Man pulls gun, demands money, cigarettes in robbery of Winston-Salem store.

"Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded Nov. 30 at 5:44pm to 430 Haled Street (T & B Mini Mart) in Winston-Salem in reference to a Panic Alarm.

Upon the officers arrival it was learned that the business had been robbed. The clerk advised that two black males wearing all dark clothing entered the store. One of the suspects removed a handgun from his coat and approached her at the counter. That suspect then demanded money and cigarettes.  An undisclosed amount of money and cigarettes were obtained and the suspects left the store running west on Waughtown Street.

No one was injured during the robbery.

This case was referred to our Criminal Investigations Division.

The Winston-Salem Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding this crime contact CrimeStoppers at 336-727-2800."

- A Press Release

Winston-Salem woman forced into car and taken. Police report Kidnapping

"On Nov. 29 at 12:38am Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded to the 7100 Block of Brandemere Lane, the Brandemere Apartments on an unknown trouble call.

The caller reported hearing a female yelling for help. When the caller looked outside, they observed an unknown black female being pulled into a black Toyota Camry by an unknown male described as a bald, black male who was on the passenger side of the vehicle. The caller said the female was forced into this vehicle by this subject before the vehicle left the area. The vehicle was last seen heading toward Bethabara Park Boulevard.

At this time, no further information has been developed and the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident or similar crimes is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at 336-773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800. En Español: (336) 728-3904."

- A Press Release

Threesome surrounds man, robs, shoots him on Cherry Street in Winston-Salem

"Winston-Salem Police Officers responded to a reported shooting Nov. 22 at 12:32pm at 4100 North Cherry Street. The victim, Mr. Ryan Lamont Chalmers, 30,  stated just after he parked three black males surrounded his vehicle and demanded money. The armed suspect opened vehicle door and took his property. The suspect then shot Chalmers, who resides at 1024 N. Cameron Ave. in Winston Salem, in the leg. The suspects then reportedly left the scene in a grey four door vehicle. 

Mr. Chalmers was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center for treatment. His injury does not appear to be life threatening.  

This case will be referred to the police department’s Criminal Investigations Division for a follow-up investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at (336)773-7700 or CrimeStoppers at (336)727-2800."

- A Police Report

Community Awards Given at 130th Winston-Salem Chamber Annual Meeting

"The Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce held its 130^th Annual Meeting on Oct. 7 at the Benton Convention Center. Two community awards were given during the event.

L-R - Ben Tennill & Jimmy Flythe

The Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award was given to Ben and Marty Tennille with H.O.P.E, Help Our People Eat. The work that Ben and Marty do serves to unite the community by working towards eliminating “food deserts”, which are areas in our community that lack fresh fruits and vegetables because of limited availability, transportation or funds. The mission of H.O.P.E is also to eliminate childhood hunger. These volunteers are combating obesity by changing the food habits that in the long run will decrease medical costs while increasing learning.  

The Truliant Small Business Award was presented by Truliant Federal Credit Union. The recipient of this award was Vela Strategic Marketing & Communications. Vela Strategic Marketing & Communications is a marketing and public relations firm that has provided strategic guidance, advertising campaigns, digital and social media assets and campaigns, professional copywriting and creative design in the Winston-Salem area for over 6 years.

L-R - Todd Hall, Vela Strategic Marketing & Communication.

Additional finalists for the Truliant Small Business Award were: Alliance Insurance Services, DAVENPORT, Elephant in the Room, McCalls and PhoneTree.

Held in the Grand Pavilion Ballroom of the Embassy Suites, the Annual Meeting was sponsored by Cook Medical, Duke Energy, Truliant Federal Credit Union and North State. Over 600 business leaders were in attendance at today’s event. It is the only meeting in the community that gathers CEOs and high-level corporate executives to discuss the Chamber’s key accomplishments for 2015.

About the Chamber

The Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce is the leading business organization in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, representing nearly 1,800 area businesses that are committed to increased economic development in the region. The Chamber is dedicated to establishing Winston-Salem as a technology-driven economic center, and provides services to strengthen existing businesses, support entrepreneurs, and encourage small business creation. The Chamber supports public school student achievement, workforce, and higher education development."

- A Press Release

Winston's Downtown Jazz offers Jeanete Harris July 24

"Downtown Jazz, presented by the Winston-Salem Federal Credit Union is proud to have saxophone artist Jeanete Harris performing on July 24^th as our headline performer.  Downtown Jazz takes place from 6pm to 9pm in Corpening Plaza in downtown Winston-Salem at 237 W. First Street.  Link to Jeanette Harris Website - http://www.jeanetteharrisband.com/

Jeanette Harris Bio

Jeanette Harris is the scintillating saxtress of smooth jazz. This lady understands that energetic and captivating performances matched with uplifting and inspiring vibrations in the music are the solid platinum recipe for success. Fans already recognize her for her wonderful cover of Stevie Wonder’s “All I Do,” which hit Billboard’s smooth jazz singles chart from her previous album, Saxified. Classically trained in both sax and piano, a graduate of Boston’s famed Berklee College of Music, and the saxophonist for the late, great Teena Marie’s final year of touring, Jeanette has weathered the fiercest challenges to bring the world her own brand of soulful healing vibes. That baptism awaits in her fourth CD, Summer Rain, on which Jeanette had a hand in writing all of the selections except her lovely cover of the Luther Vandross classic “Here and Now.” Its 11 sunny songs wrap the listener in the glow of fun love grooves and sweet romance.

“The music of Summer Rain is all about a positive vibe,” Jeanette states. “It’s about staying in love…never falling out of love, feeling good, being faithful and always following a positive route. Great things have happened for me in the last year. I’ve learned what’s really important in life – my family and my music.”

The most special person to come along in the course of Ms. Harris’ career thus far was singer/songwriter Marie, who hired her unheard/unseen in a destiny-streaked leap of faith totally befitting Jeanette’s life and beliefs.

Opening Act

The opening act will be local performer, Vincent Crenshaw - https://www.facebook.com/vincent.crenshaw.18

About Downtown Jazz

Downtown Jazz is free to the public.  Beer, wine, food and other vendors are on-site.  No outside alcohol is allowed.  We encourage people to bring their own chair. 

In 1998, the Summer Music Series program was created by the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership in an effort to support revitalization efforts in Downtown Winston-Salem. This is the 18th season. This effort has been instrumental in the resurgence of our downtown. The popular free concerts bring live music to downtown on Friday and Saturday nights from June through August. They have become a vital part of the fabric of the city, last year bringing people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds together in a spirit of celebration. Setting the concerts in the streets and parks of downtown has provided a relaxed and safe atmosphere, and the locations also serve to showcase the architecture, shops, restaurants and galleries that are unique to Downtown Winston-Salem.

Please visit the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership website for more information on Downtown Winston-Salem."

- A Press Release

Community Awards Given at 129th Chamber Annual Meeting

"The Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce held its 129^th Annual Meeting on December 2 at the Benton Convention Center. Two community awards were given during the event.

The Duke Energy Citizenship and Service Award was given to John Burress. For decades, John Burress has been a leader in Winston-Salem’s business and non-profit communities. He has been dedicated to improving the lives of those around him. His interest in human services has led him to serve on the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Board of Visitors and on the Executive Council of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. He has also played instrumental roles with Senior Service and Hospice Palliative CareCenter. His strong commitment to education is evidenced by his leadership with Triad Academy, Applied Behavior Analysis Center of NC, Summit School, and his own alma maters: Episcopal High School and UNC-Chapel Hill. John is also a passionate autism advocate, and his meetings with state legislators have helped to influence legislation supporting individuals and families affected by autism.

The Truliant Small Business Award was presented by Truliant Federal Credit Union. The recipient of this award was Freedom Creative Solutions. Freedom Creative Solutions started out as a small direct mail business known as Freedom Mailing in 2000. In 2010, the business rebranded and evolved into a multi-faceted marketing company incorporating graphic design, print and web design services, along with direct mail services. Daniel Baird is the president and owner of Freedom Creative Solutions.

Additional finalists for the Truliant Small Business Award were: etc. Consignment Shoppe, KevMark Catering, Marley Drug and Salem Gymnastics Sports Center.

Held in the North Main Hall of the Benton Convention Center, the Annual Meeting was sponsored by Cook Medical, Duke Energy and Truliant Federal Credit Union. Over 600 business leaders were in attendance at today’s event. It is the only meeting in the community that gathers CEOs and high-level corporate executives to discuss the Chamber’s key accomplishments for 2014."

- A Press Release

Winston-Salem Ranked as No. 1 Digital City for 2014

       

"After more than a decade in the top ten, Winston-Salem was named the most digitally savvy city of its size in America by the e.Republic Center for Digital Government.

        Winston-Salem was ranked No. 1 in the center’s 2014 Digital Cities Survey of cities with a population of 125,000 to 249,999. The annual study ranks the use of information technology by local governments.

        The 2014 survey ranked cities for their use of digital technology in the areas of citizen engagement, policy, operations, and technology and data, said Todd Sander, the center’s executive director. “This year’s Digital Cities’ winners brought about impressive change across all aspects of government by leveraging information technology investments to expand open government, citizen participation and shared services,” Sander said.

        Through the city website, Winston-Salem residents have access to crime tracking data updated daily, internal performance measures, and financial data that allows citizens to track city spending down to individual vendor transactions. A new citizen notification system allows residents to sign up for alerts by text, voice, or email; and the city is cooperating with AT&T to build an all-fiber network with speeds up to 1 gigabit per second.

        Internally, the city has expanded the use of customized applications for mobile devices, such as a GIS-based, GPS-enabled application that allows city workers, while they travel about the city, to grade street health as part of a system that prioritizes paving projects. These applications have reduced the need for expensive laptops and allow staff to work independent of location, enabling more efficient operations and greater productivity. 

        Winston-Salem has ranked in the top 10 of the center’s annual survey every year since 2002, ranging from second place in 2003, 2008 and 2011, to tenth place in 2002, the first year the city participated.

        Dennis Newman, the city’s chief information officer, attributed the city’s consistent rankings in the Digital Cities survey to the city’s ongoing investment in core information technology skills and infrastructure. “This has allowed us to take advantage of technologies when the opportunity arises so that we can provide a high level of services," he said.

        Sander said, “It’s not surprising that the city of Winston-Salem has been ranked in the Top Ten Digital Cities every year since 2002. They’ve done an outstanding job of building a sound technology infrastructure under the leadership of CIO Dennis Newman, and then consistently built on that investment with new applications and services that strengthen city functions, which translates into citizen benefits.”

        The rankings were compiled by the e.Republic Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute. Three other North Carolina cities were also ranked: Greenville tied for second among cities with a population of 75,000 to 124,999; Durham tied for fourth among cities with a population of 125,000 to 249,999; and Raleigh tied for fifth among cities with a population of 250,000 or more."

- A Press Release 

Kickoff the Holiday Season at Winston-Salem Symphony’s Carolina Christmas Spectacular!

"Celebrate the joy of the holiday season at the Winston-Salem Symphony’s Carolina Christmas Spectacular! With Robert Moody, Music Director, as the conductor and master of ceremonies, these concerts are sure to create enduring memories and are a great way to kick off the holiday season. The concerts include a selection of popular and traditional holiday music. Joining the orchestra and Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale, Dr. Carole Ott, Director, will be magician Lyn Dillies, who thrills audiences with her own special magic.

The Winston-Salem Symphony’s Carolina Christmas Spectacular! returns for a second year with concerts on Saturday, November 29 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. (part of the Plugged-In Pops series) and a concert on Sunday, November 30 at 2 p.m. (part of the Discovery Concerts for Kids series) at Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem. As with all Discovery Concerts for Kids, pre-concert activities for kids will begin an hour before Sunday’s concert.

Tickets range from an affordable $25 to $65 for adults and $25 to $40 for children 2 and up and are available in advance by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at WSsymphony.org. There’s a new ticket package, the Family 4-Pack, which is a great value for families. It includes 2 adult and 2 children’s tickets for as little as $168 (a 20% savings). With the 4-Pack you can purchase additional adult and children’s tickets for 20% off. The Family 4-Pack is only available by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145. It is not available online.

“I really enjoy conducting the Carolina Christmas Spectacular!,” said Moody. “It is a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer with its combination of upbeat carols and songs and moving spiritual music. Carolina Christmas Spectacular! combines the best of the holidays bringing both the joy and the power of the season to audience members. And yes, there will be a visit from Santa Claus!”

Illusionist Lyn Dillies has been performing for more than 20 years and has astounded audiences throughout the United States and Canada. Dillies performs live with symphonies all around the country including at Lincoln Center. Her thrilling and jaw-dropping illusions and her engaging personality enchant adults and encourage children to discover the magic of classical music while experiencing her remarkable illusions. Visit WSsymphony.org for a full guest artist biography.

Carolina Christmas Spectacular! will take concert goers through a musical journey of holiday music from Christmas Bells are Ringing to “March of the Toys” from Babes in Toyland, “Mother Ginger” from The Nutcracker, Joy to the World, “Hallelujah!” from the Messiah, Sleigh Ride, a Christmas Sing-a-Long and more.

This concert is part of the Winston-Salem Symphony’s Angel Tree partnership with the Salvation Army. Concert goers are encouraged to donate new unwrapped toys for children up to age 12 at the concerts. The toys will be distributed through The Salvation Army’s Christmas Program. The Salvation Army Advanced Band will perform before the 2 p.m. concerts on Saturday and Sunday.

The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale is comprised of 90 auditioned singers and is directed by Dr. Carole J. Ott. The group performs several times each year with the Winston-Salem Symphony. This year’s performance also will include special guests the Central Carolina Children’s Chorus, Anne Saxon, Artistic Director.

This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are sponsored by Season Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo; Plugged-in Pops Presenting Sponsor BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina; Discovery Concerts for Kids Presenting Sponsor Wake Forest Baptist Health Brenner Children’s Hospital and Discovery Concerts for Kids Founding Underwriter Jeanne Hill; Carolina Christmas Spectacular Presenting Sponsor Flow; as well as the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and the North Carolina Arts Council. Media Sponsors include Fairway Outdoor Advertising, The Winston-Salem Journal, WSJS 600 am and WXII 12.

About the Winston-Salem Symphony

The Winston-Salem Symphony began its 68^th season in September 2014 as one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras. This season also marks Maestro Robert Moody’s 10^th Anniversary with the Symphony. Under the baton of Music Director Moody, its performance season includes a classics series, a pops series, concerts for kids, annual  performances of Handel’s Messiah, a concert featuring Winston-Salem Symphony and Youth Symphony musicians, holiday concerts, three youth orchestra ensembles, and a multitude of educational and community engagement programs.  For more information visit WSsymphony.org"

A Press Release

Chamber Announces Winston Under 40 Leadership Award Winners

"The Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the inaugural class of the Winston Under 40 Leadership Award winners. See complete listing below. These 20 young business professionals were selected from 47 total applicants. They are actively influencing the growth, prosperity and quality of life in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The awards will be given on October 11 at the Benton Convention Center at the Winston<40 a="" are="" at="" for="" gala.="" gala="" href="http://www.winstonunder40.com/" now="" on="" sale="" the="" tickets="">www.winstonunder40.com

. All members of the business community are welcome to attend.

“Our young business leaders are paving the way for the future success of our community. The Chamber is so proud of the tremendous achievements that this group has had over the past several months and we congratulate each winner. We look forward to the great things that this group will continue to do, “ says Gayle Anderson,  president and CEO of the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.

Lea Metz, Youth Opportunities, Volunteer and Donor Engagement Officer

Charlie Shaw, Wake Forest Innovations, Commercialization Associate

Scott Underwood, Apex Systems, Developer

Kayce Clodfelter, Rick Babusiak State Farm Insurance, Marketing Representative

James Long, Wake Forest University Baptist Health, Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine

Elizabeth Myers, Salem Electric Company, Project Manager in Charge of Special Projects

Theodore Kazakos, Forsyth County’s District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney

Katie Neal, Wake Forest University, Executive Director, News & Communications

Hayes Wauford, Wilson-Covington Construction Company, Executive Vice-President, Owner

Shelley Sizemore, Wake Forest University, Assistant Director, Pro Humanitate Institute

Weston “Wiggy” Saunders, Robinhood Integrative Health, Physician – Junior Partner

Meggan Goodpasture, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine,   Director of the Child Abuse and Neglect Team

Sonny Haynes, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, Associate Attorney

Patrice Toney, Forsyth County Government, Budget and Management Analyst

Elizabeth Dampier, Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem, Executive Director

Mark Johnson, Inmar, Corporate Counsel

Camille Banks-Payne, State of North Carolina, District Court Judge

Zac O’Brien, Thrivent Financial, Financial Planner

Carrie Vickery, Holton Law Firm, PLLC, Attorney

Andrew Rodgers, RiverRun International Film Festival, Executive Director

To date, Winston<40 400="" a="" about="" for="" has="" href="http://www.winstonunder40.com/" information="" members.="" more="" nearly="" registered="" visit="" winston="">www.winstonunder40.com

. 
 

  

About the Chamber

The Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce is the leading business organization in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, representing nearly 1,800 area businesses that are committed to increased economic development in the region. The Chamber is dedicated to establishing Winston-Salem as a technology-driven economic center, and provides services to strengthen existing businesses, support entrepreneurs, and encourage small business creation. The Chamber supports public school student achievement, workforce, and higher education development."

- A Press Release