Community News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Scholarship deadline, K9 on duty, Victoria Flanagan honor

Scholarship applications are available now and close Dec. 15 for more than $550,000 worth of scholarship awards the Community Foundation of Henderson County will offer for the 2020-2021 academic year.

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 27, 2019

Reporting for duty

Henderson County Sheriff Lowell Griffin and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office announced the two newest members of the School Resource Officer Division.

Last week Deputy Ben Hawkins and his K-9, Ranger, were assigned to the Mountain Community School. Ranger has specialized training in narcotics detection as well as search and rescue. Sheriff Griffin sees the addition of Ranger as another tool in the toolbox of being proactive to combat the drugs and vaping issues being seen even as early as middle school.

Deadline is Dec. 15 for scholarship awards

Scholarship applications are available now and close Dec. 15 for more than $550,000 worth of scholarship awards the Community Foundation of Henderson County will offer for the 2020-2021 academic year.
To apply and learn more about CFHC scholarships, visit www.CFHCforever.org/scholarships. All scholarship applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15.
Scholarship opportunities are primarily available for graduating or recently graduated seniors attending, public, private, parochial, or homeschool in Henderson, Transylvania, Polk or Jackson counties. The wide range of available scholarships seek to support students with a variety of socio-economic backgrounds, achievements and higher education goals.
CFHC will award 108 scholarships for the upcoming academic year. Scholarship recipients will be announced in spring on the CFHC website and presented at high school award and graduation ceremonies. Questions about the online scholarship application and opportunities may be directed to Donor Services Manager Wendy Hamil at (828) 697-6224 or via email at WHamil@CFHCforever.org.

10,000 Villages sale is Nov. 2-3

The parish hall of St. James Episcopal Church will be transformed into a festive international market Nov. 2 and 3 during the annual Gifts of Hope Holiday Fair, featuring merchandise from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair-trade retailer of artisan-crafted gifts, home décor, jewelry and personal accessories. Every purchase improves the lives of artisans by supporting their craft and providing a fair, stable income.

“Ten Thousand Villages’ annual sale at St. James has become the Asheville store’s largest off-premises sale of the year,” said Frank Byrd, of the fair planning committee. “Not only does the fair give local buyers the opportunity to start their holiday shopping early, but purchases at the show benefit both the third-world artisans making each item and the outreach programs of St. James Church.”

Shoppers can also learn about several charitable organizations supported by the St. James community, including Blue Ridge Humane Society, Cuba Companionship Ministry, Heifer Project International, Hendersonville Rescue Mission, La Capilla de Santa Maria, Our Little Roses in Honduras and St. Paul’s Tabernacle AME Zion Church. Visitors can make donations to these organizations in honor or memory of loved ones. The Blue Ridge Humane Society will have dogs for adoption on Saturday.

The Garden of Eatin’ Café will offer homemade soups for sale both days and La Capilla de Santa Maria will serve up freshly-made tamales. A variety of delicious homemade baked goods will also be sold.

For the first time, the St. James’s Thursday Thrift Shop will be open during fair hours. The Thursday Thrift Shop features clothing, jewelry, housewares, books and much more. The shop is behind the church, 766 N. Main St., and easily accessed by entering off North Grove Street. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3.

Flanagan to be honored for volunteer fundraising

Victoria Flanagan, who is active in Historic Flat Rock and is an organizer of Flat Rock historic home and garden tours, will be honored as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser during a National Philanthropy Day luncheon on Nov. 20 in Asheville. Flanagan’s efforts have enabled the Village of Flat Rock to become a national historic district. Additionally. She is also involved with many of the organizations throughout the Henderson County Education Foundation and St. Gerard House.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Western North Carolina Chapter is hosting the event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Asheville. National Philanthropy Day recognizes and pays tribute to the great contributions that those active in the philanthropic community make to communities and around the world. For more information or to reserve a seat at the event, visit afpwnc.org/programs/npd or email chapteradmin@afpwnc.org.