News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Bugs, Fun Day, United Way

By Bill Moss, Published: June 19, 2015

Local briefs on a new women's clinic, Cradle of Forestry's bug day, ROTC winner, Flat Rock Fun Day, United Way and Covenant Presbyterian youth choir event:

Free Clinics adding Women’s Health Clinic

The Free Clinics is adding a Women’s Health Clinic starting June 24.
In a recent survey of female patients, the clinic found that more 90 percent reported that they were in need of women’s preventative exams and screenings.
Dr. David Ellis, Chief Medical Officer at Pardee Hospital, will perform well-women exams for low-income uninsured patients who qualify for The Free Clinics’ services. All women in the community are invited to take advantage of free screenings for Bone Density through the Park Ridge Health WOW van, Hepatitis C and HIV from WNCAP (Western North Carolina AIDS Project), and blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index from The Free Clinics’ nurses.
Please call 697-8422 for well-woman appointments, or simply join us from 3-6 p.m. to take part in the other health screenings. To learn about the programs and volunteer opportunities at The Free Clinics, call 697-8422 or visit www.thefreeclinics.org.

Cradle of Forestry offers bug programs

The Cradle of Forestry in America will host programs on insects and their relatives from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, in honor of National Pollinator Week. From 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. naturalists will present a firefly program in the Pink Beds picnic area.
Activities include pond explorations at 10 a.m. and 3:30, bug hunts at 11:30 and 2 p.m., and ongoing buggy games and crafts. A guided walk at 11 a.m., “Mysteries on Forest Leaves,” discusses galls and other evidence of plant/insect interrelationships found along the way.
Learn about monarch butterflies, their migration, and how you can help their survival. See an enclosed observation hive containing thousands of live honeybees. Learn about the fascinating lifecycle of these social insects, how honey is made and how to get started as a beekeeper.
For the evening firefly program, meet at the Pink Beds Picnic Area a short distance north of the entrance to the Cradle of Forestry on U.S. 276. Please bring a flashlight.
While waiting for nightfall, the group will discuss the life cycle and special features of firefly biology and behavior. Children can create a firefly craft. Participants will enjoy a short walk on the Pink Beds Trail searching for fireflies, exploring the surrounding forest and discussing forest ecology. Cost for this evening program is $6 for adults, $3 for youth 15 and under; holders of America the Beautiful and Golden Age passes.
Admission to the daytime Bug Day event is $5 for adults and free for youth under 16 years of age. The Cradle of Forestry is on U.S. 276 in the Pisgah National Forest, six miles north of Looking Glass Falls and four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 412.

DAR honors WHHS cadet

Sydney SittonWest Henderson High School ninth grader Sydney Sitton is the 2015 recipient of the DAR ROTC Award, the Joseph McDowell Chapter of the DAR announced.
The ROTC Award goes to a cadet who demonstrates loyalty, patriotism and an earned a record of military and scholastic achievement in the ROTC program. Sydney enjoys music, sports, reading, cooking, swimming, military, volunteering and animal care. She plans to pursue a four-year college degree focusing on the military.

Pardee to sponsor Flat Rock Fun Day

Pardee UNC Healthcare has signed on as the presenting sponsor for the first Fall into Flat Rock 5K and Family Fun Day on Saturday, Oct. 17, at The Park at Flat Rock.
Residents in the affected area who have questions may call Renee Ledford at 828-694-6019. For more information about rabies, visit the Health Department’s website at www.hendersoncountync.org/health.The 5K race begins at 9 a.m. and takes place on the scenic park nature trail. A fun walk is also available. To register, visit active.com (T-shirts included).
The free Family Fun Day is from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Events include Tai Chi demonstrations, a mini Curb Market, storytelling, nature walk, Junction 280 bluegrass band, food, refreshments and Italian ice.
“We are proud to partner with the Village of Flat Rock to support this exciting new event,” Pardee CEO Jay Kirby. “Part of our mission at Pardee UNC Healthcare is to support activities and events that promote healthy lifestyles. The Park at Flat Rock definitely does just that.”
Chosen Edition
to perform in Dana
Chosen Edition will be in concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Refuge Baptist Church in Dana.
There is no admission charge. A love offering will be taken. The church is at the junction of Dana, Upward, Ridge and Oleta roads. For more information, contact the church office at 828-685-8544.

UW campaign chairs recruit business leaders

Mark Warwick and Paige Posey are cochairs of the 2015 United Way campaign.Paige Posey and Mark Warwick of WTZQ-1600 AM are the 2015 campaign co-chairs for the United Way of Henderson County, the nonprofit agency announced.
“It is an honor to accept the challenge of co-chairing the 2015 United Way Campaign,” Warwick said. “This is the second year of UWHC funds aligning with the Target Issues of HC2025, a 10-year plan developed by community partners to improve Henderson County. Serving as co-chairs is a small contribution toward this decade-long vision, but it insures that we are doing our part to help make a difference. We encourage everyone to join us as we give, advocate and volunteer.”
While the campaign doesn’t officially begin until Sept. 11, Posey and Warwick have already recruited volunteers to help with the campaign. They are Brian Cavagnini (Meritor), John Bryant (Henderson County Public Schools), Don Bryant (retired, Henderson County Public Schools), Kristen Martin (Thrive), Sherri Holbert (Park Ridge Health), Albert Gooch (Albert Gooch Consultant), and Chris Battista (Beverly-Hanks & Associates).
Posey and Warwick also are seeking volunteers to serve as Loaned Executives. Loaned Executives help raise money and awareness within workplace campaigns from August through November. To learn more, contact Laresa Griffin at 692-1636 ext. 1107 or email lgriffin@liveunitedhc.org.

Covenant presents youth choir concert

Bethany Bible Church and Covenant Presbyterian Church are presenting a joint concert of youth choirs at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2101 Kanuga Road.
The end of Bethany Bible Church’s annual music camp for young people has coincided with Covenant’s hosting of a traveling youth choir from New Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale.
New Presbyterian Church youth choir is singing in Chattanooga, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Montreat and Augusta, Ga., on their way back to Florida.
Greg Stiekes, pastor of Bethany Bible Church and director of the Music Camp, arranged for the young musicians at Bethany Bible Church to join the visiting choir as it presents the choral music. This provides a special opportunity for the local young people to sing under the leadership of Matthew McMurrin, the New Presbyterian Church choir director. He is the son of Roger McMurrin, a former music director at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale who moved to Ukraine with his family and founded Music Mission Kiev. Matthew worked with his father in the Ukraine project.