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Blue Ridge Parkway wants to ban untreated firewood

Henderson County News

Spay-neuter organization appeals for help

The founder of a successful nonprofit spay neuter program Henderson County is appealing for public support to keep the program going through 2017.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Here's big list of holiday events

From ice skating to music to holiday greenery to custom hot chocolate treats downtown Hendersonville offers loads of events for Christmas. Here is a list of holiday events downtown and beyond: Dec. 5 – Jan. 1: Winter Lights Holiday Tour: Take a trolley trip to the North Carolina Arboretum to experience the Winter Lights display – masterful outdoor displays created by a Disneyworld lighting veteran – tour is 6-8:30 pm Fridays and Saturdays, Asheville, NC 828-606-8606, ncwinterlights.com Dec. 5 – Dec. 30: Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland is a drive-through display with acres of lights and music. Open nightly at the WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher, 888-321-7542, shadrackchristmas.com/asheville Dec. 5 – Dec. 25: Santa House: Come see where the jolly old elf lives at the corner of 6th and North Main St., Hendersonville Dec. 5 – Dec. 24: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Photo Display: (Mon-Sat. 8 am-7 pm; Sun. 10 am-5 pm) – FREE Carolina Ace Hardware, 911 Greenville Hwy., Hendersonville, 828- 697-2237, carolinaace.com Dec. 5 – 24: Carolers: Hear local church and community group singers perform favorite Christmas carols each weekend – Main Street, Hendersonville Dec. 5 – Dec. 22: Holiday Greenery Market: Shop for your garland, wreaths and Fraser fir trees downtown on an old-time filling station lot with retro trailer, lighting display and Santa House – 620 North Main St., Hendersonville, 828-698-7525 Dec. 5 – 18: A Christmas Carol at the Flat Rock Playhouse Mainstage. Wed-Sun. $15-$40. Flat Rock, NC 828-693-0731 www.flatrockplayhouse.org Dec. 5 -18: Music on the Rock “A Celtic Christmas”: Christmas music of Scotland and Ireland through the ages – Thursday-Sunday – Flat Rock Playhouse – Downtown, 125 South Main St., Hendersonville, 693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org/show/a-celtic-christmas Dec. 5 – 18: Santa’s Gourmet Hot Chocolate Workshop: Warm up your holidays with a special hot chocolate creation you design! Available at The Green Room, 536 North Main, Hendersonville, every weekend between November 4 and Dec. 18 – all day Friday and Saturday, 11 am – 3 pm Sundays, 828-692-6335, thegreenroomcafe.biz Dec. 9-10, 16-17: Carriage Rides on Main tour historic Main Street in an elegant horse-drawn carriage – rides start at the corner of 6th and Main, Hendersonville, 828-693-9708, visithendersonvillenc.org Dec. 9 – 11: Hendersonville Little Theatre presents Heaven in Your Pocket, a new musical by Mark Houston, Fri& Sat 7:30pm, Sat & Sun 2pm, Hendersonville, NC 828-692-1082 www.hendersonvillecommunitytheatre.org Dec. 10 and 17: Christmas Music at The Green Room, come for dinner and drinks while enjoying enjoy live Christmas music performances. Saturdays, 5:30-7:30 pm, 536 North Main, Hendersonville, 828-692-6335 - thegreenroomcafe.biz Dec. 10 and 17: Children’s Christmas Workshop is a chance for kids to make a craft project as a gift for a parent, grandparent or sibling while watching a children’s Christmas movie. Jongo Java, 117 South Main St., Hendersonville, 828-696-9052 Dec. 10: Santa on the Chimney, Chimney Rock State Park, witness Santa’s daring stunt as he practices on one of the world’s largest chimneys with multiple 200-foot rappels! Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy live holiday music, hot cocoa, cookies and kids’ activities, plus meet live critters, 11am-2pm, 828-625-9611, www.chimneyrockpark.com Dec. 10: Christmas Fun at the Farm features a variety of activities including twilight house tours, pictures with Santa and make your own ornaments. 3 – 6 p.m. at Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd. Hendersonville, 28791, 828-891-6585, www.historicjohnsonfarm.org Dec. 10: Christmas at the Zoo offers a Nativity scene; Santa Claus; caroling; music all day; animals; decorations, from 10 am – 5 pm (weather permitting). Jackson Farm & Petting Zoo, 2025 Gilliam Mountain Road, 828-551-2883, jacksonfarmandpettingzoo.com Dec. 10: Pet Photos With Santa is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Humane Society – come in and have your pet’s photo taken with Santa Claus from 10 a.m. – noon. ACE Hardware, 911 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville, 828-329-3753, blueridgehumane.org Dec. 10: Christmas Tea at Connemara is hosted by “A Southern Cup” at the Carl Sandburg Home in Historic Flat Rock (formal tea attire optional) , two seating’s: 10 am and 2 pm. 81 Carl Sandburg Ln., Flat Rock, 828-674-2003, friendsofcarlsandburg.org Dec. 10: Hendersonville Symphony “A Carolina Christmas” is a world-class Christmas performance by Hendersonville’s professional symphony orchestra. Begins at 3 p.m., Blue Ridge Community College, Hendersonville, 828-697-5884, hendersonvillesymphony.org Dec. 10: Henderson County Crafters Association Winter Arts & Crafts Show, featuring 30 juried, local artisans offering a variety of handmade items, 10am-3pm, NC National Guard Armory, Flat Rock, 828-489-2494, www.hendersoncountycrafters.org Dec. 10: Fletcher’s Annual Christmas Parade. 10:30 a.m. Between Old Airport Rd and Hwy 25. Dec. 10: Nnenna Freelon, Winner of the Billie Holiday Award from the Acadamie du Jazz, Freelon delights audiences with hit originals and beloved standards that recall the heydays of jazz legends; Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, 28782; 828-859-8322 www.tryonarts.org Dec. 11: Cookie Caper & Inn Tour is a tour of thehistoric inns in the Hendersonville area. Collect a tasty treat at each destination. 1-4 pm, 828-697-3088, hendersonvillenc.gov Dec. 11: Gingerbread House Competition, watch teams build and decorate gingerbread houses, From 1 – 4 p.m. at Jongo Java Coffee House, 117 South Main St., Hendersonville, 828-696-9052. * * * * *   List of Home for the Holidays events was compiled by the Tourism Development Authority.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Skating rink needs volunteers

Hendersonville's newest holiday treat, ice skating at the Visitors Center, is coming together with an added feature — a fire pit with s'mores. Organizers need loads of volunteers to help with attraction, a fundraiser for the America In Bloom Committee. Made by a company from Greenville, S.C., the 30x40-foot skating rink will fill most of the parking lot and hold up to 40 skaters at a time. The half-hour skating times will start at the top of the hour. Volunteers will clean the skate blades and apply a chemical to the ice rink and squeegee it off to keep the surface slick, said Mia Freeman, chair of the America In Bloom Committee and the organizer of the ice skating fundraiser. "The very first day we're having an opening show with a professional skater," Freeman said. Planners need to fill 4½-hour volunteer slots from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Dec. 20 through New Year's Day but they will accept shifts as short as two hours. Duties include ticket takers, checking ice skates out and back in, cleaning ice skate blades and making sure each skater signs a waiver. The county is requiring that all skaters under 18 have a waiver signed by their parents, "A lot of the volunteers are elderly so what I'm really concerned about is the cold weather," she said. "They really need to dress warm. We will have the Volunteer Center open during the day." The TDA is using its own list of volunteers and those who work the Garden Jubilee and Apple Festival to recruit help. Some businesses have signed up to take volunteer slots, too. Freeman has a busy holiday season. She's also in the cast for "Unwrapping Local History," the play about the Henderson County and Hendersonville history from 1900 through the 1960s. The cast has been rehearsing every night until 10 o'clock and it has four performances next Thursday through Saturday. "I bit off a lot more than I thought," she said. "I can't believe it I did this to myself." The TDA, which partnered with America in Bloom on the skating rink, has added a fire pit in the Visitors Center parking lot as part of its overall Home for the Holidays lineup of things to do downtown. For a small fee people can buy a s'mores kit and roast marshmallows. There will also be hot chocolate and other snacks for sale and benches for spectators to watch the skaters. The rink price, $8 for adults and $5 for children, includes the 30-minute skate and skate rental. “The skating rink is going to be one of the biggest draws we have because it’s unique and there aren’t a lot of communities around that will have anything like it. That’s why it’s getting such a buzz,” said Beth Carden, executive director of the TDA. To volunteer call Mia Freeman at 828-768-4413.     Read Story »

Henderson County News

County plans New Year's Eve party with 'apple drop'

A couple of years ago, County Manager Steve Wyatt got tired of hearing about New Year’s Eve parties in Asheville and Greenville, S.C.   Read Story »

North Carolina News

N.C. history books now more widely available

A collection of more than 150 books about North Carolina’s history, people and culture will be easier to find and purchase through a new partnership between the North Carolina Office of Archives and History and the University of North Carolina Press.   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Don't miss this week's Hendersonville Lightning (108)

You won’t want to miss this miss this week’s Hendersonville Lightning. You'll read about the expected next step for the potential development at Horse Shoe Farm, complete coverage of the latest twist in the long road toward a new Hendersonville High School, news about development downtown and our big list of Christmas, New Year's Eve and other holiday season events in Hendersonville. You've got to get a copy because it's only in print and only in the Lighting! Here’s where you can pick up a Lightning:  Hendersonville• Hendersonville Lightning Office, 1111 Asheville Hwy• Pop's Diner, 5 Points, North Main Street• Triangle Stop, 701 North Main Street• The 500 block of North Main Street(First Citizens Bank / Mast Gen. Store)• Black Bear Coffee Co., Main Street• The 300 block of North Main Street(McFarland's Bakery / Mike's on Main). Pardee Hospital in the lobby. Flat Rock Playhouse, downtown(100 block of South Main Street) Southside Hendersonville(Spartanburg Highway)• Hairstyles by Charlene, Joel Wright Drive• McDonald's, Spartanburg Highway• Norm's Minit Mart, Spartanburg Highway• Hendersonville Co-op• Burger King/BP, Spartanburg HighwayIngles Supermarket Southside Hendersonville(Greenville Highway)Carolina Ace HardwareWhitley Drug Store Flat Rock/East Flat Rock• Flat Rock Post Office• Flat Rock Bakery• Zirconia Post Office• East Flat Rock Post Office• Orr's Family Restaurant, Spartanburg Hwy• Energy Mart Exxon, Upward Road & I-26• Triangle Stop, 754 Upward Road & I-26Village Café and PubPage 2 Hendersonville(Kanuga Road)• Hot Dog World, Kanuga Road• Mr. Pete's Market, Kanuga Road• Norm's Minit Mart, Kanuga Road Hendersonville(Fifth Avenue)Hendersonville Post officeFifth Aenue Shell Laurel Park• YMCA H'ville, Sixth Ave & Oak Str• Laurel Park Village, Rite-Aid.• Energy Mart Exxon, Brevard Road at Daniel DriveDixie Diner, Brevard Road Highway 64(Brevard Road)• Horse Shoe Post Office• Mr. Pete's Market, Etowah, Hwy 64-W• Blue Ridge Pizza, Etowah, Hwy 64-W• Etowah Shopping Center, Etowah Highway 191(Haywood Road)• Joey's New York Bagels, Hwy 191• One-Stop Store #8, Haywood Road (Hwy 191)• Dollar General, Hwy 191 & Mountain Road Mills River• Triangle Stop, 4197 Haywood Road, Mills River• Mills River Family Restaurant. Food LionIngles Page 3 Eastside Hendersonville and Four Seasons Boulevard• Norm's Minit Mart, Dana Road• Fatz Cafe, Dana Road & Four Seasons Blvd• Grocery Outlet, off Four Seasons Boulevard• McDonald's, Four Seasons Boulevard• Energy Mart Exxon, Four Seasons BoulevardMustang Cafe Highway 64 East(Chimney Rock Highway)• Triangle Stop, 2545 Chimney Rock Road, Hwy 64-E• Mr. Pete's Market, East, Hwy 64-E • Griffin's Store, Edneyville, Hwy 64-E• Edneyville Post Office. Griffins Store, EdneyvilleShell station, 64 East and Sugarloaf RoadIngles, Howard Gap RoadMoose Cafe Highway 25 North(Asheville Highway)• The Ugly Mug Coffee Shop, Hwy 25-N• Triangle Stop, Hwy 25-N, Balfour• Mountain Home Post Office• Fletcher Post OfficeInglesNaples Post OfficeTravel Plaza, US 25 and I-26 Southern & Eastern Henderson County, Polk County• Dana Post Office• Rosco's Grocery, Green River• Saluda Post Office• Triangle Stop, 1487 Ozone Road, SaludaAll Henderson County Ingles StoresAll Henderson County Post Offices   Read Story »

Henderson County News

County's demand presents chance 'to shut this down,' O'Cain says

Henderson County School Board members appear divided on how they will vote when they take up the demand by the county Board of Commissioners to endorse the commissioners’ choice for a new Hendersonville High School. But it’s clear that two School Board members — Amy Lynn Holt and newcomer Blair Craven — are unmoved in their desire to push for a renovated HHS instead of an all-new campus and that they favor putting Edneyville Elementary School ahead of HHS.“Do I know how I’m going to vote? Come on,” Holt said Tuesday morning, hours after commissioners in a unanimous vote demanded a School Board yes vote under threat of shelving the $53 million new construction option. “I’m going to vote to stop the project because to begin with we voted to renovate it the commissioners went beyond our recommendation and decided to do what they wanted to do. I also want to put Edneyville Elementary School ahead of the Hendersonville High School project. I don’t want to that put off.”Holt said she’s also concerned about parking and fears that the commissioners’ option will end up costing more to buy land for that.“That’s one of the main things we need to address is parking,” she said.“I think what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong,” she said. “We decided 15 months ago that we wanted to renovate that building and we could’ve been well under way with that project. We weren’t asking to start on the HHS project right now. … Edneyville has always been No. 1 and in every board members’ eyes it still is No. 1. We don’t feel like that school is safe. It’s not OK to me to put that off for another two years.”Commissioner Bill Lapsley, who asked that the HHS construction plan be placed on the commissioners’ agenda Monday night, said the Board of Commissioners ought not move forward unless the School Board goes on record in support of the new HHS campus.“I submit to this board that it is very important for this project that when it is submitted that those boards receive a project that is jointly approved by both the School Board and this board,” Lapsley said. “I think to go forward, where one board is in support of it and the other board may not be in support of it, is not good for our community. I think we need to be together.”Craven, an HHS graduate, is also ready to push for the renovation-new construction option the School Board endorsed last spring.“I have not changed my stance one bit and I haven’t changed it now even with the threat issued by the county commissioners,” Craven said Tuesday morning. “We plan on getting together and making our decision next Monday. It’s been said that everybody needs to cool their heels. I think that’s the way to go. I understand the inflation but I don’t think it’s the right plan. The $53 million plan doesn’t solve all the problems. It creates more problems.”The commissioners’ move had some HHS alumni searching for two more votes to support Craven and Holt.“I think it’s a great opportunity to shut this down until they get their heads together,” said Carey O’Cain, who has led efforts by the HHS Alumni Association to preserve the historic Erle Stillwell-designed classroom building and red-draped auditorium for school use. “I’m happy that Bill Lapsley has called for a vote. I know we already have Amy’s vote and I know we already have Blair’s and I think we might be able to get Rick’s back.”Colby Coren and Lisa Edwards voted in favor of the county commissioners’ choice last spring. Rick Wood and Mary Louise Corn voted for renovation last spring but endorsed the new-school option during the joint meeting on Nov. 24.“Now that I know that we have to make that vote I want to give it a lot of a serious thought, maybe even hear further debate on Monday night,” Wood said. “I want to try to do what’s right for everyone and it’s one I have to give a lot of prayerful consideration. It’s a new board, we’ll have new leadership. I don’t know what we’re looking at there. It’s going to be an interesting meeting.”Michael Absher, the other newly elected School Board member, said he hoped to find out more from top administrators about the consequences if the School Board votes on the new-school option.“I am going to go meet with the superintendent and I’m going to go meet with Steve Wyatt and figure out what is the hypothesis if we do say no and does that mean Edneyville is going to be moved up. If we don’t move on Hendersonville we need to move on Edneyville, like yesterday.”“I am currently gathering facts and assessing the situation,” Coren said in an email. “I encourage anyone who has an interest in the discussion and next steps to join us at our Board meeting, Monday Dec. 12, at 6:30 p.m.”   Read Story »

Henderson County News

Methodist donation aids Safelight's Dandelion program

First United Methodist Church Local Missions Grant Program donated $6,000 to Safelight to support the Dandelion Job Training Program, which provides job training and support for adult survivors of trauma.Amy Treece, a church member who serves on the Safelight Board of Directors, and church Missions Team Leader Dick Weaver presented the check to Safelight’s Executive Director, Tanya Blackford on Friday, Dec. 3.“We are excited to partner with FUMC in our job training efforts,” said Blackford. “Because of this grant, more clients will learn new job skills, gain self-confidence, and realize their own self-worth through the internship program at either Dandelion Café or the Safelight Resale Store.”Safelight internships prepare approximately 30 trauma survivors for the workforce each year by teaching marketable skills in a supportive and nurturing environment. These skills include financial budgeting, personal responsibility, effective communication, teamwork, organization, and time management.“Our Missions Team at FUMC is excited to be a part of such a life-changing program here at Safelight,” Weaver said. “We know the grant is necessary to continue the program, but additionally, we are happy to offer mentorships to those who complete the program and need further support. Many of our members already volunteer with Safelight, so fostering this relationship gives us even more opportunities to serve and share with them.”   Read Story »

Hendersonville News

Asheville Savings Bank appoints branch manager

Asheville Savings Bank on Tuesday announced the appointment of a new manager of its Hendersonville branch.   Read Story »

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