.
Insect repellents
It's true that most kids don’t like getting insect repellents applied, but doing so is a must before they go
out to play as it protects them from insect bites and bugs that can cause infections. You may also protect them from insect bites and heat by making them wear full sleeved cotton clothes.
Keep kids out of mid-day sun
The best way to keep kids safe during summer is by keeping them home during the peak hours i.e. from
12- 4. Instead of letting them go out in direct sunlight during afternoon, engage them in indoor activities. Evenings are best for playing outdoor games.
Greene Lamp Expansion Opportunity
Health Corner
Easy Recipe to Keep You Cool
It’s Summer and already we have temperatures pushing 100! It's too hot to
cook and heat up the kitchen & house. It’s too hot to stand over a hot
stove! But when dinner time comes the family still has to be fed. There are
creative ways to have a balanced meal, without turning on the oven or stove.
Often that means we cook something on the grill. Here is a quick, easy, low
heat-generating meal.
Taco Salad
Serves 2
4 cups lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
1 medium tomato, chopped
½ cup chopped green onions
1 small cucumber, peeled & chopped
1 cup pinto beans drained of juice. Warmed if desired
2 ounces baked tortilla chips, broken into pieces
¼ cup salsa
½ cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
½ avocado, sliced
If you like, add a little diced chicken breast, ground white meat chicken, turkey or
venison to the warmed beans.
Instructions:
In a salad bowl, mix together the vegetables, pinto beans and tortilla chips. Add the
salsa and stir gently to blend. Sprinkle with the grated cheese. Top with sliced avocado...Enjoy!
Greene Lamp Expansion Opportunity
Greene Lamp Received a $2.2 million Federal Grant to Operate an Early Head Start Program
With a $2.2 million federal grant, Greene Lamp Community Action will be serving an additional 72 children in six facilities in Lenoir and Greene counties. The grant was administered from the state’s Department of Health and Human
Services Administration for Children and Families in March.
Through the Early Head Start/Child Care Partnership Program, four licensed child care centers and two family child
care homes will begin receiving eligible children from 1-3 years old in July. Three centers are in Kinston and one each
is in La Grange, Snow Hill and Walstonburg.
Angela Bates, executive director of Greene Lamp, said the organization is one of just nine agencies selected in the state
and of 230 throughout the country. “We were very excited because we’ve been operating a Head Start for 50 years,”
she said, “and we knew through our community needs assessment that there was a need for child care for children in
that age range — 12 months to three years — for low-income families.”
Bates said the money will pay for the early education for low-come families, as well as classroom supplies, staff training and equipment. The latter is providing for computers and scanners to perform the required documentations and new
playground equipment for the children, she said.
The six partnering facilities will receive on-going training, coaching and mentoring for their staff and interior and exterior upgrades.
 Yarrell’s Day Care
 Tender Love CC Center
 Kids Inc. Learning Center
 Kidz R US Child Care Center
 Country Kids, Inc
 New Beginnings Learning Center
In addition, there will be comprehensive health and early intervention services to more than 30,000 low-income infants,
toddlers and their families throughout the U.S. This will include developmental, vision, hearing and health screenings
for children in Early Head Start, which parallels the Head Start program. Families will have the opportunity to transition into the Head Start program so their early learning experience and school readiness skills will continue.
Bates said some of the facilities currently have some empty classrooms, but don’t have the money to update those
spaces. “Hopefully, by providing free high-quality child care,” she said, “that it will help reduce the barriers to selfsufficiency of the low-income population.”
For information about Early Head Start, Head Start or other programs offered by Greene Lamp,
call 252-523-7770 or email [email protected].
July
Vickie Martin
Brenda Hines
Timotea Trevino
Kendrick Harper
7/1
7/3
7/4
7/15
August
Kristey Coulter
Curtis Hall
Carmen Cherry
Antoinetta Fleming
Nathan Barnes
Virdy Bizzelle
Angela Bates
Shirley Hall
Stephanie Taylor-Daley
Toreika Boone
Donna Williams
Rosetta Howard
Ben Grady Jr.
Welcome Wagon
Greene Lamp would like to welcome our
new edition to the Greene Lamp family:
Lauriel Thorpe Case Manager
WIOA Out-of-School Youth
8/2
8/6
8/7
8/10
8/12
8/12
8/13
8/13
8/14
8/18
8/23
8/27
8/28
Administrative Office
309 Summit Avenue
Kinston, NC 28501
Tel (252)523-7770
Fax (252) 523-7733
Contentnea (252) 208-1651
Fax (252) 208-1650
LaGrange (252) 566-2382
Fax (252) 566-2382
Marvin B. Spence Head Start
Tel (252) 522-0322
Fax (252) 522- 0322
South Greene I (252) 747-3619
South Greene II & III (252) 747-2732
Giving Information
We appreciate the generosity of our community for its’ ongoing financial support
through contributions! Please consider making your tax deductible donation today.
——————————————————————————
Cut along the dotted lines
Donation Level
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Platinum ($5,000 & above)
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Gold ($2,000 - $4,999)
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Silver ($500 - $1,999)
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Bronze ($100 - $499)
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Friends ($1 - $99)
Thank You!
Thank you for mailing this form with your contribution made payable to:
Greene Lamp
309 Summit Avenue
Kinston, NC 28501