Life

LOCAL BRIEFS: Honoring Etheredge, Train Tales, tractor pull

By Bill Moss, Published: October 17, 2018

Mineral industry is focus at Saluda Train Tales

SALUDA — Laura Fields will talk about the mineral industry in North Carolina during Saluda Train Tales at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Saluda Historic Depot, 32 W. Main St., Saluda. Although the topic may seem a little “off track,” the mineral industry is one of the reasons the railroads were built to Western North Carolina. Laura will explore the NC mineral industry over the past 200 years till today. She will show some of the rocks our mountains produce and how they are used.
 
After a successful career in real estate and serving as the town’s commissioner, Laura now has time to turn her passion for collecting unique rocks, minerals, and gems into a business on Main Street in Saluda. The Mineral Spirits gallery has evolved with this need in mind and the collection is not only beautiful but presented in groups by their Chakra Colors.
 
Saluda Train Tales is a free monthly event to educate the community about the importance of Saluda’s railroad history and the Saluda Grade. For more information, contact Cathy Jackson at 828-817-2876 or cathy@saludalifestyles.com.

Art League show honors Etheredge

The 2018 Annual Member Show of the Art League of Henderson County will pay tribute this fall to its founder, Grace Etheredge. Sixty years ago Etheredge organized a public exhibit of her students’ work in the lobby of the Skyland Hotel. Subsequent exhibits moved to the sidewalk and were open to all artists, growing over the years to the exhibit now known as Art on Main. The Member Show will return this year to its roots, downtown Hendersonville, and will be hosted by CANVAS Artspace at 212 S. Church St.

Categories for professional and non-professional artists will showcase the artistic talent of the area. The show will include a wide variety of subject matter and medium. The judge this year is local artist and teacher Cathyann Burgess.

A native of Augusta, Georgia, Etheredge began work in the late ‘50s on her dream of teaching art in the Blue Ridge. Her first venture was with the Opportunity Group, formed in 1957 at the First United Methodist Church for the purpose of fellowship and to encourage the teaching and exhibiting of arts and crafts. She taught classes there and on learning that art was not taught in local schools, she volunteered to teach art on Saturdays in Henderson County schools. Soon after, the school system added art to its regular curriculum. Etheredge along with a number of local artists formed the Art League in 1960. Etheredge (1905-1993) was honored this past year with her selection to the Henderson County Walk of Fame for her founding of the Art League and helping found the Opportunity House.
The exhibit will be on display Nov. 1-Nov. 10 after an opening from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information visit www.canvaswnc.com or www.artleague.net or email junekal60@yahoo.com.

21st Toy run is set for Saturday, Nov. 17

For the 21st year, motorcycle riders will meet at Bill Moore Community Park in Fletcher to collect gifts for the foster and underprivileged children of Henderson County and participate in the annual Henderson County Toy Run. Universal Health Care of Fletcher, 86 Old Airport Road, Fletcher, is serving as the collection site for toys Nov. 1-15. This year’s Toy Run is Nov. 17.
Bring a $15 toy or $15 cash donation during regular business hours. All proceeds will be given to Department of Social Services Child Protective Services. For more information about making a donation call Lynn Cordell at 828-654-9060. For more information call Linda Wright at 828-702-2307 or visit the Facebook page.

Fall Harvest Days showcases tractors

The 33rd Annual WNC Fall Harvest Days and Antique Engine and Tractor Show will be held Oct. 18-20 at the Western North Carolina Agriculture Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, and will feature all brands of farm equipment, antique tractors, hit n’ miss engines of all sizes, tractor pulls, and a parade at 2 p.m. daily weather permitting. More than 250 vendors/exhibitors, tools, antiques, collectibles, toys and more will be on hand.
Sponsored by the Apple Country Engine and Tractor Association, the festival is held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. all three days. Admission is $8 a day or $20 for a 3-day pass. Children under 12 are admitted free with paid adult.

Rotary Club announces charity golf tournament

The Rotary Club of Hendersonville will host a Captain’s Choice 18-hole golf tournament Friday, Oct. 26, at Cummings Cove Golf Club. The tournament includes a hole-in-one opportunity to win a car, courtesy of Hendersonville Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealership, prizes on all par 3 holes, door prizes, goodie bags and surprises along the way. Tee time is noon. Lunch will be provided and a buffet dinner served at the awards celebration.

The club’s goal is to raise $10,000 to fund a variety of programs benefiting children in Henderson County including educational grants to classroom teachers and the Gift of Knowledge dictionary project. To be involved as a hole sponsor, golfer or volunteer, contact Kim Hinkelman at 828-233-2700 or Kimerly.hinkelman@pardeehospital.org.