Two New Restaurants Open Downtown Saturday

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— courtesy Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission

Downtown Carves Path As A Culinary Destination

Two new local eateries will open in downtown Henderson Saturday, bolstered by fascade and start-up incentives from the Downtown Development Commission. Factoring in long-time landmark George’s, the three downtown restaurants will boast an impressive resume chocked with big-name culinary influence.

Cherie Pittman, owner and Executive Chef at Next Door Bistro, has spent the last decade with Greensboro cafeteria chain Food Express. She joined them right out of culinary school as a manager and worked her way through the corporate ranks to become district manager, then head corporate chef – opening new locations and developing menus.

“I’ll incorporate the lessons I learned in those ten years with my passion for healthier comfort foods,” shared Chef Pittman. She and her husband Daniel have recently lost a collective 100 pounds on the Keto diet, a low-carb health regimen using the method of Ketosis.

Photo by Kaine Riggan, pictured (l to r) are Chef Ali Onsoy of George’s, Chef Llew Sutton of Uncle Llew’s and Chef Cherie Pittman of Next Door Bistro.

Just around the corner on Montgomery Street, Llew Sutton brings expertise from several of the Triangle’s top franchises to his Italian eatery called Uncle Llew’s Restaurant. In addition to Mellow Mushroom and Raleigh Beer Garden, Llew spent six years opening new locations for Ruckus in Cary, Apex and Morrisville. He also worked with renowned regional entrepreneur Bobby Goodnight as Executive Chef for Sass.

“We will offer flatbread pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches, in the beginning, but hope to extend our pizza offerings with the addition of a wood-fired pizza oven,” admits Sutton, whose wife Nikki will manage the front of house operations.

“The DDC uses USDA funds to extend very low-interest loans to promising entrepreneurs investing in the downtown business district,” shares Kaine Riggan, downtown’s Development Director. “We believe our community will support the strong insurgence of culinary talent we’re seeing and the DDC is committed to nurturing that growth.”

Riggan plans to help Sutton with the purchase of the pizza oven and is leading a collaborative marketing effort for the three restaurants as well, starting with a photo shoot for the three chefs at downtown’s Daniel Hendley Studios in early November.

The third Chef became Executive Chef and partner at George’s of Henderson last Fall. Ali Onsoy worked as a chef at George’s Oxford location since 2007 prior to the Henderson move. Interestingly, he also served as a chef in the Turkish military before coming to the United States. Onsoy’s Turkish influences can be spotted in George’s menu specials and in the restaurant’s décor.

The three restaurants will be open Saturday in conjunction with the 16th Annual Show, Shine, Shag & Dine, downtown’s largest event, hosted by Nancy Wilson and Vance County’s Tourism and Development Authority.

Getting There:
Uncle Llew’s Restaurant – 130 W. Montgomery Street
Next Door Bistro – 219 S. Garnett Street
George’s Restaurant – 210 N. Garnett St.

News 10/18/17

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World War II Aircraft at RDU Airport

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— courtesy NCDOT

(https://www.ncdot.gov/aviation/ and https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14365)

RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation and the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority are proud to host the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour, giving people in the Triangle a one-of-a-kind chance to see living aviation history.

The tour features four living WWII aircraft – a B-17 Flying Fortress, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell bomber and a P-51 Mustang – as well as educational displays and activities from NCDOT, RDU International Airport, the USO, the N.C. Museum of History, the National D-Day Memorial, Civil Air Patrol, SAS’ Data On The Fly STEM project, Wings of Carolina, and more.

This is a rare opportunity to visit, explore and learn more about these unique pieces of aviation history. Visitors are invited to explore the aircraft inside and out, with tickets costing $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Veterans of the Second World War will be admitted for free. General admission tickets are available only at the event, not online or by phone. Visitors may also experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft.

The aircraft will be open to the public at the following times, with the reserved flights taking place before and after the public openings:

Thursday, Oct. 19: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors should arrive at the airport via the Lumley Road entrance, to avoid creating traffic back-ups in the arrival and departure areas of RDU. Signage will be in place to guide motorists to Lumley Road via I-540. Parking for attendees is at RDU Park & Ride Lot 2 (near the observation deck), with handicap parking next to the event entrance. A shuttle bus will take attendees from the parking lot to the entrance.

For more information, or to reserve a flight in one of the aircraft, please call the Collings Foundation at 800-568-8924 or visit collingsfoundation.org.

***NCDOT***

Click Here For Parking Map

News 10/17/17

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News 10/16/17

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Trick or Treat Downtown

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— courtesy of the Henderson Vance Downtown Development Commission

Downtown businesses are encouraged to participate in our annual Trick or Treat this October 31st, 2017 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

In this event, local children come visit our downtown area and go to the businesses for trick or treat. This event is advertised in local media and through the school system.

Businesses are responsible for purchasing their own candy and handing out the candy. The Henderson Vance Downtown Development Commission does have a group buy program where you may order candy through the HVDDC, or you may purchase candy from any source you wish.

This event draws a huge amount of people to downtown! If your business has never participated in this event before, please be aware there are likely 1,000 or more kids coming for trick or treat.

Orders need to be placed by October 20th, and can be picked up from Dataforge at 217 South Garnett Street on October 27, 30, and 31st.

www.hendersonncdowntown.com/shop

U.S. Department of Justice

Henderson Man Sentenced for Possession of Ammunition by a Felon

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— courtesy U.S. Department of Justice

GREENVILLE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court on October 10, 2017, Senior United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard, sentenced QUINCEY TYRONE CHAMPION, 38, of Henderson, NC to 85 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

CHAMPION was named in an Indictment filed on April 24, 2017. On July 14, 2017, CHAMPION pled guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Felon.

On December 17, 2016, officers with the Henderson Police Department responded to the Auto Brite Car Wash in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival and while securing the crime scene, officers were approached by the victim’s cousin, who advised that he had taken the victim to the hospital. The men were washing their vehicles when he heard three shots. The victim ran toward another vehicle and then reported that he needed to go to the hospital. They saw a tall male wearing a hoodie running towards the back of the car wash and jumping the fence. One of the officers found two shell casings and one live bullet in the parking lot near the crime scene. Meanwhile, another officer responded to Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson to interview the victim, who had been admitted to the emergency room. The victim stated that he was washing his vehicle at the car wash when he heard a gunshot and then felt a sharp pain in his left ankle. The victim identified CHAMPION as the shooter.

CHAMPION, a convicted felon, was in possession of ammunition on December 17, 2016. Additionally, the defendant used or possessed a firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense, Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury.

This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative which encourages federal, state, and local agencies to cooperate in a unified “team effort” against gun crime, targeting repeat offenders who continually plague their communities.

The Henderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney S. Katherine Burnette handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

News 10/13/17

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Voluntary Dismissal With Leave in Franklin Co. Murder Case

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— courtesy of The Office of DA Mike Waters

Louisburg, NC – On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Robert H. Hobgood presided over an administrative session of Franklin County Criminal Superior Court which was set by the District Attorney’s Office specifically to address the pending murder cases in Franklin County. The State of North Carolina vs. Oliver M. Funes Machada was among the cases heard before the Court. Prior to today, the Defendant was committed to Central Regional Hospital to evaluate his capacity to proceed in the criminal case against him. The Court sought guidance regarding his ability to understand the nature of the proceedings against him, and his ability to assist in his defense. The Court, after reviewing the report prepared by mental health professionals at Central Regional Hospital, determined that the Defendant did not have the capacity to proceed. Therefore, the State of North Carolina will take a voluntary dismissal with leave in this case. Oliver M. Funes Machada will be committed to Central Regional Hospital for mental health treatment and further evaluation. Should the Defendant’s capacity
to proceed be restored, he would be returned to the custody of Franklin County Sheriff Kent Winstead, and the District Attorney’s Office will reinstate the charges against the Mr. Machada.

News 10/12/17

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