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ROAD RAGE: Residents rise up against transportation improvements

Henderson County News

Ask Matt ... why hawgs park that way

Q. Why do bikers always back their motorcycles into parking areas? I asked a Harley owner who had just parked his bike on Main Street. He said, “Motorcycles don’t have a reverse gear. When you park on a downward slope it’s hard to back up your bike when leaving but much easier to pull straight out under engine power. It’s also a safety thing.”The Moto Cafe on NC191 (formerly Carolina Roses greenhouse) attracts a lot of bikers. Actually, it’s a really cool watering hole. Owner Jeff Herold agreed that when bikers are parked close together, it’s easier to leave pulling out head first, particularly into traffic. Q. How do emergency responders get access into gated communities and how many are there in the county? There are more than 30 gated communities in Henderson County. The largest ones are Carriage Park, Cummings Cove, Kenmure, Wolfpen and Windstone (Fletcher). Four have gate attendants and the rest have gates that are are opened electronically by residents either with a key pad or an electronic device in their cars commonly known as a “clicker.” So how do law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, etc. gain access? Don’t laugh but they do it with a siren. County emergency response vehicles can switch to an alternate siren tone different from the siren sound you hear on the highway. When they approach the gate, the tone’s frequency opens it. It’s that simple...when it works, and it works most of the time. Some gates can also be opened with a key pad and if necessary, response units can get gate access codes from the 9-1-1 emergency communications center. The County has specific rules regarding entry gates. Plans for entry gates must be approved by both the Fire Marshal and the Sheriff’s Department. Emergency and law enforcement vehicles shall be provided “unfettered access to all private streets.” This is usually through the subdivision’s homeowners association. The law specifies an access control device approved by the County. The law also states that the gates be set back from the main road thus allowing vehicles to pull safely off the main road while waiting for the gate to open. The N.C. Department of Transportation will not accept streets into their system that are in a gated community. And county school buses are not permitted to enter one either. Buses stop outside the gate for pickups and dropoffs. Based upon the data I found, there are some 2,600 residences behind locked gates in our county. At an average of two persons per unit, that’s the equivalent of 5,200 residents. Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Deputies lodge charges in two animal cruelty cases

Henderson County's animal enforcement squad brought animal cruelty charges after investigating separate cases residents keeping dogs and cats in unhealthy and unsanitary living conditions, the sheriff's office said.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Partnership for Economic Development names new president

The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development has named Brittany Jones Brady, the jobs-creating agency's second-in-command, as president of the organization effective today.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (144)

You won't want to miss this week’s Hendersonville Lightning.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Habitat neighborhood wins affordable housing award

EAST FLAT ROCK — Dodd Meadows, a single-family home neighborhood developed by Henderson County Habitat for Humanity with support from the City of Asheville, is one of four developments that serve as models for other communities across the state. Sponsored by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the Housing North Carolina Awards were presented at the N.C. Affordable Housing Conference, which hosted nearly 1,000 housing industry professionals at the Raleigh Convention Center. Winning developments were selected for affordability, design, sustainability, community contribution, resident services and creative partnerships. The other three were: Mother Teresa Villa, Charlotte, a home for adults with developmental disabilities that was created by the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corporation with support from the City of Charlotte and co-sponsored by InReach, a local nonprofit that provides residential support for people with disabilities. Hope Court, Greensboro, a permanent supportive housing facility for formerly homeless individuals, persons with disabilities and working families developed by Affordable Housing Management with support from the City of Greensboro. Parkside Commons, Greenville, a rental development offering 98 apartments for Greenville’s seniors, developed by Taft Development Group with support from the City of Greenville.   Read Story »

Henderson County News

County hires new parks and rec director

Henderson County has hired away Transylvania County's parks and recreation director. Carleen Dixon, of Brevard, will join the team at Henderson County Parks and Recreation beginning Nov. 27, the Henderson County manager's office annnounced. Dixon holds a bachelor’s degree in natural recreation and tourism from Colorado State University. She is also a certified parks and recreation executive, the highest level of certification from the National Parks and Recreation Association. She has worked in the parks and recreation field since 1999, most recently for Transylvania County as director. “Transylvania County appreciates all that Ms. Dixon has contributed professionally during her time with the county," Transylvania County Manager Jaime Laughter said. "Her enthusiasm for Parks and Recreation is inspiring and we know she will be an asset in her new role at Henderson County. We hate to lose her from our organization, but we are excited for her to take the next step in her career in our region. It couldn’t be a better situation to have her serving our sister county next door." “I am very excited to be joining the Henderson County team," Dixon said. "The County has great natural resources and an amazing group of people to work with. I feel blessed to have this opportunity and look forward to all the great things to come for Henderson County." Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt said: “We received a good response from qualified candidates for the position. Carleen rose to the forefront of the group through the process and was the Selection Committee’s unanimous recommendation to me. My meeting with her, and our subsequent conversation regarding the needs and potential of the department, led me to the same conclusion. She can be an asset to the organization and the community for years to come. We look forward to working with her.”   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Edwards apppointed to judicial redistricting panel

Senate Leader Phil Berger has appointed state Sen. Chuck Edwards to a committee looking at redrawing judicial districts across the state. Berger announced the creation of the Senate Select Committee on Judicial Reform and Redistricting on Tuesday, Along with Edwards, R-Hendersonville, appointees included Sen. Terry Van Duyn, D-Asheville. Others were Sen. Dan Bishop, Co-Chair; Sen. Warren Daniel, Co-Chair; Sen. Bill Rabon, Co-Chair; Sen. Dan Barrett, Sen. Dan Blue, Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, Sen. Joel Ford, Sen. Ralph Hise, Sen. Floyd McKissick, Sen. Wesley Meredith, Sen. Paul Newton, Sen. Shirley Randleman and Sen. Norm Sanderson. “After 60 years of haphazard and sometimes contradictory changes to our judicial system, I hope our state can have a thoughtful dialogue on how to modernize, reform and strengthen it in the coming months," Berger, R-Rockingham, said in a news release. "The judiciary touches every North Carolinian, so the conversation needs to include Republicans and Democrats, judges, legislators, district attorneys, clerks of court, executive branch officials, men and women of all races, and, yes, even lawyers. "This committee will carefully consider all options on how we select judges including the House’s judicial redistricting bill, merit selection models, retention elections, and, if we maintain a system of elections, their frequency and partisan structure. I sincerely hope the committee reaches a consensus recommendation that will modernize and strengthen our courts." A House bill on judicial redistricting left the districts alone in Henderson County. "H 717 will not change the maps governing the judicial district that includes Henderson County," Rep. Chuck McGrady said in a newsletter this week. "Its only effect will be to add one district court judge slot and one assistant district attorney slot, both of these changes reflecting the caseload for the judicial district that includes Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties."   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Saint Paul winery wins two best of show awards

Henderson County’s first commercial winery, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, won two of three Best of Show awards at the 2017 N.C. State Fair Wine Competition. The family-owned winery won the Best of Show award in the bunch grape category for its Laurel Hill semi-dry Vidal Blanc blend and the Best of Show award in the fruit/honey category for its Chestnut Gap Cottage dry blackberry wine.The Old North State Winery in Mt. Airy won the Best of Show award in the muscadine category.In addition to the Best of Show medals, St Paul wines won 12 other medals — one double gold, six silver and five bronze — in the N.C. State Fair Wine Competition.“We are very excited to receive two of the highest recognitions given in North Carolina for wine,” Alan Ward, the owner and operator of Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, said in a news release. “We are fortunate at Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards to be able to grow grapes in such a unique growing region. The Appalachian mountains are the second oldest in the world with more geological and plant diversity than any other location in the world. That makes this a perfect place to grow vinifera. We are honored to receive these awards and thank our winemaker Stephen Rigby, who deserves recognition as well.”The state fair competition was held Aug. 18-19 at the N.C. Viticulture and Enology Center at Surry County Community College. Only wines made from a minimum of 75 percent N.C. grown fruit or honey were allowed to enter the competition. The top awards were verified by the N.C. Wine and Grape Council before being made public.Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards, at 588 Chestnut Gap Road off of U.S. 64 East, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.The winery is located on acreage that has been in Ward’s family and farmed for more than nine generations. The Saint Paul tasting room includes both indoor and outdoor seating with views of the vineyards.Saint Paul wines are made from 14 varieties of grapes grown in two vineyards at elevations of 2,300 and 3,000 feet, the highest in Henderson County and some of the highest in the state.Ward recently opened a tasting room for Appalachian Ridge Artisan Ciders across the road from Saint Paul’s tasting room.Full results from the competition can be found at www.ncwine.org.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

It's giddyup time for Polk interchange, NCDOT says

The N.C. Department of Transportation is saddling up for serious construction.   Read Story »

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