Tickets On Sale for DDA 2010 Annual Awards Dinner - Nov 8

Tickets are available for the Clayton Downtown Development Association's 2010 Awards Dinner on November 8 at the Clayton Steakhouse.

The event begins with a social hour at 5:30 pm and program and dinner at 6:30 pm.

Tickets are just $25 per person and include a dinner choice of steak, chicken or tilapia, with beverage and dessert.


The 2010 “Think Downtown” Awards categories include:

• Outstanding Downtown Business

• Outstanding New Downtown Business

• Outstanding Staff Person within a Downtown Business or Organization.

Other recognitions will include two facade awards, DDA Volunteer of the Year and the announcement of Clayton’s 2010 NC Main Street Champion, who will also be recognized at the NC Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in Shelby on January 27.

The DDA’s Organization Committee Chair, Betsy Grannis said, “This is our opportunity to publicly recognize the people and businesses that are making a difference in downtown Clayton.”

Highlights of the program will include a brief review of DDA’s accomplishments this past year, recognition of outgoing DDA members and a Silent Auction. A social time with a cash bar will begin at 5:30 pm.

Guest speakers will be:

• Clayton Town Manager Steve Biggs, who will discuss two downtown construction projects: the Town Lot Project at Lombard & Main and the new Clayton Law Enforcement Center project.

• Teresa Watts, Assistant Director of the NC Main Street Center will briefly discuss the NC Main Street Conference which will be hosted in Clayton in January 2012.

Last year’s event was a “smashing success,” said DDA Chairman, Ed Knight, and he expects the dinner to be sold out again this year, too.

Tickets for the DDA Annual Awards Dinner are available. All DDA board members and committee members will have them for sale and they are also available at these locations:

Awards & Engravables, 327 E Main Street
Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street
Fancy That, 120 E Main Street.
Main Street Jewelers, 236 E Main Street

For more information please contact Downtown Development Coordinator Bruce Naegelen at bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org or 553-1545 x5403

Photo from the 2009 Awards Dinner

Clayton Town Lot Project Update

Be sure to check out the video and updated photos on the Clayton Town Lot Project - it's almost complete!

US 70 Corridor Study Public Forum - Tuesday, November 9

The Town of Clayton and its consultant, The Wooten Company, will hold a public forum on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers at The Clayton Center, 111 East Second Street.

The public forum will consist of stations for citizens to visit to receive information and to provide comments regarding a proposed corridor and interchange study of the US 70 Bypass around Clayton. The study involves suggested land use and development standards for the corridor which are intended to preserve the environmental, scenic, and transportation qualities of the facility.

After this public forum the Clayton Town Council will consider the draft at its workshop meeting on November 15, 2010; and the Clayton Town Council will hold a public hearing on December 6, 2010.


The draft document is available for review in the Planning and Inspections Department located in Room GS 202 in The Clayton Center, 111 East Second Street and on the Town’s website.

This is an open meeting and citizen participation is desired.

Interact Club Haunted House This Friday & Saturday

Be sure to check Downtown Calendar for more details

(scroll down on the right side)

Residents Cut Their Hair for Cancer Research

Hundreds of residents crowded into downtown Saturday afternoon to watch local bankers, businessmen, public officials, firemen, policemen and other community leaders get their heads shaven to raise money for cancer research.

In all, more than six dozen got a chance to see what they look like bald, in solidarity with those fighting the dreaded disease.

The event blew past its goal of $25,000 before the first hair hit the ground, and organizers quickly adjusted their expectations to upwards of $40,000.

"What a great event," said Fire Chief Lee Barbee as he watched fireman after fireman lose their hair. "We're not exactly sure how much money will come in, but it's looking good."

Perhaps the biggest commotion occurred when Town Councilman Bob Satterfield took his seat in the barber chair. The Councilman had promised to shave his trademark mustache if donations in his name topped the $1,000 mark, which happened in less than a day once word got out. The crowds rushed in to see his hair go, then moved in even closer with cameras flashing as the facial hair went away, too.

"I don't mind my hair so much, but I've had this mustache for 35 years," Satterfield said. "I feel naked--totally naked."

Full article

Will Clayton succeed on parking?

Editorial From the Garner-Clayton Record, October 20:

For those who don't know, Clayton has gone the way of Smithfield, moving parking violations to civil from criminal court. We hope that Clayton fares better than Smithfield.

In the county seat, the move has been disastrous, at least for merchants, who rely on turnover in parking spaces to generate sales.

The last time we checked, Smithfield was holding scores of unpaid parking tickets worth thousands of dollars. The town says it would be financially irresponsible to pay a lawyer to collect the meager fines.

Clayton leaders say they will take a different approach. Instead of a lawyer, the town, when it has a good number of unpaid tickets, will send an employee to the courthouse in Smithfield to file claims in small-claims court.

And what if that tack fails? The town says it will employ a little-known state program that pretty much allows government to extract money from anyone who owes it.

We would encourage Smithfield leaders to keep an eye on Clayton's experiment.

As it is now, Smithfield police seldom issue parking citations because doing so is literally a waste of time and taxpayer resources. In the meantime, downtown shopkeepers are helpless as inconsiderate motorists hog valuable parking real estate for hours at a time.

Clayton can be a cocky town, so perhaps it's overly confident about its ability to cheaply collect parking fines. But if Clayton is right, then Smithfield owes its downtown merchants a new approach to parking enforcement.

Senate hopefuls to square off Thursday night

The two candidates competing for the Johnston County State Senate seat will square off on Thurs. Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at The Clayton Center in a community forum to discuss their campaign platforms with the public.

Incumbent Republican Sen. David Rouzer and Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod, a Democrat, will respond to questions posed by moderator Bruce Mildwurf, an award-winning reporter with WRAL TV 5 who has been the recipient of several awards including the prestigious Alfred I. du Pont-Columbia University award.

Audience members will also have the opportunity to challenge the candidates with questions from the floor.

Rouzer, a resident of the McGee’s Crossroads community, has held the seat since 2008, which represents Johnston county and a portion Wayne county. It has been a decade since a democrat has held the District 12 position. McLeod, a life-long resident of Clayton and owner of Annie V’s florist, has served as mayor of Clayton since 2004.

The Clayton-News Star is sponsoring the forum.

Homecoming Parade Correction and Town Lot Project Update

CORRECTION: Clayton High School Homecoming Parade is Thursday, Oct 21, not Friday as previously reported in yesterday's Downtown Clayton Insider...



ALSO: The WESTBOUND lane of E Main Street will be closed today from Lombard to Church Street due to a street-bore under Main Street from the Town Lot project. Westbound traffic will be re-routed down Lombard to Second to Church and back to Main Street. This should be a day-long experience.

DPM Studios Commercial

Public Invited to Submit Nominations for 2010 DDA Awards

Annual Awards Dinner November 8 at Clayton Steakhouse

Nominations from the public are being sought for the 2010 “Think Downtown” Awards to be presented at the Clayton Downtown Development Association's 2010 Awards Dinner on November 8 at the Clayton Steakhouse. The event begins with a social hour at 5:30 pm and program and dinner at 6:30 pm. The award categories include:

• Outstanding Downtown Business

• Outstanding New Downtown Business

• Outstanding Staff Person within a Downtown Business or Organization.

The DDA’s Organization Committee Chair, Betsy Grannis said, “This is our opportunity to publicly recognize the people and businesses that are making a difference in downtown Clayton.”

All you have to do is complete the Nomination Form then mail it, fax it or email it. Nominations must be received by the DDA no later than Friday, October 29. The nomination forms are available online “2010 Downtown Awards Nomination Form” and they are available at:

• Awards & Engravables, 327 E Main Street

• Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street

• Fancy That, 120 E Main Street.

• Main Street Jewelers, 236 E Main Street

• Clayton Chamber of Commerce, 301 E Main Street.

• The Clayton Center (reception desk), 111 E Second Street

• Hocutt-Ellington Memorial Library, 100 Church Street

Other recognitions will include two facade awards, DDA Volunteer of the Year and the announcement of Clayton’s 2010 NC Main Street Champion, who will also be recognized at the NC Main Street Annual Awards Dinner in Shelby on January 27. Past recipients are Barry Woodard, Joyce Blackley and the late Margaret Ritchie.

Highlights of the program will include a review of DDA’s accomplishments this past year, recognition of outgoing DDA members and a Silent Auction. A social time with a cash bar will begin at 5:30 pm.

Guest speaker will be Clayton Town Manager Steve Biggs, who will discuss two downtown construction projects: the Town Lot Project at Lombard & Main and the new Clayton Law Enforcement Center project. Teresa Watts, Assistant Director of the NC Main Street Center will briefly discuss the NC Main Street Conference which will be hosted in Clayton in January 2012.

Last year’s event was a “smashing success,” said DDA Chairman, Ed Knight, and he expects the dinner to be sold out again this year, too.

Tickets for the DDA Annual Awards Dinner are available. All DDA board members and committee members will have them for sale and they are also available at these locations:

• Awards & Engravables, 327 E Main Street

• Clayton Steakhouse, 307 E Main Street

• Fancy That, 120 E Main Street.

• Main Street Jewelers, 236 E Main Street

For more information please contact Downtown Development Coordinator Bruce Naegelen at bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org or 553-1545.

2009 Award winners were:

Outstanding Downtown Business – Fancy That Gifts
Outstanding New Business – Mulberry on Main Italian Restaurant
Outstanding Individual in a Business – Thad Avent, Avent-Permenter Group
DDA Volunteer of the Year – Lyn Austin
Best Façade Improvement Under $10,000 – 321-327 E Main Street
Best Façade Improvement Over $10,000 – 104 N Fayetteville Street

Clayton High School Homecoming Parade Friday - Main Street Will Close

Clayton High School will hold their annual homecoming parade this Friday, October 21, 2010 closing Main Street from 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm.

The parade route will leave Clayton High School and travel north along

Fayetteville Street, east

on

Main Street, south

on Lombard one block, then west on

Second Street

before traveling back to the high school south along

Fayetteville Street

. 

The parade will likely will be much shorter in duration than the one hour.  Law enforcement escorts will handle traffic as the parade moves along the route, closing sections of roadways temporarily as the parade progresses. 

Adjacent streets will remain open as alternate routes.

N.C. Native Jon Reep To Open Eighth Palladian Series Last Comic Standing Winner, Star of Dodge “Hemi” Commercials

The Clayton Center’s eighth Palladian Series opens on Saturday, Oct. 23, with a performance by comedian Jon Reep, the Hickory, N.C., native and season five winner of the popular NBC reality series Last Comic Standing.

Reep began his career in the mid-1990s as a student at North Carolina State University, performing at Charlie Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh. After graduating from NCSU in 1997, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. His acting credits include the pot smoking farmer “Raymus” from the movie Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and the dim-witted cop “Gerald Bob” from the ABC sitcom Rodney. But Reep is probably best known from the popular Dodge Truck ad campaign as the “Hemi guy” – the redheaded hillbilly in the Dodge Ram commercials who leans out of a beat-up car and utters the now famous line, “That thing gotta Hemi?”

Reep’s high-energy stand-up act is a testament to his small-town Southern upbringing in Hickory, N.C. A master storyteller, he weaves tales of growing up in Hickory with hilarious anecdotes about family and friends. He also muses about his life as a “Metro Jethro” living the big city in Los Angeles. A Metro Jethro is a Southern boy who takes the good parts of small town life and adapts them to big city living. However, things we find endearing in the Deep South don't always jive with big city sensibilities, providing the basis for his wildly funny and entertaining comedy.

Over the past decade, Reep has performed at the prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, and he was invited back to perform in the “Best of the Fest” as well as in a gala show with the legendary John Cleese of Monty Python fame. Reep also has appeared on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend and the special Comedy Central Presents, as well as TBS’s Pit Stop Comedy, NBC’s Late Friday, and CMT’s Comedy Stage and Comedy Club.

Heidi Stump, executive director of The Clayton Center, said, “Jon Reep is a wonderful performer to kick off the 2010-11 season. His brand of humor is something we all can relate to. Our audience is very excited to see his show live.”

The 8 p.m. performance is presented by Music City Artists. Tickets are $25. Season tickets to each of the six shows in the Palladian Series also are available. Season ticket packages are $135.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at 919-553-1737, at The Clayton Center Box Office, 111 E. Second Street in downtown Clayton, from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.theclaytoncenter.com.

The second show in The Clayton Center’s Palladian Series is the Saturday, Nov. 6, performance by The Blind Boys of Alabama, with John Dee Holeman. Tickets are $27.50.

Biggest Field Ever For Clayton High Band Classic

by Jim Green, Clayton News Star

Clayton High School will have the largest field ever for its 23rd Annual Band Classic on Saturday.

A total of 21 bands from all across the eastern part of the state will compete in the event, which gets underway at Comets’ Stadium at 1 p.m. and end around 10 p.m.

As host, the CHS Marching Comets will not compete. They will perform in exhibition at 9:15 p.m.
 
Read Full Story
 

Music at The Flipside!

FlipSide Events 10-11 - 10-16-10


10/11 - Football trivia w/Chris 7:30 pm Prizes

10/12 - Open Mic w/ Tracey Wiebeck

10/13- Trivia w/ Jason Heart

10/14 - Johnny Orr Band

...10-15 - Neglektyd Toyz Band

10-16 - Joe Bell & the Stinging Blades Band

Clayton Youth Theater Announces Audition Schedule for "Our Town"

Clayton Youth Theater is pleased to announce AUDITIONS for its February 2011 production:
"Our Town" by Thornton Wilder.

Friday, November 12   6:00pm
Saturday, November 13  1:00pm

The Clayton Center, 111 E. Second St. Clayton, NC 27520

Eligibility: Participants must be in 7th-12th grade during the 2010-2011 school year.

Note: We will also cast 2-4 boys (age 8-12) to fill the roles of Wally Webb, Joe Crowell, and Si Crowell.

To audition, students must prepare and memorize a monologue from Our Town.

The monologues and other audition material can be downloaded at http://www.claytonyouththeater.com/

Clayton Youth Theater is also THRILLED to announce that in August we will be presenting ...

West Side Story - Auditions will be held in May 2011, with the show on August 5-6, 2011!

1st Street Christmas Market at Eye of the Eagle Art

The Eye of the Eagle Art is looking for those (local) who:

1 - make handmade (no kits) dolls, toys, wooden toys, musical instruments for kids and adults, doll cloths, cloth books for toddlers and babies and so on for the Toy Shop.

2 - make handmade (no kits) Christmas Ornaments and decorations for the Christmas Shop

3 - make homemade back goods, old fashion from scratch would be great, Christmas cookies, breads, candies and so on for the Bake Shop. These of course need to be individually wrapped for sale.

For more information click here.

We are also looking for Singers, bands, performers, to perform Christmas music or put on Christmas plays, reading to the children and so forth, during the 1st Street Christmas Market. Call Donna at 919-221-0452 for more information about the performing.

Town to Enforce Parking Laws Downtown

Acting in response to complaints and a perception of widespread non compliance, the Town Council decided this week to begin a "determined" effort to stop parking violations in the downtown area.

The move is based on both safety concerns and the need for proper traffic flow, said Mayor Jody McLeod.

"We need to have a little more control," the Mayor said. "We have a problem, and we need to do what we can to help."

Police will begin immediately giving out "warning tickets" to violators---a practice that will continue until the end of the year. But, beginning Jan. 1, anyone still parking improperly downtown will be given a "notice of violation" which carries a $25 penalty that must be paid within five days. Anyone who fails to pay within that period will be charged a $25 "delinquency" fee.

The Council also adjusted the parking ordinance to give town laws "more teeth" in dealing with violators. Parking violations will no longer be considered criminal acts subject to fines. Instead, violations will be handled as a civil matter subject to penalties. The change means the town can go to civil court to collect unpaid penalties.

The change from criminal to civil also means the town can hold on to penalty funds. In previous years, parking fines went to the state.

The adjustments were intended to be responsive to Council instructon, Biggs said.

Clayton Halloween Events & Activities

In Clayton, Halloween has historically been observed on the date it falls on the calendar, and this year it is a Sunday. Neighboring municipalities that observe Halloween on the date it falls on the calendar include Selma, Garner, Zebulon, Raleigh, and Wake Forest.

The Town of Clayton Parks and Recreation has two special events for our young citizens:

Halloween Fun Ride on Friday, October 22 for ages 12 & under ($5/child, parents ride free with each paid child): Meet Halloween characters, play games and win prizes as you ride around the trail at the park at Clayton Community Park.

Halloween Parade on Friday, October 29: Trick-or-Treaters will be treated by Main Street businesses as they make their way to the Town Square for games, activities, and more treats. The route begins at parking lot on Main Street and Lombard Street and ends at the Clayton Town Square.

Below is a resolution that was included in the Council’s September 20th agenda packet and is slated for the October 4th agenda for action. The intent of the resolution is to provide safety tips and guidelines for persons who choose to partake in Halloween activities.

TOWN OF CLAYTON  RESOLUTION URGING RESIDENTS TO OBSERVE  A SAFE AND COURTEOUS HALLOWEEN

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Town Council of the Town of Clayton that residents who desire to participate in traditional Halloween Trick-or-Treating observe certain safety, courtesy and common sense guidelines to protect participants and preserve the peace for non-participants. And, be it resolved that the Town Council suggests the following guidelines:

That Halloween Trick-or-Treating should take place on the actual Halloween holiday, Sunday, October 31, 2010, and should be restricted to children under the age of 13.

That all children taking part in Trick-or-Treating should be clothed in safe costumes, featuring materials that can be seen in the dark by motorists and masks that do not obstruct the children’s vision.

That all children or groups of children taking part in Trick-or-Treating should be accompanied by a responsible older person who can protect the children from harm.

That Trick-or-Treating is conducted during reasonable hours, preferably between early evening and 8:30 p.m.

That those who choose not to participate in Halloween indicate so to others by leaving their porch lights off; and, that participants respect the wishes of those who choose not to participate in Halloween by not visiting homes where porch lights are off.

That children Trick-or-Treat in their own neighborhoods, visiting only familiar homes.

That parents and/or guardians inspect collected treats carefully before children consume them.

That suspicious activities or collected treats that show signs of tampering be reported immediately to the Clayton Police Department.

That persons over the age of 12 wanting to participate in Halloween by wearing a costume should not wear masks.

Clayton to get 85 new Novo Nordisk jobs - Triangle Business Journal

Clayton to get 85 new Novo Nordisk jobs - Triangle Business Journal

Clayton Law Enforcement Center Construction Begins

Construction crews last week began clearing the property for the new Clayton Law Enforcement Center, which is expected to be under construction for about a year.

The 19,000-sq.ft. brick building will feature lots of glass and high quality metal trim made of zinc. It's energy-efficient design makes extensive use of natural light and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems. A model of the complex is available for viewing at the Clayton Center and click here for the Law Enforcment Center Plans.

Large Crowd Helps Re-open All Star Park

More than 100 residents crowded into All-Star Park & Pavilion for official dedication ceremonies Sunday afternoon and heard praise from town officials and community residents alike for the facility and the community cooperation that made it possible.

Community resident Janet Richardson, whose Mt. Vernon Christian Church Dancing Angels provided entertainment for the assembled crowd, called the upgraded park "a special place."

"It's a blessing," she told the crowd. "It's a blessing that we know our children can come here to play."

Town Councilman R.S. "Butch" Lawter said the project "is unique in the amount of community involvement we've had."

"I remember when I first moved here, this is the first park I came to with my daughters," Lawter said. "I look at it now, and it's amazing. I hope that this will be a place where many happy times will be shared."

Full Article on All Star Park Dedication

What's in the small business bill for you? - Triangle Business Journal

How about if you are a sole proprietor, you can deduct your health insurance premiums or if you are looking for a micro loan, you now can get as much as $50,000, rather than $25,000. There are a lot of other provisions in this bill that could open up some financial doors for you. Read more:What's in the small business bill for you? - Triangle Business Journal