Latin Quarters Bringing Puerto Rican Food To The Triangle

Walk into Latin Quarters in North Raleigh and it's like stepping into a little slice of the Island. "We wanted to give it an authentic feel,"said Julio Marrero, manager of the restaurant.

Arroz Con Pollo with Black Beans and White Rice

Authentic Tostones

Marrero and his partner Randy Hernandez who owns Tropical Picken Chicken in Wake Forest took over the restaurant 8 months ago. They changed the menu to Puerto Rican with a touch of Cuban and Dominican as well.
"We decided to go with primarily Puerto Rican because that's what we know. I grew up in the kitchen with my Mom and Dad cooking. We know how to make it authentic," said Marrero.

Marrero who was a contractor in the restaurant business recently relocated to Raleigh from the Bronx, NY to manage the restaurant. He says it's been a lot of work but it's a labor of love. "The people here are great. We're introducing them to a whole new style of cuisine. Sometimes people come in and think we're a Mexican restaurant but then I give them samples and they stay and absolutely love the food," says Marrero.

Latin Quarters also is a place where you can learn about Latin culture. On Wednesday nights there's a Latin dance class taught by professional dancers. On the weekend part of the restaurant turns into a dance floor where people can Salsa, Merengue and have a good time. "It's an older crowd that likes to come and have a good time. I was worried people would think this is a night club. But it's gotten popular because no one else is offering something like this. If you come on Wednesday night and learn how to dance then come back on Saturday night it will be a lot of fun for people," said Marrero.

But what really makes Latin Quarters special is the food. The menu features authentic Puerto Rican dishes like Arroz Con Pollos, Arroz Gandules, Tostones and Mofongo. "That's what we are really known for. People come from all across the state to come here. I was shocked when people started coming from Fayetteville, Chapel Hill and from a few hours away just to eat here," said Marrero.

The restaurant is also has a full bar stocked with authentic Puerto Rican rums," People love our Mojitos," Marrero says with a smile.

In the kitchen is Chef Anthony Alvarez who grew up in Puerto Rico and prides himself on using authentic ingredients. "Everything we make is just like it's made in Puerto Rico. I learned the cuisine on the Island. My mother and father taught me how to cook authentic Puerto Rican food,"says Alvarez.

Whether you come for the food or just a good time one thing for sure is you will leave a good feeling. Puerto Ricans are known for their warmth, hospitality and of course great food. "We've been received great by Raleigh so far and I'm excited about the future," said Marrero.

 Tune in Monday night to WNCN News at 11pm as we take a look at a brand new football helmet rating system formulated by Virginia Tech University.

Oakwood Residents "We Get Along Despite What Media Has Said"

Raleigh, NC 8/27/14

I have been in the news business since 1999 and what I witnessed on Tuesday afternoon was a first for me. I am covering a well known story in the city of Raleigh concerning a contemporary style home in a historic district called Oakwood. Read more about home here

I filed this report on Monday as the court case got started that quite honestly irked supporters of Louis Cherry's home being built at 516 Euclid. I've always considered myself a fair reporter and wanted to show people that there are many people in Oakwood who support this home.

Long story short, both residents who are for and against the home showed up to be interviewed outside of the home on Tuesday. What I thought might turn into fireworks actually showed something totally different. I saw these were friends and witnessed neighbors chatting in friendly manner. It was evident these neighbors, who while divided over the issue of the house, were not enemies much like some in the media have framed Oakwood residents.

Now Louis Cherry and Gail Weisner, the neighbors involved in the suit weren't present. So I can't speak on behalf of how they feel about each other.

There's been a lot said about this case. It even appeared on the Today Show. It was nice to hear that I was the first reporter that actually listened to both sides without making a judgement or coming in with preconceived notions about either side. I think many reporters out there like to create journalism before they even start talking to parties involved in disputes. Nothing irritates me more.

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH PRO-HOME OAKWOOD RESIDENTS

The fate of a contemporary home under construction in an historic downtown Raleigh neighborhood is in now in the hands of a judge.

Superior Court Judge Elaine Bushfan heard closing arguments Tuesday in the case of a "modern" home being constructed in Oakwood, but said there's no timeline for her decision because of the amount of paperwork.

The rift between the neighborhood and architect Louis Cherry and his wife Marsha Gordon began last September when the couple received approval from the city's Historic Development Commission to start building the home.

But in November, Gail Weisner, who lives directly across the street from the construction, asked the city's Board of Adjustment to review that finding, arguing the home did not fit in with the turn-of-the-century architecture surrounding it.

In March, the city Board of Adjustment voted 3-2 to put construction on the home on hold.

While many believe the controversy surrounding 516 Euclid Street is dividing the Oakwood district, neighbors on both sides of the debate say that is not the case.

"We are a passionate group," said Don Becom, an Oak City Preservation Alliance member who opposes the design of the home. "We agree on some issues and we don't on others. But we're still friends and neighbors and that's what it's all about."

But not all of Oakwood's residents oppose Cherry's home. Flanked by several of his neighbors, Donald Mutrud said the modern home is why he decided to buy on the same block.

"That was one of the deciding factors to pull the trigger on my house," Mutrud said.

Mutrud along with supporters of the modern style home believe the house is a good thing for Oakwood.

"There is a group of us that wants to make sure that it's known that we think it's compatible with things in this district," Mary Dillon said. "That will add to the richness and diversity of the neighborhood.

 If you ever have any questions for me I can always be reached at mgonzalez@wncn.com.

                                         

3 Arrested in Raleigh Shoot

http://www.wncn.com/video?clipId=10505365&autostart=true

Migrant Student Foundation Hosting Tequila Fundraiser

Tell me about the Migrant Students Foundation and what it's about?


The Migrant Students Foundation, Inc. is a 501c-3 non-profit organization
dedicated to serving the hundreds of thousands of existing migrant
farm worker families within the U.S. today by helping them connect with
scholarships, internships and service learning opportunities.  

MSF was originally founded in 2002 as the College Assistance Migrant Program
Alumni Association (CAMPAA). CAMP is a group of individual federal grants
sponsored by institutions of higher education dedicated to recruiting and
supporting students of migrant/seasonal farmworking background to succeed in
college.  Glen Galindo, the founder of MSF/CAMPAA was one of those thousands
of students that CAMP grants have helped since 1972.  In 2012, CAMPAA became
MSF in order to better serve and more adequately identify with all migrant
students nationwide. Though CAMP grants will always remain the most special
partner for the Migrant Students Foundation. 

Our organization primarily operated by volunteer staff. We invite you to
join us!
http://migrantstudents.org/whoweare.html  (please watch these two SHORT
videos on this page, which explain CAMP and my students made) - KEY


Tell me what your role is in the organization?

Executive Director and Founder, full-time volunteer for four years, and
part-time volunteer manager since 2002. We're 100% volunteer operated.  My
role is to develop programs in support of migrant/seasonal farm working youth
nationwide. I have the opportunity to coach parents and youth alike on how
to plan and prepare for success in higher education, as well as serve as
coordinator with youth in service learning projects such as the National
Cesar E. Chavez Blood Drive Challenge on over 300 universities/colleges
nationwide, as well as our abroad medical missions in Latin America.  

For me, it's about paying it forward. As a former migrant youth myself, had
it not been for adults who saw potential in me, and went out of their way to
mentor me, I would not have had the beautiful life of opportunities that I
have experienced to date. I can't imagine a more enjoyable role for me to
fill the rest of my life than to have the opportunity to be part of a
promising young person's future; helping them realize their potential and
their hard working family's dreams.



 Why is the organization so important for Washington and the surrounding
areas?

There are thousands of migrant/seasonal farm workers in the region. We may
not notice them day to day because they don't come to work with us to our
offices.  They are busy harvesting our crops, working hard every day trying
to realize the America dream, asking their children to do the same by
studying-hard. These deserving students are part of our community. MSF
supports the most motivated, hardest working, talented students with
promise. They just need our support. Our community would be wise to help
these young leaders, who are working hard not only to realize their dreams,
but that of their parents as well. To know these  youth, would be to be
proud of them and to want to help them.

 How are students vital to the campaign?

Our service learning campaigns are about offering young leaders platforms to
develop organizing and communication skills; as well as build relationships
helping their local communities with valuable life-saving services such as
encouraging others to donate blood, or join the bone marrow registry, or
practicing their interest in becoming a nurse or a doctor. The campaign is
run by students leaders on their college campuses, the surrounding
communities, and in rural communicates abroad in Latin America.  WATCH video
by students  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19XxlWqFMHY
Central Washington's Student Leader:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndR3Id1PWwM


 How did you get involved in the organization?

I am a former migrant/seasonal farmworker from California. I was helped by a
CAMP grant in Sacramento, worked the central San Joaquin Valley.  In 2002,
after I had experienced so much, enjoyed success, reflecting at my life I
saw a pivotal point, when I was 18, a migrant education professional, Marcos
Sanchez pointed me in the right direction...  .In 2002, I was director of
one of the CAMP grants in Lewiston ID.  I decided it was time to pay it
forward...to give back... ...  My Bio is here, and an interview 
http://migrantstudents.org/ourteam.html




Tell me about your Hispanic/Latino Heritage and how it helps you in
your job.

I actually see myself as global citizen. I think there are far more critical
differentiating factors among people than merely culture.  Things like
socio-economic status, parent's educational level, gender, sibling ranking,
personal experiences, geography & climate, profession, and so many more...
Sometimes we tend to forget that within all nationalities or
ethnicities....there is wide range of personality and backgrounds. Not all
Hispanic/Latino people are alike, by far.  So, I think the common thread for
the students and families we serve is that they are first generation
Americans, hardworking laborers, people who toil the earth, who grow &
harvest our foods. Be they any color or religion or nationality, they are
people who because their parents didn't go to college, or perhaps not even
high school or middle school, they are dependent on us for guidance. They
want to continue to work hard as Americans, doing right, contributing to
their local communities, here in our Washington-Idaho region, and for us who
do know better, to give them at least the information on how to help them
realize their dream through higher education.   So, my background as a
Mexican-American doesn't really come into play here; good people are good
people, and they can be found in every country of our planet.  We need to
find more commonalities and not use ethnicity to group people apart. If
you're for hard working farmworkers who have children who do their homework
and study hard in hope of someday becoming an engineer, a teacher, a
nurse...then you want to support Migrant Students Foundation.



What will go on during the auction fundraiser and why should people
attend?

This is a celebration of our common interest to help hard working students
to reach and succeed at Spokane-region colleges/universities.  We will enjoy
a delicious 5-course meal infused with the flavors of quality tequila.  The
scholarship recipients will be present. They not only need your financial
support, but they would welcome mentorship, internship & leadership
opportunities. Come meet them!

Where will the funds go?

100% to Scholarships for student leaders of the National Cesar E. Chavez
Blood Drive Challenge on these campus. You may decide to donate to support
any individual student/campus:

Cheney  Eastern Washington University
Lewiston Lewis-Clark State College
Moscow University of Idaho
Moses Lake Big Bend Community College
Pasco  Columbia Basin College 
Pullman  Washington State University
Spokane Carrington College
Spokane Spokane Community College
Spokane Spokane Falls Community College

How can people get involved with the Cesar Chavez Blood Drive?

2014 is our 6th year - expecting 300 colleges/universities (March-April) and
30,000 participating student blood donors

LCSC - 2013 KLEW
http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/LCSC-responsible-for-national-growing-movem
ent-199545401.html?tab=video&c=y

WSU & UI – 2014 KLEW Interview
http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/campus-blood-252910631.html


WSU & UI – 2013 KLEW Interview
http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/Blood-drive-to-raise-awareness--200609491.h
tml?tab=video&c=y




Tell me anything else I may have missed.
Perhaps mention our board, whomever you think might be most recognized in
Spokane? A quote from them, perhaps??


Yvonne Smith  ysmith@northernquest.com
Valerie Santillanes sales2@peppertreeinns.com
Kelley Charvet  Kcharvet@chas.org
Dr. Michael Birnbaum michael@islonline.org
Dr. Tracy Flynn  tflynn@lcsc.edu
Lupe Contreras  Lcontreras@columbiabasin.edu
Jennifer Hawkins jennifer.hawkins@inbcsaves.org
Rowena Peters  rowena.peters@inbcsaves.org
Luis Garcia  garcial@msu.edu
Magda Silva  msilva@nmdp.org
Dr. Jeffrey Ramirez ramirez@gonzaga.edu
Dr. Sandra Benavides svaello@wsu.edu

Staying Warm In The Cold

Love @ First Bite Is On A Real Kick

Monica Sanders is the owner of Love @ First Bite. A gourmet cupcake bake shop. They are trying to expand their business through a Kickstarter campaign. It's a very popular way some people have taken their business to the next level. I had a chance to ask her several questions about what it takes to make her business grow.

Link to their Facebook Page

Monica Sanders 

Tell me about Love @ First Bite. 

Love @ First Bite Desserts is a gourmet cupcake bake shop that also does a full range of desserts, special occasion cakes, wedding cakes, cake pops, and candy. We create all of our desserts from scratch using my own recipes. (NO box mixes used here. We use a REAL butter butter cream that is made fresh daily. (NO pre-made frosting or decorator's butter cream made with shortening, in fact we don't even have shortening on the premises.)  I take great pride in her creations and is very passionate about creating a delicious taste experience for her customers. 

When did you open?

Love @ First Bite has been open since August of 2011. I met my husband Shane in Colombia when I was 19yrs old. Shane was serving in the military while stationed there.  At the time I was homeless. When I moved to the United States I did not speak English or drive.  While raising my four children I would bake and create recipes.  Friends and family loved the desserts I would make and baking her desserts made me very happy.  I was encouraged to start selling the creations.  

I first started selling her baked goods at Farmer's Markets. Business was so successful I decided it was time to open my own bakery and then Love @ First Bite was born. Since that day the bakery has been growing steadily.  In 2013 I added a new addition to my product line by hiring Karen McLaughlin. Until the hiring of Karen we did not do custom designed decorated cakes or wedding cakes. Karen has 20 years of experience in baking and cake decorating.  Then the bakery kept growing, so to take care of the demand I added another addition, Love @ First Bite's Mobile Cupcake shop. With the truck we plan to have a weekly route in different parts of town and do special events. Our current location, which was great for the bakery when it was first opened, has now become too small. Now the next step in our growth is to move to a larger location that is located in a busier area. So last week we received the keys to the bakery's new location at 14401 E. Sprague.

Tell me about your Kickstarter Campaign?

Since the location for our bakery has been secured the next step is remodeling the space and moving our equipment in. Love @ First Bite launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with some of the new equipment and the hood system needed for our move. The quicker the bakery can get the new location ready the better. It is a challenge when you need to remodel and deal with the different building codes.  We had so many customers tell us they wanted to be apart of helping us move, that I decided to start the Kickstarter campaign so our customers could take part in this next step of the bakery.

Our Kickstarter project is for $15,000.  Kickstarter is a all or nothing crowd funding.  If we do not meet our goal we do not get any money.  If people choose to back our project in return they get some goodies and locals will be able to attend a special grand opening party once our bakery is finished. I have done as well without having to seek bank financing or investors. So Kickstarter is exactly what I was looking for.  Although I had reservations about putting myself out there to ask for help, I feel that this would allow our loyal customers to help get involved in what is going on in the growth of my business without losing control of her company or carry the load of a large over head. No matter the outcome, I'm confident and determined to take her business to the next step before this Summer.

What's your advice for people who want to start their own business?

For anyone looking to start a business you should follow your heart and do what you love. Owning your own business is a lot of work and if you do not love what you are doing you will not succeed. Also, count the cost, do not get in over your head. How it is so sad when you do what you love but have to close your business because your goals were not financially possible. Spending more than what you make will kill your business and cause problems that will most likely spill into your personal life. Be smart, save, no what you want and what it will take to get there. And most importantly, if you want it be willing to work hard enough to achieve your goal. Success does not just fall in your lap you have to go get it.