Tag Archive for: #hendersonnews
Restricting Downtown Business Hours Topic of Today’s Public Hearing
The Henderson Planning Board held a public hearing at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss restricting hours of operation for nightclubs, taverns, lounges and dance halls in the downtown Henderson business district.
The Henderson Police Department, in conjunction with Development Services staff, made the request to restrict hours of operation in the B-1, Central Business District.
The request adds language to the existing ordinance regulating the hours of operation for nightclubs, taverns, lounges and dance halls in the B-1 district to Sunday through Thursday from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 a.m. to midnight.
The request also stipulates that restaurants obtain a special-use permit if they provide live music or dancing.
Language has also been added to allow businesses established prior to construction of residential properties to be grandfathered in under zoning requirements until the business undergoes a change in ownership or in business type.
Hotels and motels are excluded from these particular zoning requirements.
The ordinance as it reads on the Henderson Planning Board’s agenda is outlined below. Type in red indicates proposed changes to Ordinance 18:
ORDINANCE 18
TEXT AMENDMENT TO AMEND ARTICLE 600B: SUPPLEMENTARY USE REGULATION SECTION 652B: NIGHT CLUBS, TAVERNS, LOUNGES & DANCE HALLS.
The City Council of the City of Henderson, North Carolina ordains: That the following section be amended/added to the City Zoning Code:
Section 652B: Night Clubs, Taverns, Lounges and Dance Halls
652B.1 Location and Hours
No night club, tavern or lounge (except night clubs, taverns or lounges with 25,000 square feet of individual building floor area that are located within a shopping center with at least 100,000 square feet of total area) shall be located within a radius of 500 feet of any school, church, hospital, funeral home, domiciliary home, rooming house, residential dwelling unit or residential zoning district.
Hours of operation in a B-1 (Central Business District) Sunday thru Thursday from 4 AM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 4 AM to midnight. In the event restaurant provides live music and/or dancing a special use permit is required. Any place of business that was established prior to construction of residential properties within this area shall be grandfathered under this zoning requirement until such time a business changes owners or business type. Hotels and motels are also excluded.
652B.2 State Standards
Any night club, tavern or lounge shall demonstrate that it can meet the standards for on-premises ABC Permit under Chapter 18, Article 10 of the North Carolina General Statutes in the event that any alcoholic beverages are to be consumed on the premises.
652B.3 Noise
Every night club, tavern or lounge shall be designed and constructed as to prevent unreasonably loud noise from emanating beyond the premises in such a manner that they would disturb nearby uses.
652B.4 Dance Halls
Dance halls serving alcoholic beverages shall be deemed to be a nightclub. Dance Halls serving no alcoholic beverages shall not meet the locational or State standards set forth in subsections 652B.1 and 652B.2 but shall meet the noise requirements set forth in section 652B.3
652B.5 Banquet Facilities/Event Center
No banquet facilities/event center shall be located in a radius of two hundred fifty (250) feet from any school, church, residential dwelling unit or residential district measured from the occupied/rentable space.
The requirements and restrictions of Section 10-30 (a) through (e) of the City of Henderson, North Carolina Code shall apply to the uses permitted by this section. (Amended 12/12/16).
Theft From Construction Site of Henderson Collegiate School
-Press Release, Henderson Police Department
On July 8, 2018, it was reported to members of the Henderson Police Department that a large equipment battery and 300 feet of cypress lumber were stolen from the construction site of Henderson Collegiate School, 1071 Old Epsom Road, Henderson. The Henderson Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect(s) involved in this case.
Please contact the Henderson Police Department at 252-438-4141, Crime Stoppers at 252-492-1925, or use the P3 app on a smartphone or tablet device. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects involved in criminal acts.
Authority: Chief M.W. Barrow
Simmons to Hold ‘Coffee With A Candidate’ Meet and Greet
-Information courtesy Tiarra L. Mosley, Campaign Manager, the Committee for Allen Simmons for Vance County Sheriff
Coffee With A Candidate: Allen Simmons
The community is invited to meet Allen Simmons, candidate for Vance County Sheriff, on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, from 8 – 10 a.m. at Hardee’s, 120 E Dabney Dr., Henderson.
This Coffee with a Candidate session will allow Vance County citizens to come and have a one-on-one conversation with Simmons.
Simmons, a veteran of the Henderson Police Department, is running as an unaffiliated candidate for Sheriff of Vance County against Curtis Brame (Dem) and Charles Pulley (Rep).
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Still Plenty of Time for Summer Reading at Perry Memorial Library
Patti McAnally, director of the Perry Memorial Library in Henderson, was recently on WIZS’ Town Talk to discuss current and upcoming library programs, including summer reading.
“Although we are currently in the middle of summer reading, there are still a lot of opportunities to get involved,” said McAnally.
Parents interested in getting their children involved in the program may pick up a reading packet in the Youth Services Department. Children will have the opportunity to reach weekly reading goals and complete their reading log to be eligible for drawings and prizes.
Parents of participating youth will also be eligible for entry into an adult drawing for prizes if their child completes their summer reading log. “We figured that kids probably haven’t done it by themselves,” McAnally said. “Their parents have helped read to them and encourage them.”
In addition to being fun and keeping kids occupied during the school break, the summer reading program is also beneficial to academic retainment. “Summer reading is especially important because ‘summer slide’ can happen. There have been several studies done on this and it refers to students losing some of the academic gains they make during the school year over the summer,” McAnally said.
While staying engaged in school-required reading material may be difficult for some, McAnally believes summer reading can help children discover a genre of books that truly interests them. “What I like about the library’s summer reading program is we don’t have a required list of books; kids can read what they want. I think this helps them develop a love of reading for fun.”
The summer reading program will conclude with a finale in the Children’s Storytime Kiva on Friday, August 3 at 4 p.m. BoHo the Clown will provide character antics and family fun for this event.
Youth summer library programs include:
Totally Tweens – Ages 8 – 12 – Mondays at 5 p.m.
Story Explorers – Ages 5 – 11 – Tuesdays at 5 p.m.
Books & Babies – Ages Birth – 2 – Thursdays at 10:45 a.m.
Mother Goose Storytime – Ages 2 – 5 – Thursdays at 11 a.m.
LEGO Fun Club – Ages 5 – 13 – Thursdays at 4 p.m.
The Perry Memorial Library is located at 205 Breckenridge Street in Henderson. Visit their website at www.perrylibrary.org for additional information on children and adult programs.
Henderson Rec. Players to Present “Clybourne Park”
-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Facilities Supervisor
The Henderson Rec Players will present “Clybourne Park” by Bruce Norris at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center nightly August 9-11 at 8 p.m. and August 12 at 2 p.m.
Winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Play, “Clybourne Park” is a satire about the politics of race that will be directed by Stephanie Asabi Howard. In response to Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” playwright Bruce Norris set up his work as a pair of scenes that bookend Hansberry’s piece and are set in the same modest bungalow on Chicago’s northwest side.
In 1959, Russ and Bev move out to the suburbs after the tragic death of their son. Inadvertently, they sell their house to the neighborhood’s first black family. Fifty years later in 2009, the roles are reversed when a young white couple buys the lot in what is now a predominantly black neighborhood, signaling a new wave of gentrification. In both instances, a community showdown takes place, pitting race against real estate with this home as the battleground.
Tickets are available for $15 at the McGregor Hall Box Office, 201 Breckenridge St. in Henderson, by calling (252) 598-0662 or visiting www.mcgregorhall.org.
For more information, please contact Crystal Allen at (252) 431-6091 or email callen@ci.henderson.nc.us
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Celebrate National Watermelon Month at the Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market!
-Information courtesy Tracy Madigan, Market Manager, Vance County Regional Farmers Market
Seed-Spitting Contest, Anyone?
You guessed it – watermelons are now in season and available at your VCRFM. Seems no other produce screams summer like watermelon. We love the refreshing taste, but thing is, there is more to watermelon than just its flavor. It boasts some powerful health benefits, too. At 46 calories per cup, watermelon offers 20% of your daily intake of Vitamin C and 17% of Vitamin A. That’s not all, watermelon contains dietary fiber for digestive health as well as potassium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure capped.
Watermelon has 1.5 times more lycopene (6 milligrams/cup) than tomatoes. Lycopene is thought to act as a super antioxidant – stopping free radicals from damaging your cells, messing with your immune system, and may help fight heart disease and some cancers.
Watermelon also contains citrulline, a natural substance that’s been tied to improved artery function and lower blood pressure.
But is it a fruit or a vegetable? Actually, it is both! It is a close cousin of cucumbers, pumpkins & squash.
Probably best of all during our scorching hot summer months, watermelon is packed with, well, water! In fact, it is 92% water which is some serious hydration power. That’s a big deal since being dehydrated is bad for our health.
Now about that seed-spitting contest… You may want to rethink that. Roasted watermelon seeds are much more nutritious than many other snacks. An ounce of watermelon seeds (approximately 400 seeds) has 158 calories. They also contain magnesium, iron, folate (folic acid or vitamin B-9) and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (which are useful in lowering LDL cholesterol levels).
So, celebrate National Watermelon Month (July, of course) by treating yourself to a fresh, local, delicious and nutritious watermelon from your VCRFM. You will find a variety to choose from!
(The above information was excerpted from USDA article 3730)
What You Will Find at the Market This Week
Beets, blueberries, butter beans, cabbage, cantaloupes, corn, cucumbers, eggs, eggplant, garlic, green beans, onions, peaches, peppers, pink eye purple hull peas, pork, potatoes, squash, tomatoes (green, red & heirloom), watermelon and zucchini.
We also have plenty of canned vegetables, honey, molasses, salsa, chow-chow, bbq sauces, jellies, jams, wine, soaps, bath salts, scented candles, cut sunflowers and unique handmade crafts.
Anticipated Vendors – Saturday, July 14:
Adcock Farm
Backroad Farm & Vineyard
Burgess Farms
Cakes Delish
Culver Farms Honey
Donation Station
Faulkner Family Farms
Honeyberry Hills Farm
Imperial Stitching
JASM Farms
Jerri’s Things
Kelly Lynn Photography
LouMag Ent.
Master Gardeners
O’Reilly’s Curry Q & Sauce
Pretty Tough Stuff
Short’s Family Farms
Woodwick Designs
* VCRFM open Wednesdays & Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
VCRFM Welcomes SNAP/EBT
Contacts:
Market Manager: Tracy Madigan @ 252-598-0814
Extension Agent: Paul McKenzie @ 252-438-8188
The Farmers Market building is available for rent. Contact Tracy Madigan for pricing and available dates.
(This is not a paid advertisement)
Downtown Food Truck Vote Has Folks Talking
At Monday night’s meeting, with a vote of 5-3, the Henderson City Council nixed a proposal to allow food trucks to operate in a designated area of downtown Henderson.
Gavin Jackson, owner of Gavin’s Grub Hub, proposed parking and serving food from his food truck in the City-owned parking lot at the corner of Garnett and Orange streets, next to Gupton’s Sporting Goods.
Jackson’s food truck has been a regular at various events in the community as well as a fan-favorite at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market. Jackson is also the former chef at the Henderson Country Club.
City Council members George Daye, Melissa Elliott and Mike Rainey represent the three votes in favor of allowing the food truck to operate downtown.
In a phone interview with WIZS, Rainey said, “You see these trucks in all other big cities. It’s a thing. It’s just a way of getting people downtown for one thing. It gives [people] another outlet to find their lunch or whatever the case may be, and it keeps them downtown. People who work downtown have a [place] to go eat; they can go anywhere they want to, but this gives them another avenue for lunch. It’s just another business trying to establish itself in the City of Henderson.”
Henderson City Council member Sara Coffey, who voted against the food truck proposal, told WIZS News by Facebook message for publication, “We were not given the complete information about the trucks. The restaurants that would be affected were not given a chance to voice their opinions. They were not given complete facts either. To me when someone comes in and buys a business and puts down roots to serve our public such as [Uncle] Lews and [Next Door] Bistro have done, I think it’s only fair they share their opinion. They are employers, taxpayers, water users, pay electric bills and have waitresses that depend on tips to feed their families. Even though I’m not against food trucks, I do believe restaurants should weigh in on their placement. I don’t want any business harmed that has invested in our city by a mobile unit that is here today, gone tomorrow without having input.”
In an article titled “While the iron is hot” written for The Daily Dispatch and republished in part, with permission, Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Director Kaine Riggan expressed his frustration with the Council’s decision:
I know all of the council members who voted “no” did so out of what they consider to be the best interest of the city they also love, but I can’t help but wonder what makes them say no to anyone who wants to open a legal business on Garnett Street.
It ain’t exactly an easy sell, folks. And businesses are moving out faster than they are moving in. Southside Office Supply left last month. Gupton’s Gun Shop is closing next month after 60 years. And another upcoming big departure is so fresh a wound that I can’t even make it public yet.
Opposing votes voiced opinions that it might hurt the other restaurants.
Rainey, longtime owner of City Tire, made a point that all the new, used tire places popping up aren’t exactly great for his business, but we can’t stop them from opening because of it.
I have been meeting with Henderson’s merchants, studying successfully revitalized downtowns and listening to advise for almost 12 months, now, and one thing is clear: While we are saying no and closing stores, neighboring towns are saying yes and reaping the revenue as a result.
This past weekend, I hosted Leon Steele, Kinston’s Downtown Development director, for a lunch on Kerr Lake and a tour of our downtown. In his town, with similar demographics to ours, he has full city and county support, revenues from a Municipal Service District tax and historic tax credit renovation projects peppering his Main Street program. In total, a $400,000 annual budget for Kinston’s downtown efforts compared to Henderson’s $52,000. I wanted to know his secret.
He credits a codes department and planners willing to find a way to make things work as the key to their success, as well as the city’s willingness to embrace change. “It takes leaders who think the downtown is important enough to start saying yes to things,” Steele said.
I think we have those leaders at the city level, we just need to work on being more aware of the speed of our process so as not to lose good leads when we get them.
Meanwhile, Jackson can park his truck in downtown Oxford or downtown Warrenton within the week.
“I can’t wait around for months for them to decide whether or not to let me run my business and pay my taxes,” Jackson said when I told him about Monday’s council decision. “It shouldn’t be this hard to get started.”
I would like to thank Mayor Ellington and the city staff for pushing the “food truck ordinance” forward very efficiently. I expect that it will make it through committee and back before the council in coming months and will most likely pass the next time. I just hope we still have a prospect on deck when it does.
Elaborating on his opinion, Jackson stated in a Facebook message to WIZS, “We pay for all kinds of permits, inspections, county and city inspections, registration on the vehicle and mobile kitchen, environmental health permit; we buy fuel and propane from local businesses, which is my source of power. We do pay property taxes on the truck and mobile kitchen and the property taxes on our home because this business allows us to live here. We plan to employ [other] people and is it not important to employ me? My family? We all work at this business.”
In a recent poll on WIZS Radio’s Facebook page, 98 percent of 358 participants voted in support of food trucks in downtown Henderson.
Please visit WIZS’ Facebook page [click here] to express your opinion on the food truck topic. You can leave your comments on the posting for this article or from yesterday’s thread. We would love to hear from those both for and against food trucks in downtown – especially from downtown restaurant owners.
The Monday, July 16 edition of Town Talk will also feature more discussion on the food truck debate. Feel free to call in at (252) 492-5594 to share your opinion.