— 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.
Cooperative Extension with Jean Bell 10/19/17
/by CharleneNews 10/19/17
/by LarryShow Shine Shag & Dine 2017
/by John C. RoseShow Shine Shag & Dine 2017 — click for more
East Coast Drag Time Hall of Fame and Reunion — click for more
It’s a world-class car show, Drag Times Hall of Fame reunion and weekend full of fun, and it’s all happening right here in downtown Henderson with an anticipated economic impact in Vance County of about $2 million.
Nancy Wilson, director of Vance County Tourism, appeared on WIZS’s TownTalk this week, and you can hear the audio here.
This week and weekend roughly 35,000 people will come from all over the United States and parts of Canada to participate in and see the 16th annual Show Shine Shag and Dine in downtown Henderson.
Wilson said, “They love our little town. They never have negative things to say about our area, and they come back year after year, so they must like it. They enjoy coming here, and they have great things to say about the restaurants and the staff that waits on them, and we do not get any negative feedback. It’s amazing.”
These types of events can also become the face of a town like Henderson. During the TownTalk episode today, Wilson said she had and demonstrated an effort to work with our new Vance County Economic Development director and the new director of the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission.
As a part of the Saturday morning and afternoon event downtown, the Corbitt Preservation Association will have its annual display of Corbitt Trucks at the corner of Montgomery and Williams Streets.
There are also other events during the weekend on Friday and Sunday. Be sure to check out www.kerrlake-nc.com for a full list.
For the weekend’s event schedule, click here for a downloadable, printable PDF.
Two New Restaurants Open Downtown Saturday
/by John C. Rose— 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.
Alliance Against Crime 10/18/17
/by CharleneTown Talk 10/18/17
/by CharleneGeorge Rush and John Charles Rose interviewed Nancy Wilson, director of Vance County Tourism, from 11:03 a.m. until 11:25 a.m. about the economic impact of tourism in Vance County and particularly about the upcoming Show Shine Shag and Dine event this weekend. People from all over the country will file into Henderson this week with nostalgic, vintage cars and drag cars with an overall anticipated economic impact of about $2 million. From 11:25 a.m. until 11:55 a.m., discussed was the opioid overdose and addiction issue in Vance County and the surrounding area. Trey Snide of the WIZS staff reported some bullet points from the Granville Vance Public Health meeting held Oct 17, 2017 about the subject.
Cooperative Extension with Paul McKenzie 10/18/17
/by CharleneNews 10/18/17
/by LarryWarrenton Festivals Oct 21 + Oct 28
/by WIZS StaffA pair of Warreton Festivals will round out the planned special events for October.
Town of Warrenton Commissioner Mike Coffman told WIZS that on October 21st “Family Movie Night” will feature Rango and then October 28th is “Fright Night.”
Johnny Depp is “Rango.” The movie takes place on the Warrenton Courthouse Square. Admission is free. It starts at 7 p.m., Oct 21.
“Fright Night” is also on the Courthouse Square at 109 S. Main Street. There will be a live DJ, prizes, drawings, face painting and refreshments. The event is 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Oct 28. Local Spirit will lead a Ghost Walk at 8 p.m.
For more information contact: 252-257-1122; www.warrenton.nc.gov; or email townadministrator@warrenton.nc.gov. You can also like Warrenton Festivals on Facebook.
Carver Elementary Yard Sale & Silent Auction
/by WIZS Staff— courtesy Vance County Schools
Plan to attend the Carver Elementary School “Make a Difference Day” yard sale and silent auction at the school on Saturday, October 28, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
The event is sponsored by the school’s PTO and Partnering, Educating, Empowering, Role modeling and Service (PEERS) student organization.
School staff, parents, students, business leaders and local citizens will be participating in the event. Everyone in our community is urged to volunteer at the event, donate items for the yard sale and silent auction and attend the event to purchase items for the fundraiser.
The goal of the day’s event is to fill Peer Cheer Pouches, involving one-gallon-size storage bags packed with new items such as toiletries, hand sanitizer, washcloths, non-perishable foods or snack items, school supplies, games, toys, stuffed animals, clothing and more. The Peer Cheer Pouches will be given to needy families in the Carver school area, a local shelter, orphanages, hospital and other charitable organizations. Carver’s goal is to fill 600 Peer Cheer Pouches.
Please get involved in this very worthy “Make a Difference Day” event!
For more information you may contact Teresa Hicks, counselor and PEERS adviser, and Henri Parham of the Carver PTO, at the school at 252-438-6955.