Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews

VGCC Announces Four New Classes for Food Truck Entrepreneurs

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College’s Mobile Food Truck Entrepreneurship classes return to the college’s Main Campus in Vance County starting in January with four new seminars on food service.

Sponsored by VGCC’s Small Business Center, students can take all or as many of the classes they choose. Each of the free classes is scheduled in Building 7 on Main Campus on a Monday evening in the months of January through April.

Above: Ray Chow is the founder of Hibachi Xpress and Catering by Ray.

Ray Chow, founder of Hibachi Xpress and Catering by Ray, will again serve as the instructor for the series. A graduate of N.C. State University, Chow started Hibachi Xpress restaurant in Cary and expanded to three locations, as well as managing some of his family’s other restaurants in the Raleigh and Wilmington areas. He has worked in restaurants since he was seven years old.

Seven years ago, Chow expanded his restaurant and catering business with the addition of a food truck to participate in different festivals and large gatherings. The popularity of food trucks has grown, and, in 2014, Hibachi Xpress shifted focus towards catering and the food truck business, moving away from the brick and mortar stores.

Chow is also a co-founder of “foosye,” a startup tech company building innovative technology applications tailored to the food truck industry.

The first in the series — “Let’s Get Cooking:  Food Truck or Restaurant?” — will explore the differences in what it takes to start a food truck or a restaurant and continue operating one successfully. The Jan. 14 seminar is designed for those who want to realize their passion to be a small business owner in the food service industry.

The second seminar — “The 10 Hats of a Food Service Entrepreneur” — is being held on Feb. 11. Just because a person has a passion for cooking doesn’t mean he or she will be successful at owning a food truck or restaurant business, Chow said. This seminar will detail the many roles or “hats” entrepreneurs have to be able to juggle to succeed in business.

Above, the Hibachi Xpress food truck is owned by Ray Chow, who will be the instructor for the four VGCC Mobile Food Truck Entrepreneurship classes in January through April.

The March 11 workshop will be devoted to “Food Service Marketing: Your Customers Can’t Buy From You If They Can’t Find You.” Those exploring the food service industry will have an opportunity to learn various ways to market their food business to improve their chances of success.

On April 8, the topic of “Keeping Your Food Truck Business Running” will take a closer look at the need for flexibility and proper planning. “Imagine putting wheels on a restaurant you built,” said Chow. “There are things that will fall, slip, break down, move or not work when you add in the mobility of a food truck operation. Learn how things will end up on the floor when you arrive at your destination when not properly secured or planned.”

Participants in the program will also be required to sign up as clients of the VGCC Small Business Center, which is free of charge.

The deadline to register for each class is one week prior to the date of the class. For more information and to register, contact the VGCC Small Business Center at (252) 738-3240 or smallbusiness@vgcc.edu.

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. Properties Committee to Discuss REO Properties at Jan. 2 Meeting

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-Information courtesy Kelly H. Grissom, Executive Assistant/Clerk to Board, Vance County Board of Commissioners

Vance County’s Properties Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at 4 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room of the Vance County Administration Building located at 122 Young Street in Henderson.

The committee will discuss REO properties and possible minimum bid amounts.

News 12/19/18

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Habanero Grill Arsonist Caught on Camera; Reward Offered for Info. Leading to Arrest

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-Information courtesy Marcus Barrow, Chief of Police, Henderson Police Department

In conjunction with the Henderson Fire Department and with assistance from the SBI, the Henderson Police Department is seeking the assistance of the public in the investigation of a Breaking and Entering, Larceny, and Arson case.

In the early morning hours of Monday, December 17, an individual broke the window out of Habanero Grill, located at 116 Parham Road, and entered the business. Once inside, the suspect broke into a small safe and took the contents. Prior to exiting the business, a fire was started that caused tremendous damage to the local business.

A similar fire destroyed Mazatlán Mexican Restaurant on November 27, but cause and origin are still under investigation by the previously mentioned agencies.

Below is a snapshot of the suspect inside the business of Habanero Grill. If anyone has information or an anonymous tip, they are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at (252) 438-4141 or Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925. A cash reward of up to $2,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest of this individual.

Businesses are strongly encouraged to set their alarms and or install alarms to assist in notifying authorities of crimes in progress. Vigilance is essential to these cases.

In the early morning hours of Monday, December 17, an individual (pictured here) broke the window out of Habanero Grill, located at 116 Parham Road, and entered the business.  If anyone has information or an anonymous tip, they are encouraged to contact the Henderson Police Department at (252) 438-4141 or Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925.

Vance County Logo

Vance Co. DSS Selects 44 Children for This Year’s ‘Shop With A Cop’ Event

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-Information courtesy Sheri Moss, Vance County Dept. of Social Services

WIZS News is pleased to provide additional details regarding the annual Shop With A Cop event. In addition to the $6,000 raised in a fundraiser sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce and Maria Parham Health, the Vance County Department of Social Services plays a large role in making the annual event a success.

Vance Co. DSS partners with local law enforcement, donates money towards Shop With A Cop and selects the children who participate in the experience through a referral process.

Once the referral process is complete, the committee, comprised of law enforcement and DSS staff, reviews the applications and selects the families/children for Shop With A Cop. This year there are 44 children that will be shopping on Thursday, December 20.

Children that are not selected for Shop With A Cop are matched up with sponsors who contact the agency. This year, over 100 children will be serviced through sponsorships.

Without the sponsorships, as well as donations, Christmas Cheer and Shop With a Cop would not be a success!

Re-Elected Board of Education Members Sworn In to New Terms

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At the meeting of the Vance County Board of Education Monday night, Board of Education members who were re-elected in November were sworn in to serve new four-year terms.

Those receiving the oath were Gloria J. White, Ruth Hartness, Margaret Ellis and Darlynn Oxendine. The Honorable Henry Hight, Jr. administered the oath of office.

Each of the incumbent Democrats was unopposed in the general election.

In the May primary, Margaret Ellis defeated challenger Omega Perry with 75.92 percent of the votes. Ruth Hartness defeated Marcia Allen in the primary by earning 68.85 percent of the votes.

Waste Industries Christmas & New Year’s Pick Up Schedule

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-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson

Waste Industries will be closed Tuesday, December 25, 2018, in observance of Christmas and Tuesday, January 1, 2019, in observance of New Year’s Day. For the time period of December 25-28, 2018, and January 1-4, 2019, regularly-scheduled pick up will be delayed by one day.

For additional information on the holiday schedule for the Vance Granville branch,  please visit the Waste Industries website by clicking here.

Henderson Vance Recreation & Parks

Upcoming Events for Toddlers Through Seniors at Aycock Rec. Center

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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor, Aycock Recreation Center

Hip Hop Water Aerobics: is a fast-paced cardio workout in the water with low impact on your joints. The classes will be held on Mondays beginning February 4, 2019. The only requirement is that you must be able to touch the bottom of the 4 ft end of the pool. For more information, please contact Lauren Newlin at lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us  or (252) 438-3160.

Wahoo Swim Club: Attention Youth ages 5-17 years old! Do you love to swim? Well, Aycock Recreation Center has a new program that is perfect for you – Wahoo Swim Club. The goal of the Swim Club is to build good swimming foundations through good sportsmanship, and most importantly, teamwork. Please contact Lauren Newlin at 252.438.3160 or lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us  for more information.

Tot Time: Tot Time is for toddlers ages 1-5 to enjoy equipment and toys that are age appropriate and designed to let them explore and learn new skills. This is unstructured open gym time and children must be supervised at all times. For more information, please contact Lauren Newlin at lnewlin@ci.henderson.nc.us or 252.438.3160

Senior Prep Games: Senior Prep Games is designed for participants ages 50 or better who are planning to participate in the 2019 Senior Games. Participants will have the opportunity to practice or learn about the sports that are offered during Senior Games.  Please contact Crystal Allen at callen@ci.henderson.nc.us or 252.431.6091 for more information.

News 12/18/18

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Another Mexican Restaurant Burns! Habanero Grill Catches Fire in Early Morning Hours

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For the second time in less than three weeks, a local Mexican restaurant has caught on fire. Habanero Grill Mexican Restaurant, located on Parham Road in Henderson, caught on fire about 2:49 a.m., according to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell. According to Cordell, the fire is under investigation and there are no reported injuries.

Visible at the scene was a smashed window and extensive damage. The roofline appears intact but proper damage assessment won’t happen until later today.

Habanero Grill owner, Blanca Yuri and her family, told WIZS News the restaurant will reopen, and hopefully soon. Yuri said the restaurant’s Facebook page would be kept up-to-date.

Yuri told WIZS News that someone broke into the restaurant and stole money from the safe. She said she suspects the thieves also set the business on fire. They are looking for answers and they are looking for who did it.

A video that was taken at the scene was placed on WIZS’ Facebook page earlier today.

Yuri told WIZS News that this fire appears to be very similar to what happened at Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant on Ruin Creek Rd. on November 27. That fire is still under investigation, and no official cause has been released by the Henderson Fire Department or the State Bureau of Investigation.

A sad morning for the restaurant and its family, as well as Mexican food lovers in the area, as Habanero Grill is presently surrounded by police tape. It is located within the city limits.

Habanero Grill Mexican Restaurant, located on Parham Road in Henderson, caught on fire about 2:49 a.m. on December 17, 2018, according to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell. According to Cordell, the fire is under investigation and there are no reported injuries. (Photo: WIZS News)